Black Rider, Selene

Although the amount of mana consumed to summon a Heroic Spirit doesn't directly indicate their strength, the initial cost of summoning tends to reflect a Heroic Spirit's power.

"Stay strong, Celenike!" said Darnic, moving quickly to her side and pressing a hand to her shoulder to transfer mana.

Whirrr!

As Darnic's magic circuits illuminated, he channeled powerful mana into Celenike. Soon, her spasms from the mana drain eased slightly.

Gritting her teeth through the pain, Celenike rasped, "Lord Darnic, I can feel it… it's still not enough…"

Darnic's eyes narrowed—still not enough?!

Could this Heroic Spirit's power already be beyond his control? But he didn't hesitate; if he missed this chance, Yggdmillennia might lose a crucial asset in the war.

With resolve, Darnic looked up to the second-floor balcony. "Caster, transfer all available mana from the backup homunculi mana supply!"

"Understood." A figure dressed in a deep-blue formal suit, their face hidden behind a golden, featureless mask, placed their hands together, chanting a series of complex incantations.

Instantly, the magical circuits embedded in the hall's walls glowed to life, sending torrents of mana surging toward Celenike's summoning circle.

Without a breath of wind, the air around them shifted, causing the opulent silks draped around the hall to flutter and creating ripples of uneasy tension among the homunculi attendants.

The brilliance of the summoning circle intensified, pulsing louder and louder until—

BOOM!

A torrent of violet-red mana particles erupted from the circle, sweeping across the room in a tangible wave of energy that overwhelmed the human Masters.

"Master, look out!" In front of his wheelchair-bound Master, a figure draped in a Greek-style olive-green cloak raised a bow, his long, wheat-colored ponytail falling over his shoulder as he shielded his Master.

"Impossible… this divine power far surpasses even what I had before I lost my immortality," murmured Chiron, feeling the raw power flowing from the circle.

As the legendary mentor to Heracles, Achilles, Jason, and Asclepius, Chiron was deeply familiar with divine authority and the nature of gods, possessing insights unmatched by most Heroic Spirits.

"What god could it be? Destruction, war, dread, the abyss, night, sovereignty, harvest…"

As Chiron perceived the emanating aura's complex divinity, cold sweat began to gather on his forehead. "…and even traces of the Sun God itslef?! So many overlapping divine authorities… Could it be a supreme deity from an entire pantheon?"

How could the Holy Grail have drawn a god of this magnitude?

The belief and worship of the Empire's people, combined with Selene's own embellishments, had infused her data-formed Heroic Spirit body with divinities she didn't actually possess (albeit in a weakened form).

"This divine aura… my body, bathed in dragon's blood, is trembling. Could it be a higher-ranking dragon sovereign or perhaps even… a dragon-slayer?" (One scaly entity with a cross-shaped tail recalls narrowly surviving an encounter and silently concurs).

The armored knight clad in silvery armor, wielding a massive sword and protecting his Master, silently braced himself.

...

A slender girl with pale pink hair, dressed in a white veil and holding a heavy mace, shielded her Master with silent vigilance, her focus locked on the summoning circle, now suffused with violet-red light.

"My Heroic Spirit… has manifested!"

The next moment, as Celenike's exultant voice rang out, a blinding flash of violet-red mana flooded everyone's vision, followed by a powerful gust that surged through the hall.

When the whirlwind finally subsided and the radiant glow dimmed…

"Divine Sovereign…" murmured Chiron, even more convinced as he beheld the figure before them.

Though what stood before them was a statuesque woman with an immaculate, flawless appearance and no discernable aura, to Chiron, she exuded the air of an absolute sovereign, someone whose word alone determined life, death, and fate itself—a divine authority not even Zeus possessed.

Even Zeus, as god-king, shared power with the five Primordial Titans, alongside his brothers Poseidon and Hades. He couldn't claim total dominion; even within his domain, his authority had limits.

But this goddess, standing before him, radiated an icy detachment, a profound aloofness, and a towering arrogance.

That faint yet unignorable gaze, as if surveying mere mortals from above, sent a shiver through everyone present.

Moments earlier, as Selene followed the summons to this Holy Grail War, she forced her way into a summoning corridor.

Upon arrival, she noticed a pink-haired figure preparing to answer the summons.

"Astolfo?" Selene thought with a smirk before swiftly neutralizing the individual.

"Who are you, appearing in my summoning space?"

Standing before Selene was a slender figure with braided pink hair, dressed in a white cloak with black thigh-high socks, an innocent, almost blissfully unaware expression on his face—even as Selene's spectral claw held him fast.

"Who I am doesn't matter. Just know that your spot is mine now."

"Wait! No! I'm Astolfo, one of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins! This summoning is supposed to be mine, my honor—how could I let you…"

Ignoring Astolfo's resistance, Selene crushed him effortlessly in her grasp.

