That protagonist is trash; I could do better!

Hall remained calm and unhurried, stretching out his hand to easily block the Netherworld Crimson Lightning with a barrier.

"what?"

In the sea of ​​crimson lightning, a colossal ghost let out an incredulous cry. This is the underworld, albeit a fake one. After being enhanced a second time by a treasure, it is now indistinguishable from the real underworld.

However, the attack, which wielded the power of the goddess of the underworld, was easily blocked by the barrier.

A day has passed since the killing of Amakusa Shiro Tokisada. During this time, Hall successfully connected the Greater Grail to the Shining Ship, creating his own temple.

This means that Hall possesses a temple with an almost unlimited supply of magic, and his power ceiling is even higher than when he fought Scáthach in the Land of Shadows during the Fourth Holy Grail War.

Chapter 232 The Final Act

"Then I'll just have to ask you to die."

Hall raised his right hand, and five massive elemental arrays unfolded beneath the dark clouds, proclaiming the true name of the Noble Phantasm: "The Eleventh Element, the birthplace of all things, the ruler of all phenomena, all records begin here and end here."

呲味味~

The elemental arrays that blotted out the sky overlapped and connected, but this time it was not a re-creation of the true ether of the Age of Gods. The elements and magic power continuously changed and refined, forming black lightning, which was a dark substance that symbolized nothingness and eroded the world.

With almost inexhaustible magical power and the support of Hall's magic, it easily simulated Amakusa Shiro Tokisada's Noble Phantasm [Zero Convergence], and even its concept and power rose from the level of anti-army to the level of invading the world.

Before long, the refined dark matter coalesced into a sphere that floated in Hall's hand.

Pitch black and smooth, as if space itself had been shaving off.

"Hey~ This kind of dangerous magic, if something goes wrong, even the caster himself will be completely devoured." On the deck of the Radiant Ship, Ishtar stared intently at the dark matter created by Hall, and quietly pulled away.

At this moment, she finally realized the vast difference between herself and Hall as a magician.

"Wow, this is a bad feeling." Astolfo cautiously peered into the sea of ​​crimson lightning below. The ghost, as large as a small mountain, sensed the danger and threw a series of crimson lightning bolts from the underworld, but they were all blocked by the barrier.

"hehe."

Hall grinned and decisively swung his right hand down. The dark matter plummeted down and expanded infinitely the moment it touched the Netherworld Crimson Lightning. In the silent world, the sky and earth were filled with dazzling white light, radiating to the entire Netherworld and devouring it as a whole.

"Aa ...

Ereshkigal, transformed into a giant ghost, let out a desperate howl, but could only watch helplessly as his body was annihilated into nothingness by the erupting dark matter.

Caster, backed by the Greater Grail, and Lancer, who has lost his Master, are simply not on the same level in terms of strength.

······

The underworld has disappeared, but because it is not an inherent boundary, its concept is based on the myth that the world exists on a flat surface, and therefore it is connected to the real world. The damage caused by dark matter will also be reflected in the real world.

When the enormous white ghost and the sea of ​​crimson lightning vanished, the land within several kilometers of the Yggdmirene castle became a bottomless abyss, the bottom of which could not be seen even when the sun shone directly on it.

The Radiant Ship flew to the shore, and Ishtar flew out first. With her arms crossed, she looked around and said in a lighthearted voice with a hint of schadenfreude, "Hey~ come out here, you gloomy shut-in. I already gave you a warning, but this guy is easy to talk to. If you beg for mercy properly, maybe I can let you off the hook."

As golden light converged, the figure of Ereshkigal, the goddess of the underworld, appeared on the shore. Her double-edged spear was nowhere to be seen, but her aura was imposing. She scoffed disdainfully, "If it were a tiny insect like you, you wouldn't let any chance to survive slip by, would you? I am the goddess of the underworld, the ruler of death. How could I possibly fear death!"

"Even now, they're still being stubborn."

On the deck of the Radiant Ship, Saber sighed in admiration: "No, I can feel her unwavering will and her complete lack of hesitation in fulfilling her mission, even in the face of death."

