Chapter 2: What Makes a Main Character?
The opening narration resonated.
Simultaneously.
The compiled highlights of the Top Ten Main Characters began unfolding in the minds of beings across all realms.
Against a backdrop of grand, sacred music, the video scenery shifted dramatically.
First, familiar, slightly worn handwriting filled the screen.
Then, the screen rapidly switched, flashing through numerous battle scenes.
Countless fragmented reflections scattered like puzzle pieces, gradually assembling on the display.
The perfect sound effects chimed in at just the right moment, accompanied by the appearance of text, as impassioned and tragic vocal frequencies slowly drifted into their ears.
"Say what you want, but I always keep my word—that's my Ninja Way!"
"Then get up right now! Stop looking like you're about to die! This isn't like you at all!!"
"I will become a Hero of Justice. Just as you deny me, I will fight with all my might to defeat the 'you' within myself!"
"The current me is a legendary warrior awakened by rage—Super Saiyan!"
"I am Kira!"
Emotionally charged words, overflowing with feeling, echoed in everyone's minds!
Following the sound, fragments pieced together into stony-gray text within a montage of scenes...
[Protagonist]
[Possesses stronger convictions than anyone, forging ahead courageously even in darkness]
[No matter how painful today may be, they always look forward to tomorrow, upholding lofty ideals that can never be broken]
[They possess qualities others cannot imitate, embodying unparalleled divinity or humanity]
[Those who embody all of the above are the protagonists...]
Then, Juwon's voice rang out.
"Next, counting down the tenth spot in the Top 10 Best Protagonists, begins now..."
"He carries borrowed beliefs, yet he upholds them to the very end."
"Though the path ahead is fraught with thorns and hardships, this youth never gives up."
"Faced with the questioning of another self, his heart remains firm as steel; in battle against the strongest foes, he strikes decisively and claims victory..."
"He will continue walking this path called justice..."
At this point, his voice suddenly rose.
He announced the youth's name to the entire world.
"This body is made of swords, tough as steel, with blood like iron and a heart like glass."
"Tenth place: Shirou Emiya!"
The scene shifted.
A red-haired youth dressed in white robes and black attire made a grand appearance, flanked by two lines of fiery, gleaming text that affirmed his motto.
[Reason for ranking: There may be setbacks, but his firm belief never wavers—because I am a Hero of Justice!]
...
"Tenth place... is me?"
In the Type-Moon world, Shirou Emiya, a second-year student at Homurahara Academy, became the center of attention.
Forget what others thought.
Even he himself was stunned.
How could someone like him—who endured excruciating pain every night just practicing the most basic Reinforcement Magecraft—become the world's protagonist?
Could this be fate...?
...
"Shirou Emiya..."
"It's actually that do-gooder!?"
"Wait... Shinji, why do you look so upset?"
"Shut up!"
In another classroom, Shinji Matou snarled with a livid, twisted expression.
Why... why Shirou!?
Anyone else would be fine, but why him!?
Unacceptable... absolutely unforgivable! Why does he always stay one step ahead!?
Fuming, he curled his lip and sneered, "Tch... if someone like him can make the list, this ranking isn't worth much anyway."
To others, his words seemed to reflect their own thoughts.
Students who knew nothing of the mystical side had no idea why Shirou was chosen.
After all, Shirou was just a do-gooder.
He was enthusiastic and diligent in helping others.
But to call him the world's protagonist based on that alone seemed far too simplistic.
"Let's hope there's a solid explanation for this."
In the teachers' office, Souichirou Kuzuki adjusted his glasses as he graded assignments.
Meanwhile, in other parallel worlds of the Type-Moon universe...
The stage of the Fourth Holy Grail War.
The yet-to-begin harbor battle was abruptly paused by the inserted footage.
"Shirou Emiya?" Beside the pitch-black lighthouse, Kiritsugu Emiya's face darkened as he held a cigarette between his lips.
It was hard for him not to connect the boy's surname with his own.
Moreover... a Hero of Justice?
Just as he was thinking this, the crackle of a distorted microphone suddenly echoed in his ears.
