I, Kenneth, am going to get to the root of the problem today.

Page 54

At that moment, empowered by both the life-saving grace and the words of enlightenment, Spartacus's deformed body seemed incredibly tall in Sieg's eyes. Just as Spartacus led Sieg towards the Red Army's stronghold, under the influence of Shishigaki Kairi, Joan of Arc stood before the church. Revelation struck, and Joan saw the white-haired priest looking back at the cross. The man with the kind smile instantly sent chills down Joan's spine.

"That man...we must find him! He's an anomaly, far surpassing Faker!"

Taking a deep breath, and considering the other party's intention to assassinate her, Joan of Arc's heart skipped a beat.

"Red Saber's Master, are you sure that all the Red Team's Masters except you are being controlled by that Overseer?"

After Shiro nodded solemnly, Joan of Arc pushed open the church doors. At the end of the flickering lamplight, the white-haired priest clasped his hands in prayer to the god he believed in.

"You've arrived? As expected, you share the same perspective as me, the Ruler of this Holy Grail War. I am the Master of the Red Team, Shiro Kotomine. I'm a little embarrassed by your surprise."

The moment Jeanne d'Arc met Amakusa's gaze, the authority belonging to Ruler began to surge. Jeanne realized that the man before her was no human; he was a Servant who, like herself, possessed faith.

"You are the seventeenth Servant, but how could you possibly become a Master..."

Clearly, the country girl, who had never seen much of the world, was shocked by Amakusa's presence. With a warm and friendly smile, Amakusa descended the steps amidst the echoing footsteps.

"No, you are wrong, Holy Maiden. I am the first Ruler who shares the same revelation as you."

"Tsk! Are you a Servant too?"

Unlike Mordred, who suddenly interrupted, Jeanne had already summoned the Holy Banner and was ready for battle. There was no need for further communication. When Amakusa, as the Ruler, prepared to seize the Holy Grail, he had become an anomaly that Jeanne had to eliminate.

"Joan of Arc, though what you see is different from what I see, you also yearn for peace. Join me and let us save humanity together."

When Amakusa decided to meet Joan of Arc, he no longer intended to hide his intentions. As a Ruler who also aimed to save humanity, Amakusa felt that this saintly woman who saved the country might understand his thoughts.

"Saving humanity? How do you plan to do that?"

"Human conflict arises from the need for material things. When seven billion humans become immortal souls, all wars will end, and the eternal souls will continue to exist."

"madman!"

Faced with Mordred's angry outburst, the steadfast idealist did not become angry. With a gentle smile, he looked at the silent Shishikatsu Kairi, and Amakusa's gaze was filled with a longing for recognition.

"And you, Saber's Master, you are human, someone I need to help. Would you like to join me?"

click-

With the bullets loaded, the ruthless and taciturn Shishikai Kairi answered Amakusa's invitation with actions, a bitter smile on his face. Although he was mentally prepared, being rejected by the person he was supposed to help still hurt Amakusa somewhat.

"So you refused after all? But it's alright. Whether you accept it or not, I will save you. After all, humans are what I like most!"

From the shadows, the Red Army's Servants filed out. Facing Joan of Arc's gaze, Sapi, who was focused on writing books, regarded Amakusa as the protagonist, Arjuna had no interest in what humans were like, and only Achilles answered Joan of Arc's gaze.

"I'm sorry, Ruler, although I also hate that woman, I have no choice in the matter right now."

"So that's your purpose. I understand. I will eliminate you from this place!"

As the other Servants of the Red Team revealed their weapons, Shishikai Kairi, the Moon Terminator, was about to lose control, and the battle was about to break out. Just then, accompanied by a burst of Sunlight's maniacal laughter, the ceiling of the church was suddenly ripped off.

"O oppressor! Let me embrace you!!"

Boom! Spartacus, late but arriving, exuding philosophical aura, leaped through the opened ceiling and raised his greatsword, intending to strike the man at his feet. Chains burst forth, and Spartacus's blood stained the sacred church into a crimson ocean.

"Hmm... I'll repay that pleasure...doubled..."

The honor of being tortured was activated, the roar of the wounded beast was unleashed, and Spartacus's torn body began to writhe irregularly, like a G-virus host. His mutated body began to expand at a visible speed, and his deformed hands absorbed the cold greatsword into his arms. Crack, boom—! The cage that imprisoned the beast shattered, and Spartacus, who had already accumulated a large amount of magic power under Sieg's flying sword, tore the church beneath his feet apart with a single strike.

"O oppressor, oppressor! Destroy the oppressor with my love, ha ha ha!!"

The roofless church collapsed under the ravages of wild beasts. Spartacus's intrusion completely disrupted Amakusa's plans. Faced with the berserk warriors, the group of bards, Shabi, dodged the falling rubble as if to continue their missionary work.

