Parcasious

B-Rank Poll

Thanks for all the support, and I know times may be getting hard with the economy, so please do what you feel is best!

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

Week 2:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later.

Update dates: Will now be on weekends depending on how busy the work week was

B-Rank Poll Winner: Feb. 5th, 2026

Birth of a Legend V2: Feb 12th, 2026

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Next week's list:

Week  3: C-Rank poll, Hero and Sword

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

Coming update

I apologize, I have Huntsman of Red V2's update coming out tomorrow. I ended up running late on time this week helping a friend with a favour

A-Rank Poll

Thanks for all the support, and I know times may be getting hard with the economy, so please do what you feel is best!

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

The 'whatever I feel like writing' option will be added to the double update poll in case anyone wants to take a gamble and see what I end up writing on the day.

Week 1:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later.

Update dates:

A-Rank Poll Winner: Jan. 22, 2026

Huntsman V2: Jan. 29, 2026

-----------------

Next week's list:

Week  2: B-Rank Poll, Birth of a Legend V2

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon (Ranked up)

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

Coming Update Dates

Sword Order: Jan. 8, 2026 and Jan. 15th, 2026

Double Update Poll Revised

I apologize, a story category was missing from the prior poll that I should have noticed sooner. I've added Sword Order in with the top picks of the prior poll

Double Update Poll

Fate Grand Dungeon is momentarily off of the poll as it has one this poll twice in a row

Happy New Years!

Happy New Years everyone!

It was a bit ambitious of me to have the update today, as family and friends came over and made writing incredibly difficult. I should be able to get the update out by tomorrow,

Cheers

2 Month Update Poll

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, and I wish everyone a happy Holiday and New Year

Cheers!

C-Rank Poll

Thanks for all the support, and I know times may be getting hard with the economy, so please do what you feel is best!

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

The 'whatever I feel like writing' option will be added to every poll in case anyone wants to take a gamble and see what I end up writing on the day.

Week 3:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later. Grand Dungeon out for this rotation

Update dates: Will now be on weekends depending on how busy the work week was

C-Rank Poll Winner: Dec. 24, 2025

2 month update poll: Dec. 31, 2025

-----------------

Next week's list:

Week  4: Double Update

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon (Ranked up)

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

B-Rank Poll

Thanks for all the support, and I know times may be getting hard with the economy, so please do what you feel is best!

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

Week 2:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later.

Update dates: Will now be on weekends depending on how busy the work week was

B-Rank Poll Winner: Dec 10th, 2025 (I'm going to need one more day)

Hero and Sword: Dec 17th, 2025

-----------------

Next week's list:

Week  3: C-Rank poll, 2 month update poll

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

A-Rank Poll

Thanks for all the support, and I know times may be getting hard with the economy, so please do what you feel is best!

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

The 'whatever I feel like writing' option will be added to every poll in case anyone wants to take a gamble and see what I end up writing on the day.

Week 1:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later.

Update dates: Will now be on weekends depending on how busy the work week was

Huntsman V2: Nov 19th, 2025

A-Rank Poll Winner: Nov. 26th, 2025

-----------------

Next week's list:

Week  2: Birth of a Legend V2, B-Rank Poll

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

Double Update Poll

The first Magus among Ninjas is supposed to be Fate Legend,

Thanks for the heads up Edward!

Update date: Nov. 5th and 12th

2 month Update Poll

C-Rank Poll

Thanks for all the support, and I know times may be getting hard with the economy, so please do what you feel is best!

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

The 'whatever I feel like writing' option will be added to every poll in case anyone wants to take a gamble and see what I end up writing on the day.

Week 3:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later. Grand Dungeon out for this rotation

Update dates:

C-Rank Poll Winner: Oct. 14, 2025 (I caught a fever, I'm going to need 1 more day)

Hero and Sword: Oct. 21, 2025 (I've been delayed by a day)

-----------------

Next week's list:

Week  4: B-Rank Poll, Birth of a Legend V2

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon (Ranked up)

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

Tuesday Update dates

I'm going to move update dates to Tuesday, as it appears to be the new best day for me to have enough time to get an update out

B-Rank Poll

Thanks for all the support! I know that the available time I have to write is getting shorter due to work and life commitments, but I strive to write as much as I can. I've had a child and my partner makes it a point to make family time, lol. I promise I always do my best

Cheers

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

The 'whatever I feel like writing' option will be added to every poll in case anyone wants to take a gamble and see what I end up writing on the day.

