The Holy Man of The Church Creek

61

It only took Shirou a single instant to understand that this wasn't working. His Excalibur trembled in his hands, the metal groaning and twisting as the output of the energy congregated within it and blasted out through the blade waned in response to the opposition.

This wasn't working.
Excalibur had been swung from both his and Arturia's hands, the action shooting down a pillar of resplendent golden light over the earth. The clouds parted seamlessly in the sky, cleaved in two while violent waves lapped over the earth's shores. Coastal cities were experiencing never before seen floods and tsunamis only held back through the power of magic barriers. Devils cast their arts to prevent further damage, the angels sung hymns of healing, and the human Mage and Wizard Associations led by Mephistopheles offered shelter to the confused and panicking.
This had to end…there was no time left.
Already he could see bits and pieces of the world shattering and fading. Black fissured had formed in the air and sucked everything nearby in. Geysers of water defied gravity and began to flow upward, accompanied by loose debris, upturned trees, and entire cities. Screams filled the air with tension and unease. Magic and the supernatural itself was useless in the sheer scale of the disaster.
In the entire world, there was only a single rule that had to be followed. The Great Red and Ophis must never fight for their combined power would break any world. Beast VI/L, formerly the Trihexa was no different. It was a being whose power was comparable to the dragon of Ouroboros and the dragon of the Dimensional Gap.
To go against his current adversary, the power Shirou and the rest were exerting was causing the world to fracture, and no magic could hope to stall the process as magic itself ran on the basis of the world. As can be supported by Ajuka Beelzebub, magic is an equation set upon established laws. Laws that would require the world to operate.
Can't exactly rely on such laws when said world was on the brink of collapse.
Ahead of Shirou, a beam of overwhelming darkness was pushing against a controlled torrent of light. The energies clashed back and forth like a tug of war, but the black was surely winning. For all the strength Excalibur carried in both his and Arturia's hands, the two of them were limiting the output to prevent the universe from breaking down in an instant.
The enemy had no such reservations.
"Damn it," Shirou cursed while beads of sweat trickled down his cheek and pooled beneath his chin. Saber wasn't saying anything, but the way she kept glancing at him even while concentrating on her own attack spoke volumes for her concern.
The wounds Avalon had healed were reopening one by one. New skin and flesh over a wound were made tender, brittle in the face of pressure and prone to tears if tugged the wrong way. Where he was standing, it was like he was fifty-feet under the ocean with the pressure pulling outward rather than inward. His veins were popping, a few even rupturing beneath the surface of his forearms, forming purplish bubbles that flared into a nasty red.
"Don't even try, Saber," he warned resolutely, watching the indecision flash across Arturia's face. She'd eased the grip of her left hand and had raised it in preparation to take his Excalibur and bear the burden on herself alone. "This isn't the time to just worry about me. The problem is how much this world can take before shattering completely."
"I will not tarnish your resolve." Grudgingly, Arturia took in a calming breath before diverting her efforts back towards Beast VI/L. Neither of them could afford a reprieve, not in this situation.
Beast VI/L increased the output of his attack more and more by the second. He'd only just assimilated the Trihexa a scant few minutes ago. The moment it got a grasp at its sheer power, the chance of victory would shift to zero.
Something. There has to be something?
His eyes darted left and right. Devils, Angels, Heroic Spirits, and everyone was putting their all to stop the end of the world, but only one group seemed to understand what was needed. The Gods understood too, but they were too exhausted extending their protections to the members of their pantheons and the life that existed throughout the world.
The one group made of a variety of pantheons and religions brought together by the machinations of a battle freak was the one that took action.
Vali Lucifer's group appeared a short distance behind the Trihexa.
Kuroka was floating alongside Vali and Bikuo, her gaze resolute and hardened. She'd clearly not forgotten what Shirou had done for her and wouldn't abandon him. She wore a black kimono left partially open over her bosom; the obi was loose but somehow holding enough of her clothing in place that it wasn't immodest but tantalizingly alluring.
She nodded towards Vali whose own motivations were simple enough to understand.
'When this is over, I demand a battle of strength.'
Vali's voice transmitted to Shirou's mind before Vali unfurled his devil wings and activated his Divine Divining's Balance Breaker. A white armoured knight with draconic accents appeared in Vali's place, a gleam reflecting off the golden visors.
The magic circle of House Lucifer manifested in full, expanding out to encompass the horizon behind Beast VI/L's back. In the middle of the magic, space disrupted and punched a hole that grew wider and wider to reveal the space of the Dimensional Gap. The Great Red's eye could be seen peering through, and Ophis who was pinning Crom Cruach beneath her feet bristled at the sight of her archenemy.
