Chapter 644: My Assassin Order Will Be Ruined by You Sooner or Later!
The martyr, clad in the armor of silent mourning.
Though the flesh had long decayed, the bones pierced through with steel nails, what remained etched within this cruel visage was a legend passed down through generations—a devout faith forged through years of walking the abyss of death.
Before this progenitor of Hassan-i Sabbah, Leo sensed the aura of a ’King’ who judged successive generations of the Old Man of the Mountain. To Gawain, another heroic spirit, this Grand Assassin possessed a majesty no less than that of legendary swordsn. Rin Tohsaka held her breath under the chilling, murderous pressure radiating from this spirit. As for Hakuno and Nero, they inhaled deeply, ’sensing’ a supre concept within the blazing spiritual flas...
Among those present, only Draco—roused by the Grand Servant’s presence—stood with arms crossed, a provocative smirk playing on her lips as she observed the old man who had slain the great spider of rcury and taken its place.
Faced with the little red dragon’s silent wariness, the King Hassan standing with his sword flickered his gaze, his magnetic voice resonating:
"Thou art far more nourished than when last we t—never did I imagine the ’Beast of the Fall’ would soar into the heavens."
Detecting no hostility, Draco eased her stance, the raised crimson scales along her tail relaxing as she sighed with a hint of helplessness:
"To think thou wouldst address thus. Thou hast not changed at all, old man."
"Hast thou seen it? That star thou gazed upon with such longing, even from the depths of Gehenna."
"Then, as before, I shall answer thee, old man—of course I see it. Amidst this filth, it shines brighter than all else."
"Is that so." King Hassan neither affird nor denied, the blue flas in his eye sockets burning intensely as he continued to watch the little red dragon until she turned her head away, cheeks flushed like a bashful maiden, muttering under her breath.
"F-Fine, I admit it... I’ve already fallen hopelessly into that sweet poison... To keep by his side without even chains—that man is truly, irredeemably gentle."
"On this matter, I can only agree with displeasure."
King Hassan nodded calmly, yet the sword in his hand let out a shrill cry. Leo’s eyes widened as a streak of lightning shot forth, leaving a trail of blazing azure flas in its wake!
Whoosh—!
The heavens and earth were split by that single fiery line, the spiritual flas illuminating the young man’s constricted pupils as he froze mid-step, slowly turning his head—only to find the silent black armor advancing upon him with ghostly flas.
!!!
Steel light rippled as Sakatsuki plunged his hand into it, drawing forth twin crescent blades that crashed down upon the approaching figure without restraint. Against this slash capable of bisecting a second-rate Servant, the Grand Assassin didn’t even dodge, rely raising his gauntlet to et the black-and-white blades, sending sparks flying like crashing waves.
Boom!
The rusted yet still sharp greatsword lood large in Sakatsuki’s vision. Without hesitation, he bent his leg to block the old man’s left wrist, suppressing his sword strike, then roared with all his might as he pressed downward. Twin blades flashed past the gauntlet in an instant, aiming straight for King Hassan’s chest.
Thud~
The sword twisted and rose like a shield to et the twin blades. The air exploded along their path, scattering ghostly blue flas that obscured Sakatsuki’s golden eyes.
The next mont, King Hassan bent his knee and lifted his leg, delivering a lightning-fast kick. By the ti the explosive sound rang out, the terrifying armored boot had already struck Sakatsuki’s abdon, sending him flying.
Perfect opportunity!
Leo, observing the battle, seized the precise mont. He raised his Command Spell, intending to order King Hassan to pursue, but quickly realized a Grand Servant was beyond his control. The words on his lips shifted direction: "Gawain!"
"Yes!"
Gawain gripped his holy sword, Galatine, and with a burst of strength from his legs, transford into a blazing teor, leaving crisscrossing trails of scorching heat amidst the cold blue flas.
"This sword is the replica of the sun, the purifying blaze that incinerates all impurity—"
The might of a top-tier Servant was not to be underestimated. In the blink of an eye, he crossed hundreds of ters. As Sakatsuki hung midair with no leverage, Gawain raised his holy sword like a blacksmith forging steel. Mana erupted, extending dozens of ters of solar flas that roared to life, as if to cleave the world in two. With a furious shout, he brought the sword down with overwhelming force:
"Excalibur Galatine!"
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—
The dozens-of-ters-long blade of flas crashed onto the young man. The earth shook violently as blinding white light obscured the Masters’ vision. When their tear-filled eyes finally cleared, they saw a series of explosive clouds erupting before Gawain. Sakatsuki’s figure didn’t even have ti to utter a sound before dissolving under the extre heat.
