In the darkness of night, the magic formation glowed crimson.
A crystal forest formed from amethyst alternated with scarlet runes. The magical circuits activated, continuously converting atmospheric mana, while purple-red Honkai energy particles stimulated the engraved formation marks in support.
Amid the radiant glow, the Honkai crystal pillar protruding from the ground had already grown to the height of a person. At its peak, although the upper-body projection of the foreign goddess had already dissipated, the torn spatial rift still remained.
Thump!Thump!
From time to time, it emitted a heartbeat resembling that of a Behemoth. Along with the pulse of the activated "heart," wave-like vibrations spread from the rift throughout the atmosphere within Ryuudou Temple, gradually expanding with a faint yet forceful presence and affecting the surrounding environment.
"Environmental transformation..."
Seeing this, Caster Medea's blue eyes dimmed slightly. Her clenched hands loosened once more as she slowly spoke the term.
"The accumulation of mana at this level can no longer be described merely as Territory Creation. It has far surpassed the limits of an ordinary Servant's 'Workshop' or 'Temple' used to gather magical energy."
As a witch from the Age of Gods, Caster Medea was not only the daughter of Aeëtes, King of Colchis in Greece, but also a priestess personally taught by Hecate, the Goddess of Magecraft. Whether in magical talent or magical insight, she was extraordinary.
Naturally, she could discern the deeper meaning behind what Durandal and the others were currently doing.
The magic formation had already been activated, and the surrounding space had already begun to transform. It resembled a Reality Marble. To some extent, those purple-red crystals could be considered magecraft that materialized Durandal and the others' inner landscapes.
The only difference was that Reality Marbles were temporary and would vanish once the user's magical energy was exhausted.
But the space-time before her, contaminated by the unknown energy particles leaking from the spatial fissure, was being permanently altered.
Although she did not know what these energy particles were—similar to mana, yet entirely different—Caster Medea could clearly sense that the Mystery here had increased.
And while standing within this place, Caster Medea experienced a strange sense of familiarity. It felt as though she herself had grown stronger.
Many abilities once restricted by the Holy Grail War system, her Servant Saint Graph, Servant class limitations, and magical energy restraints were beginning to loosen.
Unfortunately, they were only loosening. At the same time, Caster Medea could also clearly feel herself being suppressed by this mysterious force field.
But looking at Durandal and the others, not only were they unaffected, their magical energy levels had even been significantly enhanced.
Though, upon reflection, that was only natural. It was perfectly normal for such a "Reality Marble" to possess friend-or-foe recognition.
If she had guessed correctly, that magus' objective was to use the Holy Grail as a foundation to connect to the Root, summon back a certain existence, and achieve the revival of Mystery and the return of the Age of Gods.
"Servants... Are you trying to recreate the Age of Gods?" Caster Medea voiced her question.
"And your classes do not seem to fall within the seven Servant classes of the Holy Grail War either."
Replacing the self-proclaimed "This Immortal" and ill-tempered brat who had previously been guarding her was the graceful and courteous gray-gold-haired beauty clad in white-blue frost armor.
Her figure was tall and enchanting. Her peach blossom eyes were moist and affectionate, filled with lively charm. She possessed an innate allure that captivated all who saw her.
The woman had previously stood respectfully behind Durandal, yet she had not been overshadowed in the slightest by the imposing knight princess. Instead, the two complemented one another perfectly.
Even in the Age of Gods, where goddesses were everywhere, Caster Medea could not help but marvel at the stunning impression the woman before her had left upon first sight. Anyone who saw her would only think one thing—an unparalleled beauty capable of toppling nations.
If she had lived in Greece during that era, perhaps she would have sparked a war over beauty no less devastating than the Trojan War.
"Mm~" Rita observed Caster Medea for a while. Seeing the way Medea hugged her chest protectively, Rita's peach blossom eyes curved beautifully, revealing a faint smile. "The Age of Gods? You could say that."
"There is no need for Lady Medea to be so wary either. Servant—what a distant form of address..."
Unlike the dazzlingly seductive aura she gave off while wearing her hooded cloak, the hoodless Caster Medea instead carried a plain and tranquil beauty. At the same time, the exhaustion and misery on her face only made her more pitiful.
After further observation, Rita admitted she had found no signs whatsoever suggesting Medea possessed any abnormalities. Out of responsibility, she had personally come to "talk" with Medea.
