[Real World – Einzbern Castle Perimeter]
Lucas stood before the Einzbern family estate, observing the shimmering magical barrier that encased the grounds. He raised an eyebrow, his lips curling in mild amusement.
"A magic enchantment, huh?" he muttered, tilting his head as he examined the intricate web of magical energy. "How quaint."
After a brief moment, he shook his head, clearly unimpressed.
"Hmph. A degraded product of ancient magecraft. Not even worth a second glance."
Without further ado, he lifted his hand, and a pulse of Six Paths power surged forward. The barrier, which had repelled countless intruders, shattered instantly—dissolving into faint glimmers of magical residue.
Beside him, Emiya Kiritsugu could only stare, wide-eyed with astonishment.
That barrier… The one that had frustrated him, blocked him, kept him from reaching his daughter—gone in a single instant.
Kiritsugu clenched his fists, his throat tight with emotion. He had tried so many times to break through that wall, and here was Lucas… brushing it aside like cobwebs.
"Incredible…" he thought. "Just… who is this man?"
But he swallowed his awe. Right now, only one thing mattered.
"Illya."
[Inside Einzbern Castle]
Lucas entered the grand halls of the Einzbern castle, his Rinnegan eyes glowing faintly. The security guards stationed throughout the mansion froze instantly—caught under his illusion techniques. Their bodies stiffened, their wills crushed.
Only Illyasviel von Einzbern, a small girl with snow-white hair and ruby eyes, stood untouched—her spirit blazing with defiance.
"What do you want?!" she demanded, her voice sharp despite her small frame. "Who are you, and why did you bring him here?!"
Her eyes burned with hostility as they flicked toward Emiya Kiritsugu, the man she had come to despise.
Lucas chuckled. "My, my… Aren't you feisty?"
Before she could react—
His hand dropped onto her head, ruffling her soft silver hair until it resembled a bird's nest.
"Hey!!" Illya shrieked, squirming and flailing her arms in a frantic attempt to escape. "Stop it, you bully!!"
Her tiny fists pummeled his sides, but Lucas only laughed harder. "Hahaha! Cute."
Satisfied, he pulled back, leaving Illya's hair a total mess. She glared up at him, her cheeks flushed with frustration.
"Ugh! My hair! You… you're the worst!" she fumed, trying to flatten the chaos atop her head.
Lucas turned to Kiritsugu, who stood frozen, uncertainty plastered across his face.
"Well, Hero of Justice," Lucas said casually, "this is your family matter. I've brought you to your daughter. The rest is up to you."
With that, he stepped aside—giving father and daughter the space to confront their broken bond.
[Meanwhile – Einzbern Laboratory]
Lucas's eyes flashed once more, and he moved deeper into the castle, leaving Kiritsugu and Illya to their reunion. He reached the hidden chamber where the Einzbern patriarch, Jubstacheit, resided.
A flicker of Rinnegan power, and Ahad's eyes glazed over—completely under Lucas's illusionary control.
"Now then," Lucas said smoothly, "Take me to your homunculus technology archives. I want everything."
[Chat Group]
Senju Tobirama: "This… This is artificial human technology?"
Through Lucas's eyes, the group observed the Einzbern laboratory—walls lined with intricate blueprints and tanks filled with fully-formed homunculi. Their human-like features were flawless—indistinguishable from natural-born humans.
Senju Tobirama continued, his voice tinged with both admiration and concern
Senju Tobirama: "These homunculi… Their forms are so perfect. They're almost… indistinguishable from real humans."
Lucas: "Yeah. As long as they don't have design flaws like Illya or Irisviel, most of these homunculi could pass for normal people. If this technology were ever commercialized, it would cause a massive uproar."
Howard Stark: "Massive is an understatement! Imagine—custom-built 'perfect' partners, spouses, workers… This tech would break the economy. And it'd bring up huge ethical questions. It'd be like human cloning on steroids!"
Irisviel (outraged): "Custom-built wives?! Are you kidding me?!"
Lucas (teasing): "Heh, I'm not saying I would do it. Just that the possibility is there. But hey… If you're interested, I could make a homunculus that looks exactly like you and hand it to Emiya Kiritsugu. Y'know… to keep him company."
Irisviel: "…"
Howard Stark: "LMAO! I smell drama!"
Lucas (grinning): "What's the matter, Mrs. Emiya? Afraid he'd like the new model?"
Irisviel (huffing): "Absolutely not!"
Lucas: "Huh. Interesting. You were fine with him having that shadow secretary, Maiya Hisau, back in the day. But the idea of a homunculus you… that's a problem?"
Irisviel: "Maiya is… different! She wasn't just a lover; she was his shadow—his partner in his crusade. I understood their bond."
Howard Stark (grinning): "Wow. So you're saying it's fine if it's business with benefits but not if it's a homunculus wife? You're one chill wife, Iri."
