[Congratulations, Master, on completing the mission and successfully becoming the living legend of Night City. Reward Points: 100,000]
[Congratulations, Master, on achieving the feat: World Changer. Reward Points: 200,000]
[Current Total Points: 430,132]
[Master has successfully crossed over.]
[Mission 1: Kill the Murderous Ghost Ryūnosuke (Optional). Reward: 10,000 Points.]
[Mission 2: Attend the King's Banquet as the King/God of Castrum Kremnos (Optional). Reward: 10,000 Points.]
[Mission 3: Become the ultimate victor of the Holy Grail War and eliminate All the World's Evils. Reward: 150,000 Points.]
--+--
"So... it's time for a Holy Grail War?"
Within a magnificent palace, Mydei sat upon his throne, gazing down at the empty city below, and paused in mild surprise.
He had successfully crossed over, but why did he bring the Castrum Kremnos along with him?
Moreover, positioned below him was a solemn and dignified contingent of Kremnos warriors.
Mydei recognized them. They were the warriors who had fought alongside him on Amphoreus in his youth. However, they had all fallen sacrifice during their long journey.
Even after countless centuries, their images in his memory had never faded.
And now... were they resurrected? Yet, they stood before him as stiff and vacant as puppets.
Mydei could feel the surging power within him—the divine power of a Titan.
Unlike the last crossover in an incomplete state, Mydei was now at his peak, having taken up the Coreflame of Strife to become the strongest Demigod, Nikador.
Of course, at this moment, he was stuck sitting on his 'Golden Throne'.
Just moments ago, during his daze, he had scanned his surroundings. He found that beyond the majestic and imposing Castrum Kremnos, the outside world was a realm of chaos.
Furthermore, aside from himself, everything within Castrum Kremnos was frozen in place, trapped like insects in amber.
"Could it be... I'm in the Throne of Heroes?"
Mydei was taken aback. This state of suspended time seemed unique to the Throne of Heroes...
Had he become a Servant directly?
Now this was interesting.
A spark of curiosity gleamed in Mydei's eyes.
He had always crossed over in the flesh before; he never expected to become a Servant this time. Though he wondered who his summoner was.
"System, can you pull up my status panel as a Servant?"
Mydei asked with keen interest.
[But of course, my Master.]
The next moment, a screen of light materialized before him, gradually displaying his information as a Servant.
--+--
[Demigod of Strife: Mydeimos]
Strength: EX (As the strongest Demigod of Strife, you possess the power to slay gods with your fists alone.)
Endurance: EX (You possess a formidable will that refuses death.)
Agility: A++ (As the Demigod of Strife, you possess an instinct to evade all danger.)
Mana: A++ (As the Demigod of Strife, your magical energy is inexhaustible.)
Luck: A++ (You possess the luck to survive even falling into the River of Souls.)
Noble Phantasm: EX.
Class Skills: Battle Continuation (Your power does not manifest based on your Master's mana; you are always at your peak condition.)
Personal Noble Phantasms: The Grand Journey (A++), Nikador (EX)
--+--
"What in the...?"
Looking at his overwhelmingly luxurious stats, Mydei's eyebrow twitched. He knew that as an outsider arriving in the World of TYPE-MOON, he might receive unique bonuses, but he never expected his parameters to be this extravagant.
To be honest, with his current stats, even if he were sent to bare-handedly rip apart the Demon King Goetia, the other probably wouldn't stand a chance.
Moreover, the bonuses for his Noble Phantasms were ridiculously high!
The Noble Phantasm 'The Grand Journey' likely stemmed from the time he fell into the River of Souls and campaigned with his comrades on Amphoreus.
This period of his life had been recorded by this world and now manifested as a Noble Phantasm, adding to his combat strength.
Mydei felt a touch of warmth at this. He was genuinely happy to see these old friends again, even in this form.
Unfortunately, these 'old friends' were merely constructs shaped by this world based on his memories, not the true originals.
The other Noble Phantasm, 'Nikador', was even more outrageous. As the harbinger of tumultuous times and the embodiment of strife, Nikador had been directly assigned an exceptionally high rank by this world.
But then again, considering the true power of Nikador, perhaps it wasn't so far-fetched.
Hadn't Aquila, who ruled the heavens, been pursued and stabbed blind by Nikador, forced to retreat and cower in his domain?
And to single-handedly hold back the Black Tide—that was no feat an ordinary god could accomplish...
Yet Nikador had resisted it alone for a thousand years.
It was precisely these deeds that earned Nikador its supreme rank in this world, granting it the power to annihilate anything.
In other words, it was what they called an Anti-World Noble Phantasm.
As for the other miscellaneous skills and minor abilities, Mydei couldn't be bothered to scrutinize them. He knew his own capabilities well enough; these additional entries tacked on after arriving in this world held little interest for him.
The next step was simple: wait to be summoned as a Servant.
However, Mydei wasn't like other Servants. Just because others could patiently reside in the Throne of Heroes didn't mean he could.