As she spoke, seeming to remember something, Rita narrowed her soul-stirring peach blossom eyes and half-covered her face.
"Oh, pardon me. I have yet to introduce myself, haven't I?"
"Rita. Rita Rossweisse."
"As for our class, since we are allies, it is only natural to tell Lady Medea." A faint glimmer flickered within her wine-red eyes upon her charming face.
Under Caster Medea's indifferent and somewhat absent-minded gaze, Rita smiled and rested her chin upon her hand as she continued explaining.
"We do not belong to any of the Servant classes within the Holy Grail War. Rather, we are Foreigners."
"Foreigner?"
Servants of the Foreigner class were generally those connected to Outer Gods due to external influences, or directly possessed by Outer Gods themselves. By definition, they naturally fulfilled the conditions required for the Foreigner class.
(PS: In Fate/Grand Order, the earlier setting established that the Foreigner class was necessarily connected to the 'Cthulhu Mythos' created by American author Howard Phillips Lovecraft. The novel Fate/Requiem later added another setting—that Servants originating from outside Earth naturally qualify for the Foreigner class.)
And clearly, whether it was Durandal, Rita, Kiana, Raiden Mei, Fu Hua, Senti, or Li Sushang, they were all Servants originating from outside Earth. (Outside the Earth of the Type-Moon world.)
At the same time, they possessed the power of a certain God-Empress and connections to an "Outer God."
Whether judged by the Root, the Counter Force, or the operational rules of the Throne of Heroes, Durandal and the others perfectly fit the Servant class known as Foreigner.
"Foreigner Miss Rita, as you can see, I will honor our transaction and complete the engraved leyline-linking formation beneath the earth... The information I previously gathered regarding the other Masters participating in the Holy Grail War, including the Golden Fleece, will also be handed over as promised."
"I only hope you will not break your word..."
Taking a deep breath, Caster Medea lowered her head and bowed deeply.
Rita smiled and returned the gesture with the most impeccable maid etiquette.
"Rest assured, Lady Medea. A Valkyrie always keeps her word."
...
"Noble Phantasm..."
Standing at the very center of the magic formation, Durandal murmured softly.
Thinking back now, within this Servantized spiritual body of hers, there were indeed many powers that had not originally belonged to her.
Were they gifts from Her Majesty Selene...
Passing over the Noble Phantasms related to weaponry, armor, and mount types within her Saint Graph, Durandal directed her will toward that peculiar Noble Phantasm within her body—one that seemed to be formed from the complementary union of a battle axe and a tiger tally.
At the same time, guided by her consciousness, she felt that Noble Phantasm stir from its previous stillness and grow active.
"We are born for war. Our names may be forgotten, our bones reduced to ash, but our sacrifice shall remain immortal within the Empire's history!"
"On the day the horns sound, I shall behold His glory. Now is the moment to chant the hymn that engraves our names upon the stars!"
An inexplicable heat wave surged forth. Centered on Durandal, it whirled continuously, twisting the air itself as though something unseen were distorting it.
"In the name of Selene—Imperial Army, assemble!"
Her waist-length golden waves fluttered slightly. The simple hair ornament adorning her stern yet lovely face made her appear all the more radiant.
In an instant, the purple-red particles filling the sky converged.
Bzzzt—!
Hearing the commotion, Kiana and the others all turned to look.
"Durandal, what is this?"
Everyone's eyes widened as they stared at the mirage-like phantoms that suddenly appeared around them. One, two, four—the figures gradually increased in number, resembling an army.
At the same time, their colors grew clearer and more vivid.
"Lady Durandal?"
"All of them are Servants... Is this a mass-summoning Noble Phantasm?" Caster Medea alone recognized it, but before she had time to marvel further, Durandal clenched her hand.
Crack!
Under the varied gazes of those present, the space surrounding Durandal rapidly materialized into a fully manifested army. In mere moments, it filled the courtyard of Ryuudou Temple.
Though their uniforms and equipment varied, the scars upon their faces, the razor-sharp intensity in their eyes, and their bulging, powerful physiques spoke volumes. As soldiers seasoned by the battlefield, their entire bodies carried the heavy scent of blood and fire.
The ferocious and violent aura they exuded displayed the might of a true army.
"I ask of you—are you my Master... Pfft!"
The Imperial Army data-spirit summoned forth instinctively began to speak according to the information implanted in their minds. However, in the next instant—"Huh?!"
