Surrounded by an all-consuming darkness, the only source of light in this void was a pulsating blue orb, encircled by glowing rings. Panic gripped me as I frantically scanned the endless dark, finding nothing but this bizarre, luminescent object.
From the orb emanated a voice, chilling and multifaceted, as if a thousand souls were speaking in unison. "Welcome, our first participant," it intoned, its surface rippling with each word.
"Where the bloody hell am I?" I blurted out, my voice tinged with fear and confusion. My mind raced - the last things I remembered were the barracks, drowning in beer, bidding farewell to my mates, fiddling with some app, and then... nothing. Had I blacked out?
"You are in an isolated space," the orb replied in its unsettling chorus of voices, its form undulating with each syllable.
I swallowed hard, trying to make sense of this madness. "Is this some sort of joke? Did Marc-" I started, but the orb cut me off.
"It would seem you are uninformed," it stated, silencing me. "Have you thoroughly read through the contract?"
Contract? I racked my brain, recalling the hasty scrolling through what I had assumed was just a game's user agreement. "Uh, can I cancel the contract? I wasn't exactly in my right mind when I agreed," I offered, hoping for a loophole.
"Impossible," the orb declared, its tone brooking no argument.
"Why not? Can't you just send me back?" I pressed, desperate for an out.
The orb shifted to a brief flash of red. "Your current body's state is deceased."
"W-what?!" I gasped, my heart sinking. "You mean I'm..."
"You agreed to leave your mortal body to accept the contract. Your body has been disposed of," it explained emotionlessly.
"YOU KILLED ME?" I shouted, incredulous and angry.
"No, you killed yourself," the orb stated coldly, returning to its original blue hue. My mind reeled with this new, horrifying reality. I was dead..
Confronted with the orb's audacious claim that I had offed myself, I was incredulous. Surely anyone else who got that pop-up would've done the same, accepting it without a second thought. And who in their right mind would believe a game could actually follow through on such an absurd threat?
If I could have, I would've been grinding my teeth in frustration. "Alright, let's hear it then. What's this contract that's apparently turned me into a suicide case?" I demanded, my voice strained with forced calm.
"In summary, your mission is to cleanse the Holy Grail of its corruption," the orb replied, its voice void of emotion.
I frowned, incredulous. "And how am I supposed to do that? I'm a soldier, not a wizard. Magic's not exactly in my wheelhouse."
"You will be equipped with the necessary capabilities," it stated, as an illustrated panel materialized before me.
The panel read like something out of a fantasy novel:
'Magic Circuits: –Blank–, Quality: N/A
Magical Crest: –Blank– (Age: N/A, Included Circuits: N/A, Quality: N/A)
Attribute: –Blank–
Element: –Blank–
Origin: –Blank–
Eyes: –Blank–
Family: –Blank–
Appearance: William Grant
Time Before 4th Grail War: –Undetermined–'
Staring at the panel, I was dumbfounded. "What in blazes is this?" I blurted out. The orb pulsed a deep purple before answering.
"This is a 'character creation' interface. It will provide you with advantages necessary for your task."
Confused and out of my depth, I pleaded, "Can you show me an example? I'm not exactly a Fate expert. I've seen a bit of the anime, played some Grand Order, but that's about it."
The orb hummed a bright yellow and presented another panel, this one filled out:
'Magic Circuits: 25 (Quality: Medium)
Magical Crest: Blewett Crest (Age: 130 Years Accumulated) (Included Circuits: 20, Low to Medium)
Attribute: None Developed
Element: Fire (Incarnation Boost)
Origin: Fire (Incarnation Boost)
Eyes: None Developed
Family: Blewett
Appearance: William Blewett
Time Before 4th Grail War: 30 Days'
Looking at the detailed character sheet, I realized I was way out of my league. This was going to be one hell of a learning curve.
My eyes widened in disbelief at the panel's final line. "Thirty days? Are you having a laugh? How on earth am I supposed to learn anything in just a month?" I exclaimed, my voice echoing in the void.
The orb emitted a small hum, unbothered by my distress. "You will be provided with adequate knowledge and resources upon summoning," it responded in its monotonous, robotic tone.
If I could furrow my brows, I would have. The task seemed impossible. I glanced back at the panel, my tongue clicking in frustration. This information was way over my head. I remembered bits about magic circuits from the anime – something about them being a container for mana or prana. More was better, I guessed. And the 'Quality' must refer to how much mana they could hold. A crest seemed to be an extension of this, housing extra circuits.
But Attribute, Element, Origin, and Eyes? This was another league of complexity. And 'Incarnation'? Utter gibberish.
