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

"Logically, the host should have completely disappeared because the spirit core was crushed."

"So, I guess I really did have a stroke of good luck?" Nian Zhuo clenched his somewhat weak palm, and vaguely saw that his hand had become slightly transparent. "Then I really am... lucky."

"No, that's not it." The system's voice shattered Nianzhuo's illusion. "It was your Master who used the Command Seal. The timing was also coincidental. Right after she used the Command Seal, your Soul Core was damaged by the compression, and the magic power of that Command Seal just happened to save your life."

"But—!" The system's voice suddenly became loud and sharp. "The host's spirit core has already been slightly shattered. If it suffers a full-force attack like that of a berserker, it will shatter completely. As for the consequences—the host knows them well."

"Completely disappear...?" Nian Zhuo clenched his weak palm, his expression hidden in the shadows.

"That's really... I'm counting on you."

-------------------------------------------------- ----

Ahhh~ I'm still a little scared.

Yesterday was quite a strange day. I got into a classmate's dad's car (I'm a high school sophomore) and then went to see the high school entrance exam venue, lol.

Luckily, everyone in the group advised me, otherwise the author might have been in danger? Well, I guess it's probably not that bad.

And also, for those of you who were lucky enough to hear our singing in the group today, how was your mother's voice? (laughs)

(The author has something to say that I can't put down, so it's okay if it doesn't count.)

Okay, next up is Qi's... oh no, lumberjack time.

While Nianzhuo was having a very 'intense' debate with the system in his mind, the demonic shadows dwelling in the forest had been completely wiped out by Mashu and the others under Ritsuka's instructions.

"Although I don't know what happened, I'll offer incense to those demonic shadows first." Nian Zhuo picked up a few branches and stuck them in the ground, silently mourning for the demonic beasts affected by the incident for a few seconds.

Watching Drake and the others gradually disappear into the distance, Nian Zhuo moved his body, which still felt like it was being torn apart, and couldn't help but purse his lips.

"Forget it, let's follow them and see, but we have to be discreet..." Then, keeping a distance that Mashu and the others couldn't detect, Nianzhuo quietly followed behind them, heading into the depths of the jungle.

"So, Captain Drake, why did our ship lose to that Blackbeard's ship?" Mash asked, raising her hand as she looked at Drake, who was inspecting the timber one by one.

"The ship's performance isn't that different, the problem lies in the thickness of the armor." Drake tapped on a tall tree in front of him, then shook his head dejectedly. "This won't work either..."

“Yes.” Mash, who had been holding off Blackbeard’s fire, nodded in agreement. “Our shells have been completely ineffective.” Then, Mash activated her communicator. “…Director Mary, we have time now. So please give us detailed information about Blackbeard. Although I know a little about him, Chaldea’s information is probably more accurate, isn’t it?”

"Um~ Please wait a moment, Mashu." Rubbing her slightly sore eyes, Mary smiled and looked away from the familiar Spirit Origin reaction following Mashu not far away on the screen. She picked up the Blackbeard file that she had tossed aside and began to read it. "Well, alright. Let me tell you about the detailed information about Blackbeard."

“Blackbeard was a pirate born a century after the era of Francis Drake, who is right beside you. His real name was Edward Teach. He was one of the pirates who controlled the Caribbean. When attacking ships, as long as they did not resist, they could leave safely, but if they resisted, they would all be killed.” As she spoke, she turned the page of the document in her hand. “He used Nassau as his base and sailed his beloved ship with impunity in the waters between Virginia and Honduras. As for his beloved ship…” Mary turned the page again.

“My beloved ship… I remember it had a name.” Mashu lowered her eyelids, her beautiful purple pupils gleaming with thoughtful light.

“Yes, that’s right.” Mashu immediately noticed the circled name: “The Queen Anne’s Revenge. He had a crew of three hundred. He built a large fleet around that ship, making him one of the strongest and worst pirates, ruling over this sea.” Then, the information reached the last page, and although Mary remained calm, she still read it with a smile.

