Chapter One "New World. Did I travel to the Past?"
Shirou Emiya stood in the brightly lit control room of Chaldea, his eyes fixed on the massive globe of CHALDEAS, the simulated model of Earth that had been the center of the room. The holographic display shimmered with a serene blue hue, indicating that humanity's future was secure, at least for the time being. It was a sight that should have brought him peace, yet it only served as a reminder of the countless battles and trials he had endured.
He couldn't help but reminisce about the Singularities and Lostbelts, each a chapter of chaos and peril that had tested him beyond his limits. The memories flooded back—fierce battles against Servants of unimaginable power, the heart-wrenching decisions that had to be made, and the haunting faces of allies who had fallen along the way. Shirou had faced near-death experiences too many times to count, each one leaving a scar on his soul. He had seen and done things that were regrettable, actions that weighed heavily on his conscience. The loss of close friends, comrades who had fought bravely by his side, was a burden he carried with him always.
Yet, despite the pain and the loss, there was a sense of fulfillment in knowing that their sacrifices had not been in vain. Chaldea had overcome insurmountable odds, preserving the future of humanity time and again. But now, as he stood before CHALDEAS, Shirou couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The calmness of the globe seemed almost too perfect, too still.
His musings were abruptly interrupted by the blaring of alarms, a cacophony of sound that sent a jolt of adrenaline through his veins. The control room was bathed in red light, and the monitors flashed with warnings of a dangerous entity breaching Chaldea HQ. Shirou's instincts kicked in, and he spun around, his hand gripping around Kanshou and Bakuya that appeared.
To his shock, the threat was already there, standing right behind him. The figure was cloaked in shadows, an aura of power radiating from them that was both familiar and foreign. Shirou's mind raced as he tried to place where he had seen this intruder before. The figure stepped into the light, revealing a man with an air of authority and a presence that seemed to command the very space around him.
Before Shirou could react, Ishtar burst into the room, her eyes widening with recognition. "You!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a blend of surprise and disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
The intruder turned to face her, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Ah, Ishtar. Will you kindly allow me to talk to my apprentice. It's been a while since I get to talk to her after she disappeared on me, and I presume her disappear was due to her being selected as your host."
Shirou's confusion deepened as he watched the exchange. Ishtar's host, Rin Tohsaka, was an apprentice of this man? He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this encounter than met the eye.
"Who are you?" Shirou demanded, his grip on his Kanshou and Bakuya tightening.
The man chuckled softly, a sound that seemed to echo with the weight of ages. "I suppose introductions are in order. I am Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, though you might know me better as the Wizard Marshall."
Shirou's eyes widened in disbelief. Zelretch, the legendary True Mafician, stood before him. But there was something different about him. This Zelretch appeared in his prime, a vibrant and youthful human, rather than the Dead Apostle Ancestor he was known to be. Known as the "Wizard Marshall," Zelretch was a master of the Second Magic, a feat that granted him control over the Kaleidoscope, allowing him to traverse and manipulate parallel worlds at will. His mastery over this enigmatic force was unparalleled, enabling him to witness countless realities and timelines, each with its own unique history and possibilities. Zelretch's accomplishments included playing pivotal roles in events that shaped the magical world, including the calamatic battle against the Crimson Moon Brunestud, where he wielded his power to stop a mirror image of the Moon from hitting the Earth. His ingenuity and wisdom were matched only by his eccentricity, often leading him to meddle in affairs across dimensions for reasons only he understood. It was said that his very presence could alter the course of destiny, a testament to his formidable capabilities and profound influence on the fabric of reality itself.
Yet, as Shirou stood before this imposing figure, he couldn't reconcile the tales of Zelretch's aged form with the man who now stood tall—muscular and exuding a youthful vigor that seemed to defy time itself. The stories depicted Zelretch as having aged greatly, appearing as a frail figure akin to a seventy-year-old, with his once formidable power dimmed by due to his fight with Crimson Moon. However, what Shirou saw was a paradox— standing at the zenith of his prowess.
Ishtar stepped forward, her expression a mix of awe and curiosity. "Why do you look like this? What are you planning?" she inquired, her voice tinged with skepticism as she glanced at Zelretch.
Zelretch's smile widened, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "I would like to cause some mayhem, but..." His expression turned serious. "Alas, I didn't come just for the enjoyment."
