Disclaimer: I do not own Fate Stay Night, Highschool DxD or anything else.
Fate: Devil Night
Chapter10: Grail War V
Human World
Japan: Fuyuki
Emiya Residence
The return to the Emiya Residence was thankfully uneventful and quiet. In the aftermath of the battle, Rin had searched the ruins of the Fuyuki Church for Kirei but was unable to find him anywhere. In the end they were forced to give up and had returned home. Once there they all separated and went their own ways. Shirou in particular had gone to the bathroom for a quick shower and had stood under the water for a several long minutes as he thought back on the most recent battle. Even tainted by all the world's evils, the mighty Hercules had managed to stop himself the moment he laid his eyes on Illya and Chloe.
Shirou respected him for that at least…
Now they were back…
"Hey Illya, Chloe" Shirou spoke as he stepped into the living room. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay I guess," Illya answered from her place at the table. "Berserker was the strongest after all."
"I'm just sorry I couldn't do anything more for him," Shirou said as he sat down opposite her.
"I don't blame you," Chloe whispered. "You ended his suffering so thank you for that."
"Yeah…" Shirou trailed off before taking a look around the room. "Where's Tohsaka and Caster?"
"Rin went back to her house," Illya replied. "She said something about a stick…"
"Damn," Shirou cursed under his breath. "What is she up to this time?"
"…Are you okay?" Chloe asked him worriedly.
"No," Shirou replied truthfully. "No I'm not."
"Is this about the war?" Illya inquired further.
"Sakura's out there," Shirou sighed. "I have to do something."
"…You've grown Onii-chan," Illya smiled sadly at him.
"What do you mean?" Shirou blinked in confusion.
"You're different," Illya explained. "I don't know how but you are."
Before the war began, Shirou had spent most of his youth training or trying to find a way to save Illya and Chloe. He did it because that was all he knew, but ever since this war started he had come to realise that there were other things in life besides that. Playing 'tag' with Illya and Chloe, hanging out with Rin whom was able to give him lectures whenever he pissed her off, teaching Caster how to cook. He really had changed from the person he used to be, he'd become more 'real' if that made any sense.
"I'm back!" Rin's voice echoed through the household from the front doors.
"Tohsaka?!" Shirou suddenly bolted for the door and slid it open before stepping out into the hallway. "What the hell were you thinking going out on your own like that?!" he yelled as he rounded the corner and spotted the person in question.
The moment that he saw her he froze…
There, standing in the doorway was Tohsaka Rin, or at least he thought that it was her. Idly he noted Illya and Chloe come up behind him only to freeze in place themselves. It was like they were under Rider's Mystic Eyes of Petrification only without the actual Magecraft being involved, and even then it might have been better. Because standing there before them was Rin wearing a red and white dress while holding a strange looking stick in her hand.
"Hello everyone! Magical Girl Kaleido-Ruby has arrived!"
The clearly brainwashed Tohsaka Rin took a while to calm down and return to normal. Of course she was embarrassed by her actions and the way that she was dressed. Looking like a real-life Magical Girl was probably the single most humiliating experience she had ever suffered, compounded by the fact that it had apparently happened once before when she was a child. It seemed that the cause of it all was the strange looking red stick in her hand with a gold star at its tip surrounded by a pair of white wings.
Eventually Shirou took her into his shed-workshop to sort things out…
"Let me get this straight," Shirou said as he rubbed his head in frustration. "You went back to your place for a few hours, opened the treasure chest containing your family's secret stuff, and bonded with the sentient magic-stick your family was given by Zelretch of all people."
"That's right," Rin nodded in confirmation.
"…Why?" Shirou asked the question.
"Why would I do something so crazy?" Rin asked back with a smile. "Because after the battle at the church I realised that I had no idea what I was supposed to do with my life. I only know what I can do, and right now I can use the Kaleidostick to its full capability."
"Tohsa-" Shirou paused before continuing. "Rin, that was reckless and stupid."
"It was also something you would do if it meant saving your sisters," Rin responded with that same damn smile. "I don't want Sakura to suffer anymore, not if I can do anything about it. She's my sister, and I have stop her."
There was no other way…
Emiya Shirou was waiting at the front gate to the Emiya Residence wearing his combat gear with Kuro sheathed at his side. Rin on the other hand was in her 'Magical Girl Kaleido-Ruby' form consisting of a red and white dress complete with the Kaleidostick Ruby in her right hand. Illya was wearing her Dress of Heaven, a Mystic Code that in the shape of long white dress which was a tad too big for her while Chloe was wearing her usual clothes. As for Caster, she was wearing her purple hooded robes and carrying her staff in her right hand, ready to cast spells on a moment's notice.