Week 2:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later. Grand Dungeon out for this rotation

Update dates: Will now be on weekends depending on how busy the work week was

B-Rank Poll Winner: September 29th, 2025

Birth of a Legend V2: October 6th, 2025

-----------------

Next week's list:

Week  3: C-Rank Poll, Hero and Sword

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon (Ranked up)

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

A-Rank Poll

Thanks for all the support, and I know times may be getting hard with the economy, so please do what you feel is best!

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

The 'whatever I feel like writing' option will be added to every poll in case anyone wants to take a gamble and see what I end up writing on the day.

Week 1:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later. Grand Dungeon out for this rotation

Update dates:

A-Rank Poll Winner: Sept. 15th, 2025

Huntsman V2: Sept. 22nd, 2025 (Will need one more day)

-----------------

Next week's list:

Week  2: B-Rank Poll, Birth of a Legend V2

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon (Ranked up)

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

Double Update Poll

Fate Beyond the Gate's update will be coming soon if not tomorrow night, depending on how long I can stay up to finish it.

2-Month Update Poll

Small Delay

I'm going to need one more day to get out Hero and Sword's Update. I'll be getting it out tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience.

C-Rank Poll

Thanks for all the support, and I know times may be getting hard with the economy, so please do what you feel is best!

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

The 'whatever I feel like writing' option will be added to every poll in case anyone wants to take a gamble and see what I end up writing on the day.

Week 3:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later. Grand Dungeon out for this rotation

Update dates: Will now be on weekends depending on how busy the work week was

C-Rank Poll Winner: August 11th, 2025

Hero and Sword: August 18th, 2025

-----------------

Next week's list:

Week  4: 2-Month Update Poll, Double Update Poll

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon (Ranked up)

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

B-Rank Poll Winner

Thanks for all the support, and I know times may be getting hard with the economy, so please do what you feel is best!

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

The 'whatever I feel like writing' option will be added to every poll in case anyone wants to take a gamble and see what I end up writing on the day.

Week 2:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later. Grand Dungeon out for this rotation

Update dates: Will now be on weekends depending on how busy the work week was

B-Rank Poll Winner: July 28th, 2025

Birth of a Legend V2: August 4th, 2025

-----------------

Next week's list:

Week  3: C-Rank Poll, Hero and Sword

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon (Ranked up)

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

Small Delay

I planned to get the update out by today, but I woke up with a tension headache that hasn't gone away today. It must be the heat getting to me, but I'm going to need one more day for Huntsman V2's update. I'll also post the next poll tomorrow.

I apologize for the delay

A-Rank Poll

Thanks for all the support, and I know times may be getting hard with the economy, so please do what you feel is best!

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

The 'whatever I feel like writing' option will be added to every poll in case anyone wants to take a gamble and see what I end up writing on the day.

Week 1:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later. Grand Dungeon out for this rotation

Update dates: Will now be on weekends depending on how busy the work week was

A-Rank Poll Winner: July 13th or 14th

Huntsman V2: July 20 or 21st

-----------------

Next week's list:

Week  2: B-Rank Poll, Birth of a Legend V2

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon (Ranked up)

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

Double Update Poll

Grand Dungeon was the last winner for 2 times in a row, so it will be removed for this Double Update poll and will return on the next one.

Head ache

Sorry, I was trying to get Sword Order's update out today, but I have a headache that's making it difficult to finish the final stretch. I should be able to get it out by tomorrow

2 Month Update Poll

Thanks for all the support, and I know times may be getting hard with the economy, so please do what you feel is best!

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

The 'whatever I feel like writing' option will be added to every poll in case anyone wants to take a gamble and see what I end up writing on the day.

Week 4:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later. Grand Dungeon out for this rotation

Update dates: Will now be on weekends depending on how busy the work week was

2- month update Poll: June 22nd or 23th, 2025

Double Update Poll: June 29th or 30th, 2025

-----------------

Next week's list:

Week  1: A-Rank Poll

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon (Ranked up)

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

C-Rank Poll

Thanks for all the support, and I know times may be getting hard with the economy, so please do what you feel is best!

