Chapter 21

It had been a week since Illya had joined the Heroes Chat Group, and in that time, her world had completely turned upside down. Everything she had known, everything she had believed about herself and her fate, had been thrown into chaos. But amidst that chaos, she found something she hadn't expected—support, knowledge, and perhaps even hope.

The presence of Emperor of Mankind, Naruto, had given her a sense of security that she had never truly known. She could feel it in her body—her once frail and doll-like form had grown stronger. It wasn't just the physical changes; her mind felt clearer, steadier. The burden of her existence as the Holy Grail no longer felt like an inescapable curse.

Despite this, Illya remained mostly a quiet observer in the group. She rarely spoke, not because she didn't want to, but because she felt too shy to insert herself into their conversations. The others had already formed close bonds, and though they were kind, she still hesitated. What could she possibly contribute?

Over the course of the week, the Holy Grail War had begun, marking a shift in her world. To her surprise, her brother—Shirou—had become a Master, forming a contract with the very Servant their father had summoned all those years ago. The war was moving forward, but Illya's focus remained on her own development.

Following Naruto's instructions, she had begun training in chakra manipulation. Her mind understood the techniques well enough, but her body lacked the necessary experience to wield them effectively. She struggled, failing more times than she succeeded, but each failure taught her something new.

It was during this practice that she noticed something strange—her chakra reserves were growing. And not just at a normal rate. The energy inside her body seemed to resonate with her mana, amplifying both at an alarming speed.

Confused, she waited a few days to observe the phenomenon before finally reaching out to Naruto through the chat group.

Holy Grail (Illya): Naruto, my chakra reserves are increasing really fast. Is that normal?

A moment later, a reply came, and Illya watched as a lengthy explanation appeared on the screen.

Emperor of Mankind(Naruto): Hmm, there's no problem. It's just your chakra adjusting to your existence. I haven't explained what it is and how it works yet, so I'll give a proper explanation for everyone. I'll also be gifting it to those who earn it.

But you, Illya, are special.

You are the Holy Grail.

Now, chakra is a combination of physical energy and spiritual energy. In my body, and in those I gift chakra to, this process happens naturally. However, it can also be done manually.

Let me break it down:

Kiis purely physical energy. Monkey (Son Goku) uses this energy, but his world does not utilize spiritual energy.Spiritual Energyis used in Hybrid's (Ichigo's) world, but they do not use physical energy.Manafalls under the category of spiritual energy since it is connected to the soul.

When I give someone chakra, their existing energy will naturally move toward balance. So, if someone has an overwhelming amount of one type of energy, their chakra will grow rapidly to create equilibrium. This is why your chakra reserves are increasing so fast—your mana is naturally compensating for the imbalance.

For example, if Monkey gained chakra, his power would instantly multiply by at least three times—just in terms of raw energy. Of course, the rest depends on practice and skill.

I hope that makes sense. If not, you can watch the explanation video I made. It goes deeper into the subject, so... don't open it if you're Oppai Dragon. 😂

Illya giggled softly at the last remark, but the reaction was immediate.

Oppai Dragon (Issei): Hey! I take offense to that! I can definitely go through it!

Emperor of Mankind(Naruto): If you can go through it without losing focus, I'll even gift you a pair of glasses. 😉

Oppai Dragon (Issei): Deal! 👍

Illya smiled at the exchange, feeling warmth spread through her chest. It was such a simple conversation, but it made her feel included, like she was part of something beyond just the Holy Grail War.

She hesitated for a moment before stepping outside her castle. The world was silent, blanketed in fresh snow. Taking a deep breath, she knelt down and carefully traced a message into the white surface—Thank you.

Snapping a picture of it, she sent it to the chat. The response was immediate, and the comments flooded in, some playful, some heartfelt.

For the first time in a long time, Illya felt something other than loneliness. She felt happy.

As soon as Illya sent the picture of her message in the snow, the chat group lit up with reactions.

Ruin Princess (Rias): Aww, that's adorable, Illya! 🥰 You're welcome anytime. If you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask.

