"If I were you and went there right now, I would probably bring every heavy firearm from the police station."
Alexandre Dumas's voice echoed from the speaker. "Ten minutes ago, Faldeus transmitted the top-secret information that Matou Yuu is heading toward the underground leyline to every Master in this Holy Grail War through the dark web—without the slightest hesitation."
"If nothing unexpected occurs, things should be quite lively by now, don't you think?"
…
…anwhile, on the other side…
On the rooftop terrace of a high-rise building, the night wind howled like a blade. Faldeus stood before the railing, gazing down at the dazzling nightscape of the city below.
Ting…
A short electronic tone suddenly rang from the communicator hidden in his ear. Faldeus picked it up. A low voice imdiately ca through the channel. "Commander, the drone has confird the target's movent. Matou Yuu is proceeding directly toward the reservation… Furthermore, an extrely high magical-energy reaction has been detected among his companions. It appears three Servants, including Tiamat, are accompanying him."
Faldeus replied expressionlessly, "Understood. Continue surveillance."
"Ah, what a situation… This is truly peculiar～"
Francesca spoke as though she were thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. "The Holy Grail War has only just begun, and Heroic Spirits from every faction have yet to be eliminated… What could they possibly be doing at the 'core of the leyline' where the Greater Grail lies buried?"
The girl deliberately drew out her words, coaxing him in the sweetest possible voice. "What if he accidentally destroys the Holy Grail? Wouldn't that ruin our ticulously laid plans ahead of schedule?"
At that mont, Francesca turned once more toward the Arican staff officer. "But judging from your expression, you expected this outco from the very beginning, didn't you?"
"That's why I already told you, Francesca."
Faldeus casually looked away from the city, pressed the communicator button, and connected directly to the U.S. military's underground base via an encrypted line.
"Activate the ergency response protocol. Imdiately seal every route surrounding the Reservation. Allow no one to enter or leave. And—"
He raised his gaze toward the desert on the city's outskirts, a faint smile curling his lips. "Leave those two mad dogs to each other."
…
…Inside the pure and perfect dream Reality Marble of Tsubaki Kuruoka.
"Haa… haa…"
The silver-haired boy collapsed onto the empty floor, breathing raggedly. His body trembled faintly, beyond his control. In his mind, the terrifying scene he had glimpsed deep within Matou Yuu's consciousness replayed over and over again.
Undoubtedly, sothing unimaginably dreadful was hidden inside that boy's body… and its concept and rank far surpassed even his own status as a high-ranking Dead Apostle.
What on earth is it…?
"Big Brother, are you hurt?"
Just then, a timid, worried, childish voice rang out right beside him. Jester regained his senses and gently wiped the blood from the corner of his eye with a handkerchief. Through his blurred, blood-stained vision, he saw Tsubaki standing next to him, her small face filled with concern.
Although he still felt uneasy about whatever resided inside Matou Yuu's body, Jester quickly composed himself. He had not forgotten the most important mission of this journey.
"I'm fine… Hey, Tsubaki."
The silver-haired boy lifted his head; his pale face instantly transford into a gentle, harmless smile. "You ntioned Tiamat Mama and Matou Yuu-oniisan. When did they say they would co play with us?"
The girl looked flustered. After a mont's hesitation, her voice darkened. "Tsubaki doesn't know either. They only said they would co find Tsubaki later."
"But no specific ti was agreed upon, correct?"
Jester's voice was impossibly gentle. "Do you want to see them soon? I already consulted Brother Faldeus… If you truly wish to et them, I will help you make that wish co true."
That's right…
This was another deadly trap Faldeus had prepared from the very beginning.
The safest way to deal with an incomprehensible outlier was to release another outlier.
For example, have Tsubaki's Servant act—using the concepts of plague and dreams to forcibly drag Tiamat into the dream. Whether the dream collapsed or both sides suffered heavy losses, the greatest variable would be greatly reduced.
Jester despised bureaucracy, yet for the sake of retrieving his beloved Assassin, he was willing to follow it. Moreover, he desperately wanted to know what else was hidden inside Matou Yuu's body.
Before Tsubaki could speak, Jester continued in a voice like a devil's temptation. "Aren't you lonely? That Mama gives the warst embrace in the entire world. If you wish it, even if she must cross distant seas, she will surely return to you."
"Really… is it okay?" A faint light appeared in the girl's hollow eyes as she asked timidly.
"Ah… of course. In this world, you are the absolute sovereign. If you desire sothing, nothing is impossible. Therefore…"
In the end, the silver-haired boy's eyes were filled with expectation and longing. "Tsubaki, do you want to et Tiamat and Matou Yuu again?"
After a brief silence, he clearly confird the girl's vigorous nod.
"Yes! Tsubaki really wants to et them directly!"
The instant that innocent child's voice faded—
The Pale Rider concealed in the void confidently received his master's supre command. The Pale Rider, the embodint of the concepts of plague and death, possessed no human emotions whatsoever. He was nothing more than a cold machine that operated absolutely to fulfill his master's wishes.
