That evening, Fujimaru went to the training hall to observe Mash's session under Cú Chulainn's tutelage. Before even entering, the deafening sound of explosions echoed down the corridor. Every time Cú Chulainn's fire Runes collided with Mash's shield, a thunderous blast shook the room.
"You're losing your grip. Training ends now," Cú Chulainn declared with absolute finality. His gaze was sharp, reflecting the uncompromising sternness of a veteran warrior.
Across from him, Mash was gasping for air. Her body was visibly pushed to its absolute limit, yet she refused to fall. She forced herself to stand tall behind her massive shield, its surface heavily scorched by his relentless blasts.
"I... I can still keep going. Please, continue," Mash pleaded between heavy breaths, her voice straining but fueled by unyielding resolve.
Cú Chulainn let out a long sigh. A brief flicker of reluctance crossed his eyes as he looked at the girl's stubbornness. But as her mentor, he knew her limits better than she did.
"Leaving me no other choice, huh? Fine then. I'll just have to force you to rest."
Without the slightest warning, dozens of Rune Arrows materialized around his hand. In the blink of an eye, the magical projectiles swerved through the air, bypassing her shield entirely to strike her blind spots with terrifying accuracy. The resulting volley of magical detonations broke her stance instantly, sending her crashing to the ground, unconscious before she even hit the floor.
When Mash's consciousness slowly returned, the first thing she registered was a dull, heavy ache radiating through her entire body. She found herself resting at the edge of the cold training hall. Fujimaru stood right beside her, watching her with a deeply concerned gaze.
"You're awake, Mash. You pushed yourself far too hard," Fujimaru gently reprimanded, his voice laced with genuine care.
Wincing slightly, Mash forced herself into a sitting position, her vision still a bit blurry from the dizzying magical impacts.
"I am... incredibly weak compared to Senpai," Mash replied, her breathing still ragged. Yet, despite her exhaustion, an unwavering resolve burned brightly in her eyes. "That is exactly why I must train to my absolute limit."
Hearing that, Fujimaru fell silent. He observed her closely, his expression growing deeply serious as his gaze softened, as if his mind had drifted away into a distant, cherished memory.
"You remind me of an old friend of mine," Fujimaru finally said, breaking the quiet. "She fought wielding dual shields. You two are quite similar... especially in how much you both tend to undervalue yourselves."
A faint, deeply nostalgic smile touched Fujimaru's lips. "She was loud, relentlessly cheerful, and genuinely funny. But she was always the one standing at the absolute vanguard to hold off the enemy. Perhaps that was why she chose to wield two shields. It made her incredibly difficult to damage, even if it made it much harder for her to go on the offensive."
Fujimaru glanced briefly at Mash's massive cross-shield before meeting her eyes with a warm look. "In the end, she was purely a shield, not a sword. But... as long as she was there on the frontline, it felt completely impossible for any of us to get hurt."
Mash listened closely in silence, her eyes reflecting a mix of deep curiosity and slight confusion.
"Why... are you telling me this?" she asked softly.
Fujimaru stepped forward, clarifying the meaning behind the story. "Because we want you to focus purely on protecting us. Leave the attacking and the counterstrikes to us. Remember, Mash... you are not a sword meant to strike down enemies, but a sturdy shield meant to protect us all," Fujimaru said, his voice gentle yet filled with a comforting firmness.
Mash bowed her head for a moment, quietly digesting the weight of those words. The invisible burden that had been pressing down on her shoulders seemed to lift bit by bit. Slowly, she raised her face and looked at them with utmost earnestness.
"I understand. But... is it still alright if I keep calling you 'Senpai'?"
Fujimaru offered a faint smile, a genuine warmth touching his heart at the endearingly innocent question.
"Of course you can," Fujimaru replied with reassuring certainty. He then reached into his pouch and handed her a small glass vial filled with a faintly glowing red liquid. "Now, drink up. This is a Minor Healing Potion, it will help ease the pain."
Fujimaru pulled out a glass vial filled with a deep, blood-red potion and handed it to her. Without a single moment of hesitation, Mash accepted it and drank it down. The very second the magical liquid passed her throat, a deeply refreshing sensation rushed through her veins, instantly washing away the pain and heavy exhaustion from every muscle in her body.
"This potion is incredible... Thank you so much, Senpai," Mash said with genuine gratitude. Her eyes sparkled once more, reflecting an immense sense of relief as her stamina rapidly returned.
"Don't mention it," Fujimaru replied with a warm smile. "Get some rest. I'll see you later."
