[Shirou POV]
"Is it finally over this time...?"
"That was really dangerous this time, wasn't it?"
"Yes, indeed. Caster was a formidable enemy."
Miyu had dealt the finishing blow to Caster. As we looked up at the sky, we let out a sigh of relief, hoping this was the end. In the sky, there was Miyu, who had defeated Caster and recovered the card, and Illya, who was exuberantly watching the scene.
When Illya fired her magic cannon at Miyu, I was admittedly alarmed. But Miyu had used the magic cannon as a stepping stone and accelerated rapidly. It was a technique unique to Miyu, who was capable of stepping on magic and riding on it.
"Did Illya calculate that?"
"Really, she comes up with the most unthinkable ideas. Perhaps it's because she's not familiar with the common sense of magic that she can think so out of the box. It's scary how a beginner could master flight."
"Oho! I told you so! The magical girls of Kaleid are one in two. Well, it's thanks to my education, of course. She is truly the girl I had high hopes for."
"What are you talking about? Miyu was the one who defeated Caster, but Illya was the one who came up with the plan. In fact, you haven't done anything! Don't get so full of yourself!"
"Quiet!"
"Now, now, both of you. Stop arguing."
Leave them alone for a while and this happens. I wonder if these two will be like this for life. As they start to argue, I let out a sigh and try to mediate. I'm tired today. I just want to finish up and go home.
"To get out of this space, we need Ruby and Sapphire, right?"
"Yes. If we don't leave soon, we won't be able to return. So, I hope they'll come down soon..."
"…? Something seems off."
"What's wrong, Luvia?"
"Well... this space should start to collapse after defeating the blackened heroic spirit and collecting the card. But the collapse of the space hasn't begun, no matter how much time passes. What on earth is going on?"
"...That's true."
I want Illya and the others to come back soon so that we can get out of this space. While we were discussing this, Luvia mentioned the anomaly. Rin seems to be puzzled as well, looking up at the sky. What's happening?
I remember the time we fought Rider. Indeed, a crack had formed in the sky after about a minute. But how about now? It's been about three minutes since Caster was defeated, but nothing has changed.
The sky is exactly the same as it was right after we defeated Caster. Only Illya and Miyu, who are celebrating their victory, are in the sky. They're sticking close to each other. It's a heartwarming sight, but...
"...Hey, I have a bad feeling about this..."
It was right after I said that. I felt an intense murderous intent and it sent chills down my spine. I was about to tell Rin and Luvia about it, but it was too late. An immense shock wave attacked the three of us.
"Kyaa!"
"Guh!"
"Tohsaka! Luvia!"
Thanks to my transformation into a heroic spirit, I was able to react, but Tohsaka and Luvia were not. I could see a black torrent engulfing them. I glared at the entity that had launched it. Then...
"...You've got to be kidding...A second one!?"
"..."
Yes, there was a new enemy. Apart from Caster, there was someone else in this space. So that's why! That's why the collapse of this space didn't start! A second heroic spirit, draped in dark armor.
Emanating an overwhelming presence, the enemy glared back at me. Her hair was somewhat blonde, and his entire body was encased in black armor. A dark visor covered his eyes. She held a sinister magic sword.
Why do I feel like I've seen this situation before, I feel like I know this shadow heroic spirit true Identity that suddenly appears and attacks us.
"...I feel like...I have to defeat you..."
"—Huh!?"
The dark knight let out a silent scream and charged. She was fast. But somehow, I was able to react to his movements. I summoned my twin swords of white and black to fend off his attack. But...
"Guh!?"
With a clang, my twin swords shattered. Then, a shock wave of black magical power shook me. What a powerful blow. The blow from that Rider was simply incomparable.
Tohsaka had said it. Rider was a class that was weak at close combat. The power of classes designed for close combat, like Saber or Lancer, was completely on a different level. I had no choice but to believe her words.
She was undoubtedly a Saber, judging by his weapon. Even a simple attack held an incredible amount of power. Her attacks, like the Rider's, were monotonous, but her performance was far from ordinary. I couldn't afford to lose focus for even a moment.
