Super God: If I punch you, you will die

"That's hard to say. I never intended to defy God's will."

There's no need to overthink it; the summoning of Jeanne d'Arc was abnormal from the start. It was a possession summoning using a human body. Initially, I thought it was a side effect of the unprecedented summoning of fourteen Servants, but upon closer inspection, the opposite is entirely true. Given that fourteen Servants would inevitably lead to chaos, the Greater Grail should have been absolutely obligated to ensure the Ruler was correctly summoned.

The reason they ultimately failed was due to confusion regarding the Greater Grail. Furthermore, the reason the priest kept avoiding her was because he was also a Ruler. One of the Ruler's privileges is the ability to "see through true names."

The ability to see through a Servant's class and true name is certainly effective even for someone who has regained their physical body. If the boy were to encounter her on the battlefield, his plans would surely be ruined.

"You... are you the Ruler who was summoned in the Third Holy Grail War in Fuyuki?"

After hearing Ruler's speech, every Servant present gasped.

"Yes. Before becoming their official Master, any encounter with you would be a huge problem. After all, you hold the Command Seals. If you find out, everything I've done will be in vain, right? I can't let anyone stand in my way."

There was no hatred in the boy's voice, but there was a resolute will within it. Persuasion was impossible; as long as he wasn't killed, this boy wouldn't stop... The girl became certain of this.

Ruler silently gazed into the boy's amethyst-like eyes and called out his name.

"What is your purpose, Amakusa Shiro Tokisada?"

"Is there anything else to say? It was the salvation of all mankind, Joan of Arc."

The boy and girl were praised as "miracles" by the common people who received no reward and by the soldiers who chased after their backs.

Two people who absolutely cannot tolerate each other's existence are silently watching each other.

……

He should have been under twenty years old, but his face, as if he had endured all the hardships of the world, reminded one of a human face carved into a rock face. His muscular physique made him look like a castle.

His eyes were sharp and razor-sharp, gleaming with a piercing light. He was more like a highly skilled martial artist or a battle-hardened mercenary than a priest.

"What are your plans next?"

Kotomine Risuke, with a slightly nervous expression, asked the question to the boy standing beside him. It was a situation that was almost comical. A man who was far superior to the other in both age and physique was actually adopting a subservient attitude towards a boy.

Of course, any clergyman who knows the boy's true identity would do the same.

The person he was asking the question to was a boy who was a miracle-like being born in the Edo period, the closest thing to a saint. Even though he looked like a boy who was not yet twenty years old, it was only natural to speak to him with the appropriate courtesy and attitude.

"The Greater Grail has already been taken away. No matter what, it's impossible to take it back with bare hands."

The boy gazed at the now empty cave and spoke in a deep voice. Even though the Greater Grail had been taken and Master was long dead… the boy was still not destroyed. His causal link with the Einzbern family had been severed, but the boy showed no sign of crisis.

Now, the boy's body has become a tangible entity, rooted in the earth. Having touched the Greater Grail, he has, to some extent, "regained his physical form." In this sense, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to consider the Third Holy Grail War a victory for him.

"Now that Master is dead, I only possess power equivalent to that of an ordinary human. Therefore, I must abandon the pursuit of the Holy Grail."

"Oh... well, in that case..."

"Lord Rissho, you told me before that you once traveled in order to achieve enlightenment through asceticism. Well then, I'll go travel and see for myself."

"That's fine too. Even if it's insignificant, I'll do my best to help."

To travel, one must make certain preparations. For example, one's identity and funds. Kotomine Risei had no intention of being stingy with money. Moreover, if doing so could bring Amakusa Shiro Tokisada, who dedicated his life to God... and ultimately met a tragic end, some new gains, he would even be more than willing to give up everything.

He changed his name and gained a new identity. Becoming Risei's adopted son, he began traveling the world, just as he had declared. However, there was one thing he didn't tell his adoptive father.

Amakusa Shiro did not give up the Holy Grail.

Not only that, he was even prepared to dedicate this second life he had been so fortunate to have gained... and was determined to challenge the next Holy Grail War.

Bathed in the light of the Greater Grail, Amakusa Shiro became certain. He believed that with these powers, with that miracle, he could bring happiness to all people.

The power of that Greater Grail was indeed extraordinary. Now that it has been taken away, someone will surely activate it elsewhere. The time will likely be sixty years later, after the magical energy has accumulated once more…

He joined the Eighth Secret Society through his adoptive father's connections, and then quietly waited for "that moment" to arrive. Like a beast crouching in the dark waiting for its prey, or a spider spreading its web waiting for its prey to take the bait.

Regardless of the nature of the Holy Grail War, there is a certain point that should be reached. That point is the Holy Church and the Eighth Secret Society, whose purpose is to recover and explore the Holy Relics. Since the struggle revolves around the Holy Grail, it is only natural for the Holy Church to intervene... Even from the perspective of the mages, openness and transparency are always more conducive to their actions than secrecy.

