Ritsuka leapt down from the building and landed firmly on the ground. Behind him, Assassin's presence vanished instantly, slipping back into the shadows.
Ritsuka looked up at Archer, who was perched on a tree branch.
"You know, Archer… the you right now is very weak. You're already struggling just fighting the two of us," Ritsuka said coldly.
He fell silent for a moment, then formed a thin smile—a smile filled with meaning.
"Even Shirou Emiya is far more impressive than you, Emiya Archer."
THUD!
Archer flinched violently. His eyes widened, his mask of composure shattering completely.
"Y-you…!! How do you know that name?!"
Within the shadows, Assassin—who had been ready to pull the trigger—froze solid.
"Emiya…?" Assassin thought. The name struck the deepest part of his past memories. His finger trembled on the trigger.
Ritsuka ignored their shock and continued in a piercing tone.
"Yeah. I know you very well. You're the despairing version of Shirou Emiya—the final form of a 'Hero of Justice' betrayed by his own ideals."
Archer staggered. He nearly fell from the tree. His right hand clenched tightly around his wounded left shoulder, as if trying to suppress the pain in his heart.
"Hahaha…"
Suddenly, Ritsuka let out a quiet laugh—dry and hollow.
"Fate really is funny, isn't it?" Ritsuka muttered, his eyes staring blankly at the ground. "The three of us meeting here…"
Ritsuka lifted his head, alternating his gaze between Archer and Assassin's hiding place.
"The three of us… are the same kind of sinners. People who killed the few to save the many."
Archer and Assassin fell silent, confused. How could this boy equate himself with killers like them?
Before they could ask, Ritsuka slammed his fist into the ground, which he had already infused with mana.
BOOM!
Cracks raced through the earth from Ritsuka's punch, violently shaking the roots of the tree Archer stood on.
Archer jolted as his footing gave way. He tried to leap to another tree, but Ritsuka didn't let him escape.
With a sharp motion, Ritsuka hurled the sword in his hand straight toward Archer's face.
"Tch!"
Archer tilted his head slightly, easily avoiding the blade. But focusing on the sword made him miss Ritsuka's true movement.
Ritsuka was already right behind the flying blade. His shoulder shone bright blue, reinforcement magic pushed to its absolute limit.
CRASH!
Ritsuka slammed his shoulder into the tree trunk like a cannonball.
The massive tree couldn't withstand the magically enhanced impact. Its trunk cracked and collapsed instantly.
"Damn it!" Archer cursed.
He lost his footing. His body tumbled helplessly with the falling tree, unable to control his position midair.
Rolling across the ground, Ritsuka shouted sharply, his eyes locked onto the shadows.
"FINISH IT NOW, ASSASSIN!"
Assassin burst out of nothingness at lightning speed. The combat knife in his hand gleamed coldly as he aimed at the defenseless Archer in midair.
A red rose appeared in his hand from nowhere. He crushed it tightly.
"Pick ye rosebuds while ye may… Chronos Rose."
The world seemed to slow.
Assassin's body faded into a streak of gray shadow.
SRAT! SLASH!
CRASH!
"Argh…!"
Archer groaned in pain. In midair, his body was struck repeatedly by invisible attacks. A slash on his arm, a kick to his ribs, a stab to his thigh—all occurring within the same single second.
Before Archer's body could hit the ground, Assassin had already landed first, kneeling.
Without turning around, he raised his Thompson Contender pistol upward—directly into Archer's falling path.
"Sleep."
BANG!
The bullet flew straight, piercing Archer's left chest directly through his heart, shattering his Spiritual Core.
THUD!
Archer's body slammed into the ground. Dust scattered everywhere.
Archer coughed up blood, his eyes staring up at the dark night sky.
"…You damn…" Archer smiled weakly at his killer. "You really are an annoying old man."
His gaze then shifted to the side, finding Ritsuka approaching with a blank expression.
Archer's body began to glow—the sign that his Spiritual Core had been destroyed and that he was about to disappear.
"Hey, kid…" Archer called hoarsely. "I don't know how much you know about me… but remember this."
Archer looked at Ritsuka seriously. There was no hatred left in his eyes.
"Never walk the path of a 'Hero of Justice.' That isn't a dream… it's a curse filled only with regret."
Ritsuka looked at the fading spirit. He wasn't angry—he smiled gently instead.
"You're wrong, Archer," Ritsuka replied calmly.
