Thanks for the invitation. I'm in Type-Moon, inheriting the legacy of Zi-O.

Nianzhuo knelt on the other side, witnessing this passing of fate. As Galahad's figure gradually disappeared, he uttered a soft sound as if puzzled.

"Galahad, Master, is it really worth it?" He didn't understand why Galahad could so casually and unhesitatingly relinquish his pride as a Heroic Spirit.

"Humility, honor, sacrifice, courage, compassion, spirituality, honesty, justice," Galahad chanted softly, as if recalling the past, ignoring his fading figure. "These are the virtues I must uphold as a knight. I swear allegiance to the King, to become his strength, even if it means embarking alone on the journey to find the Holy Grail." His eyes shone brightly, filled with pride for his knighthood and for being able to serve that King.

"Never be enraged or murder"

Never betray

• Never be cruel; grant forgiveness to those who ask for it.

Always offering assistance to women

Never Coerce a Lady

"Never get into a fight because of love or the power of words." After saying this, he looked at Nianzhuo beside him, his only disciple.

"After this, I'm counting on you." Then, she completely transformed into specks of light and dissipated into Mashu.

Then, the spirit particle transfer began—

When Nianzhuo woke up again, he and Director Mary were lying on the street. Looking at the still unconscious Mary beside him, he patted her soft face and carried her on his back. Supporting Mary's pert buttocks with one hand, Nianzhuo silently recited...

"Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. I hope Mary understands this is a necessary sacrifice..." Maintaining the buffs from Zi-O's base state, Nianzhuo began recalling the events of the first singularity. "I remember that at the beginning, Ritsuka also woke up on a street, and then received a long-range shot from the Shadow Servant Emiya. It was the Demi-Servant Mash who encountered her. Later, she met the Director who was being attacked by the Dragon Fang Soldiers." The recollection abruptly ended. Looking at the Dragon Fang Soldiers constantly emerging from the ruins, their bones still cracking, and seeing Nianzhuo and the Director surrounded, they instinctively brandished their blades and charged forward.

"A bunch of mindless familiars." With a sigh, Nian Zhuo opened his eyes again, his eyes filled with endless rage. "I've been holding back for a long time, so could you please just die for me?" His left hand instinctively clenched, drawing the Time Limit Sword.

"Time Limit Sword - Gun Form!" He then raised his hand and fired a shot at the head of a Dragon Tooth Soldier. The purple magic bullet whistled and easily shattered the Dragon Tooth Soldier's head. The soldier swayed and fell to the ground, turning into black smoke and dissipating. After a few more simple shots, more and more Dragon Tooth Soldiers crawled out of the ruins. To avoid being cut by Mary behind him, Nian Zhuo had to keep changing positions. Then, in a moment of carelessness, after smashing the head of a Dragon Tooth Soldier with the butt of his gun, several Dragon Tooth Soldiers grabbed his hands tightly. Then, the remaining Dragon Tooth Soldiers pounced on him, engulfing Nian Zhuo's figure.

"A tiny chess piece, daring to rebel," someone seemed to say from within the writhing sphere of bones.

Then, the innermost Dragon Tooth Soldier suddenly froze, then exploded into fragments of bone. Sword energy carrying the gears of time erupted from the bone sphere, shattering all the surrounding Dragon Tooth Soldiers with unparalleled force.

"Disorderly Return—" Nian Zhuo held his breath and swung the Time Limit Sword.

"Dance of the Heavens!!!"

This is the result of his training with Galahad. Nencho has now mastered some swordsmanship, going from a complete novice in physical combat to a proficient level. He can also incorporate the power of Zi-O into the Ultimate Sword and wield it.

"Phew, not bad as a warm-up. Next, I need to find Ritsuka and the others." Feeling the twisting on his back, Nian Zhuo finally smiled. "Director Mary will be awake soon too, I need to speed things up." He then accelerated across the ruins, waving as he saw two figures running towards him through his enhanced vision. It was like a farewell, like a call.

"See you in the future, Galahad, Master." She murmured these words softly.

The real battle is about to begin.

I never uphold justice, I just follow my heart.

Seeing Ritsuka and Mash rushing towards them, Nianzhuo also quickened his pace, and thus the first wave of Chaldea's team finally met here.

"Mash, you've become a Demi-Servant. It must be tough." Nianzhuo understood everything when he saw Mash's decorations and the large shield in her hand. Gently stroking her purple hair, Nianzhuo complained with a touch of heartache, "The road ahead is tough and tiring. I'm really counting on you, Mash."

