Chapter 17: For Whom the Bell Tolls
"There are no magical reactions, no Servant reactions—nothing. No movement, no sign of life at all. Yet, I cannot stop my whole body from trembling... It's not just my spirit, it's my soul. My soul is doing everything in its power to refuse to remain in this temple...!" Bedivere said, his expression grim.
—The "Old Man of the Mountain."
Also known by the aliases "First Hassan" or "King Hassan," he was the original Hassan-i Sabbah, born the moment the Assassin order was established, with the name "Old Man of the Mountain" becoming a title passed down through generations.
The other eighteen Hassans and the followers of the order knew nothing of his true face, nor was there any proof of his actual existence.
Yet, he was the legendary assassin who would appear whenever a contemporary Hassan-i Sabbah strayed from the path to sever their head—the Hassan who slays Hassans.
In the Assassin order, there were no witnesses who had ever seen him; this was only natural, for when one saw him, their life had already come to an end.
As the origin of the "Old Man of the Mountain," he bore the duty of passing judgment on the corruption of the order, choosing a life as the order's overseer.
Although the order was an existence established under the teachings of God, it was inevitable that its executors would commit human evils.
Therefore, this individual would not allow corruption to occur within the order.
Those who followed God's teachings while indulging in human desires—this was the deepest profanity against God.
Corruption within the order, whether moral or technical—those who declined could not be granted the title of "Old Man of the Mountain"; decline meant death.
To bestow a righteous cause upon the abnormal duty of assassinating assassins, this individual did not use hidden weapons or projectiles, but chose a greatsword suitable for frontal combat as his weapon.
After delivering sanctions to the fools who violated the order's doctrines, those who glimpsed the skeletal swordsman's figure would vanish from the world.
It is said that he, who sent many Assassins to their graves, would remain hidden in the darkness until the Assassin order was destroyed.
As a living legend and the abyss of assassins with no witnesses—that was this skeletal swordsman, King Hassan.
Due to his sinister appearance and fierce fighting style, people often thought him cruel by nature, but his true character was actually noble, laconic, and steadfast in the teachings of the Lord.
He could simultaneously understand the laws of man and the laws of God, distinguishing between the "cessation of vital activity" and the "end of life."
The aura of this powerful Assassin King surpassed all others; with the strength of Mash and Bedivere, they could not contend with such overwhelming pressure.
Beside them, Shirou looked at their distressed state, scratching his hair in confusion.
Mainly, he couldn't feel any pressure at all, and saying that out loud now seemed slightly ill-timed...
Oh, Gudako didn't seem to be affected either.
The Hassans dared not move forward, so they spoke to Shirou's group.
"Beyond this point lies the domain of the First One, which even we do not know. We cannot predict what will happen; please maintain the utmost vigilance."
Having said this, the Hassans dared not linger, and in the blink of an eye, they had vanished.
The very next moment after the Hassans departed, the shield held by Mash suddenly suffered a heavy blow.
Clang—!
The moment the metallic clash rang out, sparks flashed brilliantly.
"Ugh...! I cannot observe the traces of the enemy!"
Romani's voice came through at this moment: "I don't detect anything on my end either! There are no reactions there other than you all! N-no, rather—at that very instant, Gudako's vitals disappeared!?"
"Eh, does that mean I'm already dead?"
Gudako was dumbfounded.
At that same moment, a deep voice resonated throughout the vast temple.
"Your resolve has been conveyed. The meaning of saving the world has been acknowledged by my sword. However, those who step into my temple must first face death. Fight as the dead, and seize the right to live. Only through this trial can you receive my absolution."
"Absolution...?"
Shirou chewed on the word. Behind him, several beams of magical light appeared, and several swords were formed. They then dragged blue tracers as they rushed toward the tightly shut door leading deeper within.
BOOM—!!
Amidst the shockwave and the thick smoke that subsequently filled the air, Shirou saw the tall figure wielding a greatsword charging out, and he immediately broke into a smile.
"Let me see your standard."
The tall figure, flashing through this vast space like a shadow, did not respond. His eyes, burning with blue flames, stared at Shirou as if mixed with rage.
Perhaps that was not rage, for this King Hassan's eyes would glow when he was actually angry, glow when he was sad, and glow when he was happy—no matter what happened, his eyes would glow.
Clang—Clang—Clang—Clang!
The sound of the bells rang out, as if tolling for someone's funeral.
Hearing the sudden, long tolling of the bell, the expressions of both Mash and Bedivere turned incomparably grim.
They could not move.
Whether it was Gudako, Mash, Da Vinci, or Bedivere, they all felt as if they were being crushed by giant boulders under that powerful pressure, feeling as though it would take their utmost effort just to move a single finger.
Bedivere quickly moved to Gudako's side, guarding the surroundings nervously: "Lady Gudako, please be careful!"
Mash held her shield in front of Gudako: "Master, quick, get behind me!"
Their gazes all remained fixed on the red-haired youth who was standing before the rising smoke, watching it intently.
Within that smoke, a tall figure covered in armor was gradually taking shape.
He wore a white skeletal mask, and within the eye sockets of that skull, blue flames were burning.
He gripped a rust-covered greatsword. This sword did not look sharp, but it emitted a terrifying aura of death.
When that Noble Phantasm was revealed, golden light appeared behind the skeletal swordsman. In the midst of that golden light, pure white feathers fluttered and drifted down, giving a sense of holiness.
"The funeral bell for you has tolled."
The black figure appeared in everyone's field of vision, issuing a majestic declaration.
Then, he slowly raised his greatsword, pointing the tip toward Shirou.
"Hand over your head!"
The deep voice was like the arrival of the Grim Reaper, transforming into a shadow that swept toward Shirou.
Stepping with uncanny footwork, this First Hassan arrived in front of Shirou at a speed that Mash, Da Vinci, and Bedivere could not capture with their eyes. The greatsword in his hand was swung only lightly, yet it carried the aura of slaughtering all things.
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting