Rider's defeat marked the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War and the winner was Saber.
As soon as they returned to the real world, a grail emerged from the void and hovered over the bridge with a blood-red glow.
It was...
"The Holy Grail!"
Waver exclaimed even though he was saddened by his defeat.
Eiji glanced at him and asked, "You're still here?"
"Hiik! I-I... Sorry, can I go?"
Waver squealed like a frightened pig, especially when he remembered the shadow soldiers summoned by the man in front of him.
Unlike before, his attitude towards him became more polite and because of the fear of being killed, he did not run away immediately.
There was also a part of her that was curious about the Holy Grail.
"Go and be a good person in the future."
Eiji actually did not care for the skinny boy and just because he was not one of the villains, he did not kill him.
Humiliating him with his previous show of power was enough.
Wasn't he kind?
Hearing what Eiji said, Waver did not hesitate to run away. He ran to the end of the bridge alone.
On the other side, Artoria and the heroines who were watching the livestream looked at the Holy Grail with strange looks.
"Eiji, there seems to be something wrong with the Holy Grail."
"Hmm.... You're right, it has been contaminated by All the World's Evils."
"The Holy Grail is contaminated by All the World's Evils?! Then, does it still have the ability to..."
Artoria was surprised, but many of the women in the chat group felt that something was wrong, especially Irisviel who was previously the Holy Grail's vessel.
They had seen Eiji take the Holy Grail contaminated by All the World's Evils and put it away.
What was he doing?
He seemed to be pretending and making the Holy Grail suddenly appear.
As if having a tacit understanding, no one spoke about the topic so Artoria did not know.
"Yes, technically, it can still grant wishes. But that wish will be distorted by All the World's Evils and cause bad things."
"Artoria, do you still want to use it? Or rather, do you still want to change the history of Britannia?"
Eiji did this on purpose, he took out the Holy Grail from his inventory and made it float in the air.
However, whatever Artoria's choice would not be a problem for him.
He could even absorb the All the World's Evils that contaminated the Holy Grail and make it return to normal.
But Artoria's answer was quite surprising.
"I've thought about it since our previous date and made a choice. Eiji, I don't want to change Beritania's history and just want to be with you forever."
"Is that possible?"
She said that with a blush on her cheeks.
The King of Knights would rather be with a man than save her country.
How could Eiji not be satisfied?
He could not help but smile.
His love strategy was going better than he thought.
[Actually, host. It is less likely that you will fail to conquer any woman with your face, charm and harem halo.]
Miss System, don't say that. You're ruining the atmosphere.
[Oh, sorry.]
Your apology was insincere.
"Of course it's possible and I'm glad to hear what Artoria has to say."
He hugged the beautiful blonde knight's waist and kissed her lips for a few seconds.
Artoria licked her lips and looked up at her master with a complaint in her eyes. Not because of the kiss, but because of his hand squeezing her ass.
This man...
He liked women's ass too much.
"I believe in you, Eiji. By the way, what should we do with the Holy Grail?"
"It seems to be moving!"
To change the subject because she felt embarrassed, Artoria broke away from Eiji's perverted hands and looked at the Holy Grail in the sky warily.
It had begun to drip a large amount of black-colored mud that dripped onto the street.
Her instincts told her they should not touch it!
It was dangerous.
"Wh-What is that?"
"It's the physical manifestation of Angra Mainyu and the energy accumulated in the Holy Grail from the previous wars."
Eiji knew that from the original work.
It was actually this that made the protagonist Kiritsugu indirectly the cause of the huge fire that killed over 500 people and burned hundreds of buildings in Fuyuki City.
The things he had said in his inner voice before had been revised slightly. Ehem, originally it was because...
"We must destroy it!"
Artoria took out her Excalibur again and raised it high.
But her master's inner voice stunned her and made her feel ashamed.
[Destroying the Holy Grail in this situation is tantamount to repeating the incident of the great fire caused by the protagonist Kiritsugu in the original work.]
[Back then, I remember Kiritsugu originally using his two Command Spells and commanding Artoria using her Noble Phantasm to destroy the Holy Grail.]
[The result was absolutely disastrous.]
So I was one of the people who caused many deaths in Fuyuki city?
Although it happened in the original work, Artoria felt a little guilty.
She cursed Kiritsugu for ordering her to destroy the Holy Grail with her power.
"No, destroying it will only make the energy stored inside the Holy Grail explode."
"Leave it to me, I have another, safer way. In the process, I want you not to let anyone disturb me, Artoria."
Eiji walked towards the Holy Grail after he left those words. He even stepped on the black mud that stood in his way.