They were all geared up for the battle to come…
"Is everyone ready to go?" Shirou asked the question.
They all nodded in reply…
"We're all set," Caster replied.
"One second while I lock up," Shirou said as he locked the front gate.
"That's it then," Rin nodded as they all turned away.
"Let's go save the world."
They walked through the quiet city as night fell, and the air grew colder. Thankfully the skies were clear, it was bad enough knowing what was coming and would have only been made worse if they had to deal with the rain on top everything else. Finally they arrived at Mount Enzou, a mountain on the outskirts of Miyama Town covered mostly in forest. There was a path leading up the mountain to the Ryoudou Temple at its top, but that wasn't their destination.
"Is this it?" Shirou asked the question.
"This passageway leads directly to the cavern that houses the Greater Grail," Rin nodded in confirmation.
Before them was a small cave barely big enough for one person to fit through at a time, one in which had been well hidden and would have been nearly impossible to find had Rin and Sakura not known its location. Even then, it was easily overlooked by how well it was hidden amongst the trees and hillside. The group entered the cave one by one, making their way through the small passageway and entering the cave proper.
"This is…" Rin muttered as she shuddered under the oppressive feeling around her. The cave was dark with only slight illumination however that wasn't the issue, the sense of life in the air was as disturbing as anything they had come across, maybe even more so. It pervaded the cave like a blanket of twisted hate and malice. To the group it was disgusting just standing in it since the wrongness and pain accompanying it was inhuman.
Angra Mainyu was definitely here…
"Let's keep moving," Shirou said as he took a step forward.
They walked in silence, constantly on the lookout for an ambush until finally after what felt like an eternity they reached the end of the cave and emerged into a large dark cavern with a thin red line of light quite a ways away. They stopped as they spotted a lone figure standing between the cave and the red light in the distance. It only took them a moment to recognize her…
It was Saber Alter…
"So you're finally here?" the tainted Arturia Pendragon mused. "I've been waiting for you."
"Where's Zouken?" Shirou demanded with a glare. "And Sakura?"
"Zouken is dead," Saber spoke simply and pointed over his shoulder at the distant red light. "My Master is back there, connecting herself with the Greater Grail."
Damn it…
They'd already started…
"Caster and I will stay here. You three go on ahead," Shirou said clearly to the others. "We'll catch up when we can."
"Right," Rin nodded as she started forward. "Come on," she waved as she, Chloe and Illya walked passed Saber who completely ignored them. "Good luck."
That left only Shirou, Caster and Saber…
"…You just let them go?" Caster inquired as she held her staff up in front of her.
"I was told only to hold you both here," Saber responded as she raised her tainted Sword of Victory. "I will be your opponent."
"We'll just have to go through you then," Caster mused as though she was talking about the weather.
"Caster, please stay back and provide support. I will face her directly," Shirou told her as he stepped forward with Kuro in his right hand.
"Understood," Caster nodded as dozens of Dragon Tooth Warriors emerged from the ground around them.
This wouldn't be easy…
Matou Sakura waited atop the cliff-edge overlooking the darkened cavern with the Greater Grail—cursed and blackened that it was—behind her. She stood dressed in her sinister black robes covered in red lines appearing for all intents and purposes an embodiment of the dark god housed within the Holy Grail. The Greater Grail was massive, shaped like a towering cup with three pylons at the top with a black sun hovering in its center. Within that black sun was Angra Mainyu, the dark god that embodied all the evils in the world.
She wanted to bring it into the world…
She wanted to unleash the creature that was inherently evil upon the world that broke her…
As a Lesser Grail she was capable of connecting with the Greater Grail and currently housed six of the seven Heroic Spirits' souls she had stored within her body, she was moment away from manifesting the True Holy Grail. Distantly she could hear the sounds of battle in the distance, no doubt Saber had already engaged her Sempai and his Servant in combat and would no doubt defeat her. It was only a matter of time now, she need only wait.
Of course she had something to take care of first…
They were finally here…
"Sakura," Rin spoke from below.
"Nee-san," Sakura greeted. "And I see you've brought Sempai's sisters with you. I see how it is, my poor, poor Sempai. He was being misled by all of you, but only one who can understand him, the one who can love, and the only one who can kill him is me."
'She's insane,' Rin thought as she stared up at her sister. 'No, she's completely broken, there's no use talking to her. I'm sorry Sakura, but there's nothing I can do for you but put an end to your misery.'