In any case, rather than attack, the Great Red floated away from the hole between dimensions and roared, opening a black space beyond even the Dimensional Gap. It was nothing but a void where nothing truly existed. It too had no desire to keep Beast VI/L around.
Arthur and Le Fey Pendragon moved to either side of Vali's magic circle and set down stabilizing pillars that would keep the entrance stable. Meanwhile, Kuroka revealed her cat ears and twin tails by activating her Senjutsu arts. She stabilized the world's properties around Vali's magic circle to prevent further harm.
A chance had come.
"Saber!" Shirou need only call once for Arturia to understand, and the both of them released their reservations, channeling the full strength of those supporting them. The light of the Excalibur's doubled in size, pushing back against Beast VI/L's attack in hopes of not killing it, but driving it into the void the Great Red had created. Unlike the seals the One God had created for the Trihexa, the void the Great Red created a path too was a permanent space. A prison with one way in and no way out.
All that was left was to push, but the resistance doubled tenfold with Beast VI/L's understanding of what was happening.
The entire clash was a struggle. Nega-Messiah prevented all attacks that would do it harm, but what if it were concepts? Excalibur's light was the power of hope, and this was what was pushing Beast VI/L back bit by bit, not Excalibur's destructive power. In this sense, others swords and their wielders answered the call.
Mots of light congregated around Shirou and Arturia before taking on the form of individuals. Their outlines formed before shimmering and taking solid shape. Armours of silver and bronze manifested with riveted steel plates festooned to flowing fabric attached to pauldrons.
A specific type of individual emerged.
Excalibur was a sword that embodied the concept of a dream and acted as a Last Phantasm, but it wasn't the only Holy Sword.
"May this power bring forth the wishes of all." Siegfried the Selfless, wielder of Balmung.
"I deem you a Dragon." Saint George the Just, wielder of Ascalon.
More and more Holy sword users appeared, and they weren't just restricted to the souls of the dead. A magic flashed beneath the platform of magical energy Arturia was maintaining before Xenovia and Serafall appeared.
Serafall was the obvious outlier, but she gave a simple response while raising up her left-hand shinning with the seal of Marbas. "I am your wife. I too am a part of your strength."
She shut him up before he could protest and before Arturia could subconsciously glower at her. There were more important things at stake.
The seal of Marbas over Serafall's hand was transferring energy directly to him and bolstering his vigour. "My strength seems ineffective against this foe, but I can at least do this much and support you," Serafall said solemnly.
He could have sworn Arturia whispered a quick 'Avalon is better,' but she would never openly reveal her emotions so easily. What he failed to understand was that aggravation was a difficult thing to suppress. More so when she heard what Xenovia had to say as she and the demi-Servant within her readied their respective Durandals, the carrier of miracles.
"Vivian," Xenovia said of all things. "I've decided that our daughter will be named Vivian. You can name him if it's a boy."
"D-Daughter?" Arturia let out a startled noise that was too high pitched even for her. It was like someone was strangling a rubber ducky with how strained her voice became. Of course, Serafall looked far from pleased. The other heroes granting their aid in this final moment all stared at Shirou with a look of empathy. It was a familiar feeling, dead or alive.
…focus please?
"Saber, Xenovia, not now."
Arturia resigned herself to focus, but Xenovia wasn't done.
"We fuck after this. I'll call Irina too."
Arturia looked scandalized, her mouth opening and closing before her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Rin and I first! No wait, she can have Archer! So, me first, I knew him first!" she said in outburst, only to falter when she realized what she'd just said. Her cheeks coloured, and she coughed to hide her un-seemingly display. She soon acted as if her reaction was just the exertion of maintaining her attack.
No one was fooled.
Gawain and Lancelot who themselves were Holy Sword wielders were utterly stunned. Shirou felt more than saw their inquisitive stares, but didn't deign to humour them. This was what happens when you gather so many heroes of varying personalities together at once.
Life or death struggle? Didn't mean shit. It wasn't new to any of them.
Enough! Enough of this!
Shirou glared at Beast VI/L and ignored all else. He was having tunnel vision, but he didn't care int his case. He gripped tighter to the Excalibur in his hands and gathered all the power he could muster.
This final push was all that was left, and as each new Holy Sword unleashed its energy, Beast VI/L was pushed further and further back. The energy in the air forcing the world to its limits was being redirected by Le Fay Pendragon to the Dimensional Gap.
