A.N - A new chapter and in a reasonable time frame? What's going on? But yeah, I have a little bit of free time so I can dedicate a bit more time to this than before.
Review Answers:
To Julbot1 - But of course, Chakravartin does have a literal god complex, he would never allow anyone to usurp him in his rightful place as the top dog.
To Reishin Amara - And we all know Chakravartin will want to regain his power above all else.
To W8W - Yeah, I agree with that, I can't really justify any sort of wife potential for Asura honestly. I am glad Caster's disbelief was entertaining. While Magus' are cunning creatures, they are not the only ones who know how to play that game. And Yeah, I felt sorry for Sakura, so I did not want to leave her story out of this route.
To Neo-Devil - Thanks, sorted out the issues. Sorry again.
I kinda need a new beta reader to help double-check if I miss any issues in the future. Please message me if anyone is willing to be a reader.
Chapter 21
The chorus of chittering and a peal of malignant laughter echoed behind them. Asura carried Illya and an unconscious Shirou, blood still pouring profusely from his wound. The chittering started to grow in volume as a swarm of locus type insects flew at them in a swarm burning with malignant intent.
"You have got to be kidding me?!" Rin gasped as the twisted monsters flew towards them. Archer flipped around throwing two knives as the swarm, they sliced a few of the buzzing mass but more and more flew at them.
"There are too many of them!" Rin screamed as the swarm closed in, one of the leading locusts launched forward barbed stinger aimed straight for Rin's panicked face before it was violently vivisected by one of Illya's familiars. "Thanks Illya..but…"
"I could hear the buzzing!" Illya cut Rin off with an annoyed tone.
Asura was focusing on getting Illya and Shirou back home, he smiled at Illya but a deep concern set in as Shirou's face turned even paler. "We need to treat him soon, the kid is not going to make it at this rate." Asura spoke as he ran at a pace Archer could keep up with. A sharp pain snapped through his mind like a bolt of lightning, everything slowed down and a single breath lasted an eternity.
'Our cause is genuine. We are in the right!'
A loud clap of thunder roared through the air as Asura spun on the spot a surge of black bolts of lightning launched forth from his body frying half the swarm in an instant. A net made of living lightning lashed out towards the swarm, each bolt waving towards the swarm frying any insect it came into contact with. Black bolts of electricity dance across Asura's body along with pained groans as he inhales deeply. The black lightning slowly dispersed as Asura turned and started running again despite the awed looks from Archer and Rin.
'Using Deus' power? I thought you never wanted to use that power...' The spider snickered as Asura kept running. After that display of prowess, the swarm seemed to have lost the interest in the hunt as they began to disengage from the chase. "Rin do you have anything on you that could help him?" Asura asked as he lowered Shirou onto the ground, his face had gone pale and his breath was shallow.
"I….I….I used every gem I had on the fight with Caster. I have nothing left." Rin replied as she stared at Shirou defeated and heartbroken. Archer stood behind her almost emotionless, a portion of his coat had been burnt off, his arm up to his shoulder blade revealed to the elements. "...Do you really want him to live, Rin?" He asked as he watched over her. She looked up from Shirou tears pouring from her face, she looked at Archer with a mixture of disgust and hate. "YES!" She snapped in anguish. Archer nodded one as he walked past her. "...I wanted to end it all for us… to break this circle, but I guess that isn't in the cards." Archer spoke as he drew his blade. "...A life for a life…. Seems fair." He said with a sly smile as he placed the blade above his shoulder blade.
"What are you doing idiot?" Asura snapped as Archer smiled back at him, his face slowly reshaping itself.
"Shirou…." Rin's voice was a whisper of disbelief as she looked at Archer's face. "Rin, I hope you will watch over me, I am somewhat of a handful." Archer spoke as he slowly dug the blade into his skin, the sound of flesh and muscle being cut echoed into the night as Archer silently sliced his arm off much to the chagrin of the rest of the group.
