The Observatory,
Fate Bubble
Somewhere outside the Seven Pillars of Reality, the Observatory hovered, taking the shape of a spherical, multicolored bubble.
From inside, it was nigh impossible to tell its definite shape.
It was like a dark sky, littered with millions of stars, covering it from all sides.
At the center of this place stood a platform, holding a high-back chair. An old figure, wearing purple robes, was seated listlessly in the chair.
Suddenly, the figure shook.
Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg's eyes opened—carrying confusion, alarm, and wrath within them.
After becoming a Deep One, Zelretch remembered only a handful of events that had angered Him so—enough to make Him grind teeth—enough to make Him squeeze the arm of the chair—enough to make His breathing quicken.
The event that forced His soul to return to the Observatory also joined that small list.
But it wasn't mere returning of the soul that angered Him so. No, Zelretch wasn't so conceited that He couldn't stomach his Jewel Golem getting destroyed. If He had been so petty, He wouldn't have risen to the ranks of the strongest Deep Ones of the Fate Bubble and still not have His own timelines.
The thing that angered Him so was the presence.
Yhwach…
No. Not a Yhwach… The Yhwach!
The same Yhwach whom He had met once.
The same Yhwach who… had fought against Him, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with The Banished One.
Others might not be able to tell the difference.
But Zelretch could because He was a Deep One!
And He had recognized… It was Yhwach of the Storm Pirates!!!
All this time, Zelretch had been having a feeling that Red was somehow connected to The Banished One.
He had been willingly ignoring that feeling just because Red was so… unique.
Among the ocean-large waves of Contestants that kept thrashing against the Fate Bubble's shores, Red felt…fresh.
Red was like a new path that was etching itself in the memories of the Multiverse, brick by brick.
All Deep Ones, no matter Their nature, admired such a trait the most.
It was seeing this very trait in the multitude of fateful possibilities that prompted Them to bestow a Blessing upon a Contestant.
So, ignoring a murderous feeling was the least Zelretch could do, giving Red the benefit of the doubt.
Not anymore.
Red was indeed related to the Storm Pirates.
Zelretch didn't know how, but He would find out. And then…
Ringggg-Ringggggggg!
Zelretch had just left the high-back chair, heading to the timeline where Red had won the strongest Holy Grail War He had ever studied in Key timelines, when a black rotary phone appeared behind him.
"Not now, Caubac," Zelretch tried to contain the anger in His voice while talking to a fellow Deep One. "I have a few bugs to squash…"
"… What happened?" the twenty-seventh Dead Apostle Ancestor asked, shocked. "I couldn't contact you. Did you go to ORT's timeline?"
Zelretch frowned. "You did right, suggesting that timeline to me," He said. "I had all but ignored that Contestant… A Storm has invaded our Bubble again. I must vanquish it before its wind begins picking up speed."
"… Storm? Suggested timeline?" Caubac worded, perplexed, despite being a Deep One Himself. "What are you talking about?! This…"
Zelretch, as if facing another Akashic Backlash, slowly turned around and looked at the black rotary phone.
And Caubac finished His words, sensing a disturbance. "…this is the first time I am contacting you after hundreds of years!"
Outside the Observatory, a yellow-haired, faceless black figure smirked before vanishing from the Fate Bubble.
…
Fate Key timeline,
A blinding whiteness washed over the land, covering almost the entire city.
At the site of the battle, where Mt. Enzo used to be, a golden cup hovered in the middle of the chasm, bobbing up and down.
One moment, Black had been standing there.
At another moment, he had disappeared, swallowed by the cup.
Shirou, Rin, Sakura, Rider, Medea, Ainz Ooal Gown, and Betty Shaw… all eyed the magnificent scene, the Mana in the surroundings suppressing their existences and overwhelming their senses.
Kai… was nowhere to be seen.
It was as if the world had swallowed him the moment Black won the Holy Grail War.
Suddenly, in the very next moment, the entire whiteness and golden brilliance gained an ominous bloodiness, a tiny black hole appearing in place of the golden cup.
All hearts skipped a beat, fearing the worst.
Sure enough, thick blood came pouring out from the black hole, pooling on the ground.
However, there was something different.
The pouring of the blood stopped as suddenly as it had begun.
It was less like a cursed Greater Grail oozing black mud, and more like a giant, evil beast coughing up blood.
Just as the Characters steeled their hearts to sacrifice their lives, they heard the voice.
"Retrace—"
The tiny, black hole squirmed, taking Black's form, wearing the Dress of Heaven. His feet landed on the little pool of blood, creating ripples.
From these ripples… the projections walked out… retraced… reborn!
"—On!"
Crack!
Hissssss!!
ROARRRRR!!!
A tiny Dementor latched itself to Black's shoulder.
Misdreavus and Wobbuffet danced around his feet, Deoxys' purple crystal hovering above his head. Red bolts of magical lightning snaked around him, a ghost grinning ear to ear behind his back.
Then, two enormous dragons came shooting out of the pool of blood, circling his figure… as if he were a deity.
Black's eyes opened, his black pupils carrying a yellow ancientness, oozing the lingering Conqueror Haki of the past hundred years.
And in this yellowness, Black eyed the gray notification.
…
[
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn
You have successfully inherited Illyasviel Von Einzbern's Magic Circuits, turning them into a brand new Magic Crest.
…
You have successfully completed a Hidden Mission.
Hidden Mission: Holy Grail Corruption
Hidden Mission Grade: B+
Hidden Mission Summary: The Counter Force does not wish for the end of Humanity in this timeline, yet. As the Holy Grail's Vessel, you must ensure that the Corrupt Grail does not end up unleashing All The Evil upon the world.
Hidden Mission Objective: Prevent Angra Mainyu from incarnating into the world
Hidden Mission Rewards:
— One Magecraft as a Blessing
— A Magus Title
…
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn
Your Magic Crest is resonating with your Hidden Mission Rewards.
…
Magecraft: Gradation Blood (Magic Crest)
Magus Class: Faker
…
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn
You have achieved a Commendable Milestone
…
Commendable Milestone: Create your own Magecraft/Magic Crest in Fate Bubble and get a Magus Class
Rewards:
— Correspondence: +25
— Fate timeline's Multiverse ID
…
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn
You can now seek the path to reach the Swirl of the Root.
]
…
Slowly, surrounded by the beasts, with red-colored, circuit-like veins slithering all over his body…
… the corners of Black's mouth arched up—in victory.
*****************
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