Ishtar crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Cause mayhem? Sounds just like something you'd do," she remarked, clearly unconvinced by his sudden shift in demeanor.
Shirou lowered his Kanshou and Bakuya, though he remained on guard. Beings on the level of Zelretch could tens of millions, or even potentially cause the extinction of mankind, if they chose to commit themselves to such an act. It was unlikely Zelretch would do such things given his past history, but it never hurt to remain on guard as Lev had demonstrated.
"What do you want with Chaldea?" Shirou asked cautiously.
Zelretch's gaze shifted to CHALDEAS, his expression lightened up. "You have done well! This timeline and the many connected parallel worlds linked to this timeline form a tree, and you have succeeded in safeguarding this tree's Human Order for the next century." He looked directly into Shirou's eyes. "Well done, Hero of Justice!"
Ishtar nodded approvingly, though her tone retained its teasing edge. "Not bad at all, Shirou," she commented. "Seems like you've impressed even the likes of him."
If it was anything other time, Shirou might have been delighted to hear those words from a True Magician but he felt Zelretch was about to brought about a topic that would dash the atmosphere Zelretch was currently projecting.
What Shirou learned next made him curse his F-ranked Luck!
O O O
Shirou's head was spinning from Zelretch's revelation when suddenly, an excruciating pain tore through his body. A cacophony of voices assaulted his ears, screaming at him to stay with them. The pain in his chest was unbearable, as if someone was trying to crush his ribcage. Shirou groaned, his eyes fluttering open with great effort.
As his vision cleared, he found himself staring into a pair of familiar emerald eyes. Arturia was leaning over him, her hands pressing down on his chest with desperate force. But something was off—this wasn't quite the Arturia he knew.
"He's awake!" Arturia called out, her voice filled with relief.
Shirou's gaze darted around, trying to make sense of his surroundings. His eyes widened in shock as he recognized the faces peering down at him. The Knights of the Round Table stood in a circle, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity. Sir Lancelot, Gawain, Tristan, and others he had fought with or against, depending on the circumstance that Chaldea faced.
But it wasn't just the knights. Standing slightly apart from the group, Shirou spotted two figures. Merlin was observing him with keen interest, a knowing smile playing on his lips. And beside him stood Morgan le Fay, her piercing gaze fixed upon him.
Shirou's gaze swept across the group surrounding him, his eyes drawn to their weapons. Suddenly, his Reality Marble activated, flooding his mind with an overwhelming torrent of information. He saw the composition of each blade, understood the techniques used in their forging, and grasped their capabilities. But something was off. These weren't the Noble Phantasms he remembered. They were... different.
A startling realization hit him: these weren't the Servants or Heroic Spirits he knew. They were... Hunters. E-rank Hunters, to be precise, belonging to a small Guild called Camelot...
Shirou clutched his head, the sudden influx of information causing a splitting headache. The data sea washing over him was very different from what he normally experienced. It reminded him when he had encountered his first Lostbelt where human history had taken a different turn so much so that very concepts of certain things devianted so much that his Reality Marble's ability to process large amounts of information looking at a weapon's history backfired on him.
He was about to suppress new data from entering his mind and slowly sift through the information when gasps of surprise erupted from around him.
The Master of Chaldea wondered what was the cause of the gasped surprise. He looked down in the direction of the eyes were drawn to. It didn't take too long for the source of their surprise.
"What's the problem?" Shirou asked as he looked up from his wound and his watchers. "It's nothing too serious-"
Arturia's eyes widened in disbelief. "Nothing too serious?" she exclaimed, her voice rising with a mix of concern and exasperation. "Shirou, you were stabbed through the heart by that goblin! People die when they are killed!"
Gawain shook his head, his face a mixture of awe and confusion. "I've got to agree with Arturia here. I've never seen anyone, even a Healer-class Hunter, shrug off a wound like that."
"Indeed," Lancelot chimed in, leaning closer to examine Shirou's rapidly closing wound. "It's not every day you see our guild's healer casually dismiss being impaled."
Merlin, who had been observing with keen interest, finally spoke up. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he mused, a hint of excitement in his voice. "Our Shirou seems to have developed quite the interesting ability, hasn't he?"
