NDT/A: Special thanks to AidenJacksonSmithDSBB and Sir Seal for being my beta readers and helping me with the corrections.
"I guess I'm the last one left to read," Akeno declared, picking up the book.
How many more heroes would appear? Who would they be?
Would they help in any way?
The question intrigued her endlessly, and she couldn't wait to find out!
"Please go ahead," Michael urged her.
It was time to see the result of Father's bet.
From dust we came, and to dust we shall return, but so what? Should death and ruin be accepted?
"Of course not, you must never give up until the very end," Shirou declared without hesitation.
Even if you had to throw everything into the flames just to take one more step.
You had to keep moving forward.
Several centuries have passed since ancient times, when the gods roamed the Earth in all their power and mortals wielded and worshipped the energies of nature and magic. Although humanity and mortals stagnated, even humans, despite scientific progress, questioned the roots of their origin; in the end, nothing has changed.
In times of overwhelming despair, fear, and helplessness, mortals and gods are equal.
Resist not only for the will to live, but to fight for a life worth living!
"Some say that gods are not truly inhuman beings; on the contrary, they are the purest form of humanity," Rin said, recalling some of her classes in the tower.
Humans did not arise from the gods, but rather the gods arose from humanity, as the purest form of their emotions and thoughts.
She wondered, how much of that was true?
And how much a consolation man has!
Earth was their home: a central core that served as an anchor point for several lesser dimensions known as the Hells, the Heavens, and the Outer Worlds. It was like an intricate tapestry of interwoven layers, stitched and held together by a single pin. If the central core were destroyed, the lesser dimensions would perish with it.
"And let me guess, that's where the Trihexa heads are headed, isn't it?" Azazel asked, massaging his brow.
"If it really wants to destroy the world, then yes," Michael replied, worried.
It wouldn't surprise him if that thing instinctively knew where to go to end everything as quickly as possible.
The skies, the seas, and the earth must not fall.
The inhabitants of the world would not allow it, and gods and mortals fought together in this battle. The heroes of all the Earth and the gods of their domains.
A world at war.
"The place where the gods of war should be able to demonstrate their full strength," Sirzech said, hoping that Shirou's preparations would help.
Why had they never seen any god of war do anything remarkable so far?
In fact, thinking about it, they hadn't seen any war gods fight until now.
Where were they?
Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled across turbulent skies around the world, forming a net that prevented the enemy from accessing the Heavens.
"From the lands, to the seas and the distant horizon, I am the Ancient God of the Atmosphere!"
"God of the atmosphere?" Issei wondered.
Technically it wasn't bad, but what a strange way to put it.
With one hand, a twisted light began to gather, and with the other, a brilliant shield of legend repelled the assault of a legion of malformed monstrosities that emerged from the adversary.
"I AM ZEUS!"
Of the six Trihexa bodies scattered across the world, a goat-headed chimera was the one assaulting Greece. Zeus's lightning bolt struck forward, and although it reduced the spawned creatures to blackened corpses, the damage the enemy received was only a charred bruise.
"Even an attack with the full power of one of the most powerful gods only achieved that," Sirzech said worriedly.
Even he would be badly injured upon receiving that, true form or not.
Was there really anything they could do?
"Not yet!" A voice was heard on the wind, accompanied by the roar of a powerful hammer.
The scent of ozone filled the air as the hammer struck. Its defenses had already been pierced by Zeus's lightning; the mighty hammer struck the monster and pierced through. A muffled scream escaped the beast's mouth, its body trembling in agony, which lasted only a few seconds before its regenerative properties completely healed the wound.
"Great! If they keep this up, they'll soon kill that thing!" Issei declared excitedly.
"Will it be that easy?" Kiba wondered worriedly.
Floating in the air beside Zeus, Thor, God of Thunder, growled. It had been centuries since he had fought an enemy worthy of his legend as God of Battle. Nearby stood Odin, his all-seeing eye searching for any weakness.
They could not defeat Trihexa with their strength now, but it was easy to defend against a detached body.
"Then kill that thing quickly and go support Shirou!" Serafall urged them on.
They couldn't forget that Shirou had...had done something and taken that thing with him.
And who knew how long he could hold out for?
These three were the ones who would be guarding Greece, while elsewhere, seven of the strongest fighters abruptly entered the fray: The Demons of the Seven Deadly Sins.
The Demon of Gluttony attacked one of the Trihexa bodies, dragging it through the sky toward a central point. The other Demons quickly followed on their own.
The Great Leviathan froze the earth beneath her feet and became an ice serpent that devoured her adversary to carry it forward.
"I have to write that down for my show!" Serafall exclaimed excitedly.
It would be the new ultimate attack that would awaken the great Levi-Tan in the season finale!
Beelzebub refrained from such barbaric acts and simply formed a mass transportation circle.
"To be able to drag such a creature, what monsters?" Azazel murmured in amazement
The reason why no one tries to kidnap others simply by making a magic circle appear beneath them is because people have a certain innate resistance to it.
And the stronger you are, the more resilient you become.
The ability to drag a creature like Trihexa should be virtually impossible.
What kind of magic circle did Beelzebub use to do something like that?
Wrath and Pride burned and incinerated their enemies, forcing them to flee within a guided circle of blue flames, but neither cooperated. Unlike the other Demons, they did not want to follow a pre-established plan. Their strength would suffice.
Normal humans could only watch as three of the Trihexa bodies sailed through the sky escorted by Greater Demons.
The destination?
Kuoh Academy.
"Oh, come on!" Sona exclaimed, exasperated.
Of all the damn places in all the fucking possible worlds, they had to choose their school?!
"This isn't fun anymore, it's sad." Even Rias began to question what on earth was so special about that academy that everything always happened there.
War, battle, and conflicts of interest: nothing ever changes. For the ambition of one, many must fall. Such was the nature of greed and desire, one of humanity's greatest evils, a concept Angra Mainyu knew all too well. After all, it was ingrained in him as one of the many curses that weighed upon his skin.
‘FINALLY, IT'S MY TURN!’
"Can you handle this?"
‘There are no cowardly bats to shoot me in the back this time!’
