Chapter 44

Why do this—rather than asking why I'm not laughing, and instead stating that I'm lying, which is so obvious—

Although the girl thought this indifferently in her mind, her body, feeling the heat of the proximity, was enduring the heat it felt, and she kept muttering in her heart, Can I cool down a bit?

"Is that so... Since it's your wish, Novia, I will grant it."

Sajyo Aike said this, and her expressionless face was now smiling naturally.

"Because I like you, Novia."

Because I like you, this feeling might have been a genuine outpouring from her heart.

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

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

Shion said slowly, quickly standing up. She turned and stood before the stairs leading to the third floor, directly shutting down the Thought Partitions that had become so noisy due to the recent scene. After all, these discussions made her want to lock Novia up herself.

"…You truly know how to choose your timing, genius alchemist of the Atlas Institute."

Having lost Novia's embrace and warmth, Aike said softly to Shion.

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Indeed, let's go. Let's quickly finish this Sub-species Holy Grail War."

Then, the three of them walked into the third level of the labyrinth together, just one floor away from the fourth level where the Sub-species Holy Grail was located.

083: Violence More Violent Than Magic

"What, you guys, who are the ones strangling your own leaders, you who are the union of the Holy Church and the Mage's Association, are now only able to live by clinging on, and you've taken an interest in the Holy Grail War?"

In the deepest part of the demon den, in a stone-paved chamber, the colorless magical light emitted by the Holy Grail illuminated the surroundings.

Wolfgang Faust, a Vampire Species with black clothes and white skin, mocked the blonde man before him. His posture was like that of someone possessing the supreme pride of a noble, looking down from high above at the pathetic beings crawling on the ground. That feeling.

The Vampire Species, as they are known, are undead beings born as antitheses to standard life forms, children of physical laws. They replenish magic by breathing, sustain their bodies with a silent, unmoving heart, and indulge in the fantasy of draining life with fangs.

Moreover, he was a Vampire Species born in Arcadia, the region of the huntress Atalanta in Greek mythology, and had lived until the present day.

It was precisely because of his origin in Arcadia that Wolfgang was so proud.

"Indeed, I've developed a slight interest."

That was the blonde man, shrouded and wrapped in countless curses of anger, one of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors, Eighth Seat, White Knight, Fina Blood Svelding.

"Do fellows like you, who have no dignity, have the right to do so?"

Wolfgang nodded in response with an elegant movement, colder than freezing point, unmoving, emotionless, like a grim reaper waiting for the life flames of innocent beings to extinguish. Then, with a circular motion of his fingertip, twenty light sources appeared above his head, on his right shoulder, and on his left shoulder.

"Oh? This power..."

"I've already held seventeen Sub-species Holy Grail Wars here, White Knight."

With this declaration, those light sources—mana conglomerates of super-high density called Heroic Spirit Cores—began to flicker.

Magic stones crafted with the Heroic Spirit Cores as their centers were the best experimental materials in Wolfgang's eyes. They were also the unfortunate remnants of Servants who were summoned for the Holy Grail Wars held by the Sub-Holy Grail, who, despite holding their wishes, fell in the 'Labyrinth,' lost their temporary bodies composed of ether, and had their Heroic Spirit Cores encroached upon.

In other words, Alcatraz Seventh Labyrinth had long been transformed into a giant digestive organ, a stomach, modified by the Vampire Species to prey on Servants.

"From this perspective, I am naturally no match for you now. Perhaps only my self from before 300 AD would have had a slim chance," Blood spoke without fear. "However, I bear no ill will. I have come merely to witness the moment of your success, Wolfgang Faust."

"Hmph, you are quite perceptive."

Seeing the White Knight's sincere attitude, Wolfgang naturally lost the thought of fighting him. After all, if he could just capture the Heroic Spirit Core of the last Servant, he could elevate his own rank and become a Spirit Species, that is, an materialized nature, a Star Touch.

"If that Crimson Moon were still around, perhaps you wouldn't have fallen to this state. Oh, but it would only be from drinking pig's blood to chicken's blood. Don't expect human blood, hahahahahaha."

Although he had no intention of fighting, Wolfgang still continued to mock him.

Crimson Moon, the King of the Moon who responded to Earth's call, the origin of True Ancestors and Dead Apostles, the first and strongest ultimate True Ancestor.

However, in 300 AD, he was jointly hunted by other True Ancestors, the Holy Church, the Mage's Association, and numerous other forces. He was eventually forced to gather the solitary Mages who had all become lone wolves, and was killed by Zelretch, known as the Grand Sorcerer, in the Millennium Castle.

Although Crimson Moon was their leader, the True Ancestors were all terrestrial beings created with Gaia and Crimson Moon as their prototypes. Their stance naturally aligned entirely with Gaia's, executing Gaia's declared order to "annihilate Crimson Moon." Theoretically, this was normal.

However, before that, the species known as Dead Apostles was almost wiped out. The Holy Church and the Roman Empire destroyed the very existence of the Dead Apostle race, crushing their skulls, slaughtering all bloodlines, and burning entire territories to the ground, leaving nothing behind. It was a massacre of absolute destruction.

