Alter Ego, Rasputin.
A special Servant who only appears in the Lostbelts of FGO Part 2, possessing the body of the Holy Church priest named Kirei Kotomine. He acts as both an enemy and a friend to Chaldea.
One has to admit that the Fifth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City is truly the origin of all things in the Fate series, in every sense.
Basically, any character who has shown their face in this Holy Grail War will have countless derivatives, isotopes, and possessed bodies. One wonders if this is something to be envied.
Perhaps the Wizard Marshal Zelretch, observing the multiverse, has some thoughts on this?
"Alter Ego??"
"What kind of ghostly class is that? And why would that priest become a Servant!"
Facing Red Archer's explanation regarding the nature of Kirei Kotomine's Spirit Origin, Rin Tohsaka, refusing to surrender, complained to the Red Archer beside her while countering the opponent's attacks with Gem Magecraft.
She had thought that by being reborn at this point in time, she could slay her way through this Holy Grail War and make up for the regrets of the past!
But now, it seemed she was a bit too naive.
In this past Fuyuki, she was far from the only one who had become stronger!
"Stubborn resistance."
Rasputin—or perhaps Kirei Kotomine—sighed and shook his head.
As the Overseer of this Holy Grail War, and simultaneously its de facto initiator, he was incomparably clear about his goal.
With the overflowing black mud in the Holy Grail having already become a Noble Phantasm at his command, he only needed to pour the souls of more Servants into it and perform a transformation.
Then, using this massive amount of black mud, he would resolve that stubborn, lingering Nameless King.
He wanted to let the other party know that what he was protecting was an ultimately laughable scam.
"Shikai · Cycle of Indestructibility, Manjusaka—"
However, the variables were not limited to Rin Tohsaka, who seemed to come from the future.
When the girl with long, straight black hair—an outsider, an interferer, and a destroyer—shouted the True Name of the Zanpakuto in her hand, blossoms of Red Spider Lilies, red as blood, quietly bloomed from beneath Kirei Kotomine's feet!
The flowers, connected to their roots and stems, treated everything as if it were nothing. They rooted themselves into Kirei Kotomine's flesh along his heels, crawling from his blood vessels and nerves towards the heart of his body.
"...A bit interesting."
This energy, completely different from magical energy, caused Kirei Kotomine to frown, especially when he discovered that these strange Red Spider Lilies could actually ignore the barrier formed by his Mana Burst.
One must know that he was now undoubtedly a top-tier Servant. Coupled with the martial arts he had refined in the Holy Church, he could even fight against the Heroic Spirit King Gilgamesh going all out.
As expected of an outsider. Even the Master is not simple. But precisely because of this, it better reflects the value of his path of seeking the truth.
Kirei Kotomine clenched his palm into a fist. Assuming the charging stance of Bajiquan, dark red magical energy surged as he delivered a heavy strike towards the empty air in front of him—
"—Uh?!"
Although his body hadn't moved at all and he was still dozens of meters away from Nikaido Hiro, his fist struck Nikaido Hiro's body as if ignoring the limitations of space!
The girl let out a cry of pain and was sent flying backwards!
The power of this remote strike even kicked up dust and caused cracks in the ground!
If it were an ordinary person, receiving this blow would likely result in ruptured intestines and certain death!
"Nikaido-san!"
Although she had only met Nikaido Hiro by chance, Rin Tohsaka became anxious witnessing this scene.
Though she had become a Magus, her kind nature had not been worn away. She could not accept any innocent life fading before her eyes.
"Archer, go check on Nikaido-san's condition! ...Huh?"
However, just as Rin Tohsaka intended to prioritize Nikaido Hiro's life, decisively taking off the gem necklace around her neck to rescue and heal her, a sudden mutation occurred!
As the dust raised by the body hitting the ground dissipated, what she saw was not a dying Nikaido Hiro who had suffered Kirei Kotomine's Bajiquan attack.
Instead, it was a girl with tentacles sprouting from her head and multiple fleshy eyes growing on her face!
