It's normal for an evil god to raise an Abyss.

The battle between Lancer and Assassin could no longer be seen with the naked eye. All that could be seen were red and blue afterimages and turquoise afterimages, colliding, then separating, and colliding again. Each collision was accompanied by several huge metal collision sounds, and the resulting strong wind twisted and cut off everything around.

As the Son of Light of Ireland, Cu Chulainn, who has the body of a demigod, is also a famous hero. It should have been easy for him to win against Okita Souji, who appeared in the world as an Assassin and was just a swordsman in the late Edo period, but this was not the case.

With the bonus of his native land, the bonus of his feather webbing, and all the Command Spells that his Master paid before leaving, Okita Souji's current strength has far surpassed that of history. Except for his inferiority in magic power to the orthodox Saber, his hand-to-hand combat skills are not inferior to or even surpass those of the ordinary Saber.

On one side was the fierce spearmanship that held on like a ferocious dog, and on the other side was the blade that cut people down like a ghost or god; the spear tore the earth apart, and the sword wind split the jungle.

Lancer and Assassin's wishes for the Holy Grail are surprisingly similar. They don't have any special wishes, they just want to find an opponent with whom they can fight to their heart's content.

Therefore, in the constant fighting, the emotions of the two gradually reached a peak.

Unlike the extremely fast and fierce confrontation on this battlefield, the battle between Mashu and Rider on the other side seemed relatively gentle.

Of course, the so-called "smooth" does not mean that Rider's attack is not swift. Medusa's agility has reached A-level. If it is an instantaneous burst of agility, it is even higher than Cu Chulainn. The main reason is that Mash's speed cannot keep up with Rider, Lancer, Assassin and other Servants who are good at agility, so she can only put up a shield and passively defend against Rider's attacks that seem to come from all directions at the same time.

Although Mashu is known for her defense, she will eventually be unable to hold on under this continuous attack.

But now is not the time to use the Noble Phantasm. Although Mashu's Noble Phantasm has a certain offensive power, it is mainly for defense. If it is used for attack, it will be easily dodged by a Servant with high agility.

"Mashu, wait for an opportunity to counterattack!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka made a decision quickly and used one Command Seal to strengthen Mashu. Although it was impossible for Mashu to catch up with Rider in speed, it relieved Mashu's pressure to some extent. At the same time, it strengthened the strength of the counterattack, making Rider's attack a little cautious.

It is a little strange though. For the Holy Grail War, if one wants to win, it would be best if the Master is present and can give timely strategic instructions based on the situation. However, the opposing Masters, Illya and Yuki Sakura, neither showed up nor hid in the dark. Instead, they just left. Is there something more important that they need to do?

Furthermore, the status of Rider and Assassin was somewhat strange. Logically speaking, it was easier to gain an advantage by attacking a Master than by wrestling with a Servant. This was especially true for highly mobile Servants like Rider and Assassin. Therefore, both Fujimaru Ritsuka and Bazette had made preparations in advance to prevent surprise attacks from the other side.

But even after receiving the charging of the Command Seals from their Master, Rider and Assassin fought to the death with Mashu and Lancer, as if their only purpose was to have a hearty battle.

“Ugh… cough…!”

Lancer was somewhat caught off guard by the sudden vomiting of blood, because it was not because he had caused any harm to Assassin, but because Assassin suddenly vomited blood during the battle.

"It's okay, it's just a strange curse..."

Assassin wiped the remaining blood from the corner of his mouth and responded indifferently to Lancer's somewhat confused and slightly surprised expression.

"Don't worry, this won't affect my combat effectiveness."

"Well, if I just beat up a sick person like this, even I wouldn't feel satisfied."

"Oh, then you don't have to worry about it. What you should worry about more is your life."

As Okita Souji said this, he slowly raised the Kikuichimonji to a position slightly higher than his shoulder, with the blade facing upwards.

Some special starting moves, plus the magical power emanating from Okita Souji's body, all point to a possibility that she is about to release a powerful attack, most likely a treasure.

In response to this situation, Cu Chulainn also held the gun in both hands and took a posture ready to fight.

Okita Souji steadied his slightly trembling hands. He didn't want to be underestimated by the other party, so he closed his eyes and held his breath. When he opened his eyes again, his eyes were full of fierceness.

In an instant, the sword was drawn.

Okita Souji's speed was faster than expected. He flew a long distance with just a light step. It was a skill called [Shrinking Step], which could quickly approach the enemy.

"One step beyond the sound..."

Take the first step,

"Two steps without gaps..."

The second step is twice as fast as the first step.

"Three Steps of the Ultimate Sword...!"

After taking the third step, Okita Souji leaped up, the tip of his sword pointed directly at the blue spearman.

"Wu Ming - Three Stages of Thrust!"

"?!"

If the opponent's weapon was a treasure, it goes without saying that the attack would be fierce, but with Cu Chulainn's warrior intuition, he seemed to vaguely sense a fatal threat.

