Heaven-Devouring Architect: Crownless Master of Chaldea
Chapter 1: The Unwelcome Variable
The sterile halls of Chaldea Security Organization hummed with nervous energy. Dr. Romani Archaman fidgeted with his tablet, scanning through the profile for the fifteenth time. Something about these readings didn't make sense. The latest candidate—the one Director Olga Marie had begrudgingly admitted after their previous selection pool had yielded underwhelming results—showed completely baseline readings across every meaningful metric.
"This makes no sense," Romani muttered, running a hand through his salmon-colored hair. "No magical circuits, no lineage indicators, no prior exposure to thaumaturgical environments..." He looked up at the observation window, where the newly arrived candidate stood in the center of a massive scanning chamber. "Why did the FATE system flag him at all?"
In the adjacent chair, Da Vinci swiveled with that infuriating smile that suggested she knew something he didn't. Of course she did. She always did.
"Perhaps," she said, tapping a finger to her lips, "the system sees what we cannot."
"That's not helpful, Leonardo."
"On the contrary!" Da Vinci's eyes sparkled with that mischievous light that had probably driven patrons to madness during the Renaissance. "It's the most helpful possibility. Our precious FATE system doesn't make mistakes, after all."
In the chamber below, the subject of their debate stood perfectly still. Xian Wuji was tall with sharp, elegant features that seemed sculpted rather than born—raven-black hair framing eyes so intensely perceptive they appeared to change color depending on the angle of light. He wore simple clothes: dark pants, a fitted white button-up with the sleeves rolled to the elbows, revealing forearms corded with lean muscle. He wasn't imposing in the way of a warrior, but rather carried himself with the calm assurance of someone who had never needed to prove his strength.
The scanner hummed louder, its magical circles rotating and intersecting as they passed through his body.
"We're almost done with the initial scan," called one of the technicians. "Moving to deep resonance in three, two—"
The world paused.
For Xian Wuji, reality seemed to stutter. The lights dimmed, the hum of machinery elongated into a drone, and the movements of the staff slowed to imperceptible crawls. Inside his mind, something ancient stirred.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Host located. ✦ Cosmic integration underway… ✦ Root-Access Established.
The sensation wasn't pain—it was far more fundamental. As if reality itself had reached inside him and begun rewriting his existence from the atomic level outward. His perception expanded, first beyond his body, then beyond the room, beyond Chaldea itself, stretching outward until he could feel the ebb and flow of conceptual forces that structured existence itself.
Then, just as suddenly, time reasserted itself.
"—one. Initiating deep resonance scan," the technician finished.
The machinery whirred, building to a crescendo, and then—
CRACK!
Every screen in the control room shattered simultaneously. The magical circles froze mid-rotation, then fractured like spiderwebs across glass. Alarms blared. Emergency lights bathed the entire facility in crimson.
Romani leapt to his feet. "What just happened?!"
Before anyone could answer, the chamber door slid open. Xian Wuji walked calmly into the control room, seemingly unaffected by the chaos. The room fell silent as he approached, the only sound the continuing wail of emergency klaxons.
"I apologize for the inconvenience," he said, his voice deep and clear, carrying an authority that seemed to quiet even the alarms. "Your scanning equipment wasn't designed to measure what I've become."
Da Vinci's eyes widened with fascination rather than fear. "And what, exactly, have you become, Signor Wuji?"
He smiled, and somehow that simple gesture made every magus in the room take an instinctive step back. It wasn't threatening—it was far more unsettling than that. It was the smile of someone who knew exactly how the world worked, down to its foundation stones.
"Something unexpected," he replied. "A variable your FATE system couldn't fully process." He turned to Romani. "But I assure you, Doctor, I am here to help save humanity. Just not in the way any of you anticipated."
The doors slid open again, and Director Olga Marie Animusphere stormed in, her face a mask of fury. "What is the meaning of this?! Who authorized initiating the scan without me present? And why—" she stopped short upon seeing Xian standing calmly amidst the destruction. Her eyes narrowed. "You. What did you do?"
"Director," Romani began, "I think there's been a—"
"I existed," Xian interrupted, turning to face the Director with such natural poise that Olga Marie momentarily forgot her anger. "Your equipment attempted to categorize something that exists outside its parameters. The failure was inevitable but informative."
"Outside parameters?" Olga's voice rose. "This is Chaldea! We were established to observe and safeguard human history itself! There is nothing outside our parameters!"
Xian simply smiled again. "There is now."
The meeting room felt too small for the tensions it contained. Gathered around the conference table were Director Olga Marie, Dr. Romani, Da Vinci, Professor Lev Lainur, and Mash Kyrielight—the Demi-Servant who stood quietly in the corner, her lavender hair partially obscuring eyes that never left the newcomer.
And then there was Xian Wuji himself, seated at the far end, perfectly at ease despite being the subject of five intense stares.
"Let's be perfectly clear," Olga Marie began, her fingers steepled before her. "The FATE system identified you as compatible with Rayshift technology, which automatically qualified you as a Master candidate. However, the preliminary scans show you have no magical circuits whatsoever. Yet somehow, you just destroyed scanning equipment worth billions."
She leaned forward. "Explain yourself, Mr. Wuji."
Xian inclined his head respectfully. "Director Animusphere, I understand your concerns. When I arrived here, I was indeed... ordinary. But the moment I crossed into Chaldea's domain, something awakened within me—something that had always been there, waiting for the right catalyst."
"And what might that be?" Professor Lev asked, his tone pleasant but his eyes sharp and calculating.
For the briefest moment, Xian's gaze fixed on Lev with such intensity that the professor felt a chill run down his spine—as if those eyes had peered beyond his carefully constructed façade and seen something no human should be able to perceive.
"A connection to the conceptual framework of existence itself," Xian replied, turning back to Olga. "What you call magical circuits are merely one manifestation of humanity's connection to the broader energies of reality. What awakened in me is... different. More fundamental."
"That's impossible," Olga scoffed. "Even if we accept some kind of spontaneous awakening, which is absurd, you're describing something beyond even True Magic."
