Chapter 349: The High Jump That Year

Fifteen days later

"It's been no easy feat…"

Tenzan Lixiang stared at the Weygong residence before him, tears welling in his eyes, as if he had finally reached the end of a long and arduous journey.

"It was just a Spiritron transfer to Fuyuki—why did it take so long?!" Tenzan Lixiang recalled the trials he endured arriving on this timeline, and tears began to fall:

"Who could have known that without the Inhibitor, this timeline became an oasis in the Numeral Sea? Now, every possibility rejected by the Common Human History is flooding toward this timeline!"

"And even if the inability to create Singularities is a problem, it's not mine to fix."

The events surrounding this Spiritron transfer could only be described as utterly exhausting.

From the very first Spiritron transfer, he was forcibly shifted into strange spaces and remnants of Parallel Worlds, all clinging to the spacetime rift of this timeline and merging with it, utterly defenseless.

Who knew how long she had spent trapped in that bizarre timeline!

"Senior! We've finally made it here!!!" Mashu placed a hand on Tenzan Lixiang's shoulder, encouraging him.

"It's all behind us now—we've got Tiamat and Dracow joining us, haven't we? That's not so bad."

Various strange timelines surrounding this one, along with beasts near neighboring worlds, had dragged her into their chaos as well.

"Well then, all in all, isn't this a happy ending?" DaDa Liya smiled.

"Now not only is Human History saved—Chaldea is full of beasts, hahaha."

Weigong Shilang shook his head, saying nothing more.

"…" Tenzan Lixiang forced a smile, enduring the terrifying magical energy emanating from behind him.

"Yes, nothing's wrong with it—but Human History still needs saving."

Tenzan Lixiang straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and rang the doorbell of the Weygong residence.

A moment later…

"Coming! It's not even mealtime yet—Rin, why are you here today…?"

Saber opened the door and found Tenzan Lixiang of Chaldea standing there; sensing the spectral Servants behind him—their number and spiritual base far exceeding the level of the Holy Grail War—she froze.

"Are you here to declare war?"

"That joke's a bit too frightening," Tenzan Lixiang laughed.

"We've come to visit Senior Weygong and the various deities—may we come in?"

A powerful barrier covers the entire estate; without permission, forcibly entering this house would be nearly impossible.

"Wait a moment."

Not long after, Saber reappeared. "Please, come in."

Only after receiving the master's permission did Tenzan Lixiang step into the villa.

"You may all enter—even if you materialize. The interior is spacious," Saber said, pulling open the inner door. Before their eyes stretched a corridor dozens of meters long, its space clearly asymmetrical to the external design.

"Lunch will be ready in about an hour and a half. Shirou is currently occupied in the kitchen at the far end—please wait in the parlor or rest in the vacant Cave Heaven World."

"The other rooms are for guests; please do not wander around."

Tai Gongwang shifted from spectral form to physical form and smiled. "You've created a Cave Heaven World inside this house? Is Yuanshi Tianzun there?"

During this time, Tianzun had not returned to the Immortal Realm—meaning he was still on this timeline.

"Yuanshi Tianzun? He spends most of his time in the Jade Pure Palace above. He only comes down for meals," Saber said as she walked ahead.

"The Cave Heaven was originally opened for other guests to cultivate in, but after Mr. Su Lin brought the Water Mirror Peak the next day, most guests spent their time on the floating island of Water Mirror Peak, leaving many Cave Heaven Worlds vacant."

"Su Lin?" Tenzan Lixiang thought. "The cultivator who summoned Yuanshi Tianzun?"

Saber: "No—he's the Creator."

"An Eastern-style name?" Tenzan Lixiang suddenly recalled having seen the "Creator" in two different forms—were these symbolic representations from mythology?

Saber led them to an unremarkable sliding door; the instant she pulled it open, sunlight and a cool breeze rushed in.

"This is excessive." Tenzan Lixiang stared at the scene before him.

It was an island, surrounded by ocean, vast and expansive, covered in lush green vegetation, its scenery delightfully serene.

Was this a Cave Heaven—or had space technology linked it to the seashore?

When she closed the door, the spectral Servants all materialized at once.

Saber nodded to the materialized Round Table Knights, then glanced at the various versions of herself—her expression subtly strange. Lately, Dada Liya had let her play that game called FGO.