"But in the end, he was still beheaded." Recalling the pirate's appearance and behavior on screen, Mary still felt a chill run down her spine. "...And such a great pirate...I never imagined he would..."

"...Please don't continue." For the first time, even the usually good-natured Mash couldn't help but show a look of disgust. "I don't really want to recall that Servant."

“I’ve already erased that guy’s existence from my mind, okay?” Euryale proudly raised her head, then looked at the communication device in Mashu’s hand. “By the way, what did you just say?”

"Hmm." Drake, his teeth itching at the mere mention of that name, said, "While all pirates are trash, there's something even worse than that trash, the so-called King of Trash. That must be what he's referring to." Then, turning to the group behind him, Drake suddenly bowed his head. "I'm truly sorry, everyone. As a fellow pirate, I offer my sincerest apologies."

"Ah..." Everyone was startled by Drake's sudden action. In the end, Ritsuka waved her hand to indicate that it was okay. "After all, Captain Drake is also a victim. I know how you feel, so forget about all of this."

“Ah… Fujimaru Ritsuka…” Then, Drake grabbed Ritsuka’s shoulders with shining eyes, watching her orange hair sway in front of him. “You’re such a nice woman… You can definitely become a great pirate! I, as a pirate, promise you!”

"Well, Director Mary," Mashu said, ignoring Ritsuka who was being shaken so badly her eyes were practically round from being rocked, still focused on gathering information about her. "Does he have any anecdotes about him that could potentially become a Noble Phantasm?"

“While there are indeed a few that fit the criteria…” After flipping through the data and finding no more information, Mary shook her head and tossed it onto the table. “However, I’m more inclined to believe that the ship is his Noble Phantasm. Chaldea measured the magical energy fluctuations during that battle, and aside from the whirlwind that Nen no Tsuru unleashed at the end, the ship’s fluctuations were the strongest.” As she spoke, Mary looked with a touch of melancholy at Drake, who was shaking Ritsuka.

"Perhaps it's because of the Holy Grail, but the magical power on Captain Drake's Golden Deer was also measured to be comparable to that of a Noble Phantasm... but even so, it still couldn't surpass the value of that ship..."

“Fu…” Fufu lowered her head listlessly.

Upon hearing his own name and the name of his ship, Drake returned to his usual self.

“Hmm… I don’t really understand magic or fluctuations,” Drake scratched his cheek, trying to understand what Mary was saying. “So, my ship can’t beat that guy?”

"I'm afraid that's how it is..." Faced with the facts, Mash could only nod.

"Ugh..." Sure enough, Drake gritted his teeth upon hearing this conclusion.

"Ah, wait a minute." Suddenly as if she had noticed something, Mary asked Mash and the others curiously, "Before you cut the ropes and escaped, did anything happen? Like causing any damage to the other side or something?"

"Ah!" Mashu tapped her hands. "I remember back then... it was Mr. Nianzhuo who defeated Blood Axe King Eric."

"Oh right. Hmm." Just now, Mary was sulking because of Nian Zhuo's actions, and only then did she realize that Nian Zhuo had defeated Blood Axe King Eric. "I have also confirmed that he has been completely destroyed." Comparing the magical fluctuations before and after Blood Axe King Eric's spirit origin reaction disappeared, Mary couldn't help but let out a surprised laugh.

"...Ah, so that's how it is!"

"What's wrong? Director Mary, have you found something?" Mashu curiously turned her attention back to the communication device.

"Hmm." Mary nodded with absolute confidence, unable to suppress a triumphant smile. "In other words, it seems that Blackbeard's Noble Phantasm—that ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge—is likely to increase in strength the stronger its subordinates become."

"..." Mashu couldn't help but show a surprised expression.

“The ship’s magic noticeably weakened the moment you defeated Eric.” Mary smiled triumphantly after confirming the facts. “It remained in that state until they lost track of you.”