"Rin," Chloe muttered at her side. "Remember the plan."
"…Yeah," Rin nodded in understanding. "Let's go!"
The sound of steel striking steel echoed throughout the darkened cavern as Saber charged forward, deflecting the never-ending barrage of weapons being sent at her. Shirou rained steel down upon her as she rushed at him and barely managed to bring Kuro up in time to block the swing from Saber's sword. The dark shadow encasing Saber's form lashed out and knocked whatever swords and spears he projected to launch at her allowing her to press her attack.
He was pushed back as the Dragon Tooth Warriors rushed in and threw themselves at the black swordswoman. Caster was behind them, chanting at high-speeds and charging up a series of magic circles in the air behind her. Each one was powerful on its own but together she thought it might be enough to at least hurt the Servant of the Sword. She unleashed the spell, a massive tornado of lightning and wind shot forth and descended upon Saber.
She swung with her sword….
And deflected the tornado to the side…
A second later the sword in Shirou's hand ignited in a fiery blaze, stunning her momentarily. He'd overloaded it with prana activating the dormant demonic energy that Ravel had implanted in the blade making it just powerful enough to give the black swordswoman pause. Saber hadn't been expecting it if the look of surprise on her face was any indication, but they all knew that it wouldn't hurt her at all. Still, it proved to be a big enough distraction to allow Caster to close the distance between them.
Caster brought Rulebreaker down in a wide arc, the jagged dagger in her hand shining as she did so. Saber gritted her teeth for a moment before bringing her knee up and knocking the dagger off target. Caster's eyes widened having not expected the move and was unable to pull back fast enough before Excalibur Morgan slashed across her chest. Caster screamed in pain as she was hurled back and caught in Shirou's arms.
"Caster!" Shirou shouted as he set her down. "Are you alright?"
She wasn't alright, not by a long shot. The tainted energies within Excalibur Morgan were in her now and she could feel it quickly devouring her from the inside out. She was dead the moment that she was cut, but she couldn't tell him that. She couldn't tell the boy she had come to call her friend that even though he'd saved her, she was going to die. She didn't want to die, not again, but more than that, she didn't want to see the look in his eyes as she slipped away.
"It's over," Saber spoke simply no longer pressing her. "She's dead."
"No!" Shirou yelled at her. "You're wrong."
"Shi…rou…" Caster trailed off with a sad smile. "I'm…sorry…"
"Caster!" Shirou cried as she started to fade away back into prana. "Caster!"
No…
He wouldn't let this happen…
He refused to let this happen…
"Trace on," he incanted as he projected the first image that came to his mind. "Avalon."
Off to the side he idly noticed that Saber's eyes had snapped open in shock as the familiar sheath was projected into existence in Shirou's hands. It wasn't the real thing but it would was close, very close, much closer than any other Projection that he had ever done. He quickly pressed it against Caster's body and the curses that struck her washed away leaving her unconscious but very much alive. It was then that he looked around and saw that her remaining Dragon Tooth Warriors had fallen lifeless all around him.
What kind of hero was he?
He'd sworn to uphold the ideal of 'Salvation' but only to those he cared about, no one else. When he had saved Caster that day and gotten to know her, she became someone he cared about. He'd known that this was a war and there was every possibility that they could all end up dead but even so, he would do whatever it took to save those closest to him. A sudden feeling of hatred rose up within him, an emotion he had never felt before, and spread throughout his whole being. He slowly stood and turned his gaze upon the black swordswoman, his hands clenched tightly at his sides.
He knew exactly what he had to do…
"That was my sheath that called forth," Saber said quietly. "I see, so he gave it to you, didn't he?" Saber mused quietly. "Do you have anything left?"
He would save everyone he cared about…
…Or die trying.
"Trace on," Shirou incanted as he cast away Kuro and a new sword was projected into his hands. "Trigger off," he continued as he brought the blade up and held it out to the side with both hands on the hilt. "Set."
Seven steps, judging the concept of creation, hypothesising the basic structure, duplicating the composite materials, imitating the skill of its making, sympathising with the experience of its growth, reproducing the accumulated years, excelling every manufacturing process. Two seconds, that was how long he had, just enough time for him to execute a skill that was beyond even Nine Live Blade Works which he had used to defeat Berserker.
One second…
"Tsubame Gaeshi."
