Fujimaru stepped forward, radiating a calm composure that sharply contrasted with the room's tension. He extended his left hand forward. In the next second, the fabric of reality at his fingertips tore open. A spatial distortion, as pitch-black as the void of space, silently unzipped.
From within the rift of that Pocket Dimension, Fujimaru pulled out lot data crystals that radiated a captivating prismatic glow. There were twenty in total.
"Now lets start the Servant Summoning."
Nodding slightly, Fujimaru approached the altar. He placed one data crystal on the shield's surface, then took a few steps back.
BZZZZT!
The FATE System activated. The giant magic circles on the floor flared with a blinding light. Three massive rings of light suddenly manifested in the air, spinning at high speed around Mash's shield. A localized gale-force wind whipped through the room, blowing their hair and clothes amidst an incredible surge of Mana.
However, their expectations were shattered in an instant.
The white light dimmed, leaving behind only a thin wisp of Mana smoke that slowly evaporated into the air. The data crystal had crumbled into dust without a trace, and above the shield altar, no one was standing. The room fell silent once more.
The first summoning ended in an absolute failure.
Wasting no time, Fujimaru stepped forward and placed the second small data crystal onto the shield.
The ritual resonated once more. The three rings of light spun with a deafening roar, the magical winds raged again. Yet, when the storm of light subsided, the stage of the altar remained completely empty.
A second failure was imprinted right before their eyes.
Fujimaru showed no signs of frustration. To him, failure was merely a logical step toward success. With a steady motion, he reached into the spatial rift again and pulled out a medium-sized data crystal. This crystal was dimmer but possessed a significantly denser and heavier energy vibration.
"Third attempt. Escalating energy scale," Fujimaru stated calmly.
He placed the crystal at the center of Mash's shield. The moment the crystal touched the metal surface, the entire room trembled violently. This time, the Mana circuits on the floor were no longer blue; they turned into a blinding gold. The three spinning rings of light roared like jet engines, creating a storm of air pressure that forced Dr. Roman, Da Vinci, Olga and Mash to shield their eyes with their arms.
BOOM!
The golden pillar of light slowly dispersed, but the air in the summoning chamber did not calm. Instead, it grew incredibly heavy, suffocatingly dense with a raw, unfiltered bloodlust that made the very temperature in the room plummet.
Thick, cursed black fog began to bleed from the figure on the altar. It coiled around his massive, pitch-black armor, distorting his outline like a corrupted photograph. The Noble Phantasm For Someone's Glory: Not For One's Own Glory (Anti-Unit B) actively fought against reality, making it impossible to focus on his exact shape. The only thing piercing through the dark mist was the terrifying, mad red glow emanating from the narrow slit of his rugged helmet.
Name: Lancelot
Class: Berserker
Attribute: Earth
Gender: Male
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Class Skills:
Mad Enhancement (C Rank): Rank up for all parameters except Luck and Mana, but in exchange, Berserker can no longer think and speak properly.
Personal Skills:
Magic Resistance (E Rank): Through a magical amulet ring, he possesses a baseline resistance to spells. However, his rampant madness severely degrades its effectiveness, meaning it can only slightly dampen magical damage rather than block it entirely.
Protection of the Spirits (A Rank): A divine blessing granted by the elementals that unnaturally shifts fate in his favor. It significantly boosts his luck during the most dangerous and chaotic moments on the battlefield.
Eternal Arms Mastery (A+ Rank): The ultimate proof of an unrivaled warrior. Lancelot's combat techniques are so perfectly ingrained into his mind, body, and soul that even after completely losing his sanity to madness, his flawless, peerless martial prowess remains completely intact and as deadly as ever.
Stats:
Strength A | Endurance A | Agility A+ | Mana C | Luck B | NP A
Noble Phantasm:
Knight of Owner: A Knight Does Not Die with Empty Hands (Anti-Unit A+)
The terrifying ability to seamlessly weaponize his surroundings. The moment Lancelot grabs hold of any object he subjectively recognizes as a "weapon" is instantly corrupted by his dark magical energy and transformed into a deadly Noble Phantasm. If he manages to steal another Servant's weapon, he can wield it flawlessly while retaining its original, overwhelming power.
