The twin swords, plunged deep into Lancer's body, disappeared as he coughed out a mouthful of blood.
He stumbled back, wobbling, and then fell, a hand coming to arrest his fall.
Lancer looked up brokenly and found Berserker looking back at him, the yellowness in his eyes disappearing, revealing the hazel within.
"… demonic heart… huh?" Lancer mumbled, a bloody smile surfacing on his lips. "That… wasn't your Noble Phantasm…"
Kai shook his head, ignoring the eyes on him.
The redness that had surfaced on his body because of combining Selfless Breathing with Venom and other Buffs had already disappeared.
The possessed Sakura had already disappeared as well, leaving behind the Heroic Spirits and Masters, who had nothing left to fight over.
Now, they looked at Berserker and Lancer, stunned, realizing another battle had been raging right next to them all this time.
And, unlike their case, this one seemed to have reached a definite outcome.
"I don't have any Noble Phantasm," Kai admitted.
Even as he died, Lancer couldn't help but widen his eyes, before ending up laughing out, coughing blood.
"… Oh, man…" the Heroic Spirit shook his head. "What a waste… of all that power…"
Kai smiled. "I agree."
[
The Root is demanding to initiate Contestant Kai D. Stormborn's Myth.
Once accepted, the System will use its authority to put an emanation based on the Contestant at the Throne of Heroes.
The Contestants and Characters across the Fate Bubble will be able to call upon the emanation during the Holy Grail War under the Master-Servant rules.
The emanation will keep gaining strength as the Contestant progresses, and the timeline it is summoned to will depend upon the Contestant's instantaneous Stats at that time node.
The System will also introduce a random relic into the Fate Bubble for the said Summoning of Contestant's emanation.
Once summoned, the Contestant will be notified.
Then, the Contestant can control the emanation by replacing it with himself, or the System can control the emanation for the Contestant, using the Contestant's personality.
Be Warned.
If the Contestant replaces the emanation with his true body, then the death of "Heroic Spirit" will result in the death of the emanation at the Throne of Heroes as well, and, as such, it will be discarded by The Root.
Once accepted, the Contestant will have no control over the emanation, other than the time of Summoning.
…
Do you wish the System to accept The Root's demand?
]
This was completely new, making Kai lose his cool.
If it wasn't for him being a Faceless and having the Ad Infinitum, he might have dropped Lancer's body right there and then, focusing all his faculties on the notification.
Good thing he could let AI handle some things for him, maintaining the smile on his face.
[Will the emanation have my Glitch?] The AI asked.
[
Contestant's Glitch cannot be copied by The Root.
Nor can the System create another one, as all Glitches are unique once awakened.
]
[What if I die?] the AI asked again. [What will happen to the emanation in that case? Can I resurrect using the emanation?]
[
Contestant must note that you have already been resurrected once.
Unless you gain a Title, Skill, or $%^&** from the System itself, your death will be irreversible.
It is unknown what will happen to the emanation in such a case, as The Root hides the Mystery related to it within.
]
For AI, these questions were enough.
For Kai…
Taking a deep breath, he looked at the dying Heroic Spirit. "Do you hate it?" Kai asked. "Do you hate… getting summoned over and over… dying… never achieving the wish that you desire?"
Lancer's gaze blurred as he looked at the night sky. "No…" he replied, becoming points of light. "People like us… can't give up… Haha!"
Then, with one final sigh, Lancer vanished.
Simultaneously, Kai closed his eyes and nodded as well.
[
Initiating Myth Sequence…
Creating Emanation…
Assigning Origin…
Waiting for The Root's approval…
…
…
Emanation Accepted!
A Myth has been successfully created!
Myth — The Path of the Demonic Conqueror
Myth Grade — Mythical
ERROR!!!
…
Myth Grade is resonating with Contestant's Cosmic Authority
Myth Grade — Cosmic
]
But this was only the beginning of the notifications.
[
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn, you have achieved a Milestone
Milestone: Defeat two Heroic Spirits in a single Fate timeline
Milestone Rewards: Attribute Points +7
…
Advance Blood Corruption: Proficiency 40% (+5%)
Master Telekinesis: Proficiency 92% (+2%)
Master Intimidation: Proficiency 90% (+5%)
Master Selfless Breathing: Proficiency 15% (+5%)
Master Manipulator: Proficiency 92% (+1%)
…
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn, you have achieved a Commendable Milestone
Commendable Milestone: Create a Myth in the Fate Bubble
Commendable Milestone Rewards:
— Charisma: A
— Magic Resistance: B
— Independent Action: A
— Instinct: EX
— Battle Continuation: A
— Instant Cast: A
— Limit Breaker: A ++
— Conqueror's Will — EX
NOTE: The rewarded Skills will be innate to the emanation and will upgrade with the Contestant's progress in the Multiverse, if applicable
]
Kai stood up and faced the Servants and Masters, his bloody hair flailing behind him.
This was the first time he had revealed a face under Venom's monstrous mask. So, even Medea, who thought herself closest to Black, was looking at him in pure wonder.
It wasn't just wonder, though.
Kai's strength had weakened by many levels as the Selfless Breathing coating disappeared and the compiled Buffs, which he could only use in the Reality Marble, dropped as well.
Now, he only had Venom and Murasame's Buff, letting all marvel at his cursed appearance.
Still, there was no Servant here who hadn't felt his Will when he had come out.
That Will was a mark of Kai's strength, as much as it was now a part of his Myth.
Enkidu, the Ruler-Class Servant, holding a bleeding Jeanne in his arms… nodded at that Will, recognizing Berserker's strength, before disappearing with a green flash.
As if that was a cue, the final notification appeared in Kai's eyes.
The one notification he had been waiting for a long time.
[
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn, you have achieved the condition of a Commendable Milestone
Commendable Milestone: Survive Gáe Bolg during the Holy Grail War as a Servant or as a Master
Rewards:
— Item: Gáe Bolg
— Condition: Defeat Lancer in single combat before the Holy Grail War concludes, and earn his recognition as a true warrior
]
And a majestic lance appeared in Kai's inventory, screaming of demonic heroism!!!
*****************
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