Chapter 4
Several swords, gleaming with supernatural speed, cut through the air in a merciless frenzy, heading towards the being at dizzying speed. With a deafening impact, the blades collided, echoing the sound of something breaking, but to Emiya's despair, the body of the being remained unharmed, unaffected by the fury of the strikes.
"A barrier? There must be some form of protection." Emiya murmured, his quick mind capturing the possibility of a barrier that shielded the being from his attacks, preventing his swords from reaching it.
Driven by unwavering determination, the being advanced towards Emiya, defying him with its imposing presence. A new barrage of swords was unleashed, like a swarm of sharp metal, but once again they proved ineffective, veering away from the being without causing any harm.
"Unfortunately, at this rate, you won't be able to hurt me. You'll have to do much more than that." The being mocked, letting out a derisive laugh. The words echoed like an insult, highlighting the impotence of Emiya's attacks and challenging him to overcome his own limitations.
"We'll see." Emiya replied firmly, quickly stepping back as he formulated a new strategy. Realizing that his previous attacks had been futile, he decided to change his approach, gathering his will and materializing a bow and a lance in his hands.
"I see that you intend to change your method of attack, but will it be enough?" The being observed curiously, raising an eyebrow. Emiya ignored the being's words, focusing on his objective. With pinpoint accuracy, he launched the lance at high speed, hitting the being squarely in the face, which didn't even attempt to defend itself.
"Did I pierce the barrier?" Emiya questioned inwardly, a hint of uncertainty tinged his inner voice. His eyes remained fixed on the explosion resulting from the impact, awaiting a clear answer.
"Perhaps, if you had attacked with more force, you might have even injured me. Or perhaps not." A voice, somber like an echo from beyond, echoed behind Emiya. He widened his eyes, instinctively raising his two small swords to defend himself, but the movement was in vain. A kick struck his body, making him feel the brutal force of the impact.
"Damn it!" Emiya cursed internally as his body fell to the ground, a consequence of the ruthless blow. However, he quickly recovered, rising on the final beat against the ground, an expression of unwavering determination etched on his face. His eyes locked onto the being, but in a flash of realization, he dodged at the last moment, narrowly avoiding a lance that was approaching dangerously close to his face.
"I thought you were more powerful. I'm starting to become disappointed." The being taunted sarcastically, toying with Emiya. Evading the lance strike by a hair's breadth, Emiya felt challenged, a spark of renewed determination igniting within him. However, several swords, like a metallic rain, collided with the being, but once again, they failed to cause any damage.
"Haven't you tried this before? Don't you realize it's futile?" The being asked, curious about Emiya's persistence in trying to harm it when the futility of his efforts had already been proven.
"There must be some kind of barrier. But where does it come from?" Emiya didn't let the being's words deter him, immersed in his thoughts as he sought a strategy to overcome the obstacle before him.
"Can I stay here all day? And you, would you endure the same?" the being challenged, launching itself into another relentless attack. One of the spears was thrown towards Emiya, who raised his small swords to defend himself. Sparks flew, briefly illuminating the battle amidst the growing darkness.
"I can't copy this weapon. Could it be a divine weapon?" Emiya wondered in his mind, desperate to unravel the mystery behind the being's weapon but frustrated in his attempt to emulate its ability.
"This is getting boring. You don't really fight. Therefore, I will fight with everything I have to put an end to this," the being spoke, its voice filled with impatience and disdain. A bright red light emanated from the two spears in its hands. Emiya felt an overwhelming energy expand from the being, announcing the imminent release of its Noble Phantasm.
"May this world turn to ashes!" the cry of the being echoed, reverberating through the dark landscape as the spear shone with even greater intensity, as if responding to the call. With a swift motion, the being threw the spear, which seemed to pierce through the air itself, advancing at high speed towards Emiya.
"Rho Aias!" Emiya immediately recognized the power emanating from the spear and, in an act of desperation, shouted, summoning the protection of his shield of roses. Like a screen of sharp petals, the shield rose before him, prepared for the impact. The spear collided forcefully against the shield, triggering a devastating explosion that shook everything around. The dimension they were in was destroyed, while the clouds in the sky spun in a furious vortex. Debris and the bodies of soldiers were thrown away, silent witnesses to the magnitude of the epic battle unfolding between Emiya and the relentless being.
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Jeanne d'Arc was enjoying watching the people of Orleans die, a wicked smile plastered on her face. As she observed the destruction caused, she felt the earth tremble beneath her feet, awakening her curiosity and drawing her attention to a red light rising on the horizon. That light seemed familiar.
"What is this?" Jeanne whispered, her voice filled with curiosity and a hint of unease, as she fixed her eyes on that mesmerizing red light.
Gilles, noticing Jeanne's pale and worried expression, approached her with anxiety written all over his face. "What happened, dear Jeanne?" he asked, concerned about the whirlwind of emotions that seemed to dominate the warrior.
