Fear, whether subtle or overwhelming, permeates every corner of human and biological existence. It is a physiological and psychological response when faced with danger.
At this moment, Waver Velvet was experiencing a fear even more intense than when he narrowly escaped death at the hands of the King of Conquerors ten years ago.
A fear etched into memory with a single glance.
Crack—
Numbness. Pain. It felt like his blood vessels were tearing open, an icy chill seeping into his very muscles and devouring the warmth and flesh from his body. Frozen stiff, Waver's consciousness drifted as if submerged in boiling oil.
"That's a Mystic Eye…" he muttered. It had to be of the highest grade. A god?
His gaze fell on the semi-divine projection behind Li Sushang, formed from violet-red energy fluid. Those crimson, rhombus-shaped pupils radiated petrifying pressure—enough to freeze his soul.
And the terrifying part? There hadn't even been any visible mana signature. No activation. Just that gaze from afar... Could this be a legendary Rainbow-level Mystic Eye?!
"Master, behind me. Be wary of her Mystic Eyes of Petrification."
The flag of the Fleur-de-lis unfurled. Noticing her Master's abnormal state, Ruler Jeanne stepped in front of Waver, shielding him from Selene's demonic gaze.
Thanks to her EX-rank Magic Resistance, Jeanne was highly resistant to mana-based attacks, Mystic Eyes, and magecraft of all kinds.
"Thank you... Ruler..."
Waver collapsed backward, panting heavily. His circuits lit up in a blue glow as his magical energy surged, trying to flush the paralysis from his system.
Truthfully, among the Masters of this war, Waver's magical ability only barely exceeded that of Shinji Matou and Shirou Emiya—and that was only because Shirou's circuits hadn't fully awakened yet.
Against someone like Selene—an overwhelmingly powerful Servant—none of that mattered. No matter how well you could reason or theorize, if you didn't have the mana reserves or raw ability, you weren't even qualified to stand.
She didn't even need to attack. He couldn't move in her presence.
"Selene... why do you look like this? Like a... monstrous snake god…"
Jeanne's voice wavered. Her eyes hesitated as they scanned the radiant, marble-smooth, goddess-like upper torso before her. She couldn't even form a full sentence.
Selene's current appearance—her dark gold-scaled cheek guards were shocking enough—but it was the massive wings and the serpentine lower body that stunned Jeanne.
Her legs had vanished. In their place, a massive, glistening snake tail coiled from beneath her waist. Polished, crimson-tinged scales shimmered across it.
Its glow was like a fading sun—an ominous orange-red hue that seemed to signal the end of days.
She was a goddess. A demon. A calamity that could eclipse the heavens. The power emanating from her shook the very foundations of the city.
"A snake god? More like a demon god. You're not wrong, Jeanne. This vessel I descended into this time—yes, it's a body that to humans, would be considered evil."
Selene admitted it without the slightest shame. Controlling the projection, she lowered her head. Her face—now fused with traits of Gorgon and Tiamat—was a seductively divine marvel.
Those long, narrow eyes glimmered with playful satisfaction as she looked at the long-lost saint before her.
"It's been a while, my friend. Forgive me. I never predicted I'd run into you in this Grail War."
That face—blended to an almost dangerous beauty—looked like the work of the gods themselves, a living testament to irresistible allure.
"And Jeanne, it seems your luck isn't so great this time."
Selene lowered her head, gazing brazenly at the figure behind Jeanne, who now stood defensively like a mother hen shielding her chick.
Jeanne subtly shifted her petite frame to block Waver from view, her stance tense and vigilant.
Selene didn't mind. She had no intention of starting a fight with either of them—not yet. The time wasn't right.
Chaldea, Fujimaru Ritsuka, Romani Archaman, Fou, Goetia—even the mortal participants of this war, like Muscular Rin and the Hero of Justice—Selene had already planned roles for each of them.
The stage had been set. Now she waited for the fake King of Magic, Solomon—no, the true Demon God King Goetia—and his Temple of Time to descend.
But since a new actor had arrived, how could Selene not give her a role?
Sensing the Command Spell-like interference directed at Li Sushang, Selene instantly projected her divine will. And as expected—it was Ruler. Jeanne.
In that instant, Selene had already decided how to use her.
Outwardly, she merely gave a relaxed chuckle. "Your Master is a little underwhelming, wouldn't you say?"
"Regardless of my Master's abilities, I'm more surprised that a god-king who holds dominion over all would answer a human's call."
In the Romania Grail War, Selene had nearly singlehandedly wiped out the Red Faction and led Yggdmillennia to victory—only to self-destruct and vanish just as she approached the Greater Grail.
That scene, Selene's utter disregard for the Grail even when it was within reach, had left a deep impression on Jeanne.
She couldn't believe a change in battlefield—from Romania to Fuyuki—was enough to entice someone like Selene to descend again.
Moreover, Jeanne vividly remembered the teasing antics Selene had subjected her to back in Sighișoara.
This time, there had to be something interesting here. Something—someone—that could lure this mischievous god into the fray.
Jeanne's instincts as Ruler kicked in. Whatever had drawn Selene here... might very well be the same reason Jeanne herself was summoned.
She had to find it.
