Hector hoped that he could soothe Sakura and reassure her, but all of his attempts were futile.
She spent half an hour scouring the district in an attempt to find Souichirou, screaming out his name and cursing the monsters for endangering him. Hector knew that this man was very dear to Sakura; for whatever reason, she felt that she owed him his life. Perhaps he was one of those who helped get her out of her horrific circumstances ten years ago. However, at some point, they had to admit that he was gone without a trace. Sakura had no choice but to accept this and move towards the Einzbern castle, but Hector could feel her fear and shame. Sakura was powerful and determined, yet has gone completely silent during the rest of their path.
Finally, the duo arrived at the castle.
Hector never realized how lonely and tainted this place felt until he had a taste of how it feels to be among a fair company. This place and its tattered, messy halls, along with monsters that crawled within, were a testament to the past that clung on to life like a parasite, refusing to die. This castle was an outpost for the Einzberns, a tool to use in those destructive Holy Grail Wars, its walls no longer able to contain its darkness.
"Careful, there are some in the hall…" Hector warned Sakura as they opened the gates, but the woman just nodded in defeated silence. "Listen…We have to concentrate! I know you wanted to protect him, but he is brave and strong; if anyone can survive out there, it's this guy. And there's no better way of helping him than destroying the source of this darkness and freeing the city for good!"
"I…Yeah, you're right." Sakura sighed and finally looked up. "Let's go."
The moment the two entered, they witnessed a chaotic skirmish unveiling amidst the first hall. It was swarming with dark creatures, but four valiant warriors stood against them. Hector could see Shirou using two rapid pistols as Rin charged them with her strongest fire magic. This tandem worked perfectly, annihilating one friend after another. Waver supported Gilgamesh, who tore entire creatures apart, be it with his ravenous spells or bare hands.
It was time to join in and finish this battle.
"Hold on, we're here!" Hector announced with emerging confidence and pride in his voice. The monsters did not look as harrowing anymore, not when they fought against six powerful mages who weren't willing to back down. Iskandar would swell with pride if he saw them march forth like this.
Hector focused on the creature closest to him, launching a swift, corrosive spell at his target. The monster growled before submitting to Hector's power; the toxins tore it apart from within. The creature fell to the ground; it was in a gruesome state. All that was needed was just a single precise strike, and Hector would claim another victory…However, just before he could deal the blow, the mage froze in a spot. He felt his mind playing tricks on him, felt his entire world stopping. The sounds of spells and slashing claws had become slow and prolonged, Hector's own movements became sluggish, and a few seconds later, he heard her voice echo in his head.
"I must admit, I am surprised…" Angela's speech was recognizable but heavily distorted. It sounded downright demonic. "I didn't expect you to run away. I knew that you were ready to betray me, that all I have done to you meant nothing because you can't sacrifice a few lives for our glorious future…You were always weak, even if useful at times. But to stand among those who challenge me and the work of our lives? To willingly help destroy my life because of your pettiness? You must truly hate me to repay like this after I gave you a future. You will die here, Hector, along with the rest of them…But I will make it hurt. No apology, no begging will save you, but I have to admit, I'd love to indulge myself in hearing them anyway."
She was gone, but Hector still couldn't move, shaking from the words he just heard. Voice of a ruthless killer that wanted to see him suffer. All the warmth that she showed towards him was gone from Angela's words, only spite and disdain. Was there ever any warmth? Or perhaps Hector simply clung to his imagination of an adoptive mother who truly loved him, an image that was always a lie.
The monster stood up and attempted to strike but was quickly annihilated by Gilgamesh's spells. The hall was finally clear from the creatures.
"Hector, what happened?" Shirou looked at him. "We were supposed to meet at the same time; what took you so long?"
"I…" Hector could barely speak; Angela's venomous words still echoed in his head.
"It's alright," Sakura spoke up. "We had a lot of those monsters in our way. And a lot of people to help. We're here now, and that's all that matters, right?"
"Right…" Shirou turned towards the staircase on the opposite side of the large hall; this would lead them directly to the backyard, the place where Angra Mainyu took form with Angela as his vessel.
"Hector, are you alright?" Sakura asked with concern.
