92 The Appearance of the Black Mud Servant
The rainbow-colored magic eyes spun with multicolored light, crossing time and space, connecting to the past of this artifact, understanding its manufacturing process, and analyzing the core essence within.
The weapon in his hand normally takes the form of a cube-shaped box made of multiple parts, contained within a small cage-like frame. Its core component is a replica of one of the seven great weapons from the Atlas Institute, [logos-Re-Act].
It has multiple limited forms, and at this moment it unfolded into the Grim Reaper's Scythe [Grim Reaper]:
It has the effect of automatically absorbing large amounts of mana and devouring nearby souls, thereby strengthening the wielder's physical functions, and it can also, to a certain extent, hinder the use of magecraft.
The intense heat and sting caused his eyes to tear red liquid, but the analysis was successfully completed.
After understanding the nature of the Noble Phantasm, he could proceed with an effective enhancement modification.
At this moment, the Grim Reaper's Scythe underwent a change dominated by the magic eye. The blade flickered with a phosphorescent blue glow, then flames rose, transforming into a scythe-shaped azure blue flame.
The blue fire was not scorching hot; it was not the flame that brought light and heat to the living world but the pale blue flame that guides the dead souls. The firelight flickered with the wind, emitting a faint sound like the Underworld god softly calling its residents.
At this moment, the scythe received a fundamental enhancement, increasing both the amount of absorption and its power by several times.
"Refreshing! Refreshing! My current state is better than ever before!!!" Add shouted joyfully from inside the scythe, causing the underground puppets to raise their heads one after another.
"I'm going in. Servants, leave the rest to you." Saying this, Shirou jumped down from the rooftop.
"I know! Shirou-senpai, please be careful!" Gudako replied.
"Then let's go too!" Artoria and Black Jeanne nodded and changed into their battle armor.
In front of the colored lights and gate in Kabukicho, the coloratura puppets emitted eerie singing voices and surrounded the boy.
As the boy landed, the Grim Reaper's Scythe switched off the circuit for absorbing atmospheric mana and concentrated all functions on absorbing the residual souls inside the puppets.
The scythe swung down instantly; a row of coloratura puppets fell to the ground one after another.
The scythe did not physically hit the puppets on the ground but rather caused them to stop operating as if their power was cut off.
This was because the things supporting their bodily movements inside disappeared...
The hearts inside the puppets stopped beating; the half-dead lives finally found release. The souls dissolved fully into the air, returning to the primordial nature.
Due to the imprint's effect, the boy and the Grim Reaper's Scythe were linked. While absorbing the residual souls into the scythe, his body also received the souls' mana. The pain, despair, and wails filled his heart, and at the same time, his physical abilities continued to strengthen.
Coloratura puppets from all directions stepped on the fallen empty shells and rushed toward the boy at the center.
But they were too slow, posing no real threat.
The boy lightly leapt with both legs, instantly jumping three meters high to evade the puppets' pincer attack. At this moment, the boy demonstrated an agility that was among the best even for spear-class servants.
Then, flipping in midair, his scythe transformed into a crescent-shaped light arc, sweeping away the puppets gathering on the ground.
There were obvious bloodstains on both his cheeks, but the boy was completely unaware. He looked into the puppets' eyes — human eyes but dull as dead fish, merely carrying out orders to kill intruding targets.
However, the boy could hear the sorrowful cries of the residual souls inside the puppets' shells.
"'It hurts, it's so painful, save me...'"
"'Living like this is worse than being killed...'"
"'Please set me free...'"
This world, called the Demon Realm, had almost all the good people dead, leaving only some lingering villains.
But even the wicked were not beyond salvation. Both men and women still had some flicker of humanity, at least the will to desperately live was not wrong.
Unfortunately, their bodies had been forcibly stripped and bound inside empty puppet shells. The residual souls trapped inside the unconscious bodies wailed in pain, begging for help, hoping for the end of it all.
"Yes, this world has too many unreasonable things. Don't worry, I'll help you find release now." Shirou said softly.
The pale blue flames surged high, forming a flame scythe over three meters long, turning into a streak of light. The row of coloratura puppets in front immediately fell.
The blue flames danced in the night, turning into azure blue fire lotuses. The pitiful residual souls each found release.
Finally, the boy standing on a small hill made of hundreds of fallen empty puppet shells carried the Grim Reaper's Scythe on his shoulder.
"Hahaha! That was satisfying! Shirou, your eyes are amazing. I haven't enjoyed a meal this much in a long time!" Add inside the scythe said laughing with eyes wide open.
At this time, the girls who had been fighting the two Berserkers in front managed to slay the Empress Christina, and the battle was nearing its end.
When Shirou descended the puppet hill and wanted to go forward to help them—
'Swish!'
A cold gleam flew rapidly toward the boy from behind.
At the critical moment, Shirou sensed danger and dodged sideways.
An arrow burning with deep blue flame instantly pierced the concrete ground ahead. If he hadn't dodged earlier, it would likely have pierced his heart.
Immediately, several more flame-shooting arrows flew over.
Shirou swung the Grim Reaper's Scythe to sweep the arrows away.
When the scythe touched the arrows, his palm trembled from the force. The arrows were powerful, and Shirou used great effort to finally block them all.
"As a heroic spirit, you have such excellent archery, yet choose to attack from behind. Are you an assassin?" The boy looked toward the dark spot on the rooftop behind him.
"Come out! The stench of the black rat in the sewer has already been exposed!" Add shouted.
At this moment, a black-haired, dark-skinned man emerged from the shadows, a sinister smile on his handsome face, speaking carelessly: "What? As long as I can kill you, nothing else matters."
His clothes showed some ugly, ominous black sludge stains, and he held a strange bow.
When Shirou clearly saw that the man's bowstring was burning with blue flames, he frowned. As an archery enthusiast, he immediately recognized the man's identity.
"Hey hey, suddenly a final boss-like guy appeared, a big stinky, black, and tough monster," Add said in disgust.
"That is the divine bow Gāṇḍīva of the fire god Agni. Are you Arjuna Alter, the 'Heaven-sent Hero' of India?" Shirou asked warily.
If that was the case, the enemy he faced would be a top-class heroic spirit empowered by the Holy Grail.