148 Resurrection

Meanwhile...

"Good job, everything is within my control."

Secluded within a bounded field that separated the world from the main battlefield, the so-called King of the Dead Apostles and the White Wing Lord—Trhvmn Ortenrosse, observed the entire battlefield through the reflection in a pool of blood.

He watched his hard-prepared Seven Evil Servants, being effortlessly annihilated by the Dragon Emperor as if cutting through melons and vegetables. Yet, he remained unfazed.

Whether it was the Demon King Oda Nobunaga, the Heretic Gilles von Rais, or the Valkyrie Brynhildr.

In front of the calculating White Wing Lord, everything was but a means to forge the future.

Even his first summoned Servant, Kotomine Kirei.

Even the formidable combination of Gorgon and Dracula he held as an ace in the hole, which could stand a chance against Twenty-seven Dead Apostle Ancestors, still had greater odds of loss if faced with the Dragon Emperor.

None of it mattered.

Everything proceeded according to his plan.

"That girl is the Dragon God's offspring."

Watching Shuten-douji gazing at Artorius with an enamored look, he mumbled as if speaking to himself, yet also explaining to his 'colleagues' behind him.

The Black Winged Lord—Gransurg Blackmore.

The Black Knight—Rizo-Waal Strout.

The Crown and Demon Summoner—Merem Solomon.

The Serpent of Akasha—Michael Roa Valdamjong.

Once part of the Twenty-seven, now reduced to five, including himself.

Excluding the Dark Six, who were considered to be the reverse side of the Dragon Emperor, and those who were originally not on the vampire's side, such as the Ultimate One known as One Radiance Thing (ORT), as well as the man who was the Empire's Magician and True Magic User named Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg.

The Battle of the Century, the fall of Brunestud of the Crimson Moon, marked the beginning of the collapse of the Twenty-seven Dead Apostle Ancestors.

The Battle of the Blood Forest—the incineration of the Forest of Einnashe.

In the Bloody Witch Hunts Era, Eclipse Princess of Black Blood—Altrouge Brunestud was captured by the Empire, her fate unknown.

The White Knight Blood—Fina-blood Svelten, was slain.

The Chaos—Nrvnqsr Chaos, was annihilated.

The Duke of Predation—Stanrobe Calhin, was obliterated.

During the Age of Discovery, the Dark Lord of the Business World—Van-Fem, and the Knight of Vengeance—Enhance, rebelled and joined the Empire.

In the Empire's Golden Age, the Artist's Lady—Rita Rozay-en, and the Water Demon—Sumire revolted and joined the Empire.

The Dead Apostle of the Millennium Lock—Caubac Alcatraz, was sealed.

Failures, failures, and more failures.

Captured, massacred, imprisoned, brainwashed, and treated like experimental subjects. Some misfits even surrendered outright, willingly accepting the empire's brainwashing, becoming their lapdogs, only to turn around and attack their own kind.

Even the highest-ranking Twenty-seven Dead Apostle Ancestors suffered this treatment, not to mention the lower-ranking ordinary Dead Apostles. As the empire's power grew, the living conditions for the vampires turned increasingly hostile.

—We are the Noble Vampires! Higher beings that feed on humans! Why are we hunted by humans instead?

Such questions grew stronger.

Desperation and hopelessness spread among the vampires. In their despair, it was akin to the scientists of the Third Reich during the later stages of World War II, who became increasingly desperate for victory despite the war's outcome.

They sought to enhance themselves, even stooping to 'lower themselves' to learn human technology.

But the end result was still failures, failures, and more failures. After the fall of Crimson Moon, all the Dead Apostles received was an endless failure and the agony of being ravaged by humans.

The Dead Apostle Ancestors, originally numbering over twenty, now totaled five including Trhvmn.

"Fortunately, all of this is about to end..." Trhvmn muttered to himself.

"The Oni named Shuten-douji was indeed the 'Child of God' before her doom. Her father is the Nine-Headed Dragon God—Yamata-no-Orochi, a great and majestic being."

After everything he had done, and on the verge of victory, he couldn't help but want to express himself, to share his thoughts with others.

This was only natural, a feeling innate to beings with emotions. Not to mention that Trhvmn had suppressed these emotions for over a millennium.

He naturally yearned to unburden himself, to release his resentment, suppression, and all his emotions.

Now, he was beginning to narrate his plan nonstop.

Of course, this was only the beginning.

He wanted more, so he continued:

"For Shuten-douji, her father was omnipotent. He was the embodiment of strength and righteousness."

"However, when she fell from being a God to becoming an Oni, her father did not extend a helping hand."

"Why exactly? Why didn't my father help me? Or is it that I'm not important to him, just dispensable trash?—Such doubts filled the heart of the Child of God. She wanted to complain to her father."

"But her father disappeared, and no matter how hard she searched, she couldn't find him. He must have gone to the reverse side of the world, leaving her behind."

"Of course, eventually, she found her place, becoming the leader of the Oni. With new friends, new followers, and new hobbies, she spent her days in drunken bliss. The memories and doubts of the past gradually faded."

