IBHJ 1282

Mordred's Grail naturally counteracted the power of [eternity], and her ability to phase through objects made her impossible to pin down. Staying defensive would only make them sitting targets for her attacks. Realizing this, Lucius immediately ordered the gates opened, led his troops out, and engaged the forces of Pan-Human History in battle. Within moments, the plain before the fortress erupted into chaos—Heroic Spirits, empire soldiers, and Alaya's mechanical warriors clashing in a violent storm of combat.

The battlefield's confusion above ground provided perfect cover for Shirou and his team as they moved silently underground.

"Now's our chance—they've left the fortress," Shirou said.

"Follow me," Mana urged. "I can sense my mother's aura."

Everyone nodded in agreement. They approached the underground section of the fortress from below, only to find it protected by the same impenetrable invisible barrier. Concentrating deeply, Shirou focused his [Evil] onto the barrier. With a series of hissing sounds, the supposedly indestructible barrier corroded away, opening a large gap that allowed them to slip inside.

With Lucius and his forces engaged in battle outside, the fortress was nearly empty. In conventional warfare, Shirou would have already claimed victory. But he knew this meant little in their current struggle. Badon Fortress—or any city in the Empire—was ultimately insignificant. Complete victory could only come through defeating the Empire's Incarnation, not by capturing territory or individual soldiers.

"This way!" Following Mana's guidance, he and the others reached the dungeon.

"Intru—!" The two guards at the entrance couldn't finish their warning before Scathach struck with lightning speed, temporarily silencing them with her spear.

The group descended deeper until they reached the lowest level of the dungeon.

It was completely empty.

"That's impossible!" Mana looked around frantically. "Her aura... it's right here!"

She had sacrificed her own body to Alaya for the chance to save her mom from the Empire's clutches and bring her home. Now, the signature she sought was incredibly close—practically within arm's reach.

Yet somehow, they couldn't see anyone before them.

"She must be trapped in the Eternal Cage," he said calmly.

"Eternal Cage?" Mana's face showed complete confusion.

"It's a high-dimensional space," he explained. "The Empire keeps its prisoners there. Without the power of someone who can transcend dimensions, it's impossible to break through and enter that space."

He knew firsthand about this prison. If Xuanzang hadn't been there with her staff when he was captured, he would still be trapped in the Eternal Cage himself.

"So we came all this way for nothing?" Mana asked, her voice heavy with disappointment.

"Not necessarily," he shook his head and turned to Scathach. "Shiho, it's your turn. Your strongest strike might be the only thing that can reach into the cage."

"You only call me 'shiho' when things get desperate," she gave him a resigned look. "Can't you use my skill yourself?"

"I can use it, just like I can use other Noble Phantasms and skills. But your strike, like Mordred's Grail, can't be perfectly replicated," he explained with regret. Mordred's Grail was Satan itself, and Scathach's ultimate strike existed at the very boundary. Even following the rules governing Heroic Spirits and Noble Phantasms, these powers couldn't be perfectly copied.

He temporarily transferred the Spear of Endless Light to Scathach. Holding the glowing weapon, she closed her eyes in deep concentration. In an instant, all surrounding light seemed to dim. Then came a sharp sound and a blinding flash, and all darkness vanished, leaving only a brilliant beam of light.

For a moment, light and shadow distorted around them. The very fabric of three-dimensional space twisted, forming an impossibly dark hole. Then everything suddenly returned to normal.

Nothing had changed.

Scathach lowered the spear and shook her head. "It's not working. I can feel that I hit something, but my spear just can't reach it."

"That's really unfortunate," he said with a sigh.

It was clear that the Eternal Cage holding Ryougi Shiki was far more secure than the one that had imprisoned them before. Even Scathach's dimension-breaking strike couldn't reach it.

"I guess that's it then," Mana said quietly. "We should go."

"You're giving up on saving your mother?" he asked.

"If that Counter Force shows up now, we'll all be wiped out. I can't put everyone at risk because of my personal problem," she replied.

Just then, with a sharp metallic sound, the witch drew her sword and swung it forcefully at the spot where the dark hole had briefly appeared.

"What are you doing?" Mana asked with a frown.

"I just had a feeling I could cut through it," the witch replied simply. "So I tried."

"If that spear couldn't do it, you shouldn't take risks like that. It's impossible—"

Before Mana could finish speaking, there was a distinct cracking sound as a white line appeared in empty space. The line widened, forming a doorway.

Everyone stared in amazement.

"Well, look at that! I actually cut it open," the witch said with a smile. "We should hurry inside."

They nodded and stepped through into the Eternal Cage. As they walked, Scathach kept giving the witch a serious, evaluating look.

"Why do you keep staring at me like that?" the witch asked, genuinely confused.

"Your swordmanship... is exceptionally powerful. Far beyond Merlin or Artoria, at least. I can't even see the limits of your swordsmanship," Scathach said gravely.

She had seen something in the witch's sword—a particular light, the same light she'd glimpsed through the gate to the ultimate boundary. She was certain of it.

"You're exaggerating," the witch laughed lightly. "I'm just an apprentice witch from Avalon, not a swordsmaster."

Scathach ignored the witch's casual dismissal and said with genuine respect, "If there's ever an opportunity, I'd like to spar with you seriously."

Passing through the gate, Shirou entered the familiar pure white space.

This was indeed the Eternal Cage!

In this endless white expanse, a woman sat far in the distance, wearing a crown of thorns, deep in meditation with her eyes closed. When Mana spotted her, her face immediately brightened with joy.

"Mother!" she shouted.

This was clearly Shiki. After Manaka, she was the second vessel of the Lord of Salvation, born with a connection to the Root!

As if hearing Mana's voice, Shiki slowly raised her head. Her clear, deep blue eyes scanned over Shirou and the others before finally settling on Mana.

"Mana? You actually came here."

"It's been ten years... I've finally found you, Mother! Please come home with me!" Mana ran excitedly toward Shiki but suddenly bounced backward as if she'd struck an invisible wall.

"I won't go with you, nor will I leave this place," Shiki replied coldly. "You should leave, Mana."

"Why?" Mana asked, confusion written across her face.

"This is where I belong now." After a moment's hesitation, Shiki added, "And there's no reason to save me. You should know that your mother—that Shiki—disappeared from this body long ago. I eliminated her myself."

Hearing this, Mana clenched her teeth. "If you don't come back, if you don't return the body, how am I supposed to get my mother back?"

Mana could never forget that night ten years ago. As the greatest natural anomaly ever connected to the Root, possessing the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, Shiki had undergone a massive transformation, both physically and mentally.

A black vortex had emerged from her body, and afterward, her mother was gone—eliminated. Her father was also eliminated. Even their hometown, Mifune City, and the entire demon-hunting Ryougi clan were wiped out in a single night.

After that, the true personality that had been sleeping within Shiki's body—the real [Ryougi Shiki]—awakened and left the city with someone wearing a black robe. Soon after, the [Council] was born.