Chapter 80. The Final Strike and the Rank-Up Named "Miracle"
Orario, middle floors of Babel, Hephaestus Familia Headquarters.
This was the hottest place in the entire city, the air perpetually thick with the parched scent of charcoal and metal. For an ordinary blacksmith, this was a holy land; for the "spectators" gathered here now, it was about to become the stage where history was witnessed.
"Hey, Hephaestus, are you sure this furnace is hot enough? My boy is forging 'Dragon Bone' here. Don't let the fire be too weak and end up with some half-baked 'Dragon Bone Soup'."
Loki sat cross-legged on a high stool brought in for the occasion, licking a popsicle and pointing fingers without a shred of divine dignity.
"Shut up, Loki."
Hephaestus—the one-eyed, red-haired Goddess of Forging—stood before the massive furnace with her arms crossed.
"This is my personal 'Primordial Forge.' Even Orichalcum melts in three seconds inside. If even this can't handle the kid's materials, then nowhere in Orario can."
Hephaestus looked toward the front of the furnace.
There, Shirou Emiya stood stripped to the waist, standing silently. His right hand—the arm that was once semi-transparent and was now fully physical and glowing white-gold—was emitting a heart-pounding heat that pulsed in rhythm with his breathing.
Before him lay the essence of the [Ancient Dragon Remains] brought back from the Valley of Dragons. The glob of liquid metal continued to throb like a living heart, every beat causing minute distortions in the surrounding space.
"So this is... the material." Captain Tsubaki stood to the side, gripping a spare black iron hammer, her forehead drenched in cold sweat. "Just being near it makes me feel like the mana in my body is going to boil over. Emiya-lad, do you really intend to complete this alone?"
"Yeah." Shirou nodded, his voice as calm as if discussing a dinner menu. "This is my sword. I must be the one to personally grant it 'shape and meaning'."
He turned his head to look at Ais, Ryuu, and Haruhime standing in the corner. The girls' eyes were full of worry, but also full of trust.
"Don't worry." Shirou flashed a brilliant smile. "I am... the man who is going to turn 'Infinite' into 'The One'."
The forging began.
"Trace—On."
With a low shout, Shirou's magic circuits fully opened instantly. This time, he did not project a hammer. Because his right hand was the best hammer.
Vwooom!
Shirou thrust his right hand into the suspended glob of dragon essence. There was no sound of searing flesh, nor an explosion. The rampaging dragon essence, upon touching Shirou's right hand, actually became docile. Because they felt it—a resonant aura of the same source.
"Judging the concept of creation." Shirou closed his eyes, and the red wasteland appeared in his mind. Countless swords were thrust into the earth. Every single one was a fake. Every single one was an echo of history.
"I once thought that if I just kept mimicking, I would reach the end.
But...
True strength isn't copying the glory of others.
It is—"
Shirou snapped his eyes open, golden flames burning in his amber pupils.
"Creating my own 'Karma'!"
"HRAAAAAAAAH!!!"
Shirou roared. His right hand clenched violently. The dragon essence was forcibly compressed and stretched. This wasn't smithing. This was—shaping.
He poured his mana, his will, and everything he had experienced in this world (the meeting with Ais, the bond with the Xenos, the gamble with the Gods) entirely into this mass of metal.
"The material... isn't enough!" Hephaestus suddenly shouted. "The power of the dragon bone is too strong! Mere mana can't fix its form! It's rejecting the concept of a 'Sword'!"
Yes. That was the pride of a dragon. It refused to become a tool swung by others. It resisted, trying to turn back into the giant beast that soared through the skies.
"If you don't want to be a sword..." A mad arc curled on Shirou's lips.
"Then become—the 'Fang that Sunder All'!"
He pulled the fragment of the [Arrow of Orion] from his robe, along with... the remains of his longest-serving, now-broken [Kanshou and Bakuya].
"Fusion!"
Merging the Goddess's love (albeit unrequited) with his own origin. Using the conviction of "Protection" to suppress the instinct of "Destruction."
RUMBLE!
The flames within the furnace instantly turned pale blue. Those were fires capable of burning the soul.
"Miss Tsubaki! I'm borrowing your fire!" Shirou yelled.
"You got it!" Tsubaki had been waiting for this; she swung her massive hammer, striking the furnace's bellows with a heavy thud. "Burn for me, AAAAAHHH!!!"
Fwoosh fwoosh fwoosh!
The fire surged. In the extreme heat, the substance—a mix of dragon bone, divine artifact shards, and magic circuits—finally began to stabilize. It gradually elongated, becoming sharp. It was no longer a traditional knight's sword, nor an Eastern tachi. Its shape... was closer to the one from legend that severed fate—
A Japanese sword (Katana).
