Chaldea.
The only organization capable of resolving the Human Order Incineration at present, dedicated to restoring Human History for the past six months. After traversing six Singularities and enduring countless hardships, they finally stood before the final Singularity.
This would be the most difficult battle yet, for anyone.
Therefore, before heading to this Singularity, they had to make thorough preparations to face any situation, utilizing every available resource.
So now, "Let's gacha, Fujimaru—"
That was the first thing Naoki said to her after Ritsuka responded to an emergency call and arrived at an unfamiliar room she'd never visited before.
"Your seriousness is lacking a bit."
With a smack to the head, Atalanta knocked Naoki into the artificial valley created by Rei beside him. Roman explained to Ritsuka, "You don't need to pay too much attention to what Natsukawa says, Fujimaru. In short, this is a Servant summoning to prepare for the increasingly intense battles ahead and the current situation."
"You can think of it as boosting our combat strength."
Boosting combat strength?
Ritsuka furrowed her brow, looking at the maid there trying to smother her master with her chest, the lecherous Department Head who couldn't immediately free himself from that valley, then thinking of Mash, whom she couldn't even defeat, the senior with a Demi-Servant in her body, her teacher who was a former Servant, and a vampire who'd blow herself up without warning…
"Doctor, is Chaldea really short on combat strength?"
"I know what you're thinking, but there needs to be a clear reason at least. These things will be summarized in a report later." Roman said with a wry smile. "Actually, we initially didn't plan to summon a Servant, but Akuta's strong request led us to this decision."
Akuta's strong request?
Lifting his head from Rei's valley, Naoki explained, "Senior Hinako has someone she really wants to meet, and that person is very likely a Heroic Spirit. So eight years ago, to get Senior Hinako to join Chaldea, I promised to help her summon the person she wanted to meet."
"Good thing you still remember."
Hinako's voice came from the door.
With her usual cold expression, Hinako walked into everyone's view, giving Naoki a chilly stare. "I thought you'd forgotten if I didn't bring it up."
"How could I? I remember it clearly. But I'm surprised you're bringing it up now. I originally planned to help you summon after the Human Order Incineration was over." Naoki explained. "Why the sudden rush?"
"Me, rushing? You jerk, you've delayed my 'pay' for eight years. You think I'm rushing or not?"
"Hahaha~~~~~"
Seeing Naoki try to dodge the situation with a silly laugh, Roman and Ritsuka sighed helplessly. Then Ritsuka asked, "So, the Servant summoning… how do we do it?"
"Just use this."
Naoki said as he walked to the side of the room. After pressing a button on the wall, something resembling a three-dimensional image suddenly appeared on the empty floor. It looked similar to Mash's round shield.
"Under normal circumstances, summoning a Servant requires drawing a magic circle with blood, preparing the appropriate Holy Relic, and chanting the incantation at the right time. But Chaldea's summoning system doesn't require such a tedious process. It operates automatically just by injecting Mana and inserting a Holy Relic."
"Of course, it's fine without a Holy Relic. A Holy Relic is needed to summon a specific Servant. Without one, it's a random summon based on compatibility. While it won't guarantee a strong Servant, it will ensure that you and the Servant are highly compatible."
Compatibility with a Servant—in a Holy Grail War, this is a critical point. If they're not compatible, it's not impossible for a Servant to betray their Master.
Hearing Naoki say this, Hinako's hand clenched slightly.
She didn't have Xiang Yu's Holy Relic.
Two thousand years ago, when Xiang Yu died, he couldn't leave behind a single relic. And afterward, she hadn't collected any by chance either. Without a Holy Relic, could she summon him based solely on compatibility?
Hinako wasn't sure.
If she couldn't summon him…
"Senior Hinako."
Naoki's voice startled Hinako.
"What?"
"I think what you're worried about won't actually happen."
Hinako froze. "Huh? Why?"
Naoki explained with a smile, "Though you don't have a Holy Relic, the relic's role in summoning a Servant is merely the 'fate' it carries, tied to that Servant. From that perspective, Senior, you yourself are a massive Holy Relic. Your summoning—I believe he'll definitely respond."
The existence with the deepest fate tied to Xiang Yu—aside from [Hinako/Yu Ji], there's no other in this world.
"You rarely say something worthwhile."
Taking a deep breath, Hinako stepped up to the summoning circle, crouched down, placed her hand on it, and injected her Mana.
(Please, respond to my summoning, Lord Xiang Yu…)
*WHOOSH!*
As Mana was injected, the summoning circle resembling a round table began to glow with blue light, spinning rapidly into a ribbon of blue light, which slowly transformed from blue to seven colors during its rotation.
Beams of light rose from the colorful ribbon, and within those beams, a tall figure gradually materialized.
Seeing the increasingly clear face, Hinako's body began to tremble uncontrollably. Tears streamed from her eyes, and she covered her mouth with her hand, afraid she might cry out.
"My name is Xiang Ji, courtesy name Yu. I have answered the summoning and come. My Master, please give me your new orders—"
The tall, imposing Servant in a red cloak who emerged from the light, upon seeing Hinako's face before him, froze for a moment, just like her.
"You… you… Yu?"
"Ahhh~~~ Yes, Xiang Yu, it's Yu."
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Hinako stood and tightly embraced the Servant before her with both arms. "Finally… finally… we've met again, Lord Xiang Yu."
Since their eternal parting at the Wu River two thousand years ago, Hinako had been prepared to wait until the end of time. As long as she could see her beloved before her, no matter how long she had to wait, she was willing.
And now, she had achieved it.