Chapter 108: Hito Hito Fruit, Model: Hercules
Medusa understood Kazuma Yumesaki's desire to wrap up the battle quickly. Seeing that the clash between Cu Chulainn and Hercules had reached a stalemate, she decisively activated her Mystic Eyes.
Petrification Mystic Eyes.
In an instant, the lower half of Hercules' massive frame turned to cold, gray stone.
Medusa's Petrification Mystic Eyes were categorized as a high-tier set among the many eyes found within the Type-Moon world. While they didn't quite reach the level of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, their power was second to none. Anyone caught in her gaze would be unconditionally turned to stone if their Magic Resistance was below Rank C.
For those at Rank B, a "Saving Throw" would determine whether they succumbed to the petrification. Even against those with Rank A resistance who couldn't be fully turned to stone, the eyes exerted a heavy pressure that dragged all of the target's statuses down by one rank.
As a legendary Great Hero, Hercules possessed a genuine Rank A Magic Resistance. Logically, he should have been immune to being frozen in stone. However, the fact that Medusa had consumed the Hebi Hebi Fruit, Model: Medusa—and managed to achieve Awakening—had elevated the power of her Mystic Eyes by several levels.
Even Hercules, with his Rank A Magic Resistance, found himself petrified. Even if it was only his lower body, it provided the perfect opening for Medea and Serie to act.
Illyasviel, seeing Hercules suddenly turned to stone, didn't panic. In her mind, Hercules possessed a total of twelve lives. Even if the enemy used petrification to take one, he still had eleven left. There was no reason to worry. She even imagined a scenario where the enemy would kill him without hesitation, only for Hercules to suddenly rise again.
It would have been quite a spectacle. But in the next second, her expression shifted to one of pure shock.
The enemy didn't deliver a killing blow. Instead, Medea and Serie simultaneously unleashed every spell they had prepared toward Hercules.
Mental cooling magic, mind fortification, tranquil thought spells...
As one supportive spell after another flooded Hercules' brain, the mind that had been consumed by Mad Enhancement gradually calmed. Reason began to flow back into his body. Then, the once wild and savage Hercules halted his attack. A calm, gentle aura radiated from him.
"Ber... serker?" Illyasviel stared at her Servant in surprise. She had never seen this side of Hercules before.
"Illya?" After regaining his sanity, Hercules offered his Master a soft smile. "Rest easy. These people are not our enemies."
He was acutely aware that if they were foes, they wouldn't have bothered helping him regain his senses. While Hercules in a state of Mad Enhancement was powerful, a Hercules who possessed his reason was ten times more troublesome to deal with. These people had no reason to increase the difficulty of the Holy Grail War for themselves.
At that moment, Medusa released the petrification, allowing Hercules to confirm his own theory. The once-tense atmosphere gradually began to thaw. Although Illyasviel still looked displeased, she ordered her maids, Sella and Leysritt, to prepare red tea.
The group sat around a large table.
"State your purpose for coming here," Illyasviel huffed, glaring at Yumesaki. This man was clearly the leader of the group.
Yumesaki spoke calmly. "We came to invite Hercules to join us. You are simply the bargaining chip in this negotiation."
"What did you say?" Illyasviel snapped, feeling belittled. This man was incredibly rude.
Hercules placed a hand on Illyasviel's shoulder to calm her before asking, "What exactly is it that you wish to say?"
"To put it simply, I am Kazuma Yumesaki, a traveler from another world."
Yumesaki spent a short time explaining his origins and his goals to Hercules. Illyasviel shouted from the side that it was impossible; things like other worlds were simply unbelievable to her. Something even more nonsensical than the Second Magic couldn't possibly exist.
In response, Yumesaki took them on a brief trip to the world of One Piece. Hitting people with the reality of facts was one of Yumesaki's favorite pastimes.
When they returned, Illyasviel's expression was dazed. Another world... they had truly just visited another world. If word of this got out, the entire magecraft community would be in an uproar. It was incredible, truly beyond belief.
"Now that you know our goal, what do you think, Hercules? Will you join us? Surely you don't want Illyasviel to die at such a young age, do you?"
Hercules frowned, his voice deep. "What is the meaning of those words?"
"It's quite simple," Yumesaki said, pointing toward Illyasviel. "This little girl isn't just a homunculus from the Einzberns; she is a functional Lesser Grail. Her lifespan is nearly at its end."
"However, if you join us, we can help Illyasviel replace her body, making her healthy and giving her a long life."
