Chapter 124 - 41.3

"In defense of a town? Was He one to drop around every battlefield He could?" Kokabiel didn't reply immediately. "I take that as a yes."

"What difference does it make if the town was irrelevant?"

Shirou chuckled, feeling like he could understand God a little. "Military it was irrelevant, but its people weren't." That silenced the fallen angel. "So despite being as weakened as He was for whatever reason, God still decided to fight and died defending an unimportant town."

"What is this, are you a believer as a magus?" Kokabiel's curiosity was reaching its peak. Then he chuckled. "Or did you just become one after realizing he died a worthless death defending people that died anyway?"

"Heh, those that have seen hell can never pray to any gods." Shirou commented and Kokabiel suddenly felt something on the young man. The redhead was telling him the honest truth, a truth that had scarred his soul. "At least not for real anyway. Hard to believe in something like that once you see hell."

A glance at Xenovia told Shirou that while the girl looked defeated she was listening to the conversation. There was no strength or fire in her eyes and he was sure if she was attacked now she wouldn't defend herself but there was some spirit still there, still willing to listen to what was being said.

Still searching for some sort of hope and to that end Shirou turned to Kokabiel once again. "God is dead but that doesn't mean that He is gone. While there are those who remember Him and hold His beliefs then He isn't truly dead."

"But now it is all based on a lie." Kokabiel said nothing else, wishing to see Shirou's point.

"True, a lie now but it wasn't always. At some point in the past all that was true, all that meant something to someone. It certainly did to God." Shirou gave Kokabiel a smug grin. "Or you are going to tell us now He never practiced what He preached?" Upset red eyes showed annoyance, what Shirou wanted to see. "Who is the hypocrite now? At least God died for something, you are just trying to start a war… Why again?"

Kokabiel waved him off. "He is dead. That is what matters. Every time a god dies their followers lose their protection and their power wane and fades. Soon the only fate left to these gods is to be forgotten for they aren't gods anymore. After all, gods aren't supposed to die!" The fallen angel glared at Shirou, daring him to refute his statement.

"There were plenty of stories that speak of the end of times and gods dying but I see your point. None of those happened yet as far as I know and after most of those there were new gods, usually." Shirou admitted it easily, thinking about some like the Ragnarok. "But I wasn't treating God like, well, a god anyway. I was treating him more like a hero."

"'A hero?'" That hit Kokabiel on the gut. "An uncaring god that stands above the clouds-"

"A god that when the moment came didn't run, despite how reduced He was." Shirou pointed Bakuya at the fallen angel and the older man felt nervous for some reason. "You said it yourself that He arrived on the battlefield like that, I doubt you were the only one to sense it. Yet He still fought."

Shirou could glanced back at Xenovia and saw some life back in her eyes.

"I doubt He knew He would die."

He turned back to Kokabiel who looked to be in denial.

"Or maybe He did and still decided to fight anyway. Who can tell? I certainly can't." Shirou could see the fallen angel was confused. "But hey, you were there. What do you think?"

"I think for someone that doesn't pray you are caring too much about Father's death." Kokabiel was still annoyed, trying to figure out the puzzle that was Emiya Shirou. "What is it up to you? Even if you aren't devoted you defend Him like you were."

Shirou chuckled. "Sorry but I don't care about any god that isn't the one that I am guarding." He tilted his head to show Medusa, still keeping her boundary field up. "But I don't like people who disrespect others just because they can't defend themselves."

"Nothing I said was a lie."

"And we should believe your word? Just like that?" Shirou challenged the Cadre.

It wasn't well received. "I gave up plenty of evidence."

"Of God's death and I don't disagree. I disagree however on your perspective of how he died." Shirou liked the shocked expression the fallen angel gave him. "But hey, I suppose that is one of those 'only God knows' situations."

Seeing the confidence that Shirou was projecting, Kokabiel relaxed, even more curious than before. "You know your time is running out and here you are wasting it on a debate."

"Just trying to understand why a son hates his father so much." Shirou replied with a chuckle. "Believe it or not I have some experience. Hearing that my old man was a killer was quite the shock."

"That isn't the only reason." Kokabiel could tell and everyone else could too.

With a shrug Shiro saw no choice but to admit that much. "This is more for Asia, Xenovia and Irina's benefit, not mine." Again he turned to look at the blue haired girl and offered her a smile. "Even if He is dead, He is not gone. Maybe we can't call Him God anymore but there is nothing wrong in calling Him a hero."

"Except He failed." Valper replied with a chuckle. "He failed and died."

Without even glancing at the old man, Shirou replied. "Did anyone call you in the conversation? I certainly did not." The Archbishop's teeth almost broke from being dismissed. "Besides, even in failure, a hero's story can mean something." He kept looking at Xenovia before looking back at Kokabiel. "I have never prayed to God and won't start now, but that won't stop me from respecting Him and the sacrifice He made." Shirou smiled at the fallen who looked pensive. "For when things looked bleak, He didn't retreat. Instead He went down swinging, taking with Him most of the main actors of the war. Doesn't that sound like a better story?"

"Yes it does." And Kokabiel hated to admit it but he couldn't help himself as he saw what the redhead was doing. He forced a change of perspective for those who listened to the story, a tale of sacrifice instead of the useless death Kokabiel wanted to portray.

Shirou managed to relate the story of the Death of God with heroism and made it brighter for those that were broken by his departure, even if the event happened over a century ago. Kokabiel watched as Xenovia stood up, her gaze had more life and she wasn't the only one as Irina dired her tears with the Red Dragon Emperor gauntlet helping her stand up.

Even Asia looked more optimist and Kokabiel found himself hating that. 'Shouldn't all devils hate God? Shouldn't she be shouting curses at Him and Michael for her fate.' Shaking his head the fallen angel noticed he was now wasting time. "Very well, if you want to be a hero-"

"What? No! I am not a-"

"-the you shall learn the most painful lesson; how they fall." Kokabiel was officially done with the whole thing, his curiosity forgotten. "Freed, finish this. We must erase all traces of our presence and leave before the earthquake hits. Fuyuki will die and the war will begin anew!"

Freed began to laugh in excitement and Shirou's attention was back at the man only to notice more versions of the Mad Exorcist showing up around him. "Shit."

By trying to help those hurt by Kokabiel's words the magus made the mistake of giving Freed even more time to grow used to the Fused Excalibur. Instead of just two or three Freeds now there were at least six, all looking identical and posing with their swords for the world to see.

"You can-"

"Count on-"

"Us boss." The Freeds spoke one after the other.

"We will kill them-"

"In a jiffy. Hahahahaha!" All of them began to laugh and ideas began to run around Shirou's mind on how to find the real one.

'If he is even between them.' The redhead magus looked at Bakuya, feeling the pegasus gaze on him. The legendary mount was telling Shirou that it could do more, to push further to help him win. 'But how?' Shirou knew the pegasus heard the question and felt that it didn't know the answer. "This is new for both you and me, huh?"

"Don't worry, I'll help." The redhead turned to see the bluehead Exorcist stepping closer to him.

"You are in no condition to fight." Was the immediate reply;

"Maybe but I refuse to let them win." Xenovia held her sword tightly as Freed began to dance with his clones. "Do you know which one is the real one?"

"I have no idea…" Shirou admitted as he looked at Bakuya again. 'Once I let it go I doubt I will have enough in me to call it again.' At least that was the impression he got from the pegasus who realized his idea and feared for him. "But I have a way to find out."

Then Bakuya began to disappear in motes of mana much to Xenovia and Kokabiel's surprise. The sword's power quickly left Shirou and without his support the redhead was about to fall down until the Exorcist caught him.

All Freeds turned to look and laugh as Xenovia shouted. "Did you run out of mana?!" She knew that without him her odds of victory were close to none, at least not in time to save Fuyuki.

Shirou accepted when Xenovia helped him stand up, a good thing too because he felt his body was on its limit. "Not really, just needed to get another sword."

"Then why undo that one? Couldn't you use both?" Xenovia asked as Shirou raised his left hand and Traced his bow.

"That isn't how Bakuya works. It can only be used with its twin… Even using it with an anvil forced a rejection." And he didn't even really use it as a weapon, just for footing. Shirou suspected that the pegasus' power amplified the negative consequences of using Bakuya as well. "As a sword that has a pair, Bakuya refuses to be used with any other."

He took a single step forward and looked ready to fall until Xenovia held him by the shoulder. "You aren't planning to fight like this, are you?"

"No, I plan to finish the fight." Shirou nodded in thanks before taking another step forward. "Besides, we would still get in each other's way."

