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

"No, it's not like that." Sento shook his head. "I can understand why he would do that. Similarly, I'm actually a little angry too~" He said this in a lighthearted manner, but Sento's furrowed brows betrayed his true feelings.

That idiot only ever wanted to unify the country.

For this reason, he did not hesitate to reach out to the devil.

She supports Katsuragi's human experimentation and development of the Knight System, collaborates with the shopkeeper, frames Utsumi, and then shamelessly begs for power from him...

He was truly using every means he could think of to unify the country.

But he reached out to the devil.

Then, when he transformed back into Crocodile King, two paths lay before him.

—Either become a complete and ruthless villain.

—Either become a savior who sacrifices everything to clear obstacles for the protagonist.

Neither of them will likely end well.

This is the price of becoming a demon.

Even when faced with two inevitable dead ends, he always chose the more difficult one.

Because from beginning to end, what he wanted was not strength or power; he simply wanted to unify the country.

Even though he knew that he could not possibly be the one to achieve this in the end, he did not choose another path.

So when he realized this, he chose to go with Gris to receive the injection of nebula gas, just so as not to be a burden to them.

He was the first to propose this idea, that is to say—

"...In the old world, was he the first person to have the will to die...?" Despite his prejudice against Himuro Gentoku, Katsuragi Takumi couldn't help but be surprised. "What an... idiotic idea..."

Yes. Nian Zhuo in his consciousness nodded.

But precisely because of this...

He could bear the sins for the sake of unifying the country, and he could also die without hesitation for the sake of unifying the country.

For Huande, the nation is above all else.

This is the noble cause for which he was willing to sacrifice.

This is the great righteousness for which he once bore the sins.

In his final battle, he ultimately died.

But the shadow etched on the wall, and his outstretched hand that turned into purple light spots.

"Father, may I approach you a little now?"

What he wanted to hold onto was the country he would never have the chance to unify again.

All the mistakes, all the efforts, all the ambitions, all the rights and wrongs, all the merits and demerits, all fell with that shadow.

The story of Himuro Gentoku ends here.

He is a knight, his name is Crocodile King.

"So, you manipulative bastard!" Nian Zhuo raised his sword, black mist clinging to it, as if he was about to strike at any moment.

"For the greater good! Sacrifice yourself!" The figure was about to rush out, but was immediately stopped by Mordred.

"Wait! Nianzhuo." She reached out to stop Nianzhuo, but her own hand also tightened around the bright silver longsword. "I have something to say to that guy."

“You call yourself [P]! Right?” Mordred rubbed her head. “You talk a good game, all that talk about love and affection. I don’t care about any of that!” She raised her sword, pointing it at the man and the corpses around Jack, her expression turning cold.

"You've laid hands on my things again." Crimson lightning flashed between her brows. "Those who are not kings dare to lay hands on the king's possessions."

"Yes! Heroic Spirits, Heroic Spirits actually kill innocent civilians!" Ritsuka, her complexion improving, pressed the man, her hand simultaneously gripping his other arm tightly. "You...don't you have any hero's dignity?!"

“That’s right, it is precisely because I possess the pride of a hero that I am so heartbroken.” However, his face, which showed almost no change, betrayed no trace of sadness, yet he continued speaking.

“Those who have feelings should be noble beyond measure. Those who have love should be radiant.” He reached out and grasped his robe. “But I cannot save them by my own strength. No, in the end, I failed.” He looked up at the enormous halo in the sky, the halo's presence undiminished even by the thick fog.

"Everything of this era is being burned, everything of humanity is being burned away." The man pressed his hand hard, leaving fingerprints on his robe. "The progress of civilization and people's emotions and love have all vanished. Only four anomalies remain in the world. How tragic. Yet, neither I nor you can stop it."

Then he shook his head and turned away.

“No, it’s not that we couldn’t do it. In that case—” He reached out his hand to Jack, who was smiling.

“…I sensed a contradiction in his words.” Mashu whispered, completely unable to agree with [P]’s words. “I sensed a contradiction in his endless chatter, Caster. No, [P], what are you?!” She pointed at the black-haired man with his back to her.

"You are the one who uses that child to take a life; you lack compassion!"

"Hmm, perhaps it is indeed as you say, beautiful lady." He admitted it without hesitation, but he only turned to look at Mashu and did nothing else. "I should just be a cruel and evil magician, just like now, when facing an innocent girl, I would say the same thing."

He took a step forward and pointed in the direction of Nianzhuo with his index finger.

"Jack." He called out the name of the silver-haired girl who was poised to act. "They are yours. You can do with them as you please. Perhaps they are your mother."

"Huh?" Jack nodded as if he understood, but Shuang Su had already gripped her twin swords. "Is... that so...?" She looked at Nian Zhuo and the others and asked uncertainly.

"Oh, I see. Hmm~" As if she understood something, she nodded and leaned down as if she was about to attack. "Then... I'll do what I should do for Mom." Her gaze swept across Ritsuka, Mashu, and Mordred's faces.

"Can we go back?" she said in a cute tone, "Let us go back into your bodies... back into Mommy's body..."

“No.” Mordred said decisively, raising her sword. “You go straight back to the Throne of Heroes. I’m going to kill you here.” There was a hint of pity in her voice.

"I believe we should stop Assassin immediately, senpai." Even Mashu raised her shield, ready for battle.

"Stop that child." Finally, Ritsuka gave the order, closing her eyes with some distress. "The battle...begins."

