章 21: Nero-chan and Salter-chan and the Beginning

From nothing, life sprang forth. The eternal slumber ceased. Flesh started existing and the spirit was bound by the material world once again.

The once great emperor, famous for her madness and her extragavant nature, exited the ethereal Throne of Heroes and stepped into reality.

She felt warmth for the first time in a long period. She opened her eyes. Colours were back, the vibrations of light giving her feedback and entering her retina once again.

She smiled and thought again.

"What a wonderful world, umu!"

She thought it was curious that she could remember some things past her lifetime, but since they were mostly happy memories, she didn't mind it.

"Nero Claudius, I welcome you into this new world. You haven't been summoned in a Holy Grail War. I made this. I'm Alaya and-"

"Ok, thanks! See you around, umu!"

"W-wait, don't you want to know anything else."

"No Master, new world, can do what I want. Got it all! I was considered very intelligent, my teacher always said I had a bright academic future! Ah, dear old Seneca... such a shame I had him killed later... though I did hallucinate him trying to stab me, so you can only blame me a bit, umu."

"What's... an... umu..."

"Bye bye!"

"See... you soon... well, that was something."

A couple of days ago...

"I ask you... are you my Master?"

"No."

"What?"

"I'm Alaya."

"As in... the one of the Counterforce?"

"In the flesh, literally."

"Mmm, always figured you'd look... different..."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean something a bit more... regal... ethereal... impressive... than... whatever this Playboy outfit is..."

"You m... I can take another form, if you want."

"No, no, I'd rather you tell me what's going on."

"I got tired of Servants."

"Ok."

"You don't seem surprised."

"I got tired of all this Holy Grail shit already, that's why we destroyed it."

"Ah yes, right, in your timeline, with your Master... ehm..."

"Shinji."

"Yeah, yeah, how could I forget that! The one timeline where Shinji is the good guy. But he wasn't your only Master in that war, was he? Your first Master was Shirou, and then it was-"

"What are we supposed to do in this place?"

"Oh, whatever you like. I don't really care. I just wanted to get rid of all of you. You can do whatever you want with your newfound life. I understand you have someone you care about that you want to meet again."

"Shut up, I only want to find him because he's in debt of me of 1 burger. Also, is that Avenger also here?"

"Yes, she is."

"I see, so it's imperative I find him before her, lest they become enslaved by Coca Cola."

"Haha, that's pretty cute, are you having a friendly competition with her over-"

"Who said it was supposed to be friendly? I simply want my favour to be returned first, that's all."

"I see, then good luck and goodbye."

"Goodbye. Also, Alaya..."

"Yeah?"

"You are telling the truth, right? He really is here?"

"Of course he is."

Salter thought for a second and then smirked.

"I bet he'll soon be in trouble. All the more of a reason to find him soon."

Back to the present...

In a distant desert, a lone figure walks through the dunes and the cactus. He alone is the true Ruler. He alone wields the will of a divinity. He alone is powerful enough to have a Saint Graph comparable to a Grand Servant. He alone carries the holy sword. He alone shall free humanity from the darkness and show them the light.

He alone is the first Saint.