Indeed, how did she get here?
Suke couldn't figure out the answer to Nikaido Hiro's question either.
She claimed she wasn't 'Old Yuki' (Prison Yuki), yet her aura was exactly the same as 'Old Yuki'.
So, did 'Old Yuki' come or not?
If she came, she came.
Before he could even carefully observe the angel flying in the sky like those recorded in church scriptures, Kirei Kotomine's gaze abruptly landed on Pretender, who was slowly pacing in from the outside world, and Suke!
At this moment, connected to the Greater Source of magical energy of the entire planet, he possessed enough magical energy to see through the True Name disguised by any Servant.
Even for someone as mysterious as Metatron, those seventy-two superimposed titles would merely require a bit more effort for him to decipher.
But Pretender was different.
Merely gazing at her caused a stinging, blinding sensation within that immeasurable brilliance!
Because of this, even if he couldn't see through the other party's True Name, it wasn't hard for the priest named Kirei Kotomine to guess the identity of this visitor.
Is it 'Him'?
Or perhaps, a blasphemous usurper of His majesty?
But leaving aside this brilliance that made it impossible for him to look directly...
Through the discrimination of the Spirit Origin, Kirei Kotomine could determine that the entity currently serving as a 'Servant' was not powerful, perhaps even weak enough that she couldn't withstand a single blow from him.
"Angels, Saints, Gods..."
"Truly delightful (Yorokobe). I never thought my devout faith would move the heavens and earth to such an extent?"
"To think that such distinguished excellencies would move their steps for a humble servant of the clergy like me. How deeply honored I feel!"
Kirei Kotomine laughed heartily, not feeling the slightest retreat or fear due to the tension in the atmosphere.
Instead, he felt incomparably delighted.
Ironic, truly ironic. He never thought that the will protecting humanity would one day clash with the will of human faith.
And as the Executor chosen by the will protecting humanity, and also a man incomparably devout to the Lord, what would his choice be?
Then the answer could only be one!
Kirei Kotomine opened his embrace to the firmament. Under the blessing of this vast Greater Source of magical energy, the space where the hole of the Black Grail had penetrated actually began to fluctuate!
"Careful! That's the black mud of the Holy Grail, absolutely do not get touched by it!" Rin Tohsaka immediately warned!
But when the space fluctuated, the hole of the Black Grail wasn't attempting to break free from the suppression and freezing of that external force!
Instead—
"I shall pledge my loyalty to you!"
Whoosh—!
Accompanying the instant deactivation of the priest's Spirit Origin and the falling of his voice, the massive hole in the sky abruptly closed!
The black mud on the ground was siphoned away by the closing Black Grail hole like reversing rainwater. Seeing this, Red Archer also ceased maintaining his Reality Marble, allowing sunlight to reappear upon the dome.
"Holy is my Lord, Great is my Lord!"
"Your descent allows all living beings in this world to bathe in glory simultaneously!"
"We are willing to cut through thorns and thistles for you. Even if the enemy ahead is the Human Order... sacrificing our bodies for you is our honor, bringing us utmost delight!"
Kirei Kotomine, with his priest attire rematerializing on his body, dropped to his knees with a thud, facing the direction where Pretender stood.
He did not desire to step forward, nor did he dare to retreat.
But at this distance, merely gazing up at that light, whose features he could not see clearly, made him feel physically and mentally at ease.
No, you surrendered just like that?
Watching Kirei Kotomine, who had deactivated his Spirit Origin possession at light speed, Suke almost couldn't hold back his reaction.
Having watched the data the whole time with the BB-version Sakura holographic screen, he expressed deep incomprehension. In his eyes, Kirei Kotomine's stats as a Servant were almost all A++!
After all, in terms of the Holy Grail War mechanism, magical energy is actually the most important thing for a Servant.
As long as the magical energy is massive, even if a Velber vanguard comes, you can still poke them flying with an Excalibur!
Magical energy is everything, magical energy is beauty. So, in a sense, Suke expressed strong disapproval of Kirei Kotomine giving up such a winning match.
Although he could understand it; fear is normal.
He looked at the Magical Girl floating in the distance who was suspected to be God-Emperor Illya, then looked at Pretender beside him, and Metatron·Jeanne flying in the sky.
He took a deep breath, thinking about how to retract his praise for BB not causing trouble.
Why don't you just pull the Servant Universe in and directly start a planet-exploding battle royale? Would that be okay?
