Chapter 27: The Battle with Berserker
Berserker roared, the sound reverberating through the air like an explosion as he launched himself straight towards Shirou, his colossal stone sword swinging with devastating force. The ground trembled beneath Berserker's weight, his monstrous form a blur of speed and power. Shirou, frozen for a split second by the sheer intensity of Berserker's presence, snapped back to reality just in time to react.
Seeing the trajectory of the stone sword, Shirou made a split-second decision. He kicked Sun's legs out from under him, causing him to duck as the massive sword whistled overhead, narrowly missing him. The others, following Shirou's lead, either ducked or dodged as Berserker's sword smashed into the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth.
Shirou immediately sprang back to his feet, leaping away as Berserker followed, his every movement a terrifying display of raw power. The battle that ensued was nothing short of epic. Shirou traced a copy of Berserker's colossal stone sword, the weight of it heavy in his hands, and met Berserker head-on. The clash of their swords sent sparks flying, the force of their blows creating shockwaves that rippled through the air.
Shirou knew he was outmatched in strength, but he relied on his speed and skill, darting around Berserker, trying to find an opening. He struck again and again, but Berserker shrugged off the attacks as if they were nothing, his wounds regenerating almost instantly. The sheer resilience of his opponent was overwhelming, and it took everything Shirou had to keep up with the relentless assault.
As the battle raged on, Blake, Sun, and the others followed, their eyes locked on the titanic struggle before them. The intensity of the fight was palpable, the air thick with tension. They could see the strain on Shirou's face, the way his movements were becoming more labored as the fight dragged on. But even as the odds seemed insurmountable, Shirou never wavered.
Blake's heart ached as she watched, every instinct screaming at her to jump in, to help Shirou in any way she could. But she knew, deep down, that this was a fight Shirou had to face alone. Her father's hand on her shoulder grounded her, a silent reminder of the gravity of the situation. Reluctantly, she held back, her fists clenched at her sides as she watched the battle unfold.
Shirou could feel the fatigue setting in, his muscles burning from the strain, his mind fraying at the edges from the overuse of his circuits. He knew he had to end this soon. Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, Shirou traced a perfect copy of Berserker's colossal stone sword. With a final, desperate effort, he launched himself at Berserker, unleashing the full power of his Nine Lives Blade Works attack. The force of the assault was incredible, each strike from the colossal sword carrying the weight of a mountain as it cut down Heracles' twelve lives to just three.
But even as the last of Berserker's lives faded, the monstrous warrior still stood, his body teetering on the edge of collapse. Shirou knew he had to deliver the final blow. Gritting his teeth, he traced Caliburn, the golden sword glowing with a fierce light as he channeled the last of his energy into it. With a cry that echoed across the battlefield, Shirou drove Caliburn into Berserker, the sword slicing through the last of Heracles' remaining lives.
As the final strike landed, Berserker began to disintegrate, his massive form breaking down into dark particles that dissipated into the air, much like the Grimm. The battlefield fell silent, the tension that had hung in the air finally breaking as the monstrous warrior vanished, leaving only the Berserker card behind.
Shirou, panting heavily, watched as Berserker's remnants faded away. The adrenaline that had kept him going finally subsided, and the reality of what he had just done crashed down on him. Tears welled up in his eyes, a mix of relief, exhaustion, and a deep, gnawing sorrow. He had won, but at what cost?
Unable to contain the torrent of emotions, Shirou fell to his knees and screamed at the top of his lungs, the sound raw and filled with pain. He punched the ground with all his remaining strength, the impact leaving his knuckles bloodied. The others watched in silence, the gravity of Shirou's victory sinking in as the last echoes of his scream faded into the night.
Blake, Sun, and Ghira were the first to reach Shirou as he knelt on the ground, utterly spent. The exhaustion was written all over his face, his body trembling from the strain of the battle. Blake immediately knelt beside him, her eyes full of concern as she gently touched his shoulder. Sun was right beside her, his expression a mix of worry and disbelief at what they had just witnessed.
"Shirou, are you alright?" Blake's voice was soft, filled with the worry she couldn't hide.
