Chapter Summaries

Roland endured the Holy Grail’s transformation into a powerful dragon-like body while Saber’s Excalibur temporarily destroyed Angra Mainyu. Angra Mainyu revived with the Horse and Dog Talismans and turned Darnic against the weakened heroes, but Roland emerged from the fetal membrane and prepared to settle the score.

• The Holy Grail used the Third True Magic to reshape Roland’s body, and he drew in magical energy that began awakening the Dragon Talisman.
• Saber unleashed Excalibur and vaporized Angra Mainyu and the surrounding black mud.
• Angra Mainyu revived with the Horse and Dog Talismans, then revealed Darnic as his servant and ordered him to attack the weakened Saber, Medea, and Ishtar.
• Darnic accepted Angra Mainyu’s offer of Saber’s body as payment for fighting the heroes.
• Roland emerged from the fetal membrane in a dragon-like form and confronted Angra Mainyu.

Roland revived as a powerful dragon, absorbed the Dragon and Sheep talismans’ divine powers, and killed Zouken Matou and Darnic. He then rejected Angra Mainyu’s offer to rule together and attacked him with a torrent of flame.

• Roland emerged in his dragon form as the Dragon Talisman's divine power manifested, and the Flame Dragon entered his body.
• Zouken Matou rushed to claim the divine power, but Roland absorbed it and killed him.
• Darnic fired missiles at Roland, then used the Sheep Talisman’s Soul Ray, but Roland absorbed its power and Darnic died.
• Angra Mainyu offered to help Roland destroy humanity, but Roland insisted humans belonged in his kingdom.
• Roland overpowered Angra Mainyu and unleashed a vast torrent of fire against him.

Roland recovered all twelve talismans from Angra Mainyu and gained overwhelming power through their combined divine abilities. He trapped Angra Mainyu in his original beast form and lifted him helplessly into the air, preparing to decide how to kill him.

• Roland burned Angra Mainyu with his flames and stole the Lively Monkey and Loyal Dog talismans from his body.
• Roland repeatedly overpowered Angra Mainyu and took the Horse Talisman and Dog Talisman, then used a Reverse Spell and Black Mud as a catalyst to draw out Angra Mainyu’s six remaining talismans.
• Angra Mainyu charged Roland in a desperate attempt to stop him, but Roland absorbed all twelve talismans and blasted and struck Angra Mainyu with his newly amplified power.
• Angra Mainyu fled toward Fuyuki City, but Roland caught up, knocked him back, and prevented him from transforming into Black Mud.
• Roland forced Angra Mainyu to remain in his beast form and lifted him into the air with the talismans’ power, asking how he wanted to meet his end.

Angra Mainyu tried to turn Roland into a larval Beast by sacrificing himself and the Black Holy Grail, but Roland resisted the transformation and seized him. The chapter ended with Roland revealing that Angra Mainyu had underestimated his fate.

• Roland rejected Angra Mainyu's mission to destroy humanity and prepared to kill him.
• Angra Mainyu broke free, engulfed Roland in a black fetal membrane, and used the Grail's power to make him a larval Beast.
• Medea's attacks failed as Angra Mainyu declared Roland the newly born Beast VI, while Saber recognized his duty to confront him.
• The Beast's black mud suddenly contracted, and Roland appeared on a throne in a dark courtyard, having resisted the corruption.
• Roland grabbed Angra Mainyu and said that he had underestimated the fate Roland bore.

Roland absorbed Beast VI and used his fate as the world’s chosen representative of Dark Chi to integrate its power without losing himself. He reshaped his body into a human form to steady his mind, then watched Saber destroy the remaining Angra Mainyu.

• Angra Mainyu despaired when Beast VI’s corruption failed to affect Roland, whose fate protected his consciousness.
• Roland devoured Beast VI and claimed its authority as another part of his fate, which Angra Mainyu recognized as an impossible intervention by the world’s will.
• Roland used black mud to reshape his dragon body into a human form and celebrated his rebirth with greater power and heightened senses.
• Medea found Roland restored to human form and said she preferred that appearance, while Roland explained it helped stabilize his mind.
• Angra Mainyu tried to flee as a remnant of black mud, but Saber blocked him and destroyed him with the Sword of the Star and Wind Magic.

