At this moment, within the light screen.
A beautiful woman in an exquisite kimono slowly emerged.
Simultaneously, her introduction followed as usual.
[Ryougi Shiki (Root Shiki) – The girl who possesses the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, and also the noble heir of the Ryougi Family, one of the Four Great Demon-Hunting Clans.]
[As the second daughter of the Ryougi Family, she was born with unique multiple personality traits. This unique quality was recognized by the family, making her the designated successor to the position of family head.]
[However, this was only the beginning.]
[Through the clever transformation of multiple personalities, she touched the unreachable vortex of the Root.]
[The Ryougi Family, this ancient lineage, once attempted to cultivate multiple personalities within a single body to create an omnipotent being.]
[Catalyzed by the family's unique secret arts, Shiki gradually manifested three completely distinct personalities.]
[First is "Shiki." She represents the feminine, affirmation, and feminine beauty, and is the primary personality of this body—gentle yet strong.]
[She has a cold personality. After meeting Mikiya Kokutō, she changed slightly, but remains relatively aloof towards others.]
[Fundamentally, Shiki and SHIKI share the same way of thinking, interests, and other personal characteristics.]
[Because they share the same body, SHIKI, the negative personality, must bear the emotions suppressed by Ryougi Shiki. Thus, Shiki is limited to developing in the direction of "Affirmation."]
[Next is "SHIKI," the personality that represents masculinity, negation, and masculine attributes.]
[It is the secondary personality of the body, uses masculine speech and mannerisms, and has the right to use the body.]
[Although SHIKI is responsible for Ryougi Shiki's murderous impulses, it is not purely homicidal.]
[It would be more accurate to say that SHIKI, who hates her own impulses, has always been Shiki's inner aspect.]
[Because she is the inner aspect, SHIKI can only accept Shiki's suppressed desires, and is also confined to developing in the direction of denying and harming others. Thus, it could also be said that she is the murderous side of "Ryougi Shiki," though SHIKI herself does not enjoy killing.]
[Her personality is more straightforward and cheerful than Ryougi Shiki's, with a somewhat boyish charm.]
[She only appears when Shiki loses consciousness or her consciousness is weak, or when Shiki actively switches personalities. She usually remains dormant.]
[The third is the physical personality "Ryougi Shiki" (Root Shiki / The Swirl of Origin) connected to the Root. She is the original personality of the body and does not possess intellect.]
[However, when the Ryougi Family created the multiple personalities, they bestowed intellect upon the Root Shiki, causing the origin of the Root Shiki to awaken, who then created the personalities of "Shiki" and "SHIKI" based on herself.]
[If Shiki and SHIKI represent the Yin and Yang of the Two Forms, their existence is equivalent to the Great Circle (Tai Chi) that contains them both. Therefore, the Root Shiki is also the essence of Shiki and SHIKI, though neither is aware of the Root Shiki's existence.]
[Because she is compelled to face the external world, coupled with her insensitivity and boredom towards it, she handed control of her body over to "Shiki" and fell into slumber.]
[Because she is connected to the Root, the Root Shiki is nearly omnipotent.]
[She is revered as one of the "Four Heavenly Kings of Fate."]
At this moment, the audience was shocked upon seeing this introduction!
"Four Heavenly Kings?!"
"The mysterious woman connected to the Root?!"
A tide of questions surged in every viewer's heart, instantly covering the entire video screen with dense bullet comments.
[Bullet Comments]
[Romani Archaman]: Is this true? Is there really someone in the world who can connect to the unreachable Root? This power might surpass the omnipotence God bestowed upon King Solomon...
[Mikiya Kokutō]: A third personality... No wonder she felt much gentler than Shiki when I saw that picture before...
[Arika Sajō]: It seems things are getting interesting...
[Golden Flashy (Gilgamesh)]: The Four Heavenly Kings... That's a rather novel title. I still don't know who the other three Heavenly Kings are, but the girl connected to the Root is undoubtedly qualified to be one!
In the world of Avalon, Merlin stared at the screen, filled with endless curiosity about the title "The Four Heavenly Kings."