The world shattered and was torn apart as one swing from the sword suddenly turned into three. Saber's eyes widened in alarm as she was suddenly attacked from three different places at once by the same sword, something that was supposed to be impossible. Caught by surprise, she was only able to defend against one strike before the other two cut through her armour and flesh. She fell back, hitting the ground with a thud and gasping for breath as her sword clattered to the ground by her side.
Hiken: Tsubame Gaeshi otherwise known as the Concealed Sword: Swallow Return wasn't a Noble Phantasm, it was a skill developed by a lone swordsman who had dedicated his entire life to cutting a flying swallow. Though the samurai—Kojirou Sakaki—wasn't a real person, his skill with a blade was second to none. This sword skill was something that surpassed all others, capable of using Multi-Dimensional Refraction of the Second Sorcery Kaleidoscope without any knowledge of Magecraft or magic to bend the laws of physics to multiply the existence of the blade allowing the wielder to attack from not one but three different direction at the same time.
"That…was…" Saber rasped out as she lay on the ground bleeding heavily and starting to fade. "An…excellent…strike…"
She vanished from the world a moment later…
Shirou stood there for a moment, simply gazing at the place where the black swordswoman had fallen and felt the blade in his hands shatter like glass. After a few moments of silence he turned back towards Caster whom was still laying unconscious on the stone floor of the cavern and slowly approached her still form. She was alive, barely, and wasn't likely to wake up anytime soon. The curses had been expelled from her system thanks to his copy of Avalon however her Magic Circuits had been damaged by them and would need time to recover.
He needed to get her out of here…
But he also needed to keep moving forward…
"By the power of my Command Seal," Shirou spoke clearly. "Servant Caster, I order you to return to my workshop."
Space and time distorted around Caster's body as he felt one of the three Command Sigils on his right hand burn away. One moment she was there and the next she was gone, space itself bending to send her back to his workshop at the Emiya Residence where the ambient mana inside would hopefully keep her stable long enough for help to arrive. He hoped that he would see her again and silently thanked her for everything she'd done up to this point before he stood up once more.
He still had a war to win…
The moment the battle started in earnest, Sakura thrust a hand forward and a large mass of black taint rushed passed him, exploding from the Greater Grail. The taint—curses—flowed over the cliff-edge and down towards the ground below. The corruption splattered and reshaped itself into dozens of black monsters, each one taking the shape of some kind of demonic animal. They howled and rushed at the five intruders, intent on ripping them apart and drowning them in a sea of curses for all time.
Rin was already moving, Ruby in her hand as she crossed the distance and tore into the oncoming hoard. With Ruby in her hands she was more than a match for these disgusting creatures, and she proved it by pummelling every single one of them in her way, blasting them to bits with prana beams. Still, there were too many of them, even for her. That's why Chloe followed after her, her bird-familiarsshooting bolts of prana at the few dark creatures that tried to flank them.
"I can handle this," Chloe told her. "Go."
"Right," Rin nodded. "Let's go Ruby."
"Hai Hai," Ruby acknowledged.
Rin suddenly jumped and then flew up towards the cliff-edge. The tainted corruption was still flowing downwards and several parts of it tried to lash out at them as they ascended higher and higher. Finally she reached the cliff and flew right at Sakura who hadn't moved at all from where he had been standing. Once in range, Rin flung himself at her, Kaleidostickat the ready. Sakura saw this and smiled darkly as a wall of curses sprang up between them.
"Now Ruby!" Rin yelled as she pointed the Kaleidostick forward. "Fire!"
Six interlocking magic-circles appeared behind her and unleashed a series of prana-blasts at the cliff-edge, obliterating the tainted darkness including the wall of curses. Rin took the opportunity to close the distance between herself and her sister to engage her in close combat. Sakura was surprised at what had happened but that didn't stop her from defending himself and launching a series of curses at her sister. Rin batted the curses away and lashed out at her sister with Ruby.
Sakura didn't give her a chance to continue her attack since another shroud of curses sprang up and swatted Rin away. Rin had only survived the strike by bringing her arm to up block it and Reinforcing it to the point that it broke the arm itself. Rin was barely able to crab hold of a piece of rock before she was thrown over and halted just short of the cliff-edge itself. She stopped herself and took by the air, flying once more.
She needed more…
"Fire!" Rin called out as she rained down a barrage of prana-blasts upon her tainted sister.
Sakura dodged them all as she threw herself back, using her wall of curses to grant a few seconds to evade. The volley of prana-blasts struck the ground beside her and she returned the gesture by throwing a pair of cursed boltsup at the airborne Rin. The Tohsaka heiress was forced to form a prana-shield in front of her to defend against them and was still knocked back by the force behind the weapons. After Rin backed off it was only then that Sakura took note of the fact it wasn't Rin, but the Kaleidostick itself that she forced to back off.