For Someone's Glory: Not For One's Own Glory (Anti-Unit B)
A thick, cursed black fog that constantly envelops his armor, shifting his outline like a distorted, out-of-focus photograph. This dark mist completely conceals his true identity, making it impossible for enemies or Masters to read his stats, class, or face. Because his madness has degraded this skill, he can no longer freely disguise himself as other heroes without the powerful push of a Command Spell. This protective, concealing fog is completely disabled the moment he draws his true sword, Arondight: The Unfading Light of the Lake (Anti-Unit A++).
Arondight: The Unfading Light of the Lake (Anti-Unit A++)
A pitch-black, corrupted demonic blade brimming with pure resentment that was once a flawless holy sword. It is an indestructible weapon that drastically boosts all of Lancelot's physical parameters the moment it is drawn out. True to his legend of slaying a dragon, the blade deals devastating damage to any Heroic Spirit possessing the "dragon" attribute.
"Arrrrrrrr..."
A low, vibrating growl echoed from beneath the dark iron. It wasn't the voice of a hero. It was the sound of a beast trapped in an eternal purgatory of its own making.
"Senpai, step back!" Mash immediately stepped in front of Fujimaru, raising her shield. Even without deploying its true name, the sheer physical pressure emanating from the Black Knight forced her Demi-Servant instincts into overdrive.
Behind them, Medusa shifted her stance, her hands hovering near her chain-daggers, while Cú Chulainn dropped his relaxed posture entirely, his eyes narrowing at the sheer, chaotic malice bleeding off the new arrival.
Up in the booth, the control room descended into a brief panic.
"A Berserker class!" Dr. Roman yelled over the intercom, his fingers flying across his console. "And his spiritual density is off the charts! Alignment is Chaotic Evil! Ritsuka, be extremely careful! His Mad Enhancement is actively suppressing his higher cognitive functions!"
"Fascinating..." Da Vinci muttered, leaning closer to the glass. "The data crystal bypassed the standard catalyst requirements and pulled an existence completely saturated in regret. A knight consumed by madness."
"Don't just stand there, Fujimaru! Secure the contract or use a Command Spell before he rampages!" Olga Marie ordered, her magus instincts treating the Berserker like an unpinned grenade.
Lancelot's head twitched violently. The red slit of his visor locked onto Fujimaru. His massive, gauntleted hands flexed, the metal groaning as his Eternal Arms Mastery subconsciously readied his body to weaponize the very air around him if necessary.
"Arrrr... Thhhuurrrrr..." The mad knight took a heavy, imposing step forward, the floor cracking slightly under his weight.
"It's okay, Mash. Lower your shield," Fujimaru said quietly.
"But, Senpai—"
"He's not an enemy."
Fujimaru gently placed a hand on Mash's shoulder, stepping out from behind the safety of Lord Chaldeas. He didn't raise his hand to ready a Command Spell. He didn't tense his muscles for an attack. He simply looked up at the towering, fog-shrouded Berserker with the same ancient, unwavering calm he had shown in the cafeteria.
Fujimaru understood the nature of the data crystals. They pulled possibilities based on the resonance of the user's soul. If a crystal had summoned a knight drowning in madness and regret, it was because the system recognized that Fujimaru had the capacity to bear that weight.
The teenage Master walked straight up to the edge of the altar, stopping mere inches away from the towering Berserker. The cursed black fog washed over Fujimaru, but he didn't flinch.
"You've been wandering in the dark for a long time, haven't you?" Fujimaru spoke softly, his voice cutting through the heavy, maddening growls of the knight.
Lancelot froze. The violent twitching of his armor ceased.
"Your mind is broken, and your sword is cursed," Fujimaru continued, looking directly into the glowing red slit of the helmet. He didn't speak with pity, but with profound, absolute respect. "But your skills remain flawless. Even consumed by madness, you haven't forgotten how to be a knight. You haven't forgotten how to protect."
The Mad Enhancement severely degraded Lancelot's ability to think or speak, but his soul—anchored by the ultimate martial pinnacle of his Eternal Arms Mastery—could still recognize the disposition of a true sovereign. The boy standing before him possessed no holy sword, no divine mandate, and no magical circuits worth noting.
Yet, he possessed a heart that did not turn away from a monster.
Slowly, the oppressive, gale-force bloodlust in the room began to recede. The heavy, ragged breathing beneath the dark armor quieted.
To the absolute shock of everyone in the room and the observation booth, the towering, Chaotic Evil Berserker did not attack. Instead, Lancelot slowly sank to one knee. The heavy plates of his armor clanked against the metal floor. He bowed his horned helmet, offering his absolute, unwavering loyalty to the Master who had accepted his madness without fear.