"Berserker, the oppressors aren't here, those..."

Clang! The greatsword swept across, and Shabi, a Servant in the basement, was instantly sent flying by the rising sword wind. He let out a wild laugh of resistance against oppression, and the Muscle Warrior smashed through the floor and charged towards Amakusa in the distance.

"Spartacus, ganbatte!"

The cheers of Sieg, the little fanboy, became Spartacus's motivation. The torn wounds healed in a twisted way, and the ever-expanding figure was deeply imprinted in Sieg's eyes. The warrior's blood kept splattering, and he clenched his fists. A deep sense of powerlessness surged into the heart that did not belong to him.

"Spartacus! Why am I so weak? I want to help him, I want to follow in his footsteps, I want to liberate the oppressed!"

puff-

The warrior's right arm was severed cleanly, and the idol's body was sent flying backward by the black servant's kick. The splattered blood landed on Sieg's face. Under Sieg's gaze, the gleaming lightning blade pierced his mentor's chest. His eyes widened, and with a roar, his sleeping heart responded to the homunculus's call.

"Ah! I can't do anything! Spartacus—!!"

Ding! Password correct. Main account successfully logged in. The body modified by Kenneth perfectly houses Siegfried's heart. The holy sword that will slay the dragon appears. The silver armor gleams under the moonlight. A massive amount of magic shatters the surrounding ground. Siegfried, brimming with power, defeats Arjuna, who is about to behead Spartacus, with a single sword strike.

"Spartacus, let us fight side by side! Let us liberate the oppressed!"

"We are all equal, and I despise those who cannot understand this. You seem to understand this, so come, walk with me!"

...

Zig's intrusion turned the already chaotic situation into a complete mess. He rolled out of the collapsed church and, seeing the chaos before him, Shiki-kai, having completed his plan, subtly relayed the information to Kenneth, who was far away at the Thousand World Tree.

Kenneth tapped his fingertips on the desk with a rhythmic thud. Despite some unexpected events, he was quite satisfied with the current situation. The two saints who were saving humanity were locked in a fierce battle over their respective ideologies, while he, the cunning manipulator, was about to reap the final rewards. Kenneth felt very content with this.

"Danick, the Red team is in chaos. What are you waiting for?"

Suddenly, the spell Kenneth left in the Greater Grail was disturbed. A concept, a concept that devours everything, invaded the spoils that Kenneth had already planned. At the core of the Greater Grail, the seed abandoned by humanity began to gestate. The goddess of the ghouls had already crossed the sea of ​​stars and arrived in this world.

"I've come to find you..."

A viscous malice surged into his mind along with the spell, and with a bang, the furnishings in Kenneth's room exploded without warning. On the eve of the spatial distortion, Kenneth severed his connection with the Greater Grail.

"Phew, you really came, didn't you? Sajō Aika!"

In just a moment, Kenneth's consciousness was almost scattered. If his soul strength hadn't been qualitatively improved, Kenneth would have been completely dissolved in front of that monster that devoured human reason. Panting heavily, Kenneth had already given up the idea of ​​checking the Greater Grail. Facing Sajyo Ayaka, who was superior to a mage to some extent, Kenneth had to be on high alert.

"Mr. Lyon, the patriarch requests your presence."

After taking a deep breath, she could already guess that Kenneth's goal was to squeeze every last drop of value out of Danic tonight. As Kenneth took action, in front of the ruined church, Joan of Arc, holding the holy banner, had already sensed the priest's determination during their brief confrontation. Faced with heresy that could destroy humanity, Joan of Arc, as the judge, decided to do something.

Amakusa Shiro Tokisada, you have no right to make choices for humanity.

With the flagpole planted in her hand, the irises on Joan of Arc's flag swayed amidst the smoke-filled ruins. Looking at the priest opposite, who was no longer hiding, the fair referee blew the whistle to punish heretics.

【O Masters and Servants gathered here for the Holy Grail, I am Jeanne d'Arc. Today, the future of humanity hangs by a thread, and the age of mankind faces its end.】

We who have chosen to resist are not weak; our strength will protect the future of humanity. Once again, as the Ruler of this Holy Grail War, I plead: for the future of human history, heroes from all ages, protect the future of humanity!

A blazing fire erupted from Jeanne d'Arc's back as Ruler's highest privilege was activated. The next second, all Servants in Romania received the referee's command. Facing the turning blade, their respective Ruler privileges were activated, and the two Rulers, representing the highest authority, locked eyes once more.

"Holy Maiden, for the sake of humanity's salvation, I will defeat you."

“Father, for the sake of humanity’s future, I must stop you.”