Rin was behind her…
Attacking from her blind spot, Rin thrust the Azoth Sword right at Sakura. She turned quickly but it was already too late, the blade would pierce her before she could defend herself, and it would kill her. At the same time Sakura lashed out with her curses, intent on killing her sister once and for all. Everything stopped for a moment as the two sisters attacked at once, and time seemed to freeze. After a several long agonising seconds Sakura looked down in confusion and her eyes widened.
Rin hadn't stabbed her…
But her curses had struck Rin in the chest…
"Why?" Sakura asked in shock. "Why didn't you kill me?"
"You're my sister," Rin smiled sadly as she pulled her into a hug. "I could never do that to you."
She fell to the ground a moment later…
And she didn't get back up…
"Nee-san…no…" Sakura trailed off in horror as she looked down at her sister's unmoving body. "No!"
Her scream echoed through the cavern as it shook violently, no doubt starting to fall apart due to the blasts of prana that Rin had been unleashing through Ruby during the course of the battle. Behind her she could hear Angra Mainyu screech from within the Greater Grail and her black robes started to tighten around her, restraining her. Even if her mind was restored, Angra Mainyu wouldn't let her get away from his influence, especially not with eight Heroic Spirits contained within her body.
A hole tore open in the space just above the Greater Grail…
A portal to Akasha…
"Sakura!" a voice called out through the darkness. It was Shirou, he was standing next to Illya who was holding Ruby in her hand and had a couple bird-familiars hovering next to her.
Emiya Shirou had never run so fast in his life, not even when he had saved Illya from Saber's Noble Phantasm at the Einzbern castle-villa. After defeating Saber he had ran all the way here and had found his sisters finishing off the last of the cursed monsters, including several giant ones. A few well-placed exploding swords were enough to bring them down and together they had climbed up onto the cliff. Once they were there however they were shocked to find Rin lying in a pool of blood before a hysterical Sakura who was crying her eyes out.
"Stop! Stay back!" Sakura cried out as she tried to back away. Her cursed robes wrapped around her tighter, restraining her arms and legs. She couldn't move, couldn't fight it, couldn't do anything but struggle in vain as she tried to break free from Angra Mainyu's control. "I don't want to hurt you!"
"Sakura…" Shirou trailed off at the sight of her.
"I killed her…Nee-san cared about me…but I killed her…" Sakura cried. "I was stupid…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…there's nothing but pain…I keep betraying everyone…especially you Sempai…no…I have to stop…but I can't go back…no, no, I don't want this!"
Sakura was rejecting everything, hating herself for what was done to her, for what she had done. Shirou rushed over to Rin and checked her over but it was too late, she was already dead. She'd given her life in the hope of restoring her sister's sanity and Shirou had lost someone else he'd sworn to save. Still, Shirou wasn't going to let her sacrifice go to waste. Rin wanted to save Sakura and Shirou did too, after all she was his kohai.
She was someone he cared about too…
So he would save her…
He took a step forward…
"No! Sempai, run away!" Sakura screamed at him as more curses lash out from her form. They struck Shirou dead center in the chest and he grunted in pain. "No…Sempai…"
"Onii-chan!" Illya shouted from behind him.
He was dead…
The starting penalty is five. Life penalty, body penalty, freedom penalty, fame penalty, fortune penalty. Give the penalty that extends so much punishment, mud, darkness, and malice. "Elimination of human rights by castration, exile, execution. Torture and sadism upon the body through digestion. Denial by consensus of the colony that eliminates all honor. Scorn from the judgment and selfishness that takes away men's fortunes." death penalty penal servitude imprisonment custody fine penalty, crime from a grudge, crime from self-interest, unconscious crime, self-conscious crime, civil war, inducement, false statement, theft, robbery, kidnap, suicide, rape, arson, bombing, violation, negligent homicide, mass violence, death at work, overconfident accident, misdiagnosis, concealment, violation for benefit, violation for self-protection, violation for love, violation for respect, selfish █████. Stealing fraudulent fraud concealment murder theft crime crime personal grudge attack attack attack attack dirty dirty dirty you are dirty atone atone atone atone every violence every crime every victim atone for everything. This world is ruled by something not human. Know the conscience to reform crimes. Know the penalty to reform crimes. People's kindness is here. There is so much it cannot be noticed. Know the violence to hide crimes. Know the power to hide crimes. People's malignance is here. It is so rare that it is noticed. A hundred kindnesses and one malignance. Malignance shines bright to keep the balance and exists as a great "evil" to compete with the masses of kindness. The starting penalty is five.█ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self █ █ for self inducement, false statement, theft, robbery, kidnap, suicide, rape, arson, infringement, dirty dirty dirty dirty dirty dirty you are dirty atone atone atone atone atone atone every violence every crime every victim atone atone atone with death!