In an instant, the sword was thrust out.

Chapter 161 Unlimited Sword System

Einzbern Castle, Great Hall.

The broken black and white blades flew everywhere, then disappeared into nothingness, and were reconstructed in his hands again, and then continued to be shattered. This situation happened repeatedly, and the walls and the ground around the hall were left with marks left by the flying blades.

Saber protected Toosaka Rin to prevent her from being hurt by the flying blades from the fight between the two.

During the battle, blue spots would occasionally appear on Archer's body, which was a sign of his lack of magic power. However, even in this situation where he had no Master and his magic power was insufficient - Archer's strength was only one tenth of what it was, Archer was still able to completely suppress Emiya Shirou. This was the huge gap in physical fitness between Heroic Spirits and humans.

Shirou Emiya was knocked to the ground again and again, but he immediately got up like a cockroach and built a new blade to meet the enemy head-on.

"Do you think your [Projection] is on the same level as mine? Although it can ensure the appearance and material as imagined, without the theory of construction, it is just a toy model with nothing but appearance."

After once again breaking Emiya Shirou's double swords, Archer said with a mocking tone.

"hateful--!"

Shirou Emiya projected Gan Jiang and Moye again, and when the blades of both sides touched again, something seemed to have changed.

As if in resonance, Emiya Shirou's previously dormant magic circuits gradually became activated. To be more precise, he was gradually "opening up".

With each clash of swords, Emiya Shirou's magic circuits seemed to wake up, and from the initial laziness, they gradually became active.

What is manifested externally is that the strength of Gan Jiang Moye projected by Emiya Shirou gradually increases, and Emiya Shirou's strength also gradually increases, and he can even stalemate with Archer for a short time.

Archer naturally noticed such an obvious change.

"I see. You are quite tenacious. I have heard of magic that allows a person to possess his past life and learn his past skills, but I never thought it could work the other way around. It seems that every time you fight me, your skills will be improved."

"Really? Imitation and copying, everyone is the same, right? You should show off now. I will catch up with you soon."

Emiya Shirou's confidence increased greatly.

"Catch up with me? What an outrageous misunderstanding. It turns out you don't understand anything..."

Archer suddenly increased his speed, and burst out with a strength he had never had before, suppressing Shirou Emiya again.

"In fact, you don't even have a chance of winning, understand?"

What Archer said is indeed true at the moment. It seems that Shirou Emiya is getting "stronger" and Archer is getting "weaker" over time, but there is still a considerable gap in their actual strength. Archer's skills and combat experience are beyond the reach of Shirou Emiya at present.

The blades intersected again, and this time Emiya Shirou saw something more.

After continuous killing, the only thing left was the gallows, with only a lonely white-haired figure wearing tattered linen and several piercings on his back. The only things that accompanied this lonely man on his final journey were the desert beneath his feet and the blood-red setting sun above his head.

Scenes flashed by one after another. There was no doubt that this was everything Archer - [Shirou Emiya] had experienced. It was also the end of his life as a [partner of justice] and the footnote of endless suffering.

(Is this the ending? I will never sympathize with them! I will never sympathize with them!!!)

Shirou Emiya roared in his heart.

(But... when I think about going down this path, it feels like a hole has been broken in my heart... Those things you trusted, those things you believed in, even if they are covered with lies, even if they seem like nothingness like dreams... I still...)

As Emiya Shirou's heart began to waver, he was knocked to the ground by Archer once again.

"Heh, look at your current state, the way you look like you're about to vomit. I'm sure you've seen it, right? Then things are easy. I tell you, those are all facts, Emiya Shirou. If you want to catch up with me, it means you'll have to go through things like this again."

"Use your eyes and look again. This is the world I have arrived at!"

Archer slowly chanted the spell, and the magic power in his body began to boil, and the surrounding environment gradually changed.

"I am the bone of my sword"

“【Unknown to Death，Nor known to Life】(Unknown to death, nor known to life)”

"【Unlimited Blade Works】"

The magic corroded and replaced the surrounding environment, and in an instant, the surrounding environment was no longer the Einzbern Castle.

What came into view was an endless red wilderness. In the wilderness, there were countless swords of various shapes and sizes. On the distant horizon, there seemed to be leaping flames. The sky was dark, but huge gears could be seen slowly rotating in the air.

In the inherent barrier called [Infinite Sword Works], it was even more impossible for Shirou Emiya to defeat Archer. After just a few encounters, he was beaten all over and could only breathe heavily while leaning on the broken sword.

"You are so stupid that you appear here even though you know you can't defeat me. You are a fake that has been imprisoned by boring ideals all your life and has no will of your own. This is your true self. Do you understand?"

"Saving someone just because you wanted to is wrong in the final analysis. As a human being, you have a [fault] and are a [fake] that should not have existed from the beginning. Such a thing has no value in living. I am your ideal, and you should understand that you will never be able to defeat me."