I couldn't withstand his attack head-on. I stepped back, creating twin swords again. The enemy approached, following me. She radiated black magical power from her entire body and rushed at me like a bullet. She was still fast.
"But!"
I managed to deflect his magic sword, which was swinging straight down again, with my twin swords from below. A black shockwave passed by my side. I had managed to deflect it. Cold sweat ran down my spine.
"Got you!"
Having swung his sword sideways, the enemy was left vulnerable. I seized the opportunity, took a step forward, and closed in. My twin swords were short. But if I could just get close enough, I could attack her relentlessly.
"Heh!"
At this distance, my twin swords should have the advantage. With that thought, I slashed at her with both swords. However, the enemy was not so easy. Releasing one hand from his sword, she deflected my twin swords with the back of her left hand.
"What!?"
"———!?"
Then, the knight released a pitch-black magic power from her entire body and blew me away, even though I had closed in to the extreme. Just with the release of magic power, she could repel me, who had become a heroic spirit! How inexhaustible his magic power must be.
"...She's strong. I knew it, but!"
Knocked back, I lost my balance. The enemy pursued me relentlessly. Each of his blows was extraordinary. If I were to take even one of these attacks directly, I wouldn't stand a chance. I desperately continued to evade She attacks.
"Onii-chan!"
"Shirou-san!"
"Illya, Miyu! Don't come this way! This heroic spirit is no joke!"
"But, Onii-chan!"
"Just don't! I don't want you to fight, but if you must, attack from a distance!"
"Shirou-san is right, Illya. That heroic spirit is outrageous."
Ruby:『Indeed. It's far too reckless for Illya and Miyu to engage in close combat now.』
"Uh...Shirou-san..."
While I was on the defensive, I could hear the voices of my sisters. They seemed to have descended from the sky. But, I couldn't let them fight such an enemy. Especially Illya, who had lost to Rider in close combat.
While this was going on, the twin swords that had been dodging the attacks broke again. Taking advantage of this moment, the enemy released a horizontal slash. While backing away, I created multiple swords in the path of the enemy's sword to block it.
"Projection initiation, Trace On."
While the swords I created were blocking the enemy's slash, I created the twin swords for the third time. Then, I jumped back to distance myself from the enemy. There was no chance of winning in close combat. That much was clear from the exchange we had just now.
"Illya, Miyu!"
"[Cannon Fire]!"
"[Sniper Shot]!"
"Ha!"
Illya and Miyu fired their magic bullets, and I threw my twin swords at the enemy. I thought this might create a little opening, but I was too optimistic. The enemy deflected all of it just by releasing his magic power.
"Illyasviel!"
"Yes!"
"Illya? Miyu? What the-!?"
At that moment, a sharp voice rang out from the sky. It was Miyu. Responding to her voice, Illya grabbed my hand. Before I had the chance to question, I was whisked away by Illya into the sky. We ascended towards Miyu.
"Shirou-san, I have an idea."
"An idea?"
"Yes."
Once we floated beside Miyu, she said this. The enemy, for some reason, stood still, gazing up at us in the sky. Perhaps she can't attack from long range? No, that's an overly optimistic thought.
"With Illyasviel and myself, it would be difficult to pierce that magical power. That means, our attacks would not be able to inflict significant damage on the enemy. And currently, an attack that could penetrate that would be…"
"Wha-!?"
I was stunned by the strategy Miyu proposed. Certainly, that might be able to inflict damage on that enemy. However, it's far too risky. I couldn't possibly agree to it.
"No, it's too dangerous."
"Onii-chan, this is our only option."
"Please believe in us."
"…"
Despite my objections, being told so by both of them left me speechless. I believed in them during our encounter with Caster earlier, but after experiencing Saber's strength, it's become harder. However…
"…I understand. I'll trust you two. Indeed, I don't see a chance of victory as we are."
"Leave it to us."
"We're on it."
We decided to proceed with Miyu's strategy. I landed a distance away from the enemy, watching Illya and Miyu head towards Saber. Then, I took a deep breath and shifted my focus. Trusting in them, I would do what I could.