Archer slowly attached his arm to Shirou and watched as the flesh and nerves slowly attached to each other. However, the process was slow and it seemed that the new arm would be rejected. "He lost too much blood, this isn't going to work." Archer spoke with an exhausted voice though there was a hint of annoyance from his voice. Archer's body started to break apart as wisps of light reached skywards as he looked at Shirou. Asura knelt beside Shirou and he exhaled deeply as his chest opened up revealing the metallic core that held the mantra reactor in its place. The 8 gems sparkled brightly in the night sky as a low hum and light bathed the area. One gem, in particular, glowed a bright blue as Asura stared at Shirou.
'You are the only one who can save this world' A voice he had not heard of for a long time played in his mind, the gem of melancholy glowed brighter as Asura slowly moved his right hand to it, a simple touch of the gem and a small portion of the light gathered to the tip of his finger, the gem's light had faded but the light still shone albeit dimmer than before. "I do not give this lightly, though I believe my brother would agree this is the right move. I am not saving you. You must fight a greater hell than this." Asura mirrored words spoken to him in eons past as he placed the dim light on Shirou's chest. Lines of sparkling sapphire blazed across Shirou as the flesh between his new arm and his body repaired themselves and a light blue flame burned away the filth that had built upon his body. His breath returned and some colour came back to his features.
"...thank you...I guess." Archer said as he stood up, his body still breaking apart as he looked back to Rin. "I hope you can watch over him." He spoke with one last smile as his body broke into little pieces of light ascending into the night sky.
'Do you think he did that to escape the girl's ranting for betraying her?' The spider asked in a coy tone as Asura sighed, his somewhat somber mood having been ruined in the worst way possible. '...Just shut up.' Asura grumbled in retort as he looked at Rin, she looked at her wrist and watched as the last command seal she had faded into a dormant state. "Are you alright Rin." Illya asked as she sat across from Rin.
"I...I….I am out of this war, I guess." Rin said in a mixture of disbelief and happiness as she looked at Shirou.
"Not quite, this war is far from over and we are a team after all. And, well this war has already changed so much. Let's just stand for now and get back to rest." Illya said as she stood up extending her hand for Rin.
"..Yeah, you're right, We're not done yet!" Rin said as she wiped her tears and stood up. "Asura do you mind carrying Emiya-kun for us."
"Hmph." Asura grunted as he picked up Shirou.
The church has all but gone, a blackened mess of despair has consumed it. The inner crypt has turned into a cesspit of misery. The bodies of servants lie broken in the muck. Three individuals wait deep within the centre of this atrocity. A young teenager barely older than 17, she had long purple hair with lines of blood-red etched across her skin as she looked with an empty smile into the pool. While the decrepit form of Zouken stands nearby with his servant assassin perched above the pit carefully avoiding the liquid.
"Now, my dear, I hope you are ready to play your part. I would hate to have to...scold you again." Zouken said as he looked at the girl, the smallest twitch of her facial muscles told of the fear that coursed through her body. Zouken smiled as he looked at a small golden thread wrapped around his fingers. it pulsed brightly and the voice of the spider spoke. "You did excellently. When will our new recruit and special surprises be ready?" The voice pulsed in strobing lights.
"Now, time to unleash the new blade." A low gurgle left Zouken's voice as he looked at the bubbling pool, the liquid was disturbed as ripples unnaturally covered the liquid's surface as a pointed blade slashed out of the liquid, a darkened blade of black and crimson surged into the air. A chuckle of satisfaction left both Zouken and the spider in almost unison.
Waves of sapphire blue traveled the stars and encased the blades. Monsters of blood-red rock surged towards him in a murderous frenzy. Fear and panic filled his heart. 'Carve a line through the impure.' A voice roared from within him as his body launched forwards slicing and destroying the monsters in quick bursts of dazzling blue light.
Shirou awoke in his bed as his left arm wrapped up in red bandages from the shoulder blade to his wrist. "Wasn't…..wasn't my arm...gone?" He asked as he looked at it in a stupor. "Ah, you are up kid. We have much to discuss." Asura said as he stood in the doorway looking at Shirou. "How are you feeling Oni-chan?" Illya said as she walked passed Asura standing just in front of Shirou, she still wore a bandage across her face though she had a relieved smile on her face. "Rin passed out from mana deprivation, she will be so happy to see you awake Oni-chan." Illya spoke as she bowed at Shirou. "It's best you get some more rest, as Asura said we will have much to discuss later but that can wait for now."