I really didn't want to burn it.

Upon hearing his Servant's request, Shirou Emiya mechanically raised his hand and used a Command Spell.

A beam of red magic shot out from Shirou's hand and struck Sab.Alt, causing her to unleash flame-like magic power.

Then Sab.Alt charged toward Kiritsugu like a ghost.

It wasn't that Sab.Alt's footsteps were light and made no sound; rather, the other person was too fast. Even with the naked eye, it was impossible to be sure that she was rushing towards you.

"I'll deal with Sab, Kiritsugu, you go save Shirou!"

When Irisviel saw Sab.Alt rushing over, she frowned slightly, then assigned enemies to Kiritsugu.

"...Alice, be careful!"

Kiritsugu gave Irisviel a reminder.

Despite his reluctance, he knew that staying here to deal with Sab would only cause trouble.

Servant versus Servant, Master versus Master – that's the tactic that should be used in the Holy Grail War.

However, when he actually stood in front of Shirou Emiya, Kiritsugu Emiya was in a dilemma.

Honestly, if it were a mission, Kiritsugu would pull the trigger on an enemy's forehead without hesitation.

But Kiritsugu simply couldn't bring himself to harm this child, this child named Emiya Shirou.

Four years ago, a man named Kiritsugu Emiya killed his wife and daughter in a dream world.

However, Kiritsugu Emiya is now unable to bring himself to harm his adopted son, who is so close at hand.

However, Shirou Emiya, who was being manipulated, was unaware of his adoptive father's thoughts. With lifeless eyes, he slowly walked toward Kiritsugu.

"What a worrying child."

After much deliberation, Kiritsugu finally decided to go around to Shirou's back and knock him unconscious.

Kiritsugu then threw a smoke bomb at Shirou.

Bang!

Thick black smoke spread between the father and son.

Without hesitation, Kiritsugu took off running behind Shirou.

"Successful."

Kiritsugu raised his gun butt high, preparing to deliver a powerful blow to Shirou's back of the neck.

This blow must have hurt a lot, but it's nothing compared to the torment Shirou is currently suffering.

but……

"—Trace on. (—Projection begins.)"

With these words, a longsword appeared in Shirou Emiya's hand.

Emiya Shirou, wielding his longsword, swung it directly behind him.

"??"

Caught off guard, Kiritsugu quickly dodged, narrowly avoiding having his head chopped off.

"Projection magic?!"

Kiritsugu stared at Shirou in astonishment, never expecting his adopted son to pull such a stunt.

In fact, Medea was also amazed by the child's talent when she was controlling Shirou Emiya.

While marveling at Shirou's special talent, Medea thoughtfully enhanced his innate forging ability.

However, Shirou Emiya will not tell his adoptive father some of this, as he currently has only one thought in his mind—to kill the person in front of him.

Therefore, Shirou Emiya did not give Kiritsugu a chance to breathe, and he swung his sword at his adoptive father.

The silver knight's sword, its attack method seemingly practiced countless times, slashed towards Kiritsugu Emiya's body.

"Tsk!"

Kiritsugu quickly raised his gun to defend himself.

Click.

The sharp knight's sword pierced the metal barrel of the gun and became firmly stuck there.

"This is a Noble Phantasm?! Hey, when did you learn this, kid?"

Kiritsugu was both amused and exasperated by the surprise Shirou had given him.

If this happened anywhere else, Kiritsugu would definitely pick up Shirou and spin him around four times as a reward for his son showing off this skill.

But now, Kiritsugu is having a terrible headache because of Shirou.

In a life-or-death battle, Kiritsugu is absolutely confident that he can decide the outcome within 10 seconds.

It wasn't that Kiritsugu looked down on his son; Shirou, at only 12 years old, hadn't fully developed his physical functions.

Even though Shirou can read the original owner's abilities when he uses projection, the child's body directly limits his ability to use it.

Putting all that aside, Kiritsugu would find it very easy to deal with a magician like Shirou who uses magic circuits so recklessly.

One Origin Missile taught the enemy a lesson.

But now the person opposite him is his own son, and Kiritsugu really doesn't dare to risk crippling his son by firing a shot.

There's a saying that goes, "Hesitation leads to defeat."

While Kiritsugu Emiya was distracted, Shirou launched his attack.

"—Trace on. (—Synchro begins.)"

