[FGO]: 196

Clang!

The light sound of a beast's roar echoed through the dojo, and a blade's cry reverberated like a sudden clap of thunder.

Shirou, who happened to be walking toward the entrance of the dojo, vaguely heard the sound and instinctively slid open the paper door.

"Is anyone in there?" he asked softly.

There was no response.

Only two katanas—one long and one short—resting on the sword rack in the center of the dojo, glimmered faintly under the moonlight with a cold, eerie light.

As if guided by fate, Shirou, who was usually not overly curious, subconsciously stepped into the dojo.

Hum!

As Shirou entered, it seemed to trigger some kind of resonance. The two katanas suddenly burst into a dazzling, blood-red glow, and a mysterious, intricate summoning circle appeared in the center of the dojo.

Accompanied by crackling electricity, a youthful and vibrant figure materialized in the middle of the summoning circle.

Her light blue eyes gleamed with determination and persistence, while her pinkish-white hair added a touch of youthful energy. She wore a striking red-and-blue swordswoman's outfit, which, despite its vivid colors, did not appear gaudy on her.

Her strong presence made her stand out, like a natural heroine who easily drew attention. Her heroic bearing, bold smile, and aura made it clear that she wasn't just a pretty face but a true heroine who could shake the world.

She was a flower blooming amidst the chaos of a turbulent era!

However, this swordswoman seemed quite angry. The moment she stepped out of the summoning circle, she furiously shouted:

"You coward, Sasaki Kojirou! If you have any guts, come and face me in a direct duel!"

Naturally, no one responded.

She quickly realized she was no longer where she had been.

At that moment, she noticed Shirou, who had fallen to the ground in shock, staring at her in terror.

A blood-red mark had appeared on Shirou's once-clean hand. It was a Command Seal!?

"Looks like you're my Master. Well, not bad. A little young, but I can tell you're a handsome boy. Pretty much fits the bill... Wait a minute!"

The female swordswoman suddenly leaned in, inspecting Shirou like some rare find, sizing him up from head to toe.

"You seem to have the talent to become a great swordsman! So, how about it? Want to be my disciple?"

"Who... who are you?"

Shirou asked, summoning his courage.

"Good question!"

The swordswoman immediately puffed out her chest and raised her head high.

"I am the unmatched swordmaster of the world—Miyamoto Musashi!"

"!"

Miyamoto Musashi, revered in Japan for her martial prowess and known for her love of duels, was a household name. Even seven-year-old Shirou had heard of her.

But—

"You're lying! Miyamoto Musashi is a historical figure, and he's supposed to be a man!"

Shirou's face was full of doubt.

Miyamoto Musashi didn't argue. Instead, she placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.

In the next instant, a brilliant slash of light flashed before Shirou's eyes.

A lock of red hair fluttered to the ground.

Shirou instinctively touched his bangs, finally realizing that what had just happened was no illusion. He had seen it—the blade had passed right in front of him.

A single stroke had cut his bangs, yet it hadn't harmed him at all.

Such precise and terrifying swordsmanship could only be executed by a legendary swordmaster!

Confronted with such a drastic change, Shirou's heart, which had long been frozen, began to thaw.

But today, that frozen heart was set aflame.

"If I become your disciple, will I gain the power to save everyone?"

"Of course!"

Miyamoto Musashi replied with unwavering confidence.

Throughout all of Japan's history, aside from two other genius sword saints, when it came to swordsmanship, Miyamoto Musashi feared no one. Even if you ranked all the renowned swordsmen of Japan, she would undoubtedly be in the top ten.

"Alright, then! I want to be your disciple! No, please accept me as your apprentice!"

In a slightly awkward but deeply sincere kneeling bow, Shirou prostrated himself before Miyamoto Musashi.

A satisfied smile appeared on her beautiful face.

With her keen eyes, she could see that Shirou had extraordinary potential in swordsmanship and was destined for greatness one day!

Having found such a rare gem of a disciple, Miss Miyamoto Musashi was in high spirits.

"Being my disciple is tough and exhausting, you know~. You can still back out now~."

Miyamoto Musashi, surprisingly, made a playful joke.

