The First Kryptonian in Marvel

Standing precisely in front of the shadow castle—or more accurately, the Martial Arts Field—the atmosphere was anything but serene. The wooden fence that once enclosed the area now lay in ruins, reduced to mere sawdust. The ground bore the aftermath of chaos, strewn with gravel and streaks of crimson blood. Numerous warriors, bearing severe wounds, littered the path leading to the main hall of the castle. Clad in various attires, these fighters had undergone the trials set by the Queen of the Land of Shadows to earn her apprenticeship. Regrettably, their efforts had been thwarted by me, leaving them defeated and prostrate.

While the injuries weren't fatal, few remained conscious at that moment.

"With all due respect, the truth is that the level of skill here is lacking!" I announced, confidently grasping Gáe Bolg and adopting an unwavering stance. My intention wasn't to provoke them intentionally, but I needed to express the reality: these fighters were indeed lacking in skill. Comparatively, they might align with Kirei's caliber, metaphorically speaking. It made me wonder how they had passed Scáthach's trial.

Naturally, considering my current physical strength, I knew I would undoubtedly suffer significant injuries if pitted against these fighters. However, unbeknownst to them, I had maintained a state of "Soul Synchronization" from the outset, enduring injuries even in this state. In reality, I was managing quite admirably.

Blood streaked across my forehead and seeped into my eyes, causing a slight burning sensation. I wiped the blood away, retrieved the thrown Gáe Bolg, and took deliberate steps toward the main hall of the castle.

"Scáthach..." 

One warrior managed to retain clarity in his expression, his face fraught with shame. "I apologize; this girl is truly formidable. Even if we were to join forces, it would be a daunting task to defeat her."

I knew my combat power could rival that of the Servants. If I were so easily defeated in the state of Soul Synchronization, perhaps it was time to seriously consider leaving behind this warrior lifestyle, returning to school, and trying to be a normal teenager.

Scáthach, positioned before the main hall, observed the entire sequence with a slight nod. "I understand. Attend to the others who have lost consciousness."

In truth, these warriors had also grasped the caliber of the opponent they faced the moment Kara produced the Gáe Bolg. After all, the Gáe Bolg was Scáthach's distinctive symbol and couldn't be wielded without considerable strength. While Scáthach had previously mentioned the possibility of granting them a magic spear and the techniques to wield it upon her satisfaction, the stipulation remained: she must indeed be satisfied.

The ones lying here now were merely registered apprentices who had recently arrived. Except for Kara, they had never witnessed anyone else wielding the same magic spear as Scáthach. Such individuals were rare, but they were all immensely powerful beings. If they had seen Kara arriving on a giant dragon, perhaps their hearts wouldn't have felt so disheartened.

By the way, the warrior who received Scáthach's response seemed to have been revitalized on the spot. He was very excited and dutifully took care of the unconscious warriors as Scáthach ordered. 

Meanwhile, I couldn't help but rub my forehead in bewilderment as I observed the spectacle. "Goodness! Bro, your ribcage is still exposed. Aren't you afraid of dying?" I wondered silently.

"Are all your apprentices this eccentric? They seem like fanatics!" I questioned Scáthach.

"You are also my apprentice," she replied.

Scáthach observed me for a moment before speaking with indifference. "I value those with courage. A warrior cannot merely possess courage, just as a brave individual cannot solely be a warrior. It's the fusion of courage and warrior spirit that truly garners my admiration. Such individuals are brimming with potential yet still distanced from their zenith. Your performance is impressive. This condition is indeed unique. Is it a technique of your own?"

Her behavior seemed rather peculiar. I disengaged from the state of 'Soul Synchronization,' my brows furrowing slightly. An unsettling notion settled in my mind: Scáthach's enthusiasm might not be as genuine as it initially seemed. It felt as though our acquaintance had just been established.

"Could it be that she hasn't fully regained her memories and experiences from her participation in the Holy Grail War? If that's the case, should I avoid mentioning that information? Or should I contemplate leaving altogether?"

"It's true that a complete recovery hasn't occurred yet, but departing now would present quite the challenge. In summary, the situation is rather intricate, so for the time being, it's best if you remain by my side."

"Oh no! Did I let that slip out again?"

"Wait, this is suspicious. Why does it only happen when I'm around here?"

My complexion shifted slightly as I realized that I often unintentionally voiced my inner thoughts, especially when I was around Scáthach. This wasn't something I'd do around Okita or my adorable mother.