With the Ruler's Authority, he pulled the Holy Grail into his hands.
Artoria was anxious and asked, "Wait Eiji, what do you want to do?! Touching it is too—"
She wanted to say that touching the Holy Grail contaminated by All the World's Evils was too dangerous.
But just then, she sensed another danger coming and she immediately turned to the other side of the bridge.
"Who are you?!"
From a distance of several tens of meters, she saw a silver-haired woman tied in a ponytail style in a combat outfit walking towards them.
She stared at them with bloodshot eyes shrouded in killing intent.
Her appearance was that of a Servant, especially when she held a large sword in one hand.
At that moment, Eiji was absorbing All the World's Evils from the Holy Grail using one of Rinnegan's techniques,
With Demon Lord Anos' magical understanding, he also modified the Holy Grail for the sake of his future plans.
This was quite important.
He of course heard the commotion behind him, but didn't panic and continued the process of absorbing All the World's Evils accumulated in hundreds of years leisurely.
[That woman finally came, I wonder if she intentionally came when I was busy absorbing All the World's Evils in the Holy Grail?]
[Alaya, your subordinates are as cunning as you are.]
[Artoria, fight and protect your master. But be careful, that woman is a very powerful Counter Guardian.]
Counter Guardian?!
Artoria of course knew what that meant.
The collective will of mankind, Alaya seemed to have sent her dog to kill Eiji.
Whoever it was, she would not let them hurt her man!
"King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon, you don't need to know who I am. I came here for Eiji Seiya. On Alaya's orders, I was sent to erase him from this timeline."
The silver-haired woman said coldly and indifferently.
However, she did not know her identity was directly revealed by her target to many people.
[Her identity is an alternate version (Alter) of Okita Souji and is classified in the Servant class called "Alter Ego". Alaya usually summons her to protect human survival from major threats.]
[Wait, am I a major threat to mankind? I feel a little embarrassed.]
The heroines: "....."
Artoria: "....."
Instead of being embarrassed, you should have denied it, Eiji.
Still, Okita Souji?
Isn't that one of the legendary swordsmen in this country?
I mean, she was the strongest swordsman of the Bakumatsu era and was an incredible sword genius.
She's probably comparable or perhaps stronger than Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojirou.
[Utaha: Still, what's the difference between the original and alternate versions?]
By the way, the Lore or explanation comes from the beautiful novelist, Kasumigaoka Utaha.
To get ideas or inspiration for her novels, she has read many history books about her own country.
Many women in the group chat are amazed by her vast knowledge.
[Eriri: Tsk, showing off.]
[Utaha: Eriri, you're not happy to know that my knowledge is more extensive than yours? Well, that's natural.]
[Eriri: What's natural? What do you mean I'm stupid? Kasumigaoka Utaha!]
[Utaha: I didn't say you were stupid, you said it yourself.]
In the next second, the two women started arguing.
The other women in the group chat ignored them.
[Pansy: That alternate version is probably stronger than the original.]
The first heroine of Oresuki's guess was correct.
The Okita Souji who was currently standing opposite Artoria was stronger than the original version.
She is the manifestation of the contract the original Okita Souji made with Alaya to live longer due to her illness, in exchange for becoming an immortal servant to the world after her death. Her existence is designed to be spiritually unstable, often destroyed by blowing herself up after completing her task.
Not knowing this herself, Alaya has sealed away most memories of her real life so that she can focus on her duties as a Counter Guardian.
Alaya could be considered a ruthless boss.
"I know who you are, you are Okita Souji, right? I won't let you kill Eiji and even touch him!"
Artoria sounded like a servant who was very loyal and willing to die for her master.
But is it just me or does she sound like a possessive wife?
Yare-yare, Eiji thought.
"How do you know? Never mind. I only need to kill you before killing Eiji Seiya."
Okita was a little surprised to hear her name known by Artoria.
But as she said, she didn't care and focused on her duties as Counter Guardian.
Her figure suddenly disappeared and appeared right in front of Artoria while raising her greatsword.
Artoria's pupils shrank, Okita's speed surprised her but with her instincts, she managed to block the attack.
Then, they began to clash swords at a rapid pace. Sparks flew and the asphalt beneath their feet crumbled with every move.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
The sword fight between the two legendary figures became more intense. But anyone who saw the scene in slow motion, they would see that Artoria looked overwhelmed.
She often gritted her teeth every time she blocked Okita's attacks.
'This woman is so strong, her stats are superior to mine and her sword skills are not inferior to mine!'
From Eiji's point of view, it was natural.
