Yamatai-koku Singularity

GUDAGUDA

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The Yamatai-koku Singularity is a Singularity during the Human Order Revision in Fate/Grand Order.

The events of Chaldea's visit to this Singularity are covered in an event of Cosmos of the Lostbelt; GUDAGUDA Yamatai-koku (ぐだぐだ邪馬台国^?), referring to the fifth collaboration between Fate/Grand Order and Fate/KOHA-ACE.

Setting

Map of the Singularity.

Seeking revenge against Himiko for preventing his conquest, Kukochihiko sought to plunge her country into darkness. As the first step, he killed Iyo, knowing the country would decline without an heir. He then used his powers to seperate Yamatai-koku from the rest of the world. Afterwards, he summoned Serizawa Kamo with the Holy Grail. Knowing the former Shinsemgumi commander greatly resented towards his former unit, Kukochihiko gave him his powers. He then remained hidden after telling Serizawa to gather the people's resentment so the old gods may be revived. With his newfound powers, Serizawa began corrupting both the land and its people. Sunlight became weaker, water was polluted, and rice grew poorly. Meanwhile, the people were driven insane by the darkness, and began attacking their friends and neighbors. Serizawa also forcibly corrupted the people to creae his owm Shinsemgumi, the Dark Shinsemgumi. The Dark Shinsemgumi ravaged the villagers, stealing their reserves, and collected their resentment for the purpose of reviving the old gods. Serizawa also summoned Yamanami Keisuke and Saito Hajime to help him, collecting the resentment gathered as darkness from the temples. Keisuke agreed to help out of regret for being part of the team that assassinated the former commander. Saito agreed to help for the chance to duel Okita Souji.

Foreseeing what would happen to Yamatai-koku after Iyo's death, Himiko's soul summoned her Heroic Spirit self. She then used her mirror to connect the Singularity with the future, making contact with Chaldea. Ritsuka and a number of their Servants were then transported to the Singularity. Among the Servamts was Nobunga Oda, who arrived before everyone else. She was forcibly made into a fake Iyo to rule Yamatai-koku forvever, and to gather emnity from the faithless. In truth, she was asked to take the role by Iyo's soul, and to bide her time until Himiko's return. In accordance with this request, Nobunaga trapped various Servants in haniwa resembling Nobbu to protect the temples so the Dark Shinsemgumi could't collect the darkness gathered there.

History

Part 1

The Haniwa, Beyond the Light

At Chaldea, Oda Nobukatsu shows Ritsuka, Mash, Oda Nobunaga, Okita Souji, Leonardo da Vinci, and Nagao Kagetora a haniwa shaped like a Nobbu. It suddenly starts glowing, and proclaims that Yamatai-koku will be destroyed in October 2020. It then transports the group to Yamatai-Koku.

The Future, From the Distance

While being transported, Ritsuka is contacted by a priestess whose land is under threat of being swallowed whole by the Dark Blight. She has been searching for a powerful champion to save them from this existential crisis and the champion she finally managed to find is Ritsuka. She congratulates them and asks if they have supernatural powers. Ritsuka replies they do not except they can summon Servants.

Remarking they are just who she is looking for, the priestess proceeds to connect her mirrors to Ritsuka’s world. She promises Ritsuka it is perfectly safe, though there is the possibility their body and soul will be dissipated. She soon finishes commenting that the her on that side might not yet know everything that will happen or has happened. But she decides it can stay a mystery for now so all she needs Ritsuka to do is experience it for themself and do what they think is best. She will see them again in the far future’s distant past, aware that they are from the future. Ritsuka is then fully transported.

Ritsuka is woken on a beach by a girl and a talking turtle. The girl divines that Ritsuka is from Chaldea in the distant future. She introduces herself as Himiko and the talking turtle as her younger brother, who asks to be addressed as Nameless Turtle. He expects the black haze in the area means something has happened to their kingdom. Himiko welcomes Ritsuka to said kingdom: Yamatai-koku.

Village

The three head toward a village when they hear fighting coming from over there. They arrive to find Mash and Nobukatsu evacuating the villagers whose village is under attack, allegedly by the Shinsengumi. Ritsuka and Himiko join in defending the village.

Unfortunately, the Shinsengumi prove too strong and numerous for the heroes. They boast the heroes have no hope of defeating them and demand they surrender and swear allegiance to Lady Iyo. Himiko is shocked to hear Iyo’s name and demands the soldier explain what he means. The soldier tells her to stand down and boasts the Shinsengumi is now invincible thanks to Iyo bestowing them with incredible power.

A man suddenly arrives and kills several of the Shinsengumi, mocking them for thinking themselves invincible. Another man in glasses tells him to help the heroes. After the battle, the men introduce themselves as Yamanami Keisuke and Saito Hajime.

Villgae hut

Inside a village hut, a woman explains Yamatai-koku under Iyo’s rule had been peaceful and prosperous until one day all of a sudden a black haze called the Dark Blight came to swallow the land. Ever since they’ve been completely cut off from the outside world, their sunlight has dimmed, their water has turned foul, and their crops can barely support them. Furthermore, those consumed by the Dark Blight lose their minds and attack anyone they see. Now the Shinsengumi claiming to serve Iyo have been raiding villages across the land.

Himiko is very much upset by what her disciple has allegedly done, having trusted her to take care of Yamatai-koku after she died. Mash suspects something has happened to turn Yamatai-koku into a Singularity. Keisuke thinks they were summoned to resolve the Singularity and the Dark Blight is what caused the changes.

The woman fears it is only a matter of time until the Dark Blight swallows the village. It is flowing from the village shrine, but the patrolling haniwa attacks anyone who gets too close. Himiko asks the woman to show them to the shrine.

Shrine

At the shrine, the heroes see that the haniwa is a Nobbu haniwa, just like the one the Chaldeans saw back at Chaldea. The woman explains ever since it appeared the shrine has been mired in the Dark Blight, the river has turned black, and the crops have worsened. The haniwa then spots the heroes and attacks them, forcing them to fight it.