He then turned and walked away at a gentle pace. He deliberately left Mash alone in the training hall, giving her the quiet space and peace she needed to properly recover after such a grueling session.
The quiet morning following the recent events, Fujimaru walked toward the library. In a secluded corner of the room, he spotted Medusa quietly reading a thick tome. Stacks of books towered around her, forming a makeshift barricade that isolated her from the outside world. She was without her usual blindfold; her cursed Mystic Eyes were wide open, completely absorbed in the pages before her.
However, the moment she heard approaching footsteps, Medusa gave a slight start and hurriedly tied the cloth back over her eyes.
"Master... do you require something?" she asked softly, careful not to disturb the tranquility of the room.
"No, I was just looking for a place to read," Fujimaru replied casually, stepping closer.
"In that case, I shall retreat to my room," Medusa said, promptly closing her book and rising from her chair to leave.
"Wait, there's no need for that. Unless my presence bothers you, of course," Fujimaru said, stopping her with a reassuring tone.
Medusa paused, visibly hesitant. "No... not at all," she replied softly, awkwardly taking her seat once more.
Taking a seat nearby, Fujimaru added, "You don't need to wear that blindfold either. I am immune to the effects of your eyes."
Medusa looked deeply conflicted at the statement. Very slowly, she reached up and untied the cloth, tentatively shifting her gaze toward Fujimaru. Her cursed eyes, capable of petrifying anything in their sight, locked onto them yet nothing happened. The lethal effect was completely nullified; to Fujimaru, it felt like nothing more than an ordinary person's gaze.
Turning away, Fujimaru reached out toward an entirely empty space on the bookshelf in front of them. There was nothing there, yet a book suddenly manifested in their hand, as if pulled directly from the shadows themselves. Medusa's eyes widened in sheer astonishment not just at the casual display of spatial magic, but at the cover of the book they were now holding.
It was no ordinary piece of literature. The cover was forged from faintly glowing Red Jade, framed by an intricate inlay of emerald-green Tsavorite gemstones bordering its edges. The object looked incredibly majestic and regal, radiating ancient magical pressure like a rare artifact she had never witnessed in all of history.
Driven by an intense curiosity, the Rider stepped closer. She narrowed her eyes, attempting to decipher the strange symbols engraved on the jade cover. However, instead of human language or ancient Runes, all she saw was a chaotic string of characters that made her head spin slightly:
'Scdwopes/dsmaSDsa!swamkc:SAOKl;dsakcsmi#sadsnCknj~csxzmiaKQ'
"Is something wrong?"
The voice suddenly shifted. He looked at Medusa with a hint of surprise, noticing the flustered change in his Servant's expression.
Medusa blinked, immediately averting her gaze from the book. "It is nothing. It is just... the book you are holding is far too complex for me to comprehend," Medusa replied, lowering her head with a faint blush of embarrassment for getting caught peeking.
"I see," Fujimaru nodded in understanding, realizing that the high-tier grimoire likely had its own mental defense mechanisms. He then glanced at the other book Medusa had been holding. "And what is it that you are reading, Medusa?"
Medusa's composure returned. She held up the simpler-covered book so her Master could see it. "Lord of the Mysteries," she answered softly, her tone carrying a glimmer of pride in her reading choice.
Fujimaru's consciousness drifted back to the surface, responding to the title with enthusiastic, shining eyes. "Ah! That's a highly fascinating fantasy novel. I've actually been interested in the story for a while."
Seeing her Master's interest, Medusa gave a small nod. With a quick, graceful motion, she offered the book to Fujimaru. "Please, go ahead and read it, Master. It seems this is the only copy available in this library."
Fujimaru accepted the novel with enthusiasm, but after a brief moment, he realized his intrusion and gently handed it back to his Servant. "Ah, my apologies. I didn't mean to take your reading material away from you."
"It is fine. I have already finished reading it," Medusa replied with a very faint smile, trying her best to conceal a fleeting hint of disappointment in her eyes at losing her source of entertainment.
Noticing this subtle shift, Fujimaru thought for a moment. He reached his hand back into the empty void beside him. Another spatial distortion rippled, and he pulled out a different book. This one was simpler in design than the first, yet it still radiated an incredibly pure, cosmic aura. Its cover was crafted from soothing Aquamarine, bordered by the bright gleam of Yellow Topaz stones.
"This is for you. It's titled Duality of Universe, written by an entity known as The Omniscience One," Fujimaru said, handing the exquisite tome over to Medusa. "Don't worry, I have another copy in my storage."