Ereshkigal looked at Hall and asked, "Before I leave, I'd like to ask you a question, Caster. When you were questioned by the Seven Gates of the Underworld, were your answers sincere?"

Hall countered, "In your opinion, my answer at that time contained an element of flattery?"

Ereshkigal hesitated and shook his head: "I don't know. The gods and humans are on different levels, and there is an insurmountable chasm between them. So I can't answer that, and I can't judge it by human standards."

Hall knew very well what the goddess of the underworld truly desired, and said earnestly, "I can guarantee that my answers at that time were sincere."

Upon hearing this, the goddess of the underworld, who remained unshaken even in the face of death, became like an ordinary young girl, her eyes glistening with tears, and she smiled as if she had received a precious treasure: "Is that so? That's wonderful~"

Her body was filled with golden particles and was slowly becoming transparent.

Ishtar retorted irritably, "What's so great about it! You're about to disappear, and you're still concerned about trivial matters. What is it anyway?"

Ereshkigal said softly, "Although I did not fulfill my duty, my wish was indeed fulfilled in this Holy Grail War. It is just a pity that Caster did not become my possession (the dead)."

"what?"

"Finally, Caster, can you call me by my name?"

"Areye?" Hall asked tentatively.

"!?"

"Waaah~ I said my full name!" Ereshkigal grabbed her silver twin ponytails to cover her shy face.

Simplifying names is a way of addressing someone that inherently carries an element of intimacy.

After a while, she mustered up her courage to look Hall in the eye, her translucent face blossoming into a gentle smile: "Then I'll call you by your name too, Hall. Goodbye. After this Holy Grail War ends, I have a feeling we'll meet again somewhere."

Ignore the flags.

"Goodbye, Ereshkigal." Hall watched Ereshkigal's figure disappear.

Beside him, Ishtar looked frantic, angrily demanding, "Wait! Wait! This is ridiculous! I'm completely baffled, Shinji! What exactly is your relationship with Ereshkigal!? Although you are a Servant of the Black Faction, and it seems like you had a good relationship with her before, why did you have to fight her?"

Hall turned his head and stared at Ishtar with narrowed eyes until she felt uncomfortable all over.

"What?" Ishtar asked, bewildered.

"The name you used to address me just now—I've never used that name in this world. Who are you?"

"Forehead."

Ishtar stiffened, only then realizing that she had inadvertently called Hall by his real name. She put her hands on her hips and said frankly, "Never mind, it's nothing to hide. Do you remember the first time I greeted you? Even if the goddess is interested in humans, she would never go to see them in person."

"That was to confirm the magic you used. Although the body is different, from the magic you performed, your habits, and your attitude, I can confirm that you are Matou Shinji, or at least you used to be him."

“I am not Rin from this world. Do you remember when I told you about the treasure left by the master?”

Hall nodded: "Jewel Mage is a mage who traveled from a parallel world of the Second Magic and left some Mystic Codes related to the Second Magic to the Tohsaka family."

"Yes, because I was studying the magical costumes left behind by the master, I inexplicably traveled to this world."

Saber's cherry lips parted slightly, and she said incredulously, "So, you're Rin from Fuyuki City!?"

"Yes, is it really that surprising? Saber, you also participated in the Holy Grail War in this world."

Astolfo asked curiously, "What? What? Are you talking about something interesting?"

Ishtar floated in front of Hall, put her hands on her hips, and said with a smile, "Then we can settle the score. As for the Bull of Heaven, you were the one who proposed the alliance but attacked me without permission. Also, the cost of hiring a goddess is quite high."

Hall was speechless. "Inhibition, was this also part of your plan?"

Everyone knows about Kyoto Animation's situation, so I won't dwell on it.

Let us observe a moment of silence and offer our prayers!

I also really like Kyoto Animation's anime, my favorite is "K-On!", which I rewatched for what felt like the umpteenth time just a week ago, and I also watched "Tamako Market".

With so many people dead, it's probably a real shame that we'll never see this company's work again.

I feel lost and a little sad.