"I will never back down! Please take care of me, Sensei!"

Shirou's eyes were filled with unshakable determination, and after speaking, he bowed deeply.

Miyamoto Musashi's gaze sharpened.

"I swear on the name Miyamoto Musashi, one day, you will become someone great!"

The next day, the Fujimura household was shocked to discover that a female swordswoman calling herself Miyamoto Musashi had appeared in their home, and Shirou had become her disciple, even renaming himself as Musashi Shirou.

At Shirou's insistence, the two moved into the Fujimura family's old house in the remote mountain town. Under Miyamoto Musashi's guidance, Shirou began his long journey to becoming a swordsman.

Meanwhile, deep in a snow-covered forest in Germany, a massive castle stood tall.

This was the residence of the Einzbern family, one of the Three Families.

Illyasviel von Einzbern was idly playing with a doll in her hands.

After a while, feeling utterly bored, Illya turned to the homunculus maid standing beside her.

"Hey~ When will Kiritsugu and Mama come back?"

"Please inquire with Lord Acht," the maid replied, her tone as cold and stiff as a machine, her expression unchanged.

"So boring..."

Illya muttered softly.

Just then, the door to the room suddenly swung open.

Illya's eyes lit up, and without even putting on her shoes, she ran barefoot toward the door.

"Kiritsugu! Mama! Welcome ba... back..."

Illya's joyful voice gradually faded.

It wasn't her longed-for parents entering the room, but the eighth-generation head of the Einzbern family—Jubstacheit von Einzbern.

Upon seeing his stern and solemn face, Illya's expression turned to disappointment.

"Grandfather..."

At that moment, the cold and indifferent Lord Acht spoke.

"Illya, I must inform you of some unfortunate news. Kiritsugu and Irisviel have failed in the Holy Grail War. They were killed by a man named Nguyen Ryou."

"How could that be!?"

Illya collapsed onto the cold marble floor, her eyes losing their light, like a broken doll.

A hint of cruelty flashed in Acht's eyes.

"Illya, do you want revenge?"

Illya's pupils instantly regained their brilliance, and she nodded vigorously.

A satisfied smile appeared on Acht's face.

"Very well. From now on, you will learn how to become a proper Master. You are the pinnacle creation of the Einzbern family. You will undoubtedly achieve victory in the Holy Grail War!"

Acht spoke with excitement, looking at Illya not as a person, but as a useful tool, a pawn.

And so, the wheels of fate began to turn once again.

...

Everything happening in Fuyuki City was no longer relevant to Ryou.

To him, all the events there were already in the past.

Right now, he had something far more important to attend to.

Ryou pulled out a card he had treasured for a long time: the [EX-Rank Designated Servant Summon Card].

Though it seemed powerful, the card was somewhat of a double-edged sword. It couldn't summon top-tier, crown-ranked figures or those with extraordinary power beyond the norm. On the other hand, there were too many weaker options, and he hadn't yet decided whom to summon.

But today, he had made up his mind.

He was going to summon Anastasia.

It wasn't out of love or pity, nor was it due to some obsessive need to collect all the cards. He simply felt, as a man, he owed her an apology and a thank you. That was all.

However, Anastasia's situation was rather unique, and he wasn't entirely confident. Still, as long as there was a sliver of hope, he wanted to try. Even if the summoning card didn't work, he'd find another way!

"Please work, great system god!"

For the first time, Ryou, who never believed in superstition, pinned his hopes on something intangible.

He opened the system interface, held the card in his hand, and took a deep breath.

"Use the [EX-Rank Designated Servant Summon Card]."

[—Please specify the Servant to summon.]

A system prompt immediately appeared.

"Anastasia..."

Ryou spoke the name with a solemn expression, recalling the few memories he had of his time with her. This wasn't an act of nostalgia, but a necessary step to prevent errors in the summoning process.

[—System scanning... Unable to summon the specified Servant. Please check or choose another.]

The system's message made his heart sink. His worst fear had come true.

"Summon Anastasia!"

Ryou, unwilling to give up, repeated the process. But the result was the same.

"Reason for the summoning failure?"