Xenovia couldn't help herself and pouted a little. "No, I will be watching your back." He looked back to see she was determined. "If you are going at range then I will stop him from getting you."

"Lets hope you won't need to." Shirou admitted as he saw all Freed's charge in their direction at different speeds and spaced between each other. Raising his right hand above his bow, he chanted. "I am the bone of my sword."

Kokabiel's curiosity was back as he saw how a considerable quantity of mana made its way from Shirou's fingers to the bow to create a construct that looked like a sword. 'Another one of that Noble Phantasm?' A black blade began to form before its shape began to change, surprising the Cadre.

Running as fast as Freed was he gave Shirou just a few seconds to react. The redhead knew that if he fought with Bakuya against illusions he could end up failing for a trap again or Xenovia could die. If either of them fell, the others still protected by Medusa were doomed too.

So Shirou decided to gamble everything on the few seconds it would take Freed to get to him to Trace a sword capable of ignoring the illusion and take the Mad Exorcist down. As he never expected to be in this kind of situation, the son of the Emiya household never tried to create anything that could deal with that.

But he had one blade in his mind that could, it was one weapon that he barely used but was ideal for this situation and even if his body was reaching its limits then as an arrow he knew that the sword could do a lot of damage.

From his mind to reality the blade took shape in milliseconds before becoming an arrow that Shirou filled with more mana. The weapon was changing its color and it was pulsing and trembling like a hunting dog demanding to be let loose and chase its prey.

Something that Shirou was happy to oblige with a roar of the Noble Phantasm's name. "Hrunting!"

A red flash flew out of Shirou's bow at the direction of the Freed he suspected was the real one, the man's eyes widening in panic before he laughed as the sword passed by him harmlessly.

"You missed~" Freed mocked as the other versions of himself kept charging. For a moment Shirou lost all hope before he noticed something with a smile.

"Did I?"

Sanctuary warned its creator that something was coming in his direction and fast which baffled Freed who was invisible and approaching his enemies behind all his illusions. After his experiences today the man learned to listen to his sword and quickly jumped to the side as the red light passed by faster than when Shirou shot it.

What really scared the man, enough so that all his illusions disappeared, was that the arrow turned around and to try and hit again out of nowhere. All Freed could do was run, even dropping the invisibility to throw all the sword's power into speed as he evaded the arrow.

Freed didn't know what was going on or how Shirou targeted him but even when he threw another ilusion and tried to hide only for the arrow to keep its chase. He ran around all the battlefield in a circle as fast as he could and the arrow was always not far behind.

At that point the arrow was so close that Freed couldn't turn around to take a swing at it anymore as he remembered the explosions from the previous ones. Worst for the white haired man the arrow seemed to go as fast as him, getting ever closer the more they continued the chase.

'How? He didn't see me, he shot an illusion! How is this arrow on me?!' Nothing came to Freed's mind as he kept running around the area in panic. He looked at Shirou and Xenovia, the former following the arrow calmly with his eyes while the latter looked stunned, and an idea popped into his mind.

Making a sharp turn, one which the arrow had no problems keeping up, Freed began to race towards the pair. Xenovia, empowered by Durandal, noticed first and reacted by standing in front of Shirou but the redhead placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't move."

In disbelief at such words, especially with a madman running at them with a mass of power right behind in hot pursuit, Xenovia was about to scream at Shirou only to notice how his eyes showed no doubt or fear.

She still held Durandal firmly and prepared enough power to protect them both but she wasn't going to move, if Shirou wasn't going to show fear then she would trust his courage.

"Let's see if you like that!" Freed announced as he came as close as he could to Durandal's tip before taking an extremely sharp turn to the left.

The Mad Exorcist expected to hear an explosion but Hrunting wouldn't miss its prey so easily. Its movements matched the stray Exorcist perfectly and turned just before touching Durandal, exactly like its prey had.

When Sanctuary warned him that he was still being chased Freed knew true fear. He thought he had got rid of the emotion when he left the Church but it was back and stronger than before.

Looking to his back, the white haired man couldn't believe the sword turned arrow was still after him. It was gaining on him little by little, the Fused Excalibur speed not enough to save him from his hunter.

Seconds passed as Freed turned to run towards the school before thinking better of it. Since his trick to have the arrow hit his opponents failed then there would be nothing in that school able to help him. Something else needed to be used, something stronger and that would be his sword.

It was the only way and for that Freed kept advancing towards the school while making his sword into a hybrid of it and a shield. Previous experience made him estimate how big the explosion would be but every instinct he had told the Mad Exorcist that this blast would be bigger.

He would need time to recover so he made sure to get some distance between him and Durandal to get that time.

All that happened in a couple of seconds that everyone noted Freed used to get close to one of the school walls and turn the Fused Excalibur into a shield while surrounding himself with all the power the weapon could muster.

The explosion that resulted was greater than all the other weapons that Shirou shot in his life save Caladbolg. "I hope that didn't destroy the sword."

"Why are you trying to save that thing?" Xenovia saw it as an abomination and she was sure Shirou saw it as the same.

"Destroying the epicenter of a ritual spell that is affecting the whole city is too risky." His priority was Fuyuki and the Exorcist couldn't disagree as they watched the dust settle. "He is still alive."

But his eyes weren't lying as the golden aura revealed an extremely burned and wounded but living Freed Sellzen. The Mad Priest looked like between life and death as bone and muscle were exposed to the air. Pain and blood gave him a demonic look of madness as the golden aura tried to regenerate his body.

"Kiiiilll yoouhh!" He was missing half of his jaw, one eye and one ear and still took a step foward, begining a long and painful march towards Shirou with murder in his eye. "Kiiiill yooouuuhh."

"That is impossible! Impossible! Excalibur cannot lose!" Valper spoke in denial. The damage Freed took was something that shouldn't have happened. "My method was perfect and the mana in the area is still feeding it! The blade is still intact! How could it lose?!"

Indeed the Fused Fragments was without a scratch and even Freed's hands remained in perfect condition. Despite the power of the explosion from Shirou's arrow the weapon didn't break even if its aura did.

"Freed must have made a mistake! That must be it!" Valper spoke in realization, glaring at the Mad Exorcist. "And the sword didn't lose yet! Freed, focus on recovering first you fool!"

"Is he for real?" Xenovia asked in shock before shaking her head. "Of course he is. He is a lunatic." She watched the former white haired man, as there wasn't a single strand of hair on his head anymore, kept walking, half dead. "I don't think he will recover from that."

Shirou gave her a nod but said nothing else. Away from them, Valper wasn't the only one trying to understand what was going on.

"But why isn't Freed regenerating?" Behind Medusa's protection, Kiba asked in a shock equal to Valper's. The idea that Excalibur failed was contradictory to everything he believed and it was affirmed by how strong the sword still felt. "Excalibur isn't broken, Sanctuary is still going, why is Freed like that?"

"Because his body finally hit its limit." Rias replied with a chuckle that had her Knight looking at her in disbelief. "What? Don't you remember our fight against Riser? It is a similar situation."

"Similar only on the surface." Sona commented while fixing her glasses, relief pouring from her as the Excalibur Holder was defeated.

Issei also fixed his own pair. "Can you clarify, Kaichou?"

"Unlike the Phenex Clan whose regeneration is natural and consumes stamina, Freed's was depending on the ley line with the sword compensating. However his body wasn't properly prepared to absorb that much power." Sona could see the confusion on the devils but noted that Medusa understood. "Then he took that much damage all at once after failing to raise a proper defense. His body is now literally beyond help." She looked at Asia who watched the Mad Exorcist with horror before looking back. "Maybe Twilight Healing could fix that but he alone is just pushing for nothing."

"It doesn't help that the filter was faulty~" Rias was enjoying the moment of Shirou's triumph. Freed's march towards him was more of a last ditch effort that had no hope of paying off. "Couldn't you feel it from the beginning? How this Holy Energy never felt right? Maybe if he had slayed a dragon he would have a better chance of controlling it~" She laughed a little at her own joke and Irina shivered.

The twin tailed Exorcist understood Rias' implication about the project that gave life to Freed but said nothing. It was the devil's magician who won the fight so she saw nothing wrong in letting her brag.

"Should we kill him?" Xenovia asked Shirou, his eyes stuck on Freed's stumbling form. The man wasn't falling per say but it was a close thing. "Not that he doesn't deserve this fate but…"

Taking another step forward, Shirou motioned for Xenovia to step back which she had no troubles doing since the most pressing threat was neutralized. There were no comments from the redhead as he waited for Freed to get closer. His step slowed as more blood poured from him, the sword failed to heal his wounds.

