In terms of the outcome, Black Faction won decisively tonight.
Spartacus was imprisoned in a cell beneath the fortress.
Avicebron's mind seal remained firmly locked in his consciousness, while Caster, beneath the golden mask, was inscribing a spell array for a forced contract.
"The contract will take about six more hours to finalize." Avicebron didn't look up, his withered fingers drawing lines of Hebrew script on the ground. "By tomorrow evening, the beast will be obedient."
Darnic stood at the entrance to the restraint cell, his hands behind his back.
"When the battle officially begins tomorrow night, let him lead the charge."
"Send them back as cannon fodder?"
"It's simply making the best use of resources."
Darnic turned and left the basement, walking up the stone steps back to the main building of the walled city.
The Magecraft lamps in the corridor cast alternating light and shadow on his face. His pace was unhurried, even leisurely.
Heracles.
Once he regained his senses, Heracles single-handedly deflected Achilles's barrier Noble Phantasm with his bare arms.
Mukuro Hoshimiya.
The unknown Heroic Spirit, whose Noble Phantasm Noble Phantasm Michael, possesses both Anti-World Noble Phantasm and sealing techniques, and also boasts top-tier ranged support capabilities.
These two trump cards are held by Fiore and Caules, respectively.
Fiore and Caules were her heirs, whom she had personally groomed, and her own younger brother.
Be absolutely loyal to yourself.
Darnic's lips curled up slightly.
Black Faction's victory over the Yggdmillennia is now inevitable.
The Greater Grail lies beneath the fortress. If he wins this Great Holy Grail War, his wish will be granted.
To reshape the Root of the Yggdmillennia clan, eradicate the flaws in the Magic Circuits passed down through generations, and ensure that the bloodline of the entire clan continues forever and never declines.
This goal is now within reach.
Of course, there was also bad news.
" Sagara Hyouma's death has been confirmed."
"The Assassin he summoned has disappeared. Later, in a small town near Trifas, traces of a battle were witnessed Servant resembling the Red Faction Saber and an unidentified Assassin."
"The loss of Assassin is an acceptable loss in the current situation."
It's just an Assassin. With Heracles and Mukuro Hoshimiya around, losing one Servant won't make a big difference.
At the same time.
Dozens of kilometers away from the Millennia Fortress, deep in the wilderness, lies a seemingly ordinary plain where the Red Faction's temporary stronghold is hidden.
But the word "temporary" will soon be completely obsolete.
Amakusa Shirou Tokisada stood in the center of the ceremonial hall at the deepest part of the base, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
Before him stood a massive True Magic circle. The circle covered the entire floor of the room, its lines drawn from a mixture of Mesopotamian soil and special minerals, each line radiating an ancient and intense mystery.
Semiramis stood opposite the True Magic circle, arms outstretched, her long black hair swaying slightly in the still air.
All preliminary preparations have been completed.
Her voice carried an barely suppressed excitement, "The soil, the stone, the water, the native plants—all genuine products transported from Mesopotamia. The three-day ceremony has now completed its final step."
She lowered her arms and turned to look at Amakusa Shirou.
"This evening will be the best time for takeoff."
Amakusa Shirou did not respond immediately.
His gaze fell on a water mirror in the corner of the ceremonial hall.
The reflection in the water mirror was Achilles ' face; more precisely, it was a recorded image of Achilles reporting on the battle situation a few hours earlier.
"I definitely didn't mishear her Noble Phantasm name. She shouted it out in front of everyone. Michael. The Michael, Michael."
In the video, Achilles scratches his short green hair, his expression unusually serious. "And that Noble Phantasm truly sealed my the Small World Encircled by Azure Sky. And it was a direct conceptual seal. My shield is still gray, completely unusable."
The video ends here.
Amakusa Shirou closed his eyes.
Michael.
Michael.
The commander of the heavenly legions, the archangel who fought and defeated the red dragon in the Book of Revelation, holds a supreme position in the entire Christian mythological system, second only to the one true God.
"..."
Amakusa Shirou's right hand unconsciously clenched.
He is Amakusa Shirou Tokisada.
The leader of the Shimabara Rebellion. His 37,000 followers all perished in the final battle of Hara Castle; men, women, and children were all killed.
He prayed to God.
God did not respond.
He once cried out to the world.
The world responded with silence.
So after his death he made a vow: since God would not save mankind, he would take on that task.
The Third True Magic Soul Materialization. It frees the souls of all humanity from the constraints of the body, so that they will never again suffer from birth, aging, sickness, death, pain, or separation.
He has been preparing for this wish for sixty years.
"God is trying to stop my wish."
Amakusa Shirou slowly opened his eyes. "They've even sent out angels?"
Semiramis turned her head and glanced at him when she heard this.
His expression showed no fear or hesitation, but rather an almost stubborn, irreversible determination.
"Anyway."
Amakusa Shirou turned and walked towards the exit of the ceremonial hall. "The plan remains unchanged. This evening, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon will take off. Even if the opponent really is an angel, I have no way out."
Semiramis watched his retreating figure, a barely perceptible smile appearing on her lips.
"... What a stubborn man."
Millennia Fortress. Afternoon.
"That's why I said I really have nothing to do with Michael."
Mukuro Hoshimiya sat on a bench in the hall, legs crossed, one hand supporting her cheek, the other waving limply.
This was the third time she had explained.
Caules stood next to her, looking so embarrassed he didn't know where to put his face.
" Mukuro, say that again..."
"This is the fourth time! It's just that the Noble Phantasm happen to have the same name! There are plenty of things in the world named Michael!"
"But your Noble Phantasm did indeed seal away a barrier Noble Phantasm of rank A or higher--"
"That's the inherent property of the Noble Phantasm! It has nothing to do with its name!"
"But..."
"No buts! Have you ever seen an archangel act like me?!"
Caules shut up.
Indeed, if Archangel Michael himself looked like this... something seems a bit off.
However, the eyes of everyone else in the hall kept drifting in this direction.
Fiore sat in her wheelchair, holding a teacup in both hands. Her gaze lingered on Mukuro Hoshimiya for several seconds before slowly shifting away.