Beast VI/L thrashed and flailed. In an attempt to dodge, it tried to spilt into smaller bodies, but this didn't matter. It had entered the Dimensional Gap where the open void lay waiting. This was when Shirou and the other's attacks lost their energy and died out, but so what?
This was the end of Beast VI/L. The Great Red made sure of that.
With another roar, the Great Red used the force of it presence to push Beast VI/L the rest of the way into the void which was promptly sealed. The battle was over, but Shirou didn't last to see the outcome.
He collapsed and fell unconscious.
Shirou found himself in a white space devoid of all else. The only one who stood in front of him was a man in a simple robe who was staring fondly at him with an expression he couldn't place. The man had brown shoulder length hair that framed the sides of his lightly bearded face. Above his head was a ringed halo that released a warm light.
There was a certain care in his eyes that wasn't quite something he was used to receiving. Gratitude was one thing, but this was different. It was like he was being seen not for what he'd done, but something else along the lines of a parent waiting for their child to come to their own answers.
He wouldn't lie and say that he didn't know the man, as it was abundantly clear who this was. It was the very being who started this all. The one who'd first asked of him a request that would save a world.
It was the One God of the Bible, leader of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
"It is done," the voice was kindly, similar to an old doting grandfather.
To the One God's statement, he had no other answer but a nod. He'd never been one to ask for compensation or to brag about his achievements, and he certainly wouldn't be starting now. The single nod he'd gave was enough to express his sentiments, and cause the One God to evaluate him up and down.
In this strange space, he found himself wearing a similar attire to the One God before him with the added addition of ten rings over each of his fingers. This was the gift granted to him after becoming a spokesman of the faith, or a holy man. However, the rings weren't exactly something that belonged to the current world. They belonged to the same God of his original world. The One God and the other God of his original world must have been the same or shared a similar authority.
"I won't take those back. They will be yours to keep or return, and will aid you greatly in whatever you do," the One God clarified. "With you, no, hold on a moment."
The One God shut his eyes, and soon enough a black shadow manifested in the form of Angra Mainyu, an exact replica of Shirou's form, but half naked and filled with tribal tattoos.
"With all of us together, we have accomplished something I have failed to do even with all my power," the One God inclined his head. "The both of you have my sincerest thanks, especially you."
The One God turned to Angra Mainyu who looked uncomfortable under the attention. "I had not expected your cooperation, but am gladdened that you've found your own sort of peace."
Angra Mainyu scratched at the back of his head, an action that was identical to when Shirou did so. "That's got nothing to do with you. It was all him. What crazy bastard would willingly take on my evils? He intrigued me. I merely stuck around."
The One God let out a small chuckle, wizened eyes able to perceive that Angra Mainyu wasn't being entirely truthful. He wouldn't single Angra out though, he must have enjoyed the memories he'd made free of pain no matter how short lived. "You have my gratitude nonetheless."
Angra Mainyu hummed, his arms crossing in front of him before his focus shifted towards Shirou. "I won't be going anywhere for a while if I have the choice," he said slowly.
Shirou considered Angra Mainyu's words and gave him a reassuring pat on the back. He wasn't going to force Angra Mainyu to go back to a life of constant agony if he could help it. The three of them had been through a lot together already. So, in a way, he was already seeing his two companions as friends, allies, and comrades. "Feel free to stay for as long as you'd like."
Angra Mainyu perked up, scoffed and turned his head away. He pulled down a part of the red bandanna over his head to cover his eyes and clicked his tongue, unwilling to show his good mood. "That's all I need to hear. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to watch after our body. Someone's trying to sneak us away while we're unconscious…It's the upright knight in blue."
Arturia? Really? What was the world coming to?
Without another word, Angra Mainyu uncrossed his arms, shut his eyes, then willed himself out of the whitespace. Once again, the only two present were Shirou and the One God.
"I best be going too, though I don't suppose you wouldn't mind telling me how?" Shirou maintained a polite expression, but his eagerness to rouse himself in the waking world wasn't missed. It was a far cry from the empty child he'd been when he'd first accepted the favour of someone wishing for help.
"Of course, though I've yet to finish giving you my gift. So, if you would mind staying just a tad longer, I'd appreciate it." the One God placed a hand into his robe and produced a pair of familiar pieces he'd not seen before. "Here, take these."
They were the seven Servant pieces that had never been used so far. Originally, they had just been formed through the combination of the Devil System Evil Pieces, but ever since the One God had gotten his hands on the Brave Saint pieces, things changed. He'd taken the liberty of fusing them together with the created seven class pieces, making them complete. His essence was stored within, and his power wasn't to be questioned especially due to the time he'd spent familiarizing himself with his other aspect's power.