"Right, can you give me the idiot's guide to this?" I asked, gesturing to the parts of the panel that might as well have been written in ancient Greek.
"Attribute, also known as a 'Sorcery Trait,' defines the effect of your magecraft. It adds meaning to elemental Magecraft, increasing versatility. Element refers to the natural affinity a Magus has towards manipulating one or more of the classic elements: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Void. Some Magi may have affinities outside these natural definitions, though this is more advanced. Origin details a Magus's unique alignment within the Magecraft system, sometimes overriding normal elemental alignments. Eyes pertain to special powers within one's vision. Mystic Eyes can range in effect from petrification to mind control, while Pure Eyes are more perceptive, enabling the user to see through illusions or perceive otherworldly entities," it detailed.
Despite its explanation, I was still baffled. This was like trying to learn quantum physics overnight. But, dead or not, it looked like I didn't have much choice. I was in this for the long haul, whether I liked it or not. "Could you help me in optimizing this?"
The orb's response to my plea for help turned a shade of purple. "Acceptable," it intoned robotically. "To optimize your abilities, the configuration would appear thus." Another panel materialized before me.
'Magic Circuits: 28 (Quality: High)
Magical Crest: Credence Crest (Age: 240 Years Accumulated) (Included Circuits: 30, Quality: Medium to High)
Attribute: Ferocity (Spells will reach their maximum capacity but will be unstable.)
Element → Dual Elements: Water, Ether
Origin: Adaptability
Eyes: Mystic Eyes of Binding
Family: Credence
Appearance: William Credence
Time Before 4th Grail War: 30 Days'
I couldn't help but be taken aback, especially by the mention of only 30 days. "Why does it still say 30 days? Isn't this setup way better than the first example? Doesn't the time before change with the quality of the sheet?" I questioned, a spark of excitement igniting within me.
"It is a bonus for being the first to accept the contract, hence the preferential treatment," the orb explained. "Based on my calculations, this is the most optimal character sheet within your current character point limitations."
My enthusiasm dampened slightly. "Hold on, you mentioned character points. Am I right in thinking I could potentially increase these points?"
The orb glowed a brilliant gold, and a new panel popped up in front of the existing one. This new development piqued my curiosity. Perhaps there was more to this situation than met the eye, a way to enhance my capabilities beyond what I had initially thought possible.
The offer laid out before me was staggering:
'Offer:
Opt to be born into the world instead of being summoned for the Grail War. This will grant you a significantly higher number of character points and the opportunity to master magecraft before the war commences.
Cost:
Post-death, you will serve as a Counter Guardian.'
My immediate response was a flat, resolute "No." I might not be a Fate lore expert, but I knew enough about the tragic fate of Counter Guardian EMIYA. As a soldier, the idea of being eternally bound to kill in exchange for power was too grim to consider.
Yet, the orb, presumably Alaya, insisted. "Before you dismiss the offer, consider the benefits." Another panel appeared, detailing a far more powerful character setup:
'Magic Circuits: 70 (Quality: High - EX)
Magical Crest: Hargrave Crest (Age: 620 Years Accumulated) (Included Circuits: 90, Quality: High)
Attribute: Mystic Resilience (Resistance to magical effects, capable of dampening or nullifying incoming spells)
Elements: Average One (Affinity for all five base elements)
Origin →Dual Origin: Erosion, Growth
Eyes: Pure Eyes of Awareness
Family: Hargrave
Appearance: — Undecided
Born 19 years before the 4th Holy Grail War'
The new character sheet was undeniably impressive, offering a vast improvement and ample time to master Magecraft. The thought of procuring a potent catalyst within those 19 years was tempting, but the cost of potentially becoming a Counter Guardian still loomed large in my mind.
"Alaya," I addressed the orb, assuming its identity. "Your offer, while tempting, is still a steep price for my afterlife."
The orb, representing Alaya, flashed purple. "Remember, the initial character sheet did not include your first acceptor bonus. And in this case, there will be a second bonus for being the first one to accept the offer.."
"How many have accepted the general contract?" I inquired, weighing my options. If others were close to accepting, I might lose my chance for an untainted Grail wish.
"78 individuals have accepted the contract. Two have been offered the Counter Guardian deal," it replied.
Shit, two others know of the offer, meaning that I'd need to pick quickly whether or not I'd accept it. If I'd get both bonuses of being the first to accept the contract, paired with being the first to accept the Counter Guardian, my character sheet would be off the charts.
And if I complete the contract and fix the grail, I might be able to rid myself of the contract with Alaya through the wish.