The gold mana was trying but Freed had no knowledge how to do it properly and the sword's automatic reaction had no means to know what to fix first or what the owner needed. Even if it did, Shirou could tell that Freed was beyond salvation as the sword wasn't strong enough to fix everything, including the missing eye and whatever internal damage Freed suffered.

Still saying nothing the redhead waited for his opponent to reach him, promising death in slurs that Shirou couldn't comprehend. When he finally was close enough, Freed raised his sword from a strike.

Only for his legs to give out as raising the sword above his head was too much for Freed. He began to fall down on his back, golden sword still tight in his hand but it couldn't help him. There were only moans and whimpers from Freed as he still tried to get up but the fight was over.

Both Shirou and Xenovia felt a great deal of relief, "You have a Reality Marble." Only for Kokabiel to remind them that he existed and his words shook Shirou to his core.

"What are you talking about?" Xenovia asked but then noticed he wasn't talking to her. Turning to Shirou she asked, "What is a Reality Marble?"

"I don't have one." It wasn't that Shirou wanted to ignore the blue haired Exorcist but he wanted to deny that accusation quickly.

"But you do. Don't lie to me." Then the fallen angel frowned. "Wait, you aren't lying… That is interesting~ Hahahaha!" Everyone was now paying attention to Kokabiel as he laughed out loud.

"My lord… a Reality Marble is something impossible." Valper stated while glaring at Shirou. Excalibur's defeat made him desire the redhead's death more than before.

"But he does have one and he doesn't even notice… Or he doesn't want to notice. That is funny!" Kokabiel controlled himself once again while Shirou shook his head in denial.

"I can't have one." A blue sky and a pegasus running freely in a field of swords came to mind but Shirou crushed the thought.

Xenovia saw that Shirou was nervous but asked anyway. "What is a Reality Marble?"

Shirou tried to think of a way to explain it but it wasn't easy. Kokaibel on the other hand found it simple. "It is a spell that manifests another world in the real one through a boundary field! It could be called the ultimate boundary field magic!" He paid close attention to Shirou during the explanation, curiosity back at full force. "It was a theoretical procedure that was forbidden from being researched because its very nature could be destabilizing. Those that tried were hunted down by all pantheons as that much power could truly unbalance the world."

Shirou felt the guilt begin to consume him. "It was his theory, the idea that he could create a Reality Marble and keep the time there under control while letting the rest of the world pass by him until eventually the user of the spell would reach the end of the universe and the Root."

That conversation with his father played in his mind dozens of times when he studied during their trip and after. The idea of a Reality Marble never left his mind, especially after the dreams he had.

'This is so cruel.' Shirou thought as he didn't want that to be the truth, not only it would place him and the people he loved in dange but it would also mean that while he rejected his father's dream, he reached Emiya Norikata's dream instead. "For a person to reach a Reality Marble it would take decades, even centuries."

"And yet you have one! Don't try to deny it! How else can you explain the multiple Noble Phantasms you used?" Kokabiel saw Shirou shiver but pressed on. "Or how you managed to manifest Beowulf's sword as an arrow? I recognized the name boy and I can see it clearly as day!" He wished that Sanctuary wasn't active so he could grab Shirou by his shoulders and shake them from excitement. "You have a Reality Marble, one connected with swords if I can take a guess! Oh, I wonder how many Gods of War would fight to have such a territory."

That was another fear Shirou had and one of the reasons that he feared realizing he had one. If a Reality Marble owner allied with the proper god then the latter would always have the field advantage at hand and that by itself would break the delicate balance of the world.

"But not only that it is one connected to your soul! A true Reality Marble that represents yourself, your essence! Such a thing can only be called something beyond a miracle! A power beyond Humanity and even the gods!" Kokabield calmed down once he saw Shirou's confusion. "Tell me I am wrong, Emiya Shirou. Lie to me, to yourself as much as you want but that is reality. You have a Reality Marble. You are a human with a Reality Marble. Someone with the power to challenge the gods themselves."

But once Kokabiel revealed the truth to him, Shirou couldn't deny it and when he blinked he was back at the field of swords. The pegasus looked at him and Shirou looked back before.

Just that place told him all that he needed to know and his fear melted away.

When he opened his eyes again he was back to reality but his posture had changed. His fear was and confidence brimmed as Shirou felt calm and serene.

For a year he had denied a truth he already knew, ignoring it with all his strength. With his resolution and force of will it wasn't a problem even if it limited him.

He who had rejected his father's dream didn't want to bring the man any more pain and he knew that the subject of Reality Marbles, of his father's father research, was something that bothered the man immensely.

For that reason alone Shirou buried that part of himself, ignoring the signs and just accepting things as they were even if intellectually and spiritually he knew there was more to explore. He still avoided it, contrary to his usual method of facing things he tried to ignore it for the sake of those closest to him.

For his father to not give the man nightmares, for his family who was already divided but he loved them all despite it, for his friends who he didn't want to trouble with a potential crisis.

For his lover who he knew would accept it regardless despite the troubles it would give them both. He buried it as deep as he could. For them all.

But now he could no longer run from it, the truth had finally come to confront him and Shirou wasn't the kind of person to surrender when things got tough. He pushed forward and the world opened itself to him.

The blue sky with its clouds felt the same even as the world let out a gentle breeze as Shirou was there again. This time he was there more as Shirou felt like every sword existed there was a part of him.

Every weapon he ever saw was there, every single one. But swords felt more true, genuine. 'Alive.' Each and every single one of them had its distinct flavor in a way that almost overwhelmed him until it didn't.

This was his world, all of that was him and Shirou couldn't help but be proud of its beauty.

However he had someone else with him, someone that had followed him for a while now and while not a part of himself it was an inhabitant of his world nonetheless.

The pegasus was still looking at him, waiting and Shirou knew what to do.

It was his Reality Marble, his world. With a single step he began to walk towards the pegasus in the sky. This was his reality, a world unlike the real one but truly real for him where he was in control.

Finally he reached the pegasus, a journey that lasted moments even if it felt like he was walking ever since he first met the creature which inhabited his soul. Shirou extended a hand and the pegasus accepted his touch, the majestic creature felt warm and he felt truly at peace.

"You are right." Shirou's statement surprised everyone. Rias looked nervously at her lover as Sona finished explaining to the others what a Reality Marble was. "You are right. I have a Reality Marble."

"Oh~ Magnificent. I never met a human who had one." Kokabiel looked happy at the news. "What made you change your mind?"

"I just denied it for as long as I could… But I can't deny it anymore." There are going to be consequences but Shirou felt something shift inside him as a gear that was missing fell into place. "It always explained everything but it was also a topic that brought my father much pain. Damn, I am going to have to explain that to him. Wonder if he will be upset."

Just by accepting reality it had Shirou more relaxed as a weight that was in his shoulder for over a year was missing. Despite his exhaustion and lack of mana he felt lighter than before the fight started as the stress of the day seemed to wash away.

"A Reality Marble? This brat? I don't believe it!" Valper declared and Xenovia glared at him.

"You should remember you don't have your protector anymore." And Xenovia looked ready to kill him. "Undo the ritual and you may leave here alive." She didn't care about Reality Marbles or stuff she didn't understand. The situation was still a bad one and the solution was the man who started it all in the first place.

Now that he had accepted the truth it was easy for Shirou to return to his Reality, like he had a foot on the real world and the other on his own. When he descended again he felt something; a call.

"Foolish girl. Do you think it would be that easy?" Valper laughed at Xenovia's face even as she approached and placed Durandal right below his neck. He then looked nervous and while he laughed his laugh was subdued. "I can't do anything about the ritual, the spell will be in play while Excalibur exists and lord Kokabiel ordered me to make sure that the only way to undo it was by destroying the sword or breaking the magic circle."

It was Durandal, the sword whose information he gained with barely any effort from his part. It was calling him and he soon found himself in front of it.

"A magic circle that is empowered by the mana of Fuyuki. Even with the swords you have none of you can break it." It was a measure that the fallen angel never expected to have to rely on but it was there and he was confident in it. "Once time is up, Sanctuary will fall and Fuyuki will take all the mana at once. That is unavoidable unless you follow my demands."

Everyone could pretty much see what the man wanted and most of them glared at Kokabiel with rage.

