Somewhere in the Hanging Gardens.
For Amakusa, Semiramis had gone out of her way to prepare a dedicated prayer space.
Now, shedding the black robe he had worn for decades, Amakusa donned custom-made garments, identical to those he wore in life.
For the battle ahead.
*CLICK!*
The sound of a door opening came from behind him.
After finishing his prayer and standing, Amakusa looked at the small figure standing not far behind.
"You are Amakusa Shirou Tokisada?"
"Indeed." Amakusa maintained his calm smile. "Though I received a revelation, meeting you in person is still a bit surprising. I never imagined the renowned Saint would manifest in such a form."
Saint Jeanne, transformed into a child—if her followers knew, it might cause an uproar.
Yet, despite her childish form, Jeanne's aura remained undiminished. Clutching her sacred flag adorned with irises, she asked in a grave tone, "I know everything about you, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada."
"Ruler who survived the Third Holy Grail War, leader of the Shimabara Rebellion in Japan during your lifetime, a young saint and the greatest anomaly in this Holy Grail War, seeking to achieve salvation for all humanity."
"Remarkable, you know so much. Where did you get this information?"
Though he claimed surprise, Amakusa's expression barely changed, always gentle. Yet, his hand gripping his sword's hilt suggested he had already made a decision.
"No matter. At this point, the source of your information is irrelevant. So, having learned my identity, have you come here after deciding how to deal with me?"
"I will stop you!"
Jeanne declared firmly.
"Your desire is noble—salvation for all humanity, a beautiful wish. But it absolutely must not be realized in such a way."
"Why?" For the first time, Amakusa's expression shifted.
Having his dream rejected by a Saint of equal, if not greater, sanctity was hard even for him to bear. "I thought you, like me, having seen humanity's dark side, would understand me."
"Indeed, I understand you, but that's precisely why I must stop your misguided thinking."
"Why call my thinking misguided? I seek salvation for all humanity. Only through the Great Holy Grail's power, manifesting the Third True Magic, allowing the garden to circulate worldwide and absorb Mana from the earth's ley lines, can all humans become eternal spiritual entities."
Freeing humans from the shackles of the body, erasing survival instincts, thinning the ego until it nearly vanishes. Thus, humans would become thinking spiritual entities, achieving true immortality.
Hatred would cease, conflicts would end. Both humanity and the world, this planet, would attain eternal peace. No one would suffer, no one would face injustice.
"If this isn't salvation, if this is wrong, then what is salvation? What is right?" Amakusa countered.
"I will save humanity. If you intend to stop me, does that mean you wish to see humans repeat endless conflicts, living in a world full of ego and strife?"
"Is that not the greatest sin, Jeanne d'Arc?"
By the end, Amakusa's voice carried anger.
Facing his fury, Jeanne shook her head with unwavering resolve. "If so, humanity won't achieve true salvation. Forcibly erasing all human ego is akin to destroying the greatest strength of human existence. Human civilization has flourished so beautifully and brilliantly to this day precisely because each person has their own desires, their own thoughts."
"What you're doing is essentially erasing the meaning of [human] existence—a mass extinction labeled as [salvation]."
"I won't let you succeed, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada."
Negotiations failed.
Their differing values made their perspectives irreconcilable.
Amakusa drew his katana. "It seems further talk is pointless. If our opinions can't align, and neither can persuade the other, then we can only crush the other's ideals. Do you think you can defeat me, Ruler?"
"At the moment, I cannot, as the vessel I possess limits my abilities." Jeanne admitted honestly. "But I'm not alone—Add! Phase one, restrictions released!"
Add, dangling in a birdcage at her waist, flashed its eyes at her command. Its fist-sized body rapidly multiplied, forming a scythe taller than Jeanne herself.
[Hehehe! It's starting! It's starting! Finally my turn again! My skills aren't rusty, right, dumb Gray?!]
'Fight as you please. I'll handle defense. I won't let you get hurt, Miss Gray.'
"Mm."
Gray's eyes, now golden, gripped the scythe, her face calm like a small deity.
This was her first step to stand side by side with her big brother.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
At the Same Time.
In the central hall of the Hanging Gardens.
—On his way there.
Naoki had intended to swiftly defeat Semiramis to render the Hanging Gardens useless, but an unexpected figure blocked his path.
Red Lancer, Karna.
"I've been waiting for you, Red Saber's Master, Natsukawa Naoki."
The Hero of Charity stood with his golden spear on the path Naoki had to take.
Naoki paused, then asked, "Shouldn't you be facing the Black Faction outside?"
"That's Archer and Rider's responsibility. My task from the start has been singular—to eliminate you from this Holy Grail War."
"Oh?" Naoki raised an eyebrow. "This… an internal fight? With the Black Faction not yet fully destroyed, you're already planning to take out a future rival?"
"Just my Master's orders. Though there are hidden motives, I have no intention of disobeying. The Assyrian Queen and the priest seem highly wary of you, and the power you just displayed makes their caution clear."
A pseudo-dragon race—truly an opponent not to be underestimated.
Naoki had planned to feign ignorance and surprise Semiramis, but Karna's words made him realize he'd been seen as an enemy from the start.
Perhaps this one-on-one with Karna was deliberately arranged.
"Aw, can't you trust your allies more? I'm touched that the greatest hero of Indian mythology has to face me."
"Very well."
Removing the cover from his long-unused Mystic Eyes, Naoki locked gazes with Karna.
"Your golden armor reduces all damage to a tenth. I'm quite curious—can it reduce the influence of these eyes as well?"
Mystic Eyes of Soul Eater!