100 Servant Yan Qing's Finale
"Tch! Then I'll break through head-on!" The black-haired man moved at incredible speed straight toward the cherry-colored light shield.
Transforming into multiple afterimages, he attacked simultaneously—three punches in the first second, followed by three kicks in the next.
When the three punches landed, part of the cherry blossom shield shattered; When the three kicks landed, another section of the cherry blossom shield broke.
Hooks, smashing punches, sidekicks, sweeps—all attacks came from different directions, and under the fierce assault, the cherry blossom shield kept cracking.
At this rate, in less than ten seconds, the shield would be pierced.
The huge cherry-colored petals shattered like a mirror, but the magic power did not dissipate; instead, it was absorbed into the large shield the boy held in his right hand.
The shape of the large shield was somewhat similar to Mash's cross-shaped shield, but its structure was far stranger, resembling a scythe with eyes. As it absorbed magic power, little balls of magical fire appeared on its surface.
While fighting, Yan Qing's eyes scanned the surrounding environment. He was searching for an opportunity. Shakespeare's phantom soldiers had been defeated, and against these Servants, the hornet was not worth mentioning.
The young female Master was also being protected by that witch, and it seemed there was no way to capture her.
The only way now was to use a Noble Phantasm to kill the boy, create temporary chaos, and possibly escape!
Because he had experience transforming into "Jeanne" and Artoria's doubles using his double-body technique, he knew the boy's importance in their eyes. If the boy died in front of them, they would absolutely go into a berserk rage.
"This is my only chance!" Yan Qing's eyes gleamed with a murderous cold light.
His right palm opened, and a golden flash became even more dazzling, rushing straight toward Shirou. A powerful energy wave emanated from his palm.
There was no doubt this strike would pierce Rho Aias and break the large shield in the boy's hand, killing him.
At that moment, the shield, rapidly absorbing magic, changed. When the thirteenth small fireball appeared on the shield, the flames formed a ring and finally merged into one. Then, like the fiery breath of a dragon, it turned into a straight cylindrical column and shot forward.
"What!" Yan Qing hurriedly stopped his attack, pushing off with his feet and leaping high.
The flames surged beneath him.
The fire released from the large shield extended in a straight line, forming a rotating column of magical fire that blasted through and burned the tables and chairs ahead.
As Yan Qing landed, a huge black shadow flew in front of him.
He lifted his leg to kick it away, but when he touched it, his foot trembled under the heavy impact, and it took great effort to block the shadow.
It turned out it was the large shield in the boy's hands, thrown directly at him.
Wiping cold sweat, Yan Qing muttered, "Hey, hey, this reckless, all-out fighting style is really something. Are you planning to get yourself executed at the next battlefield, only to get caught yourself?"
At this time, Shirou had already bent down and rushed in front of Yan Qing, projecting black and white dual swords from his hands and slashing forward.
Two streams of light clashed with a metallic sound, sparking in the impact.
Yan Qing gritted his teeth and raised his blue-and-gold steel gauntlets to block the blades, then grabbed Shirou's wrist and kicked forcefully with his right foot.
Shirou felt his body tilt to the side, losing balance, and was flung into the other advancing Artoria.
"Shirou!" Artoria quickly sheathed her Holy Sword and caught the boy.
"I'm fine. This guy's close combat is really strong!!" Shirou said.
Fortunately, he had childhood experience practicing sumo with the Fujimura family grandfather, so he relaxed at the last moment and was not injured. Otherwise, being thrown with full force by a Servant could have been fatal.
"Well, besides the Mist Step Fist, I'm really best at wrestling. Goodbye!" Yan Qing laughed, turning to escape.
"You bastard! Don't think you can escape!" Jeanne unleashed a flame several meters high, blocking his path.
"King's Iron Hammer—!" Artoria charged forward, swinging a massive black magical hammer down.
Yan Qing couldn't dodge in time, raised his steel gauntlets to block, and was blasted back into the center of the hall.
Two streams of black and white light attacked simultaneously.
Even the fastest Servant couldn't handle the combined attack of three people, and ultimately was struck by the dual swords.
