Chapter 27

Yuan Cang Shan.

One of the mountain ranges in the southwest of Fuyuki City, it can be said to be the hub of the Mana flowing through this land. Atop the summit stands Liu Dong Si towering majestically, while beneath it lies a deep and vast underground cavity, a place named the Dragon's Cave — an alias for the Leyline — where it dwells.

That is to say, the so-called "Long Dong".

It is also the origin of the name "Liu Dong Si" built upon the mountain.

That Great Void spreading underground is the installation site of the Great Holy Grail, the place where the first Holy Grail descended.

However, according to the on-site investigation Medea conducted after signing a contract yesterday, obtaining Mana supply, and recovering her ability to act, she discovered a massive hidden danger akin to a time bomb.

Relying on the vicious insight of an Age of Gods Magician, Medea quickly perceived that someone had created a "Tumor" on Yuan Cang Shan; the Spiritual Power generated at several convergences of Dragon Veins would accumulate upon it as time grew.

When this accumulated power reaches an unbearable threshold, the hidden cavity within Yuan Cang Shan would undoubtedly collapse, thereby triggering the termination of the entire Holy Grail System.

"Since the creation of this Tumor, at least seven or eight years have passed. If it develops according to the current situation, then roughly fifteen to twenty years from now, this anticipated ending will arrive. Even if the process is hindered, it merely postpones this deadline to within thirty years……"

The Witch of Greece calmly stated her insight.

"Its creator should have hoped to see this scene. It is a pity that, just as you said, Master, this Holy Grail War is too special……"

"……"

"……"

"Indeed, it is being held again merely ten years apart. If not for this, perhaps even this Holy Grail War would not have had the chance to occur, right?"

Rin Tohsaka muttered to herself, standing at the foot of Yuan Cang Shan, looking at the mountain body ahead.

She heard the implication in Caster's words, and also subconsciously suspected whether the person capable of doing such a thing might be a participant of the previous Holy Grail War, yet she had few clues.

The Master Lady, her thoughts in chaos, thought and thought again, and ultimately could not bear to shake her head.

Afterward, she turned her face and subconsciously asked Caster: "Caster, is there a way to stop this?"

"There is, but this person's methods are not necessarily that clever…… merely, the opponent holds the advantage in time." The Witch of Greece said this tactfully. "And we may not have that much time, Master."

Wanting to resolve this matter is not very difficult, as long as it is not during the Holy Grail War period.

With the heavens as a countdown timer, uncertain whether it is today or tomorrow, a war period that could end directly at any moment…… is it really necessary to spare energy to do this kind of thankless task? This question is very much worth debating.

Rin Tohsaka also fell into contemplation. A moment later, she clenched her fists and said resolutely: "It seems there is no other way…… Caster, act according to your suggestion."

"As you command. Leave the rest to me, Master."

Medea bowed lightly and nodded, also casting her gaze toward Yuan Cang Shan ahead.

Next, she would use this place as a base to construct her own Magecraft Stronghold. As an Age of Gods Witch, she possesses the Territory Creation Skill reaching A Rank, fully capable of producing a "Temple" surpassing a "Workshop".

This is precisely Caster's correct way of playing.

Demanding she fight everywhere like a warrior is unreasonable. Just as Assassin's vocation lies in stealth assassination, this Class was never established for frontal confrontation with opponents from the start. Each Class has its own unique characteristics and positioning.

Xia Zhi at the rear calmly watched all this, expressing no opinion.

If the status quo were still maintained with no turning point appearing, he might have hesitated a bit — the Witch lady he randomly picked up on the road actually fancied the same place as him, and might mess up his plans.

In that situation, he would have had to weigh whether he should let the beautiful colleague end her manifestation in the Mortal World ahead of schedule and return to the Throne of Heroes……

However, the situation is now different. Xia Zhi keenly captured a greater opportunity from the current state, and the realization of this opportunity clearly cannot do without this Witch lady's strong assistance; it requires relying on her solid professional knowledge and skills to be possible.

Therefore, after deep consideration weighing pros and cons, he decided to temporarily shelve his "Eat Dirt Grand Plan".

Of course, mainly because the efficiency of eating dirt is obviously gradually declining. Even if everything goes smoothly, assuming he can continue this behavior undisturbed for several consecutive days, it would probably only let his own Mana barely double once more……

——Actually, such a growth rate is already shocking.

——Under such crude usage, the Stone Boiling Technique can still achieve significant improvement; behind this actually lies the benefit of the unique nature of Yuan Cang Shan or the Great Holy Grail.

If under normal circumstances, he still attempted to use this rough sleight of hand, continuously converting Dragon Vein energy to enhance his own Mana, he would perceive the true efficiency of this method to be low to an unbearable degree, fundamentally impracticable.

Tracing the cause, in ordinary Spiritual Lands, the concentration and quality of Dragon Vein energy are far inferior to here……

Even if fortunate enough to encounter an energy location of the same level, the Spiritual Power contained within would certainly not be the colorless power most suitable for conversion, pure and flawless……

Basically, that is how it is.

Although Xia Zhi had also perceived this, he had no plan for the time being. Until Medea brought new Intelligence, he keenly realized that his strategy of initially trying to solve the problem from the root might really have a chance of working.

Perhaps he merely did a bit of insignificant work, not even able to break through the Great Holy Grail's outer defensive formation……

However, the unintentional efforts of predecessors have already paved the road to success for him. Now it only awaits a destined person — such as him — to take the baton and complete this crucial final chapter.

"Let's go, Assassin——"

At this time, the Master Lady also greeted the youth.

"We'll go up together. First, let's take Liu Dong Si……"

The red-clothed, pigtail girl said this in a deep voice, carrying quite a resolute and swift meaning. With a change in attitude and concepts, her style of conduct naturally changes as well. She has resolved to participate in this grand event to the best of her ability.