"I…Yeah, don't worry, we need to go on." He reassured her. Moments after that, everyone focused on Waver's voice.
"Do you see this?" He pointed at the stairway and spoke with caution. "Those aren't monsters…"
Hector looked forth and saw four people, each of them motionless and on their knees, bags covering their faces. Hostages? But why would Angela need them? Hector could feel a magical Aura surrounding them, but it did not come from the hostages themselves, but rather an entity that guarded them. Gilgamesh sighed in disappointment.
"I'm not going to waste time protecting those lowly mongrels. Untie them and send them away."
"Wait…" Shirou stepped forward. "Something is wrong."
"Not a step further." Archer's commanding voice echoed through the room as a sharp sword emerged above each of the four prisoners. One move and their heads would be slashed off. Finally, the crimson servant emerged, casually strolling down the stairs with a cathartic smile on his face. "These swords can kill them in less than a second; even Gilgamesh's attacks won't reach me that quickly."
"What do you want, traitorous fuck?!" Rin shouted with hatred.
"Calm down, I am not going to kill them. Didn't plan to, at any rate. I only want to make a proposition and for you to stop and listen.
"You pompous…" Rin was about to launch another spell of fire, but Shirou looked at her.
"Wait. We need to help those people, and if Archer kills them…Just stop and think for a moment." Shirou said and turned towards his reflection. "Alright, we're listening."
"Great." Archer chuckled. "Let me begin by unveiling the identities of our 'guests'…I picked some rather specific people, the ones that will get you to listen."
Archer walked towards the hostage on the left, taking the bag off their head. It was a redhead woman, her mouth gagged and her eyes full of an explosive mixture of fear and rage.
"Ayako?!" Rin said in shock, immediately recognizing this woman. She must have been her friend or at least an acquaintance. "You cunt…"
"Yes, yes, I heard this already. Get some new material," Archer said dismissively and walked towards the next hostage. He unveiled a young man with dark hair and a more reserved yet still visible expression of horror. He was gagged like the rest of them.
"Issei…" Shirou said quietly as he clenched his fist.
"Good, this is the kind of reaction I expected," Archer said as he continued. The next prisoner was an aging man, completely beaten and drenched in his own blood. "Recognize this one?"
"You monster!" Sakura screamed with shocking spite. Hector realized who this prisoner was, too. Souichirou Kuzuki…Now they knew who abducted him at such a 'perfect' time.
"And last but not least…" The last prisoner was an adult woman with a few fresh wounds on her body, the one at the sight of which both Shirou and Sakura couldn't help but gasp.
"You…" Shirou was on the verge of breaking. "Do you have no shame at all? Fuji-nee…You knew her just like I did! You were her friend…She was our friend."
"A shame I have to resort to those methods, but there is hardly another way." Archer sighed. "Now, if you want those people to survive, you will do exactly as I say. Angela has begun the summoning; she's expecting your arrival, and I'm sure you come prepared…I will let all of you pass and fight Angela. I doubt you have much of a chance, but either way, it is irrelevant. There is only one of you that I want to stay behind, Shirou Emiya. We have a lot of discussion, ideally without distractions."
"Absurd!" Gilgamesh laughed. "I can crush your body a spirit before you even realize, much less are able to wound those people."
"I would love for you to try, but something tells me your master believes otherwise."
"Gilgamesh, please," Sakura said confidently. "I can't let them be harmed, not Taiga and Souichirou."
"This is our chance to destroy the last competing servant, the one far weaker than Berserker, Lancer, or Rider, and yet you refuse to take this opportunity?"
"Yes, I refuse." Sakura raised her palm, displaying her command seals. "I don't want to break our agreement and use it…But I will if I have to. Please, Gilgamesh, just let us talk it through…" Her pleas were interrupted by Shirou.
"There is nothing to discuss." He declared. "I accept your terms, Shirou Emiya."
…
"I accept your terms, Shirou Emiya."
Waver knew that Shirou would say those words. He was worried that it was practically inevitable. Whether Archer was acting on Angela's orders or not, forcing a human mage to fight a servant alone was an incredibly risky endeavor, even if both of them were the same person.