"Graaaah... M-Maaaassss... terrrr..." Lancelot forced the broken syllables out through his ruined throat, a solemn vow masked beneath a beast's growl.
Mash slowly lowered her shield, her lavender eyes wide with awe. Cú Chulainn let out a sharp, genuinely impressed laugh, relaxing his stance.
"Well, I'll be damned," the Hound of Ulster grinned. "Tamed the mad dog without a single leash. You've got a terrifying charisma, kid."
Fujimaru offered the kneeling giant a small, reassuring smile. He reached out and gently placed a hand on the cold, scarred pauldron of the knight's dark armor.
"Welcome to Chaldea, Lancelot," Fujimaru said warmly. "You don't have to carry your sins alone anymore. We have a lot of work to do."
Fujimaru turned his attention back to his spatial inventory, the prismatic light of the remaining data crystals reflecting in his eyes. The King of Knights' greatest champion had just joined their ranks.
"Three down," Fujimaru murmured, his voice calm and resolute. "Let's see who's next."
The towering Black Knight stepped aside, his massive armored form standing guard like a silent, terrifying sentinel. Lancelot's cursed fog curled around his boots, but he remained perfectly still, anchored by Fujimaru's calm command.
Fujimaru turned his attention back to the shield altar. He reached into his spatial inventory and pulled out the fourth data crystal. It pulsed with a faint, erratic light.
He tossed it onto the center of Lord Chaldeas.
BZZZZT!
The F.A.T.E. System activated once more. The giant magic circles on the floor flared, and the three massive rings of light manifested in the air, spinning at high speed. A localized gale-force wind whipped through the room, kicking up a surge of mana.
However, their expectations were shattered in an instant. The white light dimmed rapidly, leaving behind only a thin wisp of mana smoke that slowly evaporated into the air. The data crystal had crumbled into dust without a trace. Above the shield altar, no one was standing.
"Aw, man!" Da Vinci groaned from the observation booth, pressing her face against the glass. "The conceptual anchor failed to connect to the Throne!"
The fourth attempt ended in an absolute failure.
Fujimaru showed no signs of frustration. To him, failure was merely a logical step toward success. With a steady, unhurried motion, he reached into the spatial rift again and pulled out the fifth data crystal.
This one was different. It didn't radiate the cold, heavy density of Lancelot's crystal, nor the prismatic neutrality of the others. It glowed with a warm, flickering light—like a hearth fire that possessed the terrifying potential to ignite a forest.
"Fifth attempt," Fujimaru stated calmly, his blue eyes reflecting the ember-like glow.
He placed the crystal at the center of Mash's shield.
The moment the crystal touched the metal surface, the mana circuits on the floor didn't turn blue or gold—they ignited into a brilliant, fiery green. The three spinning rings of light roared, but instead of a gale-force wind, a sudden, stifling wave of heat washed over the room. The scent of blooming cherry blossoms mixed with the heavy, suffocating smell of burning ash.
BOOM!
A pillar of emerald and crimson fire struck the ceiling, twisting and coiling like a serpent before solidifying into a humanoid silhouette.
As the flames gently subsided, a uniquely feminine Berserker stepped forward. She possessed long, flowing mint-green hair and delicate white horns adorned with golden ornaments. She wore a dark, beautifully elegant teal kimono that seemed to swallow the light around it. In her delicate hands, she gently fluttered a red folding fan that sparked with faint, real embers of fire.
She offered a polite, demure bow. Yet, the intense, unblinking focus in her golden eyes hinted at a terrifying, obsessive fire lying just beneath her graceful surface.
Name: Kiyohime
Class: Berserker
Attribute: Earth
Gender: Female
Alignment: Lawful Good
Class Skills:
Mad Enhancement (EX Rank): Her sanity remains intact, but she unconditionally views her Master as her reincarnated lover. If the Master lies to her, she will instantly realize it and automatically consume one Command Spell as punishment.
Personal Skills:
Shapeshift (Fire Dragon) (C+ Rank): Driven by sheer obsession, she can manipulate her form into a lesser Eastern dragon. She will run with all her might, and slither while breathing fire once her legs disappear.
Super Positive Stalking (A+ Rank): A terrifyingly wild instinct that combines all five senses and mana tracking to flawlessly hunt down her beloved wherever they may hide.