Medusa's eyes lit up once more. She accepted the book with deep appreciation and slowly opened its first page, hoping to find a story just as captivating. However, as her eyes attempted to scan the pages, her enthusiasm evaporated without a trace. Her expression grew lethargic and defeated. She slowly closed the book and placed it resignedly on her lap.
"Is something wrong?" Fujimaru asked, puzzled by Medusa's drastic shift in demeanor.
Medusa lowered her head deeply. "I... cannot read a single word of this," the Rider replied with a heavy tone of absolute despair.
Fujimaru let out a soft sigh, an understanding smile forming on his face. He finally realized the root of the problem. It wasn't merely the complexity of the book's language; it was the blindfold that constantly restricted the Rider's vision an absolute seal necessary to contain her cursed Mystic Eyes.
"I see. In that case, try wearing these," Fujimaru said gently.
From the inner pocket of his coat, he pulled out a beautifully crafted pair of glasses. The frames were engraved with mesmerizing and elegant protective runic patterns, emitting a subtle, soothing wave of suppressive magic.
"These mystic-sealing glasses are specifically designed to suppress the curse within your eyes," Fujimaru explained. "With them, you won't need to wear that blindfold anymore. Whether it is to read a book... or simply to look at the world freely."
Medusa froze. Her breath hitched as she stared at the small object offered to her. The hand she slowly reached out to take the glasses trembled slightly. The moment her fingertips brushed against the elegant frame, her fragile defenses crumbled. A single teardrop escaped from beneath her blindfold, trailing down her pale cheek.
For someone who had isolated herself in darkness for so long, plagued by the eternal fear of hurting others with a mere glance, this simple gift was an invaluable miracle.
"This... this is far too much for me, Master," Medusa whispered, her voice quivering. Her heart was overwhelmed by an immense wave of emotion and profound gratitude.
Seeing his normally stoic Servant appearing so fragile and overwhelmed, Fujimaru chose not to prolong the conversation. He deeply understood that Medusa needed space to process her own feelings.
He slowly stood up from his chair. "Use them however you like. It seems I should take my leave for now," Fujimaru said warmly. He offered a comforting farewell smile before turning to leave the room.
His footsteps gradually faded away and disappeared down the corridor, leaving the Rider alone to absorb a newfound freedom she couldn't possibly articulate with words. The library returned to its tranquil silence, leaving behind a peace that now felt far warmer than before.
The automated announcement echoed clearly throughout the facility's speakers. "Candidate Number 48 Ritsuka Fujimaru, your presence is requested in the Chaldea command room immediately."
Hearing the summons, Fujimaru wasted no time. They quickly made their way to the command room, joining the staff and their peers who were already waiting. Their arrival completed the assembly, signaling that the operation was ready to commence.
"Alright," Olga Marie said, standing tall before the main monitors with a commanding presence. "Let us begin this briefing."
She took a deep breath before continuing. "We have just conducted a global scan using the newly reactivated SHEBA observation lens. The results have confirmed one crucial fact: the threat we are currently facing is not located on the Earth of the future, but rather, the Earth of the past."
The screens behind her shifted, displaying rapidly scrolling data. "Although the Fuyuki Singularity was successfully resolved, the future of humanity has not been restored. Our hypothesis confirms that this is due to other prevailing factors," she explained, her tone grave. "Our latest findings reveal severe distortions across the world map, along with the emergence of new dimensional fluctuations that match, or perhaps even exceed, the scale of Fuyuki."
Olga locked eyes with the room, ensuring everyone grasped the sheer weight of her words. "These points are the very foundation of human history. If these anomalies destroy these foundational eras, human history itself will collapse. We refer to these lethal anomalies as the 7 Singularities."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
"These seven Singularities hold the key to our continued existence. If we can correct the distortions in each era, we can restore history to its proper course," Olga continued. "Our primary mission is absolute: to protect and restore human history. To do this, we must reclaim the Holy Grail from each era. This operation to save humanity... shall be designated as the Grand Order."
The main screen shifted once more, displaying a map of medieval Europe. "Your first destination is France, 1431 AD," Olga Marie's voice echoed, cutting through the heavy tension in the room. "You will be dropping right into the heart of the Hundred Years' War, one of the bloodiest periods in European history, shortly after the execution of the Holy Maiden, Jeanne d'Arc. It is an era consumed by despair, and the anomaly there threatens to swallow the entire century."
