บท 450: Chapter 450: Phantom Spirits
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With Shakespeare's summons, figures began to emerge from the book.
These figures were indistinct, their faces unclear, and even their genders were hard to discern. However, the aura they exuded shocked Achilles, Atalanta, and Karna.
"What—"
"These are all Servants!!!"
"That's right, these are all Servants," Shakespeare said, observing the expressions of the three heroes with satisfaction before bursting into a pleased laugh.
"But they are not ordinary Servants. Take a closer look."
Karna, utilizing his ability to see through falsehoods, focused his gaze and quickly identified the anomaly: "They have no class. No, it's not just a lack of class; their spiritual foundations are abnormal. These aren't Heroic Spirits, but they resemble them."
"What???"
Achilles and Atalanta exclaimed simultaneously. Having revealed their True Names to each other, they trusted Karna's keen vision and his judgment. Because of this trust, they found the situation hard to believe.
"Not Heroic Spirits?"
"Then what are they?"
Shakespeare, having paused his writing, twirled the white quill in his hand: "Allow me to reveal the correct answer. They are Phantom Spirits."
"Phantom Spirits?"
The new term prompted the three to search through the vast knowledge bestowed by the Holy Grail.
Phantom Spirits are a very peculiar type of Servant.
Usually, Servants cannot be established purely from fiction; they have a basis in mythology, legends, or some actual existence. If a Servant can be established purely from fiction, there must be a corresponding reason, such as the crystallization of a concept like "protecting children" as seen in Nursery Rhyme.
Fictional entities with insufficient spiritual foundation values, or concepts only at the level of urban legends, which cannot become heroes or anti-heroes and just await disappearance, are called Phantom Spirits. In terms of spiritual foundation strength, Phantom Spirits are even weaker than writer-type Heroic Spirits who only know how to wield a pen; they lack physical forms even when summoned.
This was the true nature of the figures emerging from Shakespeare's book.
"This world has countless stories, both large and small, that intertwine and persist, told and remembered by people. This is their soil of existence. Unlike us, who are recorded in the Throne of Heroes even if buried in the river of history or forgotten by people. If they are forgotten, it means their demise."
"However, the Phantom Spirits born from my stories do not face such a fate because I am the greatest writer in the world; my stories endure!"
"Alright, that's enough self-praise," Achilles said impatiently, picking his ear.
"We know what Phantom Spirits are now. But why did you summon this seemingly weak bunch? Summoning a bunch of pen-wielders like you."
"There are very complex reasons for this. Don't rush; let me explain slowly," Shakespeare said, waving his hand to signal Achilles to calm down.
"First, my Noble Phantasm cannot arbitrarily designate the targets of the summons. It can only summon entities related to the target, and the target is limited to one person."
Achilles suggested, "Then just choose one of us as the target. My father, the crew of the Argo, and the heroes related to Troy are all warriors capable of taking on thousands. I don't know much about Lancer, but there must be many powerful warriors related to him."
"I considered your idea initially but later abandoned it because it has two drawbacks. First, most Heroic Spirits have strong personalities and wills. Would such beings follow my orders? I don't have Command Spells to control them. If I summon Agamemnon or Hector..."
Shakespeare did not continue, but everyone understood his meaning. Connections—there are good ones and bad ones.
Achilles protested, "Then why can't you summon Antilochus? With my dear friend and me together, we could crush the Black Faction."
"Unfortunately, that's not possible," Shakespeare shook his head regretfully. "As I mentioned when introducing my Noble Phantasm, the Heroic Spirits I summon not only lack a class but also have bodies as frail as old men. No matter how powerful the hero summoned, they can't exert their full strength with such a body."
"Then what about the Phantom Spirits?"
"Phantom Spirits are different. Their spiritual foundations are even more ambiguous than those of Heroic Spirits. When summoned, they don't even possess a physical form."
"Huh?"
The Greek duo realized they were increasingly unable to understand.
"But precisely because they lack a physical form, there are more possibilities—such as creating suitable vessels for them."
"Are you saying these puppets?"
"Yes, these vessels were specially crafted by the Empress based on my descriptions of the Phantom Spirits. Since they are born from the stories I've written, no one understands them better than I do. Thus, I can summon them and create the most suitable bodies for them. Because their existence is vague and their thoughts not very clear, they are easier to control than Heroic Spirits. Next—"
As Shakespeare spoke, he waved his hand, and the indistinct Phantom Spirits walked toward their corresponding puppets.
"—only the final step remains. Father Shirou, the most crucial step of integrating the Phantom Spirits with their vessels is up to you."
"No problem." Shirou stepped down from the throne's high platform and moved to the center of the stage.
As Shakespeare mentioned, his job was the most important. Phantom Spirits lack physical forms and exist in ambiguous states. Even a magus like Semiramis couldn't forcefully integrate them with her crafted puppets, especially since the Phantom Spirits summoned by Shakespeare wouldn't obey her.
Only Father Shirou, or rather his arms, could connect all magical foundations, including the creations of magecraft. Through his arms, Shirou could link Shakespeare's summoned Phantom Spirits with Semiramis's magecraft, completing this unprecedented spiritual descent.
Father Shirou's arms were wrapped in red and blue magical light, appearing from a distance like two constantly shifting bolts of lightning—Left Hand - Xanadu Matrix and Right Hand - Evil Eater.
"Caster, no, Shakespeare, I'll ask you one more time: is this okay? Using the stories and characters you created in war!"
"Generally, my answer would be no. My works are meant to be free; they belong on people's lips, on desks, on stages, but not on battlefields. This time is an exception because you told me about the existence of 'Phantom Spirits,' which has given me a new understanding of writing and the world—a vanity garden, Phantom Spirits, a perfect match. You and the Empress have sparked my creative inspiration. So, at the very least, let me contribute something to make this story more exciting. War is only interesting when both sides are evenly matched, isn't it?"
Listening to the increasingly excited and fervent Shakespeare, Shirou spread his hands helplessly: "That last sentence is your real motive, isn't it?"
"I do not deny it. So, Father, let me see what my work will become!"
"As you wish—Set!"
Red and blue lightning instantly shot out, covering Shirou's arms while also enveloping one pair of Phantasmal Spirits and puppets.
"Let it come, we'll endure even the toughest days."
With that roar, the puppet's eyes lit up with a green glow.
The Phantom Spirit puppet named Macbeth was born!
P.S.: Although the settings collection doesn't mention Shirou's arms being able to connect magic, he has already linked with the Greater Grail.
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