"So, in other words—" This was the first time Mash had encountered such a Noble Phantasm, and it took her a little longer to understand it. "The more Servants a ship has, the stronger the ship becomes?"

"Including Blackbeard, there were five Servants on that ship," Mary said confidently. "After Eric was defeated, there are now four left."

"Could it be that they want Euryale..." Mash couldn't help but look at Euryale's curious expression.

Indeed, judging by common sense, among those present, excluding those whose spiritual origins cannot be calculated according to common sense, only Euryale's Spirit Origin is of the highest level. Of course, although the strength of her Servants is questionable...

“Maybe it’s because they’ll become stronger if they let her on board.” However, recalling Blackbeard’s infatuated expression, Mary pursed her lips. “...But based on a woman’s intuition, it’s one hundred percent his own interest.”

"It would be great if we could separate the Servant from the ship smoothly, but that would be difficult." Mash frowned in distress, knowing that the other side must have thought of the methods that they could think of as well.

“Yes, after all, this is the first time I’ve ever encountered such a simple-minded obstacle.” Mary pinched her brow, genuinely annoyed by the guy. “He clearly knows nothing about the situation, yet he’s hindering our exploration of the Holy Grail!”

“Oh, that’s what pirates are like,” Drake retorted. “No matter how good the other person is, they only care about plundering treasure.”

"...Since it's difficult to separate them, we have no choice but to defeat them head-on." Recalling Nian Zhuo's previous appearance, Mash couldn't help but tighten her grip on the shield. "The best strategy is to defeat that Servant before he gains even greater combat power than he does now."

“I see. So, the best defense is a good offense. —Hmm?” Mary suddenly asked, puzzled. “We detected several life forms reacting on your island.” Mary then amplified the reactions, comparing them with Chaldea's own reactive wavebands, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. “They look like wyverns. Be careful!”

Not far away, a green bipedal dragon was rapidly flapping its wings and flying towards them.

"Well, I guess I kind of miss them." Ritsuka looked at the approaching wyverns, recalling memories of the previous singularities, and waved to them. "So, everyone, I'm counting on you! It's time to fight!"

"Understood, Master!" Without another word, Mash appeared in front of Ritsuka the next moment and raised her shield.

"Haha! Those scum dragons again!" Drake gritted his teeth and drew his flintlock pistol. "Perfect! I'm still burning with anger because of that guy! I'll take it out on you guys!"

“…Hmm.” Asterius, on the other hand, was more straightforward, raising his two large axes as if ready to throw them at any moment.

"Alright, alright, Asterius, don't aggravate your wounds, okay?" Euryale patted the berserker's shoulder, then took out the Golden Bow. "Perfect timing! As a goddess, I haven't yet tested the strength of those dragons, so let me have a go!"

“…” Nian Zhuo, who was squatting in a tree not far away, silently jumped to the ground and picked up a few more branches.

"Offer incense to the two-legged dragons, so they may be reborn as good dragons." Nian Zhuo planted the incense in the ground and quietly peeked out from the grass.

"No matter what, I'm still a little worried..." Nianzhuo sighed as he watched them fight hard.

However, just as he was about to stand up, his body stiffened again.

"Ugh—ah—" What did it feel like? In that instant, I felt as if I had fallen into endless darkness, followed by a pain that was enough to tear my skin and break my bones.

"Is it... not over yet...?!" Squatting on the ground, Nianzhuo gripped his shoulders tightly, as if only in this way could he confirm that he was actually there.

In that brief moment, my vision suddenly went completely dark as I stood up.

The body and consciousness seemed to have split into two parts, and the things in the surface and the inner layers that I could not understand seemed to be making a grating sound like rubbing glass.

"Damn it... It's just a small piece of the spirit core that's broken... Is this all it's like?" Covered in cold sweat, Nian Zhuo gasped for breath, like a drowning man.

"I shouldn't have suffered any major damage... System, what's going on?" Nian Zhuo, whose pain had finally subsided after tapping his head, asked the system in his mind.

