Kanjuro stood in the wind and snow, the command spells on the back of his hand emitting an ominous red light.
The magic circle beneath his feet suddenly lit up. He opened his arms and chanted in a solemn and twisted tone:
"I declare—"
Your body shall follow my command, my fate shall be with your sword.
In accordance with the call of the Holy Grail, if you are willing to follow this will and this logic, then answer me.
I hereby swear that I am the one who shall attain all the darkness in the world.
I am the one who scatters eternal chaos.
Clad in the seven days of the three great words of power.
Cross the Wheel of Restraint and descend—
—Guardian of the Scales!
As Kanjuro's summoning incantation echoed through the wind and snow, the magic circle suddenly erupted with thick black energy that devoured the light, as if even the air was trembling. The dark energy surged and spiraled like a living thing, finally condensing into a deep, profound figure.
A woman clad in dark black armor emerged from the darkness, dark red lines flowing across the armor like congealed blood.
The flag she bore on her back whipped in the wind and snow, her long blonde hair shimmering with a pale luster in the darkness.
When those eyes, stained by shadow, slowly opened, they were filled with the pain of betrayal and cold fury.
She knelt on one knee, her armor making a crisp sound as it struck the ice: "I have answered your call. Are you my master?"
Kanjuro looked with satisfaction at the Servant before him, who was both holy and fallen.
Jeanne looked up, and the moment their eyes met, the corners of her lips curled into a wicked smile identical to his: "It seems you are also one who has fallen into darkness."
"And you are?"
"Saint Jeanne d'Arc." The longsword in her hand glowed with an eerie light, her tone as indifferent as ice.
"I didn't expect to summon you," Kanjuro said thoughtfully. "But your past certainly makes you worthy of my summons."
Jeanne gazed at him coldly: "So, what is our goal? For the Holy Grail War?"
Kanjuro gave a contemptuous smile: "The Holy Grail War is nothing more than a pastime. You just need to be my sharp blade."
"Interesting." A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Jeanne's eyes; she had come to this world for revenge in the first place.
"I'm curious," Kanjuro said, leisurely playing with the command spells in his hand, "Why would the legendary Saint Jeanne d'Arc fall to this extent?"
Jeanne's memories flooded back like a tide, her voice carrying a bone-chilling coldness: "I once won victory for my country, only to be sold out by my compatriots. Even the church, the only thing I believed in, betrayed me. Tell me, why should someone like me still hold onto that ridiculous faith?"
"I see, a Saint whose faith has collapsed." Kanjuro approached her, his fingers flirtatiously brushing her cheek, "I heard that Jeanne remained a virgin until her death?"
Jeanne's figure flickered as she avoided his touch, her armor letting out a crisp clatter: "Though you are my master, I will not submit easily."
"No matter." Kanjuro shrugged indifferently, "I have no interest in your 'pretending to be pure' type."
As he turned away, Jeanne's cold gaze followed him throughout.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
Kanjuro snapped his fingers, and time began to flow again.
Illya turned back at the sound and was surprised to find a woman in black armor standing beside Kanjuro.
The woman appeared to be no more than nineteen, yet her eyes held a weariness that transcended her age.
"Who is she?"
"Jeanne, my partner," Kanjuro introduced briefly. "Lead the way, Illya."
"Okay!" Illya led the way ahead cheerfully.
Jeanne followed silently behind Kanjuro, her black cloak dragging a long trail in the snow.
Just as they were heading toward Einzbern Castle, another summoning ritual was taking place deep within the castle.
Emiya Kiritsugu stood expressionless before the magic circle, holding the avalon scabbard in his hands.
He was completely unaware that the real scabbard had long since been swapped by Kanjuro with an avalon created using the Black Magic manifested from the Gospel of Matthew; what he held now was merely a fake made with Black Magic.
As the scabbard radiated white light, a blonde knight clad in blue and white armor slowly appeared.
She held the sword of promised victory, her emerald eyes staring at Kiritsugu: "I ask of you, are you my master?"
"So it's a woman." Kiritsugu glanced at her coldly and turned to Irisviel, saying, "You communicate with her," before hurrying away.
Artoria was somewhat taken aback but was soon drawn in by Irisviel's gentle temperament.
The two chatted happily, like old friends reuniting after a long time.
Just then, a clear calling voice came from the wind and snow outside the castle.
Saber and Irisviel looked toward the sound and saw Illya waving cheerfully in the snow.
Saber's brow suddenly furrowed, and the holy sword in her hand began to emit an abnormal hum.
Mana flowed erratically through the blade, making her feel an unprecedented discomfort.
"Strange..." Jeanne keenly sensed the anomaly and asked Kanjuro in a low voice, "Why does that knight's weapon feel so familiar? What did you do?"
Kanjuro looked up and happened to lock eyes with Saber on the castle wall.
Artoria only felt a chill run up her spine; the man before her seemed like a bottomless abyss, surrounded by an unsettling evil aura.
"It's simple." A cold smile curled on Kanjuro's lips, "Because the real avalon scabbard was swapped by me long ago."
"Hmm?" Jeanne pondered, "So it will have a significant impact on her?"
"Of course," Kanjuro laughed, "Her heart will gradually become distorted as time passes."
"I see, how interesting. It seems my master is far more terrifying than I imagined." As the two conversed.
Suddenly, Kanjuro gave Jeanne a look, "It's about time, let's go."
"Not going in?" Jeanne didn't understand Kanjuro's line of thought.
"Since I've already seen the results, there's naturally no need for me to show myself again. The next time we meet them will be when the Holy Grail War officially begins," Kanjuro said as he turned and headed off to the side.
Jeanne, however, looked up and met Saber's gaze.
Saber felt the dark aura on Kanjuro, but it was even more so when she saw Jeanne.
She didn't understand who the two people before her were.
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