Shinji Matou at Your Service

Zepia's attack indeed had an effect.

After a barrage of heavy bombardment, the deep blue mist was dispersed. However, what was revealed was not the figure of a boy, but a young man.

Standing 180 cm tall, clad in a tightly fitting pure white ceremonial outfit that accentuated his well-proportioned physique, he perfectly matched the image of the pure white Blood Prince. With hair and eyes as deep as the ocean, his handsome face combined the ruggedness of the West and the softness of the East, exuding an intense sharpness.

"It's the first time I'm appearing in this world in such a state. Feels pretty good."

"This, this is—?"

Zepia's crazed and twisted face showed unprecedented seriousness.

"What's wrong? Can't recognize me now that I've matured?"

The young man stretched his body, the joints in his frame making slight cracking sounds.

"Is the difference that big between my former and current selves?"

The difference was indeed significant, but with Zepia's computational analysis ability, it took less than a millisecond to discern the young man's identity from details like his eyebrows. The issue was the form of the young man's existence.

"This isn't a phantom, nor is it a perfect replica. This is—reality!!! Impossible! Impossible! Impossible! Etherlite can't do this, Tatari can't do this, even Phantasmal Realization can't accomplish this—how could your spirit fibers, no, your soul—?"

Madness and confusion.

Shinji, in his youthful form, brought Zepia a shock comparable to the arrival of the Crimson Moon.

The Atlas Institute was originally focused on spirit fiber research, and Zepia was an expert in this field. Because of his knowledge, he could see through Shinji's form of existence. There were no traces of false information or manipulation; if it weren't confirmed that this was a form composed of spirit fibers, he might have thought it was a real person, the original form.

"That's why I said it's a fundamental difference. Just because you can't do it, and Phantasmal Realization can't do it, doesn't mean I can't. My spirit is essentially this form; now I just manifested it. Thanks to the spirit fiber environment you provided, otherwise even I couldn't complete such a manifestation."

Indeed, his form was that of a Servant. In a parallel world, the spiritual foundation set for Shinji by Justeaze using the Great Grail persisted even after the war ended. As long as there was a suitable spirit fiber environment, it could reconstitute the spiritual vessel and manifest again. Examples include the Fictional World and the Tatari environment filled with vast amounts of spirit fibers controlled by Zepia.

"Spiritual Foundation... Manifestation..."

Despite the shock, Zepia's rapid thinking never ceased. Through a few terms in the conversation, he analyzed an even more shocking fact.

"This is the realm of the Third Magic. Could it be—?"

"Just as you pursue the Sixth Law, I also seek the Third Magic. Although it's not complete yet, I am indeed on the path of Soul Materialization. What you see is one of the results."

"!!!"

Having become a calamity and a phenomenon for so many years, this was the first time he had seen someone else also pursuing Magic. However, this encounter did not bring mutual admiration but rather anger born from mutual conflict.

"As someone who also seeks miracles, why do you hinder me? You should be my understanding ally. Why stop me?"

"No, you're mistaken. I'm not your understanding ally. Though our goals may be similar, our paths are different. As for why I stopped you, haven't you heard that magics can conflict with each other? The First Magic and the Fifth Magic, due to their similar nature, are bound to clash eventually. And from the way you challenge the Sixth Law, it seems inevitable that it will conflict with the Third Magic. Of course, these reasons are secondary. The main reason is that your existence and your script displease me and the princess. So, I will destroy you!"

Shinji's response completely dashed Zepia's hopes and fanned his anger to a raging inferno.

"Foolish! Shallow! Why? Why? Why can't anyone who seeks magic understand? The Sixth Law is necessary, it is essential!—Kehehehe, since you can't understand, there's nothing more to say. Originally, I only wanted to devour the princess, but now I've changed my target. I'll devour you and use your soul to perfect the Sixth Law!"

"If you can, then come and try."

"My name is Zepia Eltnam Oberon, an alchemist from Atlas. I will complete the eternal existence of the Sixth Law."

The vampire, cloaked in black, moved his hands, and his duplicates moved like puppets along with his fingers.

"My name is Shinji Matou, a special agent of the Clock Tower's Department of Law, the guardian knight of the Last True Ancestor, Arcueid Brunestud, and a pursuer of the Third Magic."

Shinji in white spread his arms wide, releasing a magical power no less overwhelming than Zepia's.

"Now, for the final act of this rehearsal."

"Let the battle between seekers of magic begin."

"Sever! Sever! Sever! Sever! Sever!"

The knights of the Holy Church charged at Shinji in squads. They were knights under Riesbyfe, and while their combat power might not match the famed Executors, they were far superior in group combat.

Even Zepia, transformed into the Night of Wallachia, took a considerable amount of time to eliminate them. Especially their group charges, which crushed countless phantoms.

However, Shinji was not a phantom. He was now a genuine Servant, standing at the pinnacle alongside Jeanne d'Arc and Artoria. With numerous Noble Phantasms, he was least afraid of being besieged.

Now, he was about to use his most secretive Noble Phantasm, one that was most fitting for his enemies.

"Pierce, Kazikli Bey!"

Magical power spread and the spirit fibers condensed by faith materialized into reality.

Stakes!

Stakes! Stakes!

Stakes! Stakes! Stakes!

Countless black iron stakes burst from the ground, filling Shinji's view like thorns.

The knights' charge was formidable because their formation was both offensive and defensive. However, their defense did not account for attacks from underground, and they were almost instantly impaled by the stakes.

The stakes continued to rise, lifting all the knights off their feet, and hanging them high in the air.

Shinji who created this scene stood atop the highest stake, looking down at Zepia.

"This is the true Night of Wallachia. I dedicate these stakes in homage to Vlad III, the Lord Impaler!"