Morgan, standing beside Merlin, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "No ordinary Healer could survive that," she said matter-of-factly. "Care to share what's changed, Shirou?"
Tristan, his eyes closed as always, tilted his head. "How curious, to see our comrade so unfazed by what should be a mortal wound. Have your healing abilities evolved?"
Shirou looked down at his chest, where the gaping wound was now little more than a fading scar. He realized his casual reaction had caused more alarm than the injury itself. "I... I'm sorry," he said, trying to find the right words. "I'm not sure what happened. It's like... I suddenly have memories of surviving worse."
Arturia shook her head, placing a hand on Shirou's shoulder. "Look, Shirou, I know we've been through some tough battles as E-rank Hunters, but this is different. Such injuries are usually fatal, even for us. You can't just brush them off as if they were mere scratches!"
The gathered group nodded in agreement, exchanging looks of bewilderment and curiosity. Shirou realized he had a lot to process, not just about his newfound abilities, but also about the memories and experiences that seemed to have merged with his own.
Merlin clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Well, this is certainly an interesting development! I think our little Camelot Guild might have just gotten a significant power boost. Shirou, my friend, I believe you have quite the tale to tell us."
Morgan nodded, a glint of interest in her eyes. "Indeed. It seems our guild meeting has taken quite the unexpected turn. Perhaps it's time we reassess our E-rank status."
Gawain chuckled, the shock on his face giving way to amusement. "Never a dull moment with Camelot Guild, is there? First, we're struggling to make ends meet, and now our healer can survive being stabbed through the heart by a goblin!"
As the group's initial shock began to subside, their expressions turned from disbelief to curiosity. Shirou could see the questions forming in their eyes, and he knew he was in for a long explanation. But as he looked around at these familiar faces of his guildmates, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of both belonging and disconnect. Whatever had happened to him, whatever these new memories and abilities meant, at least he wasn't facing it alone.
"Shirou," Arturia began, her voice softer now, "what exactly do you remember? When did you first notice these... changes?"
Shirou opened his mouth to respond, but suddenly, a tidal wave of memories crashed over him. Images, sensations, and emotions that weren't his—yet somehow were—flooded his mind. He saw himself training as a Healer-class Hunter, learning to channel mana for healing spells instead of forging swords. He remembered the day he joined the Camelot Guild, the struggles they faced as E-rank Hunters, the camaraderie they shared.
But these memories clashed violently with his other set of experiences—Fuyuki, the Holy Grail War, Chaldea, the fight to save humanity. The cognitive dissonance was overwhelming.
Shirou clutched his head, his eyes squeezed shut as he tried to make sense of the conflicting information. "I... I remember everything," he gasped. "But it's too much. Two lives, two sets of experiences, all crashing together."
The others exchanged worried glances. Merlin stepped forward, his usual playful demeanor replaced by genuine concern. "Shirou, my boy, it seems you're experiencing something beyond our understanding. Perhaps a side effect of your unique healing ability?"
Morgan's eyes narrowed in thought. "Or perhaps," she mused, "something more. A convergence of realities, maybe?"
Shirou barely heard them. He was lost in a maelstrom of memories—fighting alongside Servants in grand battles to save humanity, juxtaposed against the daily struggles of an E-rank Hunter Guild. The weight of two lives pressed down on him, threatening to crush his sense of self.
"I... I need a moment," Shirou managed to say, his voice strained. "Everything's... jumbled. I'm not sure who I am anymore."
As his guildmates gathered around him, offering words of comfort and support, Shirou felt himself slipping deeper into the chaos of his merged memories. He was Emiya Shirou, the survivor of the Fuyuki fire, the Master of Chaldea, the Hero of Justice. But he was also Shirou, the Healer-class Hunter of the Camelot Guild, friend and comrade to these familiar yet different versions of people he knew.
The last thing Shirou saw before the world faded to black was the concerned faces of his guildmates, their voices growing distant as he succumbed to the overwhelming tide of his dual existence.
As Shirou lay unconscious, surrounded by his concerned guildmates, a phenomenon of unprecedented scale was unfolding across the globe. In every corner of the world, from bustling metropolises to remote villages, humanity collectively experienced a startling event.