Okita's original power was only limited due to her tuberculosis until she died young and had to make a deal with Alaya to live longer in exchange for her body.
Now that she was a Servant, her Alter version no longer had the disease and was able to use her powers to the fullest.
In other words—
*Boom!*
Okita's slash grew so strong that she cut one of the concrete bridge pillars in half.
She was a monster.
Artoria lost a strand of her hair to avoid the attack.
The bridge swayed slightly from what had just happened.
In that situation, she did not hesitate to use Excalibur's ultimate move to push her enemy away and possibly kill her outright.
But instead of raising the blade high, she aimed it at Okita's stomach before activating it.
"Excalibur!"
The golden pillar of light engulfed Okita's figure and pushed her to the end of the bridge.
Even so, a surprising thing happened. The golden pillar of light that Excalibur released seemed to be cut from the center.
"Haaaa!"
Okita's shout rang out, the greatsword in her hand emitted a red-colored light and released energy slashes in a straight line (vertical).
Artoria frantically stopped the release of her golden pillar of light and took a defensive stance.
An explosion was created around her and she was pushed back until she almost crashed into Eiji's back.
"What is that energy? It was able to cut through the pillar of light Excalibur created."
"It's an anti-divine flame that can be fired by her Noble Phantasm, Extremity of Endlessness - Rengoku. That fire has the ability to ignore most magical defenses and resistances."
[This is why Alaya seems confident and thinks Okita can kill me.]
Eiji replied without turning his head, and continued to absorb All the World's Evils.
Artoria's lips twitched.
The Anti-divine Noble Phantasm is indeed troublesome.
But Eiji, you still look calm.
"Artoria, need help?"
"Yes!"
This time Artoria was not reluctant to ask her master for help, she really couldn't defeat Okita alone.
She thought he would summon his shadow soldiers again.
But she was wrong because just when Okita suddenly appeared in front of her while jumping and swinging her great sword that was enveloped in red flames.
They heard Eiji muttering.
"Nue."
The next second, a large flying creature that resembled a white owl, but with a more mystical design came out of the shadows.
It was one of the Shikigami of the Ten Shadows Technique.
Currently, Eiji was using his magic and cursed energy simultaneously.
Nue let out a terrifying shrill scream and when it appeared, it immediately grabbed Okita's shoulders with both legs and took her flying.
At a certain height, it shocked her with purple electricity while throwing her into a building.
Artoria and the women watching the livestream were immediately startled.
That's one of Eiji's subordinates, right?
[This is a good opportunity to use my sorcerer technique again— the Ten Shadows Technique. Nue is one of my Shikigami.]
Shikigami?
They're all numb.
Eiji had various types of powers that should be impossible for one person to possess.
"Do you think such a creature is enough to defeat me, Eiji Seiya?!"
From a distance, Okita had somehow gotten out of the building and was running quickly down the street.
There was annoyance on her previously emotionless face.
She avoided every lightning bolt that Nue released, jumping between the buildings and cutting it in half.
After that, she ran straight back to the bridge quickly.
Artoria did not expect the Shikigami summoned by her master to be defeated so easily. She gripped Excalibur with a serious expression, and prepared to clash swords again.
But at that moment, Eiji laughed. If he wanted, he could certainly directly defeat Okita in many ways. For example, just let her attack him and GED would automatically protect him.
Then, GED would beat her up until she returned to her boss, Alaya.
Even so, he did not do so and used other methods that would entertain himself.
"No, it was just a little test for you, Okita. And the results are quite satisfactory, your expression looks better now."
He used the Law of Vibration until his voice sounded clear.
Okita frowned, she didn't know Eiji was teasing her and her expression returned to indifference.
She was about to fire her anti-divine flame again within ten meters of her target.
With that attack, she would also kill Artoria and Eiji simultaneously. It was like shooting two birds with one stone.
However, her movements suddenly became very slow and the surroundings became rather dark.
"Furube Yurayura..."
There was a wicked smile on Eiji's face as he chanted the spell to summon the strongest Shikigami of the Ten Shadows Technique.
And since it was the Ten Shadows Technique of the Miss System, he didn't have to worry about the requirements to summon it.
He could actually summon it at any time just by saying its name.
"I summon you, Mahoraga."
In the middle of him, Artoria and Okita. A five-meter-tall humanoid figure with gray skin appeared.
It had a muscular body, spiky white hair, and an intimidating face. It had four pairs of small wings on its back. The most interesting thing about it was the eight-branched Wheel of Adaptation spinning above its head. It also wields the "Sword of Extermination", a weapon coated in positive curse energy that is very effective against curse spirits.