Note: New Story option on last update week rotation is present to help me determine when everyone wants a new story added

The 'whatever I feel like writing' option will be added to every poll in case anyone wants to take a gamble and see what I end up writing on the day.

Week 3:

If a story wins twice in a poll, it will be removed on the next poll, and them added back later. Grand Dungeon out for this rotation

Update dates: Will now be on weekends depending on how busy the work week was

C-Rank Poll Winner: June 8th or 9th, 2025

Hero and Sword: June 15th or 16th, 2025

-----------------

Next week's list:

Week  4: B-Rank Poll, Birth of a Legend V2

----------------

Completed Stories:

Holyman of the Church Creak

Fate-In Time

Vasto of White

Fate: Kill

EX Stories:

Huntsman V2 (1)

Birth of a Legend V2 (2)

Hero and Sword (3)

-----------------

Story Poll Groupings: By word count: (When only 5 options exist in C-Rank, Poll Ranks will increase by one rank. C->B, B->A, A->A+)

'A' Rank Poll Stories: 90'000 +

'B' Rank Poll Stories: 50'000 +

'C' Rank Poll Stories: 0 +

Current A-Rank stories:

Fate Stay Cooking

Fate Sword Order

Grand Dungeon (Ranked up)

Current B-Rank stories:

A Tale of Two Swords

The Magus Among Ninjas

Fate Parallels

Chaldea Alternative Records

Beyond the Gate

Fate Legend

Current C-Rank stories:

Fate Strikers (Fate/Nanoha)

Fate: Alternative (Fate)

Heaven and Hell (DXD)

Twin Wings (Fairy Tail)

New Story (From a poll)

Birth of a Legend Update

I am unable to log in to fanfiction and post for the past 3 hours, so I'm just going to post the update here until I'm able to post on fanfiction.

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Turbulent storms give way to tranquil skies, never knowing the calm of a rising undercurrent. 

In the end, wasn’t life also like that? It had its ups and downs, and its highs and lows, but inevitably, everything comes full circle.

One just had to search for the signs and let the world chart its course.

Naturally, there are those that fight the current.

A man with flowing white hair leisurely drank from a cup of wine while standing on a terrace overlooking a distant beach where women frolicked in skimpy swim wear. The fine line between ‘swim wear’ and lingerie was quite blurred on a beach, and it was just as the man liked it.

If nothing else, the adjective that best described the nature of the man was philanderer, enemy of women all round, and general heart breaker. His ability to charm women was unprecedented with his soft features, magnetic voice, and the heavy intent in his eyes. However, equally remarkable was his lackadaisical attitude to life, and his carefreeness.

The clinking of ice hitting the glass of his drink echoed as the man pulled away from the women accompanying him on either side of his person.

“Leaving already?” One of the women drawled. “One more magic trick. How about it?”

The man shook his head, his long silver hair dancing in the low evening light.

“Afraid not.” The man smiled charmingly. “Anymore, and I fear I won’t be walking out of this facility on two legs.”

“Fufufufu,” the other woman laughed. “Does that not sound appealing to you?”

“Sadly, it can wait for another time,” the man said before moving towards the exit.

“Maybe then you’ll give us your real name?” The women waved goodbye to the man. “Mr. Merlin, Master Wizard.”

“Wizard of Flowers to you,” Merlin chuckled before leaving the establishment and moving to walk alone along a nameless beach front.

The ocean breeze blew over his face, his eyes closing to bask in the sensation.

Things were progressing quicker than he’d expected since the moment he started writing about the world he saw in his dreams. Honestly, it was still a point of contention he brooded over in the silence of his own thoughts, but it had never felt so compelling before. Especially when he considered that the subject of his dreaming was the daughter of a family friend that he was quite fond of.

Nevertheless, time would wait for no man.

Merlin reached an arm out in front of him as the wind gently blew from the north. Carried with it was the fragrance of spring, and the uncanny appearance of floating petals.

What was the promise of a miracle?

What was the purpose in his growing sense of responsibility.

A pink flower petal drifted onto his open palm, his expression unreadable before a bemused smile crossed his lips. 

Fate truly did work in odd ways. 

BREAK

The matter with Metis was settled for the most part.

