บท 88: C88
The Stone Giant then took out countless Noble Phantasms and bombarded Shirou.
It then retrieved the giant sword that had previously suppressed Spartacus from the Gate of Babylon, using only its one arm.
Its name was Ig-Alima, the Green Field Cutting Through the Thousand Mountains. With Ig-Alima in hand, even a thousand mountains could be cut and leveled. It was a massive, divine sword of great length!
Shirou directly replicated the sword, holding one in each hand. And as the Stone Giant attack came hurtling towards him, he countered with a fierce strike of his own.
"Clang----!!!"
The three giant swords clashed, and the sound of steel ringing echoes across the battlefield. The force of the impact was enough to stir the black fog that blanketed the sky, and those who bore witness to this moment were left in awe.
In fact, even the people of Shinto were left with their mouths agape at the scene. How could something like this be forgotten?
The two replicated swords were broken by the real sword, but its powerful force still caused the stone giant's one arm to sway. Shirou seized the opportunity and projected another giant sword, moving it swiftly through the air with a "whoosh." It sliced through the air, leaving a trail of cold light.
He severed the left leg of the Stone Giant, causing it to topple unsteadily. Stone may be strong and hard, but once shattered, it cannot be restored. However, mud is soft and forgiving, so it cannot be destroyed.
He overpowered the Stone Giant and said, "I regret to say that I can only accompany you this far. If you continue to cause trouble, it will not end well for you."
Shirou shattered the chest of the Stone Giant and plunged his slender black hand inside, clasping its beating heart and squeezing it.
"Thump--"
The Stone Giant perished. Its massive stone exterior crumbled and fell away, reduced to nothing more than rubble and dust. The remnants of the giant's once formidable form slowly drifted back towards Shirou, drawn back to him like a wandering spirit returning to its source.
Gilgamesh leaned against a withered tree, surrounded by the ruins of crumbling walls and decaying buildings, with fire consuming all in sight. At this moment, he was in a pitiful state, his arms severed, legs torn apart, and heart hollow, all flowing with blood. His complexion was pallid and his body was beginning to fade away like snowflakes.
His vision was clouded, yet he pushed on, squinting into the distance. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the fiery sea and approached him. The figure was young and sturdy, striding forward with determination.
"You've won..." Gilgamesh said.
"I haven't won and you haven't lost," Shirou crouched down and gazed into Gilgamesh's eyes.
Gilgamesh sneered, "Hmph. What's the point of a mongrel like you learning to speak like those who have discovered the truth of the world?"
"I haven't learned from anyone," Shirou said. "I simply speak the truth. My victory over you is not about defeating you, but about getting closer to understanding you."
"Hmph! Still spouting nonsense, you mongrel," Gilgamesh scoffed, his pride undiminished despite his defeat. He sneered, "Do you not hate me, mongrel? I was the one who cast you into this vortex. The thought of letting you live never crossed my mind."
"I've come this far, and I've encountered no enemies or opponents," Shirou declared. "Only teachers and friends. It was you, Gilgamesh, who taught me courage, wisdom, bravery, and a steadfast heart."
"I am not your teacher," Gilgamesh spat out disdainfully.
"But aren't you showing me the consequences of abusing power right now?" Shirou countered.
Gilgamesh was stunned, his gaze locked onto Shirou's bright eyes. He gritted his teeth and declared, "I am not weak. I will not be shrouded in this veil of shame."
"This is not a matter of shame, but of fact," Shirou declared. "I will never forget this war and what I have learned from it will guide me for the rest of my life. And you, too, are weak, just like me. There is no such thing as a truly strong person in this world. No matter how much stronger they are compared to others, no matter how brilliant they may seem, no one can be perfect and make no mistakes."
"Are you saying that I have made mistakes?" Gilgamesh asked, "Are you suggesting that the fall of Uruk is my fault?"
"No," Shirou replied calmly. "I can sense your gentle kindness, but your words are like thorns and your actions are like a blade. Even if your intentions are good, who would accept kindness that's full of thorns?"