Da Vinci tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Yet the evidence suggests otherwise, Director. The readings we captured before the equipment failed were... extraordinary. Almost as if—"
"As if the Root itself responded," Romani finished, his expression troubled. "But that's—"
"Perhaps a demonstration would be more efficient than explanation," Xian suggested.
Before anyone could object, he closed his eyes. The air in the room grew heavy, thick with unseen pressure. Temperature fluctuated—first a wave of heat, then a piercing cold. The lights flickered.
On the table before him, a small flame appeared—floating inches above the surface, perfect in form, burning without fuel.
"A parlor trick," Olga dismissed. "Any third-rate magus could—"
The flame changed color, shifting from orange to blue to a deep violet. Then it froze, becoming crystalline while still burning. Next, it stretched and twisted into impossible shapes, defying the natural laws of combustion.
"Elemental manipulation," Lev observed. "Impressive, but not unprecedented."
Xian's expression didn't change, but the flame suddenly expanded, engulfing the entire table in violet fire that emitted no heat. Within the flames, those present could see images—visions of other worlds, other times, other possibilities.
In one, Chaldea lay in ruins. In another, a golden-haired man with crimson eyes laughed as the world burned. In a third, a massive beast with countless eyes emerged from a sea of black mud.
Then the flames vanished, leaving the table untouched.
Mash, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. "That wasn't just elemental manipulation," she said quietly. "You were showing us potential futures."
Xian nodded. "Flame Dao merged with Time and Dream Aspects. A minor application, but sufficient for demonstration."
"Dao?" Romani raised an eyebrow. "You're describing Eastern mysticism, not magecraft."
"Names are irrelevant," Xian replied. "What matters is that I can perceive, manipulate, and ultimately reshape the fundamental aspects of reality. And I'm offering these abilities in service to Chaldea's mission."
Olga Marie stared at him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she spoke. "Mr. Wuji, while your... abilities... are certainly unusual, I remain unconvinced that you're suitable for our purpose. Master candidates must be able to supply magical energy to Servants and maintain stable contracts. Whatever your parlor tricks, without proper magical circuits—"
"Director," Da Vinci interrupted gently, "I've been monitoring the ambient magical energy in this room. During his demonstration, Mr. Wuji wasn't channeling mana through circuits as we understand them. He was directly manipulating the conceptual framework itself. In theory, that would make him an exceptionally powerful Master—able to supply energy by rewriting the rules of the contract rather than following them."
Olga's eyes widened slightly, then narrowed again. "Theory is insufficient. We need proof."
"A Contract-Binding ritual, then," Lev suggested smoothly. "If he can form a stable contract with a Servant without traditional circuits, that would be conclusive."
Xian smiled. "I welcome the test."
The Summoning Chamber was Chaldea's crown jewel—a massive circular room dominated by a central platform inscribed with arcane formulae. The FATE summoning system represented the pinnacle of modern magecraft, allowing Chaldea to call forth Heroic Spirits from across time and space.
Mash and Romani prepared the system while Olga Marie and Lev observed from a raised platform. Da Vinci stood beside Xian, explaining the procedure with animated gestures.
"Normally," she said, "a Master candidate channels their magical energy through the system to serve as a beacon. The FATE system does most of the heavy lifting, but the candidate's energy serves as both catalyst and anchor for the summoning."
Xian nodded. "And since I have no circuits to channel energy in the traditional way..."
"Exactly!" Da Vinci beamed. "This will be fascinating! Either nothing will happen, or..."
"Or something unprecedented," Xian finished.
As they spoke, Mash approached, carrying a silver tray on which rested a gleaming dagger.
"This is ceremonial," she explained softly. "The blood serves as a physical anchor for the spiritual connection."
Xian took the dagger with a nod of thanks. When Mash didn't immediately withdraw, he raised an eyebrow.
"Is there something else, Miss Kyrielight?"
Mash hesitated, then asked in a near-whisper: "What did you see... when you looked at Professor Lev earlier? Your expression changed."
For a moment, Xian's eyes seemed to darken to a midnight blue. "Inconsistencies," he replied quietly. "Shadows where there should be light. But now is not the time."
Before Mash could press further, Romani called from across the chamber. "We're ready when you are!"
Xian moved to the center of the summoning circle. The overhead lights dimmed, leaving only the soft blue glow of the circle's intricate patterns.
"Begin the initialization sequence," Olga Marie commanded.
The chamber hummed with gathering power as the FATE system activated. Gears larger than men rotated slowly in the walls, mechanisms designed by geniuses and powered by the combined knowledge of centuries.
"Candidate, you may now offer the blood anchor," Romani instructed through the intercom.
Xian raised the dagger, its silver blade catching the blue light. With a swift motion, he drew it across his palm—but instead of the expected crimson, his blood shimmered with an opalescent glow, like liquid starlight.
Gasps echoed through the control room.
"What is that?" Olga demanded.
"Unknown," Lev replied, his voice tight. "The readings are... impossible."
Xian held his palm over the central point of the summoning circle. As the first drop of his otherworldly blood touched the floor, the entire system surged with power. The blue light intensified to blinding white, and the hum became a deafening roar.
Inside Xian's mind, the system activated once more.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ External Summoning System Detected ✦ Synchronizing with local reality parameters... ✦ Strengthening Host's conceptual weight... ✦ Warning: Potential interference from foreign entities detected. ➤ Attempting integration with FATE summoning protocol...
The circle's light shifted from white to a deep, cosmic purple. The air within the chamber grew dense, heavy with power beyond what the system was designed to channel. Reality itself seemed to warp, stretching and bending around Xian like fabric under tension.
In the control room, alarms blared as readings spiked beyond measurable parameters.
"Shut it down!" Olga shouted. "This is going to destroy the entire system!"
"We can't!" Romani's fingers flew across the controls. "The process has bypassed all safety protocols!"
Da Vinci's eyes were wide with wonder rather than fear. "Look at the pattern variance... he's not just calling a Servant—he's rewriting the summoning ritual itself!"
Inside the circle, Xian remained perfectly calm as chaos erupted around him. The wound on his palm had already healed, but his blood hung suspended in the air before him, forming complex, shifting patterns that mirrored the larger circle beneath his feet.
