Chapter 86: Holy Lancer Grey Shirou
"Shirou, Gudako, listen carefully! Don't turn around. Just slowly back away like this, create some distance, then find a chance to escape. Got it?" Artoria, now armed, raised her sacred sword with caution and stood protectively in front of the boy and girl.
"No, this is already our full strength. And without your motorcycle, escaping with Gudako would be very difficult. We have no choice but to fight," Shirou said firmly.
"I agree," said the bearded uncle. "Now is the best time to defeat this Headless Horseman."
"Well, no choice then. I'll leave support to you, Gudako," Shirou said.
"Got it! Leave the support to me, Shirou-Senpai!" Gudako replied cheerfully.
"Artoria, this time I want to fight alongside you. Is that okay?" Shirou walked to the blonde girl's side and asked.
"Hmph! If you've got some trump card, then bring it out! But if you're just going to slow us down, then run away as fast as you can!" Artoria kept her gaze fixed ahead.
"Relax, I might not be super strong, but when it comes to fighting with everything I've got, I'm not too bad." Shirou placed his hand on his abdomen and activated the pseudo-Spirit Origin hidden inside his body—linked to the Holy Grail.
In that moment, the blue-golden sheath inside him seemed to awaken.
Thump, thump—something began to flow through his veins, his pulse fluctuating irregularly.
The pseudo-Spirit Origin connected to the sheath, and under the observation of the Mystic Eyes that allowed unlimited access across parallel timelines, it found a certain possibility.
A black-and-white cloak with a hood covered the upper part of the boy's face, from which golden strands of hair peeked out.
It was both unfamiliar and oddly familiar.
Standing there, weapon in hand, the boy held a scythe—an impossible weapon to appear here, the Holy Lance. It seemed that under the influence of the sheath, it had accepted him.
In this world, the sheath didn't alter the boy's attributes but his body.
As a result, Shirou began to undergo a transformation, assimilating into a certain figure.
His hair and eyes turned gold. His facial features and physique changed to some extent.
His body matured and was locked in a state just under 20 years old.
.
.
.
A tall man with long black hair and a cigar in his mouth, a powerful mage, looked at the boy he once took in from the Clock Tower and said in disgust: "Seeing you stand there is like watching that so-called white knight king come back to life. It's nauseating."
"Teacher, don't worry. Even if the sheath and the Holy Lance change my appearance, I'm still me. Emiya Shirou can't become King Arthur."
The golden-haired boy turned around with a smile so radiant it could be called the ideal 'prince on a white horse,' and spoke to the tall man.
The man he called "teacher" was Lord El-Melloi II. He frowned at the golden-haired Shirou.
Back when he was still called Waver Velvet, he had dealings with this boy's adoptive father in Fuyuki. Though a Japanese youth, he had now taken on such an appearance.
His body had ceased to grow, halting just before his twenties.
Though he needed the boy's power, he also sympathized with this lonely youth in a foreign land. Ultimately, he took him in and made him his disciple.
This Shirou was not a magician per se, but a specialist in spiritual body combat—this generation's Gravekeeper of the Royal Tomb (King's Resting Place). Now, as a member of the El-Melloi classroom, he served Lord El-Melloi II, taking care of daily affairs and acting as his guard.
In this world's version of the Fourth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki, Kiritsugu Emiya summoned Artoria Pendragon, the dignified golden-haired king.
He obtained the Holy Grail, but ordered her to destroy it. Due to interference from the King of Heros (Gilgamesh), the Grail's black mud spilled out, causing a massive fire.
A dying boy was discovered in the ruins by a guilt-ridden Kiritsugu, who sought redemption. To save the boy's life, he implanted the still-connected Excalibur sheath into him...
After his adoptive father's death, Shirou, knowing almost nothing, got help from some underworld forces and came alone to Britain.
Through sheer luck, he stumbled into a remote village in Wales.
That village had for generations attempted to resurrect King Arthur.
Their ritual required reuniting Arthur's body, spirit, and soul. They bred descendants with the king's genetic traits in hopes of recreating a body fit for the King.
They failed for over a thousand years—until one day, a foreign youth accidentally wandered in.
The Holy Lance Rhongomyniad reacted to him. When he touched it, it acknowledged him. He was taken in by the villagers and trained.
Gradually, the boy began to resemble Artoria Pendragon.
The village revered him as the King's Vessel and worshipped him.
Eventually, he was chosen as the Gravekeeper of Arthur (Blackmore Tomb) for this generation—until he encountered Lord El-Melloi II.
In truth, he was still just that boy who dreamed of being a hero of justice, with a touch of nihilism.
Pseudo-Spirit Origin complete. Body transformation: maximum compatibility. Lancer·Shirou manifests.
Wearing a black-and-white cloak and holding a cage-like box in his right hand, the handsome youth appeared as the glowing light faded.
He removed his cloak's hood, revealing golden bangs, his appearance slightly altered—his already handsome features now had a refined European charm.
His eyes were now a mesmerizing gold-green, a gaze so captivating it could mesmerize any woman who met it.
Before Shirou could speak, the box in his right hand spoke first.
"Hey! Not only do we have to fight, now we're summoned to some random other world? I've had enough of this!"
"Hey hey hey, Shirou, let's just find a place to hide!"
"Don't be noisy, Add," Shirou said to the box held like a birdcage in his hand.
It was a talking magical artifact summoned along with him.
The box looked behind Shirou and began commenting on everyone present:
"What's this? A suspicious mustached uncle dressed like a villain; a magician girl who seems totally normal aside from her weird mind; a gorgeous woman in a projection who looks like a shady merchant? Hmm? There's something odd about your beautiful body's soul… Well, as long as the body's hot, even if the inside is some old white-bearded geezer, I don't care!"
"Oh… and a pink-haired little girl who looks familiar but clearly doesn't understand a thing. Then look at the enemy—what the hell is up with that terrifying giant wolf that looks like the Demon Boar King?! And a Headless Horseman with that level of a mount—what kind of monster is this?!
No way! This team's completely hopeless! I can feel a full-party wipeout coming! Hey, hey, Shirou, let's run after all!" The box chattered endlessly before outright suggesting escape.