[Illya POV]
"Ugh..."
I woke up, pain coursing through my entire body. Why was I knocked down again? I shook my head two or three times to clear my foggy mind and looked around. And there, a sight unfolded that I didn't want to comprehend.
"Shirou, please hang in there, Shirou!"
Sapphire『Miyu-sama, don't shake him!』
"...Eh?"
What's going on? There, Miyu was clinging to my brother. What are you doing, Miyu? Did something happen to my brother? I gazed blankly at the scene. What on earth is happening?
My brother was lying in a pool of red liquid. What is that red liquid? I couldn't understand it. I didn't want to. I refused to comprehend what was happening. After all, I didn't want to accept it. If I accept it...
"...Onii-chan... why are you lying down? Hey, wake up quickly..."
"...Illyasviel..."
"Hey, Miyu... Onii-chan isn't waking up at all. What's he doing?"
"ILLYASVIEL!"
"Hey, why is he on the ground!? Why isn't he waking up!? What's happening!?"
I threw a tantrum, shaking my head in denial. Miyu was shouting at me through her tears. She was yelling at me to look at the reality, to understand it. I really understood. I remembered it. The sight of my brother being engulfed in darkness.
And the enemy that brought this upon my brother. I consciously avoided seeing it, but it was there, at the edge of my sight. The knight in black armor. The moment I saw it, an overwhelming terror took control of my heart.
I'm scared, I'm scared, I'm scared, I'm scared, I'm scared, I'm scared. I'm terrified of that entity. That overpowering strength. Even though my brother's attack shattered the black visor and the armor covering his body, and blood was flowing from his forehead, it still couldn't defeat her.
"Ugh, uaaaaaah!"
"Illya, please calm down!"
My transformation has been undone. So has Miyu's. The reason Miyu and I are still safe is thanks to my brother protecting us and the magical barrier of the Kaleidostick. But, due to the excessive damage, our transformations have been undone.
This means that we are now defenseless. We can't defend ourselves anymore. We're going to get killed. It's unlikely that we can transform again so soon. Even if we could, we absolutely can't match that enemy. I understand that now.
The enemy is approaching us. We're going to get killed. Miyu and I, Rin, and Luvia as well. And my brother too. When I thought up to that point, my mind suddenly cooled. We're getting killed? Who? My brother?
"No, that can't be."
"...Illyasviel?"
"No, that's not acceptable."
My brother getting killed... All the fear inside me disappeared. And then, something inside me clicked out of place. I didn't fully understand what had happened. All I knew was that I wanted to protect my brother.
I didn't want to lose my brother. That was all that dominated my mind.
And then, my memory cuts off here...
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
......…
[??? Point of view]
I must defeat her... I must defeat her... I must defeat her... I must defeat her... I must kill her... But how...? Means? Methods? Power? Ah, speaking of which...
If it's power, it was here...
I reached out for the card lying on the ground. And then, I forcefully opened the door.
"---[Phantasmal Summon: Install]---"
......…
[Miyu POV]
"Eh...? No way... Why...?"
I stared blankly at the scene before me. Suddenly, a tremendous amount of magic power surged from Illyasviel's entire body, and then she did something incredible. She reached for a card that had slipped from my cardholder...
Sapphire:『This is...』
Sapphire:『Illya-san is doing the same thing as Shirou-san!』
Yes, Illyasviel had changed her appearance by touching the Lancer class card that had slipped from my cardholder. She was clad in a blue suit all over, and in her hand was the red spear of a curse that reversed fate.
It was impossible. I understood. What she was doing was different from Shirou-san. I didn't understand Shirou-san's method, and Illyasviel's was also different from the normal procedure. With enormous magic power, she forcibly connected the path.
"Illyasviel..."
The moment I tried to call out to her, she flew over my head. She moved at a speed that I could barely perceive, so much so that I thought she had disappeared. From behind, I heard the sound of her landing.