Oppai Dragon (Issei): Wait, you went out into the cold just to do that?! That's so cute, but also—ILLYA, DO YOU EVEN HAVE A COAT ON?!? 🫣

Grand Scholar (Wang Lin): A pure expression of gratitude. Small gestures like these carry great meaning. You are growing, Holy Grail.

Death (Endless): That's sweet. It's nice to see moments like this. Enjoy the feeling, Illya. 😊

Hybrid (Ichigo): Didn't expect that, but hey, it's nice. Don't overwork yourself, though. You don't need to earn a place here—we already accept you.

Don (Tsuna): That's really thoughtful, Illya! But seriously, are you okay? If Issei's right and you went outside without a coat, you should warm up before you get sick! 😅

Illya's face turned red as she read the responses. She hadn't expected such an outpouring of warmth. Even though some of them were teasing or worried about her, she could feel their genuine care behind their words.

She quickly typed back:

Holy Grail (Illya): I was wearing a coat! I'm not reckless! …But thank you, everyone. This means a lot to me.

She hesitated, then added:

Holy Grail (Illya): I'll do my best to keep up with you all.

Emperor of Mankind(Naruto): No rush. Just enjoy the journey. 😊

The night was calm, the streets bathed in the silver glow of the moon. Illya took in the peaceful atmosphere for a brief moment before her expression hardened. There was work to do.

With a slight flex of her legs, she launched forward, her movements far beyond human limitations. The wind howled past her ears as she raced through the streets, Hercules keeping pace effortlessly beside her. His massive frame moved with surprising agility, his crimson eyes scanning the surroundings for threats.

Illya had made her decision. If she wanted to truly master her abilities, she couldn't just rely on guidance—she needed experience. And for that, she had to act.

Tonight, her target was none other than her brother, Shirou Emiya.

Shirou Emiya stood in the middle of a dimly lit street, his breath slightly uneven as he gripped the handle of his sword. Beside him, Saber remained poised, her golden hair flowing with the night breeze. Opposite them stood Rin Tohsaka and Archer, both still on guard from the fight they had just endured against Rider.

The sudden presence of another force made them tense up once more.

From the darkness, a girl approached.

She was small, almost fragile-looking at first glance, with silver-white hair and crimson eyes that shimmered under the moonlight. But what truly set off their alarms was the colossal figure walking beside her—Hercules, a monster of a Servant, his mere presence enough to send chills down their spines.

The oppressive aura made Shirou's grip tighten around his weapon. His instincts screamed at him to be careful.

"Who are you?" Shirou asked, his voice cautious. Under normal circumstances, he would have been more polite—especially to a girl who looked so young—but the sheer presence of the giant Berserker made it clear that lowering his guard was not an option.

Illya's gaze shifted from Shirou to Saber.

She had heard many things about her so-called "brother." She was supposed to hate him, to want him dead. The Einzbern teachings had tried to drill it into her head, painting him as a threat to her victory.

But things had changed.

She had spoken to Naruto.

The conversation had opened her eyes to the possibility that her "truth" might have been a lie.

As she stood there now, watching Shirou, she could see the contradiction in him. He was… good. Too good. A broken soul willing to die for a cause that wasn't even his own.

"How pitiful," she thought.

A slight smile played on her lips as she spoke, her voice calm and composed.

"I am a friend, and I am here to stop the war. Will you work with me?"

Her words sent a ripple of shock through the group.

"How can we trust your words?" Rin spoke up, stepping forward slightly. Her tone was sharp, her sapphire eyes narrowing in suspicion. Unlike Shirou, she wasn't one to blindly trust strangers—especially ones that walked around with legendary monsters.

Illya turned to Shirou instead, ignoring Rin's question entirely.

"Shirou, where is your phone?"

The unexpected question caught him off guard.

"What does that have to do with this?" Shirou blinked, completely lost now.

"It will easily prove everything, so where is it?"

He hesitated before answering.

"It should be in my room. I don't really use it much, so I forgot it at home."

Illya nodded knowingly, as if she had already expected that answer.

"Then let's go to your home," she said, her voice light, almost playful. "It's not like I don't already know your address. My Servants are already there, anyway."

She turned and started walking, as if the conversation was already over.

