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"Ah—, let go! Let go! Let go, Shirou!"

"What did you just call me? I didn't quite catch that," he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"My king—, my king!" she cried out.

"I seem to recall someone making a promise to treat the younger version of me with kindness and gentleness. Do you remember who that person was?" he asked with a playful tone.

"I have treated you well! I've been super gentle with you! Let go, let go!" she cried.

"Oh, so this gentleness is just in your tone, huh?" Shirou increased the pressure of his grip. "Let me tell you, I've longed to teach you a lesson for some time now, especially during the days of Camelot. How dare you walk all over me and act all mighty? Truly audacious!"

"Don't do this, don't do this... You're going to pull out my hair!" she sobbed.

"Hmph." Shirou loosened his grip. "I'll spare you for now."

"Ugh..." she cast a resentful glare towards him.

What's the difference between now and 1,500 years ago? It shouldn't be like this!

He should have remained an obedient disciple who listened to his master without question, allowing himself to be bullied!

In reality, prior to Shirou's journey to Camelot, that had indeed been the case.

He would dutifully heed Scathach's every word, enduring her playful bullying with a trembling fear, never daring to voice his objections.

But now, the circumstances had changed.

Did this shameless rascal think she could trample over Shirou and assume an air of superiority?

Enough was enough!

...

Scathach's countenance revealed a deep-seated resentment.

The blissful era of bullying the king had come to an abrupt end.

The dream had been shattered.

That despicable scoundrel had returned.

Wait a moment!

Scathach cast a sidelong glance at Shirou, who seemed to be lost in contemplation, and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

Upon careful consideration, there was only the king standing before her now.

The Knights of the Round Table were nowhere to be found, and Merlin was imprisoned in the tower by Guinevere, likely watching over this place with his Clairvoyance and finding amusement in it.

If that was the case, then the king was alone.

What was there for her to fear when confronting him on her own?

Today marked the day for the enslaved to rise and reclaim their freedom, singing their triumphant anthem!

While it had been a delight to taunt the young Shirou, who had yet to fully embrace his destiny as king, nothing could compare to the sheer ecstasy of overwhelming this scoundrel king, knocking him to the ground, and fiercely yanking on his hair.

The mere thought of it sent her into fits of laughter.

Gripping her twin spears tightly, she readied herself to stab Shirou who engrossed in his contemplation of the record of the Eternal King.

Indeed, in that very moment...

Shirou made a decision to delve into the record of the Eternal King.

As his physical body slumbered peacefully in the real world, he found himself in a unique state where he could freely access and manifest the presence of the Eternal King within the confines of his dream.

With this newfound understanding, Shirou's consciousness shifted, connecting with his alternate account.

Suddenly, a thunderous bang reverberated through the dream realm.

Shirou emerged, adorned in resplendent silver armor, embodying the essence of the Eternal King—a figure who seemed to have traversed countless centuries, wielding authority that spanned ages.

As he materialized, Scathach found herself immobilized, completely unable to move.

No matter how hard she tried, her body was frozen, held captive by an invisible force.

She let out a sigh, her face a canvas of complex emotions as she gazed at Shirou.

No. To be precise, it was the Eternal King.

She had long known that within the Saint Graph of the Eternal King, there existed the authority to restrain and dominate everything.

That authority was his Noble Phantasm.

She didn't know the specifics of that Noble Phantasm, but she knew that she couldn't resist it.

Not only Scathach, but also the Knights of the Round Table, Merlin, the fairies—anyone who recognizes and acknowledges the authority of the Eternal King—is subject to his dominion. They are powerless to resist or defy him.

Moreover, their own Noble Phantasms and innate skills become subject to the control of the Eternal King. Any recorded Noble Phantasms will be seized and commandeered by his power.

Indeed, once one acknowledges the sovereignty of the Eternal King, they are bound to his control.

"So, this is the manifestation of the Eternal King. Quite impressive." However, his curiosity was quickly piqued as he noticed something peculiar. "Huh? Why do you have a line of text on your head?"

"What text?" she questioned, her voice tinged with curiosity.

He replied with a subtle expression, "It's probably better if you don't know."

