"This is it, King of Heroes."
This is the second time I've stood on this sandy plain. My greatest enemy, Archer—Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes—is before me. He's scowling in a rage as soon as he sees me. Did I do something wrong? Did I interrupt him?
No, if I defeat him, he'll be even more furious than this. A little anger now is a small difference.
"Die, mongrel."
There was no conversation, nothing. With no holding back, Noble Phantasms rained down on me from every direction. It was the second time I'd faced this attack. The last time, I was completely helpless, but now I can handle it without any problem.
It was a barrage that seemed to say "not even a single cockroach will escape."
However,
"Tusk, ACT3."
Once I enter the rotating hole, not even a Noble Phantasm can scratch me. That's the law of this Stand.
"And the power of the rotation can be transferred."
Gilgamesh, who knows nothing about my Stand, continues to pointlessly attack the spot where I was. In the meantime, I've evacuated to where Saber and the others are.
Emerging from the rotating hole, I join up with the two Sabers. Since they hadn't seen this ability yet, they were a little surprised.
I didn't have time to explain my ability. There was something more important I had to tell them.
"This is really bad."
"Huh?"
"What is it, Sho?"
The two Sabers peer at me. It's rare to see these two together like this. While I make a mental note of the sight, I also can't forget to thank the fated movements of Mighty Brothers XX.
But this is where the joking ends. This is no laughing matter.
"I'm about to run out of magical energy."
"...What did you say?"
Saber's face twitches, as if she can't believe what I just said.
"I defeated Berserker. But it took a lot of magical energy to do it..."
"To defeat Sir Lancelot—as expected of my partner. And as a Knight of the Round Table, it seems Sir Lancelot fought a battle with no shame."
She seems to be accepting it, but there's a high possibility that I'll be useless now that I've arrived. Just as Alter said, I couldn't afford to hold back my magical energy against Lancelot.
"Don't worry, Sho."
A slash from Saber deflected an incoming Noble Phantasm. Archer seems to have noticed that I moved. It was an accurate attack aimed only at me, but it seems Alter, with her powerful intuition, was able to deflect it with ease.
"The two of us are here."
"That's right. We can't leave everything to you."
"You mustn't forget my army, either."
Rider lines up next to us.
"Conqueror, you..."
"Whoa there, isn't it out of line to direct that anger at me? Hmm? The demigod King of Heroes is reacting like a human after all."
Huh? What's going on?
Rider grins as he looks at me, the Sabers, and Archer. Saber's cheeks are slightly flushed and she looks away, while Alter snorts. And Archer, the biggest problem, is glaring at me. He's really glaring. If looks could kill, I'd already be dead.
Only one person, only Rider, is enjoying this situation immensely.
"Go on, Sho, tell him. What is Saber to you?"
"Ah! So that's what this is..."
This old man! What happened to the cool objective of settling things with Archer?! Is he like a father enjoying his kids' romance?! He's the type to be hated!
"I don't care about the other mongrels now! I can only think of one thing... of tearing you to shreds!"
A cold sweat runs down my back. I don't want to see the King of Heroes get serious in a place like this.
"Don't worry, Sho. You have me with you."
"You're the one who made him this angry... Why are you egging him on in this situation..."
Seeing his dignified posture, I don't even have the energy to get angry anymore.
"I'll buy you some time. Finalize your plan. I'm leaving the last part to you, Sho."
"Alright. I'll somehow squeeze out enough magical energy for the finishing blow."
Alter's figure disappears. Her raised black holy sword is stopped just in the nick of time by spears that fly out from above and below.
"Get out of the way! Saber! I'll tear to shreds that lustful beast who deceived you!"
"Don't say such foolish things, Golden one. He is a better man than you, and a man more fitting for me than you."
I wish she'd stop saying things like that, it'll only make Archer angrier.
"As expected, the key to victory is the King of Knights' Holy Sword. It pains me to say it, but my army can't even get close to that man's feet."
"I guess it comes down to that..."