Only then did I realize that she had jumped over me and went behind. When I turned around, she was already approaching the enemy. She was fast. Too fast. Perhaps, even faster than that enemy.
"This is..."
Once Illyasviel approached the enemy, she launched an onslaught of attacks too fast for the eye to see. The consecutive strikes of the red spear seemed to push back the enemy. She was clearly pressing the enemy, with red traces running in the air.
Sapphire:『It's amazing, Illya-san!』
Sapphire:『...She's even able to defend against Saber's attacks.』
Illyasviel, who should have been an amateur, was easily parrying and repelling the attacks of Saber, a class specialized in close combat. Her way of fighting had changed. It was just like a heroic spirit. The same as Shirou-san.
The red spear manipulated by Illyasviel pierced through the enemy's defense and tore their cheek. It seems the enemy also felt threatened and began to emit magical energy while retreating. The energy that had been used for defense was now intended for attack.
From there, a battle beyond human comprehension began. Indeed, it was a battle between two classes specialized in close combat. My eyes couldn't catch their offensive and defensive moves. I could only see the sound of their weapons clashing and sparks flying.
The ground was gouged out by the impact of their attacks and defenses, and it seemed impossible to approach the vicinity. Illyasviel's movements changed again, maybe thinking that they were evenly matched in a head-to-head confrontation. She started moving quickly around the enemy and jumping.
"...She's winning in speed, so she's changed her moves to focus on disturbance?"
Sapphire:『It seems so. After all, Lancer is a class known for its speed.』
Sapphire: 『Moreover, considering the Noble Phantasm she holds, it's Cu Chulainn, the great hero of Ireland.』
Before our eyes, a legend was indeed being revived. The enemy was King Arthur, the most famous wielder of the sacred sword in the world. Facing him was Illyasviel, or Cu Chulainn, another great hero from Celtic mythology.
In terms of effort, Illyasviel has the upper hand, while King Arthur has the advantage in terms of the power of a single blow. Neither of them is using their trump card, their Noble Phantasm. Perhaps it's because they're preparing for a more powerful attack. Both are trying to immobilize the other.
I watched the battle, my breath held in suspense. Gradually, the enemy started to falter. They couldn't keep up with Illyasviel's movements. With precise continuous attacks and swift movements, she was beginning to dominate the battle.
"Ahh!"
Sapphire:『She's broken through!』
Finally, Illyasviel's attack pierced the enemy's defense and gouged their shoulder. Taking advantage of this opening, she spun the lance in her hands and used the butt end to knock the enemy away. If she was going to land a decisive blow, this was the time. She must have thought the same thing.
Sapphire:『It seems Ilya-san, intends to use her Noble Phantasm.』
Magical energy surged from Illyasviel's entire body, glowing crimson. She assumed a forward-leaning stance, holding the lance in her right hand. Given her speed, she could close the gap in an instant. Just when I thought she had secured her victory...
"The enemy intends to use theirs too."
Feeling the swell of another surge of magical energy, I looked at the enemy. Indeed, they also intended to use their Noble Phantasm. Just as before, dark magical energy spewed forth from their sword, transforming it into a massive blade. They were going to use that holy sword again.
"Her Gáe Bolg requires her to get closer... Can she make it in time?"
Sapphire:『It's going to be close. But, the enemy's preparation is slow, and if she can launch hers before...』
The Gáe Bolg should require less preparation time. Therefore, if she could unleash it before the holy sword's attack... The enemy had an injured shoulder, so Illyasviel should have the advantage. I could only hope and pray.
But for some reason, Illyasviel didn't move. It was odd. She should have been ready by now, yet she wasn't unleashing Gáe Bolg. In the meantime, the enemy had completed their preparations for their attack.
"Illyasviel!?"
"..."
"Excalibur, the Promised Sword of Victory!"