"I accept," I declared, watching as the orb glowed a triumphant gold. "Congratulations on being the first to accept the Counter Guardian deal," it intoned, as most of the panels faded, leaving a blank slate before me.
As I mulled over the blank character sheet, I realized the significance of choosing a powerful and ancient magus family. It was clear that the family lineage played a crucial role in determining the value of Attributes and Crests. But my knowledge was limited to a few names like the Emiyas and El-Mellois, none of which seemed to compare to this 'Hargrave' lineage Alaya had concocted.
"Can I choose someone like Gilgamesh as my family?" I queried, half-jokingly. The orb responded with a low hum. "Impossible. Gilgamesh, from the age of gods, had no spouse and cannot be selected."
I clicked my tongue in frustration. "Hercules then?" Another negative. "Karna? Medea? Solomon?" Each name was met with rejection. "Solomon had a thousand concubines, surely I can trace back to him!" I protested.
Alaya's robotic voice sounded almost weary. "Your selections are too ancient. Choose a lineage not from B.C."
Pondering, I threw out another name. "What about Arturia?" This time, there was no immediate dismissal. "Scanning feasibility... Found as plausible 52.4%. Expanding to include Tsukihime... Feasibility increased to 86.8%. Acceptable. Calculating cost and impact on timeline... Pendragon selected as Family."
The panel updated dramatically:
'Magic Circuits: –Blank–, Quality: N/A (!-!Upgrade Available!-!)
Magical Crest: Pendragon (Age: 1525, Included Circuits: 113, High – EX)
Attribute: Dragon
Element: –Blank–
Origin: –Blank–
Eyes: –Blank–
Family: Pendragon
Appearance: — Pendragon
Born 19 years before the 4th Holy Grail War'
My eyes widened at the sudden boost. Then I noticed a flashing upgrade notification for the Magic Circuits. 'Upgrade 'Magic Circuits' to 'Magic Core'?' it prompted.
"How much better is a Magic Core compared to Magic Circuits?" I asked.
"A Magic Core is far superior," Alaya replied.
Without hesitation, I hit the upgrade button. Goodbye, Magic Circuits, and hello, Magic Core. As I made my choice, the panel updated again, altering some of the benefits I had just seen.
Analyzing my evolving character sheet, I made quick decisions based on what I knew:
'Magic Circuits → Magic Core: N/A
Magical Crest: Pendragon (Age: 1525, Included Circuits: 113, High – EX)
Attribute → Bloodline: Red Dragon
Element: Dragon
Origin: –Blank–
Eyes: –Blank–
Family: Pendragon
Appearance: — Pendragon'
Seeing that 'Element' had been filled in, I felt instant confusion. "Um… what's wrong with my element?"
"Your bloodline has tampered with your body, giving you an irregular element." Alaya explained calmly, her explanation however, was lackluster at best.
"And how will having 'Dragon' as my element change my magecraft? And can I even change it?" I asked with a hint of annoyance.
"If you change your element, you'll lose your magic core and bloodline. As for what it will change, that is for you to figure out." It explained, making me internally click my tongue. As much as I wished to pick some other element, I knew that anything labeled dragon couldn't be weak. So with a twinge of apprehension, I let it go, and kept the changes.
Moving on to Origin, I upgraded to a dual Origin setup. Given my need for rapid learning and effective application of magecraft, 'Mysteries' seemed an obvious choice, likely the best for research within magecraft. To complement it, I picked 'Understanding' to accelerate my learning curve. This combination should significantly bolster my chances of purifying the Grail.
Next up were the Eyes. I was about to delve into the 'Mystic Eyes' category, but found it grayed out.
"Why am I restricted to 'Pure Eyes' only?" I questioned, a hint of annoyance in my voice.
"Pure Eyes symbolize inheriting fate and destiny, continuing the parent's quest. You are bound to my quest through our contract, hence the limitation to Pure Eyes," Alaya explained, its tone unchanging despite my frustration.
"Why wasn't this mentioned in the offer?" I snapped back.
"Oops," the orb replied, sounding almost nonchalant.
Typical counterforce, always leaving out the inconvenient details. I sighed, turning my attention to the Pure Eyes list. The options were somewhat nebulous, but a few stood out. Their classifications ranged from Red to Rainbow, with Rainbow being the rarest. Although many in the Rainbow category were unavailable—unsurprisingly, given their extraordinary descriptions like 'Multiverse' and 'Omniscience'—I reasoned that even the less powerful Rainbow Eyes should surpass the best of the Jewel class.
Resolved, I began to carefully evaluate the available Rainbow-class Pure Eyes, determined to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime (or afterlifetime?) opportunity.
