The Ever-Distant Sword of Victory

Chiron's amiable smile is like a spring breeze, and chatting with him always makes you feel relaxed without you even realizing it; that's probably the source of his charm.

"Thank you for your hard work Teacher Chiron."

Yuxian said apologetically, "Da Vinci-chan really is something, he didn't even think to let you rest for two days before you left."

Da Vinci arranged for them to depart as soon as Chiron returned to Chaldea, which made Yuxian somewhat resentful.

Chiron shook his head. "It's alright. Asclepius and the others do most of the work over there. I just teach the children a little. It's not tiring at all."

Teaching children is like Chiron cooking in the kitchen—it's something Emiya enjoys.

"Let's go to the central control room. Don't keep Da Vinci waiting."

Always thinking of others, that's probably what Chiron is all about—a heroic leader and a revered Great Sage.

Snowfield, west of America, is a very peculiar city.

To the north of this city lies a valley resembling a grand canyon, to the south a vast desert of yellow sand, to the east a huge lake, and to the west a lush forest.

Snowfield, with a population of 800,000, is situated at the center of these four distinct and unique environments.

Clearly, this was done intentionally, and the construction of this city definitely hides a huge secret.

Where is this?

Yuxian stood on a street corner in Snowfield, looking at his surroundings. It was a modern city, with steel and concrete buildings standing all around, and the overwhelming smell of car exhaust made him frown.

"Let's look around and get some information."

When you arrive in an unfamiliar environment, gathering information is the first and most important step.

Yuxian strode forward. Modern society emphasizes order, so there weren't many hidden worries to worry about.

However, he had only taken less than ten meters when the unexpected happened.

Boom!

A massive surge of magical energy struck like a hurricane, accompanied by a slight tremor in the ground.

Mash and the children rushed to Yuxian's side, as they too had sensed this enormous and unusual magical fluctuation.

Chiron frowned and said, "Master, this place is probably very dangerous. With such magical power, if it were an enemy, I'm afraid I can't guarantee your safety."

"Mash, from this moment on, you must never leave your Master's side."

"Children, please don't run around. Everyone should stay together."

Everyone nodded. The collision of magical power just now was truly terrifying. Although they were some distance away from here, everyone was still on high alert.

Yuxian asked, "Should we contact Da Vinci-chan?"

"No!" Chiron immediately shook his head. "It's not safe here. We need to find a safe place to stay, and contact Da Vinci only when we are free from disturbance and surveillance."

Yuxian listened attentively to his opinion, feeling reassured that it was fortunate that Chiron was by her side, as he was very thoughtful.

The group surveyed their surroundings as they slowly walked down the street, searching for a hotel where they could stay.

In the past, Yuxian would have definitely looked for a comfortable hotel, but now their focus is more on safety and privacy.

Some distance from the bustling city center, but not far away, in a place that didn't seem complicated and had relatively few people around, Yuxian and his companions checked into an ordinary hotel.

This is what Chiron considers the most suitable option at present.

After checking in and setting up a protective barrier, Yuxian finally managed to connect with Da Vinci.

"Da Vinci-chan, things aren't looking good," Yuxian said with a bitter face. "I'm afraid I really won't be able to slack off this time."

Yuxian told Da Vinci about the magical information he had just received and sought her advice.

Da Vinci asked, "About what level of magic is it?"

"Very enormous!" Chiron recalled the feeling from just now. "If I had to make a comparison, I would say it's comparable to Gilgamesh!"

Da Vinci was taken aback. "On the same level as that arrogant Golden Flash?!"

Golden Flash is indeed arrogant, but no one has ever denied his strength; he is absolutely capable of crushing ordinary level opponents.

Yuxian said timidly, "Da Vinci-chan, please call more people over quickly, preferably Master. I feel at ease with her here."

Da Vinci rolled his eyes at Yuxian, who looked utterly useless.

"I will tell everyone to be ready to provide support at any time. But the situation is unclear right now, and it would not be a wise choice to send everyone over rashly."

Da Vinci said earnestly, "Aren't you living in modern society now? Pay more attention to the news; perhaps you'll find some intelligence."

"Finally, dear Master, ruler of Chaldea, can't you be a little more dignified?"

Da Vinci looked at Mashu with a disappointed expression. "Look at Fou on Mash's shoulder, she's calmer than you!"

"Fou—— "

Fou protested, seemingly saying, 'What do you mean I'm calmer than him? I'm a whole trainload of people with Yuxian!'

"Don't make a fuss. Even if it's really Golden Flash, you don't need to worry. We don't even know if he's friend or foe. You're already panicking like this. I think Mash is going to turn you into a real couch potato!"

Faced with Da Vinci's rebuke, Mash smiled sheepishly.

You can't blame her. She's always done it this way. Protecting her Master is her duty. Even knowing that it would make Yuxian too comfortable, Mash would still do it without hesitation.

On the Yuxian, Yu Xian, shameless and thick-skinned, said, "Da Vinci-chan, that's not right. I'm Chaldea's mascot, so what's wrong with being a little lazy? You'd be more worried if I was always at the forefront, wouldn't you?"

"Yes, yes, you're right! I'm hanging up!"

Da Vinci said he didn't want to talk to Yuxian and immediately cut off contact, preferring to stay out of sight of him.

Chiron smiled and said, "Master, there's no need to worry too much. It's good to be cautious, but it's not a big deal. Let's gather information slowly."

