"Now then, shall we test this power?"
Having unexpectedly absorbed a Subspecies Holy Grail, Zod.05 felt his superhuman abilities surge with newfound intensity. He offered a thin, chilling smile to the gang from another state who had dared to trespass into his territory.
"You’ve got a lot of nerve. They call you the Demon King of New York, but coming out here all alone... are you looking down on us?"
"You’re quite quick on the uptake. That’s right, I am looking down on you. My subordinates are back there, simply guarding the car."
"I’m not going to go easy on a brat! Get him!"
The rival gangsters, heavily armed with firearms, leveled their weapons at Zod.05. Zod merely let out a dismissive snort.
"Guns? Are you joking?"
Fuuuuuuuu——!!!
Zod exhaled a single breath toward them. The air instantly crystallized into a localized blizzard of absolute zero, a freezing gale that swept over the men.
"Fuck! He’s an Esper!"
"Die!"
The gangsters opened fire with submachine guns, pistols, and shotguns, but it was utterly futile. Zod stood there with an air of nonchalant leisure, absorbing the hail of lead while wearing a smile so tranquil it was nauseating. It was a sight that transcended horror.
After several minutes of sustained gunfire, a sudden silence fell. The gang had finally exhausted their ammunition.
"Thanks to you, my clothes are in tatters. This was an expensive suit... you monkeys truly have no sense of manners."
"This is impossible... even an Esper should die from this many bullets..."
"Good grief... do not compare me to those 'others.' I am a perfect being... you primitives."
"What?"
"Wasting effort on trivialities like discriminating based on skin color is exactly the kind of mindless behavior one expects from a low-intelligence ape. 'Blackie,' 'Ching-chong'... you're essentially advertising your own low IQs, aren't you? What kind of beasts are you? Does attacking your own kind satisfy you?"
Flushing with rage at Zod's provocation, the gangsters scrambled to reload. Before they could chamber a single round, Zod laughed. Beams of Heat Vision lanced out, bisecting and incinerating the gunmen where they stood.
"Hieee! You... you monster!"
"No, no... that’s not it. You’re wrong."
Zod stepped forward, crushing the skull of a man crawling backward in terror beneath his heel. As the head burst like an overripe fruit, he whispered his final correction.
"I am God."
"Tch... blood splattered on me. How filthy."
His utter indifference to the lives he had just snuffed out—expressing only a mild annoyance at being 'dirty'—radiated a madness that surpassed any psychopath. The surviving gang members broke and ran. Like a hunter savoring the chase, Zod followed them with a slow, predatory stride.
.
.
.
"You’ve returned? ......Haa. Master, you are covered in blood."
"Thanks to them, I’m in the mood for a shower. Let’s head back to the hideout; I heard a batch of decent bath salts arrived recently."
"And your clothes?"
"I have a few spares at the base; I’ll just change there. Really... if only my clothes were bulletproof as well. Is it beyond the reach of my 'Aura' to protect my attire? My Heat Vision and Cold Breath seem to have grown much stronger, though."
"Then how about gathering more Holy Grails?"
"Hmm~ But collecting these tiny Subspecies Grails bit by bit is becoming a nuisance."
"Then we should aim for something larger. We could target the Great Holy Grail War in Trifas, Romania. According to my records, it is a conflict initiated by the Yggdmillennia clan, who infiltrated the Nazis to steal the Greater Grail during the Third War—though this iteration differs from the standard ritual."
Zod’s eyes narrowed, piqued by Emiya Alter’s report.
"Heh~ In what way?"
"The 'Great' War... a 7 vs 7 confrontation. Two factions, Black and Red, battling for dominance over the Grail."
"Is there a guarantee the same will happen in this world?"
"If it does, good. If not, so be it. I shall travel to Romania to investigate."
Emiya Alter offered to scout the situation himself. Since the Modern World was largely divorced from true Mystery, any information regarding the Moonlit World had to be gathered through manual legwork. After a moment of contemplation, Zod nodded.
"Fine, I permit it. Do you need manpower?"
"A crowd would only be a hindrance."
"Right then. Treat it as a business trip. Just... do not disappoint me."
Zod’s eyes flared with a smoldering crimson light as he 'loaded' his Heat Vision. Emiya Alter merely gave a stoic nod.
"Understood..."
"Tch... boring as always. Forget it, just drive. I want that shower."
"Acknowledged."
Zod clicked his tongue as he watched Emiya Alter drive with his usual mechanical efficiency.
.
.
.
Two weeks after Emiya Alter departed New York, transiting through the UK to Romania, he made contact via an international line. The situation differed from the 'original' records; the Greater Grail currently held by Yggdmillennia in Romania was actually a 'Subspecies Greater Grail.' In this timeline, Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia had failed to seize the Fuyuki Greater Grail during the Third War, instead succeeding in copying its data and processes to create this replica. The recent string of Subspecies Holy Grail Wars was merely a byproduct of this research.
Declaring independence from the Clock Tower, the Yggdmillennia clan had absorbed several ostracized magus families to form their organization. They had already summoned seven Servants to guard their prize. In response, the Clock Tower had hired seven magi to summon their own Heroic Spirits to seize the Grail. The 'Great War' had begun. Emiya Alter reported that he had already 'disposed' of one of the Clock Tower’s magi, leaving a vacant seat. He suggested Zod fill that vacancy.
Satisfied, Zod ordered Emiya Alter to return to New York to safeguard the organization in his absence. He instructed Mata Hari to remain behind as well, tasking her and Archer with maintaining order over Homeland. Telling her he would summon them with a Command Spell if necessary, Zod boarded his private jet bound for the United Kingdom, taking his other two 'possessions' with him.
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