Chapter 11. [Broken Phantasm]!
BOOM—!
The Silverback's heavy fist, capable of crushing solid rock, smashed ruthlessly against Shirou Emiya's crossed arms. The ground collapsed instantly, spiderweb-like cracks spreading in every direction. A violent shockwave kicked up dust and debris, knocking over nearby pedestrians who hadn't had time to flee.
"So this is... a monster with Level 2 potential?"
As the dust settled, Shirou Emiya's figure was revealed. His feet were buried deep in the ground, having plowed two long furrows into the stone slabs. Yet he had not fallen; his arms hadn't even buckled. Under the blessing of [Structural Reinforcement], his physical hardness had surpassed refined steel.
"ROAR?!"
The Silverback's blood-red eyes widened, seemingly unable to comprehend why the frail human before it hadn't turned into a meat paste. It let out an enraged roar and raised its arms again, raining down blows like a frantic storm.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Dull impacts rang out incessantly. Shirou was like a stubborn reef, standing firm amidst the crashing waves of the tempest.
"Is brute force all you have?"
Through the gaps between his arms, Shirou looked coldly at the beast. While he could defend, the consumption of mana and mental energy was massive. Being a passive punching bag was not his style.
"Then... let's end this."
Shirou's gaze sharpened, catching a sliver of an opening amidst the dense rain of fists.
[Mind's Eye (True)]—activated.
A sidestep, a slide. At the exact moment when the Silverback's old strength was spent and its new strength had yet to form, Shirou lunged forward. The deep-red shortsword—[Otherworld · Kanshou]—carved a piercing red arc through the air.
Splurt!
The shortsword pierced precisely into the Silverback's thick pectoral muscle, bypassing the hard ribs to strike the heart directly. High temperatures exploded instantly, and the smell of charred flesh filled the air.
"AWOOOO—!!!"
The Silverback let out a shrill scream and staggered back, smashing into a fountain sculpture by the roadside.
"S-so strong..."
Watching from a distance, Lili was stunned. That man was actually suppressing a monster of that caliber head-on?
However, before Shirou could follow up his attack, more chaotic screams erupted from the surrounding area.
"Help!" "Don't come near me! Monster! Go away!"
Shirou whipped his head around. Although the Silverback had been repelled, this was the center of the plaza. The Al-miraj and Hellhounds that had escaped from their cages were frantically attacking the surrounding civilians.
A young mother who had tripped while holding her child looked on in despair as a Hellhound, jaws wide, lunged at her. The distance was too great. Even with Shirou's current speed, he wouldn't make it in time.
"Dammit."
Shirou bit his lip, and the shortsword in his hand vanished.
"Trace—On!"
Emerald-green Magic Circuits constructed themselves in his hands, and a pitch-black Western bow appeared out of thin air. He drew the bow and notched an arrow—not a physical one, but a spiral sword condensed from magical energy.
"Caladbolg- Broken Phantasm!"
BOOM!
The spiraling magical arrow cut through the sky like a meteor, scoring a direct hit on the Hellhound's head. The violent explosion pulverized the monster's skull instantly; the shockwave even sent several nearby Al-miraj flying.
"I'm saved?!" The mother clutched her child tightly in the aftermath.
But because of that split-second distraction, a gap appeared in Shirou's otherwise perfect defense.
"ROAR—!"
The enraged Silverback wasn't dead yet. Taking advantage of the momentary stiffness after Shirou fired the arrow, it roared and charged, its massive palm whistling through the air as it slammed toward Shirou's back.
"Emiya-sama! Behind you!" Lili shrieked in terror.
Shirou knew the attack was coming; the alarm of [Mind's Eye] was already screaming in his brain. But if he dodged now, the Silverback's momentum would plow right into the group of children behind him who hadn't escaped yet.
"I can't dodge."
Shirou's gaze became incredibly determined.
"Steel is my body—Full Power!"
He spun around, abandoning all offensive posture, and poured every drop of his mana into his defensive magic.
CRASH!!!
This impact was heavier than any before it. Shirou's body was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing through the wall of a roadside shop and becoming buried under the rubble.
"E-Emiya-sama!"
Lili sat paralyzed on the ground, her face deathly pale.
'Why? He could have dodged it... he just had to roll to the side... why did he tank that hit for people he doesn't even know?'
"You... big idiot..."
Tears blurred Lili's vision. In her world, adventurers were selfish. Pushing a teammate into harm's way was the norm; abandoning a Supporter to save one's own life was practically a law of nature. But this man...
"Grrr..."
The Silverback panted heavily, seemingly satisfied that the annoying red-haired human was dead. It turned its head, and its blood-red eyes locked onto Lili, the person closest to it.
Terror. A tidal wave of fear submerged Lili.
'I'm going to die. I'm going to be killed. Just like all those abandoned Supporters before me...'
"Run..."
From the rubble, a sudden coughing sound emerged.
"Cough... it's not over yet... you big brute."
Clatter. Bricks and stones were pushed aside. Shirou Emiya, his head covered in blood, stood up shakily. His left arm was twisted at an unnatural angle—clearly broken. Blood from his forehead ran into his eyes, staining his vision a deep crimson.
But he still stood between Lili and the Silverback.