It proves tougher to break, however. Himiko, seeing she has no other choice, empowers herself and destroys the haniwa with a single punch to reveal it was a transformed Okita. With the haniwa destroyed, the Dark Blight flowing the shrine has lifted and the river has cleared up as well.

Suddenly the woman runs back to the village having just recognized Himiko. The heroes return to the village where the villagers gather around them in awe of their queen’s return. Of course, Himiko is less than pleased to hear all of her exploits as told by a village senior make her sound like a violent person who ruled Yamatai-koku with might.

Later, inside a hut, the heroes conclude they will need to find and destroy the remaining haniwa to purge Yamatai-koku of the Dark Blight. They also decide to help rebuild the village as well as deal with the “Shinsengumi”.

Visitors from Afar, To the Settled Lands

A “Shinsengumi” soldier reports his squad’s failure to his commander and expresses concern that Himiko may have returned from the dead. The commander kills him for his failure. Afterward, he asks how “that thing” is looking. A soldier reports it is still in the queen’s chamber, not making a sound. The commander is pleased to hear that, as it means there’s no need for concern.

A dark shadow is in disbelief about Himiko, for their eternal darkness had swallowed her and Iyo whole. The commander tells it to shut up. The shadow demands he utterly destroy Yamatai-koku, much to his irritation. He tells his soldiers to pay no heed to the unseen voice they heard.

Per Nobukatsu’s instructions, the villagers have made dikes and waterways to improve their agriculture. Keisuke informs him, Ritsuka, Mash, Okita, and the Nameless Turtle that Saito has found another shrine and haniwa at his behest. Retrieving Himiko, the heroes gather in a hut and learn from Saito that a giant serpent had taken over a shrine.

They proceed to the shrine to find Oryou in her true form, but the Dark Blight has caused her to lose her memories. They destroy the two haniwa, revealing they were Sakamoto Ryouma and Okada Izou transformed. With the Dark Blight dispelled, Oryou has also regained her memories but ashamed that she forgot who Ryouma was (though she still treated him nicely) she runs away. Ryouma chases after her, but not before whispering something to Izou.

Returning to the village with the others, Izou recounts what happened to him and Ryouma, and it is just like what happened to Okita. He then asks Okita if she is sure about working with Keisuke, considering he had betrayed the Shinsengumi. Keisuke doesn’t mind Izou saying that, but Saito does and incites Izou into a fight by mentioning how he sold out his allies after only a bit of torture. Himiko punches both of them to keep them from fighting.

Separation, Rocked by the Waves of Time

Ritsuka wakes up the next day from a dream of when Saito left the Shinsengumi during the Boshin War. 

After breakfast, Saito chats with them about Okita, as she is different from what he remembers. In the past, she was feared by both enemies and allies and only smiled when she occasionally played with the neighbor kids, but to Saito it felt she forced herself to smile. He has known her since they attended the Sheikan Dojo and she smiled back then like she did today, at least occasionally. But once they started the Shinsengumi, her smile gradually lost its luster, and neither of them were there when it all ended. Saito apologizes for talking so much as he was curious what sort of Master Ritsuka was since they got Okita to smile like her old self again.

Later, the heroes learn the next shrine is occupied by a glowing haniwa who leads a small army of other haniwa. Nobukatsu does not join as he will be too busy continuing the search for his sister.

On their way to the shrine, the heroes spot a haniwa which immediately flees from them. Izou chases after it but the others do not, as Keisuke suspects it is a decoy. He directs Saito and Okita to flank from the right and left respectively, while Izou essentially acts as a decoy.

Izou finds himself surrounded by many haniwa, having foolishly led himself into an ambush set by the shining haniwa. But the others, following Keisuke’s plan, destroy all of the shining haniwa’s subordinates. Upset that they had figured out its plan, the shining haniwa attacks the heroes. They destroy it to reveal it was a transformed Kagetora. Nobukatsu then suddenly shows up, still looking for his sister.

Mountain Cherry Blossoms, Scatter Without a Trace

A flashback shows Okita answering Keisuke’s request, having been told about it by Kondou Isami. She argued with him about how he could have run away back then, but Keisuke knew Hijikata wouldn’t allow it and expressed regret for his life as a Shinsengumi to the point he deserted. He told Okita to get some sleep, and after she left, he told Hijikata (who was listening from outside) that this is the only path for them ever since they chose Kondou that night. Then on February 23, 1862, Keisuke committed seppuku.

At Chaldea, Da Vinci has located the Singularity Ritsuka and the others were transported. The Singularity seems to be 3rd century Japan but Da Vinci is unable to get a clear look at the coordinates or time period, which also means they can establish a connection with Ritsuka to get info about the Singularity.

That being said, she has detected GUDAGUDA particles, a type of magical energy signal emitted by Nobunaga, much to her annoyance. She agrees with Chacha that it may be Nobunaga causing trouble again, but something about this feels off to her, even for GUDAGUDA shenanigans. Nevertheless, it might help them bring Ritsuka and the others back.

Okita Alter, Chacha, Mori Nagayoshi, Li Shuwen, and Mysterious Heroine X all volunteer to rayshift into the Singularity and rescue their compatriots. Da Vinci gives them a bag full of stuff she thinks might help given the time period they’re going to before rayshifting them to the Singularity.

Nobukatsu reports people controlled by the Dark Blight are attacking the village and they are led by the Dark Shinsengumi. Okita calls for Saito and Keisuke to join in defending the village when she notices they are absent. Mash reminds her Saito and Keisuke have been out investigating the haniwa since this morning. Okita tries to call for Izou only to realize he’s absent as well; Mash tells her he isn’t feeling well from drinking too much sake last night.

Meanwhile, Himiko accompanied by her brother and Kagetora is using her kidou to purify the villagers of the Dark Blight. Ritsuka, Mash, Nobukatsu, and Okita soon join them. Ritsuka leaves it to Nobukatsu to evacuate the villagers while the rest of them fight off the Dark Shinsengumi. They defeat them when they’re suddenly confronted by Serizawa Kamo, former commander of the Shinsengumi.