“I’d be delighted to fight alongside you, Mr. Nianzhuo, and besides, it’s Mr. Galahad’s wish as well.” Mashu replied firmly, patting her chest. Just then, a rustling sound came from behind Nianzhuo, and Director Mary slowly opened her eyes.

"Hmm? Where is this..." After rubbing her eyes and looking around, Director Mary finally realized that she was in a singularity. However, the sense of security on Nian Zhuo's back made her slightly intoxicated. But seeing the two people in front of her, she still signaled to Nian Zhuo to put her down in order to maintain her authority as director.

Standing on the ground, looking at Mashu dressed in strange attire, Director Mary narrowed her eyes slightly and said in a slightly unfriendly tone.

"Hmm~ You've become a Demi-Servant, huh? Pretty capable, but why did it take you so long to succeed?" The tone was one of disappointment and frustration, clearly indicating dissatisfaction with Mash's delayed Heroic Spirit fusion. Just as Mash was about to speak, Nian Zhuo pressed down on Mary's shoulder first.

"Alright, alright~ My Master, you know Mashu was seriously injured too, and besides, we succeeded now, so don't pry. Just praise Mashu properly." Nianzhuo soothed Mary's awkward tone like a loving father comforting a child. Hearing this, Mary finally breathed a sigh of relief, turning her head towards Nianzhuo's face, her cheeks slightly flushed, and replied...

"I...I understand, Mashu. She is indeed a very capable and good girl." Our proud and aloof Director Mary was unusually frank for a moment, but then turned her sharp words towards Ritsuka.

"And then you chose a regular person to fill the gap as your Master?" Mary asked, glancing sideways at Ritsuka, who had previously embarrassed her, with a displeased tone.

"Eh? Master?" Ritsuka looked completely bewildered, then exclaimed, "Eh!!! Is it me!! No...but..." She stretched out her right hand as if to ask something, but her attention was drawn to the bright red markings on the back of her hand.

“The Command Seals on your hand are proof.” Mary still sounded annoyed. Just then, Ritsuka’s mobile terminal on her left wrist suddenly emitted a signal. After it was turned on, a magic circle with the Chaldea pattern unfolded on the ground. With a twist, Dr. Roman’s face appeared on the virtual screen.

"Finally got in touch with you. Hello, can you hear me?" Dr. Roman pleaded for a response, his voice filled with anxiety.

"Ah, Dr. Roman." Ritsuka's response clearly relieved Dr. Roman on the other end. "Ritsuka, Mashu, you two really got caught up in the spirit particle transfer." His tone was helpless, but then encouraging. "Without the help of the container, it's amazing you were able to withstand the loss of meaning." Before Ritsuka and Mashu could respond, Director Mary anxiously pushed them aside, ran to the screen, and inquired about the current situation of Chaldea with Dr. Roman.

"Why is Roman in charge?" The questioning tone clearly startled Romani on the other side of the screen, who exclaimed, "Ah, Director! Are you still alive?!"

"What do you mean?!" Mary was furious, her veins bulging. Romani's expression seemed to mock her, and she glared at him with hostility. "Hmph~ It was my servant, Nianzhuo, who saved me. Is that enough?" Then, she abruptly changed the subject, questioning the doctor, "Why are you, the head of the medical department, in that position? Where is Leif?" Mary was still worried about the professor who had helped her before Nianzhuo's arrival, concerned for his safety.

"Professor Leif's words..." Romani opposite him looked regretful. "He was right at the center of the explosion, and there's almost no chance of survival..." Upon hearing this devastating news, Mary collapsed backward as if struck by lightning, falling into a warm embrace. Looking up, she saw the reliable face of her Servant. Then, Mary tightly grasped Nian Zhuo's hand, lowered her head, and walked behind Nian Zhuo.

"The reason I'm now in command of the operation," Romani on the opposite screen continued, summarizing the dire situation, "is because there's no one here with a higher rank than me." "And what about the Master candidates?" The question originally posed by the director was now raised by Ritsuka. The director, his face ashen, gripped Nencho's hand tightly, like a drowning person grasping at a straw.

"All 47 people are in critical condition... If this continues..." Dr. Roman didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant. "How could this be..." Mary's eyes showed even greater despair, and she swayed as if she were about to collapse.