She'd said she'd help with gacha pulls—but none had ever come out.

"I thought those beings had already left. Judging by this, they plan to stay a long time," Weygong Shilang said, gazing at the beach and the rolling waves.

"I remember this used to be the storage room. Maybe because of the Youth Potion—I've started recalling hazy memories."

"I really hope you remember your past lives—both the one before this one and the one before that," Tenzan Lixiang crouched down and pinched a blade of wild grass beneath a coconut tree.

"Oh, by the way—has anything unusual happened in this world lately?"

She suddenly remembered the multiple subspaces Chaldea had observed converging on this timeline.

"After that?" Saber thought, then said:

"It seems the Inhibitor intervened—the disturbance that night didn't trigger any incidents in human society; ordinary people just thought they'd had a dream."

"Lately, many magicians and strange creatures have come to Fuyuki, but all have been handled by someone specifically assigned."

"I've also noticed anomalies during my night patrols of Fuyuki—but nothing serious."

Saber didn't elaborate, but it made sense—given the presence of these great deities, there should be no real threat.

"I see," Tenzan Lixiang nodded. "Thank you, Saber."

"No need for thanks," Saber smiled. "I'm heading to the floating island—I can't accompany you further."

With so many guests, hosting a banquet would require vast amounts of ingredients; Weygong Shilang asked her to fetch some Sea Kings from other worlds and harvest spices from Water Mirror Peak.

After Saber left, Weigong Shilang asked:

"If the Inhibitor intervened, then why is the Age of Gods gradually returning to this world?"

Yes, according to Caliburn's judgment, the Divine Age in this timeline is reviving, and the concentration of aether in the air is steadily increasing at a strength humans can adapt to.

Coupled with the events Fujimaru Lixiang has encountered, and the fact that Tiamat, originally trapped in the Imaginary Number Sea, can now "come ashore," this world is confirmed to be experiencing the return of the Divine Age.

Yet the decline of the Divine Age was an inevitable historical progression: due to the three progressive factors—the Star's invasion, humanity's severance from the gods, and the death of Solomon—the planet's natural deities could only observe the world as higher-dimensional beings, unable to interfere.

Logically, this should be impossible.

Yet God, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Odin have all descended—what is not possible?

"If one wishes to precisely obscure the event, only the Counterforce can achieve it—but those few great figures can do the same," Waver denied:

"Perhaps King Arthur is unaware of this matter."

"Perhaps," Lord El-Melloi II nodded, his gaze fixed on the shallow sea, where Servants had already donned swim-based Spirit Origins and begun surfing and splashing:

"Honestly, we didn't come here for a vacation."

Alice菲尔 agreed: "Exactly—I came to see when my own child will hold a wedding."

Magical Girl Liya: "Stop talking!"

"." Weigong Shilang could not speak at this moment—lest the children misunderstand him.

Fujimaru Lixiang shouted: "No using Noble Phantasms! This is someone else's territory! Strange… why is the seawater over there green?"

At Caliburn, such moments were common: during lulls in saving human history, they'd often end up at the beach due to bizarre developments, embarking on strange adventures or relaxing near subspecies Singularity points.

While the Servants played and relaxed, less than half an hour passed—then the space, no, the door suddenly opened.

A stunningly beautiful woman with a bob haircut and bangs covering her eyebrows stumbled in and collapsed onto the sand.

"Someone, just kill me already… the sensation of magical overload and a hundred days without sleep is too excruciating," she propped herself up, dark circles heavy under her eyes, hair disheveled:

"Su Lin, Lu Mingfei… who are you guys?"

"Did a game character walk into reality?"

Right before her eyes stood the Round Table Knights, now clad in their Spiritron Dresses.

The bearded man nearby perked up and rushed over, "My beautiful young lady—"

Crack—

Blood sprayed.

Penglai Penglai Shan Huiye strained every last ounce of strength, forcing her unresponsive fingers into her mouth—teeth and flesh flew apart instantly.

In terms of appearance, she was no less beautiful than any of Caliburn's Servants; her unique charm and girlish attire were almost unforgettable at first glance.

Yet this girl's head exploded instantly, blood splattering everywhere.

Tristan opened his eyes, staring blankly at the headless corpse on the ground.

