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Guest- Fate: Mysterious Night is intended to be an offshoot of the timeline of Fate/strange Fake, so it's a world where the traits of both Fate and Tsukihime worlds are present.

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Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia or any Fate works, and they are the properties of their respective creators.

Tournament Uproar II: Tigers At Seaside

U.A. High School, Mustafu
One Day Ago…

Two days after the harrowing attack on the U.S.J., Class 1-A found themselves once again on the U.A. campus. As the nineteen students waited for their teacher to arrive, the air was thick with feelings of both suspicion and relief.

All of the students had survived the U.S.J. Attack, but several amongst their number— Yaoyorozu, Jiro, and Kendo— seemed to have an undetermined connection to the vigilantes who had appeared in the facility.

As the minutes ticked by, the apprehension in the room only continued to grow. Could it be that Mr. Aizawa was not going to be the one to walk through that door? All of the class could attest to the fact that their homeroom teacher's condition was anything but good following the attack. Recovery Girl may have assured the class he would live, but the question of whether or not he would be fit to teach anytime soon was still up in the air.

Soon enough, however, the answer to Class 1-A's questions came hobbling through the door covered in bandages.

"Good morning."

With Aizawa's sudden arrival, the class exploded into chatter. With a gasp, Mina Ashido voiced everyone's surprise succinctly, "You're back already, Mr. Aizawa?"

Iida, meanwhile, raised his hand with a shout, "We are glad to see you are well, sir!"

Behind him, Uraraka butted in incredulously after noticing Aizawa's body visibly shaking, "If you can call that 'doing well'..."

Aizawa, however, was done with the noise, "My welfare isn't important. We've got bigger matters to discuss. Come in."

At Aizawa's direction, another man came through the door. It was an individual that only the Masters in the room recognized. It was Hansa Cervantes, the eyepatched priest they met the night prior. However, this time, he was wearing a black business suit in place of his cassock.

Tsuyu Asui raised her hand, "Mr. Aizawa, who is that, kero?"

Aizawa introduced the stranger to the class, "This is Agent Stridberg. He's a member of C.E.R.B.E.R.U.S."

At the mention of "C.E.R.B.E.R.U.S.", the small bits of muted chatter around the room all stopped, replaced by shock and awe.

While the HPSC was the primary quirk-governing power in Japan, a different organization was dedicated to managing Quirks and villainy on an international scale. That organization was the Containment, Enforcement, and Reconnaissance Bureau for the Examination and Restraint of Uncontrolled Superhumans— known more commonly by its acronym, "C.E.R.B.E.R.U.S.".

Founded in the wake of the Ragnarök Incident in Pennsylvania countless years ago, C.E.R.B.E.R.U.S. worked to bring order to an increasingly chaotic and superpowered world. While Interpol still moved under the public eye, C.E.R.B.E.R.U.S. moved in the shadows, performing operations known only for their sheer amount of black ink and red tape. For the world at large, including the students of 1-A, learning "Stridberg" was associated with this mysterious organization was nothing short of dumbfounding.

The entire class now stood at attention, curious to learn about the organization's reasons for revealing this agent to them. Doubts remained of course, especially amongst the Masters. They had met Hansa the night of the U.S.J. Attack and so knew his true identity was that of an otherworldly priest. So that raised the question— why was Aizawa now claiming he was an agent of C.E.R.B.E.R.U.S.?

Hansa, unconcerned with various looks of awe and suspicion, played along to the act Nezu had prepared for him, "Hello, students of Class 1-A. As your teacher said, my name is Agent Stridberg. I've come to speak to you all about some of the circumstances regarding that terrible perpetrated at the U.S.J. facility."

Putting his hand on the teacher's desk, Hansa added a new steel to his voice, "This should come as no surprise, but you will all be required to keep what I tell you here absolutely secret. If you inform anyone, even your own family, you will be not just expelled. C.E.R.B.E.R.U.S. will have to take measures to… plug the leak, so to speak."

Hansa then gave the class a look oozing with deadly intent, something that caused even the likes of Todoroki and Bakugo to shiver.

'Good, looks like they're buying my act.'

As Kendo, Yaoyorozu, and Jiro suspected, Hansa's whole "C.E.R.B.E.R.U.S. Agent" claim was one big hoax. To ensure that any lies regarding the Grail War wouldn't be questioned, Nezu asked Hansa (who had no traceable identity) to pretend to be a C.E.R.B.E.R.U.S. agent. The priest had gone along with it, and the act seemed to be working so far— even if there was a degree of doubt in the air.

"I can't inform you about everything, but I can tell you this much. The hooded villain that appeared at the U.S.J. is an individual codenamed 'Berserker', a member of one of our villain rehabilitation programs. Jester Karture, the perpetrator of the Nagoya attack, convinced Berserker and several others to return to a life of villainy, traveling here to Japan. To suppress and capture them, we've deployed other individuals from a similar program, under the guise of vigilantes."

Shoji, raising his hand bravely, voiced a question lingering in several students' minds, "Agent Stridberg… what is the relation of some of these vigilantes to our classmates?"

Hansa, luckily, had an answer ready, "We have reason to believe your classmates and their families could be potential targets of these villains, or in the case of Ms. Yaoyorozu, confirmed targets. Some of our agents are serving as bodyguards, something your principal has agreed to. That is all I can tell you, however— you must understand, nearly all of this is classified."

Shoji nodded, "I understand. Thank you."

Aizawa then stepped forward, "Let's move on. Agent Stridberg, are you done?"

Hansa nodded, "Yes. I'll take my leave, Eraserhead."

The eyepatched man then left, leaving Class 1-A to digest the information they had just been given. Aizawa, however, did not give them long. After only a minute or two of waiting, he pivoted to the day's next topic of importance, "Now then… with the U.S.J. stuff covered, we can talk about your next big challenge. Your fight is only just beginning."

Bakugo muttered softly, "Our fight…?"

Mineta shook in fear, "Does he mean… more villains?!"

Aizawa grunted, "Not more villains, you dolts… it's almost time for U.A.'s annual Sports Festival."

Ashido stood up from her seat like a rocket, "That's so ordinary!"

Sero raised his hand, "Sir? We just had a villain attack— the Festival isn't getting delayed?"

Aizawa shook his head, grunting in slight pain after doing so, "It's a necessary choice. To demonstrate that this school, but Japan as a whole, can come back from turmoil… the show must go on, as our Principal would say. If you're worried, we've already made contracts for several times more police and hero security than we've had in past years."