As information about the Third Holy Grail War spreads, sub-Holy Grail Wars are now occurring all over the world, and the Eighth Secret Society is also receiving a constant stream of rumors about the "Holy Grail".

0199 Counterfeit Goods [Please Subscribe]

Almost all of those items were counterfeit.

Although the Greater Grail in the Fuyuki Holy Grail War is not strictly speaking the real thing, what Amakusa Shirou seeks is simply the Greater Grail that summoned him to the present world.

So he kept waiting.

For sixty years, he has persisted. Amakusa Shirou, who regained his physical body by connecting with the Greater Grail, has relied on the power of his Noble Phantasm to prevent aging, a miracle that continues to this day.

Then, all sorts of things passed by quickly, like fleeting clouds. His adoptive father passed away, and his sworn brother, like his adoptive father and himself, embarked on a journey to find something.

His time for contemplation was practically limitless. Therefore, he devised all sorts of strategies: how to control the Masters, who the Servants needed to seize the Greater Grail were, where the battles would take place, how to obtain the Greater Grail, and how to continuously fulfill his desires.

His prayers were for the happiness and goodness of all people, and for the eradication of all evil in the world. How many obstacles must be overcome to achieve this goal? Most people would give up, and even geniuses would crumble.

However, Amakusa Shirou, the child of miracles, was not discouraged, nor could he possibly be. Behind him lay the regrets of 37,000 people. His heart of steel would never be shaken by anything.

And so, the battle he had longed for finally arrived. Seven against seven, the Holy Grail War centered on the Greater Grail of Fuyuki. Differences in scale and system were insignificant. After all, Shirou Kotomine had lived for this cause for sixty years, having already considered every possible possibility in meticulous detail…

Therefore, Amakusa Shiro showed a fearless smile in front of Jeanne d'Arc, the true Ruler in this Holy Grail War.

What follows is the real war. Not a battle fought for worthless things like a magician's wish or the Mage's Association's honor, but a battle that will determine the future of humanity.

Volume 3, Chapter 1

Swallowing the dripping blood, a sweet, metallic taste immediately filled his mouth. The damage wasn't yet severe, but treatment was undoubtedly necessary. It had far exceeded the scope of what could be resolved through natural healing.

In the past, the androids could only spend their lives floating in the magic supply tank, but now they have become a strange existence with the inherent name Lin Yan, somewhere between a human, a heroic spirit, and an android.

He glanced casually at the back of his left hand. Normally, once a Command Seal is consumed, it disappears, leaving only a faint trace. But Lin Yan's Command Seal remained on the back of his hand, only its outline had become slightly blurred. Not only that, but his hand had also turned somewhat black, centered on the vanished Command Seal. Since he felt no pain, this was probably a side effect of consuming the Command Seal… Lin Yan tentatively made this judgment.

He felt a little heavy... Just as he thought this, Rider, who was holding him by the neck with both hands, stared at him with a stern expression and said:

"Don't you have anything to say to me?"

Without needing to think too much, he knew what he should say.

"I know it's my fault."

"You're right, it's bad, really bad! All my efforts have been wasted!"

Rider, who was clutching around Lin Yan's collar and shaking him violently, looked as if he was about to cry.

"First, he crashed into 'Red' Saber and died! Then he immediately revived! He even became a Servant! Now he's back to normal! What exactly happened? Tell me, tell me, tell me!"

"To be honest, I don't quite understand this either. Why did I come back to life?"

"I'm telling you, asking me about that kind of thing is useless, right? Seriously, you idiot! You idiot! You idiot...!"

After shouting a few times, Rider suddenly rammed his head into Lin Yan's chest. Still face down, he muttered under his breath:

"It's so good that you're still alive. But you must remember, never, ever let it happen again! Do you understand?"

Facing the "black" Rider staring at him with teary eyes, Lin Yan frankly said:

"No, I can't guarantee that."

"what?"

Rider blinked two or three times, then puffed out his cheeks and said:

"What exactly happened?! In general, you should make a promise at this point! You should say, 'I was too reckless, I'm sorry, I won't do it again,' while crying and reflecting on your actions, and then I should forgive you and pat your head!"

“That’s why I came back… Rider, I still want to help my comrades and repay those who showed me mercy back then.”

"that……"

“I know. I know very well that this is a difficult wish to fulfill. As you said, I should have never looked back and just continued living like this. Maybe I would have been happier that way.”

Even so, even so... I still can't ignore them and live on my own.

After hearing Lin Yan's explanation, Rider couldn't help but sigh deeply.

"Seriously, really, really, you bastard, this bastard, this bastard... Ah~ really~!"

