Awakening

However, one crucial question remained in Jeanne's mind.

Could this man, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, truly be trusted?

In case he got in touch with the Greater Grail and made a wish, it would truly be game over.

Although Jeanne didn't know what Shirou meant by 'save humanity', one thing was clear to her.

In order to stop this man, the Holy Grail was willing to risk breaking the rules just to drag her down to this war. That alone was enough to prove how severely Shirou's wish would impact the world.

However, only he had the power to completely deal with the Beast right now.

What should she do?

Jeanne silently gazed into Shirou's eyes as if trying to see something within them.

On the other hand, Shirou met Jeanne's gaze calmly, without any hint of evasion.

After a full minute, Jeanne slowly exhaled, her tense body gradually relaxing. In the end, she stepped aside, clearing the way.

"I thought you might take some more time to think." Shirou said, his tone devoid of any sarcasm. If he was in her shoes, he would hesitate more when facing this kind of situation.

"We don't have any more time to waste..." Jeanne said softly, looking at the black velvet curtain before them. "However, it's not that I believe in you, but I believe in the guidance the Lord has given me."

"You mean, the Lord just gave you guidance?" Shirou's expression instantly turned serious.

"The Lord has always been in our hearts. When we're lost, the Lord guides us forward." Jeanne said earnestly.

Shirou stared deeply into her eyes, and after a moment, he nodded slightly.

"Your faith is indeed much stronger than mine."

"Let's get on with it. If we wait any longer, it'll be too late once the Beast breaks free." Jeanne ignored his praise and focused on the matter at hand.

Shirou nodded, passing Jeanne and heading toward the almost demolished Fortress of Millennia, where the Greater Grail had been placed in a corner by Arkhan.

Arrived in the front of Greater Grail, Shirou gently caressed its surface with his hand.

At this moment, he could clearly feel that after absorbing so many Servants, the Greater Grail was fully awakened. Sixty years' worth of magical energy had accumulated within it, rolling like waves. Before such immense magical energy, even the most unimaginable wish could become reality.

Now, he was only a step away from the dream he had been longing for for sixty years.

"...It's really hard to accept..." Shirou murmured softly. "But in a way, this is also another way of saving humanity."

Soon, vortexes of vastly different color magic circles wrapped around his arms. As if drawn by some force, these two vortexes connected his arms to the Greater Grail, and through this mysterious connection, they extended all the way to the Throne of Heroes, transcendent of time and space.

Complex and intricate patterns appeared beneath Shirou's feet, constructing a massive magic circle surpassing all current magecraft. Along with it surged an endless sea of magical energy.

The ultimate magecraft, 'Ritual: Heroic Spirit Summon', was initiated.

===

"It's over."

Kama, who had already leaned heavily toward her Mara side, looked at Arkhan, Heracles, and Mordred, who were already deeply immersed in their dreams.

A slight smile crept onto her face.

She was the fallen god of love who wielded the concept of love. With the power to ensnare all beings in the grip of her corrupted love, she didn't aim to lead others into debauchery for the sake of it but to indulge in it.

This was her nature.

If Beast III/R was the embodiment of self-love, accepting love from everything but not giving anything back, then Beast III/L was the incarnation of love for others, giving love to everything but not receiving anything back.

In a sense, Kama's authority as Beast III/L was more aggressive than Beast III/R's.

Because of this, once a being fell into her realm of love, it was nearly impossible to escape. In this realm, anyone could attain whatever they desired without any worries. Any desire could be freely indulged, even if it meant descending into worthless animals. She would still bestow upon them her endless love.

In such a perfect paradise, who would want to leave?

"When they've completely succumbed, I can stop my Noble Phantasm and claim the Grail..." Kama murmured softly, a relaxed expression settling on her face.

Anyone who fell into her realm of love would eventually become her slave. With the strength of Archer of Black and Rider of Black, coupled with her possession of the Greater Grail, not even that damned nun could stand against her. At that point, she could devour that nun and fully transform into Beast III.

Lost in her fantasies, an unusual surge of magical energy suddenly drew Kama's attention.

She turned to see crimson feathers swirling around Arkhan's body, illuminating the dark universe like blazing flames.

"That... What is that?"

Surprised, Kama's face showed astonishment for the first time.

Within the blazing flames, a pair of abyssal eyes, as dark and profound as the void, slowly opened.

In the pitch-black expanse of the universe, surrounded by countless crimson feathers, Arkhan slowly opened his eyes, casting a glow on Kama's slightly astonished face.

"Looks like you're pretty surprised that I woke up, huh?" Arkhan smirked as he saw her stupefied expression.

Kama remained silent, but inside, a tumultuous wave surged within her.

She was indeed surprised.

No choice.

It was the first time someone had managed to awaken from her realm of love.

It was simply unbelievable!

The realm of love she created was built upon the strongest and most genuine desires of one's heart. Ordinary people would gradually become ensnared in it, indulging in their desires, unable to break free. Whether they were the mighty emperor or devout believers, everyone harbored their own desires deep within, and this realm reflected those desires.

Human desires were like rolling stones on a mountain; once they started descending, they wouldn't stop. Therefore, once someone got trapped in her realm of love, the possibility of breaking free became exceedingly slim, even almost impossible.

Even if they were aware they were in an illusion, they couldn't help but immerse themselves in it, unwilling to wake up. The suffering of love and hate or gain and loss in the real world, was already enough for most. For this reason, hiding in the illusion seemed somewhat reasonable.

However, this wasn't absolute.

Throughout history, there were those who abandoned desires, transcended the mundane world, and reached enlightenment. But such individuals were extremely rare, barely a handful.

Kama was certain that the black-haired man in front of her wasn't one of those enlightened beings because desire still lingered in his eyes, indicating he too yearned for something.

If that was the case, how did he manage to break free from her realm of love? Was that vulgar nun playing some tricks?

Kama furrowed her brows in thought, but just then, another unusual fluctuation came from beside her.

'No way...'

Kama twitched her lips slightly, turning her head to see Heracles also gradually opening his eyes.

In her virtually impenetrable realm of love, on the same day, two lowly mortals had broken free.