Chapter Five "A Hidden God"

"You must be wondering, how am I still alive?" The figure chuckled as his body became life-like. "I have always been alive. It was at my master's orders that I didn't reveal myself after my death."

Tokiomi raised his head and stared at the figure before him. This was not just any ancestor of the Tohsaka clan. He was Nagato Tohsaka. The founder, and first Tohsaka clan leader, who had laid the foundation for what the clan had become today. He had also been the most powerful Tohsaka, the only one to have been very close to becoming a demigod.

"Founder, are you a demigod?" asked Tokiomi in awe.

"Can a demigod, do this?" Nagato smiled and waved his hand.

Tokiomi felt as if he was being pulled in. His eyes soon discovered he was floating in the sky, overseeing a large city far larger than Fuyuki ever was. It looked like several Fuyuki cities were all combined, showing different period of Fuyuki's past. Amongst those living in the city included many influential figures of the Tohsaka clan's history.

The current Tohsaka patriarch eyes widened even more when he sported a certain area.

"Tou-san… Kaa-san…" He muttered in disbelief then he spotted more familiar faces that he thought he would never see again and buried in his memories.

"A Demigod's Reality Marble might be the source of their health and powers, but a God's Reality Marble is capable of much more." Nagato announced proudly. "As long as I live, the Tohsaka clan will not be destroyed. I could allow anyone with my blood or sworn fealty to my clan to escape reincarnation and live in my Reality Marble."

"Why do our clansmen and retainer have to die if you can prevent their deaths?" Tokiomi blurted out emotionally after seeing so many people he had known still around.

"Why does death exist?" Nagato raised a brow. "Have you ever heard of family with a living god preventing the deaths of all their descendants? I would if I could, but I cannot do that. Life and death are separate for a reason. It's already a miracle that my descendants and those sworn fealty to my family can avoid reincarnation."

Tokiomi wanted to say more, but he closed his mouth. He had humiliated himself before his ancestor by asking something that any human, who had reached a certain level in their pursuit of godhood, would understand.

"You cannot bring the dead back," Tokiomi conceded unwillingly, "but that isn't the same for the living. Why weren't you there when the clan or Fuyuki faced destruction? Many demigods and gods have appeared to save their descendants."

"Were you there every time Rin nearly died?" Nagato asked in a sagely tone.

The Tohsaka patriarch shook his head. "I couldn't. I cannot always be by my daughter's side when I have my duties as the clan leader to fulfill."

"The same also applies to me," Nagato chuckled. "I also have my duties to fulfill as a god. All gods have many responsibilities that supersede their descendants. One of which ensuring humanity's continued existence." His eyes glittered as he looked at Tokiomi's eyes. "Have you ever wondered why you haven't faced an army of monsters beyond half a million? Why a demigod or god level monster has not appeared to destroy the Fuyuki Anchor Point when other anchor points have?"

Tokiomi frowned. He and many others in the clan had always pondered why Fuyuki hadn't faced impossible odds that had seen other cities or Anchor Points destroyed. They had chalked up to good karma for all the hard work and sacrifice that the clan had made.

"That is because I acted from the shadows." Nagato chuckled. "Otherwise, the Tohsaka clan and Fuyuki would have ceased to exist long ago."

The Tohsaka patriarch's eyes glowed. "No wonder…" He muttered as if he was enlightened. "Should I return Shirou's Magic Circuits? I see no reason to keep them anymore as my primary reason was study them so I or anyone in the clan could reach the Soul Transformation stage to become a demigod. That goal is rendered moot by your existence, Founder."

"There is no need to return them," Nagato replied while looking at Shirou's direction, peering through layer of physical and magical defenses as if they didn't exist. "This will provide a perfect opportunity for him. He will be able to reach heights that he never known before if he starts from scratch." The god turned his attention to Tokiomi. "Forget about studying the Magic Circuits. My personal guidance will be more effective than any attempts to study a Heaven's Chosen's magic circuits. Instead proceed with your original plans of elevating the Tohsaka magic crest to new heights. I will not always be around to protect my living descendants. There will be times that Artificially Induced Demigod will be needed."

