Mercury is a very heavy liquid substance at room temperature, and when it moves at high speed under high pressure, it possesses powerful kinetic energy.
In addition, mercury can be freely transformed into various shapes such as whips, spears, and knives. Its sharpness can even surpass that of a laser beam.
"Fervor, mei sanguis (Boil, my blood)."
Chanting the magic spell, the contents of the bottle spilled slime-like from the opening. The liquid that radiated a mirror-like metallic sheen was a large amount of mercury.
The mercury, with a capacity of about 10 liters, flowed out of the bottle like a self-disciplined protist, vibrating and forming a spherical shape. It was the "Volumen Hydrargyrum" that Lord El-Melloi was proud of—the strongest of the many Mystic Codes he possessed.
"Automatoportum defensio!"
"Autonlatopor Iunl quaerere!"
"Dilectus incursio!"
After stacking a series of buffs, Kayneth finally felt a little relieved. He looked at Diarmuid and said haughtily:
"Who do you think you are————"
Before Kayneth could finish his sentence, Diarmuid smiled contemptuously and approached Kayneth like a ghost.
'There is no way he can break through my defenses!'
The moment Diarmuid approached Kayneth's side, the area where he was standing was encased in a silver semicircle. The block of mercury that had been entrenched at his feet turned into a protective shell in an instant.
Kayneth was surrounded by a watertight film of mercury. It was less than a millimeter thick, but with the power of magecraft, the tension of the film could reach the strength of a steel plate.
This is the "Auto-Defense" mode of the Volumen Hydrargyrum. This pre-programmed magic automatically reacts when Kayneth is threatened, instantly creating a powerful defensive membrane. Its reaction speed can even defend against bullets.
In Kayneth's opinion, how could Diarmuid, holding a mere cold weapon, be his opponent? After all, Kayneth still did not know enough about the strength of a Heroic Spirit. Or, perhaps, he was simply too proud of his magic skills.
Whoosh————!
The red tip of the spear easily cut through Kayneth's proud defenses, piercing his body directly!
"How can this be————!?"
Kayneth contorted his face in agony from the pain penetrating his abdomen. His voice became hoarse as he looked at the man in front of him in disbelief. The scarlet spear, though mostly wrapped in strips of cloth, remained impossibly sharp.
The "Gae Dearg" is a sharp spear that can neutralize defenses made of magical power. Its attacks are especially effective against armor made of mana, and magic enhancements or additional abilities applied to weapons lose all effect upon contact with the spear.
Moreover, it is a continuously active Noble Phantasm; it remains effective without chanting its true name. Because the shaft and the tip are wrapped with charms to cover its ability and original form, Kayneth did not realize its special nature.
At this time, Kayneth, who was already dying, heard the call of the man with the spear.
"Master, it is finished!"
Master?
Kayneth's pupils shrank, and he instantly understood. This man, who was unknown in the clock tower yet easily defeated him, was undoubtedly a Heroic Spirit! Only a Heroic Spirit has the terrifying strength to crush a magus so easily.
At this time, walking through the gate of the destroyed factory with the light at his back, was a child with red hair and amber eyes.
"What...?"
Kayneth looked at the child in disbelief and began to question his reality.
"Well done, Lancer."
Shirou walked up to Kayneth and raised his hand.
"Trace on."
The blue magic power surged instantly, weaving a silver-white longsword with a simple shape.
"Lend me your power, Kayneth."
"You... who the hell are you!?"
Kayneth's eyes widened as he asked sharply.
"You don't need to know."
As he spoke, Shirou stabbed the sword without hesitation.
[You have acquired the soul of Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald. Have you extracted it?]
Shirou looked at the corpse in front of him, frowned slightly, and nodded.
"Extract!"
In an instant, a vast amount of magic knowledge poured into Shirou's mind. Painting techniques, carving techniques, séances, summoning, alchemy, and the two magical attributes: "wind" and "water."
With such a large amount of magic knowledge and ability being extracted, Shirou suddenly felt a sharp headache.
"Hiss————!"
"Master!" Diarmuid, standing next to him, was startled by Shirou's pained appearance.
"It's okay...!!"
Shirou waved his hand, holding his head and enduring the sensation. When he extracted Ryunosuke's soul before, he only felt some discomfort, not intense pain. But extracting Kayneth's soul covered too much knowledge; forcing it in made Shirou uncomfortable for a while.
After a few minutes, the headache gradually subsided, and Shirou let out a long sigh of relief.
"Are you alright, Master?" Diarmuid asked with concern.
"Un, I'm fine," Shirou replied with a smile.
Then, he raised his hand and cast a spell on Kayneth's corpse.
"Turn to dust!"
Kayneth's corpse, accompanied by the spell, began to change its nature, eventually turning into a pile of gravel. Then, Shirou withdrew his hand, slipped it into his pocket, and walked toward the factory gate.
"Let's go, Lancer."
"Yes."
Although Diarmuid was surprised, he knew that as a servant, he should not inquire into the secrets of his lord, so he remained silent and followed Shirou.
...
Back home, Shirou changed his appearance back to a boy and took Sakura to an inn to book a room. Specially seeking a higher-end hotel, Shirou booked a luxury suite for Sakura to stay in.
The rooms were furnished with the most luxurious fabrics and amenities, with rich yet lively tones and an atmospheric layout. The graceful lines provided a luxurious and comfortable experience. While the Hyatt Regency undoubtedly had better service, Shirou was not going to fall into a trap after what he had just done there.
"How is it, Sakura-chan? Are you satisfied?"
"I..."
The girl looked at the spacious luxury suite with timidity.