Chapter 45 : Holy Grail
"AAAAAAHHH!!"
Countless light bullets rain down along with Caster's shout.
"Damn it! Stop it, Caster!"
"Stand back Shirou! Caster has lost sight of himself!"
I jumped forward and deflected the light bullets, but there were too many of them. I couldn't handle them all!
"That's reckless, Caster! Are you planning on dying?!"
He screams as he is hit by several bullets.
Fresh blood flows from the arm that was hit by the light bullet. There is no resistance. It must be a magic bullet after all!
Magicians have the means of attack known as magic bullets or magic cannons. The biggest feature of these is that they are not magic.
As the name suggests, a magic bullet is an attack that fires out a mass of energy without converting magical energy into magic, but there is almost no way to counter it. The damage it deals cannot be reduced by anything other than pure defense.
Resist is a defensive technique that interferes with and breaks down the "formula" that makes up magic. Therefore, it is completely meaningless against magic bullets, which have no "formula". Magic bullets are an extremely effective means of attack against opponents with high magic resistance like me.
However, despite their usefulness, there are very few magicians who use magic bullets as their main means of attack, as they are far too inefficient.
For example, when using magic to create fire, ten magical powers can be used to create one hundred heat units. Depending on the skill of the caster, this could even reach a thousand or ten thousand.
However, if the magic were to be released as is, the magic consumed would be equal to the power. Since there is no room for technology to intervene, it would be the same no matter who used it.
That's what I meant when I said it was reckless earlier. Firing this many magical bullets with this much power would take an extraordinary toll. It would not be surprising if an average magician had died of exhaustion at this point.
In fact, the magical energy that made up Caster's body was loosening and his outline was beginning to waver. However, Caster didn't seem to care and produced a dozen more light bullets, two of which he held in each hand as he charged forward. "You're going to close-quarters combat with me?!"
Caster roared like a beast and slammed the light from his hand into my hand. I blocked it with my holy sword, but Caster continued to push forward regardless.
"Aaaaahhhh!"
"Stop it, Caster! I feel your friendship! I don't want to cut you down!"
"Shut upyyyy!"
Together with Caster's scream, the ball of light that had been clashing with the enemy burst into flames.
"Guh?!"
I was frightened by the explosion at close range. But the same thing should have happened to Caster. In fact, I was better off with the holy sword between us.
"Not yet!"
But Caster's offensive isn't over yet.
The remains of the light bullets that were created earlier rain down all at once.
"Huh!?"
Of course, this was not a timing that could be avoided. And that meant――
(You bombed yourself?!)
If I can't avoid it, then it's obvious that a caster with lesser physical ability than me can't avoid it either. This isn't even a case of self-sacrifice. It's suicide!
Caster's relentless attack made him tremble, and he lost his balance. An explosion caused him to be enveloped in smoke, blocking his view. Then――
"Got it!!"
Cutting through the curtain of dust, a rule breaker emerged.
The timing was perfect.
He threw me off balance, took away my vision, and then slammed in a killing blow. It was a surprise attack like no other. He should be able to defeat even an opponent with a significant difference in strength.
"...! Let go!"
I grabbed Caster's wrist and stopped him easily.
"I already know about the existence of Rule Breakers. There's no way I wouldn't be on my guard…?"
The surprise attack mentioned above would only work if the opponent didn't realize the deadly fangs were coming.
As long as I'm on guard, there's no way a Caster can use their Rule Breaker on me, no matter how lucky they are.
Caster shook her whole body, trying to shake her off, but my hands holding her didn't budge. When it came to sheer strength, there was a big difference between us.
"……sorry"
"Guh...!"
When I slammed my fist into the solar plexus of the raging Caster, she groaned softly and stopped moving.
However, even though he was exhausted, he still held on tightly to Rule Breaker and didn't let go.
I carefully peeled the fingers off, one by one, and picked up Rule Breaker.
Without a word, he returned to Shirou and the others, leaving Rule Breaker in Rin's hands. Shirou hesitated before opening his mouth to say goodbye.
"Saber..."
"...Let's go. All we can do is finish this."
After a short pause, the two of them nodded in agreement.
Chop
I turned towards the sound of a small stone and saw pebbles rattling beneath my feet.
It had no magic power whatsoever, in fact it hadn't even reached me; it was just a stone.
But the force of will put into it was more than enough to stop me in my tracks.
Caster was barely able to maintain consciousness, but he was still on his knees, breathing heavily with his whole body, and his gaze was still glaring. On the contrary, with shaking legs, he tried to stand up again.
I didn't think about why he had to go to such lengths. There was no need to think about it.
Caster was mumbling something to himself while putting cold water to his knees, which were close to collapsing.
"That person calmly faced an enemy that should have been impossible to defeat..."
Those were words he spoke to himself, not to us.
"That person always achieved his goals, even if he had to use himself as a pawn..."
Without even trying to wipe away the tears that were spilling out, she gritted her teeth and looked forward.
"If pushing doesn't work, then give up. You're saying stupid things like that, but you haven't given up on anything that's truly important...!"
Sustaining his already fading life with only willpower, he forces his body, which should be motionless, to stand and roars.
"As long as you call yourself Hikigaya Hachiman's Servant, you cannot simply bow your knee without doing anything...!"
I felt ashamed of my earlier words.
How could someone who fights with such an unshakable will lose sight of himself?
Caster began chanting the spell without paying any attention to our reaction.
