In Type-Moon, it all starts with adopting Sakura.

These were principles his father had taught him, but now… could what his father and Tokiomi Tohsaka did truly be considered righteous? Was it really something a priest should do? And what did he mean by colluding with them as an accomplice?

The more he thought about it, the more confused he became...

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Queen of the Land of Shadows (2/2)

[Once you take that step, there's no turning back; you're heading towards the Blood Sea of ​​Three Thousand Worlds—]

……

……

what……

In a world shrouded in darkness, on a battlefield where conflict rages on endlessly.

Death and slaughter have long been the main themes of this shadowy land.

Slaughter, slaughter, slaughter, slaughter...

Death, death, death, death...

Time slips away unnoticed through my fingers, and life is constantly fading away under my hand.

Even the two crimson demonic spears in his hands seemed to have become even darker in color due to drinking blood.

Looking back suddenly, I realize with a start that I have truly taken away so many lives.

Whether the opponent is human, monster, undead, or even...god.

What have I done throughout the eternal ages?

Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight... an endless battle. Slay all the enemies, and let their blood soak this body that has long since become eternal.

It will not age.

They will not die.

At this moment, I am no longer human, but something that exists somewhere between a god and a human.

How can this complex term be described?

monster?

Ha, what an apt description. I am indeed a monster, a monster wandering in the midst of slaughter.

How long has it been since I was born?

How many years have passed since I took up arms and started fighting?

Why did I fight in the first place?

I can't remember, I can't remember at all.

Looking back, one realizes that the path one came from has long since turned pitch black, and what awaits one ahead is still an endless abyss.

Regret?

do not know.

Sorry?

Perhaps some.

In the endless wear and tear, it seems that the meaning of existence has long been lost.

Now I only crave death, to die as a human being, to face my end in battle.

That's enough.

Anyone can kill me, it doesn't matter.

But where is the person who can kill me fair and square right now?

I have wandered in the realm of shadows for countless years, and I have sought death only to fail time and again. Even my carefully chosen disciples, those warriors on whom I placed my hopes, have only brought disappointment after disappointment.

Loneliness, confusion...

God, I will not make any demands of you, I will not ask you for mercy.

Because I know that God will not help those who pray, will not forgive, and will not extend assistance to those who pray.

Because that wasn't a prayer, but merely a petition to God.

If that's the case, then go die!

Then let's fight! Let the battle continue!!

The battle itself is a prayer; one must fight until the very last moment.

Only at the end can my wish be fulfilled.

Over the long years, a wicked nightmare once visited my kingdom in a peculiar way and conveyed some very important matters to me.

"Someone can put an end to your suffering."

To end a long and painful life—yes, that's what I've been pursuing.

I followed the guy's lead and looked in a more distant direction.

At the end of solitude, I saw some kind of ending... and a figure at its center.

Is he the so-called opportunity? Can he truly bring himself a satisfying death? The one who will end my life…

I waited quietly with anticipation for this opportunity.

As the years passed, one day, by chance, a call appeared in my mind.

That is--

The Holy Grail War?

Such an interesting and intense thing actually exists, and that special soul also contains a power that I cannot understand.

How interesting! It's really interesting...

With a mix of anticipation and excitement, I responded to his call by borrowing the metaphor of Cú Chulainn's fate.

'Your fate is tied to my gun. In this war, I will do everything in my power to help you obtain everything you desire.'

'In return, I hope you will engage me in a true battle once everything is ready, to bring my long life to a perfect close.'

—This is my ultimate wish, Scáthach, Queen of the Land of Shadows.

……

Gazing at the beautiful and enchanting figure that emerged from the summoning circle before him.

"you……"

Luo Wei was stunned; he didn't understand why he had summoned this being.

"The Queen of the Shadow Realm, my master..."

Logically speaking, she shouldn't be dead yet, just like Merlin, who was imprisoned in the tower by Vivian, she should only exist on some other side of this world.

The Holy Grail War cannot summon any living beings, so who exactly is this...?

"Judging from your expression, you seem quite surprised by my appearance, and you are clearly aware of my presence."

"So, the Servant, Caster, named Scáthach, the warrior and queen of the Land of Shadows, has come here in place of my good-for-nothing disciple. Nice to meet you, my... Master."

The queen named Scáthach looked at him and smiled.

"Hey, Crowley, is this... is this the Servant you summoned?"

Compared to Luo Wei, who stood aside pondering the reasons with a complicated expression, Aozaki Touko, who witnessed everything that had just happened, could hardly express the excitement in her heart.

She silently stubbed out the cigarette that had already burned out, then gently shook Luo Wei's shoulder beside her and said incredulously.

"Heroic Spirit Summoning... The Holy Grail War. Although it was somewhat expected, how could it be done to this extent? Even this one could be summoned..."

Upon seeing Scáthach appear in response to her call, Aozaki Touko rubbed her hands together excitedly.

Although Loewe had explained the wonder of this Holy Grail War to her before it began—that it was possible to summon Heroic Spirits from the past to the present to fight alongside them—hearing it was one thing, but seeing it with your own eyes was another; the true impact of some things could only be understood by witnessing them firsthand.

If Lovi had only summoned ordinary heroic spirits, that would have been fine, but this time the one who answered his call was the Queen of the Land of Shadows, the warrior who had killed a god, the master of the Irish Mad Dog, and the famous Scáthach.

Moreover, it holds a different meaning for Aozaki Touko.

It's important to understand that her two greatest achievements to date, besides perfecting and improving puppet magic and making breakthroughs, are the revival of a portion of the Norse rune magic foundation in modern times using some Norse runes. These achievements are considered miracles by modern magic standards, but she is now facing the Queen of the Land of Shadows.

Besides being a warrior, the opponent is also rumored in the world of magic to have mastered the wisdom of the demon realm, and he controls all the primordial runes.

This level is far superior to the incomplete version in Aozaki Touko's hands. So when facing Scáthach, the wielder of the primordial runes, Aozaki Touko felt as if she were meeting a junior of her idol, and her eyes could not hide her excitement.

She had even begun to fantasize about what it would be like if she could learn all the runes from this queen, and then find an opportunity to retaliate and teach someone a lesson.

"We won! Junior Luo Wei, we've definitely won this time! This Holy Grail War is our victory!"

Aozaki Touko clenched her fists and cheered excitedly.

Although she didn't know what Servants the other mages summoned, she firmly believed that with the help of the Queen of the Land of Shadows, Lovi was destined to win the Holy Grail War.

"..."

Looking at Aozaki Touko beside him, who looked just like Tokiomi Tohsaka, Luo Wei covered his forehead and couldn't help but sigh helplessly.

us?

Who's talking to you or us...?

This is clearly my Holy Grail War, okay?

However, he had no time to pay attention to the fact that Aozaki Touko was about to intervene. Luo Wei turned his gaze back to the smiling queen in front of him and then solemnly spoke.

"Although I still don't understand what's going on here, or why you're here, from now on, my fate is in your hands, Queen Scáthach."

“Of course, my Master.”

"From now on, until you achieve your true goal, entrust your fate to my gun."

She answered with a smile on her face.

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