A suffocating pressure washed over Illya as she stared in disbelief at Lucien's body, which had been pierced straight through, only to regenerate in the blink of an eye. The sight crushed her breathing into shallow gasps.
"Pfft… pfft…"
Eight shimmering crystal thorns tore through the air, leaving behind streaks of afterimages as they impaled the two artificial life forms. Their bodies were lifted helplessly into the sky as their energy was forcibly drained away. Within just a few breaths, they shriveled and collapsed into lifeless husks.
"Sella… Leysritt…"
Illya's face twisted with unbearable pain. Her entire body trembled violently as one of the crystal thorns pierced into her flesh. A terrifying surge of blood began to flood into her veins.
Lucien had no intention of killing Illya. What he wanted was far more cruel. He wished to force her transformation into a demon, thereby gaining absolute control over Heracles. More than that, Illya's heart was the Lesser Grail itself, and it had already recovered fragments of Medea, Medusa, and Cú Chulainn.
In another timeline, Gilgamesh had refused to allow Illya to become the Grail. He had ripped her heart out and implanted it into Shinji Matou, distorting the Grail into a grotesque abomination. But this time, Lucien intended something different. He would shape Illya into a living, cup-shaped Holy Grail.
"Ah…"
As the foreign blood tore through her body, Illya screamed in agony.
Cracks spread rapidly across her pale skin, twisting and branching like shattered glass. Her sapphire eyes were drowned in crimson as madness surged within her. Though she was an artificial human, her pain was no less real. The only difference was that her life had always been destined to be short.
Not far away, Heracles roared in blind fury and tried to charge toward her. Yet he was forcibly blocked by Artoria, their weapons colliding in a storm of sparks and thunderous force.
Whoosh…
A sharp whistle sliced through the air as an arrow tore toward Lucien's head.
In a flash, he tilted slightly to the side. A chunk of flesh was sheared from his face, spinning away through the air. Casually setting Illya down, Lucien turned to face the newcomers. Rin Tohsaka and Shirou Emiya stood there, along with the red-clad Archer known as Nameless.
Originally, Shirou and Rin had gone searching for Illya to seek cooperation. On the way, they had seen Lucien vanish from the skies and instantly sensed danger. They rushed forward at full speed, but they were still one step too late.
Lucien had seized Illya far too quickly.
"We are not too late, are we?"
Rin's eyes locked onto Illya's trembling form on the ground. At least she was still breathing. The tight knot in her chest loosened slightly as she let out a shaky sigh of relief.
"Saber."
Shirou's gaze snapped toward Artoria, who was still locked in brutal combat with Heracles.
Artoria also noticed their arrival. After a violent clash with Heracles, she leapt backward and landed beside Lucien.
At that same instant, Heracles seized Illya and retreated to safety.
Colorful threads of steam spread through the air as the torn flesh on Lucien's face regenerated completely, restoring him as if nothing had ever happened.
"Artoria, move."
At Lucien's command, she pressed her lips together, tightened her grip on her holy sword, and charged directly at Nameless.
"Saber!"
Shirou tried to rush forward, but Rin grabbed his arm and dragged him back.
"She is his Servant right now. She cannot resist him."
Rin's gaze never left Lucien. Every instinct in her body screamed danger.
Crack…
A bolt of golden lightning erupted in front of her.
Rin's pupils contracted violently. Terror filled her face as she realized she could not even react. A crushing grip seized her by the throat and lifted her into the air.
"Projection."
Shirou cried out in panic and projected his twin blades, Gan Jiang and Mo Ye. He slashed straight toward Lucien's arm.
Lucien did not even turn his head.
Three crystal thorns burst forth from his tailbone in an instant. One intercepted the blades. Another lashed forward like a whip and smashed into Shirou's abdomen. In the next second, blood sprayed from Shirou's mouth and nose as his body bent violently, shooting backward like a cannonball and crashing into the ruins.
The final crystal thorn slid up Rin's body like a living serpent. It wrapped from her legs upward, passing her waist and chest, and finally drove straight into her neck.
"Ah…"
As blood flooded into her veins, Rin's body went rigid. Her eyes rolled back as she trembled uncontrollably.
"Rin…"
Nameless, who was locked in combat with Artoria, formed a bow and arrow in his hands and tried to break through. But Artoria blocked him unflinchingly, her eyes lowered yet unwavering.