"Wonderful," Archer responded. "Thank you for your cooperation, I knew we could find some common ground…Now, I believe it is time for the rest of you to leave."
"Shirou." Waver turned towards the hero with concern in his eyes. "Do you understand how much of a risk it is?"
"I do, but it's my battle to fight. I felt that this moment was inevitable ever since he revealed his identity to me." Shirou turned towards all of his allies, noticing worry in some of their eyes.
"Shirou…Please be careful." Sakura asked quietly.
"I promise I will be. I thought about how to fight Archer a lot, and I won't fall into his traps again. And you…Please go on. Stop Angela before it is too late. I know that many people died tonight because of our hesitation and my mistakes…Make those sacrifices worth it."
"I promise." Rin was the first to respond.
"And so do I," Sakura added.
"There can be no other outcome," Hector spoke with pride.
"If you are confident in your powers, we will leave you to it," Waver said. "Let's finish this battle, all of us."
"How touching," Gilgamesh said without coming too close. "Now, how about we get down to business?"
"Yes, it's time." Waver smiled with pride as he looked at the coalition of brave and powerful mages that he had gathered. "Tonight, we bring an end to this cycle."
Waver and his comrades walked towards the door leading to the next hall. Both Shirou and Archer remained silent, watching them disappear and free some space for the duel of reflections. Each of the leaving mages would love to help Shirou, but he was right; it wasn't their battle to participate in.
The next hall led directly to the backyard, and while it looked empty at first sight, Waver still couldn't help but feel suspicious. The group was surrounded by a strong presence of dark Aura. It was impossible to deny.
"We're getting close," Hector said, pointing at the next door. "Angra Mainyu is right behind, Angela must be there, too…No time left to prepare."
"No time needed," Rin responded. "One thing I'll agree with Emiya on is that we could have acted much quicker, no point in making this even worse."
"I…" Sakura said sheepishly. "I think we're being watched."
Only a few seconds after those words, more dark creatures descended down from the walls. There were no less than a dozen, each of them blocking the possible retreat path.
"Damn it, of course, it couldn't have been that easy!" Waver clenched his fist.
"This is barely an inconvenience," Gilgamesh uttered with confidence and stood tall before the approaching threat. "Go to the other side, I will deal with those pests." He began casting a spell, creating a golden orb that Caster infused with a concentrated portion of his unbound energy. Waver could already feel the devastation that this explosion would unleash.
"Run! To the door!" The young mage commanded with the three others following him. This allowed Gilgamesh to do his deed without as much as a single distraction.
"A pity it had to end this way, Assassin." The King of Heroes spoke as he watched the creatures run towards him. "You were never a true warrior, yet even such a mongrel deserves better than to be turned into a mindless creature. See you on the other side, wiseman of the mountain."
A swift explosion annihilated all the creatures, reducing them to floating motes of ash. The impact has been so powerful that some cracks emerged in the walls of the castle, though they did not progress as far as to have the walls crumble. Gilgamesh turned around and rejoined his allies on the other side of the hall. At long last, nothing stood between them and Angela.
"And here we are…" Waver said quietly as he put his hand on the door handle. "Hector, I know it must be difficult for you…Are you ready?"
"I wouldn't be here otherwise." The young man responded with sharp confidence. His mind was made up, just like that of the others.
It was time to end this.
Waver stepped through the door, only to witness the grotesque darkness that lay beneath. The lawn behind the Einzbern castle has been completely tarnished and devoid of life, turning into a vessel for the bearer of all curses, a manifestation of uncontrollable evil and vile. Waver saw a huge crystal shrouded in a mixture of crimson and violet, and within its ebon core rested a creature…A being that might have once resembled a man, but now it has been stripped of its humanity entirely. It was a mutated abomination with countless eyes and many mouths, witnessing the world beyond the limiting confines of his prison, ready to unleash his evil upon thousands of innocents. The monster was about to break his leash, and all of this was due to one woman.
Angela von Einzbern.
She stood in front of the crystal, smiling with pride. She looked at the Grail like a mother would look at her child after they achieved their goal in life after they have done something great and surpassed their parents. She was enamored, anticipating the coming chaos.
