Chapter 40: Day 9 ③

Blades clashed, and the recoil sent me soaring through the air. I kicked off the concrete wall I had been blown toward and ascended once more.

The scenery blurred past at a staggering speed, flowing from top to bottom. Layers of air buffeted my body and dispersed, yet my upward velocity did not falter.

The ground was now so far below that I had to look down to see it. The few human silhouettes visible were no larger than ants.

Still, I went higher. I ran up the wall, heading for the summit. I occasionally collided with another shadow, sparking off one another as we both raced for the top. The enemy Master should be waiting there.

To begin with, humans are creatures that run upon the earth; they are not built to fly through the sky with their own bodies. Like Icarus, who lost his wings and plunged to the earth, those who challenge the great sky, without exception, fall back to the ground.

However, the opponent before me defied such fables, racing through the air as she pleased—albeit through artificial means.

Without a solid foothold, the sword techniques that had defeated countless armies began to dull. Against an opponent I had once overwhelmed, I was now giving my all just to trade blows. A single mistake would mean failing to defy gravity and being sent plummeting to the earth.

Steeling my resolve, I lunged at her, but she merely parried my strike and leaped back into the sky. I kicked off the wall to pursue her as she stayed one step ahead, and before I knew it, I had reached the edge of the building.

The enemy who should have arrived first—Rider—was nowhere to be seen on the rooftop.

But... her presence was definitely close. Without a moment to scan the surroundings, I threw my body into the air at full speed.

In that instant, something white swept through the space where I had been standing. The aftershock of the impact battered my body. Intense heat scorched the concrete ground. The thing that had passed me soared beyond the tens of meters of this height, flapping its wings in the sky.

I caught sight of Rider and was struck with astonishment. The creature she was astride was—

"A Pegasus...!"

My whisper vanished into the darkness.

Since she bore the class name Rider, I had expected her to be accompanied by some kind of Phantasmal Species. However, the Pegasus before me possessed a magnitude of Prana on a completely different scale from any of its kind I had known.

Rider, mounted upon the Pegasus, said nothing. She soared high into the air, transforming herself into an arrow. Piercing through the atmosphere, she came diving down to crush her enemy.

"Ha... ha... ah—"

Arrows of light approached without respite. I evaded them all, but was sent tumbling across the ground by the force of each near-miss.

Even when evaded, the sheer mass of the attack blew my body away. It pierced through even my Magic Resistance, which should have been absolute. Even layering defenses with Invisible Air provided not even a slight mitigation.

I forced my body up and raised my sword. My frame, battered by the repeated impacts, screamed in protest.

Yet, even so, it wasn't as if there was no chance of victory. If I could endure the opponent’s Noble Phantasm, I could cut down the defenseless Rider.

I don't know how many times it had been; I had been focused solely on enduring and waiting for an opening, but Rider suddenly stopped. I found it suspicious, but that doubt vanished as I spotted someone stepping onto the rooftop.

"Saber!"

"Shirou?! Why are you here—?!"

Shirou stood there, at the entrance.

If he came to this place, he would be caught up in this whether he liked it or not! Anger, and an equal measure of an indescribable emotion, welled up within me. It was surely because those eyes were filled with an unparalleled shade of worry.

He was a person who did not treat me, a Knight, as a mere tool—

"It seems the opening act ends here, Saber."

As she spoke, Rider made the Pegasus flap its wings violently. Then, a golden cord began to take shape in her hand. The Pegasus flew in a wide arc, circling higher. Rider grew smaller in the distance. However, the radiance from her Prana increased, and the point of light—Rider and the Pegasus as one—grew larger.

What would come next was Rider’s ultimate attack. From her aura, I felt an unmistakable, lethal intent. Her target was likely me, but the sheer power would be more than enough to blow away the entire rooftop.

I turned back, catching Shirou in my sight. If I did not block Rider’s attack here, Shirou would be caught in it and perish. Shirou, while trembling at the violent surge of Prana Rider was emitting, gritted his teeth and endured, trying to fulfill his role as a Master.

—Because I found myself wanting to help him.

My resolve was set. Discarding concerns about the concealment of my True Name, my remaining Prana, and time... I gripped the sword in my hands anew.

I took a deep breath to generate Prana. I compressed it as I slowly exhaled. Sending the energy forward, I released the binding wind surrounding the blade.

In my hands was a visualized, golden sword. I shall become my Master’s sword, and my sword shall become his blade. This sword shall cut through everything that stands in my Master’s path.

The embodiment of Mystery approached. Rider, now a comet of light, would be no exception.

Amidst the dazzling starlight, I swung the sword down. Light cleaved through space, the world, and Rider herself— ...and my vision was swallowed by darkness.

—The scene shifts. When I realized it, I was beneath a light. As soon as I regained consciousness, a pressure—as if my weight had doubled or tripled—and a sense of helplessness, as if I were fading away, assaulted my body.

However, even though the burden on my body was unimaginably heavy, my hands were firmly gripping my knees, and the wind was certainly stroking my cheeks. There was a leaden weight in my head, and my feet, though unsteady, were treading upon the ground.

Still. I... understand.

Before my eyes, a magnificent carpet was being gouged out by the landing of a heavy warrior. On the upper floor stood a young girl, the owner of this castle. Contrary to her innocent smile, the words she uttered were those that plucked away lives.

"Ah. Buying time is fine, but—I take it you don't mind if I just defeat that thing?"

A desperate situation. Rin and Shirou couldn't even wound Berserker, and I, who should have been the primary combat force, was suffering from a Prana deficiency.

In the midst of this, Archer, having accepted Rin’s order to hold the enemy back, said those words. Even though Rin had commanded him to "become a shield even at the cost of your life," Archer smirked with his usual tone. There wasn't a hint of him being cornered.