Chapter 145 Melee

The moment Jeanne d'Arc used her Command Spell, all the Servants of the Black faction felt the intimidating power of the referee's arrival. Instinctively, the Servants gathered at the Yggdrasil Castle turned their gaze to the battlefield where blood and fire clashed. To this, Kenneth could only say: Thank you, Amakusa, for providing the target.

"My king, please unleash your power! The Red faction has already aroused Ruler's hostility. Now is the best time for our Black faction to act."

bass--

The spear tore through the air, creating a series of tremors that summoned warhorses. The Grand Duke, a former ruler of Romania, pointed directly at the distant church.

"Fellow members of the Black Faction, pierce through all those invaders who attempt to seize the treasure!"

The sound of hooves rang out as Vlad III charged out of the castle, taking the lead. In response to Ruler's decree, the Black Faction's followers poured out in droves, and a great battle was about to erupt.

"I will be here to await the King's triumphant return!"

Glancing at Danic, who had chosen to stay, Kenneth knew that the magic he had left inside Danic was beginning to spread. All it would take was a trigger for the nested souls to be twisted, and Kenneth would become a true monster.

"Judging by the time, Semiramis's Garden should be finishing its incantation soon. In that case, the Greater Grail? Amakusa, I hope you'll like the gift I'm giving you. When you discover all this, what choice will you make?"

The saint vanquishes the demons. Facing the beast that devours humanity, Kenneth eagerly anticipates Amakusa's reaction when he discovers the truth. Even if the 666 Beast's maturity brings calamity, even if the Empress's garden might be controlled by Sajou Aika, so what? Kenneth wants to complete the story, Kenneth wants fun, the Holy Grail—he, Kenneth, wants it, and he, Kenneth, will fight against Sajou Aika. But these are all choices driven by desire. As for what will become of this world, Kenneth says: It's none of my business.

On the way to Black's arrival, Joan of Arc confronted Amakusa, Sieg stood before the now bloated Spartacus and fought Arjuna, Mordred struggled against Achilles who had turned into a blur, and Shishigaki Kairi, as a frontline reporter, continued to broadcast the live footage to Kenneth.

One ten-pull, Steel Apology; two ten-pulls, Lone Nine Keys. Cosplaying as Wolverine, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada held the polluted gacha Craft Essence between his fingers, struggling to defend against Jeanne d'Arc's attacks. Although he is a male Servant, Amakusa's legendary status is far less than Jeanne d'Arc's. Facing Jeanne d'Arc, whose attributes completely overwhelm him, Amakusa's black keys were once again sent flying.

"Stop, Father. The future of humanity is none of our business, the future of the dead. Why are you, the Ruler, breaking the rules?"

"Rules? Rules can't save humanity. Even if I have to break the rules, I won't let anyone hinder my dream. This is salvation for all mankind!"

Clang——

With her hands clasped together, black keys appeared, and the spear tip gradually pressed down under Jeanne's immense force. Amidst the ear-piercing friction sound, fine cracks spread beneath Amakusa's feet. Gazing at the saintess before him, the two stubborn believers tried to persuade each other with their own convictions.

Click! !

The black keys shattered under the immense pressure. As Amakusa Shiro pushed off with his feet, he threw the broken key handles at Jeanne d'Arc, letting the broken Noble Phantasms smash into him. Jeanne d'Arc pulled the Holy Banner from the giant crater in front of her, her dark purple eyes looking at the regrouping Amakusa.

"Amakusa Shirou, you have lost your right to be a Heroic Spirit. I will never accept your dream!"

"Heroes, saints, I am no longer. Now, I live only to save lives!"

It is difficult to persuade a stubborn person, but it is even more difficult for stubborn people to persuade each other. When negotiations fail and they realize that the other party will never give up because of their words, the two followers, who will be hailed as saints by history, shut their mouths. Words are no longer effective, and only the one who survives can put their ideals into practice.

Moving to the other side, the battle between the Servants from the Age of Gods appears much more intense.

"All you do is run away! Coward!"

Faced with Mordred's impotent rage, Achilles, whose agility was maxed out, moved around Mordred with his unique footwork. His frequent head turns completely wore down Mordred's already meager spirit. Veins bulged on Takeuchi's face under his helmet. His attack was dodged once again, and Mordred's string of reason snapped completely.

"You son of a bitch! Go to hell!"

As the reporter on the front lines went limp, crimson magic surged from the gaps in Mordred's armor. A violent lightning bolt spread rapidly outwards from Mordred, sending earth and rocks flying and rubble annihilating. Mordred's rage meter exploded completely at this moment. However, Mordred was facing a warrior from the Age of Gods, and an immortal one at that, Achilles.

