Did the Heroic Spirit I conquered become a reality?

From the moment Morgan first saw Yu Tohsaka and sensed the immense EX-rank magical power within him that was so closely connected to the "Primordial Sea," she developed an extremely strong interest in him.

Such "material," such a special existence, if she could bring it under her control, would be an immeasurable and tremendous help, both in exploring the mysteries of the demonic path and in fulfilling her long-cherished wish hidden deep within her heart for countless years.

That's why she proposed such a seemingly absurd but actually well-thought-out "condition".

And in this strange atmosphere of tension, where one side is on the verge of losing control and the other side is happy to see it happen—

In Yu Tohsaka's mind, that familiar yet somewhat cold and mechanical system notification sound suddenly rang out:

[Warning: A major plot divergence has been detected at the current point in the story. Ruler Morgan le Fay has extended an invitation you cannot refuse.]

Your choice will directly affect the subsequent plot development, and... the depth of the "bond" between you and Ayaka Sajō.

Please make a choice:

[A: Accept Morgan's "invitation" to become her "person," temporarily gaining Ruler's protection and support. However, this action will greatly exacerbate the conflict between you and Sajō Aika, potentially leading to the breakdown of the contract, a significant decrease in Master's favorability, and the subsequent plot entering an "extremely dangerous" unknown branch.]

[B: Reject Morgan's "invitation" and uphold your contract with Ayaka Sajou. However, this action will thoroughly enrage the Ruler, and you and your Master will simultaneously face the hostility of a Ruler, greatly hindering the purification of the Greater Grail.]

Almost the instant the system notification appeared, two equally imposing gazes, filled with... a certain expectation, focused simultaneously on Tohsaka Yu.

In the depths of Aika Sajou's emerald green eyes, the dark aura that was about to spiral out of control subsided slightly, but in its place was an even more unsettling, expectant gaze, like the calm before a storm.

She was waiting for Yu Tohsaka's reply.

Morgan remained calm, her icy blue eyes filled with confidence and a hint of barely perceptible amusement, as if she had already anticipated that no one could refuse the "gift" from this fairy queen.

Looking at the system notification, Tohsaka Yu felt a chill run down her spine.

This is called "choose one of two"? This is clearly asking me to immediately choose a way to die!

Whether it's angering the Root Princess before them or offending the mysterious and unpredictable Fairy Queen Ruler, the outcome is unlikely to be pleasant.

However, Yu Tohsaka was, after all, a man who had experienced the final battle in Uruk and even "pacified" the rampaging Tiamat.

Although the situation before him was a veritable battlefield, he forced himself to calm down.

He took a deep breath, his gaze first meeting Sajou Aika's emerald green eyes, which held a hint of danger, and then shifting to Morgan's cold and oppressive ice blue eyes.

Finally, his gaze settled on Ayaka Sajou.

“Aika,” Tohsaka Yu’s voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness, “You are my Master. No matter what happens, I will fulfill my duty as a Servant, protect you, and assist you in fulfilling your ‘wish’—this is our initial promise, and it is my only choice at this moment.”

Noticing the utterly sincere look in Tohsaka Yu's eyes, Sajou Aika was taken aback. She had thought that Tohsaka Yu would choose her, but his words, which were almost like a 'confession,' still left her somewhat at a loss for words.

Soon, the dangerous darkness in the depths of her eyes receded like the tide, replaced by a brightness like the sky after rain and... a subtle, heartfelt joy.

The smile on her face returned to its innocent and sweet form, as if the "darkening" she had just witnessed had never happened.

Yu Tohsaka secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Morgan and said in a neither humble nor arrogant tone, "Ruler, thank you very much for your 'kindness.' But as I said, there is an unbreakable contract and bond between me and my Master. Therefore, regarding the conditions you have proposed, I can only..."

"Refuse?" Morgan's icy blue eyes narrowed slightly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger. "Caster, you should think carefully about what the consequences would be of refusing a Ruler's 'goodwill,' especially one who is fully aware of your 'little tricks.'"

“Of course I understand.” Tohsaka Yu nodded, her expression unusually calm. “But I think you also understand that if the Greater Grail is allowed to remain in a state of contamination, then this Holy Grail War, and even future Holy Grail Wars, will become even more chaotic and uncontrollable. This is probably not a situation that you, as the arbiter who upholds the ‘rules,’ would be happy to see, is it?”

He paused, meeting Morgan's scrutinizing gaze, and continued, "Instead of stopping us, why don't we... wait and see? Perhaps we'll bring you some unexpected 'surprises'?"

Morgan quietly looked at Tohsaka Yu, then glanced at Sajou Aika, who had regained her innocent and carefree demeanor, her expression behind the veil unreadable.

On the stone steps of Ryudong Temple, the only sound for a moment was the rustling of leaves in the night wind.

After an unknown amount of time, she suddenly chuckled softly.