"You...you impudent..." Gilgamesh reached out with his hand, attempting to grab Shirou's face, but his remaining strength was not enough to make contact.
He took hold of Gilgamesh's hands and said, "The Sumerians have not perished, for we are still here. We have evolved from ignorance to wisdom, from barbarism to civilization. This is what it means to live a brief life, to leave our accomplishments to future generations. This is who we are. You should try it too, try to accept us. Try to open your heart to others. If we meet again, I would like to hear your story."
"You...you..." Gilgamesh gazed into Shirou's bright eyes, before finally closing his own.
As the clouds in the sky dispersed, the faint sun shone through and cast a warm light on Gilgamesh's face, now peaceful and serene. "This mongrel..."
The hand slipped from Shirou's grip and Gilgamesh vanished, disappearing like snow.
The sky cleared and Shirou raised the completed Holy Grail crystal, channeling his magical energy into it.
"What is your wish?" a voice asked.
"I wish to bring back to life all those who died in this war," Shirou replied firmly.
"Are you sure?" The voice seemed to question him. "I can grant any wish you have with the magical energy you've provided."
"I am a mortal," Shirou stated, "and a mortal's wishes can be achieved with their own hands. But reversing life and death requires your assistance."
"Is that so?" The voice was skeptical. "But reversing the flow of life and death is a law, and the magical energy you've given me is not enough."
"Take all of my magical energy," Shirou said, "Make this wish come true."
"No regret?"
Shirou said, "It doesn't belong to me, it belongs to this land. Let's return it to its rightful place."
The Grail crystal absorbed Shirou's magical energy, but it did not take everything. After 200 years' worth of reserves were extracted, it was enough to power the reversal of life and death.
With a loud "ding," the Grail crystal in Shirou's hand blazed with a dazzling light.
And then, the veil of death was lifted, and life returned.
...
Kirei walked along the shattered Fuyuki bridge, feeling a deep sense of loss.
He felt as though he had lost the meaning of life, a feeling that had only grown stronger since he had seen that pair of blazing eyes.
He did not understand what was happening to him.
Was this not the answer that Gilgamesh had promised him?
But what were those eyes? What did they mean?
"Shink!" Kirei was abruptly pulled from his thoughts as he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. He looked down to see a blade protruding from his stomach, having been stabbed from behind.
"Surprised?" a voice called out, filled with anger and hatred.
Kirei turned to see Tokiomi, who was glaring at him with a fierce expression.
Just as he had orchestrated an ambush on Gilgamesh from behind, now Kirei was experiencing the same fate he had planned for others.
Just like Gilgamesh, Kirei felt no pain or hatred towards his attacker. Instead, his mind was filled with images of those eyes.
In the face of Tokiomi's angry question, Kirei simply replied, his voice calm and collected, "It's you. So be it."
With those words, he fell from the Fuyuki Bridge. As his life slowly slipped away, Kirei's mind began to recall his own life.
——Generosity, perseverance, honesty, loyalty, diligence, righteousness, patience...
——Are you awake now?
——Are you being held back by the strict doctrines of your religion or being trapped by a group of mongrels that have limited your ability to discover your true self?
——Are you going to continue struggling in the false prison fabricated by humanity, or will you go out and see the pitiful chaos for yourself? The clearer the water, the muddier the sand at the bottom. The choice is yours. But I think your patience is also nearing its limit.
——Ugly expression for a mongrel.
Those pair of eyes...
So that's it...
That's how it is...
Tears streamed down his face as Kirei let out a hysteria-filled shout, "Merciful king, cruel king... If you know the answer, why not just tell me? Why do you make me find it on my own? Why must I confront such an ugly state? Ah------!!!!"
And with that, Kirei fell into the sea.
...
As a man emerged from the river, he spotted a discarded piece of snake skin on the riverbank. He chuckled to himself before donning his attire and embarking on his journey back to Uruk.
"Don't you dare die, mongrel. Otherwise, those eyes will become the king's treasure."
...
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