The ground had been split open, leaving a wound several ters wide and hundreds of ters long. Crimson magma mixed with molten impurities flowed slowly like blood. Gawain panted heavily, gazing at the now-empty scene before him, allowing himself a mont of relief.
"It’s over... isn’t it?"
Though the victory was less than honorable, after taking a direct hit from an A -rank Noble Phantasm, even Sakatsuki—who had repeatedly defied expectations—couldn’t possibly survive.
Leo shared the sa thought. He shifted his gaze from the battlefield to the Grand Assassin, who had remained silent since sending Sakatsuki flying.
Though Sakatsuki had insisted the Grand Assassin was his teacher, clearly he had miscalculated—what kind of teacher would imdiately move to eliminate their disciple? Had he committed so unforgivable betrayal?
Most likely, he had feared Sakatsuki would summon the only Grand capable of posing a threat, hence the attempt to interfere.
"Greetings... thank you for your assistance..."
"Pay no mind. I am but the harbinger of death."
The Grand Assassin did not acknowledge the Holy King. Instead, he calmly watched the dissipating smoke ahead before finally giving a slight, dignified nod.
"Now, the tolling bell has revealed thy na."
King Hassan’s cryptic words sent Leo’s alarm spiking. He opened his mouth to warn Gawain, but it was already too late. A searing pain erupted in Gawain’s chest before he could even register shock, forcing him to his knees.
A vermilion demonic spear, two ters and thirty centiters long with a blade spanning one foot and three inches, had pierced through his torso, staining his blood a tragic crimson.
Seeing Gawain still struggling, Sakatsuki opened his right hand that was gripping the spear’s end and simply pushed it forward with a thrust.
Riiip—!
The anti-magic spear tore through flesh inch by inch. Even soone as strong-willed as Gawain couldn’t suppress a pained groan. As the aurora of magecraft ca surging violently, Sakatsuki abandoned the spear and retreated lightly, shrugging at Leo who was gritting his teeth to unleash his magecraft.
"I told you—my assassination techniques were taught by the one standing beside you."
"If you remain this careless," the figure beside Leo raised a rusted greatsword, "I shall claim your head here and now."
"Who dares?!" Seeing her contractor threatened by a Grand Servant, the little red dragon naturally wouldn’t stand for it. She imdiately transford into the figure of a tall, beautiful woman amidst crimson light—golden hair cascading down, wielding the Flas of the End, one hand protectively pulling Sakatsuki behind her. Sakatsuki could only smile wryly at the sight.
The very reason he feared King Hassan so much was precisely because of his ’improper’ relationship with Draco.
Looking back, King Hassan had once bestowed upon him the Trial of the Valley, greatly advancing his combat skills—all so Sakatsuki could take his place in subduing Draco, sparing the ever-diligent Grand Servant from running around while the Counter Force wouldn’t even pay him an appearance fee.
Yet when he looked up—lo and behold! This unfilial disciple had actually been making eyes at the Beast, and in the end, really managed to win her over!
Treachery! A disgrace to the sect!
To think our Order of Assassins would have such a lust-blinded fool.
Foolishness. Offer thy head.
—Such was Sakatsuki’s imagination of King Hassan’s reaction. He was fully aware of his own absurd conduct, yet unwilling to draw a line with this ntor of his. Thus, he’d always adopted the ostrich tactic—fleeing when possible, avoiding when necessary.
Who could’ve imagined Leo would be so bold as to actually complete the Grand Summoning ritual, and of all possibilities, it was King Hassan who answered the call!
This is bullying , Tora—ahem, bullying , the Red Dragon Knight!
But regardless, the showdown had arrived. Faced with his choice to stand alongside the Beast, even if King Hassan pretended not to see it, he’d still have to fulfill his duty as a Grand Assassin due to the Counter Force’s will...
"Raise thy head."
"Ah... right." Sakatsuki could only be ek before this elder. He lifted his head, yet couldn’t discern King Hassan’s expression—only sensing the spiritual flas in his eyes burning slightly brighter.
"Originally, she was but a dragon gazing at the stars from the depths of limbo, ever confident in her anticipation. Should she et a worthy contractor, even her decayed wings would be restored..."
It took Sakatsuki a mont to realize who King Hassan was referring to. He pressed his dry lips together as the founder of the Old Man of the Mountain continued:
"Let her shine until the mont of burning out—like a teor streaking through the dark night."
"...Old man, you’re not going to take action?"
"Naturally. This is no calamitous Dragon of the End, rely an endearing little Beast at most."
"Even if thou art Sakatsuki’s ntor, such words cannot be forgiven, Old Man of the Mountain! Beware lest I bite thee!"
"Hoh..."
