Now the heroes confront the true evil in this story. Each of them has the means to discern the true corruption of the Grail. Let's see how the idea of evil can handle these guys. Disclaimer: I don't own Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, the Fate series, Lupin III, Ni No Kuni, or My Hero Academia.
Chapter 40: Gentleman, Thief, King, Hero
Zenigata looked at the sight of the pulsing liquid that smelled like something burning. It seemed like mud, but it clearly wasn't. In the back of the squad car was Oscar, now in cuffs and looking horrified at the sight. "This… This is something that shouldn't exist… What in God's name is that substance…?" "Saber mentioned that the Third Holy Grail War was basically a wash in all the wrong ways," Zenigata noted, "This must be the reason why." Iris was nearby, feeling sick to her stomach. 'That could have been inside me… Father could have done that to me without even realizing it…'
"Good thing we evacuated the city when we did," Akimi said, "It's already starting to spread." The Stardust Crusaders were also seeing the sight. "Mon dieu…," Polnareff muttered, "What sort of substance is that? It's like corruption in its purest form." "Mister Joestar mentioned that the Einzbern family summoned a Servant made of this stuff," Avdol said, "Hoping it would help them win the Third Holy Grail War. This is the result. It must have corrupted the Grail upon its defeat." "But where are the last four Servants?," Fluttershy wondered, "Considering the Ryudou Temple is at the epicenter of all this… I'm getting worried."
All Might opened his eyes. He found himself in a familiar city, with a familiar young man right in front of him. And yet, not familiar, if those dark eyes were any indication. "Who are you? And why do you take the form of Young Midoriya, my protege?" The figure chuckled. "So you know. I am the Grail. And right now you are inside me." All Might signature smile faltered for the time since he could remember. The Grail soon realized why. "That sounded a lot less dirty in my head." "Now I know how Young Midoriya felt when I said he had to swallow some of my DNA to inherit my Stand," All Might said, "Good thing I was already holding a piece of my hair for that."
The figure of the Grail shrugged. "Well, regardless, I am here for one reason. The truth is, there is enough mana saved up within me for you to obtain a wish. The catch is… The other three are here as well, unseen, and I am offering them the same." All Might was struck by the realization that there was more than one catch. 'The War isn't even over yet. We haven't yet had the final confrontation. And yet the Grail is offering us a wish here and now? There is something very wrong with this situation… After all, I am more than familiar with the phrase "Be careful what you wish for".'
Evan awoke to find himself in the throne room at Evermore, but it was clear it was only an illusion. There was nothing of the warm light he strove to give his kingdom, just an eerie darkness streaming in through the windows. And right of him was an image of Aranella, only with a darkness to her eyes that told Evan that wasn't his beloved governess. "Who are you that would dare take the form of a king's loved one so casually?" The figure smirked. "Very perceptive, Your Majesty. I am the Grail itself, here to grant your wish. There is enough mana within me to do so."
"And the catch?," Evan asked, not trusting this figure for one moment. "The others are within me just as you are," the figure said, "And they are being offered the same. The offer is only good for the first to accept my offer. So what do you say? You and I both know your heart's desire." Evan narrowed his eyes. The figure made it sound so simple, but he wasn't fooled for a moment. There had to be more to it. The figure offered its hand. "So… Will you allow me to resurrect Alisandra for Doloran, as you wanted." Evan didn't move an inch, but he did wonder what was happening with the others.
Lupin shook his head as he stood up. He was back in Fuyuki, right in the center of the city. "Actually, probably not…" He looked around and smirked at the figure that had taken Fujiko's form. "You really got some nerve, taking the form of the woman I've loved for years." "I had to take a form you'd be comfortable with," the figure explained, "I am the Grail, here to grant your wish." "When the War's not even over?," Lupin asked, "Pull the other one, why dontcha?" The figure smirked. "Oh, but it is. Now that I have enough mana to grant a wish. But only one may have it."
"And the others?," Lupin asked, "Don't try to fool me. I can easily see your true nature. In fact, the others can as well. There's a definite evil about you. So what are you really?" The figure smirked. "Who do you think I 'really' am?" Lupin tapped his chin. "Judging from what I'm seeing… Persian, perhaps?" "Why yes, in fact," the figure admitted, "My previous name was Angra Mainyu." Lupin smirked. "And you're just giving away a perfectly good wish to the first of us who decides they want to side with you?" Lupin couldn't help but laugh. "You really underestimate us."
Jonathan was not surprised in the least when he saw the image of Erina, only with a darkness to her eyes that clearly marked this as an illusion. "Don't bother wasting your breath," he said, "I know of you, Angra Mainyu. I am an archaeologist you know." The figure smiled. "Oh, you're good. But not to worry. I am still bound to the Grail, and can still grant a wish. All you have to do is accept it…" The figure offered its hand, but Jonathan slapped it away. "Ad what would the cost of that be!? Yes I'd be reborn, but you'd be piggybacking on my soul! I'd wind up no different from DIO, destroying all that my family has struggled to build!"