“Caster, you are indeed… much more interesting than I imagined.” She spoke slowly, the cold oppressive feeling in her tone seemingly dissipating considerably. “Alright, since you have made your choice, and your Master doesn’t seem to be entirely useless… then, I’ll tentatively agree to let you ‘purify’ that thing.”

She said with a playful tone, "However, Caster, let me warn you, the Servants in this Holy Grail War aren't so easy to fool..."

"Yu E's san, Wu Qi (Nine) Liu K E's are those... guys who also have a strong obsession with the Holy Grail."

as predicted--

Just as Ayaka Sajou's figure, like a spirit blending into the moonlight, lightly stepped into the ancient and secluded gates of Ryudou-ji Temple, preparing to begin her small attempt to "purify the Greater Grail"—

In every corner of Fuyuki City, several powerful Servant auras, strong enough to make ordinary magicians tremble, were simultaneously and unanimously alerted!

The Tohsaka family mansion, the underground magic workshop.

Tokiomi Tohsaka, who was resting with his eyes closed and analyzing the battle situation, suddenly opened his eyes. For the first time, his eyes, which were always elegant and composed, showed disbelief and... a trace of uncontrollable anger!

"This magical energy fluctuation... is it coming from the direction of Ryudouji Temple? Is someone trying to directly interfere with the Greater Grail?!"

Meanwhile, in the penthouse suite of the New Capital Hotel, Kenneth put down his wine glass, his handsome face filled with seriousness.

Lancer Artoria, standing beside him, gripped her holy lance tightly, her emerald green eyes filled with vigilance.

Inside the Einzbern castle, the flames of the fireplace illuminated Merlin's handsome face. His smile remained gentle, but a hint of seriousness flickered in the depths of his purple eyes as he sensed the anomaly in the direction of Ryudouji Temple.

"What's wrong?" Kiritsugu Emiya's unusually calm voice rang out. He stopped wiping his gun, and his gray eyes, sharp as a hawk's, were fixed on Merlin.

"For you to value this so much... it seems it must be related to Caster?" Kiritsugu Emiya continued, his voice devoid of any warmth.

As for Tohsaka Yu and Sajou Aika, these two "variables" who had been constantly disrupting his plans from the beginning and even directly threatening Irisviel's safety, he had long listed them as his top priority targets for elimination.

Merlin keenly caught the fleeting, chilling killing intent in Kiritsugu Emiya's eyes. He knew that this man would ruthlessly eliminate anything that might threaten his dream of "saving the world."

Yu Tohsaka's various actions, as well as his incomprehensible connection with that "mother" and "Princess of the Root," undoubtedly touched the most sensitive nerve of Kiritsugu Emiya.

“Mr. Emiya,” Merlin’s voice carried a hint of seriousness that was barely perceptible, “I know you harbor deep suspicion, even… hostility, towards Caster. But this time, I hope you can promise me that no matter what happens at Ryudouji Temple, you will not lay a hand on him personally.”

Kiritsugu Emiya paused slightly as he wiped his gun, then looked up, his gray eyes calmly meeting Merlin's gaze without any emotional fluctuation, as if Merlin were merely discussing a trivial matter.

"The reason," he said succinctly.

“Because of Caster’s existence, he plays a crucial role in suppressing that ‘mother’ and… guiding Ayaka Sajou. If something happens to him, we might face a situation a hundred times more terrifying than what we are facing now.”

Merlin's tone was very serious. "Believe me, it's better for all of us to live."

Emiya Kiritsugu remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

Although Merlin's words sounded somewhat unbelievable, he had to admit that Tohsaka Yu's existence was indeed full of mysteries, and she did indeed play an irreplaceable role in certain aspects.

Finally, he slowly nodded: "Okay, I promise you."

However... not attacking the Caster doesn't mean you can't attack his Master.

Anyone who stands in his way of winning the Holy Grail War will be killed without hesitation.

All of this... is for that omnipotent wish-granting machine, for this world.

Kiritsugu Emiya looked down at the sniper rifle in his hand, seemingly having already made up his mind.

……y/u*e-alreadyqi（二）山⊙』肆镹祁IV〆

The night wind was particularly chilly on the stone steps of Ryudong Temple.

Morgan could clearly sense that as Aika Sajou stepped into the depths of Ryudouji Temple, the immense magical power belonging to the Greater Grail, which had been protected by layers of barriers, began to stir violently.

It is foreseeable that soon other perceptive Servants in Fuyuki City will be attracted by this unusual activity.

Her icy blue eyes flickered slightly, and she quickly turned around, intending to leave for the time being.

The Ruler's role is to oversee, not to get involved personally.

However, just before leaving, Morgan's gaze fell on Yu Tohsaka once again.

She walked gracefully to Tohsaka Yu, the two of them so close they could almost feel each other's breath.

Even through the thin black veil, Yu Tohsaka could still sense that behind the veil was a stunningly beautiful face that could eclipse all other things in the world, and a pair of icy blue eyes that seemed to see right through people's hearts.

“Caster,” Morgan’s voice carried a unique, mature woman’s softness and magnetism, like the finest wine, easily intoxicating, “your choice just now, was it really not to please that seemingly unapproachable little girl of yours?”

