Chapter 547: [547] Prelude: Shadow of Heroes

The thunderous roar surged like tidal waves. Golden lightning pools in the sky cascaded down in countless strands, carrying the scorching radiance forged within the storm. Amidst hues resembling burning flames, they transformed into sharp blades, following Sakatsuki’s movements as they descended majestically from the distant heavens, densely aimed at the Servants beneath the firmament.

That was the tempest summoned by Artoria Alter from the farthest reaches, the golden lightning born from human intellect. Through the unspoken synergy between the two, they had created a majestic celestial palace brimming with golden plasma—a vast thunder pool.

This was the full power of Sakatsuki and Artoria’s combined might!

Under the force of a hundred million volts, even the indestructible bodies of heroes would be pierced, let alone the paladin Astolfo, who was never renowned for his defense.

The annihilating lightning tore through the sky in an instant, the erupting light and heat overwhelming everyone’s vision. When their sight recovered from the blinding whiteness, there was no trace of anyone left before Sakatsuki.

Utterly obliterated?

No, clearly not. Because beside the golden-haired saint, the pink-haired paladin rose from the ground, patting away the dust and singed strands of hair in disarray.

"Pfft—that was close! Almost got roasted. Thanks, Master!"

At the Fortress of Millennia, Sieg gasped for breath but couldn’t help smiling at the sight of Astolfo’s lively demeanor.

"No need for thanks."

On the back of her hand, the color of a Command Spell dimmed. Meanwhile, Sakatsuki seemed to sense something as he turned his gaze toward the unseen magecraft, his heterochromatic blue eyes meeting Sieg’s.

"Never letting your guard down, huh... my student."

In the sudden ambush, Sieg had only milliseconds to react. Yet even then, she had perfectly seized the sliver of survival.

This feeling was good—truly good.

Only battles like these were worth fighting!

As Astolfo rejoined the frontlines, the Empress’s message followed: "I have indeed detected the magecraft Sakatsuki planted on the Holy Grail and have severed its connection to the caster. How goes the battle?"

Hearing this, Jeanne d’Arc instinctively looked up, only to be met with the same dazzling lightning and overwhelming thunder: "Unfortunately, it seems Sakatsuki’s source of magical energy isn’t the Holy Grail. His reserves show no sign of weakening."

"How...? That shouldn’t be possible!" Amakusa exclaimed. By this point in the Holy Grail War, none of their intel should have remained hidden. Yet Sakatsuki’s inexplicable surge of magical energy had instilled a sense of crisis in all of them.

The unknown meant danger—and it also meant the scales of victory were gradually tipping away from their side.

Clap!

A crisp sound of hands clapping echoed. Following the noise, Sakatsuki, who had remained unshaken all this while, looked at them with an undisguised smirk.

"No need to keep guessing, everyone. Now that I’ve finally regained my strength, how could I waste it on mere probing?"

Amidst the roaring torrent of thunder, the black-robed youth stood with his cloak billowing. He spread his hands, tracing platinum-gold patterns in full view of all. The light of magecraft unfurled in all directions, splitting into seven—seven massive, familiar magic circles materialized directly above the Hanging Gardens.

"This is... a Heroic Spirit Summoning ritual!"

Goosebumps rose as a shiver ran down the spines of every Master and Servant present. Even without understanding what card Sakatsuki had just played, they instinctively sensed impending danger.

Something troublesome was coming!

"Ah!" The Empress standing beside the Greater Grail gasped. The ritual she had used to sever the connection was shattered by a surge of immense energy. Without warning, the hidden measures Sakatsuki had planted before the Greater Grail was stolen activated on their own, resonating with the seven magic circles in the sky. The young man proudly raised his arm—

"I am the bone, I am the steel, I am the hand that forges swords."

As his words fell, the seven summoning circles blazed with light. The power of magecraft linked with slumbering records, and memories of the past began flowing once more.

The summoning had begun!

"How is this possible!" Amakusa slammed the table, unable to conceal his shock. "The Holy Grail War is already an anomaly, yet at this stage, how can a Heroic Spirit Summoning ritual still function?!"