That way, he would have a reason to use his recently captured Level 1 Pokémon, Lord Ravager Zephyro, and let her have some sense of participation!
"Illya? Emiya?"
"Hmm? Why are you, Emiya..."
Compared to Suke, Gudako beside him accepted this setting quite easily.
However, there was still one thing that surprised her. Ever since she followed Metatron into Red Archer's Reality Marble just now, Gudako, as Metatron's Master, actually felt a connection form with Red Archer!
Correct!
That was the Master qualification granted to her by CHALDEAS, yet it received a response from Red Archer, who was clearly a Servant and already had a Master!
"I don't know why either."
Red Archer took out a spatula printed with the CHALDEAS logo, proving his identity under Gudako's astonished gaze.
"The Throne of Heroes didn't write about this situation either. I was summoned here without even figuring out the status quo."
"So, Ritsuka, do you know what happened? Is someone using the Holy Grail to cause trouble again?"
"I-I wouldn't know! Why would one Servant have two Masters..."
Fujimaru Ritsuka was a bit stunned. She felt her cerebellum, which wasn't very developed to begin with, was about to overload:
"Wait, that's not right. Isn't this that 'Simulated Universe'? Emiya, you guys should all be NPCs!"
"Haha, I understand now. This must be a prank segment prepared by BB. Then what am I thinking so hard for!"
Upon remembering that this wasn't reality but the Holy Grail War competition of the Simulated Universe, Gudako directly abandoned thinking and instantly revoked the Servant citizenship of the Archer before her!
Red Archer: "?"
"Boss!"
"This Simulated Universe is really interesting. It can even simulate such details!"
Gudako snatched the spatula from the Chaldea kitchen out of Red Archer's hand. Gudako was familiar with this spatula; she had even used it to make Valentine's chocolates.
"Look at this spatula. It's exactly the same as the one I used in Chaldea, even the wear and tear is identical!"
"BB is really too detailed. Now I believe she truly has the ability to grant wishes. Let's hurry up and deal with the other Servants—"
Fujimaru Ritsuka spoke in high spirits, unaware that after seeing her waving the spatula around, Suke had already somewhat understood the situation before his eyes.
Something is wrong.
Something is quite wrong!
Speaking of which, it was strange. Suke remembered that the other six people on the Master list for the "Simulated Universe · Holy Grail War" he saw in the newspaper published by the IPC (Interastral Peace Corporation) should theoretically all be characters from the Star Rail universe.
But now, having come all this way, he hadn't seen a single one. Aside from Hiro and Fujimaru Ritsuka who followed him in, there was no one else from the Star Rail universe.
Some of those six people weren't the type who could keep a low profile. Moreover, Fuyuki City wasn't particularly large.
With such a huge commotion here just now, given the capabilities of those Pathstrider lunatics, if they had summoned Servants, they definitely would have come to participate in the battle immediately!
Also, this Rin Tohsaka who obviously looked a bit off, and this Illya who closely resembled God-Emperor Illya.
Suke had already learned to shoot the arrow first and draw the target later.
"Wait!"
"Everyone come over here to me. I need to confirm something first!"
Suke widened his eyes and spoke up, breaking the somewhat odd atmosphere at the scene!
No, who are you to speak like that?
Aside from Pretender, and Gudako and Nikaido Hiro who were familiar with Suke, the gazes of everyone present converged on him.
Especially Metatron, who had a look that said 'Who do you think you are?'. Her direct superior hadn't even spoken, yet this lackey of her Boss dared to speak like this?
"Young man, although you were fortunate enough to summon Boss as your Servant, you'd best not be too arrogant and conceited!"
"Boss is Boss, and you are you. If you think that just because you are Boss's Master you can override Her, you will pay the price for your arrogance!"
"Who do you think you are?"
Metatron, with six wings on her back, landed first. She pointed and gestured at Suke.
If not for consideration of Pretender's feelings, she probably would have bluntly declared Suke [Guilty]!
"He is my 'Animus'."
Before Suke could reply to Metatron, Pretender answered first.
"He is my lover."
"'Lover'? Tsk, merely a 'lover' dares to... wait, what?!"
"Lover—???"
Metatron, who originally wanted to make Suke clearly understand his own status, hadn't even finished her sentence.
When she heard the words of Pretender beside Suke, she reacted half a beat slower, as if suspecting she was having auditory hallucinations, and her eyes suddenly widened!