Rider scratched his head a few times and then suddenly jumped up. Lin Yan had been prepared to be scolded, but Rider's expression suddenly brightened after he jumped up, and he shouted:

"That's great! Yes, you really are that kind of person! Normally, no one would blame you for not helping, but you still feel guilty! Thanks to you, I'm now prepared! No matter what, it was absolutely wrong, terribly wrong, utterly hopeless! Okay, let's go save them! We must save them!"

"Is it really good?"

"Huh? What?"

"No... no matter how you look at it, the other Servants wouldn't agree to this situation, right?"

"What? Is that it? We can think about that later! Come on, let's go!"

Rider pulled Lin Yan's hand tightly, heading towards the collapsing Mirenia fortress... but he immediately stopped. The reason was very clear... a magician was blocking their way.

"Oh dear, we've been discovered. But that makes sense, since we could see everything clearly from inside that fortress."

Rider scratched his head apologetically. Standing before them was an icy beauty whose aggressive aura was emphasized by a pair of sharp-framed glasses—the Master of "Black" Rider… Sereneka Escol Yggdmirena.

0200 Enraged State [Please Subscribe]

She was in a state of rage, or so Lin Yan thought. He had once heard Rider complain that his Master, Sereneka, harbored some kind of obvious delusion towards him.

Surprisingly, Serenekae smiled. She was gazing at the two people holding hands with an expression of rapture.

"Ugh, it would be better to get a good scolding than this."

After listening to Rider's contemplation, Lin Yan nodded as if he deeply agreed.

Serenika wasn't angry at all. To be precise, she should have long since passed the stage of being angry. Her anger, after exceeding a certain point, would "freeze."

In that state, emotions are broken down, and thinking shifts to the most rational form. However, the direction itself remains unchanged. Shame will be met with a thousandfold hatred, and insult with ten thousandfold cruelty.

In the process of reaching that stage, all hesitation and doubt will disappear, even those involving self-interest. Yes, when she saw Rider remain motionless even after receiving orders to retreat, and instead do everything in her power to protect the homunculus, she had already put the outcome of the Holy Grail War behind her.

Rider must be given the most painful ending in a reasonable way. But in this situation, Rider has already considered his own death. Even if forced to commit suicide with a Command Spell, this optimistic knight will never feel despair.

Or rather, no matter how much he was violated, it would be the same. Even if you cut pieces of his flesh off with a knife, at most he would only let out painful groans. But... there was only one, only one way to plunge the heroic spirit named Astolfo into despair.

"Rider, tell me your real name."

Sereneka spoke in a sweet whisper. Faced with such a strange request, Rider, though bewildered, honestly replied:

"Astolfo, one of Charlemagne's twelve warriors, what's wrong?"

“That’s not right, Rider. Do you know that you are just a Servant separated from the source of Heroic Spirits? Simply put, you are just a degraded copy. No matter how much you retain the memories of your previous life, or how much you wield the power of your previous life, the being named Astolfo has long since disappeared from the world.”

"Yo."

"I see, that makes some sense..." Rider nodded. Although it was an insulting remark, Rider never took such insults to heart.

"So, what about my copy?"

"In other words, I have great respect for the Heroic Spirit Astolfo. After all, he was one of Emperor Charlemagne's twelve warriors, a renowned hero in history. But, Rider, do you think I would have any respect for you as a counterfeit?"

"Oh dear, I can say with certainty, Master... whether I'm a Heroic Spirit or a vengeful spirit, I don't feel you hold the slightest respect for me at all~"

"Perhaps. But now you understand, don't you? I never considered you Astolfo. You were just an amusing toy I summoned."

"..."

Faced with her cold, indifferent smile, Rider immediately raised his gun. Although this was not the kind of action one should take towards their Master, Rider's mind sent out a warning signal.

"Lin Yan, escape from here."

"what?"

"Don't ask, hurry up!"

Despite being startled by Rider's roar, Lin Yan began to back away to leave the scene. However, Sereneka immediately raised the Command Spell in her left hand:

"The Fourth 'Black' commands with a Command Spell: Kill that homunculus immediately!"

"How could this be..." Lin Yan was speechless. He really hadn't expected that the other party would use Command Seals for such a trivial matter.

Rider shared the same sentiment. Of course, reflecting on this situation, he realized his Master, Serenekai, had never expressed any desire for the Holy Grail. Furthermore, her attitude towards the war seemed somewhat pessimistic… though she certainly had a desire to win. However, compared to other Masters, her obsession with victory seemed rather weak. This would be understandable for Caules, as it's normal for him to feel resistance to fighting against his own sister, Fiore.

But why does this most magician-like magician show such indifference towards the Holy Grail?

The answer is obvious... because she had already given up on victory.

Why would she give up on victory?

The answer is equally clear... it's to humiliate oneself.

"Run! Run!"

The golden spear was already at Lin Yan's feet. However, Rider, his body trembling, gritted his teeth and desperately suppressed the golden spear's forward thrust while letting out a painful groan.