Before anyone could speak, in the span of a single second, time reversed—the young woman on the ground regrew a new head, leaving only the dark red sand soaked in blood as proof of what had just occurred.

"It's good that we have measures against plot armor—though it hurts a bit," Penglai Penglai Shan Huiye touched her head, gritting her teeth.

"Next time I'll use the Strange Fire instead—I only came out of the room to avoid splattering blood everywhere."

"Aren't these Caliburn's Servants? Are you guys reenacting a summer event here? I don't have any shops for you to exchange materials."

"How did I end up in this room…?"

The bearded man shrank back—his pirate instincts warned him this woman was dangerous, so he slipped quietly into the crowd of onlookers.

Fujimaru Lixiang walked up; she hadn't gone into the sea, only rested in a nearby pavilion. "Miss… are you alright?"

"I'm fine—I've already revived," Penglai Penglai Shan Huiye brushed sand off her body, expression disgusted:

"What a nuisance—I have to bathe again… When did you all arrive?"

"Not long ago," Fujimaru Lixiang noticed the woman's gaze fixed on Merlin (female). "Do you know Merlin?"

"I sank," Penglai Penglai Shan Huiye sighed. "You've got every Servant here—did you collect the whole bestiary?"

Fujimaru Lixiang had no idea what this woman was talking about—they were clearly not on the same wavelength.

"I recall, Madam, you also appeared beneath the Great Holy Grail," Lord El-Melloi II extinguished his cigarette and smiled:

"Might I ask your name?"

"To stand before a figure such as yourself and not know how to address you—would be most impolite."

A rare opportunity.

Until now, Caliburn's knowledge of the "friends" mentioned by Weigong Shilang had been limited to five named entities.

Penglai Penglai Shan Huiye pointed to herself and smiled:

"My name is Penglai Penglai Shan Huiye—the tale of Huiye from the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter describes me."

Princess Kaguya?!

The legend of the elixir of immortality and resurrection.

So…

What connection exists between the Norse All-Father, the God from beyond the universe, Yuanshi Tianzun of the Immortal Realm, and Princess Kaguya from the Japanese folk tale "Tale of the Bamboo Cutter"? And there's also a high school mage.

'Where on earth did these people meet?' Lord El-Melloi II and the others all silently wondered.

"I've heard your story," Professor Moriarty stepped forward from the crowd of Servants. "To see you in person confirms what foreign myths describe—you are a beautiful princess."

Penglai Penglai Shan Huiye concealed her lower face with an exaggerated sleeve and smiled sweetly:

"Nonsense—your legendary duel with Holmes is a tale I often reread, Professor Moriarty."

Professor Moriarty's pupils contracted—because in the instant they spoke, all bloodstains around them vanished, and the dark red sand soaked in blood disappeared as well.

Not a trace remained.

Yet the sand had clearly been disturbed.

"If petty human intrigues can bring you a smile, then they've gained meaning," Professor Moriarty smiled faintly.

"You, who stepped from myth into this filthy mortal world—do you come to remember the land you once dwelled upon?"

In myth, the heavenly beings of the moon regarded Earth as a defiled place.

He said this merely to probe the other's intentions.

"No," Hanyama Kiyotsuki smiled brightly, "I came only to observe the Holy Grail War, and will temporarily reside here afterward."

"Do you know Weigong Shilang, Miss Kiyotsuki?" Tenzan Lixiang asked.

"Mr. Su Lin told us not to take reincarnation seriously—so did you meet during a journey through a Parallel World?"

"This setup is too marvelous," William Shakespeare stepped forward and pleaded,

"If you have time, please tell me how you all came to know one another—perhaps I could write an unprecedented story."

Too eager!

William Shakespeare's blunt question was too eager; everyone couldn't help but think.

"How did you meet?"

Hanyama Kiyotsuki did not hesitate; she placed her hands together before her and smiled:

"I gazed down from the Moon at this land where I once lived."

"It was an evening of crimson twilight, the entire city dyed the color of maple leaves."

William Shakespeare widened his eyes, pulled out pen and paper, and began scribbling furiously, "So poetic—the cold serenity of the Moon against the warm hues of the earth. Excuse me! Please continue."

"Even cities on the ground hold no meaning for me; technology and architecture are fundamentally empty."

"At that moment, I saw a person practicing high jump on the playground."

(End of Chapter)