Swaths of Japan’s ancestral land and rural forests were swept up and decimated but, at least the country was saved from being wiped off the map. That was a win in Arturia’s eyes, but more than anything, a sense of achievement swelled within her.

She’d done it.

She’d saved Shirou.

Of course, Arturia had help, but it didn’t change the underlying result of her actions. It was the last thought in her mind before she felt exhaustion creep in. Her vision blackened, her world spinning. Before she could realize it herself, her body was already tipping forward.

However, a strong pair of arms caught Arturia before she could fall flat on her face.

“You did well,” Shirou said with a small smile.

Arturia craned her head up, stared at Shirou’s sincere expression, blushed and then shifted her gaze to her feet. A few seconds later, she shook her head, and then boldly met his gaze despite the edges of her cheeks flaring red.

“N-Naturally,” Arturia said while puffing her chest up. “It was only right to help someone in need, but I did have a little help.”

Arturia steadied herself on her feet by using Shirou as support. With her other arm, she gestured towards Athena, Guinevere, and Rin of all people.

Shirou had to do a double take when he noticed Rin’s presence as it completely threw him off guard.

“I-It’s not like I wanted to save you! Don’t get the wrong idea!” Rin crossed her arms and yelled, visibly embarrassed. “I was forced! FORCED! You hear me?!”

For a fraction of a second, Shirou felt old memories stir stronger and stronger within him.

This new world he found himself summoned within never failed to throw curveball after curveball at him.

Given the personality of the Rin Tohsaka that Shirou knew, and the one standing in front of him radiating with the divinity of a Goddess, there were hardly any differences in character. He would even believe that Rin was somehow summoned to this world along with him. If it was her, then it was completely possible as a student of the Wizard Marshal, user of the Kaleidoscope, and the Second Magic which operated on parallel world theory.  

A sudden pressure on Shirou’s foot snapped him out of his musing. Glancing down, Arturia was driving her heel onto his foot while pouting as she noted how long Shirou had been staring at Rin. It was to the point that Rin herself was going red from the attention.

Fortunately, the awkwardness was quickly broken by someone who demanded attention.

“Forsooth, God of Steel,” Guinevere interjected, stepping forward with a solemn demeanor. “Who art thou, truly?” She pressed.

“And you are?” Shirou asked, not getting swept up in the woman’s momentum.

“Someone to whom thee owes gratitude for granting mine aid.” Guinevere said while frowning. However, she no longer chose to forgo etiquette. “I am the White Goddess, Guinevere. I carry with me the duty of finding him. And yet in thee I sense the very same energy as the one eons past. Explain.”  

If Shirou revealed any surprise at the mention of Guinevere, he did well not to show it. Instead, he actively mulled over Guinevere’s words. Within his inner world, numerous divinities existed that could have had a resonance effect with Guinevere. The simplest one was Lancelot and Arondight, but it was difficult to pinpoint considering that Guinevere hadn’t been specific in her wording. Rather, it was as if she expected him to know who she was talking about.

If not Lancelot, then King Arthur, or any Knight of the Round.

As the woman who officially stood at King Arthur’s side in the legend of King Arthur, any one of those choices could work.

Be that as it may, there was something deeper in Guinevere’s gaze. It was suspicion and skepticism as if she was only partially convinced of something while pressured even more by Athena’s smug look in the background.

“I do not know what you mean,” Shirou said. In the end, he could only feign ignorance.

He was not foolish enough to play a game of deceit with a potential God. Lies would be seen through in an instant, and then one would play with a God’s ire.

Shirou had no such plans.

Guinevere pursed her lips, glaring at Shirou as if trying to dissect him, but a clapping noise in the background pulled Guinevere’s focus away.    

“Alright, that’s enough now,” Athena said, stepping in between.

An air of tension was growing between Arturia, Rin, and Guinevere as they gathered closer and closer to Shirou.

“Doth, thou seek to interfere?!” Guinevere seethed. “We had an accord! I will see you honor it if thou pride thyself as a true Goddess!”

“Hmph, do not jump to assumptions- Divine Ancestor,” Athena sneered while crossing her arms. “I will not go back on our agreement. Rather, there is a place and time for such things. The battle is over, but you must understand our need to settle the situation first.”

“What situation? It’s over,” Arturia asked while Guinevere paused before frowning heavily at the implication.

“What? What the hell is going on now?!” Rin tensed, sensing the sudden shift in mood.