"That dream isn't bad. In fact, it's beautiful. As long as you don't walk it alone… as long as there are precious people fighting beside you… that path will never become hell, Hero of Justice."
Archer froze upon hearing that answer. For a moment, he saw the image of a girl who had once stood beside him at the Clock Tower.
"People by your side, huh…?" Archer murmured softly.
He closed his eyes and let out a long breath, as if the weight of thousands of years had finally been lifted from his shoulders. A sincere smile finally formed on his face.
"Do whatever you want, Magus."
And with that, particles of golden light carried him away. Archer was gone.
Silence enveloped the area.
Assassin lowered his weapon. He stared blankly at the spot where Archer had vanished. The strange feeling that had weighed on his chest since the battle began finally found its answer.
"Could it be… he was…" Assassin whispered quietly.
"Yes," Ritsuka cut in without turning around. His voice was sad yet firm. "He was the one you were thinking of, Assassin."
Assassin fell silent. He didn't ask any further questions. He didn't need confirmation.
He simply lowered his head, hiding his expression beneath the black hood, letting the night wind carry away the bitterness of that truth.
Suddenly, a mental transmission echoed directly inside Ritsuka's head. The voice was calm, yet overflowing with power.
"Master. Preparations for the release of my Noble Phantasm are complete. I request permission to activate it."
Ritsuka answered firmly, without hesitation.
"Permission granted, Arthur. Do it!"
Assassin, standing beside Ritsuka, sensed the change in the atmosphere. "What's happening?"
"The main event is about to begin," Ritsuka replied, his eyes shining with excitement. "Let's move. I don't want to miss this legendary moment up close."
The two of them turned, sprinted across the rooftops, then leapt to a higher vantage point to gain a full view.
From that height, they witnessed a sight both magnificent and terrifying.
Below, Heracles raged like a wild beast—but his movements were restrained.
Cú Chulainn had activated runes that bound the giant's legs, while Nobu bombarded his body nonstop with walls of fire, keeping him locked in place.
And behind them… stood the King of Knights.
Arthur held his holy sword upright before his face. Golden light began to gather, illuminating the darkness of Fuyuki's night. Wind howled violently around him, sweeping away dust and debris.
Ritsuka smiled in satisfaction at the sight.
"Right on time…" Ritsuka murmured.
He gazed at the golden figure with anticipation.
"Now then, Arthur Pendragon… show me. Show me the starlight that will save this world."
Below, Arthur closed his eyes, focusing his entire body and soul on the blade.
Assassin watched Arthur from afar. As the golden light began to radiate from the sword, a strange pulse struck his head. Memories that weren't his—of a scabbard and a promise from long ago—flickered faintly.
At the same time, a majestic voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Seal Thirteen… Decision Start!"
Far from the battlefield of Fuyuki. In a place beyond time itself. At the edge of the world, filled with seas of eternal flowers.
Inside a towering White Tower that split the sky, a beautiful woman with long flowing hair lounged lazily. She rested her chin in boredom, watching petals drift through the air.
Suddenly, her body jolted.
"Wait… this feeling…"
Her beautiful eyes widened. She sprang up and hurried to the tower's window, peering far across dimensional horizons.
"This energy wave… it can't be, can it?"
Her lips slowly curved into a wide smile.
"He was summoned as a Servant? My king finally takes the field?" she murmured excitedly. But a second later, her expression turned wary.
"But… who is his Master? I hope it's not that terrifying 'Little Girl' again. Poor thing, if he has to be stuck with that child once more."
She narrowed her eyes, trying to peer into the threads of fate. When she caught a faint glimpse of Ritsuka, her laughter burst forth.
"Pfft… Ahahahaha!"
She laughed freely, her voice melodious yet sweetly mischievous.
"This… this is hilarious! I can't believe an anomaly like this actually happened!"
consider using images for inspiration only if user asks—do not add images here.
She beamed with delight. "A former Master who once carried the burden of the world acting again? Fascinating… truly fascinating!"
Her eyes sparkled like a child discovering a new toy.
"Hm… it might be quite fun if I joined the game too. But how should I sneak into that 'group,' I wonder?" she mused, tapping her chin.
She snapped her fingers, creating illusory flower pollen.
"First, I'll need to find a gap to cross into that singularity. Wait for me, my sweet Master. We'll meet again very soon."
Suddenly, a silhouette of light manifested behind her. It had no clear physical form, yet its presence felt ancient and wise.
