Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

Why do this? — Rather than that question, why not just expose that I wasn't actually laughing, that I was lying, which is so obvious?

Although the girl thought this way in a cold and indifferent way, her body was enduring the heat because she could feel the temperature so close to her, and she kept repeating to herself, "Can you cool down a little?"

“Is that so... Since it is Novia's wish for me, I will fulfill it.”

As Ayaka Sajou said this, her expressionless face was now naturally smiling.

"Because I love you, Novia."

Because I like you, this feeling is perhaps a genuine expression from my heart.

A slightly cool breeze blew by, and short golden hair brushed against Novia's cheek.

"Alright, even I, the only audience member, think this confession scene should be over by now. It's time to move on to the next level."

"Illusion said slowly, then quickly stood up. She turned around and stood in front of the stairs leading to the third floor, directly shutting down the partitions of thought that were arguing fiercely because of the scene just now. After all, these discussions made her want to lock Novia up directly."

"...You really know how to choose your timing, Atlas Academy genius alchemist."

Having lost Novia's embrace and her body warmth, Aika said softly to Shion.

"Thanks for the compliment."

“Indeed, let’s go and end this subspecies Holy Grail War quickly.”

Then, the three of them entered the third level of the maze, just one level away from the fourth level where the subspecies Holy Grail was located.

083: Violence More Violent Than Magic

"What, you humans who united the Holy Church and the Mage's Association to strangle your own leader, and now you can only eke out a living, have also become interested in the Holy Grail War?"

In the deepest part of the demon's lair, in a masonry room, the colorless magical light emanating from the Holy Grail illuminated the surroundings.

Wolfgang Faust, a vampire in black with fair skin, mocked the blond man before him. He displayed an air of supreme aristocratic pride, looking down upon the pitiful creatures crawling on the ground.

The so-called vampires are immortal beings born from humans, who are positioned as standard biological beings and children of the laws of physics. They can replenish their magic with a breath, maintain their bodies with a silent heart that does not beat, and use sharp fangs to suck life away.

Moreover, he is a vampire born in Arcadia, the region where the huntress Atalanta lived in Greek mythology, and who has lived there ever since.

Wolfgang is so proud because he was born in Arcadia.

"I did become slightly interested."

That was a blond man shrouded in countless angry curses, one of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostles, the Eighth Seat, the White Knight, Fina Brad Sfieldin.

"Do undignified people like you even have the right to say that?"

Wolfgang responded with an elegant nod, colder than freezing point, unmoved, devoid of emotion, like a grim reaper waiting for the flame of life in an innocent creature to be extinguished. Then, he circled his fingertips, and twenty light sources appeared on his head, right shoulder, and left shoulder.

"Oh? This kind of power..."

"I have already held seventeen subspecies Holy Grail Wars here, White Knight."

With this declaration, the light source—an ultra-high-density mass of magic known as the Heroic Spirit Core—began to flicker.

The magic stone, crafted with the spirit core as its axis, is the best experimental material in Wolfgang's eyes. It is also the regret of Servants who were summoned to the Holy Grail War, which was held with the sub-Grail, yet still fell in the 'labyrinth' with their long-cherished wishes, losing their temporary bodies made of ether and having their spirit cores invaded.

In other words, the seventh labyrinth of Elcatlas has long been a giant digestive organ, the stomach, that vampires modified to prey on their Servants.

"From this perspective, I am naturally no match for you now. Perhaps only I from three hundred years ago could have a chance," Brad said fearlessly. "However, I have no ill intentions. I am here merely to witness the moment of your success, Wolfgang Faust."

"Hmph, you do know what's good for you."

Seeing the White Knight's sincere attitude, Wolfgang naturally gave up the idea of ​​fighting him. After all, as long as he could obtain the last Servant's spirit core, he could elevate his own rank to become an Elf, which is to say, a materialized version of Nature, Star Touch.

"If Zhu Yue were still here, you might not have fallen to this state. Oh, but you would only have gone from drinking pig's blood to drinking chicken blood. Don't even think about human blood, hahahahahaha."

Although he had no intention of fighting, Wolfgang still made a sarcastic remark.

Zhu Yue, the Moon King who came in response to Earth's call, is the origin of the True Ancestor and the Dead Apostle, and the original and strongest Ultimate True Ancestor.

However, in 300 AD, he was jointly attacked and killed by other True Ancestors, the Holy Church, and the Magic Association. He was forced to gather all the solitary magicians and was killed in Millennium City by Zelrich, who was known as the Magic Marshal.

Although Zhu Yue is their leader, the True Ancestors are all Earth creatures created based on Gaia and Zhu Yue. Naturally, their stance is entirely on Gaia's side, and it is theoretically normal for them to carry out the order to "annihilate Zhu Yue" issued by Gaia.

However, before this, the Dead Apostles had almost been wiped out. The Church of Christ and the Roman Empire destroyed the Dead Apostles race itself, crushing their heads, slaughtering all vampires, and burning their entire territories to the ground, leaving nothing but devastation. It was an absolute massacre.

