IBHJ Chapter 857

With all thirteen seals released, Arthur's holy sword blazed with starlight, matching Artoria's. It was the sword meant to save the planet!

"Ex—calibur!"

Arthur roared, slashing his sword at the Vortex above.

Crackle!

Another beam of brilliant light erupted from the earth, reaching for the darkness.

"That's—!"

Artoria stared at the distant light, stunned.

Another sword, like her own.

The holy sword!

Whoever you are, since you've come to aid the king, we are allies. She thought silently, guiding her own starlight to join Arthur's light of salvation.

He shared her intent.

One Excalibur could never pierce the Vortex's darkness. But perhaps two could!

The lights of the two holy swords converged, merging with a whoosh into a single beam that shot towards the Vortex.

Crackle—!

The combined radiance of the two holy swords struck the Vortex.

Altera's eyes glowed with a cold fury.

She stood, crimson gaze fixed on the Vortex. "I will not allow anyone to bully my Master. I am angry."

The Crest of the Star, a star-shaped pattern on her exposed abdomen, glowed a menacing red, as if linked to her true body within the moon. Her body trembled, radiating a destructive aura. She raised her hand, unleashing waves of rainbow-colored energy that surged from the earth towards the Vortex.

Crackle!

The two Excaliburs and the force of destruction, three normally opposing forces, merged into one, instantly piercing the Vortex.

"Absurd, for a Holy Sword user to join forces with the Titan of Destruction." Gilgamesh scoffed, then turned his attention to Shirou, struggling to assimilate the mud tide. With arms crossed, he said coldly, "I won't help you, Shirou!"

He turned and walked away.

Heracles and Sasaki Kojirou, who had been attacking Nero, sensed the danger and immediately abandoned their opponents, rushing toward Shirou, who was trying to assimilate the black mud.

"Fools! You're in my way!"

With a haughty sneer, two golden swords materialized - one slicing through Sasaki Kojirou's waist, the other piercing Heracles' heart.

Caught off guard by Gilgamesh's attack, Sasaki Kojirou was cut down instantly. Heracles, lacking a resurrection Noble Phantasm, clutched his chest as his massive body stumbled.

His "God Hand" ability granted invincibility, but couldn't prevent death. Among all Heroic Spirits, only Shirou with his black mud and Gilgamesh could truly defeat him.

Having stopped the two Servants controlled by the Vortex, Gilgamesh watched as Shirou struggled to assimilate the black mud. Though he was only assimilating it, the Vortex's malice was immense, seeping through the triple barrier of malice and striking at his heart.

If not for his "Indomitable Will A+++", Shirou was sure he would have become a monster like Manaka.

The Vortex's malice flowed into his heart and soul.

In that moment, the invisible vortex attached to his soul began to spin rapidly, as if encountering its arch-nemesis, unleashing boundless power to help absorb the Dark Vortex's malice into the black mud.

Gradually, the black, crimson, and stardust mud, squeezed between the two opposing Vortexes, began to merge.

The three types of mud slowly fused into one, simultaneously absorbing the Vortex's mud tide to form a red-black, cosmic-like substance.

Endless malice assaulted Shirou's heart.

"Love... life... death... inorganic... organic... all are one. Why was I sealed? Why this division?"

"Akasha... Heroic Spirits... immortality... life... civilizations... so many paths... so much divergence..."

"All is me.... fairies... spirits... humans... aliens... planets... the universe... all one. Destruction is not hatred, but the embrace of unity. Annihilation births new beginnings..."

Crack crack crack!

The invisible vortex within Shirou spun, its immense power grinding down the invading malice, before gradually slowing to its usual calm state.

Shirou slowly opened his eyes, the flames within burning brighter and more intensely than ever before.

He slowly extended his hand, the assimilated red-black, cosmic mud settling upon him, giving him a sacred aura, as if he had emerged from primordial chaos – radiant and powerful.

Shirou furrowed his brow slightly, examining the mud in his hand.

This mud was not the "All the World's Evil," nor the "Vampiric Evil," nor the "Evil of Gods," but a new entity born from their fusion.

—The Evil Blossom.

It possessed the powers of all three evils, along with the extreme polluting and cursing abilities of the Dark Vortex's black mud.