His basic logic was to draw the target into this dream-like world. Yet that reasoning imdiately led to a fatal error.
The Pale Rider's dream Reality Marble had been constructed from Tsubaki's subconscious—an inherently unique Reality Marble. Ordinary humans or Heroic Spirits could endure it, but Tiamat's true form absolutely could not.
After all, Tiamat was Beast II, the Goddess of Creation who had given birth to all life on Earth. Her true form was as vast as a continent.
The only way to truly witness Tiamat was not to pull her into the dream.
Instead…
The pale mist surged like a virus toward the Greater Grail leyline system Faldeus had buried beneath Snowfield City, following the network of plague that had spread throughout the city. Since they could not bring Tiamat into the dream, they would gather every last scrap of magic in the city.
Empowered by the full magical energy of the Greater Grail, it shattered the barrier of the human world and broke through the barrier of the Imaginary Sea. Then—completely liberate Tiamat.
...
…Snowfield Reservation.
The farther they moved from the bustling urban district of Snowfield City, the more the neon lights of modern civilization faded. When the group entered the Snowfield Reservation on the city outskirts under cover of night, all they saw was an endless desert swallowed by darkness.
Although called a protected area, not a single trace of Native remained on this land. On the rugged rocky mountains that should have weathered naturally, countless steel pillboxes—extrely cleverly concealed with cold cent—had been constructed over the years.
From high above, the heavy, low rumbling of military drone engines could be faintly heard. Beneath the clouds, countless navigation lights wove a vast surveillance network, like vultures circling over the Desert.
This place was less a protected zone and more a modern military fortress specially built for this Holy Grail War.
EMIYA Alter looked up at the drone swarm in the sky, then at the infrared network of the pillboxes, and imdiately frowned. "This is troubleso… With such heavy ard defense and thorough surveillance, this might as well be the U.S. military's underground command center in Snowfield City. We'll need ti to plan an infiltration route—"
Thud!
Just before they landed, dark ripples suddenly spread behind Matou Yuu. Several distorted magical artifacts forged from Imaginary Numbers fell like arrows, precisely striking the surveillance caras in the surrounding blind spots. A series of violent explosions followed, and thick black smoke imdiately billowed from the caras.
"It's decided. Let's move." Matou Yuu raised his hand, dismissed the Imaginary Treasure, and led Tiamat forward.
EMIYA Alter stared at the safe zone ahead. Red warning lights were already flashing. His lips twitched involuntarily. "No…"
The experienced Assasin looked ahead with a hesitant expression. No matter how much he trusted Yuu, doubt still crept in.
"The alarm is blaring and every guard in the base is surrounding this area… Can this really be called an infiltration operation?"
"True stealth is not about remaining undiscovered—it is about ensnaring everyone who discovers you. Perfect stealth is a state in which no one finds you at all."
Matou Yuu turned, stepped forward, and lightly patted EMIYA Alter's shoulder, entrusting him with the sa serious expression he had worn back in Fuyuki City. "Shirou, I'm leaving this cleanup operation to you. I believe in you."
"Aaaaah!"
Tiamat repeated, as if encouraging the Mother Goddess of Creation.
"Emiya-san, I don't understand why it turned into a direct confrontation… but now we can only rely on you!" Fujimaru Ritsuka clasped her hands together, exchanging bright, expectant glances with Mash beside her.
"Wiping out small-fry enemies is child's play for Chaldea's most reliable Archer!"
EMIYA Alter: "…"
Seeing fully ard U.S. special forces pouring out of the pillboxes like a tide, EMIYA Alter let out a helpless sigh after a short silence. He flicked his wrist lightly, and a black-and-white blade ford from highly compressed spirit particles fell into his palm.
"Well, whatever… I'm used to it."
"Whether in life or after death, the experience of running errands or babysitting has probably already been etched into the origin of my soul."
…Under the cover of night, intense gunfire and the clash of blades echoed across the Desert.
While EMIYA Alter charged into the enemy ranks like a black cheetah, intercepting every guard's gunfire, Matou Yuu took Tiamat's hand and, as though it were the most natural thing in the world, led the two Chaldea mbers straight to the deepest part of the defense zone.
After passing through a long corridor, the group officially entered the underground military bunker. The interior was nothing like what they had imagined.
This was not a fortress built solely by modern industry. In this impressive tal corridor, countless magical circuits emitting a mysterious blue light floated like veins throughout the entire structure—floor, ceiling, and deep underground.
This place was simultaneously the U.S. military's highest-level underground nuclear shelter and a colossal magical workshop that Faldeus had specially constructed for the Greater Grail System… a perfect fusion of modern technology and magecraft.
They advanced to the center without encountering any obstacles. Every guard who charged at them was instantly knocked unconscious by Mash's shield.
Finally, the three successfully boarded a sturdy elevator that descended directly into the abyss below. Matou Yuu reached out and pressed the "3rd Floor" button on the control panel.
Crunch—
The mont the elevator began its rapid descent, a system notification rang inside Matou Yuu's mind.
