[D: The image shows a handsome man in a white robe adorned with golden ornaments, seated regally on a throne.]
[Name: Ramses II.]
Kayneth: "This must be the pharaoh of ancient Egypt."
Even someone like Kayneth, known for his vast knowledge, admitted his unfamiliarity with this figure.
Waver: "Not even you know about him, Professor?"
Kayneth: "Ahem, there will always be things beyond one's grasp. I'm not a historian, after all."
Indeed, Kayneth specialized in magecraft, not the ancient history of Egypt. For modern people, mention of Egyptian pharaohs usually brings to mind only two names: Tutankhamun and Cleopatra.
Cleopatra, the last queen of ancient Egypt, was renowned as a beauty and remembered for her close ties with figures like Julius Caesar in the West. As for Tutankhamun, his fame came more from the infamous "Curse of the Pharaoh's Tomb" incident in 1922 than any achievements during his short reign.
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "I've looked into it. Ramses II's original name was Ozymandias. He was the nineteenth pharaoh of ancient Egypt, revered as its greatest ruler."
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "He was a legendary figure, excelling as a politician, military leader, artist, and architect. A truly multi-talented individual."
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "In ancient Egypt, pharaohs were considered the divine representatives of the gods. Yet Ramses II was the only one deemed equal to Ra, the Sun God."
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "In fact, his name was revered even higher than that of the gods themselves."
Iskandar: "What a remarkable man! To be so highly regarded in his time."
Waver: "With such a great reputation, it's safe to assume his power as a Servant must be incredible."
[You have five minutes to answer the question. Start answering now.]
Waver scratched his head in frustration. "Ugh, these golden Servants are all so outstanding. How are we supposed to pick which one is the last of the three golden targets?"
El-Melloi II: "I think the key to this question lies in the concept of 'gold.'"
Kayneth: "Indeed. Gilgamesh and Karna are both heavily associated with gold in their attire and legend."
Sola-ui: "So we need to narrow it down to those who wear golden ornaments."
Waver: "In that case, we can probably eliminate the First Emperor and Attila, leaving us with options B and D."
El-Melloi II: "That means Romulus and Ramses II. It's a tough choice."
Kayneth: "How about we let Iskandar make the decision?"
El-Melloi II: "Fair enough. His Majesty seems to have extraordinary luck. Let's see if it holds up here."
Iskandar laughed boisterously. "Hahaha! Very well, my friends. Follow my lead!"
Others began making their own selections based on their reasoning.
[The correct answer is D.]
[Congratulations to Chihiro, Artoria, Hassan of the Hundred Faces, Matou Kariya, Tohsaka Rin, Tohsaka Sakura, Sola-ui, Zhang Jiao, Ishtar, the First Emperor, and Sigurd for earning 5 Saint Quartz.]
[All others answered incorrectly. 1 Saint Quartz will be deducted.]
The Lancer group was stunned.
Waver: "Iskandar! Your luck didn't help us this time!"
Iskandar: "Hmm, I suppose it's because I didn't rely on instinct and instead thought too hard about it. I placed my faith in Romulus."
Kayneth: "Unbelievable! Iskandar, you fool."
Sola-ui: "If we had just spread out our choices, someone in our group might have gotten it right."
Waver sighed. "It seems no one can replicate Chihiro's knack for getting these questions right."
Chihiro chuckled softly. "It's really just luck, nothing more."
Waver glanced at the contents of his bronze treasure chest—a simple mana potion. He sighed again, utterly unimpressed.
The items obtained from bronze treasure chests were generally basic, though still somewhat useful. For example, Kayneth and the others had pulled similar recovery potions. These potions restored physical strength and enhanced the body's natural healing, making them practical in dire situations. Mana potions, on the other hand, could replenish a mage's depleted magical energy.
Although the potions from treasure chests were of exceptional quality due to their magical origins, it was frustrating how rare it was to receive anything that directly increased one's combat strength. Waver was particularly annoyed, how many potions did they really need?
Meanwhile, Chihiro prepared to open his daily treasure chest.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the 'Skill—Denial of Nothingness!'"
As the golden treasure chest opened, a brilliant white light surged into Chihiro's mind. He was momentarily stunned. Another skill? And not just any skill—it was the legendary "Denial of Nothingness."
After taking a moment to compose himself, Chihiro reviewed the new skill's details. What he discovered left him completely shocked.
The Denial of Nothingness was better known as the "First Magic."
In the Nasuverse, there was a fundamental distinction between magecraft and True Magic. Magecraft encompassed all magical techniques that modern humans could achieve through science and logic. True Magic, on the other hand, referred to the manipulation of phenomena beyond human comprehension, concepts defying the boundaries of science and reason.
In ancient times, when human civilization was in its infancy, magic was commonplace. Back then, magecraft and True Magic were indistinguishable. However, as civilization advanced, the use of science gradually replaced the mysteries of magic, resulting in its decline. Now, only five forms of True Magic remained in the world, preserved by their respective inheritors.
A famous nursery rhyme about these five magics existed in the magical world:
At the beginning, the First changed all.
Next, the Second recognized many.
In answer, the Third showed the future.
Tethered, the Fourth concealed itself.
And the final Fifth had long since lost its significance.
This simple verse encapsulated the mysterious nature of the remaining True Magics. Of the five, only three had their effects and practitioners confirmed in modern times:
The Second Magic, also known as the Kaleidoscope, governs parallel worlds. It allows its user, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, to observe and traverse alternate realities freely.
The Third Magic, Heaven's Feel, deals with the materialization of the soul. Its ultimate goal is to achieve immortality by transforming the soul into a physical form, allowing it to exist indefinitely without decay. This magic has been pursued for generations by the Einzbern family, and the Holy Grail War itself was designed to fulfill this purpose.
The Fifth Magic, known simply as "Blue," governs time. It enables its practitioner, Aozaki Aoko, to reverse time and travel across its flow.
As for the remaining two, their practitioners and exact effects remained shrouded in mystery. The First Magic—now granted to Chihiro was one of the oldest and most enigmatic. Though no living practitioner appeared in the canonical Nasuverse, its abilities were referenced in passing.
The First Magic, known as the "Denial of Nothingness," possessed the power to create something from nothing. In essence, it was the Law of Creation itself.
Chihiro marveled at the immense potential of this ability. Though fragments of the First Magic survived in the legends of certain families, no one in modern times had truly mastered it. For him to possess it now felt like a miracle.
After a moment of contemplation, Chihiro clenched his fist. The ability to create something from nothing was an unparalleled advantage, one that could turn the tide of the Holy Grail War in an instant.
"With this," Chihiro murmured, "the possibilities are endless."
***
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