The Holy Grail, the legendary omnipotent wish-granting machine capable of fulfilling any desire.
The original wish had long been lost in the passage of time. Now, Matō Zōken, who had barely survived for five hundred years, had only one wish: to live.
—To live eternally, without aging or dying.
"Hmph! No matter how much I squeeze it, this body can only reach this level..."
"It doesn't matter anyway. It's just a one-time piece. I can just use Kariya's body as a replacement later."
In the empty underground worm pit, the small boy with blue seaweed hair was muttering to himself.
But what was eerie was that the voice coming from his mouth was extremely old, as if a decaying, ancient soul was hidden beneath the tender skin.
"However, a child's body is easier to modify than an adult's."
Saying this, many vein-like patterns suddenly appeared beneath 'Matō Shinji's' skin, shifting slightly, then quickly disappearing, as if something was slowly crawling inside his body.
"It only took less than half a year to modify this flesh to the level required to obtain Command Spells, and the quality of the Magic Circuits is surprisingly good. It's a bit of a pity..."
Looking at the three bright red Command Spells on the back of his hand, Matō Zōken narrowed his eyes, a strange smile appearing on his face.
He had only one chance. If he gave up, he would have to wait another sixty years, and during that time, he would have to find a new piece, making the possibility of accidents too great.
Therefore, in this Holy Grail War, even if he sacrificed his "grandson," Matō Zōken had to fight for a chance at victory.
Even if he ultimately failed, it would still allow him to prepare for the next attempt.
"Now that I have obtained the qualification to participate, all that remains is to perform the summoning later."
Looking up at the summoning circle and the catalyst already placed in the center of the worm pit, Matō Zōken silently waited for the moment to arrive.
February 7th.
Midnight, in the Kamitani family garden.
Kamitani Yuu looked at the summoning circle already drawn on the ground, performing a final check.
Beside him, Sakura was holding an ancient book, curiously examining the summoning circle.
Half a year had passed since Yuu adopted Sakura from Tokiomi.
Although she was initially uncomfortable, through their daily interactions, Sakura gradually accepted the fact that she was now a daughter of the Kamitani family, and her name had already been changed from Tōsaka Sakura to Kamitani Sakura.
"Yes, everything is in order." After a moment, Yuu nodded in satisfaction. He then turned around and extended his hand to Sakura. "Sakura, you can hand me the book now."
"Okay~" Hearing Yuu's words, Sakura obediently handed him the catalyst she was holding.
To obtain a catalyst for summoning Medea, Yuu had utilized his connections at the Clock Tower as much as possible over the past six months.
Finally, at the cost of a favor, he purchased this grimoire, rumored to have been used by Medea, from a certain noble magus.
After receiving the catalyst, Yuu walked a few steps forward, placed it in the center of the summoning circle, and then retreated to his original position.
"By the way, Dad, which hero are you planning to summon?" Seeing that he was ready, Sakura asked curiously.
"Medea, the Witch of Betrayal from Greek mythology."
Yuu looked down at Sakura, a gentle smile on his face. Then, his expression became slightly serious, and he said softly, "It's almost time, Sakura. Step back a little."
"Mm."
Following Yuu's instruction, Sakura retreated to a relatively safe distance, quietly watching the summoning ritual.
"Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill! Repeat five times, but shatter it when full..."
Yuu extended his right hand, etched with the Command Spells, and softly chanted the spell. The astonishing Magic Circuits within his body began to operate silently.
The prana of the Greater Grail and the ley lines manifested at this moment, and the summoning circle inscribed on the ground gradually lit up with a pale blue light.
At the same time, in a clearing in a certain forest in Fuyuki City... in the Einzbern Castle on the other side of the world... inside the magecraft workshop of a certain noble mansion in England...
Similar, yet slightly different, scenes were quietly unfolding.
"—Thou art a being clad in the Seven Heavens of the Three Great Words of Power, descending from the Ring of Deterrence, the Guardian of the Scales!"
As the words fell, a brilliant white light suddenly flared, obscuring the vision of both Yuu and Sakura. A surging vortex of prana swept toward the edges of the garden, the strong wind pressure making it difficult to keep one's eyes open.
A moment later, the light subsided, and the turbulent wind calmed.
The residual breeze rustled the leaves in the garden. After a slight commotion, accompanied by a faint cloud of dust dispersing, everything around them fell silent.
"Oh my, am I manifesting as Caster this time—oh, so it was you who summoned me, Little Junior Disciple~"
The dust completely cleared, revealing a male Servant standing before Yuu and Sakura. He was wearing a dark blue cloak and had a casual smile on his face. In his hand, he held a large wooden staff that resembled a scythe.
"...Caster, Cú Chulainn?"
What's going on? Didn't I use Medea's catalyst?
Why did a blue big dog pop out?!
And is this Caster-class Cú Chulainn even legitimate?
The moment he saw his Senior Disciple, Yuu was instantly stunned, his heart surging with shock.
Cú Chulainn had many forms, but his Caster form was not something that could be summoned casually; he only manifested during certain special times.
In Yuu's memory, Cú-dog only appeared in the initial Singularities and Lostbelts... In other words, wherever he appeared, there was bound to be an anomaly or a matter of great importance.
Furthermore, the Spirit Origin of Caster Cú Chulainn seemed to have merged with some of the authority and power of the Norse Great God Odin, making him His proxy.
Therefore, Yuu wasn't sure whether the familiar Senior Disciple before him was the man himself or Odin taking over his account.
"..."
Recovering from his brief shock, Yuu seriously scrutinized the blue Servant not far away, trying to discern his true identity.
Sakura, standing beside him, blinked in confusion. Hadn't her father said he was going to summon Medea, the Witch of Betrayal? Why did a young male Servant appear?
Could it be that the witches of the Age of Gods are all men in disguise... the young girl thought to herself.
'Cú Chulainn,' standing in the center of the summoning circle, did not immediately explain his identity. Instead, he observed Yuu's solemn and complex expression with interest, seemingly anticipating something.
The garden fell into silence.
"Are you... Odin?"
After a moment, Yuu looked at Cú Chulainn and asked tentatively.
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[Notes: Names Like Matou Zouken = Matō Zōken, i'm just using a more formal translation, like Tohsaka can be also Tōsaka]
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