"How does it feel, lord El-Melloi?" Angela asked as a crazed smile emerged on her face. "To stand in the shadow of a miracle that you tried to destroy?" She had changed since their last meeting. Angela's face carried crimson marks, and her hair and skin grew paler from absorbing Angra Mainyu's energy.
"Feels like staring at the nest of demons," Waver responded coldly.
"Consider yourselves fortunate. Kiritsugu Emiya, Illyasviel von Einzbern, Lord Kayneth Archibald, Zouken Matou, Marianne Taylor, Kirei Kotomine…All of them dreamed of seeing the Grail reach its full potential, but none lived to witness its glory…And where is Shirou?" Angela looked over the mages in front of her, each of them looking at her with determination and unbreakable will. "I would love to thank him for practically handing the Assassin over to me. The creatures Angra Mainyu created from his soul gathered him a lot of mana."
"Enough!" Sakura spoke up. "You are a heartless monster, just like Zouken was. It took me long to realize that I could fight him, but I won't waste any time with you. We all know you won't surrender, so why prolong this nonsense?!"
"My sister is right." Rin supported Sakura, not hesitating to call her 'sister.' "We are way past the point of talking."
"I see…" Angela smiled and looked at Hector. "And you? Would you help them to lynch the woman that saved you? What a pitiful, ungrateful gnat you are."
"I…"
"Enough!" Gilgamesh launched a destructive spell. Angela absorbed most of it with the dark Aura granted to her by the crystal, but a slither of Caster's power reached Angela, making her recoil. "I don't doubt that you would love to prolong this conversation for as long as you can so that your god has time to break free, but I am way too tired of fighting powerless gnats. Now grant me a challenge, mage, or perish!"
"So be it…" Angela raised her hand, immediately corrupting the outburst of Gilgamesh's energy. The magic was her to command, quickly losing its golden color to instead gain a violet tint of corruption. "Heed me, Angra Mainyu, for I beg for your help one last time! It is time to annihilate those traitors and secure your long-awaited freedom!"
Angela commanded a wave of darkness, effortlessly shaping the magic in her hands and pointing it at her enemies. Waver and Rin coordinated their magic to create a protective Aura and soften the blow, but they didn't expect Angela's strike to be as devastating as it was. She pushed the mages aside, forcing each of them to fall down in a different corner of the backyard. All her attention was on Gilgamesh.
"You are called the mightiest of servants…Show me, King of Heroes."
"With pleasure!"
Two powerful mages locked themselves in a fateful duel, unleashing one explosive spell after another. Each of them morphed into another, the dark energy was incompatible with Gilgamesh's pure flow, and the two forces eroded each other, creating a series of explosions that pushed the two contenders away from each other. Neither was shaken by the experience and instead, the two unleashed powerful energy rays that clashed in the very middle of the yard.
"I can feel your fear, Gilgamesh! Don't worry, I understand; it must have been an eternity since you last met an enemy you couldn't defeat!"
But Caster was not alone in his resistance. Hector and Sakura rose up despite their fatigue and added a trace of their own magic into Gilgamesh's ray. Waver could feel their signature types emerge, a use of mana on the brink of light and darkness from Hector, and a corrosive inexplicable power of Sakura's dream. Angela had no choice but to take a few steps back before retaliation.
"Angra Mainyu…I need more!"
The Grail fueled Angela's might and passion, granting her more strength to push back, but she was alone with her god while a whole team of talented mages stood against her. Rin and Waver joined the fray, unleashing an empowered rain of fire spells upon Angela, making it incredibly difficult for her to concentrate. However, there was no end to Angra Mainyu's supply, and Angela was always willing to demand more.
"I need your might, my lord! Destroy them! Destroy…Them all!"
A powerful explosion followed, piercing Gilgamesh's shield. Both Angela and the coalition had their defenses reach the brink. This must have been the moment when Gilgamesh saw his chance.
"Time to end this!" The King created an array of magic-infused weapons, much like he did in his Archer incarnation, aiming all of them at Angela. Waver saw those weapons pierce her defenses, impaling the mage woman. The weapons impaled her body at almost the same time, inflicting deep mortal wounds upon the woman. She screeched in agony, her voice growing quieter with every moment. It was a grotesque sight, yet Waver remained stoic and looked at her.