Flame-Colored Kiss (A Rank): If her lips lock with her Master's, she will unleash her full power to obliterate any obstacle. The only price is the Master's future, forever claimed as her groom.
Stats:
Strength E | Endurance E | Agility C | Mana E | Luck E | NP EX
Noble Phantasm:
Samadhi Through Transforming Flames (Anti-Unit Self EX)
Kiyohime metamorphoses into a colossal, fire-breathing serpent. In this form, she can unleash devastating wide-area dragon breath attacks or a lethal, single-target constriction attack.
"Servant, Berserker. Kiyohime," she spoke, her voice as smooth and sweet as honey, though it carried an undercurrent of absolute, unconditional devotion. She snapped her burning fan shut and looked up, her golden eyes locking directly onto Fujimaru. "Ah... I have found you. My reincarnated lover... my Anchin. You did not run from me this time."
Up in the booth, the control room monitors were flashing frantically.
Olga Marie grabbed the microphone, looking horrified. "Do not lie to her, Fujimaru! The system indicates that if you deceive her, she will instantly realize it, and her Saint Graph will automatically consume one of your Command Spells as punishment!"
Mash tensed, stepping slightly closer to Fujimaru. She remembered the terrifying, suicidal flames Kiyohime had unleashed in Orleans to hold off the abyssal tide. "Senpai..."
"It's fine, Mash," Fujimaru said quietly, not breaking eye contact with the newly summoned Berserker.
He didn't back away. He didn't show fear at her EX-Rank madness, nor did he panic at the revelation that a single kiss from her Flame-Colored Kiss skill would obliterate his enemies at the cost of his entire future.
Instead, Fujimaru smiled—a warm, wise, and profoundly grateful smile. He stepped forward and offered her the exact same respectful bow he had given Medusa and Lancelot.
"Welcome back, Kiyohime," Fujimaru said, his voice steady and sincere. "I remember what you did in France. You burned away your own existence to hold the line so we could survive. I promised I wouldn't leave our heroes in the dark. I called you back."
Kiyohime froze. Her delicate hands trembled slightly, the embers on her fan flaring up.
Because of her Mad Enhancement, she unconditionally viewed him as her lover. She expected him to lie. She expected him to make excuses, to run, to fear her draconian shapeshifting and her obsessive tracking. That was the tragedy of her legend.
But the boy standing before her wasn't running. He was looking at her with an unwavering, honest gaze, acknowledging her sacrifice and thanking her for it.
"You... you remember?" Kiyohime whispered, a deep blush spreading across her pale cheeks. The terrifying, obsessive intensity in her golden eyes melted into a look of overwhelming, pure joy. She covered her smile with her red fan, giggling softly as a few tears of happiness pricked the corners of her eyes. "Oh, my Master... my Anchin... you are so honest. So wise. You truly did not abandon me!"
"I never will," Fujimaru promised gently. "But I need your help. There are enemies ahead that threaten all of human history. I need your flames to clear the path."
"Say no more!" Kiyohime beamed, her aura flaring with a warm, protective heat. She bowed deeply once more. "If any obstacle dares to stand in the way of my beloved, I shall turn them to cinders. I am yours, body and soul, forever and ever!"
Behind Fujimaru, Cú Chulainn let out a long, heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"First a knight who weaponizes everything he touches, and now a dragon-girl who will burn the world down if you tell a white lie," Cú muttered, shaking his head in amused disbelief. "Master, your charisma is going to get us all killed one of these days."
"Only if I lie, Cú," Fujimaru replied calmly, turning back to the F.A.T.E. system and reaching into his spatial rift for the next crystal. "And I don't intend to lie to the people protecting me."
Lancelot let out a low, approving rumble from beneath his helmet, while Kiyohime happily skipped over to stand beside Mash, humming a cheerful tune as her folding fan sparked with deadly embers. The ranks of Chaldea were growing, and the wise Master was far from finished.
The chaotic, fiery warmth of Kiyohime's summoning settled as the Berserker happily took her place beside Mash. The F.A.T.E. summoning chamber, now holding the silent Gorgon, the towering Black Knight, and the obsessive dragon-girl, felt more like a gathering of myths than a sterile laboratory.
Fujimaru did not pause. He reached into the spatial rift of his Pocket Dimension and pulled out the sixth data crystal.
Unlike the heavy darkness of Lancelot's or the flickering heat of Kiyohime's, this crystal radiated a pure, unwavering brilliance. It felt like holding a fragment of a very distant, yet incredibly bright star.
