Chapter 23

All Roads Lead to Chaldea

Taking a deep breath, Olga looked upon an artfully drawn summoning circle. Extending her right hand, she said, "O Heroes from times long past, come to Aionios and partake in the Great Rebirth!". As if responding to her words, the summoning circle glowed an icy blue. A strong wind picked up as the circle itself crackled with white electricity. Watching her intently, Kiritsugu and Irisviel smiled. Suddenly, a strong tornado formed as the energy spiked; as it dissipated, five strange cards were left in its place. The cards then burned away to form four strange artificial forms. As her smile turned malicious, Olga then smirked as the five figures vanished to reveal Mash, Rassilon, a young girl with long blonde hair and red eyes, and a young girl with long pink hair tied with light purple ribbons and blue eyes. "That's odd, where did the Saver class container go?", Dorothea asked. "Still, the first four of the Super Extra Classes are gathered. That's something at least.", Hunter said. Not missing a beat, Olga said, "Welcome, my summoned allies. Welcome to Chaldea.". "Come on, Olga, you know who we are already.", Mash said. "Still though, we need to gather the Saver class; only then shall all 18 Servants be gathered together.", Rassilon said. Turning his attention to the young blonde-haired girl, Rassilon then said, "Draco, do you think your fellow Beasts will be able to help us?". "Depends.", Draco said. Turning her attention to the girl with pink hair in purple ribbons, Mash said, "Regardless, though, I didn't know that you were summoned as a Temptress, Elizabeth.". "Sometimes I surprise even myself.", Elizabeth replied.

Approaching a man with golden-blonde hair with red streaks and red eyes wearing a suit of white armour with a crimson mantle, Alastor said, "Do you know of the location of the Grand Avenger's Saint Graph, Richard?". "Well, I know the people who possess the Grand Ruler, Grand Moon Cancer, Grand Alter Ego, Grand Foreigner and Grand Pretender Saint Graphs but not the Grand Avenger's Saint Graph.", Richard said. "It's just I thought that Dantes possessed the Grand Avenger Saint Graph but Chaldea's scans detected nothing abnormal from him. None of the other Avengers possess the Grand Avenger Saint Graph either.", Alastor said. "That is strange, though.", Richard said. "Tell me about it.", Valentino said. "Incidentally, Valentino, is Jack aware of his true nature?", Alastor asked. "He didn't seem to be. It is such a shame too as he is clearly hurting himself with his refusal to embrace it. I mean, if Goku can embrace his true nature then surely Jack can too.", Valentino replied. "I just hope he does so in time.", Richard said. "For only then can we truly make him the Mythos and Ultima's vessel.", Valentino said. "Speaking of, do you know the plan when the time comes for that?", Richard asked. "Of course. Not only shall Jack, Clive and Byleth's Eikons be switched so that Clive is the Dominant of Phoenix, Byleth is the Dominant of Odin and Jack is the Dominant of Ifrit but then the 9 Dominants will then transfer their powers to Jack followed by Ultima transferring his own power to Jack. After that, Jack shall become Ultima's vessel and be ready to rule over Aionios as the Sovereign – or rather, as Sovereign Yuito's servant.", Alastor said. "And if humanity dies, then Jack can just use his powers to resurrect the human race as Akashic.", Valentino said.

Entering a dimly-lit chamber, Tristan looked at the Waxing Moon Vessel, which was expelling a large amount of black and dark red energy. Looking at the energy intently, Tristan sighed. "What are you thinking about, Tristan?", Husk asked. "Nothing much. It's just that it'll soon be time to migrate the Waxing Moon Vessel to Origin where it shall absorb the power of all 5 elemental crystals- the Fire Crystal, the Water Crystal, the Earth Crystal, the Wind Crystal and the Void Crystal. Upon absorbing the crystals' powers, the Waxing Moon Vessel shall be able to remake Aionios and finally usher in the Great Rebirth. And when that happens, Yuito shall finally be able to rule the Multiverse as he desires.", Tristan replied. "I see.", Husk said. "What's wrong? Are the Crystals in perfect condition?", Tristan asked. "Well, about them. During his fights with Cu, Arjuna, Circe and Yuito, Jack might have absorbed the powers of the Earth Crystal, Water Crystal, Wind Crystal and Fire Crystal. It might take a shit ton of mana to repower the Crystals- that is, if they haven't broken already.", Husk said. "What are you getting at?", Tristan asked. "Uh, nothing.", Husk said.

Looking at a screen intently, Vaggie sighed. "Rough night?", Sena asked. "Kinda, Madam Consul.", Vaggie said. "You know you just call me Sena.", Sena said. "But it doesn't feel right to be so casual with a Consul.", Vaggie said. "Pfft, me, Mimi and the others only became Consuls to avenge what YHVH did to Jack; Fubuki became a Consul similarly to avenge his sister Arashi's death and to bring back his friend Karen. To say nothing of Goldmary becoming a Consul to atone for her failure of protecting Hortensia from the Beldam.", Sena said. "Oh, so that's what happened to young Hortensia. So it was the Beldam who killed her?", Charlie asked. "Yeah. After Hortensia was born, her mother fell deathly ill. King Hyacinth and the Queen of Elusia did their best to save her but it was no use. In the interim, Ivy took care of Hortensia herself, causing Hortensia to latch onto her as a maternal figure allowing the Beldam to take Ivy's form to trap Hortensia and kill her.", Sena said. "But I thought the Beldam and her lair were confined to the Pink Palace.", Agravain said. "Well, when he got control of the Reality Gem, YHVH's reckless abuse of the Infinity Gems likely irreversibly changed reality, including allowing the Passage Between Worlds to appear anywhere and not just be confined to the Pink Palace specifically.", Sena said. "Wait, so does that mean the Beldam can just attack anyone now?", Goku asked. "Well, she has to wait until she gets hungry again but given that she's already consumed both Coraline and Hortensia's souls, I bet she's currently full up at the moment.", Mio said. "Still, when are we gonna migrate the Waxing Moon Vessel to Origin?", Velvette asked. "Well, we need to wait for the energy within it to stabilise and become much less dangerous to handle. Given that it is on the same wavelength as the corruption in the Grail conferred onto it by Angra Mainyu, there's a good chance that if we move it now, the corruption within could destroy both Chaldea and Origin before we could have a chance to prolong the Endless Now and fulfil the Ascension Project.", Taion said.