Mineta still wasn't certain, "Are they sure? It's just a Sports Festival…"

Momo Yaoyorozu looked at the boy in front of her with surprise, "Mineta… the U.A. Sports Festival is one of the biggest events in Japan every year! Its broadcast rates are greater than the Olympics and it surpasses even I-Island's technology expos in attendance numbers. Numbers that include the nation's top heroes."

Mineta whimpered, "I know that, but…"

Aizawa interrupted swiftly, "Well said, Yaoyorozu. Like your classmate said, this is an event that only happens once a year. This is your annual chance to get scouted as a sidekick. If you're hoping to become a hero, this is an event you can't miss. And even more so than usual, I want every single one of you giving it your all."

Kendo tilted her head, "What do you mean, sir?"

"Just a few days ago, we lost numerous good heroes to the Nagoya Disaster— Ryukyu, Kamui Woods, and Captain Sparta, just to name a few. The Tournament Committee has decided to dedicate this year's Sports Festival to them, and it will be advertised as such. Therefore, the eyes of the heroes in the stands will be even more scrutinizing as you try to live up to the legacies of the heroes who lost their lives that day."

Breathing in heavily, Aizawa swept his gaze across the room, "So tell me— are you going to show this country you have what it takes?"

Todoroki Residence, Shizuoka
One Day Ago…

Shoto Todoroki was distracted.

Despite his efforts to remain focused on his homework for Cementoss's Modern Literature class, the U.A. first-year could tell his mind was not in it. Putting his pencil down with a sigh, Shoto instead began trying to sort through the source of his distraction.

Although Mr. Aizawa's announcement of the Sports Festival and the appearance of a C.E.R.B.E.R.U.S. agent was certainly interesting, it wouldn't have been enough to ruin his ability to study. What truly had thrown Shoto's mind into disarray was the words of his father from two nights ago.

Shoto had wanted to disregard his father's heartfelt tale and rationalize it as some new attempt at exerting control. Yet, despite his attempts to believe in such thoughts, something about his father's words had shaken Shoto— and the boy did not like it one bit.

'My mind is all messed up because of his damn words… I don't even know what to believe anymore.'

Staring at his pencil before shaking his head, Shoto chose to give up on trying to do homework. With everything on his mind right now, he knew he wouldn't remember anything anyway. Throwing himself onto his bed, the youngest son of the Todoroki family stared up at the ceiling in defeat. Before long, the mental exhaustion caught up with Shoto, and wakefulness gave way to sleep. Snoring softly with not even a blanket to cover him, the boy began to dream.

A dream of memories… a dream of two nights prior.

Todoroki Residence, Shizuoka
Two Days Ago…

Kneeling at the dinner table with his children watching him intently, Enji Todoroki began his tale, "The story of your mother and I starts many years ago. At the time, Rei was still in college, and I had just finished my tenure as a sidekick of Engetsu, the No.3 Hero. But this story starts with more than just your mother and I. It starts with Rei's…"

Enji hesitated before he continued speaking, "…your mother's family. The Himura Clan."

Both Fuyumi and Natsuo perked up at this information, but Shoto was especially interested. He had known about 'Himura' being his mother's maiden name, but he had no idea about the significance of that until his battle at the U.S.J.'s Landslide Zone.

'Himura… that villain I fought, my great-uncle, said he "culled the Himura". Maybe…'

With this new realization, Shoto gave extra attention to his father's next words.

"The Himura as a clan has existed for centuries, but it was only after the appearance of Quirks that they gained their full pedigree. Throughout Japan, the Himura became known as a source of powerful Ice Quirk users, a reputation embraced fully. Alas, this led to inbreeding, and by me and Rei's time, the family was a shell of its former self. Furthermore, it was also then that they faced their greatest disaster… the vengeance of a black sheep of the family, a man named Ashuto."

Shoto narrowed his eyes, 'Ashuto… so that villain really was my great-uncle.'

"Ashuto, in contrast to the rest of his family, did not possess an Ice Quirk. Instead, his Quirk let him push back the cold itself. Shunned and hated, he lashed out against his family and became a villain. Unable to overcome his immunity to their powers, the Himura's upper ranks fell one after another to his blade. Branch families were lost, and the main family was engulfed by paranoia. That is where I come into the story."

Endeavor's shoulders sagged, the shame evident in his expression, "During a battle with a villain, my mentor died via overuse of his Quirk. He, who possessed a fire Quirk like me, had pushed past his limits and burned himself out— literally. I was already the No.2 Hero at the time, but this fear fused with my overwhelming desire to surpass All Might and become the top hero. In my life's first great sin, I became obsessed with finding a way to counterbalance my flames. To create a hero who could balance out the heat in my blood with cold. That was what led me to the Himura Clan."

Natsuo glared at his father, "You bastard…"

Giving his son an enigmatic look, the patriarch of the Todoroki family continued, "What I did is likely what you all expect. I made a deal with the Himura Clan. But it didn't come from defeating Ashuto, who had already disappeared by the time I got involved. Instead, I offered them financial support. In exchange for helping them survive, they promised one of the main family's daughters to me— your mother."

Enji put his hands together, "But don't think it was a loveless marriage. I met with all three daughters of the Himura main clan, given the choice between any of them. Only Rei was the one to draw my attention. She was both beautiful and kind. It was love at first sight."

The Todoroki children had mixed reactions to seeing the melancholic expression, "Those halcyon days… I regret not appreciating them more. But two years after our marriage, Rei at last had a child. Your older brother, Toya."

Enji set his gaze on Fuyumi next, "After your brother was born, Rei had expressed a desire for another child. That led to your birth, Fuyumi. Yet, at the same time, it was when my obsession began to rear its ugly head once more. I started training Toya to be my successor. But despite developing a Quirk similar to mine, his constitution was different. Instead of having the high level of heat resistance typical of flame-type Quirks, Toya only inherited your mother's cold resistance. To ensure his safety, I ceased his training— something he refused to accept."

Enji sighed deeply, "That was when I made my second great sin. Desperate to make Toya give up on his dreams of being a hero, I encouraged Rei to have even more children. That was what led to your birth, Natsuo. But due to my overwhelming focus on Toya, I didn't give you the attention you deserved, and treated you unfairly."

Natsuo scoffed, "Ain't that the truth? You never cared a lick about me, old man. I was just a defective product. Just like Toya was."

Enji slammed his fist on the table but held in his yell. Natsuo, however, continued to prod him.

"What is it, old man? Going to yell at me? Tell me I'm wrong?"

Fuyumi looked at her brother worriedly. Natsuo was going out of his way to antagonize their father, and she worried that a full-blown argument was about to break out.

But Enji kept his cool, "No, son. I won't. Maybe I would have once… but my recent experiences have shown me the error of my ways. I did not see you as the person you are, or praise you for the accomplishments you've achieved. I know it's probably too late… but I can only hope you give me the chance to be proud of you now."

