Chương 35: Chapter 20.2 - Onto New Beginnings [2]
Saber eyes the scene in worry, a small frown present on her face as she rides atop the Hippogriff, with Astolfo as its esteemed rider.
The moment Hanami connected herself with Angra Mainyu, Hanami froze began to bleed. Angra Mainyu had frozen as well, the tattoos engraved upon his skin glowing an ominous purple as a curse was activated. Shirou, who was the closest at the time was suddenly forced back by an unseen force, and would've crashed painfully onto the ground had Gilgamesh not sent out the magical chains from her treasury and pulled him up to the Golden Hind.
With Shirou out of the picture, tentacles made from the curses within Angra Mainyu rose from all around him and Hanami, twisting and coiling around them to form a protective barrier of accursed tentacles.
Gilgamesh had been ready to fire another rain of Noble Phantasms from her gate, when she suddenly stopped. Slowly, she retracted her weapons, and her gates disappeared.
Shirou had immediately asked her why, but the king simply told him to watch. Her master looked uncertain for a moment, before he too backed down with a sigh.
Which brings her here, flying above and around the unmoving dome of tentacles. Truthfully, while the corruption Angra Mainyu had afflicted onto her was gone, her limbs were still weakened, somewhat paralysed. If an enemy is to come about now, her combat prowess will be much weaker than it'd normally be.
Nevertheless, even weakened she'll fight, no matter the cost.
Then, suddenly, an intense wave of magical energy bursts forth from within the cocoon of accursed tentacles, powerful enough to topple the standing remnants of buildings and pick up powerful gusts of wind from the previously still air. Even the legendary Hippogriff is stunned for a moment, though Astolfo expertly snaps it out from its reverie and pulls them further away.
The magic is distinctly holy, cleansing, reminding her somewhat of the presence and safety Avalon gave her when she had it. However, this one feels foreign, almost otherworldly in its presence.
There's only one person that it reminds her of, and Saber can't quite help but smile.
'It seems, even as Hanami is trapped, she's fighting.' As expected of the eccentric girl, her spirit has yet to die down despite the precarious situation she's probably found herself in. It's amazing really, awe-inspiring even, and she has no doubts that the girl will have any trouble ascending into the [Throne of Heroes].
More and more magic continues to pour out, coming in bigger intensity with each and every consequent wave, and they all watched the scene with bated breaths.
Except Gilgamesh that is, whose grin simply grows with each burst of magic.
Idly, she wonders what Merlin would've thought of the girl. Considering the type of man he is, he'd probably try to romance her or whatnot. Then again, he might simply make friends with her, or perhaps even take her as an apprentice of sorts.
Which would then lead to more pranks.
Dear lord.
Shaking the strange thought away, Saber keeps her eyes set on the dome of accursed tentacles. It's now pulsing, its surface cracking, as if the tentacles can no longer contain the energy being released from the insides.
Then, with one final powerful wave of magic,
"Be freed."
Hanami's voice sounds out into the world, reverberating and brimming with untold power. The air twists, the dirt cracks, and reality itself bends as a sharp shriek erupts from the opening cocoon of tentacles.
And out comes Hanami, shot out from the cracking cocoon and into the air. Gilgamesh sends forth her chains and pulls her back, giving her a quick check over as soon as the unconscious girl makes it to the flying ship. Tense silence follows as the king makes her assessment before she finally smiles, and everyone lets out a sigh of relief.
"She is drained, but safe nonetheless." Gilgamesh explains, smiling proudly at the girl who'd taken the evils of the world head on. She knows not of what she truly did, nor did she fully know just what truths she'd seen within, but she fought and survived, breaking through the madness that would've engulfed any normal man.
A human above most, a star amongst other stars. Already she can see the threads of fate twist, her space within the throne created for her for when she ascends to join their ranks.
Oh, she is no fool. She knows the growth the girl had undergone wasn't normal by any means, but that in itself shined the brilliance of the girl. Even with the strength she has, she is humble, kind yet not overbearing, talkative yet not annoying.
As Gilgamesh brings out a luxurious bed from her treasury and let Hanami rest onto it, the king can only wonder how boring this war would've been had the girl not come and joined.
But now is not the time to ponder. Though Hanami has severed the anchor Angra Mainyu had, the curses that made him still exist, bubbling upwards from the opened cocoon as a giant mass of vengeful wraiths. The abomination cries out in pain, expressing each and every sin humanity has within their sinful hearts.
But is that not the beauty of humanity?