"Nothing. Gilles, I don't remember sending any servant in that direction," Jeanne replied, her voice filled with confusion and concern. Who could be fighting in that direction? Uncertainty and mystery surrounded those events, and Jeanne felt a shiver run down her spine.
Gilles suggested, with a cautious tone, "Should I go there and see what's happening, miss?"
Jeanne shook her head, rejecting the idea. "No need, Gilles. I will send another servant to investigate. I need to focus on what I was doing before," she answered, her voice determined, but her eyes still fixed on that fading red light that seemed to whisper dark secrets.
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A violent tremor shook the earth, threatening to knock Fujimaru down, but Mash quickly acted, holding him tightly in her arms with strength and determination. Fear mixed with surprise in their eyes as they faced that unexpected disturbance.
"An earthquake?" Dr. Roman asked, his voice filled with concern and uncertainty in the face of the unpredictable situation.
"I think so," Fujimaru replied, his voice trembling, as he thanked Mash for averting a potentially dangerous fall. With evident gratitude in his eyes, he gently broke free from Mash's protective embrace.
"You're welcome, Master. Please be more careful," Mash said, remaining close to Fujimaru, ready to protect him if another earthquake shook the surroundings. Her devotion was evident in every word and action, showing her determination to keep her master safe.
Jeanne, having confirmed that her companions were safe, directed her attention to the fading red light. She approached slowly, her face showing a mixture of fascination and concern.
"Are you all okay? I have a feeling that was more than just an earthquake," Jeanne asked, her voice filled with caution, as she closely watched Mash and Fujimaru to make sure they were not injured. Then her gaze turned again to the fading light.
Dr. Roman, sharing Jeanne's doubts and uneasiness, expressed his concern. "Could it have been some kind of attack?"
Silence hung in the air; none of those present were sure of what had happened. The sense of mystery and danger lingered, leaving them with a feeling of vulnerability.
"Saint Jeanne, did something happen?" Mash asked, anxious to find answers in Jeanne's focused expression as she watched the fading light.
Jeanne, trying to suppress her own unease, replied with a mixture of fascination and uncertainty in her voice, "I'm not sure. For now, everything is fine. It seemed familiar to me in some way, but it could just be my mind playing tricks. Let's continue our journey. We'll be close to the city before nightfall." Jeanne was intrigued by that light, but she knew it wasn't the time to get lost in reverie. Her goal was clear, and she needed to focus on it.
As the journey continued, Jeanne d'Arc couldn't shake the strange sensation caused by the red light from her mind. While walking alongside her companions, her thoughts were immersed in trying to unravel the mystery behind that inexplicable experience.
Mash, Fujimaru, and Dr. Roman remained vigilant, aware of the possible imminent threat.
"Saint Jeanne, are you sure everything is okay?" Mash asked, observing the pensive expression on the warrior's face.
Jeanne forced a reassuring smile, trying to hide her inner restlessness. "Yes, Mash. I'm fine," she replied, her eyes revealing a mix of determination and intrigue. "We can't be distracted by this now. We need to stay focused on our objective."
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"I'm surprised you're still alive," the being said, casting a mocking glance at Emiya, whose breath was slow and ragged. His body was covered in blood, but luckily, the Rho Aias had withstood the blow dealt by the being.
Emiya, in his weakened condition, watched the being with contained hatred. "That strike was powerful. You must have run out of mana to launch another, haven't you? How audacious! He realizes I'm on the verge of death and still finds room for jokes. But one day, I will repay this favor," Emiya muttered in his thoughts, as his eyes focused on the sinister smile that sent chills down his spine.
"So, let's go for the next round!" the being shouted with enthusiasm. Powerless, Emiya watched as another spear was thrown in his direction. His surprise was palpable, unable to react in the face of the imminent catastrophe. He cursed the being fervently in his mind, wondering how it still had enough mana for such attacks. Like a nuclear explosion, the spear collided with Emiya, causing devastating devastation.
"I believe this place has been reduced to nothing. The next city is not far away. I wonder when you will finally emerge?" lamented the being, disappointed by not being graced with the appearance of the person it longed for. It moved on, heading towards the next location, thirsting for maximum destruction. It desired to see that specific figure emerge and had no interest in its subordinates.
Hours later, a man materialized. It was Emiya, but this time his form was immaculate, without a single injury. He was at the peak of his power.
"I cannot defeat this servant alone. The time has come to make the only choice I have left: seek help," declared Emiya with determination. He hesitated to involve others, but now he understood that there was no alternative. He wondered if the world would send him more guardians because, despite possessing an immense amount of energy, he could not overpower this being that threatened to annihilate the era they lived in. At least not alone. He still had an entire arsenal at his disposal, waiting for the opportune moment to be employed.
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