He saw Angela fall on her knees as her clothes became drenched in rivers of blood. The streams formed a small puddle that quickly turned into an extensive pond. She quivered and shook like an insect on the brink of demise, gradually losing the connection between her mind and body. No one could survive such injuries. It was a certain death.
"Is that all?" Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow.
"Angela!" Hector could not restrain himself; he ran towards the dying woman, unafraid to drench himself in her blood as long as he could look her in the eyes one last time. He made his choice; he sided against the only person he had for years, and Waver respected him for it…He knew that it was difficult for him to realize that those were their last moments together, no matter how cruel she was.
"He…Hec…Hec…" The woman coughed, spitting even more blood. The young man kneeled and held her, a few tears emerging in his eyes as he watched life fade away from her eyes.
"It's okay…I forgive you." Hector uttered with a tone of disbelief and even shame. "I…I'm sorry it had to be like this. I just…You are free now, I promise."
Waver felt something changing. Angela's magic grew stronger again. The Grail must have still supplied her. The weapons in Angela's body slowly deteriorated; her wounds became thinner as violet essence began to mend them. All of the eyes within the Holy Grail were turned towards Angela, Angra Mainyu's vessel.
"Hector, run!"
Angela's eyes turned violet. A mage finally fused with her idol. She grabbed one of the weapons, tore it from her own body, and pointed it at Hector's heart.
…
Shirou braced himself for this moment, but nothing could have prepared him for it. Archer was more than just an enemy he had to defeat; he was a reflection of Shirou's darkest traits that were allowed to fester in a hopeless future. As Shirou looked at Archer, he saw his ideals and faith utterly shattered, leaving only a broken husk of a man full of rage and spite towards himself.
"I wish our friends luck, truly," Archer said. "I despised helping that monster of a woman, but it was necessary…"
"Shut up." Shirou snapped. "You don't get to make excuses and justifications. I may not know what you've been through, the horrors you saw, but there is nothing that can justify this atrocity. I have seen Fuyuki, the monsters Angela created, preying on innocent people; they are killing hundreds. And you helped orchestrate this…All because you hate me that much."
"I want to free both of us. Your death can very well be the key to my freedom, and even if not…I'll still do you a favor."
"Well, then, here I am. Playing by your rules, just like you wanted. So stop babbling like a coward and do what you came here for."
"You're right…" Archer took a deep breath and took out his twin blades. "With your death, I will finally break the cycle!"
Shirou used his projection magic, envisioning two people who have influenced his life the most. The man who saved him from the jaws of fiery death and the woman from the past who gave Shirou strength to carry on. They were the inspiration he needed at this moment. At last, Shirou had his weapons, a rapid-fire pistol in one hand and a copy of the Excalibur, the King's sword in the other.
"Let's do this."
Archer charged towards Shirou, immediately trying to pierce him with the twin blades, but the hero blocked his advance by raising his sword. He imbued it with all the magical strength he had, knowing that Archer would be a powerful opponent. The moment their blades clashed, Shirou felt the vigor and power that his reflection put into his strikes. He was desperate to see Shirou dead. He tried to trick the hero and pierce him in an open spot, but Shirou was ready and jumped away moments before Archer's blade could strike him. He immediately counterattacked, slashing the servant with Excalibur, missing only by a small margin. Archer would be mortally wounded from a single precise strike, but he was incredibly quick and thus able to avoid Shirou's hits.
"We aren't that different, you and I…And not just because we are the same person. You are sentimental and self-sacrificial at your core, and I was never able to fully extinguish those traits. I sacrificed myself to let you and Rin escape in this very hall ten years ago, and thus personally saw to you becoming the maddened hero that you now are. A grievous mistake…I'm sure you feel the same about granting Angela Assassin. I cannot undo my error, but I will make the best of it. This is no time for heroes, and I will have you admit it!"