Natsuo said nothing, "..."

Sensing his second son would not give him an answer today, Enji continued his story, "Then came to your birth, Shoto. The beginning of my third sin. I saw you as a masterpiece, a perfect outcome of my goals… and I neglected my other children in the process. I even pushed aside Rei, ignoring her words about how I was losing myself. And while I dedicated myself to training you, Shoto… while Toya was making his own strides. Strides I didn't want him to make."

Enji clenched his fist, "I became a true monster, abusing the love of my life. Ruining the life of my children. That brings us to that terrible night, my greatest sin… the Sekoto Peak fire. Toya wanted to show me what he had accomplished with his flames, and when I failed to show up, he lost control. The wildfire consumed not just the peak… but his life. In that moment, I had a brief moment of lucidity, a realization of the horror of my actions. But that guilt soon gave way to an even more wild desperation."

He looked at Shoto, who was looking at his father with a disgusted glare, "I became even more obsessed with training you Shoto, and pushed your mother past the breaking point. That brings us to the present… and the Nagoya attack."

Fuyumi put a finger to her chin, "When you battled that Black Knight?"

"Yes. During that battle, I was pushed to my limits. The Black Knight was unlike any foe I had ever fought before, and it is a miracle that I survived."

'And maybe to Natsuo and Shoto, I'd have been better off dying…'

Enji shifted his hands back together again, "Even my powered-up attacks seemed to only aggravate it. For the first time since the battle that helped make me No.2, I used my ultimate attack."

Shoto spoke softly, "Prominence Burn."

"Yes. The news didn't report it, but I used my ultimate attack against that Ser–villain. I was already passed my limit at that point, and it was only thanks to Gang Orca's agency and Hyade's swift actions that I survived using it at all."

Shoto caught his father's near mistake, but didn't comment on it, 'Ser–villain?'

"But during that battle, I had a realization. Just before I tried to initially use Prominence Burn, my life flashed before my eyes. I relived what I had done, and I found myself wishing to change."

Standing up and taking a step away from the table, Enji then kneeled down— and prostrated himself. It was a move that surprised all three of his children.

"A father… a father must stand by his children. And support them. I've made many mistakes, nor have I been a good father to any of you. But Nagoya opened my eyes. I need to become a better father, for all your sakes."

Enji breathed in, "I know it's hard to believe. Nor have I done anything to inspire your confidence, but just this once, trust me. I vow, here and now…. to become better."

Katsushika, Tokyo
Day 8, Morning

In a disused warehouse in the Katsushika Ward of Tokyo, two villains sat and ate a menial breakfast.

The smaller of the two was a thin man with tangerine-colored skin and a duck-like face. His grayish-blue hair was tied in a ponytail and on his forehead was a set of goggles. He was dressed in a sleeveless black unitard and his enlarged fingers were a striking bright orange color. His name was Tsumuji Kazetani, aka Gust Boy.

Next to Gust Boy was his boss, Maguma Iwata, also known as Volcano. Unlike his lanky companion, Volcano was a toweringly muscular villain. His skin was extremely pale, while his hair was fiery orange and wild. He wore a baggy dark blue bodysuit and an orange utility belt, and next to him was a gas mask and rock-like gauntlets that he had removed so he could eat properly.

Twirling a spoon in his abnormally large fingers, Gust Boy posed a question to his leader, "Hey boss… we gotta go looking for her, right?"

Volcano shook his head, "No. At this point, Dusty Ash is likely captured or dead. We'll need to vacate this hideout today as well. We should have moved as soon as she went AWOL."

"But what if she's still okay? Shouldn't us Volcano Thieves stick together?"

"Not this time, Gust. Dusty Ash went out on her own. If she's paid for her carelessness, that is her price to pay. Not ours."

Gust Boy gritted his teeth, but Volcano shut him down with a smoldering glare, "Do you understand me?"

"Yes, boss."

"Good."

But before the two could get back to eating their meal, the door to the warehouse opened, and in came a woman with familiar-colored gray hair.

The seductive voice of "Dusty Ash" echoed through the warehouse, "Why, hello there gentlemen."

Gust Boy sighed in relief, "Dusty Ash! You're back!"

Volcano, however, was more suspicious. Something wasn't right here. Appraising Dusty Ash, he noticed several things that didn't line up with his memories of his teammate. First and foremost was her mannerisms. Dusty Ash did tend to speak in a teasing and seductive manner, but something about it wasn't right this time. No matter how playful she got, Dusty Ash wouldn't have called them "gentleman", even as a joke. And mannerisms aside, two visual aspects were inconsistent. First was her outfit. The Dusty Ash that Volcano knew had a very vocal dislike of dresses, always opting for hoodies and sweatpants when she had to travel incognito. But secondly, there was her eyes. Dusty Ash had light purple eyes and never used contacts due to her Quirk. If her eyes were now a crimson red… that could only mean one thing.

'This isn't Dusty Ash. This is an enemy.'

Attaching his right Eruption Gauntlet, Volcano raised his arm at the woman he now suspected as his enemy. In line with his attitude of "shoot first, ask questions later", the pyroclastic villain rapidly used his Quirk, converting his body fat into molten lava. Enhanced by his gauntlet, the fiery attack raced toward "Dusty Ash".

Gust Boy turned to his leader, "Boss! What are you doing?"

Volcano simply growled, "That isn't Dusty Ash."

Ishtar, seeing the molten mass rushing her way, smiled as she infused the air with her authority. Compelled by her divine charm, the lava produced by Volcano's Quirk rapidly cooled, leaving charmed rock to fall to the floor with a thud.

Volcano was caught off guard by the event, "What?"

Ishtar then unleashed a wave of charm energies that filled the warehouse. Volcano managed to maintain himself, but Gust Boy was overwhelmed by raw desire. Overcome with pleasure, he foamed at the mouth before collapsing in a heap. It was a sight that pleased Ishtar.

"Now that's more like it. Mortals should listen to their betters, after all."

Ishtar's glare made a shiver run through Volcano's spine. Even with the mental fortitude afforded to him by his military training, the leader of the Volcano Thieves felt fear creeping through his veins.

"Who… are you? You aren't Dusty Ash… SO WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?"

In a frenzy, the man rushed toward the goddess, molten rock exuding from his body. But Ishtar looked at the oncoming man with a mix of boredom and disappointment, "So many unruly men in this aberrant mirage. Don't worry, it will all be over soon…"

As the two met in an explosion of crystal and lava, a geyser of blood erupted in the warehouse— and soon, Maguma Iwata knew no more.