He extended his hands, and the roaring quieted. The violent energies stabilized, condensing into a perfect sphere of swirling violet light that hovered before him.
"Beyond the throne of heroes," he intoned, his voice resonating with power that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, "beyond the constraints of time, beyond the limitations of fate—I call to you."
The sphere expanded, then collapsed in on itself with a sound like thunder.
Where the sphere had been, a figure now stood—a woman clad in sleek armor of midnight blue and silver. Her hair was as white as fresh snow, flowing down her back in an impossible length. In her hand, she held a spear of gleaming crimson that pulsed with barely contained power.
Silence fell as she opened her eyes—eyes the color of blood that seemed to glow with their own inner light.
"Servant Lancer," she announced, her voice carrying the weight of eternity. "Scáthach, Queen of the Land of Shadows, answers your call." Her gaze fixed on Xian, and for the briefest moment, something like genuine surprise crossed her ageless features. "You... are not what I expected."
The corner of Xian's mouth curved upward. "Few things ever are, Lady of Shadows."
In the control room, monitors displayed the impossible: a perfect summoning connection, stronger than any they had ever recorded, but without traditional magical circuits serving as the foundation.
"How...?" Olga whispered, her customary imperious tone temporarily abandoned in the face of the inexplicable.
Lev's face had gone pale, his eyes fixed on the readings with an expression that mingled disbelief with something darker—something like fear.
"It seems," Da Vinci said with barely contained excitement, "that we have our newest Master."
Later that evening, Xian stood at the window of his assigned quarters, gazing out at the perpetual snow of the Antarctic mountains. Behind him, Scáthach sat cross-legged on a chair, her crimson spear leaning against the wall beside her.
"You still haven't explained," she said, breaking the comfortable silence that had stretched between them, "what you truly are."
Xian turned from the window. In the dim light, his eyes seemed to contain galaxies. "Would you believe me if I said I'm still discovering that myself?"
"No," she replied bluntly. "You move with purpose. You speak with certainty. Whatever awakened within you, you understand its nature."
A small smile played at his lips. "Perceptive. As expected of the woman who trained Cú Chulainn and slew a god."
"Flattery is meaningless to one who has lived as long as I."
"It's not flattery if it's truth." Xian moved to sit across from her, his movements fluid and deliberate. "What awakened in me is called the Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix. It's a system of cultivation that allows me to perceive, manipulate, and ultimately transcend the fundamental aspects of reality."
Scáthach's crimson eyes narrowed slightly. "Cultivation. An Eastern concept of self-refinement through the manipulation of internal energies. But what you describe goes far beyond any such practice I've encountered."
"Because it is far beyond," Xian confirmed. "Traditional cultivation focuses on personal energy—what the Chinese call qi, what magi call od. My system operates directly on the conceptual level, what might be called Daos or Universal Laws."
He extended a hand, and above his palm, a miniature representation of Chaldea formed from threads of light. "I can see the patterns that make up reality—Matter, Energy, Time, Space, Life, Death—and I can rewrite them."
The miniature Chaldea transformed, shifting through various potential configurations, some beautiful, some nightmarish.
"And you offer this power to Chaldea's cause," Scáthach observed. "Why?"
"Because humanity stands at a precipice," Xian replied, closing his hand and dispelling the illusion. "I can see it in the patterns—the approaching incineration of human history. Something is coming that threatens not just the present, but the entire concept of humanity's existence across all time."
Scáthach leaned forward slightly. "Many with power such as yours would use it for personal gain—to rule, to reshape the world in their image."
"Perhaps," Xian acknowledged. "But I see further. What good is ruling a kingdom when the entire timeline is burned to ash? What meaning would power have in a world without humans to witness it?"
A ghost of a smile touched Scáthach's lips. "So self-interest aligns with altruism. Convenient."
"The wisest path often is."
They lapsed into silence again, but it was a different quality of silence now—evaluative, measuring. Two immortal forces taking each other's measure.
Finally, Scáthach nodded once, decisively. "Very well, Master. I will lend you my spear in the battles to come. But know this—if I sense that you threaten the human order rather than preserve it, that same spear will pierce your heart, no matter what powers you command."
Xian inclined his head. "I would expect nothing less from the Witch of Dun Scaith."
As if on cue, the door chimed. When it slid open, Mash stood in the corridor, clipboard clutched to her chest.
"Mr. Wuji," she said hesitantly. "Dr. Roman asked me to inform you that the Director wishes to see you. There's been... a development."
Xian rose smoothly. "Of course." He glanced back at Scáthach. "Shall we, my Queen of Shadows?"
Scáthach stood, retrieving her spear in one fluid motion. "Lead on, Architect."
The Command Room was in disarray when they arrived. Staff rushed between stations, urgent voices overlapping as reports were called out. At the center of it all stood Director Olga Marie, her face a mask of controlled panic.
"Candidate 48," she said as Xian approached, deliberately using his designation rather than his name. "We have a situation."
"I gathered as much," Xian replied calmly. "What's happened?"
Instead of answering directly, Olga gestured to the main screen, where a swirling mass of darkness obscured what should have been a clear view of Earth's timeline.
"This appeared thirty minutes ago," she explained. "Our systems can't penetrate it, but we've confirmed that it represents a massive temporal anomaly—what we call a Singularity. And it's growing."
"The incineration has begun," Xian stated, not as a question but as fact.
Olga's eyes widened. "How could you possibly know that term? That's classified information!"
"It's written in the patterns," Xian replied. "I can see the burning edges from here."
Before Olga could demand further explanation, Romani hurried over, tablet in hand.
"Director, we've pinpointed the epicenter," he reported. "Fuyuki City, Japan, 2004. It appears to be the site of a Holy Grail War, but something's gone catastrophically wrong."
"Of course it has," Olga muttered. "Prepare for immediate Rayshift deployment. I want a team ready in—"
"Director," Lev interrupted, approaching from one of the monitoring stations. "The system is showing instabilities. A full team deployment would be too risky."
"Then what do you suggest, Professor?" Olga snapped.
Lev's eyes slid briefly to Xian before returning to Olga. "A minimal deployment. One or two Masters at most, to assess the situation before we commit additional resources."
