Chapter 15: The Strongest Servant

The white light intensified to its limit, then vanished in a heartbeat. A staggering pressure radiated from the center of the room.

Zoran smiled as he appraised the Servant he had just summoned. The entity was a tower of muscle, his skin green and scaled, his eyes a piercing crimson that glowed with ancient malice. He possessed the head of a dragon atop a powerful, near-humanoid frame. At this moment, a swirl of fire swept over him, like a baptism for a new world.

Zoran's eyes met his, and the two shared a knowing, wicked smirk.

"My brother..." Shendu's raspy voice murmured. He looked down, studying his newly reconstructed, robust body.

Zoran had successfully summoned his Servant. Manifesting in the world under the Caster class...

Shendu, the Demon Sorcerer of Fire!

Upon manifestation, all relevant knowledge of the current world was naturally imprinted into a Servant's mind. Shendu understood the situation instantly. His gaze drifted to the Command Seals on Zoran's hand; they were brimming with mana, establishing a powerful link between them.

"Tell me, brother, how did you accomplish this?" Shendu asked, stretching his limbs to feel the terrifying explosive power hidden beneath his flesh.

His soul had been pulled from the statue in the underground palace and reshaped into a physical body in this realm. Although the summoning ritual imposed limits on a Servant's original power, the current Shendu remained among the absolute elite of his class. The Twelve Talismans, the Shadowkhan, and his vast magical wisdom as a Demon Sorcerer, powers he had once lost or seen fade, had all returned to him.

Zoran spoke calmly. "My brother, Shendu, I still remember your final stand. The eight of us are of the same root. Though I have gained my freedom, I will not forget my own. This is my promise as the eldest, the Moon Demon."

"Hahahaha! That is magnificent!" Shendu laughed with wild abandon.

"Now, let us claim the Holy Grail and complete the first step of our demonic legacy," Zoran said confidently.

"No, my brother," Shendu countered slowly, pacing the room to admire his perfect form. "I have not had this experience in a very long time. This body reminds me of my former self. Consider it a request: let me enjoy myself for a while."

Upon summoning, a Servant understands the nature of the Holy Grail War, that six other Servants from different eras have been called to compete. They are heroes or legends, fated to clash for the prize. Clearly, Shendu's interest and competitive streak had been piqued.

Zoran folded his smaller secondary arms in front of him, his eyes narrowing slightly in an expression of elegant composure.

"Of course," he whispered.

In that small, dark room, two low, sinister laughs rang out. In this hidden corner of the city, the strongest Master had just drawn the strongest card.

…

The Tohsaka Estate.

"The final Master has appeared. The Caster class has manifested. All seven participants are now gathered."

Tokiomi Tohsaka received the news, his expression filled with concern. It was late at night. He swirled the red wine in his glass, looking out the French windows where a golden light had just flashed and vanished.

Tonight was a trap he had designed to deceive his opponents. Just moments ago, his Servant, Archer, had "slain" the Assassin, Hassan, who had trespassed into the estate. Of course, this was merely a play coordinated with his pupil, Kirei Kotomine.

This Holy Grail War was a facade from the very beginning. The Church, supposedly the impartial mediator, was represented by Father Risei Kotomine, who was already in league with Tokiomi. They had agreed that the Grail would have only one owner. Risei's son, Kirei, who had recently become Tokiomi's apprentice, had also been chosen by the Grail, and used his Servant, Hassan, to put on a show.

With this alliance, the middle-aged mage felt secure in his shadow games.

In the darkness of the living room, golden particles converged. A blond Servant in golden armor, wearing an expression of pure arrogance, slowly materialized. He exuded an aura of supreme nobility, matched by his handsome features.

The King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, spoke with a dismissive sneer. "You disturb me with such a trivial matter, Tokiomi."

"My deepest apologies, King of Kings," Tokiomi replied, bowing low and showing absolute reverence.

A flicker of joy crossed Tokiomi's eyes. Archer was already one of the three strongest classes, and the Gilgamesh he had summoned was powerful beyond measure. As the King of Uruk from Mesopotamian myth, he was the oldest King of Heroes. Tokiomi's confidence stemmed from the fact that he had not only secured the Church's favor but had also drawn the strongest Servant.

The victor of this war had been decided the moment Gilgamesh was summoned. He was sure of it.

But in the next second... Gilgamesh's expression shifted violently!

He lunged for Tokiomi, ignoring the mage's gasp of surprise, and blurred out of the living room. Instantly, a massive pillar of fire roared in from the distance, turning half the estate into a sea of red flame. The raging fire, like demonic tentacles creeping from the abyss, crawled over the broken ruins.

Far away, Shendu stood on a high slope, a wisp of smoke curling from his extended claws. Combustion, the power of the Dragon.

"Is he dead?" Zoran asked with a smile.

"It matters not," Shendu shrugged.

It was a whim, a sudden ambush to let Shendu acclimate to his current body. Zoran had an agreement with him. There was no formal contract; simply that while securing the Grail, Shendu would be allowed to have his fun. As for tonight's provocation, it was merely the standard behavior of a demon.

On the clearing beside the estate, Tokiomi's hair was disheveled, and the shock had yet to leave his face. His composed elegance was gone, his heart hammering against his ribs.

That was too close! If Gilgamesh hadn't reacted instantly, he would have been incinerated on the spot!

"How is this possible? I have familiars monitoring the entire perimeter. The enemy..."

"There!" Gilgamesh said, his face cold and grim. He pointed into the distance, far beyond the range of the familiars.

"From that distance? Impossible..." Tokiomi shook his head in disbelief. "And they are so bold. Is this a provocation or..."

"Lowly mongrels, daring to disturb this King," Gilgamesh hissed, his brow furrowing in deep displeasure.

He was about to give chase when Tokiomi stopped him. "We have no intel. We cannot act rashly." Tokiomi was cautious to a fault.

Seeing the Command Seals on Tokiomi's hand begin to glow, Gilgamesh knew that if he forced the issue, Tokiomi would use a seal to command him to stop.

"Tch." He looked toward the source of the attack, his face twisted in rage. "Mongrels... do not let me catch you..."

Before he could finish his sentence, another scorching pillar of fire descended from the sky.

Same direction. Same technique.

The white-hot flame expanded rapidly in their vision.