Her tone carried a hint of mockery, and a kind of...subtle seduction.

"If you're only backing out of politeness, it's not too late to change your mind now." Morgan leaned forward slightly, her unique witch's fragrance, a blend of ice and orchid, lingering more clearly at Tohsaka Yu's nose. "After all, being my enemy is not a wise choice. And becoming my 'person'... you can get far more than you imagine."

Every word she uttered, every subtle movement she made, was filled with ultimate allure and suggestion, as if if Yu Tohsaka simply nodded, she could receive the fairy queen's unreserved protection... and much more.

Looking at the Ruler before him, who exuded a fatal charm, Yu Tohsaka felt unusually calm.

He could sense the probing in Morgan's words, and also that faint... expectation.

He met Morgan's deep, icy blue eyes and said with utmost composure, "Ruler, my choice just now was not to please Aige, nor was it because of her beauty, charm, or any other benefit."

He paused, then continued, "Simply because... the one who summoned me was her."

“If you were the one who answered my call and made a contract with me before that summoning circle in the first place,” Tohsaka Yu gazed into the woman’s alluring and seductive eyes, “then I would have chosen you without hesitation just now as well.”

These words, like a boulder thrown into a calm, cold pool, caused Morgan's eyes, which always held a hint of laziness and amusement, to waver slightly for the first time.

She looked quietly at Tohsaka Yu, at the pure honesty reflected in his dark eyes.

It wasn't because of profit, beauty, fear, or scheming.

Just because he is her Servant... This group/teasing Yi Ling Qi 〨. ? (eight) si7 "Si (five) VI. That's all.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment; on the stone steps of Ryudong Temple, only the soft rustling of the night wind through their clothes could be heard.

After an unknown amount of time, a faint, yet complex, smile finally appeared on Morgan's stunningly beautiful face, hidden behind a veil.

The laughter was soft, and there seemed to be a hint of darkness and a deep-seated loneliness in his eyes.

"Boring."

She ultimately uttered only those two words, her voice regaining its usual coldness and arrogance.

It was as if the momentary daze and emotion she felt just now were merely Yu Tohsaka's illusion.

“Caster——”

Morgan's voice was devoid of emotion. She turned around, her long platinum blonde hair tracing a graceful arc in the night breeze.

"If I do summon you in the future... don't disappoint me."

Before he finished speaking, Morgan's figure had already disappeared silently at the end of the stone steps, like a phantom blending into the night.

Yu Tohsaka's eyes flickered slightly as she gazed at Morgan's slender back, her mind gradually becoming more active.

What did this woman mean by what she just said?

What do you mean she summoned me?

You have to understand, Morgan herself is the servant of this Holy Grail War, how could she possibly summon herself?

What exactly is this woman's purpose?

For a moment, Yu Tohsaka was lost in thought.

……

Ryudong Temple, inside the mountain gate, is the core place where the Great Grail sleeps.

Sajō Aika, with her bare, snow-white little feet, lightly treads on this land shrouded in an ancient barrier.

The innocent smile of the past was gone from her face; in its place was an almost indifferent calm.

At this moment, Ayaka Sajou could clearly sense the existence of the enormous magical source deep underground—the Greater Grail.

She could also sense the malevolent filth clinging to the source of that magic, like a maggot clinging to a bone.

"Purification...?" Sajō Ayaka stretched out her slender, fair fingers, as if she could touch the invisible magical veins in the air.

Her senses easily penetrated the layers of defensive spells, directly reaching the core of the Greater Grail.

“Yu-kun wants me to purify it… because he feels that this will make the ‘game’ less bad and allow the people he cares about to have a ‘happy’ ending.”

She murmured to herself, a strange light gleaming in her emerald green eyes.

"But... what is called 'beauty' and 'purity' sometimes... can actually strip away a lot of 'fun' things."

She slowly closed her eyes, and her powerful mental energy, like invisible tentacles, penetrated deep into the interior of the Greater Grail, beginning to "analyze" the essence of that filthy mass.

Soon, Ayaka Sajou opened her eyes again, a look of surprise on her face—a childlike joy, as if she had discovered a new and wonderful toy.

"I see. So the things and techniques here can be used to achieve another kind of summoning magic through 'reversal'...?"

She sensed that the black mud, which was called "all the evil of this world," was full of negative energy, but it also contained a huge amount of power that could be "used."

It can corrupt heroic spirits, distort rules, and even... create entirely new "life".

"If... we use this 'black mud' as nourishment, and slightly rewrite the original summoning rules of the Greater Grail..."

A sickly yet sweet smile unconsciously crept onto Aika Sajou's lips.

"...Would that allow me to raise the strongest and most obedient 'little beast' that belongs only to me?"

She thought of the other Servants surrounding Yu-kun, of Ruler Morgan who also showed a strong interest in Yu-kun, and of those annoying "flies" that might disturb her "date" with Yu-kun.

A cold, possessive flame quietly ignited in her heart.