Before Gilgamesh could regain his composure after the sudden appearance of a Noble Phantasm, a powerful detonation pulled him back to reality.
Boom————!!!
A mushroom cloud suddenly rose, and the burst of magical energy quickly spread in all directions!
"What is going on————!?"
The ship piloted by Gilgamesh swayed in the magic wind that erupted, blown away like a boat in a tsunami. Gilgamesh, who finally stopped the momentum of the vessel, was suddenly furious.
"What the hell was that guy thinking?!!"
Gilgamesh, serving as an Archer, is characterized by powerful Noble Phantasms, but his own physical resilience is not his strongest suit. If that Noble Phantasm had struck him directly, there would have been no doubt that he would have been out of the Holy Grail War. Gilgamesh, who had only recently manifested in the world, was almost eliminated at that moment and decided to find the person behind the scene. In addition to his anger, he couldn't help but begin to wonder.
"Does this mean... there are other Servants who haven't shown up yet?"
...
While the Heroes and Masters were speculating about what had just happened, Shirou, who had almost run out of magic, dragged his tired body back to Sakura's hotel.
"I'm exhausted... I didn't expect that an A+ rank Noble Phantasm would squeeze me dry with just one shot."
If it weren't for the fact that he has the ability to "trace," an A+ rank treasure would truly be impossible to replicate so mercilessly. But alas, a Noble Phantasm at the level of Gilgamesh's "Ea" is not replicable, so it cannot be copied. As for A-rank and below Noble Phantasms, there is only a difference in how much magic power is consumed during the copy process.
However, the power of Unlimited Blade Works is a characteristic of an Inherent Enchantment. The magecraft of a Reality Marble, which rewrites reality with the mental landscape of the sorcerer, is the craft closest to true Magic. This magecraft is a subspecies of marble phantasm, an enchantment that shapes the mental world of the caster and erodes the real world.
Unlike a marble phantasm, the form of an Inherent Enchantment cannot be freely determined. Because it is formed by the unique inner self of the caster, the caster cannot consciously decide the layout of the barrier. However, the Inherent Enchantment can affect unnatural things as well, which makes it superior in some ways to a marble phantasm.
The Inherent Enchantment was originally a power that could only be manipulated by elementals and demons, but after many years, it was completed as a magecraft that could create a world of personal mental images. Some high-level spellcasters have made it possible to create Inherent Enchantments, and most of the 27 Ancestors of the Dead Apostles can use them, but in general, there are not many magi who can perform this great magecraft that changes the world.
Except for spirits that extend naturally, the otherworlds created by others will be eliminated by nature. As a result, maintaining the Inherent Enchantment requires a huge amount of energy, meaning it can only last for a few minutes.
Shirou's Inherent Enchantment turns the space around him into a place that gathers all the elements of the "sword" in this world; any sword he has seen even once can be easily projected. His mind is like a landscape—a scene of countless swords and sparks flying in an endless wilderness.
"Shirou, are you alright?"
After opening the door for him, Sakura looked at Shirou with concern.
"It's fine, just a little tired."
Shirou sat down on the sofa and closed his eyes, feeling relaxed. In a trance, he heard Sakura's light footsteps.
"Do you want water?"
When he opened his eyes, he saw that the girl had poured a glass of water and handed it to him.
"Thank you."
After drinking the water, Shirou lay on his side on the sofa and closed his eyes to recuperate. The recovery of mana is not achieved overnight, and it takes a while to recover slowly.
Looking at Shirou's sleepy face, Sakura, who was standing to the side, sat on the edge of the sofa. She slowly lowered her body and leaned her face against Shirou's chest.
"Shirou..."
The girl quietly and gently hugged him, feeling his warmth and heartbeat with her cheeks, and then whispered as if in a dream.
"Don't leave me... Shirou..."
For Sakura now, she is completely alone. Even if she returns to the Tohsaka family, she would still be sent to other families. Because even if she goes back, the Tohsaka family cannot keep her; if she stays forcibly, the final outcome would only be capture by the Mage's Association, and she might even become a designated seal.
In this case, the only person who can bring a young girl a sense of security is the person who took her away from the Matou family. For Sakura, Shirou is already her family.
...
I don't know how long it took, but Shirou's consciousness gradually awakened at the sound of Diarmuid's inner voice.
"Master, how are you?"
Shirou slowly opened his eyes. The room was dim, and outside the window, he could see a crescent moon hanging high in the sky, sprinkling moonlight and bringing a glimmer of light to the earth. Shirou felt the magic in his body and was surprised to find that his mana had been fully recovered.
'What happened?'
Shirou, who was puzzled for a few seconds, suddenly felt a weight on his chest and hurriedly looked down. The fragrance of long, scattered purple hair rose from it. Sakura's small body was curled up in Shirou's arms, her quiet sleeping face looking peaceful. However, due to Shirou's movements as he woke up, Sakura had already noticed. She raised her head, a little confusion still in her eyes.
Then, after realizing her current state, the girl's cheeks suddenly flushed red. At this moment, even the air seemed to be filled with an inexplicable, intoxicating aroma.
"I... I'm going to take a shower...!"
Sakura stood up suddenly and trotted toward the bathroom. Looking at the small back moving away, Shirou shrugged helplessly and then replied to Diarmuid telepathically.
"I'm fine. How is it on your side?"
"Master, the Sea Demon has been destroyed, but..."
Diarmuid paused and said in a slightly worried tone.
"It wasn't us who killed the Sea Demon; it was someone else. Saber, Rider, and I are all currently under the impression that an eighth Heroic Spirit is involved in the Holy Grail War!"
"..."
Hearing Diarmuid's speculation, Shirou didn't know what to say for a moment.