Adultery, murder, genocide, discrimination, he had always been the bearer of all that was perverse and corrupt, forced to endure it alone, with hardly any options. A human sacrifice for the greater good. If all the evil in the world had been taken and stored in a Pandora's box, then Angra Mainyu was that box. The evils that were unleashed had assumed a conscious will of their own, and he, as the container, had the duty to retrieve the lost evils; not that he minded such a just obligation.
Humans were probably the race Angra Mainyu hated the most, and if given the choice, he'd rather not store all the world's evils within him again. It was painful, more than just agonizing. Every second felt like fire ants mercilessly gnawing at his skin, and the worst part was the mental burden. The curses didn't just mean pain; they meant mental suffering too.
"Kuro," Serafall murmured worriedly.
Was there no other way?
‘Screw humans, I'll do it just for the demons.’
"It's unfair, so unfair," Gabriel lamented, her eyes welling with tears.
‘And perhaps a pigeon or two’
"You're sure?"
‘I'm used to it by now; it's not like there are any other options.’
Shirou frowned, clenching his fists helplessly.
It really wasn't fair.
Angra Mainyu still remembered the whispered nothings that promised power and vengeance, whispers that tried to seduce him in his solitude. He had never given up because he had never known desire before being thrown into the abyss of darkness. He only knew hatred and the negative emotions of evil. That was why he was completely stunned when Shirou decided to save him, bearing the pain of a burden he should never have had to carry.
Gratitude for kindness? Was that the emotion he had felt? In any case, for the first time in his life, he had been shown the light, and in turn, he finally understood what the whispering voices had been telling him about revenge. The light that had been denied him forever could easily be given to the weakest while he suffered eternally.
"Marbas-"
‘Not a damn word, I don't need your pity.’
"Thank you for all your help."
‘I don't need your idiotic gratitude either!’
"Deep down, he's a good kid, isn't he?" Gabriel said sadly for Angra.
‘What did I say about pity!’
A weary sigh escaped Angra Mainyu's lips.
Life was cruel and unfair, and he had never imagined himself actively fighting to save it. However, from Shirou he had also learned about another emotion better than envy or resentment.
It was a feeling of satisfaction.
"Did he learn about Shirou's satisfaction? It's hard to believe," Rin murmured sadly.
Shirou was never satisfied; for him, everything was simply natural. Helping others was like breathing, something you did and didn't think much about afterwards.
If he could truly feel satisfied with his actions, everything would be better.
Having stayed with Shirou for so long, Angra Mainyu came to understand that Shirou's main driving force was not altruism to help others, but rather stemmed from a deep desire within him.
"What do you wish for?" Gabriel asked with genuine curiosity.
"Smile, like he did," Shirou murmured, placing a hand on his chest.
A wish he had forgotten, and it was his fight with Archer that made him remember it.
If he could save someone.
Could he smile like him that night?
"Smile?" Gabriel wondered.
Why something so simple and pure?
It sounded so melancholic.
A simple memory. The first memory Shirou Emiya could recall.
Angra Mainyu imagined the simple smile he had seen on a man whose name he didn't know, but who seemed to have conquered the greatest treasure in the midst of a burning inferno. What was it? What happiness had this man found, and why was Shirou trying so hard to replicate it?
"That man—" Serafall asked carefully.
"He was my father," Shirou interrupted. "The one who saved me from the flames, the one to whom I owe everything I am."
"He sounds like a great man," Serafall said sincerely.
"He was a good father to me." Shirou nodded.
Kiritsugu...wasn't really a good man.
But as far as he was concerned, he was the best father he could have ever wished for.
In any case, the entire memory revealed to Angra Mainyu was that even a single weak human could become great through the power of a desire, an ideal.
Now the real question plagued Angra Mainyu's mind. What was his ultimate ideal? Why should he fight for those who had long since abandoned him if not for the favor he wished to repay Shirou?
Marbas, formerly named Angra, watched attentively.
What could he do, he who possessed all the evils of the world?
Will it change that much?
The answer didn't come in words, but through feelings and emotions that flooded him with fervor. They eased the pain of his burden and gave him a feeling he had never before experienced when taking on all the evil in the world.
Gratitude and reverie.
‘Well, apparently I'm very cheap.’
"You'd be surprised how difficult it is to obtain."
‘In that case, at least I'm a bit expensive.’
Angra Mainyu stood before Kuoh Academy, under the curious gazes of the Dragon of Ouroboros and the Dragon of Calamity. Meanwhile, the absolute devotion that the Demons, using the teleportation circle that connected Kuoh to the Underworld, directed behind their backs grew ever stronger, brighter as their fervour reached its zenith.
The demons admired their ancestors, but many were far more familiar with recent historical figures. None of the current demons lived in the era of the Great Demons of the Seventy-Two Pillars, but many did live in the era of the ‘Last True Demon.’
"It's something that's in our blood, an instinctive devotion to those above us," Sirzech said.
And for a demon, there was nothing higher than a true demon.
That which Angra now embodied.
The Demons had witnessed Shirou separate into three distinct beings. Based on previous conjectures that Shirou was a mixture of sacred and demonic properties, what did it mean now that they were separated? If the figure who had ascended to Heaven was the One God, and the one who had approached the main body of Trihexa was Shirou, then the one who remained silent and reticent before the Demons could only be the former Last Demon of Hell.
"You somehow managed to give legitimacy to that silly theory," Sona said sheepishly.
"Yes, I'm sorry about that," Shirou apologized, causing Sona to give him a scathing look.
"Just be quiet," she murmured sadly.
How could someone be so exasperating with a simple apology?
Marbas, Demon of the Underworld and Hero of the Civil War.
Angra Mainyu's silent and reticent disposition was familiar to Serafall, so much so that she burst into tears, much to Sona's surprise. Sona had never seen her older sister lose her composure, but Serafall wasn't the only one who reacted this way.
Lucas Arthos, a former low-ranking demon, now a high-ranking infiltrator, fell to his knees and wept. He was one of the many former low-ranking demons who had been freed from their lives of servitude to extract the Demon Core.
"Lucas, wasn't that the demon who accompanied Shirou during the trip to the mines?" Rias wondered, trying to remember.
"How he's grown," Serafall smiled nostalgically.
From a skinny little devil to a full-grown man.
