Final Episode: “The End”

"Looks like… there’s only one way left."

Shirou took a step forward. A chilling premonition ran through Saber, and she reached out to stop him—but he did not take her hand. Instead, he pressed on, one more step ahead, and muttered quietly.

"I’ll use my Reality Marble to pull all the Servants inside and isolate them. While I’m holding them off… you two take care of Zouken."

"W-What are you saying!? There’s no way we can let you do something like that!"

"There’s no other way! At this rate, we can’t even escape! Then――"

"I won’t allow you to sacrifice yourself!"

Saber cried out, tears welling in her eyes. To that “her,” Shirou pressed his lips in a kiss.

"I’m not planning to die. I will survive. Believe in me."

It was an unfair thing to say. Because she loved him, she wanted to believe. Because she loved him, she wanted to stop him. Caught between two opposing emotions born from the same source, Saber could no longer speak—only tears poured endlessly down her cheeks.

Shirou fixed his gaze on the Servants descending the hill and began to chant his aria.

――――I am the bone of my sword.

I’ll live. No matter what happens, I’ll never let Saber grieve. Even if my arms are torn off, even if my eyes are gouged out, even if my spine shatters, even if my brain is crushed, even if my heart is pierced—I will survive.

I cannot allow myself to speak of impossibility. Having abandoned my ideals, if I were to abandon even my love for Saber, that would truly be the end. I would become nothing but a worthless corpse and burden her with despair.

――――Steel is my blood, and glass is my heart.

It would take time to complete the chant. To buy himself that time, he projected as many blades as he could and launched them.

In time with his barrage, Rin swung her jeweled sword. Shirou’s blades were knocked aside, deflected, evaded—but the rainbow brilliance Rin released halted their foes for a moment.

This chance could not be wasted.

――――I have overcome countless battlefields, undefeated. Never retreating, yet never victorious.

Time, halted for an instant, began to move again. Saber leapt forward. Her tears scattered in the air as her scream, filled with grief and anguish, rang out—blade in hand, she charged.

"Rin! Don’t hold back—swing your jeweled sword!"

Rin didn’t hesitate. The Jeweled Sword’s light forcibly converted her prana into raw destructive power. Though it looked like a Noble Phantasm unleashed, it was, in truth, still within the bounds of magecraft. Due to corruption, Artoria’s Magic Resistance had weakened enough that the Jeweled Sword could harm her—but Saber’s Magic Resistance could completely negate it.

Blasts of prismatic light rivaling Excalibur’s unleashed name tore through the cavern in a storm. Yet their enemies pressed on through that nightmare barrage. If brute destructive power alone were enough to fell them, they would never have been heroes.

Overwhelming power. Hopeless odds. Time and again, they had overturned such fates to claim victory. But――

"HAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

Now, however, they were different. The corruption of the Grail and Zouken’s Command Spells had bolstered their stats, but in exchange, their combat skills had eroded.

The fact that they had even weathered Rin’s storm of attacks was already a miracle. They had no strength left to topple the full might of the peerless Saber standing in their path.

Even so, the numbers were against them. Facing four at once—Artoria, Rider, Assassin, and Berserker—Saber could only hold them at bay. But that was enough…

――――The bearer stands upon the hill of swords, forging steel for a single person alone.

Shirou spent the time she bought him in incantation and memory.

From the day he met her until now—days brimming with radiance filled his thoughts, and tears fell.

Ah, I love her. And she loves me. That fact itself feels like a miracle.

I want to live. I want to be with her. I want to love her. I want to be loved. I want to share every minute, every second by her side.

But such a prayer won’t be granted. No matter how hard I try, some things are impossible. Even if I isolate the Servants within my Reality Marble, it would last less than a minute. Beyond that awaits inescapable death.

――――Within this heart dwells only one.

I love her. From the bottom of my heart, I love her.

I want to give her every happiness. I want to strip away every misfortune.

I must survive.

I cannot survive.

I don’t want to leave her in despair.

I will leave her in despair.

――――This body is surely…

Ah, how do I endure this torment――

"――Don’t worry. I’ll protect you."

――――……was made of infinite swords.

In that instant, the ground erupted in flame around Shirou. Crimson fire raced across the earth, swallowing everything—Rin, Saber, and all but Zouken.

Scarlet conflagration filled the cavern. For a moment, it seemed the void itself had been painted red. And then, before even the mindless could grasp it, the scene shifted to an overwhelming sight.

It was, in a single phrase, a graveyard of swords. Scarlet fire blazed on the horizon. The heavens above shone azure, reminiscent of her dress. The barren wasteland, without even a blade of grass, was pierced by countless swords without owners, standing in solemn ranks.

Each blade driven into the earth was a treasured weapon. Drawn from Archer’s memories, legendary swords from across time and lands filled the plain.