Olga deliberated for only a moment. "Fine. Candidate 48 and the Fujimaru candidate will deploy once they arrive."
"Fujimaru isn't scheduled to arrive for another week," Romani pointed out.
"Then Candidate 48 will go alone!" Olga's patience was clearly fraying. "He's supposedly so special, let him prove it!"
Xian nodded. "I accept the mission, Director."
"You don't have a choice," she retorted. "Prepare for Rayshift in one hour." She turned away, already barking orders to the support staff.
Da Vinci sidled up beside Xian and Scáthach. "Well, that escalated quickly," she remarked with inappropriate cheer. "Your first day, and already you're being sent to investigate the potential end of human history. I'd say that's a new record, even for Chaldea."
"Leonardo," Scáthach acknowledged with a slight nod. "You seem unconcerned."
"Oh, I'm terrified," Da Vinci replied cheerfully. "But I'm also fascinated. Especially by your Master here." She turned to Xian. "You knew this was coming, didn't you? That's why you arrived exactly when you did."
Xian's expression revealed nothing. "Time will tell."
"It always does," Da Vinci agreed. "But sometimes, it tells its secrets to certain people first." She glanced toward Lev, who was engaged in intense conversation with Olga. "By the way, I noticed how you looked at our esteemed professor earlier. Care to share those observations?"
"Not yet," Xian replied. "Some revelations must wait for their proper moment."
Da Vinci's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Oh, I do like you. You play the game well."
"It's not a game," Scáthach interjected severely. "If this truly is the beginning of humanity's incineration, then what comes next will test even ones such as us."
"All the more reason to enjoy the quiet moments," Da Vinci countered. She patted Xian's shoulder. "Come, I'll help you prepare for the Rayshift. There are a few things you should know about Fuyuki 2004 that aren't in the official briefing."
As they turned to leave, Xian caught sight of Mash watching them from across the room, her expression troubled. When their eyes met, she didn't look away.
In that moment, for reasons she couldn't articulate, Mash Kyrielight felt certain of two things: first, that Xian Wuji knew far more than he was telling anyone; and second, that everything was about to change irrevocably.
She wasn't wrong on either count.
The Rayshift chamber was cavernous, designed to accommodate multiple coffin-like devices that would transport Masters' consciousnesses across time and space. Today, only one was active, its systems humming with gathering power.
Xian stood before it, now dressed in Chaldea's standard field uniform—a sleek white and black ensemble designed to maintain optimal magical conductivity while providing basic environmental protection.
"The process is painless," Romani was explaining, "but disorienting your first time. Your consciousness will be converted to spiritrons and projected into the past. Your physical body remains here in suspended animation."
"I understand," Xian replied.
"Once you arrive, establish contact immediately," Olga instructed. "Your primary objective is reconnaissance. Determine the nature of the Singularity and identify any potential allies or threats. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary."
Xian nodded. "And if I encounter the cause of the Singularity?"
Olga's expression hardened. "Assess and report. If neutralization is possible without risk to the mission, you're authorized to proceed, but primary containment is our goal. We can deploy additional assets once we understand what we're dealing with."
"The Rayshift will take you to the outskirts of Fuyuki City," Romani added. "We've detected high concentrations of magical energy in the downtown area and near the Ryuudou Temple."
"Exercise extreme caution," Lev warned, his tone solicitous but his eyes cold. "If this truly is the aftermath of a corrupted Holy Grail War, the area may be teeming with hostile Servants and other threats beyond normal human capacity to handle."
"Fortunately," Scáthach remarked dryly, materializing beside Xian in her battle attire, "we are far from normal."
Lev's smile tightened. "Indeed, Queen of Shadows. Your reputation precedes you."
"As does yours, Professor," she replied, her crimson eyes boring into him. "Though perhaps not all aspects of it."
An uncomfortable silence fell before Olga cleared her throat. "If there are no further questions, we should proceed. Time is of the essence."
As the staff made final preparations, Da Vinci approached Xian one last time.
"I've uploaded some additional data to your communication device," she said quietly. "Information about the Fuyuki Holy Grail War that might prove useful. And..." she hesitated, then continued in an even lower voice, "a little something extra about our dear Professor Lev. Call it a hunch."
Xian raised an eyebrow. "You suspect something as well."
"Let's just say I make it my business to notice inconsistencies," Da Vinci replied with a wink. "Be careful, Architect. Come back with answers—and preferably, with yourself and your lovely Servant intact."
With a final flourish, she stepped back as the Rayshift coffin opened. Xian entered and positioned himself as instructed.
"Commencing final countdown," announced a technician. "Rayshift in T-minus 30 seconds."
As the coffin sealed, Xian closed his eyes, reaching inward to where his newfound power pulsed like a second heartbeat.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Dimensional Translation imminent ✦ Adapting Soul Structure for Spiritron Conversion... ✦ Establishing Anchor Points across timeline... ✦ Warning: Significant temporal distortion detected at destination. ➤ Initiating protective measures...
"Ten seconds to Rayshift," the countdown continued. "Nine... eight..."
Xian opened his eyes, catching one last glimpse of the Control Room through the coffin's window. Mash stood beside Romani, concern evident in her expression. Lev watched with that same calculating coldness. Da Vinci gave a small wave. And Olga Marie stared intently, as if trying to solve a particularly difficult puzzle.
"Three... two... one..."
A sensation like being unmade—consciousness stretched across impossible distances—and then reconstruction, atoms assembling in a new place, a new time.
"Rayshift complete."
The world dissolved into light, and Xian Wuji, the Heaven-Devouring Architect, fell through time toward a burning city and the first battle in a war for humanity's very existence.
In the shadowed recesses of Chaldea's lower levels, far from the command center and monitoring systems, Lev Lainur Flauros stood alone, his human disguise momentarily slipping to reveal glimpses of his true form—a monstrous entity of tentacles and malice.
"This wasn't in the plan," he hissed to seemingly no one. "This... Xian Wuji. This aberration. He sees too much."
The air before him shimmered, and a voice responded—resonant, ancient, and filled with contempt for all human things.