Shirou had truly inspired him.
‘Somehow those tears make me uncomfortable.’
He was all the evil in the world; someone crying for him should bring him satisfaction, not discomfort!
"Welcome to the club."
Euclid and Grayfia, who were escorting Serafall, were speechless. Grayfia felt captivated and comforted to see an old friend in his former glory, while Euclid couldn't even utter an apology for being the cause of Lord Marbas's supposed "Death" at the hands of the potent Holy Light.
The demons murmured and bowed down.
"Is this the time for that?" Azazel asked, seeing that there were still two damned dragons in front of them.
"Let us have our moment!" Serafall scolded him irritably.
How rude.
Marbas was the Unifier. The only being that both the Old and New Satan considered the legitimate ruler of the Underworld. At that time, there were no distinctions between Old and New Satan, legitimate heirs or not. Instead, they were united.
"Everything would really be easier if we had someone like that," Sirzech sighed in disappointment.
Much easier.
The Devils of the Underworld, the Proud Sons and Daughters of the former Demons.
Serafall's eyes misted over again before she smiled and laughed, even through her sobs. Sona couldn't have been more astonished; no, she would never understand. The matter of Serafall's swirling emotions was a private affair.
"Wow, you seem even crazier than usual." Sirzech whistled in amazement.
"I know, right!?" Serafall exclaimed enviously. "I need to film a scene where Levi-tan goes crazy over the death of her puppy, and I still can't quite capture the emotions like that!"
That was unfair!
The dream that had been talked about for several years had finally come to an end.
"You're asking me to fight alongside you for an Underworld your little sister can be proud of?" He shook his head, his determination and will unwavering. "I'll have to decline. The Underworld I fight for is one all demons can be proud of."
"And you did it, believe me, you did it," Serafall murmured.
If Adelina wasn't enough, one only had to see the hundreds, thousands who prayed to her statue daily.
Shirou really did a great job.
Even if it was just for clues.
"We really need our own Marbas," Sirzech muttered to himself.
A symbol, an idol.
More than a man, an idea.
Marbas's impact was something transcendental that was not tarnished even by his death.
No, on the contrary, his death elevated him; that final sacrifice containing the light of God killed him as a demon, but elevated him to a concept.
That's the kind of figure they needed to unite the underworld now that they knew the threats that were coming.
He who wanted to save everyone, in the end, never saw the fruits of his labour until now.
Shirou looked away, feeling guilty.
"Oh come on, none of that, what's done is done, so enjoy the result of your actions," Serafall encouraged him.
Sure, some bad things happened, but the end result was one they could be proud of.
Even if she suffered a little, it's nothing that a few good nights of rest can't cure.
Preferably, this time without buns in her oven.
For now.
"Stay proud!" Serafall shouted with excitement. In that moment, she was even willing to let go of her hatred for Sirzechs and Ajuka for what they had done to her. "We are the Underworld! The Devils of the Book of Genesis! The Unending Horde of the Red, formerly known as the Legions!"
Serafall's voice resonated and was transmitted not only to Kuoh, but also to the other demons fighting alongside Angels to protect humans throughout the world. Sirzechs and Ajuka paused their fight upon hearing the intense emotion in Serafall's words.
The Mark of Marbas, which had long lain dormant in Serafall's hand, thrummed to life.
"Despite the situation, morale must be at its highest," Akeno murmured.
It wasn't just Marbas.
It was Goetia emerging to protect the underworld.
It was the return of the original pillars.
It was the uprising of the seven deadly sins.
How could anyone have low morale after all that?
The devils were truly at their best now.
“We are Devils, heirs to the will and aspirations of our ancestors! For decades, the last of the Demons breathed his last, and the Devils of the ancient Legions were left leaderless and prone to petty squabbles!”
Faced with this, the members of the Old and New Satan factions could no longer look each other in the eye. Entire families of Pillars were decimated and wiped out in the chaos they unleashed. Worse still, neither side gained much to show for it. Had they remained united from the beginning, the Underworld's progress might have reached an even greater level.
"Yes, I wonder where we would be now," Sirzech muttered sadly.
He didn't regret technically being the one who created that fracture in the first place.
Not knowing that if they had followed the wishes of the faction of the ancient Satan, they would have gone to a war that would have led to their extinction.
But sometimes he still wondered if there wasn't another way, if they couldn't have resolved everything in a more peaceful way and without so much bloodshed.
"Not anymore!" Serafall clenched her fists and wiped away her tears. "Our Demons stand before us! The test is before our eyes, and the Devils of Legions will answer the call!"
The Seal of Marbas expanded from Serafall's hand, resonating with the King Piece of Marbas within Angra Mainyu and producing the ghostly image of the Great President of Hell.
Marbas the Lion.
‘Hey, who gave you permission to use my image like that?’
"Stage fright?"
‘Who the hell has stage fright, you idiot!?’
The blood of all the demons began to violently surge and gush forth with immeasurable power. Demons had always dominated over Devils, but it wasn't a relationship born solely of a dictatorial regime, but rather of mutual benefit.
The demons became messengers and limbs of the Demons, and in turn, the real demons became the central point of shared power.
"That sounds like some kind of hive mind," Rin said with interest.
"It wasn't exactly a hive mind," Michael shook his head. "It was just that the hierarchy was much more defined, one that no one dared to challenge."
During the time of the true demons, something like a civil war would never have happened.
Sirzech, however powerful he was, would never have disobeyed his superiors, even though he knew that this would only lead to their extinction.
That's why their extinction was a good thing for the world; however much history tries to portray them in such a noble and heroic light, those who knew them will never forget the horrors they unleashed.
Symbols of the monarchy.
“Don your armor! Prepare your magic! If the duty of a True Demon is to safeguard the Underworld, then it’s the Devils are the Demon’s arms and legs!”
In ancient times, Demons never fought alone. Wherever they fought, the Legions followed without reservation.
"Don't remind me." Azazel shuddered slightly.
Sometimes seeing them on the horizon was like seeing a black wall moving.
So many together that they blocked all light and left only darkness.
Like a damn fly infestation.
Or well, bats.
From the center of Marbas's magic circle formed above Serafall's palm, a ring of blazing red light expanded outward, piercing through all the demons and covering them with an aura similar to a burning crimson flame.
