IBHJ 1287

Without another word, the Incarnation turned and fired a beam of light directly at Mana.

"Let's begin with you, Alaya!"

"Move!" Shirou shouted.

But it was already too late. He could sense the devastating power contained within the Incarnation's light beam. Its purpose was clear—to destroy Mana as the vessel of the Counter Force, thereby eliminating Alaya itself and erasing Pan-Human History at its source!

Mana watched the approaching wall of white light and closed her eyes in resignation. She understood that the Incarnation's attack was meant to be fatal. There was no way to avoid it—even Alaya itself was powerless. But just as the destructive beam was about to strike, a metallic flash cut through the air with a whisper-soft sound, slicing the beam of light in two as if it were nothing more than paper!

Mana opened her eyes to find Shiki standing protectively before her, holding Kiku-ichimonji.

"You... I thought you refused to come out," Mana was bewildered.

Shiki remained silent.

"Interesting," Manaka observed, studying Shiki with curiosity before her expression turned serious. "So this is the second vessel created by the Lord of Salvation? The contamination runs even deeper than in that Manaka... she's almost completely transformed into a vessel state."

"So you finally decided to show yourself," the Incarnation said calmly as she regarded Shiki.

"Aren't you angry?" Shiki asked. "I betrayed our agreement."

"I have been betrayed and trampled upon countless times," the Incarnation replied. "I am not human—I am a Counter Force. I have no heart, no emotions. Even if I am betrayed ten more times, disappointed a hundred more times, I will never develop such feelings, because I no longer have any expectations for people. Come at me together. This is the perfect opportunity for me to eliminate all of you at once!"

"All three vessels are here now. Even if you exist in the realm of transcendence, claiming you can handle all of us simultaneously is pure arrogance!" Manaka said coldly.

"Vessels? It doesn't matter how many of you gather—you're nothing but a disorganized collection of individuals. Besides," the Incarnation's voice took on a dangerous edge, "did you think you're the only ones who can fight as a group?"

The Incarnation extended her hand and snapped her fingers. With a crisp sound, a beam of light appeared beside her, and from it emerged Apostle Galahad, completely encased in armor.

"UO?" Manaka stared at Galahad in astonishment.

"How is this possible?" Mordred pointed at Apostle Galahad, her face showing complete disbelief. "Shouldn't he still be trapped in the Abyss?"

"For that, I must thank you for sparing Galahad's life and preserving his core," the Incarnation replied. "Restoring him required minimal effort on my part."

"Wait—did you say Galahad?" Mordred suddenly focused on the name.

"You didn't realize?" The Incarnation placed a hand on Galahad's shoulder. "This is the knight who swore allegiance to you—Galahad."

"What—what did you say?" Mordred pointed at the armored figure, her eyes wide with shock as she glared at the Incarnation. "Are you telling me that he... he is Galahad?"

The Incarnation nodded.

"That's impossible—" Mordred looked at Galahad, who was completely covered in steel without any visible human features. She turned back to the Incarnation, her face twisted with fury. "What have you done to him?!"

"None of you were willing to fight for the kingdom's revival—not even the Knights of the Round Table. But King Galahad was different," the Incarnation explained. "He came to me seeking greater power and asked that I remove his compassionate heart so he could better serve the kingdom. I entrusted him to Agravain, who transformed him perfectly into what you see now. He will become the War God of our new history and the Guardian Deity of the kingdom."

"You're completely insane!" Mordred shouted, her eyes filled with rage as she glared at the Incarnation. She turned toward the armored figure with grief in her voice. "Galahad! Can you hear me?"

"Don't waste your breath, Mordred," the Incarnation said coldly. "He has become like me—no longer human, merely a guardian ensuring the kingdom's continuation."

"Kill them! Kill them all!" the citizens chanted together.

"Destroy every obstacle preventing the kingdom's revival!"

"Kill Mordred! Kill Mordred!"

The Incarnation closed her eyes, as if listening. "I hear your collective will," she said, then focused her gaze on Mordred. "Having Galahad destroy you would be too cruel for him. Therefore, I shall destroy you myself, Mordred!"

With that, she fired four beams of light from her fingertips, each one targeting a different opponent scattered across the debris-strewn floor. One headed toward Shirou, Manaka, Rhongomyniad, Shiki and Mana—preventing anyone from coming to Mordred's aid. Then she drew her arms together with a thunderous clap. The temperature in the battlefield plummeted as she unleashed a massive wave of destructive white beam directly at Mordred!

Just as the white beam was about to engulf Mordred, Galahad suddenly pivoted and, with a thunderous impact, slammed his shield into the Incarnation. The devastating beam changed direction, crashing into the distance with an explosive boom!

"What do you think you're doing, Galahad?" the Incarnation demanded.

Bzz bzz bzz— Galahad's eyes flickered with red light as he positioned himself in front of Mordred, raising his shield protectively.

The Incarnation's eyes widened in disbelief. For the first time, her composure completely shattered. "This is impossible!" she shouted. "You—you no longer have a heart!"

…

It had been too long.

All this time, searching endlessly.

Facing disappointment after disappointment.

All he had ever wanted was to stand before that girl and tell her he had kept his promise to her. Yet time after time, though he had sensed her presence, felt her aura, he had never been able to see her face to face.

Mordred... he wanted to tell her that perhaps no one else could truly understand her loneliness or her sorrow, but here in this land, her hopes had finally been realized. When he opened his eyes again, he saw her—Mordred standing right before him.

But it was only Mordred's body. The soul inhabiting that body belonged to someone else.

What defined justice? What constituted evil?

He no longer pondered such questions.

He only wanted to tell her that her dream had come true.

But now—

Lord, his only regret remained...

Why couldn't he have protected her smile?

…