Though he bore the title of Servant, Mydei was not actually bound by the Throne's restrictions.
Thus, after sitting bored on his throne for what felt like half a day, he began to grow restless.
Even as a Demigod, he still retained a youth's impatience. Waiting around idly simply wasn't his style.
With that thought, he glanced at the space beside him, reached out, and tore open a rift with his hand, stepping right through.
This Throne of Heroes couldn't hold him. Mydei went wherever he pleased.
Speaking of which, one thing piqued his curiosity: he was Nikador, which should classify him as a Lancer, right? But his Luck was actually A++?
It seemed all the luck allotted to the Lancers of the world amounted to one dollar, and Mydei alone possessed one dollar and two cents, leaving the other Lancers collectively in deficit by two cents...
--+--
"Matou, I entrust Sakura to your care. I believe under your guidance, her talents will not be wasted."
Beneath the old Matou residence, Tokiomi Tohsaka sat on a sofa. Across from him was Zouken Matou, whose withered face resembled a vengeful ghost.
At that moment, Sakura was gently pushed forward by her father, right up to Zouken.
Seeing the emaciated Zouken, who seemed little more than skin and bones, Sakura felt a surge of fear, but she suppressed it and obediently greeted, "Grandfather."
"Heh heh, rest assured, Head Tohsaka. Sakura's aptitude is exceptional, perfectly suited to inherit the Matou family magecraft. Believe me, I will surely nurture her into an excellent magus... provided, of course, she can withstand my trials."
For some reason, as Sakura looked at Zouken, she couldn't shake the feeling that the expression on the face of her future grandfather was somewhat sinister.
Just then, Zouken glanced at Sakura.
What Tokiomi perceived as a kindly gaze felt to Sakura like she was being sized up by something terrifying.
Her body trembled involuntarily for a moment.
"Before a chrysalis can become a butterfly, it must endure much pain and hardship. The path of a magus is never easy."
"Given Sakura's talent, reaching this point is already the best outcome. To be honest, if you hadn't lent a hand, Matou, I would likely still be at a loss. After all, both Rin and Sakura are such outstanding children; choosing between them was a difficult decision for me."
A proper smile graced Tokiomi's face as he looked at Zouken, a hint of gratitude shining in his eyes.
The old worm thought: He's handing his daughter over to me, and he still thanks me for it.
"Heh heh, no need for formalities, Head Tohsaka. As you know, my disappointing descendants lack the aptitude to inherit my Magic Crest. In a few years, this old man will likely be nothing but a handful of dust. Sakura's arrival is a blessing I'm truly thankful for."
"I'm certain Sakura will not disappoint you. It's getting late, so I shall take my leave. Sakura, from today onward, you will no longer bear the Tohsaka name. You are now a Matou. Matou Zouken will be your family from now on, understand?"
Tokiomi smiled at Sakura. Though a trace of reluctance flickered deep in his eyes, it was overshadowed by contentment.
Both Sakura and Rin possessed talents far exceeding the norm.
If they could safely realize their potential, they would undoubtedly become exceptional magi in the future.
However, a magus family's Magic Crest could only be passed to one heir.
If a family had two exceptionally gifted children, the head would either choose one to train while the other lived as an ordinary person, or the two would compete, with the victor claiming the inheritance.
Among magus families, conflicts between siblings over the right to inherit the Crest were common occurrences.
Sometimes, having too-talented offspring was genuinely troublesome.
The sisters Rin and Sakura both possessed unparalleled magical potential. But the Tohsaka family Magic Crest could only be passed to one.
Coincidentally, the Matou family lacked a suitable heir.
Coupled with the long-standing friendship between the Tohsaka and Matou families, the 'brilliant' Tokiomi Tohsaka concluded: why not have his daughter inherit the Matou family Magic Crest instead?
And so, the events of today were set in motion.
"I understand, Fath... Uncle Tohsaka."
Sakura almost called Tokiomi 'Father' again, but after a moment's hesitation, she corrected herself, her voice tinged with the hint of a sob as she addressed him as 'Uncle'.
The young girl, only a few years old, was being forced to separate from her sister and father and enter a completely unfamiliar environment.
No matter how strong she tried to be, facing such a situation was still profoundly saddening.
Especially since she didn't like Zouken Matou. A sense of dread towards this grandfather she was now bound to live with perpetually lingered in her heart, though she couldn't quite articulate why...
"Then I won't intrude further, Matou."
"Heh heh, this old man's legs aren't what they used to be. I won't see you out. Take care."
Zouken waved a hand at Tokiomi, chuckling amiably.
Only after Tokiomi had left the room and completely vanished from sight did Sakura reluctantly withdraw her gaze.
She turned to look at Zouken, who sat rigidly nearby like a malevolent spirit.
Knowing he would be her guardian from now on, Sakura suppressed her fear and called out obediently, "Grandfather."