"Which brings me to offer you a proposition, one of which anyone that can use a Holy Sword can accept." Kokabiel talked again, his eyes still on Shirou. "But I want you, Emiya Shirou, who has a Reality Marble connected to swords, clearly more than capable of using Excalibur as well, to take my deal." The redhead didn't like where that was going. "Use it to kill the devils and I shall spare Fuyuki."

"What?" Xenovia was the one who asked and Kokabiel turned to regard her after taking a deep breath.

"As I said you can take the deal as well if you desire, in fact, I will spare whoever does it and any other humans in the area if that is what they want." While he made his pich, Kokabiel watched as Shirou moved closer to Freed. "I never needed the complete sword in the first place, I just needed the swords of the Church to kill the Heiresses. Do so and you can take your place at my side when the war starts."

'I can't use it. Don't think I could even if I had all my mana and was in better-' Then he noticed the swords around Durandal and smiled. 'Ah, I see. You weren't introducing yourself for me to be used but to guide me. A miracle?'

Shirou saw six swords and immediately their names jumped to his mind. All the Excalibur Fragments were reunited in front of him unlike they ever had in real life. Inside the circle where the swords were there was another sword, more beautiful than them all.

Then Shirou saw the truth and realized what needed to be done.

Gritting her teeth, Xenovia felt Durandal's power flare in response. "I would never do something like that!" She threw a swing at the fallen angel who just bashed it aside. "You want us to betray everything we believe in to start a war? You are really scum, Kokabiel!"

"Even though your god is dead and you have lived on a lie?" That made the girl hesitate for a moment but he turned to Irina to see a similar reaction. "You can take this deal too. I don't care who does it."

"And if we don't?" Irina asked with some trepidation.

"Then the city will die and I am going to kill you all and stab the devils with the swords anyway." The Cadre replied easily. "While it is true that I can't use them, a little movement here and there and I can set the scene perfectly." His smile had returned, a cruel one that showed he wasn't bluffing. "Even the Fused Fragments can be used as a normal weapon if I am careful enough." He turned back to Xenovia. "Same can't be said about Durandal but if you use it then my war will be assured. I will even reward you handsomely since that would certainly bury any hope Michael could have of avoiding it." His offer just made Xenovia's fury grow. "Decide now or die later, the choice is yours!" He then looked at his wrist where there was no watch. "You all have five minutes left, give or take."

The Mad Exorcist was still on his back when Shirou stepped forward to crouch close to him. "Even in the end you still only want my death." The amount of hatred and murder on Freed's last remaining eye was stagering but Shirou wasn't surprised.

With that last comment the magus began to pry Freed's hand open to collect the sword. It was the only thing keeping Freed alive in his living dead state so he knew once he took it off his hands the stray Exorcist would die.

There was no fight left in him either, he tried to keep his hand closed or attack despite his condition but could do nothing when his fingers gave out. Life began to leave the man's eye as Shirou took the sword. With his wounds and without its support Freed didn't resist and died wishing Shirou's death.

Pity filled Shirou's chest but he didn't forget what Freed did and instead of leaning in the new emotion he decided to ignore the dead body and raise to his full height.

When Shirou held the blade he felt the power entering him and it was much different from Bakuya's pegasus. The legendary mount's power was gentle, peaceful, warm and gave Shirou a sensation of security like he could travel anywhere.

The golden sword was totally different and almost felt like poison in comparacion. Sure he felt better as his fatigue was gone and his mana reserves were refiled but it also felt awful in ways he couldn't explain.

"What do you say, Emiya Shirou?" Kokabiel directed himself to the redhead again. If there was one person he wanted to take the deal with it was the magus and when he picked up the sword the fallen angel saw it as a good sign. "You can still be the hero of the tragedy, the last survivor if you desire."

"Aren't you worried I will tell everyone about your plan?" Shirou asked offhandedly as he walked towards the devils' location.

Kokabiel frowned at the attitude. He expected some indecision or rejection. "You obviously will have to sign a geas. Nothing much." At seeing the redhead walk calmly towards the devils he decided to add. "I shall also spare your goddess, obviously and if you wish I can even spare the Exorcists."

"Sorry but I won't be taking that deal either way." Shirou's reply earned him a glare from the fallen angel but he ignored it in favor of Irina. "Could you please give me Destruction?"

As an Exorcist trained since young, Irina quickly thought of a proper response. "Huh?" In her defense the sudden request was surprising.

"Shiro, you aren't about to do something stupid, are you?" Rias asked with a frown but her lover avoided looking at her. "Damned Shiro!"

"You know I can't lie." Shirou gave Rias his best smile. "And probably it is something stupid… On a lot of levels."

Before the banter between the redheads could continue, Sona intervened. "Do you really have one?" Both turned to look at her, Shirou with curiosity and Rias with a judging glare. "A Reality Marble, do you really have one?"

Blinking to recover from his surprise, Shirou smiled. "Does it change anything?"

'Realistically? Everything.' Yet Sona knew that wasn't what Shirou was asking. "No. I won't tell a soul if we, somehow, get out of this mess." She was still Rias' oldest friend and she wouldn't betray her trust by divulging that her magician had something worldshatering on his sleeve. However she still has obligations. "You realize we are going to have to tell our siblings, don't you?" She immediately retracted as it felt wrong to lie to this man.

"They, I don't mind." Shirou replied with a chuckle before turning to Irina again who was frowning. "So may I have the sword now?"

Looking at Xenovia who was approaching, Irina saw a silent nod before letting out a sigh and offering Excalibur Destruction to Shirou. "What are you planning?"

"Breaking the ritual by altering its center." He raised the golden weapon. "Best solution that doesn't blow us all to kingdom come? Fixing the sword." Immediately Kiba was on his feet and at the border of the boundary field.

"Shirou you can't-"

"I can and I will. That is our best chance to save Fuyuki." Shirou glared at his friend and the blond winced. "You lost to yourself again." Shame eclipsed all the Knight's emotions but Shirou wasn't impressed.

Instead of saying anything the redhead began to walk back to the middle of the field. "Don't die!" Rias demanded and Shirou stopped.

"Going to do my best." Was all he could say as he passed Xenovia.

"Can Excalibur defeat Kokabiel?" After hearing about the death of God she was doubting everything. "It's still missing a piece and it is weaker than Durandal right now." Not to mention that she didn't even know if it was possible in the short time they had.

Shirou didn't stop walking but offered her another smile. "Excalibur would be strong enough to defeat him. Unfortunately we are going to have to go another route because this is just to save Fuyuki."

The fallen angel watched as Shirou came to the middle of the battlefield and examined both swords. "So this is it? A last attempt to stop me? Are you going to sacrifice your town?" Kokabiel found the situation amusing. "Maybe you aren't a hero, after all. Just suicidal."

"That is my father's dream, something I rejected for seeing myself as too selfish." Shirou replied with an amusing smile of his own as the swords resonate in his hands and the mana in the area began to move. "I thought that someone like me was always more suited to be a villain but it seems you took that role. If so then I will be the hero just this once." He glared at the Cadre. "By ruining your plans and forcing you to face reality."

The magic circle close to Valper began to disappear as it broke apart in mottes of light that moved towards Shirou's direction. "This is impossible…" Valper watched the event in bewilderment. "The ritual… it isn't supposed to work like that."

Unlike Valper who only dedicated himself to a single sword, Shirou had the experience of having forged hundreds of them. Not only that but he had studied the rituals and methods that gave birth to many great swords, including some Noble Phantasms.

In a more calm setting where he would have time to work and prepare he wouldn't mind fixing the Fragments in his workshop with the proper tools and resources.

But the time was short and now he had the Fragments in his hands he could feel it running out. Like the grains of sand falling on an hourglass it ticked down slowly but surely. Fuyuki's ley line was too unstable to wait for him to get into the club, get the tools and do things correctly.

Already Shirou felt the mana on his body leaving him again only to be refilled by the ley line in a acid like manner that harmed his circuits but the magus wasn't stopping.

Instead he was still smiling. "I never called myself a hero but to save my friends and my town I will gladly take that mantle!" It was faster now as Shirou skipped all the steps Valper used for safety and went straight to work.

Both blades floated in the air as the mana circulated between Shirou and them. Feeling the weight of the town's mana without proper protection almost made the magus fall down but he steadied his feet and raised his hands towards the Fragments.

Taking hold of the mana with both hands, Shirou began to push into the swords as the magic circle around them was formed, covering the whole extension of Kouh. Sanctuary began to grow smaller and weaker as the mana was completely redirected to the huge magic circle.

Only then it began to shrink faster than it had shown up until it was only beneath Shirou and the swords. At that point Medusa fell down and had to be caught by Koneko as the goddess smiled. "He did it."

