Thick bolts of black and red Mana crackled across the fused Reality Marble, pieces of giant gears on the horizon breaking off.
The petrified blood ocean upended from here and there, rocks flying to the stormy, burning sky.
Assassin had done it.
Even if they were hung in time, all had seen him.
The three maidens couldn't do anything but say thanks to him in their hearts, letting out a shout as they poured their everything into their Noble Phantasms.
Archer and Shirou were different.
They were both intimately connected to Assassin — to the person he had once been.
Rage exploded from their souls as the corners of their eyes split apart, their nails drawing blood as they dug into their palms.
One moment.
That was all Assassin managed to buy them.
In the distance, thoroughly enraged and roaring like a wounded beast, Gorgon screamed and grabbed the space itself, a stony grayness surfacing on the entire Reality Marble under her petrifying gaze.
Another Spell Circle, much larger than the first, much bloodier than the first, and much more archaic than the first, slithered into existence in front of her bloody face.
Not only Archer, Shirou, Ruler, Saber, and Medusa, but even Black's heart skipped a beat.
Phantasm Punishment should have made her incapable of unleashing another Noble Phantasm so soon. However, there she was — pouring her cursed madness in another attack — just like the three maidens.
"ARCHER!" Black blurred across the space. "SHIROU!!"
Yellow Crystals danced in both Characters' eyes, not compelling them to move, but showing them a fate that Black had seen just now.
The three maidens would need another moment.
Not only would Gorgon's Pandemonium Cetus not give them that moment, but even if they unleashed their Noble Phantasms, it would lessen the impact by many times.
So, if they really wanted a chance to defeat the Avenger Class Servant, they would need to block her Noble Phantasm first, giving a clear path to the Ruler, Saber, and Rider.
With their hearts in turmoil and sensing the urgency, Archer and Shirou appeared next to Black, the three men putting themselves a dozen meters in front of the three maidens.
And once again, time began ceasing to exist.
Gorgon's mouth opened like it was the blackest maw, tiny spatial cracks manifesting around the bloody Spell Circle in front of her. Through the spatial cracks, one could even catch a glimpse of the outside world. Her nails were still dug into the folds of space as if she were grabbing the sky itself. And her tail kept lashing out behind her, loud sonic booms applauding as an audience.
Then, she screamed.
Frame by frame, the monstrously large beam of Mana left the Spell Circle.
As it passed through the space, the Limitless Blade Firmament shattered in its wake, a damp darkness washing over the horizon like dusk.
In Archer, Black, and Shirou's visions, nothing remained but the incoming wave of utter destruction.
They couldn't survive it.
No matter how much they tried, they couldn't hold it back.
Yet, at this moment, their fate was screaming, urging them to move.
"TRACE…"
Circuit-like cyan-colored Magic Circuits danced on Archer's right hand as he faced his palm toward the attack, blood spurting out from his mouth and ears. Veins popped and burst, his muscles creaking under his skin.
Shirou lifted his left hand, closing his eyes.
All this while, he had contemplated how he had survived those attacks that were strong enough to kill him a hundred times over — even before his body had changed, becoming a Sword.
The answer must lie within.
The same cyan-colored veins danced on his hand as well, thousands of small swords puncturing out of his muscles as he overloaded his Magical Circuits. Going deeper and deeper within himself, he searched for a miracle — something not fake, but real and unique.
A golden ray of light reached him from the darkness, accepting the call of his fate.
On top of his left palm, a blob of pure Mana danced, cyan bolts of lightning rumbling in his surroundings.
"… ON!!!"
Simultaneously, a pink-colored, seven-petaled flower, ten times larger than the ordinary one, bloomed in front of them, six more layers appearing over it one after another.
Behind Archer's Rho Aias, Shirou's entire body began glowing like the sun, resonating with Saber's sword.
From the top of his raised palm, a golden-blue scabbard came out and put itself in the middle of Rho Aias.
It was Avalon — Excalibur's scabbard — and the ultimate defensive Noble Phantasm.
Not only was it a Conceptual Weapon and a Bounded Field, but it was on the same level of Magic, an actual Magic in itself, that transcended all magecraft.
Avalon was so potent that it could even take on Gilgamesh's Ea.
Sadly, the attack they were facing now went several levels higher than that.
With absolutely no sound, Gorgon's Noble Phantasm struck Archer and Shirou's, shattering reality like shards of a mirror.
In pure blackness, the first six layers of Rho Aias broke apart instantly, the ends of the seven petals getting petrified. Even Avalon was getting pushed back, the entire scabbard rattling like a hollow pipe.
If something wasn't done soon, then…
Black took a deep breath as he stepped forward.
With that breath, Venom, all the Buffs, Selfless Breathing, and Cursed Seal Mark layered themselves upon him, raising his status above a Heroic Spirit.
The Reality Marble had all but disappeared, but a redness still lingered under his feet, reflecting Ayin's tall, black figure.
This was it — for him as well.
Knowing fate didn't mean one could stop working for it.
Knowing fate meant that one needed to give it all and go beyond — every moment… all the time.
A violent storm of Conqueror Haki rumbled around him as he took the stance, yellow lightning dancing around his right leg.
Beyond…
Beyond…
Beyond…
Black's eyes were shaking, bursting apart and regenerating instantly as he forgot everything, lifting his leg.
Selfless Breathing: Third Transformation —
A state of complete blankness replaced Black's mind, clouding all plans and desires. Only one thing mattered at this moment.
He must go beyond.
— Black Original —
Telekinesis roared. Haki screamed.
From blood and bones to cells, everything began adjusting itself.
And embracing this blankness, Black kicked, the tip of his feet landing on Avalon.
— Recoilless Storm… 10%!
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