"But it won't hit if you just fire it off. You'll need to charge it up."
"Yeah. I'll start preparing now. Fire when I give the signal."
I start running. With this plan, or rather, if Archer goes on a rampage, everything will be messed up. And with him in a rage, there's a very high chance that will become a reality.
I need to end this before that happens.
"There you are, pest!"
He sends Noble Phantasms after me, dodging all of the attacks from the two Sabers, Rider's chariot, and his soldiers. To conserve magical energy, I've even released my magical armor and my Magia Erebea.
I can't hide in the rotating hole of ACT3 forever. In the instant I leap into the next hole, I won't be able to keep up with the speed of the Gate of Babylon.
Many soldiers are caught in the blast, scattering fresh blood as they fall. No, they're intentionally taking the hit. They're putting their bodies on the line to protect me.
I bite my lip, thinking only about completing this task as quickly as possible, a single minute, a single second at a time, moving my feet and hands.
Chains wrap around me as I jump out.
Enkidu, the Chains of Heaven.
Archer's only true friend moves freely, skillfully plucking up a soldier who was in the way. My feet are caught, and I'm entangled. The chains, which can stretch endlessly, quickly stop my movements completely.
But my preparations are also complete.
"Fire it, Saber!"
"B-but at this angle, it'll hit you—"
"Just fire it! SABER!"
At my scream, the two Sabers' arms tense. The hesitation in their eyes is gone. The soldiers between us quickly retreat. Only I remain between Saber and Archer.
"Excalibur!"
"Excalibur Morgan!"
The star of the earth, Excalibur. And the jet-black Excalibur Morgan that swallows all. Two of the strongest slashes, at the pinnacle of all holy swords, are fired directly at me.
Archer's face shows shock. He must have been confident that they wouldn't fire as long as I was in the way. He desperately takes out a shield, perhaps thinking he won't make it in time to dodge. With a shield from Archer's treasury, he might be able to block the damage, even from Excalibur, if it's only a single attack.
The moment Archer's vision is blocked—I activate the magic circle I had prepared.
Hiding in the rotating hole, helped by the time bought by Rider's soldiers, I drew this gigantic magic circle.
"Formula Deconstruction: Agite Extractio—"
That magic circle...
"—Negi-style Magia Erebea: Negika Magia Erebea! Enemy Bullet Absorption: Killcull Absorptioionis!"
Something impossible happened.
The slashes of Excalibur and Excalibur Morgan were sucked into my hand.
"Grasp: Complexio!"
The starlight slashes I absorbed are broken down and filled into my body.
The "Greater Yin Path." It's the ultimate fighting style of Magia Erebea, which can turn any energy—magical energy, vitality, aura—into my own. Magia Erebea, also called "Venus' Black," mercilessly swallows even the slashes of a holy sword of the stars.
Furthermore, the two Excalibur attacks burned away the Chains of Heaven that were binding me.
Now free, I use the power of ACT3 to slip through a gap in the shields and get inside. Archer is astonished when I emerge. There's nothing to stop me now. His most trusted Chains of Heaven are gone.
"Formula Release: Perfectus Plasmationis"
I reconstruct the magical energy that has filled my body, concentrating it into my right hand. My right hand glows gold with the circulating magical energy.
"Excalibur, the Promised—"
"Very well—"
For a fraction of a second, an instant that felt like an eternity to both me and Gilgamesh. It was too short to speak, but I heard him clearly.
"—I'll entrust it to you, just this once, you irregular!"
"—Sword of Victory!"
Gilgamesh's body, enveloped in golden light, vanishes without a trace.
---------
The Reality Marble is dispelled, and we are returned to reality.
"Whew."
At the same time, I realize my own fate. Well, after a grand spectacle like that, I suppose this is a good end. All my goals have been achieved. As far as I'm concerned, it's a job well done.
I check my watch-phone and see a message has arrived. I don't even need to read the contents.
The first to rush to me is Alter.
"Sho, you..."