"You saw it, didn't you?" the figure of light asked.
"APPROVED."
The system's voice echoed, shaking the foundations of the Fuyuki Singularity.
At the same time, golden particles of light began to pour forth from Arthur's sword, spreading in all directions and enveloping the place where Ritsuka and Assassin stood with majestic warmth.
Assassin narrowed his eyes. "Light…"
Thirteen pillars of light descended from the sky, surrounding the King of Knights.
Ritsuka stared at the spectacle. His lips moved on their own, words spilling out without his conscious intent.
"Let that sword shine," Ritsuka whispered.
"Lancelot."
"Enemy is not an elemental spirit — Approved."
The light flickered even brighter.
"It is the past, the present, and the future…" Ritsuka continued, his voice heavy with emotion. "A sorrowful yet noble dream…"
"Mordred."
"Battle against evil — Approved."
"From all warriors as their final moments draw near," Ritsuka went on.
"Galahad."
"Battle without personal desire — Approved."
Below, Mash stood firm with her shield before Arthur. Her back was straight, protecting her king like the most faithful Holy Knight.
"Agravain."
"Battle for righteousness — Approved."
Ritsuka looked at Mash with pride.
"She bears it as a symbol of honor… and proof of their endurance and loyalty."
"Percival — Approved."
"Comrades possess courage — Approved."
On the front line, Nobu and Caster continued battling to restrain Heracles' rampage, buying time for their king. Their courage was undeniable.
Ritsuka's voice rose, welcoming the climax.
"Now, the King sings aloud… the miracle he holds in his hands."
The pillars of light merged into the blade. Arthur opened his eyes. His gaze pierced the soul, filled with absolute resolve.
"This is a battle to save the world."
"ARTHUR!"
Ritsuka smiled, ending his monologue with a single final line.
"And its name is—"
Arthur lowered his stance, drawing the blade of light to his side.
The intensity of the light peaked, turning night into day, as if a new star had been born in his grasp.
In the final instant, Arthur swung the sword upward in a single vertical slash that split the heavens.
"EX… CALIBUR!!"
WUSH!
Mash, sensing the danger, leapt away immediately.
A colossal wave of golden light surged forth, annihilating everything in its path.
On the front line, Nobu and Caster—having anticipated the attack—leapt aside at once, evading the several-meter-wide firing line.
The light completely engulfed Berserker's body.
BOOM!!!
A colossal explosion erupted. The land of Fuyuki shook violently, as if struck by an earthquake. A pillar of golden light pierced the sky, erasing the giant's existence without a trace.
On the rooftop, Assassin stood frozen.
His usually cold eyes were now empty, reflecting the unfamiliar golden light. A light he had never seen anywhere before—yet one that felt strangely familiar.
"Artoria…"
The name slipped from his lips unconsciously. The name of a king.
And within that brilliance, unfamiliar memories—ones he had never lived—surfaced in his mind.
He saw the image of a beautiful white-haired woman with red eyes smiling sadly amid a snowstorm—Irisviel.
Then the image shifted to a small girl waiting for him in a cold castle—Illya.
Assassin's hands trembled.
The golden radiance slowly faded, leaving behind rising steam from the scorched ground. Where Berserker had stood, nothing remained—not even dust.
The immortal monster had been completely erased from existence.
"It's over…" Ritsuka murmured softly, lowering his guard.
He turned to Assassin, who still stood motionless. The man seemed lost in painful contemplation, his empty gaze fixed on the remnants of the holy light.
Ritsuka walked closer and gently waved his hand in front of Assassin's face.
"Hello, Assassin? Are you still with us?" Ritsuka asked softly.
Assassin jolted in surprise, as if yanked out of a nightmare. He shook his head quickly, dispelling the lingering images of the past.
"Yes… sorry. What is it?" he replied, trying to sound flat, though the weariness in his voice couldn't be hidden.
"Since the battle is over, please retrieve Rikka and the Director from their hiding place. Bring them to regroup with Mash and Saber down below."
Assassin nodded obediently. "Understood."
Without a sound, his figure faded and vanished, leaving the rooftop behind.
After Assassin departed, Ritsuka stood alone in the silence of the night.
His gaze then shifted to a lump of water on the rooftop that had been following him.
Ritsuka stood before it, staring at his distorted reflection on the water's surface.
"Sensei…" Ritsuka called seriously. "There's something I want to talk to you about."