An infinity of armaments projected. A field so thick with weapons it seemed like a harvest of steel—an awe-inspiring sight. Those few with reason intact could only smile in admiration.

Ah… this was truly “the ultimate domain of blades.” So lonely, and yet, so strangely at peace.

"…Amazing."

Standing before Shirou, spear at the ready to guard him, he trembled with awe.

No one could witness such a sight and not be moved. These were the partners who had built legends alongside countless heroes. Here, innumerable legends existed—and at the same time, nothing at all. Every weapon here was a fake, all existing solely to support the boy who would one day be a hero.

"What a shame… I almost regret it."

But they would never become legends. The boy who could have been a hero had chosen instead to live for love.

He did not see that as a sin. On the contrary, he found it admirable—a boy who changed himself for one girl, who staked his life, who fought to twist fate itself.

"L-Lancer…"

Shirou’s eyes widened. Just moments ago, he had been certain Lancer was still battling Berserker. So why was he here?

When Shirou asked, Lancer only smiled faintly.

"Lancers are known for speed, you know. Hey, Shirou. Live a little longer. My spear will clear the path for your future."

Lancer strode forward, crimson spear in hand. Through their bond, he sent an apology to his Master.

The only regret he held was breaking his promise—to secure her victory.

『…Think nothing of it. I’ve forced you to endure more than enough restraint already. So go on—fight to your heart’s content, one last time.』

Lancer couldn’t suppress the grin tugging at his lips.

What a woman. What a fine Master.

『I’m grateful, Bazett. …Farewell.』

Her only reply to his parting words was a Command Spell. Immense magical energy wrapped around him.

"Alright then… time for me to rampage!"

Shirou’s Unlimited Blade Works cleared away the obstacles that stood before Sakura.

Saber started running. Rin followed closely behind. Zouken, driven by desperation, unleashed one shadowy giant after another. But each of them was effortlessly dealt with by Rin, and in an instant, Saber reached Zouken.

Without mercy, Saber raised her sword. If she could just eliminate this root cause, everything would end.

“St-Stop!”

Sakura’s voice rang out, a scream of despair that came from Zouken. Immediately after, fresh blood splattered.

Looking down at his diagonally slashed body, Zouken screamed.

“Y-You!!”

Even as he collapsed to the ground and tried stubbornly to flee, Saber thrust Excalibur before his eyes.

Her breathing grew heavy. She had to kill him. She knew it, yet seeing the fear twist Sakura’s face made her hesitate.

It felt like a memory from ages ago, but she recalled eating together with her. That scene had been Shirou’s everyday life. His precious treasure. And now, she was about to destroy it. The guilt overwhelmed her, creating a fatal opening.

“—Fool! Come, Artoria! Protect me!”

A flash of light, and Saber was blown back.

Saber was speechless at Artoria’s appearance. The worst-case scenario. The chance Shirou had created had been wasted. If she fought Artoria, the time limit would inevitably run out. Shirou would die, and Zouken would gather his subordinates.

Her own foolishness had ruined everything. Despairing at this fact, Saber sank to her knees. Beside her, Rin stood. Cold sweat dripping from her forehead, she faced the hopelessness before her, still ready to fight, raising her jewel sword.

And then――――,

“—Ahh, ggh?”

An unbelievable sight unfolded before their eyes.

Artoria had pierced Zouken’s heart—though it should have been his—with her holy sword. Eyes wide with shock, Zouken stared as Artoria quietly whispered.

“…Don’t do whatever you like with Sakura’s body, scum.”

“Hii… Higiieeee!?”

A shriek, like the chirping of insects, came from Zouken… or rather, from Sakura’s body, as something burst out.

Artoria calmly seized it. The creature, resembling a man’s phallus, thrashed desperately.

“Y-You! Do you intend to betray me, your Master!?”

“…Don’t make me laugh. I never considered you my Master. But there is one thing I will thank you for.”

Artoria sneered.

“I thank you for your foolishness. Because you changed your command, the restored personality was recovered once more. Soon, it will disappear entirely, but before that, I will erase you from this world.”

“L-Let go! What are you thinking!? You wanted the Holy Grail, didn’t you!?”

“Yes, I want the Grail. But I stopped myself.”

“W-What are you saying…?”

“I stopped underestimating human hearts! That led to the downfall of my Britain! And it was Shinji and Sakura who taught me that! For their sake, I will give up the Grail!”

“D-Don’t be foolish! Sakura and Shinji are already dead! All the more reason, if you care for them, you should take the Grail and bring them back!”

“You are the fool, Zouken. Those two never intended to live in the future. They… wanted to live in the moment and die in the moment. I will not interfere with the ending they wished for――――”

At that moment, a faint voice reached everyone’s ears.

