Fate: I Will Eventually Become the Hero of Justice

So what exactly was the true identity of this invisible vortex?

Also, if the reason for that erotic dream was this vortex, then what was this thing trying to do?

Most importantly, why was that dream specifically about Scathach settling down in Fuyuki?

It could have been others - like Arcueid living an ordinary life in Fuyuki, or him directly altering the 4th Holy Grail War by summoning Artoria instead.

Why did it have to involve Scathach?

There was a logical loophole here.

So he deduced a conclusion:

"There must have been a catalyst. Something activated this invisible vortex, causing it to produce that bizarre dream about Scathach!"

By just relying on his brain and the limited information available, he deduced this incomplete answer.

Yet...

"Were you trying to tell me something by giving me that dream?" he asked, looking toward the vortex.

But no one answered.

The vortex kept spinning silently, as if that's just how things were meant to be.

Disappointed, Shirou turned from the doorway of his own mind. As soon as he opened his eyes, he got a shock.

Countless pale hands were breaking through the ice wall, launching an attack on Avalon to try and reach him.

Damn it!

He leapt up with the Spear of Endless Light in hand. He dismissed Avalon and destroyed the hands one by one.

"Oh? You're awake?" Kiara asked in surprise from behind the ice wall.

He coldly stared at her. "What are you doing?"

"I saw you were a bit unhappy, so I wanted to make you more comfortable."

"Go get 'comfortable' with your chains!" He retorted sarcastically.

"Chains aren't so bad... but this cold is not good for woman's skin."

Shirou: "..."

Facing this super pervert, he truly had no good options. He couldn't beat her in a fight, and insulting her would only make her moan with pleasure.

He understood one thing - dealing with a super pervert like this required a cold woman like Skadi.

Returning inside Avalon, he put down the Spear of Endless Light and sat down. He felt something poking his butt uncomfortably. Picking it up, he saw it was the partially eaten blue fruit.

Shirou examined the bite marks he had left on the fruit. A thought crossed his mind.

He glanced at the Devil's Bodhisattva and asked, "Hey, Kiara, want some fruit?"

She giggled. "Tee hee, I'm not human. I don't need life energy."

Life energy... He guessed at a possibility... If that was truly the case, it would explain the strange dream. And as for Skadi...

Shirou cast [God Slayer] on himself, then examined the partially eaten blue fruit in his hand. An odd, faint glow emanated from within, but retreated at the sight of [God Slayer].

"I see...that would explain everything," he murmured. This was no fruit at all, but divinity!

Gelda was right. These blue fruits really are Skadi's blessing.

Because this blue fruit...is divinity!

It's Skadi's divinity!

Realizing this, everything suddenly made sense.

He had been confused about how the Norse could survive over 2,000 years in this desolate, snow-covered land. Even with the sustenance from fruits, the calories alone seemed too low to sustain humans for millennia.

But if the fruits carried Skadi's divinity, that explained it. Divinity is the lifeblood of the gods - their vital essence. Skadi had somehow used her own life force to prolong the lives of humans here for over two thousand years!

No wonder she always seemed to be sleeping, barely able to hide her fatigue when speaking. No wonder Gelda said the yield of blue fruits decreased every year...Skadi must be just barely holding on.

"No, that can't be right."

Staring at the blue fruit in his hand, he felt there were some logical flaws in his conclusion.

He could confirm the blue fruit was a crystallization of Skadi's divinity, which she used to feed the humans in this land.

But sustaining the people for over 2,000 years seemed beyond imagination! It could even be said to be practically impossible!

Even Tiamat the Primordial Goddess probably didn't have such abundant divinity. Also, how did Skadi transform her divinity into trees, with the fruits causing no harm to humans?

Most curiously, how did she both expend divinity to feed humans, yet still maintain a barrier large enough to resist Surtr and the giants?

The consumption involved was staggering. Just thinking about it, he felt only one word could describe it—Impossible!