She was shot at. A beam of light from the jet-black holy sword was charging towards the immobile Illyasviel. I almost turned my gaze away in reflex. At that moment, Illyasviel released an enormous amount of magical energy from her entire body.
Sapphire:『That's not the Barbed Spear that Pierces with Death, Gáe Bolg!』
"What is this...?"
Illyasviel leaped forward diagonally and, using her whole body, reared her lance back. She funneled her vast magical energy into her lance. As Sapphire said, it wasn't the Piercing Thorn of Death, Gáe Bolg. Then what on earth...?
"Soaring Spear that Strikes with Death, Gáe Bolg!"
Screaming, Illyasviel threw her lance with all her might. A single crimson shooting star was unleashed at a staggering speed, colliding with the light of the holy sword. In that instant, the world fell silent. But the silence was immediately replaced by a thunderous roar.
"Ah!"
The shockwave reached me, almost blowing me away. Shirou, who had been lying at my feet, rolled over from the impact. The cursed spear and the holy sword were pushing against each other. The one who pushed harder would win.
"Uhhhhhhhh!"
"..."
Having thrown her spear, Illyasviel was in mid-air, extending one hand towards the spear, feeding it with magical energy. The enemy was doing the same, funneling energy spewing from their whole body into their sword. Who would win? I swallowed hard.
"...Ugh."
"Shirou-san!?"
At that moment, Shirou, who had been lying at my feet, groaned and moved. He seemed to have awakened. When I called out to him, he replied in a weak voice. He seemed to be still dazed.
"...Miyu, where is Illya?"
"...She's over there."
In response to his question, I pointed to the front. Shirou moved his neck to look in that direction. And then, he gasped. his face filled with disbelief. Right there, the final resolution of the battle was about to be reached.
......…
[Shirou POV]
"Illya...?"
What was she doing? I stared, dumbfounded at the sight of Illya opposing the enemy's attack. Her figure had changed dramatically, reminiscent of how I appeared when I transformed using the card.
"Miyu, what on earth is happening?"
"I don't know. Illyasviel used the card with an enormous amount of magical power."
"We're also unsure about what's happening. Illyasviel might have a hidden secret. Shirou, do you have any idea about this?"
"…No. There's no way. Illya is just a normal elementary school student…"
That should be the case. She's not a girl who should be fighting with such a card. Yet, why is this happening? Why is Illya fighting in such a form? Why did she use the card...
"Urgh."
"Shirou, you mustn't move! You're severely injured!"
"If I don't act now, I'll regret it for the rest of my life!"
"Huh!?"
Yes. After all, I obtained this power to protect Illya. Ignoring the pain throughout my body, I aimed my bow from where I had fallen. There's no need to inflict damage. It's enough if I can just stop the enemy's movement.
The enemy appeared to have a shoulder injury, unable to fully leverage the power of the holy sword. Aiming at that wound, I shot "Hrunting: Hound of the Red Plains". The attack hit precisely as intended, causing the enemy to stagger. The magical power invested in the holy sword weakened.
"Now!"
"Aaaaaaaaaaah!"
Hearing my scream, Illya detonated the magical power contained in her lance. Pushing back the light of the black holy sword, it pierced through the enemy. At that moment, a huge explosion erupted where the enemy had been. That should surely...
The shockwave of the explosion threw us back several meters. Eventually, the shockwave subsided, and our vision, scorched by the light of the explosion, gradually returned. We looked at the epicenter of the explosion where Saber had been and found a card lying there.
"…The Saber card…did we defeat it?"
"It...looks like it."
Sapphire:『What about Illya?』
Having confirmed the enemy's defeat, we turned to look at Illya. Illya, who had used the power of the Lancer card and become a heroic spirit. Looking at the last place we saw her, there was Illya, who had fallen unconscious.
"Illya...ugh."
"Shirou!?"
Illya, who had reverted from her heroic spirit form and was now unconscious. I tried to rush to her side, but felt a sudden, faint pain and fell after a few steps. Ah, I see. I am...