For herself, for the Family, for her father……

"Understood, Master."

Xia Zhi collected his thoughts and glanced once more at the direction of Yuan Cang Shan.

Actually, thinking in a positive direction, this also counts as a feint — openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing at Chencang. With the colleague building a stronghold on the summit, she virtually becomes the true focal point, attracting others' gazes.

————

————

The process of taking Liu Dong Si went very smoothly.

They encountered absolutely no resistance. Ordinary people were directly captivated in mind by the Mystery of Magecraft, and Medea effortlessly applied suggestion; they unknowingly acted according to this Witch's instructions.

She didn't make them do anything much — just simply had them all move out.

Rent a house outside to live in during the Holy Grail War, don't come back for now, to avoid being innocently caught up and losing their lives.

The Witch of Greece naturally doesn't count as a benevolent sort, but for the sake of her new Master, she doesn't mind spending a bit more effort. Anyway, keeping these people serves no use.

Judging from the current brief interaction, she is quite satisfied with this new Master.

Although not very mature, for a Servant this means she can be trusted.

"Wonder what expression that guy at Liu Dong will have when he returns home and finds himself kicked out……"

Rin Tohsaka gently exhaled. Even though she had made her determination, this kind of direct, natural invasion of someone else's home, and the act of taking over and driving out the person on the opposite side, still made her feel somewhat awkward.

"Perhaps he won't even notice that this happened……"

Watching the host and the monks move house in an orderly fashion beside her, Xia Zhi said calmly, while also sizing up the girl: "As for you, Master, you actually made up your mind so quickly, when you hadn't even considered it yesterday……"

After all, he had mentioned before that it would be best to change strongholds.

But back then, the girl hadn't thought too much about it, only using the excuse of having no money to put him off, and then the matter was dropped.

Actually, this could also be seen from her attitude toward the Holy Grail War: since it was already a war fought with their lives on the line, how could she not go all out to strive for every chance of victory just because she had no money?

It could only be said that although she had determination, she had not yet reached the point of true resolve.

"Ugh! This, this doesn't need you to remind me……"

Rin Tohsaka's cheeks instantly turned red, and she glared at him hard: "I know that too, I actually haven't really made preparations, I was being presumptuous!"

Saying this, she clenched her fists tightly and took a deep breath: "But, but, this is very likely the last opportunity, no matter what, I must definitely try to reach that target……"

After realizing the facts that "this is very likely the Last Holy Grail War" and "once this opportunity is missed, the cherished wish will never be fulfilled forever," the girl's concepts and attitudes naturally underwent a certain subtle change.

The change in concepts and attitudes would undoubtedly drive a renewal in her style of action.

This was also the reason why she directly left the School and, with swift and vigorous action, chose to come over to Yuan Cang Shan.

"Is this important? You want to obtain the Holy Grail, what wish do you want to fulfill?"

Xia Zhi took in the girl's subtle expressions, pondered slightly, and still decided to ask.

"Obtaining that is the Tohsaka Family's obligation, and if one wants to become a Magician, that is an unavoidable Road……" Rin Tohsaka frowned, seemed to think for a moment, and then said this.

She had always been constantly making preparations, wanting to win the Holy Grail, but had never thought about what wish she wanted to fulfill after truly obtaining the Holy Grail.

It seemed as if many thoughts suddenly popped up, yet also as if none of them were what she wanted, so she subconsciously pondered for a moment, and simply used her father's last words of advice to answer this question on his behalf.

"Just an obligation……"

Xia Zhi nodded thoughtfully, that was fine.

Then he could also destroy the Holy Grail System without any psychological burden.

"I've also been working hard for this target, okay!" The black-haired, pigtails girl didn't know what her Servant was thinking, and couldn't help but argue, "I hope to recreate the Family's glory, this is also my responsibility as a Magician."

While saying this, she also couldn't help but wave her fist.

That year's Holy Grail War, when she was young, she watched that person in her impression who had never made a single joke, touching his own head, speaking worried words with a heavy voice, that scene made her unforgettable for a lifetime.

At that moment she was thinking, if she could become a Magician, she must definitely win everything.

Now the Holy Grail was right before her eyes, she had to consider whether this might be her only opportunity in this life. To reforge the Tohsaka Family's glory, to complete her father's last wish, it was her inescapable duty!

The youth opposite frowned, always feeling that this scene was a bit off.

————

————

Take Liu Dong Si, set up the Mo Shu Di.

Quickly utilize the Spiritual Land to recover one's own magic power, begin setting up all kinds of Defense Arts.

All of this, Medea handled with extreme familiarity and casual ease; by evening, she had basically completed her control over the top part of Yuan Cang Shan.

And having reached this step, the next action would immediately be implemented——

Undoubtedly, the next target was precisely the red-haired person at the School, that boy named Shirou Emiya.

Rin Tohsaka recognized the other party, but had no way to contact them, so she could only have Assassin deliver a letter to invite Shirou Emiya to Liu Dong Si, nominally to discuss great plans, actually……

Cough cough.

Xia Zhi doubted this strategy, not really agreeing that the opposite side would foolishly run into her Headquarters, but still accepted this Mission.

He, like a Ghost, moved freely within Fuyuki City, and soon found the red-haired boy's home according to the address; unexpectedly, the other party was actually near home, and was confronting a white-haired, red-eyed Loli.

"Berserker, attack!"

The Loli wearing a little girl's winter clothes, with an innocent smile, directly issued the command to start the war.

"Roar roar roar roar roar——!!"

Behind her, the black giant, three meters tall, muscles bulging like cast bronze, let out a meaningless roar, holding a huge black Knife-Axe, striding forward like a tank crushing everything.

(Chapter End)