“We must announce victory and bring back the two idiots,” Athena said before she revealed herself dragging Godou and Doni on either arm.

Both were practically dead on their feet, but at least they were alive. Doni’s condition was worse, but Godou appeared pristine yet utterly unresponsive. One survived due to skill, the other due to his Authority.

Of the three swords Doni had encountered, he’d chosen to defend against the one aimed at his neck while believing in his constitution as a Campione. Meanwhile, Godou’s Authority of the Ram promised a full revival assuming he’d activated it prior to his death.    

Irrespective, both Godou and Doni’s conditions were stabilizing 

So, then what was the problem?

Arturia made a face of incomprehension that didn’t sit well with Athena who had taken Arturia in as her pupil.
“Think Arthenia,” Athena insisted before sighing and spilling the answer at the dumb look on Arturia’s face. Perhaps there was a better way to teach her, but the method utterly eluded the Goddess. Perhaps there would be no easy way to-

“Metis was the pot roast in a public barbeque,” Shirou suddenly said, stunning Athena into silence as Arturia slowly nodded, proving that she was following along. “When ordering food, one waits in a line. If the person in front of you sudden disappears, what do you do?”

Rin blinked at the sudden and ridiculous tangent in their conversation, but she wasn’t the only one. Guinevere couldn’t follow along, and by now Athena’s brow was twitching at a sudden realization.

No way. There was just no way.

“Ah! AH! I get it!” Arturia suddenly exclaimed. “So, so like if Metis was fried chicken instead of pot roast, and we were the first in line to eat, then if we don’t make ourselves known, the people waiting for food behind us will eat our chicken!”

A cracking noise echoed as cracks began forming on Athena’s scythe from how tightly she was clenching it in frustration. The amount of time she’d spent attempting to drill concepts and ideas into Arturia’s head amounted to basically nothing compared to food?

“Hehehehe,” Athena chuckled under her breath, a dark aura swirling around her. She saw it now. Very well. She admitted it. She was just approaching things from the wrong angle.

It was indeed as Arturia said.

If they didn’t proclaim their victory, other Campione would quickly swoop in. There was no way that they would not have felt the divine fluctuations around Japan, but they kept their distance due to an unspoken agreement not to meddle in each other’s fights. But if the Campione seemingly lost, then wasn’t it free game to come on over?

Some Campione had Authorities that could traverse the world in mere seconds.

Moreover, someone like Voban would not keep still.

“…I’m done. I’m so done,” Rin deadpanned as no one was explaining anything to her.

A small smile escaped Shirou’s mouth as he watched the group bicker. It certainly reminded him of happier times. But it also hardened his demeanor as he realized what was worth protecting and what his goals should be in this world.

The promise of a miracle was all that drove him, and yet more and more, he was feeling like the goal was just within reach.

Subtly glancing at Arturia beside him, Shirou decided to put his growing selfishness. He had his doubts and suspicions, but when he weighed them against his current Master’s well being, he realized the result of his own short comings. He was a hero who put others before himself.

Naturally, he could not easily forsake what he stood up for even if his hands were clammy from sweat and doubt.

Now was the time to reorganize and instill a sense of normalcy back to Arturia. 

Whether she was related to his Saber or not, he would not jeopardize what she had and what his Saber never had the chance to have. 

The life that his Saber could not live, would live on through this parallel of her.

He would make sure of it.

And in the meantime, he’d be watching and protecting her. 

That was his resolve.

BREAK

At the peak of the Tianshan mountains in China, a slender woman wearing the garb of a martial artist exited a temple where she’d been meditating. Her focus had been keenly directed towards the East as of late. Numerous conflicts were stemming from that area, and a part of her regretted not making the initial trip to Japan when the Eighth Campione made her debut.

At the time, she’d declined to attend due to her own pride and honour. Voban was there, and a Martial Artist does not steal another’s adversary.

However, it was only later when news spread of the strength of their contenders that Luo Hao revealed regret at her own pride.

What she needed now was a reason. Any reason to put aside that pride and come see for herself regarding the changes in Japan.

Ah yes, justification. That was the word.

The divine fluctuations she’d been sensing in Japan had all but died down, leaving no traces remaining. At the same time, the energies of her fellow Campione, the astute sword boy who reached a pinnacle of swordsmanship like her own, and the cute Seventh had abruptly waned.