In her time as king, she'd seen the worst humanity had within their hearts, a darkness that grew and festered even within the hearts of modern humans. But she could [Discern] their hearts, look beneath the surface, and she'd find that spark of fire, that drive that'd become the strength of her warriors as they fought against the reign of the gods.
So in their memories, and for the girl who'd fought so hard against the encroaching madness, she'll cut that abomination apart and set those wraiths free.
Above her comes thousands of portals, rippling and armed with a Noble Phantasm to fire. It's a strenuous act, especially with her connection to her treasury slightly broken from Angra Mainyu's curse, but she finds it a fitting conduct for the finale.
Astolfo soon lands back on the Golden Hind with Saber, both looking up at the giant array of rippling gold and understanding. He shares a look with the king of knights and smiles, bringing an ancient magical tome. Saber herself has never seen what that particular Noble Phantasm of his can do, but the message in his eyes are clear.
"Prepare. I'll defend you all."
Nodding at the pink-haired knight, she brings her famed blade into her hands, easing her shaking hands onto its grip as she holds the sword up. Slowly, like the fireflies in the midst of night, golden light begins to rise from around her, swirling and gathering into the blade of her weapon. Then, as she takes a step forward light shoots up into the sky, creating a pillar of magical energy ready to plummet down onto the earth below.
Francis and Caster share a quick glance, and they smile, stepping forward as their combined Noble Phantasm is primed. They're tired and lacking in prana, but simply resting would be a disservice to the girl that's gone so far to take down what seemed to be an undefeatable enemy, would it not?
So they kick the ship's cannon to life, letting energy course through the railguns mounted on this magical flying ship. The hatches open, and out from them come the cannons, their barrels burning bright with supercharged energy.
Shirou looks at them all, watching the figures of legend before him. No longer do they hold grim determination in their battle against an invincible enemy, now replaced by a surging wave of triumph and power as they ready to destroy the abomination that Angra Mainyu has broken down into.
And it's all thanks to Hanami.
"Let us repay her efforts in kind, shall we?" He hears Merlin say, and he agrees, standing up and bringing forth her staff into his hand. The others look to him curiously, somewhat surprised to see the boy wield a staff. Only Saber had a different reaction, stiffening completely and looking at him with complete horror.
He can't quite help but smile at their reactions, but he swiftly goes to work, bringing a small portion of the gardens into the real world. Pink petals flutter through the air, filling the space with magic and rejuvenating the tired group. The fatigue they had that built over the battle disappeared, and even the effects of the curse on Saber lessened, allowing her to better grip her weapon and flood even more magic into it.
Satisfied, Shirou takes a silent step forward, gathering magic to the tip of his staff.
The abomination cries out in defiance, firing a giant beam of concentrated malice at them, but Astolfo swiftly intercepts it, the tome in his hand glowing as he calls its true name.
"[Cassuer de Logistelle]!"
An unlocking of the ancient book, bringing forward an ancient curse that cut through the magic it comes into contact with. But, instead of using it offensively as he did previously, the light forms into a shield of fluorescent white. The beam crashes against it and Astolfo is pushed back slightly by the force it carries, but the Noble Phantasm quickly breaks down the beam, drastically lowering its power.
The combined wraiths increases their efforts, and Astolfo's Noble Phantasm begins to tear from the strain he is putting the tome through,
But that's enough. The time is nigh.
Slowly, with elegance and confidence, Gilgamesh raises her hand, a signal to ready their attacks. Saber takes another step forward, the ship's cannons thrum with power, and the magic on Shirou's staff spikes.
Then, she brings her hand down.
A valiant shout sounds as Saber brings down her blade, sending the pillar of light crashing onto the earth.
A deafening gunfire is heard as the cannons of the Golden Hind fire, unleashing the magic empowered by electricity and magnetism.
The winds blow as Shirou fires the pent up magic he'd gathered on his staff, sending a beam of ancient magic down at the curses.
The sky is adorned by steel as Gilgamesh lets loose her Gates of Babylon, raining down a storm of Noble Phantasms.
Light cascades as all the attacks collide, and what is left of Angra Mainyu knows no more as it burns away, unable to remain in the world with the anchor Hanami had severed.
On that night, dubbed by most as the end of the world, the Fourth Holy Grail War comes to an end.
~~~
[Tribute collected]
[Prana collected sufficient. Affirmative]
[Holy Grail War ended. Winner chosen]
[...]
[Winner unconscious. Desire cannot be heard]
[...]
[Wish detected. Command activated]
[Holy Grail activated]
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