Nobukatsu and the Nameless Turtle, meanwhile, are evacuating the village when they find Demon King Nobunaga corrupting villagers with the Dark Blight. Overjoyed to see his sister again, Nobukatsu tries to get closer to her but the Nameless Turtle protects him when Nobunaga tries to kill him, much to Nobukatsu’s shock. Nobunaga proclaims herself to be Iyo. Afterward, she rejoins with Serizawa and departs with him and the Dark Shinsengumi.

Later, Okita informs Keisuke and Saito (who had returned from their investigation) about Serizawa. Nobukatsu changes the topic to why his sister is calling herself Iyo even though she looks nothing like the Iyo Himiko and her brother knew. He thinks the Dark Shinsengumi is controlling her, but he also believes she wouldn’t let herself be controlled. Regardless, it is clear to the heroes they need to determine what “Iyo” and Serizawa are after.

At Midnight, Drenched by the Rain

On a certain day in September 1863, after midnight, Hijikata Toshizou, Keisuke, Harada Sanosuke, Saito, and Okita went to Serizawa’s residence in Yagi to assassinate him so the Shinsengumi can be united under Kondou.

In the present, Ritsuka, Mash, and the Nameless Turtle express concern about the lack of rain.

Himiko guesses Serizawa and “Iyo” are based in her old shrine. Unfortunately, the Dark Blight oozing from there is too dense for the heroes to get close to and Himiko can’t use her kidou to dispel it in her current state.

The villagers complain to Himkio that the endless sunlight is killing their crops and so plead with her to make it rain, which she agrees to do. After the villagers leave, Himiko falls asleep standing up, but according to her brother, this is what happens when she is divining the future. However, it isn’t great for her image, so she used to only do it in her shrine’s inner sanctum.

Himiko wakes up and suddenly decides they should go to the beach tomorrow, much to the confusion of Okita and the frustration of Nobukatsu. Ritsuka, listening to the Nameless Turtle’s advice, decides they should wait and see what happens tomorrow. Saito and Keisuke leave to continue their investigation of the haniwa. Okada and Kagetora, meanwhile, decide to stay and drink.

The next day, it is raining, much to the surprise of the Chaldeans and Himiko’s disappointment. The Nameless Turtle says his sister has always had terrible luck when it comes to important events getting interrupted by rain, especially when they’re meant to be fun. Himiko adds the more she looks forward to something, the more it’s guaranteed to get rained out. The villagers are nevertheless overjoyed to see that their queen has made it rain.

Keisuke and Saito inform the others they have located the next shrine and haniwa deep in the woods, but in all their time watching it, the haniwa never moved once. While the others go to the shrine, Kagetora stays with Nobukatsu and the Nameless Turtle to train the villagers in combat in case the Dark Shinsengumi attack again.

Arriving at the shrine, the heroes see the haniwa fighting the Dark Shinsengumi. It forces the Dark Shinsengumi to retreat, much to the surprise of the heroes, but they’re forced to fight it when it spots them. They destroy it revealing it was a transformed Hijikata.

Alerted by Hijikata, Okita deflects a sudden surprise attack from Keisuke. Saito then suddenly tries to kill Ritsuka when Okada arrives to protect them. Keisuke reveals he and Saito have been working for Serizawa. They escape having accomplished what they came to do: destroy the haniwa.

Meanwhile, at the village, the Nameless Turtle tells Nobukatsu that his sister never wanted to be queen. Long ago, the only way the people of Yamatai-koku could survive was hunting and gathering, never knowing if their next meal would be their last. But one day rice made its way to Yamatai-koku from another country. They eventually learned to grow it for themselves and starvation became less of a concern. Yamatai-koku thus became a land of plenty, but that abundance caused the people to fight over it. But in time the people grew tired of war and they desired salvation---a arbiter with divine power who could bring an end to conflict---and Himiko was the ideal person.

She once told her brother in confidence that she had heard voices from somewhere far away since she was little. The voices told her many things, such as tomorrow’s weather or developments in war; it was as if she could see the future. She never told anyone besides her brother about her power and they continued to live their lives happily until one day, during a particularly dry year, her brother foolishly told the other villagers about her power.

Before the Nameless Turtle knew it, the people were worshipping his sister like her queen. He can’t blame them, though, because as long as the people did what she told them, things always worked out. It was only thanks to everyone worshipping HImiko that Yamatai-koku was able to be reunited and become a kingdom free of strife and conflict. The Nameless Turtle had thought everything worked out for the best until one day he saw his sister praying alone in her shrine’s inner sanctum and thought to himself “what have i done?”; Nobukatsu is reminded of his own sister.

After becoming queen, Himiko was treated as a living deity, though in practice she was just a tool for delivering prophecies. Before, she used to spend her days happily playing outside with her brother. Now she was more than a pillar all of Yamatai-koku depended on for support.

Nobukatsu asks the Nameless Turtle why Himiko just quit if she didn’t like it. The Nameless Turtle admits he said something similar to his sister before but in response she only smiled and said everyone’s happiness was all that mattered. He feels it’s his fault his sister stopped being a person and became an object of worship and believes his becoming a turtle was divine punishment.

Nobukatsu asks him why he is telling him all of this. The Nameless Turtle tells him he couldn’t help but share his experiences with someone in a similar position. Nobukatsu insists he is nothing like the Nameless Turtle because, unlike with him and his sister, there is nothing he can do to be useful to Nobunaga at all and believes she is perfectly fine all on her own. The Nameless Turtle knows that is true because siblings are supposed to help each other.

The rain suddenly stops, followed by a fierce rumbling. Nobukatsu and the Nameless Turtle rush outside to see the nearby Dark Blight clearing up.

Siblings, Killing Lovingly

A flashback from Nobukatsu’s past shows him assuring his retainers that he will take control of the Oda clan back from Nobunaga. After they all left, he allegedly coerced Shibata Katsuie into remaining loyal to him by reminding him that sister would forgive a second betrayal. However, he knew Shibata would inform Nobunaga of his plot and support her no matter what out of guilt for his previous betrayal. He thought Shibata would make a good pawn for his sister, so all that remained was for him to die.