However it wasn't over yet even if Sanctuary had fallen. That only meant that the mana was focused into a single point and Shirou was taking all the blunt of the mana that could destroy Fuyuki on his body.

It was too much for a human to bear and soon a vein popped in his forehead, blood covering his eye as he focused on the swords.

"Shiro!" Rias shouted in a panic to try to approach and stop her lover but Sona stopped her.

"If you stop him now, us and the whole town are going to be obliterated." She felt the mana, more powerful than before. 'Maybe even the whole of Japan! How much mana is going into this?!'

Even Kokabiel, who was now free to interfere, didn't dare to try and stop Shirou. He knew very well that amount of power could kill him accidentally. 'Is this the power you feared, Father? The power of a Reality Marble?'

Blood began to fall from Shirou's nose as the pressure of that much power threatened to crush him. He pushed more mana into the swords and they broke apart into two spheres of light that he began to move with his hands. Without his tools he had to improvise and thanks to the ritual he had mana to spare.

Too much mana even but for the sword he was planning to reforge that was just enough. "Steel is my body… and fire is my blood." Now that he was fully aware of his Reality Marble he felt his world pulse at his words. 'Ah, so that is what my aria means?' He didn't understand fully but it was enough to reassure him.

Enough to help him redirect the mana as it was too much.

"I have created… thousands of blades!" And so it was as swords came to existence, first in pairs than more. Much more.

Soon everyone present was admiring a forest of swords covering all the school's terrain and even going towards the university buildings. Many swords of all kinds of types, classic katanas, two handed bastards, one handed short ones, scimitars and all other types ever created by man.

Then the spears came after, naginatas first and then others as the forest added many other weapons.

But the most prevalent ones were the swords which didn't stop coming.

"Those are Shiro's works." Rias recognized in wonder as she saw many of her lover's creations surrounding her and the others.

"All of them?" Tomoe couldn't believe that someone could work with so many different weapons.

It surprised all from the Student Council when Asia replied "For the most part." She worked with Shirou on EM and saw many of his pieces almost daily.

Kiba then pointed to the side. "Those are mine."

Indeed to the left of the group were many of the weapons made by Sword Birth, all sorted together and waiting.

Issei, who between all present knew Shirou the longest, took his glasses out in admiration and fear. 'To think you had so much in you.' He barely understood what a Reality Marble was but he understood enough. "Are we seeing a reflection of his world?"

Meanwhile all admired his efforts Shirou could tell it wasn't enough. He had managed to break the swords into mana and revert the Sanctuary, none of which was a small feat, but he could tell that the weapons weren't being properly connected.

And it was Valper's fault. The way he made the swords, the purpose he gave by making it as a center to a spell which would kill innocents, contracted everything from the original.

It had lost its name, its purpose and thanks to the Archbishop of Genocide its very self. They didn't know what the original sword was anymore.

But Shirou did, inside his world he saw the true history of the weapon clear as the day was bright. How far they were from their original intent already as Fragments barred them from becoming Noble Phantasms but not from revealing their real origin.

Making matters worse once he undid the Fused Sword, the step needed to break Sanctuary and truly reforge the weapon, the sword stopped to work as a filter and the mana of Fuyuki began to invade his body in its most raw form.

He just had to help them remember. 'Push!' Shirou ordered himself and more mana passed through his body, gathering everyone's attention. 'Push!' More mana rushed to the swords and his circuits protested as they began to glow beneath his skin. Every single one of them. 'Push!'

"Shiro stop! You are killing yourself!" Rias tried to advance but a sword stabbed itself on her way. "Shiro! This is enough! The ritual won't destroy the city anymore!" It was a lie for she was unsure but a risk that she was willing to take to see Shirou live.

The magus kept pushing, his insides feeling like they were on fire. Despite being used to the flames the fact he noticed made him chuckle before vertigo began to take hold. His body was exhausted, burning from the inside and the excess of mana threatened to blow him up.

As he fell to one knee, the weight of the mana began to crush his organs, Shirou feared for those around him. The ritual wasn't done and stopping in the middle would just undo all his work, potentially killing everyone in a thousand mile ratio if he botched it hard enough.

So he got up at the shouts of panic from his friends, ignoring them all as he kept pushing only to cough blood from his mouth. 'Is this… my limit?' Gritting his teeth and ignoring the taste of iron, Shirou pushed even more mana against the swords. 'Then I will go beyond that!'

More and more weapons surged around Kouh, covering the rooftops and the insides of the school property and some of the facilities. Valper barely dodged when a sword almost stabbed him between the legs but none came even close to touching the magus' friends.

All the while Kokabiel watched with a smile. "He is going to fail." Pleased with himself, the man relaxed and laughed. "So it ends the life of another with the potential to realize a Reality Marble, this time in a struggle to save everyone only to save none. What a great finale! Hahahahaha!" He was having too much fun to care about his life or anyone else's.

…

Inside Shirou's Reality Marble the world trembled and a huge influx of mana covered even his soul. Swords shook everywhere and the wind, usually a calm breeze, gave way to a chaotic storm that threatened to rend it asunder.

Looking around the pegasus felt panic at the state of its home and moved to try and fix things, its aura helping Shirou as its power helped him channel more swords out to get rid of the mana.

But it wasn't enough as everything the pegasus did was more instinctive than anything and it didn't know what needed to be done. It could make it easier for Shirou to use the mana and give his world some direction but unless Shirou was using Bakuya the pegasus felt its presence in reality was limited.

The legendary mount knew another thing in fact, that the sun was helping in some way, working diligently to keep the most harmful effects at bay from Shirou but its influence was limited.

The same, however, couldn't be said by the presences deep beneath the earth. They who woke up thanks to the power of a devil began to stir as more and more mana was pushed inside their host body.

"Error! Error!" A booming voice echoed in the shadows of the underworld inside the Reality Marble. Red eyes opened and looked around before repeating. "Error! Error!"

"Error! Error! Fae presence still detected! Host body is not ready!"

"Failure in contacting the main structure! Emergencial procedures initiated!"

"Unable to terminate operation! Host body exciting safety parameters!"

They weren't one, they weren't all but they were guided by the same intelligence and soon more red eyes opened and the darkness gave way to many red lights from many eyes.

"Control invalid! Fae Artifact still interfering!"

"Counter measures required! Self destruction is imminent!"

"Access to the main server accepted. Looking for a solution."

"Solution found. Adjusting the type of mana for a more stable output."

"Surge under control. Circuits output optimized."

"Initiating adjustments. Error! Damage to the host."

"Repairs in motion. Error due to Artifact."

As one their intelligence worked together with minimal resources. They had no freedom with the sun outside forcing them down but they had the will to survive.

Despite their limitations they could still help Shirou. It was their prime directive and also for their own sake they worked tirelessly and in unison as the mana inside the Reality Marble began to stabilize.

They shall live for the day an opportunity presents itself.

Until they can join together with their lost brethren.

Until their spell can be completed once more.

…

Suddenly Shirou wasn't feeling himself burning away anymore as something changed. For a moment he wondered if it was due to his Reality Marble but ignored that as the mana of Fuyuki felt much like his own. It was still too much but was all under his control.

When he blinked he found himself surprised to not be inside his Reality Marble but in the skies of Fuyuki itself. He could see every building, the temples, the mall, the apartments, the houses, including his own, every street and every person that lives in the city was there and nothing obstructed his view even as he saw everything.

Logic dictated that he shouldn't be able to perceive all that from his position in the sky but he could which baffled his mind.

Shirou was sure he was feeling every life inside of Fuyuki, every man, woman, child and animal to the oldest man to the smallest insect. Thinking of a name he found himself in front of Rias but she was frozen in time, looking at someone with what he could see and feel was concern and fear for that person.

Walking around between his friends he saw they were all worried. Even the exhausted Medusa, who felt like she was flickering like a candle against the wind, looked fearful.

Turning around, Shirou saw himself on a knee, a hand up trying to forge the sword while the other helped him stay stable. They were afraid for him, he realized, and a pang of guilt shot through his heart.

Looking outside of his body was a completely new experience that the redhead never expected to have. He tried to compare it like seeing a picture but knew it was wrong as the image was too vivid and too real. He supposed it looked real because it was real and he was looking at himself in a state completely beyond his understanding.

When he looked up to Kokabiel, Shirou soon found himself face to face against the man. He tried to Trace a sword to try and attack him or something but it was in vain as he didn't couldn't feel his magic circuits.