"Fou—— "

Yuxian grabbed Fou from Mash's shoulder and vigorously rubbed its fluffy face. "Even you're laughing at me? I can't handle Da Vinci, but I can handle you?"

"Senior, don't bully Fou!" Mash couldn't stand it anymore and snatched Fou away, rescuing it from Yuxian's clutches.

After the playful banter ended, Yuxian's expression turned serious.

He said, "Jokes aside, everyone should still be careful. I have a feeling that this time it might not be so easy, and I don't want anyone to be in danger."

"Especially you few," Yuxian said to the children. "Don't mess around at this time, and absolutely do not act on your own. Listen to what Teacher Chiron has to say."

"Do you know?"

The children nodded in agreement, but whether they actually listened was something only they themselves knew.

Chapter 2, Section 516 Eternal Distant Sword of Victory

In the Opera House in downtown Snowfield.

The opera house was dark and gloomy late at night, and the old building had already posted a notice of maintenance not long ago.

Tonight, two unexpected guests arrive at the opera house, which has been deserted for a long time.

A gloomy-looking man stood on the stage, looking at a girl sitting on the ground.

In the center of the stage was a textbook-perfect summoning circle, upon which sat a stone box, which was completely empty.

The girl's Sajyou Ayaka. She sat slumped beside the summoning circle, neither happy nor sad. She was already tired of the days filled with anxiety.

"Am I going to die here?"

"Alright..."

Having been tricked into coming here by the Einzbern homunculi and disturbing the Magus who was preparing to summon a Servant, it's not hard for her to guess her fate.

The Magus looked at Sajyou Ayaka with the same eyes he would give an insect, preparing to kill her.

"Coming here to interfere with my ceremony is really a headache. Fine, let me deal with you first."

At that moment, it seemed as if someone was passing him a message.

He suddenly stopped moving, sighed deeply, and turned to Sajyou Ayaka, who was bound by him, "Although it was just a game on a whim, I'm somewhat interested."

"Consider it a test of how much loyalty the summoned Heroic Spirit can swear to me."

The Magus's lips curled slightly, and with a slightly twisted smile, he said, "The King of Knights, renowned for his noble character, will he be able to follow my instructions and kill the 'helpless woman'?"

Without any concealment, he informed Sajyou Ayaka of the Servant's information, clearly indicating that in the Magus's eyes, Ayaka was already a dead person.

The relic the Magus used to summon Servant was a stone box that once held the scabbard of the King of Knights, and he seemed certain that he could summon Artoria.

The ceremony begins.

The Magus's deep voice echoed through the opera house, making the already eerie and terrifying place even more chilling.

"The covenant between pure silver and iron, and the earth's stone..."

Sajyou Ayaka couldn't understand the difficult incantation, but she knew that each word was a countdown to her life.

"My ancestors were my forefathers..."

Even if that King of Knights didn't want to kill her, she didn't think she could escape the Magus's grasp.

"The descending winds are blocked by walls, and the four gates are tightly shut..."

Death drew ever closer, and at that moment, Sajyou Ayaka suddenly didn't want to die. Even though she had no purpose in living, she still didn't want to die.

It's contradictory, yet very real.

"Break through the Wheel of Restraint, Guardian of Libra!"

Perhaps it was Sajyou Ayaka's prayer that brought about a miracle. In the final swing of the countdown's second hand, a small, dark figure appeared behind the Magus.

Wearing a black cloak, he resembled the Grim Reaper, bringing death with him.

"Zabaniya (Zabaniya)"

An invisible hand pierced the Magus's chest and grasped his heart in its grasp.

Pfft.

The Magus, completely unaware of what was behind him, coughed up blood, collapsed to the ground, and died.

"Are you Magus who thirsts for the Holy Grail?" The shadowy figure didn't leave immediately; she mechanically asked Sajyou Ayaka.

Answering incorrectly means death, and so does lying.

Sajyou Ayaka decided to answer the shadowy figure's question honestly.

A dazzling light emanated from the summoning circle, and the dark figure cautiously took a few steps back.

"I am the one who thirsts for the Holy Grail. What do you intend to do?"

A man dressed in noble attire appeared in the summoning circle. His solemn attire exuded the aura of a superior. His golden hair was mixed with red, and his eyes were piercing, making him look heroic.

The shadowy figure didn't speak. She leaped and moved behind the man, jumping and pouncing in the air with agile movements, like a ghost in the night.

The man smiled slightly and drew his luxuriously designed sword.

In the past, only nobles possessed such swords; nowadays, they are mostly used as decorative items.

Accompanied by the man's powerful lines, he swung the sword in his hand with great force.

"The Eternal Distant Sword of Victory! (Excalibur)"

A lightning-like burst of light shot from the sword, piercing the sky from inside the opera house and completely ripping off its roof, revealing the twinkling stars in the night sky.

The man sheathed his sword and shook his head slightly. Clearly, this attack had not left the shadowy figure behind; she was gone.

Ignoring the fleeing shadow, the man turned to the bewildered Sajyou Ayaka and asked:

"Tell me, are you my master?"

It was late at night, Yuxian and his party were still awake.

Having just arrived in an unfamiliar place from Chaldea, none of them were very sleepy.

Despite Yuxian's repeated urging of the children to go to sleep, they simply lay in bed, whispering to each other.

Boom!