After Saber defeated Angra Mainyu, Kirei Kotomine announced Roland as the Holy Grail War’s victor, and Hassan of the Cursed Arm killed Angra Mainyu before the fires consumed his remains. Saber chose to leave Roland’s side, though he warned that he would return if Roland ever threatened the world.

• Saber pursued Angra Mainyu, but Kirei Kotomine arrived and told him not to bother because someone else would handle the fugitive.
• Angra Mainyu fled the ruins and tried to bargain with Hassan of the Cursed Arm, offering him incarnation and freedom.
• Hassan of the Cursed Arm seized Angra Mainyu’s heart and killed him with Zabaniya: Delusional Heartbeat, then dissolved after blessing his Master.
• Kirei Kotomine announced that Roland was the first and last victor of the Holy Grail War and explained that the Servants’ Contracts had been interrupted.
• Saber refused to judge Roland for the future effects of his existence, severed their Contract, and vanished after warning he would return if Roland caused a world-ending disaster.

Roland arranged for Waver to rise to the position of Lord El-Melloi II, then settled the rewards and debts owed by Ishtar and Rin Tohsaka. As Kirei wandered through the burning disaster site, he followed Roland’s advice and rescued a red-haired child, who resolved to become like him.

• Waver thanked Roland for honoring Rider’s death, and Roland told him to become Lord El-Melloi II and preserve Kayneth’s family name.
• Ishtar demanded her promised gems, but Roland calculated the damage to Ryuudou Temple and deducted its cost from the reward.
• Roland told Rin that Tokiomi’s debt to him had passed to the Tohsaka Family, and Rin accepted responsibility rather than give up her inheritance.
• Roland paid Rin and Ishtar with two gems, then revealed that Ishtar had spent Rin’s childhood savings; Rin fled with Ishtar possessing her.
• Roland urged Kirei to balance his nature with restraint, and Kirei later rescued a red-haired child from the rubble.
• The red-haired child was moved by Kirei’s expression and decided to become someone like the priest.

After taking control of Einzbern, Roland returned to Fuyuki with Irisviel and Illya, where he encountered Kirei Kotomine’s daughter, Caren. Roland’s presence overwhelmed Caren’s unusual constitution, and she woke with an intense fixation on him, introducing herself as Caren Ortensia.

• Roland took supreme authority over Einzbern, ended its experiments on Homunculi, and arranged for a second palace to be built in Fuyuki.
• Roland, Irisviel, and Illya returned to Fuyuki, where Roland noticed a silver-haired girl staring at him at the airport.
• As Roland approached, the girl’s unusual nature reacted violently to his presence, and she fainted in his arms.
• Kirei Kotomine identified the girl as his daughter and explained that her constitution attracted demons and could also expel them.
• Roland said his presence had altered Caren’s constitution, and Caren woke and introduced herself as Caren Ortensia.

After Tokiomi Tohsaka’s funeral, Roland discovered a Contract Spirit had entered Fuyuki City and tracked it to the hospital where Shinji Matou lay in a coma. Roland retrieved the spirit, Izuru Kamukura, from Shinji, but wondered whether Shinji would still be the same person when he woke.

• Rin Tohsaka thanked Roland for helping her mother attend the funeral and for lending money to rebuild the Tohsaka Family.
• Roland gave Rin the dagger Kirei Kotomine had sent, and Rin and Sakura Matou briefly argued about Kirei’s daughter.
• The Key of All Spirits detected a newly arrived Contract Spirit, and Roland sent shadows to find its bearer.
• Roland learned that Byakuya Matou had brought his comatose son, Shinji, to a Fuyuki City hospital and went to see him.
• Shinji’s memories revealed that his lack of Magic Circuits had crushed his dream of becoming a mage, so he had wished for talent and accepted the spirit that chose him.
• Roland retrieved Contract Spirit Izuru Kamukura · Super High School Level Hope from Shinji and wondered whether the boy would remain himself.

Roland prepared to leave Fuyuki City to restore his body, powers, and mind while Kirei continued developing the ritual for his ascension to Heaven. At the church orphanage, Shinji Matou found unexpected pleasure in Shirou Kotomine’s ideals and agreed to join his search for Heaven.