"Ahh… looks like I'm going to fall here today." Yan Qing took a few steps back, blood splattering as two deep cuts opened on his body.
"Tch, no choice. I'll have to use this move! Everyone, be buried here!" Yan Qing pressed a button he carried.
The tall building shook violently with a loud noise.
"Senior, monitoring shows a massive impact on the lower floors. Collapse expected in twenty-three seconds. Evacuate immediately."
"He actually set off a bomb!"
"Shirou-senpai! What do we do!" Gudako screamed.
"Don't talk, jump!" Shirou exchanged a glance with Artoria and Jeanne, grabbed Gudako, and leapt outside.
"Waaah!" Gudako felt her body lighten, then experienced a freefall sensation like a roller coaster.
The boy jumped from the building holding Gudako, and a few seconds later, the building collapsed with a tremendous crash.
When the young boy and girl landed, aside from a few Servants, only a staggering passerby escaped.
A gunshot rang out, and a magical bullet pierced the passerby's body, delivering a fatal blow.
"Because Holmes and I often rely on disguises, I can tell in just ten seconds if someone is truly mortally wounded." The passerby clutched his wound and returned to his original form—it was the injured Yan Qing. His spiritual core had already been destroyed, and he was powerless to recover.
"Ah… it's over… I'm a hero of Liangshan Marsh! Dying here won't make me frown… Ah, no… that sense of pride has long been gone. Ever since the double-body phantom merged into me, when I transformed into others, their memories flowed in too.
Memories of insignificant thugs, nouveau riche, those I fought desperately against, and those I killed—my mind can no longer tell which memories were mine and which were theirs."
This free-spirited hero had long been lost, which is why he was summoned to this world. In the moment before disappearing, Yan Qing suddenly remembered some things from his past, with regret…
He should have protected his master. Even if he killed him, he should have protected him.
His master had been deceived by the power-hungry head of the family. Otherwise, as a fellow disciple of Yue Fei, sitting as the second-in-command of Liangshan, fighting Fang La, repelling the Liao, a lifetime of heroism, unmatched military achievements…
Who would have thought that he would end his life in such an undignified manner—poisoned, unable to ride, falling into the water drunk while on a boat.
They say a loyal servant dies for a disgraced master, but he chose to leave, taking gold and jewels, departing alone.
"Seems like retribution has already fallen on me. When did my pride and dignity as a hero disappear, and where did it go?"
Yan Qing smiled sadly, turning into phosphorescence and disappearing.
The 108 heroes of Liangshan, legendary reincarnations of demonic stars, had chivalrous hearts, serving the nation and its people; and there were monstrous cannibals and treacherous villains.
When the country faced crisis, they accepted imperial amnesty, gathered forces, sacrificed blood, quelled Fang La's rebellion, and conquered Liao. They achieved great merit, yet few ended well.
"…" Shirou pondered. He had seen many heroic figures.
As heroic spirits, they were powerful, yet few of their earthly lives ended happily. Heroes often have tragic fates—they embody ideals, yet their outcomes are regrettable, which is why they are remembered even after thousands of years.
Like the knight king who gave everything for his people's happiness, only to see his decade-long efforts destroyed in war, crying alone with his sword; Like Cú Chulainn, betrayed and killed despite sworn vows; Like Heracles, unable to endure poison, burning himself alive.
"Pride, dignity… if people lose these, can they still live properly…" Moriarty muttered to himself.
"Hmph, I'm a fake. Don't ask me about living or dying. As for pride, I say feed it to Ca-vall II!" Jeanne snorted.
"Heh, truly shameless words coming from a big cat." Artoria sneered.
"Shameless, or excuse me… hmm? Panda?" Jeanne was about to retort but paused, puzzled.
"Yes, black-and-white…" Holmes said.
"Still holding bamboo, swaying back and forth…" Gudako nodded.
"Pandas are super cute, extremely popular! Their ability to earn fans and money is top-notch," Shirou said.
"That's a flag!! I'll burn you all!" Jeanne shouted in protest.
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