BCloud

IBHJ 1143

"Are you two alone on the moon now?" Confusion crept into Shirou's face. "What about Kiara and the others?"

"Without Arcueid's control, the moon can't simulate Earth's environment," Altera explained on Gaia's behalf. "If the others had come, they would have frozen in the absolute zero of space, so Lady Gaia left them at the South American connection point."

Shirou nodded. It made sense, no matter how extraordinary Kiara and the others might be, they were still human. They couldn't...

IBHJ 1142

During their travels with Gaia, Mordred had completely figured out this woman—she was like a complacent donkey.

"Now that I've reconnected with my main body, nothing on Earth can escape my sight anymore—except for those transcendent beings, of course!" Gaia declared smugly.

Shirou frowned. "Even with planetary support... honestly, that doesn't mean much since this connection point won't be easy to handle."

"That's exactly why we need help!" Gaia smiled.

"Help?" Ka...

IBHJ 1141

Meanwhile in the South American Connection Point...

"After taking our planet and controlling Gaia's body, he has the nerve to call it legitimate retaliation. That Emperor is too full of himself! Saturn, we need to fight back!" Heaven's Corpse looked at Saturn's human form with frustration.

Ort nodded. "I don't usually agree with this idiot, but she's right this time. Taking over Gaia's body... the Emperor has gone too far!"

"Who are you calling an idiot!" Heaven's Corpse sho...

IBHJ 1140

Laeticia glared at the still figure. "Stop pretending! I know you're awake, Beast!"

"My, my. You caught me? But disturbing someone's rest isn't very saintly of you, and neither is all that anger, Lady Jeanne."

Demonic Bodhisattva sat up with a smile, looking at Laeticia—or rather, at Jeanne.

Jeanne raised her right hand, showing the Command Seals. "You trap me in Laeticia's body, force a contract with her, show up every few days only to leave... and lately you appear in fr...

IBHJ 1139

Meanwhile in the Outer Universe...

Countless clouds of mist swirled around, swallowing whole planets into chaos.

"How unusual. Someone from that universe wants to be friends with us. And from the civilization of that planet we made a deal with so long ago."

"Should we contact our main bodies?"

"Better not."

Countless ghostly eyes turned to look at who spoke.

It was a young gentleman standing in the midst of chaos, with an owl on his shoulder and a black cat...

IBHJ 1138

"Greetings, friends across all worldlines. I am the Heavenly Emperor, ruler of a modest nation, and like you, I have suffered greatly from invaders and chaos brought by enemies from hostile worlds. I offer you my sincere and friendly greetings."

"Is that... the Emperor?" Guinevere stared up in wonder at the ethereal girl with white hair and red eyes floating in space.

Morgan stood with her arms crossed. "Indeed. The Emperor is broadcasting this message to every worldline."

"...

IBHJ 1137

"Say, Lord Shirou," Bedivere said with a gentle smile, "what kind of person am I in Pan-Human History?"

"Just like you, someone gentle," Shirou smiled back. "Maybe you'll get to meet him someday."

"For that to happen, we'd need to get the real Emperor back first. But it's not that simple," Bedivere said. "Even though Tír na nÓg's secret arts works against the Imperial Armor, we still have Galahad guarding the capital. They call him the 'Wall of the Empire.'"

"Gala...had......

IBHJ 1136

"Have you learned Fairy Runes before?"

"No, I haven't."

"Then how did you master it?"

"I just watched you draw and copied it. I'm not stupid. Even if I don't understand it, can't I just copy what I see?"

"Even if you say that..."

Though it sounded simple, Merlin knew Fairy Runes weren't so straightforward. Like divine text, Fairy Runes existed beyond human understanding, impossible to grasp with ordinary perception.

And these weren't just any Fairy Runes. T...

IBHJ 1135

"Hey, you could have just said that without the flick," she rubbed her forehead with a pout, giving him an annoyed look.

He smiled, then turned toward the forest behind them. "How long are you planning to spy on us, Lady Kama?"

Even though he was in his own body rather than using the Eternal King's record, maybe from controlling the Eternal King's Servant record and fighting so many strong enemies, he had gotten pretty good at sensing things.

While talking with Mordred, he'd...

IBHJ 1134

"So—" Bedivere bowed deeply to everyone. "Please, help us. We need your strength."

Everyone stared at Bedivere in silence as he made his plea.

Then Mordred looked at him. "Why... why did you pick the name 'Hope'?"

Bedivere lifted his head to meet her eyes. "Because... that word captures what we're fighting for."

"Then that means..."

Just like me.