Roughly two minutes later, a bloodstained goddess stepped out of the Volcano Thieves' decrepit hideout. Having dealt with the two villainous allies of her host body, Ishtar could already feel the influence of Konako Haizono's psyche being reduced to near zero. With no more meaningful tethers to the world, the villainess's feeble attempts to retake her body ceased.

"Finally, I can acclimate properly to this body. Make it worthy of being a vessel of a goddess."
While Ishtar already had access to a large majority of her powers, her existence had up until now been relatively unstable. She wasn't weak or helpless by any means, but the more intricate uses of her authority had been more difficult to utilize. With Dusty Ash's resistances dealt with, she could use her power to steadily transform this mortal shell into a near-genuine divine body.

'I must be careful to not remove my link to this world's orchestrator, however. If I untether myself from this world, I run the risk of being affected by that outsider's whims.'

Glancing at a nearby window, Ishtar noticed her vague reflection in the cracked glass.

'I'm absolutely filthy. That won't do at all.'

With a snap of her fingers, Ishtar compelled the blood of Gust Boy and Volcano to slide right off her skin and clothing. She was now encircled by a ring of blood splatter, but the goddess herself was now spotlessly clean.

Bringing her thoughts back to her goals, Ishtar began to walk away, 'There's no need to rush. If this was a normal Grail War I might be pressed for time… but I still have forty days to act.'

With a smile, the goddess-turned-Rider continued making her way out of the dingy array of warehouses. Her steps echoed in the morning air, as she moved ever closer toward her future goals.

Dagobah Beach, Mustafu
Day 8, Morning

"So… has my other half vanished from your Noble Phantasm? I no longer feel her energy within you, Saber."

As the waves crashed quietly against the sands of Dagobah Beach, the Heroic Spirits Richard I and Morgan Le Fay stood in quiet conversation. The beach was much more quiet now, as most of the training group had gone for a warm-up run. Aside from Ruler and Saber, only Hansa Cervantes and Ariadne remained behind to have a discussion of their own.

To anyone who might pass by, they might have mistaken the two as a couple enjoying the morning sea breeze. Unlike at the U.S.J., they were now both clad in modern clothing. Morgan had conjured athletic clothing and tied her hair back with a light blue scrunchie, while Richard was dressed in a burgundy t-shirt and black sweatpants.

As his braided ponytail fluttered in the oceanic wind, Richard nodded back to Morgan, "That's correct, Lady Le Fay. My Master's body can only support the presence of three vassals, so once Rider's tome faded away, Nimue returned to the Throne."

Morgan clicked her tongue, "I suspected as much. Also, Saber— I am well aware you may have no qualms with unveiling your own identity… but please use my moniker. This is the Holy Grail War, after all. I forgave it during the urgency of the U.S.J., but we must be more vigilant about sharing our identities."

Richard bowed in apology, "Of course, Lady Ruler. I let my preferences overwhelm my logic."

Morgan chuckled, "Just as long as you're aware. Nevertheless, I would not be against giving you a first-hand account of my life should we have some privacy. How does that sound?"

The Saber-class Servant's face lit up in excitement, "Thank you, milady! I would be honored to hear whatever tales you may offer me!"

Morgan said nothing in response, turning her eyes to the boundless ocean nearby. Her thoughts wandered to her sister, undoubtedly waiting in that unreachable corner of Avalon. It was agonizing, knowing Artoria's spirit lay just beyond her reach, waiting for the promised time.

'If nothing else, I want to deliver that message… and know that she has heard it.'

Richard, seeing the troubled expression on Morgan's face, remained silent. He could sense this was a moment that he wasn't intended to take part in, and would allow Morgan's thoughts to run their course.

Morgan came back to her senses a few moments later, "I apologize. I let my emotions get the better of me."

Richard shook his head, "You needn't worry, milady. I didn't notice a thing."

Morgan smiled thankfully, and the two stood in silence for several more minutes, observing the waves until they heard the sounds of approaching runners. As they expected, it was the rest of the group returning.

At the front of the pack was Musashi, followed by Hippolyta and Rin. Itsuka, Momo, Kyoka, and Ibara were just behind them. After another minute or two, Shiro came along side-by-side with Izuku. The auburn-haired young man had willingly lagged behind to keep an eye on Izuku, who was wheezing and shaking as he hobbled forward. Even though he had been lifting weights and exercising over the last few days, it hadn't prepared him for the lengthy run Rin and Hippolyta had led the group on.

As the group made it back down to the beach, Rin turned to address the whole group. She briefly lingered her gaze on Izuku, who was taking slow sips from a water bottle created by Momo, but refocused herself, "Alright. Now that we've finished warming up, we are going to start with some basic exercises. We'll be doing this in pairs. Since there's an odd number of you, I'll be joining in while Rider observes. Kendo, I'll have you pair up with me."

Itsuka nodded, "Yes, Miss Tohsaka."

Rin then quickly paired up the rest of the students. Ibara was grouped with Momo, while Kyoka was paired with Izuku. Musashi, seeing she didn't have a part to play at the moment, went over to chat (or maybe spar) with Hansa and Ariadne. Shiro, meanwhile, headed over toward Richard and Morgan.

"Hello, Master. How was the run?"

Shiro shrugged, "Not bad. Although, I'm admittedly not the best metric, given how I was taught."

Both of Shiro's primary mentors in exercising, Taiga and Saber, had both been the extremest sort of teachers. Under them, you became strong and skilled fast or you didn't survive.

"Yes, I saw as much when we traveled between worlds. My sister certainly did not go easy on you."

During their transport between worlds, Morgan and Shiro's souls had briefly linked thanks to the power of Morgan's Mystic Code. It had provided her with a deluge of memories, some certainly more private than others, as well as a tantalizing look at her Master's Reality Marble.

Shiro hadn't managed to see as much from Morgan, but he had still seen numerous glimpses of the Black Witch's life.

Shiro chuckled before an excited Richard moved extremely close to him, "So you're the fabled Shiro! I knew you were Lady Ruler's Master, but to think you were once Master of Lady Artoria as well! It's simply incredible! Your affinity for Camelot must exceed even my own!"

Shiro didn't know exactly how to respond, "Well, I…"

But before he could properly reply, Richard turned his head, as if listening to someone Shiro couldn't see, "Hmmm? What's got three of you clamoring at me? I… ah, I understand. I suppose you are right."

Stepping back, Richard bowed, "Apologies, Sir Emiya. I was discourteous, and forgot my manners."

Shiro shook his head, "It's alright. You just… surprised me."

"Still… yes, yes… I'm getting to it, my good chap. Apologies, Sir Emiya, as I was trying to say before I was interrupted, I simply want to let you know I have great respect for you. Should you need my aid, on my honor as a knight, I will come— unless my Master says otherwise."