In the present, the heroes have returned to the village and informed the others that Saito and Keisuke were enemy double agents. Nobukatsu questions why if they were the enemy they would help destroy the haniwa, but Kagetora suspects the haniwa were an obstacle to their plans. Himiko is confused as destroying the haniwa cleared up the Dark Blight which is controlled by the enemy.

Ryouma arrives with Oryou, having spent a long time chasing after her. After Mash catches them up, Ryouma guesses Serizawa was summoned to Yamatai-koku by the Holy Grail and the enemy’s goal isn’t to spread the Dark Blight but to collect it. He further guesses someone was using the shrine to scatter it in order to stop them, which is they turned the Chaldean Servants into haniwa and made them guard the shrines. Considering the design of the haniwa, that someone is Nobunaga.

At the Dark Shinsengum’s headquarters, Keisuke asks Serizawa how the vessel is coming alonging. Serizawa says it shouldn’t be long now, impressed she was able to “do that” after being immersed in so much Dark Blight. But soon Yamatai-koku will end and Serizawa will make it his own.

While Kagetora stays at the village to train the villagers in combat and fortify its defense and Ryouma and Oryou are out conducting an in-depth investigation of the shrines, Ritsuka, Mash, Himiko, the Nameless Turtle, Nobukatsu, Okita, and Hijikata go to Himiko’s old shrine. Himiko doesn’t remember the area around her shrine being so deserted or feeling so ominous, though, and asks what happened to the place after she died. Her brother recalls Iyo was supposed to take up residence in her stead, but the people living in the area never once saw her.

• Exterior of Himiko's old shrine
• Shrine's interior

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Arriving at the shrine, the heroes are escorted to Serizawa by Keisuke and Saito. Okita attacks Serizawa, but Saito blocks her. Himiko demands to know where Iyo is, to which Serizawa replies there is only a throne for binding her vessel, meaning Iyo is dead. Unlike Himiko, Iyo was never able to find a successor, so when she died the people were left divided and lawless. Serizawa therefore made a fake Iyo, a new queen that could serve as her eternal vessel.

The Nameless Turtle and Himiko are both distraught that after they and Iyo died, the people had created a fake queen to keep Yamatai-koku, particularly Himiko because all she wanted was to share the prophecies she retrieved and make Yamatai-koku a peaceful and harmonious kingdom. Serizawa confesses that is why he seeks to destroy it, believing he was summoned to replace it with a new nation. 

He tells Hijikata both he and Kondou, or rather the entire Shinsengumi, never had the guts to do what was necessary to save Japan, not if it meant destroying everything and starting over. Hijikata asks Keisuke if that is why he is siding with Serizawa. Keisuke confesses he has wondered if things would have been different if they hadn’t chosen Kondou that day. Hijikata asks him if he really thinks things would’ve been different with Serizawa in charge. Serizawa insists they would’ve, declaring the power he possesses will let him shape the future however he likes.

A dark shadow appears, whose aura Himiko recognizes just like Serizawa expected. He calls it the residual animosity of the inhuman creatures she had destroyed before. Himiko realizes he means the inhabitants of Kunakoku. Serizawa reveals it was they who summoned him to Yamatai-koku all so he could destroy it and sacrifice its false priestess of a queen.

He brings out Nobunaga, the fake Iyo, whom he intends to sacrifice to destroy everything. He originally summoned her to be the vessel to gather all the hatred the inhabitants of Kunakoku have for Himiko, but she resisted by absorbing and scattering his power instead. Mash realizes that is why Nobunaga turned the Chaldean Servants into haniwa.

Serizawa admits Nobunaga had greatly interfered with his plans until the heroes showed up and helped him without their knowing. He has all the Dark Blight he needs now, so the heroes have outlived their usefulness. All that remains is to sacrifice “Iyo” so he can summon inhuman creatures from the bowels of the earth. He then forces the heroes to fight Nobunaga while he, Keisuke, and Saito escape.

The heroes defeat Nobunaga returning to her old self, but she remains heavily drenched in the Dark Blight. She already knows who Himiko is from Iyo, revealing back when she was summoned and bound to the throne the remnants of Iyo’s soul still left on the throne asked her to buy time until Himiko returned. She assumes Serizawa’s power comes from the Grail, but before he could completely control she did her best to disrupt his plans: seal everyone else who was summoned into haniwa, spread his power among them, and scatter them across the land. It was a ploy to buy time, but even then, the enemy isn’t far from accomplishing their goal.

The enemy’s goal is to gather the residual animosity of the ancient beasts and inhuman creatures slumbering in Yamatai-koku to resurrect the old gods, or rather imitations of them, and use them to destroy the kingdom. Rumbling is then heard, signaling to Nobunaga that the enemy has already begun destroying Yamatai-koku. She begins to disappear, telling the others the rest is up to them.

Nobukatsu, however, refuses to let his sister disappear without him and demands Ritsuka do something. Nobunaga scolds her brother for being so clingy ever since they were little and tells him she never wants to see him again. She continues that from here on he will have to get by without her, meaning he has to learn to stand on his own. She asks Ritsuka to look out for Nobukatsu for her and disappears, telling her brother it’s all up to him now. Nobukatsu cries out for his sister.

Powerful Deity, A Day of Disaster

The Ominous Gods attacking Yamatai-koku

Everyone sees giant Nobbu haniwa have appeared all over Yamatai-koku. They are the inhuman Divine Forms of the Ominous Gods; their peculiar shape is likely the result of Nobunaga’s consciousness carrying over from when she was used as a vessel for the Dark Blight.

The heroes have returned to the village. The giant haniwa are on their way, destroying any village in their path. Himiko suspects the giant haniwa are masses of animosity made from the remains of the souls of the ancient beasts and inhuman creatures that perished in Yamatai-koku. She remembers the inhabitants of Kunakoku used a curse that would make these masses of animosity possess innocent people and called them Ominous Gods that they could then control. She doesn’t remember being so large, though.

According to Ryouma, there are seven Ominous Gods, though there could be more. Kagetora wants to head out and destroy them, but Ryouma warns it isn’t that simple. His earlier examination of a shrine revealed the Ominous Gods are fueled by the Divine Bodies’ sheer animosity (magical energy essentially) that accumulated since ancient times. They will therefore keep regenerating unless cut off at the source. The heroes are at a loss on how to do that when they notice Nobukatsu and the Nameless Turtle are both absent.