Only then did I remember that I was injured. Damn it, I want to go to Illya as soon as possible, to confirm she's alright. Ignoring the pain, I tried to get up, but couldn't even move a single finger.
"What am I doing...? Illya..."
"Please don't move anymore! I'll take care of Illyasviel..."
"...damn..."
"Shirou..."
I felt so frustrated. Not knowing what kind of trouble Illya, my little sister, was in. I wanted to be by her side immediately. I wanted to protect Illya, so what was I doing? What did I get this power for?
How powerless I am, only able to lie down in such a disgraceful state. I was so angry with myself that I couldn't even hear Miyu's voice. As I swore never to disgrace myself like this again...
......…
"Jeez, you really overdid it, Emiya. Defeating a new enemy with those wounds," she scolded me.
"Absolutely. But, you did a good job. It made me reassess you a bit," the other chimed in.
"...Are you two alright with your wounds...?"
"You're the one in far worse shape, so keep quiet. I've performed first-aid using healing Magecraft," she retorted.
"Though it should be mentioned that neither Rin nor I are particularly adept at healing magecraft. So, you need to stay put. If you move around too much, your wounds might open, you know?" luvia said to me.
After the battle ended and Miyu confirmed Illya's safety, I was still worried. As an amateur in magic, I couldn't do much more than entrust Illya to Ruby and Sapphire.
Tohsaka and Luvia, who had passed out, were now awake, and we were in the process of post-battle procedures. We retrieved the Saber card and returned to normal space. Now, I was having my wounds treated by the two magicians.
We decided to present Saber's defeat as a mutual takedown. Miyu and the others said it was better that way. We kept quiet about Illya transforming into a heroic spirit using Lancer's card, deciding it was better to keep this from the two for now.
Rather, it was supposedly better to keep it from the Mage's Association lurking behind these two. For someone like me, who transformed right before their eyes, it was too late. But Illya hadn't been seen yet. We still had a chance.
I agreed to the plan when told that Illya might be in danger if the Mage's Association set their sights on her. I had no choice, as it was my own decision. But Illya was different.
According to Miyu, Illya seemed to be in a state of semi-rampage. Whether she remembers anything is uncertain. We can't know unless we confirm with Illya directly, but at this stage, it seems unlikely.
If that power were to be discovered by someone, she might become even more involved in the battles. We couldn't let that happen. I felt a little guilty for not trusting these two.
"...I'm sorry. Tohsaka, Luvia."
"What are you talking about? It's not a big deal."
"That's right. After all, you saved our lives."
That's not it. That's not the point. I felt guilty for lying to my friends without trusting them, just trying to ease my own conscience a bit. I kept apologizing to the two in my heart.
Fully aware that it was nothing more than self-satisfaction...
Then, I turned my face towards Illya, who was unconscious next to me. Illya, no matter what, I'm on your side. Because I'm your big brother, even if you hold an unknown power.
That was the final thought I had.
___________________________________________________
Illya's awakening. It was a dream-like summoning using Lancer's card.
The reason why I used Throwing Gáe Bolg is that there was a possibility that a regular Gáe Bolg wouldn't be able to match Saber's attack in time. If Excalibur was unleashed first, it would have resulted in a certain defeat.
Now, let's discuss why Throwing Gáe Bolg was able to compete with Excalibur. It's because Throwing Gáe Bolg has a rank of B+ while Illya's magical power enhances it. Additionally, due to Saber darkened state, Excalibur rank is reduced by one. Furthermore, Saber is unable to fully utilize her magical power due to the shoulder injury, which further decreases her rank. Therefore, when expressed in terms of ranks, both Excalibur and Throwing Gáe Bolg are ranked as A. In the end, by adding even more magical power, Throwing Gáe Bolg reaches A+. That's why we were able to win.
That concludes the explanation for this time.