Lucas (laughing): "Right?! She married him a year after being born. Talk about fast-tracked relationships."
Irisviel (flustered): "Hey! It's not my fault! I was made for this!"
Lucas (smirking): "Yeah, yeah. Artificial life and ethics—it's a mess. That's why I'd never push this tech into the public. But I gotta admit…"
His voice turned thoughtful. "There's something deeply human about homunculi like you and Illya. Perfect creations… with imperfect hearts."
[Real World – Einzbern Castle]
Meanwhile, Emiya Kiritsugu faced his daughter, Illya, his expression tight with guilt. But the anger blazing in her eyes was cold and unforgiving.
"You…" Illya's voice trembled, "You killed Mommy."
Kiritsugu's heart clenched. "Illya… No. It's… it's not like that…"
But her voice cut through him like a blade. "Don't lie! I saw it! I felt it!"
Lucas, observing from the side, narrowed his eyes. The air around Illya pulsed with a strange, corrupted aura. His Rinnegan flared, piercing through the veil around her.
There—etched into Illya's abdomen—a small Holy Grail pattern glowed faintly.
Within that seal…
A woman's figure stood—her body pitch-black, eyes burning with malevolent crimson light.
[Chat Group]
Senju Hashirama: "That aura… It feels wrong. Really, really wrong."
Senju Tobirama: "I don't like this. That corruption… It's worse than anything I've sensed from the Nine Tails or the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
Pirate King Roger: "Wait, wait—What is that thing?"
Lucas: "It's called… The Evil of This World."
Howard Stark: "Sounds dramatic."
Sebastian Shaw: "Heh. Let me guess… It's human-made, isn't it?"
Doflamingo: "Fufufufu~ All evil comes from humanity. I like this concept."
Whitebeard: "Hmph. Sounds impossible to me."
Lucas: "No… It's very possible. Because The Evil of This World is a person. Or… was."
[Chat Group – Silence]
Lucas: "His name was Angra Mainyu—just an ordinary man."
Uchiha Madara: "And what was his 'crime'?"
Lucas: "Being human." His voice turned cold. "His village had a twisted religion. They believed that by placing all the evil of the world into one person, they could purge it from humanity forever. So…"
"They chose him."
They tortured him. Branded him as the world's sin. Forced him to bear every ounce of hatred, malice, and cruelty the world had ever known.
And then…
They killed him.
Believing that with his death… all evil would die with him."
[Chat Group – Stunned Silence]
Lucas (grimly): "But they were wrong. They didn't eliminate evil."
"They created it."
"Angra Mainyu became more than a man. He became a curse."
Sebastian Shaw (chuckling darkly): "A product of humanity's hypocrisy. Typical."
Doflamingo: "Fufufufu~ So deliciously ironic! They wanted to kill evil… and made it immortal instead."
Senju Hashirama: "This… this is what's inside Illya?"
Lucas: "Yes. The Evil of This World is using her as a vessel." His voice dropped, cold and final. "That's why she hates Kiritsugu. She's been poisoned—body and soul."
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "As far as I know, The Evil of This World was once summoned by the Einzbern family during a past Holy Grail War. So… the Holy Grail was corrupted after that incident, correct?"
Lucas: "Exactly! The Einzbern family is at the root of this mess. Here's the deal—they were originally a bunch of homunculi abandoned by magicians. Their entire existence revolves around recreating the Third Magic (Heaven's Feel—soul materialization). But their way of thinking is deeply flawed. So, I've decided to take over and give them a new purpose."
Senju Tobirama: "A new purpose?"
Lucas: "Yep. Continuing their obsession with the Third Magic is pointless. They've spent hundreds of years with zero results and only caused problems. Instead, I'll make them research useful sciences—things that can actually benefit society."
Senju Tobirama: "…"
Senju Tobirama: "So, after all that grand talk… you're basically turning them into obedient research assistants?"
Lucas: "Exactly!"
Irisviel: "Honestly… I can't argue. The Einzbern family is a mess. I don't mind you handling them however you want. But…"
Her voice became worried. "What about the Evil of This World inside Illya?"
Lucas: "Simple—Seal it. Best solution for nasty problems like this."
Irisviel: "You can't just kill it?"
Lucas: "Oh, I can. But it's annoying and time-consuming. And honestly? You can't afford my 'world-ending exorcism' service fee. Soooo… sealing it is already a favor."
Irisviel: "…Well… Thank you, Group Leader."
Lucas: "Don't worry. I'll seal it for now and leave it for later. Who knows—maybe when some of our powerhouse members join, we'll find a cheap and easy way to wipe it out completely."
Golden Lion Shiki: "Shihahaha! Basically, you're postponing the fight and putting it on your 'Future Me Will Handle This' list."
