**** Before we begin, thank you for the support and Comments to express how much you guys love the story. That's the best motivation for any writer writing something original. Specially after they pour their heart into a story.

I'll try break down some of the Nasuverse concepts so even if you don't know it, you can enjoy it . This arc will be about 10-15 chapters. The next Fate arc will be similar as well.

I'm guessing around chapter 60 or so, we might start the new volume in modern era around 2000 or so. I have still left some blank spots to fill in later via flashback no jutsu.

Now Enjoy!

*****

Edward hummed the tune softly, the opening notes of "Be Yourself" by Audioslave while treading gently through the quiet night as he followed Ritsuka through the dimly lit streets.

The city was peaceful now, silent except for the occasional distant hum of a car or the soft rustling of leaves stirred by a faint breeze. Most of its inhabitants had long since retreated to sleep, leaving the world hushed and almost reverent under the watchful gaze of the stars.

Edward's appearance had shifted from the divine shroud of his summoning to something far more casual, yet still distinctly his. A black leather jacket hung comfortably over his shoulders, worn and softened by time but clearly well cared for. Dark jeans fit snugly, the fabric slightly faded at the knees.

Beneath the jacket, his red Fullmetal Alchemist T-shirt, a subtle nod to his name, added a splash of color against the darkness. His blonde hair caught the faint city lights as he walked, the blue of his eyes reflecting a quiet curiosity and an undercurrent of fatigue.

Trailing behind him, Scathach kept a steady pace, her sharp eyes frequently flicking toward him. Though silent, her presence was unmistakable, an aura of calm strength with an undercurrent of tension that spoke of battles both fought and yet to come.

Occasionally, her gaze softened, betraying a rare vulnerability as she observed the man she knew only as Ruler.

Edward's mind drifted momentarily, cataloguing thoughts for later: a battery-operated Walkman, some music players, clothes and movies—items that, while commonplace in this era, were still centuries away from invention in his original timeline.

He would need to collect them all. It was a small comfort, a reminder that no matter how fractured the timelines might be, some things endured.

"So," Edward said casually, breaking the silence as he glanced over his shoulder toward Ritsuka, "Since you know the place, mind taking me shopping tomorrow? I need some proper gear, and maybe some entertainment."

Ritsuka's face brightened immediately, nodding enthusiastically. "Of course! I'd be happy to help you."

Scathach let out a sharp scoff. "We are in the middle of a war, master, if you've forgotten."

The words cut through the lightness of the moment like a blade, and Ritsuka's smile faltered. The memories she carried, the weight of Chaldea's fall, the friends lost, the comrades gone—loomed heavy. Even Mashu, the kind and loyal junior who had always supported her, was no longer by her side. All of that loss pressed down on her shoulders, the burden of being the last pillar of humanity an unbearable weight.

Edward noticed the sudden shift in her demeanor and stopped walking. Ritsuka glanced up to find him reaching out to gently pat her head, a rare softness in his expression.

"Raise your head, Master of Chaldea," he said quietly, voice calm and reassuring. "You may carry a heavy burden, but you've never carried it alone. Others helped share it before, didn't they? Don't forget their desire to help you set things right."

Ritsuka's voice was barely audible, tinged with self-doubt. "But… they're all dead now. All because I was weak. A failure."

Edward's mind rebelled against the words. You're a failure? The person who choked Goetia barehanded? Even I'm scared of your chaos.

But his face betrayed nothing but a gentle smile. He pointed upward toward the night sky, where countless stars shimmered faintly.

"Look up there," he said softly. "See those stars shining through the vast darkness? Even the smallest light can brighten the night. Darkness, no matter how overwhelming, can be chased away by a single candles light."

He took a slow breath. "Humans are bound to make mistakes, cause destruction, even end the world itself. But as long as there's a chance, don't we keep fighting? Don't we claw and scratch for victory? Do we let ourselves drown in sorrow just because the end might come one day?"