There was even a small purple-gold crown on her head. That was the reward awarded to the girl named Nikaido Hiro by Suke for placing first in the Stardew Valley Festival of Ice competition.
Nikaido Hiro didn't know why the black crown originally on her head would turn into this after she became Witch-transformed. Perhaps it was the handiwork of that Farmer?
But she felt that her current state was quite miraculous, at least better than her state during past Witch-transformations.
"You are..."
Rin Tohsaka stared in bewilderment. Seeing Nikaido Hiro's inhuman appearance, she instantly associated it with the monsters named "Dead Apostles" found in magic tomes.
But Dead Apostles didn't seem to look like this. Aren't these physical characteristics a bit too obvious?
"We'll talk later."
Nikaido Hiro ignored Rin Tohsaka. beneath her long skirt, her slender legs clad in black stockings and round-toed leather shoes suddenly exerted force. Gripping her Zanpakuto, she launched herself at Kirei Kotomine like a cannonball!
"A decent enemy."
The Shikai Zanpakuto glowed in the girl's hand, transforming into a slender, thorn-covered rod resembling a rose stem... a rapier?
It felt somewhat similar to a fire poker. Rin Tohsaka wondered if it was her imagination.
"Let's test my blade on you."
"Shikai · Fallen Flower Burial—!"
Aiming the rapier's tip at Kirei Kotomine's head, Nikaido Hiro descended from the sky, the aura erupting from the Zanpakuto locking onto Kirei Kotomine!
This was the ability of Nikaido Hiro's Zanpakuto in its released state. As long as one entered its attack range, it would carry the property of "sure-hit"!
Sizzle—!
The rapier ignored the magical energy barrier, piercing straight into Kirei Kotomine's skull as if piercing a sheet of paper!
Although no wound was visible, it seemed to have pierced his soul. Such intense pain caused even the long-tempered will of Kirei Kotomine, an Executor of the Holy Church, to twist his face involuntarily!
"A very formidable move, but this is not enough."
Enduring the severe pain of his soul seemingly being penetrated, this move was indeed undefendable, a killing blow carrying some kind of rule.
If it were a target with slightly weaker willpower, even if their strength and magical energy were greater, they would likely have fainted and lost under this strike.
But Kirei Kotomine, who possessed the "Saint" trait, would not.
He just stared dead at the girl before him who had transformed into a monster as a foreign invader, preparing to return an eye for an eye:
"Moreover, you made a fatal mistake, and that is delivering yourself right before my eyes, attempting to engage me in close quarters... Hmm?"
"Hmph."
But Kirei Kotomine was wrong.
Accompanied by a light chuckle from the girl before him, the rapier that had penetrated his skull and pierced straight into his soul underwent a change!
Flash!
The smooth body of the rapier suddenly unfurled barbs like the petals of a Red Spider Lily, blooming from the center of Kirei Kotomine's soul as if in full blossom!
"Uh, aaaaaahhhhh—!!!"
This was already pain beyond what a primate lifeform could endure. It was unbearable even for Kirei Kotomine, the cold and ruthless seeker of truth, causing him to let out a miserable scream!
If Suke were here, facing Nikaido Hiro's Zanpakuto whose combat skill module was incomparably similar to the Blasphemous Blade, a PVP artifact from a certain Ring game, he would be completely speechless.
The rabbit head occupies the brain; has even the weapon automatically evolved in the direction of Tria-Harak?
When will the small scythe and the left bow loop be arranged?
Haji-Hiro, you guy!
"Now, Archer!"
The pain of his heart being pecked and flesh gouged from his soul distracted Kirei Kotomine. The barrier surrounding him that blocked Red Archer's projected Noble Phantasms weakened accordingly!
Rin Tohsaka wasn't useless either. Strike while you're down, take your life—if the person who came wasn't Kirei Kotomine who said those words, she might have thought about it before making a decision!
But unfortunately, the person who came was him!