"The Holy Grail… to Your Majesty Selene, I suppose it's nothing more than a passing amusement now?" Jeanne asked.
"Amusement?" Selene replied lightly. "You could say that."
"Tell me, Jeanne. What do you think of the modern human world?"
"What do I think? Isn't it steadily progressing? While wars of mistrust still exist, human society has certainly grown more productive. At least, we no longer see the widespread famine and mass child deaths that plagued my time."
Thanks to the knowledge instilled by the Greater Grail and her own Revelation skill, Jeanne had gained a broader understanding of modern civilization.
She just wished it had included some math.
"Maybe. But what if someone sought to restore the Age of Gods—and I agreed to help them?"
"What?! Restore the Age of Gods? That's absurd. Modern humanity has forsaken the divine. The gods have severed their ties with mankind. Even the Grail would struggle to rewrite the entire world so drastically."
"Heh. Then what do you think my Master summoned me for? Why do you think I answered his call?"
"Selene…" Jeanne's face changed drastically. "Why would you support such a selfish wish? It could lead to the extinction of humanity—"
"Stop saying 'extinction of humanity' like it's a magical curse!"
Interrupting Jeanne's words, a demonic gleam slowly bloomed in the center of Selene's scarlet eyes....
"Jeanne, humanity is not as fragile as you imagine." Her soul-stirring, ghostly voice carried a terrifying pressure that made Jeanne's spirit body tremble and let out a muffled groan.
In the distance, the sound of sirens was now clearly audible. Selene looked toward the source and revealed a faint, meaningful smile.
"The meddlers have arrived. It seems our little reunion must come to an end."
"Very well. Let these eyes ring the bell of a new age where mystery once again reemerges."
"Jeanne, are you ready? Come with me—"
The shattered visions foretold by [Revelation] instantly filled her sight. When the trance faded, Jeanne raised her head in shock to look at Selene.
"No, Selene, don't...."
"—Reveal the truth of this world to all!"
Buzz buzz—!
With an air-splitting shock, Selene's demonic eyes flared.
"Jeanne, if you don't block this, you and your Master will die. If you're dead, how will you stop me? Hahaha... Jeanne, I am overjoyed! Come, entertain me to your heart's content!!"
"Selene!!"
Jeanne shouted in fury—or perhaps shock and fury would be more accurate. She didn't want to fight Selene, nor did she want to become her enemy. But her mission left her no choice.
Jeanne unfurled the battle flag in her hands.
On the large platinum banner, elegant fleurs-de-lis fluttered in the wind.
A faint golden light began to radiate from Jeanne's body.
Facing the magic gathering in Selene's demonic eye, guided by warrior instinct, Jeanne did not hesitate. She raised her flag high, then stepped forward with force.
"O flag of mine, protect my people!"
In that instant, a gentle rain of golden light descended, forming a dazzling curtain.
"That's more like it!"
Buzz buzz buzz—!
A meteor-like orb of light appeared in response. In the dark night, a thick, radiant crimson energy beam burst from the seal in front of Selene's eyes.
"Luminosité Eternelle!!"
BOOM————!
At the moment of impact, all sound ceased!
In the middle of the night, it was as if a second sun rose from the earth, day and night reversed across the land.
At that moment, Waver could hear nothing. His mind was dazed, and when shattered debris struck his body, he only felt a faint pain.
Within a radius of hundreds of meters, the ground collapsed in an instant. Buildings in nearby blocks trembled violently, crumbling as the city's earthquake alarm system automatically activated.
WOO-WOO—! WOO-WOO—!
In that instant, the slumbering city of Fuyuki was fully awakened!
Hearing the sharp earthquake alarms blaring from all directions, people fled their homes in panic.
The police patrol convoy that had been approaching the disturbance was blown away by the shockwave. The patrol car windows were shattered, glass shards littering the ground.
Injured officers lay cautiously on the ground.
The terrifying tremor and flash spread like a dragon turning in its sleep, kicking up sand and stone into the sky in clouds of dark smoke and petrified debris.
Even those lying a kilometer away felt their internal organs shake violently from the unrelenting shockwave.
The earth quaked—and so did their hearts.
They looked at one another: Don't tell me this... was a gas explosion?
BOOM BOOM—!
The sky-shaking explosions continued for nearly thirty seconds before gradually fading. It was brief, but for those who experienced it, it was a memory they would never forget.
"Cough cough...."
As the terrifying shadow over their hearts lifted, cool moonlight once again poured down from the sky, illuminating the land ravaged by the clash of legends.
Crack crack crack~
Brushing off the debris and rubble from his body, Waver looked around at the devastated land with lingering fear. "Ruler, are you alright?"
Was the Holy Grail War always this terrifying? Were those two allies dispatched by the Mage's Association still alive? After what he'd just experienced, Waver seriously doubted it.
"I'm fine, Master. Thank you...."
Ruler Jeanne wobbled as she stood up from the deep pit several meters into the ground. "You're not hurt, are you?"
"Nothing serious. I should be thanking you, Ruler."
Stepping forward, Waver strained as he helped pull Ruler out of the pit.
After a moment of silence, Waver spoke up: "Jeanne, can you tell me everything you know about that Servant named 'Selene'?"
"Alright...."
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