The Nameless Turtle finds Nobukatsu and tries to snap him out of his depression by reminding him Nobunaga had trusted him to finish what she started. Nobukatsu, however, considers himself absolutely worthless compared to his sister and believes she would have been better off if he was never born.

Himiko, showing up with Ritsuka, tells him his sister never wanted that. She knows that because she can hear Nobunaga’s voice telling Nobukatsu to remember he's the brother of the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven. Nobukatsu refuses to believe her, but she insists she can and knows he can too, but he chooses not to. She knows he has absolute faith in his sister and believes that is the strength of her faith in him as well.

Nobukatsu doubts his sister would ever trust him with anything, but regardless, he wants Ritsuka’s help in avenging her. After the two of them leave, Himiko admits to her brother that she lied about hearing Nobunaga’s voice.

The moment he returns to the village, Nobukatsu tasks Izou and Ryouma with locating Serizawa. After they set out (Oryou had to force Izou to come with her and Ryouma), he demands Kagetora to give him command of the villagers she has trained in combat for the purpose of evacuating the other villagers and making fortifications and trenches to slow the enemy down. He then tasks her, Okita, and Hijikata to go with Ritsuka and defeat as many Ominous Gods as possible to stall for time while he finds the enemy and force them to tell him how to stop the Ominous Gods.

He tries to order the villagers to gather as much rice as they can from the neighboring villages, but they refuse to listen to him. They decide to flee when Himiko arrives and convinces them to listen to Nobukatsu. Nobukatsu, encouraged by the Nameless Turtle to follow Himiko’s lead, repeats his previous order to the villagers and also orders them to build fortifications and dig trenches around the village; the villagers follow his instructions this time. The heroes, seeing Nobukatsu has things handled in the village, then leave to fight off the Ominous Gods.

The Fierce and the Invincible, Under the Drizzling Rain

Keisuke reports to Serizawa that the Ominous Gods’ invasion is proceeding slower due to resistance from the Chaldeans. Serizawa is unconcerned since the Ominous Gods can regenerate. He then notices Saito is absent. Keisuke tells him he is having Saito keep an eye on the Chaldeans, just in case.

Ritsuka, Mash, Himiko, Kagetora, Hijikata, and Okita are exhausting themselves, fighting the constantly regenerating Ominous Gods.

Meanwhile, in the village, Nobukatsu tries to keep the villagers from panicking, but considering the Ominous Gods can regenerate, he fears it’s only a matter of time before they’re all killed. He is also concerned Ryouma, Oryou, and Izou still haven’t returned.

A lone Ominous God suddenly emerges from the forest and fast approaches the village. Fortunately, X arrives and destroys it. At the same time, Chacha, Nagayoshi, Shuwen, and Okita Alter have joined with the heroes in fighting the Ominous Gods. Okita Alter explains to the heroes that the Dark Blight was previously blocking her and the others and they had split up a while ago to look for them. Ritsuka and Mash are both confident they stand a chance now they have reinforcements.

Saito, who was observing the situation, leaves to presumably report back to Serizawa. Izou tails him.

Thanks to Okita Alter and the others, the heroes are able to rest, but the situation remains unchanged. Fortunately, Ryouma, Oryou, and Izou return with news that they have located the enemy’s base. Kagetora decides to stay and continue fighting the Ominous Gods. Ryouma and Oryou decide to stay behind as well, telling Izou to guide the others to the enemy’s base. Nobukatsu decides to go with them to ensure his sister is avenged.

Guided by Izou, the heroes trek through a forest when they encounter Saito who, like Okita is now, is wearing his haori. He tells the heroes that Serizawa is just up ahead and informs them there are many low-level soldiers guarding him, though he doubts they’ll be a problem for them.

Hijikata commends Saito for his work, revealing the latter was a double agent all along. Saito allows everyone to pass except for Okita as her staying behind is his condition for letting the rest of them pass. Okita reassures Ritsuka she’ll be fine, understanding that she and Saito have business. Trusting her, Ritsuka and the others go on ahead without her.

After the others are gone, Saito confesses he stopped Okita because he wants to test his swordsmanship against hers. Okita is intrigued that he is willing to fight her now even though he was never willing when they’re alive. Saito boasts he never did because if he had fought he would have killed her. Okita accepts his challenge and the two Shinsengumi begin their duel.

Meanwhile, the heroes are cutting through the Dark Shinsengumi as they get closer to the enemy base.

Hearing the commotion outside, Serizawa accuses Keisuke of betraying him. Keisuke reassures him of his loyalty. Serizawa calms down and apologizes as the commotion the heroes are causing outside has gotten him worked up. He is certain Keisuke would never betray him, not after Kondou made him commit seppuku. After all, both of them know what it’s like to die at the hands of their fellow Shinsengumi. Someone then enters the room.

Okita defeats Saito. Saito claims he never wanted to fight Okita because his swordsmanship is only invincible if he never fights anyone stronger than him. Okita, however, realizes he actually wanted to spare her from having to kill Keisuke again; Saito insists that really isn’t the case. Okita thanks Saito for watching over the Shinsengumi until the end and goes on ahead with his permission, commending him for being the strongest opponent she faced thus far.

The Obsession, Return to the Depths of the Earth

A flashback shows Shibata telling Nobunaga that her mother has come to see her. Nobunaga ordered him to send her away when her mother, Dota Gozen^WP, barged into the room and demanded to know how Nobunaga could force Nobukatsu to commit seppuku. Nobunaga told her mother that she had listened to her before and forgave Nobukatsu for his previous betrayal, but she couldn’t tolerate a second one.

Dota, abhorred by Nobunaga’s cruelty, ordered Shibata to immediately seize her. Shibata, however, only implored Dota to calm down. Dota realized Shibata was lying when he said he would help Nobukatsu and kill Nobunaga. She called him a traitor and said he would be the downfall of the Oda clan.

Nobunaga ordered Shibata to remove her mother from the premises. As she was being taken away, Dota told her daughter that her unwillingness to treat the people around her like human beings would be her downfall and Hell was too good for her. She wished she had never given birth to her.

