chapter 12

The very air seemed to crackle with energy, as though the world itself had become unstable. Goku could feel it—an oppressive, suffocating force that threatened to swallow everything around them. The Grail loomed ominously behind Kotomine, swirling like a storm that threatened to consume all in its wake.

Mordred's hand gripped the hilt of Clarent tightly, her gaze fixed on Kotomine. "We can't let him control it. We won't let him." Her voice held a mixture of fury and determination.

Sieg stepped forward, his stance resolute. "Ruler is right. We need to be strategic. If Shirou Kotomine truly controls the Grail, we need to find a way to weaken him before rushing into battle."

Jeanne nodded gravely. "He has been planning this for a long time. We cannot allow ourselves to fall into his trap."

Goku, ever the optimist, grinned. "I get it! But how about we see if he's strong enough to handle a fight first? I'm all for strategy, but I'm also ready to throw down!" He cracked his knuckles, clearly eager for action.

Jeanne glanced at him, a conflicted expression on her face. "This isn't just about strength, Goku. If Kotomine succeeds in summoning the true power of the Grail, it could rewrite everything—destroy all of us."

The Saiyan scratched his head, still grinning. "Well, I guess that's a little more serious than just a fight, huh? Alright, I'll hold off for now, but I'm not just gonna sit here." He took a step back, his posture relaxed but alert.

As they spoke, Shirou Kotomine raised his hand toward the Grail, his crimson eyes glowing brighter. The energy around him pulsed like a heartbeat, sending waves of dark power across the battlefield.

"You think you can stop me?" Kotomine's voice echoed, low and almost taunting. "The Grail is not something you can control or contain. It chooses its master, and I—I am that master."

Mordred took a step forward, her voice laced with defiance. "We'll see about that. I'm not going to let you reshape the world for your own twisted desires!"

Before anyone could act, the air shifted. The ground trembled beneath their feet as Kotomine raised his other hand, sending a shockwave of energy rippling outward. A black void tore open in the sky, the fabric of reality itself warping under the Grail's influence.

"Enough talk," Kotomine sneered. "Let us see if your willpower can withstand what comes next."

With a flick of his wrist, a burst of energy exploded from the Grail, and in an instant, the battlefield was engulfed in blinding light.

Goku's senses flared. The power that radiated from the Grail was overwhelming, suffused with a dark, malevolent energy that made his skin tingle. It wasn't just the power of the Grail—it was something more. Something twisted and ancient.

Sieg gritted his teeth. "This isn't just a summoning. It's an awakening."

Jeanne's eyes widened. "He's calling forth something far worse than we imagined."

The energy from the Grail twisted into a shape—a figure, no, a being, emerging from the depths of the rift. It was massive, its form a grotesque blend of human and otherworldly features. Eyes that glowed like burning coals, a body covered in black and red markings that seemed to pulse with life. The figure's mere presence distorted the air, warping the very laws of reality around it.

Shirou's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "At last, it is here. Behold, the true power of the Grail."

"Not so fast!" Goku shouted, suddenly appearing in front of Kotomine. He held his hand out, the air crackling with energy. "If you're gonna bring something like that out, I'll have to stop it before it gets any worse!" He grinned widely, the familiar fire in his eyes burning bright.

Mordred dashed forward, sword in hand, her eyes blazing with fury. "You think you can control this chaos? We'll stop you, Kotomine!"

But before any of them could launch an attack, the figure that emerged from the Grail moved, its massive hand sweeping across the battlefield with terrifying speed. A shockwave of dark energy blasted outward, sending the group scattering in all directions.

Goku leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the attack, his eyes locked onto the creature. "Whoa. That's some serious power…" he muttered to himself, his expression more focused now than before.

The creature's eyes locked onto Goku, and it let out a roar that shook the heavens. A sound that felt like it was tearing the very fabric of existence apart.

Jeanne's voice was tight with urgency. "This is no mere Servant! This… this is something else entirely!"

The creature reached toward Goku, its hand crackling with dark energy, and for a moment, it felt as though even the Saiyan's immense power might not be enough to stop it.

But Goku's grin never faltered. "This is what I've been waiting for!"

In the blink of an eye, he shot forward, his speed faster than the eye could follow. He appeared behind the creature, his fist landing square in its back with a crack. The blow sent ripples through the creature's form, but it only staggered back slightly, growling in response.

Mordred was right behind him, her sword gleaming in the light of the Grail. "Nice hit! But let's see how it handles this!" She charged forward, Clarent raised high, but the creature spun around in time, its hand swatting her aside like an insect.

Jeanne watched the battle unfold, her expression hardening. She knew they couldn't keep up this pace for long. This was a fight they couldn't win through sheer strength alone.

Then, something clicked in her mind. She turned to Siegfried, her eyes burning with resolve. "We need to work together. This thing may be powerful, but it isn't invincible."

Sieg nodded. "Let's put it down before it can fully manifest."

Shirou Kotomine laughed, his voice echoing through the chaos. "Fools. You think you can stop what's already been set into motion? This is the beginning of the end."

But Goku wasn't listening. His eyes were fixed on the creature. And with a mighty roar, he powered up—his aura flaring to life as golden energy engulfed him.

"Let's see how it handles this!" Goku shouted, his energy reaching an unprecedented level.

The fight was about to reach a new level of intensity. The fate of the Holy Grail War—and reality itself—hung in the balance.