Shinji Matou at Your Service

Crimson Moon's body, which had begun to fade, suddenly became clear again. Her attempt to merge with nature was disrupted.

What seemed like a simple and unremarkable strike had left Crimson Moon utterly shocked.

The True Ancestors were beings created by the planet itself, the purest of nature gods/spirits, with an inseparable connection to nature. How could such a bond be severed so easily?

"What did you do?"

Crimson Moon stared intensely at Zelretch, who merely shrugged impassively.

"It wasn't me."

"Then who—?"

As she asked, a laugh echoed through the air.

"Ha ha ha ha—"

The laugh was both familiar and unfamiliar.

Familiar because of the voice, unfamiliar because of the tone.

It was cold, mad, evil, and unabashedly arrogant.

"Is this the best the mighty King of the Moon, the Ultimate One of the Moon, can do? How disappointing."

Crimson Moon responded to this provocation with an indifferent snort.

Without any visible movement from her, the mist and shadows that had spread out were suddenly reversed, compressed, and finally condensed into a humanoid form.

It was a familiar height and a familiar face that combined both Eastern and Western features. But beyond that, nothing was the same.

The previously healthy complexion had turned deathly pale, and the once blue eyes and hair had become horrifyingly red and dry white. Obvious fangs protruded from the lips, making the figure look particularly menacing. The slender hands were now twisted into vicious claws—the very claws that had just severed Crimson Moon's merge with nature.

"What—"

"Shinji—"

"No way!"

"How did you turn into a vampire?!"

A chorus of shocked voices rang out, especially from Lorelei, notorious for her mission to hunt vampires. She was so stunned that she almost collapsed on the spot.

Crimson Moon, however, merely gave the newly emerged vampire a curious glance and smiled with great interest.

"Now this is amusing! A Dead Apostle—and one who carries my blood, no less. What gives you the courage to challenge me? Just because Arcueid doesn't know how to control her servants doesn't mean I can't. Those lovely human girls seem to be connected to you. Go—"

As she spoke, her eyes overflowed with a rainbow-colored light that directly entered Shinji's eyes.

"—Drain their blood and make them your thralls."

This command, like an absolute decree, forcibly twisted Shinji's head toward the girls. His scarlet eyes were filled with a ravenous hunger for blood.

"Brother!"

Sakura was on the verge of tears.

"You!"

Lorelei stepped forward, despite her own weakened condition, and stood against the Vampire Shinji.

"You're still hesitating—"

Crimson Moon began again, but her words were cut short.

A massive golden hand, much larger than a normal human's, descended from the sky and slammed into Crimson Moon and the vampire Shinji, creating a crater in the ground.

As the hand vanished, a solemn chant echoed from above.

"The Great Teacher of Boundless Radiance, whose enlightenment illuminates all."

"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

The vampire Shinji stood up from the crater, cursing at the sky.

"A wake-up call."

Golden light, the same as that of the giant hand, appeared once again.

Upon seeing this golden light, the monks at Ryuudou Temple all clasped their hands together in unison.

Indeed, it was the light of the Buddha—Buddha's radiance—something only a high monk of great virtue could possess.

At the center of this radiance was another familiar figure.

This man was identical in height, build, and appearance to the vampire Shinji. However, this figure's eyes were closed, he had no hair, and his entire body was covered in golden skin as if he had been gilded.

"Though you embody evil, that doesn't mean you can act without restraint."

The vampire Shinji clicked his tongue.

"That sounds like something a hero of justice would say. Don't worry, I wasn't going to harm them. I was just messing around."

"You'd better be telling the truth, or—"

"Or what?"

"Or my wrath will be like a Vajra's, smiting all demons."

The golden Shinji finally opened his eyes, and a thousand-armed Buddha manifested behind him.

"Oh? So you think I'm the demon you need to smite? Let's see how you plan to subdue me."

The vampire Shinji grinned and beckoned challengingly toward the sky.

In the next instant, the golden light of the Buddha and the dark aura of the Dead Apostle surged simultaneously.

While everyone could feel the overwhelming power, they were also utterly confused.

What was going on?

Were they picking a fight just for the heck of it?

Was this some bizarre case of me fighting myself?

Of course, not everyone was just watching. At least one person wasn't.

That person was Kirei Kotomine.

Kirei was truly terrified.

He had thought that obtaining the Sea of Life and transforming into a Beast would grant him immortality and fulfill his deepest desires. He believed that what awaited him was a bright, glorious future.

For a brief moment, he even thought he had become the master of the world, a god above all gods.

Yet, before he could bask in his newfound power, unimaginable monsters appeared one after another. And each one had a way to counter him. His supposed immortality was no better than flimsy paper—it was torn apart with ease.

First, there was the Princess of the True Ancestors and King Solomon, the Magician.

That, he could still accept, since he had allies on his side.

But then came all sorts of other threats:

The Second Sacred Sword of Japan, the Ten Grips Muramasa.

The giant god Sefar, who had destroyed the Earth 14,000 years ago.

The progenitor of both True Ancestors and Dead Apostles, the King of the Moon, Crimson Moon.

The Newest Magician.

The Second Magician.

And now, the guy he had been wary of might have become the Third Magician, and this whole chaotic scene might be his doing.

One blow after another had left Kirei completely numb.

At this point, he had only one thought: I'm done. I don't want to play anymore. Isn't that enough? This world is too terrifying. I just want to find a place to hide until all of you are gone.

Taking advantage of the cover created by the clash of light and darkness, Kirei began to discreetly move his body. Due to the attacks from the Vajra and the vampire aura, Crimson Moon had withdrawn the power restraining him, allowing him to regain some freedom.

No, not yet full freedom. Only when he had escaped from this place, away from these monsters, would he truly be free.

Closer.

Even closer.

Just a little more.

For the first time in his life, Kirei felt such a longing for freedom.

The joy that filled his entire being was unprecedented. This was the ultimate pleasure, far surpassing the twisted joy he had learned from Roa.

Good, just one more step.

Kirei took that step, the final step.

As long as his foot landed, he would be—

Suddenly, his vision blurred, and his body tilted forward. Yet instead of the solid footing he had expected, he felt his balance shift awkwardly.

Huh?

My legs?

Where are my legs?

And then he saw them—but they weren't his own.

A leg swept into his chest, shattering all his efforts.

"Where do you think you're going?"

A third voice spoke, once again in the same voice as the Golden Shinji and the vampire Shinji, but with a different tone.