10 Chapter 9: Shirou vs Athena

After leaving Godou and Erica behind, Shirou moved to the garage while the others followed him.

"I assume our strategy hasn't changed from the original plan?" questioned Illya.

"There is no change. We trap Athena in the Unlimited Blade Works while she absorbs the Gorgonian and we kill her there," replied Rin.

Shirou followed up, "cut the chatter, we need to get far enough away that nobody uninvolved is caught up in this. We're moving out."

""""Hai!""""

On a clifftop overlooking the sea, several miles from any form of civilization:

Shirou was sitting down, waiting with the Gorgonian in hand. Athena was getting close, based upon the pulses of divine energy the Gorgonian was giving off. None of Shirou companions were visible.

They were waiting for the signal to activate the bounded field that would prevent Athena from escaping while she was dragged into the Unlimited Blade Works. It was a tactic used against four of the heretic gods they had encountered over the years and it had worked every single time.

The only sound that could be heard were the waves against the cliff. Just before sunset, Shirou's voice rang out, breaking the silence, "So you've come, Athena."

Thirty meters ahead of Shirou at the edge of the cliff, space distorted briefly, revealing a young girl. She was pale-skinned, to the degree she looked unhealthy, and wore a white shirt, yellow sweater, and plaid skirt in addition to a cat-ear hat.

Silence returned, at least until Shirou spoke again, "or would you prefer your true name of Nyx?"

Shock briefly flashed through Athena's eyes, replaced almost immediately by calm. Then Athena responded, "Impressive. One struggles to remember when that name was last used to refer to oneself. You have done your research, godslayer. To answer the question, once I reabsorb the power of the Gorgonian, I will be Nyx. Until then, I am only Athena."

Nyx, goddess of night and the underworld. The mother-earth goddess all others in Africa and Europe can be traced back to originally. And she was about to be reborn from Athena.

Shirou spoke calmly, "is there any chance I could convince you to leave peacefully if I give you this?" as he held up the Gorgonian.

Athena shook her head, "your brethren was the one who took the snake away from me. Blood is required for compensation for his act."

Shirou sighed, "well before we begin, catch," he said, throwing the Gorgonian to Athena. She caught it, this time the shock did not dissipate as quickly as before.

Looking at the stone disc in her hand, Athena spoke again, "strange. Why did you return the snake to me?"

Shirou answered simply, "it belongs to you doesn't it?"

Athena tilted her head, baffled by the simple logic, "it would appear that you are a child of Epimetheus. But this one does give gratitude for your honesty. Prepare thyself, for the ancient queen walks this earth once more!"

A vortex of darkness erupted around Athena. She could feel her self changing, returning to who she once was. But even as she felt her strength increasing, she could hear words, unlike anything she had ever heard before.

"My body is made out of swords

My blood is of iron and my heart of glass

I have overcome countless battlefields

I never have and never will retreat

I walk this path without fear, for I am not alone

Though the path is difficult, we will endure no hardship

There is no need for regret, for this path is our choice

Thus bring forth the Unlimited Blade Works"

The words almost felt like steel was contain within them. There was no other way to describe them.

When the vortex of darkness dissipated, the newly reborn Nyx was greeted by a sight she almost couldn't believe.

All of the scenery had been replaced with a grassland. The sun was high in the sky, not at sunset as it was earlier. But what shocked Nyx was the blades.

An uncountable number of blades covered the landscape. Every type, every variation of sword was present. Quite a few were magical. Several even felt divine, but there was something... off about them.

Located to to around Shirou Emiya were four statues. They appeared to be made of the purest marble but they were life-sized and true to appearance. They were statues of Illya, Rin, Saber, and Sakura. Directly in front of Shirou there was a sword unlike any of the others. When her wisdom informed her of the sword's identity, Nyx's eyes opened as wide as they could go and she couldn't disguise her shock in the slightest.

It was the Sword of Divine Salvation.

IT WAS THE Sword of Divine Salvation.

The sword of the King of the End, the strongest god of steel in existence. The anti-Campione god, the one with an absolute advantage over the devil kings. Only one thought occupied Nyx's head.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS.

To start with the world was something even a high-class god would struggle to create. The big problem was that it showed clear signs of being a mortal magic. There was some divine power in the world, but the power that created it in the first place is mortal. Shirou Emiya had created this before he became a Campione.

Gods stand at the pinnacle of the world and a human cannot match them. That was the truth accepted by all beings mortal and divine in nature. But this world was a direct contradiction of that statement. Nyx knew many gods, including herself when she was Athena, who are weaker than this power even without the divine power contained within. Simply put, Shirou Emiya was stronger than a god even when he was just a mortal. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

Then there was the Sword of Divine Salvation. It wasn't an illusion, it existed, it owed its allegiance to Shirou Emiya. He had usurped the authority known as the Sword of Divine Salvation. But how and when? One possibility ran through Nyx's head, but it was even more ludicrous than the meaning behind the world the 5th Campione created.

Was the first god killed by him the King of the End?

The King of the End was like a god to other gods. He is the strongest being in existence and none could match him. But for some reason, Nyx couldn't shake the feeling that the ludicrous idea was in reality the truth.

Nyx calmed herself. She wasn't going to go down without a fight, "Pick up that sword and lets get on with it."

"No."

Of all the things Shirou could say, she never imagined he would say that, "WWWHHHAAATTTT, WHY?"

"Do you know what this sword represents?"

The calmness in Shirou's voice cut through Nyx's confusion, drawing her undivided attention, "enlighten me."

"This sword represents when hope has been completely lost and the only remaining option is destruction. I refuse to accept that hope can ever be completely lost. I will only draw this sword after trying everything else. Now, lets begin," Shirou said as he summoned a pair of black and white swords to his hands.

A massive grin appeared on Nyx's face and she drew a scythe from the darkness of her shadow.

Then a shockwave rang out as the two clashed.

Nearly an hour later, Nyx finally collapsed to the ground.

Both Nyx and Shirou were in bad shape, but Nyx's condition was clearly worse.

She had fought will all her might and Shirou countered everything and surpassed her. It was without a doubt the best fight of her entire existence and she had no regrets.

Nyx felt a shadow fall over her. Looking up, she saw the 5th Campione standing over her with a blade in his hand. It wasn't the Sword of Divine Salvation, it was still embedded in the ground near the four statues. Nyx smiled and spoke, "what are you waiting for?"

Shirou spoke one last time, "I'm sorry."

Nyx closed her eyes and spoke her last, "you have no reason to feel sorry for me."

Shirou swung the sword down and the battle between god and Campione came to an end.