Morpheus's plan was straightforward: beat the Mad King half to death, but not fully, strip his armor for study, and then send the now-useless Mad King back to the Throne of Heroes.
Thus, Morpheus's current task was simple... pummel the Mad King until he couldn't resist!
Mad King Cú Chulainn, empowered by the Holy Grail, wielded strength far beyond a typical Servant, nearing his original form or matching a Heroic Spirit's combat prowess. Yet, facing the charging Morpheus, he felt immense pressure, even fear.
He couldn't resist or defend!
Each punch landed squarely, making his armor screech as if it were a machine at its limit.
The massive force penetrated the armor, impacting his body. Though weakened, the blows pushed his flesh toward destruction!
Cú Chulainn had no doubt his body would break before his armor did.
The damage outpaced his Lúgh runes' anti-destruction spells!
Without those runes, he'd already be dead!
Roaring like a beast, his eyes blood-red, the Mad King, trapped in a frenzy, struggled from the castle wall's rubble, swinging clawed hands!
His weapons were his armored claws!
Bang!
Morpheus's fist met Cú Chulainn's claws. The hand, expected to be shredded, was unharmed. Morpheus angled his fist cleverly, striking Cú Chulainn's wrist, sending shockwaves through veins and nerves, dispersing his strength and twisting his hand in pain.
A basic close-combat technique magician often learned, it proved effective.
The disabled hand, even if only for a second for a Servant like Cú Chulainn, was enough.
Morpheus's fist opened, grabbing the pain-wracked wrist from the back, and he kicked out with his right foot.
Earth element gathered, coating his foot in sharp spikes. The impact, like a hammer driving a nail, struck Cú Chulainn's armor, shattering the stone spike but delivering immense force.
With Morpheus gripping his wrist, Cú Chulainn couldn't fly back, absorbing the full impact!
Crack!
A crack appeared in the armor, a small breach!
Another blow followed!
Morpheus's fist!
The crack widened, branching like tree limbs across the chest and upper body!
The armor shattered into dozens of pieces!
The Mad King's greatest Noble Phantasm was gone!
The punch's force crushed his chest, breaking bones and twisting his heart. Unable to hold back, he spat blood, his vigor fading.
Despite the Holy Grail's power, he couldn't suppress his injuries. The tyrant-like aura vanished, leaving a pitiful stray.
"Go to sleep." Morpheus cast a hypnosis spell, putting the near-dead Cú Chulainn under, then rushed to the armor fragments, collecting them.
"Hm? This transformation was powered by the Holy Grail? It granted unique abilities, not just Lúgh's runes… But it's analyzable. Reverse the phenomenon, record it fully…"
Opening his golden grimoire, Morpheus meticulously noted his observations, experimenting with the fragments.
The analysis was swift, given his familiarity with the Holy Grail.
But as he delved deeper, he frowned.
"So it's rooted in the Root's power, channeled through the Holy Grail to Cú Chulainn, granting this ability.
"If I were a local, this'd be tricky. Tapping the Root wouldn't match this level and would restrict its use elsewhere…
"But as magic, with a theoretical foundation, it's possible. Durandal won't work, but Ame-no-Murakumo… I could try transforming it into Orochi's body. It's not Orochi itself, but it came from its tail…
"Hm, is Miss Ritsuka finally becoming a Kamen Rider? Kamen Rider Orochi, maybe."
Morpheus mused, deciding to study Ritsuka's Ame-no-Murakumo later. Failure was fine, but success would greatly aid the still-ordinary Ritsuka.
With the secret unraveled, he threw a punch at the unconscious Cú Chulainn.
The Holy Grail emerged from his body, floating before Morpheus.
He grasped it, looking at the nearby woman with a smile. "Miss Medb, right?"
"A strange human. Are you a Servant? I sense Servant traits," Medb said.
"Human, but with some Servant certifications, you could say," Morpheus replied, curious. "Your plan failed, and you're not angry?"