[Matou Yuu, you have successfully infiltrated the core area of the "Ecological Traditional Culture Protection Zone."]
[Inspection result: The "Native" derived substance content within the Snowfield Reservation is 0%. Additionally, an "ultra-large industrial energy cooling extraction machine" has been discovered illegally buried underground.]
[Daily cleaning task activated: Proceed to Underground Floor 3 and unplug the power cord of the "energy cooling extraction machine."]
[Work instructions: As a qualified breeder, please clean up any spilled high-sugar fruit juice as quickly as possible to prevent attracting and being eaten by "deep-sea giant pests."]
"...Energy cooling extraction machine?"
Before Matou Yuu could react, the elevator had already reached Underground Floor 3 without him noticing. A surprised voice imdiately rang out beside him.
"Matou-san, look ahead!"
Mash, standing next to him, also covered her mouth in shock at the sight before them.
Matou Yuu raised his head and finally understood why the system had given it such an outrageous na. It was not rely a cooling-and-heating extraction device—it was a magical nuclear power plant.
Snowfield City had been built upon a false altar above an artificial leyline. To forcibly operate the Greater Grail, the underground magical power pumps were running at overload every second… The nuclear power plant before them was the machine ensuring the Greater Grail functioned normally.
Tiamat tugged on Matou Yuu's sleeve, glanced at the power plant, and slightly furrowed her delicate brows. "That place slls very unpleasant."
"It's no surprise you feel uneasy… After all, this situation has already caused spiritual vein overload. If nothing unexpected occurs, every resident of this city will be affected by life-force radiation in so form."
Matou Yuu finished speaking and turned his gaze straight ahead. Standing there was the nervous system of the entire underground magical workshop—the Greater Grail's control panel.
Unlike a traditional magical altar, this was a cyberpunk-style heavy-tal command tower. Dozens of holographic projection screens intertwined in the air, forming a massive matrix… Upon closer inspection, that matrix was exactly the sa shape as the small map of Snowfield City.
Buzz!
When Matou Yuu raised his hand, a black weapon shot out and violently struck the socket of the "energy cooling extraction machine."
Sparks flew. The system notification rang as expected.
[Mission Complete. Successfully disconnected the energy cooling extraction device. Reward: Attribute Points 1]
[Magical Energy: 4/10 (C)] → [Magical Energy: 5/10 (C)]
The instant the panel value changed, Matou Yuu felt his perception shift once again. The previously unclear magical circuits expanded further. He could now clearly see the thread-like mana drifting through the air with his naked eyes.
At that mont, he felt the blood in his body gradually beginning to boil.
[Ding! Host's magical energy and blood flow speed have reached critical threshold, eting awakening conditions.]
[Host, congratulations! Hidden event conditions t!]
[Task Na: Special Pet Breeding Project]
[Objective: Hatch and feed the "Endangered Species: Severe Anemia Cosmic Red-Eyed Rabbit" parasitic within your body.]
[Task Note: This endangered pet is extrely picky about food and has a rough temperant. It prefers deep-red environnts. Collect the highest-quality fertilizer possible and feed it.]
[Caution: Leaving the pet hungry for extended periods may cause stress!]
Seeing the text appear before his eyes, Matou Yuu's lips twitched involuntarily.
Severe anemia and bloodshot-eyed cosmic rabbit…?
What the hell is this?
Thump—thump—
Before he could start complaining, his heart suddenly leaped. The increase in magical energy had not only expanded his circuits but also heightened his perception even further.
At that instant, he clearly sensed intense killing intent approaching at supersonic speed from deep within the tal passage right beside them!
"Watch out—sothing's coming!"
Just as Matou Yuu opened his mouth to warn them—
Two eerie red lights, like drops of blood, suddenly appeared in the darkness ahead. A low, hate-filled growl followed.
"Nine Lives!"
BOOM—!
Countless crimson magical teors tore through the darkness, raining down as a fierce barrage of arrows upon the group!
Yet almost simultaneously—
A clear, sacred voice like the tolling of dawn bells echoed through the dark abyss.
"Lord, I entrust my life to You."
"May Your rcy be poured upon us all."
"——Luminosité Eternelle!"
The next mont, a pure white military flag fluttered in the darkness. Dazzling golden light instantly transford into a barrier, enveloping everyone within.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The incredibly fierce red arrows lted away upon touching the sacred golden light, as though gently dissolved by its power. They struck the golden barrier repeatedly before finally falling powerlessly to the floor.
"Are you all right?"
When the arrow rain subsided, a gentle, girlish voice quietly resounded before them.
Matou Yuu unconsciously turned to look. Even Tiamat, who had been about to unleash a sonic attack, curiously turned her head. She blinked her naturally innocent, star-like eyes and stared intently at the woman before her.
Her shining blonde hair was braided. She wore light armor woven in pure white and navy blue, and held a sacred flag adorned with iris flowers. On her elegant face floated a sacred smile that carried an unapproachable aura.
After a short silence, Matou Yuu seed to recognize the other party's identity and spoke quietly.
"Saint… Jeanne d'Arc?"
…
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