In the present, the heroes confront Serizawa. The dark shadow materializes, which Himiko identifies as the Dark Blight———the animosity of Kunakoku. It curses Himiko, having not forgotten how she destroyed their kingdom, before Serizawa sends it away. Himiko questions how he could help it, but Serizawa insists he isn’t helping but commanding it. Himiko tells him people’s thoughts and feelings can’t so easily be controlle, but Serizawa asserts otherwise.

Dark Shinsengumi then suddenly appear. Serizawa reveals they are actually the people of Yamatai-Koku he turned into the living dead against their will using the Dark Blight. At his behest, Keisuke commands the Dark Shinsengumi to kill the heroes.

The heroes defeat the Dark Shinsengumi. Serizawa is certain his soldiers are filled with rage and regret at having their bodies violated by the Dark Blight, forced to kill or be killed, and now “betrayed” by their queen, which makes them the perfect sacrifices. He sacrifices them, revealing his body contains the secret art of Kunakoku———the cursed art of collecting people’s animosity and convert it into power. Mash realizes Serizawa had them defeat the Dark Shinsengumi all so he could collect their animosity. Hijikata is disgusted by Serizawa and demands Keisuke to answer him if this is what he wanted for the Shinsengumi.

From the Dark Shinsengumi’s collected animosity, Serizawa summons the Inugami; Himiko is horrified that she can hear their agonizing cries from it. Mash detects the Inugami is giving off tremendous levels of magical energy, feeling as if the pressure from its aura could crush them. Regardless, the heroes fight the Inugami.

Unfortunately, the heroes find themselves unable to harm the Inugami. Himiko senses many feelings from it, not just the ones from the Dark Shinsengumi and asks Serizawa just how many people’s feelings he has collected. Serizawa reveals the Inugami is composed of the rage and sorrow of every last inhuman creature from Kunakoku.

Nobukatsu suddenly stabs him from behind, but he is unaffected even though he was stabbed through the heart. Serizawa tries to kill Nobukatsu, but the Nameless Turtle protects him at the cost of his own life.

Dying, he admits he isn’t sure himself why he took the blow for Nobukatsu. All he knows is that Nobukatsu shouldn’t be quick to throw his life away because that isn’t why Nobunaga entrusted him to carry on in her stead. Nobukatsu believes sacrificing himself is the only way he can atone. The Nameless Turtle reminds him, though, that siblings aren’t supposed to sacrifice themselves for each other but help each other. Both of them want nothing more than to help their amazing older sisters, so he will entrust his Spirit Origin to Nobukatsu.

He tells Himiko that while he made a mistake in setting her on the path of queen, he is glad he did all the same. Himiko thanks her brother for always being there for her, even when it meant giving up his name or his human form. The Nameless Turtle grants Nobukatsu his Spirit Origin, telling him as fellow little brothers they can help their sisters by paving the way for them to demonstrate their greatness for all to see.

Nobukatsu’s Spirit Origin changes to look closer to Nobunaga, but Serizawa shows he is still weak as ever. He mocks Serizawa for thinking he can destroy a nation, asserting his sister is the only person who can destroy nations and build them back better. He knows he is a pathetic excuse for a brother, but he understands even a worthless brother like him can do something to help his sister.

Sparks suddenly fly around Nobukatsu. He proclaims himself as the one who can clear the path for the Demon King to travel and proceeds to resurrect Nobunaga. Serizawa is in utter disbelief as he saw the Dark Blight consume her himself. Nobunaga tells him her little brother genuinely worships her as the Demon King, so as long as he wishes for her to rule, she’ll keep coming back from the dead again and again.

Serizawa asserts none of the heroes can do anything against the Inugami. But then, to his disbelief, Nobunaga harms it with her flames. Nobukatsu tells him his sister is the enemy of gods, the Buddha, and all living things: Oda Nobunaga, Demon King of the Sixth Heaven. Serizawa refuses to believe it and sics the Inugami on the heroes. The heroes fight it now that they have a chance against it.

Between Light and Darkness

A flashback shows Himiko warning her brother that his decision to discard his name essentially means he will no longer be able to remain human. Her brother, however, refused to change his mind because the only way a normal person like him can help her is to discard his name, his body, and even his humanity, and offer his soul up to the heavens. Himiko lamented she could never repay him for his sacrifice and he will devolve into something inhuman without a name, feeling as if she was robbing of everything he had. But her brother didn’t feel that way and reminded her that siblings are supposed to help each other.

In the present, the heroes have destroyed the Inugami. Keisuke accepts they lost, now understanding neither Serizawa’s way nor Kondou’s way wouldn’t have saved Japan because they were unwilling to help one another. He also blames himself for the fall of the Shinsengumi as he lacked the courage to confront Kondou about what he hoped to achieve by having their comrades kill each other.

Serizawa cannot understand why Keisuke doesn’t understand that by letting people destroy everything holding them back, they would have been able to establish a new government devoted to serving people from all walks of life. He wanted the Shinsengumi to be a group of patriots with undying love for their country. Keisuke tells none of that matters and apologizes for not stopping the others from killing him.

Under the pretense of understanding, Serizawa stabs Keisuke, saying his blood will help him a lot. Hijikata becomes enraged at Serizawa, but Keisuke tells him it’s okay. He couldn’t fully commit to Kondou, then he came to believe things might have turned out differently for the Shinsengumi if he placed his faith in Serizawa, but he couldn’t commit to him either. He was never Yamanami the Kind, but Yamanami the Coward.

Serizawa offers up Keisuke’s blood and his own to summon the king of Kunakoku: Kukochihiko. Himiko explains Kukochihiko was once a curse-wielding sorcerer in service of Kunakoku until he killed the king, usurped the throne and tried to conquer Yamatai-koku.

Kukochihiko possesses Serizawa, granting the latter his power. He declares he will first consume Serizawa, then the heroes, then Yamamatai-koku and continue until he has consumed everything. Serizawa doesn’t seem to care at all that he will be consumed and only encourages Kukochihiko. Kukochihiko then envelopes everyone in darkness.

