Shinji Matou at Your Service

In truth, there was a difference between Crimson Moon and Altera.

Altera had the inherent ability to erode civilizations. Once she transformed into the giant god, she became an outsider, both inside and out.

Crimson Moon, on the other hand, used Arcueid's body. While her soul was unaffected by the Counter force, her power still belonged within the realm of Earth.

The most direct evidence was that, despite using over a hundred different forms of attack on Kirei Kotomine since she captured him, Crimson Moon still hadn't managed to kill him.

So, she abandoned the idea of handling it personally and said to the giant god:

"Even though I'm reluctant, I must ask you to destroy his body and soul utterly."

"No!"

Kirei quickly interjected.

"I'm not just saying this for myself. You all know that I've gained some of the True Ancestor's power. If I die, that power will return to her. At that point, she will become even harder to deal with. You don't realize how powerful the True Ancestor was without restrictions—you haven't lived through that era. She might even be stronger than this giant!"

"Foolish! Whether or not we reclaim that power, it makes no difference in dealing with the likes of you."

Crimson Moon snorted coldly, not even bothering to look at Kirei.

"The only things that matter to me are the ruined giant god and the outsider slumbering in South America. Aside from them, the only thing of interest is the Magician. If I'm not mistaken, Zelretch should have sensed my revival by now. Even though I have no control over him, he is still one of my Dead Apostles. No, perhaps he's already here—wouldn't you like to say hello to an old friend?"

Indeed, someone appeared.

However, it wasn't Crimson Moon's old rival, the Second Magician The Wizard Marshall. Instead, it was a young-looking woman, dressed in a blue sweater and dark jeans, carrying a suitcase.

"The person you're waiting for has gone to the Other Side of the World and hasn't returned yet. If you're getting impatient, I can keep you entertained."

Upon seeing this person, Tohno Shiki instinctively blurted out: "Sensei?"

"And who might you be?"

Crimson Moon tilted her head slightly.

"Aozaki Aoko, a junior to that old man, and the wielder of the Fifth Magic, the Newest Magician'"

As she spoke, wrinkled her nose in distaste, as if she didn't like the title.

"Fifth Magic? Newest Magician?"

Crimson Moon's sidelong glance turned into a full stare.

"Yeah, that's right," Aoko complained without any grace, showing none of the caution others had when facing Crimson Moon.

"It's such a confusing title. Wouldn't it be simpler to just call me the Fifth Magician? But no, those old fossils at the Mage's Association insist that until the existence of the Fourth Magic user is confirmed, my rank will remain delayed. It's such a hassle."

"It seems a new Magic has appeared. I wonder how you compare to Kishua?"

Crimson Moon tossed Kirei aside, her golden hair flowing.

"You can find out for yourself."

Aoko flicked her wrist, her long hair flying behind her.

"Oh, and one more thing—everyone, including the non-humans, stay put. If anyone wants to move, you'll have to defeat me first. I'll take you all on, one-on-one or all together!"

It seemed this newly arrived Newest Magician was ready to take on everyone at once.

Seeing her sister acting so arrogantly, Touko couldn't help but step forward, running up to Aoko.

"Hey, Aoko!"

"Oh, Touko. The old man asked me to come, so I didn't have time to let you know."

"That doesn't matter. What's your real reason for being here?"

"To watch the show, and to help that old man out a bit."

At that, Touko suddenly understood.

"That old man? Zelretch? You just said he… went to the Other Side?"

"Yeah, the old gem man. He went to fetch your little boyfriend. Whoever caused the trouble should be the one to fix it."

Aoko glanced at Crimson Moon, then at the giant god Sefar, with a look of regret.

"Shinji is going to handle this? Does he even have the power?"

It wasn't that Touko didn't trust Shinji. She trusted and understood him more than anyone. Even when Shinji was at full power purifying the Holy Grail, he still wasn't a match for Crimson Moon and the increasingly gigantic Sefar.

"He didn't before, but now he does. Otherwise, why do you think that old man who sees himself as a savior would go to such lengths? That little boyfriend of yours is already one of my kind. How old is he now? Sixteen? Seventeen? I think he was about the same age as me when I became a Magician."

By now, Touko and the others couldn't hear the rest of Aoko's muttering. They were all too shocked by one word.

"Magician."

Matou Shinji, the young man who had repeatedly created miracles, had resisted the fatal allure of the Root for magi and returned alive!

"Brother—"

"Shinji—"

"That guy…"

For a moment, the murmurs rose and quickly converged into one question.

"When will he be back?"

"Oh, he's more popular than I expected," Aoko smirked, casting an amused glance at the group of girls.

"Sorry, I can't answer that question. I'm not the Second Magician. You'll have to ask the expert."

Before Aoko even finished speaking, the space warped, and out of the distortion stepped an old man with white hair and dressed in black. He nodded slightly toward Crimson Moon.

"It's been over a thousand years, Crimson Moon."

"Indeed."

There was a fleeting moment of nostalgia on Crimson Moon's face before it returned to calm.

"You've aged considerably, Zelretch."

"It's the price I paid to defeat you," Zelretch sighed.

"Can't you two relics catch up later?"

Aoko interrupted impatiently.

"What about that little guy? Didn't you go to get him? Didn't manage to?"

"I got him, but when we entered this world, the Counter Force interfered. He's a bit off course, but he'll be here in a few minutes. Crimson Moon, as an old friend, I'll give you some advice. The Third Magic governs the soul. Return Arcueid's body to her, or you'll suffer—this time, you might truly vanish for good."

Crimson Moon, however, had a different thought in mind.

"Thanks, old friend, but I won't give up so easily. So, I'm sorry, but I'll be escaping now."

"Do you think you can escape with me here?"

"Whether or not I can, I'll give it a try."

Crimson Moon's expression didn't change as her body began to fade away.

This wasn't her signature skill, Marble Phantasm, but rather the most basic ability of the True Ancestor—merging with nature.

Zelretch raised his staff, then slowly lowered it.

Immediately, a dark, cold mist filled the air.

Beneath the mist, shadows formed—strange, tangible shadows—that coalesced into claws. One of them struck Crimson Moon, who had almost fully merged with nature, and forcibly pulled her back out.