Shirou Emiya did not reply, but roared and projected the blade again and rushed forward. The result was of course that he was knocked away by Archer again, and his body suffered several wounds again.

"Is that so? It's understandable that you can't agree with me. As long as I am still your ideal, Emiya Shirou must deny me more than anyone else..."

Archer kicked Emiya Shirou away and asked condescendingly,

"Then let me ask you, do you really want to become a [Partner of Justice]?"

Chapter 162 Crossing Hell

Toosaka Rin.jpg

"Why are you still asking this now? It's not that I want to be, but I absolutely must be!"

Emiya Shirou roared and insisted on his own idea.

Archer smiled, and said in a mocking tone:

"Heh... yes, I absolutely must. If I have to explain why, it's because this is the only emotion that Shirou Emiya has. Even if this is not the voice coming from Shirou Emiya's heart... I believe you have already discovered that I have almost no memories of the past, but that scene is the only thing that I still remember -"

"——In a sea of ​​fire filled with the smell of death, I cried for help in despair, and the feeling when I was rescued, the relieved face of the man named Emiya Kiritsugu when he rescued me from the ruins, that is the root of your ideal, it is just something that comes from your gratitude for being rescued. You are just looking forward to Emiya Kiritsugu, the expression on that man's face when he rescued you was too happy, you just want to be that kind of person."

"In the final analysis, your ideals are just borrowed. Emiya Kiritsugu - the ideals that man once gave up. You are just imitating the ideals that Emiya Kiritsugu firmly believes in... [Companion of Justice]? Don't make me laugh. [Live for others] is definitely not an ideal that you expect of yourself. A man like this still thinks that he can help others. It's really arrogant!"

"Just because you have seen such beauty, you admire it and want to help others. That is not the emotion you express at all! If this is not [hypocrisy], then what else can it be! You are just a person who is pushed forward by the compulsive belief of [living for others] and keeps moving forward with arrogance!"

"But it's just a [fake] after all. With such hypocrisy, nothing can be saved. Not knowing how to save others, and having nothing to save others, this is the end of the ugly self-righteous person! In the final analysis, that ideal is broken. The idea that others are more important than oneself, the wish that everyone can be happy, is just an imaginary fairy tale. If you can't live without this ridiculous [ideal], then drown with your ideal!"

(Most of what he said was correct, but it felt like something was missing...)

Shirou Emiya had to admit in his heart that there was some truth in what Archer said.

Shirou Emiya originally had no ideals, but because he was rescued by Emiya Kiritsugu, he admired someone like him, so he [borrowed] that ideal. However, he did not know what a [partner of justice] was, so he could only simply summarize it as selflessly helping others. However, such selflessness was not his own intention, but just a poor imitation. Therefore, even if he did not care about himself or the consequences, he would still help others. In the extreme [selflessness], there is the extreme [selfishness].

In the final analysis, the current Shirou Emiya is just an [ideal puppet], and the guy in front of him is the end of his road of making the fake look real.

[He] is the future's accusation of the past, [he] is the past's judgment of the future; both of them are [Shirou Emiya], but they are absolutely incompatible.

Archer's attack became more and more fierce. As flaws appeared in Shirou Emiya's heart, he was defeated further and further. After just a few encounters, Shirou Emiya was knocked to the ground. It seemed that he was injured too seriously and his consciousness gradually became blurred.

In his blurred consciousness, Emiya Shirou saw countless scenes.

Those are countless battlefields, countless deaths, and countless hells, the hell that [Emiya Shirou] will reach sooner or later.

Finally, Emiya Shirou understood that he had seen that hell [in the beginning].

That was the hell that happened in Fuyuki ten years ago.

"Why did I survive that hell and die?"

Emiya Shirou asked himself.

Then he saw it again, Emiya Kiritsugu, the phantom of the man who risked everything to save him.

"Hey, there's hell ahead."

Behind me, a figure from the future called me.

Emiya Shirou smiled softly:

"This is what you have forgotten. It was indeed just a longing at the beginning, but in the end it is my true wish, the wish to overthrow this hell."

Shirou Emiya felt a warm current in his heart. It was the [Avalon] that had been dormant for a long time and buried in his body, which resonated with the boy's ideals at the moment.

Shirou Emiya passed through thick fog and endless ashes, and finally reached the sword stuck in the barren hill.

"Even if you are treated like a machine for the rest of your life?"

my future self asks.

"Yes, even if my future life is full of [hypocrisy], I still insist on being a [partner of justice]."

As Emiya Shirou said this, he was no longer confused. He was finally no longer holding on to a borrowed ideal and copying others. Instead, he understood from the bottom of his heart what his own wishes were.

Shirou Emiya drew his sword, and fire ignited on the sword, burning the dream to ashes.

-------------------------------------

The [Avalon] in Emiya Shirou's body began to work, and the wounds on his body were quickly healed.