The Cave of Eternal Darkness

Ritsuka finds themself alone surrounded by absolute darkness. Kukochihiko tells them they are in the cave of eternal darkness, which the inhuman inhabitants of Kunakoku call home. No words can be heard here, and no light can survive, and those trapped here cannot touch one another. The people of Kunakoku have lived here since the Age of Gods, surviving solely off people’s anger and animosity.

Kukochihiko tells Ritsuka that in this eternal darkness, none of the Heroic Spirits they brought with them can protect them. Ritsuka argues it will take more than that to stop everyone. Kukochihiko tells them to give up because he is the only one who can hear their voice here. He declares he will consume each of the Heroic Spirits they brought with him, then conclude by feasting on their ultimate despair.

A light suddenly appears much to Kukochihiko’s much; Ritsuka recognizes it as the same light the first haniwa gave off. Himiko appears, having expected Ritsuka and confirms she was they heard back then. She further reveals she had foreseen Yamatai-koku would be in peril before she died and she has been waiting in the cave of eternal darkness for a way to save her country ever since.

Kukochihiko refuses to believe Himiko still lives as he had cursed her to death himself. Himiko admits she lost her strength after many years of leading Yamatai-koku and was consumed by Kukochihiko’s Dark Blight. It was there she saw her successor Iyo would one day meet the same fate. She therefore used her mirrors to call someone from the distant future who could save Yamatai-koku, and she has been waiting in the cave of eternal darkness for Ritsuka’s arrival ever since.

Kukochihiko realizes Himiko had been biding her time in his eternal darkness while he thought he had killed her. He questions how she could bear to wait all alone for someone she couldn’t be certain would ever arrive. Himiko tells him she had her nameless, formeless little brother accompanying her. Kukochihiko realizes to disbelief that Himiko had learned she would become a Heroic Spirit back when she was still alive, came to lie low in the cave of eternal darkness, and summoned her own Heroic Spirit from the Throne in the distant future. Himiko declares now is the time for her to become one with her Heroic Spirit self.

Servant Himiko arrives. Queen Himiko requests she take her hand, declaring it is now time for Himiko――queen of Yamatai-koku, priestess of light, and arbiter of the world――to cast her light for all to see. Servant Himiko realizes she was summoned for this very moment and proceeds to fuse with her other self. The others then arrive, with Mash sensing the light Himiko is radiating has incredible amounts of magical energy.

Kukochihiko refuses to believe there can be light capable of piercing this eternal darkness, nor that any light could ever reach the cave of darkness. Himiko tells him light has alway been able to reach him but he has been only closing his eyes to it. She believes light shines down everything equally. Kukochihiko refuses to hear anymore and declares all he desires is to plunge everything into darkness. The heroes battle him and Serizawa.

With Kukochihiko defeated, Himiko uses her mirrors to purify him. She knows she failed to save him and his people, but she hopes the light of her mirrors can guide them all to their final resting place, where they can be at peace. Kukochihiko, now at peace, disappears. Himiko thanks everyone on behalf of the people of Yamatai-koku and they’re all transported out of the collapsing cave of darkness.

Now back in Serizawa’s base, Himiko assures that Yamatai-koku has been saved from calamity. At her behest, the heroes leave for the village except for Hijikata.

Once the others are gone, Hijikata tells Serizawa to come out well aware that he is still alive. Serizawa shows himself and he seems to still possess Kukochihiko’s power. He and Hijikata both admit to their mutual hatred and get ready to fight when Okita and Saito arrive to help fight their former commander. Seeing the three of them, Serizawa is reminded of that night they all murdered him. Hijikata, Okita, and Saito fight Serizawa.

Using their Noble Phantasms in conjunction with one another, the three Shinsengumi mortally wound Serizawa, dispelling Kukochihiko’s remaining power from him. But Serizawa still refuses to give up when he is suddenly stabbed in the back by Keisuke, surprising everyone that he is still alive. Keisuke reveals a portion of his Spirit Origin was returned to him after Serizawa separated from Kukochihiko, but he is still practically dead.

A vortex of darkness opens up beneath Keisuke and Serizawa. Keisuke intends to drag Serizawa down with him, but Serizawa refuses to let Keisuke do that and pushes him out of the vortex. He disappears into the darkness, still refusing to accept the Shinsengumi that succeeded him and believing himself the only true patriot in Japan.

Keisuke is dying from his wounds. Hijikata confesses he was the one who forced him to commit seppuku while Kondou kept trying to stop him, so he should blame him for his death. Keisuke doesn’t blame Hijikata, though, as he has no regrets. He apologizes to Okita for making her witness his death not once but twice, but he is glad she was with her both then and now. He disappears, biding farewell to fellow Shinsengumi.

The Queen, From Beyond

Himiko apologizes to Iyo for burdening her with the responsibilities of a queen of Yamatai-koku. Iyo doesn’t mind though because she knew Himiko chose to give herself to the eternal darkness because she feared for Yamatai-koku’s future. Himiko realizes that is why Iyo used the last of her power to contact Nobunaga. She thanks Iyo for having continued to illuminate Yamatai-koku even after she died.

Iyo asks Himiko what will become of Yamatai-koku now without priestesses or prophecies to lead its people. HImiko admits what happens next is a mystery to her, but she does know there is nothing to be sad about. She believes Yamatai-koku will enter a new age once the people become reliant on their own power rather than depend on the priestesses. Iyo supposes Himiko is right and doubts their power will be necessary in the coming new age, but that doesn’t mean all they’ve done thus had been for naught.

Himiko recounts how, back when people were weak and fearful of the world, priestesses gave them prophecies to protect their lives. Because of that, the light within Yamatai-koku’s people will continue to grow stronger and illuminate their path even further until one day their efforts lead them to Ritsuka’s world. Iyo supposes in time Yamatai-koku’s present and Ritsuka’s world.

The priestesses are happy they got to see each once more, but Himiko says she must now return to the world beyond the light. Iyo knows though that she actually means Chaldea and demands she introduce her to RItsuka. Himiko argues about why Iyo can’t go with her now, but she promises Iyo she’ll have Ritsuka summon her one day and leaves. Iyo shouts for her to keep her promise or else.