Without warning, a translucent blue screen materialized before the eyes of every human being. The sudden appearance of this ethereal interface caused widespread confusion and panic. People stumbled in the streets, drivers swerved to avoid phantom obstacles, and countless individuals rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
The screen flickered to life with a simple message: [Downloading...]
In New York City's Times Square, tourists and locals alike froze in place, their gazes fixed on the invisible (to others) screens before them. A street performer dressed as the Statue of Liberty dropped his pose, mouth agape at the surreal sight.
In a small fishing village in Indonesia, an elderly woman preparing her catch for market gasped as the blue screen appeared, nearly dropping her knife in shock. Her grandchildren, playing nearby, pointed at the air in wonder and confusion.
As the download progressed, more text appeared:
[Initializing...]
[Calibrating...]
[Synchronizing with local Counter Force...]
In a high-rise office in Tokyo, a board meeting came to an abrupt halt as executives and assistants alike found themselves captivated by the mysterious screens. Murmurs of astonishment filled the room, business concerns momentarily forgotten.
Deep in the Amazon rainforest, an isolated tribe experienced the same phenomenon. Their shaman, wise in the ways of the spirit world, found himself at a loss to explain this new magic that touched every member of his people.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but was merely minutes, the screens displayed a final message:
[Download complete. Uploading the Alayan DefenseLeveling System.]
As quickly as they had appeared, the screens vanished, leaving behind a world forever changed. People blinked, shook their heads, and looked around in bewilderment. Some dismissed it as a shared hallucination, while others insisted on the reality of what they had seen.
In the days that followed, humanity struggled to make sense of the event. News outlets were flooded with reports from every corner of the globe, all describing the same inexplicable occurrence. Scientists scrambled for explanations, religious leaders sought divine interpretations, and governments convened emergency sessions to address the phenomenon.
Little did they know, the Alayan DefenseLeveling System had fundamentally altered the fabric of their reality. The world, already transformed by the appearance of Hunters, Monsters, Gates and Dungeons, now faced a new paradigm shift of equal or greater magnitude.
What Shirou would soon discover upon awakening, the rules of existence had been rewritten. The Alayan Defense Leveling System had introduced a new order to the world, one that would reshape society, redefine human potential, and blur the lines between the ordinary and the extraordinary.
O O O
Several Years later,
As consciousness slowly returned to Jinwoo Sung, a flood of memories washed over him. The epic battle against the Monarchs, the desperate struggle to save humanity, and the ultimate decision to turn back time—it all came rushing back in a dizzying whirlwind. He remembered the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, the power of the Shadow Sovereign coursing through his veins, and the bittersweet victory that came at such a high cost.
In those final moments before he reversed time, Jinwoo had steeled himself for what was to come. None of his friends and acquittances he had made after becoming a Hunter would remember his. They would be complete strangers. It hurt his feelings, but he quickly banished those depressing thoughts. He was travelling to the past to prevent sacrifices and deaths of his friends and acquittances, and hopefully make a better future.
"Oppa! Wake up, you lazy bum!" A familiar voice pierced through his thoughts, accompanied by the sensation of someone shaking his shoulder vigorously. "We're going to be late for the guild meeting!"
Jinwoo's eyes fluttered open, and he felt something was wrong.
He blinked, his vision focusing on the figure standing over him. It was his sister, Jin-Ah Sung, but not as he remembered her. Instead of her usual casual attire that she normally wore at home, she was instead dressed in elaborate magical robes, a staff clutched in her hand. The sight was so incongruous that for a moment, Jinwoo wondered if he was still dreaming.
"Jin-Ah?" he mumbled, sitting up slowly. "What's going on? Why are you dressed like that?"
His sister rolled her eyes, exasperation clear on her face. "Very funny, Oppa. Did you hit your head or something? Come on, we need to get ready for the guild meeting!"
As Jin-Ah turned to leave the room, Jinwoo's senses suddenly kicked into overdrive. He could feel it—mana, flowing through his sister's body. It wasn't just a trickle, either. The amount of mana she possessed was easily on par with a B-rank Hunter. But that was impossible. Jin-Ah had never awakened as a Hunter, let alone possessed any mana.
Confusion mounting, Jinwoo allowed himself to be pulled out of bed and steered towards the living room. His mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. Had his attempt to turn back time gone wrong somehow?