"Hey."

The sound of flesh striking flesh rang out, and a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of Kiritsugu's mouth.

While the two sides were locked in a stalemate, Shirou Emiya amplified his punch and landed a blow on his father's stomach.

The distance was so close that Kiritsugu didn't even have a chance to dodge.

With the aid of magic, even this ordinary punch had already slightly injured Kiritsugu.

Emiya Shirou glanced at Kiritsugu, who had been hit, without uttering a word, but clenched his fist and prepared to attack again.

When Kiritsugu saw Shirou Emiya swing his fist again, there was no panic in his eyes. Instead, a slight smile appeared on his lips. He had already discovered something.

boom!

Another collision occurred as Kiritsugu blocked Shirou Emiya's fist with his other gun.

"As expected, your projection can't project a second weapon, right?"

Emiya Kiritsugu laughed.

It's understandable. Even if his body has been opened up, a child's body simply cannot withstand the burden of projecting a Noble Phantasm. Being able to project one Noble Phantasm is already Shirou's limit.

"As long as I can control your weapon, you're nothing but a brat who only knows how to enhance his fists. Kid, you're too green to fight your dad."

Shirou, his eyes vacant, didn't reply. He quietly glanced at his blocked fist and the Noble Phantasm stuck in the barrel of his gun.

Then he said something.

"Fantasy collapse..."

These words were like a spark igniting explosives, causing the Noble Phantasm projected by Shirou to emit a dazzling light.

"Kid, are you planning to die together with me?!"

Kiritsugu decisively dropped the gun, picked up Shirou, and tried to escape into the distance.

"Time alt--triple accel! (Time control triples speed!)"

Ignoring the strain on his body, Kiritsugu Emiya unleashed the maximum magical power he could currently withstand.

However, even after accelerating his body, Kiritsugu Emiya found that he still seemed unable to escape the range of the Noble Phantasm's explosion.

"Oops……"

Knowing he could no longer accelerate, Kiritsugu could only hold Shirou tightly in his arms and turn his back to the source of the explosion.

"Dad!"

An urgent shout rang in Kiritsugu's ears.

boom!

A fierce white light instantly engulfed Emiya and his son.

In an instant, the battlefield between father and son turned into a sea of ​​fire.

Chapter 169 Shirou: Excuse me, are you a partner of justice?

"Cough cough."

Kiritsugu coughed violently.

The deafening explosion stunned him, and he kept hearing beeping sounds in his ears.

"what's the situation……"

Kiritsugu endured the side effects of using Time Control on his body and shakily got up from the ground.

In a daze, Kiritsugu remembered that his godson had just destroyed the projected Noble Phantasm.

"But I didn't escape, did I?"

Kiritsugu looked back and saw a red figure in the dissipating dust.

The other person was facing the center of the explosion, with one hand outstretched forward.

Not far in front of this hand, seven shields floated, resembling pink flower petals.

Kiritsugu knew this person. On the first night of the Holy Grail War in Guanbu City, Kiritsugu was blocked at the door by this guy for almost an hour.

But why is this guy here?

"you……"

Just as Kiritsugu was about to step forward and speak, Shirou in his arms opened his eyes.

After realizing that his illusionary collapse had failed to subdue Kiritsugu, Shirou immediately prepared to project again.

"—Trace on. (—Projection begins.)"

"Just enough is enough!"

The red-clad hero turned around immediately, took out a winding dagger, and stabbed at Shirou with all his might.

"Wait a moment!"

Kiritsugu tried to stop him, but he stumbled and fell forward as soon as he took a step.

At that moment, Kiritsugu felt intense dizziness. The whole world seemed to tilt dramatically.

"Varied……"

Kiritsugu felt a sudden weakness and collapsed to the ground.

Feeling the cold touch of the earth on my face.

The scene before Kiritsugu's eyes flickered and disappeared like a light bulb whose wick was about to burn out.

"Dad!"

"Kiritsugu!"

Kiritsugu heard two exclamations, then his entire body was plunged into darkness, and he knew nothing more.

……

When Kiritsugu regained consciousness, he was lying face up on the ruins of the ground.

He blinked and looked around. His wife Irisviel, his adopted son Shirou, and the red-clad servant were all there.

"Dad, are you okay?"

"Kiritsugu, you're awake?"