Followed by Irisviel's questioning voice: "Don't you have anything to say, Kiritsugu?"
This boy's surname, his hair color, and his ideals...
And you still claim you never had an affair?
"I... don't know." Kiritsugu, unsure how to defend himself, could only say: "This is a parallel timeline, isn't it?"
That's right... this is a parallel timeline!
"Hmph, let's keep watching for now." Irisviel, who was accompanying Saber at the docks, snorted coldly.
While the couple was exchanging words, the footage began playing.
...
The entire compilation was divided into multiple segments.
From the "Beginning of Conviction" to the "Prologue" and finally the "Climactic Battle Highlights"...
Now... the "Conviction Chapter" begins.
Described as follows...
[The Beginning of Conviction: The Guide]
[The start of the cursed inheritance...]
...
Wait... cursed inheritance?
These few words in the video strikingly linked the concepts of [Justice] and [Curse] together.
This was intolerable for countless self-proclaimed heroes of justice.
In the world of One Piece.
Navy Admiral Sakazuki puffed on his cigar.
His resolute face was filled with cold determination.
"Bastard video, actually bundling justice together with curses."
"So-called justice is absolute good!"
All people who uphold noble justice would have different feelings upon seeing these two lines.
How absurd.
To actually glorify such righteous thinking as a curse.
When it comes down to it, the reason he, who is a hero of justice, saw this video was because of the words [Protagonist].
Top 10 Anime Protagonists!
Having encountered many self-important pirates, Akainu also wanted to see if the so-called protagonist from their world would appear in this video.
Especially the gimmick of [Top10] made him take it seriously.
Fortunately, the first entry's message was 'justice'.
This temporarily reassured him, though he kept claiming not to care about this boring matter.
His body however remained honest as he continued watching the video's development.
...
Remote desert.
In the arid, harsh tropical wilderness, the Egypt Dio-hunting team members were temporarily staying in an oasis.
Kujo Jotaro stared at the screen's images for a long time without speaking.
Remaining silent, he was about to press play when he heard Polnareff, who had just finished using the toilet, chattering.
And his grandfather was also arguing vehemently, the two chatting animatedly.
"Hey hey, I'm saying, someone as handsome as me should be a protagonist too, right, Mr. Joseph?"
"Hah? Listen well Polnareff... to be a cartoon protagonist, you first need a witty and humorous personality, then handsome looks, and finally the ideal of saving the world even at the cost of your own life. Most importantly, you must know the Ripple breathing technique. Tell me, do you meet all these criteria?"
"Your next line will be: where exactly would such a perfect person exist, am I right?"
"Where exactly would..."
"See? This proves that I, Joseph Joestar, am this world's true protagonist! Ohahahaha!!"
"What noisy old men."
Sitting with Kakyoin against some green bamboo, Jotaro pressed down his hat brim: "When it comes down to it... the nature of so-called protagonists is fundamentally ambiguous. Otherwise there wouldn't be so many evil anime characters."
"Hehe..."
Kakyoin chuckled lightly in agreement: "But in my opinion, Jotaro, your golden spirit should definitely make the list."
"...Don't talk nonsense."
Jotaro pulled his hat down lower, hiding his eyes.
He.
Couldn't care less about this ranking.
He just hoped DIO wouldn't be the protagonist.
....
"Protagonist... justice..."
In Hueco Mundo's Las Noches, Aizen leaned against his throne.
He watched the video boredly, his mind conjuring the image of that orange-haired boy he had personally created.
"Will you make it in, Kurosaki boy?"
"Let's wait and see..."
At Tokyo Jujutsu High in Jujutsu Kaisen.
"What do you think of this video, Satoru?"
"Hmm, I'm watching it lying down... just kidding of course."
"But if we're talking about who among us best fits these criteria... it's probably that kid Yuji."
Gojo Satoru collected his smile and sat properly cross-legged.
He also recalled his first meeting with Yuji Itadori and that exceptionally rare kindness and simplicity.
While characters across multiple dimensions conversed.
The scene slowly advanced.