[—Unable to locate this Servant. Would you like to summon a similar entity or choose another target?]

A bitter smile crept across his face.

"No need..."

He was deeply disappointed with the result. If the summoned entity wasn't the Anastasia he remembered, then what was the point of his persistence?

What Ryou didn't know was that, far away in the endless abyss that existed in the same dimension as Chaldea, a great and majestic presence stirred from slumber. A gaze pierced through layers of space and protection, settling upon Chaldea.

"If you managed to defeat my foolish daughter, then I suppose I should reward you. However, let's see if you accept it, hehe~"

As if sharing in the joyful mood of the voice, the entire abyss began to quake rhythmically. Many Abyssal Lords, who had been stuck at their power thresholds, were shocked to find themselves breaking through to higher levels. It was a celebration throughout the abyss!

At the same moment, just as Ryou was about to put away the summoning card in disappointment, the system suddenly sent a completely different message.

[Ding!]

[The target of your summon has been detected as having undergone abyssal corruption (irreversible). Summoning may result in unknown risks. (Displayed in bold blood-red text.)]

[Do you wish to proceed with the summoning?]

The sudden turn of events caught Ryou off guard. He took a deep breath and, without hesitation, pressed the confirm button. He wasn't some justice-obsessed kid who couldn't tolerate the slightest bit of evil.

The card floated in front of him, spinning slowly in mid-air. Then, accompanied by a blood-red summoning circle, a pitch-black cold mist began to spread from it. In the middle of the circle, a black night lotus blossomed, its petals slowly unfurling to reveal a pure and beautiful figure, radiant like the night sky.

There stood Anastasia, garbed in a white winter coat and draped in a black, gold-trimmed cloak, standing gracefully at the center of the night lotus. Her expression was somewhat confused as if she hadn't yet figured out what was happening.

"Ana..."

Ryou called out, his face filled with relief.

'Thank you, system god, for giving me the chance to correct my mistakes and atone for my guilt.'

Upon hearing Ryou's voice, Anastasia's body trembled. She looked up in disbelief, her gaze landing on him before her.

"Ryou-sama, wasn't I already... Is this the Lord's Heaven!?"

Ryou couldn't help but find her both amusing and exasperating. If this was Heaven, then wouldn't that mean he was dead too? After everything they'd been through, this girl hadn't changed at all. She still had that same mix of mischievousness and innocence. Her first words upon seeing him were an unintentional curse.

"Stop talking nonsense. Neither of us is dead."

Anastasia, trying to maintain her composure, forced her expression to become stern and cold.

"I was just joking earlier."

But the blush on her snow-white cheeks betrayed her. Ryoug reached out and gently patted her silky silver hair.

"Alright, welcome to our family. By the way, there's something I want to say to you."

Ryou's expression suddenly turned serious.

"I'm sorry, and thank you."

Anastasia froze for a moment, and then tears began to roll down her cheeks.

The hardships she had endured couldn't be understood by anyone but herself. Though her body had suffered no physical torment, constantly being surrounded by lunatics had taken a tremendous toll on her mentally and emotionally.

There's a saying that if you lock a sane person in a madhouse and have them interact with the insane every day, it won't be long before they, too, go mad. And Anastasia had faced people far more insane than any ordinary madman—hundreds, if not thousands, of times more insane.

Constantly subjected to such psychological torture, the only thing that kept her grounded was the feelings she held for him.

Of course, as a shy and good-natured girl, Anastasia would never admit this to anyone, not even Ryou. But now, after such a long and difficult wait, her perseverance had finally borne fruit.

Anastasia couldn't help but cry tears of joy.

Ryou quickly exchanged some system points for a handkerchief and began wiping her tears, gently comforting her all the while. It took some time before Anastasia's emotions finally settled.

"Come with me. I'll introduce you to everyone."

A shy expression appeared on Anastasia's face as she extended her hand toward him.

Ryou was momentarily taken aback, but after a brief thought, he quickly understood what Anastasia meant. With a smile, he extended his hand and gently took hers, placing a kiss on the back of her pale, delicate hand. A faint fragrance filled his nose.

Ryou's mood lifted.

"Right this way, my lady."