"Thanks, you saved me. Without you buying me time, that attack wouldn't have been possible."
"...Hmph, of course. For your first time, that was an admirable final blow. But if there's a next time, I'll be sure to guide you properly."
Next comes Rider. Even though he must have used a massive amount of magical energy to maintain his Reality Marble, his steps are firm.
"You too, Rider. A lot happened, but our alliance ends here."
"Indeed. Then I will welcome you as a friend!"
"Haha... I can't compete with that."
I can't help but smile wryly. I feel like he's been watching me the whole time. And then I remember. I have to make a request before I go.
"Oh, right. Can I leave the rest to you?"
"Of course. Leave the rest to me."
"That puts my mind at ease. You're the best in the world."
If he's here, everything will be fine.
"Saber."
"I'm glad I met you. Those words are enough. There are others besides me who want to bid you farewell."
A car pulls up nearby. That car... it's Kiritsugu's and the others' ride...
"Big Brother!"
"Ah, Sakura-chan."
The door is thrown open, and Sakura-chan appears. She's followed by Waver, Kayneth, and Kiritsugu.
They stare at me in a daze. My body is slowly, slowly, turning into particles of light and disappearing from the feet up.
"I told you not to come. What if you got into danger?"
"I'm sorry. But, but...! I had a bad feeling!"
Her premonition was correct. If she hadn't come here, I would have left this era without seeing her.
"As you can see, I used up too much magical energy. Don't worry, I'm not dying."
Even so, I'll be gone in less than three minutes. There were so many things I still wanted to do. Rescuing Ilya at the castle, looking after Sakura, Waver and Kayneth's future at the Clock Tower... The list is endless.
"I guess I'm going to have to give up on those."
"You idiot...! If that's the case, why are you just going to disappear...!"
"Whoa, don't cry. A guy's tears are gross! I said I'm not dying."
"Shut up! Why would I cry for you!"
But you are crying.
"Ten years from now."
"...Huh?"
"I came from Academy City, ten years in the future. After that, I should know about all this."
My body has already faded up to my waist.
"Big Brother..."
Sakura-chan is sadly holding back her tears. I feel so bad. I was thinking we could hang out a bit after this was all over.
"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan. This is goodbye."
"Yeah. Thank you for everything until now."
"You're welcome."
Her easy acceptance catches me off guard. I was sure she'd cry a lot more. I hope that's not just my ego.
But there's nothing I can do now. My body is so transparent that you can see through it.
"Bye-bye, Sakura-chan."
"No, that's not right."
Sakura denies it.
"I'll definitely catch up to you! So, see you later! We'll meet again!"
It was the best smile I had ever seen from Sakura.
"Haha, I'm looking forward to it."
With those final words, I vanished from this era.
---------
"He's gone, hasn't he..."
"Don't be so crestfallen, Saber. He will surely be called to the Throne of Heroes. You need only wait until then."
Rider teases Saber, but she brushes it off with a calm smile.
"Yes. Compared to the time I've been waiting for my contract with the world, that's nothing."
"You're naive, little blue one."
"Could you please stop calling me 'little blue one'? It's very unpleasant."
"I wouldn't take such a roundabout route. I'll wait ten years 'in this world' and go to meet him."
"H-huh?! There's no way you can do that!?"
Even so, when it comes to arguing with herself, this is how it turns out.
"Waver, Big Brother."
"Hmm? What is it?"
Sakura talks to Waver. Waver, who has wiped away his tears, kneels down.
"I want you to teach me magic!"
"M-me!?"
"Yeah! Big Brother said you were the one he'd want to learn from! He said your skills might be nothing, but you're the best in the world at teaching."
"That damn..."
On the other side, Kiritsugu and Kayneth are talking.
"Yes. Saber and I are going to the castle where my daughter is waiting."
"Hmm. I'll think about how to dismantle that Holy Grail. Can I use that house?"
"Go ahead."
Toward their respective futures, they begin to walk.
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