22 Chapter - 19
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Chapter - 19: Demon King or Demon God?
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[Temple Hydou]
[Third Pov]
A heavy atmosphere enveloped the Hyodo Temple, its pews sparsely occupied. Among the few seated, a majority were Masters, each driven by their deepest desires, vying in the Holy Grail War.
On the podium, Otakemaru lounged casually, hand resting on his chin, one leg crossed over the other, exuding an air of utter relaxation. An indifferent smile played on Oni's lips.
It seemed as though he regarded the world around him with an air of insignificance, as if nothing could possibly pose a threat or harm to him in any way.
Most of the participants in the war had gathered, thanks in part to Otakemaru's invitations—or perhaps one could call them threats, though he didn't particularly care to distinguish between the two.
Among the initial surprises was the encounter between Archer (Goldy) and Saber, a source of intriguing information. Watching the little knight being teased had provided ample amusement for Otakemaru.
Of course, there were other fairly pointless discussions involving both Lancer's Master and Caster's Master, but after a few minutes of letting their emotions out they all settled down in their seats.
As he observed the Masters sitting before him, Otakemaru couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. It seemed he had a knack for getting others to heed his orders.
Perhaps, he mused, he possessed more potential than he had initially believed, a notion Umimari had often hinted at. Either way, both explanations seemed plausible to him.
With a quick glance at the time, Otakemaru turned back to face his audience. However, he remained silent, letting the moments tick away in complete stillness.
The Masters exchanged puzzled glances, wondering what thoughts were running through the mind of the monster before them.
Rin broke the silence, her tone devoid of friendliness. "So, Sajyou, what's the purpose of all this?" Her skepticism was evident.
Manaka responded by raising her arms and putting on an innocent smile, the kind that would befit a helpless little angel who couldn't harm a fly. "My king orchestrated all of this, so I couldn't answer even if I wanted to."
Shirou, clearly agitated after their initial confrontation, rose to his feet. "Then why gather us here, Avenger?" He voiced his concern, aware that whatever intentions this monster had likely wouldn't bode well for them.
Sakura and Rider remained silent, as they were more allies of the Servant than the other participants. However, a hint of doubt flickered in Sakura's eyes as she watched her beloved Senpai closely.
Sakura couldn't help but wrestle with her emotions. She questioned whether this path she had chosen was truly the best for both her and Shirou. In her eyes, she saw herself as a tainted monster who didn't deserve someone like him, and she believed that her dear Senpai would be happier with her sister...
As she looked at Otakemaru, a slight blush appeared on Sakura's cheeks. She sensed that something was changing inside her. "Yes," she confessed softly, "I think so." 🧡 🧡 🧡"
Otakemaru, in his calm and collected manner, responded to the situation. "I see. It seems humans still struggle to see the truth when it's right in front of them." With a contemplative hand on his chin, he continued, "To get to the point, the Grail is corrupted, thanks to that village boy. If a wish is expressed as is, none of us will get what we desire." His words were delivered with nonchalance and a smile, despite the gravity of the revelation.
However, Otakemaru's intentions weren't altruistic; they were in line with his own agenda. He cared little about the consequences of the Grail in its current state.
Unsurprisingly, his words were met with skepticism and disbelief. Without concrete proof, and considering his immense power, the gathered individuals found it difficult to accept his claims.
Rin was the first to voice her skepticism. Her expression clearly conveyed her disbelief. What was this monster even talking about? The idea of the Grail being corrupted seemed absurd to her.
Shirou, on the other hand, felt a sense of confusion and unease creeping over him. He couldn't shake the chill that ran down his spine.
King Oni merely shrugged, his indifference palpable. "If you wish to repeat the mistakes of the last war and witness the world around you turn to ashes, I have no qualms about that," he stated with an unsettling detachment, as though he wouldn't mind setting the world ablaze himself.
