Fate/Magus Path

174 King!

"Hmph, not bad at all..."

Quetzalcoatl's lips curled into a smile as she observed the crowd gathered below. With a wave of her hand, she withdrew her Noble Phantasm, and the searing heat and unbearable pain that had plagued the city vanished in an instant.

"Honestly, you humans never cease to amaze me. So weak, yet capable of harboring such a captivating spark."

"Perhaps that's why I've always been so fond of your kind..."

She murmured to herself, her expression softening. As the people below struggled to comprehend the sudden disappearance of the oppressive heat, Quetzalcoatl's menacing demeanor faded, replaced by a warm, gentle smile.

"Really, if you had shown this kind of resolve earlier, things wouldn't have had to get so complicated."

"But it's not too late, I suppose..."

After a moment of reflection, she took action, much to the astonishment of the onlookers. Instead of unleashing destruction, she flew up to the temple and pulled the spear from Roy's shoulder.

The two exchanged a knowing smile.

"Well, Quetzalcoatl? Are you satisfied with the answer that has been given to you?" Roy asked, his eyes opening as he turned to her.

"Hahahaha, satisfied? Of course, I'm satisfied. More than satisfied, in fact. I couldn't have asked for a better answer."

"This is what humanity should be..."

Quetzalcoatl gently set Roy down from the temple wall, attempting to embrace him, but he shook his head and declined. She had been about to chide him for being stubborn, but her words caught in her throat as she watched the wound from the spear heal at an astonishing rate.

For the sake of realism... and at Roy's insistence... the spear had been driven deep, avoiding vital points but with enough force to pin him to the temple wall. By all accounts, Roy should have been severely injured, and Quetzalcoatl had even prepared to take him into the temple for healing.

But this rapid, almost unnatural recovery left her stunned.

She had been impressed during their earlier battle, but witnessing this up close was something else entirely. It was a power she had never seen before, one that seemed to act directly on the soul, influencing and repairing the body in ways she couldn't fully comprehend.

But it didn't matter. Everyone had their secrets, and Roy's was no exception. As long as their contract remained, they were allies who could trust each other with their lives.

And she would extend that trust in kind.

"So, what's next, Master? Shall we send these people back to Uruk?" Quetzalcoatl asked cheerfully, her mood significantly brighter.

Having witnessed their will to survive and their unyielding resolve, she no longer worried about their future. Though weak, these humans were anything but insignificant. With such a radiant spirit, they would surely overcome the impending calamity.

She believed this wholeheartedly.

And now, she and Roy would stand by their side, fighting alongside them.

"Not yet," Roy replied, shaking his head. "Uruk is already struggling to manage the frontlines and support its citizens. Sending tens of thousands more would only create more problems."

"Besides, if our alliance becomes known, Kingu will surely send his demonic beasts after us. Even with our protection, many lives would be lost during the journey."

"You're right. It would be irresponsible to simply send them back after everything that's happened."

"So, let's go down and meet them. Let's see these golden-hearted humans... the ones I've come to cherish."