Chapter 233 The Red Demon

In a café in Tulipas, the room was packed with customers, all of whom were focused on one particular seat, creating a somber and oppressive atmosphere.

Not only the coffee shop, but the entire bustling commercial street outside was deserted, with only magicians in uniforms patrolling back and forth.

"Mr. Hall, regarding this Holy Grail War, the Masters of the Red Team, namely the Magus sent by the Mage's Association, have presented all the intelligence. We are extremely grateful to you for thwarting Amakusa Shiro Tokisada's plan and the Yggdrasilia Clan's conspiracy."

"You are the victor of the Holy Grail War and have the right to dispose of the Greater Grail."

"However, as a magician, you must know the significance of the Greater Grail."

“I am speaking on behalf of the Magicians’ Association. I hope you can make the right choice and give full play to the positive role of the Greater Grail. Of course, we have no right to interfere with what you want to do. We just want to hear your thoughts.” The long-haired male magician said seriously and politely. He was wearing a black suit, was tall and slender, and gave people a gloomy and old-fashioned impression.

Behind him stood several magicians of different appearances, all with solemn and horrified expressions.

Hall looked at the long-haired male magician with a half-smile. His name was Webber Velvet, or more accurately, El-Melloi II.

Although the Fourth Holy Grail War did not take place in Fuyuki City in this world, poor Kenneth still died due to the convergence of world lines. Then, El-Melloi II also encountered Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, in a certain subspecies Holy Grail War.

As for the magicians standing behind El-Melloi II, in Hall's eyes they were all ants, and there wasn't even a magician among them who could surpass Zouken Matou.

However, this group of magicians are basically the top figures of various factions within the Magic Association.

There were only two people on Hall's side: Hall himself, and Saber, who was calmly eating her ice cream bite by bite.

Knight King tasted the creamy ice cream, his little face lighting up with delight: "Hall, this is delicious!"

The magicians were uneasy and carefully observed Saber.

To magicians, especially those from the Spellcasting Department, Saber was a living, breathing miracle; the aura she exuded just sitting there was enough to terrify them.

If they had previously harbored any intention to seize the Greater Grail, they have now completely abandoned that idea.

The Mage's Association isn't that strong; a few third-rate Servants can basically solo it.

Even if some hidden old monsters make a move, at most they will only be able to engage in a battle of offense and defense with second-rate Servants.

The only servant who can rival Saber's caliber is the Second Mage, Rin Tohsaka's master, the Jewel King.

The Jewel Elder is a very special being, unique in the multiverse, and it is virtually impossible for him to take action for any parallel world's magic association.

Hall placed his hands on the table and said calmly, "I'm not interested in the Greater Grail. I plan to dismantle it once I've used up the magic stored inside."

"Disintegration?" El-Melloi II was taken aback.

The bigwigs from the Magicians' Association behind them couldn't help but exclaim, "They're actually going to dismantle the omnipotent miracle?!"

Hall glanced at the magician who had spoken, and the aristocratic magician, accustomed to his high position, trembled and bowed in apology: "My apologies, I am very sorry."

Hall said indifferently, "You think that's a rare thing? As long as I have magic, I can do anything the Holy Grail can do. The Third Law is the path to explore the origin, which is useless to me."

The magicians exchanged bewildered glances. The root of all magicians' ultimate dream was described by Hall as something that cost nothing, and of course, they had no doubt about it.

Everyone who came here had studied the records and reports about this Holy Grail War, and Hall's record was enough to terrify them.

Even now, hundreds of kilometers away from Tulipas, traces of the destruction caused by the Bull of Heaven and the forest restored by Enkidu remain.

Although no magician with the name Hall can be found in myths and legends, based on the premise that Hall is a pseudonym, they even believe that Hall is the magic king Solomon.

Hall's casual attitude put the magicians present at ease, and one magician suggested, "Since you are not interested in the Greater Grail, how about selling it to the Magicians' Association? We are willing to buy it at a high price."

Hall's eyes lit up, and he nodded: "Good idea, but can you offer me a price that satisfies me?"