Shiro was still a bit confused, but he understood, "Thank you, Saber. Err… or was it True Saber?"

Richard smiled and gestured to Musashi, who was talking animatedly with Hansa and Caster, "Due to the complications with the Grail, seems there is more than one 'True Saber' in this war. Since both Miss Kendo's Servant and I are of the Saber class, we're going to refer to ourselves based on the order of arrival. I manifested first, so I will be 'True Saber', while she will be the second of the 'True' Sabers, or 'Second Saber' for short. Although my dear friend, Joach— err, an abbott who would prefer to remain anonymous, has his own thoughts about the naming scheme we're using."

£) « It's asinine! Why is the third Saber in this war being shortened to "Second Saber"? I understand the False Saber would be considered in a somewhat separate group, but it's still ridiculous! »

o) « There goes Joachim with his strange obsession. I swear, it's only things like this that he loses his head at. »

[) « Although, his criticisms aren't unfounded. This naming sense is also irksome to me, given the litany of other possibilities. »

As Richard held in a laugh toward the Sub-Servants in his head, Morgan asked Shiro a question that had been lingering in her mind, "So, Master… how is that 'green-haired boy' that Zelretch told you to watch doing?"

"Midoriya? Well… I have to say I'm worried about him. He seems even more out of his depth than I was back in the Fifth War."

Morgan followed Shiro's gaze, watching as Izuku struggled to do a sit-up. Based on the emotions she sensed roiling off of Kyoka Jiro's soul, at least from what she could see despite the interference from the girl's Quirk Factor, she suspected that Midoriya's number of prior sit-ups wasn't very high. Even Hippolyta looked slightly troubled.

'His Servant's criticisms are extremely valid. His soul is mired in self-doubt. Even with some improvements and his newfound goals, the boy is anything but confident in himself. But there's still that potential I sensed in him. I'm not mistaken, I'm sure of it.'

Morgan's Fairy Eyes allowed her to peer into the hearts of humanity and discern their true, and often sinful, nature. But with the humans of the World Egg, the process was more difficult. Quirks acted as alien barriers to her vision, creating interference in the same way they did for the Wizard Marshal's Kaleidoscope. The Quirkless, however, lacked this influence. Morgan admittedly hadn't met any other Quirkless people besides Midoriya yet, but even just seeing him was enough for her to be sure. Fairy Eyes only acted differently for that which was alien, with no exceptions.

Perhaps it was that readability that drew Morgan to observe Midoriya's soul so much. After spending much time in the Reverse Side and interacting with beings alien enough to counteract her eyes, seeing a living human's soul was strangely comforting.

'He's a good human as well. I reviled these eyes for showing me the unclean hearts of men… but this boy is rather pure, by my standards. Far more viewable a soul than that priest or Shiro's lover. Not that Mr. Cervantes or Ms. Tohsaka are wicked souls, but Mr. Midoriya's soul is far less nuanced than theirs.'

Morgan watched as Izuku struggled through another sit-up, his arms shakily visibly, 'That being said… a pure soul doesn't equate to being strong. The boy has a lot of catching up to do. But then again, isn't that why he is here?'

Looking back at Shiro, Morgan spoke slowly, "Master… I have gained some insight about Izuku Midoriya. About his potential."

As Richard listened in curiously, Shiro replied questioning, "His potential?"

"Well, to put it simply… even if the boy is Quirkless, that does not mean he is powerless. He has the potential for a power you and Ms. Tohsaka are well acquainted with. The power of—"

Dagobah Beach, Mustafu
Day 8, Afternoon

Even after lunch, Morgan's words about Izuku Midoriya's potential still swirled in Shiro's mind. He'd agreed to not interfere since Morgan said she'd tell the boy tomorrow, but the anticipation still ate at Shiro slightly.

However, Shiro's thoughts were interrupted by the approach of his girlfriend, Rin.

The brunette waved to Shiro lightly, "Hey, Shiro— let's talk for a second."

With a flick of her hand, a white-colored jewel landed in the sand. As Shiro wondered where she had gotten them from, given Rin's skin-tight and pocketless attire, the woman herself spoke a German incarnation.

"Das Schließen. Vogelkäfig, Echo!"

As soon as Rin said "Echo", a thin veil of light expanded out from the jewel before vanishing.

Rin wiped some loose dust from her hands as she appraised her work, "There we go. Now we won't have any listeners."

Shiro glanced down at the white jewel, "A soundproofing Bounded Field?"

"That's correct. Now then… let's get to talking before the spell runs its course."

"Right. So what's the matter?"

Rin's expression lost its amicability, "Well, I'll just be frank about this. There's something I didn't reveal at that meeting the other night. Something else that happened on the day we met back up."

Shiro stayed silent, and let Rin continue, "Before you showed up, and I beelined for the U.S.J., I was scouting ley-lines with Rider. But then, she sensed something. Or as I should say, someone."

Shiro thought briefly, 'Rin told me already that Rider was Hippolyta… so who would Hippolyta… react… to…!'

Seeing Shiro's eyes widen, Rin knew he had realized what she was saying, "As you have likely figured out, there's only a handful of people that Hippolyta would be able to sense and react to. And it wasn't any of her sisters. It was Heracles."

"Heracles… that's not good."

"Yeah. Although it seems he's an Archer this time, for better or for worse. But he wasn't the Servant present. When Rider arrived, there was another Servant who was already fighting Heracles. The third Saber of this war— Chrysaor."

Shiro knew the name meant "golden sword" in Greek, but he couldn't exactly remember who this "Chrysaor" was when it came to Greek Mythology, "Sorry, Rin. I don't remember who that is."

Rin shrugged, "I'm not surprised. Chrysaor is about as obscure as it gets when it comes to named heroes. He's Medusa's son."

"Medusa's son? I didn't even know that Sakura's Servant even had a child besides the Pegasus."

Rin nodded, "And as we learned from Sakura after the war, Pegasus wasn't even her child. It was a misunderstanding created by Perseus, who saved it from being digested by its former master."

Rin then shook her head to clear her thoughts, "But I'm getting off track. Back to the battle. So there was Heracles, Chrysaor, and my Rider… but even that wasn't everyone. And you're not going to like who showed up next. It was Gilgamesh."

"Gilgamesh…!"

Shiro's blood felt frozen at Rin's words. He still vividly remembered Gilgamesh's actions from the Fifth War. He may have narrowly defeated the King of Heroes with Unlimited Bladeworks, but even that had been thanks to the incarnated Servant's nature and weakened state. The weakened Gilgamesh had been able to defeat Heracles as a Berserker and kill Illya— what would a fully powered version of him be like?