"They are capable of reincarnating the dead and freeing them from whatever restraints bind them in this world or the other," the One God explained for Shirou's benefit. Knowing Shirou, he'd probably just leave the pieces to gather dust on a shelf and waste them. "These pieces are tied to you, and any who accept them will live alongside you as your trusted confidents. And before you ask, they have the capability to follow their own will. It will be up to them what they wish to do, and I'm sure a certain lonely King of Knights is deserving of a lifetime free of hardships?"
Shirou's interest piqued. He wasn't too thrilled about anything related to contracts and forced submission, but he'd been assuaged of his concerns as the One God had elaborated. The one pertaining to Saber was the most appealing, what the One God said next, a close second.
"I take it a certain red Archer would have to politely plead with you give him the Archer piece? It would certainly sever whatever connection he was with the other world through the process of reincarnation."
Oh. Emiya was certainly not going to like that arrangement. Especially since they hated each other and didn't see eye to eye.
"Do remember to be lenient though. That man has also endured for far too long."
Shirou deflated, his momentary smugness replaced with solemn understanding. Archer was a jaded future self that had seen atrocity and had his dreams crushed in wake of reality. He'd killed and killed and killed when all he'd really wanted to do was create a world where on one had to cry.
"I understand," Shirou said.
"Good. Well then, to get out of here, you merely have to think yourself waking up. That's all there is to it, yet what will you be doing from here?"
Shirou looked up at the One God, once again seeing that strange expression he couldn't quite decipher but was being directed at him.
"Your dream is to be a 'Hero of Justice.' Right here, right now, you've already achieved that goal."
Now that he thought about it, it was true. He'd saved a world and everyone within it. He wasn't so delusional that he could assume to save every single world in the multiverse, but he'd done what he'd always dreamed of in this other world.
"Look at them, everyone you've saved."
Images of the Devils, Angels, and humans he'd helped came to mind. Kuoh Academy, Heaven Hell, and finally the small church creak where he had first appeared in the human world. It all came flooding back along with a warm bubbling sensation in his chest.
He'd saved them, the very people who have died and had almost given into despair near the final moments.
He'd saved them.
The thought repeated in his mind like a broken recorder.
"Do you now understand the meaning of the smile you saw that day?"
He paused, images of Rin, Arturia, Serafall, Adelina, and everyone he cared about and who cared about him appearing in his mind. Then finally, he saw the face of Kiritsugu on the day his adoptive father rescued him from the fire.
"Yeah." The answer came easy, a smile gradually worked its way over his face. This was the feeling he'd been searching for since the beginning. Something that he'd always thought was forever out of reach.
What he failed to realize, that the limiting factor had always been himself. But now, no longer.
"So, what happens from here?" the One God drawled. "Go to them. Your friends and family are waiting for you."
Shirou gave the One God another nod of gratitude. After everything that he'd gone through, every battle and struggle, he'd found his peace. He shut his eyes and thought of waking up, his body beginning to fade from the legs up.
The One God was all that remained in the white space before he too began disappearing with a fond expression.
In the end you never gave up hope and saved others without care even to yourself. You weren't chosen because you were the only one qualified, you were chosen because you yourself was someone in need of saving, but could never see it.
When a lost lamb reaches his hand out for salvation, there is no way God wouldn't answer.
You who have not once looked out for yourself
Always always trying to obtain something that seemed out of reach.
You who had once lost your sense of being.
Let this be your deliverance.
What you've lost in the fire, you've now surely regained.
For Heaven's light shines upon you.
Epilogue next chapter.
Sorry for smaller chapter. I was busy with moving back for the new university semester, and I ended up not including the other part of what I had written since it had more relevance to the epilogue. If I ended up including the epilogue in one big chapter, there would probably be another full chapter added onto this one.
Thanks for reading!
Next update: Huntsman of Red V2
P a treon. com (slash) Parcasious
Fiction Press: Survivor's Log: Reflections (New novel coming out near December)
Book link: Fatedlegacydark. ca
Summary of book:
Death. Grief. Ruin. Nothing was left unchanged after an unexplained tragedy led to the loss of millions across the world in key locations. Cities were reduced to wastelands of steel and concrete, and many were forced into migration. When events leading to the prior tragedy occur once more, Kevin Black was going to have to learn that sometimes mysteries were better left unsolved. Trapped with his friends in the world of a ruined city filled with monsters, the journey out would be far more perilous than the journey in.