"Even though I'm a half-baked Archer..." Shirou looked at the forming blade, his gaze turning incredibly soft.
"As I thought... what suits me best is still this.
Let it be completed... right here!"
Shirou raised his right hand. The white-gold arm had now turned entirely crimson, as if just pulled from magma. Using his hand as a hammer, he swung down the final strike upon the sword-mold.
"Tsumukari..."
DONG—!!!
A crisp ring, one that seemed to pierce the soul, echoed out. The entire Hephaestus Familia workshop shook. Even Babel wobbled slightly.
The light faded. A katana, dark red in color and covered in flame-like patterns along the edge, suspended quietly in mid-air. It had no scabbard. Because it did not need to hide its edge.
[True Name Weapon: Tsumukari Muramasa] Rank: Lv. ??? (Growth-type Divine Artifact) Material: Ancient Dragon Remains + Moon Goddess Fragment + Unlimited Blade Works Core Traits:
Fate Severance: Capable of cutting through mana flows, barriers, and even the concept of "Causality." Divine Killer: Deals devastating damage to targets possessing Divinity. Infinite Amplification: Can serve as the "Flagship" of [Unlimited Blade Works], amplifying the power of all projected Noble Phantasms.
"So beautiful..." Hephaestus, the Goddess of Forging herself, was entranced.
"That isn't a God-made weapon... that is a 'defiant object' forged by a 'Human' to surpass God."
"It's a success..." Shirou gripped the hilt. The feeling of blood-link made him certain—this was his other half.
"This is... my sword." Shirou murmured softly.
"Emiya!" Ais rushed over, looking at the smoke-covered youth whose eyes were brighter than ever.
"Are you... alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Shirou retracted the blade (it turned into light and merged into his right hand). He turned around, looked at everyone, and gave a confident smile.
"The preparation is complete.
Next... it's time to collect my wages."
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Two hours later. Twilight Manor.
An "Update Ceremony" belonging to Shirou Emiya was underway. This time, it wasn't just internal to the Familia. Even the Guild's primary god, Ouranos, had sent an envoy (though just a cloaked figure who didn't want to show his face) to express interest in this "out-of-spec" newcomer.
"Well then... let's begin." Loki took a deep breath, calming her excitement. Although she was mentally prepared, her hand still shook when she saw the sacred Hieroglyphs on Shirou's back.
"Rank Up!"
Vwoom!!!
Golden radiance erupted once more. This time, the light even pierced through the roof, shooting straight into the clouds. All of Orario could feel this massive mana fluctuation.
[Rank Up Successful] [Level]: Lv. 4 -> Lv. 5
[Abilities (Final Lv. 4)]:
Strength: SSS (1500) Endurance: SSS (1600) Dexterity: SSS (1400) Agility: SSS (1450)
Magic: SSS (1999) — [Limit Break]
[Development Abilities]: A. Mage (G -> E) B. Blacksmith (G -> SSS) — [God Smith] C. Mystery (I -> D) D. Swordmaster (New at Lv. 5: Significantly increases damage and priority of sword-type weapons)
"Lv. 5..." Finn looked at the parchment, speechless for a long time. "Two months... no, including his time in that 'Dark Age,' it's only been three months."
"From Lv. 1 to Lv. 5 in three months. This isn't a legend anymore; it's a myth."
"And..." Riveria pointed at the [Magic: 1999] value. "This value... means his mana capacity has reached the 'Absolute Limit' for Genkai creatures."
"Monster." Bete gave the most honest evaluation. "This kid is definitely a monster."
"Alright, alright! Stop praising me, I'll get a big head." Shirou put his clothes back on; though he said that, the smile on his face couldn't be hidden. Lv. 5. This was a watershed. At this level, he finally possessed the capital to face First-Tier adventurers head-on. Even facing Ottar, he was no longer a weakling who could only rely on "self-destruction" to trade for a draw.
"Emiya." Ais walked up to him. She reached out, gently stroking Shirou's cheek.
"You got stronger.
Faster... than me."
"Not at all." Shirou held her hand. "I just... ran a little faster, that's all.
And if you hadn't been waiting for me up ahead, I might have collapsed on the road long ago."
"Mhm." Ais nodded, a touching blush appearing on her face. "Then... we'll wait for you on the 60th floor.
Together... to the deepest depths."
"Of course."
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While Twilight Manor was immersed in joy, a letter from the top of Babel was once again delivered to Shirou's hand.