Taking the opportunity he tried to punch the fallen angel but that also failed. If anything Shirou felt Kokabiel's power hidden behind his facet of humanity and noticed that the Cadre was much stronger than he realized.

Which wasn't surprising but he already suspected as much. It also seemed there was little he could do in the state he found himself in.

However he remembered someone, someone that had worried him since he arrived in Kuoh and with a thought he found himself in front of her.

Akeno was lying on the rooftop of the most distant building of the university, safe from any peril that befell the city. There was a barrier protecting her and a spell to keep her asleep but it was light and he could almost see himself breaking it.

He tried to touch her but that also failed and when he failed in finding a way to help her Shirou was sure the state he found himself in wasn't a blessing but a curse.

Emiya Shirou now could watch all over Fuyuki but could do nothing for it.

'I need to go back.'

Giving Akeno one last look he tried to think of a way to return to his body. He knew that he couldn't panic and something told him that he was still alive. All Shirou needed to do was find a way back.

Then he blinked and was once again working on the swords but the pain was gone. 'Was that real? Yes, it was.' Deep down he knew that was the truth and as he stood once more he felt how the mana seemed to obey him easily. 'Don't know what is going on,' he admitted before focusing back on his work, 'but I can do it.'

With a wave of his hands the swords shifted and joined together, their cores now one once more after lifetimes apart. They were still missing one part but Shirou knew he could compensate, he had the original blueprints on his soul and so he began to work to give the sword shape.

A hammer, his hammer, showed up on his hand and Shirou hit the orb of mana, forcing it to change as the metal in it returned to its form. Yet the orb didn't move as it transformed, the magic circle working as both the anvil and the fire for his forging.

He hammered it away using his technique to banish the impurities as the metal began to mold. There was a lot of impurity, too much corruption and not only from Freed and Valper, they were just the last in the line of arrogant people who thought they knew better about this sword.

There were so many unnecessary things on it, put there both accidentally and purposefully. It was the means that many used to hold the weapon, it was the means it stopped being what it once was. So much dirt and stains that corrupted a magnificent sword and stole its luster.

Not anymore, Shirou wouldn't allow it.

All would be washed as the mana around him stopped being gold and became as blue as the sky of the morning.

The hammer now was truly hitting metal as the sword took its true shape once more after millenia. Its missing piece being inserted via Shirou's hammer strokes as the image of his mind of the complete weapon gave him the opportunity to gaze on its true core.

Shirou knew exactly what was missing and he was using the mana of Fuyuki to complete it. The vessel would be full once again.

Those watching stood admiring the diligent work as the redhead looked bloodied and battered but his spine stood straight and the work seemed to make the world more bright.

Xenovia felt Durandal pulse on her hand and looked at it. 'This…' She looked back at Shirou working and at his creation. "Holy Energy? No, it goes beyond that."

"But it's similar." Irina commented as they all felt the teal mana wash over them.

"It doesn't hurt." Asia admired the sensation.

"How is he doing this?" Sona asked no one.

Maybe out of pride or as a joke, Rias answered. "He is Shiro and he has a Reality Marble." None knew if that was the truth but they couldn't deny that it was a job no one else on the planet could do.

Kiba tried to step forward but Ise and Saji held him back. He looked at them and saw they weren't going to give him any chance of approaching. But there was no anger in him anymore. 'Why is that power… that sword… making me feel regret?'

As the sword took shape Kokabiel also felt familiarity from many points in his life and that gave way to hatred. His nostrils flared and he was tempted to throw a spear of Light at Shirou, consequences be damned.

Only with a final strike of Shirou's hammer the magic circle began to disappear and the darkness of the night returned to the area with the exception of the light that emanated from the complete work made by the magus' hands.

It was a sword completely different from any of its fragments, slightly smaller than Destruction but taller than Rapidly, the decorations from its parts disappeared to give it a more simple form but its elegance made clear that it wasn't a weapon for a warrior.

Fit for a king in all its aspects, its handle was a mixture of blue and gold until the guard which was appropriated for to deflect other weapons but not necessarily lock them in place.

The blade was a marvelous thing that even those that didn't understand weapons could see its decorated beauty but the words written in them confused some. They were written in old English but they were known for those who knew its legend like Shirou and Kokabiel.

For engraved in the hilt was 'Whosoe'er pulleth out this sword of this stone is rightwise king of all England.'

Descending slowly towards the earth it gently stabbed itself on the ground but stood straighter than any other sword Shirou produced. It was good for him since he needed its support to stay standing as his body gave out and he almost fell.

None could move and the redhead magus took his time to admire a job well done as his smile said it all. "Success." He whispered faintly as he body felt ready to fall but by holding the sword he felt better.

It wasn't healing him because it wasn't recognizing him as its owner but Shirou was fine with that. Being the owner of that sword was a fate he wasn't ready for; it meant abandoning everyone than he loved for an ideal not his own.

'Not much different from a hero, isn't it old man?' At least Shirou knew he would have a good story to tell his father that may soften the blow of him having a Reality Marble.

"That is not… Excalibur… it can't be. That is not! That is not it!" Valper denied with fervor. "You ruined my work!"

Shirou chuckled at the old man. "It never was Excalibur and its fragments shouldn't have been called as such. Excalibur is more than this weapon could ever be but this one is already plenty and worthy to be called a legend."

The sword supporting him wasn't just a sword anymore or a powerful Artifact, it had reached the realm it always deserved to be in.

"You never understood, despite the research you claim to be so proud of." Shirou mocked but the old man didn't react, his eyes and ears refusing to leave the blade. "They never understood that by changing its name they stole it of what could truly do and should rightfully be. By giving the name of a better weapon but pilling unnecessary powers in it you all stopped it from being what always was. A sword fit for a king and a promise to do all for the kingdom!"

The sword reacted to Shirou's words, it heard the call and wanted to introduce itself with its proper name for the first time ever since it broke on that tragic day.

"It isn't the sword of the Lady of The Lake but a gift for Uther Pendragon, father of a king and a witch. Because of God's desire he called upon Merlin to bring it to him and instructed the wizard to bathe it in the flames of a dragon to raise its edge to the limit." The sword wasn't fixing the damage it did on Shirou while he worked on it but it gave the redhead strength.

As a king gave their authority for their heralds, the blade gave Shirou enough to call its name and establish its status once for all.

"Blessed by God, tied to a prophecy to bring about a new great king after the death of its owner and queel the chaos that came after his departure. It waited in the stone to be pulled for the one who was worthy!" All the information he gazed upon in his world. All the sword's story was for Shirou to tell. "For this is not a sword made by faires but one born by the hands of man, elevated by the blessings of God and completed by the flames of the Red Dragon Emperor himself!"

No one commented at the mention of Ddraig, entranced like hypnotized by the tale and the sword presence.

"However there was a heavy price, a price the wizard told any and all worthy of retrieving the blade. 'To be no longer human' was the condition for the blessings of God would make them a ruler par with Himself only. None took the challenge until the daughter of Uther came across the stone!" The mention of a daughter brought to mind the wrong one to many. "She was raised by the wizard and an old knight with whom she learned about Honor, Duty and Valor! For the Realm and for Justice!"

That last part came partially from Shirou's own knowledge about the legend but he felt that the sword approved of the choice and he continued.

"When the warning was given she still didn't hesitate and pulled the sword. From that point forward, time stopped for her. An eternal king that could reign forever young, powerful and noble; that was God's wish but it failed for neither could understand Humanity and the sword broke when it showed its ugly side."

"No, no it can't be!" Valper realized what the sword was, the only one that it could be and it was not the one from his dreams. He looked at Kokabiel who just watched Shirou with hatred.

"But it is! Given a false name under false pretenses, the sword lost its identity and was given power it never needed to be used for those less worthy. They tried to replicate the power of God, tried to realize the power the king possessed, never understanding that while the sword was great, its true owner was greater!"

Another pulse watched over everyone, an aura of gold more pure than the one Freed was using. The sword introduced itself to all and now all knew its name for there it was the one who held the authority of a king.

"Her name was Arturia Pendragon, youngest child of Uther and the true king of England."

"That is a woman's name." Valper was grasping for straws but he couldn't deny the truth for long.

"So it was and so the girl disguised herself as a man and proved herself a great warrior ten times over." Shirou saw many battles before the sword broke and until it did there was never any real defeat. "She was loyal, pure and strong. An ideal king where it counted but made the mistake of resembling too much to a god and failed to understand her subjects. She never prayed for Him, she never loved Him, but both shared the same dream of an Utopia."

