"Is this... a sunshower?"
Raindrops, cool against the skin, splashed across the face of the white-haired youth. His expression was distant, tinged with nostalgia.
"My, my. You sound like an old man. So fond of looking back... why not just stay in the past forever?"
The one mocking him was a statuesque woman with flowing black hair, her mature curves radiating a dangerous allure. Just a glance at her would be enough to rob most men of reason.
Perfect in form, even the silver nail driven into her palm—wrapped with black ribbon—carried a cruel yet exquisite beauty.
Her name was Semiramis, the infamous queen of Assyria. Her deeds were many, but most remembered was the murder of her husband and the usurpation of his throne.
Such a Heroic Spirit should have been a ruthless schemer, yet here she stood docile behind the youth, speaking lightly with teasing words.
Perhaps for this venomous queen, such a scene was a luxury—a falsehood that had no place in reality.
But the air was soft, the atmosphere gentle. Semiramis smiled like a noble lady, graceful yet unmistakably feminine.
"Stay in the past? Once was enough." The white-haired youth's voice was calm. His eyes, clear as glass, brimmed with heavy thoughts.
"Still brooding over that foolish wish of yours? Under this rain, why not simply admire the beauty of it?" Semiramis laughed softly, though her tone carried a trace of approval.
"Don't you think this world is broken?" The youth—no, the solemn priest—closed his eyes, pain shadowing his features. "It is. Broken. Humanity has no salvation. Whether magi or mortals, they do nothing but harm one another, drowning in strife."
"Oh? Isn't that just normal?"
"You know the answer already." He blinked, a wry smile tugging his lips. "Of course it is. But the reason I was born into this world is to change that corruption."
"You give yourself far too much importance, Amakusa." The dark-haired lady chuckled, her words heavy. "To this world, to Gaia and Alaya, even Heroic Spirits are insignificant. Nothing more than insects, slightly sturdier than the rest."
"Yes. Exactly. And that's why... I'll bring every last one of them true salvation." The youth—Amakusa Shirou Tokisada—spoke with solemn reverence, his face marked by sorrow. "It's my wish, and the wish of all those who fight alongside me. With these hands, I'll see it done—"
"This Holy Grail War is the miracle I must seize!"
"Is that so... Truly, your will is impressive. I'll enjoy watching this play unfold. Don't die too easily, Amakusa."
With that, Semiramis' form dissolved into black motes of mana, fading into the sunshower.
"It really is a sunshower, isn't it?" Amakusa lifted his head, smiling bitterly. "Every time I see one, I can't help but think of the fox bride. If the enemy summons the golden nine-tails... then this Holy Grail War might be too close to call."
◇◇◇
At that same moment, within the Black Faction's stronghold, the Yggdmillennia castle—
A squad of Automaton maids in black-and-white uniforms, outfits cut a touch too revealing, leveled their weapons at the fox-tailed girl in blue silken robes.
"Let go of Master! Let me handle this!" RyuZU had already drawn her twin pitch-black scythes. But with Rhodes cradled tight in the girl's arms, she had no way to "rescue" him.
"Hah? What's with you mangy cats?! Pointing weapons at me? If Master weren't still asleep, I'd have torn you to pieces already!"
The fox girl bared her teeth, posturing like a canine threatening its foes.
"Put Master down. We'll replenish his mana." RyuZU's voice was sharp, her expression growing darker.
Her *Time Stop* was already building mana, ready to snatch Rhodes back from the fox's arms.
"How am I supposed to trust you lot of two-timing cats?!" the fox shouted. But her face betrayed guilt, her bark fiercer than her bite.
"Ugh..." A faint groan rose from her embrace. Rhodes lifted a hand, pushing aside the suffocating weight of her ample chest. "Hah... thought I was about to suffocate..."
"Ah! You're awake, Master!" The pink-haired fox beamed with obvious delight.
"So, you're my Master, right? I can feel it—you are! Then the contract's sealed! I am Tamamo-no-Mae, pleased to serve you from now on!"
Chattering excitedly, Tamamo-no-Mae seized the moment of Rhodes' daze, eagerly pressing her lips toward his—like a lovesick fool.
*Clang!*
The sound rang out through the workshop. Unable to stomach the scene, RyuZU unleashed Time Stop, flickered to Tamamo's side, and wedged her black scythe blade between their faces.
Tamamo's face smacked hard against the flat of the scythe. Were it not for fear of hurting Rhodes, it would've been the edge instead.
"Ow! Ow! Ow—!" The foolish fox howled, dazed, as Rhodes wriggled free from her fragrant, voluptuous body.
Rhodes had modeled Tamamo's current Automaton vessel after her *FGO* form... with certain proportions subtly "enhanced." Enough that even he had trouble keeping composed.
"Phew..." Finally freed from her clutches, he let out a long breath. "Don't you hate me? I trapped you here, kept you from returning to the Throne of Heroes."
"Nani? What nonsense are you spouting, Master?!" Tamamo pouted, genuinely baffled. "You think Heroic Spirits *like* staying cooped up in that boring Throne of Heroes? Anyone who does is either an idiot or a shut-in!"
"Tch... why do I feel insulted?" Rhodes shook his head, then added, "So, what if I summon a few more Heroic Spirits?"
"No way! If Master summons anyone else, I'll... I'll cry right in front of you!" Tamamo yowled like a cat with its tail stepped on, face scrunched in despair. "I finally got this body! I can finally stay by your side forever! If some third wheel shows up—"
"Then I'll show you the true meaning of the 'Polygamy Castration Fist: Marriage Fraud Execution Cannon!'"
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