Fate: How About a New Savior?

"Simulating True Ether with the five great elements?"

Upon witnessing the Magecraft—or rather, the Noble Phantasm—unleashed by Paracelsus, Shiomi was taken aback. He hadn't expected that a historical figure famed as a master of the five elements could perform Magecraft of this caliber.

"Out of my way!"

Mordred flared her Mana, forcing Jack the Ripper and Mephistopheles to retreat. She knew the white-robed man's Magecraft was extremely dangerous. Staying here any longer would only spell disaster.

"Mordred, take Sakura and fall back. I'll handle this."

Shiomi struck the ground with his staff, and a magic circle composed of runes immediately appeared beneath him.

Without hesitation, Mordred picked Sakura up and leapt toward the broader part of the courtyard.

"You're already too late."

Paracelsus declared calmly. He had no interest in Mordred or Sakura. His sole target was Tenkei Shiomi.

"Behold my radiance," said the Elementalist. "Noble Phantasm, restricted release—Philosopher's Stone, activate. Ultra-high-density Mana, focus... Beam—fire!"

In an instant, the five elements condensed, transforming into pseudo-True Ether, and fired straight at Shiomi. With a thunderous crash, Dr. Frankenstein's mansion and the front façade began to collapse under the Noble Phantasm's impact.

Held back by Jack and Mephistopheles, both Sakura and Mordred felt a deep unease as they feared for Shiomi's safety.

But Paracelsus, even after releasing the true name of his Noble Phantasm, felt no triumph. He saw it—just before the strike landed, an uncanny Rune-based Magecraft flared to life, directly intercepting his attack.

Through the haze of smoke, a pale blue light shimmered—proof that Shiomi still stood.

"Now witness what True Ether truly is," Shiomi said.

Since the Age of Gods receded from the world's surface, the Mana in the atmosphere had gradually thinned until it vanished entirely with the arrival of the Common Era. Magecraft and the occult persisted only through the fifth imaginary element—Ether.

By contrast, the magical element that had once been widespread during the Age of Gods was known as True Ether—the true fifth element.

Though it had disappeared from the surface, pockets of True Ether still existed.

For instance, the paradise where the Magus of Flowers had been sealed away.

Or the Land of Shadows, brimming with the very concept of death.

All were places even Magi could not reach.

Since returning from the Land of Shadows to the world of man, Shiomi had changed the way he used Magecraft. The reason was simple: with the Age of Gods gone, the continued presence of True Ether could introduce unpredictable changes to the already unstable foundations of human order since the start of the Common Era.

That was the parting warning left by his master—and Shiomi had faithfully abided by it.

Even without relying on True Ether, Shiomi could wield the Magecraft his master had passed down with a skill equal to any modern Magus.

"That is..."

Paracelsus stared at the Mana Shiomi had gathered, a look of surprise crossing his face. He could sense something extraordinary within it.

True Ether had manifested.

This was a Singularity—a distortion in human history. Once the Singularity was corrected, all phenomena that defied the proper course of human history would vanish without a trace.

And so, as a show of respect to the top-tier Magus who had managed to simulate True Ether, Shiomi decided to reveal his trump card.

"Feel it with your soul—this is the lost mystery of the Age of Gods!" Shiomi's hair whipped wildly in the wind as he raised his staff, aiming it straight at Paracelsus. "There's nowhere left for you to run, Paracelsus von Hohenheim!"

"I see... No wonder my friend 'M' was so wary of you. A Magus from the Age of Gods like you should have remained in the Wandering Sea or Atlas Institute."

Paracelsus raised the Azoth Sword but didn't launch another spell. Instead, he began absorbing the residual True Ether spilling from Shiomi's Magecraft.

The sword's true ability—a spirit particle computation device—could analyze an opponent's Mana, adapt to it, and eventually consume it, converting it into its own power.

However, as the blade composed of the Philosopher's Stone absorbed the True Ether, it began to emit a mournful cry.

"Answer me, Paracelsus! Why did you help create this Singularity, and who gave you the orders?" Shiomi demanded. "What's your connection to Lev Lainur Flauros?"

"There's no need to question me. If you are truly the one who brings hope, you'll naturally find the path to the end," Paracelsus replied, unshaken—even as cracks had begun forming in his Azoth Sword, unable to withstand the strain of True Ether. "I have my own cause. I will never betray my comrades or our plan, not for survival, nor for death. And besides… victory is not yet yours."

As he spoke, the space behind him abruptly twisted, connecting to a place far removed from here—just like the spatial Magecraft Professor Lev had used when retreating from Singularity F.

"With the Holy Grail in hand, even this is possible." Paracelsus acknowledged his defeat and declared coolly, "I'll concede this battle to you. But the war… still belongs to us."

"Tch..."

Shiomi gritted his teeth and, in the split second before the spell completed, unleashed a devastating blast from the spinning magic array before him, swallowing Paracelsus whole before shifting toward where Sakura and the others were.

He grabbed Saber's arm and dragged her into Imaginary Number Space. Jack and Mephistopheles, unable to react in time, were engulfed by Shiomi's Magecraft.

In an instant, the wide courtyard was reduced to a blank white void. The ground looked as if it had been gouged out—sunken nearly half a meter into a massive crater.

When the spell finally ceased, Shiomi dropped to one knee, gasping for breath.

In a place devoid of True Ether, using his aberrantly composed Magic Circuits to forcefully produce it brought an immense burden. It had been a long time since he felt exhaustion like this.

Trying to annihilate three Servants in one strike had pushed both his output and consumption far beyond normal limits.

Jack the Ripper and Mephistopheles, caught in the blast, lay sprawled on the ground. Though they struggled to rise, their Spirit Cores had already been destroyed.

...

Mordred reemerged in the courtyard with Sakura. Seeing the defeated Servants, she gave a low whistle in awe.

"Dad!"

Sakura rushed over and helped Shiomi up from the ruins near the mansion's entrance.

"I'm fine. Just need to catch my breath," Shiomi said with a smile, reassuring her. "Paracelsus used the Holy Grail to escape. With two Servants lost, he won't be back anytime soon. You and Mordred check Frankenstein's house—see if there's anything else useful. Then prepare to return to the base."