Scáthach's lips curled into a faint smile as she leisurely entered the main hall of the castle, maintaining her calm demeanor. "Compared to the warriors who have come to the Land of Shadows in the past or even now, your potential is undoubtedly the highest. And the fact that you arrived here with the spear that I should have made..."

"Wait! Scáthach, that's a bit too much! Earlier, you mentioned how special I was and even insisted on making me your disciple. That's why I came here. But now your attitude..."

"The 'me' now is not the same as the 'me' from back then. Can you comprehend that?"

Seated majestically upon the throne within the castle, Scáthach offered me a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. My expression, a mixture of confusion and discontent, didn't escape her notice as she returned a smile laced with irony.

"Simply put, the one who accepted you as an apprentice during the Fifth Holy Grail War—that would be me—is none other than myself, albeit two thousand years into the future. Right now, I'm situated... well, in the midst of the Celtic mythological era, around the first century AD. If this clarification seems a bit elusive, let me simplify: Cú Chulainn from Celtic mythology has recently arrived in the Land of Shadows."

I was taken aback. "Are you saying I unknowingly traversed through time and arrived nearly two thousand years in the past?"

"Exactly! Using my clairvoyant abilities, I witnessed the encounter between 'me' and you two thousand years later. With my own Saint Graph, I constructed a magical circle capable of traversing time, bringing you to this era. Most likely, the Land of Shadows will eventually be expelled from the world, making it difficult to find a suitable challenge for your trial. So, you were sent here."

Scáthach's lips curled slightly, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor that exuded graceful elegance. "Absolutely! You're probably the only one who's thought so deeply about this situation, am I right?"

My surprise was genuine. I hadn't foreseen Scáthach's involvement in orchestrating such a complex scenario. Nevertheless, a contradiction emerged in her explanation. If Scáthach and I interacted in this era, then she should have no prior knowledge of our encounter during the Fifth Holy Grail War. This situation created a temporal paradox, leaving me puzzled.

"Try not to dwell too deeply on these intricacies. Your arrival here has already set numerous changes in motion. Yet, I could not have predicted that focusing solely on your training would lead to this outcome. Perhaps embracing death is the more straightforward path?"

Perhaps succumbing to her emotions, Scáthach let out a sigh. However, this sigh was fleeting; she wasn't about to change her demeanor. Cursed by her existence yet blessed with remarkable talents, Scáthach had nurtured many apprentices into formidable warriors or skilled magi. Her innate love for combat and battle ensured that this path was her only true calling.

"Please refrain from flaunting your clairvoyance like that! I implore you to share all the knowledge you possess."

In contrast to Scáthach's demeanor, I was solely focused on the potential benefits of this situation. Although Soul Synchronization allowed me to employ the abilities of others by analyzing their souls or Saint Graphs, I still believed mastering these skills myself would be more advantageous. What Scáthach intended to impart to me wasn't just the utilization of the magic spear and rune techniques. "A teacher willing to personally impart these skills isn't merely sharing knowledge; they're demonstrating a deep commitment."

"Since this is my decision, I will naturally grant you everything. But clairvoyance isn't necessarily a favorable ability. The more you know, the greater the risk of depriving yourself of future growth and robbing yourself of the chance to experience life's vicissitudes. To undergo the highs and lows of life is a rarity; truly feeling the ebb and flow of existence is, from my perspective at least, quite rare!"

In actuality, Scáthach is the type of individual who comprehends the causes and effects of all things in the world yet abstains from participation, which she attributes to her disinterest. The rationale is straightforward: she has graduated from this realm. Even if the world faced imminent destruction, Scáthach wouldn't intervene unless it directly affected her or the realm of Shadows. She views the missteps of those living in the present world as detrimental, hindering others' opportunities for growth.

Thus, despite her militant nature, Scáthach refrained from launching an offensive against junior participants when she engaged in the Fifth Holy Grail War. Most of her reasons for participating in the Fourth Holy Grail War stemmed from her perception of the anomalies surrounding "Illyasviel von Einzbern." An Illyasviel who doesn't appear to be native to this world and doesn't exist within the Akashic Records intrigued Scáthach. Similarly, Fujimaru Ritsuka is also classified as an anomaly.

At that moment, the wind howled, and a figure considerably taller than Kara strode into the main hall. His posture was haggard, and he gasped, "Scáthach, it took seven days. Slayed!"

