"Show me excitement!"
As Esdeath's voice rang out, her sword sliced toward Shirou's neck, the freezing blade shattering the surrounding air from the sheer speed and intensity of her strike.
Her strength had grown drastically during this period—this was precisely why neither Bulat nor Akame, even armored with Incursio, had been able to leave a scratch on her.
Clang—!
With a thunderous clash, Shirou met her blow with his reverse-blade katana. A shockwave erupted, deafening in intensity.
Countless icicles, sharp as blades, materialized around Shirou like a blizzard, piercing toward him mercilessly.
Yet Shirou neither dodged nor retreated. With a fierce push, he forced Esdeath back, taking the full brunt of the ice shards as they stabbed deeply into his flesh.
Don't think about surviving. Don't think about wielding the sword with one arm. Don't even think about defeating her in this weakened state.
Right now, only one thought matters: giving everything I have to kill this woman standing before me!
Covered in blood once more, Shirou surged forward, his shadowy form blurring like a ghostly specter as he reappeared right before Esdeath.
"Yes! Exactly this! Face-to-face slaughter!"
Seeing Shirou rush head-on despite his severe wounds, Esdeath's eyes filled with exhilarated bloodlust. Rather than dodging, she lifted her sword high and swung downward with crushing force.
BOOM—!
The heavy sound of collision echoed simultaneously.
Both Shirou and Esdeath groaned from the impact, thrown backward by the force. Each had landed a vicious blow to the other's shoulder, swiftly followed by kicks aimed at their opponent's abdomen, sending them tumbling away like colliding meteors.
But neither yielded. Ignoring his brutal wounds, Shirou clenched his teeth, cracking several in the process, and gripped his blood-soaked blade tighter. Ignoring the blood pouring endlessly from his shredded flesh, he surged forward once more, a silver phantom slicing toward Esdeath.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Swords chipped and battered clashed repeatedly, sparks scattering wildly within the burning forest. The piercing sounds of metal colliding filled the air.
"Uuuaaaaaaahhhh—!!"
Shirou roared ferociously, disregarding the life draining relentlessly from his body, forcing all his remaining strength into an assault that momentarily overwhelmed even Esdeath.
"Uuuaaaaahhh—!!"
Answering his fury, Esdeath unleashed a monstrous bloodlust of her own, her fighting style devolving into pure, savage ferocity, sword swings becoming chaotic and beast-like.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
In less than a blink, countless collisions echoed through the woods.
In this desperate battle, neither fighter thought of anything else but killing the other.
Both had transcended their own fear of death.
In the next instant, Shirou and Esdeath collided violently again.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Deep rumbles of impact and shrill screeches of swords filled the air repeatedly. With every strike, every clash, their blades met with brutal intensity. Shockwaves tore through the surroundings, shattering the ground beneath them, scattering rubble and debris like a hurricane's aftermath.
Shunk—!
Shirou's chest was pierced clean through.
Shunk—!
Esdeath's abdomen split open, blood gushing forth.
Shunk—!
A deep wound erupted on Shirou's remaining arm, spraying crimson.
Shunk—!
Esdeath's legs suffered severe slashes, staggering her briefly.
Blood splattered skyward. Flesh tore apart. Bones cracked audibly. Both fighters were unleashing every ounce of their remaining strength.
This battle was undoubtedly the most brutal, savage, and merciless the world had ever seen.
Yet neither Shirou nor Esdeath yielded. They shouted fiercely, locked in endless struggle, turning the forest into a scene of relentless carnage.
Thunk—!
Esdeath's blade slipped through Shirou's guard, piercing directly through his heart. Shirou gasped, his breath constricting violently.
But, eyes blazing with madness, Shirou reached out with his left hand, gripping Esdeath's shoulder in a vise-like grip, and with a fierce snarl, smashed his head against hers.
It was impossible strength for someone so grievously wounded—yet he delivered it nonetheless.
Thud—!
The sheer impact flung Esdeath backward, wrenching her blade from Shirou's chest.
"Uwaaaahhh—!!"
Shirou's explosive cry became a forceful gust as he immediately lunged again toward Esdeath, ignoring his mortal wound entirely.
Slash!
His blade cut a long, savage gash across Esdeath's chest. But Esdeath, unwilling to be outdone, spun fiercely and drove her foot hard into Shirou's gut.
BOOM—!
"Gaaaaahhh!!"
Thrown backward, Shirou still didn't pause, roaring with defiance as he charged again.
This time, an icy spike erupted from the ground, impaling Shirou cleanly through his heart once more.
Don't give up!
I must finish this…
Even if I burn through all my life, even if my soul is torn to shreds—I must surpass my limits here and now!
"Uaaaaahhhh—!!"
Shirou's furious scream echoed through the flames. Even impaled through the heart, he did not falter for even an instant!
"Impossible!" Esdeath's eyes widened in shock. She couldn't believe Shirou still had strength to move after his heart had been pierced again.
BOOM—!
The ground exploded as Shirou practically teleported in front of her, his blade aimed directly at her heart. Esdeath reacted instantly to defend herself, but Shirou's insanity still carried a lethal clarity.
Clang—!
Esdeath's sword was deflected in a flash, and in the next heartbeat, Shirou's blood-red blade hovered menacingly near her neck.
Shirou had aimed precisely for this moment.
"[Mahapadma]!"
At the critical juncture, the world turned a familiar icy blue.
"I'm still stronger, after all."
Confidently, Esdeath swung toward Shirou's exposed throat.
CLANG!
Yet a sharp sound echoed clearly through this frozen world.
Fiery-red markings suddenly appeared on Shirou's forehead, rapidly spreading across his body. His hair turned completely white in an instant, a sign of Shirou burning away his life force without restraint.
"UUUUAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH—!!!"
With a primal roar, Shirou's blazing katana smashed aside Esdeath's blade, sending it flying from her grasp.
His entire body blazed as if engulfed by flames. The searing heat wave surged forward, overwhelming Esdeath completely.
"[Sun Breathing—Dancing Flash]!!!"
The frozen blue world shattered instantly.
In Esdeath's stunned gaze, the blood-red reverse-blade katana once again pressed firmly against her neck.
This time, she had no strength left to stop it.
"I…have lost."
Esdeath closed her eyes, acknowledging defeat. She made no attempt to resist—she could no longer resist.
The crimson blade rested coldly against her throat.