Perhaps it was Sakatsuki’s imagination, but he saw the spiritual flas in King Hassan’s eye sockets flicker slightly—as if chuckling. The mirth soon faded as golden light began to glow, the Grand Assassin’s form starting to dissipate.
"W-Wait... old man, you’re just leaving like that?!"
"I ca solely to purge heresy, and now that the heresy has been cleansed, it is ti for to return to the Throne of Heroes."
"At least fight once..." Sakatsuki cast a sympathetic glance at Leo. "It’s a good chance for you to see how much I’ve improved."
If all seven Grand Servants skipped out on their duties, Leo would probably burst into tears.
"I have already tolled the bell once and should have long returned to the valley of shadows." Old Man of the Mountain narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing that this wayward disciple harbored rebellious thoughts. To prevent the young man from resorting to dishonorable tactics, he simply conjured sothing in his hand and tossed it toward Sakatsuki.
"Eh?" Sakatsuki caught it, startled by the blue spiritual flas creeping up his wrist, and hastily shook his hand.
As the lingering flas dissipated, what lay before him was a bone-white mask, identical to those worn by the successive Old n of the Mountain.
At first glance, it seed like nothing more than an exquisitely crafted toy. Yet both Sakatsuki and the Old Man of the Mountain knew full well—this was the symbol of the ancient order of assassins, the emblem passed down through generations of the Old n of the Mountain.
To don it ant Sakatsuki would inherit the na "Hassan-i Sabbah" and beco the new Old Man of the Mountain!
"If you wish to reconsider, that is also acceptable. The weight of this decision is not one to be made lightly, for—"
Before the Old Man could finish, Sakatsuki tossed the mask in the air and promptly pressed it onto his face.
The stark white, narrow-eyed mask fit perfectly over the upper half of the young man’s face. His golden eyes, radiant as the sun, tempered the eerie aura of the bone mask. When Sakatsuki narrowed his eyes in amusent, the mask lost all its chilling presence, instead resembling the cunning and handso fox spirits from ancient tales.
Yet that elusive, shifting deanor seamlessly lded into the image of an assassin.
"If it’s a gift from you, of course I’ll take it." Sakatsuki tapped the mask, producing a crisp sound. "If I could beco the last knight of the Round Table, then I can certainly shoulder the legacy of the Hassans and carry on the glory—or infamy—of the Old n of the Mountain."
"After all, you’ve helped more than enough, old man."
"Hmph... Foolish." Perhaps even the Old Man himself didn’t notice the tone in his voice—like an elder watching a mischievous child, exasperated yet hopeful.
Though unexpected, when this young man he held in such high regard accepted the mask, even his spectral form felt an inexplicable warmth of pride.
"However, this mask of mine is not rely a symbol of the na Hassan-i Sabbah."
"...Eh?"
"Honestly, you’ll do anything for the sake of looking cool." Draco sighed beside him, not sparing him any face. "Pay attention, my contractor. That is unmistakably the aura of a Grand."
"Ha... Hah?!" Sakatsuki quickly sensed the familiar presence within the mask, and a dreadful premonition surged within him. "Wait, old man, we’ve shared heart-to-heart talks! You wouldn’t actually screw over, would you?!"
The last ti the Old Man had dumped a burden on him, Sakatsuki had first been ambushed by Draco in the Avenger class, then forced into a life-or-death battle in her true form after she summoned an arena. His body had been destroyed, and only through the Third Magic, the Holy Grail, the voluntary sacrifices of his Servants, and the cheat-like Fate Compendium had he barely managed to defeat Draco.
This ti, the old man had once again tossed the Grand title his way—who knows how many Beasts he’d have to slay or alien gods to chop up for drinks.
And if he ssed up, he’d be the one served as the drink!
"Have rcy on , old man. I can’t handle business at this level!" Sakatsuki wailed pitifully, putting on a miserable act. "I just got a girlfriend, I’m still young with room to grow. I don’t want to live life on the edge anymore!"
"..." The spiritual flas around King Hassan flickered unsteadily. He truly couldn’t comprehend how sothing as lofty as a Grand title could be described by Sakatsuki as if he were being forced into prostitution.
This was the symbol representing the pinnacle of a class, the crown of guardians acknowledged by Pan-Human History!
If Sakatsuki fully beca the Grand Assassin, the power boost would be the least concern—the most important thing was that under the cover of the Grand Saint Graph, the Beast by his side wouldn’t be targeted by the Counter Force, nor would they have to worry about a group of Grands coming to farm her!
Surely no one actually thought this was like last ti, where it could be used as a firecracker and lit up for a one-ti show?!
Wastrel, my Hashashin Order will surely be ruined by your hands!
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