Shirou used Archer's momentary distraction to open fire from his gun. The magical bullet hit Archer's side, making the servant groan and jump back as the first stains of blood emerged on his clothing. Shirou felt a surge of righteous rage at his heart. It was rare for him to feel so strongly about anyone, but he truly despised the man in front of him.
"Even if your deranged words convinced me, I would never grant you the satisfaction of knowing it." Shirou stood tall and spoke with spite. "It doesn't matter whether I am the perfect hero that you once wanted to become, I am the only one who can fight back against the evil you spread, and I will continue to do it, no matter how much it costs me!"
"Some never learn…"
Shirou opened fire once again, but this time Archer was ready. He zigzagged across the hall, swiftly evading each magical bullet while getting closer to his target with each passing moment. Shirou realized this, but knowing that his opponent was just as desperate and hateful as himself allowed Shirou to feel confident. Archer was utterly consumed by vice and irrationality, and Shirou could take advantage of that.
Eventually, Archer jumped forth in an attempt to pierce Shirou, but the hero blocked the attack and fought back. He noticed Archer getting annoyed at his strength.
"Always so resilient, always persisting and going on…Don't you realize that you are walking towards your doom, idiot? The Grail will take your soul, just like it took mine. You will become an eternal slave! You will not have a single dream of happiness to keep you going. You will forever be a cog in the machine! Forever!"
Shirou ran towards Archer in silence, making the servant take a defensive stance. He fell for the trick, just like the hero hoped. Instead of attacking Archer, Shirou jumped over him and rushed to the hostages. A few swift and precise slashes were enough to untie the four of them, finally freeing his friends from the deranged maniac Archer.
"Shirou!" Taiga finally spoke. "That's really you…What's going on?!"
"There's no time to explain…Souichirou, get everyone to safety. I'll keep him busy."
"You count on me," Souichirou said coldly before leading Issei, Taiga, and Ayako away.
"Let them run," Archer said spitefully. "They've got your attention, and that's what mattered. Now, then…Unlimited Blade Works!"
Shirou could feel the landscape around him change as the Archer unleashed his noble phantasm. The halls of the Einzbern castle morphed into a blighted, lifeless battlefield with hundreds of swords piercing the ground beneath them. Archer stood in front of him, creating more of those swords in the air.
"I've killed so many during my service…" Archer said with faint regret. "But at least their memories will help me end this torture!"
Archer commanded those blades, directing them at Shirou, and the hero only had his sword to defend himself with. Like arrows, this array of blades charged toward their victim, but Shirou stood tall. He had enough time to train with a sword, and he knew that his singular projection was stronger than the countless swords Archer had created. Shirou trusted his instincts, deflecting one blade after another, slashing them as the weapons flew in the air.
Shirou felt confident. He knew Archer's tricks and could resist him. After all, his enemy was just a twisted, broken, and inferior reflection of himself; there was no way he had a chance to triumph against Shirou. However, a single slip-up cost Shirou a missed hit. Archer guided one of the swords to strike from behind Emiya's back, making Shirou feel piercing pain in his shoulder. He groaned in pain and fell on his knees, weakening his grip. Just before the sword could cut deep, however, Shirou turned around and slashed it with Excalibur, quickly reinstating his defensive stance and robbing Archer of a swift victory.
"Now that's what I call stubbornness!" Archer exclaimed. "I shouldn't have expected anything less from you, Shirou. Some things are only natural…See, this is the kind of stubbornness that destroyed your life. You had a chance to pursue a fulfilling life, you had supportive friends, two women who were desperately in love with you by your side, magical potential…You threw it all away, and for what? To achieve an ideal that even our old man didn't believe in?"
"I didn't throw anything away; you did," Shirou said with spite. "My friends are by my side, fighting to save this city from the evil you spawned and end the catastrophe. Will you call them delusional fools, as well? Are Sakura and Rin throwing away their lives for 'an ideal'? Or are they simply using their power and knowledge responsibly by trying to protect those who can't do so themselves?"