"Heh heh, since you are now a member of the Matou family, I will naturally teach you without reservation. But before that, follow me."
A kindly smile plastered on his face, Zouken laboriously leaned on his cane.
Seeing this, the obedient Sakura quickly moved to Zouken's side, supporting him as he stood up, eager to build a good relationship.
"The Matou family magecraft is different from other magus lineages. To inherit the Matou Magic Crest, you must first pass a trial."
Zouken hobbled forward on his cane, and Sakura followed a step behind.
"However, your talent is excellent. Perhaps you can endure this trial."
As he spoke, Zouken seemed to recall something and let out a few low, sinister chuckles that made Sakura unconsciously halt her steps.
"What is it?"
Noticing Sakura had stopped, Zouken slowly turned to look at her.
"N-no, it's nothing. Let's continue, Grandfather."
Shaking her head slightly, Sakura composed herself and spoke softly.
After passing through several rooms, Zouken stopped before a door.
It led to a cramped, small room, seemingly only large enough for one person to enter.
With a clatter of metal, Zouken unlocked and discarded the chains, then slowly entered.
Beyond the door lay a descending staircase, its steps barely visible in the dim light.
Sakura followed him into the passageway.
The moment she entered, a chill washed over her. Whether it was her imagination or not, she also sensed a faint, hissing, scraping sound around her.
But whenever she tried to listen closely, the sound seemed to vanish.
After the initial narrow confines, the passage widened somewhat, though the surrounding lights remained dim, barely illuminating the path's outline.
Fortunately, they didn't have to walk far.
The path wasn't deep. Soon, Zouken ahead came to a stop.
Sakura stood behind Zouken. The hissing, scraping noise in her ears grew clearer, and her heart pounded with increasing panic.
"Grandfather... what is this place?"
She looked at Zouken fearfully, sensing something malevolent watching her from the darkness, something that wanted to devour her whole.
"This? This is where you will live from now on. It is also where you will undergo your trial."
The next moment, Zouken clicked a switch on the wall. In the faint, murky light, Sakura finally saw what lay below her and finally understood the source of those intermittent scraping and hissing sounds.
Before her eyes lay a pit filled with grotesque, monstrously ugly worms of all shapes and sizes. They squirmed and crowded together just a meter away from where she stood, their slick, fat bodies jostling for space. A single glance confirmed that the entire room was infested with these insects.
Staring at the scene, Sakura was frozen in terror, unable to make a sound.
"Go on down, Sakura. From now on, you will live with these insects."
"N-no... Please... Someone save me... Father... Mother... Big Sister... Anyone..."
She stared at the sea of worms at her feet, endless dread corroding her heart. A stifled, panicked whimper, like that of a trapped animal, escaped her throat. But aside from the approaching figure of Zouken Matou, she saw no hope of rescue.
"No one is coming to save you. You are a child of the Matou family now. This is a trial you must endure. Of course... it might hurt just a little."
As Zouken spoke, he reached out to push Sakura into the pit.
But at that very instant, a spatial rift materialized directly in front of him.
It happened too fast. By the time Zouken registered it, his arm had already been severed cleanly at the elbow, swallowed by the rift as if devoured by some unseen maw.
"What the hell? Where is this place?"
Stepping out from the Throne of Heroes, Mydei found himself directly above a seething ocean of insects and immediately jumped, letting out a curse from his Castrum Kremnos days.
Then, he felt a soft, small figure cling tightly to his leg.
"Please, Mister, save me."
Seeing Mydei's sudden appearance was like witnessing a savior's descent for Sakura.
She didn't know who he was, but both his powerful physique and his bizarre entrance convinced her that Mydei was no ordinary man.
Moreover, she was truly desperate. As a helpless little girl, she couldn't resist Zouken Matou. Even if he looked like a decrepit old man on the verge of death, he was still a magus.
An ordinary little girl naturally stood no chance against him.
So, Sakura pinned all her hopes on Mydei. Even if he weren't a good person, so what?
Any misfortune that might befall her after he saved her would be a problem for later. Could anything be worse than being thrown into that pit of worms?
On the other side, a flash of caution crossed Zouken's eyes.
He couldn't comprehend how this man had appeared. The method of arrival wasn't any spatial magecraft he knew.
Furthermore, as a magus, Zouken could sense the explosive power contained within Mydei's body—the sheer volume of magical energy, like an ocean, surpassed even that of the top-ranked magi at the Clock Tower...
It was a level of power that belonged only to the Age of Gods.
"Should I call this fortune or misfortune?" Mydei mused.
"The misfortune is nearly stepping into a bug pit right after leaving the Throne. The fortune is my accidental intrusion saving this child... You old monster, even Shocker knows children are the future, yet you'd harm a child!"
After a quick assessment of the situation, Mydei immediately understood where he was. He turned his furious gaze upon Zouken Matou, his anger blazing.
--+--
T/N: Shocker is a terrorist organization in Kamen Rider
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.