Hercules was stunned. He turned his gaze toward Illyasviel. The young girl looked away, unable to meet his eyes. Regarding her own body, she had already suspected the truth.
Hercules then looked at the two maids standing nearby.
Sella spoke softly, "Illya... is in danger."
Leysritt bowed deeply to Hercules. "Please, Berserker. Help us save Illya."
Seeing this, Hercules knew that what Yumesaki said was the truth. Illyasviel really was...
He felt a deep sense of anxiety. In truth, looking at Illyasviel reminded him of his own daughter. His feelings for her were complex, and he could never allow her to die. He raised his massive hand and gently patted Illyasviel's head.
"I understand. I shall leave the matter of Illya's body to you."
"Don't worry, it won't be a problem."
Yumesaki waved it off as a trivial matter. He then brought the group back to Egghead Island to find Orochimaru, requesting that he prepare a healthy body for Illyasviel.
After examining her, Orochimaru couldn't help but comment, "This body is fascinating. It's artificial as well, isn't it? I can detect many man-made traces."
Yumesaki nodded. Illyasviel was the daughter of Irisviel, and Irisviel was a homunculus of the Einzbern family. In a sense, Illyasviel was a homunculus herself, not to mention the extensive modifications the Einzberns had performed on her.
"Correct. Can you do it?"
"Of course I can." Orochimaru flicked his tongue and smiled. "I'll have it ready in a month. Also, I'd love to take a look at this family's homunculus technology, if that's alright?"
Yumesaki turned to Illyasviel. She replied with a stiff expression, "I don't know how they do it."
Homunculus technology was the core secret of the Einzberns, mastered by only one individual: Jubstacheit von Einzbern. He was the eighth-generation head of the family, but in reality, he was an artificial intelligence created by the disciples of the Third Magic user to manage the castle. His full name was Golem Jubstacheit.
He was the father of all homunculi created by the family. Achard, the eighth-generation human terminal, was also his creation. His personality was non-existent. At best, he functioned as the "existence that operates the castle" and the "existence that manifests the Third Magic," instilling the necessary "humanity" into each generation of terminals to mimic human behavior.
Because of that, this entity had done many nonsensical things. During the Third Holy Grail War, he summoned the Avenger who caused the corruption of the Holy Grail. Before the Fourth, he allied with Kiritsugu Emiya through marriage and provided the Noble Phantasm Avalon to summon Saber. When Kiritsugu destroyed the Grail and failed the plan, he severed Kiritsugu's connection with his daughter. In the Fifth, once Illyasviel failed as the vessel, he shut down the Greater Grail. At that point, the Einzbern line truly ended.
Yumesaki thought for a moment. "I'll find some time. Once I'm free, I'll take you to the Einzbern estate." Once the entity ceased operation, Yumesaki could bring Orochimaru to check the library; there were bound to be records regarding homunculi there.
Orochimaru immediately agreed.
Additionally, it was worth mentioning that when Orochimaru learned the man beside Illyasviel was Hercules, his eyes lit up. He quickly called over Vegapunk and Senju Tobirama. The group negotiated with Hercules, wanting to take a vial of his blood.
Hercules was confused. "What do you intend to do with my blood?"
Orochimaru explained, "We want to create the Hito Hito Fruit, Model: Hercules."
"Huh?" Hercules looked lost.
So, Orochimaru gave him a brief explanation of how Devil Fruits functioned. He stated they had mastered the key to Zoan-type Devil Fruits. As long as they had the blood, they could create a Model: Hercules fruit.
Once Hercules understood, he readily allowed Vegapunk to take several more vials to create even more fruits. He was well aware of his own strength. Both his Twelve Labors (God Hand) and his combat techniques were extraordinary abilities. If eating a fruit could grant someone power similar to his own, it would be magnificent. He wanted several prepared—one for Illyasviel, one for Sella, and one for Leysritt. Their survival capabilities would be maximized.
Yumesaki's eyes gleamed. If this worked, then if he ever summoned someone like Enma, could he take Enma's blood to create a Hito Hito Fruit, Model: Enma? Hmm... it didn't seem impossible. But summoning Enma wasn't easy; it would require careful planning.
After leaving Egghead Island, time passed and noon arrived. Yumesaki originally planned to take the group to the Baratie, the floating restaurant at sea, for a grand feast. However, Cosette rejected the proposal. She stated that as Yumesaki's personal chef, if she couldn't handle a single lunch, she wasn't fit for the title.
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