"You are my most outstanding disciple, without a doubt."
This was Scathach's evaluation, and it was the recognition that Matou Shinji had always longed to receive.
However, he didn't let this praise go to his head because he knew—
"Just this much isn't enough to kill you."
Indeed, martial skills, magecraft, and rank were the foundations of Scathach's strength, but they weren't the most difficult aspects to deal with.
The true challenge lay in the curse that even Scathach herself was helpless against.
In her youthful arrogance, she had slaughtered too many living beings, resulting in various curses entwining themselves around her. These curses mixed, producing a strange chain reaction that granted her immortality bound by the laws of the world.
As long as she remained in the Land of Shadows, and as long as the Land of Shadows existed, she would remain in a constant, unkillable state. It was as if she had an invincibility cheat in a game, with her health permanently locked. No matter the severity of her injuries, even if her bones were ground to dust, she could quickly recover.
While it was true that leaving the Land of Shadows would disable this health-locking cheat, the same rules bound her to the Land of Shadows, making it impossible for her to leave.
Because of this, Scathach couldn't die even if she wanted to, resigned to eternal solitude, waiting for the end of the world—or for a power capable of challenging and even breaking the order of the world itself.
"You still have Magic—that's a mystery that can surpass the world."
"Magic may surpass the world, but that doesn't mean a Magician can."
In theory, Magic had infinite potential, but how much of that potential could be realized depended on the Magician's ability.
The battle between Shinji and Scathach was not merely a contest of martial skills, magecraft, or rank—it was also a battle between a Magician and the order of the world.
Temporarily resisting the world's order was one thing, but erasing Scathach's immortality wasn't just a temporary resistance; it was a permanent change. The destructive power of the Third Magic was relatively low, and Shinji wasn't entirely confident that he could achieve it.
On the other hand, Scathach had full confidence in Shinji: "I believe you can do it. You wouldn't have come to see me if you weren't prepared."
Shinji, however, played along with her in a teasing manner: "Couldn't it be that I just missed you and came to see you?"
"If you're looking for a beating, just say so," Scathach glared at him fiercely.
But this time, Shinji didn't back down. Instead, he met her gaze, unyielding: "As if not saying something like that would stop you from hitting me. Even if I could kill you, you wouldn't just sit around and let me do it—you'd fight back with everything you've got, wouldn't you?"
"As expected of my most outstanding disciple, you know me well," Scathach admitted openly.
"If this is to be my final battle, I want it to be fought to the fullest, with no regrets."
"Exactly. Since we're going to fight anyway, why not do it in a way that makes me feel good about it?"
"...You've changed. The old you wouldn't have said something like that."
"You taught me—'The strong make the rules.' I wasn't strong enough before and couldn't beat you, but now..."
"Talk is cheap," Scathach raised an eyebrow.
"Then let's fight. Now that both of our injuries are fully healed, I'll fight alongside you until we're both satisfied! In terms of stamina, no Magician can last longer than me!"
"That's wonderful!"
The moment those words fell, the distance between the two combatants closed once more.
The magic spear and the scythe clashed again, sparking even brighter flames than before.
This time, the battle would undoubtedly last much longer.
...
Meanwhile, in the Matou family's living room, Matou Sakura paced nervously back and forth.
No one was more worried about the fight between Scathach and Shinji than her. On one side was the brother she had admired since childhood, and on the other was the teacher who had imparted her knowledge. No matter which side came to harm, it was a result she couldn't bear to see.
Above the coffee table in the middle of the living room, a real-time projection of the epoch-making battle between master and disciple was being displayed via hologram.
"I have no idea how long they're going to fight," Sakura murmured anxiously.
In one corner of the broadcast, the images of Jeanne and Fiore appeared.
It was clear that the broadcast was being captured and transmitted by them using their access to Mooncell.
Although Shinji hadn't told anyone about his journey to the Land of Shadows—aside from the one who helped open the door, The Old Man of Jewels—that didn't mean those around him couldn't figure it out.
Since the Greater Holy Grail had been modified into Shinji's magic artifact, his connection with Justeaze had become even closer, almost to the point of their souls merging.
While Justeaze couldn't fully comprehend Shinji's thoughts, she could understand most of them. The moment Shinji began adjusting his magic circuits and the artifact, she had already guessed what he was planning to do.
Sakura, too, had sensed something was wrong. Unlike Justeaze, who kept her thoughts to herself, Sakura had discussed it with others.
And so, everyone had gathered together to watch the live broadcast.
"Not only that. Shinji said before that as long as he doesn't want to die, he can't die. And we've already seen Lady Scathach's immortality. It wouldn't be surprising if they fought for ten days and nights."
Lorelei, who had arrived from London on a private jet as soon as she received Sakura's message, added thoughtfully.
This time, no one would gossip about her presence.
The entire world of mystery now knew about the engagement between the Third Magician, Matou Shinji, and the Clock Tower's First Lord, Lorelei Barthomeloi. Even though they hadn't officially married yet, it was perfectly reasonable for Lorelei to visit her fiancé.
Artoria also agreed with this analysis:
"That sounds about right. If it were me (my true self), I could fight for ten days and nights without sleep."
She was a true humanoid Red Dragon, and both her magical reserves and regeneration rate far exceeded human limits. However—
"Ten days and nights without rest, I believe. But I don't believe you could fight for three days straight," came a counter-argument from Kirie.
"Why not?"
Artoria protested.
"Because you'd get hungry—and you eat eight meals a day."
"Argh!"
Artoria was instantly rendered speechless.
Ever since returning from the world tour, her appetite had increased once again. She now ate more than the entire household combined. Because of this, the Matou family had hired two chefs—one for Western cuisine and one for Eastern—to take turns preparing meals just for her.
Fortunately, the Matou family's business was thriving, so money wasn't an issue. A normal family wouldn't be able to support such a glutton.
Of course, by "family," this only referred to the human members. The True Ancestor, Arcueid, didn't count. She calmly remarked:
"What's wrong with eight meals? I could easily handle eighteen. I could go eighteen days without eating at all—"
"—No one asked you that. Just watch the fight," Arcueid's tone suddenly shifted midway.