Lucas: "Exactly! Why waste time punching an unkillable cockroach today when I can seal it and stomp it later—with interest?"
[Real World – Einzbern Castle]
Lucas's palm glowed with ancient power. With a sudden motion—
"Eight Trigrams Seal!"
A complex, spiral-like seal pattern appeared on Illya's abdomen, encasing the Little Holy Grail inside her. The malevolent aura within was instantly suppressed. The evil's chaotic presence was crushed and silenced—sealed as if trapped within a cage.
Lucas stepped back and admired his work. "Perfect!" he said, grinning. "Congratulations, Illya—you're officially the Holy Grail's Jinchūriki."
Illya glared at him, her cheeks puffed with frustration.
"Hmph! You may be strong, but I still hate him!" She shot a venomous glare at her father, Emiya Kiritsugu, who stood silently behind her. "He killed Mommy! I'll never forgive him!"
Lucas, however, looked thoroughly unimpressed. "Pfft. Who cares?" he said lazily, waving his hand. "Hate him all you want—it's none of my business."
Then his expression sharpened into a teasing smirk. "But, little princess…" His eyes glinted with amusement. "I highly suggest you don't pick a fight with him."
Illya puffed her cheeks, fuming. "Why not?!"
Lucas: "Because…" He grinned. "You'd lose."
Illya: "…"
Lucas chuckled. "Let me tell you a story. I know a guy—goes by the name 'Fire Fist Ace.' Real stubborn guy. Thought he was unstoppable."
Illya, curious despite herself, asked, "What happened to him?"
Lucas (grinning wider): "Well, he got his ass kicked by an old man—more than a hundred times."
Illya: "And then?"
Lucas (smirking): "Then?" He burst out laughing. "He turned around and called that old man—'Dad'"
Illya: "…"
Illya's eyes darted nervously toward her father, Emiya Kiritsugu, whose lips twitched—his fists cracking softly. His expression carried a subtle 'Wanna test me?' energy.
Illya's face paled.
"…"
"...Tch." She folded her arms, scowling. "Hmph! I'm not scared of him!"
Lucas grinned, ruffling her hair into another bird's nest. "Good call, kid. Remember—getting beaten a hundred times is just one way to 'understand' family love."
As Illya swatted his hand away, Lucas added, more seriously, "One more thing—whatever that 'Evil' told you…? Forget it. Your mom—Irisviel—wasn't killed by your dad. I can guarantee that."
Illya froze. Her lips trembled, her eyes uncertain.
"…Liar."
But her voice was weaker now, doubt creeping in.
Lucas smiled softly, "You'll see the truth yourself—soon."
Then, with one last ruffle of her hair and a loud "Aaah! Stop ruining my hair!!!" from Illya—he turned and walked away, laughing.
Before leaving, Lucas declared loud and clear:
"This castle? It's mine now."
With a smug grin, he added, "You two can stay—but mind your manners."
Illya, who had just recovered from her hair disaster, was furious.
"Robber! THIS IS MY HOME!!!" she shrieked, struggling under her father's arm.
Emiya Kiritsugu—holding her back—could only smile helplessly. "Easy, Illya. Let's… not fight the guy who turned your tummy into a bomb seal."
[Chat Group]
Senju Tobirama: "Sir, I've got some news! The Wood Style cell research is complete."
Senju Hashirama: "NANI?! Already?! Wait… How'd you finish it so fast?! You've been chatting with us this whole time!"
Senju Tobirama (smug): "Foolish brother!"
Senju Tobirama (grinning): "I am now a Reanimated Body. Unlimited Chakra, unlimited stamina. So…"
"I just used a bunch of Shadow Clones to handle the research while I chatted here with you."
Namikaze Minato: "Ahh, I see! As an Edo Tensei, you don't suffer from the usual 'clone feedback fatigue' that would knock out a living ninja from overusing Shadow Clones!"
Senju Tobirama: "Exactly! My Edo Tensei body is perfect for multi-tasking Forbidden Techniques. No clone backlash. No chakra drain. Efficiency 10%."
Senju Hashirama (grumbling): "So… You turned being undead into a cheat code for research?"
Senju Tobirama (grinning wider): "Of course! Edo Tensei's greatest benefit is finally using all my Forbidden Techniques without side effects! You wouldn't understand, Brother—you never appreciated my genius."
Lucas: "So basically, you're just a walking, talking research server with infinite CPU cores."
Senju Tobirama: "Exactly! I'm a research machine!"
Howard Stark: "Hey, Tobirama! If you're so good at parallel processing… how about you help me design a supercomputer next?"
Senju Tobirama: "Hah! A 'supercomputer'? Child's play."
Senju Hashirama: "Tobirama… you're literally turning into a mad scientist."
Senju Tobirama (grinning): "Correction: I've always been one."
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