"Declare────"
In the closed temple, under Qi's control, the silver magic power—different from the original purple one—raged violently before being absorbed by the countless runes carved into the floor, serving as the energy needed for the summoning.
"You follow me with your body, and my fate depends on your sword."
The first part of the original spell was meant to connect the magic circuit with the magic circle and the Holy Grail, but Ophis skipped it due to her immense magic power. The subsequent spell focused more on calling the Holy Grail and letting the Heroic Spirit decide whether to accept the summoning rather than the spell itself.
Thus, incantations like Broken but Full, The Silver and Iron Duke, Who is My Ancestor, and so on, were unnecessary for Ophis.
"I swear here────"
Ophis felt an inexplicable force separating from her boundless energy, with a special yet familiar fluctuation.
Curious, Ophis tried to sense the energy with her spirit, and her instinct told her there was no danger.
That was her power.
However, at the moment of contact, Ophis's mind was overwhelmed, and countless images flashed rapidly, revealing secrets of the future.
[Hey, your task is to chant the spell, not to get distracted. Just continue.]
The flood of information momentarily confused Ophis, but she refocused at Qi's prompt. After regaining her composure, she set aside these images temporarily and continued with the spell.
"I am the king who has accomplished all things, and I am the saint who protects human principles."
There was no need for the so-called evil part... All Ophis needed were Heroic Spirits who could assist in protecting humanity.
"If you wish to follow this intention and this truth, then respond to my call and come from the Wheel of Restraint - Guardian of Libra!"
The frenzied magic power vanished, and the magic circle under Ophis glowed brightly.
Her dragon's eyes adjusted almost instantly, allowing Ophis to see clearly the six figures standing in the light.
Summoning... successfully...?
[That's not right. I distinctly sensed seven summoning channels!]
───────────────────────────────
"Well, with so many heroes from different eras gathered here, why don't you introduce yourselves?"
The scene shifted to the main hall of the temple. A man with silver hair and a white robe stepped forward first and waved his hand.
Ophis regarded him coldly.
"Oh, this must be the King of Uruk. I really saw him~"
"You... have a very unpleasant aura."
Suddenly, Ophis tilted her head and said.
"Huh?"
"Great Red... a scent similar to Great Red."
"Oh?"
The man in the white robe scratched his head and then waved his hand dismissively.
"I don't quite understand, but it shouldn't be that important. Now, let me introduce myself~ My name is Merlin, and I'm known as the Flower Magician. My class is Caster, so don't mind me. Just call me Merlin~"
[You are a hybrid of a human and a nightmare. What you are sensing is the aura of dreams.]
Ophis nodded as a greeting and then turned her attention to the next person.
A woman dressed in brown and white with white hair.
"My name is Altira... I am a warrior of the Hunnic God of War, and my class is Saber."
[Altira?... Probably Attila, the King of the Huns. What a surprise! I thought the royal family wouldn't accept the call of another king...]
"There is... a strange sense of crisis..."
Ophis frowned slightly and said to Qi in her heart.
[A sense of crisis? Indeed, this person harbors some secret... But fate indicates that this secret shouldn't significantly impact the situation, so let's ignore it for now.]
Ophis nodded in response to Qi and Altira.
"My name is Arjuna, my class is Archer, and I will be your Master's servant in the future. Please use me as you wish."
The dark-skinned man in a white robe bowed gently and spoke in a steady tone.
[Another royal figure? But Arjuna... it seems you are indeed fortunate. Or is this all my doing?]
"Um, I'm Medea, and I'm also a Caster... Please guide me!"
Ophis looked at the purple-haired girl in front of her, who seemed very nervous, and tilted her head.
"Qi... didn't you say you would summon someone in their prime?"
[...Haha, that's not always the case. Sometimes, even if servants from a certain period are a bit weaker, they can actually provide better help.]
"Roar—"
At this moment, a black giant next to him roared, causing the entire hall to shake slightly.
"…Berserker?"
Ophis looked at the giant with some distress. They couldn't even communicate like this.
"…Um, this is Hercules, and what he just did should be a greeting…"
The blonde girl in armor beside him smiled bitterly and spoke.
[Although most of his rationality is gone... it seems he still has some thinking ability? He can make considerable judgments in battle, so it appears the summoning was quite successful. And the hero Hercules is indeed top-notch.]
"So... you are..."
Hearing Ophis's question, the blonde girl smiled gently.
Her smile made Ophis momentarily dazed.
Holy and gentle, much like Enkidu...
"My name is Jeanne d'Arc. You can call me Jeanne if you like. I am now in the Ruler class... Although, apart from the ability to see through true names, it seems I cannot use other Ruler powers..."
[A saint?... Just looking at this smile, she truly lives up to her name.]
The last person introduced herself, and Ophis looked around at everyone.
Saber's Altira, Archer's Arjuna, Caster's Medea (young) and Merlin, Berserker's Hercules, and finally Ruler Jeanne. So... that's everyone summoned this time...?
[That's not right... According to the information fate provided, I should be missing a Lancer!]
Setting this question aside with some difficulty, Ophis nodded to the six individuals before her.
"I am Ophis... the King of Uruk. You should have received information about this through the Holy Grail's magic circle when I summoned you. As you know, Uruk... and indeed all of humanity in this era, are in great danger, so I summoned you to help fight... to help protect humanity."
It was rare for Ophis to speak so much at once, but it demonstrated how seriously she took the situation.
"I will... destroy my opponent."
"I see... Fighting for protection is quite meaningful, isn't it?"
"I-I'll do my best to help!"
"Well, since it's come to this, I'll give it my all... but I don't know what effect it will have, you know?"
"Roar—"
"Got it. I will definitely devote all my strength to it!"
As expected, the summoned servants did not disobey.
However, it seemed that this coordination needed some improvement.