Stelle: Can't I just peacefully complete commissions?

"Hmm? Why did you specifically come to commission me?"

"Because you're very strong... Besides, the moment I saw you, I felt that you were approachable—the kind of good person who liked helping others."

"Of course, I won't shortchange you either. As long as you help clear out the Antimatter Legion inside the space station and protect the maintenance staff while they enter the disconnected compartments to conduct repairs, I'll prepare at least one billion Credits for you after the commission is complete."

"Credits don't matter... Huh? How much?"

"One billion."

"I'd brave fire and boiling water for you, Station Chief Asta!"

You have received a new commission!

Battlefield Cleanup (Client: Asta): Eliminate all remaining Antimatter Legion monsters within the space station and ensure that the maintenance personnel repair every disconnected compartment.

Reward: 400 Points + Random Card Pool Draws ×1

Difficulty: 2 Stars

"It's actually a two-star commission. Is there some big treasure hidden inside the space station?"

Shirou Emiya scrolled through the map of the disconnected compartments Asta had sent him. There were currently around thirteen disconnected areas remaining throughout the space station. Surveillance methods had been blocked, making observation impossible. The Defense Department members had suffered considerable losses during the Antimatter Legion invasion, and there were not many available personnel left. Besides, the Space Station Defense Department had never had many particularly formidable experts to begin with.

What kind of expert spent every day holed up in a research institution working as a security guard?

And this research institution was under an Emissary of Intellect. What suicidal idiot would dare attack this place?

A large portion of the space station's Defense Department members had originally transferred over from the IPC. They were strong enough to bully ordinary people who had not embarked upon a Path, but asking them to clear out the remaining Antimatter Legion throughout the entire space station? They would probably need to write their wills before heading into battle.

March 7th: Emiya, I heard you accepted the space station's mission? Do you need this lady's help?

While waiting for the logistics maintenance technicians to arrive at the gathering point, Little Pink Hair suddenly sent him a message.

I really can pole vault: Aren't you investigating another incident?

March 7th: With this lady stepping in, it'll be easy. Asta and I have already caught the thing that infiltrated the space station. It's called a Voidwater. It can transform into other people, but it still couldn't escape this lady's keen eyes!

I really can pole vault: True enough. I, Shirou Emiya, acknowledge your keen eyes.

After all, she was the woman who could tell at a glance that Dan Heng possessed hidden power, and who could identify Tingyun standing before her as the mastermind with a single "look."

Before entering any new map, Little March's words definitely had to be memorized in advance. Mr. Emiya knew only limited details of the plot. When they encountered unfamiliar dungeons in the future, letting this woman jinx things a couple of times first would basically set the tone for what was to come.

Things like rivers of blood, family members turning against each other, life and death separating loved ones, and families being torn apart rolled right off this girl's tongue. She was practically Word of Law incarnate.

March 7th: Being praised so directly all of a sudden makes this lady a little embarrassed. Don't worry, with Asta and me helping you complete the mission, this mission will definitely go smoothly. Besides, with your strength, Emiya, there absolutely won't be any problems as long as something like a second Doomsday Beast doesn't appear.

Well then, so that was where the two-star difficulty lay?

Mr. Emiya rubbed his chin. He had been wondering how mere Void Trotter fodder could possibly challenge him, the current Herrscher of Reason. Now that he had heard March 7th jinx it like that, he finally understood.

"There isn't a second Doomsday Beast in Acheron's script. Looks like... their script really isn't omnipotent after all."

Or perhaps she had simply not told him what happened after the script was completed?

Still, that was insignificant. It was only a hidden Doomsday Beast. He could solve it by blasting its face with a beam cannon.

Come to think of it, he had just acquired such a useful ability, and now such a practical punching bag had conveniently appeared!

Heh! Such a coincidence was truly wonderful beyond measure!

I really can pole vault: If you want to come, then hurry up. I'm already dying to get started!

March 7th: Your wording sounds kind of weird... Don't go capsizing in a gutter. Asta and I will be the ones suffering if you do. If some hidden Boss really shows up, this lady will be the first to run away!

I really can pole vault: Little March, watch your mouth. If you keep jinxing things, I really won't be able to take it...

A teacher is one who imparts the Way, teaches skills, and resolves doubts.

The Antimatter Legion.

Or rather, the "claws of Destruction."

Although Nanook, the Destruction Aeon, was the youngest among the many Aeons, when it came to his current influence across the Sea of Stars, he was more than capable of contending for the forefront.

The war weapon known as the Forge of War, created by Nanook at some unknown point in time, had forged the Antimatter Legion's backbone: the Assault Group.

Their name was Void Trotters.