And then, for some unknown reason, the Grand Sorcerer went into seclusion. Suppressed for three hundred years, the shaky Mage's Association, Clock Tower, and Holy Church reached a disgraceful agreement. Ultimately, they were able to barely survive in London, Britain, with supplies provided by the Church.

The True Ancestors were not as fortunate. The Holy Church did not consider them allies at all. The annihilation operation they launched caused heavy casualties to the True Ancestors who had lost Crimson Moon, leaving them severely weakened. Even Kouhaku was relentlessly hunted because of his status as a Dead Apostle.

"Oh, and I also heard that Kishua became a Dead Apostle after being ambushed by a True Ancestor after defeating Crimson Moon, which is why he lives in seclusion? As someone who witnessed it at the time, you should know quite well."

Wolfgang sat on the throne in the stone-paved chamber, which was entirely crimson. The carpets and the draperies on the walls were all of this color.

This was the prevalent theory in the magical world at the time, otherwise it was difficult to explain why the Grand Sorcerer would ignore the near-destruction of the Clock Tower in the past.

"That is not the case, but the Grand Sorcerer was indeed injured."

"By Crimson Moon?"

Wolfgang asked with great interest. Although he had lived for a long time, he had always remained hidden and thus was unaware of these matters.

"Although there is a theory among Dead Apostles now that Crimson Moon was defeated because he was unfamiliar with magic," Blood said with a smile. "In reality, Crimson Moon was no match for the Grand Sorcerer who had mastered magic. To put it in common terms today, Crimson Moon's normal maximum output could not pose any threat to the Grand Sorcerer."

"Oh? Then, in that case, why was he injured? If that Crimson Moon was no match, and so powerful, why was the Holy Church so aggressive at the time?"

"The answer is simple: because the Holy Church possessed a power even more terrifying than magic, which ultimately severely wounded the Grand Sorcerer who defeated Crimson Moon," Blood sighed slightly. "It was the power of faith, that so-called power that humans have always possessed. In other words, it was a powerful and violent force created by humans."

Magic is the study of history, the good and evil deeds of mankind, the cyclical repetition of stars, all dictated by fate, whereas magecraft is the judgment of outside gods.

Magecraft, which excludes humans and stars from its karma, is an existence that is an enemy to humanity.

However, those who master magecraft can, through its unique and transcendent nature, erase the gaps in technical skill and quality with magic, acting as a formidable force to alter the world.

"To think... it's this powerful."

Brad's words indeed shocked Wolfgang, but they were quickly washed away by new joy.

Because he sensed that the dragon guarding the third layer, which he had created using twelve Spirit Cores, had been eliminated.

This meant—

"Finally, my final sacrifice for advancement, hahahahaha, my Lord Lycaon, bless me, your descendant of Arcadia!"

084: The Dragon Heart That Pulses Anew After a Thousand Years

Although this was a Sub-species Holy Grail War, not all who appeared were unknown figures. For instance, in one of the seventeen wars, the four Servants were King Arthur, the heroic savior of Britain, the legendary thief Robin Hood, Hassan of the Arm, and Medea, the princess of Colchis.

Without their Masters, the Servants, unable to unleash their full power, were reduced to mere prey for the Vampire Species.

The guardian of the third layer of the labyrinth was the Artificial Dragon created by the twelve Spirit Cores, which could also be called a Dragon Golem or a replica dragon.

Its head featured two identical dragon heads—resembling what was anciently known as a two-headed serpent, which transformed into a two-headed dragon in medieval Europe.

The magic contained within each fang was remarkably close to that of a true dragon. It was likely that its entire skeleton, including its skull, was largely composed of the bones of actual dragons. Its limbs were encased in thicker armor than before, and its pair of necks were thick and long.

Measuring a full twenty meters in length, with a flickering, crimson magical light emanating from its chest, it was evident at a glance that it possessed incomparable magical power. A massive magical furnace was operating deep within its body, surrounded by crystallized magic, bathing the entire cavern in a faint light.

It was the perfect pet for the Vampire Species to hunt Servants. As time passed and the Spirit Cores increased, its strength also grew, making it an opponent that Servants without Masters could barely contend with.

And now, facing three new enemies, the Artificial Dragon unleashed its magic from both heads without pause, like a heat ray, or perhaps a radiant breath. The immense magical power outputted by the seven large, parallel-operating magical furnaces transformed into magical light, sweeping the surrounding space. Its firing angle was a full 360 degrees, with the freely emitted light beams fully utilizing its two-headed advantage. Simultaneously, it transformed into a fierce blast without a specific target, indiscriminately bombarding the three before it.

This cataclysmic attack was a threat too great for modern humans to evade. Theoretically, even Servants without Masters of the top three classes could be destroyed by the colossal magical energy it transformed into.

However, at the end of this natural disaster, before the magical light that swept across its vision, a warm light called 'Salvation' protected the two beside him, like a flicker of light within an endless flame.

Seeing this, the Artificial Dragon stretched its neck and roared loudly, concentrating all the magic within its body towards its head.