In Eiji's case, the Mahoraga he summoned was of course another enhanced version so that its weapon was effective against any creature that had supernatural energy in their body.
!!!
When Mahoraga appeared, Artoria and Okita's instincts screamed DANGER at them. After Eiji disabled the Time Matter that slowed down everyone's movements, Mahoraga immediately swung its fist at Okita.
*Boom!*
Like a cannonball, Okita flew and crashed into several buildings in the distance. She was not even able to react to Mahoraga's speed.
Red liquid dripping down her nose, Okita was injured by the attack and when she was about to get up to take revenge.
I don't know when, Mahoraga was already standing behind her and swinging its sword.
Okita blocked the attack until the ground beneath her feet shattered into pieces.
So heavy, she thought.
However, she did not want to lose and pushed back the huge creature. Then, she immediately unleashed her anti-divine flames on him.
In front of her own eyes, she clearly saw Mahoraga burn to almost ashes.
However, it regenerated at an extremely fast speed and kicked her at an even faster speed.
She was again thrown until she crashed into several buildings.
At that time the Adaptation Wheel above Mahoraga's head spun. This meant that it had now adapted to Okita's anti-divine flames effect.
So when she attacked it again with the same attack, it was not hurt in the slightest and punched her again.
"Impossible! My anti-divine flames can't hurt it anymore?!"
Okita was dumbfounded but before she could understand the situation any further, she was forced into a sword fight with Mahoraga.
Surprisingly, there was not a single citizen in the town as if they had suddenly disappeared. It was done by Eiji, he had secretly moved the four of them into his Imaginary Room.
Now they were in the replica of Fuyuki City that he created.
From the bridge, he and Artoria could even see the battle happening clearly as if they were watching a livestream.
"Eiji, what abilities does that thing have? It seems like it keeps getting stronger."
Artoria realized the abnormality that Mahoraga had.
Eiji happily showed off— cough, he explained humbly about the abilities his toy possessed.
"Mahoraga has the ability of Absolute Adaptation. When it is hit by certain attacks or phenomena such as magic or physical attacks, the wheel on top of its head will spin. Each spin represents the process of adapting to the threat."
"Once that is done, Mahoraga becomes immune or highly resistant to the same attack. The attack that hit it before will no longer be effective if used a second time. That is why Okita's anti-divine flames are ineffective on it now."
"!?" Artoria and the other women.
Really?
The ability Mahoraga possessed was cheating!
How could someone defeat it?
But considering Eiji was the one who summoned it, they immediately calmed down. Come to think of it, this was quite natural.
Their gazes returned to the battle where Okita was still clashing swords with Mahoraga. Every slash they unleashed caused the buildings around them to be cut and a lot of glass to be broken.
Their speed was not even something Artoria could keep up with at the moment. Suddenly, she realized and saw her current master holding the Holy Grail casually.
The aura of All the World's Evils had also disappeared, now the Holy Grail was emitting a dim golden light.
"Eiji, have you finished?"
"Yes, the Holy Grail purification process is complete."
"....."
In this world, perhaps only Eiji could say that he had purified the Holy Grail contaminated with All the World's Evils casually.
"But the energy inside the Holy Grail is not enough to grant wishes. We still have to wait a few more years before it's ready for use."
Just kidding.
If he wanted, Eiji could recharge the Holy Grail with his own energy, but he didn't.
I have my own plan, please look forward to it.
[That's an evil plan, right host?[
Miss System, I'm a protagonist.
My plan is at least good for most people.
[Especially beautiful women?]
Ignore what Miss System says.
The battle was about to reach the climax.
*Boom!*
Okita's body embedded in the wall of a building, she spewed a mouthful of blood from her mouth and stared at Mahoraga with a horrified expression.
The creature had clearly adapted to her every attack to the point that all of her attacks were no longer effective.
This task failed, she would die before killing Eiji Seiya.
There was no fear in Okita's eyes when Mahoraga stood in front of her and raised its sword.
She just...
"Ugh!!!"
Her head aching, she suddenly recalled all the memories of her original life and it made bitter emotions overflow on her face.
In the last moment before her death, she recovered her legendary swordsmanship and peak fighting ability.
*Clang!*
She blocked Mahoraga's attack and instantly cut off one of its hands at the speed of light.
She could also now understand something. Although Eiji was very strong and could defeat her just by relying on the creature he summoned.
He didn't seem to be a evil person who posed a great threat to mankind. As proof, he seemed to be trying to repair the Holy Grail contaminated by All the World's Evils so that it would not explode like in the original timeline and endangered himself to do so.
Had Alaya misunderstood him?