"Sixth attempt," Fujimaru stated quietly.
He tossed the pristine crystal onto the center of Lord Chaldeas.
BZZZZT!
The system resonated with an overwhelming purity. The mana circuits on the floor instantly turned a blinding, holy white. The three rings of light spun furiously, kicking up a gale-force wind, but there was no malice or chaotic heat in this storm. It was a cleansing, radiant breeze.
BOOM!
A pillar of absolute light struck the center of the altar. As the brilliance slowly fractured into golden motes, a figure materialized in the center of the array.
The blonde girl pulled her weapon free—a massive, holy flag—and turned to face them. Her body clearly showed the weariness of a long journey, and her armor was stained with the dust of battle, yet she stood tall with a dignified posture. Her serious expression softened, radiating a genuine, gentle grace.
Up in the control booth, Trismegistus flooded the monitors with golden data. Dr. Roman gripped his console, his eyes wide.
Fujimaru eyes never left the blonde girl on the altar. He knew exactly what she was capable of. He had seen the charred, glassed crater of Orleans. He had seen the splintered flagpole left behind in the permafrost.
Jeanne d'Arc planted the butt of her holy standard against the metal floor. She looked at the boy standing before her, feeling the ancient, gentle weight of his soul. Her expression brightened into a beautiful, relieved smile.
"I am Jeanne d'Arc, a Ruler-class Servant," she announced, her voice ringing with clear, melodic warmth. "I am really glad to have finally met you!"
Name: Jeanne d'Arc
Class: Ruler
Attribute: Star
Gender: Female
Alignment: Lawful Good
Class Skills:
Magic Resistance (EX Rank): At this rank, Jeanne cannot be wounded even by magecraft from the Age of Gods. However, this resistance only turns spells away from her. In other words, it doesn't negate them.
Reinstatement of the Radiant Holy Light (A Rank) [Sealed]: When summoned as a Ruler, status information such as the true identity, Skills, and Parameters is automatically revealed when she directly encounters a Servant. However, Servants with hiding capacity depend on her luck level to bypass this.
God's Resolution (A Rank) [Sealed]: As a privilege of the Ruler Class, she has two Command Spells that can be used for each Servant participating in the Holy Grail War. However, she cannot re-purpose other Command Spells that had been previously used.
Personal Skills:
At the End of the Pure and Clear Prayers (EX Rank): A Skill equivalent to "Instinct". Instinct is a sixth sense regarding battles, but "At the End of the Pure and Clear Prayers" accommodates all matters related to the achievement of a goal. Because there is no basis, it cannot be explained well to others.
Charisma (C Rank): The natural talent to command an army. Jeanne's figure participating in the assaults hoisting a flag raised the morale of the soldiers to the limit and united the troops. Thanks to her charisma, it is possible to make others believe in the contents of the "At the End of the Pure and Clear Prayers" without basis.
Saint (B Rank): Indicates being acknowledged as a saint. When summoned as a Servant, the ability of this Skill is selected from one out of the following: raising the effectiveness of sacraments, automatic HP recovery, 1 Rank-Up to Charisma, or production of a holy shroud is possible.
Stats:
Strength B | Endurance B | Agility A | Mana A | Luck C | NP A++
Noble Phantasm:
Luminosité Eternelle: God is Here With Me (Barrier A Rank):
By brandishing her holy flag, she converts her EX-rank Magic Resistance skill into an equally powerful defense that blocks all physical attacks. It is the crystallization of the legend of Jeanne d'Arc waving her flag on the battlefield and fighting to the very end with hardly any wounds.
La Pucelle: The Crimson Holy Maiden
A conceptual crystallization weapon interpreted as her burning at the stake in an attack-like fashion. It is a variant of Reality Marble that crystallizes the mental landscape of the user into a sword in the form of flames. In exchange for her life, she gains access to pure destructive power that cannot be calculated, which allows her to annihilate anything in existence. However, these flames only destroy that which she considers a dangerous threat that must be destroyed. In other words, this Noble Phantasm cannot be used against simply a strong enemy or out of emotions like hate.
Behind Fujimaru, the other Servants reacted to the sheer, overwhelming purity of the Saint. Lancelot let out a low, respectful rumble, bowing his horned head slightly. Medusa averted her gaze from the blinding holy light, though she did not retreat. Kiyohime hummed, analyzing the newcomer to ensure she wasn't a threat to her "Anchin."
