[229] Ability Extractor? No, It's a Noble Phantasm Upgrader!

White snow began to fall from the sky, the pristine blue expanse reflecting the ice crystals on the ground.

The silver-haired nun exhaled a puff of white mist, yet unexpectedly did not feel any cold.

She simply stared ahead in a trance, using her fully functional right eye to gaze upon a heart-vision landscape as if made of glazed glass—

In Caren's eyes, this was no ordinary snowfield.

Every flake of snow, every sword, even the sun hanging in the sky, were all manifestations of the soul.

Due to her constitution, Caren had seen far too many people sell their souls to demons—those who wallowed in killing, those who indulged in lust, those drowning in self-interest, those betraying their loved ones… Countless darknesses had reached out to her, and as she walked amid filth, she too became stained with an inescapable, profound blackness.

Yet under this sky, her heart seemed to be cleansed, free from all its lingering maladies.

The heart-vision landscape itself was a reflection of the caster's inner self, and precisely because of this, it could refract a person's nobility and purity.

Caren's gaze was so absorbed that the dying roar of the Sea Demon, the sound of blades slicing through the air, the faint pain in her body, and the enraged shouts of the Class Card Heroic Spirit all became hazy and imperceptible.

She only wished to behold this pure world a little longer.

***

Amidst the endless rain of swords, the Sea Demons—renowned for their sheer numbers—were instantly annihilated. Even the massive Sea Demon harbouring the Caster was pierced by thousands of swords, transformed into a floating Class Card, and collected by Sakatsuki.

"Job done."

As soon as the Class Card was stowed, the long-unseen Fate Compendium suddenly spoke.

[New world analysis complete, Fate Compendium updated!]

[Acquired item: Ability Extractor (0/3)!]

[Ability Extractor: This item can extract and store any inherent skill or Noble Phantasm of a defeated servant.]

[Additional explanation: Acquisition method – For every seven servants defeated, one additional use is granted!]

[Current charge progress: 1/7]

In the platinum light, the figure of the young man gradually diminished, and Sakatsuki reprojected a plain priest's robe. Observing the newly acquired item description, he pondered thoughtfully.

It seemed he also realized that the servants in this world were rather inflated; the Fate Compendium didn't foolishly record each one and dole out generous rewards individually, but rather counted them by head and issued rewards uniformly.

Ability Extractor.

Whenever the topic of abilities was mentioned, Sakatsuki subconsciously recalled a Noble Phantasm he had long coveted.

"Summon, Sword in the Stone."

As the spirit particles re-coalesced, a dashing motorcycle appeared before its master, and the Noble Phantasm panel popped up.

[Sword in the Stone]

[Rank: D]

[Category: Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm]

[Originally modelled after the future motorcycle "Kawasaki Ninja H2R", through True Name Release it can break through its original speed limits; theoretically, as long as the supply of magical energy never ceases, its speed will continue to increase until the Noble Phantasm itself collapses.]

Gently stroking the streamlined body, Sakatsuki retrieved an old message log.

[Rider Class Certificate: Attach this certificate to a controlled mount, and it will grant that object a basic Noble Phantasm attribute along with three skill slots, serving as the Rider class's vehicular credential.]

[Additional explanation: Skill Slot – By installing different skill entries, the quality and capability of the mount can be enhanced.]

"As expected, this isn't an Ability Extractor at all; it's clearly a Noble Phantasm Upgrader," Sakatsuki murmured to himself, a hint of excitement in his smile.

Originally, being a technological creation and one of many "ground-effect aircraft" Kawasaki Ninja H2Rs in the world, it had no inherent qualification to become a Noble Phantasm. The fact that it became a D-rank Noble Phantasm and even possesses the ability for True Name Release is entirely due to the "Rider Class Certificate," which turned it into a vessel for the Rider class.

The D-rank Noble Phantasm is not even the limit for Sword in the Stone—just as the Rider Class Certificate states, by installing different skill entries, the Noble Phantasm can grow and break through rank limitations.

If the Rider Class Certificate possesses such potential for growth, could it be that the other class certificates are similar?

If so, then the value of this item far exceeds what one might imagine.

At this point, Sakatsuki's strength had reached a stable phase; rather than endlessly increasing in quantitative terms, it was better to directly strengthen his Noble Phantasms to effect a qualitative change.

Not to mention, even the weakened Class Card Heroic Spirits fall within the remit of the Ability Extractor's recipe!

"How long are you going to stand there in a daze? This world is about to collapse any moment now."

Caren's cool voice rang out, snapping Sakatsuki back to reality. With a casual wave, a brilliant blue transposition space appeared, whisking them away out of this space.

***

Stepping out of the diamond-shaped space, they found themselves under a starry, resplendent sky, with the Mion River still flowing silently.

It seemed as if nothing had changed, yet at the same time, something was different.

"Good thing I took care of this place in advance; otherwise, a magical girl plus tentacle monsters and such would have been… not so much exciting, but rather worrisome."

Sakatsuki joked, his hands skillfully performing magecraft as he engraved runes to dispel bystanders, then patted the back seat of his car to signal his little sidekick to hop on.

After receiving no response for a while, he turned around, only to find Caren looking at him with a strange gaze.

"What's the matter?"

"…Nothing."

The silver-haired nun replied, withdrawing her gaze, and, as if nothing were amiss, sat in the back seat. "Let's go; I'm a bit tired."

Sakatsuki raised an eyebrow in puzzlement, said nothing further, and climbed into his beloved vehicle, starting the engine.

Throughout the journey, Caren remained unusually silent, frequently casting glances at the focused Sakatsuki behind the wheel, lost in thought.

Upon arriving at the church, Sakatsuki strode into the sanctuary, then suddenly turned back as if recalling something: "By the way, Caren, report the H-type anomaly to headquarters as soon as possible. I have some interest in these Class Cards."

"Understood."

After receiving the affirmative response, Sakatsuki nodded with satisfaction, dropping a "get some rest early" before heading off to his room on his own.

Caren watched Sakatsuki's departing figure intently, and moments later, she suddenly began reciting the Lord's Prayer, which she was accustomed to praying daily.

"…Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…"

Had Sakatsuki been present, he would surely have recognized that these very words were once uttered by an incorrigible priest—Caren's father, Kirei Kotomine.

"…And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors… lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil… Amen."

The resonant, hollow voice fell into silence within the church.

What was she reciting? And to whom was she seeking solace?

What was she repressing? And what precarious state was she striving to protect?

Only the angel depicted in the mural watched over the silver-haired nun with compassionate eyes, her gaze lowered, avoiding the moonlight as she stepped back into the darkness.

A desolate and mechanical dispatch sound rang out.

***

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