IBHJ 1329

The emergence of the hidden world and the appearance of bizarre creatures had already challenged everything they thought they knew. But just as they struggled to build a new framework of understanding, an even more reality-defying phenomenon had appeared before them—walking calmly toward their doorstep.

"Quick, quick! Those mutated creatures and that sea-parting monster are heading straight for us, straight for Chaldea!" The commander's face contorted with panic as he slammed his fist on the table. "Today is the international press conference for Chaldea's incorporation. Nothing can go wrong! Get ready! This is not a drill! Everyone to your stations!"

The soldiers and magi responsible for Chaldea's protection scrambled into action across the island. Defense cannons whirred to life one after another while the air sparkled with newly constructed magic circles, their lines glowing against the clear sky.

What they didn't realize was that Shirou—the very person causing such a massive commotion—had already slipped among them unnoticed.

Shirou leaned casually against a tree, watching the soldiers rush about in chaos. A small smile played at the corner of his lips as a single thought formed in his mind: thunderstorm.

The transformation happened in seconds. The bright blue sky darkened as heavy clouds rolled in from nowhere, crackling with electricity. Lightning streaked across the gathering darkness.

"Boom—Boom—"

Torrential rain crashed down without warning, soaking everyone caught outside.

Shirou closed his eyes, concentrating. Let them not see me.

A wall of fog rose from the sea surface, thickening until it swallowed everything in sight. The mist grew so dense that visibility dropped to mere centimeters, blinding cameras and soldiers alike.

But it wasn't done. The Earth's core churned violently beneath them, sending waves of geothermal radiation surging upward. Electronic instruments sparked and failed throughout the facility. Steel wires and iron components rusted away in seconds as if years had passed in moments. Every electronic device crackled, smoked, and died.

All the technological equipment in the area that modern civilization took such pride in crumbled helplessly against the planet's raw power.

Most terrifying of all was how the Earth itself seemed to love Shirou now—its devotion had grown boundless, eager to fulfill his every wish without question or hesitation.

This was what true power meant: when mere thoughts became reality. When words became law.

Taking advantage of the confusion created by the dense fog, Shirou slipped through Chaldea's main entrance without resistance. He moved with casual confidence, as if he belonged there all along. Just inside the gate, a hooded figure waited for him.

"Welcome back, savior of human order." The figure pulled back his hood and bowed deeply to Shirou.

Shirou's expression remained calm as he studied the man. "Your Master told you to wait for me here, Professor Lev."

"Of course." Lev pulled his hood back into place with a subtle smile. "Just as Julian attended his sister's wedding, it was inevitable that you would come to participate in my Master's game."

"Indeed." The corner of Shirou's mouth curved into a smile as he met Lev's gaze. "I will participate, and then I will claim the final victory."

Lev tilted his head slightly. "Then I can only wish you good luck." He gestured toward the interior corridor. "Please come with me. Master is waiting for you at the lowest level."

Lev turned and walked deeper into the facility. Shirou adjusted his backpack with a quick tug and followed. The farther they went, the more the light faded around them. The long corridor had no illumination, leaving them walking through almost complete darkness.

Shirou watched Lev's silhouette move ahead of him. "You're the Second Seat of the Council that Shiki mentioned, right? The one who rarely attends meetings."

"Yes." Lev nodded without looking back. "Lord Goetia asked me to infiltrate the Council with him, to support each other. I couldn't refuse." He paused, his footsteps echoing in the darkness. "However, he has always treated me as Flauros, which is... problematic. Flauros was killed by me twenty years ago with Master's help. But since Shiki is close to Goetia, Sixth Seat wanted me to monitor Shiki's changes, so I agreed."

"Does Romani know about this?" Shirou asked.

Lev chuckled softly. "Of course not. That fool still thinks I'm Flauros." He shook his head. "What a pity."

Lev and Shirou descended to the underground level of Chaldea. As they reached the bottom, Shirou looked around with genuine surprise crossing his features.

"I never knew that beneath Chaldea there was such an underground layer," he said, running his hand along the ancient stone wall. "It's just like the spiritual tomb beneath London."

"Of course." Lev adjusted his glasses with a slight smile. "Apart from Master, only I and Sixth Seat know about its existence."

Shirou turned to face him. "This is also the real reason why the Ideal King couldn't complete the historical synchronization, right?"

"Indeed." Lev nodded as they continued walking down the dimly lit corridor. "If Master hadn't blocked the point of pan-history, the Ideal King could have completed the synchronization after blocking Gaia and the UOs." He paused, his voice dropping lower. "She will never be able to complete historical synchronization, but unfortunately, she never realized this until her death. So she also lost the qualification to participate in the final game."

Shirou's jaw tightened at these words.

The two reached the bottom level where a heavy wooden door stood before them. Lev stopped and knocked gently on its surface. "Master, Mr. Shirou has arrived."

"Please let him in." A familiar, gentle voice drifted through the door.

"Yes." Lev nodded, then stepped aside with a small bow. "Please enter, Mr. Shirou. Master is waiting for you inside."

Shirou tightly gripped the Arrow of Akasha in his hand, marched to the door, and delivered a kick. The iron door flew inward with a thunderous crash, slamming against the wall.

He stormed inside, his eyes scanning the room until they locked onto a familiar silver gun resting on a nearby table. Despite his mental preparation, his pupils constricted at the sight.

"Shirou, you're such a rude visitor," the owner of the room said, his voice scholarly and unnervingly gentle.

Shirou's cold gaze shifted to the man sitting calmly at the table. The room's darkness couldn't hide him. A handsome face framed by long white hair, dressed in a pristine Chaldea uniform with black glasses perched on his nose. He looked kind and intellectual, radiating an even gentler aura than Romani ever had.

But this man was the mastermind behind everything!

The destruction of ancient civilization. The endless reset loops that trapped Shirou. Tethys's disappearance. The distortion of Manaka Sajyou. Olga Marie and Ritsuka Fujimaru's transformation into the Beast. He was the source of all sorrow, the puppeteer pulling every string of suffering.

The Root of Evil. The Absolute Evil. The Lord of Salvation.

"Marisbury Animusphere." Shirou's voice came out as a low growl as he glared at the man. "I really didn't expect it would be you."

Marisbury smiled softly, folding his hands on the table. "My disguise wasn't particularly clever; you simply chose not to see me, Shirou." He adjusted his glasses with a casual gesture. "In your heart, my identity was just that of an unremarkable lord from the Clock Tower, Solomon's Master."

After a moment of silence, Marisbury smiled gently, tilting his head. "How have you been these past six months?"

Shirou let out a cold scoff. "Without you around, life’s been surprisingly peaceful. So do me a favor and disappear for good."

"That's impossible." Marisbury's smile never wavered. "I am the First Cause. Akasha itself. Nothing in this world—or beyond it—can erase me. Not even that arrow you're holding. Deep down, you already know that."

His gaze shifted to the arrow in Shirou’s hand. "I once thought of using Manaka or Shiki to retrieve it from that garden. Manaka lost to you, of course, but Shiki did rather well. She just made one mistake—handing the arrow to the Ideal King, who then passed it on to you."

"Do you know, Shirou?" Marisbury said, his eyes locking with Shirou's. "When I first saw you, I thought you were nothing more than a passing glitch, something irrelevant. But then... with Buddha’s guidance, you kept rising after every failure. You took Tethys’s place. And now, here you are, standing in front of me." A soft sigh escaped his lips. "So, in these six months, I did nothing. If you ask why—" His voice softened. "This is your reward."