"It's a waste of effort either way." Archer scoffed before continuing his attacks. He returned to close combat, attempting to exploit Shirou's wound and strike at his weak spots, but having to continuously avoid Excalibur was a daunting task, especially when Archer was wounded himself. Shirou could feel his opponent growing tired, and he wasn't about to stand down. "No matter how often your deluded belief fails, you still cling to it…You still seek to save everyone, and in the process, you ruin everyone's lives, including your own. Even Angela guessed why you sent your Assassin to kill a significantly stronger foe! You did it for the minuscule chance that you could stop the carnage before it started! Save everyone once again! And what do you get in return?" Archer pirouetted over Shirou and attempted to plunge his blades into the hero's back, but Shirou turned around and opened fire, forcing Archer to retreat once again. "Another proof that you can never save everyone, no matter how hard you try."
"I am not as naive as you believe," Shirou said coldly, continuing to fire at Archer. "I know that you can't save everyone…But I will still strive towards it."
"Why?!"
"Because this goal makes me push my limits and rise above and beyond myself. I know that I can always save more, and I never stop trying…The moment I start slacking or making excuses is the moment I stop truly trying and, thus, betray my ideals."
"And why do you need those ideals in the first place?" Archer asked mockingly as he attempted to strike Shirou once again. He grew weaker with each minute of the battle. Archer's power faded while Shirou's remained stable. The hero could win against his own reflection. He could prove that he is stronger than the cynical man he has become. "Don't answer that, we both know why…Because you are a broken man. No one can understand how we felt. Some could relate, I suppose, to Sakura, Illya, and even Kirei, but everyone's experience is different. Ever since Kiritsugu saved you from the flame, you haven't let go of your shame. You don't believe that you deserve to live. Every waking moment you spend, your soul aches, for it remembers the countless innocents who died instead of you on that day. I assume you saw Kotomine's basement just like I did? This must have made the situation even worse! You want to free yourself by dying a noble death, dying while helping others; you think this will be your atonement…" Archer launched a few more swords at Shirou while the hero continued to block them. He prepared to go on the offensive and crush Archer once and for all. "Will you deny this, Shirou? Will you deny this while looking into your own eyes?!"
"Perhaps you're right…" Shirou sighed, making Archer pause and look at him with disbelief as if he himself was shocked that his words reached Shirou. "Maybe that trauma irreversibly broke me, maybe that is truly why I cling to my ideals and heroism, all because I wish for a meaningful death I will receive in the process…But what does it change?"
"W-what?"
"So what if my motives come from trauma and pain? Does it change the fact that I saved countless lives during my years of struggle? Would it make a difference to people who have lived to see another day because of me? If I am truly broken, that means that I was on my way to becoming a bitter cynic like Kirei…Your existence proves that possibility. But I managed to direct my trauma into a noble cause, the one that saved lives, made the world around me better…And made me feel better in the process. Maybe it was just a faint feeling of delusion, a simple dream…But I still believe it was worth it."
"You are hopeless…" Archer clenched his fists in fury. "Do you not see? I am the direct result of the lifestyle you are praising. I believed every single word you said once? And yet you still follow my path…Why, Shirou, why?!"
"Because, as broken as I might be, there is one belief that I still cling to. Whatever happens, I will never become like you."
A moment of pride that Shirou allowed himself to indulge in. He knew that Archer was on the verge of breaking and could feel the spite that his opponent could no longer control. This moment, however, allowed the servant to attack from behind like the cowardly rat he was. Three swords pierced Shirou's back, plunging deep into his muscles and causing him unbearable pain. Only a few seconds before he would succumb to it before they would go too deep for him to recover…In the swiftest reaction in Shirou's life, he raised his blade, charging it with the might of his every magic circuit.
"EX-CALIBUR!"
No matter how much Archer believed in his knowledge of Shirou, he still ended up underestimating his determination. This smug, villainous bastard…Shirou reveled in hatred he felt for him, and the pain only served to enhance this feeling. Shirou's blade unleashed a powerful wave of destructive energy that broke through all of Archer's defenses. The pained cries of his reflection were music to Shirou's ears, as was the sight of him falling to the ground with an extensive bleeding wound on his chest.
"Aargh…You…"
Shirou purged the swords from his back as Archer's reality marble started to fade. The hero was in pain, but he could still walk onwards towards his broken self.
