[228] Mystic Eyes of Death Perception
The flying Black Keys and the sharp screeches ignited the flames of this deadly battle.
In the eyes of Moon Cell inhabitants, when it comes to sea monsters, the first thing that comes to mind is definitely not the Loch Ness Monster, but rather the reappearance of Munch's painting, the character with the best eyesight in the entire Fate series—the big-eyed, moe Gilles de Rais.
He was supposed to be the Caster accidentally summoned by the serial killer Ryuunosuke Uryuu during the Fourth Holy Grail War. Mistaking Saber for Jeanne d'Arc, he caused quite a stir and contributed to one of the most iconic scenes of the Fourth War—the Battle of Mion River.
Comrade Gilles had no particularly grand ambitions in life, but he had a special fondness for a certain blonde country girl. Evidence of this can be found in his Noble Phantasm release chant:
"Saint War Order!"
However, due to Sakatsuki's interference, he never descended from the Throne of Heroes, thus losing the chance to reunite with the saint (Saber: ?).
Thus, the screen-time-deprived Gilles was utterly furious. He lay in ambush ahead of time on the set of the magical girl's scene, using his spellbook to summon countless loyal sea demons, vowing to have a decisive showdown with the shameless interloper who had stolen his spotlight!
In reality, even the Ainsworth family themselves couldn't be sure what heroic spirits the Class Cards would summon. Gilles' appearance here was purely accidental.
But one thing is certain: in this space, connected to the leyline, Gilles de Rais fully utilized his advantages. His Noble Phantasm, Prelati's Spellbook, a grimoire bound in human skin that records the knowledge of ancient evil gods, possesses the ability to function as a magical reactor, allowing it to cast high-level magecraft and ritual spells independently, regardless of the user's own magical energy.
In other words, no matter how useless the holder is or how little magical energy they possess, this book can supply an infinite number of sea demon summons.
It had been over a week since the Class Cards appeared. In such a long time, the number of sea demons Gilles could summon was unimaginable.
"Iron Armor Effect: Cremation Rite!"
A black-robed figure streaked through the horde of sea beasts, their Black Keys slicing through the firelight like artillery shells, detonating upon impact with the creatures' bodies, eliciting waves of agonized screeches.
Tentacles surged forward, seeking to ensnare. Without giving them the chance, Sakatsuki swept their left hand—an oversized Black Key, like a whirring saw blade, cleaved through the appendages, its momentum unbroken as it plunged into the heart of a sea monster. The gratifying sound of bone and flesh shattering echoed in the air.
For a brief moment, it felt as though the countless sea creatures had truly merged into an ocean—a churning flood, ceaselessly trying to drown the priest. The acrid stench of blood became crashing waves, while their grotesque bodies transformed into reefs and barriers.
The priest advanced across a sea of death.
But everything became simple. If it was the sea, he would set sail. If it was a wave, he would burn it all. If it was a reef, he would mercilessly tear it apart with his iron-clad sword.
He didn't even need to step forward. The alien creatures willingly approached him, offering their lives to be taken.
All he had to do was destroy the monstrosities delivered to him.
No need to think, no need to guess, no need to exhaust himself with premeditation and planning—what could be a more relaxing pastime than this?
And so, the black-robed reaper laughed heartily, wielding flames of sin and punishment in his hands, slashing down with swords and talismans drenched in death.
Amidst the endless slaughter, those golden vertical pupils began to shimmer with a kaleidoscope of colours.
Caren felt like she must be dreaming.
Sea demons weren't 'demons,' so she wouldn't lose consciousness from pain. But precisely because of this, the scene before her eyes made her doubt her own vision.
Were these the kinds of monsters that should exist in this world? Overwhelming in number, densely packed... Even if all the Executors banded together, they would be devoured, bones and all!
If she were to fall into this space, she would be on the Church's death list within three seconds. Not even the Holy Shroud could save her.
But now, she stood here, not a single sea demon paying her any attention. All the monsters were drawn to the boy who was laughing maniacally, seeing him as their greatest enemy, wanting to capture him, dismember him, and eradicate this threat!
Yet, in such a perilous environment, her lunatic boss was still laughing, even humming a song she couldn't understand!
"All we ever hear from you is blah blah blah"
"So all we ever do is ja ja ja"
***
He was even keeping the beat!
Caren watched as Sakatsuki swung his sword with wild laughter, sticky blood raining down like a storm.
The figure wreathed in azure flames stood in a pool of blood, listening to the screeches, bathing in the gore, as if playing a hack-and-slash game with glee:
"And we don't even care about what they say"
"Cause it's ja ja ja!"
Severed tentacles, shattered limbs—the endless tide of sea demons was halted by a single person. Later, all it took was a swing of the Black Keys, and a dozen sea demons would fall as if their vital points had been struck, their lives instantly extinguished!
The space trembled, as if filled with fear and rage. More and more sea demons appeared in the distance, the number of births and deaths reaching a delicate balance.
"The master of this place wants to exhaust you. Once your stamina runs out, victory will be his," Caren cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, but her voice was as calm as if she were out of energy.
"Do you think I don't know that, woman?" Sakatsuki flung out dozens of meters of Black Keys, embedding them into the ground to form a temporary spiritual barrier. Pushing off with his left foot, he floated back to Caren's side.
"Killing with joy and killing until you lose your mind are two different things. I don't think I'll sink to that level."
When Sakatsuki turned around, Caren was almost mesmerized by his dazzling eyes—they weren't human eyes, but the vertical pupils of someone with dragon blood. Yet, at the center of those pupils, a shimmering azure rainbow appeared.
Yes, both azure and rainbow-coloured. Caren could only describe those eyes with such contradictory terms, as her entire body was now trembling with cold, as if the boy's blade was already pointed at her vital points.
As Sakatsuki blinked, the azure rainbow faded, and the eerie feeling gradually disappeared.
"So, what now? Just keep killing like this?"
"That won't be necessary." The enraged sea demons battered the crumbling sanctuary, while the white-haired boy stepped forward, his body gradually glowing.
Caren had long known that different mysteries had different colours.
But she had never imagined that a single person could possess so many dreamlike hues at once.
It was a soul light soaked in platinum. The originally short figure began to grow, his features changing until he became tall and handsome.
Under Caren's astonished gaze, the boy tore off his tattered priestly attire and donned a dark golden coat, a confident smile once again gracing his face.
"Dealing with these trash, this level of power is more than enough—"
The spiritual barrier shattered, and the sea demons swarmed into the sanctuary. Their thorny, vine-like tentacles writhed like seaweed, aiming to strangle the two to death.
At that moment, the boy raised his right hand, as if he were a god proclaiming divine decree. His words were as natural as "Let there be light":
"I declare that I exist here."
And so, heaven and earth reversed, and all colour drained from the world.
***
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