Fate/Magus Path

"Born of darkness, nourished by the flesh and mana as per the envoy's invitation. Grow, sprout... Child of Einnashe."

With a chant steeped in obscure, ominous syllables, the crimson seed, along with the heap of flesh and blood at his feet, was ruthlessly kicked into the crevice of the earth.

Rumble!!!

A tremor surged beneath him, violently shaking the ground. The forest around him began to twist and distort, as though coming alive.

"Hah, it seems to be working better than expected. With this, not even the Magician of the Fifth Magic can escape unscathed."

After completing his preparations, Roa lifted his gaze toward the dense forest in the distance, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The seed had been planted, and the cage had been constructed. Now, it was only a matter of time before the prey fell neatly into his trap.

With the first step of his plan complete, Roa glanced at the elite Dead Apostles behind him, a smile still lingering.

"All right, everyone, proceed according to the plan. Any questions?"

"…"

The Dead Apostles said nothing, merely bowing their heads in submission.

These elite soldiers, raised by the White Wing Lord, bore unparalleled loyalty to their master. Orders were absolute, even if it meant marching to their deaths without hesitation.

Though their true master wasn't Roa, the White Wing Lord had temporarily ceded command to him. As such, their loyalty extended to him without question.

Nodding slightly in approval, Roa observed as the Dead Apostles began their movements. The group divided into two teams... one heading toward the witch's mansion nestled within the forest, the other making its way toward Misaki Town. Their actions were swift and efficient.

"A truly elite force of Dead Apostles… Even in a suicide mission, there's not a shred of hesitation." Roa muttered as he watched from the hillside, clicking his tongue in both admiration and regret.

It was a shame.

If he could have brainwashed them, he would have seized the opportunity to claim such a formidable force as his own.

But alas, their loyalty was bound by the White Wing Lord's spell, rendering them impervious to manipulation. Since that was the case, Roa decided to treat them as expendable currency.

After all, this so-called cooperation was nothing more than mutual exploitation. When Arcueid was finally eliminated, these "allies" would be the first to turn against him.

The White Wing Lord, self-proclaimed King of Dead Apostles, would surely seek to eliminate him. Vlov Arkhangel already bore irreconcilable hatred toward him and wouldn't hesitate to strike.

Thus, even as he advanced his plans, Roa remained vigilant, constantly preparing his escape routes.

"…"

From his investigations, Roa had learned that the Magician of the Fifth Magic, Aoko Aozaki, shared a close bond with the so-called Pure Witch, Alice Kounji. Years ago, they had fought side by side in this very city against Aoko's elder sister, Touko.

Their relationship was one of unshakable trust, forged through life-and-death struggles. If Aoko learned her friend was in danger, she would undoubtedly return to the forest without hesitation.

As for the Witch herself, her power was no trifling matter. These Dead Apostles couldn't kill her in a short time.

But then, Roa's goal was never to take her life.

All he needed was to force Aoko to retreat and return here.

And under no circumstances could they kill the witch. Such an act would provoke Aoko into an all-out, no-holds-barred conflict, which would jeopardize everything.

This was only the first step.

Once the Magician of the Fifth Magic witnessed her friend under attack, her rage would ignite. She would annihilate the Dead Apostles and rescue her companion.

But…

Roa's real trump card wasn't these mere Dead Apostle forces. It was…

He glanced at the writhing tendrils of the forest behind him, his lips curling into a grin.

"Are you hungry already, freshly born one? Hahaha, don't worry. Soon, you'll feast to your heart's content."

"Take root in the leylines and absorb mana. Devour the flesh and blood of this land. All of it... all of it is yours. Soon, you'll grow into a forest of your own. And then… even the Magician of the Fifth Magic will be yours."

"Hahahaha!!!"

Roa spread his arms wide, his laughter echoing madly as his gaze swept over the forest below.

Everything was falling perfectly into place.