"Rin…"
Shirou lay broken amid the shattered rubble, staring at her twitching form with eyes filled with fury and despair.
Suddenly, the world fell into absolute silence.
The wind ceased. The air itself seemed frozen.
A vast red wasteland unfolded around them, filled with countless sword-shaped gravestones. Flames danced along the distant horizon, and enormous interlocking gears turned slowly in the sky.
Whoosh… whoosh…
Ten razor-sharp swords materialized in mid-air and rained down toward Lucien.
Lucien turned his head slightly toward Nameless. More crystal thorns erupted from his tailbone, shooting upward in a storm of afterimages. The falling swords were smashed aside before they could reach him.
He casually tossed Rin's body to the ground.
Shirou coughed violently as he struggled to rise. The red wasteland surrounding them felt disturbingly familiar. It resonated deep within his soul.
Whoosh… whoosh…
Swords streaked across the sky like bullets, relentlessly pursuing Lucien.
Nameless fought on two fronts at once, holding back Artoria while bombarding Lucien without pause.
Lucien remained motionless. Eight crystal thorns spread wide behind him like the wings of a monstrous throne. Every blade that approached was knocked aside with explosive force.
Detonations roared across the field as thick smoke and dust surged upward.
Seizing the moment, Shirou rushed through the smoke, scooped Rin into his arms, and fled from Lucien's range.
Lucien merely watched them go. He had allowed the rescue on purpose.
"Rin… Rin…"
Shirou knelt among the falling dust, his body coated in grime. Rin shuddered weakly in his arms. Bloody cracks covered her neck and legs, and her face was pale with agony.
The Reality Marble of Unlimited Blade Works began to fade. The red wasteland dissolved, and everyone was returned to the castle grounds.
Unnoticed by the others, two figures hovered in the sky.
Gilgamesh, clad in his golden armor, stood with arms crossed, gazing down with cold amusement. Beside him, Li Chong floated silently, his eyes locked onto Lucien with murderous intent.
It was clear that the collapse of Unlimited Blade Works was tied to their interference.
"Fake."
Gilgamesh's gaze swept disdainfully over Nameless and Shirou in turn.
Artoria returned to Lucien's side, while Nameless regrouped with Shirou and Rin.
In the distance, Illya's transformation continued. Heracles stood like an iron tower before her, axe-sword in hand, guarding her with absolute devotion.
"Withdraw for now."
Nameless spoke with a grave expression as he carried Shirou and Rin away, vanishing from the battlefield. Neither Lucien nor Li Chong attempted to stop them.
"It seems we have not formally met. If I am not mistaken, we come from the same place. Is it not a little impulsive to start killing the moment we meet?"
Lucien lit another cigarette, exhaled smoke slowly, and regarded Li Chong as he descended.
Li Chong offered no reply. A cold sneer curled at the edge of his lips.
"Gate of View. Gate of Shock."
"Open."
A terrifying pressure surged skyward. The ground shattered as slabs of concrete were torn into the air. Li Chong's eyes burned blood-red as blue steam enveloped his body, roaring around him like living flames.
He had no intention of talking.
Behind Gilgamesh, a massive golden vortex opened in the sky. One Noble Phantasm after another appeared, densely packed and aimed directly at Artoria.
Artoria tightened her grip on her sword. Her gaze remained sharp and fearless.
"It seems a decisive battle is unavoidable."
Golden light surged around Lucien as metallic sounds echoed across the field. Gleaming armor formed over his body, and as it settled into place, the aura around him turned chillingly cold.
"Noble Phantasm."
Gilgamesh scoffed as he observed the armor, mistaking it for such a weapon due to its striking resemblance to his own.
Crack…
Golden lightning danced around Lucien. A violent gust exploded outward as both he and Li Chong vanished simultaneously from their original positions.
At the same moment, countless Noble Phantasms fired from behind Gilgamesh, and Artoria charged forward to meet the storm head-on.
Not far away, Illya, who had been curled on the ground, began to stir.
She staggered upright. Bloody fractures covered her skin, stretching across her hands and legs. Slowly, she lifted her head. Her once crimson eyes transformed into shimmering purple, like diamond amethyst, filled with writhing bloodshot veins.
She had endured Lucien's blood.
Illya had become a demon.
____
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