Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

Given this situation, is there any possibility of switching to cooperation?

"You want me to cooperate with you?" Shirou asked suspiciously.

"Yes, cooperation—but not now, but in the distant future."

The magician of the Wandering Sea said, "After all, we have already waited for 2000 years. We don't mind waiting another one or two hundred years."

During this time, you can take your time to think things through—while we will obediently leave Japan.

As for my disciple... I will sever ties with her and will not cause her any more trouble in the future.

If you're not comfortable with this, let's sign a contract... Feel free to make any requests, and I'll try my best to accommodate them.

"..."

Shirou remained silent.

Although it's possible to fight them to the death here, but...

The "Mystic Eyes of the End" tells Shirou that any one of the three guys in front of him is a monster who would be meaningless to kill.

Wuzhiqi was the strongest of the three...

Although this woman is ridiculously strong, she is not the original body, but a divided spirit with a physical body.

Her true form is still sealed, so how can she move freely?

Even if you defeat the current Wuzhiqi, a new one will appear soon; it's practically a plus version of Aozaki Touko.

After a moment's thought, Shirou decided that the most urgent task at hand was to treat Ye Sizhen's serious injuries, so they should temporarily cease hostilities.

Shirou walked over and squatted down next to Ye Sizhen.

"I'm sorry, Shirou... I!"

The thought magician clutched his chest in shame.

Shirou shook his head to indicate that she shouldn't take it to heart, and then used a healing spell on her.

While receiving treatment, he looked at the person opposite him and said, "First, let me know your purpose. What do you want by going to such lengths to find me?"

Shirou figured it out.

Although the three people in front of them all targeted Shirou, they seemed to have different purposes.

If Shirou doesn't understand this, he'll never believe them.

At this moment, the alchemist with blue wavy hair, Latio, spoke first.

"Kurdris has only one goal—to avoid the means of world destruction."

Shirou remembered what he had heard from Machiri.

The only and ultimate goal that all the alchemists of the Atlas Academy, regardless of who they are, are pursuing.

In an effort to avert the destruction foreseen by the first Dean of the Atlas Institute, countless people knelt in despair.

Makiri also said that it was a meaningless wish... although Shirou felt that Makiri had no right to say that about others.

All of Atlas's efforts were in vain.

Because the means to avoid the destruction of the world can easily become the means to bring about the destruction of the world.

Methods used to avoid planetary impacts can also be exploited; Chen Wei's method of causing a planet to violently collide with Earth—

"However, that is only a conclusion drawn from the limited perspective of humans."

"Latio said in a cold tone."

"If the means to avoid destruction will lead to destruction, then let us use unparalleled wisdom that no one else can borrow to create the means to avoid the destruction of the world."

"???"

Shirou was completely bewildered.

Latio gritted his teeth and said, "Amamiya Shirou... the power you possess can be the key to changing the fate of humanity's extinction."

The red-haired boy laughed and said, "Then you really overestimate me."

Although Shirou thought she had told a very funny joke, for some reason neither Wuzhiqi nor Kiz laughed.

No way...you guys think so too?

Shirou couldn't help but wonder if he was being targeted by a bunch of idiots.

Latio shook his head: "Magic... it was originally a technology created by humans imitating the 'power' of the gods."

However, even the technology bestowed upon humanity by the gods themselves... Divine Magic, ultimately has its limits depending on the user.

But Shirou Amamiya, your "projection magic" is different... it's a memory that even the magic of the Age of Gods cannot replicate.

You can completely analyze a weapon using only your eyesight, touch, and intuition.

Ignoring the mysterious decay that time brings to all things, let's trace back to the source starting from "now"—

From the craftsmanship of the artisans who forged the sword to the schools of heroes who wielded it, everything was vividly imagined in my mind.

"Well...that's true, so what's wrong?"

Shirou tilted his head.

In his view, projection magic, like enhancement magic, is a fundamental skill for magicians.

To conceive of the object's structure, through the necessary magic.

I just happen to be a little special in these two basic abilities.

Latio gasped, his face full of disappointment: "You simply don't understand how extraordinary that is."