Its movements clearly indicated prior experience fighting Servants. Indeed, it had devoured Servants before, and in the realm of magecraft, it was not unheard of for fakes to defeat the genuine article.

A magic circle rose above the dragon's two heads, followed by a convergence of magic. Finally, the two heads became one, and it unleashed magic once more, but this time with a target—

Under the immense pressure of the magical light, the person walking step by step was not even fixed in their movements. It was as if pure magic had transformed into superheated flames, a perfect vacuum, diamond clusters, high-pressure water jets, and other mystical physical strikes, posing no threat to his true flesh.

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

Though Novia faced the immense magical pressure, his body felt no discomfort. This was not because his current state was akin to a sub-Servant, but because his physical strength, without any magical enhancement, had already reached an incredible level due to some unknown blessing, as if there were the remnant breath of a Dragon Heart within him that could no longer beat.

For this very reason, how could an Artificial Dragon, crafted from the remnants of dragons that appeared under the influence of dragon factors remaining after the Age of Gods, pose any threat to the "heart" of a true dragon?

The Artificial Dragon watched the person slowly approaching, feeling as if these few seconds had been unnaturally prolonged. Every minute, every second, was an ordeal throughout its entire body due to the dense reality, as if it had instantly fallen into a scarlet inferno, constantly begging for mercy.

In other words, the dragon felt fear, a suppression stemming from the very concept of 'Dragon'. Its mechanized, artificial body was filled with dread.

Thus, as Novia was about to reach it completely unharmed, the dragon that had devoured Servants fell into self-indulgent madness.

In an instant, the twelve Spirit Cores appeared around its body. The furiously roaring Dragon Golem recreated itself as a colossal phantom, an ancient fantasy that should not exist in modern times. With immense brute force, it charged—

Boom!

Novia braced himself against the dragon's immense mass. The power of the 'Dragon Heart' erupted, violently smashing the charging dragon backward, shaking the entire magic cavern.

The excruciating pain that coursed through its body caused the dragon to let out a piercing shriek. It then quickly got up, swallowed the twelve Spirit Cores into its mouth, and transformed into a scarlet storm. The Artificial Dragon slowly levitated, unleashing a final blow at the cost of the twelve Spirit Cores and the magic from its seven large furnaces—

The next moment, the scarlet storm was immediately obscured by a nascent blue aurora. The world, enveloped by the blood-colored storm, seemed to instantly transform into an endless ocean of blue light.

This was because the brilliantly shining blue-black armament had manifested itself in Novia's hand.

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

Then, gripping it, he thrust it towards the Artificial Dragon, which resembled a natural disaster, without even having time to perceive the overwhelming heat—

The false dragon was thus annihilated.

Blue, black, and blood-red hues, as if mixed with colors unbefitting the human world, filled the surroundings, creating an illusion.

This was the true, strongest fantasy, radiated by the strongest dragon that shone in the skies of the Age of Gods.

"...It's gone."

"Do you want to rest? I see a hot spring nearby..."

"No, we need to resolve this Sub-species Holy Grail War quickly."

Novia shook his head, as it seemed this labyrinth's Sub-species Holy Grail War had undergone a significant change.

If even this Artificial Dragon possessed the Spirit Cores of twelve Servants, then Wolfgang Faust, the mastermind behind the scenes, likely had even more. Therefore, after successfully elevating his own rank, he might attempt something extraordinary using the Solar Magic Circle of the 666th sequence.

After all, Wolfgang Faust, who was originally supposed to have only three Spirit Cores, had ultimately achieved an impossible feat through the Sub-species Holy Grail War.

That is, connecting to the Throne of Heroes and materializing Heroic Spirits in a state where they were not under servitude.

The heartbeat that could no longer beat illuminated the dark battlefield like daylight in an instant.

A smaller figure wearing a mask stood on a certain ground. As this dimming heart beat for the first time in thousands of years, she somewhat dazedly raised her gaze.

He looked at the sky, his true home in another worldline.

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

085: A Voice, Transmitted to the Stars

The fourth level of the labyrinth, the final destination of this sub-species Holy Grail War.

The golden cup existing in space emanated colorless magical energy, illuminating the surroundings and the throne below.

"To think two such lovely blood packs have arrived, and one is even my own kind. I didn't expect it, and I haven't tasted them yet."

Wolfgang Faust appeared from behind the throne, a crooked smile on his lips, his slightly revealed teeth like those of a beast.

"However, as intelligent beings, let us begin with introductions—"

The Vampire Species bowed exaggeratedly, his demeanor eerily gentle, his expression as if pitying livestock about to be slaughtered. His words, however, were interrupted by Novia.

"Vampire Species Wolfgang Faust, using the sub-species Holy Grail to extract the Spiritual Cores of Servants for research."

"Oh? You actually said what I was going to say. With that magical energy of yours, you must be the only Servant to have survived the great battle of the four Servants this time. I didn't expect you to be able to fight my created dragon..."

With a tutting sound, Wolfgang's fingers swayed like a metronome.

"As expected of the final sacrifice that allowed me to advance my rank, you are worthy of being the last meal of my life."

"Enough talk, I'll kill you."