"I will comply, Founder." Tokiomi bowed his head.

- O -

"What is Tou-sama thinking?! Does he want the clan to be destroyed?!" Rin screamed in outrage as she walked around like a dangerous caged animal. "I should have never given him your Magic Circuits. How stupid was I to return the magic crest? If I had that then I wouldn't have been so helpless before the Core Creation samurai!"

I watched calmly. If I didn't possess EMIYA's memories, I would have reacted the same, if not more then Rin was. The eons of memories told me that letting my emotions cloud my judgement was the worst possible situation to be in.

Besides, another reason I hadn't snapped was that my Reality Marble still existed and remained undamaged.

It was time to test out my theory.

My single magic circuit warmed up and mana started to circulate faster almost in anticipation that I would cast magic anytime.

"I am the bony of my sword."

The gates between my Reality Marble and reality opened.

"Steel is my body and fire is my blood."

I felt the gates loosened like Mystic Codes and Noble Phantasms were ready to leave my Reality Marble.

"I have created over a thousand blades."

The magical forge inside me awoke from dormancy. Blueprints were ready to be taken out. Metal ingots and other materials were ready to be processed. Hammers and other equipment prepared for use. My Reality Marble was ready for manufacturing.

"Unaware of loss, nor aware of gain."

My Mystic Codes and Noble Phantasms did not have free will or emotions, the perfect tools for any battles.

"Withstood pain to create weapons."

I had an overwhelming desire to look for more weapons to add to my arsenal, regardless of what I needed to go through to get new blueprints for my Reality Marble to create.

"I have no regrets."

Kiritsugu's final moments flashed in my mind. That regretful look that had led me inheriting an ideal. Memories of EMIYA's self-loathing at his time as a Counter Guardian came to the forefront.

"This is the only path."

Words and memories warning me the difficult and impossibility of my ideals, but I was prepared. I was going to become a Hero of Justice. No, a Heroic God of Justice!

"Unlimited Blade Works."

My Reality Marble started travelling outwards from my core and towards my skin. I felt Unlimited Blade Works about to change the world around me when just as it touched the air, it stopped dead in its track as if the power was cut.

I screamed in pain as the manifestation process became interrupted.

"Shirou, what's wrong!?" Rin screamed as she rushed to my side.

My teeth gridded against each other as I spat out, "I tried to use my Reality Marble…"

"What are you thinking!" Rin slapped my arm. "You, dummy! There is no way you can manifest your Reality Marble. The magic circuits you had lost were pillars that allows a Reality Marble to manifest." She rebuked me harshly. "If you want to use your Reality Marble again then you need to create more magic circuits and remake them to match your Reality Marble."

The pain intensified, but my mind became clearer. I had felt like a man wandering in the mist to find a path. Now with Rin's words, a dim lantern had appeared in my hands.

"Can I use this?" I asked while withdrawing an orb from my Reality Marble.

"This is a Circuit Building Orb and–" Her eyes widened and she grabbed my collar. Rin started shaking and screamed, "Where did you get this? This is a Class-10… Only demigods and gods can make such a perfect…"

"Does it matter where I got it?" I shouted as my head jerked around.

"It does!" Rin snapped back and she let go of my collar.

At the unexpected release, my head hit the ground.

She snatched the orb from my hand and jumped away as if worried that she might lose her new merchandise. "No, I don't want to know! Don't even think about who could have made it. A god can locate anyone that even thinks about them!"

From the ground, I shot Rin a dirty look. "You don't have to worry. It's not like I got the orb through illegal means. I got it in a fair trade." I sighed internally, Although the trade might not worth it since my favourite Noble Phantasms are not as strong as they used to be…

"That's great!" Rin grinned happily. "I will gracious accept this–"

"This belongs to me!" I shouted as I jumped up and snatched the orb back.

"Hey, it's mi–"

"Rin, you still owe me," I stated in a slightly irritated tone. Rin flinched. "You borrowed my magic circuits." She backpedaled as if hit. "But your father decided to keep them." Her hands folded over her stomach. "So don't even think about claiming the orbs as your own!"

