Temptation and Hesitation

One hour ago.

In the underground factory of Fortress of Millennia, Avicebron stood like a statue on the stone floor, watching as his golems were assembled successfully on the production line, then continuously deployed onto the battlefield.

As the creator of a thaumaturgical system known as Kabbalah, Avicebron wasn't adept at direct combat but a great golem creator. As long as provided with enough time and resources, he could continuously create golems, making him a true strategic Servant.

He held a deep love for his creations.

To eliminate the suffering of his people and lead the world to a true paradise, he devoted all his efforts to creating a legendary ultimate golem, a copy of the primordial human, Adam, known as 'Golem Keter Malkuth'.

However, even for a mage of extraordinary talent, there were limits. Until the end, as he approached the end of his life, he didn't manage to complete this ultimate golem.

Fortunately, fate had other plans for him.

Perhaps due to the intense wish he possessed or the attention of the world, he became a Heroic Spirit after death, gaining the chance to complete his ultimate golem.

Given this opportunity, he couldn't let it slip away. Even if it was just a glimpse, seeing 'Golem Keter Malkuth' completed would be enough for him.

 *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*

Unexpected sounds suddenly echoed from behind Avicebron.

Avicebron instinctively turned around to see that the homunculus guards, meant to protect him, lying in a pool of blood.

He fell silent for a moment, then looked ahead into a pitch-black shadow.

"Ahh, I see... Is it because the front lines are in a tough spot, so you people trying to gain an advantage through other means, like silently getting rid of me, the one who can produce golems?"

"You've got it all wrong."

A voice, gender indistinct, came from the shadow.

"Firstly, our situation isn't as dire as you think. What you see now is just the surface. Secondly, I didn't come here to kill you; I just want to talk."

"I don't think this is the way to talk." Avicebron retorted, glancing at the several dead homunculi on the ground.

The bounded field of the Fortress of Millennia was built by him and Darnic together. He could even sense a fly entering. How did this mysterious Servant manage to get in?

"Fufu, just to avoid unnecessary trouble, after all, I took a risk coming in."

The shadow—or rather, Archer of Red, chuckled lightly, her indistinct voice became soft and delicate like the tinkling of silver bells.

Obviously, a female voice.

"So, Caster of Black, Avicebron... Are you willing to join the Red Faction?"

After those words fell from her lips, the scene instantly plunged into an eerie silence. After a moment, Avicebron casually spoke up.

"In other words, if I refuse, are you planning to settle things right here?"

"Who knows?" Archer of Red chuckled. "But, can you tell me why you refuse?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Avicebron gestured towards the distant battlefield.

"Your faction's best Servant, Lancer, is held up by our Lancer, while the floating fortress of Assassin is also suppressed by our Rider. The only advantage you have is your Rider, but I knew that maintaining that kind of Noble Phantasm consumes a staggering amount of magical energy. He can't hold out for long. Once his Noble Phantasm fades, you'll lose any hope of winning."

"That's why I said, what you see is just merely the surface." Archer of Red remarked.

"Rather than ambiguous words, I prefer to believe in what my eyes see. At least that's the truth." Avicebron retorted calmly.

"Alright, alright, let's go with your flow then..." Archer of Red casually remarked. "Even if we really lose, so what? After this war, there will be an internal struggle in your faction. Do you think you've won after defeating our faction? Can your wish be fulfilled if that happens?"

"It doesn't matter. My wish is merely to complete my Noble Phantasm, while the ownership of the Holy Grail has nothing to do with me." Avicebron said, unchanged in tone.

"Fufu, if that's the case, you should join us even more, no?" Archer of Red chuckled.

"I don't think joining your side that is bound to lose is a wise choice." Avicebron disagreed.

"But have you ever thought that if the Black Faction wins, your Noble Phantasm won't be necessary anymore?" Archer of Red's tone was subtle.

Hearing that, Avicebron clenched his fists.

"No, Lancer has promised me. As long as we can defeat the Red Faction, he'll hand over that homunculus..."

"Do you naively believe what he said?"

Archer of Red's words hit Avicebron's heart like a heavy hammer, momentarily halting his breath.

"Your Noble Phantasm is your faction's trump card, tipping the scales of this war in their favor. But as your faction approaches victory, remember—once your faction wins, your allies will become enemies. Do you truly believe they'll give you a chance to complete your Noble Phantasm then?"

She spoke at a leisurely pace, each word echoing like ripples in Avicebron's heart.

"No one's buying your story about not wanting the Holy Grail. When it comes to real interests, those so-called promises are worthless, especially for those high-and-mighty hypocrites in your faction. They see scheming and deceit as just tools to get what they want."

"Once my faction falls, they'll come after you first because you're the weakest, while at the same time, you and your golems are also the most troublesome. So no sensible Master would keep you around, don't you agree?"

"Enough!" Avicebron suddenly roared, interrupting her speech.

"Okay, have you made up your mind then?" Archer of Red chuckled.

"It's too early to decide..." Avicebron took a few deep breaths, then turned his head away silently. "My Noble Phantasm still needs an exceptional mage as a core. Even if I join you, my Noble Phantasm won't be complete."

"That's not a problem; I can get you a mage right now." Archer of Red casually remarked.

"Hmph, naive." Avicebron sneered. "My ultimate golem is God's miracle based on the primordial human, Adam. Not just anyone is qualified to be its core!"

"Then, what about a Servant?" Archer of Red inquired.

"Don't joke around!" Avicebron retorted. "I created Adam to guide the entire world to the ultimate paradise, to cleanse the world of its sins. A Servant's nature prevents them from staying in this world for long. If they were to disappear, Adam's core would also vanish with them. Doing so would be completely meaningless."

In truth, using Servants as mere magical energy supplements for Golem Keter Malkuth would pose no problem. However, such an act would deviate entirely from its intended purpose, resulting in nothing more than possessing a momentarily powerful weapon—a blasphemous act that Avicebron could never tolerate.

"Hahh... My goodness, you're really quite a pain to deal with, aren't you?" Archer of Red sighed helplessly. "Can't be a normal mage, can't be a Servant, then let's go with your Master."

"What did you say...?" Avicebron was completely dumbfounded.

Although the temperature in the underground factory wasn't low, he couldn't feel any warmth, only an endless chill.

"I said, let your Master act as the core." Archer of Red said calmly. "There's nothing strange about this, right? The core for your Noble Phantasm has to be most compatible with you, which means your Master. Besides him, is there anyone more suitable for the role of the core?"

"B-But that child respects me, he likes golems, he even calls me teacher..." Avicebron stuttered, his thoughts wandering.

Images of the golden-haired boy's pure smile and his excited discussions about golems filled his mind, along with the sparkling brilliance in the boy's eyes.

The world knew Avicebron as a famous golem expert, but they didn't know he pursued golem research out of disgust and disappointment with humanity. Unlike those hypocritical people, the cold earth and stones made him feel the true nature of the world.

But that child was different.

His smile had no impurities, his passion was genuine, and his respect for him came from the heart.

"I... I can't..." Avicebron said with hesitation.

"Face reality."

Archer of Red's voice echoed in his ears like a devil's temptation.

"Being a mage means not being bound by petty human morality, using any means for your goals. Giving up your deepest dreams for a fleeting moment of beauty will leave you with nothing in the end. Only when you firmly grasp your own destiny do you have a chance to carve out your own path."

"Now, it's time to shed that facade of yours and reveal your true self, Caster of Black."