[7] Heroic Spirit Summoning

The moment his eyes reopened, the blood-red hue vanished from his gaze.

His pupils became as deep and dark as black holes, with mysterious runes encircling them like chains, rotating and flowing endlessly.

A gem-like brilliance burst forth from those eyes.

The barriers covering Mount Enzou were varied and numerous. At a glance, one could see European, Middle Eastern, and even American-style barriers, as well as those based on Japanese Onmyoudou techniques.

Touching any of these barriers would undoubtedly trigger multiple alarms and unleash an unstoppable wave of attacks, like a tsunami.

In the distance, faint lights could be seen, suggesting that even at this late hour, magi were still patrolling nearby.

The place was like a dragon's lair or a tiger's den, more heavily guarded than even the most meticulously crafted magical workshop.

The Mage's Association had clearly gone to great lengths to prevent anyone from approaching Mount Enzou.

But Roy showed no fear, walking straight toward the barriers.

Openly, without any hesitation or guilt, not even a hint of evasion, he boldly touched the barrier.

The barrier, which should have sounded an alarm at the slightest touch, remained completely silent as Roy made contact.

His figure melted into the barrier like a drop of water merging into the ocean, effortlessly passing through.

Even after his form had completely disappeared from the outside, the barrier continued to function as if nothing had happened, as if the intruder had never existed.

No one noticed his intrusion. The numerous alarms and traps were rendered useless.

After penetrating thirteen layers of barriers, Roy finally set foot on Mount Enzou.

"The stench of curses is so strong..."

Like the outside world, Mount Enzou had long since turned into a scorched wasteland.

The land was saturated with curses, which clung to the soil like roots and sprouts. Without magi to remove these curses, not only would it be impossible for people to live here, but even crops couldn't be grown.

No, the concentration of curses here far exceeded that of the wilderness, almost suffocating.

The curses in the wilderness only caused discomfort, and prolonged exposure would lead to mental instability. One wouldn't die unless they encountered the monsters roaming the wilds.

But the curses within Mount Enzou were so potent that ordinary people couldn't even look at them.

Just the act of looking would allow these black curses to seep into one's mind like parasites, corrupting their spirit and soul. An ordinary person exposed to this level of curse would immediately fall unconscious.

Without the mental defenses of a magus, it was impossible to even approach this place.

"After all, the source of the curses that swept the world on the day of the cataclysm ten years ago was here."

Roy muttered to himself, his tone laced with a sneer.

He didn't take the main staircase up the mountain but instead circled around to the back, navigating through the scorched earth until he found a dark, bottomless cavern.

From the depths of the cavern, an endless stream of malice emanated.

It was as if something deep within the cavern was the source of all evil in the world, the origin of all malice.

The entrance to the cavern was also covered by a barrier.

Roy's Mystic Eyes shone with a gem-like brilliance, the runes within them alternating between black and white. His eyes, like a yin-yang symbol, unified these opposing forces, radiating a mysterious light.

Under the power of his Mystic Eyes, he passed through the barrier as if it weren't there.

Behind the cavern was an underground cave that led deep beneath Mount Enzou. Stalactites could be seen everywhere, their sharp edges jutting out in all directions. The deeper he went, the higher the concentration of curses became.

As he approached the deepest part, the curses had even materialized, turning into tangible smoke and dust, so thick that it obscured vision, shrouding the innermost area.

This place was filled with malice, and the malevolent thoughts formed by this malice constantly assaulted one's mind.

Roy walked through this cursed fog, faint whispers reaching his ears.

Within the fog, something tempted him with promises of supreme power, unrivaled authority, unparalleled beauty, and unrestrained slaughter, trying to lure him into corruption.

At the same time, it seemed to accuse him of crimes—murder, rape, theft—condemning him with righteous fury, urging him to take his own life.

In a daze, it felt as if he had truly experienced everything described. His heart swelled with boundless desire and overwhelming guilt. Various forms of mental pollution manifested as fear, desire, and sin, threatening to crush his sanity.

"How boring."

Roy walked through it all, unfazed, his expression one of disdain.

Finally, he reached the deepest part of the cave.

A massive hollow space opened up before him.

Here, the endless cursed fog cleared, and everything around him became visible.

On the ground of the hollow, within a crater-like pit, lay an enormous magic circle. It glowed with a blood-red hue, then shifted to a black so deep it seemed to absorb all light, alternating between the two colors in a mesmerizing display. It was vast, intricate, mysterious, and awe-inspiring.

The magic circle was incredibly complex, filled with countless geometric patterns and ancient scripts. At its core stood a massive statue of a woman, quietly standing there.

Gazing up at the magic circle, even with Roy's level of magical expertise, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

This magic circle was far too advanced, beyond the reach of modern humanity.

"Truly a remnant of the Third Magic... but still, it's meaningless."

Roy's tone was calm, making one doubt the sincerity of his praise.

At the same time, his eyes once again glowed with an enchanting glow.

"Hum!"

The giant magic circle trembled almost imperceptibly.

"Connection established. Symbiotic link complete, experience synchronized, settings initialized, flow transformation..."

A fearless smile spread across Roy's face beneath the mask as the process proceeded smoothly.

He suddenly extended his hand.

"——I declare!"

A searing pain burned across the back of his hand. Looking down, he saw three crimson Command Spells, shaped like spreading wings, etched into his skin as if they had always been there.

"Let thy body rest under my command, and thy fate be bound to my sword."

"If thou hearest the call of the Holy Grail and obeyest this will and reason, then answer me."

"Hereby, I swear."

"I am the one who shall achieve all good in this world,"

"I am the one who shall dispel all evil in this world."

"Thou, clad in the great words of power, come forth from the circle of restraint, guardian of the scales——!"

The magic circle erupted with a blinding light, so intense it threatened to sear his eyes.

Roy squinted, refusing to close his eyes, and struggled to maintain control over the Greater Grail's ritual.

Within the magic circle, a massive flow of magical energy gathered, coalescing into a figure.

"Servant Saber, responding to your summons. Are you my Master?"

***

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