This rugged young man with disheveled blue hair exuded a pungent odor, clutching a fractured iron spear in his right hand. In his left hand, he gripped a white bone thicker than Kara's waist—a spinal bone, perhaps intended for use as material for magecraft, proving to be quite valuable.

Scáthach gave him a critical look and replied, "You were way too slow. I can't believe you truly gave your best effort. It took you a whole two weeks to circle the edges of the Land of Shadows."

The young man with blue hair seemed confused. "Hold on, wait..."

It had been more than a month since he entered the Land of Shadows. Initially, his arrogance led to daily scoldings. He even contemplated escaping due to his stubbornness. As he began to change his attitude, Scáthach directed him to the coastal region along the edge of the Land of Shadows. There, he was tasked with quickly finding and dealing with a slightly injured sea creature. Strangely, it took him a whole week to defeat the creature and retrieve its spine.

"And what about the fact that you took forever to come back here after finishing the task? Was that too much for you? Would running back here have killed you? You're really becoming quite an embarrassment, Cú Chulainn." Scáthach's words dripped with sarcasm.

My face lit up with a warm smile as I turned my attention to Cú Chulainn. "Hey, junior! Teach is quite strict, huh? We all go through those awkward growing pains. I wonder why you think the others are outshining you. Well, it's simple—you're scared!"

"Wait, what are you even going on about? Scared? Me? No way! Who are you?"

Cú Chulainn's expression soured instantly, morphing into the classic look of an annoyed predator sizing up its next meal. You know, the kind of stare that makes you reconsider your life choices, especially if you happen to be a snack-sized hero.

I remembered him as if it were yesterday. Just a couple of days ago, I had encountered him during the Grail War. That meeting was a wake-up call; all my planning and strategy wouldn't get me the cup. I almost got myself killed, but I managed to escape the battlefield with my dignity mostly intact. Later, I had to team up with Medea to drag him into my camp. Apparently, capturing a demigod is the equivalent of getting your roommate to take out the trash.

Maintaining my smile, I executed a graceful salute, my hand brushing the hem of my open-front half-skirt like a bad magician revealing a trick. "I stand as the Champion of the Red Branch, the Hound of Ulster, born of Lugh's lineage—a warrior blessed by the sun's light—Cú Chulainn, Child of Light. I'm your senior here, so some respect would be much appreciated!"

As soon as I finished, Cú Chulainn's face darkened, and I swear I could see smoke coming out of his ears. The veins on his forehead were pulsating like a disco ball, and a slight tremor ran through his body. His grip tightened around his iron spear, bulging muscles flexing as if he were preparing to launch a surprise spear attack. Note to self: never insult a guy holding a pointy object.

Still undeterred, I pressed on. "Could you enlighten me about who you are, blue boy?"

"Hey! Enough with the 'blue boy' nonsense! Even if you're unsure, at least use my proper name! Actually, you know what? Never mind that. I am Cú Chulainn! I hold the title of a Knight of the Red Branch Knights, and I'm Lugh's son, bestowed with blessings from the Sun God!"

"Huh, two of us? I'm pretty sure my mom didn't have a son—only a daughter. Are you perhaps adopted? Besides, wouldn't blond hair be more suitable for someone related to the sun, were you adopted after I came here for training?" I continued to push his buttons like a toddler in a toy store.

His eyes took on a crimson hue, and if looks could kill, I'd be a goner. Luckily, Scáthach was nearby, and her imposing presence was enough to keep him in check. Seriously, without her around, I'd be playing dodgeball with a spear right now. Scáthach's mentorship seemed to turn him from a raging bull into a mildly annoyed cow.

Despite the evident smile creeping at the corner of her mouth, Scáthach was practically savoring the show as her apprentice made quite the spectacle of himself.

"Your mother must be quite the character!" After a drawn-out silence, I let out a subtle sigh, enjoying every second of this.

"Sure, my mother is Princess Deichtine, King Conchobar's sister of Ulster."

"No, by 'impressive,' I'm not referring to your mother's identity. I mean the fact that she supposedly gave birth to you via a fireball... It's utterly unbelievable! Did she pull a fast one on a nearby volcano or something?"

Cú Chulainn's anger flared up instantaneously, and I could practically feel the heat radiating off him.

And with that, the stage for my revenge was set! Let the games begin!