Although your "projection magic" is very limited in type, it is still a power that transcends human intelligence... equivalent to authority.

If you were to entrust your abilities to the Atlas Academy, to be used, modified, and optimized by Kurdris...

This would allow them to create a "final calculation mechanism" that would solve the problem of annihilation once and for all.

"Is that your goal...?"

After Shirou asked that question, Latino nodded quietly.

"This is the obsession that Kurdris has held for 2,300 years."

She cast a complicated look at Shirou.

"Can you help Latino?"—that seemed to be what her purple eyes were saying.

But Shirou ignored her.

Based on his past experiences, he didn't have a good impression of magicians' obsession.

"What will your next goal be?"

Shirou stared at Wuzhiqi and asked, "Leaving that guy aside, I don't believe someone like you would want to save the world."

"Ah...of course not."

Wuzhiqi clapped his hands happily.

"Hey, compared to the other two guys, I'm much simpler... no, it's actually quite embarrassing to say."

At this age, to still be able to feel shame—it seems longevity has its own meaning after all.

The immortal who had existed for three thousand years revealed a bewitching smile: "I want to devour you."

"Well……!"

"Sizhen! Don't get agitated! Your wound is about to reopen!"

Shirou quickly comforted Ye Sizhen from behind. She bit her lip and glared fiercely at Wuzhiqi.

"You're here for my 'Projection Magic' too?" Shirou asked.

"Hmm? I have no interest in such boring things."

"Then why?"

"How long are you going to pretend to be stupid?"

Wuzhiqi stared intently at Shirou, twirling his fingers lightly as he spoke.

“Little brat… although you can’t compare to me, you must have lived for quite a long time.”

Shirou: "…………"

Is it the ability of "eagle eyes"?

This person realized that although Shirou's physical body was only a teenager, his soul had lived for hundreds of times longer than his physical body.

Wuzhiqi licked his lips with his tongue:

"I've seen plenty of old fogies, but this is the first time I've ever seen a freak like you."

The number of gods that have existed on this planet is comparable to the number of stars in the sky.

Throughout history, magicians with unique characteristics and abilities are as numerous as the sands at the bottom of the Yellow River.

I have no interest in those things, but you are different—

Unlike gods or immortals who can relatively stop their own time, you are a living, breathing modern human being—

It has become a mysterious crystallization of thousands of years... Ha, even the most delicious peaches of immortality can't compare to this!

Shirou breathed a sigh of relief: Wuzhiqi didn't want to devour his body, but his soul.

I was wondering what I would do if she meant "eat" in a sexual sense.

"So? Have you decided to be devoured by me?"

Wuzhiqi pinched his delicate chin and said, "Use your self-sacrificing spirit to satisfy my appetite."

"I reject."

Shirou coldly replied: "My soul has already been reserved—"

Even after I die, I won't be able to give it to you.

Wuzhiqi frowned: "…………What?"

Shirou quickly treated Ye Sizhen's injuries and then looked at the last person.

"Alright... let me hear your purpose. What exactly are you plotting by getting Sizhen close to me?"

"You don't want to eat me too, do you, Magician?"

Kiz paused for a moment before speaking: "My goal is similar to Kurdris's."

"So they really came for my 'projection magic'."

Shirou examined his right arm and murmured to himself.

Kiz remained noncommittal, then changed the subject.

"Shirou Amamiya, I'm asking you as a magician."

Why do you think humanity has become the way it is today?

His words suddenly took on a grand context.

"Human?"

"There may be other insights for science, but for magic, this era is far too worthless, isn't it?"

"You're quite arrogant, Godly Magician."

Shirou scoffed, and Kiz continued.

"In the past, both the gods, who were the most intelligent of all beings, and the humans who served them had a mission."

Whether they walk the right path or the wrong path, no one has ever doubted their mission.

However, those noble beliefs were almost lost by the end of the Age of Gods.

Today, we (humans) can only crawl on the ground in this ugly way.

Shirou frowned and said, "What's the point of saying all this now?"

If you want to lament humanity's sins and folly, go talk to the non-human beings.

Kiz stared at the boy and said, "This is running away, Shirou Amamiya."