There was no blood. Astolfo, having not fully manifested, dissipated into a fine mist of azure mana particles before Selene's eyes.

"With Astolfo around, I'm fairly certain which Holy Grail War this is…"

With the summoning complete, the Great Grail injected Selene with the knowledge necessary to acclimate to this world.

"You are… my Master?"

Celenike, flustered by Selene's gaze, managed to raise her hand, marked by a Command Seal. "Y-yes! I am!"

"Very well, the contract is sealed. Master, I shall help you claim victory…"

Selene carefully observed her Master, unperturbed by the woman's disquieting aura or madness.

"As for these others… Are they to be eliminated?" Selene's crimson eyes, adorned with golden designs, swept over the other figures in the hall.

"Master, be careful!"

Within seconds, both Frankenstein and Siegfried took defensive stances, their weapons raised as Frankenstein emitted a low growl, all eyes fixed warily on Selene.

Chiron, however, appeared the most tense. Having once held divine authority himself, he could sense the overwhelming power exuding from Selene. Even without stepping back, he could feel his very cells trembling as he gazed at her.

This feeling… Like a creature lower on the food chain sensing a predator.

"Archer?" said Fiore Forvedge Yggdmillennia, her tone concerned.

"Master, if it comes to a fight, forgive me, but I may not be able to protect you. I am never mistaken about this feeling… She is a deity of the highest order." Chiron's voice was solemn as he shielded his Master.

"A goddess…?"

In just a single breath, the entire castle of Millennia was on high alert, all thanks to the terrifying pressure emanating from the woman across from them.

"Oh? Impressive, mortals. Even though this is but a small avatar of mine, you still manage to stand under my authority… I shall remember this," Selene remarked with measured disdain, every movement and expression embodying the pride and arrogance of a Divine Empress.

Compared to other Holy Grail Wars' participants, the Yggdmillennia Masters were indeed competent, certainly more so than the back-stabbing cast of Fuyuki (especially in the Fifth War).

Selene's frosty tone caused a renewed wave of unease to sweep through the "Black" faction.

"Celenike!" Darnic leaned heavily on his cane, tense with anxiety.

"Rider—no, Your Majesty, please refrain from harming the other Black Servants; they are allies. Our enemies are the Red Servants."

It was clear that Selene wouldn't be a Servant to trifle with. Given her divine nature, as Fiore's Archer had confirmed, she could not be addressed as a simple familiar or Servant.

Celenike knew better than to treat Selene with the tone of a Master. Selene referred to herself as "We," so using "Your Majesty" would be appropriate.

"Very well. They are not foes, so I shall not attack them," Selene replied, advancing to stand before Chiron. She noticed his wary expression and offered a faint smile. "You, mortal, once held divinity, didn't you? I can sense the divine essence within you."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I am Chiron." Now certain that Selene would not attack, Chiron lowered his bow and extended a perfect Greek salute with respect.

Chiron knew that deities of Selene's rank would not go back on their word. Barring gods dedicated to deceit, most gods honored their promises with utmost gravity.

"Archer!" Fiore's voice rose in surprise. "Why reveal your true name?"

To Servants, true names were secrets to be guarded at all costs. Any opponent learning a Servant's name could exploit their weaknesses, especially any vulnerabilities tied to how they died.

"It's no issue, Master. We are allies, and…" Chiron managed a faint smile. "In the presence of a true deity, any disguise would be futile."

"Chiron, the wise mentor of Greek heroes and the embodiment of the Archer constellation, offspring of Cronus and the nymph Philyra. Honest, I see."

"Your Divine Majesty, greetings. I am Vlad III, Vlad Tepes, Voivode of Wallachia, Black Lancer. With your support, we shall undoubtedly triumph." The white-haired figure finally spoke, descending from the throne with poise.

Stepping forward to meet Selene, Vlad III showed no trace of the stern pride typically associated with noble blood; his manner was wholly respectful.

"Esteemed Divine Majesty, I am Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia, nominally the leader of the Black Masters."

Darnic shared a look with Vlad, who gave him a reassuring nod and a wide smile.

"Your summoning is the honor of Yggdmillennia, an honor for Celenike, and with your leadership, we are certain of victory!"

Having such a powerful Servant solidified Darnic's confidence. He promptly accepted Selene as the Black faction's new ruler.

At that moment, all Black Servants, including Vlad and Chiron, knelt beside Selene, acknowledging her authority.

Seeing this, a pale-faced Celenike moved beside Darnic, exclaiming excitedly, "Lord Darnic, victory is ours!"

Moments earlier, Celenike had accessed Selene's Servant status using her Master privileges.

True Name: Selene

Class: Rider

...

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