Then go tell it to her Gem Magecraft and Servant!
"Order received!"
Red Archer didn't waste words either. How could he not see that this was a golden opportunity!
Countless blades continued to be projected. At the same time, he drew his bow and nocked an arrow!
What he nocked was, of course, Caladbolg II (The Spiral Sword)!
Aiming at Kirei Kotomine's body, he released the bowstring without hesitation!
"Nikaido-san, dodge!"
With Rin Tohsaka's warning, Nikaido Hiro, whose physical constitution after Witch-transformation was strong enough to split metal and crack stone, kicked forward. Her figure instantly retreated violently, leaving a gap for the Spiral Sword to shoot through!
Boom, rumble, rumble—!!!
Countless sword-type Noble Phantasms and the Spiral Sword shooting explosively from a distance simultaneously hit Kirei Kotomine's body, which hadn't yet recovered from the Zanpakuto's soul attack. Light and heat intermingled, triggering an intense explosion!
"Did we win?"
"Yes, it looks like he's done for."
Rin Tohsaka looked at Red Archer beside her and saw him nod.
As an Archer with incomparably excellent vision, even through the flames and dust of the explosion, he clearly witnessed the scene of Kirei Kotomine's heart being pierced by the Spiral Sword.
If he could survive even this, that would be a bit horrifying.
Even if he obtained the possession of a Servant's Spirit Origin, Kirei Kotomine was still a human. He was ultimately not a Servant or a Dead Apostle.
No matter how one looked at it, he was undoubtedly dead, unless—
"Hahaha... Interesting, interesting!"
Loud laughter came from within the fire and smoke. After the firelight dissipated, Kirei Kotomine, whose body should have retained the injury from Nikaido Hiro's Zanpakuto attack and whose heart was pierced by the Spiral Sword, had actually not died!
His injuries had even fully healed; he was unscathed!
Because this was the trait possessed by the Heroic Spirit possessing Kirei Kotomine.
Its name is—[Undead Ba'al]!
Of course, Nikaido Hiro, Rin Tohsaka, and their group wouldn't know.
Seeing him unscathed under such a strike caused the morale of their side to involuntarily drop!
"Didn't you say he was done for?!"
Rin Tohsaka glared at Red Archer. This was the second time in a short period that this Archer of hers had spouted nonsense!
She remembered he wasn't like this before. His combat power hadn't become trash, but when did he become so fond of boasting?
"...Don't ask me. Pretend I don't know anything."
Red Archer didn't know what to say anymore.
He suddenly felt a bit imprisoned. Clearly, he didn't have to go jungling to collect intelligence this time.
If his Master were that person from Chaldea, perhaps the situation would be much better.
He didn't despise Rin Tohsaka; he just felt that when it came to winning against the strong as the weak, it was better left to the professionals.
Focusing on an effect where one plus one is greater than two.
"The farce ends here."
"I don't understand why you insist on being so stubborn, just for a person you met by chance... Since that is the case, I will no longer hold back."
Kirei Kotomine opened his arms to the invisible high sky. Even though this was still inside Red Archer's Reality Marble, Unlimited Blade Works, it gave Red Archer, the user of the Noble Phantasm, an extremely bad premonition!
Accompanied by the priest opening his arms, the sky of the Reality Marble was torn apart, revealing a circular, pitch-black hole!
Except for Nikaido Hiro, no one present was unfamiliar with this hole.
That was...
The Black Grail!?
"Let this black mud flow. Destroy you outsiders, and bury you along with the errors produced in this point in time."
The priest floated up towards the high sky. With his aura raised to the peak, he actually merged as one with the hole descended by the Black Grail, able to drive the flowing black mud as if it were his own limb!
"Careful, don't get touched by that black mud!"
Rin Tohsaka was the first to shout loudly. Red Archer and Nikaido Hiro didn't need her reminder to flee and retreat far away. However, they seemed to have forgotten someone—
"Wait, oh no!"
"Illya—!"
