บท 451: C451
Shirou looked at the group and announced, "Everyone, head to Mount Enzou!"
Gil asked, "So we're evacuating now?"
"It's about time."
"Hmm. Very well." Gil nodded.
The group began to make their way toward Mount Enzou.
Above them, the dark sky was awash with vibrant energy patterns. Starting from directly overhead and spreading out in all directions throughout Fuyuki City.
This was the planet's countermeasure against the intruding threat, getting ready to seal it off from reality and initiate a correction.
In simple terms, the thing that invaded was like a virus, and Fuyuki City was like cells invaded by the virus. The planet acted like white blood cells, intending to isolate the city and kill the virus.
But this was no ordinary virus; it initially defied even the planet's attempts to contain it. Thankfully, with the aid of the Enlightened One, the planet's plan could proceed as intended.
Although the planet had cordoned off Fuyuki City, it left an escape path open at Mount Enzou.
This wasn't a random act. The escape route was specifically left open for Shirou—or rather, for the one with whom the planet had struck a pact more than fifteen hundred years ago: Guinevere.
And so, a six-hour window was provided for their escape. Yet, he equalized this opportunity, granting it to everyone.
Hours had passed since he had taken on his Eternal King form. Time was ticking away, but things were mostly in good shape—most of the evacuation was already done.
Those six hours, which felt both long and incredibly short, were highly productive. Thanks to a hundred-thousand-strong army, spontaneous volunteers from Fuyuki City, and the support of the Counter Guardians, they had accomplished most of what needed to be done.
And they managed all this despite various disruptions. Now, all that was left was to finish the evacuation process.
Crack, crack, crack—
Out of nowhere, a shattering noise echoed through the sky. Shirou looked up at the sky adorned with a rainbow-like aurora.
Amidst the darkened sky, as if darkness were swallowing everything, the sky started to crack.
The gargantuan dragon sensed its prey slipping away and began to stir. From a spot on the right side of its neck, where eerie figures had been lying dormant, a sudden roar erupted. A chorus of humanoid voices blended together, emitting a sound that was both entrancing and jarring.
As the sky continued to split open, the swirling colors around them trembled in response.
"Vessel... my vessel..."
Shirou snorted, retorting, "Oh, so you've noticed I'm about to head out and now you're getting antsy? Pathetic! But don't worry, the planet is more than capable of handling you."
"Vessel... my vessel..."
Brushing off the whimpering of this defeated mongrel, he reunited with his troops, where most had already gathered.
The planet had isolated the entire city, similar to white blood cells surrounding infected cells. However, there was still one escape route at Mount Enzou that created a surreal sight. While the rest of the city was closed off by the planet's colorful walls, Mount Enzou had a natural opening, resembling a cave.
As soon as Galahad saw Shirou, he quickly approached with his soldiers, shouting, "Your Majesty!"
Shirou looked at him and affirmed, "You've done well, Galahad."
"Thank you for your praise," Galahad replied with a respectful gesture.
"And the priest?"
Galahad gestured toward a silver-haired woman standing behind him. "This is Caren Hortensia, the acting representative of the Fuyuki Church."
"Greetings, esteemed Eternal King," Caren offered a bow, then held out an alchemical stone. "I've been asked to deliver this to you."
"By whom?"
"By my father, Kotomine Kirei."
"Kirei... Oh? Kirei from the parallel world? That's quite interesting."
Shirou accepted the alchemical communication stone from Caren Hortensia.
He channeled magical energy into the stone, and it started to glow faintly. Almost immediately, a deep male voice emerged from within the stone.
"...This is Fuyuki City... This is Fuyuki City... Anyone... Is anyone there... The box..."
The message was fragmented and it eventually fell silent. There was no mistaking it; the voice belonged to Kotomine Kirei.
"How could this possibly happen?" Caren Hortensia exclaimed, her astonishment evident. "The message was even shorter and less complete than the previous ones."
Gil let out a chuckle. "Sounds like some kind of disturbance, I'd say."
Shirou shifted his focus to Caren. "So before you get here, what was Kirei from that other world trying to tell you?"
She explained, "This stone is a special communication tool used by the Church. I was talking with my superior through it before that creature showed up. Then, I started receiving these fragmented messages from my deceased father in the other world. He told me I had to find you."
"And then?"
Caren went on, "He kept going on about 'the box.' I was hoping that giving you the stone might fill in the gaps in the message, but it's only become more confusing."
"Must've been disrupted by that thing," Shirou added.
He slipped the communication stone into his pocket, then gestured towards the exit.
Caren Hortensia nodded and turned to leave.
He then turned to Illya and Chloe, who were with him. "You two should also start getting out of here."
Both hesitated for a moment. Illya looked like she was about to say something, but Chloe beat her to it, saying, "Onii-chan, we'll get going. Just make sure you're right behind us, okay?"
He gave a nod, acknowledging their concern.
Gripping Illya's hand, Chloe made a beeline for the exit.
With soldiers directing the way, the crowd began to file out of Mt. Enzou, leaving Fuyuki City behind in an orderly evacuation.
Crack, crack, crack—
The rainbow-colored barrier encircling the city seemed to tighten, as if it was about to squeeze the entire city any second now.
While people were scrambling to get out, someone was actually walking in.
Gil flashed a grin. "He's finally here."
Slowly, he took the class card and slid it into his chest. A soft glow emanated from his heart.
Shirou also turned, looking at the entrance where a figure was leisurely making his way inside.
The person had a white ponytail and was dressed in red and white mage's garb. Ten silver rings adorned his fingers, and his gaze was so calm it almost felt otherworldly.
There was no doubt, this was King Solomon.
Once in London, Solomon now stood on Fuyuki City soil.
Both Shirou and Gil took this in stride; it wasn't a big surprise. Gil had his Sha Naqba Imuru, and even though it had been disrupted by Shirou's Noble Phantasm, it was still functional. And Merlin had dropped hints about sending someone to locate King Solomon. So, Shirou already knew that Solomon was on the way.
Standing on the hill, Shirou watched King Solomon move against the tide of evacuating people.
Feeling something, Solomon looked up just a bit, locking eyes with him from a distance.
The Archer-Gilgamesh class card melded into Gil's heart, merging his split selves back into one. This allowed the true Gilgamesh to emerge. The golden light that had enveloped him slowly faded away to reveal his true form.
Golden locks, fiery red eyes, and a lean frame adorned with his iconic golden armor. His face wore that familiar smirk of arrogance and pride.
Without a doubt, this was Archer-Gilgamesh, the very Tyrant who had clashed with him in the Fourth Holy Grail War.
But there was a subtle difference this time. Though his expression still dripped with arrogance, those piercing crimson eyes had a slightly softer edge to them. Even his golden hair, usually wild and untamed, seemed calmer, hanging more gracefully as if reflecting an inner peace.
The top half of his golden armor was gone, exposing his flawlessly sculpted torso marked with red lines. Clearly, he was now dressed in the Mythology Mystic Code that enabled him to unleash his full potential.
Shirou couldn't help but let out a small, instinctive click of his tongue when he saw this new form of the ever-arrogant king.
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