Rin acknowledged Shiro's horrified expression, "I was just as shocked as you were when I found out. Plus, given one of the weapons he showed off, seems we didn't see everything that the King of Heroes can do in the Fifth War."

"What happened after Gilgamesh got there? Were any Servants killed?"

"No. Near the end, it seems he got distracted by something and he flew away. But there was also another Servant who showed up around that time— a Caster. She seemed allied with Heracles, and reminds me of Medea, although it's definitely not her."

"A Caster like Medea? Did she use Spartoi?"

"No… but she did use poison. Although hers was through flower pollen, so that's a difference. Soon after her arrival though, Chrysaor was pulled away by a Command Spell and Hippolyta retreated. Then she headed to U.A., and well, the rest you know."

"Yeah. Both Gilgamesh and Heracles, though… it's the Fifth War all over again."

"There's one more thing I should mention about Gilgamesh. I'm not certain, but from some of the things he said, it seems like he might remember the Fifth Holy Grail War."

"You think he survived being dragged into the Grail? Is that even possible?"

"If anyone could do it, it would be Gilgamesh. He managed to survive for ten years on the energy of those poor orphans that the Fake Priest 'took in'. He's remarkably tenacious."

Shiro grimaced, "That's true. It was only thanks to Archer that I wasn't dragged into the Grail with him."

Shiro and Rin's conversation then tapered off, but just before Rin could dispel the Bounded Field, he spoke up, "Hold on, Rin. Before you break the spell, there's something I need to tell you. Something Ruler told me about Midoriya."

Temporary Housing Unit, U.A. High School
Day 8, Night

That night, as he slumbered in his bed at U.A., Izuku Midoriya dreamed of destruction. As he observed a horrible yet foreign memory, the voice of his Servant echoed in his head.

"Those who cherish their life should run away now."

It wasn't quite a nightmare, but it was undoubtedly a dark dream— thick with the smell of blood, gunpowder, and burning flesh.

"This place shall soon become a hell on Earth."

It wasn't at all like Izuku's first experience with the Dream Cycle, where he watched an 8-year-old Nobunaga receive an entire castle from her father.

It also wasn't like Nobunaga's unusual romance with Nōhime, an intriguing play of concealed gender and manipulation.

This was a scene far later in his summoned Servant's life, a sinful act of iconoclasm and desecration— the tragedy of Mount Hiei.

"The deities of the three realms shall all be nothing but ash!"

As symbols of Shinto and Buddhism burned around him, Izuku set his eyes on what lay at the center of the conflagration— upon the Heroic Spirit he had summoned while in the claws of the League of Villains. Unlike in her manifestation as a Servant, Nobunaga was dressed in garb more in line with the normas of the Sengoku Period. In her hand was a blood-stained katana.

It was like Izuku was no longer looking at a human, but a monster. One who would claim lordship over an entire heavenly realm.

"I am the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven…"

"…Pāpīyas" | "…Oda Nobunaga"

Like a buzzing bee in his mind, the two names shifted and clashed in Izuku's brain. The more he tried to decipher which name he had heard, the less he was certain of the answer.

The mental puzzle ended with the sound of a firing matchlock, and like a bullet, the estranged Master of Second Archer began to be pulled from his dream. With the confusing yet somehow comforting mental image of a pencil snapping in two, Izuku woke with a start. He was panting hard, and his body was caked with sweat.

"Archer…"

As he looked around his bedroom, Izuku felt as if something within him had shifted. His veins were throbbing, and his body felt like it was on fire. Underneath it all was a thrumming sensation, as though something was waiting to be awakened inside him.

After a few minutes, his body calmed down and tiredness began to overtake Izuku once again. But as he drifted back into slumber, he couldn't help but feel apprehensive about that feeling he'd just had. Was it lingering effects from the dream? Was it a Quirk, at last blossoming within him?

Izuku wasn't sure, and his brain was too addled to conceive a proper answer. Falling asleep once more, the young boy's thoughts lingered on that odd image— a pencil, splintering into two halves.

And soon, he would come to know its meaning.

Shie Hassaikai Compound, Hosu
Day 8, Night

"Archer, I meant the words I said then. You and Caster haven't gotten any leads on Eri or Prelati… so I want you to enter the Labyrinth. Yet now you ask me for more time?"

"Master… I fully intended to enter the Labyrinth, but the situation three days ago changed things. In my battle with Chrysaor, Gilgamesh, and Hippolyta, I lost half of the lives afforded to me by God Hand. To face the Labyrinth with anything less than my full number of lives is an unnecessary risk. If you just give me some more time, your energy should recharge my resurrections."

Ryumatsu was about to refuse when Archer did something the yakuza boss did not expect— he prostrated himself.

"Archer, what are you…?"

"Master… I beseech you. If I am to ask for nothing else, I ask for this. I do not ask for this because I care not for your granddaughter's safety or doubt my own power. I ask this because I want to ensure I have the strength to overcome whatever the Labyrinth may throw at me. The maze will resist me every step of the way, and I want to be at nothing less than my prime when facing it. Please, Master. Allow me the chance to recover and prepare."

Ryumatsu was silent for a long time, before he responded softly, "Archer— if I were to give you this time, how many more days would you need?"

Archer, who remained prostrated, answered calmly, "If I remained in Spirit Form, I would expect I will need at least a week before my Noble Phantasm regains all its charges."

It was a faster time than Heracles would have expected, as even if he had a top-quality magus as a Master, a single life should have taken between two-three days to regenerate. Presently, he suspected it might have something to do with the regenerative aspect of Ryumatsu's Quirk.

Thinking over Heracles's response a little while longer, the boss of the Shie Hassaikai relented with a heavy sigh, "Fine. One week. But no more exceptions after that, Archer."

The Servant of the Bow nodded, "Yes, my Master."

Heracles then dematerialized, his body vanishing as he began his week-long period of restoration. Ryumatsu meanwhile, sighed as he put his head into his hands, 'Reiichi… he would have already sent Archer off with Command Spells to find his daughter. Yet here I am, the grandfather, wallowing in uncertainty. I'm no better than my daughter, leaving my family aside when they need me. Is it my destiny to lose everyone important to me?'

Ryumatsu's thoughts wallowed deeper into the misfortunes of his life. The first one he had lost was his wife Tatsuki, who had died in childbirth. Then had been his stepson, Reiichi, who had been accidentally killed by Eri's Quirk. Third had been his daughter Michiru, who had abandoned Eri out of fear over her husband's fate. And now there was Eri, stolen away by the Labyrinth and the Holy Grail War.