"An unexpected variable," the voice acknowledged. "But ultimately irrelevant. The incineration is already underway. By the time he discovers anything of significance, it will be too late."
"He looked at me," Lev growled, "and knew. No human should be able to perceive beyond my disguise."
"Then perhaps he is not entirely human," the voice replied, unperturbed. "It matters not. The plan proceeds. When the moment comes, Chaldea will fall, and with it, humanity's last hope."
Lev's form stabilized, the inhuman aspects receding beneath his human appearance once more. "And if he somehow survives Fuyuki?"
"Then he will return to a tomb," the voice promised. "The moment is nearly upon us. Be ready, Flauros. Your centuries of patience are about to bear fruit."
As the presence faded, Lev straightened his tie and smoothed his hair. A small smile played across his lips as he checked his watch.
Soon. Very soon.
Meanwhile, in the blazing ruins of what was once Fuyuki City, reality rippled as a figure materialized amidst the devastation. Xian Wuji opened his eyes to a world on fire, the stench of burning flesh and magical corruption heavy in the air.
Beside him, Scáthach materialized in a shimmer of violet light, her crimson spear already in hand.
"This place reeks of death," she observed, scanning their surroundings with narrowed eyes. "And something worse."
Xian nodded, his gaze fixed on the distant peak of Ryuudou Temple, where a malevolent darkness swirled against the blood-red sky.
"The corruption of a Holy Grail," he agreed. "But there's more to it than that." He closed his eyes briefly, extending his senses outward through his newfound connection to the conceptual framework. "This entire reality is... wrong. Fractured. As if someone deliberately broke the timeline and then stitched it back together imperfectly."
Scáthach's grip on her spear tightened. "You sense other Servants?"
"Seven," Xian confirmed, opening his eyes. "All corrupted. All now serving whatever has twisted this Singularity into being." He turned to his Servant, his expression resolute. "Ready yourself, Queen of Shadows. What comes next will test even your legendary skills."
As if in response to his words, a distant roar echoed across the burning landscape—bestial, rage-filled, and unmistakably powerful.
Scáthach's lips curved into the ghost of a smile, the battle-hunger of ancient Celtic warriors awakening in her blood.
"Then let us show them what true power looks like, Master."
Together, Servant and Master started toward the ruined city, unaware that their arrival had not gone unnoticed. In the shadows of a collapsed building, a figure in black armor watched, red lines pulsing across its corrupted form like veins of magma.
"Master," it growled into the æther, "something new has entered our domain. Something... unexpected."
The response came not in words but in a sensation—cold, commanding, absolute.
Destroy it.
The corrupted Servant smiled beneath its helm, raising a massive weapon wreathed in darkness.
"With pleasure."
The first battle of the Heaven-Devouring Architect was about to begin.
Heaven-Devouring Architect: Crownless Master of Chaldea
Chapter 2: Shadows of Fuyuki
The corrupted Servant moved like living darkness, its massive frame belying impossible speed. One moment it watched from the shadows; the next, it lunged forward with a roar that shook the very air, its enormous weapon—a grotesque axe-sword hybrid wrapped in tendrils of malice—cleaving through space itself.
"Master!" Scáthach called, already moving to intercept.
Xian didn't flinch. As the blade descended, he raised his hand with deliberate calmness. The air between him and the attack shimmered, distorting like heat waves above summer asphalt.
The corrupted Servant's weapon struck the distortion and stopped as if it had hit solid steel. Shock registered in its glowing red eyes, visible through the slits of its corrupted helm.
"Spatial compression," Xian explained, his voice conversational despite the circumstances. "A basic application of Space Dao."
The Servant snarled, applying more force, making the barrier crackle with energy. "What manner of mage are you?" its voice grated, deep and warped, as if speaking through layers of corruption.
"Not a mage at all," Xian replied.
In that instant, Scáthach struck from the side, her crimson spear a blur of lethal precision. The corrupted Servant was forced to disengage from Xian's barrier to parry, the clash of weapons releasing a shockwave that pulverized nearby debris.
"Berserker," Scáthach identified as she danced back, spear at the ready. "Corrupted by the Grail. But I sense who you once were." Her eyes narrowed. "Heroic Spirit Heracles. How far you've fallen."
The corrupted Heracles roared in response, madness and rage overwhelming any remnant of the hero he had been. Darkness poured from his armor like smoke, coalescing into a miasma around him.
"The corruption runs deep," Xian observed. "It's rewriting his Saint Graph at the fundamental level." He glanced at Scáthach. "Can you handle him while I analyze the pattern?"
A ghost of a smile touched her lips. "You insult me with the question, Master."
With that, she launched herself forward, her crimson spear becoming a whirlwind of strikes so fast they left afterimages in the air. The corrupted Heracles met her assault with brutal strength, each swing of his massive weapon creating sonic booms.
As the two Servants clashed, Xian closed his eyes, extending his perception beyond physical sight. The world around him transformed into patterns of light and shadow, threads of conceptual energy weaving the tapestry of reality. Within this perceptual state, he could see the corruption flowing through Berserker like black veins, all leading back toward the distant temple.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Analyzing foreign conceptual intrusion... ✦ Corruption identified: Holy Grail derivative + unknown divinity fragment ✦ Calculating optimal countermeasure...
Xian's eyes snapped open just as Scáthach executed a devastating feint, driving her spear through a gap in Berserker's guard. The weapon pierced the corrupted hero's shoulder, drawing forth not blood but a viscous black substance that hissed when it touched the ground.
"His regeneration is accelerated by the corruption," Scáthach called, leaping back to avoid a retaliatory strike that demolished a concrete wall behind where she had stood. "And I sense twelve distinct life forces within him."
"God Hand," Xian confirmed. "Twelve labors, twelve lives. But the corruption has twisted it. We need to cleanse rather than kill."
Berserker charged again, his movements gaining speed as the battle progressed—the exact opposite of what one would expect from a wounded opponent. The ground cracked beneath his feet with each step, his massive form becoming wreathed in a dark aura that seemed to devour light itself.
Xian stepped forward, his right hand beginning to glow with an inner light that shifted between colors—first blue, then gold, then a pure white that hurt the eyes.
"Scáthach," he called, "drive him back toward me on my signal."
