"Whirlwind…?"
After Shirou noticed something unusual ahead, everyone stopped the vehicle and briefly observed how they should proceed.
Natural disasters come in different types. Some are easy to avoid. For example, the small tornado in front of them could be bypassed as long as they detoured around it.
As for others, it depended on the situation.
"Fortunately, it has not fully formed yet… if it does, it will become troublesome."
Nearby, Croissant was carrying her large hammer and looking at the tornado through binoculars as she spoke.
Thinking about escape routes naturally did not fall under Croissant's responsibility, so she simply came over to Shirou's side.
"Is it not already formed?"
Unlike Croissant, who could only see a blurry shape through the binoculars, Shirou could see it very clearly.
The strong winds there were already blowing away vegetation and rocks along its path. Although he could not see beyond it, Shirou could roughly imagine that everything swept through by the tornado would be completely stripped bare.
Even from this distance, its danger could be felt.
"This kind of storm-type disaster can grow larger over time. Right now it is still considered small. If it really fully develops, we will not even be able to think about detouring. We will have to turn around and run."
Croissant tossed the binoculars back into the vehicle and casually placed her hammer inside as well.
This cannot be lost. If the wind gets too strong later, this hammer might even save their lives.
"It can get even bigger?"
After hearing Croissant's explanation, Shirou frowned.
Although he only graduated from high school and had average grades, and was completely clueless about physics,
he could still understand one thing clearly: if that tornado continued along its current trajectory…
The small village they had stayed in last night might be doomed.
It was not impossible for the tornado to suddenly change direction, but rather than relying on such a slim possibility, it would be better to go warn the residents and evacuate them.
Thinking of this, Shirou went to ask Dobermann.
After all, the current situation was being handled by Dobermann. Penguin Logistics had also chosen to trust her professional judgment.
"Regarding this, a Catastrophe Messenger should be responsible for contacting them… but the problem is whether the messenger in charge of this area has noticed the disaster. When we left this morning, the villagers did not seem to have any intention of evacuating."
Hearing Shirou's question, Dobermann also realized the issue.
The Catastrophe Messenger responsible for this area might not have discovered the disaster yet. If more time passed, it might become too late to notify the village in time.
"..."
After hearing their conversation, the members of the A1 squad showed nervous expressions.
Especially Fang, Kroos, and Midnight.
After all, it was because of a Catastrophe several months ago in Tikareno that they had come to Rhodes Island.
Unlike that time, there was still enough time now, and the person in charge was Instructor Dobermann.
"Sorry, please proceed along the planned evacuation route. I need to go back and warn the villagers."
Without hesitation, Dobermann decided to split the team.
The route that had just been planned would be handled by Penguin Logistics, while she and the A1 squad would return to the village to warn everyone about the incoming disaster.
This was the safest choice. There were Rhodes Island personnel there, and Dobermann did not want to see them lost to the Catastrophe.
Even if there were no Rhodes Island personnel, she would still make the same decision.
"We will go together. One more vehicle means more capacity."
Hearing Dobermann's words, Texas did not immediately accept the proposal. Instead, she intended to accompany Dobermann.
More vehicles would be more convenient, and relying solely on their group might not be enough to safely escape the disaster zone.
More importantly, they were not the type of people who would ignore others in danger.
After weighing both sides, acting together as a team was clearly the safest option.
"That is right. We can also help evacuate the villagers."
Exusiai said while draping her arm over Texas's shoulder.
"I understand."
Seeing their determination, Dobermann finally relaxed slightly.
With Penguin Logistics' assistance, at least they would have more manpower.
She decisively abandoned the original plan, and both sides began reinforcing their vehicles in case of emergency.
They also launched several signal flares, hoping to draw attention.
"Is this to attract nearby people and make them aware of the Catastrophe?"
Shirou asked while watching Kroos set up a small launcher and fire a signal flare.
Of course, he was not asking out of curiosity alone. If it was meant to attract attention, these few flares were not nearly enough.
"Yes. Although the effect is small, if even one person notices, it might save many more lives."
Kroos replied while lighting and firing another flare.
Three signal flares in such a remote wilderness still had a very low chance of being noticed. It would be better if there were more.
"Okay, I understand."
After confirming the purpose of the signal flares, Shirou realized that the Caladbolg could be used again.
However, using it purely as a signal flare would still be a waste, so Shirou came up with a bold idea.
But considering the potential danger, he decided that everyone should first get into the vehicles and close the doors and windows before doing anything.
After explaining his idea to the members of Penguin Logistics, they felt it was feasible.
Of course, they only considered it feasible from the perspective of attracting attention. As for the rest… they did not really know.
In any case, letting Shirou try would not cause any major problems.
"Trace on—"
After everyone returned to the vehicles, Shirou, now wearing a coat, stepped forward a few paces.
Since this was a long-distance shot, the movement would be somewhat large.
If he accidentally damaged the vehicle, it would be troublesome.
Holding a black longbow, Shirou placed the elongated Caladbolg onto it as immense magical energy began to spill out from his body.
"..."
Watching this scene, Dobermann frowned slightly.
Unlike Penguin Logistics, who understood the destructive power of the Caladbolg, her group could not understand Shirou's actions at all.
However, Doctor Kal'tsit and Amiya had always maintained active contact with him, so there must be something special about him.
"?!"
While Dobermann was still thinking about these minor matters, Shirou had already released the Caladbolg from his bow.
The impact was so strong that even those inside the vehicle could feel a violent tremor.
After all, there was no need to worry about damaging anything or causing any negative consequences.