"..." No need for further words, Nian Zhuo looked at Jack who was leaning down, and didn't even want to say a word, and swung down the sword blade covered with black mist.

It transformed into a sharp blade of light and slashed towards Jack.

“Tu ah—” A deep, masculine voice rang out. The man named [P] held a short sword in his hand, but it was not for close combat.

He chanted a magic spell, channeling magic into the short sword in his hand, while simultaneously throwing out several yellowish-brown stones.

No, that's not a stone, but a sparkling gem!

Magic flowed from the short sword, building layer upon layer of earthen walls before the dark blade's gleam.

The yellowish-brown gemstone also shattered, and the magic stored within it was released.

The rocks surged up, creating a muddy flow that rushed towards Nianzhuo with a heavy thud.

"So that's how it is, gem magic..." Red particles flickered on Nian Zhuo's body, and his figure disappeared instantly, dodging the magic attack.

The black blade struck the earthen wall with a deafening roar.

The rising smoke obscured the figures of both sides, thus announcing the arrival of battle.

Jack's petite figure disappeared into the thick fog, preparing for a surprise attack.

The target was Ritsuka, the only ordinary person, who carefully adjusted her position in the thick fog.

Then, just like last time, it suddenly appeared in the thick fog behind Ritsuka.

"...!" However, how could Mash and Mordred let her succeed?

Ever since her first experience of being ambushed, Mashu had been keeping a close eye on what was happening behind her. Sure enough, when she saw the girl's petite black figure, she quickly ran over.

The flying blades shot out from the thick fog, but were blocked by Mash raising her shield, leaving only a few sparks.

"Don't even think about running!" Immediately afterward, the swordsman wielding the Crimson Lightning arrived and sliced ​​through the thick fog where Jack was hiding with a single strike.

The girl remained suspended in mid-air, astonished by Saber's sudden appearance as she parted the thick fog.

"Hmph!" Although she let out a smug snort, with her back to Mash and the others, Jack could see a hint of pity on Mordred's face...

"—Don't come any closer." She said with a hint of disgust, and instantly curled up her small body. Several throwing knives flew from her hands and shot towards Mordred's head.

"...This is where my battle with you begins?" Looking at the continuous sounds of clashes, Nian Zhuo glanced at the gentle man in front of him. "Let's make this clear beforehand, use whatever trump cards you have. It's not that I look down on you—" Nian Zhuo raised his hand seemingly weakly, held up his sword, and then swung it down.

Thump—In an instant, the dim yellow street lamp next to it was shattered and smashed on the ground.

"—But right now, I'm really in a bad mood." The red and blue eye armor stared directly at the man named [P].

[The Disintegration of Our Lady]

Colorful lights are shining through the fog-shrouded streets.

Rocks, flowing water, and howling winds.

Various colored gems were tossed from the white-robed man's fingers, transforming into all sorts of magic tricks as if they were free.

"...Tsk tsk tsk." Faced with the male Servant who called himself [P] constantly throwing out gems, and simply waving the blade in his hand, Nian Zhuo couldn't help but shake his head in regret. "This is truly... such a wasteful fighting style..."

Then, a sharp magical force rushed straight to his face.

"Oh?!" Slightly surprised, Nian Zhuo's body flickered with blue light, and the black mist dispersed the oncoming gale. "This feels like... a Grand Magic level...?"

Looking at the man opposite him who hadn't moved at all from the beginning, Nianzhuo was a little puzzled.

There was no chanting involved, yet he could unleash an attack comparable to a grand magic spell so quickly...?

"I see, so you also have the [High-Speed ​​Chanting] skill..." In that case, we can't let our guard down.

Nianzhuo simultaneously uses the abilities of the rabbit and the tank bottle, constantly increasing his agility and destructive power.

Red and blue light particles wrapped around his hands, transforming into a red whirlwind that rushed towards the white-robed man.

"Damn it!" Seeing Nianzhuo's charge, [P] didn't panic, but he increased the speed at which he swung his short sword.

The lips opened and closed at a speed imperceptible to ordinary people, layers of yellow magic driving several gems.

Yellow gemstones encircled the dagger, gradually forming a yellow ring.

"...I see. That thing is the [Mystic Code] that can enhance magic power, right?" Nian Zhuo watched as the white-robed man aimed his short sword at him, and then began to run wildly again.

However, the sword in his hand looked strangely familiar... Nian Zhuo had a feeling that this was the same sword that was used when a certain elegant man was stabbed in the back...

"Awaken, Elemental!" he chanted rapidly. As he spoke, the earthen-yellow gem surrounding the short sword shattered, and along with the magic within, the ring around the short sword gradually expanded.

The shattered fragments of the gem did not disappear, but instead, with the help of magic, gradually transformed into a small... sphere?

Two points of light, which appeared to be eyes, appeared on the sphere and gradually transformed into something that looked like a familiar.

The two points of light moved, and then grabbed Nian Zhuo, who was moving at high speed. The thing that could be called arms sprayed out a yellowish-brown magic ball, chasing after Nian Zhuo, who had turned into a red meteor.

"Tsk, quite interesting." Nian Zhuo moved from side to side, raising his sword as he watched the first ball of light fly towards him.

It wasn't about cutting it open. Without concrete information, Nian Zhuo didn't dare to be careless. He gripped the sword blade tightly with both hands and let it rub against the ball of light.