[Shirou POV]
"Miyu!"
"Was that just...?!"
"Spatial transfer!"
"You're kidding! That's no longer in the realm of magic! It's unbelievable!"
Miyu had been hit squarely by the witch's attack and was sent flying. Upon seeing this, Rin and Luvia were astounded as they analyzed the nature of the power used by the enemy. Spatial transfer magic. The fact that they had such a trump card hidden away. This was the terror of a Heroic Spirit.
Miyu crashed into the iron bridge and stopped moving. This was bad. She was practically inviting a final blow. Given she had taken a magical blast powerful enough to pierce Sapphire's barrier at close range, she must have suffered substantial damage.
From here, the distance is too great. I could see the witch readying what looked like a finishing blow. There were only a few seconds left. I had no way of stopping the attack. The power of [Hrunting: Hound of the Red Plains ] would not be enough; it would simply be deflected by the defensive formation.
"Miyu, run! Damn it!"
I tried to use an attack with sufficient power to penetrate, [Fake Spiral Sword, Caladbolg II], but the witch wasn't negligent in her vigilance towards me and constantly had a certain amount of magical bullets attacking us. If it were just me, I could have braced for the damage and attacked, but Rin and the others were beside me. So, I couldn't move.
I was powerless. Realizing this, I gritted my teeth. Was it still not enough? Even with the power of a Heroic Spirit. Just as I was thinking this, a figure flew towards Miyu just as the witch was about to unleash her final blow.
"Illya!"
Yes, that figure was Illya. My sister Illya had successfully carried Miyu away from that spot. As a result, the witch's attack passed through empty space. Upon seeing this, I felt a profound relief. Thank you, Illya.
It seemed that Illya and Miyu were discussing something in mid-air. Had they come up with some sort of strategy? Rin and the others were shouting that we should retreat, but there was no guarantee that retreating now would lead to a successful next move. So...
"Let's bet on Illya and the others."
"Huh!? Are you out of your mind, Emiya-kun!"
"Well... If they say they've come up with some sort of plan, it might be worth leaving it to those two. The magical girls of Kaleidostick are two-in-one. If those two can coordinate well, there's infinite potential."
"...That might be true..."
That's how it went. I don't understand complicated things or magic. But when it comes to believing in Illya, my sister, I wouldn't lose to anyone in the world. As planned, I will focus only on supporting Illya and the others.
"Stay strong, Illya..."
I quietly muttered these words of encouragement.
......…
[Illya POV]
"Let's go, Ruby!"
『Yes!』
Believing in Miyu's strategy, I approach the Caster to draw her attention. I act as a decoy to halt the Caster's movement. Until that point, it is no different from the original plan. But with that alone, she can teleport away and retaliate.
Just like before. Therefore, Miyu's strategy was meant to counter that. While moving around at full speed, I look for that opportunity. The Caster's magic bullets are attempting to target me with their auto-tracking feature.
While avoiding them with all my might, I counteract them with my magic cannon. Anything that can't be completely neutralized, I believe my brother will shoot down. With that belief, I dare to approach closely. I'm not scared. Even though magic bullets whizz past me, I'm not scared.
What I'm doing right now is buying time until Miyu, who is injured and can't move, can return, and drawing the Caster's attention to me, making her perceive me as the main enemy. This is the groundwork.
"...Sorry to keep you waiting, Illyasviel."
"It took a bit longer."
"Miyu, are you alright now?"
"No problem. Let's proceed according to the plan."
"Leave it to me!"
And with that, Miyu returned. It seems her injuries are alright now. Along with the signal to start the operation, I approached the Caster head-on. With the offensive and defensive exchanges up until now, the enemy's attention is completely focused on me.
"Wait, Illya! You're supposed to be the decoy! What are you planning to do going that far forward!"
"That's right! Keep your distance without overdoing it! Concentrate on drawing her in!"
From below, I could hear Rin and Luvia's surprised voices, but I ignored them. They are right. But this is a strategy. It was crucial to make her think that I was going to attack. I believe in Miyu.
Countless magic bullets are rushing at me. As I shoot them down, I charge straight ahead, concentrating my magic on Ruby. I could tell that the presence of the Caster changed distinctly with the attack containing my maximum magic power.
"Here we go, Ruby! A super... [Shotgun]!"
『...What?』
The shotgun blast, fired with my maximum magical power, rushes at the Caster. I didn't consider defense and put all my magic into it. Even the formidable Caster wouldn't be able to defend against this. This was Miyu's strategy.
"She disappeared again?!"
Just as my brother said, the Caster used spatial teleportation to evade the shotgun blast. Good, just as planned! Seeing that, I couldn't help but smile. While fully deploying the defensive barrier, I think to myself. The rest is up to you, Miyu!
......…
[Shirou POV]
"Illya!"
