"I've arrived, Shishou."
Shinji finally spoke these words.
At the end of 1994, during the conclusion of the Fourth Holy Grail War, he made a vow to venture to the Land of Shadows and put an end to Scathach's eternity.
He had been working toward this goal ever since.
Five years of traveling solidified his foundation.
Journeys through parallel worlds allowed him to grasp the Origin, gain the power of the ages, and step onto the path of true magic.
Upon his return, another five years passed as he gradually absorbed the fruits of his parallel world experiences, growing at an astounding rate. His strength soared, and he ultimately became a true powerhouse.
In 2004, during the Fifth Holy Grail War, another turning point occurred. In that war, he obtained the power of true miracles, achieved the Third Magic, and ascended to the pinnacle of this world.
The following five years were spent on final preparations.
He honed his body to its peak, adjusted his magic to perfection, and prepared for everything he could imagine.
Finally, he crossed the barrier between worlds and stepped into the Land of Shadows, where the Queen of the Mystic Realm had been waiting for him all along.
Five years + five years + five years = fifteen years.
So much had happened in these fifteen years. Both the mundane and the mystical worlds had transformed. The child who was once seven had now grown into a man of twenty-two.
The only thing unchanged was this transcendent realm, excluded from the world—a place of eternal monotony in black, white, and gray, silent as though it were asleep.
Ancient seven-layered walls and gates imprisoning countless souls silently declared this place as the resting ground of the dead and a forbidden zone for the living.
The now vastly transformed Matou Shinji paused before the forbidden gate, listening to the wails of souls as he waited.
After roughly five minutes, the tightly sealed gate showed no sign of opening, and the empty walls remained desolate, with nothing appearing.
"It seems I'll have to enter on my own. If I can't get in, I have no right to meet her."
Shinji, far more composed than in his youth, concluded. His right hand hovered as if trying to grasp something, though he didn't grab anything. Instead, he muttered to himself.
"Going in just like this feels too plain. This is a rare opportunity. Why not make this long-awaited reunion a bit grander? My magical power reserves are well-stocked, after all."
Shinji took a few steps back, sketching a complex magic circle on the ground, composed of five smaller circles.
"Good, I haven't forgotten how to draw it. Now, let's see how my luck fares today. Who will respond to my summons?"
He slit his wrist, letting his blood drip onto the circle, activating the entire array. In a nostalgic tone, he recited the chant that was etched into his memory.
"────Proclaim."
"Your body shall be under mine, my fate shall be entrusted to your sword."
"Follow the call of the Holy Grail, heed its will, obey its reason, and answer me now."
"Here I swear, I am the one who will bring good to all the world, I am the one who will destroy all its evil."
"Let the three great words of power bind you, from the wheel of suppression, the guardian of the scales!"
Yes, the circle and the chant were for the Heroic Spirit summoning at the start of the Holy Grail War. The chant was the most well-known version, while the circle was an improved summoning circle used by the Yggdmillennia clan for joint summoning.
Though, considering Shinji's current ability, he didn't need such a complex ritual to summon Heroic Spirits. But this ritual held immense personal significance to him; it had already become a part of his life.
The moment he decided to summon Heroic Spirits, his body moved naturally.
Surging magical energy summoned winds and lightning.
The connection between the summoning circle and the Throne of Heroes caused every line of the array to glow brilliantly.
Soon, they appeared.
The embodiment of miracles, heroes who had transcended into a realm beyond humanity, their legends made manifest.
There were five in total.
The first to arrive wore silver armor and carried a great sword on their back. Their silver-gray hair fluttered in the wind.
The second also had white hair and sharp eyes, clad in golden armor that seemed to fuse with their body, radiating a holy light.
The next two appeared almost simultaneously.
One was a towering figure, their massive and muscular body reminiscent of a giant, with dark skin as strong as a rock. Simply standing there, they exuded a suffocating pressure.
The other had a more normal physique, similar to the first two. Their messy green hair invoked the image of spring meadows, and their carefree smile and relaxed posture displayed their heroic presence.
The last figure had the strongest presence of them all, with golden hair and golden armor, their appearance extravagantly luxurious and their expression brimming with arrogance.
Upon seeing this figure, even Shinji, for all his current strength, was momentarily taken aback.
"Well, well, this is a surprise. I never expected you to respond to my summons, Gilgamesh, King of Heroes."
"Because of Enkidu, this king owes you a debt. As for a duel with the ruler of this land, this king also finds it intriguing."
Since this place lay outside the world, and Shinji had specifically modified the summoning ritual, the summoned Servants retained memories of their past. This was the bond between Shinji and them.
"I see. That's a great help."
Shinji smiled slightly. It seemed his luck was good today.
"It's been a while for you as well, Siegfried, Karna, Brother Heracles, and Brother Achilles. Thank you for your assistance."
Siegfried nodded in acknowledgment.
Karna did the same. Both were the silent types, and this was their way of greeting and showing their willingness to follow orders.
"Ah, it's been a while."
Achilles waved casually at Shinji before turning his attention to the giant beside him.
"You're Heracles, the great hero, right? We've got to fight at least once."
"I don't mind, but now is not the time. There's a time for everything. That's what my teacher taught me."
Hearing this, Gilgamesh cast a glance at Heracles.
"To think a Berserker could retain such clear reason?"
"I've made special adjustments to your Saint Graphs so that each of you can be as close to your peak as possible. After all, our opponent is Scathach, who has gained an eternal body and is growing stronger every moment."
Upon hearing this, Achilles immediately clenched his fists, eager for battle.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get started. Should we break down that gate first? Who's going in?"
"Karna, I'm counting on you," Shinji said, selecting his champion.
"Legend has it that the Land of Shadows is a place where light can never reach. Today, I'll use the flames of the sun to shatter that legend."
"Understood."
Karna stepped forward, his eyes suddenly glowing gold.