Shirou didn't respond immediately, his gaze still fixed on the ground where Berserker had fallen. The weight of the battle, the cost of the victory, was still heavy on his mind. He could feel the tears that had escaped his control, the raw emotion that had fueled his final scream still lingering in his chest.
Ghira placed a reassuring hand on Shirou's other shoulder, his touch firm and steady. "You did well, Shirou," he said, his deep voice carrying a weight of understanding. "It's over now. You can rest."
Shirou finally looked up at them, his eyes red-rimmed and tired. He nodded weakly, grateful for their presence, even though the pain still gnawed at him from within. The battle may have ended, but the toll it had taken was far from over.
As the rest of the group approached—Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Jaune, Nora, Ren, Oscar, and Qrow—they were filled with a mix of awe and concern. The questions were written all over their faces—questions about what they had just witnessed, about who Shirou truly was, and about the incredible power he had displayed.
Shirou looked at them, each of them waiting for some kind of explanation, but he was too exhausted to offer anything more than a weary nod. The time for answers would come, but right now, all he could do was hold on to the last threads of his strength.
The victory over Berserker had left more questions than answers, but it had also forged a bond between Shirou and the others. They had seen what he was capable of, the strength and sacrifice he was willing to offer, and it had left an impression that would not easily fade.
As they helped Shirou to his feet, the realization of what had just transpired began to sink in. The battlefield, once filled with chaos and destruction, was now eerily quiet. The only sounds were the ragged breaths of the exhausted fighters and the distant crackling of fires that still smoldered in the aftermath of the battle.
Yang kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, her usual bravado tempered by the seriousness of the situation. Weiss stayed close as well, her analytical mind already working to piece together what she had witnessed.
As they prepared to leave, Jaune noticed something glinting on the ground where Berserker had disintegrated. He walked over and found the Berserker card lying among the ashes. Hesitating only for a moment, he picked it up, sensing the strange power that still lingered within the card. He looked back at the others, who were now focused on supporting Shirou.
"We should take this with us," Jaune said, slipping the card into his pocket. "It might be important."
Blake and Sun flanked Shirou, their presence a comforting reminder that he wasn't alone. Blake's concern was palpable, her eyes flicking to him every few seconds as if making sure he was still holding up. Sun, though quieter than usual, offered a reassuring smile when Shirou caught his gaze, a silent promise that they had his back.
As they walked, the reality of the battle's aftermath began to settle over them all. The devastation left in Berserker's wake was stark—broken ground, scorched earth, and the lingering stench of smoke filled the air. The once peaceful forest clearing had been transformed into a war zone, and it was a harsh reminder of the power they had just faced.
Shirou's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He couldn't help but replay the battle in his mind—the sheer terror of facing Berserker, the overwhelming power he had been forced to tap into, and the final, desperate act that had won them the fight. But now, in the aftermath, all he could feel was a deep, bone-weary exhaustion and a creeping sense of dread at what his victory had cost him.
As they neared the edge of the battlefield, Shirou's steps began to falter. His vision blurred, the world around him spinning as the last of his strength gave out. Before he could collapse, Blake and Sun were there, catching him under the arms and easing him to the ground.
"Shirou!" Blake's voice was sharp with worry as she knelt beside him, her hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
He wanted to reassure her, to tell her that he was fine, but the words wouldn't come. His body felt like it was made of lead, every muscle screaming in protest as he tried to stay conscious. He could barely keep his eyes open, the exhaustion pulling him down like a heavy blanket.
Ghira stepped forward, his expression grave as he looked down at Shirou. "He needs to rest. Whatever power he used, it's taken a toll on him. We need to get him somewhere safe so he can recover."
Weiss nodded in agreement. "We should head back to the Haven Dorms. It's close, and we can take care of him there."
With a collective effort, the group managed to lift Shirou and began the journey back to the Haven Dorms. Every step was a struggle, but they moved with purpose, driven by the need to get Shirou to safety.
As they walked, Shirou's thoughts began to drift. The exhaustion was too much, and he found himself slipping into unconsciousness, the world around him fading to black. The last thing he felt was the warmth of Blake's hand on his shoulder, a comforting presence that eased the fear gnawing at his heart.
And then, everything went dark.