"Reporting to the host, this is because the channel of magic flowed through your spirit core, and the originally intact spirit core is now in a damaged state, even if it is only a small part."

"Therefore, the magic flowing through that point will accumulate, gradually forming a small [dead knot], which will eventually flow to the host's limbs like a sudden electric current." The emotionless voice caused Nian Zhuo's expression to change.

"However, please rest assured that this is only the result of the host's excessive use of magic and physical strength after the injury, which is to say, it accelerated the formation of the [Dead Knot]." The system seemed to see Nian Zhuo's worries. Although his words were devoid of emotion, they were indeed meant to comfort him. "So, unless it is an extremely high-intensity battle, under normal circumstances, even if the host's spirit core is fully restored, it will only happen once or twice. So please rest assured."

"I see. It seems there's still a long time before the next attack. Maybe my injuries will be fully healed by then." He changed his position, but the pain in his body was still there. Looking at the battle that was about to end not far away, Nianzhuo couldn't help but smile with relief.

"Great, they've all become capable of standing on their own..."

"Are you surprised for them?" A familiar voice suddenly came from the empty space around them.

"Yeah, yeah—hmm?!" After a simple reply, Nianzhuo immediately sensed something was wrong and quickly stepped aside, while gripping the driver tightly in his hand.

"Who was it?!" He looked towards the empty space where the voice had just come from.

"Just a Kamen Rider passing by." Then, in the previously empty place, black and white figures gradually appeared, eventually forming a magenta Kamen Rider—Decade, no, it should be called Tsukasa Kadoya.

"Hey, this place is really nice, Nencho." The yellow gem above his head sparkled as Tsukasa Kadoya waved at Nencho.

So, do you have time now?

Destroyer of the world, Guardian only to protect this world.

"Do you have time...?" Nian Zhuo's expression remained unsettled as he repeatedly pondered the words of the crimson knight before him.

However, even if one wanted to fight... it wouldn't just be facing Wang Xiaoming, who had an unknown number of cards, but even—

His body twitched uncontrollably a few more times. The tearing pain showed no signs of abating, causing Nianzhuo's face to gradually turn pale.

"Well, after all, your body doesn't look that great, does it?" Then, Decade's armor in front of him transformed back into a black and white clone and dissipated, revealing a brown-haired man in a black suit who reappeared in front of Nian Zhuo.

"Thinking about it carefully, this is the first time we've met like this." Playing with the camera in his hand, looking at Nian Zhuo's surprised expression, Tsukasa Kadoya's lips curled up into a smile. "Come on~ smile."

"Click—" The sound of the shutter being pressed, but Tsukasa Kadoya shook his head helplessly as he looked at the photo that had been ejected. "Sigh, it's become blurry again... It seems that this world just doesn't want to be photographed by me."

Looking at the blurry photo he had taken with his poor photography skills, Tsukasa Kadoya shook his head helplessly and put it in his chest pocket.

"Well then, let me reintroduce myself." Then, Tsukasa Kadoya stood up, hung the camera around his neck, and smiled slightly at Nencho.

"I am the destroyer of the world, Tsukasa Kadoya. I am also the leader of Dai-Shocker, and Kamen Rider Decade. Of course, I am just a Kamen Rider passing through this place."

"..." Seeing that the man in front of him showed no hostility, Nian Zhuo silently retracted the driver and stood up as well.

"I am Nian Zhuo, a guardian limited to this world, and also a Heroic Spirit. Finally, I am the possessor of the power of Kamen Rider Zio in 2019." Since he couldn't fight, Nian Zhuo was also sizing up the man in front of him.

The same amazing hairstyle as I remembered, and no change in his serious expression or attire.

However, if there is anything different, it is that he (referring to Tsukasa Kadoya) is not as scary as Nenjou imagined.

"Ho~" After listening to Nianzhuo's introduction, Kadoya Tsukasa showed a strange smile. "I see, the destroyer of the world and the guardian of this world... I see, I think I understand now."