Ritsuka was photographing the Servants before her. None resisted, especially after learning it was to improve summoning precision for future battles to save humanity. They were highly cooperative.
Among them, a white-haired Servant caught Ritsuka's attention. Slender, wielding a spear, he exuded strength.
This Servant was Karna. According to Mash, he was from Indian myth, a formidable figure.
He was also approachable and easygoing.
After snapping a few photos, Ritsuka considered chatting with him about ancient India. But Karna suddenly stood, his expression a mix of shock and solemnity.
"What's wrong, Karna?" Ritsuka asked.
His face was grave as he gazed toward the British... or rather, Celtic... soldiers' direction.
"I sensed it. My fated rival was eliminated…"
"Fated rival?"
"Arjuna," Karna said, puzzled, his gaze distant. "I felt it just now... he died…"
"Died?" Ritsuka paused, then realized it was likely the work of a certain teammate who'd gone off alone.
Mash whispered, "Arjuna and Karna are fated rivals, destined for a battle. Arjuna never fought Karna at full strength, which is a regret, isn't it?"
Karna nodded slightly. "He went to the eastern forces to fight me as a rival. I never imagined he'd die like this. Who defeated him?"
Ritsuka hesitated before saying softly, "Probably my ally."
"Your ally?"
"My Master," Jeanne Alter interjected. "He encountered Arjuna and defeated him."
"Your Master is a Servant?!" Karna asked, surprised.
Jeanne Alter shook her head. "No, my Master is human. His power just surpasses many Servants."
"A human stronger than Servants?" Karna pondered, finding it nearly impossible.
This wasn't the Age of Gods. A human stronger than Servants, capable of killing Arjuna, seemed absurd!
If humans could reach such power, they'd handle humanity's salvation themselves, not run around recruiting Servants.
Yet a voice in his mind insisted it was true... his rival Arjuna was gone!
That meant…
Karna turned to them. "Everyone, with Arjuna returned to the Throne, the Mad King has fewer Servants. We should seize this chance to take him down!"
Ritsuka and Mash exchanged helpless glances.
Jeanne Alter spoke up. "My Master said it's unnecessary. He'll handle the Mad King."
Karna grew anxious. "But the Mad King is powerful! Even if he defeated Arjuna, he can't reliably beat the Mad King. Even Arjuna or I alone would struggle against him!"
Other Servants showed concern, agreeing with Karna. Jeanne Alter responded, "No need to worry. My Master said if he can't defeat the Mad King, he'll retreat, and we'll act together. If he can, acting now saves time."
A mere human saying such things shocked the Servants, seeming unbelievable. Karna, avoiding calling it arrogance, asked, "Who is your Master?"
"Morpheus, Morpheus Fraga McRemitz," Jeanne Alter replied, with his permission.
The name puzzled many. Helena suddenly let out a gasp.
"What's wrong?" Everyone turned to her, confused by her outburst.
Karna asked directly, "Do you know something?"
Another Servant said, "I know the Fraga McRemitz family, but even they couldn't face the Mad King. Even regular Servants are tough for them."
"I know about the Fraga McRemitz family, but it's not the surname... it's the name," Helena said, her eyes full of doubt. "It's familiar, but it's like a folktale, only in obscure stories."
"What stories?"
"They say in ancient times, when gods walked the earth, a magus appeared in Greece. He fought alongside Medea and Heracles against giants, joined Artemis and Medea to defeat Typhon, and sailed on the Argo, defeating Echidna, the Mother of Monsters.
"But after that campaign, this magus vanished, as if evaporating. Even the gods couldn't trace him. Only fragments of stories remain, like rebellious tales young people love."
Helena frowned, concluding, "That mysterious magus was supposedly named Morpheus…"
The group was stunned. Helena continued hesitantly, "I found the story intriguing, so I remembered it. I never expected to hear the exact same name here."
Her explanation didn't fully convince them.
"Not exactly the same. Your story's Morpheus had no surname. It's a common name... coincidences happen."
"Right. Even if that Morpheus was powerful, it doesn't mean this one is. They're likely different people. A human from the Age of Gods, alive now? Impossible."
Helena acknowledged the doubts, turning to Jeanne Alter. "Is your Master related to the Morpheus I mentioned?"
Jeanne Alter smiled proudly. "The one you spoke of is my Master!"
"What?!"
"A human from the Age of Gods, alive now?"
"Impossible!"
The crowd erupted in shock, even Helena struggled to accept it. Jeanne Alter offered one answer.
"Just time travel. After defeating Echidna in Greece, my Master returned to the present. He hasn't lived long... his time barely passed."
Time travel... an extraordinary feat, practically magic. That Morpheus achieved it!
Now they understood why this human who defeated Arjuna was so bold and confident. He had the strength to face any foe, even the Mad King!
His feats... defeating Typhon and Echidna... surpassed most Greek gods. He could be placed on Zeus's level, or higher!
Zeus, after all, was defeated by Typhon and only sealed him, not destroyed him.
Helena noticed the sword at Ritsuka's waist, its unique power drawing her attention. It was linked to her studies!
A human wielding such a sword, not a Servant's weapon, piqued her curiosity. Was it her Noble Phantasm?
"What's this sword?" Helena asked.
"It's Ame-no-Murakumo, my blade," Ritsuka replied.
Helena, well-versed in occult knowledge, knew of Japan's Ame-no-Murakumo, a national treasure tied to the Emperor. She blurted, "The imperial treasure of Japan?"
Ritsuka nodded. "Yes, but this one was made by Morpheus, not the original."
"I've seen the original. It's different and didn't have this unique feeling…"
"Unique feeling?" Ritsuka grew curious.
Helena, slightly embarrassed, asked, "Can I borrow it? I won't take it, just look."
Ritsuka unhooked the sword and handed it over. Helena, thrilled, carefully touched the scabbard, then slowly drew the blade.
As it was unsheathed, a surge of power flowed into her, boosting her strength and flooding her mind with new knowledge.
This knowledge shared similarities with her Eastern studies but was distinct. Some transcended magecraft, verging on magic!
Absorbing this sudden influx, Helena sheathed the sword and reluctantly returned it.
After Ritsuka reattached it, Helena asked, "Morpheus really made this?"
Ritsuka nodded. "Definitely!"
"The knowledge in this sword… If I could talk to him…"
Helena's excitement surged. Discussing with the sword's creator could unlock new knowledge, clarifying her own theories!
But she had no chance now... he was fighting the Mad King. Win or lose, she'd return to the Throne.
Yet, her disappointment turned to a smile.
The knowledge was in her mind, retained even in the Throne. She could experiment, advancing her magecraft. Some theories were unique, others aligned with her own.
If utilized, she might escape the Throne, ascending to divinity!
Per the knowledge, this ascension was replicable. Anyone with talent could ascend to god-like status.
Thrilled, Helena turned to Jeanne Alter. "Can you tell your Master? If he wants to summon a new Servant, try me. I'll respond instantly!"
Seeing Helena's fervent expression, Jeanne Alter shivered, then relayed it to Morpheus.
Morpheus, hearing her, paused but smiled at Helena's thirst for knowledge. "Alright, tell her I'll try summoning her, but I can't guarantee her wishes will come true."
Jeanne Alter repeated his words. Helena, satisfied, grinned and headed to the camp, shouting, "Alright, everyone, relax! Let's celebrate... the Singularity's about to be cleared!"
***
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