While Manaka could use the Vortex to corrupt Heroic Spirits into her familiars, something Shirou couldn't do before, with this new Evil Blossom, he could accomplish it effortlessly. And there was more...

Shirou lowered his head, studying the red-black, cosmic Evil Blossom in his palm. He witnessed the primordial mud raging, its polluting force invading unseen dimensions, corroding and destroying the authorities interfering with this Connection Point.

[Hint: Receiving inexplicable interference...Dice rolls...Dice rolls...Beep...]

He glanced at the message. With a slight mental push against this shackles, he felt the constraints on his being crumble, and he sensed that all of his Skills and Noble Phantasms had returned.

The Evil Blossom had undeniably invaded and shattered Abigail's game rules!

But that wasn't all. He extended his hand, and a strange silver cross materialized in his palm.

—Qliphoth Rhizome: Hollow Tree Filled by a Remnant of Light!

This was Abigail's balancing item, a gift to him, embodying her own authority.

Because his Evil Blossom had contaminated and broken her game rules, this Noble Phantasm now belonged to him.

Shirou turned his head slightly, gazing at the Evil Blossom with a hint of admiration.

Truly befitting the power of the Dark Vortex, its invasive force was so terrifying!

Assimilating the Vortex's mud had granted the Evil Blossom immense cursing abilities.

But no matter the power or its nature, what truly mattered was not the power itself, but who wielded it. He resolved to use this force against the Council.

Crackle!

After absorbing the remnants of the Vortex's power left behind by Manaka at this connection point, the Vortex above weakened significantly, on the verge of fading like a mere illusion. It was then swiftly destroyed by the combined might of the two Holy Swords and the Sword of Mars.

Whoosh!

A rush of wind caught Shirou's attention. He looked up to see Gilgamesh landing before him, a challenging grin on his face. "Come, Fujimaru Shirou. This time, show me your true strength!"

Shirou frowned. "Must we fight again, Gilgamesh?"

"Isn't it obvious? Though that woman's vortex is gone, I'm still corrupted. I may be rational, but make no mistake – I'm your enemy!"

"What if I could undo your corruption?" he replied calmly.

"What!?" Gilgamesh's brow furrowed in surprise.

Shirou raised his hand, the red-black, cosmic Evil Blossom swirling within. "I can undo your corruption."

Having Shirou fix his current state would feel like begging, and his pride wouldn't allow it. But he trusted Shirou would definitely satisfy him; otherwise, they wouldn't be so close.

"Well then, I suppose I have no choice."

As expected, Shirou sighed and looked at Gilgamesh with a serious expression. "Come at me, Gilgamesh!"

A satisfied smile spread across Gilgamesh's face. Though this Master was slightly different, his core remained the same. Still so indulgent. It's a shame I'm not your Servant anymore...

"Don't hold back this time, Master. Your previous attempts were not enough to satisfy me. And my pride won't allow me to fail, or let others go easy on me!" Gilgamesh drew Enki.

"I understand, Gilgamesh."

Shirou extended his hand, summoning Rhongomyniad and shaping it into a Spear of Endless Light.

"Let's go—!" Gilgamesh roared, charging forward.

The two clashed in a fierce battle, their immense power tearing the surrounding landscape apart.

Gilgamesh didn't resort to Bab-ilu or any other Noble Phantasm. He fought with his own hands, relying on his skill rather than treasures or magical tools. He preferred achieving victory through his own strength, not the convenience of his vast arsenal.

Shirou also refrained from using other Noble Phantasms, wielding only the Spear of Endless Light and displaying his improved spearmanship.

The intense clash made Gray dizzy. Her eyes could barely follow Shirou and Gilgamesh's movements, but Artoria watched with keen interest.

"What's happening, King of Knights?" they asked Artoria.

"Gilgamesh has the upper hand," she replied.

Nero looked puzzled. "Isn't your king your favorite?"

"Yes, why do you ask?" she replied, confused.

Nero pointed at her. "Then why are you smiling? Shouldn't you be worried about your king?"

"There's no need to worry," she shook her head.

"Why not?"

Artoria turned her head, her soft eyes filled with tenderness as she gazed at the king wielding the Holy Lance. "Because the one who will win is the king!"

Her voice was gentle, yet unwavering...