Only this time, the messenger wasn't Ottar. It was... Syr.
"Emiya-san, congratulations on your level up." Syr stood at the door, carrying an exquisite basket, that sweet smile still on her face. "This is a celebratory cake I made... don't worry, I didn't put anything strange in it this time (probably)."
"Thanks." Shirou took the basket, not refusing. Because he sensed it—the divinity within Syr that was becoming harder and harder to suppress.
"The... letter?" Shirou asked.
"Here it is." Syr pulled a golden card from her robe. "The Goddess says...
Tomorrow at noon.
The Field of War.
The Final Battle.
Win, and you take all the glory.
Lose, and you leave all your future behind.
This is... the final ultimatum."
Shirou took the card. There was only a short line of text:
[Come, my beloved.]
"..." Shirou was silent for a moment. Then, in front of Syr, he crumpled the card into a ball.
"Tell her." Shirou looked up, his gaze like a sword.
"I'll go. But not as a 'person.' But as a—Challenger.
I will use my sword to sever all her delusions."
"Hehe..." Syr started laughing. That smile carried a hint of anticipation, a hint of madness, and a hint of... relief.
"That's good then.
I too... am very much looking forward to it."
Syr turned to leave. But the moment she turned, Shirou seemed to see a pair of silver wings flash behind her back for a split second.
"Is it finally... coming?" Shirou looked at the crumpled card and took a deep breath.
The final battle is tomorrow.
That night, Twilight Manor held no victory feast. Because everyone knew that tomorrow's battle was the true fight for life and death.
Shirou sat alone on the roof, wiping [Tsumukari Muramasa] (though it was still invisible, only manifesting during combat).
"Emiya." A green figure landed beside him. Ryuu Lion.
"Ryuu? Not asleep yet?"
"I can't sleep." Ryuu sat beside him, looking at the moon in the sky. "Tomorrow... you're going to face Ottar, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"Are you confident?"
"To be honest... it's a 50/50." Shirou smiled. "That Ottar is the peak of Lv. 7. Even if I've reached Lv. 5 now, there's still a gap in raw strength."
"But..." Shirou gripped the hilt. "I have a reason I must win."
"For... Ais?" Ryuu asked, her tone carrying a hint of bitterness.
"Not just for Ais." Shirou turned his head, looking into Ryuu's clear eyes. "For everyone. To prove... that human possibility isn't something Gods can toy with at will."
"..." Ryuu looked at Shirou. The boy who once pulled her up when she was most desperate had now grown into a hero who could stand on his own.
"Emiya." Ryuu suddenly moved closer to Shirou.
"Yeah?"
"If... I mean if." Ryuu's voice trembled slightly. "If you win... could you... grant me a wish?"
"A wish?" Shirou blinked. "What wish?"
"I can't... say it now." Ryuu's face turned as red as a ripe tomato. "When you win... and come back alive... then I'll tell you."
With that, she fled the roof like a startled rabbit.
"A wish, huh..." Shirou rubbed his nose. "I feel like... I just set another incredible flag."
Still. The feeling wasn't bad.
"Alright." Shirou stood up and stretched toward the moon.
"Time to rest."
.
.
.
"Tomorrow... is going to be a big day."
The next day, noon. The plaza before Babel.
A sea of people. Adventurers from all over Orario, Gods, and even Guild staff had come out. Because today was the final battle of the [Great Feud].
Loki Familia vs. Freya Familia. Senji Muramasa vs. Ottar the Warlord.
"It's finally here." Freya, standing at the top of Babel, looked down at the crowd, a fanatical light flashing in her eyes. lzoxK
In the center of the plaza, the two teams stood facing each other.
On the left was the fully armed Loki Familia. Finn, Riveria, Gareth, Ais, Bete, Tiona, Tione... all Lv. 6 or above (including buffs). And at the very front stood the red-haired youth. Lv. 5, Shirou Emiya.
On the right was the imposing Freya Familia. Hedin, Hogni, Allen, the Gulliver brothers... all Lv. 6. And at the very front stood that insurmountable mountain. Lv. 7, Ottar.
"Are you ready? Shirou Emiya." Ottar spoke, his voice like muffled thunder.
"Yeah." Shirou drew the katana at his waist. Though the blade was invisible, the piercing sword intent had already sliced the surrounding air.
"I can start anytime."
"Good." Ottar nodded. He drew the brand-new black greatsword from his back, personally forged by Hephaestus.
"Then... let us fight to the death."
BOOM!
As two terrifying auras collided, the highest-level battle in the history of Orario officially began.