Created by the Fire Smith race using the remains of battle-hardened "warriors" and wild, frenzied "Ancient Beasts" as base materials, this group needed only obey the instincts of Destruction in order to charge across the battlefield without restraint.

Other Aeon factions might need to consider the issue of "intelligence" among their forces.

But Destruction did not. The Antimatter Legion was itself a group that regarded the concepts constructed only by civilization, an intelligent collective, as things that needed to be destroyed. Therefore, a single-track execution strategy was already more than enough for these mass-produced weapons of war.

Like the Great Cosmic Calamity of old, the Void Trotters born from the Forge of War swept across one living planet after another under the command of the Lords of Annihilation, ruthlessly trampling every civilization. Even Stone Age civilizations that had only just sprouted, or small settlements that had not yet developed language, were no exception.

The Void Trotters were not actually weak. Even the lowest-ranking Marauders and Erasers possessed outstanding individual combat capabilities. Ordinary people who had not embarked upon a Path would find it difficult to eliminate one alone even while wielding kinetic, electromagnetic, or beam weapons. At minimum, a team of dozens would be needed to mount a coordinated assault.

But since the Antimatter Legion bore the name legion, naturally, it also primarily fought as a group. "Marauders," "Erasers," "Manipulators," and "Tramplers"—when these Void Trotters joined together, they formed a complete lineup.

To pre-nuclear civilizations, a simple team formed by these Void Trotters posed no less of a threat than a Division.

Of course...

"As the saying goes, at thirty one stands firm, at forty one has no doubts, and at fifty one knows one's destiny."

"They need to gather at least thirty Divisions before they qualify to make me stand up and beat them."

"If forty Divisions come, I can make every last one of them die with complete clarity, without a single doubt as they go into the ground."

"With fifty Divisions, I'll let them know who the true Mandate of Heaven is."

While projecting a great number of Noble Phantasms to gun down Void Trotters, Mr. Emiya explained ancient Earth culture to March 7th and Asta. He spoke very seriously.

"After that comes sixty, when one's ears are obedient, and seventy, when one follows one's heart's desires. Asta, tell me, what does that mean?"

Little Grey Hair pondered briefly upon hearing that. A moment later, she answered with certainty.

"If sixty Divisions come, I have to beat them until their ears obey any command they hear from me!"

"If seventy Divisions come, then I can truly let loose and beat them however I please."

"Excellent. You can be taught."

Mr. Emiya gave Little Grey Hair an approving look. Little Grey Hair wore an "embarrassed" expression, seemingly feeling unworthy of such praise. Beside them, Little Pink Hair stared blankly at the interacting pair of siblings and spoke hollowly.

"I don't think that passage is supposed to mean that at all."

"It's fine. Everyone has their own interpretation. That's perfectly normal."

"Asta, don't you dare learn bad habits from this guy."

"Don't worry."

Little Grey Hair gave March 7th a confident expression before replying calmly.

"I think I already had those ideas stored in my head before, so there's no need to learn them."

"Emiya, promise me you'll never become a teacher."

"Actually, I feel like I have quite a talent for becoming a people's teacher."

Amid laughter and cheerful chatter, the dozens of Void Trotters inside the compartment declared GG. The maintenance personnel following behind Shirou quickly entered the compartment and began checking the condition of its equipment. After around ten minutes, Alan from the Defense Department stepped forward and explained the situation to Shirou.

"This compartment's communications have returned to normal. Only four compartments remain. We'll continue troubling you, Mr. Emiya."

"Having accepted a commission, I must fulfill it. But I have a feeling something may happen in the remaining compartments. If anything goes wrong, get away immediately. I might not be able to protect you."

"...A feeling?"

Alan's expression became serious. The premonitions generated by those who had embarked upon a Path were never baseless. They were extrasensory perceptions produced through interaction with Imaginary Energy. It could not be called seeing the future, but Pathstriders could naturally possess the sort of danger warning ability that many animals had.

"I understand. We'll take care of the other staff members. Please be careful as well."

Mr. Emiya nodded. His peripheral vision swept over March 7th. As long as this girl did not use her "Word of Law" to invoke any more new situations, it would be fine. Whether it was a Doomsday Beast or a hidden Boss, he could handle it as long as it was not Emanator-level. If it truly was Emanator-level...

He might not be able to kill the opponent outright, but if he was determined to protect himself or flee, the opponent could not stop him either. At worst, he would activate the Aurora Curtain and take everyone away.

"Could there really be a hidden Lord of Annihilation?"

Although he was confident in facing Emanators, Shirou could not help feeling uneasy. Logically speaking, the space station was Herta's territory. Herta herself, who had twice beheld Fuli, should be an Emissary of Intellect unless something unexpected had happened. A Lord of Annihilation personally coming to the space station over losses caused by some Void Trotters and a Doomsday Beast was simply too absurd.