It was never just the armor that constituted a Demonic Legion. It was the amplified energy of the Demons, which the Devils knew always had their backs.
"Now you can do that?" Sona asked incredulously.
"Apparently," Serafall nodded foolishly.
"Oi, what about the fallen?" Azazel complained.
It seemed like all the improvements were going to the demons and the angels!
Where was the old man's love for them!?
So do not worry about the dangers that lie in wait for you, but advance with the ferocity for which the inhabitants of Hell are known!
Smile with pride, ye Devils of the Red. Weak or strong, at some point along the way, the Underworld had finally become a symbol of Pride for all.
"And it was thanks to you," Serafall whispered softly to Shirou.
"I didn't do that much, I wasn't even there for that in the first place." Shirou shook his head.
"The fact that you achieved it, even if it wasn't your goal only makes it more impressive," Serafall remarked with a wry smile.
Tonto
You fool
"For the underworld!"
The Devils charged without fear of death or injury, their bat-like wings taking flight toward the horizon in a relentless tide, intent on massacre. Evil dragons, spawned monsters, wyverns, all were targets for execution.
If Armageddon were to come, the Demons and Devils would not die with a whimper, but with a steel and tenacity befitting their status. All attacks were directed against them, but suddenly, a barrier of curses and darkness protected them from harm.
"Finally, you're doing something, aren't you, Angra?" Serafall said gratefully.
‘If they die, I'll no longer have flesh shields to protect me, and who gave you permission to call me with such familiarity?’
Shirou rolled his eyes.
And this is the same guy who tried to destroy the world.
Twice.
In the distance, the Demon of Sloth couldn't help but move a finger. Demons could be cruel, but that didn't mean they didn't know how to protect their own. Overlaid on the darkness, the layer of curses began to recede into Angra Mainyu's skin.
Angra Mainyu would not allow harm to come to those who cared for him and gave meaning to his life. Although Shirou had been the one who became the Hero of the Underworld, Angra Mainyu himself had actively participated with his powers. He worked with the same intensity as Shirou and, in return, was revered with the same intensity.
‘So don't forget! I want offerings on my level, you filthy mortals!’
"I can cook for you if you want."
‘Sure, then you'll eat it and describe how it tastes to me.’
"We can fix something, I'm sure we'll find a way."
‘Idiot, that's not what I mean.’
'Marbas' of the Civil War were both Shirou and Angra Mainyu.
The two shared the same memories and, over time, Angra Mainyu had learned to share the same protective emotion.
Angra Mainyu's malevolent aura intensified as it merged with the King's Piece of the House of Marbas, stored within its core. Without Shirou and the influence of God's Sacred Energy, the area itself began to blacken and corrode. In truth, he was grateful for his new identity. Without the King's Piece of Marbas, he would never have been able to channel his power in the same way as a Demon. Instead, it would have been easy to trace his origins through Zoroastrian mythology.
"It really was lucky," Azazel muttered suspiciously.
What were the odds that they would end up in the past, right at the moment when the entire Marbas lineage had died out, and just in time to pick up the pieces before they were looted?
One coincidence could be just that; two are suspicious.
But three? That was a pattern.
This was an opportunity. His chance for a new life, even after enduring all the World’s Evil.
This was perhaps the gift the One God had intended for him in return for his cooperation. At first, he wasn't very interested, but through interacting with Shirou, he understood the value of living a life without suffering in solitude.
‘Is that my reward? You're the damn one and only God, give me something better!’
"I think it gave you exactly what you wanted, even if you don't know it yourself."
‘What nonsense.’
"You won't know until you experience it yourself."
‘I said nonsense.’
Right here, right now, he had allies worth protecting.
"Lord Marbas!" Adelina exclaimed radiantly, abandoning her cold indifference and hurrying to approach, much to Angra Mainyu's internal discomfort. Closeness with others was something he'd never been used to, and he often left that to Shirou to deal with.
Meanwhile, Serafall's expression darkened as Adelina's voice overpowered hers, trying to call her name. Even more irritating was that Adelina had used magic to speed herself up, while Serafall couldn't take the risk because of the life growing inside her.
"Yes, for a second I almost forgot you're taking your unborn child to the battlefield," Sona growled, glaring at her sister.
"Hehehe, oops," Serafall laughed, sticking out her tongue and gently tapping her knuckles against her head.
"This isn't a simple 'oops,' sister!" Sona scolded her.
It was her child, right there on one of the most dangerous battlefields in the world!
"Uuuh~, I'm sorry," Serafall apologized obediently once again, her head bowed.
How many times did she have to apologize?
In a matter of seconds, Adelina was beside Angra Mainyu and resisted the urge to throw herself upon him as she had done when she was a child.
"Don't you dare touch my hubby," Serafall's expression said it all. Demons were possessive by nature, and no Devil escaped the wrath of a legitimate wife.
"Give your concubine's wife some space," Serafall said with all the dignity she could muster.
"Come on, give the girl her moment, can't you see how her eyes are shining?" Sirzech urged her.
"No, if I see her, I know I'll give in." Serafall stubbornly refused.
She knew herself too well and knew those puppy-dog eyes would melt her in seconds.
Xenovia and Irina looked wearily at Angra Mainyu. His appearance was identical to Shirou's, but after seeing him approach the main body of Trihexa, they realised that this was not the Shirou they knew.
This was the historic Marbas of the Underworld Civil War. An icon of Devil worship and reverie, a supreme enemy of the Church at any other time. Their wariness was justified, but Angra Mainyu didn't have time to assure them they wouldn't come to harm. Besides, it was a pointless effort.
‘I won't hurt them; it does me no good to do so.’
"Thank you."
‘I'm not doing it for you either, idiot.’
"We will trust you, just as Shirou does," Xenovia declared fearlessly.
"Yeah, besides, you don't seem so bad to be all the evil in the world, you know?" Irina added.
"Doesn't sound so bad?" Rin had to resist the urge to raise her voice when she heard that.
Not so bad!?
‘Not so bad!? Hey, I'm really scary when I want to be!’