The elderly boss was nearing a breaking point, his mind not being able to cope with the losses he had experienced.

But as the Master of Archer despaired, another was listening to his worries— the Second Caster of the Holy Grail War, Agrippina. Eavesdropping through a magic circle she had hidden in his room, she organized her thoughts about this new development.

As she had hoped, Heracles's departure for the Labyrinth was going to be delayed. From her observations, it also seemed that Ryumatsu's mental state was deteriorating, another positive for her plan— the full nature of which not even her Master knew about.

'Once Heracles enters the Labyrinth, that is when I will strike. Ryumatsu will no doubt believe that sending Heracles to the Labyrinth will improve his mood. But I suspect that it will only momentarily lift his spirits. Once he's lost contact with Archer and is stuck waiting for an answer that may never come… that is when I will make my plan come to fruition.'

Agrippina wanted to laugh. Like a poisonous flower, she was spreading her roots, keeping her malicious intentions hidden. And soon, when these unknowing pawns of hers least expected it, she would bloom, at last unveiling her wicked schemes.

Dagobah Beach, Mustafu
Day 9, Morning

"M-Miss Ruler… shouldn't I-I be watching that combat demonstration with the others? Learning to fight?"

Morgan, who was joined by Shiro, Rin, and an apprehensive-looking Ariadne, glanced momentarily to another part of the beach. As Musashi, Richard, and the other three U.A. Masters watched, Rin's Rider and Hansa Cervantes were engaged in a dance of martial prowess.

Both Servant and Executor were holding back, but their display was still something that would have impressed the likes of Mirko and Shishido.

Morgan, however, was not concerned about that.

"We have more important matters, Mr. Midoriya. After all, as you are now, you have no chance of winning the Sports Festival."

Izuku didn't even try to protest, knowing Morgan was right. Even if he improved over the next several days, there wasn't enough time to be on the level of Quirk-wielding Heroics Students.

Ariadne gave Morgan an unimpressed look, "Stop dodging the point, Ruler. Now isn't the time for theatrics."

Morgan chuckled, "I apologize. After living for hundreds of years, one tends to become a little… dramatic. But very well, I will get to the heart of the matter. Izuku Midoriya, I believe you are capable of wielding magecraft."

Midoriya didn't know exactly how to react, "M-Magecraft? You mean, like, magic spells?"

Morgan shook her head, "Not quite, but I suppose you can think of it as such."

As she spoke, Morgan glanced sideways toward Kyoka Jiro, who she had seen twitch a moment earlier.

'So Richard's Master is listening in with her Quirk? How interesting.'

Shiro asked Morgan a question though, one that was integral to this development, "Ruler, if Midoriya is capable of magecraft, does that mean he has magic circuits?"

"Yes, I detected the presence of nascent magic circuits yesterday. If I had to guess, they formed to substitute for the lack of Quirk Factor with which he would normally summon a Servant."

Seeing Izuku's confused face, Morgan explained in simpler terms, "Mr. Midoriya, to put it concisely, you acquired the ability to use magecraft due to your Quirklessness. However, I suspect they are still not fully activated. That is where Caster and I will assist."

Conjuring forth a golden dagger that Shiro recognized from the Spiritual Tomb, Morgan explained her plan, "This dagger is called Erosion II. It is a conceptual weapon that represents the idea of 'Severing and Binding'."

Internally, Morgan thought about how the dagger was another strange twist of fate, 'A weapon that Severs and Binds… and I have found myself contracting with the adopted son of a magus who had that very Origin. It's almost perfect, one might say.'

Letting Izuku get a clear view of the mystic code, Morgan continued, "But most importantly, I can use this dagger to direct the flow of Mystery, the foundation of magecraft, in your body. Of all the methods to fully activate and prime your circuits, this will be the most painless one."

Ariadne nodded in understanding, "And what is my role?"

"That brings me to Erosion II's main ability. Like its predecessor, this dagger's true power is to cut and re-tie souls. I need you to use your abilities to ensure Mr. Midoriya's soul does not escape during the awakening process."

As Izuku paled, Rin raised an eyebrow, "This seems convoluted. Just awakening magic circuits doesn't require restructuring souls. What's your game here, Ruler?"

Shiro looked at his Servant as well. Even if he wasn't one to talk when it came to activating magic circuits in odd ways, this seemed off to him. Seeing even her Master looking expectantly at her, Morgan revealed the last thing she had been hiding. Looking at Izuku, she spoke carefully.

"I believe we have an opportunity at the brief moment that your soul will be severed from your body, Mr. Midoriya. A chance to imbue you with some of my memories."

"Y-Your memories, Miss Ruler?"

"Yes. Allow me to introduce myself properly, as I feel you deserve, considering what I am asking of you. I am Morgan Le Fay, Witch of the British Isles."

Izuku only had a vague understanding of Arthurian Legend, which had fallen out of more common interest in the Quirked Era. But Morgan Le Fay was a name he still vaguely recognized, especially due to research into more than a few European heroines who had styled themselves after her.

"Does that m-mean… by memories d-do you m-mean..?"

Morgan understood Izuku's garbled questioning, and answered plainly, "Yes. I intend to give your body memories of Camelot's knightly training exercises. You'll still need to keep improving your body and master basic strengthening-type Magecrafts, but those memories will let you overcome the vast gap in experience you lack."

However, Izuku's response surprised Morgan, "No t-thank you. I'd just like my magic circuits awakened, please. No memories attached."

Morgan looked puzzled, "Why?"

Izuku clenched his fists, "I-I'm weak, I k-know that. But… I don't want to get stronger by stealing someone else's efforts!"

Rin glanced at Shiro and smiled as she looked back at Izuku, 'Archer… I feel like you'd like this boy. Or hate him. It was hard to tell with you.'

Morgan smiled as well, remembering one of her children telling her the same thing once, "Very well. Well, we won't be needing this, then."

Dispelling Erosion II, Morgan nodded to Ariadne, "I'd still appreciate your assistance in opening his magic circuits fully."

The Caster-class Servant nodded, "Of course. Just a warning, Mr. Midoriya… this will feel very strange."

Izuku jumped slightly when the two women each put a hand on him. Morgan's hand was on his pectoral, while Ariadne's was touching his upper back.

The two then began to push magical energy into Izuku, who was overcome with a feeling of warmth and excitement.

'It's… like that feeling from last night.'

One by one, the 18 magic circuits in Izuku's body began to be unlocked. As the warm feeling continued to spread through him, he was drawn back to that image of a pencil snapping in two.

As the ritual progressed, Izuku's body began to glow green as circuit-like patterns appeared across his body. The sight drew the attention of his schoolmates, Hansa, and the other Servants, all of whom stopped to watch. With a final push, Izuku's final circuit was unlocked, and the boy opened his eyes, feeling like he had almost awoken from a dream.