"That is no ordinary summoning, Master." The Empress conjured a screen of magical light. As a magi from the Age of Gods, she instantly recognized its nature. "Those incantation words—Sakatsuki is leveraging his own ’bonds,’ forcibly resonating with heroes he has formed connections with in the past!"

Even as she spoke, Sakatsuki’s summoning reached its climax.

"Let thy body be under my command, and thy fate be tied to my blade—Appear now, O guardian of the scales, transcending the wheel of suppression!"

With his final words, the ritual at the Greater Grail shattered instantly. Answering Sakatsuki’s call, shadowy figures crossed the sea of imaginary numbers, manifesting beside the youth. Though an unseen force severed the channels, devoted believers still seized the remnants of heroes, granting form to legends of the past.

Seven pitch-black, indistinct figures stood there. Yet despite their obscured forms, the aura they exuded left no doubt—they were heroes.

"Shadow Servants..." Semiramis murmured, not sparing another glance at the Greater Grail as she quickened her pace and swiftly left the room.

"Not actual Servants... Thank goodness they’re not Servants." Amakusa let out a strange sigh, his earlier tension easing. "Fortunately, the worst-case scenario didn’t occur. It seems some other force prevented Sakatsuki’s irregular summoning."

"Isn’t this situation bad enough, Mr. Amakusa?" Fiore said helplessly. "We’re no longer at an advantage in numbers."

"...Right."

Perhaps due to the broken window effect, Amakusa only now realized that even seven Shadow Servants were enough to push the battle into even more dire straits.

"This... is troublesome."

———

On the battlefield, Sakatsuki observed the seven silent Shadow Servants, his brow slightly furrowed. Yet his expression suggested he had anticipated this outcome. Without hesitation, he turned to his sole true companion—the genuine Servant he had summoned:

"I leave them to you, my King."

"As it should be, my Prince (Master)."

Artoria Alter understood Sakatsuki’s double entendre, her cold golden eyes showing no fluctuation. She merely tugged on the reins and raised the Holy Lance. The seven Shadow Servants that had been surrounding Sakatsuki immediately fell into orderly formation behind her, as neatly arranged as royal guards.

In the distance, Mordred’s pupils constricted sharply. As she watched the black-themed Shadow Servants and the Knight King, she caught a fleeting glimpse of long-forgotten phantoms from the distant past.

"Our Round Table..."

Clearly, none of the Shadow Servants were members of the Round Table—some even wielded distinctly modern weaponry. Yet despite this, subtle ripples stirred in the depths of Artoria’s eyes. The rare sense of coordination made her recall bygone days as well.

"How small the enemies appear from horseback..."

After a soft sigh, Artoria pointed her Holy Lance forward and issued a commanding shout.

"The battle begins—crush them all!"

Her beloved horse, Llamrei, let out a whinny as its hooves pounded the ground. The Shadow Servants likewise broke into a frenzied charge, with Artoria in her unleashed form leading the charge straight toward Mordred!

"I’ll assist." Flames surged as Karna appeared beside Mordred. The two red-themed heroes watched the approaching monarch warily, not daring to lower their guard. "Let’s go."

"Couldn’t wait any longer." Mordred snapped back to reality, baring her teeth in a fierce grin as she drew her sword. "And thanks, Lancer!"

Streaks of light shot skyward as flames and crimson lightning swept aside all obstacles, transforming into sharp arrows that clashed head-on with the battle line led by Artoria!

BOOM!

An energy storm erupted, instantly splitting the battlefield of the Hanging Gardens in two. On the other side, Sakatsuki—having completed his Heroic Spirit summoning—let out a hearty laugh as he charged toward the oncoming Saint and the knight astride a hippogriff.

"Let’s go, heroes."

A waterfall of lightning cascaded from the heavens, the blinding radiance illuminating half of the young man’s face and lending his smile a savage, manic edge.

"Draw your swords—or face a humiliating death!"