Chapter 662

The dragon maid of the Xiao Lin family.

Pfft—!

Xiao Lin had just taken a sip of barley tea when she almost spat it out; she rubbed her eyes, making sure she wasn't seeing things.

Si Ke Te……that's Si Ke Te, actually protecting Zhigengniao?!

"Is... can the word 'justice' really be associated with Si Ke Te?"

The shock this gave Xiao Lin was no less than when she first saw Tuoer, but upon further thought, maybe she just doesn't understand Si Ke Te? After all, even a bad person isn't born evil; they too once pursued justice.

""Speaking of, this Assassin Noble Phantasm is truly wondrous—it doesn't simply split and copy the opponent, but separates a person's different inner aspects, possibly even completely contradictory personalities? Moreover, each split entity has an independent personality, which can clash with other personalities, causing conflict… How amazing.""

""If Xiao Lin were placed in it, couldn't it split into countless Xiao Lins?" Tuoer cupped his slightly red cheeks, a pair of large tails sweeping across the floor."

Xiao Lin waved her hand, cutting off Tuoer's unrealistic daydream: "If you overthink it… you'll probably end up like Zhigengniao, only managing to split off my clothes, glasses, and such? Splitting off a corporate slave, a drunkard, a maid fetishist—then nothing."

"But if the split 'me' could help go to work… then this would be the greatest Noble Phantasm in the universe!"

——

"Whether it's an explanation or punishment, as long as you can save Miss Zhigengniao, you may do whatever you wish."

"Lone Wolf Brothers gave a cold smile: "Whether one comes or two, the result is the same. You'll be trapped in a fate worse than death, playing the Little Hanu Action for a billion years."

After saying that, the Lone Wolf Brothers let out a very contented "hng."

"Cut the nonsense—come feel Pinokangni's most terrifying torment!"

After saying that, in a blinding flash of light, Xing was forcibly shrunk and stuffed into the outline of the Hanu Brothers.

Archer looked at the cartoon figurine on the ground, whose height didn't even reach his knee, unable to believe this was Xing just moments ago.

"Whoa, turning a person into a cartoon figure? Is this magic from the age of Greek mythology? No… the principle seems completely different."

Even though Xing now had countless things to say, she could only let out a very urgent "hng."

"…Has she lost even the rationality to communicate? Might as well just abandon her—after all, this guy's useless anyway." Archer, thinking Xing had lost her rationality, loudly began to conspire.

"???"

Xing let out a very fearful "hng."

"You can't understand this? Tch, we can't just ignore it—can you understand what she's saying?"

The origami Zhigengniao nodded vigorously: "Of course! The Hanu Brothers said they'd smash the evil spirit flat with one punch, chirp-chirp!"

Just Si Ke Te: "Ribbit?"

"Uhh…" These guys in front of him were completely incomprehensible, making Archer lower his head in anguish: "How did things come to this… is this a daycare or a zoo?"

——

fate/zero.

Deep within the Matou family manor, the worm storage.

The air reeked of a mix of rot and blood, nauseating. Matou Yanye sat slumped on the cold, damp ground, his back against a wall stained with filth, breathing heavily. He tilted his head slightly to the left; his left eye was cloudy and blind, his left arm and leg like rotten wood, completely numb. Only by maintaining this posture could he sit somewhat more comfortably.

The Holy Grail War in the sky was utterly different from the hell he found himself in; that girl named Xing could easily have a Servant eat a hundred hamburgers, and Archer's Master seemingly didn't have to pay any price either.

He couldn't even describe his current mood—envy, jealousy, resentment? Various emotions tangled like vines. After seeing others' Holy Grail War so "relaxed," he felt as if he were trapped in a nightmare that would never end.

"Hah… hah…" he tried to sneer, but could only produce a wheeze like a broken bellows.

Just then, with the sound of a cane tapping the ground, a short, frail figure slowly entered the worm storage.

"Yanye." Matou Zouyan's jet-black, muddy, reptilian eyes swept over him, the corner of his mouth twitching in a barely perceptible sneer: "What do you think of the Holy Grail War in the heavens?"

Seeing the one who had pushed Ying into the depths of hell, Yanye's stomach churned. He doubled over, uncontrollably coughing violently; several mouthfuls of viscous, dark-red‑streaked filth sprayed from his mouth, splattering onto the filthy ground.

"Get lost…" his words sounded as if squeezed from between his teeth.

"Heh, you're envious, right? But that's not what a Holy Grail War should look like." Matou Zouyan's frail body trembled slightly: "Yanye, for the sake of the final Holy Grail, and for Ying, you must give it your all."

——

"Amid the surrounding cries of the animals, Archer's temple twitched ever so slightly; since the start of this Holy Grail War, this is the worst mental attack he's endured."

Xing walked up to a television set, hoping to change back then. Unfortunately, the Lone Wolf Brothers had beaten her to it, destroying every Hanu Brothers TV in the audiovisual amusement park.

"What, is there something fishy about this TV? Or does the way to break the curse have something to do with it?"

Xing let out an affirmative "hng."

Xing gazed hopefully at Si Ke Te beside her, but as a just television set, he could only give her every kind of support except actual help.

Perhaps it was psychological; from his expression Xing saw three parts coolness, seven parts mockery. Burning with anger, she kicked Si Ke Te hard.

"Ribbit?"

Archer had a good idea: "How about this—I'll ask you a question; if you answer 'yes,' you kick that guy once; if 'no,' you kick him twice."

He paused, then continued: "Is this TV the key to breaking the curse, right?"

Xing kicked once.

"According to ordinary magical logic, as long as you destroy the core, you can dispel the effect. Do you need me to smash this TV?"

"No need."

Xing thought to herself, then kicked Si Ke Te several more hard times, making him croak wildly.

"Then, thinking the other way around, do you need me to repair this machine, or restore its process, right?"

"Yes!"

Xing began kicking Si Ke Te frantically.

"Ribbit Ribbit Ribbit!!"

In the park, frog croaks filled the air.

Archer finally understood what to do next; he rubbed his eyes, wearing the expression of someone who could finally escape hell.

"Finally time to end—traceon."