Chapter 1137: The Prime Candidate for Grand Saber
Of course, the Holy Sword couldn't possibly contain only one type of magecraft. Depending on the magecraft woven into it, the Holy Sword would possess different properties, such as special attacks against giant beasts.
In other words.
"As long as it's woven with suitable magecraft, the Holy Sword model will become a true Holy Sword!"
Artoria explained: "Moreover, depending on the magecraft woven into it, this new Holy Sword will inevitably possess power different from the original Holy Sword!"
From their current standpoint, the most suitable magecraft to weave in would naturally be the special attack power against enemies of the planet, to deal with the disaster that is the Alien God.
"This will be left to you."
Artoria handed over the Holy Sword model.
Under everyone's watchful eyes.
She passed the Holy Sword model to Eiji.
"To me?"
Eiji was stunned.
Was this appropriate?
Weren't they supposed to deal with the Alien God?
Wasn't it more suitable to give it to Chaldea?
"I can sense that this Holy Sword has already formed a connection with you. You are this era's master of the Holy Sword!"
Artoria declared with unprecedented seriousness.
"You can sense that?"
Muramasa immediately raised his eyebrows.
"Yes."
Artoria nodded frankly.
"The Holy Sword was born from my experiences. I am the shaper of the Holy Sword, its guardian, and share a mental connection with it."
In other words, Artoria was bound to the Holy Sword?
No wonder her aura seemed significantly stronger!
That must be because of her bond with the Holy Sword.
However.
"But the Holy Sword's master has become this brat?"
Muramasa glared at Eiji with clear displeasure.
Didn't this mean he had also become Artoria's master?
Tch!
Even though he had saved his life, why was he feeling increasingly annoyed?
Was such a thing possible?
Eiji himself hadn't expected this.
He could indeed feel some vague connection between himself and that Holy Sword model, but he had assumed it was simply because the Holy Sword had been forged using his body.
Had the Holy Sword model directly acknowledged him as its master?
"I never expected that you would reap the greatest benefit from this Lostbelt journey."
Merlin shook his head and laughed.
"You chose to harm yourself out of goodwill, and because of that goodwill, you obtained this result. You are the most qualified person to wield this Holy Sword."
"Moreover, you needn't worry. Ultimately, our purpose for existing aligns with Chaldea's. You may freely accept the Holy Sword!"
"Our purpose for existing?"
"Hmm, you could also say it's the King of Humans' purpose."
Merlin smiled faintly but said nothing more.
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash were instantly stunned by this title.
"So that's it!"
Eiji suddenly understood.
He had always had his suspicions, and only now was everything confirmed!
Goetia's true purpose in creating the Type-Moon Academy Singularity, collecting various worldlines, and hosting the UO tournament was to deal with the Alien God!
"In that case, we're indeed heading toward the same goal through different paths!"
Eiji took a deep breath.
Since both sides shared the same objective of dealing with the Alien God, he no longer needed to worry about anything.
At most, if the sky falls, I'll hold it up!
He stepped forward and, under everyone's gaze, took the hazy sword silhouette from Artoria's hands.
In that instant.
He felt as if he had formed a flesh-and-blood connection with this unfinished holy sword!
It seemed he could freely control this holy sword now.
However, since no thaumaturgical formulas had been imbued into it yet, it was currently just a blank slate, devoid of power.
Not only that.
He also sensed something else.
A peculiar sense of authentication emerged within him.
It felt like recognition from the entire world, elevating him all at once to some pinnacle position.
"Haha, you felt it, didn't you?"
Merlin laughed cheerfully.
"What was that sensation just now?"
Eiji, however, was utterly confused.
"Congratulations."
"Congratulations?"
"Indeed."
Merlin looked at him with the gaze of a kindred spirit.
"From this moment on, you are the primary candidate for this era's Grand Saber!"
A shiver ran through everyone's hearts.
At this very moment, were they witnessing the birth of one qualified for a Crown position?
Whether it was Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mash, Artoria, or Muramasa, they all felt a sense of mission and destiny.
As if they were personally participating in a myth!
"Hey, I'm not dead yet!"
Eiji couldn't help but feel speechless.
"Heh, do you see me dead?"
Merlin spread his hands, wearing an innocent expression.
Well... that was true.
Merlin wasn't dead either.
But wasn't he still the current Grand Caster?
When it came down to it, for the Throne of Heroes, which existed beyond the concept of time, whether a Heroic Spirit was dead or alive wasn't even a consideration.
Even though Merlin wasn't dead, couldn't he still manifest as a Servant, wandering through various eras and Lostbelts?
It was entirely predictable that Eiji might appear somewhere in the future in the form of a Servant.
After all, becoming a Crown Sword also meant taking on the responsibilities of a Crown Sword.
Ultimately.
The wielder of the holy sword was inherently the foremost candidate for the Crown position of the sword!
And Eiji, by mastering the holy sword, had naturally been promoted to the position of Crown candidate!
Once he completed weaving the thaumaturgical formulas for the holy sword, he would likely automatically ascend to become the true Grand Saber!
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash both felt as if they were in a dream.
The Grand Saber was about to be born before their very eyes.
It felt utterly unreal!
"Have you thought about what thaumaturgical formulas you want to weave into the holy sword?"
Merlin pondered, then cautiously inquired.
"You probably know what I'm going to say. This holy sword was born to oppose the Alien God, so anti-Star Enemy special attacks should also be useful."
"Weaving the thaumaturgical formulas..."
Eiji gazed at the sword silhouette in his hand, lost in thought.
Should he replicate the holy sword from 14,000 years ago?
Or should he imbue it with other formulas, like those of the Holy Lance or demonic swords?
The truth was, Eiji was no good at magecraft. If he wanted to weave thaumaturgical formulas, he would need help from Morgan, Aoko, Merlin, or Scáthach.
But honestly, could a conventional weaving method truly defeat the Alien God?
Thinking from a god's perspective, Type-Moon's scripts, especially Kinoko Nasu's, were all about the unexpected, all about major twists!
He said with great confidence that following the old weaving method, there was an eighty to ninety percent chance they couldn't defeat the Alien God!
No, wait a moment.
Why cling to Type-Moon's magecraft?
Because it operates within the framework, it can be predicted.
Once you break free from that framework, no matter how wildly imaginative the idea, the outcome becomes impossible to foresee, right?
If we're talking about overwhelmingly powerful magecraft... didn't he happen to know one, and even have a way to obtain it—an ultra-powerful magecraft?
"I've already got a lead."
A brilliant smile spread across Eiji's face.
"If it succeeds, it might just make this holy sword the strongest in history!"