The hall was long emptied. The echo of the elder's decree still lingered in everyone's chest. At dawn, the Orders would march.
But not Fate.
Instead, he walked lazily down a spiral path carved into the mountain, hands still shoved into his coat pockets. His deputy, a slim figure with restless eyes, struggled to keep up.
"Shouldn't you be preparing, Master?"
Fate tilted his head, his silver-streaked hair catching the moonlight. "Preparation is for people who don't trust themselves."
The deputy sighed. "Or for people who don't want to die."
Fate chuckled. "Details."
Just to show of,he summoned his pet (Literally a black-steel dragon),
then took to the skies leaving only flames,black flames.
At the mountain's base sprawled a colossal fortress glowing faintly with soul energy—the Soul Base, where warriors trained to harness the fragments of their essence. Its walls shimmered with protective wards. Inside, hundreds of soldiers and adepts were sparring, chanting, and meditating
then...
His presence was felt...
dark,omnius and most of all...death!
The warriors and recruits froze in horror as the sight before them almost killed them.
As Fate entered, the energy shifted. People stepped aside, whispers trailing him like shadows.
"Is that him?""The Head of Fate's Order…""They say he never loses a battle.""They also say he never takes anything seriously."
Fate ignored them (as usual), eyes scanning the courtyard.
"Yeah, this is not what you think it is, it is a fight to the death and afterlife ,only the abled will survive,"
"As for the not so able will die!I'll be taking the best nine as my team,so survive"
He said as people cried,fainted,others already sought to talk to the devil themselves...
But...
"Face it let be lost,no use for acting innocent yet your scared yourself,
Avoice said as neva's eyes quickly found the interupter who looked at her right back(even fate rarely does that.)
"The Lost are already moving," she announced. "Reports came this morning—two villages reduced to ash by lightning. The White Guardian has begun his hunt."
The entire courtyard froze.
Fate's smile sharpened. "So, Shirou Itsuki wants to play early. Interesting."
Neva clenched her jaw. "This isn't a game."
"Everything is a game," Fate said softly, his gaze lifting to the storm clouds forming far in the distance. Lightning flickered within them, as if answering the call of a name spoken too often.
And somewhere beyond that horizon, in the ruins of a village, a boy in white stood silently amidst the ashes. His dual blades hummed with thunder, and his eyes were cold, unreadable.
Shirou Itsuki. The White Guardian.