"Until the Dragon Emperor appeared."

"His aura was remarkably similar, and he exuded the same aura of majesty. A dragon, an emperor, the embodiment of invincible strength and righteousness, like her father."

"Though she knew they weren't the same person, the resemblance was uncanny. Perhaps, in the millennia, she had lost her sanity. After all, she was summoned as a Berserker."

"So she approached the Dragon Emperor, tried to please him, even flattered him. But sadly, the Dragon Emperor was not her father. Thus, all of Shuten-douji's efforts went unanswered."

"This frustrated her, made her angry and resentful."

"In such circumstances, with just a flick of a finger..."

"My envoy told her that if the Dragon Emperor joined our side, he would accept her."

"What about Aozaki Touko?" Next to him, the Black Wing Lord—Gransurg, asked calmly. The gentleman with a raven-like appearance showed a hint of curiosity.

As the follower of Crimson Moon, he had no fondness for his counterpart Trhvmn as the White Wing Lord. Nevertheless, they were quite familiar with each other.

"It's simple. She resents the empire because they handed the Fifth Magic of her family to her younger sister. Since childhood, she had been preparing to inherit the Fifth Magic, but the empire deemed her unsuitable."

"I see."

"My plans go beyond this, my comrades. Get ready." Trhvmn turned and looked at the remaining companions, "The next step is for us to take the battlefield personally."

===

At the same time, Artorius gave Kirei a decisive response:

"I refuse."

"I will not become the Emperor of the Dead Apostles."

"For over a millennium, humanity sacrificed under the fangs of the vampires won't be in vain. That's my answer."

"Even Mother can't change your mind?" Ex looked at Artorius with a touch of sadness.

"After all of this battle, let's go get some sweets together." Artorius calmly told her.

"..."

"Alright." Ex nodded seriously.

"I understand." At the same time, Kirei nodded as well, "This is Your Majesty's choice. So righteous, so just."

Saying these words, he became ecstatic, his expression contorting in delight.

"Your Majesty, please maintain this sense of justice. I, your humble subject, will admire your magnificence from the depths of hell."

With these words, Kirei took out a Black Key.

Not for battle preparation, but he unhesitatingly pierced his own neck.

Assassin, Kotomine Kirei, exited the stage.

Thus, among the Seven Evil Servants of the Vampires, only Ex remained.

"What about our deal—"

Ex's words got cut off as she suddenly committed suicide like Kirei.

"Artorius, let's grab some sweets together next time."

"Ecchan?!"

Amid X's exclamation, Ex's body melted and dissolved. The Seven Evil Servants were completely defeated.

"Why did they do that?" Watching the two Servants suddenly take their own lives, Mash felt utterly bewildered.

Though she didn't think Ex and Kirei's combination could withstand so many people on their side, suicide wasn't necessary.

"Their Master ordered them to suicide because of the Holy Grail System. After the Seven Servants were all defeated, the Holy Grail manifested..." Artorius replied calmly. "But..."

"Ehh?" Mash suddenly felt that something was off.

Surprised, she looked at the Dragon Emperor. She noticed his expression was calm.

Confidently calm.

Even as the ground cracked, even as the Black Grail brimming with blood and chaos surged from the earth, even as a group of formidable figures suddenly appeared.

"Trhvmn Ortenrosse."

"Dragon Emperor, Artorius Pendragon."

Artorius and Trhvmn locked eyes. Simultaneously, behind them, the Holy Grail began to boil. Endless darkness surged once again from the depths.

"I've been planning this for four hundred years..." Said Trhvmn as he suppressed his excitement and then continued:

"Finally, the opportunity has come for me."

"I know you are the real Dragon Emperor from the past, not a true Heroic Spirit!"

"As long as I kill you, everything will change."

"Right now, the entire Tokyo is sealed off, cut off from the outside, and the power in Tokyo is at its weakest. The Holy Grail has descended here. The power of the vampires will reach its peak... which means..."

"It's my victory!"

"It's my win!"

His centuries of wish would be realized in an instant. Even someone as composed as Trhvmn couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly excited.

"Since you refuse, then prepare to meet your end, O Dragon Emperor!"

As Trhvmn spoke with excitement, the power within the Grail condensed and gathered. A force of 'existence' unlike anything ordinary was emerging.

"Hahaha..."

"Crimson Moon is about to be resurrected."

The terrifying King of the Moon was about to return. She would lead the vampires to defeat humanity and establish a paradise for vampires.

The present Dragon Emperor was not yet at his peak and couldn't replicate the feat of his future self who had defeated Crimson Moon in the Battle of the Century. He was 500 years away from the accumulated experience for the battle.

In other words, Trhvmn was about to win!

Artorius: "..."

As everyone was consumed by an indescribable fear, the expression on the Dragon Emperor's face was calm and not changed from beginning to end.

Though he didn't speak, it was evident to everyone present that his expression conveyed the feeling—"Is that all?"