Had they perished?

Yet if Luo Hao focused deeper within herself, her personal experience honed over centuries screamed that the Heretic Gods were not vanquished.

And wasn’t that reason enough?

The woman wearing a Chinese cheongsam raised a slender leg, and then kicked off her feet, leaving a shockwave behind her.

Her name was Luo Hao, the Ruler of the Martial Realm and an Advocate of Ultimate Brute Force.

From the moment she could first recall stepping into the world of Martial Arts, Luo Hao knew only victory. Setbacks she could suffer, but in the end, she’d always surpassed any obstacle in her way. 

That was her path of martial arts.

The recent years had ushered in an excruciatingly long era of peace. Like Voban, Luo Hao too had not faced a decent adversary in decades.

Coupled with the recent revelation she’d had with Pandora, Luo Hao had even considered what it would be like if she defeated Pandora and usurped that Goddess’s Authority? Fortunately, her attention had been distracted by the sudden request Pandora had made of her that appeared interesting enough.  

First she would start with Japan, and then use her network of shadow agents in China to locate a man named Merlin.

Luo Hao had to be fast.

She knew better than anyone that Voban was eyeing Japan after news of his recent defeat by a God there. If Doni and the Seventh Campione had failed to slay their adversary, Voban would not shy away from battle.

Luo Hao had to arrive first, and in this regard, she was determined.

With another step, divine energy created an aura around her before she broke the sound barrier with another stride. Due to China’s proximity to Japan, there was no way Voban could outpace her from the Baltics.

Yes. Lou Hao was the victor to arrive in Japan first.

Voban had his own twisted sense of honour and wouldn’t interfere in another’s Campione’s fight. 

Now then.

Luo Hao narrowed her eyes in the direction of divinity but was unable to find Metis’s aura. Had she perished?

No, but there was more. A stronger feeling of Steel that remained even now. Yet this Steel was not twisted but felt tranquil and unwavering. The curse of madness appeared bereft from the divine signature which only spurred Luo Hao’s curiosity further as she remembered the rumours and intelligence gathered by her subordinates.

There.

Her eyes lit up upon sensing the God before her. 

Before Luo Hao new it, she vanished in a burst of speed and appeared on the opposite side of a God of Steel wearing a red mantle.

The God was alone as if having waited for her to arrive. Then again, she’d made no effort in concealing her charge. One need only look behind her, and it would reveal the clouds blown apart in her wake.

Luo Hao cared little.  

Instead, her honed mind began to think.

Was he one of the rumoured Gods tied to the Authority of the newest Eighth Campione?

Had Luo Hao not actually arrived first, but came second the Eighth Campione?

Hmph. No matter.

Word was that the Eighth Campione had restrictions on her Authority and didn’t rely too much on personal combat. In which case, perhaps she should take the time to test her newest junior’s Authority?

The decision was made quickly and spurred further by Luo Hao’s own personality. Strike first, then ask questions later.

Without a word of warning, she threw a round kick aimed at the God of Steel’s left temple to test the waters, but was thoroughly amused at the result.

He grabbed her by the ankle, offsetting the power in her strike with sheer force.

What’s more compelling had been the reaction speed that bordered on using mind’s eye to act before thinking. It was a realm of martial arts many practitioners could never reach in their lifetime.  

Which Hero was this?

Luo Hao’s pupils dilated with excitement, as she made eye contact.

Smirking, she leveraged her leg and brought up a knee to strike the God’s chin, but her momentum faltered as the God simply let go of her ankle and made to shove her forward. She was quicker. Planting both feet on his chest, she pushed off of him like a springboard and back flipped to make distance, excitement bleeding into her expression.

In contrast, the God remained stone-faced. But Luo Hao paused her assault from a sense of respect from one fighter to another1.   

“Greetings, expert.” Luo Hao sunk her knees into a sighting stance, her arms windmilling into an ancient tai-chi form. “I am the Phoenix of the Orient and Master of Martial Arts, Luo Hao.” 

“I am nameless,” the God in a red mantle said in monotone.

Luo Hao’s brow twitched at the introduction, but she was undeterred. “I request a spar!” 

The God looked into her eyes, read her intentions, and answered thusly. 

“I refuse.”