Although it was unclear what kind of magic she was planning to use specifically, it was clear that it would be a frighteningly powerful spell. Caster in his current state would not be able to withstand the recoil. And, it was clear that no normal means could stop her.
Seeing that, I also made up my mind.
"Shirou, permission to use the holy sword."
"Saber?! What are you doing?!"
"She may deny it, but Caster's loyalty is the pride of a knight. In that case, I have no choice but to accept it."
Without waiting for Shirou's reply, I took a step forward and readied my holy sword.
"Come on, Caster. I, Artoria Arthur Pendragon, will receive your full force with all my heart and soul!"
He declared, focusing all of his consciousness on himself and the caster.
A moment is stretched out infinitely, and your senses become so heightened that you can even see the vibrations of the air.
I raised the holy sword above my head, completing the caster spell.
Suddenly, I realized they were both laughing at the same time.
"Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!!"
At that moment, I brought the holy sword down and Caster was about to unleash the aurora.
"Stop it, Saber!"
"!!"
The force of the Command Spell restricts my movements.
At the same time, Rin jumped on Caster from above and pinned her down.
In Rin's hand she was still holding the Rule Breaker she had handed over earlier, and mercilessly thrust it at the still raging Caster. The Command Spell lit up on her left hand again. At the same time,
"Stop it!"
He immediately expended his command spell and pinned Caster down.
It was a surprise attack that used the power of Kaleido in addition to the compulsive force of the Command Spells. It seemed that Caster had no choice but to stop.
I felt like my duel had been interrupted. However, I understood why they wanted to stop us. So, without saying a word, I protested with my gaze.
The two of them didn't flinch at his gaze and just turned their attention to Caster. Rin spoke up.
"Caster. The reason you seek the Holy Grail is to save Hikigaya-kun, right?"
Caster didn't reply, but there was no sign of denial either.
Lin continued without paying any particular attention.
"If you accept my conditions, I will let you use the Holy Grail. What do you want?"
"!?"
The caster's face turned pale when he said that. And so did I.
"Rin?! What are you talking about?!"
Just as the Hero King had told them beforehand, the Holy Grail was tainted by a curse.
This thing will surely bring nothing but disaster. That's what it is. That's why we decided to destroy it. I'm sure that's what Kiritsugu did ten years ago.
However, Rin said she would let him use the Holy Grail. I looked at Rin to ask for an explanation, and she slowly began to speak.
"I was just talking to Shirou, what do you think the King of Heroes' goal was?"
"it is……"
"He knew the Holy Grail didn't work properly. And yet he still tried to use it."
That's certainly true.
The only thing the Holy Grail produces is destruction. So it would be reasonable to assume that destruction was its very purpose. However...
"I don't believe his goal was destruction. He had the power to destroy the world without needing the Holy Grail."
That's right.
The trump card shown by the King of Heroes during the battle.
In the end, he didn't give them a chance to use it, but the power of "that thing" exceeded even that of a holy sword. It was something that could truly destroy the world if not handled poorly.
"At this point it doesn't matter what he was planning to do with the Holy Grail. What's important is that he intended to use it for a purpose other than destruction. That can only mean one thing. Even though the Holy Grail was tainted by a curse, it still functions as a wish-granting device. In other words, as long as you can perfectly control the flow of magical power, it should be possible to make your wish come true."
"That's impossible! There's no way an average magician could do something like that!"
"Yes, it would be impossible for an average magician. But, Saber, the person sitting here is a Caster Servant, the pinnacle of magicians. And she is the unparalleled witch, Medea."
Rin grins, and Caster looks at her in shock. It's true that if it's her, it might be possible.
"Caster, we can't just leave the Holy Grail behind. But we both want to help Hikigaya-kun. So, if you'll help us, we're willing to give it a try just once. What do you think?"
Caster was stunned for a moment, but then he pursed his lips and nodded.
"I'll do it."
"Okay, then. I feel bad for Illya, but I want you to try a little harder. Caster will be the main person accessing the Holy Grail. I'll act as support, so you can give me instructions through Command Spells. Ruby, you help out too. You're really good at this sort of thing, right?"
"Eh? But I don't know anything about this Hikigaya-san?"
"Stop messing around. Saber, I want you to focus on preparing the holy sword, aiming and stabilizing its output in case the Holy Grail goes out of control."
"Understood"
"Shirou, observe the Holy Grail. I'll leave it up to you to decide when to use the holy sword. If you sense even the slightest sign of danger, please use your Command Spell immediately."
"Okay. Leave it to me."
"That's about it... And lastly Caster and Saber. Regardless of whether this succeeds or fails, I will destroy the Holy Grail. Once that happens, all of you who are manifesting in this world thanks to the power of the Holy Grail will disappear. Are you sure you are okay with that?"
"No problem."
Caster replied immediately.
I replied, somewhat surprised at my late reply.
"I already knew that."
Lin nodded in satisfaction at our answers and slammed her fist into her palm.
"OK, let's get started then. This is the final battle of the Holy Grail War!"
According to a man (51) living in Fuyuki City, the weather that morning was strange.
Thick clouds of a strange color covered the sky, and a lukewarm breeze was blowing, even though there was no sign of rain.
When he looked up to finish his early morning jog, which is his hobby, he saw a ray of light stretch out from the middle of the mountain, right around Ryudo Temple, and blew away the dark clouds.
The weather forecast for that day called for clear skies, and in fact it was an extremely comfortable day with not a single cloud in the sky.
Perhaps because of this, no one took his story seriously, and he himself let the memory of it become buried in the everyday life.
And time passed――