Because on Scathach's head, there is a line of text that only Shirou in the state of the Eternal King can see.

[Shameful waste, Scathach]

[Noble Phantasm: Trash]

[Innate Skill: Useless]

{Remark: Does this waste need me, the King, to personally tell her on what to do?]

A subtle expression played across Shirou's features, hinting at his decision to withhold the truth from Scathach. He believed it would be for the best not to reveal what he had discovered.

Respecting Scathach's dignity and sparing her any potential embarrassment, he decided to handle the situation delicately.

Nonetheless, a lingering curiosity gnawed at him. "What could this be?" he wondered silently, contemplating the enigma presented by the text on Scathach's forehead.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he resolved to use the unique ability he had gained from the Holy Grail. With this, he could gain insight into his own status, perhaps shedding light on the mysterious thing before him.

[Eternal King]

Class: Caster, Ruler, Berserker

Strength: D-

Endurance: A+++

Agility: E+

Mana: E~A+++

Luck: E

[Innate Skills:]

Evil Flowers A+: Embrace the darkness, and steer your heart towards the light, for even sadness can bloom beautifully. Unconsciously absorb negative emotions and transform them into one's own magical energy.

Imperial Privilege EX: The manifestation of the Eternal King, who has birthed an unmatched empire from nothing. This skill is the evolved and combined form of "Wisdom of Mortals," "Heroic Mortals," "Leader of Mortals," and other leadership and group-oriented skills, amplifying the efficiency of large groups and augmenting territorial dominion.

Indomitable Will A+++: A manifestation of the Eternal King's unyielding determination. Unwavering in the face of imminent demise, it significantly boosts endurance, helps evade fatal strikes, and nullifies abnormal statuses.

[Noble Phantasms:]

(1) The Hour of Decisive Confrontation Has Come: I Am the Vanguard of the Century

Rank: A++

Type: Anti-Army

Unleashes the unified force of all souls and Heroic Spirits under the Eternal King's command. Regardless of their origins as Heroic Spirits associated with the legend of the Eternal King, they materialize and are bestowed with tremendous power to deliver a devastating blow against gods, having been assimilated or controlled by the Eternal King's influence.

(2) The Hour of Coronation Has Come: I Am the Eternal King

Rank: ??

Type: ??

Assimilates and commands all individuals who acknowledge the sovereignty of the Eternal King, including Servants and Heroic Spirits. Those who willingly acknowledge their assimilation or control by the Eternal King retain their personality and willingly join the ranks of the Eternal King's formidable army. Although they relinquish the ability to resist the will of the Eternal King, they have the freedom to decline summoning requests. However, their Noble Phantasms and innate skills become at the disposal of the Eternal King. Furthermore, as the Eternal King possesses the ability to see through all things, this Noble Phantasm embodies his unparalleled wisdom, earning adoration as the epitome of eternity.

(3) This is My Evil

Rank: E

Type: Anti-Human

An evil deeply rooted within its host, unable to be severed, yet significantly diminished in potency. Its significance lies solely in the accompanying innate skill, Evil Flower.

...

Shirou experienced a sudden realization. He observed the line, which resembled a system attribute bar, on Scathach's forehead. This likely represented the second effect of the Noble Phantasm, "The Hour of Ascendancy: I Am the Eternal King" — the ability to see through all things.

However...

[Shameful waste, Scathach...]

Shirou found himself at a loss for words. Did his Eternal King persona, even within the records, possess such vulgar language? Even as it was sublimated into a Noble Phantasm, it seemed to have retained its uncouth disposition, leaving him momentarily speechless.

"My king... Could you please release me from this Noble Phantasm?" Scathach pleaded helplessly.

"No," Shirou glanced at her, a sneer tugging at his lips. "This King finds it perfectly fine as it is."

She was rendered speechless. Her cute and obedient student, now revived in the form of the Eternal King, possessed the power to subjugate all things. The days of her being able to tease and bully him were long gone.

She found herself thrust back into the merciless days when she was under his dominion and subjected to his bullying. It was as if history had cruelly repeated itself.

The overwhelming urge to cry overwhelmed her.