Moreover, the Grand Marshal of the Demonic Path went into seclusion for unknown reasons and was suppressed for three hundred years. The already crumbling Magic Association Clock Tower and the Holy Church reached a shameful deal, and were finally able to hold on in London, Britain, with the supplies provided by the Church.

The True Ancestors were not so lucky. The Holy Church did not regard them, who were not human, as allies. The annihilation operation launched by the Church caused heavy casualties to the True Ancestors who had lost the Crimson Moon, and they were devastated. Even Kobaek was relentlessly hunted down because of his status as a Dead Apostle.

"By the way, I also heard that Kishua was ambushed by the True Ancestor after defeating Zhu Yue, which led to him becoming a Dead Apostle and thus living in seclusion? As one of the witnesses at the time, you should know this very well."

Wolfgang sat on his throne in the Hall of Bricks, which was entirely red, including the carpets and curtains on the walls.

This is the prevailing explanation in the magic world now; otherwise, it would be difficult to explain why the Grand Marshal of the Magic Path turned a blind eye to the catastrophic destruction of the Clock Tower in the past.

"No, but the Demonic Marshal is indeed injured."

"Was Zhu Yue injured?"

Wolfgang asked with great interest, though he had lived a long time but had always remained hidden and thus knew nothing of these things.

“Although there are some among the Dead Apostles saying that Zhu Yue was defeated because she was not familiar with magic,” Brad said with a smile, “in reality, Zhu Yue is no match for a magic marshal who has mastered magic. In layman’s terms, Zhu Yue’s maximum normal output cannot pose any threat to a magic marshal.”

"Oh? If that's the case, why were you injured? If Zhu Yue wasn't even a match for you, and you're so powerful, why was the Holy Church so aggressive back then?"

"The answer is simple: the Holy Church possesses a power even more terrifying than magic, which ultimately severely injured the Demon Marshal who defeated Zhu Yue." Brad sighed slightly. "That is the so-called power of faith that humanity has always held, which, in other words, is a powerful and violent force created by humans."

Magic is the study of history. The good and evil deeds of man, the cycles of stars, are all predetermined, but magic is determined by an external god.

Karma and magic, which exclude both humans and stars, exist as enemies of humanity.

But those who master magic can use its uniqueness and transcendence to erase the gap in magical techniques and quality, and are a powerful force that alters the world.

"Wow...it's that powerful."

Brad's words did indeed shock Wolfgang, but were quickly overwhelmed by a newfound joy.

Because he sensed that the dragon he had created using the twelve spirit cores to guard the third level had been destroyed.

This also means that—

"Finally here, the final sacrifice for my rank advancement, hahahahaha, my lord Lycaon, bless me, the descendant of Arcadia!"

084: The Dragon's Heart Begins Again After a Thousand Years

Although the Holy Grail Wars held here were of a different kind, not all of them were unknown figures. For example, in one of the seventeen battles, the four Servants were King Arthur, the hero who saved Britain; Robin Hood, the legendary thief; Hassan of the Cursed Arm; and Medea, the princess of Colchis.

Without a Master, Servants are unable to unleash their full potential and are reduced to prey for vampires.

The guardian of the third level of the labyrinth is an artificial dragon created from twelve spirit cores, which can be called a dragon golem or a replica of dragon power.

Its head has two identical dragon heads—similar to the two-headed snakes of ancient times, which changed their image in medieval Europe.

The magic contained in each fang was very close to that of a real dragon. It is likely that even the skull and the entire skeleton were mostly made of real dragon bones. The limbs were covered with thicker armor than before, and the neck was thick and long.

It is twenty meters long, and the bright red magical light that flickers on its chest shows that it has unparalleled magical power. Deep inside its body, there is an extremely large magical furnace that is running, and the surrounding area is filled with crystals containing magical power. The entire cave is emitting a faint light.

It can be said to be the best pet for vampires to hunt Servants. As time goes by, its spiritual cores increase and its strength gradually increases. Now it is almost an opponent that no Servant without a Master can match.

Now, facing the three enemies who have reappeared, the artificial dragon's two heads began to radiate magic without interval, like heat rays or flashes of light. The massive magic output from the seven large magic furnaces operating in parallel was transformed into magical light, sweeping through the surrounding space. The angle of attack could reach 360 degrees, and the freely radiating beams of light maximized the advantage of the two heads. At the same time, they transformed into violent blasts without a clear target, indiscriminately bombarding the three people in front of them.

This attack, akin to a natural disaster, is a tremendous threat that almost no one in the mortal world can escape. Theoretically, even a servant without a master in the upper three classes would be highly likely to be destroyed by the magical energy that has been transformed into a massive force.

However, at the end of the natural disaster, ahead of the magical light that swept across the field of vision, a warm light source called 'Salvation' protected the two people beside them, like the light flickering in endless flames.

Upon seeing this, the artificial dragon stretched its neck and roared loudly, gathering all the magic power within its body into its head.

Its actions clearly indicate that it has experience fighting Servants. Indeed, it has devoured Servants before, and in the realm of magic, there are instances where a counterfeit defeats the original.