Bathed for the first time in Angra Mainyu's demonic aura, Xenovia and Irina not only saw visions of ruin and despair, but also couldn't trust the words of beings like the Church members. In comparison, Rias, Sona, and the rest of their nobles reacted opposite direction.
"I guess it's easier to do it when it's not right in front of you and you know the whole context," Irina reflected.
She knew what Angra had done and that she could trust him.
But her counterpart had barely seen him before and only from afar.
It made sense that she couldn't trust him.
"At least they should trust him for Shirou's sake," Xenovia said, while being more self-critical.
Her future husband trusted him; wasn't it her duty as a wife to support him?
Before a True Demon, their demonic blood roared with renewed power, elevating them to a higher rank. Opening and closing their hands in awe-struck silence, Sona and Rias finally grasped the mystery of how a single individual could unite the warring pillars. They felt as if they were in the presence of a born leader.
"I wonder how we reincarnated ones will react," Asia said curiously.
Until now, they had only demonstrated the reaction of those who were pure demons.
But what about hybrids like them?
Koneko shuddered. Observing Angra Mainyu, her keen senses as a Senjutsu user warned her that this was not the Shirou she knew and for whom she was eternally grateful. Angra Mainyu's energy reeked of malice and bore no resemblance to the Sacred Aura that had allowed her to see her opinions about her older sister for what they were: prejudices.
"Ironic," Koneko rolled her eyes.
She, a demon, trusted a holy being more than a demonic one.
Truly ironic.
While the others reacted to Angra Mainyu's aura, one individual felt he had waited long enough.
"Enough. I have waited and I have earned my battle," spoke the Evil Dragon of Calamity for the first time since the appearance of Angra Mainyu. A jet-black dragon spread its wings and bent its massive body forward, surrounded by a black and gold aura.
"You know, I knew he was being too calm," Azazel said seriously.
In fact, he was surprised that he hadn't attacked anyone yet.
He regretted his words now.
The immense pressure exuded by the Dragon was enough to flatten the entire area into a paste; the abrupt screams that died away in an instant in the nearby buildings spoke of how many people had died on a whim.
"No!" Issei exclaimed in horror, followed by a cacophony of screams from his companions.
"No, it can't be." Asia covered her mouth in shock.
Everyone... everyone was dead.
"Why didn't you do anything?!" Sona exclaimed furiously, glaring at Shirou.
Everyone: his classmates, teachers, janitors.
All dead!
The building could be rebuilt as many times as necessary, but its people...
No.
"I'm sorry," Shirou said, closing his eyes for a second, mourning their deaths.
"You do remember that's not Shirou, right, brat?" Rin scolded Sona.
Serafall looked at her sister, unsure what to say.
She wasn't expecting this.
"...Yes, you're right, I'm sorry." Sona lowered her head apologetically.
This was not Shirou's fault.
"It's not your fault either."
‘As if I cared about those humans’
Angra Mainyu felt nothing for those he didn't care about, so his expression remained unchanged. However, his magic power began to surge as he realized that, while he didn't care about the loss of life, those he wished to protect did.
"Of course," Rin said, not surprised.
In the end, Angra Mainyu would always be that.
A demon with no regard for human life.
"Are they really dead?" Rias asked, pale with shock.
"I don't think anyone could have survived that," Akeno replied in a numb voice, mechanically returning to the book.
"Rias," Sirzech murmured worriedly.
That damned-
"No, no, no, it's all over," Sona said, her knees trembling before collapsing to the ground in despair. All that remained of Kuoh Academy was splintered wood and rubble mixed with the smell of blood from crushed bodies.
A scream echoed as Issei, Saji, and the other reincarnated Demons desperately dug, hoping their schoolmates were still alive amidst the destruction. Seeing Sona's anguished expression for the first time in her life, Serafall felt anger. No. She was furious above all else. She could barely contain herself because she'd been warned that too much magical energy would negatively affect her baby's development, whose magical resistance wasn't as high as her father's.
"Kill him," Serafall declared furiously.
‘That was the plan from the beginning.’
Through the Mark of Marbas, Agara Mainyu could clearly feel the rage and pain that Serafall was suffering.
Angra Mainyu's hands clenched into fists and the strength of his demonic power amplified.
Was this a feeling of vengeance?
"Isn't this something familiar to all the evils of the world?" Azazel asked.
One would think that he, more than anyone else, would be familiar with that desire.
He didn't know, nor did he care, but one thing was clear.
He was going to act accordingly.
"Kill him, make him suffer," Issei said furiously through gritted teeth.
Why was he...why was he too weak to do it?
Damn.
'I am the Bearer of all Evil, my skin is a tapestry of curses beyond all understanding.'
The black markings on Angra Mainyu's body began to contract and twist, glowing with an eerie blue. All around, a marrow-like substance, in the form of droplets, began to levitate from corpses and channel into a torrent. This was a power Shirou could never have replicated. Despite his Selflessness, this was an ability only Angra Mainyu could wield.
"What is that thing?" Gabriel asked with a slight tremor.
Even through the screen, she felt bad.
It felt wrong.
It felt sinful.
'I will take your sins, your unfulfilled desires, and your hatred, and I will become the conduit to release it all.'
Angra Mainyu was a container above all else.
"Can he absorb sins?" Michael wondered, puzzled.
"I suppose that's what it was designed for, to be the container for all the evils of the world," Azazel replied.
The only difference is that now he did it voluntarily.
The resentment, lack of will, and anger found in the bodies of the recently deceased were emotions that had negative connotations: the Evil of Man found in those reluctant to die.
'I am the embodiment of human sacrifice.'
Angra Mainyu would bear the weight of that evil.
‘And to think that the day would come when I would do that voluntarily.’
"You've changed, from trying to unleash all your evils on the world to bringing them to yourself willingly, you've really changed."
‘And that's supposed to be a good thing? Damn it, I expect a good reward for this.’
The patterns flowing across her skin exuded a pressure unlike that of overwhelming power. It was like gazing into a bottomless abyss. The sensation was more akin to crushing despair and the malevolence awakened by the energy of the spirits of the dead.
This was an authority of the Zoroastrian figure known as Angra Mainyu.
"I've never met the Angra Mainyu of our world, but I'm sure that's not the case. Hell, Angra is supposed to be a god by birth, the son of Ahura Mazda, the supreme deity of Zoroastrianism, not a human." Azazel shook his head in disbelief.