Shirou stared at her, his face conflicted. This was insane. Under normal circumstances, he would have called the police for trespassing, but this was the supernatural world, where such things didn't seem to apply.

Nothing was normal anymore.

Rin sighed beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"You'll get used to it," she muttered. "Let's see what's so special about her. But be ready—have Saber on guard."

Shirou nodded, and the group followed Illya into the night.

As they walked, Archer remained unusually silent.

His sharp crimson eyes stayed locked on Illya, but it wasn't suspicion that troubled him.

It was something else.

Something… deeply familiar.

A strange feeling gnawed at the edges of his consciousness, a whisper of recognition he couldn't quite place.

Rias let out a deep sigh as she watched her new servant, Issei Hyoudou, fast asleep on the couch. His attempt to watch the explanation video without losing focus had failed miserably.

"Lord Emperor of Mankind really knows how to play with people's minds and hearts." She mused, flipping through the chat logs on her phone.

So much had happened in just less than two weeks. She saw how quickly problems were resolved, how Wang Lin and others handled their tasks with terrifying efficiency, and how the introduction of the video system had changed the way they shared knowledge.

But her own problem?

It still remained.

She needed help.

"Should I ask him?" Rias muttered, tapping her fingers on the desk inside the Occult Research Club room.

Her hesitation did not go unnoticed.

"Ask who? Did someone catch the interest of our princess?" A smooth, teasing voice cut through the silence.

Rias didn't even have to turn around. She knew that tone anywhere.

Akeno Himejima.

Her best friend, her Queen, and an absolute menace when it came to teasing.

Rias sighed as she felt Akeno hug her from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder, her eyes flickering toward the phone screen.

"I think I found someone who can help me, but I'm not sure if I should involve him in this issue."

Akeno's fingers traced small circles on Rias's shoulder as she whispered, "Who could that be? Why not just talk to him? Or are they not trustworthy?"

"I think he is someone to trust."

"Then just ask him."

Akeno's logic was as simple as ever, but it had a point.

Rias took a deep breath and began typing.

Ruin Princess:

"Emperor, I need your help.

My hand has been given to someone for marriage since I was born, but I do not wish to marry this person.

I am unable to cancel it as he is one of the nobles, and it will cause trouble for my family.

I wish to challenge him to a battle to cancel the deal, but I am not sure we can beat him."

She stared at the message for a second before hitting send.

Akeno, however, raised an eyebrow.

"Who is this 'Emperor'?"

"Someone from another universe. And from his words, an Immortal King."

Akeno blinked. "…Excuse me?"

Before she could respond, another message appeared on the screen.

Don:

"If you wouldn't mind, I can give my advice since it seems he isn't available at the moment.

What resources do you have at your disposal?

What skills do you know?

What does your enemy possess?"

Rias frowned.

"Who is this?"

"Some crime lord from another world."

Akeno's face turned amused. "You're taking advice from a criminal?"

"He doesn't seem normal, and Lord Emperor of Mankind didn't mind his intrusion. So let's try explaining it to him. Lord Emperor of Mankind can see it later."

With that, Rias typed out her situation in detail.

What followed next was a complete breakdown of their battle strength.

Tsuna, or Don, dissected their entire group, pointing out their strengths, weaknesses, and potential improvements.

He gave Rias new strategiesto use her Power of Destruction more effectively.He analyzed Akeno's Thunder Magic, offering techniques to make it faster and more devastating.He suggested alternative combat styles for Kiba, focusing on speed, unpredictability, and high-pressure duels.He warned about Issei's weak foundation, stating that if they wanted to win, they needed to train him harshly.

"If you want to avoid risks, push him to his limits," Don had written. "He has great potential, but potential means nothing if it's wasted."

The advice was brutal—but exactly what they needed.

Ruin Princess:

"Thank you for the advice.

We will do our best to make this entertaining for the group."

She sent the message and turned toward Akeno.

Both girls then turned to Issei, who was still sleeping peacefully on the couch.

Akeno's lips curled into a sadistic smile.

Rias smirked.

"Time to train him properly."

And just like that—Issei shivered in his sleep, as if his instincts had sensed the absolute hell that was about to come.