I looked up at Illya in the sky and screamed. It was the same as before. The witch, who had evaded Illya's attack by teleporting, had appeared behind Illya. It was exactly the same situation as before. Dangerous!
That's when it happened. Illya's previous attack, like a barrage, had bounced back in mid-air. All the bullets were deflected and rained down behind Illya. And there was the teleporting witch.
"I see! A magic reflection control plane! The witch hit the shotgun against it, which Caster had deployed in the air!"
"So she set it to reflect behind her, to hit the Caster!"
"Yes, she calculated that the Caster would teleport and evade, and made it bounce back there!"
That seemed to be the case. That Illya, she had calculated and done something like that. Earlier, the Caster had dodged Miyu's attack and attacked from behind. She used that habit to her advantage to hit her.
Using the enemy's reflective shield. Apparently unable to teleport continuously, the Caster defended by putting a shield in front of her. This time, the Caster's movement had completely stopped. And Miyu would not miss that.
"Now's your chance, Miyu!"
Above the Caster, a girl stood poised with Sapphire. Standing straight on a magical foothold, she stared at her enemy. About to unleash her strongest magic, I was fascinated by her figure and expression.
"Max bullet speed... [Snipe Shot]!"
"Wow!"
The full force of the magic bullet became a huge beam. The attack hit the immobilized Caster squarely. The Caster's barrier was blown away in an instant, and her body was shot down to the ground.
"Finish her, Emiya-kun!"
"We're going in!"
"Ro, Roger!"
As Caster crashed to the ground, Tohsaka and Luvia were relentless. They instructed me to follow up with an attack, intending to deliver an overkill. Isn't this what they call 'kicking someone when they're down'? Scary...
"Anfang Set!"
"Zeichen Sign!"
"---I am the bone of my sword, my marrow is twisted..."
Tohsaka and Luvia shouted, clutching something. Probably their magic attacks. I also created a new sword in my right hand and chanted a spell. I didn't understand the principle, but it came to mind on its own.
I nocked the sword in the bow like an arrow and changed its shape. I twisted it long and drill-like, transforming it into the shape of an arrow, and poured my full magical power into it. It was the finishing move I used in the previous battle with Rider.
"[Gale Shot Quintuple]!"
"[Explosion Shot Septuple]!"
"[Fake Caladbolg II]!"
Aiming at where Caster was presumed to be, our attacks were launched simultaneously. The sight turned white in an instant, and immediately after, a tremendous explosion and fire erupted.
"...Did we manage to defeat her this time?"
"Probably. Or else, she's a monster."
"The magic circle in the sky has disappeared too, so we should have defeated her."
Tohsaka and Luvia nodded in response to my check. As Luvia said, the magic circle that had filled the sky until a while ago had completely disappeared. It's over. Believing so, we all breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.
"Or rather, Rin Tohsaka! What's with the five rounds? Don't skimp at crucial moments!"
"Sh-Shut up! Our economic situations are different! I can't just frivolously use gems!"
"Hey, hey. We won, didn't we? Don't argue when we've won."
Really, these two. Why do they have to argue even after going through so much trouble to win? Do they die if they don't fight as naturally as breathing? And what are they talking about? Being stingy, gems, what's it all about?
"Also, Luvia, your choice of words is barely acceptable for a lady... Since you're such a beauty, wouldn't it be better if you act more like it?"
"Eh...?" (Luvia face become blush)
"Hmph!"
Is "don'tcha" crude or elegant? I can't tell. Even Rin mentioned it, what kind of Japanese has Luvia mastered? When I pointed this out, Luvia turned completely red for some reason.
Remembering her own wording from earlier, perhaps she's belatedly embarrassed. And then, for some other reason, Rin appears displeased. Hey, why? With a sigh, I chide Rin as well.
"Rin, don't you get tired of always being angry? You're cuter when you're smiling. If you did that more often, wouldn't Ruby and Sapphire like you better?" (Shirou)
"..." (Rin turning a deep red)
Huh? Now Rin has gone silent, turning a deep red. I tilt my head at their inexplicable reactions. Oh, right, we need to collect Caster's card soon.
"So, about Caster's card... huh?"
It's gone. Where Caster fell, there was a crater from the explosion, but the card I expected to find in the center was nowhere to be seen. I tilted my head and felt a chill run down my spine. Could it be...!
"Illya! Miyu! Caster is still...!"
From the sky above, Illya and the others were descending. They probably thought it was over too. Their atmosphere was completely relaxed. But it wasn't over yet. Just as I was about to shout out,
"Huh!?" (Illya & Miyu)
"This magical power!"
A colossal magical power that seemed to make the entire space creak. Rin and Luvia recovered from their baffling stiffness, reacting to this magical power. But it was too late. "It" was already there, with a huge magical circle behind.