"Let's freeze all 47 people first," Nian Zhuo spoke up at that moment, repeating the director's actions from the original script verbatim, "I...I'll go and handle it right away." As the director's heroic spirit, Nian Zhuo had more authority than Doctor Roman, so the doctor immediately got up and disappeared from the screen, and the virtual screen naturally went offline.

Then Nianzhuo turned his head, looked at the swaying Mary, and pressed down on her shoulders. "Mary, listen to me. As long as people aren't dead, there's always a way to explain things. You can't bear the weight of those 47 lives, so let me bear it. I'm your servant, Nianzhuo. I'll hold the sky up if it falls. You just need to trust me." Mary's eyes gradually regained some light. She gently tugged at Nianzhuo's sleeve, as if she were relying on him for support. Mary murmured, tiptoed closer to Nianzhuo's ear, and whispered with immense anticipation...

"Then please take responsibility for me, Nianzhuo."

Little did Mashu know that upon seeing this scene, she slightly increased the pressure on her hand, and a hint of hostility flashed in her eyes.

Afterwards, Director Mary put aside her despair and loss of composure, walked to the newly established communication network, and fulfilled her duty as director to Dr. Roman. "Chaldea has lost 80% of its functions. Once communication with the outside world is restored, Chaldea will be rebuilt... That's the current situation." Dr. Roman looked at the stacks of reports in his hands, his expression also becoming serious. "Well done, Romani Archaman. Although I'm very reluctant, I'm entrusting Chaldea to you until I return." With the confidence of a director, Mary crossed her arms and handed the matter over to Dr. Roman. "However, the fusion of Heroic Spirits and humans into Demi-Servants..." The doctor glanced at Mash behind the director. "I didn't expect that the experiment could be successful now." He spoke with a tone of relief. The director, after glancing back at Mash and Ritsuka, turned back to continue issuing orders.

"From now on, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash Kyrielight will begin their investigation of Singularity F as explorers." "I wish you all success. Please contact us immediately if you encounter any emergencies." The doctor then disconnected with a congratulatory smile.

"Director, is this really alright? We could have waited for rescue here." Mashu and Ritsuka approached the director, who sighed in surprise. "Do you know how many protests the association will file against us because of this? We might even lose some benefits." Glancing at Nianzhuo, the director sighed helplessly. "So we absolutely cannot leave empty-handed this time! So even though time is tight, we're counting on you two to assist Nianzhuo and me," Mary said awkwardly after receiving their affirmative reply.

"Hmph~ I never thought I'd have to rely on the common people one day." Before she could finish speaking, the doctor's communicator rang again. Before the director could even question her, Roman shouted, "Get out of that ruin immediately!" Without explaining why, even Mashu raised her shield and yelled.

"A hostile reaction detected. This reaction is... from a Servant!" Mash looked around gravely.

Nian Zhuo narrowed his eyes and looked in one direction.

Unbeknownst to them, not far behind them, Another Rider Build peeked out with his head slightly raised.

A mocking laugh, its meaning unclear, came from the darkness.

Medusa, I'm so excited.jpg

"This hostile reaction...it's a Servant!" Mash turned to look at the end of the street, where a chilling, venomous aura still lingered. Then, Mash looked at the three people behind her, awaiting their decision.

"Let's go check it out first," Nian Zhuo decided after a moment's thought. Mashu's strength as a Servant wasn't particularly formidable, but avoiding her would put them at a greater disadvantage if they encountered other Servants. Besides...

"Quest: Defeat the Shadow Servant Lancer. And ???"

"Requirement: Protect the three main characters while also delivering the final blow to Lancer."

Reward: Ghost watch face x1

It was the system, making its presence felt again after a long absence. However, Nian Zhuo was puzzled; besides Lancer, what else was there to defeat? What was it? "Hey, system, can you provide more information, like... who is that enemy?" Nian Zhuo asked the system in his mind.

"Reporting to the host, the system has received interference from an unknown force and cannot confirm the identity of the enemy. However, the information we can provide now is that Lancer's real name is Medusa, and the gun she wields has the property of causing incurable damage. And the enemy has a connection to you, host. That's all," the system's emotionless voice echoed in his mind, then disappeared after helping Nian Zhuo reassemble his memories. No matter how much Nian Zhuo called out to it, it never reappeared.

Then, together with Mash Ritsuka and the director, the four of them ran through the streets following the aura. Since they couldn't find out the next target, they decided to eliminate the known ones first!