How many differences were there between their worlds?
Apart from some men who apparently are now women.
He who shoulders all.
Suddenly, no one made a sound except for Ophis, who still retained her human form. She tilted her head curiously to the right, crouched down gently, and tapped the curses scattered across the floor with the tip of her index finger.
What would normally kill a man with a single touch merely blackened Ophis's fingernail as if it were coated with polish. Just before the potent curses could penetrate her body, she interrupted them with a near-infinite supply of magical energy. To the utter disbelief of all the onlookers, she seemed fascinated by the appearance of her afflicted finger with childlike wonder and began tapping each of her fingers into the curses, one by one. Afterward, she carefully removed her shoes and dipped her toes in the water with a satisfied air.
‘Is she getting a manicure made with my curses?’
"And apparently a pedicure too."
"Sometimes her appearance makes me forget how powerful she is," Sirzech said, impressed.
Even he wouldn't want to touch that thing with his bare hands, much less let them spread.
"On the other hand, the effect is very pretty," Serafall couldn't help but comment.
The way the lines moved as if they were alive on Ophis's fingernails was truly hypnotic.
She would also like to try it if she didn't know that it would possibly kill her.
Or worse, her baby.
Angra Mainyu didn't know how to feel, and much of the tension she'd been carrying dissipated abruptly. After all, Ophis snapped her fingers and revealed that her magical energy had protected all the students and people trapped in the rubble. There was no longer any reason to lose control.
"They're alive!" Issei exclaimed with joy, his eyes welling up with tears.
"Thank you, thank you very much." Asia clasped her hands together in sincere gratitude towards the dragon.
"That, that was lucky," Sona sighed in relief.
She wasn't even upset that he didn't do the same with the building.
That could be rebuilt later.
"Friend said protect?" Ophis asked, as if she still hadn't gotten used to the term. Besides, she didn't seem sure she'd done the right thing, but the way Issei tried to hug her in gratitude before Rias caught him by the scruff of the neck said it all. Saji was the closest to reaching Ophis, but a cry of relief from Sona stopped him in his tracks.
"Don't even think about it," Rías hissed.
She had saved them, but they couldn't forget what Ophis was.
"But look at her, she looks like she needs a hug," Issei insisted.
"Shirou can give it to her, he's the only one I don't think would do anything to her," Rias replied, rolling her eyes.
She looked sweet and seemed to need a hug.
But it was still a dragon as dangerous as, or even more dangerous than, Trihexa!
It was then that the Jet Black Dragon began to laugh, swishing his tail with amusement. His name was Crom Cruach, the strongest of the Evil Dragons.
The strongest dragon had decided not to act before the Demons' meeting for one simple reason: he sensed Angra Mainyu's strength, and the strong always deserved his respect.
"How kind," Shirou said curtly.
He had encountered this type of lunatic a couple of times.
They believed that might made right, that the strong were the only ones with rights.
They didn't think the same when a Noble Phantom blew their heads off.
Crom began to observe the adversaries before him before showing his fangs when Adelina became dissatisfied with the way Crom was looking at Angra Mainyu and took a step forward.
"Does she really think she has a chance?" Akeno wondered.
"I think she just doesn't care." Shirou shook his head.
Even if she died here, she would do so content.
Those were the worst.
"The weak have no right to interfere in this battle," Crom wasted no time in eliminating any apparent nuisance. A powerful wing flapped and unleashed a magical gale toward Adelina; only for the wind to dissipate as a barrage of curses enveloped Adelina's drawn sword, allowing her to slice through the blades of wind.
"He can do that, too?" Kiba asked, impressed.
‘Apparently, I can. We need to try it sometime.’
"It looks like a powerful combination." Shirou nodded.
If he could combine Marbas's curses with his swords, how effective would he be against his opponents?
It was an idea worth trying
"Y-You honour me, Lord M-Marbas," Adelina stammered as she felt the changes in her sword and the power it now held. If Serafall ever regretted being pregnant right now, it would be now.
"It's not fair!" Serafall complained.
It was as if he had done it deliberately to keep her away from the battle
Adelina seemed starstruck, and that irritated Serafall greatly. However, Crom was no longer amused.
“Enough! The time for battle has come!” Great reptilian wings unfurled amidst an explosion of draconic power. Bared fangs hissed as embers erupted from the centre of the blast furnace that was Crom's magical energy.
"Even if he's not a celestial dragon, Crom Cruach's strength cannot be denied," Azazel said seriously.
He might not be able to match Ophis.
But the amount of damage he could cause while being subdued could be catastrophic.
The heat began to spread throughout the area, the air became stifling, and the tar on the roads began to bubble.
The green jewel embedded in the Boosted Gear gauntlet on Issei's arm began to flash rapidly as a warning. Even the Heavenly Dragons recognized Crom Cruach's strength.
"Even Draigg," Issei swallowed, looking at his arm apprehensively.
Could they contribute to this battle, or would they once again be reduced to mere spectators?
Ophis merely blinked and responded to Crom's provocation by increasing her own power to match him. Angra Mainyu said nothing, but followed suit and created a three-way confrontation, with two of them ganging up on one.
And yet, Serafall, Xenovia, and everyone else staring at Angra Mainyu noticed how he was beginning to tremble, but it wasn't from fear.
Crom's strength was equal to or greater than Angra Mainyu's, but the Ouroboros Dragon was on his side. The fact that Crom still chose to start a fight revealed his true passion for battles, but that wasn't the issue.
"I think this is the first time he's fought someone of his own caliber," Sirzech noted.
"Even with Ophis on your side, this battle will be difficult," Azazel said with concern.
Victory was not a question of if, but of when.
But how can he achieve this without destroying Japan in the process?
That would be the real challenge.
"Can you do it?"
‘It's just a slightly larger swallow, there won't be any problem.’
Angra Mainyu's gaze shifted away from Crom and Ophis and returned to the air.
"And now, wasn't that already fixed?!" Issei complained before exclaiming in terror
The world was breaking apart; spatial tears and fissures continued to form even after Shirou had dealt with the influence of Trihexa's main body along with Goetia.