The curses would surely kill him where he stood just like they had done with Rin…
"Avalon!" Shirou roared as a wave of golden light shot out from his body.
The curses were obliterated instantly…
"Sempai…you…" Sakura trailed off unsure what she was seeing.
Avalon: The Everdistant Utopia was an EX-Rank Barrier-Type Noble Phantasm crafted by the Fae for 'King Arthur' to use as a sheath for Excalibur and it granted her extensive regenerative capabilities. As a Barrier-Type its primary function wasn't healing but instead to create a localized Bounded Field around her, encasing her in the tranquil domain of the fairies making her virtually invulnerable as long as she was using it.
It had been unearthed by the Einzberns and given to Kiritsugu for him to use as a catalyst in the Fourth Holy Grail War. He'd then transferred it to Shirou in order to save him from the Fuyuki city fire and it had been laying within him ever since. It had granted him a limited healing ability and after years of studying it he was able to use its barrier function, but only for a moment. He couldn't keep the barrier active indefinitely like Arturia could do but that was okay, because an instant was all he needed to repel the curses from his body.
"I know, it's that kid's fault for not giving up," Shirou told her while gesturing towards Angra Mainyu as he took a step forward. "He's throwing a tantrum because he doesn't want to lose you—hold on, I'll smack him and get him off of you."
"No! Please stop Sempai!" Sakura pleaded as more curses shot forth. Using what little control she had left, she redirected the curses so it only cut Shirou across the cheek and didn't take his head off. "No, Sempai, I can't suppress it. Nee-san helped me but I'm going to lose myself again. I wasn't strong enough, I'm a wimp, a coward, a terrible person. I should just disappear here before I hurt anyone else, especially you. I don't want you to see me like this!"
"Don't give up Sakura," Shirou said clearly as he walked over to her. "I'm going to save you."
"I can't be saved," Sakura cried tearfully. "This is how I am, I can't go back, and he's not going to let me go. I killed Nee-san, so why? Why are you still trying to save me?"
"Because I care about you," Shirou answered with a smile as he stopped in front of her. "And you can't take responsibility for what you've done if you die here, Sakura."
"Sempai…" Sakura trailed off shocked at his words.
"Trace on," Shirou incanted as a familiar jagged dagger was projected into his left hand. "Rulebreaker!"
Caster's Noble Phantasm, her dagger which severed all contracts and was capable to cancelling any magic it touched, that's what he now held. He recalled his Servant and what they had gone through together as he stared down at the blade in his hand before thrusting it into Sakura's chest. The cursed robes she was wearing broke apart and screeched as they were flung away from her, leaving her naked where she stood. Her eyes closed a second later and she fell forward, unable to stand anymore.
Angra Mainyu's presence was gone from her…
"Sen…pai…" Sakura trailed off as she fell into unconsciousness.
She'd been saved…
"…Onii-chan?" Chloe asked from behind him.
"…I'm going on ahead," Shirou spoke as he set Sakura down on the ground and projected a blanket to cover her.
"We'll look after her until she wakes and then catch up later," Chloe nodded in response.
Shirou gave a small nod back and turned towards the Greater Grail. This wouldn't be over until Angra Mainyu was dealt with once and for all. Ten years ago his father had defeated it but even now it was still causing pain and suffering to everyone. If he wanted to save those he had left then he needed to put an end to everything, Angra Mainyu, the Holy Grail War, and anything else that might harm his family. So he stepped forward, his hair starting to whiten and his skin starting to tan with every step he took.
"Just a little more," Shirou breathed as he continued walking forward. "I just need a little more and then it'll be over."
This was it…
The end…
"You will not go any further," a new voice spoke up from in front of him.
"You're…" Shirou mused as he caught sight of the one who had spoken.
Kotomine Kirei stood before the Greater Grail…
"It seems we've both managed to survive," Kirei said clearly. "Emiya Shirou."
"…Why are you here?" Shirou asked the question.
"Emiya Kiritsugu's son," Kirei nodded slightly. "I was surprised when I learned of your identity but then I thought that it was poetic that it would be you that would fight in this Holy Grail War. This wasn't what I had originally planned but everything worked out nicely, don't you think? The Servants are all dead and the gate to Akasha is open."