A magic array rose slowly above the dragon's two heads, then the magic converged, and finally the two heads merged into one, radiating magic once more, but this time with a target—

Under the immense pressure of magical light, the person who walked step by step did not have their movements frozen. It was as if the physical attacks, which were formed by the transformation of pure magic through elemental processes, such as ultra-high temperature flames, vacuum, diamond lumps, and high-pressure water guns, posed no threat whatsoever to their physical body.

"A dragon? Come to think of it, I've been bitten by a real dragon."

Despite facing immense magical pressure, Novia felt no discomfort whatsoever. This was not because he was in a state similar to a demigod, but because his physical strength, without any magical enhancement, had reached an incredible level thanks to some unknown blessing, as if there were the remnants of a dragon's heart within him that could no longer beat.

Therefore, how could an artificial dragon made from the remains of a dragon, created under the influence of residual dragon factors from the Age of Gods, pose any threat to the true 'heart' of a dragon?

The artificial dragon watched the person slowly approaching, feeling that these few seconds had slowed to an abnormal degree. Every minute, every second, was tormented by the dense sense of reality, as if it had instantly fallen into a crimson sea of ​​fire, and was constantly pleading.

In other words, the dragon felt fear, a kind of oppression from the concept of 'dragon,' which even its mechanized, artificial body feared.

So, as Novia was about to arrive unharmed before it, the dragon, who had once devoured Servants, fell into a state of arrogant madness.

In an instant, twelve spirit cores appeared around his body, and the madly roaring dragon golem reappeared as a massive phantom, an ancient fantasy that shouldn't exist in the modern world, charging forward with immense brute force—

boom!

Novia braced herself against the immense mass of the dragon with both hands, and the power from the 'Dragon's Heart' suddenly erupted, forcefully slamming the charging dragon backward, causing the entire Demon Cave to tremble.

The intense pain coursing through its entire body caused the dragon to let out a piercing howl. It then swiftly rose and swallowed the twelve spirit cores whole, transforming them into a crimson storm. The artificial dragon slowly rose into the air, its attack costing the twelve spirit cores and the magic power of the seven large magic furnaces within its body—

In the next instant, the crimson storm was obscured by the blue aurora that immediately appeared, and the world surrounded by the blood-red storm seemed to instantly transform into an endless ocean of blue light.

This is because the gleaming blue-black armor manifested autonomously in Novia's hands.

"Now that you've found me, Melusin, don't worry, I'll find you soon too."

Then, grasping it, he hurled it at the man-made dragon, which resembled a natural disaster, without even having time to sense the overwhelming heat—

The fake dragon was thus destroyed.

Blue, black, and blood-red—it was as if a mixture of colors that shouldn't exist in the human world filled the surroundings with an illusion.

It is indeed the strongest fantasy emanating from the strongest dragon that shines in the sky of the Age of Gods.

"...Were they eliminated?"

"Would you like to rest for a bit? I see a hot spring nearby..."

"No need, we need to resolve this subspecies Holy Grail War quickly."

Novia shook her head, because the subspecies of the Holy Grail War in this labyrinth seemed to have undergone a tremendous change.

Even this artificial dragon has the soul cores of twelve Servants, so Wolfgang Faust, as the mastermind behind it all, probably has even more soul cores. So after successfully raising his own rank, he might want to use the 666-column Sun Magic Circle to do something extraordinary.

After all, Wolfgang Faust, who should have originally only had three spirit cores, ultimately achieved the impossible through the subspecies Holy Grail.

That is, it connects to the Throne of Heroes, allowing Heroic Spirits to materialize in a state where they are not their servants.

......

The heartbeats that could no longer beat swept away the darkness of the battlefield, turning it into daylight in an instant.

A small, masked figure stood on a certain land, and as her dimmed heart beat after thousands of years, she somewhat, in a daze, raised her gaze.

He looked up at the horizon, at his true home in another world line.

"No, No...Novia..."

085: Sound, reaching the stars

The fourth level of the labyrinth marks the end of this subspecies of the Holy Grail.

The golden cup that existed in space emitted a colorless magical light that illuminated the surroundings and the throne below.

"Two such adorable blood bags have arrived! One of them is even one of my kind. I never expected this before."

Wolfgang Faust emerged from behind the throne, his lips twisted, revealing slightly exposed teeth, like a wild beast.

"However, since we are both intelligent beings, let's start with self-introductions—"

The vampire bowed exaggeratedly, his attitude strangely gentle, his expression as if he were showing pity for livestock about to be slaughtered, but his words were interrupted by Novia.

"The vampire Wolfgang Faust uses the subspecies Holy Grail to extract the soul cores of Servants for research."

"Oh? You actually said what I was thinking. With your magical power, you must be the only Servant who survived the battle of the four Servants. I didn't expect you to be able to defeat the dragon I created..."

Accompanied by smacking sounds, Wolfgang's fingers moved like a metronome.

"As expected of the final sacrifice that allowed me to rise in rank, it is worthy of being my last sustenance."

"Enough with your nonsense, I'll kill you."