"Caster!" (Everyone)
The witch reigned in the distant sky once again. Her body was in tatters, her right side ripped apart. But she was still alive. And she was exuding an overwhelming killing intent toward us. Her eyes were not dead yet.
"She teleported again and ran away!? But the right side of her body is damaged!"
"This is bad! Caster can still deliver a blow with a resolve to die together!"
"Damn it!"
You could tell she was about to fire a massive magical bullet. As Luvia mentioned, Caster was probably about to unleash an attack prepared to blow us all away. I immediately released a shot with my Hrunting: Hound of the Red Plains, but it was shot down.
What Caster was about to release was likely an even more powerful version of the attack used at the end of our first battle. If such a thing is unleashed, all of this space would surely be obliterated. It would be total annihilation without a doubt!
"I'm going!"
"Miyu, no! There's no time!"
Miyu was rushing towards Caster, but as Illya said, there was no time left. What should we do? Use Rho Aias to defend? No, that won't work. We can't protect Illya and Miyu.
Then, use the Fake Spiral Sword again? That's not good either. It takes too long to charge! I grit my teeth in the face of my own powerlessness. Damn it, if only I hadn't let my guard down earlier! I despair at my own carelessness.
However, there was still someone who hadn't given up. That was my sister.
......
[Miyu POV]
"Miyu! There's no time!"
"I know! But, I have to...!"
I race through the sky, glaring at Caster above. I understand what Sapphire is saying, but I have a responsibility. The Class Cards were scattered because of me. All of this is my fault.
Because I came to this world! People who shouldn't have had to fight, people who didn't need to get hurt, are fighting and getting hurt. This world's brother would never have had to touch the Cards!
Not Luvia, not Rin Tohsaka, not Illyasviel! It's all my fault! That's why I had to retrieve this card on my own. I have to do this alone, without involving anyone else.
So that no one else would get hurt, I even told Illyasviel that I would retrieve all the Class Cards myself. I have to make it happen. It's wrong for anyone to get hurt in this battle.
That's why...
"Even if I have to become a shield, I won't let anyone get hurt!"
"Miyu!?"
If there's no time, I decided to be a shield for everyone, using all of Sapphire's power to erect a defensive barrier. I used all my magic power to create a magical barrier and spread both arms in front of the enemy's attack. That's when...
"No!"
"!?"
A voice that resonated in my heart, which had almost given up, saying it was all over. Yes, there was still one person here who hadn't given up. I looked back at where the voice had come from. And there was...
"Illyasviel!?"
"Miyu, catch!"
It was Illyasviel. Shirou sister in this world. An ordinary person who knew nothing about magic, Class Cards, or Kaleidosticks. That's why she hadn't given up yet.
Illyasviel had fired a massive magical cannon at me. I couldn't immediately determine what she was trying to do. But... I see! I turned my back to the magical cannon and prepared myself.
"Here it comes!"
"Huh!"
The magical cannon fired by Illyasviel. I "rode" on it. Jumping through the air using magic as a foothold was a feat only I could pull off. With an acceleration unlike anything before, I raced straight through the sky.
"Class Card 'Lancer', Limited Deployment Include..."
I pressed the Lancer card against Sapphire, releasing its power. In front of me was Caster, her face a mask of astonishment. I made it just before the enemy's attack. With this timing... I can make it!
"Gae Bolg, the spear that strikes death!"
The magical spear Gae Bolg, transformed by Sapphire. The noble phantasm of the Heroic Spirit Cú Chulainn from the Lancer card. The cursed spear that reverses causality pierced Caster's heart. This time, it was the moment of conclusion.
"...Class Card 'Caster', recovery complete."
"We did it!"
As Caster's body vanished and turned into a Class Card, I retrieved it. Behind me, Illyasviel was cheering with joy. I watched her with mixed feelings. This girl, under those circumstances...
"Miyu, I understand that this may seem presumptuous, but Illya is..."
"...I understand."
"I'm not questioning your power, Miyu. However, you alone could not have defeated Caster this time. Certainly, Illya is still inexperienced but..."
"...yeah."
"Kaleido's magical girls are two as one. By combining your powers, you can overcome situations that one alone cannot handle. Please do not forget this..." (Ruby)
"...I'll think about it."
That was all I could say in response. There was no room for argument. Besides, Illyasviel's way of thinking and her quick-wittedness were something I hadn't considered. Such an absurd way to accelerate...
"You did it, Miyu!"
"Illyasviel..."
"? What?"
"Th-that... thank you..."
Just as I was about to thank her for what happened, a scream and a roaring sound echoed from below.
"Kyaa!"
"!?"
From below came Rin Tohsaka's scream, followed by a thunderous noise. And Illyasviel and I witnessed a knight draped in black mist, radiating an overwhelming presence. A new despair was there.
Our real death battle was just about to begin...