Daito stood still, blood dripping steadily from the wound on his shoulder. His eyes, however, didn't reflect pain. Instead, they were sharp and calculating as they studied the trio before him.
"That ice guy is strong," he muttered under his breath. "The girl's mana disruption is annoying... but this one—" his gaze narrowed on Shirou, "—he's the most dangerous. Not because of raw strength... but instinct. His positioning, his timing... he's always right where he needs to be. I'll need to take at least one of them down soon."
Without hesitation, one of his tendrils shot toward Amelia.
"She's the weakest in close combat," he thought. "They'll try to protect her. That's when I'll strike."
But to his surprise, no wall of fire or ice came to defend her.
His eyes flicked to the sides—and that's when he saw them. Both Shirou and Elliot were charging straight toward him.
"They're not even looking at her?!"
"Ashbringer – Inferno Surge!"
A swirling vortex of flame erupted from Shirou's blade, roaring across the floor. Daito leapt back instinctively, dodging the flames—but before he could land, Elliot's voice rang out.
"Ice Release – Ice Spike!"
Dozens of sharp ice spears burst from the ground and launched toward Daito, midair and vulnerable. Daito's tendrils snapped forward to shield him, destroying most of the spikes—but just then, a soft hum echoed in the air.
"Hollow Pulse!"
The invisible wave hit one of Daito's tendrils, disrupting its flow of mana. One of the remaining ice spikes slipped through, grazing Daito's abdomen and drawing blood. His instincts screamed.
He twisted around—too late.
Shirou had already appeared behind him, his blade blazing.
"Ashbringer – Flame Edge!"
The sword came down fast, but Daito's severed tendrils coiled up and blocked the strike mid-air. It wrapped around Ashbringer, locking it in place.
But Shirou didn't even flinch. He let go of the sword. A burst of white sparks surged from his left hand—Inferno Fang had already formed. He struck. The blade pierced into Daito's chest—but not deep enough to hit the heart.
With a snarl, Daito lashed out. His tendril slammed into Shirou, sending him crashing into the wall. The Ashbringer shimmered and vanished in a spray of red sparks.
"His defence is thick. Inferno Fang isn't enough. Only Ashbringer can pierce him... but I can't hold onto it for long," Shirou thought.
While Daito clutched his chest, Elliot appeared behind him, his palm glowing.
"Ice Release – Freezing Spear!"
The freezing spear shot toward Daito, but a tendril intercepted it.
"Hollow Pulse!"
Amelia's wave came fast, but Daito reacted even faster. Two of his other tendrils crossed to block it, keeping the disruption away.
"Damn it," Elliot cursed. "He blocked even that?"
Daito didn't let up. One of his tendrils whipped forward and pierced through Elliot's side, lifting him off the ground and slamming him back down.
"Elliot!" Shirou shouted.
"Inferno Surge!"
Flames roared between them, forcing Daito to retract his tendrils.
"He's adapting too quickly..." Shirou thought, panting. "If this keeps up, we'll lose."
That's when Daito did something different. He didn't use his tendrils. He ran. Straight toward Amelia.
Shirou reacted immediately. "Ashbringer – Phoenix Burst!"
A sweeping wave of flame erupted in front of Amelia, cutting Daito's path. The flames obscured his vision and slowed him down just enough.
Shirou glanced at Elliot. They nodded.
"Earth Release – Earth Wall!"
Multiple walls surged from the ground around Daito, boxing him in. Lightning surged through Shirou's legs. He dashed through the gaps.
Daito's tendacles spun and destroyed all the walls in an instant.
The moment the dust settled, Shirou leapt into the air. Daito turned, tendrils coiling in defence.
"Charging again?" he scoffed.
But Shirou wasn't aiming at him.
"Ashbringer – Crimson Arc!"
From the air, he slashed down—not at Daito, but at the device draining the magical beast behind him.
A blazing crescent of flame slammed into the device.
Crack! The outer shell split. Sparks flew.
"No!" Daito screamed.
That moment of panic cost him.
"Ice Release – Ice Fang!"
A sharp icicle shot like lightning from Elliot's hand, piercing Daito's side. Blood burst out as Daito stumbled back, wounded and furious.
"Y-You pests...!"
"Amelia! Now!" Shirou shouted.
She nodded. Shirou gripped the Ashbringer, its blade igniting once more.
"Ashbringer – Flame Edge!" He tossed the flaming blade. It spun through the air like a fiery arrow.
Daito raised his tendrils to block, but then—"Hollow Pulse!"
The wave hit just as the sword neared. The tendrils lost focus, and the blade pierced through one of them.
Daito raised his arms at the last second—but spikes made of ice formed beneath him. He lost his balance. The Ashbringer flew inches past his raised hands—and struck.
Straight into his chest.
Daito's body jerked as the blade sank in. But at the last second, one of his tendrils smacked the hilt, deflecting the angle. It missed his heart. He staggered, gritting his teeth.
"You'll have to do better than that"
Shirou smirked. "I know."
Daito froze. And then—Shhhk! A massive ice spear pierced clean through his back—and out through his chest.
His eyes widened in shock. He looked down at the ice now lodged in his heart. A heartbeat later, his body collapsed.
He hit the ground hard, unmoving.
Elliot stepped forward, wiping blood from his mouth. "We actually… did it."
"I can't believe it," Amelia said, her voice trembling. "We really… took down one of the Crimson Eclipse."
Shirou sheathed his blade, but something didn't feel right.
Then—"Elliot! Behind you!" he screamed.
Elliot spun—too late.
Shhk! Shhk! Shhk! Five tendrils burst from the floor, piercing through his back and lifting him into the air.
"No!" Amelia screamed.
"Elliot!!" Shirou's eyes widened in horror.
The tendrils twisted and ripped him apart. Elliot's body, shredded into pieces, fell to the ground in a wet heap.
Shirou froze. Amelia dropped to her knees, shaking.
Daito stepped into view, fully healed, not a single trace of blood on him. The wound in his chest? Gone. The tendril Shirou had cut earlier? Regrown.
"You didn't know, did you?" he said calmly. "I'm immortal."