Angra, with his ability to see all in his domain, noticed the others were reacting similarly. "You would bring about the world of my dreams," All Might admitted, "But only by summoning and creating more and more villains that could bring the world to ruin! My dream is about preventing such a world to being with!" "Even if you did resurrect Alisandra!," Evan called out, "You'd just be possessing her, perhaps returning Doloran to the way he was before, or turning his kingdom into one of evil! There's no way I'll except such an ending!"
Lupin smirked. "The world you'd give isn't a world of freedom at all. Every acting all hedonistic and destructive. That's more being chained by your ideals! That's not the world I see in man at all!" Jonathan smiled. "You are nothing more than evil incarnate, and can't see any good in the world. And we all have the means to discern your true nature." Angra growled. "There is still your Masters! I can simply grant their wishes instead!" "Don't flatter yourself," Jonathan said, "They will reject you once they see what accepting your deal will bring them. You think the worst of humanity because you take on its worst aspects."
Angra saw All Might wind up for his ultimate attack while Evan was charging Mornstar. He turned to Lupin, only to have his throat grabbed. "Since the Grail needs a physical vessel to exist," Lupin said, "I can steal it using my Noble Phantasm. And kick you right out of it!" Angra screamed as Lupin ripped the Lesser Grail from Angra's body. Evan rushed in, his sword glowing. "Dazzleslash!" Another cry came out as Angra was practically bisected. All Might came in from above, his fist pulled back. "UNITED STATES OF SMASH!" Angra spurted out blood as All Might fist plowed through him.
He looked at Jonathan, trying to utter a curse, but his throat was blocked by his own corrupted blood. "This is over, Angra Mainyu!," Jonathan declared, "You've taken the worst parts of humanity and so think you know them! But let me show… Just how much virtue humanity has!" He channeled his Hamon, focusing it through his arms. "Blazing Heart!" He slammed his fist into Angra's head as All Might backed off. "Unrelenting heat!" He delivered a Hamon-powered kick to Angra's midsection, causing him to choke on his blood. "My soul resounds with pure symphony!," Jonathan called out as he put his Hamon into full power.
Angra was pummeled as Jonathan launched his ultimate attack. "Sunlight Yellow… OVERDRIVE!" As Angra was filled with the Hamon Jonathan exuded, his brain seemed to shut down. 'This… This is the virtue he was talking about… There's so much of it… Too much… How can a species filled with such evil… Be filled with so much more good…?' Without anyone answering his question, Angra dropped to his knees, crumbling into dust. Jonathan felt the world go white, not seeing what was happening to the others. "What happened?," he asked.
"What happened is that you won the War?," came a familiar voice. It was the same voice he has heard in the Throne of Heroes. "You again? What do you mean I won?" "This was never a War to see who could beat who," the voice explained, 'But to see who could remove the corruption from the Grail. Gilles de Rais obviously couldn't do it. He would take Angra's offer in a heartbeat. Diarmuid as well, giving how subservient he is to anyone and anything with more authority than him. Gilgamesh? He would simply have absorbed Angra to prevent him from infecting anyone else. That would not have solved the problem. Iskandar would have rejected him, but could never remove the corruption."
"So only myself, All Might, Evan, or Lupin could have done it," Jonathan realized, "But we all beat Angra as a team. Doesn't that make it a tie?" "It does," the voice admitted, "But you delivering the final blow was the tie-breaker. That means you are the one who gets their wish. Actually…" The voice paused. "The Grail is rather full of mana from not having any Wars prior to this be successful. As such, it has enough mana stored to grant four wishes." Jonathan smiled. "Well, you know my wish. But I'd also like it if the others could have their happiness as well."
A subtle warmth came from wherever the voice was, and Jonathan was struck by the idea that if he could see the voice's owner, they would be smiling. "You truly are a paragon of virtue, Jonathan Joestar. The Grail was right to choose you over Arturia. If you word it so that both Master and Servant are included in the same wish, that should be enough to fit within the four wishes." Jonathan nodded. 'So… This was my first and last War. Wait for me, Erina. I'll be with you again. Even if it takes years to find you…' He closed his eyes and began to fade away.
Kirei saw Lupin approaching him, Grail in hand. "Looking at it, it's a bit of a letdown," Kirei noted. "Well, it's all used up," Lupin explained, "Jonathan ultimately won the War. But apparently he was allowed to let all of us have our wishes. So… It seems I'm back for real now. A new body and everything." Kirei smirked. "I thought there was something odd about my recent epiphany." He closed his eyes, and his smirk changed into a regular smile. "I decided to go see my daughter. It's been far too long, and I've begun to miss her."
He looked around. "What of the other Servants?" "Probably gone," Lupin noted, "Jonathan's obviously moved on, now returned to the cycle of reincarnation. As for All Might and Evan, they're back in the Throne of Heroes. I mean, the War is over, and their wishes are granted as well. Just wish I could see what their futures look like now. Anyway, let's get out of here before-" "LUPIN!," came Zenigata's voice. "Before that happens!," Lupin said in shock. Kirei opened the door of the Fiat. "We'd better run for it." In spite of himself, Lupin grinned. "Like I never died in the first place…" The duo drove off, several police cruisers in hot pursuit.
The story's not quite over yet. Actually, I had two more chapters planned, a final aftermath and an epilogue. Hope you all are staying safe and healthy out there. Read and review.