Moreover, since the enemy was a feared Catastrophe on this land, Shirou was using his full strength.
By releasing the Caladbolg, the ground in front of him was blown apart, creating a massive disturbance.
But Shirou paid no attention to this. His eyes were fixed on the Caladbolg flying toward the tornado.
After confirming that it had entered the tornado, Shirou detonated it.
A powerful red-orange light burst out from within the tornado, instantly engulfing the massive vortex.
"Isn't this a bit…"
Even from this distance, without binoculars, Dobermann could clearly see the flickering red-orange light in the distance.
The Catastrophe was extremely far away. Leaving aside the fact that Shirou had managed to hit it with a bow at such a range, the real issue was that it produced an explosion visible even to the naked eye.
She had seen many strange Originium Arts before, but this level of destruction… was something she had never seen, and it seemed to place a heavy burden on the user as well.
"Haa… ha…"
Shirou stared toward the Catastrophe.
Even from such a distance, he could still feel the strong winds blowing across his body.
That was also why he had ordered everyone to stay inside the vehicle and not come out.
No one knew how much Originium dust might be carried in those winds.
Unfortunately, after the explosion caused by Broken Phantasm faded, the tornado was still rotating.
"It is still that persistent?"
Shirou cursed under his breath as he looked at the still-spinning tornado.
However, his efforts had not been meaningless. Such a large commotion should have attracted a lot of attention, and the tornado also seemed to have weakened slightly.
This meant his attack had been effective.
Noticing this, Shirou decisively projected another Caladbolg.
He did not possess any Noble Phantasm capable of greater destruction than the Caladbolg.
No… if he were to be precise, there was still one.
But Shirou understood very well his current condition. Even at his best, he might not be able to project that golden sword.
The fundamental reason was simple: he was too weak. He did not have that capability.
Lack of magical energy. Insufficient physical strength…
"My Lateran above, this thing can be fired repeatedly?"
Seeing the Caladbolg forming again in Shirou's hand, Penguin Logistics could no longer stay calm.
This was the first time they had seen him use this technique consecutively.
Perhaps it was because previous enemies had not survived a second shot?
"Exusiai, Croissant, prepare protective masks. We will act depending on the situation."
Unlike Exusiai, Texas noticed that Shirou was in a slightly worse condition after his first attack.
It seemed he was forcing himself again.
However, this also proved that his attack was effective. Otherwise, Shirou would have followed the original plan: jump onto the roof, throw off his coat, and enter through the sunroof.
In any case, they should prepare. If Shirou ran out of strength later, they could immediately pull him back into the vehicle.
"a little more…"
Drawing the bowstring again to its limit, Shirou while forcing out every bit of magical energy he had felt that he was straining his magic circuits.
Enduring the pain, he slowly, step by step, infused mana into the already elongated Caladbolg.
As if responding to his wish, the red sacred cloth hidden beneath his coat also began to overflow with a pale blue magical glow.
When he felt the internal energy was about enough, Shirou decisively released his hand.
The Caladbolg shot forward, trailing a long streak of blue light, flying straight toward the tornado.
It pierced into it… and then exploded.
"Please… succeed…"
Kneeling on one knee, even needing to support himself with his hand to avoid collapsing, Shirou sincerely prayed in his heart.
He did not need to push himself this hard. If he had simply followed the A1 squad and Rhodes Island personnel to warn the village, they would all have been able to escape the Catastrophe safely.
But if he did that, the people living in that village would lose their homes.
And no one knew where this Catastrophe would end up.
If it truly developed into what Croissant had described, it would become a massive storm ring, leaving Originium contamination wherever it passed.
And in that process, how many homes and lives would it take away?
Shirou did not know. But perhaps now, he had the power to eliminate it before it reached its worst state.
After the shockwave of the explosion faded, what Shirou saw was the still-persistent tornado.
It had already become much smaller than before, but it was still rotating.
"One more time… should be enough."
Enduring the pain, Shirou forced himself back onto his feet.
Forcing his magic circuits to operate again, the image of the Caladbolg reappeared in his hand.
He could clearly feel his magic circuits activating and his body becoming searing hot.
But Shirou could no longer think about anything else. He only remembered that he needed to pour magical energy into the sword in his hand, and fire it toward the Catastrophe.
Soon, the pain in his body faded from his perception.
Without questioning why, Shirou once again drew the bowstring to its limit and fired the sword.
This explosion was slightly weaker than the previous two. It was already Shirou's limit.
If he continued to pour in more magical energy, the Caladbolg itself would likely collapse before being released.
Although this explosion was not very powerful, and the wind was not as strong as before, Shirou was still forced back several steps by the gust.
"..."
As the red-orange explosion faded, what remained was a tornado far thinner than at the beginning.
Shirou did not speak.
In fact, his mind was completely blank. He could not even form thoughts.
After three consecutive high-output projections of Noble Phantasms and Broken Phantasm detonations, this was already his limit.
If he had rested even slightly in between, he would not have been in such a miserable state.
Staring at the stubborn tornado, his empty mind could not think of what to do next.
But he still painfully raised his right hand, gathering magical energy once more.
Unfortunately, the faint blue blade formed only for an instant before shattering into magical particles and disappearing.
Along with it, the black longbow in his left hand also faded away.
"——"
Through a haze, Shirou saw two figures in Penguin Logistics coats and strange masks running toward him.
They seemed to be shouting something.
But he could not hear them anymore.
This was the first time Shirou felt so… powerless.
And so, his consciousness sank.