Metatron felt like a guard checking a passing vehicle. She didn't recognize Suke sitting in the back seat, but the person driving for him in the driver's seat was actually her Boss!
"Oh heavens..."
"I must be having a nightmare. I must still be sleeping. Yes, that must be it!"
Metatron used "Play Dead". She conjured a small blanket out of thin air, covered herself, closed her eyes, and turned a deaf ear to everything.
Just like her skill animation in Suke's impression. As expected of the Angel of Sloth; when it comes to escaping reality, she's the one to watch.
"Hello, Big Sister, Big Brother. I am Illya!"
In contrast to Metatron playing dead, Illya didn't feel anything was amiss. She naturally landed from the air in front of Suke and Pretender.
"I am Rin Tohsaka, a Magus... Are you all here to participate in the Holy Grail War? So what exactly is the situation?"
Rin Tohsaka, bringing Red Archer along, also approached from the side. The current her hadn't figured out the situation either.
Seeing the behavior of Kirei Kotomine and that Angel Servant, she had some guesses about the identities of the people before her.
So much so that she was hesitating whether to reveal the fact that she was a "Reborn". After all, if possible, she still wanted to return to the future.
"Illya, what were you doing before you were summoned here?"
Suke didn't waste words and went straight to the topic.
"Me?... Um..."
Illya seemed somewhat hesitant, but as a "Saver", after seeing Pretender, she felt it might actually be better to speak the truth.
"It seems Big Brother and Big Sister are indeed relevant to the matter, so Illya will speak frankly."
"In order to stop Pandora from threatening the world, I used Ruby's power to rewind from the future to the past. Illya felt herself entering a chaos, and then gradually fell into a deep sleep."
"Illya originally thought she was going to disappear and not be remembered by anyone, but unexpectedly, I was able to return here... this Fuyuki City where Illya lived and grew up..."
Illya, who had changed back into her elementary school student outfit, looked around the familiar streets, then revealed a sweet, loli smile:
"So was it Big Sister and Big Brother, as outsiders, who saved me? Thank you very much!"
Alright, it seems this is indeed the God-Emperor Illya who can be mentioned in the same breath as the Law of Cycles. However, it appears her current state is before she fully attained the "Heavenly Emperor" Dao and became eternally proven.
Suke was already certain that this place was absolutely not some virtual game named "Simulated Universe"!
No wonder 'Old Yuki' said there was a small problem with the Simulated Universe when she came out. This isn't just a small problem; they've been flung to who knows where!
"Little Yuki."
"I'm here, Animus."
"Where exactly is this place? This probably isn't the Simulated Universe, is it?"
Suke looked at the Return Scepter in his backpack, hesitating to use it.
He thought about how he could escape immediately using the scepter, but what about Nikaido Hiro and the others? Just leave them here?
So he looked at Pretender, the 'Old Yuki' who claimed to be responsible for handling the fallout.
"Yes." Pretender nodded, not offering any excuses.
"This is not the 'Simulated Universe', but a 'Cycle' (Samsara). I presume Animus has realized this as well."
"This is an experiment between me and BB. Because fulfilling the ritual of 'Breaking the Barrier' for Animus cannot be carried by a mere virtual game."
"So she and I intended to manually create a 'Cycle' and use it to 'Coronation' Animus. Animus only needs to help those trapped in the Cycle break free from their shackles, and theoretically, Animus, you can embark on the Path."
"The Cycle is the beginning of all things, and also the end of all things. It is the intersection and combination of the two, the node where the desires and thoughts of life are most vigorous."
"But the situation went a bit awry. Because Miss Mabel suddenly appeared and said 'Why not use the ready-made one', she forcibly threw you all into..."
Pretender seemed a bit embarrassed.
Suke: "?"
Good grief. So your goal from the start was still to team up and prank him.
It's just that the original intention was bad, but the execution was good, right?!
"So this... Cycle is actually...?"
Looking at Kirei Kotomine who had briefly connected with the planet's Greater Source, and recalling the words he just uttered.
And also recalling Metatron's words about responding to the summons to reclaim glory.
Suke had the most probable answer in his heart:
If there is anyone who would be trapped in this place, causing this place to form a Cycle.
Judging from those with deep ties to Fuyuki City, there is one and only one person—the winning Servant of the Fifth Holy Grail War in a certain world line.
King Solomon.
Also known as Romani Archaman, the person of origin for CHALDEAS.
____
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