With a focused determination, I weighed the options for the Pure Eyes. The 'Pure Eyes of Infinite Comprehension,' 'Omnidirectional Awareness,' and 'Absolute Logic' each held immense potential in terms of gathering and processing information, but their methods varied significantly.
The 'Infinite Comprehension' seemed to offer deep analytical abilities, granting me an intrinsic understanding of whatever I observed. 'Omnidirectional Awareness,' on the other hand, promised a near-omniscient perception of my surroundings, enhancing my situational awareness and strategic acumen, though it lacked in-depth understanding. Finally, 'Absolute Logic' appeared akin to precognition, offering the most logical and efficient responses to situations, bordering on predicting future events.
While each had its merits, 'Absolute Logic' felt too mechanical for my liking. I've always prided myself on my ability to think logically, or at least prudently. That left me to choose between 'Infinite Comprehension' and 'Omnidirectional Awareness.' The former aligned more closely with my goal - to learn and understand rapidly, an essential skill in my quest to purify the grail. Its synergy with my 'Origins' would make me a veritable learning powerhouse.
Settling on the 'Pure Eyes of Infinite Comprehension,' I selected it, feeling a sense of satisfaction as my character sheet updated, now almost complete. With these abilities, not only would I be able to learn Magecraft at an unprecedented rate, but I'd also stand a better chance at unraveling the complexities surrounding the grail and its curse. I took a moment to review the sheet, mentally preparing myself for the daunting task ahead.
As I scrutinized the final version of my character sheet, my attention was drawn to the 'Appearance' section at the bottom. It wasn't exactly a game-changer, but it did offer a chance for a bit of fun. The thought of choosing Enkidu's appearance crossed my mind – the look on Gilgamesh's face would be priceless, though the aftermath would likely be less amusing.
Opting for something more appropriate, I asked Alaya, "Can I choose to look like a Servant?" The orb's response was prompt and to the point. "As long as the form is humanoid, it is permissible."
With a nod, I decided on a fitting choice. "Can I take on the appearance of Arthur Pendragon Prototype?" Almost instantly, the panel updated: 'Appearance: Arthur Pendragon (Prototype).'
Next, I inquired about the potential advantages of my Pendragon bloodline. "Alaya, could my blood act as a catalyst to summon Artoria or other Knights of the Round?" I wondered if this could even extend to Merlin, given his unique circumstances, he'd probably jump at the opportunity to leave Avelon for a short period of time.
Alaya's reply caught me off guard. "There is a misunderstanding. You are unable to summon a regular Servant." My heart sank a little. "So, I can't summon any of the standard seven classes?" I asked, hoping for a different answer.
"Correct. As the eighth master, your choices are limited to the Avenger and Ruler classes." This revelation was a curveball; I wasn't well-versed in these classes, hell, I could count the ones I know on two hands with fingers to spare.
"Can I get a list of potential Servants?" I asked, only to be met with a blunt denial. "The contract does not include such information." Frustrated, I tried another angle. "Are the Avenger and Ruler class Servants from Fate/Grand Order available?"
"Yes," came the simple reply. While not ideal, it was something to work with.
"Are you satisfied with the character sheet?" Alaya asked.
Character Sheet:
'Magic Core: N/A
Magical Crest: Pendragon (Age: 1525, Included Circuits: 113, High – EX)
Bloodline: Red Dragon
Element: Dragon
Dual Origin: Mysteries, Understanding
Eyes: Pure eyes of Infinite Comprehension
Family: Pendragon
Appearance: Arthur Pendragon (Prototype)'
"Yes, this should suffice," I affirmed, feeling a sense of readiness despite the uncertainty.
"Then I guess this is farewell, William," it said, signaling the end of our exchange.
"One more thing," I interjected. "Can I start in my new body just before learning magecraft? I'd rather skip the early childhood bit."
"Very well," Alaya consented. "Now, fulfill your end of the contract."
As darkness enveloped me once more, I braced myself for the unknown journey ahead, armed with newfound abilities and a destiny intertwined with the fate of the Holy Grail.
-------
A/N
Welcome back, my reader Overlords, please add this to your library and give me some comments, stones and Reviews, as it would be much appreciated.
Now that the mandatory begging is done, time to ask the hard hitting questions.
How would you fill out the character sheet? Would you accept the 'guardianship'? If so, spit out your variant, as I'm rather interested!
And before someone gets too smart, do try to not make it too exaggerated, as that would be no fun. And for those of you who smell hypocrisy, get your nose checked.
Now, move along, look at the next chapter, as it impatiently awaits!