However, he swiftly shifted his demeanor, abandoning the pretense of being human. "But if you desire a swift resolution, I can provide it," he offered with a calm smile. It seemed maintaining the facade of humanity had grown tiresome for him.
"I agree." Sakura spoke first wanting to prove her worth; after all, they were already allies in the beginning.
"So do I." Caster's master followed suit, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. He cast a knowing glance at his two students, offering a subtle smile before it vanished..
"Souichirou-sama..." Medea mumbled, but accepted her master decision with ease. After all, it really would have been impossible to beat this monster in front of them without all the help they could get.
"..... I don't mind." Shirou spoke softly with obvious difficulty in accepting this answer, looking away he could in no way allow something like this to happen again!
"If Onii-Chan agrees, then so do I..." Illya said, looking at Oni with an overall gaze, clearly understanding the reason for this.
Kirei remained silent, comprehending the monster's intentions. He gave a small, almost imperceptible smile, realizing that this situation could serve his own desires. "I see no reason not to," he spoke in his usual monotonous tone.
Gilgamesh, arms folded, sneered at the turn of events. He and Kirei would have to adapt their plans, and both believed they could still come out on top. In the end, weren't they both pursuing their desires with just a different approach?
"This man... I want to fight him again." Cu Chulainn nodded confidently. He wanted another fight with the powerful and determined opponent in front of him. These battles were his lifeblood .
"..." Artoria, deep in thought, listened to the discussion. She couldn't help but draw parallels between the being before her and a formidable adversary she had faced during her time in Camelot.
"We seem to have come to an agreement..." Oni got up from his seat with a relaxed manner, as if what was about to happen had nothing to do with him. "Heroes of the past..."
To the surprise of most present, the verdant branches of the ley lines began to encircle Hyoudou Temple. These "ley lines" were the conduits through which potent Servants were summoned from the other side. It became evident that Otakemaru had no intention of letting this war end so easily.
The magical energy in the air, the very vitality of the planet itself, seemed to slow down. While a certain level of depletion was expected in a Holy Grail War, the extent to which it occurred was far from normal.
All the Servants and magi gazed upwards as a colossal surge of magical energy manifested in the distant mountains. The energy released by the ley lines surpassed anything they had ever encountered. Even the Servants were taken aback.
However, the surrounding shadows stirred unease among the participants. Magi and Servants alike felt their magical energy wane and slow, a sensation akin to being parched. These effects were brief, and soon, everything returned to its prior state.
This could be a very strange event for the magi, but some particular servants understood what was about to happen, and they could not control the smiles on their faces.
"What.... is going on?" Illya's eyes widened in complete shock, her mind unable to understand the sight before her.
"I present to you something really fun so that we can forget our sad past for a few days..." Otakemaru announced as a big, very terrifying smile appeared on his face.
Behind Otakemaru and Manaka, the sky... Was on fire. She could only watch all this with wonder, her beloved King had not disappointed her at all in fact the spectacle was even more entertaining than expected.
There was a rule under the Fuyuki Grail System. A rule that the Overseer could use if the Masters allied with each other. He simply granted the authority to summon seven other Servants to fight the Masters and allied Servants.
"A Great Holy Grail War."
Black smoke rose from Mount Ryuudou, which could also be seen from where they stood, and what remained of the mountain after the first explosion was now charred earth.
"We who have surpassed the Sixth Heaven!
Demon King - Oda Nobunaga!
A massive deafening roar rang throughout the city and then, hundreds, if not thousands of shots each akin to cannons fired in an instant.
The red sky was blotted out by fire.
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A/N: the Great Holy Grail War begins!
I have chosen all the Servants who will participate, I have changed only Saber and I can only admit that some Servants chosen are really very strong...
So there will be fun to be had: If you want some Spoilers I can tell you something, otherwise you will be left in doubt...
I also remind you to leave some reviews if you like the story <3< p>
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Assassin - ???
Berserker - ???
Saber - ???
Lancer -???
Rider -???
Archer - Oda Nobunaga
Caster - ???
Ruler - ???