With the briefing officially concluded, a momentary hush fell over the facility before the sound of footsteps broke it. Fujimaru leading the team Mash, Cú Chulainn, Archer, and Medusa walked steadily forward, moving past Chaldea's technicians who were frantically inputting the final calibration codes.
The massive globe of CHALDEAS spun silently in the background, emitting a dim glow as a silent witness to their departure. Upon reaching the row of prepared Coffins, the indicator lights above their designated pod shifted to a solid green. The thick, heavily armored steel doors slowly unlocked and slid open with a weighty mechanical grind.
A sharp hiss of depressurization pierced the air, immediately followed by a thick, billowing plume of frigid air the byproduct of the Spiritron conversion cooling systems washing directly over Fujimaru's face. The atmosphere inside the pod was freezing, carrying the faint, sterile scent of ozone and chilled metal. Taking one last deep breath, Fujimaru steeled their resolve, ready to dive into the distant past.
The heavy, armored capsule doors slowly unlocked and hissed open simultaneously, releasing sharp pressurized sighs and thick plumes of frigid vapor from the Spiritron conversion systems.
Just before they stepped into the freezing, sterile confines of the pods, Olga Marie looked at each of their faces from behind her main control console.
"I wish you all the best of luck," Olga said one final time. Her voice was steady and authoritative, yet for those listening closely, a genuine flicker of concern and heartfelt hope lay hidden beneath the Director's stern exterior.
The Coffin doors sealed shut, and the Rayshift procedure was initiated. The automated system announcement echoed through the command room, reciting the protocol with mechanical precision.
"Unsummon Program, initialized. Spiritron Conversion, initialized. Commencing Rayshift in 3... 2... 1..." The lights in the command room flickered as a massive surge of energy coursed through the facility.
"Grand Order, commencing operations."
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Following the defeat of Flauros, a chilling void permeated a massive temple nestled within an alternate dimension a hollow space entirely severed from the fabric of space and time that governs the primary reality of the universe.
The temple was filled with towering pillars, though their forms were far from sacred. They were massive, grotesque columns of flesh and tentacles that writhed erratically, constantly pulsating as if they were a single, abhorrent living organism.
These demonic pillars communicated with one another in bizarre, restless whispers. Their voices overlapped and clashed, creating a shrieking drone that echoed like a cursed choir from an infinitely darker dimension.
"I... have failed... I was bested by a mere mortal," Flauros reported, his voice echoing with profound frustration and shame amidst the sea of pillars.
"However, I managed to extract information regarding the culprit," Flauros continued, his tone darkening. "And he left behind a message... He swore that one day, he would come to this very place himself."
Hearing the report, the surrounding pillars of flesh violently trembled. The previously overlapping whispers morphed into a chorus of mocking laughter shrieking, rumbling, and hissing sounds that merged into a single, deafening cosmic sneer.
"A mortal... dares to threaten this temple?" whispered one pillar with a mocking tone.
"Foolishness... Absurd arrogance," another pillar responded, its tentacles writhing in utter disgust. "They do not even realize that their history is being reduced to ash at this very second."
However, amidst the chaotic cacophony, an unimaginably heavy magical pressure suddenly descended upon the hall, crushing reality itself. All seventy-two demonic pillars instantly fell silent, bowing obediently in absolute stillness.
At the far end of the darkened void, upon a throne radiating a corrupted golden light, a majestic figure spoke. The voice was not loud, yet it resonated directly within the very core of every entity present, carrying absolute authority.
"You are all components of a far greater design. I shall scatter you across every existing Singularity," the entity commanded. "Destroy them! Leave no one alive who might impede our grand objective!"
The voice resonated, enforcing the edict with a pressure that made the surrounding air feel unbearably thick and suffocating. The listening pillars, despite their underlying terror, dared not offer a single word of defiance. They understood this was an inescapable will.
"If anyone proves strong enough to oppose us, they must be annihilated without mercy," the voice continued, laced with a restrained, lethal wrath. "None shall be permitted to live. You will bring utter defeat to any who stand against us, or you yourselves shall taste the agony of destruction."
"By Your absolute will..." the demonic pillars answered in a unified drone, their combined voices trembling with profound dread. They knew the perilous nature of this decree, but there was no choice but absolute obedience.
With those final words, the grotesque temple began to rumble. The colossal tentacled pillars writhed faster, their movements growing wildly erratic and chaotic. They were mobilizing to execute the edict they had just been given, ready to descend upon the annals of time and plunge human history into unyielding terror.