Chapter 33. Movements of All Parties, Matou Makoto Driven Mad, The Curtain Officially Rises!
Currently, five pairs of Master and Servant have appeared.
A mysterious female Heroic Spirit manifesting under the Class Archer.
The Japanese Sword Saint Sasaki Kojirou, manifesting under the Class Assassin.
Cu Chulainn, the Child of Light in Irish mythology, manifesting under the Class Lancer.
Medusa, the snake-haired monster in Greek mythology, manifesting under the Class Rider.
Finally, the Demi-god Heracles in Greek mythology, manifesting under the Class Berserker!
There are still two Master-Servant pairs, Caster and Saber, yet to appear.
As per custom, Celestial Curtain will broadcast the scene of the next two Servants entering the stage, allowing everyone to familiarize themselves with their personality, identity, and abilities.
But…
An event that shocked the entire world has occurred.
Under the fated night, the Holy Grail War officially begins!
[The camera continuously switches, scenes of each Master appear one after another.]
[Fuyuki City, Criminal Investigation Division of the Police Bureau, two figures are conversing.]
[The man in the brown hat smiles and says: "Mouri-kun, I've found a clue about the person you asked me to find. Her name is Yukinoshita Yukino, an orphan, currently studying at Homurahara Academy in this city."]
["Thank you very much, Inspector Megure."]
[The mustached detective lights a cigarette, staring intently at the clue on the computer, taking a deep puff.]
[Beside him, Cu Chulainn yawns boredly, his face listless.]
[When will there be a truly exhilarating and intense battle!]
"As expected, I've become an orphan now."
Celestial Curtain, Yukino covers her face.
Right from the moment the news of Haruno's death was exposed, she had already foreseen her own outcome.
...
[Daytime, the famous SOGO department store.]
[Under the bright gaze of the sales staff, Hideyoshi shyly steps out from the fitting room, wearing a cute blue swimsuit, his tiny white legs unsure where to place themselves.]
["Sasaki-san… how do I look?"]
["Hideyoshi, this outfit really suits you."]
[The swordsman spares no praise, while still holding multiple shopping bags filled with new clothes in his left hand.]
"I'm not a girl! Why are you making me buy so many women's clothes!!"
Celestial Curtain, Kinoshita Hideyoshi miserably bangs on the screen.
If this keeps up, how many people in the world will misunderstand that I'm a girl!
...
[Seiin International Airport, arrival gate.]
[Under a private jet, a pair of beautiful sisters with blue and pink hair exclaim in surprise.]
["Rem Rem, we've arrived in Fuyuki City."]
["Nee-sama Nee-sama, we've arrived in the gas-leaking city."]
[Behind them, the Purge King with cold eyes appears like the final act.]
[He gently places his index finger to the corner of his lips, making that signature gesture.]
["Shh~."]
[The world instantly falls silent.]
"Even if he's a tyrant, I can't help but envy him."
Celestial Curtain, Natsuki Subaru lets out a faint sigh, but there's a touch of admiration in his eyes.
Immense power, a ruthless nature, strikes fear into others.
Must one go through countless suffering to become strong?
I don't want to keep running away from reality anymore. Being a useless NEET at home is getting boring.
...
[Homurahara Academy, night falls.]
[On the rooftop, a young man in a down jacket stands there, his face wearing a carefree smile, golden phoenix embroidery on his sleeves spreading wings as if ready to take flight under the moonlight.]
[The cold wind lifts his shoulders, two strips of scripture silk bearing black seal script flutter vibrantly, as if alive.]
[Mysterious, magical, splendid…]
[That smile under the moonlight, full of calm confidence within reach.]
[Just by standing there, the Young Master of this magi family already seemed to seize all color around him.]
[Far too dazzling.]
[Not far away, a white-haired woman with a ponytail slightly raises an eyebrow, her black windbreaker gently swaying.]
[She smiles with interest: "Master, what made you think of coming here?"]
[Raku Sou lowers his gaze, looking at the invisible boundary field enveloping the entire academy — 『Blood Temple』, and smiles slightly: "Someone has deployed a boundary spell that seriously pollutes the leyline on this land… it's the handiwork of a Servant."]