"As long as I'm standing... don't even think about hurting anyone."
Shirou gripped a newly projected black sword, [Kanshou], with his intact right hand. His gaze was as fierce as a wounded lone wolf.
"Emiya... sama..."
Lili looked at that swaying back—the back that, despite being heavily injured, still blocked her path like an immovable mountain. A certain barrier in her heart finally collapsed completely.
To hell with the Soma Familia. To hell with the Divine Wine. To hell with the 50 million Valis.
"If I don't save him... if I don't help him..."
Lili scrambled up from the ground. In her eyes, which had always been full of calculation and lies, the flame of "Courage" ignited for the first time.
"I am... a Supporter!"
Lili yanked open the massive backpack behind her. It was filled with various items she had collected in the Dungeon, along with... the contraband Zanis had given her to lure monsters and harm people.
"I might be weak... I might only know how to run..."
Lili grabbed a bottle of purple potion—a high-concentration "Monster Repellent." Its smell was incredibly pungent, and it could even corrode skin if splashed directly.
"But don't you dare look down on Lilliruca!"
She charged at the Silverback with all her might.
"Look over here! You stupid monkey!"
The moment the Silverback turned its head, Lili smashed the potion bottle against the monster's eyes.
Smash!
The glass shattered, and the purple liquid splashed everywhere, drenching the Silverback's face.
"AWOOOOOOO—!!!"
The poison and pungent odor instantly robbed the Silverback of its sight and smell. It clutched its eyes in agony, wildly swinging its arms and spinning in place.
"Now! Emiya-sama!" Lili shouted, her voice breaking from fear. "Finish it!"
"Lili..."
Shirou looked with surprise at the small Pallum girl who was shaking like a leaf yet still giving him a thumbs-up. Then, a smile curled on his lips.
"Good job, partner."
This was the opening he needed. That one moment of vulnerability.
Shirou took a deep breath, ignoring the agonizing pain in his left arm, and gathered all the remaining mana in his body into the black sword in his right hand.
"Trace—"
The black blade began to warp and extend, transforming into a massive black greatsword shaped like a wing.
"Overedge!"
Shirou kicked off the ground, turning into a streak of black light. He swept upward diagonally across the Silverback's body.
"Slash!"
The black blade cut through the air, through the monster's muscles, and through the hard Magic Stone. Time seemed to stand still for a second.
Then...
Pshhh—
Massive amounts of black smoke erupted from the Silverback's body. Its giant frame split down the middle and slowly toppled over, eventually turning into a pile of ash on the ground.
The battle was over. The plaza fell silent, leaving only the monster's ash drifting in the wind.
"Huff... hah..."
The black greatsword in Shirou's hand dissipated, and he began to fall backward from exhaustion. But he didn't hit the ground. A pair of small but warm hands caught him from behind.
"Really... you're too reckless." Lili's voice, thick with tears, came from behind him.
"You're so badly hurt... you could have just ignored Lili..."
"Because we're companions."
Shirou turned his head with effort, looking at Lili's tear-stained face. He reached out with his good right hand and lightly flicked her forehead.
"You did well, Lili. That strike just now... was very cool."
"Wuu... WAAAHHHH!"
Hearing that praise, Lili could finally hold it in no longer. She threw down her backpack, buried her face in Shirou's chest, and wailed like a child. All the grievances, the fear, and the guilt were vented in that moment.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry Emiya-sama... I wanted to steal your sword... I wanted to hurt you... I'm a bad girl..."
"Yeah, I know," Shirou said, gently patting her back and letting her tears soak his clothes. "But in the end, you saved me. That's enough. From now on, be my true Supporter, Lili."
"...Yes! Lili... Lili wants to!"
.
.
.
Babel, Top Floor.
Freya watched the heartwarming scene through her crystal ball, the wine in her glass swirling gently.
"How beautiful." A faint blush rose to the Goddess's cheeks.
"Whether it's that self-sacrificing strike or that all-encompassing kindness... the radiance of that soul is becoming more dazzling by the second.
Ottar."
"Present." The giant man behind her bowed his head.
"That Soma Familia... is a bit of an eyesore," Freya said nonchalantly.
"Since that child has taken in that Supporter, the Soma Familia will surely cause trouble for him, won't they? While I want to see him face trials, that kind of low-life trouble... let's do without it."
"I understand," Ottar's voice remained deep. "Tonight, I will pay a 'visit' to the Soma Familia."
.
.
.
The chaos of the Monsterphilia finally subsided. The arriving Ganesha Familia began to clean up the aftermath, while the members of the Loki Familia rushed over after hearing the news.
"Emiya! Are you okay?!"
Ais was the first to burst through the crowd. Seeing Shirou covered in blood, the usually expressionless girl showed clear panic for the first time.
"I'm fine, just a broken bone," Shirou said, barely standing with Lili's support. "Ais, can I lean on you for a bit? I'm... a little unsteady."
Ais didn't say a word. She walked straight over, let Shirou lean against her, and even took the initiative to steady him by his waist.
"...Idiot," she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling slightly. "Next time... call me."
"Yeah, next time for sure."
Shirou smiled, his vision gradually blurring.
With his mana depleted and his body pushed past its limits, he finally lost consciousness.