"Blazing Wind, Starfall, Iron Tomb, Phantom... I don't know the names of the remaining few."

"Phantom should currently be plotting something on the Xianzhou. If Blazing Wind were to act, it would definitely be a massive assault. Starfall usually serves as the vanguard commander... Only Iron Tomb, according to the records... prefers attacking high-tech civilizations."

Shirou considered the enemies who might appear within the space station, then headed toward the remaining compartments without much hesitation. March 7th's jinxing ability was impressive, but it was not enough to be treated as an absolute certainty.

As they swept through the remaining compartments, Shirou began to sense an unusual level of Imaginary Energy reaction inside the second-to-last compartment. He immediately signaled for the others to stay back. Slowly extending his magical perception into the compartment, he waited for a moment before turning to look at March 7th and speaking softly.

"Good thing you only mentioned the Doomsday Beast."

"What do you mean?"

March 7th did not understand at first. She tilted her head foolishly, her pretty eyes filled with clear, unclouded stupidity. Asta understood Shirou's meaning. She lightly patted March 7th on the shoulder, then spoke solemnly.

"March, this is my lifelong request. Can you say something to me?"

"What?"

"Say that I, Asta, was never destined to win the full jackpot of the Interstellar Lottery in this lifetime."

Excellent.

Watching Little Grey Hair seize every opportunity, Mr. Emiya could not help giving her a thumbs-up. This reverse approach was indeed worth trying.

Seeing the eagerness in Shirou's expression, Little March fell silent for a moment. Then realization finally dawned on her, and she immediately snapped in anger.

"This lady is not a jinx!"

"Then how do you explain the fact that there really is a Doomsday Beast reaction inside?"

Pushing open the compartment door, Shirou casually projected the Seven Rings of Heavenly Domination, blocking dozens of Imaginary Particle Cannon shots that came streaking out from inside. Then he shifted his gaze to the pitch-black sphere at the center of the compartment.

A reaction suspected to be at Doomsday Beast level was emanating from that black sphere.

As the black sphere slowly rotated and gradually revealed the form of a Doomsday Beast Core, March 7th's expression completely fell apart.

"Why is there really a second one?!"

"How could there be a real second one? An interesting question."

A response suddenly came from within the Doomsday Beast Core. It was a cold voice lacking emotional warmth, like an AI.

"Although it was merely an impulsive decision, only I should have known that this core had been placed here."

"But... you seem to have discovered it in advance, haven't you? Nameless."

The pitch-black sphere continued rotating as the level of Imaginary energy steadily increased. From within the core, the limbs and body of the Doomsday Beast rapidly extended outward. Before everyone's eyes, the colossal beast capable of destroying planets swiftly assumed a grotesque form.

"Could you answer my question?"

The monstrous beast, which should have possessed only the instinct for Destruction, now stood upright on two legs like a primate and questioned them in a human-like manner.

"This core was originally intended as a 'gift' to be dropped here, just to say hello to Herta."

Listening to the voice coming from the Doomsday Beast's body, Shirou silently considered its origin. Before he could reach a conclusion, however, the voice spoke again.

"Since the Nameless discovered it in advance, then please accept this 'gift' ahead of schedule."

As it spoke, immense Imaginary Energy began gathering within the core in the Doomsday Beast's chest. Its energy level climbed continuously within mere seconds. As this terrifying Imaginary Energy converged, the surrounding airflow was swept up into pale blue streaks of light.

"Starting off so enthusiastically?"

Seeing the terrifying amount of Imaginary Energy being gathered, Mr. Emiya raised an eyebrow slightly before breaking into a smile.

"But I'm standing on the right now. How dare you clash beams with me?"

As he spoke, a golden holy sword suddenly manifested in his hand. Although Noble Phantasms in the Nasuverse were divided into ranks according to the strength of their legends, Star-Forged Weapons and Divine Constructs were divine artifacts that accomplished great feats even without the support of legend.

Unlike those items that only ascended into Noble Phantasms after becoming possessions accompanying their owners in death, this Star-Forged Weapon, created from the Elves' supreme forging achievement, had been wielded by an unnamed holy sword bearer in the era before King Arthur was born. It had resisted the Harvest Star Vanguard, the "White Giant God Sefar," whom even the Twelve Olympian Machines could not match.

If something was merely a "crystallization elevated by legend," then removing the portion belonging solely to the planet's record would leave behind nothing more than ordinary sword metal—or perhaps merely a wooden bow or a pair of ordinary revolvers.

But what appeared in Shirou's hand at this moment was not the "sand" heaped up by great feats, but the genuine "Star Sword."

"This is the War of Salvation—!"