Ritsuka's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her voice trembling. "But what's the point if everything we do ends up meaningless? If it all ends anyway?"

Edward sighed and lowered his gaze to meet hers.

"A thing isn't beautiful because it lasts forever, Ritsuka-chan. It's beautiful because it exists at all, because it brings joy while it lasts. And when the end comes, we hold on to the memories and say goodbye. That's life."

A gentle calm settled over Ritsuka as she heard the soothing words. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and smiled, small but sincere.

"Thank you, Ruler-san. You're very kind. You must have been a great hero."

Edward shook his head, voice quiet and heavy with regret. "No. I'm the worst of them all. The one responsible for everything that happened. If only I'd stayed…"

Before he could finish, Scathach's voice cut through the moment like a cool wind.

"You are quite wise, Ruler. But who are you truly? What is your real name?"

Edward chuckled softly.

"I'm just a man. Nothing more, nothing less."

Scathach snorted, clearly unconvinced.

"Yeah, right. You're a Grand Servant. They don't just hand out that rank to anyone. Since you're a Ruler, you must have been a great king or a saint in your life."

Edward's smile deepened, playful now.

"Oh? You're curious about me, Scathach-san?"

She looked away, cheeks faintly flushed, whether from embarrassment or frustration, Edward wasn't sure.

"You're a mystery I intend to unravel," she said.

Edward winked.

"Mystery is part of the charm, don't you think?"

Ritsuka watched their exchange with wide, curious eyes. Wait… are they flirting? The thought made her cough awkwardly.

"Umm… Ruler-san," she interrupted, "I'm curious, too. Why are you helping me? Rulers are supposed to be neutral, right?"

Edward laughed—a full, hearty sound that filled the night air.

"Hahaha! I'm not one for following rules. I am the greatest rebel of all. I do what I think is right. As for helping you, I don't need a reason. What kind of man would ignore the plight of others? I'm just an ephemeral existence, I'll be gone soon."

He met Ritsuka's eyes with earnest intensity.

"You, Ritsuka Fujimaru, a human, will live on long after I'm gone. You will shape the future. We Heroes have fought and died for the future. Who else is there to protect if not you?"

Ritsuka blushed, looking away shyly.

"Why does it feel like a father lecturing a child?"

Edward grinned knowingly.

"Maybe it is."

The three of them reached the café. a

A warm light glowing behind the glass windows, the aroma of coffee and baked goods inviting them in. The door opened easily with a soft chime, and they stepped inside, unaware that a surprise awaited them within.

And the battle for Holy Grail War was about to commence.

*****

The moment the trio stepped through the café's front door, the atmosphere changed.

Edward's senses sharpened instantly. He stopped mid-step, his expression shifting from casual ease to guarded focus. Without a word, he reached out, gripping Ritsuka's shoulders firmly and pulling her behind him. Scathach, quick to react, pivoted on her heel and slid into a combat-ready stance. Her crimson eyes narrowed, scanning every inch of the room.

Ritsuka blinked in confusion at first. "What happened?" she asked, her voice low but tense. Then it hit her—like a shift in the air pressure—her own magical perception prickled awake. The walls, the ceiling, even the floor seemed to shimmer faintly with unnatural light. She swallowed hard.

"A… bounded field," she muttered. The entire café was sealed.

At the center of the room sat a young blonde woman, no older than her mid-twenties, with sharp blue eyes and a beauty that seemed both regal and cold. She lounged at a table as though the tense atmosphere didn't exist. Surrounding her, the waiters moved in eerie synchronization, their motions stiff, mechanical. They carried out tray after tray of food—steaming plates, baskets of bread, desserts piled high—and set them before something grotesque.

It was an amorphous, black sludge-like mass. Its oily, shifting body pulsed unnaturally, sprouting two yawning, jagged maws lined with teeth. Two twisted horns jutted from its top, faintly glowing as it devoured food with a wet, slurping noise.