As she looked upon the sleeping Hanabi, Kyoka sighed. "What's wrong, Mom?", Kasane asked. "Daughter, do you remember when Hanabi went into her coma?", Kyoka asked. "Well, it happened shortly after we were forcibly evicted from Cyber Space. I'd heard from Juniper that Hanabi had grown weak but I wondered if it was a simple cold or something. I'd noticed Hanabi seemed more tired than usual but she told me she just needed to rest a bit. I didn't know it was because her Moebius Core was malfunctioning.", Kasane replied. "Even so, Eunie also has her Moebius Core in her stomach much like Hanabi does but she doesn't seem worse for wear herself.", Kyoka said. "Maybe it's because most us aren't actually from Aionios.", Kasane said. "What do you mean?", Kyoka asked. "Well, the reason Crys, Dirk, Irma, Joran, Mio, Noah, Shania, Triton, Eunie, Lanz, Sena and Taion are all successfully stable Consuls is because they're naturally part of Aionios's reality whilst Hanabi isn't.", Kasane said. "You may be right.", Kyoka said. "But even then, it doesn't explain why Karen, Fubuki, Ivy, Goldmary, Ragna and Velvet are absolutely fine whilst Hanabi isn't.", Kasane said. "Wait, are they Consuls too?", Kyoka asked. "They are, Mom. Don't you remember? We were there at their rebirth.", Kasane said. "Don't know how I missed that.", Kyoka said.

Meanwhile, Jinako entered a room where she saw a young man with short auburn hair and golden eyes wearing a blue and white long-sleeved baseball jersey t-shirt, blue jeans and white socks accompanied by a young girl with long white hair and red eyes wearing a purple shirt, a long white skirt and purple socks. Looking at the auburn-haired man, Jinako said, "Well, Shirou, the Waxing Moon Vessel appears to have stabilised with the summoning of the Shielder, Watcher, Temptress and Beast classes. I believe it's time to move the Waxing Moon Vessel to Origin now.". "That's great news!", Shirou said. "Still though, big brother, you do realise Mom and Dad have to cast the correct spells?", the young white-haired girl asked. "Sure do, Ilya.", Shirou said to the white-haired girl. "Incidentally,", BB said as she entered, "do you really think the Waxing Moon Vessel will be able to ensure the future we want to see? Sure, it may possess the souls provided by Yoshinaka, Tamamo Aria and Samson and they possess a phenomenal amount of power on their own but even with Zhou Yu, Hieda-no-Are, Ushi Gozen and Koga Saburo backing them up, I don't think that the Waxing Moon Vessel will be powerful enough to help us fulfil the Ascension Project.". "Well, we won't know until we try. Still, even in the world where Chaldea was created, Marisbury was able to get his wish granted by the Holy Grail with only six Servants killed and his own able to make his own wish.", Shirou said. "You have a point, but still, the Waxing Moon Vessel needs all the magical energy it can get.", BB said.

As Kiritsugu and Irisviel unleashed a refined amount of energy, Gareth watched with a vacant look in her eyes. "What's eating you, sis?", Gawain asked. "Brother, do you really think the Waxing Moon Vessel can actually grant our wish to fulfil the Ascension Project and prolong the Endless Now?", Gareth asked in response. "Well, if Mother says the Waxing Moon Vessel can do it, then it can. Besides, Mother and Lady Circe can use their power to iron out any flaws in the Waxing Moon Vessel and give it the boost it needs if it does prove somewhat inadequate in helping grant our wish.", Gawain replied. "I guess you're right.", Gareth said. "That's the spirit.", said a man with elegant black hair, blue eyes and a goatee wearing an absolutely elegant crimson tuxedo with black buttons and a blue ribbon, a white shirt, crimson trousers and brown shoes. "Still, Tokiomi, it surely was a miracle that the Einzberns, the Tohsakas and the Matous were able to come together and help with both the Ascension Project and Endless Now.", Gareth said to the black-haired man. "Yes, I believe it is.", Tokiomi said. All of a sudden, Olga said, "O Waxing Moon Vessel, appear in thine holy red and black energy and prepare thine holy migration to Origin!". True to her words, the Waxing Moon Vessel promptly appeared right in front of her only to be consumed by a brilliant flash of dark red light that disappeared as soon as it appeared, taking the Waxing Moon Vessel with it. Grinning, Olga then said, "It is done. The Waxing Moon Vessel is now in Origin, where it shall now absorb the powers of the crystals.".

The story continues in the next chapter.