Suddenly, the greater grail within Akatsuki's body resonated with the greater grail in the Great Underground Cavern. From Akatsuki's perspective, there was a flash of blinding white light, followed by a sensation of weightlessness.
Her soul detached from her body, drawn downward by a gentle force.
She did not resist this force. Following the spiritual veins beneath Fuyuki City, Akatsuki felt as if she had returned to two hundred years ago, to the time when the first Holy Grail War had just begun.
The Holy Grail could only grant one person's wish. The original cooperative relationship turned into mutual slaughter: foreign Magicians, the Three Founding Families who established the Fuyuki City Holy Grail War, and Servants who disobeyed orders because they lacked command spells.
The First Holy Grail War, the Second Holy Grail War, the Third Holy Grail War, the Fourth Holy Grail War, and the Fifth Holy Grail War that Akatsuki had experienced.
Memories surfaced before Akatsuki's eyes like scenes from a film. At this moment, a woman who looked exactly like Irisviel was watching Akatsuki from a distance.
Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern.
Amidst a seemingly endless sea of flowers, Akatsuki gazed at Justeaze, and the other was also gazing at her.
"Are you the Master who survived until the end of the Holy Grail War?"
"In a sense, yes. But what are you? Angra Mainyu, or a pseudo-personality within the greater grail?" Akatsuki nodded, looking at the translucent Justeaze before her. The other's autonomous consciousness had long been completely eroded in the torrent of time; what remained was merely her function as the core of the greater grail.
"I am a reproduction of the individual once known as Justeaze. The Angra Mainyu you mentioned is the entity that polluted the greater grail's magical energy during the Third Holy Grail War. Don't worry, he is no longer inside the greater grail."
Akatsuki's brow furrowed. "He's gone?"
"That is correct. A few days ago, the planet's consciousness forcibly stripped him from the interior of the greater grail."
"gaia's doing?"
A hint of doubt gradually rose in Akatsuki's heart. What was that Little Loli trying to do? Come to think of it, she always seemed to be plotting something, but in the end, it was never implemented because she was accidentally killed by Akatsuki herself.
"Why did gaia strip away Angra Mainyu?"
The terminal of the greater grail shook its head slightly. "That is beyond my scope of knowledge. For the planet's will to intervene personally, it is likely because she perceived a certain ruined future."
"To prevent the destruction of the human order and stop this world from sliding into the FGO worldline..."
Recalling how that long-haired black-haired loli had acted out of character, even going so far as to submit herself to her, Akatsuki felt that the other was definitely up to no good.
Soon, Akatsuki let out a scoff. No matter what the other was planning, she was now the UO of Earth and the King of True Ancestors. If she still lost with such a setup, she would write her name backward!
"greater grail, the Fourth Holy Grail War should have been interrupted. The fact that you can speak to me in this form now is likely because of the greater grail from the Fifth Holy Grail War within my body."
"Correct."
"Then, I hereby make a wish as the victor of the Holy Grail War." Akatsuki paused. To be honest, she didn't have any particularly strong wishes at the moment, but when she saw the terminal of the grail in the form of Justeaze, an idea came to her. "Completely resurrect the individual named Justeaze."
As she spoke, Akatsuki reached out and pulled, causing the entirety of human history to appear before her and the terminal of the greater grail in the form of a history book. Finding the part concerning Justeaze, Akatsuki copied it and handed it to the terminal.
"History of Humanity?"
As the history book vanished from Akatsuki's hand, the terminal of the greater grail voiced its question. Akatsuki had nothing to hide and directly informed the terminal of the details of her transaction with this world's original the counter force.
"The ability to observe human history at any time and place, and the ability to prove it..."
The terminal of the greater grail seemed to be considering whether the contents provided by Akatsuki could fulfill her wish. After a moment, she looked up and said to Akatsuki, "There is no problem. With this, the individual named Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern should be completely resurrected."
"Then let's begin."
As the greater grail began to operate, colorful halos began to ripple around the terminal of the greater grail.
Akatsuki stood quietly in place, watching with a hint of the anticipation she used to feel when pulling a 'rainbow' in FGO. Only this time, unlike previous'spooks', the character she wanted was guaranteed to appear. The light grew more intense until a massive cocoon of light gradually formed.
A cocoon of light birthed from vast magical energy and the complete Third Magic. Within it was the great Magician named Justeaze—no, she should be called the Third Magician now... actually, that's not right either!
The Third Magician's whereabouts were unknown. It would be quite impolite to casually bestow the title of Third Magician on someone else before confirming their life or death. So, Justeaze should currently be a great Magician capable of using the Third Magic.
"The Third Magic..."
At that moment, a crack appeared in the cocoon of light, and the figure of Justeaze, wearing the Dress of Heaven, appeared within.
The Saint of Winter.
"Are you awake?"
Hearing Akatsuki's voice, Justeaze opened her eyes and looked around with a confused gaze. Her memories were currently in disarray and needed some time to be sorted out.
But Akatsuki would not give her that chance. She pulled Justeaze directly into her arms and made her move.
Without giving the other any time to think, Akatsuki wanted to completely possess this saint who had not hesitated to use herself as a living sacrifice for the sake of the path and ideals she pursued.
Staining a sacred existence with her own color—this was precisely why Akatsuki had completely resurrected Justeaze. Though, it certainly wouldn't be now; after all, once the greater grail fulfilled Akatsuki's wish, the world inside the grail also began to collapse.
Her consciousness returned to the Great Underground Cavern.
Akatsuki felt the soft sensation in her hand and turned her head to see Justeaze holding her hand.
"Ancestor Justeaze?!"
Irisviel was the first to react. As the one serving as the lesser grail for the Einzbern Family, she naturally knew the name of Justeaze, as her own appearance was designed after her.
After a brief explanation, everyone prepared to leave. The greater grail was being dismantled; without enough magical energy to sustain them, the Servants would likely disappear in about a day and a half, which should be enough time for goodbyes.
Akatsuki threw the Archer class card into the Great Underground Cavern and followed the others with Justeaze. The next time she returned would probably be ten years later.
-------------------------------
Hope you enjoy this fanfiction if you do and would like to read the next 30 chapters in advance, pls do check out my Patreon.
patreon.com/TLScarlet
Also don't forget to give me a Power Stone if you do like this fiction. Your support really motivates me to continue doing my best in translating, Thanks!!