Admiration poured from Shirou's being as he spoke of a person he never met as foundly as it was possible.

'A beautiful dream.' Shirou wished he could see it. But it was not to be. "Now it has returned and shall bear its name once more! For King Arthur, Artoria Pendragon! It is the Sword in the Stone! The One Who Judge Kings! The Golden Sword of the Victorious!"

The energy grew into a crescendo until it shot up to the sky in a pillar of golden light that turned the night into day.

"It is the King's Sword, Caliburn!"

Then it was all gone and a hue of power remained around it as Shirou let it go. It was the most powerful sword he had ever forged, a work of art in all aspects. Its power was immense and a part of him felt sad that it would never be fit for him.

Despite his best efforts most of the swords Shirou forged were instruments of combat and destruction. He was too much of a pragmatist to work on decorations like Caliburn was supposed to be or not really inclined to forge a blade as defensive as it was.

For that was the truth about Calibur; it was and always would be a symbol of authority as much as defense. Sure it could be used offensively but only in the hands of someone really skilled like Artoria Pendragon.

But reforging it wasn't free and mana wasn't the only cost as his body was reminding him.

Part of it felt like the stress of the day had finally caught up with him as his muscles hurt like he had trained for days straight before taking a run around the city, fought against Rias, then Freed, then the rest of Rias' peerage in a roll. Shirou was also sure that by the way his circuits were there was no hope of him using mana anytime soon as they still felt extremely overheated.

For those looking at him he looked mostly tired and like he had a high fever with one odd difference; a small tuffle of his hair had turned white, just above his forehead.

There was no time to Shirou ponder any further as a shadow descended amongst the swords and he turned to see red eyes full of hatred. "I should applaud you, Emiya Shirou."

Contrary to his words the tone the fallen was using and the power he was letting out made clear that he was too far from even mocking Shirou with that. 'Oh yeah, he is pissed off.'

"You managed to restore a weapon that should be impossible to be restored, its name was taken from it and even the most devoted had forgotten about it. Yet here it is." Saying that Kokabiel was furious would be an understatement. "You also managed to ruin my carefully crafted play and make the situation many times more difficult for myself."

The air around the area became suffocating by Kokabiel's presence which seemed determined to crush everyone else in the area with the man just standing there. A fury that the fallen angel himself forgot he was capable of burned inside him in a way that he would freely admit was an unexpected, unpleasant, surprise.

But Kokabiel couldn't help himself as a hand went down to touch Caliburn and while he managed to grab the sword he knew already that he couldn't pull it off. "The blessings are all back." It wasn't a question.

"They are, together with their restrictions." Shirou replied anyway. "Only someone worthy can pull out Caliburn now and we both know you aren't."

While Kokabiel had one of the conditions, the predisposition to kill for his people, the sword was made by God and that was always the last of the requirements, never the first. Just the fact of enacting his plan made Kokabiel unworthy and he knew it.

"And I suppose you aren't going to fall along?" Already knowing the answer didn't stop the Cadre from asking anyway.

"No-" A hand grabbed Shirou's neck and he struggled as the fallen angel began to lift him off the ground.

"Born To Be-" "Duran-"

"Begone!"

Fighting against the fallen angel's massive power, some jumped to try and save Shirou but it was for nothing as the black wings were enough to throw everybody off their feets. They flew around and felt just that as Kokabiel remained standing with Shirou close to his eye level.

Mostly they were lucky as the swords around them also flew and Koneko managed to stay in her feet as she was guarding Medusa. "He gave you… his phone." The devil needed nothing else as she rushed to unlock it.

"What do you expect to happen now, Hero?" The title was given with a toxic mockery that exposed how much Kokabiel hated Shirou at that moment. "Do you expect me to stop because you made things harder? To quit because there is no Holy Sword that I can use to pin down the guilt of everything on the Church?"

"That… would be nice…" He felt the hand grow tighter on his neck.

"Well then you are wrong! You are still the hero of tragedy and I shall have my war!" His hand was about to break the redhead's neck but Kokabiel wanted to enjoy the magus' suffering a little more. "All that you did was make sure more young fallen angels will die with your actions! For the war shall come! I shall make sure of it!"

Feeling his neck about to break, Shirou managed to gather enough air to make a sound. There were no words but it was enough to get the fallen angel's attention and he allowed Shirou to talk. "You could… just stop…" 'Need to buy time.'

"Stop? After all this? There is no stopping now!" Kokabiel had a plan for this eventuality but that meant the Grigori would join the war early and victory wouldn't be as easy. But he was so sure of his victory, so certain, that he had only one course of action. "I will kill everyone here and then destroy this blasted town. I will make sure everyone knows that it was an angel but not me! War will happen and the Grigori shall take part! For that I should thank you and I shall! With a painful death!"

Holding back many snide remarks and rude comments Shirou managed to ask "Why are you… doing all this?" Once again the grip relaxed just enough to allow him to talk freely but he was still stuck. "What is the point? It can't be just because you want to finish the Great War. You must want something more." Time to improvise. "Maybe you want to create a state of conflict where war is constant and soldiers always have a place of importance? Be the hero of your own story?"

Kokabiel was baffled. "Where did that come from?"

'Plot about one character from a game franchise that rubs your ego and buys me time.' Shirou smiled. "Just thinking that maybe you don't want to be a director for a tragedy… but a thespian looking for a proper end to his tale."

In the town a phone began to ring.

Kokabiel began to laugh out loud. "That was the funniest thing I heard today! Hahahaha! Makes me almost not want to kill you! Almost." His face turned serious as the fury returned.

The phone rang again.

"What I want is the victory that was supposed to be ours! What I want is fallen angels above all else."

It rang again.

"And I shall have it! We shall fight and we shall triumph! All you did was make things a little harder."

It rang once more.

"But you don't want to know that…" Kokabiel realized as Shirou focused on keeping himself stable. "You don't care."

It rang one last time before someone picked it up.

"You are stalling."

"HELP! ONEE-CHAN!" Koneko's voice was so loud that it echoed both in the area and on the phone.

In less than a second Kokabiel noticed that the little devil had a cellphone in her hand and Shirou had a smile on his face. He realized he had been played and prepared to kill them both in that second.

A kick straight on his face stopped the fallen angel and his lousy grip let Shirou go as someone caught him mid air and held him gently.

The second passed with Kokabiel flying in the air until he hit a building in the distance as Shirou smiled at his savior. "Rip that smug smile out of your face. You should have called me sooner." Shihoin Yoruichi had arrived in her full glory and she could tell that Shirou was suffering. She turned to where she kicked Kokabiel and glared. "At least I know who did it."

"In my defense there was a boundary-" he felt them move and suddenly he was being gently laid down close to Medusa "-field that could harm you."

"I don't know, did it have one of those around here, Rias?"

"Oh yeah, there was one." Rias was already at Shirou's side to check his wounds with everyone else moving to either help or to give him space. Only Sona didn't move, her mouth opening and closing like a fish's at Yoruichi's presence. "But Shiro here solved that… in a way."

"Hey, it worked."

"Hush dear, you girls are talking." Yoruichi chuckled at Rias' joke and noticed how everyone was looking at her in astoundment, confusion or even with lust on one or two cases.

"Who are you?" Tsubasa asked and Yoruichi smiled.

"The woman that will kick that prick's ass." She then turned to Koneko and approached her. "Thanks for calling," Her smile turned mischievous, "Koneko-chan~"

The little devil blushed and looked to the side. "It escaped." But the nekomata didn't care and rushed for a hug which she reciprocated. "I was scared."

"Don't worry imouto, your onee-chan is going to take care of everything." How happy Yoruichi was that Koneko recognized her as someone so important, how the former nekomata opened herself for her.

"Rias… care to explain?" Sona finally managed to ask.

"Hmm~ Oh, my Shiro's food is that good." Was the only reply she was willing to give before her eyes turned serious. "Can you… forget about this as well, Sona?"

The Sitri Heiress blinked slowly before turning to the nekomatas and noticing the cute eyes both were giving her. "Fine. Fine! I don't care what you want or don't want to say in the report about today! Just make sure that all of us survive this."

"Good enough for me." A last embrace on Koneko later and a quick kiss on Shirou's cheek and Yoruichi was marching ahead. "Don't worry! Boss Yoruichi will clean the mess up!"

"Hold on, 'Yoruichi' as in the cat?" Ise asked after being too stunned to talk. "Was she always a hot woman?" In that case he felt really sad that she never sat on his lap.