The woman's gaze flicked lazily toward the newcomers. She showed no interest when her eyes passed over Ritsuka and Scathach, but when her eyes locked on Edward, her entire demeanor shifted. Her pupils dilated, her cheeks flushed faintly, and her previously languid posture stiffened.

She stood abruptly and began walking toward him, her heels clicking lightly on the tiled floor.

Edward exhaled heavily through his nose. "So that's why the Root was being vague," he muttered to himself. "This Grail War's a mess. And here I thought I'd seen enough weird combinations… to think even she's participating."

Stopping before him, the blonde gave a graceful bow. "It's an honor to meet the Ruler of this war," she said with an elegant smile. "My name is Manaka Sajyou, Master of Berserker. May I have your name, please?"

Edward sighed again, but this time there was a clear note of irritation. "Drop the act. I like humans well enough, but you… you're definitely not one of them, Root Princess." His eyes flicked toward the sludge creature. "Summoning Beast VI and a Berserker… now I see why I was brought here. Too many troublesome pieces moving at once. What a drag."

Manaka's expression didn't falter. If anything, her smile became warmer. "That makes me a little sad, Ruler. I actually find you… interesting. Why not join me? I'd very much like to know more about you."

Edward's gaze swept the café before settling back on her. "No. You've already ruined my mood. I think I'll take my companions elsewhere. And while I can't exactly tell you magi how to behave… taking away the free will of others?" He gestured toward the controlled waiters. "Poor taste. I hope you can at least see that's wrong."

Scathach shot him a subtle glance, the faintest trace of approval in her eyes. Ritsuka, however, was staring nervously at the black sludge, which had paused in its endless eating to fix its many eyes—hidden deep in the shadowy folds—on her.

She tugged lightly at Edward's jacket. "Ruler-san… is that thing really… a Beast?"

Manaka's attention slid toward Ritsuka, her lips curling with faint disdain. "So this is the last pillar of humanity? I was expecting… more. Is she interrupting our conversation? Perhaps I should remove her so we can speak undisturbed."

With a wave of her hand, a new Servant materialized beside her. The sheer force of his presence seemed to press down on the air—an enormous, dark-skinned man, his muscles like carved stone, his skin etched with glowing red lines of madness. He held a massive stone club-sword that seemed barely manageable even for him.

Edward arched a brow. "You summoned big Herc on top of a Beast? This war just keeps getting better…"

Berserker's answer was a roar so thunderous it rattled the windows and caused the café's glassware to shatter. "RAAAAAHHHHH!"

Manaka's voice cut through the noise, cold and precise. "Heracles. Kill those two." She motioned toward Scathach and Ritsuka. "Don't worry about Ruler. He can't interfere."

Ritsuka's heart pounded as she and Scathach instinctively moved, leaping back through the door as Berserker charged forward with terrifying speed for someone his size. The stone sword whistled through the air in a wide arc that could have bisected a building.

But it never connected.

In the blink of an eye, a fist clad in brass knuckles smashed into Berserker's head. The impact sounded like a thunderclap—

BOOM!

The shockwave blew out the café's remaining windows, scattering furniture like matchsticks. The bounded field trembled.

Edward was standing where Berserker had been charging, his other hand holding a cup of coffee jelly he had plucked from a nearby table. His Servant attire had returned, the Divine Shroud draping over him like living shadow. Blood dripped from the brass knuckles on his right hand.

Without looking fazed, he popped the jelly into his mouth, slurping it down before speaking casually. "That's one life gone. Hurry up and regenerate, Herc. I'm feeling like a nap's coming on."

Outside, Ritsuka and Scathach could only stare in disbelief. Heracles—the greatest hero of Greece, a demigod whose sheer power dwarfed most Servants—had just lost a life in a single punch. And yet, before their eyes, his head began knitting itself back together from nothing, his growls building into another roar.

Manaka's brows furrowed for the first time, but her eyes—bright and unnervingly fixated—gleamed with something close to obsession. "As expected… a Grand Ruler is no joke, hm? Are you absolutely certain you won't reconsider? I could overwrite your very existence with the Root itself."

