C439

"Fujimaru-niisan...?"

"Shirou...?"

"My king!"

Miyu, Merlin, and the rest couldn't hide their panic as they watched Young Shirou.

The Tower of Light had gone out, and now Shirou, who had been calm up until this point, was holding his head, his face contorted in pain. A swirl of red mud was bubbling around him, radiating a menacing aura that seemed to push everyone away.

In his mind's eye...

He was gripping his head, his face marked by distress, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

And the illusionary world around him was slowly fading away, becoming less tangible.

Crimson Moon couldn't help but smile, her fragments seeping deeper into the crevice of his heart.

She lightly brushed his cheek and spoke softly, "You know, for the longest time, I've wanted to see this look on your face. To slowly strip away your pretense, wear down your unwavering resolve, and have you willingly become my follower, my servant, under my rule. It's poetic justice. You plotted to destroy me fifteen hundred years ago. You took me down, so now it's my turn to bring you down. Don't worry, I'll be gentle. Pledge yourself to me, recognize me as your lord. In my world, all your desires will be met."

He shoved her hand away, his face a contorted mask of suffering.

"It's too late; parts of me are already inside you," Crimson Moon said with a refined smile. Her spiritual form then faded away, merging back into the core fragment embedded deep within his heart.

Gripping his head and wearing a tortured expression, he questioned, "Why? Why are you invading my heart? If you're trying to build a new world order, you don't need to mess with my head. Why erode me? Why do you want me to become your follower?"

"I've chosen you. I want you to be my vessel."

"I'm just a human, and you're the King of the Moon! If you need a vessel, shouldn't you be looking for a True Ancestor?" He replied while grimacing in pain.

She eyed his body and smiled, "True, even an ordinary True Ancestor might be a better choice, but what I need is you."

"Why? What's so special about me?"

"Because deep inside you, there's an invisible vortex that's unique to you!" she asserted. "You may not be aware of it, but in the decade I've spent hiding within your heart, I've come to understand this secret. The flame in your eyes, your ability to bestow powers on others—all of it stems from that hidden vortex. That's why you are the perfect 'vessel.'"

"What are you getting at?"

She elaborated, "That vortex inside you is the reason you can bear both 'All the World's Evil' and even the 'Vampiric Evil'. What I want, what I need, is that vortex. Don't you think the events happening in the sky are also related to this?"

"An invisible vortex in my heart? No way... This can't be," He grimaced, his face twisted in both disbelief and agony.

"It's there, I assure you." Her lips curled into a pleased smile. "Have you ever wondered why you possess these unique skills that shouldn't even exist? Here's the thing, whenever you achieve remarkable deeds, your willpower taps into that invisible vortex and pulls out those very skills!"

"So, you changed your goal to me?" His voice trembled slightly.

"Exactly. Once you pledge yourself to me, you'll ascend to be the King of the Moon, and together we'll claim this planet for our own! There's no need to worry about losing yourself; what's inside you is merely a fragment of me. So your sense of self will remain intact. Besides, I value your intelligence. You'd be my most cherished follower," she chuckled.

Defiantly, he roared, "I'll never be your pawn! You won't succeed!"

"It's pointless, Shirou. I'm already a part of you," she said, her smile brimming with joy, as she anchored her compressed fragment deep into his heart.

"I... I won't let you...!" He choked out, his voice laced with pain.

"Ah, your distress is music to my ears. Do go on," she cackled, looking supremely satisfied.

Crimson Moon wore the triumphant grin of someone who had finally turned the tables. Over fifteen hundred years ago, it was him who had bested her. For all that time, she'd been confounded, puzzled about how she could have possibly lost to him. But after spending a decade lurking in the recesses of his heart, she'd seen it all: the slow, methodical way Shirou had plotted her downfall from the shadows. And now she finally got it.

It was a revelation that left her thoroughly impressed, and oddly satisfied.

What had truly bested her wasn't some cosmic force or extraterrestrial beings; it was a mere human.

A Human King who had emerged from nowhere, overcoming insurmountable odds.

This was a human she had never even considered.

Yet it was this unassuming human who had, quietly and out of her sight, plotted her demise.

So, she took it upon herself to learn, to absorb.

She soaked up everything she could: human humility, human cunning, and along the way even picked up human emotions.

In her heart, she came to view not just Shirou as a formidable enemy, but also as an unwitting teacher, siphoning off valuable life lessons from him bit by bit. She wasn't just looking to defeat him; she was learning from him, growing stronger each day.

All this time, she had been lying in wait. Her prior manifestations were only her probes, meant to throw Shirou off his guard. But now it was her real play!

Once she had successfully infiltrated the labyrinth of his heart, this reluctant mentor of hers would become her pawn. Even more tantalizing, the invisible vortex inside him, the wellspring of his unimaginable powers, would be hers for the taking!

While she probed deeper into his consciousness, searching for that hidden vortex, she couldn't help but gloat, "Shirou, this round goes to me."

"Are you sure about that?" came Young Shirou's voice, echoing within the space.

Gone were the tones of agony and anger. His voice was eerily calm, almost mocking.

"What?" She was momentarily stunned.

He smirked, "You've finally fallen for it, Crimson Moon!"

With a "whoosh," countless black hands erupted from the depths of his heart, grabbing hold of Crimson Moon's exposed fragment. And just as quickly, the gaping hole in his heart sealed itself back up, as if it had never been breached in the first place.

"This... what's happening?" Crimson Moon's expression was a bewildered mix of surprise and confusion.

Crack, crack, crack—

From the surrounding darkness, a face molded from mud, eerily resembling Young Shirou, surfaced.

This muddy visage taunted the captured fragment of Crimson Moon, "Did you really think you were inside my mind? You're actually in the realm of All the World's Evil."

"What?" She was completely thrown off guard.

"While you plotted to corrupt me, I've been trying to absorb you. Have you ever wondered why you managed to manifest from my heart not once, but twice? Let me tell you why. It's because I intentionally loosened my suppression on you." He smirked,

"What are you saying?" She tried to twist away from the ever-increasing black hands binding her, but they only tightened their grip even further.

With a tone filled with mockery, he went on, "Ten years you've been lurking inside my heart, and yet you still don't get me? You dare say you know me best? You're just a pathetic fragment, Crimson Moon. Let this king enlighten you—I've been aware of your lurking presence this whole time. The only surprise was your initial infiltration a decade ago. It's just that this king couldn't find the right way to deal with you, until now."

He paused, letting the words hang in the air for a moment, before resuming, "When that thing showed up, I knew my magical energy would fall short, and I suspected you'd seize that chance to stir up trouble. But guess what? I was counting on it. I wanted you to get cocky, to be overconfident. I led you right into the trap I'd set, all to make you a part of my own magical energy. Did you really think you could disrupt me without my consent? Did you think I would waste my time entertaining your illusion if it wasn't part of my plan? You're pitiful, Crimson Moon."

"Impossible... This can't be real! You planned all of this?" she blurted out, her eyes widening in shock.

He smirked, "Isn't that a matter of course?"

She shook her head in disbelief, repeating, "Impossible! This can't be happening!"