In reality, the "Four Heavenly Kings of Fate" is a legendary organization that has gradually evolved over the years.
There is the one who can infinitely project nuclear bombs – the Nuclear Bomb Sword Immortal, Emiya Shirō, the Emiya Colossus.
There is the Black Hole Sword Françoise, who can invert the world and grab the Earth, peerless in martial arts.
There is the one who can destroy the Origin with a single shot – Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, unmatched in spearmanship.
And there is the one who is the Origin itself, possessing the complete version of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception – Ryougi Shiki, the Source of Killing. Her existence is the ultimate interpretation of the laws of life and death for all things in the world!
And let's not forget the one who can blow up the Holy Grail with a single shot – Emiya Kiritsugu, the Sidewalk Father!
Of course, there are also the so-called "New Sidewalk Four Heavenly Kings," equally famous: the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Tamamo-no-Mae, unmatched in wisdom and demonic power; the Giant God Altera, whose power seems capable of shaking the world; the King of Assassins, Hassan-i-Sabbah, peerless in stealth and assassination; the Buddha, the Enlightened One, who perceives all things in the world, possessing supreme wisdom and compassion; and the Crown Servant Solomon, whose magecraft and wisdom are enough to lead an era.
What? You ask why there are five in the "Four Heavenly Kings"? Isn't that the most normal thing in this diverse and wonderful world?
These five are just the tip of the iceberg of the more dazzling "Sidewalk" combinations.
Additionally, there is the Dimensional Sword Saint, Sasaki Kojirō, whose swordsmanship has reached perfection; the Future Light Cannon, Altria, whose light can illuminate the future; the One-Punch Seven-Kills, Matō Shinji, whose fist contains the power of destruction; the Absolute Defense, Ryūdōji Temple Floor, indestructible and protective of all; and the Absolute Defense, the Doors of Ahnenerbe Café and the Electronics Shop – they may seem ordinary, but hide endless secrets.
In the world of Kara no Kyōkai, Ryougi Shiki also felt an unprecedented shock. She had always known she had multiple personalities, but never imagined she actually harbored a third personality she was unaware of.
Moreover, that personality was her prototype, the existence connected to the Root!
Connected to the Root—what a staggering concept!
Magecraft, after all, is merely something that deceives the world for a very short time through magical formulae.
However, their Magic is directly connected to the gods of the Root itself—no, it was the gods themselves back then, and Magic was directly derived from them!
The operation of Age of Gods Magecraft involves the magus connecting to the gods, and the gods connecting to the Root.
In short, it's an indirect connection to the Root. This is also why, after the end of the Age of Gods, as the gods departed one after another, Mystery gradually faded, Age of Gods Magecraft declined, and modern magecraft rose.
Yet, her third personality was actually directly connected to the Root! This discovery caused huge waves in Ryougi Shiki's heart.
That is to say, her existence is comparable to that of a god, and even surpasses many gods in certain aspects! Because many gods' understanding of all things is far less profound than hers!
At this moment, Ryougi Shiki was filled with endless curiosity about the video's content.
Soon, the light screen changed again.
[Amidst melodious background music, the sunset slowly sank, and snowflakes fell one after another... draping the entire city in a dreamy, hazy veil.]
[Then, the figure of Mikiya Kokutō appeared on the screen.]
[He held a black umbrella, walking amidst the falling snow.]
[Just like that night four years ago, in the silent, deserted white world, the girl in a kimono stood quietly, her gaze profound, as if staring into the darkness ahead.]
["——Kokutō, long time no see."]
[The girl standing there is a girl who seems strange, yet familiar.]
[A gentle smile appears on her face, as if she has known Kokutō for a long time.]
[Her name is Ryougi Shiki, yet she greets Kokutō with a tone colder than usual.]
[The one standing there is neither the Shiki that Kokutō knows well, nor SHIKI, but a familiar yet strange existence.]
["It is you... I always had a premonition I would see you again. Everything is as I expected. Shiki, is she asleep?"]
[Kokutō asked softly.]
["Yes, only you and I are here now." The girl responded with a gentle, magnetic voice.]
At this moment, watching this indescribable, somewhat strange yet exciting scene, the comments on the screen instantly became fervent.
