Chapter 52

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

A barrage of Noble Phantasms collided fiercely, creating a high-pitched, ear-piercing clamor that seemed to reverberate endlessly.

Under the flashing lights of lightning, countless sword-like Noble Phantasms materialized around Shirou Emiya, projected like arrows that flew towards the incoming barrage from his opponent, Angelica.

"You imposter!" Angelica cast a hurried glance behind her, then extended her hand to fire another volley of Noble Phantasms. Her voice was cold and disdainful as she shouted at Shirou, "You'll never keep up with me like this!"

"Yeah, I know," Shirou replied.

He watched as Angelica unleashed another barrage of Phantasms, then projected two blades into his hands.

*Boom!*

A massive sonic boom shattered the air as a beam of golden sunlight pierced through the dissipating storm clouds, illuminating the battleground.

Angelica wiped the blood that trickled down her face, her expression dark as she glared at Shirou, who had appeared once more in the distance.

"Now you're the one who can't keep up," Shirou taunted, his dual blades glinting under the sunlight. He looked at Angelica, whose face bore a fresh cut, and smiled.

"You imposter!" Angelica's eyes gleamed red with rage. She spread her arms wide, unleashing an even larger array of golden auras. Raising her hand towards Shirou, she commanded an endless stream of golden projectiles to shoot forward, sealing off every inch of his path. With a manic laugh, Angelica screamed, "Die, imposter! Die by my hand this time!"

Angelica lifted a golden hilt with a blood-red blade, forming a dense crimson web in the sky. As the net rapidly contracted, she glared at Shirou, who was parrying her attacks, and fiercely swung the sword.

"Enuma Elish!"

The primordial surge that could sever the world roared towards Shirou, reducing everything in its path to dust, returning all to their origin.

Staring at the approaching torrent of destruction, Shirou turned back, glancing at Miyu, who stood behind, along with Illya and Klee, who were both fighting valiantly. Mana surged through his body as he began to chant aloud.

"I am the bone of my sword.

Steel is my body, and fire is my blood.

I have created over a thousand blades.

Unknown to death, nor known to life.

Have withstood pain to create many weapons.

Yet, those hands will never hold anything.

So, as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works!"

A new incantation unfolded, and a new world opened up.

Under a blue sky with drifting white clouds, a gentle breeze swept through a vast green field that resembled an ocean of grass.

"Impossible!!!" Angelica shouted, her red eyes widening in disbelief. She looked around at the drastically altered landscape and then back to Shirou, who stood at a distance. "The Sword of Rupture returns all to the primordial state! How could a mere Reality Marble withstand it? What did you do, you imposter?!"

Shirou spread his arms wide as if embracing this serene new world. He looked at Angelica and answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "A Reality Marble indeed cannot withstand the power of Enuma Elish. The original Unlimited Blade Works may have collapsed, but this is no longer Archer's Reality Marble."

He smiled, his eyes shining with renewed determination.

"This is my Unlimited Blade Works!"

"Imitation, are you ready?"

Raising his right hand, countless swords began to manifest, floating and roaring behind Shirou. They hovered around him, dancing in the sky as though they were alive, following his will.

"Do you know?" Shirou said, locking eyes with Angelica. "The sword in your hand is crying."

With his words, the multitude of swords—like birds—took flight, soaring through the sky and descending upon their enemy.

"You damned imposter!!!"

Hearing Shirou's words, Angelica's eyes burned a furious red as she stretched her arms wide, turning the entire sky golden. Facing the myriad of swords coming her way, she frantically unleashed a rain of Noble Phantasms in an attempt to fight back.

The clash was like two armies colliding. One side was brutish and strong, resembling a raging bull, while the other was nimble, executing sophisticated sword techniques and cooperating seamlessly under a single will. It set an inescapable trap, disassembling the opponent piece by piece.

More swords manifested behind Shirou, flying above him and slicing through the air before merging with the front-line assault.

Angelica's eyes burned as she saw her own Noble Phantasms fall before Shirou's onslaught, only to be projected by him and turned against her. She clenched her teeth, and the Sword of Rupture began to spin at an alarming speed.

"You imposter! How dare you mock me like this?! I'll obliterate you and your foul Reality Marble!"

"Enuma Elish!"

With the activation of the Noble Phantasm's True Name, the Sword of Rupture once again glowed with its ominous, crimson light.

Shirou sighed as he looked at the deranged Angelica. "Didn't I tell you already? Angelica, the sword in your hand is weeping."

Holding his hands as if gripping an invisible sword, Shirou mimicked a motion as though he was swinging a peerless divine blade.

The crimson glow from Enuma Elish vanished, the red light in Angelica's eyes faded, returning to their original deep blue. The Archer-class card dislodged itself from her chest, and she collapsed to the ground, her breaths shallow. Seeing Shirou walking toward her, she struggled to ask in a broken voice, "That... what was that?"

Bending down, Shirou picked up the card from the ground. He looked down at Angelica, whose eyes were wide with confusion, and replied calmly, "I told you from the beginning—'I am the bone of my sword. I have become the Infinite Blade.' I am the strongest blade. This world itself is my blade."

"I see..." Angelica muttered as she looked up at the blue sky, her blue eyes reflecting something inexplicable. She glanced at the card in Shirou's hand and whispered, "So, from the beginning, I was always under your blade."

Angelica tried to move, struggling to get up, but the blood loss from her chest wound drained her strength, rendering her efforts futile.

Shirou took one more look at Angelica before undoing Unlimited Blade Works.

The fading clouds in the sky parted, letting sunlight break through. Below, the black mud spirits began to rise again, emerging from the despair that enveloped them.

Holding the Gilgamesh card, Shirou appeared alongside the blood-soaked, fallen Angelica in the space that had just returned to reality.

"Brother!" Miyu's concerned voice called out as she saw her brother return. She couldn't hold back and ran over to him, shouting, "Big Brother!"

Julian looked down at the newly reappeared Shirou and Angelica, his brow furrowed. "What a waste," he muttered before calling out, "Beatrice!"

"Yes, Lord Julian!"

"Mjölnir!"