Chapter Twenty-Three: The Unexpected Turn in the Third Holy Grail War

Within a workshop guarded by artificial humans, Danik surveyed everything around him with a cold, indifferent gaze.

Nutrient tanks dotted the workshop like chess pieces, each containing an artificial human, quietly installed to serve as a source of magical power. This was one of the greatest achievements of the Thousand Realms Tree that he founded. Although the family had fallen from grace, their technology for creating artificial humans remained both complete and exceptional. With Danik's support, the technique was quickly revived and now stood as his greatest trump card in this Holy Grail War.

At the center stood Danik, flanked by eleven artificial humans acting as assistants in the ritual chant. A vast radiance of magical energy began to shine within the workshop. With no concern for the consumption of artificial humans, the workshop could supply enough magical energy in a short time for a first-rate heroic spirit to unleash their full power in battle, with energy to spare.

Using the power of the workshop’s barrier, Danik struggled to control the massive magical energy. If an outsider had seen him at that moment, they would have been deeply shocked. For this renowned color-rank magician, celebrated in the Western magical circles, was now holding the seal of the Far Eastern Rooster and chanting in fluent, authentic Chinese.

“Open the door, quickly open the door…”

With this incantation and foundation utterly contrary to magical convention, the immense magical energy remained unresponsive. Danik’s face darkened; helpless, he proceeded to the next step, channeling the vast magical energy onto the item at the center of the ritual array.

He continued until the magical radiance exploded and finally dissipated. Having wielded power far beyond his own limits, he could not help but let out a muffled groan, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Yet even so, the object at the center of the ceremony showed no reaction—it appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary stone.

“Sixty years, and still the same… It was so easy back then.”

Danik’s expression grew increasingly grim. Sixty years ago, during the Third Holy Grail War, aided by his heroic spirit Fionn’s Noble Phantasm, he had inadvertently discovered the Greater Holy Grail and coveted it for himself.

But as with any treasure, guardians soon appeared. When he sought to delve further, the old monster of the Matou family emerged, battling him several times. In their final clash, just as Danik nearly achieved victory, the Lesser Holy Grail was shattered amidst the chaos outside.

No one could have foreseen such a sudden disaster. The souls of the heroic spirits returned directly to the Greater Holy Grail, unleashing sixty years’ accumulation of magical energy in Fuyuki City. In the magical vortex, Danik, Matou Zouken, and the Greater Holy Grail were bound by an invisible connection.

Then, as if possessed, the two found their minds flooded with chaotic, strange knowledge, and began reciting bizarre incantations in perfect Chinese.

The Greater Holy Grail’s sixty years of magical energy was consumed in an instant, and through the incantations, he and Matou Zouken each obtained a mysterious object.

It was an octagonal rune stone, each face inscribed with a different animal motif. Danik had never heard of such a thing, but soon discovered its wonders.

Danik kicked aside the weakened artificial humans nearby and carefully picked up the rune stone at the center. After years of rigorous study of Chinese culture, he knew the artifact’s name.

“The Sheep Talisman… Why won’t you show me your true power!”

Clutching the talisman in his palm, he growled in frustration. Simply keeping the talisman nearby shielded him from mental attacks and stabilized his soul.

It was thanks to the Sheep Talisman’s power and the chaotic knowledge imprinted in his mind that Danik advanced rapidly in soul research, earning the reputation of a Grand candidate.

Yet Danik understood that the artifact’s power was far greater than what he had managed to invoke—he had barely scratched the surface.

Over sixty years, Danik gradually identified the problem. The talisman’s power was feeble, like a sprout just emerging. To awaken its full strength required nearly infinite magical energy, or the original owner of the talisman to nourish it with their power, much like those precious holy relics.

But even when he poured vast magical energy into the talisman by every means, it remained unmoved. After all, the Greater Holy Grail’s power could not be defined by mere accumulation of sixty years of leyline energy; its true core was something else entirely.

After countless attempts, Danik reached a conclusion: finding the talisman’s original owner was nearly impossible—this miraculous artifact was of unknown origin. Thus, he could only seek help from the Greater Holy Grail.

For that, he would spare no cost.

—Because his time was running out. When first delving into soul studies, Danik’s arrogance led him to extend his life by devouring others’ souls, much like heroic spirits. Yet his own personality was gradually eroded. If he didn’t obtain the Holy Grail soon, in another hundred years his identity would be diluted, and he would truly become nothing more than a magician bearing the name of the Thousand Realms Tree.

Fate seemed determined to oppose him. As a participant from the previous war, he was already the target of many enemies. In managing his subordinates, he had unwittingly provoked someone of equal rank—Kenneth.

And setting aside the other Masters, Fuyuki City held another far more troublesome figure.

A prodigy who had discovered the secret of longevity before Danik did, and who was likely none other than Matou Zouken, ancestor of the Matou family.

“How troublesome… That man also possesses an unknown talisman.”

The thought gave Danik a headache. Unlike himself, Matou Zouken, who had lived for five centuries or more, cared little for temporary gains and losses. He could abandon this Holy Grail War, focus solely on killing Danik, and patiently wait for the next opportunity.

“But I have no retreat left.”

Danik gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with obsession born of terror.

“Stand up, you defective products!”

He could wait no longer. It was time to summon the heroic spirits. No matter what happened, he had to win!

Harnessing the power of the workshop, Danik swiftly drew the ritual array and produced the customary holy relic, preparing to make one last use of the already drained artificial humans before discarding them. In an instant, overwhelming magical energy flooded the workshop, declaring the master’s resolve.

—

“Master, this is the latest intelligence from my father’s side.”

“Oh?” Tokiomi Tohsaka looked at the fax that Kirei Kotomine handed him. “The second Servant to appear is a Lancer… I wonder which family summoned him. But that hardly matters.”

Seeing the undisguised delight on Tokiomi’s face, Kirei’s expression suggested he had thought of something.

“Has that item arrived?”

“Yes, Kirei, you remain as clever as ever,” Tokiomi walked gracefully to the table, turning to display his holy relic to Kirei.

—It was a fossil, ancient and twisted like a serpent.

Even as excitement surged, Tokiomi restrained himself, lifting the nearby red wine and handing another glass to Kirei.

“Though it’s a bit early to celebrate, the outcome is already assured. Kirei, this Holy Grail War is ours to win!”