To defeat an enemy, first drive him mad. Attacks without divine power are ineffective against Achilles, who has been bathed in the River Styx, let alone this kind of aimless AOE attack. With a flip of his foot, he dodged the spreading magic lightning. As a seasoned warrior, Achilles tore through the lightning net and, with a maniacal smile, pierced Mordred's armor with his spear.

"How naive! Saber!"

"Shut up! Don't underestimate me!"

As everyone knows, Mordred, a knight who came from a humble background, fought without any method. Ignoring his pierced side, Mordred grabbed the Meteor Spear with his gauntlet-covered hand, and the gleaming King's Sword slammed heavily onto Achilles' shoulder. With a physique no weaker than Achilles', Mordred tilted his head back and exerted force with both arms. The Iron-Headed Kid's head, encased in his helmet, delivered a headbutt that sent the unresponsive Achilles reeling.

click-

With this headbutt, the helmet concealing his infidelity shattered, and a blood-stained face revealed an equally maniacal smile. Mo Zai then delivered a groin kick to Achilles's crotch.

At that moment, it was as if the air was filled with the screams of a shrill chicken. Achilles' hand, gripping the meteor spear, trembled. He took two steps back without expression, choosing not to continue running. Staring into those calm golden eyes, Achilles gasped.

"Are you really a knight?"

With a maniacal smile, he smeared the blood all over his already gruesome face, making it even more unsettling. His eyebrows were raised, and the provocation in Mo Zai's eyes was practically overflowing.

"Hmph! Before you stands the only rightful heir of King Arthur, while I am the rebellious knight who will ultimately inherit Camelot's throne!"

"Tsk! So it's you! Come on, this is serious speed!"

Even too lazy to complain, Achilles remained expressionless as he twirled his spear, his footwork suddenly elevating to a new level.

"So fast!"

Driven by the family's ancestral intuition, Mordred instinctively parried Achilles' figure the instant he vanished, holding the King's Sword to his side. The next second, a tremendous force struck, and the tip of the Meteor Spear left a long trail of sparks on the broad blade.

"Good intuition, but still too slow!"

"Long-winded!"

With a sweeping motion, Mordred's royal sword severed the illusory image frozen in front of him, and the resulting wind pressure sent all the rubble in front of him flying into the air.

"Still too slow. You can only catch up with my shadow? This won't do, Saber!"

"Die! All you can do is run away?!"

It wasn't the same time or the same place, but Mordred still went wild, just like her old ahoge. Her magic spread out once again, and the surging aura caused the surrounding ground to collapse. Inheriting the dragon factor, Mordred had a very volatile temper. She imitated the wind hammer and slammed down with her sword. The blood-red magic that spread out sent all the surrounding rocks flying into the air.

"Innocent!"

Realizing that Mordred was trying to limit his speed by altering the terrain, Achilles, channeling his horse-girl powers, wiped his nose and unleashed the full potential of his comet-like running style. His superhuman physique granted him extraordinary vision, making the pebbles in mid-air appear as slow as snails crawling to this great hero. With each step he took on the pebbles in mid-air, Achilles' speed increased once again.

"Have the opportunity!"

Having found Mordred's weakness, Achilles twisted his body and transformed into a streak of light. Facing the thrust of the Meteor Spear, Mordred, whose adaptability to the Berserker class far exceeded that of the Saber class, shifted his feet to the side, yet the spear tip, radiating a cold light, still managed to pierce close to his shoulder. Too close to pull back the sword, Mordred threw the riding sword into his hand. His left arm clung to the spear shaft like a snake. The martial arts he had honed on the battlefield always managed to surprise Achilles in unexpected places.

With a surge of power, the Meteor Spear penetrated even deeper into Mordred's body. Achilles' body slammed uncontrollably downwards, crimson magic swirling around his arm armor. With a burst of power from Mordred, Achilles, unable to gain leverage in mid-air, was blasted high into the sky by the immense force of the dragon.

"Gotcha! Give it to me, and let it fly to heaven!!"

Without a single gap, the instant the punch ended, Mordred stomped on the King's Sword, which returned to his hand. Crimson lightning crackled across the blade, and the surging magic sent all the rubble flying in mid-air.

"Now you can't run away, can you?"

This is the evil sword that destroyed my father, a betrayal of my magnificent father! —Clarent Blood Arthur

With Mordred's heart-wrenching roar, crimson magic soared into the sky, ominous lightning swirled upwards with the magical storm, and a light completely opposite to the Sword of Victory annihilated everything. Crimson breath, as Mordred pressed down, engulfed Achilles in mid-air.

Achilles' figure was captured by the viscous magic. Light flowed like a torrent, and lightning lashed like a long snake. The surging crimson split the shattered church in two. The extremely compressed magic ignited everything in its path as it rubbed against each other. The magic was still surging, and even the frontline reporter, Shishikage Kairi, was momentarily stunned by the berserk nature of his servant.