Edward tilted his head. "I don't care for psychos. Especially ones who kill their fathers for no reason. Go back to simping for Arthur—I want no part in it."

Her smile widened instead of fading. "Oh? You know so much about me… Father of Humanity. I wonder what else you know."

Ritsuka's eyes flew wide. "Wait! Father of Humanity? That title… there's only one Servant who could be called that. Are you… Adam!?"

Scathach's sharp gaze narrowed slightly in intrigue. "No wonder he's unlike any Servant I've met. But… when did he slay a god? Unless…" She smirked faintly to herself. "He never died at all. Immortal… like me. How interesting."

Edward rubbed the back of his head, muttering, "Well… cat's out of the bag, huh?" He turned toward Ritsuka. "Yes, little girl. I am Grand Ruler—Adam. And someone," his eyes snapped back to Manaka, his voice losing every trace of warmth, "is about to get a spanking from Daddy… because he's pissed now."

The shift in his tone sent a chill through the room. Even the Beast's feeding had stopped, as he looked at Edward menacingly.

****

Edward stood with his arms loosely at his sides, eyes fixed on Manaka. She hadn't stopped smiling since she arrived. Her voice, deceptively warm and almost casual, cut through the tense air.

"I think I like you, Adam. I would prefer not to harm you if possible. Please walk away. When I finish the war, I will let you make your wish from the Grail. You wish to probably undo your decision to leave Eden, right? You want humans to achieve salvation—I can grant you that."

Her tone was almost conversational, as if they were discussing the weather rather than the threat of mass destruction. There was no hesitation in her words—she meant every promise, no matter how twisted the reality behind it.

Edward's face tightened. The irritation in his eyes was plain as he looked directly at her.

"Why the hell would I do that? That's the stupidest wish to make. When I was born, it was already written that I'd fall. It's not something that happened randomly.

"And taking them back to Eden, destroying everything they've built on Earth—where they actually have free will and life? You must be crazier than I thought. This world might be beyond saving, but it's the only one they've got. My job is to make sure they don't destroy it."

His words were firm, not shouted but carrying a weight that left no room for misinterpretation.

Manaka's lips curved downward into a pout, the kind that would seem childish if not for the dark presence radiating from her.

"You're no fun. What is there to like about this twisted world?"

Edward let out a quiet sigh, as if her inability to understand was not worth any further argument.

"If you don't understand, then there's nothing to explain. Everyone has their own path. My duty is to watch over them and ensure they survive."

His gaze didn't waver. For him, this was not up for debate.

From the side, Scáthach's voice reached Ritsuka. Her tone was calm, but it carried an unmistakable urgency.

"Master, I suggest you leave. That's no ordinary Magus. I will help Ruler to hold back the Servants."

Ritsuka's reply was immediate, without a hint of hesitation.

"No. I am staying. I don't leave my friends behind. I'll stay and fight, even if it means I'll die."

Edward, without taking his eyes off Manaka, spoke to her in a steady voice.

"Nice resolve there, Ritsuka-chan. But maybe watch from a safe distance. If you die, Scáthach will vanish, and your wish as well. Leave the fight to me. It's a father's responsibility to clean up the mess of his children."

Then his attention shifted slightly toward Scáthach.

"Deal with Heracles. I will take care of the Beast here."

Before she could respond, a smooth, infuriatingly cheerful voice rang out from behind them.

"Oh my, it seems I've taken a wrong turn and arrived after the party already started. But better late than never."

Ritsuka's eyes went wide at the sight of a lilac-haired man in a simple robe, holding a staff with casual ease.

"Hello everyone, your favorite friendly neighborhood Magus of Flowers has arrived to the rescue."

Merlin gave an exaggerated bow, his smile entirely too relaxed for the situation.

"Merlin-san, how did you—"

Ritsuka's question was cut short as a blur of motion crossed her vision. Edward's fist connected squarely with Merlin's face, the impact rippling across his cheek before the Magus was sent flying backward.