Morgan smiled, "Congratulations, Mr. Midoriya. You are a magus."

The Viewing Room, The Clock Tower
Present Day

In the relative privacy of the Viewing Room, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg observed the churning tides of time.

Even though he was exhausted from being interrogated by the Twelve Lords, he knew he had to keep a careful watch on the future. With all the influences being exerted on fate by the various actors of the war, the future of the World Egg constantly veered towards a myriad of futures.

"So, we approach another crossroad. If we go in the wrong direction here, there is little hope of getting one of the better futures."

Although one wouldn't have thought it given the minimal Servant activity, the U.A. Sports Festival was a critical point in the futures ahead. But Zelretch also supposed it was fitting. After all, Servants were transient beings. In every Grail War, it was always one of the more unexpected Masters who served as a catalyst for great change.

Waver Velvet… Shiro Emiya… and now Izuku Midoriya.

The book in Zelretch's lap came to a stop, showing a picture of the very person of which Zelretch spoke, "The direction we go depends on your performance. So do your best, young man."

First-Year Stage, U.A. High School
Day 22, Morning

Blaring through the loudspeakers all around the stadium, the voice of Present Mic was filled with excitement, "Gather round, Mass Media! It's once again time to see our student body revel in their youth… that's right, it's the U.A. Sports Festival! Everybody— are you ready?!"

The day's events had yet to start, but the mood in the stadium was already heating up. Spectator after spectator filed into the stands, and countless Pro Heroes had traveled to Mustafu, eager to scope out potential interns.

Finally, everything was ready. As Present Mic's voice boomed again, even louder than outside the stadium, the eleven classes of first years began streaming into the stadium.

"Welcome to U.A.'s Sports Festival! The one time each year you get to see our fledgling heroes compete in a ruthless battle to be on top! First up… you know who I'm about to talk about! The miraculous rising stars who brushed off a villain attack with steely willpower… the first-years of the Hero Course… it's CLASS 1-A!"

The crowd roared as 1-A led the way into the stadium, mixed expressions across their faces.

Some, like Shoto Todoroki or Fumikage Tokoyami, were stoic. Others, like Eijiro Kirishima, were more surprised by all the attention.

"They're giving us too much credit, right, Bakugo?"

Bakugo's face adopted a semi-evil grin, "Whatever. Doesn't matter if some stupid extras are a little fired up."

"Next we've got Class 1-B, also of the Heroic Course. They haven't shown their stuff yet, but I'm itching to see them in action!"

In the 1-B group, Neito Monoma had an angry expression, "Even the school sees us as lesser… but we'll show them not to underestimate Class 1-B!"

Konoko Komori, who was slightly addled by the crowd, nodded, "Mr. Mic really should be more neutral, shroom…"

"Following them we've got 1-C, 1-D, and 1-E of the General Studies Course, plus the Support Course made up of 1-F, 1-G, and 1-H! Let's not forget the Business Course either!"

As the crowd of non-heroics students filtered in, muttered complaints kept passing through Chikuchi Togeike's ears.

"Dang it, we really are here to just make the Heroics Course look good."

"Well, there goes my motivation…"

Even her childhood friend, Taro Suzuki, was bummed, "Man, I knew 1-A would overshadow everyone somewhat, but Mr. Mic's introduction was just brutal. 1-B was lucky enough to get its own separate mention… yeesh!"

Chikuchi shrugged, "Guess we'll just have to catch them slacking off, huh, Midoriya?"

The black-haired girl turned to her green-haired friend, who seemed a lot more determined and (if her eyes weren't playing tricks) muscular than she had last seen him. Clearly, he'd been taking the two weeks they had free from class seriously.

"Yeah… let's do our best."

Taro, meanwhile, slung his shoulder over their most unsociable classmate, Hitoshi Shinso, "Oi, Shinso… I heard you gave Class 1-A a pretty scathing challenge! You gonna show them what you've got? With your Mind C—"

The energetic young man was silenced by a glare from Shinso, "Shut up and get your hands off me, Suzuki."

As Shinso continued walking, Taro pouted, "Yeesh, no matter what I do, That guy never warms up to me."

Togeike gave him a deadpan look, "That's 'cause you come on to him like a playboy desperate for a date."

However, the two's antics were soon stopped by the sound of a cracking whip. Along with everyone else, they looked up toward the small stage set in front of everyone. Standing atop the stage was Midnight, the chosen referee for the first-year stage. The lascivious Heroine grinned as she saw the perverted expression of several students, and heard the faint cheers of the crowd at her appearance.

'Ah, youth…'

"I love the energy, but save some of it for the bedroom, kiddos~"

One of the Business Course students raised his hand, "Miss Midnight, such comments really aren't appropriate—"

Cracking her whip again, Midnight silenced the student, "Shush. Anyways, pipe down, everyone. It's time for the Sports Festival to get started. And to kick it all off, I'd like to call Katsuki Bakugo up to make the Athlete's Oath!"

Watching his childhood bully make his way up to the stage next to Midnight, Izuku clenched his fists. His training on Dagobah, both traditional and in magecraft, had all led to this moment. It was time to show the country and his Servant what he had learned. He'd have to face the likes of both his classmates and Bakugo, but within his heart now roared a burning desire to fight— and win.

To be continued in Chapter 26: Hoarfrost Rush

A/N: C.E.R.B.E.R.U.S., the sort of "Quirk Interpol" I introduced at the start of this chapter, is from a past story concept for MHA I never truly developed that incorporated elements from Michael Carroll's Quantum Prophecy books. I don't intend for this organization to become an actual part of Fate: Mysterious Night's plot in a substantial way, so it's just a fun personal callback to that story concept!

Servant Profiles: True Saber
Bio:
Class: Saber
Master: Kyoka Jiro
True Name: Richard I
Gender: Male
Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Stats:
Strength: B
Endurance: B
Agility: EX (B ~ A)
Mana: B
Luck: C
Noble Phantasm: A

Class Skills:
Magic Resistance: B
Riding: A

Personal Skills:
Lionheart: A
All Kinds of Talents: A
Godspeed: A

Noble Phantasms:
Excalibur
Sword of Forever Distant Victory
Rank: D ~ A
Type: Anti-Army

Rounds of Lionheart
Play the Lion's Melody on the Round Cross
Rank: A
Type: Anti-Army
Accompanying Servants:
| Sub-Ruler: Joachim of Fiore
| Sub-Rider: William Marshal
| Sub-Avenger: Mercadier
| Sub-Caster: Nimue / Vivian (Temporarily)