Chapter 308: The Aftermath (II)
Church.
Shirou stood in front of a ritual altar, silently standing for a while, and shortly after, he pulled out a square piece of cloth from his pocket.
It was an ordinary fabric adorned with images of a golden holy grail, crosses, and two angels wearing red and blue clothes, as well as blue and white wings.
He gently stroked the images on the cloth.
It was a remnant of his past battles, where thirty-seven thousand people rallied under his banner, resisting the reign of a tyrant beneath this very flag.
But they ultimately failed.
The miracle the people cheered for was just an illusion, and they lost everything.
All hopes shattered under the ruthless force of reality.
It was expected.
One couldn't defeat those who control reality by entrusting everything to miracles.
God's grace blinded him, and today's victory led them into tomorrow's despair. He wasn't the child of miracles who brought victory; he was a sinner leading people into an abyss.
In the end, no one received redemption.
Humans were always like this—despicable, cruel, and vile.
They strived to become stronger by any means necessary, sacrificing everything for their interests, whether they were foreigners with different skin colors, cultures, or neighbors from the same roots.
At long last, he understood.
Redemption didn't exist.
The only way to save the world was to offer happiness to all of humanity.
This time, he wouldn't fail!
"Is everything ready?"
Shirou asked as he turned around, looking at the empty air behind him.
The radiance of light particles gathered, and Semiramis's figure soon emerged.
"I've completed Caster's temple; it should be fine." Semiramis nodded slightly.
For the Red Faction, Medea's value lay not only in her combat strength but also in her rich experience as a mage, surpassing all modern mages.
To ensure victory, Shirou arranged for Medea to assist Semiramis in completing the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The plan was to place Medea's temple on top to significantly enhance the Hanging Gardens of Babylon's power and elevate Medea's power to rival even the Saber-class Servants.
Yet plans were useless in front of unforeseen events.
Who could have anticipated the ambush plan, once foolproof, would encounter such variables? Instead of subduing the target, they ended up sacrificing Medea.
With the loss of Medea, the temple initially placed in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon had to be completed by Semiramis alone. But that was far from an easy task.
Seeing the fatigue on Semiramis's face that she couldn't hide, Shirou fell silent for a moment before speaking softly.
"You've worked hard."
"This is just for my own sake." Semiramis crossed her arms. "You promised me, remember? To make me the queen of the new world."
"Of course, that's my promise to you." Shirou smiled. "Go inform Lancer and Rider. The final battle is up next."
"What about Archer?" Semiramis tilted her head.
Hearing her question, Shirou hesitated.
With Caster out and Saber taking a different path, Archer was a valuable asset for them. Moreover, from their previous encounters, it seemed Archer could be persuaded.
'Might as well give it a try...'
However, just as this thought crossed Shirou's mind, a familiar voice suddenly echoed in his ears.
"Are you looking for us?"
*Creak—*
The church doors creaked open slowly as a tall nun walked in from outside. With a face as charming as Semiramis's, she wore a serene and gentle smile, as if she were a saint descended to earth.
The newcomer was Archer of Red's Master, Sesshouin Kiara.
Semiramis eyed her with a hint of caution and hostility. Without a trace, she moved forward, standing side by side with Shirou.
However, these subtle movements did not escape the eyes of the nun.
"Ara? No need to be so tense. After all, we're comrades fighting together, no? Or, are you worried I might snatch away your Master, Assassin?" Kiara asked with a gentle smile.
Semiramis's expression darkened instantly, revealing a spike in the palm of her hand.
"Are you trying to experience the sensation of having poisoned wine burn through your heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys?"
"Calm down, Assassin. Miss Sesshouin is just making a joke." Shirou raised his hand and comforted Semiramis, then turned to Kiara with a gentle smile. "Your timing is perfect, Miss Sesshouin. We're planning to launch a final attack on the Black Faction. Would you like to join us?"
"Of course, that's why we're participating in this Holy Grail War in the first place, right?" Kiara's lips curved with a playful smile. "But Father Kotomine, are you sure your plan will succeed?"
"I'm just doing my best. If this doesn't work, it means the Lord isn't on my side." Shirou said with a hint of helplessness.
"Well, in that case, do you want to hear my suggestion?"
Kiara's eyes were mysterious and profound, like an endless abyss.
"I might be able to offer a little assistance..."
===
"Welcome back, Rider."
Wearing the usual black suit and looking unnaturally pale, Vlad sat high on the throne. Beside him was Darnic, the head of the Yggdmillennia, who served him as usual.
"How was the task? Did you take care of Assassin?"
"Sorry, no." Arkhan shook his head.
"Really?" Vlad stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Escaping from someone like you implies Assassin's strength shouldn't be underestimated."
"Not exactly. I just let her slip away when I was surrounded by the Servants of Red Faction." Arkhan replied casually.
"Oh? Did you encounter them? Did you gather any useful intel?"
Vlad asked with interest, and Darnic's gaze immediately focused on Arkhan. Compared to the already out-of-control Assassin, the Red Faction was their true headache.
"There's something worth noting. The Rider summoned by the Red Faction is likely the ancient pharaoh of Egypt, Ozymandias, also known as Ramesses II." Arkhan explained calmly.
Hearing that famous name, Darnic's pupils suddenly contracted, and shock instantly filled his heart.
Ramesses II, the nineteenth-dynasty pharaoh of ancient Egypt, was the most famous pharaoh in history.
Legend even had it that gods personally blessed him.
His reign brought Egypt to an unprecedented zenith in terms of culture and military power. The renowned poet Shelley even directly referred to him as the 'King of Kings'.
Adding to this was the numerous temples and monuments left by Ramesses II, he maintained high recognition even in the modern era.
Considering all these factors, even with a conservative estimate, the power of this ancient pharaoh was undoubtedly terrifying.
Even if one were to be conservative, his power would definitely not be weaker than the son of Sun God Surya, Karna.
Darnic couldn't help but feel a bit of fear.
He originally thought their preparations were more than sufficient, but he didn't expect the opponent to summon such powerful and terrifying Servants.
Indeed, the millennia-old Mage's Association truly lived up to its reputation, with such profound resources.
Truly formidable.
Fortunately, their side was not to be underestimated either.
After all, their side also had extraordinary Servants, Archer and Rider, as well as Lancer with the regional advantage. Although Saber had a fatal weakness, his strength was still top-notch. Additionally, with Caster's Noble Phantasm as their trump card, their odds of winning were still significant.
"Furthermore, the Caster they summoned is the witch of ancient Greece, Medea." Arkhan added.
Darnic's expression instantly became more serious. As a mage, he knew well the significance of Medea in the world of magecraft.
As the disciple of Hecate, the Greek goddess of witchcraft, necromancy, and the moon, her arrival was almost a dimensional shock to all modern mages.
'This is not good news... We need to find a way to deal with this witch first...' Darnic pondered silently.
In a normal Holy Grail War with seven Servants fighting each other, Medea wouldn't be too troublesome of an enemy. After all, despite her exceptional magecraft skills, her physical body fragility remained a fatal flaw.
Moreover, Saber, Lancer, and Archer, the three strongest Servant classes, all had magic resistance. With a bit of sacrifice, she could be dealt with.
However, in this dual-faction Great Holy Grail War, with fellow Servants protecting her, a mage of such outstanding skill would have too much room to unleash her power.
"Don't worry about her, Caster of Red won't pose a threat to us."
Arkhan also sensed Darnic's concern and calmly reassured him.
"Huh? Why not?" Darnic asked, puzzled.
"Because... I've already killed her."
Arkhan casually stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
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