"By the way, why are there Servants here?" Mary asked the three of them as she ran. "Director Mary, in Fuyuki City in 2004, a special ritual called the Holy Grail War was held," Mash replied, recalling the information she had gathered in Sheba.

"The Holy Grail is considered the foundation of all magic. The mages of Fuyuki completed it, and to activate it, they summoned seven Servants. Seven Masters fought each other, and the one who survived would obtain the Holy Grail." Mash then shifted her tone, explaining with a similarly questioning tone, "However, the outcome of this Holy Grail War was not recorded. Whether the ritual succeeded or failed, the Servants' actions should have ended in obscurity."

As they explained, the four followed the scent to the riverbank. "Then, why did it turn out like this?" Mary gasped for breath, exhausted from running for so long. "..." Mary was about to say something when suddenly, Nian Zhuo reached out and forcibly stopped the four people behind her.

"What are you doing, Mr. Nianzhuo? My nose almost got hit!" Ritsuka protested softly, rubbing her nose which had nearly been bumped. She then noticed that everyone else looked serious, even the director's magic circuits were starting to ripple with magical energy, and Mash had also slightly raised her shield, ready to defend herself.

Then, Nian Zhuo raised the Time Limit Sword and swung it fiercely at a spot not far in front of him.

"Clang—" Instead of the expected air movement, a metallic clang rang out. Then, magical fluctuations gradually spread through the previously empty air.

Before they even noticed, chains had surrounded them, appearing out of thin air. Dozens of chains, like the forked tongues of venomous snakes, twisted and locked them in a confined space. Then, like venomous snakes, they slowly wriggled and flicked their tongues as they lunged towards Ritsuka.

Ritsuka was quickly pulled back by the director from behind. Although she tripped and fell, it was much luckier than being entangled in chains. A woman's complaint drifted from the air.

"Ah, what a pity... such a fresh prey escaped." From the high ground beside the shore, the group looked up and saw a snake-like figure appear in what had been an empty spot.

The woman wore a black robe, but it was tattered and worn. Her long, shapely legs and snow-white chest starkly highlighted her presence. Although her face was veiled by the robe's hood, it was still visible—a captivatingly alluring face, mature and full of charm, like a sophisticated older sister. Her golden eyes shimmered with magical light, but the square shapes within her pupils defied expectations. Long, flowing purple hair reached her waist, adding to her allure. She appeared as a beautiful yet dangerous woman, like a venomous snake.

"Two unfamiliar Servants and two unfamiliar Masters," she counted the four people below, as if selecting her dinner for the day. "Ah~ how fresh and delicious!"

"A Servant!" Mash shouted as she rushed forward, raising her shield to protect Ritsuka and the Director behind her. "But, I can't see her Master." Ritsuka, still not realizing the strange situation of this singularity, was wondering if the Servant's Master was hiding. "This world is already in chaos. It's not surprising to see Servants who don't need Masters here." As if reminding her, Mary's body was also surrounded by magical light. She made a gun-like gesture with one hand, which was the starting stance for (Yin Qi Bullet). Nian Zhuo looked at the woman opposite him without speaking, and then waved his hand to take out the Build Watch for future use.

The Servant seemed to disregard everyone, simply wandering around. It was then that the four noticed the numerous humanoid stone sculptures on the surface, with Lancer intimately embracing the neck of one of the sculptures.

The stone sculpture had a seaweed-like hairstyle, and the lingering fear on its face before its transformation was vividly portrayed. Lancer intimately embraced his neck, her gesture devoid of allure, only sending a chill down everyone's spine.

“That…that stone sculpture…” Ritsuka stammered, but this time it was Mary who reacted first. “Ah, it should have been a human, but unfortunately, that Servant turned it into stone.” Looking at the stone sculpture, which looked to be at least twenty people, a hint of fear flashed in Mary’s eyes. “Why…why would she do such a thing?” Ritsuka, who was originally from the world of ordinary people, still couldn’t understand her motives.

"What's wrong~" This time, it was the servant above who answered her. "Isn't it my prerogative to deal with whatever trespasses into my hunting grounds~" Then, with a forceful pull from the arm around the seaweed-headed man, the stone sculpture's head was ripped off, and blood spurted into the air.

Second Master died again (wait, why did I say "again"?)

Seeing this inhumane scene, only Nianzhuo remained unmoved, while the other three sensitive girls felt genuine fear. However, they quickly regained their composure and truly regarded the Servant in front of them as an enemy.