• Roland explained to Kirei Kotomine that he needed to leave and strengthen himself, acknowledging that his great power outpaced his mastery and that he needed further mental growth.
• Roland said Rin, Sakura, Illya, Caren, Irisviel, Aoi, and Caster were settled in Fuyuki, and Kirei promised to prepare the path to Heaven’s Door before Roland returned.
• Kirei revealed that he had adopted Shirou Kotomine and hoped to guide him toward Heaven because Shirou’s incompleteness resembled his own.
• Shinji Matou watched Shirou repeatedly fail at high jumping, then used Domination to adjust Shirou’s technique so he cleared the bar.
• Shirou invited Shinji to join the search for Heaven, and Shinji accepted after realizing that observing Shirou gave him a new sense of pleasure.

Roland traveled to a new world and learned that gods had descended there, granting Falna to the inhabitants and organizing them into Familias. After recognizing the world’s Dungeon-centered society, he hoped its divine power and Falna could help him.

• Roland arrived in an undeveloped forest and found carriage tracks on a poorly maintained road.
• A traveling merchant approached, and Roland used the Sheep Talisman to search the man’s mind for information.
• Roland learned that a bottomless Dungeon had once unleashed monsters on the surface until the gods descended and granted Falna to the inhabitants.
• He discovered that gods and Familias now shaped the world, while Adventurers explored the Dungeon for its monsters and resources.
• Roland recognized the world and hoped its gods and Falna would provide the power he needed.

Roland arrived in the world of DanMachi, considered whether he could use Falna, and drew a purple Contract Spirit after contracting Izuru Kamukura. As he traveled toward Orario and declared his ambition to become a hero, he identified the silver-haired girl beside him as his weapon, Aestus Estus.

• Roland considered the gods' sealed power and how Falna could help him develop his abilities.
• Roland reviewed Izuru Kamukura's Contract Spirit abilities and decided their risks posed little danger to him.
• Roland altered a merchant's memories, then used one of his two draws and saw a hazy purple glow emerge.
• The merchant carried Roland toward Orario and offered him a reward, but Roland gave him jewels and asked about the city.
• Roland told the merchant he planned to become an adventurer and a hero, then pointed to Aestus Estus as his weapon.

Roland arrived in Orario with Aestus Estus and went to the Guild to register as an adventurer without joining a Familia. Eina warned him that entering the Dungeon without Falna was dangerous, but Roland insisted on registering and remained determined to choose his own path.

• Roland introduced Aestus Estus as his sword and reflected on her choice of him and his plan to present himself as a hero in Orario.
• A merchant brought Roland and Aestus Estus to Orario, where Roland entered the city without incident and admired its many races and lively streets.
• Roland reached the Guild and asked Eina how to become an adventurer.
• Eina explained that Roland needed a Familia to enter the Dungeon safely and offered to help him find one, but he refused because he wanted to earn the right to choose.
• Roland asked Eina to register him despite having no Familia or Falna, leaving her concerned about his safety.

Roland went to the Guild to register for the Dungeon, where Allen attacked him over his jealousy of Eina. Roland defeated the level 2 adventurer with ease, then left Allen badly injured after he charged at him again.

• Eina urged Roland to reconsider entering the Dungeon and offered to introduce him to trustworthy familias, but Roland said Aestus Estus was his sword, not a would-be adventurer.
• Allen confronted Roland, dismissed him as a familia-less fool, and attacked despite Eina's protests.
• Roland read Allen's movements, used his technique against him, and knocked him down before the Guild's stunned onlookers.
• Eina apologized and predicted that Roland would become a famous adventurer, but Allen got back up and charged at Roland again.
• Roland punched Allen into the Guild wall, leaving the adventurers staring as he questioned how he could lose to a level 2.

Loki arrived at the Guild after Roland defeated Allen and learned that Roland had no Falna but wanted to become a hero who would lead Orario. She offered him a chance to prove himself against Ais, and the chapter ended as Roland summoned Aestus Estus into a Sacred Sword and challenged her to draw her weapon.