The Imperial officer who had been standing tall and looking down at Durandal froze. The already materialized Imperial soldiers froze. Even those still in the process of materializing froze.
At that moment, the courtyard of Ryuudou Temple fell into absolute silence. Every Imperial soldier stood rigid, staring straight at Durandal.
Their smiles stiffened instantly. Their pupils contracted. Their voices turned strange. They began stammering like ducks whose throats had been seized, unable to utter a complete word.
"Y-Your Maj-Maj-Majesty?!"
Thud!Thud thud thud thud!
"We look only to the Empress! Long live Our Goddess!"
Upon seeing Durandal clad in the Bright Knight · Excelsis battlesuit, their knees reflexively buckled in an instant, their foreheads striking the ground.
The previously fierce and brutal army instantly became as docile as kittens, retracting their claws. All of them trembled as they swallowed nervously and prostrated themselves upon the ground in utter humility.
Damn it! Why is the summoner Her Majesty?! That makes no sense! We would never fail to sense the unique fluctuations when Her Majesty issues a summons!
But faced with the figure in the Valkyrie battlesuit—so often seen in oil paintings, stained glass windows, and relief carvings—Selene herself, they dared not raise their heads without permission.
This was reverence engraved into their very bones. This was the authority belonging solely to Empress Selene.
"This is..."
Only now did Durandal begin to carefully examine the Valkyrie battlesuit she wore. She had originally assumed it to be nothing more than a heroized fabrication by Her Majesty Selene, or perhaps a modified version of her original equipment.
This set of "Bright Knight · Excelsis" featured more intricate patterns and a more refined design than her original battlesuit. But now it seemed there might be significance behind it that she had yet to understand.
Noble Phantasm: Bright Knight · Excelsis | A
Type: Anti-Unit (Self) Noble Phantasm
Range: 0
Maximum Targets: 1
It reduces all hostile interference (physical attacks, magecraft, curses, and other conceptual interferences), allowing the wearer to suffer only one-tenth of the damage. (Note: Only attacks possessing Divinity can be judged.)
The close-fitting battlesuit worn by the foreign God-Empress, the most famous and widely circulated "Teigu" of the Holy Selene Empire—so renowned that even the Supreme Imperial Capital could not compare. Even though its true origin and specific abilities remained unknown, that did not stop people from speculating about it, giving rise to countless rumors and misconceptions.
At the same time, it was a divine-grade secret treasure heavily recorded within the Throne of Heroes.
A few seconds later, Durandal hurriedly helped the officer before her to his feet and transmitted her voice.
"Everyone, unfortunately, I am not Her Majesty Selene. I am Durandal of the Imperial Auxilia Valkyrie Unit—Bianka Durandal Ataegina."
Not Her Majesty.
Only then did the kneeling Imperial soldiers dare to lift their heads.
Yes, the height did not match. The eye color did not match. The hair color did not match. Confirmed—not Her Majesty.
Ah, you should have said so earlier. Not Her Majesty. That nearly scared me to death.
As for pursuing the crime of disrespect for wearing the Empress' Bright Knight · Excelsis? Give me a break.
No one was stupid. Why did Durandal have the authority to summon them? That alone explained everything. The answer was obvious—she possessed clearance of that level.
"Lady Durandal, what orders do you require of this subordinate?"
The decisiveness of the army allowed the Imperial soldiers present to quickly adjust their emotions. The leading officer, now fully in a professional state, asked neither humbly nor arrogantly.
At that moment, Rita stepped close to Durandal and spoke softly.
"Lady Durandal, Caster Medea has provided the information she has obtained regarding the other participating Masters. According to her, the key location is Homurahara Private Academy. It has already been discovered that three Servants' Masters are connected to students of that academy."
"Three Servants all holed up in one small academy? And they haven't torn the place apart? Or have they formed an alliance?"
"Unclear."
As she spoke, Rita glanced at Caster Medea, who appeared somewhat at a loss and fragile under the encirclement of the Imperial soldiers, and smiled faintly.
"If we include the Caster team as well, then within a single small academy, there are connections to four Servants."
"Homurahara Private Academy..."
Durandal turned to the officer standing at attention before her.
"Monitor the entire city. Focus on Homurahara Private Academy. Locate the three Servants and their Masters hidden within the academy. If an opportunity arises, no need to report—take action immediately."
"Understood."
"Wait. If possible, minimize harm to innocent students," Durandal added.
"Yes!"
...