Carrying a backpack, the ordinary elementary school student Illya had no fear of the black mud flowing down from the sky. Instead, she took a step forward, actively walking towards the Black Grail.
"Illya, it's dangerous there, come back quick!"
Nikaido Hiro couldn't sit still anymore, although she had forgotten she still had such a child Servant.
But harboring justice in her heart, she would never sit by and watch others in danger, even for an "NPC" in the Simulated Universe.
After all, she had never seen such a flesh-and-blood NPC; calling her a real person wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Perhaps the others watching from outside were mocking her right now, but that didn't matter anymore. Her attachment to becoming stronger was to protect the justice in her heart, not to discard the justice in her heart for the sake of becoming stronger.
Steeling her heart and preparing herself to be eliminated because of this, Nikaido Hiro leaped out, intending to rescue Illya from the encirclement of the black mud!
But in just the blink of an eye, the situation underwent a sudden change again!
"?"
Nikaido Hiro only felt a burst of information flood into her mind!
[Servant: Illyasviel von Einzbern (Magical Girl)]
[Class: ~~Caster~~... Saver]
Illya, who was a Servant, suddenly had her petite body burst with light. In just a blink, a set of Magical Girl attire that looked like the most traditional kind, wielding a magic wand, appeared on her body!
Rin Tohsaka in the distance watched dumbfounded. What kind of strange art style is this thing!
"Thank you, Sister Hiro!"
"Although Illya knows that behavior like this is a bit risky, Illya cannot ignore everyone living in this city. And Illya also believes that Sister Hiro is the same kind of person as me!"
Nikaido Hiro similarly hadn't recovered from Illya's abrupt transformation.
But when the magic wand named "Ruby" in Illya's hand lit up, the hole that appeared in the sky of the Reality Marble was frozen at this moment!
"You are—!"
Kirei Kotomine widened his eyes. His face usually calm as an ancient well, not even surprised when Nikaido Hiro transformed into a Witch, was stunned after seeing this appearance of Illya.
Oh no, it wasn't because of her appearance.
It was because of the temperament she displayed, that highest realm which he, a fierce seeker of truth, had pursued all his life but could not obtain—
Saver (Savior, Awakened One, Saint).
"What kind of class is Saver?"
Facing the information transmitted into her mind, this Simulated Universe really didn't write about this.
"Saver? ...Also..."
Rin Tohsaka was equally bewildered, but Red Archer beside her had his eyelids twitching at this very moment.
Is this still Fuyuki? Where the hell has it sent him?
Could that poor backwater place of his have so many monsters and demons??
Don't tell me some Beast is going to drill out later!
The hole of the world spewing black mud was frozen by the Magical Girl. Kirei Kotomine stood dazed on the spot, but after a moment, he came back to his senses.
No.
Although he didn't know why the will of a Saver and the Counter Force would conflict with each other.
But the will of a single Saver should not be enough to compare with the Counter Force.
"Please forgive my rudeness, Saint..."
Kirei Kotomine piously drew a cross on his chest. Being loyal to a certain will, he had to fulfill his mission meticulously.
"Break for me—!"
At this moment, he finally raised his output to the maximum without reservation. The entire Fuyuki City, oh no, perhaps the entire planet was supplying magical energy for him!
The frozen Black Grail began to surge slightly again. But unfortunately, this was the furthest it would go.
"Guilty!"
The canopy of the Reality Marble was broken open a second time from the outside. A blonde village girl loli with holy wings like an angel descended here!
"Cease your actions immediately, Believer!"
"This is great disrespect to the Lord. If you do not wish to forsake the Lord, slit your throat and return to heaven right now!"
She issued a command to the priest named Kirei Kotomine that was somewhat baffling, yet didn't seem like a joke!
Behind her, Pretender, who was chatting and laughing with her partner, slowly paced over.
"Mr. Suke? Yuki?"
Seeing Suke was fine, but seeing Pretender, Nikaido Hiro was truly startled.
"How did you come here?"
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