IBHJ 1264

Within hours, news that Shirou was about to battle the three Grand Servants to the death had spread throughout Tír na nÓg.

"What? Eternal King is fighting all three Grand Servants? What happened? Has he lost his mind?"

"What's so crazy about it? This will be incredible to watch!"

"I know Eternal King is powerful and a Grand himself... but he's facing THREE Grand Servants! And unlike before, Eternal King is still a living person right now!"

"He's basically asking to die!"

"If the Grand Servants kill him, what happens to the Pan-Human alliance?"

All across Tír na nÓg, excited conversations broke out as everyone discussed Shirou's life-or-death battle with the three Grand Servants.

"What? Shirou is fighting King Hassan and the others? Has he completely lost his mind? When did this happen?" Gaia exclaimed, jumping up in anger. "And isn't his Eternal King power still sealed? Tiamat, go stop them quickly! Don't let Shirou get himself killed!"

"Oh..." Tiamat turned and left.

Enkidu moved to follow them, clearly worried, but noticed Gilgamesh walking at a leisurely pace.

"Gil, why are you walking so slowly?" Enkidu asked anxiously. "Eternal King is about to fight all three Grand Servants!"

"It's not our battle, so why hurry?" Gilgamesh replied calmly. "Besides, this conflict was inevitable from the beginning. Wouldn't you agree, Alaya?" He turned his head to look at Mana.

"Grand Servants only appear when a Beast emerges," Alaya explained. "The Grand's purpose is to defeat Beasts."

Gilgamesh scoffed at this. "Purpose? If you, the Counter Force, had intervened, this battle wouldn't even be happening in the first place."

"No, it would still happen," she shook her head. "The entity that summoned the Grand Servants is indeed 'me.' But the entity that created the Grand Saint Graphs and gave them their purpose is another 'me.'"

Gilgamesh frowned at her words. Even with his Sha Naqba Imuru, he couldn't comprehend what she meant—her statement went beyond what this generation of humanity could understand.

Gaia immediately understood what Alaya meant. The "another 'me'" Alaya mentioned was the original Universe-type Alaya that had gone extinct.

"Forget all that philosophical stuff!" Gaia shouted. "Just hurry up and stop them! We can't let that idiot get himself killed! If he dies, I swear I'll throw every one of you into the red giant star where I'm currently residing!"

Everyone looked at Gaia helplessly. Wasn't she showing a bit too much favoritism toward Shirou? Nevertheless, they rushed to the battlefield—a plain beside the Lake of Tír na nÓg. By the time they arrived, the area was already crowded with people surrounding Shirou, all trying to talk him out of the fight.

"Eternal King, you're our leader!" Richard the Lionheart pleaded anxiously. "Don't be so reckless! You can't win against all three of them. If something happens to you, what becomes of our alliance?"

"Ha! If you die, Eternal King, the leadership position will be mine," Ramesses II declared with a loud laugh. "By all means, go get yourself killed."

Adam moved his massive body forward, also attempting to reason with him. "Mr. Shirou, please think this through again!"

"Brother, please calm down! Don't do something so dangerous!" Kama looked at him with genuine concern.

"Please don't do this, big brother," Abigail added, her eyes filled with worry.

Just then, Gaia's projection appeared beside Shirou, her voice filled with frustration. "Shirou! What do you think you're doing? Have you forgotten what you always say about seeing the bigger picture? Look at what you're planning now! A fight to the death with three Grand Servants... whether you die or they do, it's terrible for everyone and puts the entire alliance at risk!"

"I understand," Shirou replied quietly, not looking at Gaia but keeping his eyes fixed on the three Grand Servants standing opposite him.

"Then quickly—"

"But I'm sorry, Gaia. Right now, I can't think about the bigger picture."

"You—" Gaia pointed at him, too angry to continue speaking. If he died and the Pan-Human alliance collapsed, how would they ever defeat the Incarnation? How would she return home?

How had she ever come to care so much for someone this stubborn!

Gaia ran her fingers through her hair in frustration, completely out of ideas.

Shirou kept his eyes locked on the three Grand Servants across from him, even as concerned voices continued around him. Even Skadi, who typically kept her distance, felt compelled to speak up: "Shirou... don't throw your life away like this."

He knew perfectly well this was foolish. The three Grand Servants might be nothing to the Eternal Emperor, but to Fujimaru Shirou, they were like mountains he couldn't hope to climb. And even if by some miracle he defeated them, what would that accomplish? It would only weaken their forces.

This battle was, as Gaia pointed out, nothing but self-destructive infighting from the start—a completely senseless fight. But Shirou couldn't back down from the challenge. How could he leave Ritsuka's fate in their hands?

But then—

"When the red dragon spreads its wings, the land carved by this sword becomes the king's domain!" A gentle yet powerful voice reached his ears. Shirou turned to see Vivian looking at him with serious eyes. "My King, nothing can stand in your way, not even Grand Servants. Crush them and claim your victory!"

"That's right, Shirou," Scathach said with a smile. "You won't lose to anyone! Fight and win—that's the ultimate path of a warrior!"

"It would be rather disappointing if you lost," Merlin added with a light laugh.

"If you lose, I'll never forgive you, Father," Mordred said with folded arms.

The witch scratched her head awkwardly. "I probably shouldn't even be here... but, Fujimaru Shirou, would you like a blessing? I can help if you want."

"No, that won't be necessary." Shirou smiled and shook his head, looking around at all these people who supported and believed in him. A warm feeling spread through his heart.

"Fujimaru Shirou!"

A proud, commanding voice suddenly cut through the air. He turned to see Gilgamesh standing in the distance.

Everyone else turned too, their attention drawn to the golden king.

"Do you remember how it felt when you first drove your sword through this king's chest?" Gilgamesh asked, striking his own chest dramatically.

Shirou nodded. "Of course I remember."

"Good. As long as you remember that, you won't lose. Since you became a hero by defeating this king, I won't allow you to fall to anyone else. Grand Servants, Holy Spirits, Lord of Salvation—defeat them all with your sword! Show these small-minded people who would deny the future before it even begins what a true hero is! Now go!"

Shirou nodded.

"Are you all seriously encouraging my brother to put himself in danger? I won't allow it!" Kama's voice trembled with anxiety as she clenched her teeth. "Brother, if you're determined to go through with this, at least take me with you! I—"

Before she could finish, Shirou gently placed his hand on her head. "Thank you, Sakura. And I'm sorry for making you worry."

Then he turned and walked with purpose toward the three Grand Servants.

"Brother..." Kama pressed her lips together tightly.

"You need to have faith in my father, Auntie," Mordred said, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat.

"I just don't understand..." Kama bit her upper lip and turned to Scathach and the others, her eyes filled with both sadness and anger. "Why are you letting my brother do something so dangerous? Don't you realize who he's facing? Those are three Grand Servants!"

"And what of it?" Scathach looked puzzled. "Actually, I don't quite understand your concern. You're Shirou's sister, right? And you're a Beast too. Why don't you have more confidence in him? Shirou is an exceptional warrior."

"Well..." Skadi hesitated before speaking. "Scathach, to be honest... I don't really agree with your position either. This could very well cost Shirou his life..."