["Being observed from the outside… such third-rate skill, but..."]
[Though he seemed to be smiling, Raku Sou's gaze was cold and filled with danger: "Kaguya still attends school here. Once the magecraft is activated… she will die."]
[The white-haired woman stroked her chin: "Understood, I'll go dismantle it immediately."]
["Come along, Archer."]
["Holy Grail War may officially begin tonight."]
[His gentle voice echoed in the night.]
[Whoosh~.]
[Immediately after, they jumped down from the rooftop.]
[The night wind howled fiercely, creating an intense visual impact!]
"Is the Holy Grail War finally about to begin..."
"Bodhisattvas, angels, Jade Emperor, Amaterasu Ōmikami, Pharaoh, Quetzalcoatl, god Shiva, please bless Raku-kun with safety."
In the real world, Gokou Ruri silently prayed in her heart.
To the one who changed her tragic fate, she offered her sincerest blessings.
Praying to as many gods as possible — at least one of them is bound to hear.
...
[Matou residence, the dark insect-infested underground lair.]
[Suddenly, a cold female voice rang out.]
[Thanks to the Command Seal connection, Medusa could communicate remotely with her Master. This time, the message was delivered successfully, her tone grave.]
["Master, the 『Blood Temple』 I set up has been discovered by another Servant."]
["Is the opponent one of the Three Knight Classes?"]
["She has no clear traits, wields dual blades — likely either Saber or Assassin."]
["It doesn't matter, Rider, I believe with your strength you can easily crush her."]
[Matou Makoto spoke nonchalantly, chuckled coldly, then stepped down from a seductive corpse.]
[In the room, several shriveled female corpses lay scattered, their twisted faces showing signs of extreme pain, as if they'd undergone horrific torture before death.]
[All of them had their life force drained by Matou Makoto, converted into mana.]
[To win the Holy Grail War, using some evil magecraft methods was only natural.]
[One could even say… to become fuel for his ascent to godhood — for ordinary people, it was the highest form of honor.]
This scene was utterly shocking!
In an instant, the entire world seemed to explode!
Everyone's pupils shrank, a chill ran through their whole bodies.
"My heart just stopped!"
"Mother Fucker, that bastard's a fucking animal!!"
"Sigh… how tragic."
"May those poor souls rest in peace."
"Got goosebumps. Spine's freezing in the middle of the night."
"It's suffocating. If I were one of those girls, I'd be in absolute despair."
"Matou Makoto, you're not human."
"Let's hope something like this never happens again..."
"Just looking at the image makes my hair stand on end..."
"Praying that those who passed find peace."
...
[Right now, undercurrents surge — all it takes is a spark to blow up the entire Fuyuki City!]
[——Homurahara Academy, the boundary field 『Blood Temple』 was destroyed, a military-level Noble Phantasm wiped out with ease, leaving behind only invisible ruins like a crumbled wasteland.]
["Whoosh!"]
[An iron stake whipped through the air, a cold metallic glint flashing under the moonlight, accompanied by a sonic boom!]
[The white-haired female Servant frowned, instantly summoning her dual swords — one black, one white — and without hesitation, slashed with her right hand — the clash of weapons rang sharp and clear, sparks bursting everywhere, the compressed air shrieking in protest.]
[With the first strike missing, the opponent quickly withdrew the weapon.]
[Under the calm gaze of the Archer group, a long purple-haired woman with a blindfold stepped out from the shadows — the snake-shaped crest on her forehead confirmed her identity.]
[With the appearance of Rider Medusa, the battle instantly ignited!]
[The noble Young Master still stood on the rooftop to the side, arms crossed, calmly issuing the command: "Eliminate her."]
[In that very instant, the two figures launched into combat just as the words left his lips.]
["Boom boom boom...!!"]
[Storm clouds surged violently across the sky, thunder roaring, sword light and blade flashes flaring nonstop.]
[The grand curtain slowly rises.]
[Portraying a once-in-a-millennium great war!!]