"Don't worry," it was Lancer again, as if she had them completely under her thumb. Lancer leisurely looked down at the poised crowd, a pleased smile playing on her lips. "It's just the loss of one prey... but now we have four more." She licked the bloodstains on her cheek with her slicked-back tongue, looking both alluring and beautiful, but now only leaving Nian Zhuo with deep hostility.

"Looks like we have no choice but to fight her." Mash held her shield horizontally, protecting Mary and Ritsuka behind her. Unexpectedly, her teammates immediately mocked her. "You mean fighting..." Ritsuka looked at Mash's slender frame. "Are you sure you can handle it?" Director Mary also expressed some distrust; after all, this was the first case of a Servant fusing with a human, and their exact strength was unknown. Mash, on the other hand, wore a confident expression.

"It's alright, Mr. Nianzhuo is here." Then, her expression turned serious, and Mash leaned towards Lancer, shield in hand.

"Ah~ How brave, and so innocent." A blatant taunt, Lancer's disdain deepened as she looked at Mashu's slender body and stiff movements. "Is this your first time participating in a battle from here?" Wielding her long hooked blade, Lancer's eyes turned crimson. "Then, as your senior, let me teach you a lesson." Then, reflecting the silver light gleaming on the hooked blade, Lancer looked at the shield-wielding girl before her and angrily declared, "Watch your words! From the moment you said you wanted to fight, that action began!" Lancer then leaped high into the air, her figure transforming into purple magical particles and dissipating on the spot.

The next second, before Mashu's wide eyes, the purple particles re-condensed into Lancer's alluring figure. Then, with immense force, Lancer swung her long hooked blade at the giant shield in front of the girl.

A deafening clang of metal clashing echoed through the area, sending dirt flying as the two weapons collided. Lancer then used a twisting motion to flip his weapon, unleashing another powerful strike, like a python's tail, slashing fiercely at Mash's massive shield.

The combo continued, each strike like a giant hammer pounding on Mash's shield-wielding hand. Sweat poured down Mash's face, and the pressure on her hands grew heavier. Lancer, on the other hand, wore an increasingly gleeful smile.

"You're fighting hard~ Very good~ But be careful, my spear is the spear that destroys the undead." While launching a series of attacks, he nonchalantly revealed his Noble Phantasm to the enemy. "A wound inflicted by this spear will never heal~ Not even a miracle that can completely heal the flesh can~" Two more thrusts followed, then Lancer held his long hooked blade horizontally at his waist, using the momentum from twisting his body to slam it against the giant shield in front of Mash. "Understand! If you fail to block even once," he slammed the butt of his spear against the shield, sparks flying. "Then you'll only ever be a failed Servant for the rest of your life!" With the next two consecutive attacks, Mash finally showed a slight stiffness, and Lancer, of course, wouldn't let this opportunity pass, reversing his hooked blade to slash at Mash's head, which was hiding behind the shield.

"Thank you, you're great." The man behind her pushed her back, wielding the Time Limit Sword that shimmered with golden light. Nian Zhuo slashed at the purple-haired heroic spirit in front of him. "Call me next. I already know the information about this woman!"

"ZIO GiLiGiLi Slash!" "If you don't block this attack, you'll die!" Lancer was shocked to see the Heroic Spirit she hadn't paid much attention to earlier. Not wanting to strain her body by suddenly stopping, she flipped her spear to meet Nencho's slash.

The next second, the purple-clad figure was sent flying, crashing heavily into the ground above, kicking up a cloud of dust; her fate was unknown.

I really don't have a single drop left.

As the smoke cleared, Lancer's figure still stood there.

However, her situation was far from optimistic. Her already tattered black robes were now in complete disarray, exposing her snow-white legs and chest to a dangerous degree. Her once alluring face was now covered in dust from rolling on the ground. Wielding her hooked blade, Medusa looked down at the nameless heroic spirit below the stage who had ceased his actions.

"You're so clueless, man!" Medusa complained through gritted teeth, her eyes flashing with anger. "Didn't you see me fulfilling my duty as a senior Heroic Spirit to teach that purple-haired girl how to fight?" She waved her hand dismissively, as if truly concerned for her junior. "To get involved at such a crucial moment~" She swung her hooked blade in a circle, reassuming a fighting stance, the tip pointing at the man who had humiliated her. Medusa licked her lips, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

"How many more surprises can you bring me~ Unknown Heroic Spirit, state your name~"