Chapter 113: Chapter 37. Trust
I Will Eventually Embark on the Path of No Return Called a Hero [Arc2] - 37. Trust
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"Is that so? Is that what you mean? Because the front-line battle has turned unfavorable, you want to weaken the Black Faction through other methods, such as…"
Avicebron continued to watch the distant battlefield.
"By eliminating me?"
"I think we can have a talk~" Kotomine Shirou smiled as he sheathed his blood-stained katana.
"That's not a conversational attitude," Avicebron glanced at the fallen automaton on the ground, all of which had been killed by a silent strike. If it weren't for the fact that this man behind him clearly had the aura of a living being, he would have thought the Red Assassin had silently sneaked in.
"Because I don't want to be disturbed," Kotomine Shirou shrugged. "So, Black Caster Avicebron, would you be willing to join the Red Faction?"
"Do you think it's possible?" Avicebron pointed at the distant battlefield. "Your ace, Achilles, is being held back by the Archer, and your Lancer will likely die at the hands of the King soon. You have no chance of winning this war."
"It would be different if you joined us," Kotomine Shirou shook his head. "As long as you activate your Noble Phantasm, the tide of this Holy Grail War will definitely turn in our favor."
"You've already lost," Avicebron said calmly.
"But is that really good?" Kotomine Shirou tilted his head. "If the Red Faction is defeated, can you win? Will your wish be fulfilled? Will you defeat that King?"
"It doesn't matter. My wish is merely to complete that Noble Phantasm. The Holy Grail has nothing to do with me," Avicebron calmly observed the battlefield.
"I really want you to join us more and more," Kotomine Shirou chuckled lightly.
"I have no reason to join the losing side," Avicebron shook his head.
"But if the Black Faction wins like this, your Noble Phantasm will no longer be necessary," Kotomine Shirou said softly.
Avicebron clenched his fists.
"Your Noble Phantasm was originally prepared by them to increase their chances of winning. But now that they might win, once they do, you will be their enemy. Do you think they will let you use your Noble Phantasm?" Kotomine Shirou leisurely walked to Avicebron's side and looked out at the battlefield with him. "No one will believe you don't want the Holy Grail, but I believe in you, so how about joining us?"
"It's too late. My Noble Phantasm still needs an excellent mage as its core. Even if I joined you, my Noble Phantasm couldn't be completed," Avicebron turned his head away. "Moreover, I don't believe you can survive this battle."
"What if I said the Red Faction will not lose?" Kotomine Shirou's smile slowly widened. Avicebron's attitude was no longer as resolute as it had been at the beginning.
"Why should I believe that? Because of Achilles?" Avicebron sneered. "The King will soon deal with your Lancer. No one on this land can match that King. After that, the King and the Archer will team up, and even Achilles cannot win."
Not to mention they also have an exceptionally strong Saber on their side.
"No, no, no, your King cannot defeat our Lancer. Such a gap cannot be crossed merely by fame. In this Holy Grail War, only two are qualified to fight Lancer—one is Achilles, and the other…" Kotomine Shirou chuckled. "Is Ruler Cyd. Only these two can force him to use his full power. Right now, your King can only suppress him because he is unwilling to exert his full strength. After all, he is a loyal heroic spirit, and his name—"
"Karna."
"It's over. To have fought to this extent on this land, you are an extraordinary heroic spirit. Even if I don't know your true name, I will remember you," Vlad III lamented as he raised his spear. "Here's a swift end, as a mark of my respect."
Blood dripped from the iron stake onto the ground, and Karna's snow-white hair obscured his face. The spear of the God of Annihilation hung limply at his side, and his brilliant golden armor was pierced through. This was impossible, but the attack came from within. His lungs and right arm were pierced, and another stake had penetrated his lower abdomen and nailed him to the ground.
Now, Karna was standing on the earth, pierced by the iron stakes, much like the legendary enemy of Vlad III.
This was probably the worst injury he had sustained since acquiring this golden armor.
Everything around him was an enemy; the earth and the sky were all firmly controlled by his enemies. It felt as if he was alone fighting against this world, and everything around him seemed to be shouting for him to die. This really was…
Karna raised his head. Despite enduring unparalleled pain, his eyes were calm.
A routine affair.
"Clang—"
Vlad III's strike was easily deflected by Karna.
"Flames—"
Scorching flames instantly enveloped Karna, and the surrounding iron stakes were quickly burned away.
"Useless… What!" Vlad III's eyes widened.
The scorching flames, after burning the surrounding iron stakes, rolled back and surged into Karna's body, burning, burning, continuously burning, until all the iron stakes were burned out. No! Even if the iron stakes were burned out, it couldn't stop!
As long as the fact that he was struck by Vlad III remained, he would continue to endure attacks from within! So let the flames keep burning his flesh!
"Black Lancer, I will take your head," Karna's eyes narrowed as he gathered magic at his feet and charged toward Vlad III like a sharp arrow.
"Useless!" Vlad III roared and swung his hand.
The iron stakes, which had put Karna at a disadvantage, came crashing down again, but this time he miscalculated. Karna had started to get serious and was now unleashing the full power of the Sun's son.
His will could not be distorted even by the flames. The pressure of the iron stakes was meaningless to him. He would resolutely move forward, and any iron stakes approaching him would be burned by the flames.
"It's over!"
Karna thrust his spear toward Vlad III's head.
"Damn it!" Vlad III stepped back, feeling the high temperature from the flames sting his face.
"Clang!"
Just as the God-slaying spear was about to pierce Vlad III, a silver greatsword suddenly swung in from the side and struck the spear.
Karna's eyes narrowed sharply. Anyone who could intercept his attack at this distance must be enduring the flames he generated. Whether they were someone with a will as firm as his or someone with defenses capable of withstanding the flames, or…
"Sorry I'm late."
Siegfried spun and kicked Karna away. He was still burning with Karna's flames, and a faint smell of burning emanated from him, but he still calmly raised his sword toward Karna as if he didn't feel any pain.
A combination of both?
Karna silently stood up and calmly looked at Siegfried, who was blocking Vlad III.
Vlad III opened his mouth. He naturally knew the true name of the Saber in front of him, the dragon-slaying hero Siegfried, who continuously fulfilled the wishes of those who prayed to him, ultimately being struck in the back by his own friend's only weakness. Now, Siegfried had turned his back to him.
Is this trust?
"Thank you for your hard work," Vlad III took a deep breath and walked to Siegfried's side. "My ally!"
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