Bab 74: Chapter 74: Battle between Magus and Magus Killer (11)
Noon has arrived.
Literally, it means that "noon time" has already arrived.
Noon is one of the traditional time units in China, referring to the period from 11:00 a.m. to 11:59 a.m.
"Noon has arrived" doesn't have a specific meaning by itself, but in certain contexts, it can be given special significance.
In traditional Chinese culture, noon is the time when Yang energy is at its peak during the day. Executing criminals at this time can effectively balance the Yin energy associated with their deaths, preventing them from becoming vengeful spirits and causing harm to the world. It reflects the core value of Chinese culture, which emphasizes the harmony and balance of Yin and Yang.
Therefore, "noon has arrived" can sometimes be used to indicate "the time for execution has come."
From Kenneth's perspective, Emiya Kiritsugu's "noon time" has arrived.
The pillar-shaped defense system he reconstructed has several times the defense power of the membranous structure. He is certain that Kiritsugu's bullets cannot penetrate his Volumen Hydrargyrum.
After blocking this shot, it will be the damn rat's turn to suffer. Kenneth will make that rat understand the wrath of a Magus Lord—Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald will deliver what he promised!
However, in reality, it is Kenneth to whom "noon has arrived."
The magical power required to transform mercury into a pillar is not comparable to a simple membrane. Each of the thorns, as thick as steel wires, must possess the hardness and tenacity to repel bullets. Constructing such a defense, even for someone of Kenneth's caliber, requires the utilization of his entire magical power.
This is exactly what Kiritsugu hoped to see. His trump card, the "Origin Bullet," exists precisely for this moment.
Origin, also known as the "Primordial Impulse," is conceptually similar to primitive instincts and predestination. All things, including life, have a direction (cause) determined at their inception and will inevitably develop towards that direction.
For humans, this direction gives rise to a primitive impulse, which can still be suppressed by acquired personality and wisdom. However, since the origin is decided far in advance at the "Root Vortex," it is an absolute command at the core of all things, and even the cycle of reincarnation cannot change it.
The origin is closely related to the attributes of the Magi. In the case of the previous generation of the Emiya family, when determining the origin of the legitimate child born, they named the baby Kiritsugu due to the peculiar result.
When determining the "origin" of Kiritsugu's birth, they were perplexed by the strange result and named the baby "Kiritsugu." Broadly speaking, it is a dual attribute of "fire" and "earth." To be more specific, it is a composite attribute of "severing" and "binding." It is the inherent form of his soul, which is the true nature of the "origin."
Severing (Kiritsu) and binding (Sugu) have slight differences from destruction and regeneration because Kiritsugu's origin does not imply "sever." For example, when a severed line is bound together again, the thickness of the connecting point changes. In other words, the action of "sever and bind" causes irreversible "alteration" in the object.
Emiya Kiritsugu realized that his "Origin" manifested during manual labor. If it's an ordinary item, it can be repaired even if it breaks. But once it becomes a sophisticated machine, things suddenly become the opposite. The more he tries to repair it, the more fatally damaged the machine becomes.
This is influenced by his "Origin." If it's just an ordinary metal wire that breaks, reconnecting the severed part can restore its original function. However, the same method doesn't apply to intricate electronic circuits. Simply reconnecting them doesn't fix the item. If even a small problem occurs in a circuit, it loses its functionality.
Kiritsugu maximized this peculiar characteristic and created a Mystic Code, using it as his final trump card. The first and second ribs on his left and right flanks were removed, ground into powder, and condensed using Soul Engineering. They were then sealed as cores in 66 bullets.
These bullets were named "Origin Bullets," and when they hit, they materialized Kiritsugu's Origin. If they hit a living being, there would be no wounds or bleeding. The area where the bullet struck would appear like an old scar, superficially healed. However, the nerves and capillaries wouldn't regenerate correctly, causing a loss of original function.
Furthermore, these bullets, possessing the function of a Conceptual Weapon, posed an even greater threat to magi.