This completely defied logic, beyond what any human or god could accomplish.

Only a planet would be capable of such a feat!

"---!!!"

At the thought of planet, everything suddenly became clear.

"I see, so that's how it is!" Shirou understood, the pieces falling into place.

That explained the eternal snow and ice—Skadi was the Norse Goddess with Authority over them.

No wonder Kiara was imprisoned here. No wonder Skadi could expend so much mana.

Because...Skadi had fused with this Planet!

In other words, her existence had become similar to that of a Ultimate One.

If that was the case, it would explain why she could imprison Kiara here. Kiara was incomplete since Shirou and her other self had stolen some of her authority. But as a Beast, she's still a powerful enemy, no amount of ordinary gods could defeat much less capture her. But being in Skadi's territory, she would naturally be defeated and captured.

However, fusing with the planet probably wasn't without a price. Otherwise when Nidhogg invaded Midgard, she would've struck it down!

Shirou felt his guesses, though unproven, were probably not too far from the truth!

However...

"If this is really true, then hasn't she been using her own life to keep this world going?" Shirou raised an eyebrow.

He didn't really know Skadi and she had imprisoned him. But if this was the case, he'd definitely respect her for it.

"Assassin," Kiara suddenly called out.

"What do you want?" He raised an eyebrow, turning to look at her.

Behind the ice wall, she shifted slightly, gazing through the small hole she had opened earlier.

What did this pervert want now? He grew wary.

"Don't be nervous, I just wanted to see you," she smiled.

"Speaking of which, why did you enter this world? Were you part of the Council responsible for this place?" he asked.

"Council?" Confusion flashed across her exquisite face before she quickly smiled. "Of course I was."

Shirou frowned. Though brief, he had noticed Kiara's uncertainty.

This pervert...was not from the Council? Then why had she come here?

And who was the actual Council member behind this world?

Most importantly, why did Skadi have the Black Grail?

...

Helheim stood at the lowest layer of Yggdrasil, the World Tree - the most famous underworld in Norse mythology. This cold, dark realm of the dead was ruled by Hel, the merciless Goddess of Death.

From the depths of Helheim, monstrous undead creatures emerged one after another. They were made by stitching together remains of mountain giants, frost giants, fire giants, humans, Valkyries, and more. Each loomed over ten meters tall, exuding putrid odors and appearing extremely grotesque and terrifying.

Gazing at the undead abominations, Adam felt a wave of revulsion.

Following the instructions of Mr. Assassin, he had managed to secure a position as a Servant. By wrapping himself in the black mud provided by Mr. Assassin, he had avoided the madness and alter-ization effects that came with being summoned as an Alter. As such, Adam had retained his rationality.

"Mr. Adam."

A voice called out from beside him. Adam turned to see a blue-haired boy, looking about ten years old, walking over.

"What is it, Caster?"

This was the Servant summoned with him - Hans Christian Andersen, one of the world's three great fairy tale authors.

It seemed that because Andersen himself lacked combat ability, they had reduced the intensity of the Alter curse placed on him. As a result, like him, Andersen still retained his rationality.

"Master is summoning us. I came to inform you, Mr. Adam." Andersen spoke softly.

"Thank you for letting me know," Adam smiled back, remembering Spartacus had told him to never forget to smile, no matter what.

Mr. Assassin had also said help from others should always be met with gratitude.

Together with Andersen, Adam entered a temple - the palace of their Master, the Goddess of Death Hel. Once inside, Adam saw Eric Bloodaxe and Sigurd had also arrived. Hel had only summoned four Servants - Berserker, Saber, Caster, and Adam.

Languidly seated on her throne, Hel exuded an aura of noble grace, seeming more like a noblewoman than an embodiment of death.

She didn't issue any orders. Instead, the cloaked man by her side stepped forward.

Adam observed this cloaked figure discreetly. From his understanding, though their summoning was done by Hel, their actual commander was this mysterious man.

...

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