"Die, Merlin!" Edward exhaled, shaking out his hand with visible satisfaction. "That was therapeutic. To think this annoying bastard has shown up as well."

Merlin reappeared almost instantly, brushing imaginary dust from his robe. His grin hadn't dimmed.

"Hey! I almost died there, Adam-san! Why would you hurt a poor little Magus of Flowers like me? Don't you know people die when they are killed?"

Edward clicked his tongue in irritation.

"Tch, he survived. Maybe I should drop Eden on Avalon next time."

Merlin's smile faltered, his face paling slightly.

"Ahaha, don't joke like that, Ed—ehem—Adam-san."

He corrected himself quickly, recognizing the look in Edward's eyes that promised violence.

Ritsuka stepped forward, her voice sharp.

"What is going on here, Merlin-san? How did you arrive here? Are you here to help?"

Merlin's expression shifted, the playfulness dimming just enough to hint at the seriousness beneath.

"Ritsuka-chan, this isn't simple like other Grail Wars. This one will destroy everything. Root has summoned our grumpy Grand Ruler over there to make sure that doesn't happen. Don't worry, that guy is stronger than he looks. But his manners… are as worthy as the Father of Humanity and the perfect human!"

His tone turned mocking halfway through, only to falter as Edward cracked his knuckles while glaring at him.

Manaka's eyes narrowed.

"So many annoying things. This won't be a good thing if we fought now."

Edward's voice was steady, almost calm, but there was no mistaking the threat behind it.

"You think I can allow you to leave knowing you are growing that Beast by offering sacrifices? Your story ends tonight, Root princess."

Manaka's gaze sharpened, her smirk returning.

"You might be strong, but as long as I kill that girl, your mission will fail, right? Don't take my interest in you as a sign of weakness. I won't hold back if we fought."

Merlin, still holding his staff, raised one hand in a placating gesture.

"Now now, don't be like that. Why don't we call it a night here and we can kill each other later?"

Manaka scoffed.

"Don't speak to me, Merlin. Come on, Beast VI, Berserker. We are leaving."

But Edward had no intention of letting her retreat.

"Divine Forge—activate."

A golden glow burst from his hand, the light condensing into solid form. In seconds, a stone blade—its design strikingly similar to Heracles' weapon—rested in his grip.

Merlin sighed, stepping back and pulling Ritsuka with him.

"This is why I don't like brutes who think punching is the solution for everything."

Scáthach moved to Edward's side, the faint glint of excitement in her eyes.

"Let's do this, Ruler. I have been itching for a fight."

Manaka's patience snapped.

"I've had enough! Kill them all except Ruler. I want him alive."

The roar came instantly—two Servants moving at once.

Berserker, Heracles, surged forward in a blur of muscle and raw power. His weapon came down with the weight of a mountain, the swing intended to cleave through anything in its path. Each movement was fueled by sheer physical dominance, his battle style a relentless assault that gave no room for hesitation.

Beside him, Beast VI's advance was less straightforward—its presence warping the air, every step radiating an oppressive force that sought to crush the will of anyone nearby. It moved with terrifying precision, each strike aiming not just to harm, but to dominate completely.

Edward charged head-on, stone blade raised to meet the Beast's attack. The first clash shook the ground, sparks and fragments of energy scattering from the point of impact. His strikes were measured but carried overwhelming force, each blow pushing the Beast back by sheer physical superiority.

To his side, Scáthach met Heracles with spear in hand, her stance low and deadly. She moved like flowing water—dodging the giant's crushing blows by the narrowest margins, each counter aimed for the smallest gaps in his defense. Where Heracles was brute force, Scáthach was precision, each movement honed over centuries of battle.

The first collision of all four combatants unleashed a shockwave.

Boom!

The café's walls exploded outward, debris scattering across the street. Nearby buildings cracked under the pressure, glass shattering as the shockwave rippled outward.

And just like that, the Holy Grail War officially began.