As he entered the living room, Jinwoo's confusion only deepened. There, sitting at the breakfast table, were his parents. But like Jin-Ah, they too were different from his memories. His father, Il-Hwan Sung, sat at the head of the table, casually sipping coffee. But what made Jinwoo's jaw drop was the sheer amount of mana radiating from him. It was on a level he had only felt from National Level Hunters—greater than S-ranked Hunter he remembered.
And his mother... Jinwoo had to blink several times to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Kyung-Hye Park, the woman who had raised him and Jin-Ah single-handedly after their father's disappearance before collapsing into a coma, was calmly setting up the table for breakfast. But the mana signature she gave off was unmistakable—S-rank. His mother, who in his memories had never shown hint of mana, now possessed power that put her among the elite of the elite Hunters.
"Jinwoo, are you feeling alright?" His mother's voice cut through his stupor. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Jinwoo realized he had been standing in the doorway, staring open-mouthed at his family. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog of confusion. "I... I'm fine," he managed to stammer out. "Just... didn't sleep well."
His father chuckled. "Well, sit down and eat. You'll need your strength for the guild meeting. We've got that A-rank dungeon raid coming up, remember?"
Jinwoo nodded numbly, taking a seat at the table. His body seemed to move on autopilot, going through the motions of eating breakfast while his mind raced. Guild meeting? A-rank dungeon raid? Since when did his family form a guild? And how were they all suddenly powerful Hunters?
As he mechanically shoveled food into his mouth, Jinwoo tried to piece together what little information he had. Somehow, in this new reality, his entire family were Hunters. Not just Hunters, but powerful ones at that. They had their own guild, and were preparing for high-level dungeon raids. It was as if he had stepped into an alternate universe where everything he knew had been turned on its head.
"Jinwoo, did you remember to repair your staff after the last raid?" His mother's question snapped him back to reality. "You know how important proper maintenance is for an Shadowmancer-class Hunter."
Shadowmancer-class? Jinwoo nearly choked on his food.
"I... I'll check them before we leave," he managed to reply, hoping his voice didn't betray his utter bewilderment.
As breakfast continued, Jinwoo found himself bombarded with casual references to a life he had never lived. His family discussed guild strategies, upcoming raids, and Hunter politics as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And through it all, Jinwoo sat in stunned silence, trying to reconcile this new reality with the memories of his past lives.
What had gone wrong with the time reversal?
As his family finished their meal and began preparing for the guild meeting, Jinwoo felt like he was trapped in a surreal dream. Everything was familiar, yet utterly foreign. The people he loved most in the world were there, but they were changed in ways he couldn't begin to comprehend.
"Jinwoo, hurry up and get ready," his father called out as he donned what looked like high-level Hunter gear. "We can't keep the rest of the Sung Guild waiting."
Sung Guild. The words echoed in Jinwoo's mind, driving home just how different this world was from what he had expected. As he watched his powered-up family bustling around, preparing for a day of high-level Hunter activities, Jinwoo couldn't shake the feeling that he had stumbled into a reality far stranger than anything he had encountered before.
With a deep breath, Jinwoo stood up from the table. His mind was processing the new developments when the familiar blue System window appeared.
[Detecting foreign System…]
Jinwoo looked at the System window curiously as after he had inherited all the powers of his predecessor, Ashborn, the first Shadow Monarch the System never appeared on its own anymore like it had during his Leveling days.
[Attempted hacking detected…]
He blinked in confusion. The System wasn't something that should be hackable. It wasn't like electronic software anyone with a computer could access. Suddenly, Jinwoo remembered the creator of the System, Kandiaru. His body tensed up as prepared for a possible fight with the being that had changed his life and made him the Shadow Monarch.
[Firewall breached…]
The Shadow Monarch was about to attack whatever form Kandiaru might take when what happened next surprised him.
[Unknown System detected… Downloading… Alayan Defense System Uploaded.]
[Welcome Shadow Monarch. We, Alaya, thank you for defending humanity and ensuring humanity's continued survival. These are the evaluated amount of Alayan Points for you use to unlock additional Classes, buy new Skills and Items, or various other rewards available in store for playing a role in protecting Human Order.]
What do you guys think about what you read? Is it good, bad or meh? Any recommendations to improve? Please let me know.
Thank you for reading!
