Mount Enzou, Ryuudou Temple.
The sliding door was shut tight. Under the dim yellow glow of the lights, the room was filled with the heavy scent of blood, iodine, alcohol, and medicinal herbs. Sterile gauze and bandages were scattered across the low table.
After realigning her Master's broken bones, applying healing-type magecraft, and carefully dressing his wounds, Caster Medea finally dared to gently lay the man down on the tatami mat, now neatly spread with bedding. She softly placed a warm towel on his forehead.
Having done everything within her power, Caster Medea knelt quietly by his side, staring sorrowfully at Kuzuki Souichirou, who was nearly mummified in bandages. His face was gaunt, his lips bloodless and pale.
"Master Souichirou... I promise, I will see you safely through the Holy Grail War."
Her hands pressed together over her chest as though in prayer for her Master's well-being.
Buzz—!
At that moment, sensing activity outside, Caster Medea sighed, then turned her gaze to the window. Though the closed curtains blocked the view, moonlight still pierced through. Only now, that peaceful silver glow had been replaced by an ominous, terrifying crimson.
A heavy blood-red light gradually spread over every inch of Ryuudou Temple, reflecting off the polished stone floor like bloody jade.
"Who are they really...? With that level of magecraft, they can't possibly be unknowns. What on earth are they trying to do...?"
Suddenly—"Caster... I see. I'm still alive."
A hoarse, mechanical male voice rang out from behind her.
"Master Souichirou!" Medea turned around in delight. "Thank goodness, you're finally awake."
"Haa..."
Kuzuki Souichirou lay weakly on the bed, utterly drained. His entire body was numb, beyond pain—as if his very soul had been emptied, leaving only a shell.
Her gentle voice still echoed in his ears.
Just opening his eyes had taken all his remaining strength. Gazing at Medea's sorrowful expression, he forced a smile. "Why... why did they let us go...?"
"Caster... what did you giv—"
"It's fine! Master Souichirou, just seeing you again before I'm forced to vanish, just being able to speak with you one more time—that alone is enough for me."
Interrupted by what was almost a final confession, even a heart as hardened as a killer's would waver.
As grief and longing thickened in the air—
Whoosh!
"Relax. He's just a mortal. I said I wouldn't kill him, didn't I? What would be the point of lying to you? ...Okay, fine, I might have some reason. But you're not important enough for me to care that much, witch."
The door curtain was swept aside, revealing a certain immortal with a sneer and a curled lip. "Time's up."
A violent wave of magical energy surged from outside. Medea looked back toward the immobilized form of Kuzuki Souichirou and felt a deep sting of sorrow. "...Understood."
Outside the room—
"Void Realm Lockdown!"
Kiana gently pressed her hands downward. In the darkness, her flowing white cloak billowed as if aflame.
Countless black suns, born of spatial distortion, bloomed like a seamless wall before her. As they connected, they formed a new magical barrier, completely sealing Ryuudou Temple.
Watching the scene unfold, Lev couldn't help but show a satisfied expression.
He knew—the time had come.
He raised both hands high, revealing a small golden fragment of the Holy Grail, about the size of an egg and crafted by King Solomon, along with a "sacred relic" symbolizing a foreign deity.
"That's... the Holy Grail?!" Following behind Senti, Caster Medea was stunned at the sight of the chalice-like object held by the green-robed mage at the center of the crimson ritual array.
He already possesses a Holy Grail? Then why participate in the Holy Grail War? He must have far greater ambitions!
A theory began forming in Medea's mind.
Forming a special hand seal, Lev finished chanting and then shouted, "The ritual begins!"
Crack!
The Grail fragment dissolved, turning into golden radiance that fused directly with the sacred relic.
Sizzle!
The golden double-headed eagle statue began to tremble violently. The amethyst-like eagle eyes burst with violet light as the gold faded, replaced by a purple-red crystalline substance.
Boom!
In the next instant, the sacred relic, now transformed into a violet-red crystal, shot into the ground like a bolt of lightning.
Crack!Crack crack!
Starting from the center of the ritual array where the crystal embedded, countless purple-red particles surged out from the glowing, violet-tinged cavern.
Chchchchch!
They began to condense and grow outward like a crystalline forest, radiating a beautiful, purple-red glow.
"Honkai crystals..." Fu Hua murmured with a complicated expression.
Once, she had fought to protect her people and safeguard Shenzhou. Back then, anything related to the Honkai was an absolute threat, to be destroyed without hesitation.
Honkai crystals, which could cause Honkai outbreaks, transform humans into the undead, and give rise to Honkai Beasts, were things she once swore to eliminate.
And now...
How unpredictable life is. Who would've thought I'd be thriving in the realm of Honkai one day? These crystals... they've become indispensable allies.
After her silent reflection, Fu Hua exchanged a look with Durandal and Kiana. The time had come.
"Honkai Erosion!"
Buzz—!
Through a series of reorganizations and fusions of Honkai crystals, a towering pillar of condensed Honkai erupted from the leyline node beneath Ryuudou Temple.
Atop the crystalline pillar, a wave-like veil of violet light emerged. It grew increasingly bright, warping the surrounding space-time.
"Lev, looks like you've completed the first phase of your deal. Hm? That's... a Servant?"
Suddenly, in Caster Medea's perception, a powerful, overwhelming will appeared from nowhere and locked onto her. It felt as if her entire being had been laid bare in an instant, stripped to the core.
In that moment, though she was a Servant, Medea felt as if she had been plunged into an icy hell. The spiritual particles forming her body shivered, a coldness running from her tailbone to the top of her skull.