She collapsed onto the floor and raised her hand. "You win, Shirou." She spluttered. "I promise not take the orb from you."

I was amused at the sight and shook my head while trying to hold back a chuckle.

"Got up, Rin. There is no need to humiliate yourself like that." I grumbled while looking at the orb. "So… How do I use this?"

"It's not really complicated," She spoke as she stood up. "Just use it like any Mystic Code. Make sure to active the first spell first. Not everyone knows Structural Analysis spell or use it skillfully to check out the quality of the orb."

For a moment, I was surprised to hear that if someone knew how to use a Mystic Code that it was a given that something as simple Structural Analysis was something they knew, but I remembered this wasn't my world. It was another world. Different worlds had different standards.

I focused my mind and channeled my mana into the orb. The first pre-programmed magic spell activated and the results were surprising detailed. It was nowhere near what I could discover with my Reality Marble, but my mastery with Structural Analysis was a rare exception and not the norm.

I nearly had a heart attack when all the results came to me. A flash of memory seemed to be triggered by the information, and I recalled knowledge connected to Core Creation stage.

"There are 100 Magic Circuits, each magic circuit capable of producing 1000 mu (Mana Units). The seems too good to be true…" I remarked in shock. Each Magic Circuit within the orb is capable of what my Rin is capable of producing of with all 40 of her natural magic circuits! If I could use the orb's magic circuits to their full potential then it would like 100 of my Rins… I looked to Rin. "Each of the orb's magic circuits surpasses the average Core Creation stage's single magic core."

"What do you expect from something that a demigod or god can make?" Rin replied dryly as she rolled her eyes. "It was why I tried to claim it." She grumbled while looking at me jealously. "A Class 10 Circuit Building Orb isn't something that anyone with money or connections can buy. Goods of this calibre rarely ever enter the market. Gods normally make ultimate class Leveling Orbs for their descendants or devote believers."

My lips curled up. My knowledge of this world was still fragmented, but luckily what little I currently knew gave me a general understanding of Leveling Orbs, a category which my Circuit Building Orb belonged to.

I felt my heart beating with excitement at the possibilities…

It seemed while Kanshou's and Bakuya's spirits or egos might have disappeared from my Reality Marble, I might have received a worthy exchange. If I could somehow absorb the Leveling Orb's magic circuits…

"How do I use them?" I asked with anticipation while mentally prepared for news that might destroy my budding plans.

"You should calm down first," said Rin with a smile. "I know what you're thinking, but you're getting way ahead of yourself. If you don't think carefully about your goals then you are going to regret it! Each magic circuits within your Leveling Orb is worth 10 million Mana Exchange. That enough to buy a large mansion. Every wasted magic circuit is more than the normal person earns in their lifetime!"

I thought carefully after listening to Rin's serious words, but there was irresistible allure at the same time to carelessly absorb a magic circuit from the Circuit Building Orb. Just one magic circuits within the orb were better than 40 magic circuits that my Rin had been born with!

"What do you recommend? I assume you are against me absorbing all 100 magic circuits within the orb in one go." I replied while staring at the orb in my hand.

"Baka!" Rin screamed as she slammed the back of her hand down onto my head. "That is the most stupid thing to do! You would be lucky to absorb less than half of the magic circuits and those magic circuits you did absorb would be a fraction of what their capable of." She brought her hand up and down. "That kind extravagant wastage would equivalent of the normal person wasting a five centuries at the Circuit Building stage in pursuit of godhood!"

"I get it!" I grumbled while slapping Rin's hand away and nursing my bruise. "What should I do?"

"Absorb one magic circuit at a time and modify them so they connect with your Reality Marble. If you work diligently then by the time you absorbed and modified the third magic circuits from your leveling orb then you will be more powerful and capable than the 27 magic circuits that you had lost to my clan."

My eyes ignited with passion. I felt my heart beating just thinking about the possibility that Rin painted, and I wanted to immediately rush to absorb a magic circuit from the leveling orb.