Mash took a step forward, her lavender eyes shining with unshed tears. "Jeanne..."
Fujimaru stepped up to the edge of the altar. He didn't look at her as a weapon of mass destruction, nor did he look at her as a convenient shield. He looked at her as a girl who had suffered entirely too much for the sake of the world.
He placed his hand over his chest and offered her a deep, profound bow.
"Welcome back, Jeanne," Fujimaru said, his voice soft but carrying the unshakeable resolve of a true sovereign. He rose and met her eyes. "You fought a terrible, lonely battle in France. You carried the weight of your own corrupted shadow, and you held the line until the very bitter end. Thank you."
Jeanne's violet eyes widened slightly. She gripped her flagpole tightly, the weariness of her long journey seemingly melting away under his words. She remembered the frozen wasteland, the shattered Beast, and the boy who had commanded the very earth to save what was left of her country.
"You remember," Jeanne whispered, a profound sense of peace washing over her. "You watched over us until the very end, Master."
"I did," Fujimaru nodded. He took a step closer, his expression turning incredibly serious, carrying the wisdom of a leader who refused to repeat the tragedies of the past. "You have my absolute gratitude, Ruler. But hear my first order as your Master: I forbid you from ever using La Pucelle. Your life is not a currency to be traded for victory. Not under my command."
Jeanne's breath hitched. She had been summoned to countless conflicts, always prepared to be the ultimate sacrifice. To have her Master actively forbid her martyrdom out of genuine care was a salvation she had never dared to pray for.
A single tear slipped down her cheek, but her smile only grew more radiant.
"Understood, Master," Jeanne bowed her head gently, planting her flag firmly by her side.
"We'll protect each other," Fujimaru corrected gently, offering her a warm smile.
He turned back toward the F.A.T.E. system, the remaining fourteen data crystals practically humming inside his spatial rift. Lancelot, Kiyohime, and Jeanne d'Arc now stood behind him.
The wise Master of Chaldea took a deep breath.
The heavy, silent weight of anticipation hung in the summoning chamber. Fujimaru did not hesitate. He reached into the spatial rift of his Pocket Dimension, pulling out three more data crystals in quick succession.
"Seventh attempt," he stated, tossing a crystal onto the altar.
BZZZZT! The rings spun, but the light quickly died, leaving behind only a wisp of mana smoke.
"Eighth attempt." Another crystal met the shield. Another violent surge of wind, followed instantly by the hollow silence of failure as the crystal crumbled to dust.
"Ninth attempt." The result was identical. Smoke, ash, and an empty altar.
Three consecutive failures played out right before their eyes, but Fujimaru's expression remained perfectly composed. He treated the failures not as rejections, but as the necessary payment of probability. He reached into the dimensional tear once more.
When he pulled his hand out, the tenth data crystal was different. It didn't possess the heavy malice of a Berserker or the blinding holy light of a Saint. It sparkled with the pristine, multifaceted brilliance of a grand chandelier, catching the sterile lights of the room and refracting them into a warm, inviting glow.
"Tenth attempt," Fujimaru said smoothly, tossing the sparkling crystal onto the center of Lord Chaldeas.
The moment the crystal made contact, the mana circuits on the floor didn't roar with destructive power—they chimed, resonating with a sound like clinking crystal glasses and a lively string quartet. The three spinning rings of light whirled rapidly, kicking up a breeze that inexplicably carried the faint, sweet scent of fresh pastries and blooming lilies.
BOOM!
A pillar of radiant, sparkling light struck the altar. As the brilliance settled, a high-pitched, incredibly joyful sound echoed through the room.
"Kyaa!"
The girl squealed in pure delight. As the light faded, her vibrant, brilliant red gown screamed of royal luxury, catching every eye in the room. The grand, elegant fascinator resting on her head only amplified her majestic yet delightfully joyful presence. She spun on her heel, the ruffled layers of her dress flaring out beautifully.
Down in the summoning room, that skill was already taking effect. Behind Fujimaru, the towering, chaotic Berserker Lancelot instinctively took a heavy half-step forward, his massive armored frame shifting into a perfectly protective stance as his knightly core resonated with her presence. Even Mash straightened her posture, gripping her shield a little tighter with a sudden, innate desire to guard the smiling girl.
Marie Antoinette clasped her hands together, her bright blue eyes scanning the room before landing on the familiar face of the blonde Ruler.
