The air was thick with tension as the battlefield continued to shift.
Luxor watched from his vantage point, a satisfied grin on his face. The world around him had taken on the distinct feel of a game, and now he was ready for the next challenge.
As the mists of reality swirled, Luxor flicked his hand casually, and the ground beneath the Holy Grail War participants trembled. The world they fought in was beginning to resemble something far stranger, far more grandiose.
Suddenly, the world shifted. Where once the cityscape had been, now stood the Tomb of Nazarick, its massive, towering entrance looming over them like a colossal cathedral. The golden gates creaked open as the presence of Ainz Ooal Gown filled the air with an overwhelming aura of power. The sheer weight of it caused even the most experienced Servants to hesitate.
---
"Welcome to my domain," Ainz's voice boomed, echoing through the air. "I, Ainz Ooal Gown, have decided to entertain myself with your intrusion."
Shirou, with his eyes narrowed and hand on the hilt of his sword, looked around at the imposing Tomb. He could sense the overwhelming power emanating from the massive structure. "This is no ordinary place… and no ordinary opponent."
Saber stood at the ready, her exquisite armor gleaming in the odd light. "We must proceed with caution, Master. There is a palpable force at work here."
---
As the heroes took their positions, Ainz Ooal Gown—or rather, Luxor, pulling the strings from afar—flipped his hand, causing a series of notifications to appear in the sky. They glowed with an ethereal light, just like a game interface.
---
SYSTEM ALERT: Tomb of Nazarick
New Mission: "Survive the trials of Nazarick and earn the right to challenge me."
Level Requirement: None.
Mission Difficulty: Extreme. Proceed at your own risk.
---
Shirou was puzzled. "Survive the trials? This isn't the Holy Grail War anymore. It's something else."
---
Luxor, unseen in the background, smiled gleefully at the spectacle he had created. "Let's see how they handle this," he murmured, sending a subtle wave of his power through the Tomb of Nazarick, activating its defenses.
The huge double doors slowly creaked open, revealing the entrance hall of the Tomb. It was a vast, cathedral-like structure with gleaming gold and stone pillars that seemed to stretch into infinity. The air was thick with an ancient, overpowering presence.
Suddenly, the Tomb's guardians appeared, summoned to defend it. But these were no ordinary foes.
---
Shirou's eyes widened as the first of the Nazarick Guardians appeared—a towering skeleton warrior, its armor etched with glowing runes. The figure exuded an unimaginable aura of power, and its eyes burned with an eerie red light.
"That thing… it's powerful," Shirou muttered.
Saber readied her Excalibur, her heart racing with the intensity of the challenge. "This is no time for hesitation. We must fight."
---
The skeleton warrior stepped forward, swinging its massive sword with deadly intent. As it did, the Tomb of Nazarick began to shift again. More guardians appeared from the shadows—each one more monstrous, deadly, and powerful than the last.
A notifications screen appeared again:
---
"Trial Boss Summoned."
"Fallen Guardian of Nazarick: Supreme Overlord."
"Mission Requirement: Defeat the Supreme Overlord to advance."
---
Luxor laughed quietly as the Fate participants realized the level of power they were dealing with. It was almost as though he were watching a reality show unfold. But now the rules were different. Reality itself had become part of the game.
Shirou gritted his teeth. "We're not going to back down."
Saber charged at the Guardian, her sword glowing brightly as she swung with all her strength. But the Guardian effortlessly blocked her attack with a massive sword, sending her skidding backward. The impact shook the very ground beneath them.
---
Archer was watching from a distance, his sharp eyes calculating every movement. "The physical strength of these guardians exceeds anything I've encountered before."
He activated B rank magical arrows, launching them at the Guardian, but the Guardian's skin seemed impervious to the onslaught. Every arrow simply bounced off, as though they were nothing more than harmless pebbles.
"Interesting," Archer muttered, readying himself for a tactical approach. "Time to test something."
---
Luxor clapped his hands together, thrilled by the challenges the Fate participants now faced. "Let's make it even more fun."
With a thought, he summoned Ainz's voice, echoing across the battlefield.
"Nazarick's Defenders, attack!"
---
Suddenly, more guardians flooded the battlefield: a massive, armored warrior with a flaming sword, an ice-cold sorceress wielding magic that froze the ground, and a giant beast with razor-sharp claws, its eyes glowing with malice.
The Fate Masters and Servants were now facing countless enemies at once. It was no longer just about defeating one or two guardians—it was about surviving the full wrath of the Tomb of Nazarick.
---
Shirou's exhausted form stood firm, eyes glowing with determination. "We have to push through! For the Grail! For everyone!"
---
Luxor leaned back, satisfied with how the game had unfolded. This was far beyond just a Holy Grail War—it was now a battle of survival. And he, the game master, was the one deciding what came next.
"This is more like it," Luxor mused, his voice filled with excitement. "Now, let's see who survives the Tomb."
---
End of Chapter 4