Reminding myself of this, I kept my gaze firmly on the black knight.
...…
[Illya POV]
Ruby:『But how did you muster the courage to carry out such a strategy, Illya? That enemy is undoubtedly the strongest, isn't it? You know that you won't stand a chance against them. Aren't you scared?』
"It's freaking scary... Of course, I'm scared."
Following behind Miyu, who was approaching the enemy head-on, I spilled my true feelings to Ruby. That's right. It's impossible not to be scared. Rin and the others were down, blood pouring from their stomachs, and my brother was also vomiting blood.
The truth is, I want to run away right now. But, the enemy wouldn't allow it, and I'm certain my brother wouldn't run away either. As long as Rin and the others are lying there. If so, the only option left is to defeat them.
I don't want to see my brother nearly killed like that again. Standing by and watching that is many times scarier. With these thoughts in mind, Miyu and I encircle the enemy.
"Here we go, 'Rapid Shot'!"
"'Rapid Fire'!"
Together with Miyu, we simultaneously launched our attacks. We knew it wouldn't work. The barrage of magical bullets was entirely deflected by the black mist as expected, but that was okay. Our role was to halt the enemy's movement.
We encircled the enemy from equidistant positions. The enemy seemed unsure about which one of us to attack and alternated his gaze between us. We kept a safe distance, so even if we were attacked, we could evade... at least, that's what Miyu and I thought.
Sapphire:『---!』
"Kyaaa!"
"...Eh?"
But that assumption was immediately overturned. The enemy drew her sword right on the spot and swung it down towards Miyu. Then, a black shockwave flew from the tip of his sword. I was paralyzed, unable to comprehend what was happening.
Ruby:『You must dodge it now, Illya!』
"Ah---"
The enemy rotated towards me and unleashed the same attack. Thanks to Ruby's warning, I managed to jump to the side. The black shockwave whizzed past the spot I had just left. I could feel an overwhelming terror rising from deep within me.
Ruby:『She can project his magic and even launch long-range attacks. Truly, her like a cheat code. Moreover, that power easily sliced through Sapphire's physical barrier. Miyu, are you alright?』
On the other side, Miyu, bleeding from her shoulder, was trying to get up. Despite her supposed defense with Sapphire, it seemed she was still cut. A chill ran through me. This means that even Ruby couldn't defend against it, right?
Faced with such an overwhelming presence, I froze. Seeing this, the enemy charged at me to land the final blow. It seemed like Miyu was shouting something, but her voice didn't reach my ears. Am I going to die?
"Illya, fly upward!"
Fear dominated me, and I heard my brother's voice. Without a moment to think, I followed his voice, soaring upwards. The enemy was looking up at me, focusing solely on me in front of them. It was the perfect opportunity.
"This ends here... [False Spiral Sword Caladbolg II]!"
My brother's attack struck the enemy's exposed flank. Just as we planned. We distracted the enemy, allowing my brother to deliver the finishing blow. Miyu said that it should pierce through the enemy's mist of magic power.
"We... we did it."
"It was a close fight, wasn't it?"
The impact of my brother's attack had wrought tremendous destruction. The ground was gouged out, and a river had split open. Miyu and I moved closer to my brother, who had just fired the arrow. I wanted to embrace him.
But, what we came to know immediately afterwards was that no matter how much we strategized, no matter how powerful we were, there existed an overwhelming force that could blow all of that away. A terrifying noise echoed from behind us. We turned around.
"No way..."
"Even after all that..."
"Damn it, both of you, get behind me..."
A black knight stood there, dispersing the river water around her. And he announced the true name of his too well-known, absolutely sacred sword. It was a profound sense of overwhelming despair...
"[Promised Sword of Victory - Excalibur]!"
"[The Seven Rings that Cover the Fiery Heavens - Rho Aias]!"
A beam of black light was released, aimed straight at us. My brother stood to protect us, expanding a beautiful flower-like shield. But our vision started to darken. All sound from our surroundings vanished, and we could see nothing.
The last thing I saw was only my brother's red back...