Vlov, Ortenrosse, Merem, and even Arcueid... they were all mere pieces on his chessboard.

Beneath the layers of his intricate schemes lay his ultimate goal: the perfect body.

With the Einzbern family's legacy as a foundation and the ability to wield a Reality Marble, its power could even suppress Nrvnqsr Chaos.

This was the most ideal vessel he had encountered in centuries... a body so perfect it surpassed all others.

His knowledge combined with that body's strength would elevate him to become the most powerful existence of any era.

When that day came, he would reclaim everything he had lost.

Taking one last, lingering look at the forest below, Roa turned and walked away.

The time had come to initiate the next phase of his plan.

...

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Vlov Arkhangel had already arrived at the bustling heart of Misaki Town.

Seated in a quaint café, he sipped his coffee, though his trembling hands and restless gaze betrayed the turmoil within.

"…Cold… so cold… unbearably cold…"

He murmured the words repeatedly, a mantra escaping his lips.

His striking European features and noble aura caught the attention of passersby, many pausing to steal a glance.

"He's so handsome…"

"He looks like a dark knight straight out of a twisted fairytale. Is he a foreigner? Or maybe a celebrity?"

"Let's go say hi! Maybe we can get a photo with him."

A lively crowd began to gather around the street corner where Vlov sat. Young women, enchanted by his striking appearance, eagerly approached him. Some even ventured to invite him out for a stroll, their confidence evident in their practiced flirtations.

"Cold… so cold… unbearably cold…"

But Vlov paid them no mind. His head remained lowered his whispers of frigid despair uninterrupted. The pain gnawing at his body threatened to shatter his sanity.

Were it not for the lack of instructions from Roa, he would have long succumbed to his primal urges, feasting on human flesh to alleviate his suffering.

"Cold… so cold…" 

"Cold? But it's twenty degrees Celsius today." 

"Is he sick or something?"

The women around him exchanged confused glances. Dressed in light, summery clothing, they found the weather comfortably warm, even a touch stifling.

How could this foreigner possibly feel cold?

When their casual chatter failed to elicit a response, some of the bolder girls took things further. One slid onto the bench beside him, draping an arm over his shoulder and whispering in his ear.

"If you're feeling cold, handsome, how about coming over to my place? My bed's plenty warm~"

"Haha, yeah! Come and have fun with us. You'll warm up in no time." 

Laughter and playful banter erupted around him, but Vlov remained impassive, letting their words wash over him like an icy wind.

Then, suddenly, his body stiffened. He raised his hand abruptly, his gaze snapping toward a distant point.

A row of pale figures dressed in immaculate white suits had appeared, standing in perfect formation.

The signal had come.

At last… at long last, he didn't have to endure anymore.

Vlov rose swiftly, seizing the arm of the nearest girl and pulling her into his embrace. His face buried deep into her neck, his movements firm yet unrelenting.

The girl gasped, her breath hitching. "I…"

"Wow! So bold, handsome!"

"Finally ready to play along? Let's all warm up together!"

"Hahaha!"

While the crowd continued to cheer, unaware of the grim reality, blood began to drip from the corners of Vlov's mouth.

Yearning for warmth…

Then let it begin.

Straightening slightly, he let the lifeless, desiccated body of the girl slip from his grasp. His eyes turned to the now horrified onlookers, and a satisfied, almost euphoric smile spread across his face.

Indeed, in the face of this unending cold, only the heat of blood could grant him fleeting solace.

"Join me! Join me in this inferno of ecstasy!"

Before anyone could flee or even react, serpentine flames erupted from the ground, spiraling skyward.

Screams filled the air as countless people were consumed, their forms reduced to mere fuel for the ravenous blaze.

At the center of the chaos, Vlov closed his eyes, a rare moment of peace washing over him.

"At last… it's warm…"

He whispered the words softly, as though to himself, amidst the crackling roar of the inferno.

___

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