"I got over it when you beat Cú Chulainn," Medb said, raising her head proudly. "I'm a queen. I don't stay angry. Since this plan failed, I'll let it go."
"I thought you made Cú Chulainn king, demoting yourself to consort, yet you still call yourself queen." As Morpheus spoke, a whip cracked past his face.
He didn't dodge, just watched her.
If she meant to hit, it wouldn't have missed. Even if it did, it couldn't breach his defenses.
"I'm always a queen!"
"Fine. The Grail's reclaimed, and the era's being restored. You'll return soon, but first, a photo." He snapped pictures of Medb.
The mastermind was surprisingly cooperative, striking glamorous poses like a celebrity.
The world trembled, everything fading as time realigned to the proper timeline.
As her body began to dissolve, Medb asked, "Why the photos? Need my autograph?"
"Sure, if you're willing." Morpheus approached, holding a pen and his golden grimoire, flipping to a blank page. "Sign here."
Medb, surprised, took the book. A top-tier Noble Phantasm, forged by divine hands, and he wanted her signature?!
Then she considered another possibility.
Was he smitten with her, using this precious item for her autograph?
Her pride swelled, and she signed eagerly, returning the book and pen as her body faded.
Morpheus grinned at the signature.
"Queen Medb's autograph... perfect for boosting Celtic myth-related magic!"
As he spoke, the world collapsed. He reached the final moment of existence, teleporting back to Chaldea.
Seeing Ritsuka and Mash checking their status, he asked, "How'd it go?"
"All Servants we met were photographed. Everyone was cooperative!" Ritsuka smiled. "They were shocked when the world reset and they returned to the Throne, not expecting it to be resolved so fast."
Morpheus shrugged. "It was simple. Just a quick fight. Medb, the mastermind, was oddly reasonable... maybe because I had the Grail."
He handed the Grail to Mash, who absorbed it into her shield.
Then he sank into thought.
Ritsuka, curious, asked, "What's on your mind? Something happen?"
Morpheus shook his head. "That Servant, Arjuna, was from the Indian pantheon, like Karna you met, from the same epic.
"I studied the Pashupati Astra, Shiva's weapon, and got some inspiration…"
"Shiva's weapon?" Ritsuka gasped, familiar with the name despite limited myth knowledge.
Morpheus was researching Shiva's power... what was he planning?!
"The supreme masculine and feminine, 9=2 and 8=3, are non-human realms. It's a tough path. Even invoking Babalon's power for union has steep costs, so I'm thinking of alternatives."
"Alternatives?"
"Shiva represents the supreme masculine, and Kali, or Parvati, the supreme feminine. In Indian myth, their union is primordial perfection, which can be tapped.
"I could channel Shiva's power, then Kali's. Not to reach the upper three Crowns, but maybe the 7=4 realm.
"Or use Shiva's power to manifest material force, connecting with the guardian archangel Tzadkiel… That might work."
Ritsuka asked cautiously, "Summoning Shiva and Kali's powers... won't that cause destruction?"
"How could it be that easy? I'm just a small-time magician. Summoning world-destroying power?" Morpheus waved dismissively. "My angelic power could destroy a planet at best. The world? Impossible!"
Ritsuka sighed helplessly.
"Just" destroy a planet? Like that's trivial?
Then she noticed something else.
"7=4's guardian is Tzadkiel?"
"Yes, an archangel great for learning. But you, take it slow. You're barely past beginner stage."
Humming, Morpheus left, looking thrilled. Ritsuka blinked.
Mash said, "Senpai, Morpheus-senpai seems thrilled. He must've gained a lot."
"I think he's just excited about his research," Olga Marie said, approaching. Not greeting Morpheus, she told them, "Rest up. This mission was easy, but we had issues. Servants may not truly want to help us. We'll discuss this later."
As they left, Olga Marie called, "Jeanne Alter, wait. I need to talk."
Jeanne Alter looked puzzled, unsure why.
Olga Marie coughed. "Just some things about Morpheus. I need to understand."
***
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