• Misha brought Loki and Ais to the Guild, where they found Allen had been knocked through a wall by Roland.
• Loki questioned Roland about defeating a level 2 without Falna and invited him to join the Loki Familia, but he refused because he wanted fame for himself.
• Roland explained that he intended to become a hero and inspire Orario, which convinced Loki to offer the Loki Familia's support if he earned Ais's acknowledgment.
• Loki arranged a fight between Roland and Ais, with Roland required to join her familia if he failed to meet the condition.
• Roland summoned Aestus Estus as a Sacred Sword and warned Ais that fighting him bare-handed would mean certain death.

Roland revealed Aestus Estus and challenged Ais, defeating the Sword Princess in a fierce duel despite having no Falna. The spectators recognized him as a living hero, and his victory left Orario facing an unprecedented exception to its rules.

• Loki told Ais to draw her sword and fight Roland seriously after Aestus Estus appeared and the crowd recognized it as Xianjing.
• Roland matched Ais's speed and strength, then unleashed a sword slash that cut through a wall as Ais narrowly dodged it with her magic.
• Ais used Tempest to counter Roland and launched a precise thrust, but Roland copied her father's technique and met her strike exactly.
• Roland's next attack shattered Ais's sword and left her defeated with his blade at her neck.
• The spectators marveled that Roland had beaten Ais without Falna and declared that a hero had arrived.

After defeating Ais, Roland used his fame as the Sword Hero and his connection to the Loki Familia to draw Orario’s gods and Adventurers into the search for the escaped Contract Spirit. He accepted an invitation to the Hostess of Fertility, where he recognized that the tavern’s seemingly ordinary waitress, Syr, was more than she appeared.

• Roland comforted Ais after her defeat, while Loki acknowledged his victory and promised to honor his reasonable request.
• Roland explained that he planned to attract the gods’ attention and rally Adventurers so the escaped Contract Spirit would have nowhere to hide.
• Ais left with Loki, and Aestus Estus asked whether she could have children with Roland as proof of their bond.
• Eina told Roland that Loki had taken responsibility for the Guild’s damage and invited him to a gathering at the Hostess of Fertility.
• Roland entered the tavern, recognized its proprietress and staff as powerful Adventurers, and reacted when Syr came to serve him.

Roland dined with Aestus Estus at the Hostess of Fertility, where he met Ryuu Lion and sensed Freya watching him. Freya saw the twisted radiance of Roland’s soul and became obsessively convinced that he was her hero.

• Roland let Aestus Estus choose their food while Syr served them at the Hostess of Fertility.
• Ryuu Lion apologized for Mia’s teasing, and Roland introduced himself as a future hero of Orario.
• Roland sensed a scorching, obsessive gaze from Babel Tower, but it vanished when he looked up.
• Freya examined Roland’s soul through her mirror and found both terrifying evil and profound love within it.
• Freya lost her composure and declared Roland to be her hero, claiming him as hers.

After repeated failures to recruit a Familia member, Hestia attended Loki’s banquet and caught Roland’s attention. Roland rejected the assembled gods’ offers, then chose Hestia as his patron deity on the condition that she obey his orders, setting the stage for the Hestia Familia to rise.

• Hestia failed to recruit another novice Adventurer and headed to Loki’s banquet, hoping to eat before the other gods arrived.
• Hestia recognized Roland as the celebrated hero and watched him anxiously, while Roland saw her as a potential choice for his plans.
• Loki and the other gods gathered to recruit Roland, offering him promises of support and power.
• Roland told the gods that he would only join a Familia if its patron deity obeyed his orders, causing most of them to withdraw.
• Roland asked Hestia to accept his condition and become his goddess, and he rejected Loki’s protest by saying he had chosen with full knowledge of Hestia’s Familia.

Roland joined Hestia Familia and received his Falna, revealing extraordinary skills and abilities. He realized he could alter the Falna himself and wondered whether he could grant it to others, setting his sights on creating a Familia belonging to Shendu.

• Roland accepted Hestia’s invitation and became the first member of Hestia Familia.
• Hestia bestowed Falna on Roland in a bookstore, and he secretly filled its blank panel with his abilities.
• Hestia discovered Roland’s exceptional skills and explained how Falna recorded growth, while Roland declined to lock his Status.
• Roland realized Falna was a divine Magic Formula and independently changed his Magic stat to i(6).
• Roland considered using Humanity’s Evil and Fire Demonic Qi to grant Falna to others and form a Familia belonging to Shendu.