"Arthur!"
That clear, familiar voice rang out, full of relief and joy. Jeanne d'Arc smiled radiantly as she saw Arthur approaching, the golden gleam of his armor reflecting off the ruins around them.
She had been unable to refute Shirou Amakusa's words. Deep down, part of what he said almost seemed reasonable — even noble — and yet, something within her screamed that it was profoundly wrong.
Arthur noticed the hesitation in her expression and simply answered with a gentle smile.
After leaving Caules behind, he and Mordred had advanced with unwavering resolve. The cracked, debris-strewn ground trembled beneath their steps until, before long, the two reached Atalanta and Frankenstein — both still moving, heading toward the center of the Hanging Gardens.
When the four finally regrouped, the tension in the air was almost tangible.
On the opposite side, Shirou Amakusa watched them in silence, his gaze steady, his expression calm.
"Guardian?" he murmured, recognizing Arthur.
His voice was calm, but carried the cold weight of a judge who had already pronounced a verdict.
"You say I won't save humanity? Then tell me…" — he lifted his chin, locking eyes with Arthur — "Where exactly am I wrong?"
Arthur stopped walking. His gaze grew serious.
"You're wrong about everything," he replied, his voice echoing firmly among the winds that swept through the heights of the Hanging Gardens. "Humanity doesn't need salvation — especially not yours."
Shirou narrowed his eyes.
"But if I don't do it… who will?" he asked.
He had been pursuing this ideal for over sixty years. His determination was a wall that no mere words could break.
Arthur crossed his arms.
"You must know that once humans are turned into thinking spirits, their desires will gradually fade away," he said. "Wars and conflicts will cease, yes… but the price will be humanity itself."
"You're saying I'm wrong?" Shirou retorted, his tone icy.
"That should be obvious," Arthur mocked, a cynical smile curving his lips.
He took a step forward.
"How can a human remain human without desire? Without love, ambition, or attachment — what's left?"
His voice grew stronger, filled with conviction.
"Without love and affection, all become indifferent. Without death and libido, reproduction ceases. Spirits don't need to eat — work becomes meaningless. At first, it might seem perfect, a paradise without suffering…"
Arthur raised his head, the light in his eyes intensifying.
"…But what would humans do after that? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Because there would be no desires. No needs. No fears. No dreams."
He clenched his fist.
"Do you really think something like that can still be called humanity?"
Shirou remained unshaken.
"Of course," he replied without hesitation.
His face showed neither regret nor doubt. This was the wish that had guided him for decades — and nothing would make him retreat now.
Arthur, on the other hand, let out a low, bitter laugh.
"And what if I told you…" — he began, fixing his piercing gaze on Shirou — "…that you're not saving humanity, but destroying it?"
Shirou's eyes widened, his composure finally cracking.
"Destroying humanity!?" he exclaimed, both shocked and furious.
Even Jeanne and the others exchanged confused glances.
"What nonsense are you spouting, Guardian?" Shirou asked coldly.
"It's not nonsense," Arthur replied firmly. "You're just too naïve. Do you really think humans are the only beings in this world?"
The silence that followed was heavy.
Everyone stared at him, puzzled.
But Shirou Amakusa's eyes flickered for a brief moment. He knew. He had suspected it for a long time.
Arthur nodded slightly, noticing his reaction.
"Have you ever considered how much magical energy would be required to materialize the souls of all humanity?" he asked calmly. "Extracting that much spiritual power will kill countless ley lines. It will accelerate the Earth's decay… or worse — destroy it entirely."
Shirou clenched his fists.
"What you're saying is only a possibility," he countered.
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"So you'll ignore the existence of those two just because it's a 'possibility'?"
"You think I'd give up everything because of that?" Shirou replied, voice cold as ice.
Arthur sighed and shook his head.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," he muttered.
At those words, Mordred smirked faintly, already understanding what was about to happen. Jeanne and the other warriors — Frankenstein and Atalanta — silently prepared themselves, their spiritual energy flaring to life.
Seeing their movements, Semiramis quickly stepped forward, positioning herself before Shirou with elegance. Behind her, Shakespeare took a nervous step back, alarmed.
"Wait! Wait!" Gilles cried out desperately. "Jeanne, you really don't want to save all of humanity?"
Jeanne looked at him with tender sadness.
"Gilles…" she murmured, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "The dead shouldn't guide the living — much less decide their future."
"But if this doesn't happen, the souls of the children I destroyed will never find peace!" he shouted, tears streaming down his distorted face. "I'll never be able to atone for my sins!"
Before Jeanne could respond, a crash interrupted the moment.
"You disgust me, Gilles," Mordred said, her voice cold as steel.
Her fist smashed into his face with brutal force, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Just thinking about the monstrosities you committed against those children makes me sick. There's no forgiveness for someone like you."
Gilles fell to his knees, sobbing, his face covered in tears.
"So… I won't be forgiven?" he whispered weakly.
Arthur glanced over his shoulder, his expression solemn.
"The children you murdered will never forgive you," he said calmly. "The weight of those crimes is something you'll carry for all eternity."
He then turned back toward the battlefield.
"Jeanne, Mordred, Fran, Atalanta — take care of Semiramis and Shakespeare."
Immediately, Shakespeare went pale.
"Forgive me, Master! Allow me to retreat!" he shouted, stepping back in panic.
"With this Command Seal, I order you — Caster Shakespeare, fight with all your might!" declared Shirou, the seal on his hand glowing bright red.
"But I'll die if I fight!" the playwright screamed as the Command Seal's power began to burn through his body.
Before he could react, a blade pierced his chest.
"I'm tired of this, Master. Let's end it already," Mordred grumbled, pulling her sword free as Shakespeare's body dissolved into particles of light.
At the same time, Shirou charged toward Arthur, drawing his katana.
Clang!
The metallic sound rang loud as the blade struck Arthur's gauntlet.
"Master!" Semiramis cried, alarmed.
She knew well the strength of Arthur's blows.
But Jeanne didn't give her a moment to hesitate.
"Your opponent is me, Semiramis!" she declared, raising her sacred banner.
Semiramis sneered with disdain, but Jeanne's gaze was as firm as a wall of faith. Frankenstein quickly joined her, lightning crackling around her in pure fury.
"You damn fools!" Semiramis screamed, waving her hand. Magic cannons opened along the pillars, firing a storm of energy as spectral chains snaked toward the two.
Suddenly, a whistling sound sliced through the air — dozens of arrows flying in rapid succession.
"Atalanta, you miserable traitor!" Semiramis roared, summoning a magical barrier to defend herself.
"I was never loyal to you," Atalanta replied coolly, loosing another volley of arrows at blinding speed.
Meanwhile, farther back, Mordred dropped to the ground, resting her sword on her shoulder with an annoyed sigh.
"Hmph… this is gonna take a while," she muttered, watching the chaos unfold before her.
(End of chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."