"But Trihexa is gone...or is it?" Issei asked nervously.
Could it be Shirou...?
"The main body is gone," Rin corrected. "But their heads are still around."
"And we cannot forget Ophis and the gods and other entities that oppose them," Azazel added.
Taking Trihexa away didn't fix anything; it only briefly eased the burden on the world.
If they really wanted to solve anything, they had to get rid of those heads.
This wasn't good. Nothing was good in this situation.
It should have been only the clash between the Great Red and Ophis that could destabilize the foundations of the world order, but that wasn't a requirement. The only requirement necessary to break the balance was to fill the Earth with energy it couldn't contain.
"Energy that now comes from multiple sources," Michael said, worried.
Dragons, gods, demons, yokai, heroes, all of them gradually contributed to the collapse of the world with their energy colliding uncontrollably.
In reality, the current situation was a natural one. Six Trihexa bodies were battling across the world, spawning deformed abominations. Gods and members of each faction were engaged in open warfare, and even human armies were entangled with Gabriel's sacred enchantments. The presence of summoned heroes also contributed to the surge of energy in the world.
Something had to be done, and if everything was going to go according to plan, it had to be done soon.
But it was still too soon.
"So you have a plan?" Rias asked with relief.
"It seems so, but whatever it is, it looks like it will take time," Azazel replied.
The problem was that time was precisely what they didn't have.
More time was needed for at least three of Trihexa's main bodies to reach Kuoh. If three more Trihexa bodies could no longer exert their presence on Earth, the world would stabilize permanently.
"But wouldn't bringing all three together in one place, on top of everything that's already there, actually create more pressure on the world?" Sona questioned.
"Not if the plan is to eliminate them all in one fell swoop," Grayfia replied.
"The problem is how to do that." Azazel glanced sideways at Saber.
Would they finally see Excalibur in action?
And would that be enough?
Crom's strength and confrontational attitude were thwarting the plan. His growing power, along with that of Ophis, marked the turning point.
Angra Mainyu was powerful, but unlike Shirou, he didn't have the means to relieve the pressure on the Earth's core... but someone else, reluctantly willing to help, did.
Shirou involuntarily grunted, having a very good idea of who they were talking about.
"A friend of yours?" Serafall asked with interest.
"Oh yes, his best friend, he was even the one who taught Shirou everything he knows," Rin replied with a mocking smile.
The wind began to blow, a breeze that brought with it the ghost of a smile in the distance, hidden behind an insensitive expression.
"Stand aside," a voice echoed on the wind. A voice familiar to everyone, but not "All of you."
"Familiar, but not?" Gabriel tilted his head, confused.
Who had spoken?
A sharp surge of magical energy gave way to an azure bolt that illuminated the horizon, mixed with a certain kind of aura that caused both Ophis and Crom to pause.
"An aura capable of affecting even Ophis?" Michael only knew of a few weapons capable of doing something like that.
It was a sword that heralded the coming of twilight.
A Slayer of Dragons and the prized sword of the Nibelungen family.
Balmung cratered into the ground before Crom, its blade twisted and its body contorted. Smoke billowed from the hilt, encrusted with a luscious jewel of power. Tendrils of magical energy scorched the ground in arcs, and their Dragon Slaying properties caused even Crom to falter.
"You could have aimed for the head." Shirou rolled his eyes in annoyance.
Prick.
"Wow, somehow that's the most emotional thing I've ever seen," Serafall said, impressed and a little jealous.
"Yes, he's the only one capable of provoking Shirou like that." Saber smiled wistfully.
Although their relationship wasn't the best during the war.
It was good to see him again.
"Why would Shirou and Siegfried not get along?" Irina asked, confused.
"That imbecile isn't Siegfried," Shirou corrected.
Irina looked at him, confused.
If it wasn't Siegfried, then who else could that sword belong to?
They all turned toward where the sword had come from and abruptly stilled in place. Serafall gasped, a stunned gleam in her eyes as she imagined what the future held for them.
"Shirou?" Xenovia and Irina called out alarm as they stared at the figure perched atop a distant high-rise building.
"Please don't confuse me with that idiot." Shirou sighed in annoyance.
"That's truly the most emotional thing we've ever seen from you," Irina said, surprised.
Even when he was embarrassed, he only blushed slightly and didn't react as badly as he did with that guy.
Even so, at this point the identity of that man was not difficult to discern.
And yet, it wasn't him. He was taller, older, sleeker, and had the air of a hardened killer.
He was simply a Nameless Heroic Spirit who decided he couldn't wait any longer.
EMIYA.
"Your future self, huh?" Azazel had already guessed it since Shirou declared that he wasn't Siegfried
"Yes, his future self." Rin nodded before a Cheshire cat grin spread across his face. "And my servant."
She had a couple of things to say to that imbecile.
Despite all his animosity, Shirou couldn't help but feel a touch of pity for Archer.
"He looks so tired," Gabriel murmured, feeling sorry for the man.
Archer didn't know what to think at first when he was abruptly summoned again, and, of all people, asked by God to help a world in need of salvation. However, he wasn't the only one summoned; virtually all the spirits of the Throne of Heroes were also called. None of them refused the summons because it would tarnish their beliefs and motivations as Heroes of humanity.
"Were all the heroic spirits summoned, including the Grand?" Saber asked, shocked.
It was said that a single Grand was strong enough to fight a Beast on its own, but all seven?
Was there a danger they couldn't all face together?
"I don't think it's that simple," Shirou said, puzzled.
Something about the way Archer expressed himself sounded wrong to him.
Did they all truly respond out of a sense of duty?
No, definitely not.
Archer was no different, but the level of disbelief he endured when he realized that this whole situation was caused by his younger counterpart was indescribable.
Had he been the one who caused this divergence in the timeline by trying to kill his younger self? Archer didn't want to delve into that possibility.
"No, if that were the case, I would also have divine powers." Shirou rolled his eyes once again.
Not everything revolved around you, you imbecile.
Archer just sighed and felt like an idiot for agreeing to save others again without asking for relevant information. Was he really that unlucky? Wasn't an E-rank supposed to be ten times better than the average human?
"We are actually investigating whether the rating isn't actually EX," Rin replied.
"Ex?" Serafall looked at her, puzzled.