And then, just as suddenly as it came, the terrifying sensation vanished, leaving Medea dizzy, disoriented, and collapsing to the ground.
A flash of violet light burst forth. In her horrified eyes, countless violet-red particles gathered together.
White ceremonial inner robes, violet-gold ornate outerwear adorned with dazzling patterns, and gold-threaded tassels flowed with regal splendor.
And those crimson, rhomboid pupils.
"Your Majesty."
As the upper body projection of the foreign god slowly manifested through the high-concentration Honkai crystal medium, Lev's face lit up with irrepressible joy. He bowed deeply.
In that moment, as if sensing the descent of the Honkai sovereign, even the rampantly growing Honkai crystals bent low in Selene's direction, like wheat fields bowing under a strong wind.
"Lev, I am curious. What kind of Age of Gods do you envision? Is it one where only King Solomon is revived to bring back mystery, or a true Age of Gods with the return of all gods and the supernatural?"
"I long for both."
"Oh? A grand ambition."
Selene nodded inwardly in satisfaction as she quietly felt the Honkai energy spreading from the leyline node beneath Ryuudou Temple, beginning to erode the planet's leylines.
As expected, using singularities and Lostbelt names as a cover made everything easier. The Root-consciousness of the Type-Moon world didn't intervene—only the two Counter Forces might react.
Even then, they couldn't interfere directly. At most, they could dispatch proxies, Heroic Spirits, or offer covert aid to organizations like Chaldea.
From the world's perspective, Lev's actions were little more than recruiting external assistance.
After all, it wasn't like Selene was actively invading the Type-Moon world. She had long ago left behind an avatar as a Heroic Spirit, had even completed extermination tasks for the Counter Force (with her data clone doing all the work while her real self stayed hidden, similar to Red Archer).
In a way, she was half a "native" already.
Which meant that Selene and her army's actions were essentially an internal conflict among the world's own inhabitants.
The threat posed by Honkai erosion was still categorized as a singularity or Lostbelt-level threat.
Whether it was Human Order Incineration, the Land of Steel, or Mooncell's Coral timeline, they were all part of the system the world tolerated.
These catastrophes might spell doom for humanity, magical beasts, Phantasmal Species, or Dead Apostles—but to the Type-Moon world itself? It was just another cycle.
Even if this universe were to perish, even if this timeline were erased, the Nasuverse was built from countless universes and timelines. It would persist.
Just like Earth, humanity's extinction wouldn't affect the planet itself. The idea that Earth loves humanity or benefits from co-existence is just human delusion.
Does Earth need humanity? Do you need the parasites in your body? Who really depends on whom?
A nuclear war wiping out humanity would merely dirty Earth's face. From its timeline perspective, a few "days" would pass and it would recover.
Betrayal from within—the double agent. For any group or force, internal sabotage is the most dangerous threat of all. More destructive, and more detestable, than external enemies.
If Selene had launched a direct attack on the Type-Moon world without Lev's invitation or the cover of singularities and Lostbelts, things would have been vastly different.
She likely would have provoked retaliation from the Root or Counter Force immediately. There would have been no peaceful, unobstructed way to spread Honkai energy into the planet's leylines.
Slow and steady—boiling the frog in warm water.
Next came the most critical step: the resurrection of the King of Mages, Solomon—or rather, the King of Demon Gods, Goetia.
"How much longer until Solomon's resurrection ritual is complete?" Selene asked.
"I still need time to activate the Fuyuki Grail system."
"Very well, I leave it to you, Lev. I too am curious to witness the majesty of the great sage and King of Magecraft, Solomon."
"I shall not fail Your Majesty."
With burning excitement practically pouring out of him, Lev took his leave of Selene and leapt into the passageway opened by the ritual array, linking Ryuudou Temple to the underground leyline.
"Caster, Medea." With Lev gone, Selene turned her scrutinizing gaze to the out-of-place Caster, who stood amidst the swirling Honkai energy.
Having recognized Caster's identity, Selene recalled the participants of the Romania Holy Grail War and Fuyuki's Fifth Holy Grail War, a trace of sentiment flickering across her face.
Seems I have a real affinity for Greek Heroic Spirits.
From Red Rider Achilles, Red Archer Atalanta, Black Archer Chiron, to this war's Berserker Heracles, Rider Medusa, and Caster Medea...
Ahem, I've only seen two Grail Wars, and six Greek Heroic Spirits have already shown up.
Ah, well, my name—Selene—is Greek too. No wonder.
Still... Rider Medusa has a strong bond with her true Master, doesn't she?
If I could corrupt Rider Medusa and transform her into Avenger Gorgon, she might serve as a useful contingency plan before my main body descends.
Selene eyed Caster with interest, making poor Medea visibly uncomfortable.
With this new plan forming, Selene was just about to dismiss her projection when—
"Your Majesty, regarding Caster Medea, I believe her magecraft—especially her possession of the Golden Fleece—could be of use to us."
Shifting fully into her role as loyal retainer, Durandal stepped forward and knelt on one knee. Glancing briefly at the collapsed Medea, she continued, calm and composed:
"While Rita distrusts Caster due to her reputation as the 'Witch of Betrayal' and recommends eliminating her, Medea's Master is now under our control. Per our agreement, his life is spared, and she, in turn, serves us. When the time comes to activate the Grail, she has vowed to end her own life."
"Your Majesty's decision?"
"I recommend we keep her..."
Knowing that Medea and Kuzuki Souichirou truly love each other, it was clear that controlling him meant controlling her. In that case, why not squeeze every drop of value from her before casting her aside?
"Oh, and one more thing—Lord Bianka, a friendly reminder: keep a close eye on your Noble Phantasm."
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