Archer cannot win against Berserker. No, is there even a Servant who could win against that thing in a one-on-one fight? ...At the very least, Archer is not the one.

Rin knows this too. That’s why her fists remain tightly clenched even now. Rin and I start running to leave the castle behind—both she and I crushed by our own helplessness.

Suddenly, Rin looked back. I stopped, following her lead, and looked at Shirou, who should have been following behind us. Archer was saying something to Shirou.

Because of the lack of Prana in my body, my five senses seemed to be covered in a mist. Perhaps because of that, I couldn't hear Archer’s words. But I know what was said. I can't hear it. But, I know.

I take Shirou with me and run out of the castle. With the surge of Prana and violent sounds of destruction at our backs, we race through the forest. My vision is blurred, and the thunderous sounds seem distant. A lethargy, like being afflicted by a terrible cold, tortures my body, and my consciousness is not clear, as if I have a high fever. Dragging such a body, I chase after the backs of Rin and Shirou.

—I shouldn't. By the time I thought that, my knees had buckled. I tried to hold up my falling body, but my legs wouldn't move forward. Darkness descends. My consciousness falls away. Though I should have collapsed, the impact didn't reach my body.

Assassin—. Precise strikes. A combat technique like a willow that yields when pushed. The characteristics of his weapon. And a sense of déjà vu regarding all of it.

It was only natural that I remembered. Because I had seen it before my eyes. Because I had fought him once. I had seen that sharp strike and his secret technique with these eyes; I had already experienced evading it through Instinct.

Come to think of it, I believe it was only natural that I wanted to fight him as a swordsman. The sensations I received in the dream, everything she thought—I was Syncing (Tracing) it all. She had recognized Assassin as a fellow wielder of the sword. Deep down, I was enjoying that battle.

Dragged along by that, I tried to defeat him with nothing but a sword. Just as she had, a part of me wanted to fight Assassin with only swordsmanship. It wasn't just experience; I was being overwritten by her consciousness and way of thinking. Even now, as I flee from the Mad Warrior, I feel like I might forget that I am "Emiya Shirou" if I don't stay conscious of it.

Rin and Shirou shouted my... no, Saber’s name. I felt my fading consciousness manage to hold on. However, my legs remained powerless; I couldn't manage to walk on my own, let alone run.

I am held by the Master I should protect, turning my back to the enemy I should meet. How pathetic that is. How truly sorry I am. I felt my own lack of strength, felt shame, and felt indignation. I lashed my body to at least avoid being a burden, but my vitality still would not return.

We were able to put a significant distance between us and the Einzbern castle—no, from Berserker. All of this was thanks to his, Archer's, desperate struggle... no, he is still fighting. To protect his Master, he is challenging that mass of violence. To decide the outcome in advance would be an insult to him.

That’s right. He is a man of many mysteries. Perhaps he might actually accomplish the slaying of Heracles. The only thing I can do is recover as much Prana as possible.

Eventually, a deserted shack came into view. Overgrown with trees, being reclaimed, the first floor was on the verge of becoming part of the forest.

Still held by Shirou, I was barely maintaining my manifestation, like a taut thread. I was so depleted of Prana that I couldn't walk on my own. My consciousness was hazy. Rin and Shirou, who had moved to the second floor, slowly laid me down on the bed.

...Wait. Come to think of it, after this comes...?

Lia (Saber) gave a small nod to Rin’s words.

At this point, my consciousness and Saber’s were completely severed. The thoughts and emotions that had been ninety percent unified were split clean in two.

Rin, please spare me. I’m begging you... please, seriously. Someone, help me... Help me!

But, contrary to my plea, Saber’s body did not move; there wasn't a single part that moved according to my will.

Rin approaches. Her eyes shine with an eerie light. Her skin is flushed. Is this body also heating up because it expects what is about to happen?

In the corner of my vision is Shirou. My chest tightens with a painful, yearning squeeze. His timid appearance and bright red face stimulate something deep within my chest.

Stop it. Stop it, Rin. This is... I...! I don't want this...!

Rin’s slender hand reaches out. It slowly touched my cheek. Suddenly, a shock—like a prickle of static electricity—ran through my body. As if stroking, that hand moved to the blouse. A ticklish, aching sensation moved along with the hand. My vision flickered. Despite being surrounded by greenery, the oxygen felt thin. Deep inside my body, it was hot. Even though my body wouldn't move properly, I couldn't sit still.

Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah!! I don't have the hobby of being embraced by myself—

"—OR HOLDING THAT KIND OF INTEREST AT ALL!!"

I force my upper body up. I shove aside the weight pressing down on me and spring back. The thing I kicked away hits the wall with a dull thud and slides down.

...A futon?

I look around. A wall clock ticks regularly. Other than that, there is only the sound of my own ragged breathing. It’s still dark. Looking at the clock, the hour hand points between four and five.

"...Hah, hah... haah... haah... Eh?"

...I woke up? I actually woke up...?

"Th-thank goodness..."

My legs, which had been braced in a crouch after leaping back, gave out. Involuntarily, I collapsed face-first into the pillow with a poof. I remained still, lying prone.

Thank goodness... truly, thank goodness. Just imagining it... damn it, tears are coming out. To feel such humiliation toward myself! Emiya Shirou, you idiot!

"What’s wrong, Alto?" "Eh?"

I looked up to see Rin’s face past the door. —Eyes shining eerily. A hand reaching out. In that instant, the dream from moments ago flashed back—

"Uwaaaaaa!"

Reflexively, I threw my pillow at her.

"Ah."

I could only stare blankly at the destination of the pillow I had thrown. Rin, who took it right in the face, didn't move an inch. Exactly one second later, the pillow fell to the floor with a thud. Where the pillow had been stuck a second ago, there stood a demon with a terrifying smile.