The Queen of Shadows nodded once, understanding instantly. She shifted her stance, her spear beginning to emit a violet light of its own as she channeled her power through it.
"Gate of Skye," she intoned, "grant me thy power."
The air around her rippled with ancient magic as she tapped into the primordial forces of her domain. Then she moved—not just quickly, but with impossible grace, each step placing her exactly where Berserker didn't expect her to be. Her spear struck not to wound but to guide, forcing the massive Servant to turn and pivot in a deadly dance she orchestrated.
Berserker, for all his corrupted madness, was still one of the greatest heroes of Greece. He adapted quickly, his instincts compensating for her strategy. But that was precisely what Scáthach had counted on.
"Now!" she called, delivering a powerful kick to Berserker's chest that momentarily staggered him backward—directly toward Xian.
"[Flame Purification Archive – Divine Cleansing Seal]," Xian declared, his voice resonating with conceptual weight.
He slammed his glowing palm against Berserker's back. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then patterns of golden light spread from the point of contact, racing across the corrupted armor like living calligraphy. Where the light touched, the darkness receded, hissing and steaming as if being burned away.
Berserker howled—not in rage but in pain, a sound so primal it seemed to come from the hero's very soul. He thrashed, trying to dislodge Xian, but the cultivator had already leapt away, his work complete.
"What did you do?" Scáthach asked, moving to stand beside her Master.
"I introduced a purification concept directly into his Saint Graph," Xian explained, watching as the golden light continued to spread, consuming more and more of the corruption. "It won't cure him completely—the source of the corruption is still active—but it should temporarily restore some of his sanity."
True to his words, the massive Servant gradually ceased his thrashing. His red eyes flickered, the glow dimming slightly as awareness returned to them. The miasma surrounding him thinned, and his posture straightened from its bestial hunch.
"Little... time..." Berserker ground out, each word clearly taking monumental effort. "Grail... corrupted... all Servants... under his control..."
"Whose control?" Xian asked sharply.
Berserker's massive hand rose, pointing toward the distant temple. "Archer... but not Archer... something wearing... his form..."
"How many survivors in the city?" Scáthach demanded.
"None..." Berserker's voice was fading, the golden light on his armor beginning to flicker as the corruption fought back. "All... consumed... to fuel... Grail..."
Xian stepped forward. "Who is the Grail's core? Which Servant?"
Berserker's form shuddered violently, corruption surging back like a tide of darkness. "Sa...ber..." he managed before throwing his head back with a roar as the corruption overwhelmed Xian's purification attempt.
"The cleansing won't hold," Xian warned, backing away. "We need to retreat before he fully reverts."
Scáthach nodded sharply, and together they turned, dashing between ruined buildings as Berserker's renewed howls of rage echoed behind them. Instead of pursuing, however, the corrupted Servant remained where he was, as if held in place by some unseen command.
They didn't stop running until they had put significant distance between themselves and the encounter site, taking shelter in the hollow shell of what had once been a school building.
"Saber as the Grail's core," Scáthach mused once they had confirmed the immediate area was secure. "That narrows the possibilities."
"And something wearing Archer's form controlling the other Servants," Xian added, his expression thoughtful. "Corruption of this magnitude typically requires an external catalyst—a foreign entity introducing corruption into the Grail system."
He walked to a shattered window, gazing out at the distant temple where ominous clouds swirled. "We should establish contact with Chaldea before proceeding further."
Tapping the communication device on his wrist, Xian attempted to open a channel. Static hissed from the speaker, occasionally broken by fragments of voices.
"—ference... can't get a clear—" "—try boost—" "—Xian... hear us...?"
Finally, the static cleared enough for Romani's voice to come through. "Xian! Thank goodness. We've been trying to reach you since your arrival. The interference is worse than we anticipated."
"We're receiving you now, Doctor," Xian replied. "Initial reconnaissance has yielded significant information. The city has been completely destroyed, no survivors detected. All seven Servants from this Holy Grail War appear to be present but corrupted by an external entity."
"External entity?" Olga Marie's voice cut in. "Explain."
"According to a temporarily lucid Berserker—Heracles—something is 'wearing Archer's form' and controlling the other Servants. Saber appears to be serving as the Grail's core."
A moment of silence followed before Romani responded. "This matches no known pattern from any recorded Holy Grail War. The corruption of Servants isn't unprecedented, but this level of organization suggests intelligence behind it."
"I concur," Xian said. "My analysis indicates that—"
The communication suddenly cut off as a wave of malevolent energy washed over the area. Outside, the red sky darkened further, and a keening wail rose from the direction of the temple.
"It seems we've been noticed," Scáthach observed dryly, spinning her spear into a ready position.
Xian nodded, abandoning the useless communicator. "We need to move toward the temple. If Saber is indeed the Grail's core, that's where we'll find her."
"Walking directly into the enemy's stronghold," Scáthach noted. "A bold strategy."
"Sometimes the direct approach is the least expected," Xian replied with the ghost of a smile. "Besides, we're not going as conquerors. Not yet. We're going as observers."
He reached out, his fingers tracing patterns in the air that seemed to bend light around them. "I can mask our presence to a degree—not perfect invisibility, but enough to blur perception of us if we're careful."
Scáthach raised an eyebrow. "Presence Concealment without being an Assassin class. Your abilities continue to intrigue, Master."
"Space Dao merged with Void Aspect," Xian explained simply. "We exist slightly out of phase with normal reality—enough to confuse most detection methods."
They moved out, keeping to the shadows of the ruined city. The devastation was total—buildings reduced to rubble, streets cracked and warped by unnatural forces, and everywhere the stench of ash and something more insidious—the lingering miasma of corrupted mana.
As they neared the city center, they encountered their first signs of other activity—shadow-like entities that moved with purpose through the ruins, gathering what appeared to be glowing orbs of light.
"Soul fragments," Scáthach whispered, her expression hardening. "They're harvesting the residual souls of the dead."
Xian nodded grimly. "Fuel for the corrupted Grail." He studied the shadow creatures carefully. "Not Servants or familiars in the traditional sense. More like... autonomous extensions of the corruption itself."