"Do you know why I will never become like you? Because I saw the consequences of your actions…I saw what happened in Fuyuki because of you and Angela. If you went through the trouble of hunting down hostages, you must have seen it, too. Seen them maul innocent people. Men, women, children…I saw mutilated corpses, I heard them beg for my help, for mercy…They don't even know where those monsters came from. To them, this is nothing short of divine judgment. Do you realize how many families you broke? How many have you killed, and how many more have you traumatized for life? And for what?"
Archer jumped up in an attempt to strike Shirou, but his wounds took a toll on his speed. Shirou easily deflected the hit and pierced Archer's shoulder with his blade, pushing the wounded opponent back onto the floor. Archer coughed with his own blood, unable to do anything except flail in desperation.
"Because you wanted to mock me…To humiliate your past self and prove some point." Shirou clenched his teeth in disgust. This wasn't a human in front of him, nor a heroic spirit. It was a lowlife, scum of the earth creature, a husk of Shirou Emiya long robbed of soul. "To think that I could ever become like you…You had a great time humiliating me, didn't you? Was it worth all the deaths? Were they worth a chance to rub my mistake into my face? I'm sure it was." He spoke coldly, noticing genuine fear emerge in Archer's eyes. "When I sent Hassan to eliminate Angela, losing him was not my only concern. After all, I was ordering him to kill a person. A pre-mediated murder without searching for alternatives. Truly heroic, isn't it? It wasn't an easy choice, but it made me realize something." Shirou tossed his pistol aside and punched Archer as hard he could to vent his anger. "I am capable of making exceptions."
One punch after another, each of them made Shirou's blood boil. Archer did not resist; he was beaten and drenched in his own blood, but Shirou felt a horrifying, primal force within him that pushed him to continue the torture. This disgusting maggot deserved it. Every second of pain was a small price to pay compared to what people of Fuyuki had to suffer. In Archer's world, Kiritsugu saves a young boy, only for him to become a mass murderer and unleash a catastrophe similar to the fire.
"And if anyone deserves to become an exception, it is you!" Shirou shouted. "Because you deserve to feel a fraction of the pain you inflicted on others while thinking you're pursuing some righteous cause. You deserve to be torn apart and humiliated like the worthless piece of filth you are!" Shirou's hate grew, but suddenly, he realized something that made him hesitate. He stared at Archer's bloodied face, seeing a familiar gaze of pathetic desperation. "Hah…" No, this wasn't him. He was a hero, a man of honor, not this petty monster. "Even when I allow myself to be selfish and focus my disdain on someone else…It still ends up being myself. Ironic, isn't it?" Shirou stood up and took a deep breath. Archer was already fading. He spent too much energy and did not have long to live. It was over, and Shirou triumphed. "I still want to kill you…But that would hardly show you why you are wrong, would it? Stay and watch if you want. You've kept me here for long enough. I have to help my friends." Finally, Shirou could feel a small modicum of victory. There were still people left to save, and he would save them by annihilating Angra Mainyu for good. The weapon was already in his hands, and with the help of others, it should be enough.
"I suppose you…You are right about something." Archer spoke quietly in a hoarse voice. "You aren't like me…If I was in your place, I would finish the job."
One swift strike.
This was why he didn't resist as Shirou beat him.
He waited for a fitting moment.
Shirou coughed in pain as he felt iron plunging into his body. Archer stood on his knees, clinging to the sword that Pierced Shirou's chest. The world around him went dark and murky while the young man shook in agony. His legs no longer held him, and Shirou felt life gradually eroding from his body.
"You…" He tried to speak through pain as he watched Archer fall on the floor, utterly exhausted but satisfied with the outcome.
"This is why you will always lose, Shirou…Principles and sentimentality, they are at your very core, after all."
Shirou called upon every ounce of his mana. He couldn't fall, not yet…He had to fight. It was incredibly hard to take steps, but Shirou still slowly walked towards the adjacent hall, feeling Angra Mainyu's energy emerge from the other side. He had to hold on…To save them all.
"Seriously, are you still going?!" Archer's furious voice echoed from behind. "It will only be more painful for you…Give up! Have some dignity in your final moments, at least!"
Shirou did not listen.
He only walked.