The pain in Mordred's chest grew sharper. The secret group she had formed with Galahad and Gareth - the one th...

IBHJ 1133

Before Abigail could process what was happening, Mordred yanked her away from Shirou and pulled her into the portal. They both tumbled out nearby, landing in an ungraceful heap.

"Not so tough now, are you?" Mordred grinned, pinning Abigail down with one hand while the other found its way to her armpit. "Ready to behave?"

"Hahaha... okay, okay... I give up!" Abigail squealed between fits of laughter, tears forming in her eyes as she squirmed helplessly under Mordred's tickles.

IBHJ 1132

Kama shook her head and sighed.

"Ahem, let's get back to why we're here." Shirou turned to Merlin. "I got word from Hope that there's a way to get this Crown off my head." He tapped the Crown.

"Hope can do that, yes." Merlin nodded.

"He's here?" Kama's eyes widened.

"He is. Follow me." Merlin started walking.

"Hope... no one has seen him except the Chairman," Abigail said, bouncing on her toes.

"Just wait till you see him," Merlin said with a smile.

H...

IBHJ 1131

Dwynwen waved her hand. "We're just crossing the Emperor's Hand on the way to Tír na nÓg. Gets bumpy here every time. I better check on the controls. We can finish our chat when we get there - that child's going to be so happy to see all of you."

After Dwynwen's footsteps faded, silence filled the car. They sat quietly, each lost in their own thoughts. Even without meeting the Emperor in person, just talking about him made everyone feel the weight of his absolute oppression. The Empe...

IBHJ 1130

"The Holy Grail... answered my wish..."

Mordred stared at Dwynwen, unable to process what she was hearing. Her mind wandered back fifteen hundred years, when the Eternal Kingdom was falling apart from within. Sixth Seat had corrupted everything. The Holy Grail had been their last hope.

She'd spent five years searching for it. But when she finally found it, the Holy Grail told her there was no saving what they'd lost.

That's why she had given it to Galahad. Why she chose to c...

IBHJ 1129

Inside the train, Shirou saw Goetia, who turned away and ignored him. Having no interest in trying to befriend someone so cold, he walked over to Abigail instead, who had welcomed him, unlike Goetia, who still viewed him as an enemy.

After spending some time talking with Abigail, Shirou started feeling tired. Finding an empty seat, he rested his head against the window and closed his eyes. This real body needed proper rest, unlike his old Servant body made of True Ether. He knew he need...

IBHJ 1128

"Our duck has slipped away," Ector said as he knelt by the shore, letting the seawater run over his hands.

"I'm sorry..." Guinevere stood behind him, her voice shaking.

It wasn't Ector who scared her - it was Apostle Pendragon standing beside him.

Once, she had loved reading "The Tale of the Holy Sword" that Morgan wrote. Now, the author only filled her with dread.

This Morgan was nothing like Shirou. Where he balanced strength with kindness, a firmness that somehow ma...

IBHJ 1127

"Back away, all of you." Shirou guided Guinevere backward while the soldiers retreated, giving Mordred enough space to lead Xuanzang and Abigail to safety.

The soldiers from Camlann remained still, reluctant to move. They all knew what made Guinevere special within the Empire - she was the only one who hadn't received eternalization. Not one of them wanted to risk her safety with a rash move.

While keeping his eyes trained on the soldiers, Shirou maintained his hold on Guinevere, ...

IBHJ 1126

"Since both Apostles are here, you might as well come out," Kama said, standing guard at the bridge with Goetia. Her smile was calm. "These little tricks won't work on us."

"As expected of Beasts who could destroy the Foundation of Human Order - even the Imperial Armor's concealment can't fool your eyes."

Ector stepped out into view. This time he wore white armor, with a chalice-shaped rune carved into the center of his chest plate.

Kama and Goetia's faces hardened at the si...

IBHJ 1125

The group set out for March at dawn, with Shirou leading Artoria by a rope. Despite her best efforts to resist, the moment he handed her food, she'd happily munch away, completely forgetting about escape.

He's not playing fair! she thought, even as she savored another bite. But this is so good...

Mordred kept her distance now. Sure, she was proud of her own biting skills - it was her signature move after all. But being on the receiving end? She rubbed her finger, still feeling the...

IBHJ 1124

"You treacherous cowards! You have to be Heroic Spirits from Pan Human History! If you've got any real courage, fight me face to face! What kind of warriors keep attacking from behind? Cowards! Nothing but cowards, both of you!"

Artoria thrashed against her bonds, trussed up like a caterpillar while watching Shirou and Mordred casually eating their dinner around the campfire. Her face burned with shame - how could she have fallen for the exact same trick three times in a row?