They watched as one shadow creature absorbed a soul fragment, growing slightly larger and more defined. Its movement became more purposeful as it continued its grisly harvesting.
"We should avoid engagement if possible," Xian decided. "Each confrontation increases our chance of detection."
They proceeded more cautiously, skirting around concentrations of the shadow creatures. Twice they were forced to freeze in place as corrupted familiars—twisted birds with too many eyes—soared overhead, scanning the ruins.
Eventually, they reached what had once been the city's central business district. Here, the destruction took on a different character—not just collapse and fire damage, but deliberate reshaping. Buildings twisted into impossible shapes, concrete flowing like wax into grotesque sculptures. At the center stood what had once been a skyscraper, now transformed into a spiraling tower of black glass that reflected no light.
"A leyline convergence point," Xian noted. "They've turned it into a mana collection facility."
Before they could decide on their next move, a new presence made itself known—the air several meters ahead of them shimmered, and a figure materialized. Tall and slender, clad in form-fitting clothing of deepest blue, with long purple hair that seemed to float on unseen currents. In her hands, she held a staff topped with a curved blade.
"Servant Rider," Scáthach identified softly. "Medusa."
The corrupted Rider tilted her head, the blindfold over her eyes doing nothing to diminish the sense that she was staring directly at them.
"I know you're there," she said, her voice eerily melodic despite the corruption that lined her form like black veins. "I can taste your presence on the air."
Xian's concealment technique should have hidden them from conventional detection. The fact that Rider had found them suggested her Mystic Eyes granted her perception beyond normal parameters.
"No point in hiding then," Xian decided, allowing the concealment to dissolve.
As they became fully visible, Rider's lips curved into a smile that held no warmth. "Interesting. New players in our little apocalypse." She inhaled deeply. "You smell of... elsewhere. Not from this time or place."
"We've come to restore proper history," Xian stated calmly. "This Singularity threatens the entire human timeline."
Rider laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "History? There is no history anymore. Only the new world He is creating." Her stance shifted, predatory grace in every line of her body. "You shouldn't have come here. Now you'll become part of it too."
She moved with blinding speed, her chain-dagger whipping toward them like a living thing. Scáthach intercepted with her spear, the clash sending sparks of conflicting magical energy into the air.
"Go, Master," Scáthach commanded, already engaging Rider in a deadly dance of chains and spear. "Continue toward the temple. I'll handle this one."
Xian hesitated only a fraction of a second before nodding. "Be cautious. Like Berserker, she's not herself."
"I am well aware," Scáthach replied, executing a precise thrust that forced Rider to leap backward. "This won't take long."
With one last glance at his Servant, Xian turned and dashed toward an adjacent street that would continue his path toward Ryuudou Temple. Behind him, the sounds of combat intensified—Scáthach's controlled precision against Rider's serpentine fluidity.
He hadn't gone far when he felt a new presence—cold, calculated, and unmistakably powerful—watching him from somewhere among the ruins. Stopping in his tracks, Xian turned slowly, scanning the shattered urban landscape.
"I know you're there," he called, deliberately echoing Rider's earlier words. "Show yourself."
Silence answered him, but the weight of observation didn't diminish. Then, a voice—cultured, arrogant, and tinged with genuine curiosity.
"Most interesting. You sensed me despite my Presence Concealment."
From the shadows of a collapsed storefront, a figure emerged—tall and elegant in a black coat trimmed with silver, white hair swept back from aristocratic features. His eyes were the most striking feature—red as fresh blood and just as cold.
"Archer," Xian identified. "Or something wearing his form, as Berserker suggested."
The figure smiled, the expression never reaching those crimson eyes. "Perceptive. The vessel is indeed what was once the Archer of this Holy Grail War. The spirit within, however..." The smile widened. "Well, that's a more complicated matter."
"You're the one controlling the corrupted Servants," Xian stated, his posture relaxed despite the danger before him.
"Control is such a limiting concept," not-Archer replied, taking a casual step forward. "I prefer to think of it as... enlightenment. I've shown them the beauty of what's to come, and they've chosen to serve."
Xian's eyes narrowed slightly. "Nothing about the corruption I've witnessed suggests choice."
The figure laughed, the sound both musical and deeply wrong. "Semantics. Free will is merely an illusion humans cling to for comfort." His head tilted, studying Xian with growing interest. "But you... you're something new. Something unexpected. Not just another Master, no. Something that doesn't belong in this world at all."
"I could say the same about you," Xian countered. "You're not just a corrupted Servant. You're something else entirely—something that's hijacked this timeline."
"Hijacked?" Not-Archer seemed amused by the term. "I prefer 'corrected.' This world was flawed, built on the false premise that humanity deserves continuation." He gestured expansively at the ruins around them. "I'm simply accelerating the inevitable conclusion."
As he spoke, Xian extended his perceptual senses, analyzing the entity before him. Beyond the Archer vessel, he detected something ancient and malevolent—a consciousness that existed outside normal parameters, its true form obscured by layers of conceptual camouflage.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Analysis in progress... ✦ Entity identified: Conceptual Parasite (Classification: Grand-Tier) ✦ Structural pattern: Divine Regression + Void Contamination ✦ Warning: Entity attempting to analyze Host in return ➤ Defensive protocols engaged...
Xian blinked as information flooded his awareness. This wasn't just any entity—it was a concept given sentience, a fragment of something that predated humanity itself, twisted by exposure to the corrupted Grail.
"You're a Pillar," he stated, the realization crystallizing. "One of the Seventy-Two Demons of Goetia."
For the first time, genuine surprise registered on not-Archer's face. "Now that is unexpected. Such knowledge shouldn't exist in this era, let alone in the mind of a human." His eyes narrowed. "What are you, really?"
Instead of answering, Xian took a step forward, his right hand beginning to glow with that same shifting light from his encounter with Berserker. "Your presence here threatens the entire human timeline. The corruption you've introduced is spreading beyond this Singularity, affecting adjacent timestreams."
Not-Archer's surprise gave way to genuine amusement. "Of course it is. That's precisely the point. This Singularity is merely the first domino in a cascade that will erase human history entirely." His form seemed to flicker, Archer's features briefly overlaid with something inhuman—multiple eyes, geometrically impossible anatomy. "The Incineration of Humanity has already begun. You're too late to stop it."