"And she just gave Emiya a peck on the cheek! Wasn't he dating Buchou already?" Sona facepalmed at her own Pawn's words as Rias just smiled in her direction.

"Ise…" "Issei-san." Both Irina and Asia didn't like Ise's reaction or how he watched Yoruichi walking into the battlefield with a sway of her hips.

Xenovia relaxed her sword arm, walked until she was beside Shirou and asked him with a look. "Why is one of the Kings of Kyoto here?"

"To help us?" Shirou replied nervously.

"All can be explained later." Rias decided to act but Xenovia didn't disagree.

She was tired, hurt, hungry and sat down beside Shirou without much prompting. "Cadres, Reality Marbles and Yokai Kings. We came here just to get a couple of swords." Xenovia could have mentioned God's death but she didn't want to think about it.

After shaking his head a little, Kokabiel cleaned something from his nose where the kick had hit him. There was blood and it was from a wound that he never saw coming. "That brat!" He wanted to kill Shirou and wanted to do it now but someone walked through the forest of swords and she demanded all his attention.

"You hurt my friends," Yoruichi began, cracking her fists, "you touched my man," the joviality was gone from her face and in its place was the severe attitude of a warrior, ready to kill, "and you made my little sister cry." Yellow aura poured from her as she glared at the fallen angel. "I'm going to break you in half."

…

Far away from the events of Fuyuki there was a girl practicing under the morning sun. She had silver, green eyes and a petite figure that was starting to show the signs of growing up from a child into a proper woman even expecting a growth spurt sometime in the future.

None of that took away her natural beauty as her hair could be compared to the moon or the stars, held into a small pony or her green eyes that could compete with the most precious gemstones.

Dressed in a yellow and green school uniform with a purple tie, she practiced with the two handed sword in her hands. The weapon had a big gold square guard and red on its hilt with its length being close to the girl's height.

Yet she moved the sword in such a controlled manner that showed she was comfortable with it. Hours of practice made the size irrelevant even if it was still a factor and many times she thought about getting a slightly smaller sword. Only the fact she wouldn't find a sword as good as this one was what stopped her.

"Sister! Found youuuuuuu!" Called a more childish voice of a younger girl that was slightly younger than the first one.

Letting out a sigh the young woman stopped her practice and turned to her younger sibling. "Le Fay, not so loud. Someone might hear you." There was no real chastising on her voice and the smile she offered was to show it was less of a reprimand and more of a suggestion.

"Right, sorry Ria." The girl landed on the rooftop her sister was in from a flying broom. Besides the same type of school uniform they were using and the fact that the younger's hair was loose, Le Fay also had a cape on her back and what could only be described as a tall witch's hat on her head. "Sorry but our brother has returned and you said you wanted to talk to him."

"Yes, right. Thanks, Fay." She placed a hand on her sibling's shoulder. The sword disappeared from her hand in a golden light.

Ria was slightly taller than Le Fay but besides that and the clothes they wore, the two had exactly the same face and eyes but the witch's hair was blonde and seemed to have gold dust by how it shined. Another difference was when they were to leave the top of the huge house, a dormitory for their school, one jumped from it while the other used magic and her broom to go down.

The silver haired one was clearly the elder of the pair but it was just slightly as the younger one was only one year removed from them being twins. Ria also walked with elegance and a proud posture accentuated by how her head was held high while Le Fay looked around shyly before making her broom shrink to walk behind her sister.

Until the older sibling placed a hand on the younger's back, nodded and had them walk side by side which made the younger's smile more radiant.

They left the premises of their dormitory and came closer to another similar building with four floors to wait outside. That was the men's dorm and where their other sibling resided and to make sure he knew she wanted to talk with him, Ria let out an invisible presence that intimidated those that looked in her direction even if they saw nothing other than the almost identical siblings waiting for their elder.

Said elder left the building with a shake of his head and a smile. "You couldn't wait until after lunch for us to talk, Ria?" Much like his siblings the man had green eyes, his hair was also long in a ponytail and the color was shared with his younger sibling. He was also considerably taller than both girls, his face mirrored theirs but with a more masculine structure. "Usually you don't want to have this kind of conversation before eating."

"Today I felt some… unrest earlier." Ria had been feeling it since the previous night and had not slept well because of it. "And your friend sounded urgent when he called you."

A metallic voice seemingly spoke out of nowhere. "Still a stretch to think he has something to do with what is bothering you, Lion." Ria glared at a necklace on her brother's neck that looked like a cube but the man raised a hand and tapped its top before she did anything.

"You two shoudln't have this conversation here where prying ears can hear, Add." The small cube, smaller than a nail, began to shake and grow a little before a mouth and eyes revealed themselves and it spoke again.

"I would care if the younger one hadn't already raised a boundary field for no one to hear." Both siblings looked to the younger who had a magic wand out and was giving them a nervous smile. "Still sharp, Morgan, as always."

The man flicked the cube with his finger, an upset look on his face. "Her name is Le Fay. Call her properly."

"Oh, come on. It's just a nickname. You never complained about 'Lion'."

"That is because she eats like one."

"Arthur!" The middle child glared at her elder but he just smiled and both turned to see Le Fay snickering. "Not you too, Fay. With siblings like this…"

"Kakakaka! The best kinds of siblings are the ones you can play with!" Add, the cube, commented before Arthur let him go.

"Regardless, people can still see us. So if you please…"

"Yeah, yeah." The cube closed its eyes and its mouth disappeared before it got smaller.

Noticing the silence, Arthur turned to his sister. "Altria, regardless of Add's words… you were right. Something happened with the Church's Excaliburs." It bothered him that his sister's instinct was correct but she was the one who had Excalibur Ruler, a gift from him since she was the better one with the sword. "They were stolen but details are still uncertain at the moment." Besides, he had his own weapon.

Altria nodded her head, dread running through her veins. "Do they have a suspect?"

"Azazel does. It was why I was talking with Vali for so long. He was asking about our contacts and if our family tried to call us about it. Potentially to collect Ruler since they know we still come to this school." Arthur felt some bitterness at the last line and Le Fay shivered.

"They wouldn't. Not after we left. If anything they would try to steal it from us." Le Fay looked at Altria who looked unfazed and even had a small smile.

"They could try."

Any animosity left Arthur in that instant. "You two can still return."

"Not without you, brother." Altria was quick to reply and her face suddenly looked calm while Le Fay nodded in agreement. And they knew their older brother wouldn't go back any time soon. "So Vali is going after them?"

"He just got around with Bikou and they just finished checking China. At Azazel's request it seems Vali will go to Japan next since that is where the next potential danger should be."

"I see." Altria nodded before turning around. "We should go eat."

Arthur and Le Fay blinked in surprise before looking at each other. The brother of the trio looked at his sister with a frown. "While your appetite isn't a surprise-

"Understatement of the century." Add couldn't help but chip in.

"-I thought you would want to teleport there to take a look for yourself." He certainly wanted to. As the descendent of King Arthur, he felt he had an obligation to check the situation.

"Earlier today, I would." Altria replied, a hand moving to her chest as she closed her eyes. "But that uneasiness that I felt… it is gone." She didn't know how to explain it but the urgency and panic she was feeling since the previous day had vanished without trace.

"That is… good I suppose." Arthur admitted after some thought. "Vali will still be checking around Japan later. At least until Azazel calls him back… He shouldn't have told me this but the suspect the Crow has in mind is apparently Kokabiel."

"The Fallen of The Stars himself? Talk about an annoying prick." Add laughed at a distant memory he shouldn't have and the trio looked at him.

"Did you… I mean, do you know him?" Arthur asked delicately.

"Artoria spared his life once. That wimp ended up running away only to come back a few months after demanding a rematch… Several times, Kakakaka!"

Altria had a distant look on her face, something Le Fay noticed. The younger sister began to push her elder towards the lunchroom. "If you are feeling better than we should, eat, eat, eat." She turned to Arthur. "And you too. I can't believe both of you skipped breakfast."

"Altria did too?" With a blush, his sister refused to look at him. "Must be the end of the world."

"Sure looks like it. You must be starving." Add was concerned for the girl.

"I will be-" The roar of a lion stopped her and she looked down in shame. Her face was a deep crimson.

"You're saying something? Kakaka." Add couldn't help but tease.

"Shut up, Add." Altria began to walk away and her siblings followed her, Le Fay keeping up the pace while Arthur remained a little distance. "But you are right, we shouldn't have neglected the most important meal of the day."

"All meals are the most important of the day for you." Commented Add with fondness.

Altria looked at her brother and smiled. "Of course they are. Hunger is the enemy."