"Get away from the Grail," Shirou spoke with a glare. "I'm going to destroy the Holy Grail and kill Angra Mainyu."
"I can't let you do that," Kirei responded simply. "You see, I want my wish granted too."
"Your wish?" Shirou inquired.
"To see what a being that is inherently evil will do once it is born into the world," Kirei answered with a chuckle. "I wonder, will it look upon itself and see that it is evil? Or will it not even notice and simply think of itself as good?"
There was no talking to him out of it, Kirei was determined to protect Angra Mainyu until it was born. He was running out of time, Shirou knew that, but the only way to get at Angra Mainyu was through Kirei, and to do that meant to fight him. He'd read his father's reports on the priest standing before him and knew that it wouldn't be an easy fight. Kiritsugu had acknowledged that Kirei was the most dangerous Master of the Fourth War and had warned Shirou to stay away from him.
He needed to finish this quickly…
"Trace on," Shirou incanted as he shot forward right at Kirei.
Kanshou and Bakuya materialized in his hands as he drew close and he lashed out, intent on cutting him down where he stood. Kirei smirked as he brought his hand up and Black Keys extended from between his fingers, blocking the strike. Shirou backed off, knowing that they were the favoured weapons of the Holy Church and powerful conceptional blades. One of the Black Keys cut across his shoulder before he could pull back far enough but it didn't dig any deeper thanks to the swords that were knitting themselves together just beneath his skin.
"Oh?" Kirei mused as he looked at the cut he'd made.
Shirou didn't respond, he simply stood there for a moment before Kirei attacked him this time. He was barely able to bring Kanshou and Bakuya up to defend himself as Kirei's Black Keys lashed out at him, striking at his openings. Shirou was forced back, Kanshou and Bakuya a blur as he narrowly deflected the barrage of blows being rained down upon him by the far more experienced Executor. Finally after knocking his left arm out of the way, Kirei discarded the Black Keys he was holding in his left hand and drove his fist into Shirou's stomach, sending his flying back with an echoing boom.
Kirei was using Bajiquan, a form of martial arts that they had enhanced using Magecraft to the point that they were physically capable of defeating most opponents. That punch would have killed most people, however due to Shirou having brought his arm up to protect the area of impact and his own Reality Marble manifesting within himself, he was able to survive it. Avalon quickly got to work on repairing the damage but it was a slow process and would take a few minutes, minutes that he didn't have.
He needed to end this now…
"What a troublesome body you have," Kirei commented. "Only one man has ever taken one of my punches and got back up. I suppose it is to be expected from a devil like you that you would be able to survive it."
"Spirit and technique," Shirou began as he threw his two swords right at Kirei's head. "Flawless and firm."
This was a technique created by EMIYA and Shirou had learned it from him while drawing upon the former's knowledge. He would have not been able to use it himself yet however since he now had Archer's Arm to call upon, the power of the arm was naturally boosting his body, allowing him to perform it. Still, he was pushing himself far passed his limits, no that wasn't right, he'd gone passed his limits a long time ago, during the fight with Saber.
"What are you-" Kirei started as he deflected the two swords with his Black Keys.
"Our strength rips the mountains," Shirou continued as he rushed forward with another set of Kanshou and Bakuya in his hands. "Our swords split the water."
He crossed the distance between them in seconds and thrust his new Kanshou at Kirei's chest. The priest parried the blow with a Black Key and knocked the weapon aside. A second later, the first Bakuya came at him from behind, spinning wildly as if it were a boomerang, digging itself into his back. Kirei gasped in surprise, unsure what had happened at first before his eyes widened in realisation. The two swords were attracted to each other, doubly so if there was another set involved when any of them were in motion.
"You-" Kirei gritted out.
"Our names reach the imperial villa," Shirou declared. "The two of us cannot hold heavens together."
The Bakuya in his hand was swung upwards as the first Kanshou came flying at him from behind, attracted by the presence of its married blade. Kirei hastily deflected Bakuya away from him before he lost his head but found the first Kanshou imbedded in his back alongside the first Bakuya. He threw himself back, trying to put some distance between them but it was already too late. A third set of Kanshou and Bakuya were in Shirou's hands as he lunged at him.
"Two great men," Shirou concluded as he stabbed Kirei through the chest with both swords. "Sharing a life."
Kirei fell the ground with a thud a moment later…
"…This is how it ends," Kirei spoke quietly as he looked up at him. "You are the winner of the Fifth Holy Grail War."