To m...

IBHJ 1123

"Tch!" A sharp sound made him turn. Mordred stood there with her face twisted in displeasure. He wondered if she was really that disappointed about not getting to stab Xuanzang.

Leaving Mordred to her mood, he turned back to the others. "What brings you two all the way out here?"

"Well..." Xuanzang looked over at Abigail.

"We're going to March, big brother," Abigail said, having recovered from her earlier scare.

"You're heading there too?" His eyes lingered on the crow...

IBHJ 1122

A man sat in the visitor's chair, staring at the young woman who had taken his throne. Despite his situation, his voice shook with fear rather than anger. "If I may ask... what brings Apostle Pendragon to my small kingdom?"

"I'm here on business, of course. Why are you sitting so far away? Come closer."

King Onyx's face drained of color. He shook his head frantically. "No, no... How could I disturb the Holy Apostle when you work so hard for the Empire?"

Morgan's eyes narrowe...

IBHJ 1121

"Done." Mordred stepped back from the tree where she'd tied up the unconscious Artoria. She turned to Shirou. "Is this tight enough, Father?"

Shirou shuddered. "Wait, I need a minute."

She tilted her head. "What?"

"Your being all... polite and calling me father. It's giving me goosebumps." he hugged himself, shivering dramatically.

A vein popped on her forehead. "You're just a creepy old pervert, aren't you?"

"Says the actual pervert."

Mordred's eyes flashe...

IBHJ 1120

Even though she was just another version of Artoria, when he saw her face and her smile, he knew he couldn't bring himself to do that. Not now, not like this.

But someday, that fight would come. He wouldn't be able to avoid it forever.

"Hmm? What's got you so quiet, Shirou?" she turned her head, her blue eyes curious. "Are you thinking up a new poem?"

"Not yet. How's your book coming along?"

"Oh yes! I'm calling this chapter 'Meeting a Poet, Victory Over Heroic Spirits...

IBHJ 1119

"Where do we sleep if there aren't any inns?"

"Just pick a spot and make yourself at home. Nobody minds."

"What about the guards?"

"Do guards in Camlann care? That sounds fun - I'll have to try it there." she grinned. "But don't worry. In other kingdoms, you can do whatever you want. I've even met kings who let their people chop off their heads for fun."

"That actually happens?"

"Well, how else would you have fun?" She said it like it was the most normal thing in...

IBHJ 1118

"That's too bad." she puffed out her cheeks. "But isn't it funny we're both going the same way? Getting lost in that forest, fighting each other, and now traveling together - just like that 'friendship through battle' thing in 'The Tale of the Holy Sword.'"

Shirou was heading to March because of the crown's message, hoping to find someone who could remove it. The journey meant crossing through several countries. Running into Artoria and getting a ride wasn't part of his plan, but here h...

IBHJ 1117

"No need to be formal. You made me that wonderful food - even if it only filled me up 30%."

Same old Artoria - a bottomless pit for food.

"You fed me, I shelter you. Just travelers helping each other," she smiled.

He saw it clearly now - unlike his Artoria, this caster version radiated energy and life, like sunlight.

Later, lying in bed, he stared at the ceiling.

He tugged at the crown on his head, but it might as well have been part of his body - it wouldn't bud...

IBHJ 1116

"Mmm... This is so delicious~!"

Shirou turned from the fire, his bandaged face giving Artoria a weary look. She sat on a rock nearby, devouring her fish with pure joy. "Could you eat a little quieter?"

He should have known better - she'd almost fallen for his act until she remembered his pants. The same pants she'd apparently studied quite carefully before he knocked her out. That realization had led to her tackling him and pounding him with her fists. Now here he was, making pea...

IBHJ 1115

The thief looked like an empire citizen though, and since he was wearing the crown and being hunted, common sense said he should swallow his anger and quietly slip away. But there was one big problem - his clothes were still next to the campfire!

What was he supposed to do, run away naked? Sure, great heroes shouldn't worry about small details, but this wasn't his Servant body - this was his actual flesh and blood!

He was already getting sick, and if he went running around without...

IBHJ 1114

Inside the palace's grand chambers, the strategist rubbed his temples. "The Imperial Armor failed to catch them."

"The transfer problems were my fault." The White Apostle stood rigidly before him. "The supplies weren't ready in time."

"This isn't about you." The strategist paced the marble floor. "That vulnerability has shown up again - the same one that let an assassin into our capital and attempt to kill the Emperor. They failed, but it showed us how dangerous this gap in our de...