At Chaldea, Himiko has finished recounting what happened to Ritsuka and Mash; Ritsuka says they’ll summon Iyo one of these days. Himiko gives them the Grail she found in the shrine beforehand. Afterward, joined by the Oda siblings, Okita, Hijikata, and Izou, everyone eats together.

Da Vinci soon joins them and talks with Himiko about how she couldn’t get an accurate read on the Singularity’s spacetime coordinates. Himiko admits that was because she used her mirrors to Ritsuka and Yamatai-koku out of a range of multiple possibilities. Da Vinci realizes that means Ritsuka and the others weren’t rayshifted back and questions what happened to the rescue team. Ritsuka and Himiko realize they’re still in the Singularity.

Meanwhile, in the Singularity, Saito thinks about what he’ll do next when he comes across the Chaldean Servants who were accidentally left behind. They’re all hungry, but Chacha remembers the bag Da Vinci gave them. She opens it after Nagayoshi gives it only to find seed rice and a set of instructions.

Nagayoshi reads the instructions aloud to find the seed rice is a special variant invented by Da Vinci. It can be grown in any soil, is immune to disease, it will instantly be ready for harvest if provided with magical energy, and it yields far more rice than typical. Da Vinci has dubbed it Da Vinci Crop No. 1 ― Chaldean Paddy Rice.

X plants the seed rice quickly spreading Chaldean Paddy Rice across the land instantly turning Yamatai-koku into an ancient super civilization of unparalleled rice production according to a narration from Mash. In turn, a new Singularity was born: Super Rice Taikoku.

Part 2

Da Vinci tells the group that Yamatai-koku is being overrun by a new strain of rice, which have replaced most of the plants. She wants them to reap and stockpile the rice. She then rayshifts them back into the Singularity.

The group make the rice they've harvested into several dishes to give to the villagers with the help of EMIYA. A hungry X suddenly appears in the village; Ishtar Ashtoret also suddenly appears. She explains X is suffering from space vitamin syndrome that results from eating rice all the time. Those from the Servant Universe suffer it, and puts them in a zombie-like trance. The only cure is to use force, which the group proceed to use on X to stop her from eating their rice. Later, the group talk with Lu Bu, Chen Gong, and Red Hare about rice, carrots, curry, and Wei^WP.

Himiko suggests they use Nobukatsu's idea to sell the rice to other countries, branding it "Himiko Rice". Nobunaga learned though they have rivals; Tawara Touta; Christopher Columbus; Medea and Circe. The group proceed beat them in combat at Himiko's behest. Later, they talk with Kagetora and Okada about her rice-derived drink that she has dubbed Super Sengoku Daiginjō.

The group learn rice is possibly being stolen from the village granaries. Himiko gives a fortune that Mash interprets to mean the thief will come at dawn. They find Saito, and Okita accuses him of being the thief when Nobbu Haniwa appear. Hijikata explains he and Saito were securing the village for Nobukatsu. The group then procced to defeat the real rice thiefs, the haniwa. Later, they find Chacha plans to reconstruct the country with help of Mori and Gilgamesh, having already built a golden castle. They defeat the three of them after Chacha refuses to return with them.

Himiko, Okita, Saito, and Nobunaga talk about harvesting rice with their blades. The group then find golems that Avicebron created from the surplus of rice. It was suppose to be edible after a fight, but it is out of control now. Nobunaga had asked him to make it in a failed effort to solve issue of military food supplies. Then at Avicebron's request, the group destroy the golems.

At her temple, Himiko declares that Iyo's successor will be the one who defeats her. While Nobunaga and Okita refuse, they're forced to participate when Mash decides she wants to show off to Ritsuka.

The group get ready for another day of harvesting rice when a giant haniwa appear. It is eating all of the rice they've stored. Nobukatsu evacuates the villagers by Nobunaga's order. Okita orders Saito to help them destroy the giant haniwa. Okita Alter, Sakamoto, and Li Shuwen arrive to stop them from destroying it. The group defeat the three, and try to go destroy the giant haniwa when they see light surrounding it. Iyo is responsible for the light. She explains the giant haniwa is an evil spirit born from the souls of those who died from famine and war. They're too weak to return to the light, even too weak to hold a grudge. Nobunaga realizes the haniwa was eating the rice to feed the souls who died of starvation. Iyo asked Okita Alter, Sakamoto, and Li Shuwen to delay the groups until after the souls are saved. She then guides the souls to salvation, bidding farewell to her predecessor and the others. Afterwards, Da Vinci calls in to declare she created a new strain of rice that will change her previous strain into the rice originally grown in Yamatai-koku. The group realize though they'll have to stay a bit longer to plant the seeds.

Participants

Servants

Designation	Identity	Affiliation
Ruler	HimikoWP	Ritsuka Fujimaru
Saber	Saito HajimeWP	Serizawa Kamo (True)
Saber	Okita SoujiWP	Ritsuka Fujimaru
Rider	Sakamoto RyomaWP	Ritsuka Fujimaru
Assassin	Okada IzoWP	Ritsuka Fujimaru
Lancer	Nagao KagetoraWP	Ritsuka Fujimaru
Berserker	Hijikata ToshizōWP	Ritsuka Fujimaru
Avenger	Nounaga OdaWP	Ritsuka Fujimaru
Saber	Serizawa KamoWP	Kukochihiko
N/A	Yamanami KeisukeWP	Serizawa Kamo (True)
Archer	Oda NobukatsuWP	Ritsuka Fujimaru
Assassin	Mysterious Heroine X
Berserker	Mori NagayoshiWP
Berserker	ChachaWP
Assassin	Li ShuwenWP
Alter Ego	Okita SoujiWP (Alter)
Archer	Tawara ToutaWP
Rider	Christopher ColumbusWP
Caster	MedeaWP
Caster	CirceWP
Archer	GilgameshWP

Non-Servants

Designation	Identity	Affiliation	Role
N/A	Nameless Turtle	Himiko
N/A	Kukochihiko	Serizawa Kamo
N/A	IyoWP	Himiko