"Kotomine…Kirei…" Shirou trailed off as he looked down at the dying priest.
Suddenly the cavern started to shake and the orb in the center of the Greater Grail started to crack. Shirou stumbled back slightly but quickly regained his footing and looked up at the source of the earthquake which continued to shake everything. The orb, it was cracking, breaking apart as sinister black curses leaked out from its center and down the Greater Grail until it piled up at the floor. It stood up, taking on a humanoid-shape of black curses and gave off an aura of utter hatred of all things.
He was too late…
"But it appears that you are too late," Kirei smiled as his eyes closed. "Angra…Mainyu…is…born…"
Kirei fell motionless a moment later…
"Onii-chan!" he heard Illya shout from behind him.
She was running towards him with Chloe by her side looking quite pale. Shirou barely heard them run up beside him though, his mind was focused on the Dark God that now towered over them looking every bit as evil as he'd imagined it would be. It gave out a horrifying screech which shook the whole cavern causing the ceiling to start falling down around them and reached up towards the portal to Akash above it.
"…What do we do?" Chloe asked the question.
"…We'll close the portal," Illya spoke up as she stepped forward.
"Illya, Chloe," Shirou said as he shook his head. "No, please don't."
"The portal needs to be closed," Chloe smiled back over her shoulder. "Besides, older sisters are supposed to protect their little brother."
"Illya…Chloe…" Shirou trailed off.
Illya and Chloe spread their arms out in front of them and concentrated, opening all of their Magic Circuits as they did so. Chloe's Command Sigils spread out across her body and glowed red, shining brightly across the dark cavern. Illya had already gathered the eight Heroic Spirits that had fallen over the course of the Fifth Holy Grail War and channelled their combined power through her Dress of Heaven. A white light engulfed her form and spread outwards from there, washing over everything like a wave.
And then it was dark again…
The portal was gone…
"You did it," Shirou said with no small amount of relief.
He looked over at Illya and Chloe with a smile on his face…
He stopped smiling the moment he saw them…
"Onii-chan…" Illya rasped out as she lay on her back.
"Illya! Chloe!" Shirou shouted in horror as he rushed to her side. "Come on, stay with me."
"We wanted to stay with you a little longer," Chloe smiled up at him. "But not everyone gets their wish granted, this is enough for us."
"Please…don't go…" Shirou pleaded as he held their hands.
"Night night Onii-chan," Illya whispered as her eyes closed.
"We love you," Chloe whispered as her eyes closed too.
"Illya…please…Chloe…please open your eyes…please…" Shirou begged as tears started to fall from his eyes.
They were gone…
He let out a cry of despair and sadness as the ones he'd sworn to save above all others passed away in front of him. He couldn't save them, he couldn't save them even when they were the most important people to him, the ones he cared about more than anyone else. He'd sworn to Kiritsugu that he would save them, and now they were gone forever. What was the point in him even being alive? Everything he'd done up until now hadn't been enough, nowhere near enough.
"Holy…Grail…" Angra Mainyu's voice echoed through the cavern.
It was still alive…
Shirou rose to his feet slowly, his fists clenched tightly as he rubbed his eyes to wipe away the tears. They were gone and it was this thing's fault. It was the reason that Ilya and Chloe had sacrificed themselves to close the portal to Akasha, after all they didn't want it to get its hands on the Akashic Records. It was the reason that Sakura became the way she was and killed Rin. It was the reason that Saber was tainted and nearly killed Caster.
Enough was enough…
"Trace…" Shirou started as he felt his soul break apart.
I wish for a better future…
"…On," he finished as the last of his life left him.
Excalibur: Sword of Promised Victory formed in his hands, imperfect though it might have been. His Unlimited Blade Works may have recorded it, but it wasn't able to fully replicate the otherworldly sword, and projecting it was even more difficult. Normally Shirou could have never have done so because it would've killed him outright due to the prana requirements and the mental strain it would put on him. However he was a devil now so he had just enough prana to use it…
"Excalibur!"
Author's Notes:
Chapter 10 is done and the Grail War is officially over. One of the things that I enjoy most about Type-Moon is the fact that not everyone gets their happy endings because in the real world it's always possible that you don't end up with your happy ending. Caster is alive but wounded, Rin, Illya and Chloe are dead and Sakura is saved. There is not going to be any coming back from the dead, if someone dies in this story then they stay dead, just like in real life. People die when they're killed after all…
Please Read and Review.
See Ya Later…