“…Ar-To-Ria.”

It was Sakura’s voice. She regained consciousness after Zouken fled from her.

Already at death’s door, Zouken took the opportunity to shout.

“Sakura! Command Artoria to commit suicide!”

“Zouken… you!”

Zouken, seizing the moment when Artoria’s attention was on Sakura, gave her a command.

Infuriated, Artoria laughed. And then――――,

“Artoria…”

The obedience Zouken had engraved into her very soul. Now, with Shinji gone, the command authority over her returned to Zouken. As Sakura prepared to activate the Command Spell, Artoria called for her to stop.

Immediately after, an impossible voice echoed.

“…Stop, Sakura.”

Everyone gasped. There stood Shinji, who should have had his soul consumed by Archer.

The tiny remainder of his soul, left in his body, moved his mouth. Caster had carried him and laid him next to Sakura.

“Do not obey anyone but me… Didn’t I tell you that?”

“…Onii-chan.”

Sakura, tears of blood streaming down, reached desperately. But she couldn’t manage it. Her face twisted, and a warm hand took hers. Rin held Sakura’s hand, placing it on Shinji’s cheek.

“…Onii…chan.”

“Sakura… I’m sorry. I… lost.”

Shinji smiled weakly, and Sakura shook her head slightly.

“Onii-chan… I…”

“I know. I understand everything now. So don’t push yourself.”

"…Be silent."

Rin glared at Zouken with eyes full of hatred, swinging the Jeweled Sword with brutal force.

In the end, the monster that had lived for centuries died without even a chance to scream.

And then—

"O…ni…chan… I… I… love… you… so… much…"

"…Me too. More than anyone else, I love you, Sakura."

"…I’m… so… happy…—"

After a faint pause, Sakura quietly breathed her last. A peaceful smile remained on her face.

Immediately afterward, Shirou and the others appeared from the void. Though battered and bloodied, he was still alive, and Saber rushed to his side. Nearby, Bazett—who at some point had been standing at the entrance—came forward to support Lancer, who was in even worse shape than Shirou.

Berserker stood silently. Rider restrained Assassin. It seemed that with Sakura’s death, the effect of the Command Spells had vanished. Rider then drove her nail-sword into Assassin’s heart, killing him, before staggering toward Sakura.

Shirou, supported by Saber, followed after her.

Rider knelt down beside Sakura’s body, holding her gently and smiling softly.

"…It seems your wish has finally been fulfilled, Sakura."

With those words, Rider’s form dissolved into light and vanished. Before anyone noticed, Berserker’s presence had also disappeared.

Without their Masters, the chains binding them to this world were severed. With no reason to linger, they departed.

"…Shinji."

When Shirou called out, Shinji gave him a weak smile.

"…I’m not apologizing."

He had done everything just the way he wanted. So he had no intention of seeking forgiveness from anyone.

The boy who once aspired to be a hero of justice muttered:

"I left Fujimura and Mitsuzuri in the main hall at Ryuudou Temple. Just placed a light suggestion on them, so they should wake up by dawn. Rider had put up a concealment barrier, but that should’ve collapsed once she disappeared."

"Mitsuzuri’s alive too!?"

"…It’s the ultimate contradiction, isn’t it? Killed so many people, but when it came to people I knew, I couldn’t finish the job. Truly disgusting."

He spoke with a twisted expression, as if from the depths of nausea.

"…Looks like it’s about time."

Shinji whispered.

"Thanks for giving me this much time."

Turning his gaze toward Caster, he slowly closed his eyes.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yeah. It’s fine. As a villain, I should probably die in some miserable way… but I don’t want to leave Emiya with another trauma."

"…Don’t be ridiculous."

Shirou let out a sigh at Shinji’s forced levity.

"You’ve already given me plenty of trauma."

"…Heh… sorry ‘bout that."

Exhaling lightly, Shinji opened his eyes once more to look at Shirou.

"Farewell, Emiya."

"…Yeah. Farewell, Shinji."

Shinji closed his eyes again—and never opened them.

"Well then… I suppose it’s my time as well."

"Artoria?"

Shirou’s eyes widened in shock. Her body too had begun to fade.

"I have many lingering thoughts… but I won’t sully Shinji and Sakura’s final journey. I’ll vanish with dignity. Farewell."

Without even giving them a moment to respond, she disappeared. Saber bit her lip hard in frustration.

Shirou gently took her hand and approached Caster.

"Come on. Let’s end this."

He looked up at the dark pillar—the root of all their misfortune—and murmured.

"…Yes. Let us end it."

Caster reached toward the Greater Grail and began her work. Watching absentmindedly from behind, Shirou wrapped an arm around Saber’s shoulder.

"…It’s over."

"…Yeah. It’s over."

And thus, time flowed on—