"Oh, Jeanne! It is so wonderful to see you again!" Marie beamed, her voice a captivating, melodic chime. Then, she turned her radiant gaze to the boy standing at the edge of the altar.
Name: Marie Antoinette
Class: Rider
Attribute: Man
Gender: Female
Alignment: Lawful Good
Class Skills:
Magic Resistance (C Rank): Grants protection against magical effects. If it is simple Magecraft, Marie can effortlessly and gracefully nullify it.
Riding (A+ Rank): She can freely and flawlessly handle all vehicles and beasts, starting from the magnificent white horse that symbolizes the French royal family. However, creatures of the Dragon Kind cannot be mounted.
Personal Skills:
Timbre of Regality (B+ Rank): A captivating skill possessed by those with a beautiful natural tone, it serves as an absolute declaration of royal power. It acts as a charm-based magecraft toward the opposite sex, though it can be evaded via Magic Resistance or abated by sheer, stubborn willpower. For Marie, who has materialized as a symbolic existence, she can weaponize this regal charm, inflicting magical damage upon the enemies of the Crown with just a single, piercingly beautiful note.
Grace of God (B Rank): A skill that denotes the absolute beauty of royalty. Marie was born to be a beautiful monarch, naturally endowed with the greatest body and good looks.
Beautiful Princess (A Rank): A skill representing one's charismatic nature geared not toward leadership, but the innate ability to charm the people around oneself. For Marie, who possesses an A Rank in this Skill, a knightly individual whose nature is to protect is gravitationally pulled towards her simply by her existing in their presence.
Stats:
Strength D | Endurance D | Agility B | Mana B | Luck B+ | NP A+
Noble Phantasm:
Guillotine Breaker: Glory to the Crown of Lilies (Anti-Army A+)
Form of a magnificent, beautiful horse made entirely of glass and imprinted with lilies, the royal symbol of the Crown. By unleashing its True Name, Marie can call forth this steed, dashing through the battlefield while sending radiant particles of light swirling all about, dealing damage to enemies of the Crown. At the same time, it beautifully cancels out negative statuses on her allies and recovers their health and mana.
Crystal Palace: Beloved Radiance for All Eternity (Barrier B+)
A Bounded Field Noble Phantasm that manifests a great and beautiful palace, demonstrating the grand power of the French monarchy. Deploying it ranks up the stats of Marie and her allies. Even if she has lost her royalty, Marie has absolute faith that the country and people she loved will always remain, so she calls forth the Crystal Palace as a symbol of progress and a radiant new era.
Fujimaru stepped forward. As he had with the others, he placed his right hand over his chest and offered the Queen of France a deep, profoundly respectful bow.
"Welcome back, Queen Marie," Fujimaru said, his voice carrying that gentle, ancient wisdom. He rose to meet her eyes. "In Orleans, you fought for a country and a people that had once turned their backs on you. Yet, you never stopped smiling, and you never lost your faith in their future. Thank you for your grace."
Marie's joyful squeal softened into a deeply touched, incredibly warm smile. Even after losing her royalty and her life to the guillotine, her faith in the radiant progress of humanity had never wavered. To have her Master acknowledge that love—not her tragedy, but her love—made her Saint Graph hum with absolute loyalty.
"You are as kind and observant as ever, Master," Marie said softly, lifting the edges of her brilliant red gown to return his gesture with a flawless, elegant curtsy. "A country is made of its people, and people are meant to smile! Even if I have lost my crown, my love for humanity remains. If you wish to protect the future, then my Crystal Palace and my radiant steed are yours to command!"
Jeanne stepped forward, a genuine smile gracing her battle-weary face as she reunited with her friend. "It is good to have you by our side, Marie."
"Oh, we are going to have so much fun saving the world!" Marie giggled, gracefully stepping down from the altar to join Jeanne and Mash.
Behind them, Cú Chulainn chuckled, crossing his arms. "Nah. I'm out."
Fujimaru smiled quietly, looking at the vibrant, diverse gathering of heroes filling the Chaldea summoning room. The weight of the world was heavy, but the sparkling, joyful laughter of the Queen of France made the burden feel just a little bit lighter.
He turned his gaze back to the localized void of his Pocket Dimension, the ten remaining data crystals glowing softly within.
"Ten down," Fujimaru murmured, his resolve hardening as he reached for the next crystal. "Ten to go."