Kiritsugu's decisive strike, when it made contact with the Reverse Thorns of Mercury, caused all the other thorns to close in like a Venus flytrap, surrounding the bullet. The densely packed clusters of tiny thorns instantly transformed into a single large pillar, completely nullifying the bullet's power.
The Volumen Hydrargyrum, with its characteristic of free transformation, demonstrated its prowess. The flawless manipulation of the dense perfect fluid was undoubtedly the ultimate technique that lived up to the name of the noble Archibald family.
However, the moment this magecraft was beautifully completed, Kenneth's fate also came to an end. He never understood what happened to his body until the very end.
The bullet was twisted and shattered by the pressure of the mercury. Just as Kenneth thought he had blocked the fatal blow from his opponent and was about to deal with the damn rat, severe pain spread throughout his body. His heart, lungs, organs, and neural network were torn apart in that instant, thrown into chaos.
Before a scream could escape his throat, blood sprayed out because of the wrong movement caused by the shattered nerves, making him appear like a comical dancer to an outsider.
By relying on intense pressure, the high-density magical power circulating in the magic circuit began to ignore the circuit's pathways and went on a reckless rampage, ultimately destroying the magus's own physical body. While the Volumen Hydrargyrum defended against Contender's attack, Kenneth suffered more severe damage than if he had been directly hit by the bullet.
This poses an even more severe threat: when Kiritsugu's magic bullet is interfered with by magecraft, the effects produced by the bullet's Origin will significantly feedback onto the magus's magic circuit.
If the magus's magic circuit is likened to a high-voltage electric current line, Kiritsugu's bullet is like a drop of water. If a conductive liquid attaches to a dense electrical circuit, there is only one result: a short circuit in the line, and uncontrolled current that burns the circuit itself. This is the terrifying effect of the "Origin Bullet."
To prevent the effects of the Origin Bullet, it is necessary to block the bullet not solely relying on magecraft but through physical means. For this reason, Kiritsugu chose the .30-06 caliber Springfield sniper rifle round, as based on the technology at the time, only the armor of an armored vehicle or higher-level physical defenses could guarantee complete immunity.
Just one shot, that was enough.
Kiritsugu boldly chose a Thompson Contender, a handgun that could only hold a single bullet, making it a sinister choice among handguns. It was paired with the "Origin Bullet" Mystic Code to be carried and used as a handgun with maximum physical destructive power.
So far, not a single "Origin Bullet" has been wasted. The bullets, made from parts of Kiritsugu's own body, have destroyed the lifelines of thirty-seven magi. The one who has fallen now is the thirty-eighth victim.
After the beloved gun fulfilled its mission, Kiritsugu pressed his finger against the trigger and swung the long barrel down, shaking off the bloodstains.
The empty shell casings flew out from the folding mechanism of the magazine and fell into the void, leaving behind a faint residue of gunpowder on the marble floor.
Kiritsugu felt no emotions toward victory. Just like before, it was simply a successful execution guided by careful calculations and predetermined conclusions.
The destructive power of the "Origin Bullet" depended on how many magic circuits the target activated at the moment of impact. Because the magecraft used to destroy the victim's body was their magical energy. This was fatal for Kenneth, who was constantly provoked and exerted his maximum magical power, allowing Kiritsugu to achieve the desired outcome.
Kenneth collapsed in the sea of mercury that had returned to its liquid state, his body twitching slightly. The immensely powerful Volumen Hydrargyrum had lost its source of magic and was no longer sustainable.
The once formidable Lord El-Melloi had become as harmless as a baby. His body no longer possessed the power of a magus, let alone the functions of an ordinary person.
Although Kiritsugu knew that leaving him be would eventually lead to his demise, his principle was to deliver a final blow to the fallen enemy. He switched his M950 with the remaining bullets to semi-automatic mode and approached Kenneth, who was already akin to a walking dead.
With a shot to the head at close range, one pair of the seven Master-Servant pairs contending for the Holy Grail would be eliminated.
Suddenly, a hand reached out from the darkness and grabbed the barrel of the M950.
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