A Few Days Ago.
Nightfall, the Matou estate.
In the dim, silent basement, the shrill sound of maniacal laughter echoed through the air.
"This is the mirror of Medusa, the Gorgon from ancient Greek mythology."
"My grandfather truly dotes on me...!!"
"To think he even found such a precious relic for me."
"Of course, after all, I am a super genius with forty magical circuits, the sole heir to the prestigious Matou family."
"A mere Holy Grail wish? Easy to obtain!"
"...The throne of the heavens has been vacant for far too long. It's time for me to ascend to the divine seat!"
Suddenly...
On the ground, tens of thousands of pitch-black parasitic worms wriggled, emitting a disgusting, hissing sound.
In the center stood a black-haired young man, arms wide open, a smug smile spreading across his face.
The atmosphere was thick with an unsettling evil.
Alaska, New Delhi, the Treasure Island, Seoul...
People across the world furrowed their brows, shivering in discomfort, a sense of loathing creeping into their hearts.
Perhaps the previous events had raised their expectations too high. Then suddenly, this nauseating figure appeared, and the sharp contrast made them uneasy.
"Too many bugs! My trypophobia is kicking in," the famous actress Mai Sakurajima covered her eyes, her voice trembling.
The surrounding spirits nodded frantically, their gazes filled with confusion.
This guy... He was like an eyesore, exuding the arrogance of a petty man who had just tasted success.
While he and Luojun both hailed from renowned magical families, the contrast between them was like night and day.
One stood at the peak of the heavens, elegant and composed, exuding noble grace.
The other resembled the filth of the earth, arrogant and malicious, unpleasant to behold.
"Come to think of it, letting such an evil Master summon Medusa, the snake demon, would surely bring about a catastrophe for Fuyuki City, wouldn't it?"
"If he wins in the end and raises the Holy Grail... What then?"
Daisuke Kuzu, a member of the association, furrowed his brow in concern, his white sleeve fluttering in the wind.
"I'm sure the other Riders will try to stop him," said Hotaro Oreki, deep in thought.
The otaku, Subaru Natsuki, knitted his brows tightly. "If someone like him can become a god... then maybe the world would be better off destroyed."
---
The scene shifted.
A solemn prayer echoed, sending chills down the spine, as a radiant light blossomed in the basement.
A fierce wind howled, whipping through the dark, vile insect den.
A flash of white light appeared, and it seemed as if a holy pegasus hovered above.
In the center of the summoning circle stood a woman wearing a purple blindfold.
She had long, violet hair and a pale, expressionless face. Her curves were tantalizingly accentuated by her black outfit, which barely contained her ample chest. Her stockings and thigh-high boots added to the allure, creating an undeniable sense of temptation.
"Rider, Medusa," she spoke, her voice calm, detached, like an iceberg from the South Pole, devoid of emotion.
She was...
Simply stunning!
The aura of an ice queen seemed to radiate from the screen.
Countless viewers around the world were left mesmerized, staring in awe.
To any visually driven creatures, it was impossible to resist such an overwhelming aesthetic impact.
At this moment, men—and even women—across the globe were capturing this scene, turning it into screensavers, wishing they could lick their screens.
Medusa, the Gorgon from Greek mythology?
A monster who turns people to stone with her gaze?
What does that have to do with us, the beauty lovers?!
However, unexpectedly...
"Miss Medusa, greetings. I am Matou Seiji. I look forward to your guidance in the future," the black-haired young man said with respect, not daring to show any signs of arrogance.
Had he changed?
Had he become humble?
"Arrogant?"
"Conceited?"
He was joking. After all, the one in front of him was the key to whether he could win the Holy Grail War!
Anyone with a shred of intelligence would never offend their Servant.
His Command Seals, three marks on his hand, were to be used as tools of steel to carve his path toward victory.
"I understand, Master. I will protect you in the Holy Grail War," the woman with a snake-like mark on her forehead replied indifferently, her tone as calm as ever.
He didn't care. A faint, malicious smile curled on his lips.
He didn't care about the Servant's attitude toward him, so long as he could win the Holy Grail War.
Since being adopted by the Matou family a year ago, Seiji Ito... or rather, Matou Seiji, had already known his ultimate goal.
That was to hold the omnipotent Grail and fulfill his grandfather's wish for eternal life.
To open the 40 magical circuits that had been blocked for so long, his grandfather, Matou Zangyan, had thrown him into a den of worms. After enduring unimaginable despair and torment, he crawled out of hell.
