Shinji Matou at Your Service

Broken Phantasm: The Destroyed Illusion: A skill that destroys a Noble Phantasm endowed with immense magical power, using the Noble Phantasm itself as a container for that power and detonating the magical energy and faith contained within it, delivering a severe blow to the opponent.

Due to the destruction of the Noble Phantasm, this move can only be used once, but its destructive power is several times, even dozens of times, greater than the release of its true name, making it the strongest strike in the truest sense.

This was Shinji's trump card, his desperate and reckless gamble in the face of despair. At this point, he had already disregarded life and death, wanting only to drag this white-haired bastard in front of him down together.

Whether it was due to the effect of his A-rank luck or his disregard for life and death, Death itself seemed unwilling to claim him. Shinji, at the core of the explosion, surprisingly did not suffer fatal injuries and managed to survive the destruction.

The flying flames melted into the night's darkness. The entire area was deathly silent, with only the sound of the raging fire reaching his ears.

The assassin, who had narrowly escaped death, didn't have time to feel grateful. His eyes searched through the increasingly intense sea of fire, scanning back and forth as if looking for something.

However, before he could find it, a voice echoed in his ears, like a relentless nightmare.

"What are you looking for? Are you looking for me?"

Creak.

The sound of a stiff neck turning, and a figure in black with white hair entered his vision.

Though there were more signs of smoke and fire, the boy was still smiling.

"You, you—"

"What about me? I admit, your Broken Phantasm: The Destroyed Illusion was executed beautifully, and the timing was impeccable, but unfortunately, you were just a bit short of killing me—want to know how I escaped?"

At another time, Shinji might have had the curiosity to guess, but now, with his final counterattack thwarted, he was completely despondent and couldn't be bothered to think.

Seeing Shinji not respond, Shirou seemed somewhat disappointed but revealed the answer himself.

"It was 'Ground Shrink'; the extremity of 'Ground Shrink' is similar to Astolfo's Hippogriff, capable of achieving 'impossible existence'. By the way, this body's attributes are still a bit lacking. Without Command Spell reinforcement, it's too much of a burden on the body, and the jumping distance isn't ideal."

Upon closer inspection, the eighteenth stroke of the Command Spell engraved on Shirou's collarbone had dimmed again.

"If you hadn't used the B+ ranked 'Indra's Thunder' but instead used Black Lancer's Holy Lance, even if I had executed a dimensional leap, I wouldn't have escaped and would have been dead. Of course, everyone present, including the Greater Grail, would have been done for too."

"Master—"

Perhaps unable to endure Shirou's endless chatter, or displeased with Shirou explaining to the enemy how to achieve mutual destruction, Semiramis finally spoke up.

"Ah, sorry, old habits die hard—but it doesn't matter. The same trick won't work on us. Even if they tried Broken Phantasm: The Destroyed Illusion with the Holy Lance, you could just use spatial manipulation to transfer it away. Also, also—"

"Master, enough is enough!"

Semiramis was genuinely angry. The previous Broken Phantasm: The Destroyed Illusion had already destroyed the protective magic placed around the Greater Grail. If another one came and she failed to block it, it would be the end for them all.

"Yikes~"

Shirou couldn't help but shiver involuntarily, triggered by the low pressure emanating from behind him.

"I was wrong, I'll stop talking now, alright? By this point, ten seconds have already passed. Although it's a bit of a shame, I can only say goodbye to you all here. Blame your powerlessness."

The katana was gently raised, and aimed at Shinji's heart, which was also his spiritual core.

"I'll start with you. Considering we're both transmigrators, I'll make sure your death is painless."

Just as the katana was about to fall, a red flash of lightning burst in.

Shirou, whose attention was entirely focused on Shinji, paused for a moment due to the unexpected ambush.

The "intruder," who had stormed in like a gust of wind, swung a great sword while releasing crimson lightning, sending Shirou flying.

"Oh my, oh my, such ruthless attacks—"

Despite being ambushed, Shirou wasn't angry; he simply observed the intruder.

The helmet worn during their first encounter had long been removed. There was the dazzling golden hair, the wild eyes, and—an unyielding smile.

"—The rebellious knight Mordred, you do indeed resemble your father, uh, mother, well, King Arthur."

"Hmph! Stop shouting my name around so carelessly!"

While speaking, the red Saber Mordred kept swinging the great sword, relentlessly attacking Shirou.

Seeing this, Semiramis frowned and said coldly.

"Saber! Are you planning to betray us!?"

"Are you an idiot!? The ones who betrayed are you! The moment you tried to use schemes to deceive my Master, you undoubtedly became my enemies. Moreover, you shamelessly plan to kill my father—listen up—"

Accompanied by this domineering declaration, a slashing arc flashed through the chapel. This strike, like drawing a boundary line, completely separated Shirou's side from the others.

"—The only one qualified to kill my father is me!"

The already severely damaged floor was further ruined, with countless splinters and fragments filling the air.

The next instant, something seemed to be thrown from the far end of the chapel.

With the sound of metal clashing against the ground, a large amount of white smoke filled the area.

It was a smoke bomb!

"How troublesome...!"

Semiramis grumbled while weaving magic to disperse the smoke.

"Time's up, Saber!"

"Oh, everyone, retreat now!"

Hearing the Master's command, Mordred swung one last slash, then turned and grabbed Artoria and Jeanne, fleeing like a rabbit.

The two were about to say something when Chiron suddenly leaped up from the ground, grabbing Shinji while releasing a gust of magic like a mountain breeze.

Touched by this magic, the Servants immediately cleared their heads, regaining some strength, and struggled to run outside.

If Shinji could use Broken Phantasm: The Destroyed Illusion, how could the great sage with Divine Wisdom sit by idly?

From the moment he was poisoned, he had been preparing skills to suppress the toxins, waiting for the right opportunity to break the deadlock.

And this opportunity came faster than he expected. First, Shinji used Broken Phantasm: The Destroyed Illusion to blow up the palace, breaking the enclosed environment. Next, Mordred broke in, followed by Kairi Sisigou throwing smoke bombs from the corridor. With all conditions met, Chiron unhesitatingly released all his magic, maximizing his A+ level agility, grabbing Shinji with one arm and carrying the mana-depleted, paralyzed Achilles with the other as he swiftly retreated.

As for the similarly immobilized Atalanta and the slow Avicebron, they were picked up by the nearest Siegfried, retreating alongside Chiron.

"Master, Lancer, chase them!"

Semiramis urged.

"Not a chance!"

Shinji, with his barely recovered magic, threw Ishtar's spear backward, "Again—Broken Phantasm: The Destroyed Illusion!"

In an instant, the ground shook and mountains trembled.