"Then I'll have to prove you wrong," Xian replied calmly.
The air between them thickened with tension as both entities—one masquerading as a Servant, the other housing a power beyond conventional magecraft—prepared to clash. But before either could move, a new presence manifested—a ripple in reality that caused both to turn.
A figure materialized from golden particles of light—a woman in armor so black it seemed to absorb the very light around her. Her features were pale and perfect, her expression coldly regal beneath a crown of darkened gold. Most striking were her eyes—once green, now suffused with a sickly yellow glow, and her sword—a blade of darkness that radiated malevolent power.
"Saber," not-Archer greeted with a slight bow. "Or should I say, the vessel of our Holy Grail."
Saber's gaze fixed on Xian, her corrupted eyes narrowing. "This is the intruder?" Her voice was beautiful even in corruption, carrying the authority of a true king.
"Indeed," not-Archer confirmed. "A most interesting specimen. He knows things he shouldn't, sees things hidden from mortal perception." His smile turned cruel. "I was about to dissect him to learn how."
"That won't be necessary," Saber declared. "The Greater Grail approaches completion. Your... curiosities... can wait." She turned her full attention to Xian. "As for you, interloper—your presence is an affront to the new order we establish. You will be erased."
She raised her darkened blade, which began to pulse with unholy energy. The air distorted around it as she channeled power that no Servant should possess—the combined might of a corrupted Holy Grail flowing through her.
Xian recognized the imminent attack for what it was—an Anti-World Noble Phantasm, corrupted and amplified beyond its original parameters. If unleashed, it would not only obliterate him but potentially destabilize the entire Singularity.
He had seconds to act.
[Heaven-Devouring Ascension Matrix: Cosmic Reforged] ✦ Emergency Protocols Engaged ✦ Synchronizing Space, Time, and Void Aspects... ✦ Generating Conceptual Shield... ✦ Warning: Full manifestation may reveal true nature to hostiles ➤ Proceed anyway? [Y]
"Excalibur Morgan," Saber intoned, her voice echoing with unnatural resonance as darkness gathered around her blade.
Xian's response was immediate and decisive. Bringing both hands together before him, he channeled power from three conceptual Daos simultaneously—an act that would have killed a conventional magus instantly.
"[Void Horizon Shield – Eternity's Boundary]," he countered, his voice carrying the weight of universal law.
As Saber swung downward, releasing a torrent of corrupted energy that carved a path of absolute destruction, Xian's technique manifested—a barrier of shimmering opalescent light that existed simultaneously in multiple dimensional planes. Where the attack struck, reality itself seemed to fold inward, the destructive energy redirected into a conceptual void.
The collision of powers created a deafening silence—a moment where sound itself ceased to exist—followed by a shockwave that pulverized everything within a hundred-meter radius.
When the dust settled, Xian remained standing, though his barrier had shattered. Across from him, Saber appeared momentarily stunned that her attack had been countered at all.
Not-Archer, however, was laughing—a sound of genuine delight. "Magnificent! Truly magnificent!" His eyes gleamed with an almost hungry light. "You continue to exceed expectations. Perhaps you're worthy of special attention after all."
Before any of them could speak further, a distant sound caught their attention—a roar of rage that could only belong to Berserker, followed by what sounded like massive impacts heading in their direction.
"It seems your Servant has defeated Rider and inspired Berserker to join her," not-Archer observed. "How inconvenient."
Saber scowled, clearly displeased at the interruption. "We will continue this another time, interloper. Your fate is merely postponed, not altered." With that, she dissolved into particles of darkness.
Not-Archer lingered a moment longer, his crimson eyes studying Xian with unnerving intensity. "We will meet again, anomaly. I look forward to discovering what you truly are." He too began to fade, his form becoming transparent. "Until then, consider what you've learned here today. The incineration cannot be stopped—but you might yet secure yourself a place in what comes after."
As he vanished completely, Xian allowed himself a moment to steady his breathing. The defense against Saber's Noble Phantasm had cost him significantly, draining conceptual energy that would take time to replenish.
Moments later, Scáthach arrived, spear still gleaming with the aftermath of combat. Behind her followed the massive form of Berserker—still corrupted, but seemingly in control of himself, his red eyes fixed on Xian with what might have been reluctant respect.
"Master," Scáthach greeted, quickly assessing his condition. "You encountered trouble."
"Saber and something wearing Archer's form," Xian confirmed. "The latter confirmed our suspicions—this Singularity is part of a larger plan to incinerate human history."
Scáthach's expression darkened. "Then our mission has grown more urgent." She gestured to Berserker. "I managed to amplify your purification technique when I encountered him again. He's fighting the corruption, at least temporarily."
Berserker growled what might have been agreement, his massive hand still gripping his corrupted weapon, though it no longer pulsed with the same malevolent energy.
"We need to reach the temple," Xian decided. "That's where the corrupted Grail is anchored. If we can disrupt it, we might be able to stabilize this Singularity enough for Chaldea to assist with full restoration."
As if in response to his words, the ground beneath them trembled. In the distance, the swirling darkness above Ryuudou Temple intensified, lightning of unnatural colors striking down at random intervals.
"They're accelerating their plans," Scáthach observed grimly. "Whatever this 'incineration' entails, I suspect we've just forced them to hasten their timeline."
Xian nodded. "Then we do the same." He turned to Berserker. "Will you fight with us? Against those who corrupted you?"
The massive Servant was silent for a long moment, internal conflict visible even through his bestial features. Finally, he gave a single, sharp nod, his growl carrying a single word: "Vengeance."
"Then we move now," Xian declared. "Together."
As the unlikely alliance prepared to make their final approach to Ryuudou Temple, none of them noticed the small, shadowy familiar watching from a nearby rooftop—its many eyes transmitting everything back to its true master.
In Chaldea, unaware of the forces aligning in Fuyuki, the staff continued their frantic efforts to reestablish communication. And in the shadows, Lev Lainur Flauros checked his watch once more, a smile spreading across his face.
The countdown to humanity's end had begun.