"Slow and steady wins the race!" Rin screamed as she brought her hand down again.

I winced and grumbled, "I get it…" A suspicion sprouted in my mind and I warily looked at Rin. "You better not think that your advice will make up for your father stealing my magic circuits."

"Of course, I wouldn't dare to do such a thing!" Rin replied in infuriated tone, but the regretful glint in her eyes told me otherwise. She seemed to sense my conclusion and stared into my eyes with a serious expression. "I, Rin Tohsaka, swear with my life to do everything in my power to return the 27 Magic Circuits that had been stolen from Shirou!"

I looked solemnly at Rin. The oath that Rin had evoked was no simple promise. It was a method, according to this world's Shirou's memories, a self-imposed magical oath that if broken would have grave consequences upon the speaker. While it was unlikely to kill Rin, if she did not to fulfill her promise than pursuit to godhood might forever stall as it related to her mind.

The serious Rin was about to smile as if proud of her act to show how faithful she was, or that likely would have been the case when Rin started to glow.

"As the ancestor of my descendant, Rin Tohsaka, I act as guarantor to this promise. If this promise is not carried out then I will personally punish my descendant." A voice boomed in the room, filled with overwhelming power and authority that I recognized immediately.

"Dear, Kami!" Rin screamed with wide eyes as she stared down at her glowing body. "When did my clan have a god?!" She grabbed me and stared with bloodshot eyes. "Tell me I am dreaming, Shirou. There is no way one of my ancestors is a god! If this is true then why doesn't my clan bear the title of King instead of the current title of Count?!"

I could only stare in confusion as Rin continued to rabble on.

- O -

"Founder," said Tokiomi while sweating, "do you want the clan to suffer? Why are you pushing my daughter to help Shirou reclaim his magic circuits? I might as well return it to prevent the damage to the clan."

"The clan has gotten lax. The last few decades have been very good for the clan that many clansmen and retainers are not as hard-working and ambitious as they should be. If I don't shake things up then gradual decay and decline is going to set in." Nagato replied with glowing eyes that seemed to be staring into the future.

The Tohsaka patriarch lowered his head in embarrassment. He had been very proud of his achievement of leading the clan to its current glory. The Tohsaka clan was at its peak of its history. It seemed he had gotten overconfident and blind to a potential cancer growing amongst the clan if it wasn't for his ancestor's divination.

"I heed your words and will work to fix the problems you brought up, ancestor."

Nagato continued to stare into the air, peering through the ever-changing future that rarely remained the same. What the god saw got him thinking.

"This is also good opportunity to unite the clans."

"Unite the clans?" Tokiomi repeated.

"Do you forget about the Edelfelts? The humiliating instance when the Edelfelts kidnapped your father and many of my descendants."

Tokiomi's rage burned. He had forgotten about it since his father's death and the busy lifestyle of leading a clan ha d never allowed the memories of that dark time to resurface. His teeth clattered and grinded against each other.

"What do you plan, Founder?" asked Tokiomi in an infuriated tone before his eyes lit up. "Founder, did you have a hand in the return of my father? I found it strange that my mother, who had been the Edelfelt matriarch at the time, had suddenly abdicated from her position as Duchess Edelfelt and returned to Fuyuki with father. Her only explanation was that she had fallen in love with my father."

"Of course," Nagato smiled. "I might not be able to prevent all of the deaths of my descendants because of my heavy responsibilities as a god but there is a limit to my patience. The clan that I had founded couldn't be humiliated in such a manner. I couldn't just stand by having the clan heir kidnapped and forced to be boy-toy." The god growled. "The Edelfelts might be a duke with a demigod ancestor, but how can they stop me, a god. You should have seen the look of the Edelfelt demigod when they thought the mere 'count-ranked' family could never have such formidable backing."

"What am I to do, founder?"

"Send a challenge letter to the Edelfelts," said Nagato in a relaxed tone. "Inform them that you will hold a competition deciding the next leader of the merged clans. If they refuse well only destruction awaits at my hands…"

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