"Yes," Rin nodded before smiling mockingly. "So bad it's impossible to calculate."
Shirou could only sigh wearily.
He was already fed up with that joke.
And the ever-increasing possibility that it is true.
"Have you returned so soon, Archer?"
Yep, his luck was shit.
Archer grimaced and didn't respond to the woman who was smiling at him smugly. He felt awkward to be back after saying goodbye, but that was precisely his current situation.
"Yes, like saying goodbye to someone only to realize they're going in the same direction." Serafall nodded sympathetically.
"It was more like saying goodbye to a dead person only to see them walking around the next day," Rin grunted.
No, wait, wasn't it supposed to be that less than an hour had passed since the war ended from their perspective?
So she had an emotional farewell with his servant and a reunion within the same ten minutes?
"Rin," Archer acknowledged stiffly.
"Wow, you've really trained him well." Serafall whistled, impressed.
"That's the only way they learn," Rin nodded smugly.
Shirou complained under his breath.
What were they? Dogs?
The smile on Rin's face was both heartfelt and terrifying to Emiya, who could read her intentions just by looking at her. In her left hand were the Command Seals she had transferred from Saber during the Holy Grail War, and in her right, a new set of crescent-shaped Command Seals.
"Two sets of command seals?" Saber asked with interest.
Was one hers and the other Archer's?
No, didn't they say she was in England?
So whose was the second set?
"That's Master to you," Rin said snidely, her happy mood unable to be hidden. She had played a crucial role in the plan and, as such, had received the Command Seals and the energy needed to support Archer. "Stick with the plan. We'll only have one chance to catch them," She chastised.
"Will it do the same thing you did with the main body?" Xenovia asked with great interest.
Honestly, she still had no idea what Shirou had done, but there was no denying the chills it had sent down her spine.
"Yes, something like that," Shirou replied.
Similar, but never the same.
Never, ever.
Archer didn't respond. He had revealed his position by shooting Balmung, but in doing so, he had bought himself the necessary time. Crom already knew him, but it no longer mattered.
Three of the Trihexa bodies abruptly appeared sailing towards Kuoh, being pulled by Greater Demons from another world.
"So that's why they started pushing them earlier," Sirzech realized.
In that case, when did they start coordinating? Did Shirou perhaps speak to Goetia from the other world, and did Goetia then give the orders to the Sins?
The time had come.
Shirou wasn't the only one capable of manifesting his inner reality and easing the world's burden. In fact, there were several more, two of whom, including Archer, were chosen for the task of eliminating three Trihexa bodies at once with a near-limitless supply of weapons and warriors.
"To manifest his inner reality?" Michael wasn't stupid; he had realized what Shirou had done some time ago.
He simply...refused to believe it.
And now two more with that ability had appeared?
Was that something common in their world?
Archer grunted as he stared at the burly figure beside him. The man had his muscular arms crossed and was grinning broadly, wearing a billowing red cloak over hard leather armor.
"Another relative of yours?" Xenovia asked curiously.
"Not all redheads are related," Shirou remarked dryly.
"Professor Waver would kill to be here," Rin snorted as she recognised the man.
How could she not?
They literally had one class a week dedicated to him and his exploits.
Waver was certainly a loyal subject, fulfilling his king's last order.
The figure was a person of great renown. A king whose name evoked the greatest achievement of an era.
"King Arthur?" Irina asked, tilting her head.
"Excuse me?" Saber looked at her, offended.
They didn't look alike at all!
Iskander, the famous king of Macedonia.
"The king of conquerors, the man who dominated almost the entire known world," Azazel whistled, impressed.
Those were real heavyweights.
"No offense, but can he do anything against Trihexa? He's a great general and was a brave soldier, but he's not known for being exceptionally powerful like Heracles or King Arthur," Sona pointed out.
"Iskander is not a man to be underestimated; he was a great king and warrior, more than worthy of his legacy," Saber said seriously.
Her encounters with him were brief and they never engaged in direct combat
But she had to admit that even if she had done it, she wasn't entirely sure she could have won.
"Just this once, King of Conquerors, the Armoury stands at the ready." Archer laid his bow aside and began to chant his soul's aria as he followed the trajectory of the three Trihexa bodies.
"Uh?" Serafall murmured with interest. "Doesn't it sound slightly different from Shirou's?" she wondered.
"It sounds different because it is different. An aria is more than a spell; it's the essence of your being. My aria, my Unlimited Blade Works, is Emiya Shirou himself," Shirou explained.
"I didn't understand, but it sounds really cool," Issei admitted.
Around Archer, a ring of blue magical flame began to rapidly expand, enveloping all of Kuoh. His left arm was outstretched, his vision like a hawk's, waiting for the moment to break free.
His was a beacon in the night, a forge ready and waiting.
If one world cannot eliminate the enemies it contains, what will happen with two?
"So they'll finally show us that?" Azazel asked without much hope.
What did that supposed 'inner world' contain?
Whatever it was, I bet they'd change tack as soon as their song ended.
"A grand conquest it shall be, Nameless Hero." A blinding light enveloped the area next to Kuoh, overlapping the circle of flames.
The two grunted, their magical energy reaching its individual peaks as the three bodies of Trihexa slammed into the vicinity of Kuoh.
"Just in time," Rin smiled fiercely.
This was their moment!
And she would take advantage of the situation to squeeze every last penny out of them for saving their world!
A moment later, two screams echoed across the horizon as Crom, Ophis, and everyone at the previous location in Kuoh were transported to another place.
"Unlimited Blade Works-!" "Ionioi Hetairoi-!"
An army of soldiers and an armoury like no other.
"Of course, damn it!" Azazel exclaimed furiously.
They couldn't let him see a single damn thing!?
"So you're telling me that those two alone can defeat the three heads of Trihexa, the most powerful of the evil dragons, just with their 'inner worlds,' whatever that is?" Rias asked, skeptical of the idea.
"The two of us alone, maybe not." Shirou shook his head.
"But they definitely won't be alone," Rin added.
Again, Waver would kill to be here.
And even more so now that they could record what happened when two spheres of reality unfolded simultaneously.
Archer and Shirou didn't count.
Anything that results from those two doesn't count for anything.
Never.