The audience left messages expressing their awe and anticipation for this mysterious girl.
[Bullet Comments]
[Aozaki Touko]: This is the first time I've seen Shiki like this...
[Ryougi Shiki]: This is also the first time I've truly seen my third personality, and it's on a screen. If not for this video, I wouldn't have known I had such a side...
[Ryougi Mana]: Huh?! Mom is so gentle... But even so, I won't give up on defeating Mom!
[Kokutō Maria]: Huh?! She's so beautiful and gentle... But even so, I will never give up!
Simultaneously, within the light screen.
[As her words fell, the girl revealed a peerless smile.]
[That smile seemed born for a woman, perfect and flawless. After a brief silence, Mikiya Kokutō also slowly let out a sigh, a hint of understanding on his face.]
["I see. You're not the female Shiki, nor the male SHIKI. Then, who are you?" His voice was full of doubt.]
[Faced with this doubt, the girl did not hesitate at all.]
["I am me." She responded gently.]
[After a moment of silence, the girl's voice sounded again, like a spring breeze.]
["I am different from the other two personalities in this body. Shiki and SHIKI are like two extremes, and between these two extremes, there is nothing. And I exist at the balance point between those extremes."]
[She continued speaking, her voice revealing a profound philosophy: "For things you like, even if you agree with them in your heart, if you are unwilling to accept them and reject them, you are bound to be hurt. That was the way my past self, Shiki and SHIKI, existed."]
Hearing this, Li Shuwen in the Great Qin Lostbelt couldn't help but nod, agreeing with the girl's view.
"So that's it. Just like Tai Chi... an existence that maintains balance?"
At this moment, Li Shuwen was filled with interest in the girl on the screen.
The woman connected to the Root... If he could fight her, it would surely be a wonderful contest. However, he knew there was no reconciliation between the Lostbelt and Proper Human History, so such an opportunity was unattainable.
Just as he was thinking, the content on the light screen continued to unfold.
["I also have something to ask you." The girl's voice was clear and pleasant, echoing in the air.]
["Although it's a bit regrettable, let's end our conversation here. Because I showed up for this very reason." As she spoke, the girl turned and looked at Mikiya Kokutō, a gentle smile on her face.]
["Tell me, what do you want?" Her gaze was deep and mature, staring straight at Mikiya Kokutō.]
[This question came so suddenly that Mikiya Kokutō was momentarily at a loss, and could only stare blankly at the girl before him.]
[Though her expression was calm, it revealed an unquestionable firmness.]
["Tell me your wish, Kokutō-kun! As long as it is a human wish, I can basically make it come true!"]
[This was not a lie. As a being connected to the Root, she possessed power akin to a god's and was nearly omnipotent.]
["Shiki seems to like you very much, so my power is your power. Tell me, what do you desire?"]
[The girl's tone was full of sincerity and expectation, as if as long as Kokutō spoke, she could immediately turn his wish into reality.]
[As the girl's words fell, she slowly extended her hand. Her clear, transparent eyes seemed capable of seeing through people's hearts. They were profound and lacked humanity, revealing a temperament similar to that of a god.]
At this moment, the audience could not remain calm upon hearing such a conversation!
[Bullet Comments]
[Romani Archaman]: Any wish can be fulfilled!? Isn't that equivalent to the Holy Grail, an all-purpose wish-granting machine!? Does that mean this girl actually possesses the function of the Holy Grail!?
[Waver Velvet]: But how is that possible? How can a human do such a thing? Is that girl the equivalent of a human-shaped Holy Grail!?
[Gilgamesh]: No, this is indeed possible. After all, that one is connected to the Root, so it's understandable she has such an ability. Also, that one can no longer be described as a simple human.
[Tōsaka Tokiomi]: Magi pursue the Holy Grail in order to reach the Root... and that girl herself is connected to the Root and possesses the Holy Grail's wish-granting ability, which is also normal.
[Aozaki Aoko]: I'm really curious about what kind of wish that man will make.
[Aozaki Touko]: Based on my understanding of him, I feel he probably won't make any wish... What a pity.]