Dependent Follower, I Rely on Myself?

"Kirei Kotomine said the only remaining classes are Saber and Acber, so I'll be the one to summon a Servant first. Got it?"

In the basement of the Tohsaka Estate, Yu Feng and Rin Tohsaka stood facing each other. Rin looked at Yu Feng with a serious expression and warned him.

Yu Feng waved his hand dismissively, signaling he understood. "I know, I know. If you want to summon first, go ahead. I don't really care either way."

Rin felt a surge of irritation at Yu Feng's nonchalant attitude, but she couldn't be bothered to argue. Definitely not because she couldn't win a debate against him—absolutely not!

Before them lay a circular ritual array. Rin glanced at Yu Feng before slowly stepping into it.

She pulled out a jewel, a glint of determination flashing in her eyes. "Even without a catalyst, I'll summon Saber!"

Rin checked the time. "Timing's right. Good—let's begin!"

She channeled the jewel's magic, pouring it bit by bit into the ritual beneath her feet, and the circular array began to glow faintly.

Rin started her incantation:

"Silver and iron to the foundation. Stone and the archduke of contracts to the foundation.

Build a wall before the descending wind. Close the four gates. From the crown comes forth.

Go forth and cycle on the three-way crossroads leading to the kingdom."

As Rin began chanting, Yu Feng felt something strange stirring in his body. It was as if something was entering him, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He also sensed his own strength growing.

What's going on?

Yu Feng grew puzzled.

"Fill.

Fill.

Fill.

Fill.

Fill.

But when filled, let it be abandoned.

——Declare.

Your body shall serve under me, and my fate shall be bound to your sword.

If you submit to the Holy Grail's call, obey this will, follow this reason, then answer!

Here I swear.

I am the one who achieves all good in the world.

I am the one who inflicts all evil in the world.

You are the seven days bound by the three great words.

Come forth from the ring of restraint, O guardian of the scales!"

Boom!

As Rin finished her incantation, a thunderous roar echoed. Rin's face lit up with joy. "It worked!"

She quickly scanned the area, but aside from Yu Feng, there was no one else. Realizing where her Servant must be, she dashed out of the basement, leaving Yu Feng standing there dumbfounded.

Yu Feng stared at his own hands, his eyes filled with shock. "What is this?"

Rin hurried into an empty room on the first floor, where a figure sat amidst the debris.

Then she noticed the clock on the wall and her expression shifted slightly. "Oh no... I remember the clock at home is an hour fast today. That means it's one o'clock, not two? I messed up again..."

Rin slumped in frustration. Yu Feng, who had slowly followed her up, shrugged. "You're still like that—always dropping the ball at the crucial moment. I wonder who you learned that from."

The figure's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Yu Feng. "Feng?"

Yu Feng blinked, caught off guard that the other person recognized him. "You know me?"

"I see... No, I don't." Faced with Yu Feng's surprise, the figure quickly recovered, as if understanding something, and denied the earlier remark.

Rin glared at the two of them. "So, what about you? Who are you?"

Seeing the figure deny it, Yu Feng didn't dwell on their exchange. Instead, he closed his eyes and focused on sensing his own body.

"So that's it... I've been possessed," he muttered to himself after a moment.

It turned out that during Rin's ritual, Yu Feng had sensed something happening to him, but he never expected to be possessed—and by himself, no less.

That's right!

Yu Feng had been possessed by a version of himself from a simulation he'd completed: Pantaleon.

Though Yu Feng didn't know why this happened, what stood out was that Pantaleon's possession was as an Archer, not a Saber. That meant he couldn't unleash the full power of his simulated self, but it was close enough.

Still, honestly, Yu Feng had no clue why he'd been randomly possessed—and by himself, at that.

"Wait, wait, wait! You're not serious, are you? Hey, Feng! Stop her!"

A voice snapped Yu Feng back to reality. He saw Rin about to use her Command Spells and immediately recalled the situation from the original story. He moved to stop her.

Yu Feng grabbed Rin's arm. "Hey, Rin, calm down!"

Rin Tohsaka glared at her Servant in fury. "Let me go! I'm going to teach him a lesson—how dare he look down on me! What do you take me for!?"

Yu Feng shook his head slightly and pulled Rin into a tight embrace. In an instant, her rage shifted into flustered indignation.

"Hey, what are you doing!!!"

Rin raised her hand to strike Yu Feng, but he let go just as quickly and stepped away.

"How else was I supposed to calm you down? Rin, I'm not going to stop you, but you told me yourself that Command Spells are precious. If you waste one so recklessly, what will you do later?"

Under Yu Feng's persuasion, Rin calmed down a little. She looked at him and gave a heavy huff. "Come with me. We need to talk."

With that, Rin left the area. Yu Feng turned to him with a helpless expression. "What did you say to her to make her that angry?"

He too looked a bit shaken. "I didn't think she'd be so quick to throw away a Command Spell. Honestly, I never expected my Master to be like this. I wish you were my Master instead."

Yu Feng shrugged, noncommittal.

After the two of them left, Yu Feng watched his retreating back. "Emiya... this time, will you still choose to kill yourself? Or..."

Indeed, just like in the original story, Rin had summoned the Guardian—Emiya!

But from what just happened, Emiya clearly recognized him. That meant in the future, he must have met him before?

Yet why did Yu Feng sense a hint of admiration in Emiya's eyes?

Yu Feng shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

He walked slowly toward the basement, ready to summon his own Servant.

Standing before the ritual circle, Yu Feng poured his magical energy into it.