He became a super genius in the Matou family, and was granted the chance to participate in the Holy Grail War.
From that day onward, his career as a human-shaped walking cannon began.
Cheongsams, nurses, schoolgirl uniforms... every type of woman imaginable was at his disposal.
Such a wonderful life—it was almost too good to be true.
Not Possible!
He had just crawled out of hell with great difficulty, so of course, he was going to enjoy it to the fullest!
But, he wasn't participating in the Holy Grail War just to grant his grandfather eternal life.
Matou Seiji's expression grew cold, and he sneered.
The moment he held the omnipotent Grail, he would wish to become a god!
At that point, the tides would turn. It would be time for him to torment his grandfather.
As flashes of Matou Seiji's life played before his eyes, the exhilarating images made countless men so envious they could almost feel their eyes burning with desire.
"F*ck, this is what a human-shaped walking cannon's life looks like?"
"Seiji, you're a legend. Not even the Canadian electric eel could compare to you!"
"Living like this will only ruin you!"
"Damn... I'm so envious that I could grind my molars down and swallow them."
"Shit, I wish I could get that treatment too."
"Hey, how about a seven-day experience in the bug den?"
"Seiji's Happy House (sarcastic)."
"Don't even talk about seven days; I'd probably break down in a day."
"Eat bitter to rise above others, huh?"
"I know this guy, Seiji Ito, from our world. He's a timid little boy, but when he gets serious, he's terrifying."
"Classic case of ten times the strength when he turns dark."
As the comments and jokes flooded in, the screen slowly faded.
As expected, the Rider's (Rider) ability panel appeared.
---
Medusa
Class: Rider (Horseback Warrior)
Height/Weight: 172 cm, 57 kg
Origin: Mythology
Region: Ancient Greece
Alignment: Chaotic Good
"Courage and strength are not always praiseworthy. Sometimes, it's better to remain calm and clear-headed."
Strength: B
Endurance: C
Agility: A
Mana: A
Luck: E
Class Skills:
Anti-Magic: B
Can nullify magic spells with chant lengths of three lines or fewer. Even great spells or ceremonial rituals are unlikely to harm her.
Riding: A+
Unbelievable riding ability. She can easily control mythical beasts, phantom creatures, and even supersonic fighter jets. The only type she cannot ride are dragons.
(Due to her overwhelming riding ability, using the Noble Phantasm Bellerophon temporarily increases her steed, Pegasus's, stats significantly.)
Personal Skills:
Mystic Eyes: A
The highest-level petrification gaze.
The effect depends on the opponent's Anti-Magic rank:
C rank or lower: instant petrification.
B rank: some resistance, but still significant debuffs.
A rank: no petrification, but bodily functions will significantly deteriorate.
Independent Action: C
Even if the Master's mana supply is interrupted, she can act independently for a short time.
Great Strength: B
For a limited period, can increase physical strength, allowing her to engage in close combat with even the strongest Rider-class Servants.
Noble Phantasms:
Self-Sealing: Dark Temple (Breaker Gorgon)
Rank: C
Type: Anti-Human Noble Phantasm
Range: ?
Max Target: 1
Seals the target's will within the Rider's heart, controlling them.
(This Noble Phantasm is mainly used to seal her Mystic Eyes; its effect is not very powerful.)
Others' Sealing: Blood Temple (Blood Fort Andromeda)
Rank: B
Type: Anti-Army Noble Phantasm
Range: 10~40 meters
Max Target: 500 people
A barrier technique that requires preparation to activate. It can drain the physical strength of those within its range.
Once activated, it rapidly dissolves all humans within the barrier.
(This is Medusa's blood-sucking Noble Phantasm, designed to efficiently gather blood to replenish her magical power. Its combat efficiency is somewhat lacking.)
Bellerophon
Rank: A+
Type: Anti-Army Noble Phantasm
Range: 2~50 meters
Max Target: 300 people
Summons the mythical steed Pegasus from the Age of Gods, using its supersonic charge to crush targets in its path.
---
"Holy sh*t!"
Countless people gasped in shock, their faces frozen in disbelief.
The overwhelming double-A stats had appeared for the first time, nearly blinding everyone with their brilliance.
Is Rider (Horseback Warrior) even stronger than the Rider-class Servants?
This wasn't just because Medusa herself was incredibly powerful, but it also seemed to be related to Matou Seiji's magical circuits.
Could it be that Matou Seiji was on track to become the winner of the Fifth Holy Grail War?
---
The screen shifted again, and images of the Berserker faction slowly emerged.
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