"Wait, wait! Joan, are you really not going to consider the salvation of all humanity?!"
Watching Joan of Arc enter battle mode, Gilles quickly chased after her, asking urgently.
But at this moment, after Shirou Emiya's words, Joan of Arc had awoken from her confusion.
"Gilles, we are the dead. For the dead to guide the living,
and to speak of the salvation of humanity, there's a limit to such arrogance. Let it go, Gilles!"
"With us as the foundation, albeit slowly, step by step, people are still moving forward. We should be content with that."
Gently patting Gilles' shoulder, Joan of Arc earnestly persuaded him.
The Black Magician Gilles was a hero who had fallen due to his hatred of God's betrayal.
But even he still harbored a yearning for a dream like the salvation of humanity.
For Joan of Arc, this was still a very gratifying thing.
"But! If that's the case, the souls I ruined after my fall will not find solace! As you know, I killed them!
Tormented them, tormented them, tormented them
repeatedly! If I don't save humanity, I can't atone for my sins!"
Hearing Gilles' cry, Joan of Arc stepped forward, grabbing his chest and glaring fiercely at him.
This expression instantly froze Gilles.
So beautiful, he thought to himself.
The girl glaring at him with anger was so beautiful it sent shivers down his spine.
At the same time, he realized his mistake.
For Joan of Arc, whether she was in purgatory, hell, or heaven, she probably wouldn't change at all.
As if she had no time to be troubled, she always rushed around, dedicating her life to certain causes.
Tugging at Gilles' collar, Joan of Arc shouted loudly: "Don't pin your hope of atonement on the salvation of humanity, Gilles!"
"Your sin is your own. Even if you can't atone for it, that despair is still only yours. Are you going to push the atonement for your evil deeds onto others?!"
"You and I are both sinners. We have no way to atone to those who became sacrifices! We can only forever bear this suffering and despair; there's no going back."
"But even if it's insignificant, we can still lend a shoulder to the fallen living. That is a Heroic Spirit; that is the most we can do."
Joan of Arc could understand Gilles' impatient feelings.
Because only those sung about in legends are recognized as Heroic Spirits, and thus the Servants summoned to the present world are beings who, in all aspects, surpass the
human average.
However, even so, they shouldn't entertain the idea of guiding humanity as a whole.
Because this was a punishment for Joan of Arc, and also a punishment for Gilles de Rais.
Gilles shed tears of pain, kneeling on the ground, tightly gripping Joan of Arc's hand, begging:
"Can I not be forgiven?"
Joan of Arc replied:
"God will surely forgive everything, but the children you killed will surely not forgive you. This sin, this guilt, is a punishment that must be borne forever. It's alright, I will
lend you my shoulder."
The day when sin would be erased would never come.
Despite hating themselves as sinners, yet still saving the world as Heroic Spirits that was the punishment given to them, and also their salvation.
________________________________________
"It seems our ideas cannot reach a consensus!"
Shirou Amakusa Tokisada slowly spoke, looking at Joan
of Arc, whose will was as strong as iron.
"Indeed!"
Stepping forward, Shirou Emiya walked to the front of everyone and answered seriously.
Previously, the conversation between Shirou Emiya and Shirou Amakusa Tokisada, besides reawakening Joan of Arc's fighting spirit, was more about stalling for time.
After all, having consecutively defeated two extraordinary Heroic Spirits, even Shirou Emiya had paid a heavy price. His current combat power was meager.
But Shirou Emiya's recovery ability was fast. Given enough time, he could quickly return to his peak.
Unfortunately, what he lacked now was time.
That's why he engaged in conversation with Shirou Amakusa Tokisada, to buy himself time to recover.
Furthermore, Shirou Amakusa Tokisada, having obtained the Greater Grail's magical energy, had reached his strongest combat power. Although still not as powerful as a peak Karna or Achilles, he was still a first-rate Servant.
But even so, the situation was still in Shirou Emiya's
hands.
After all, in terms of Servant numbers, the Black Faction, with Shirou Emiya, Joan of Arc, Atalanta, and Frankenstein, definitely had the advantage.
"Shirou Amakusa Tokisada will be dealt with by me. Joan
of Arc and Frankenstein will take on the Empress.
Atalanta will provide support from the rear, and take out Shakespeare while she's at it!"
"Yes!"
"No, no! I don't want to be defeated yet!"
Hearing Shirou Emiya's command, Shirou Amakusa Tokisada's face showed no emotion.
After all, this was the obstacle he needed to overcome to save humanity.
But Shakespeare, on the other hand, was full of panic.
Fight Atalanta? He would definitely die!
"I apologize, Master, please allow me to withdraw early!"
Saying that, Shakespeare kept retreating, trying to find
an opportunity to slip away.
"By the power of a Command Spell, Caster Shakespeare,
fight to the very last moment!"
"No, no, no! This isn't fighting to the last moment, this is dying first!"
Feeling the restraining power of the Command Spell
throughout his body, Shakespeare wailed loudly.
And amidst this wailing, the final battle began.
"Ugh, ahhhhhh!"
"Ugh, ahhhhhh!"
Gripping his sword tightly, Shirou Emiya swiftly charged towards Shirou Amakusa Tokisada.
At the same time, Shirou Amakusa Tokisada, charging towards Shirou Emiya, also raised his sword.
"Clang!"
Containing their own wills, their swords collided.
________________________________________
"Master!"
Semiramis quickly called out, looking at Shirou Amakusa Tokisada, who was facing Shirou Emiya.
As a supreme powerhouse who had consecutively defeated Karna and Achilles, Semiramis naturally knew Shirou Emiya's strength.
Therefore, Semiramis's eyes were filled with worry as Shirou Amakusa Tokisada faced Shirou Emiya.
"Your opponent is me, Semiramis!"
Waving her flag, Joan of Arc unleashed a series of fatal thrusts.
At this moment, Joan of Arc's face was devoid of confusion. She clearly understood that this was not a Holy Grail War of Red versus Black, but a battle to save all humanity.
If Shirou Amakusa Tokisada achieved final victory, then humanity in this world would have no future.
Everything would head towards destruction.
"Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!"
Frankenstein, who also attacked, nodded similarly.
"You scoundrels!"
Facing the attacks of Joan of Arc and Frankenstein, Semiramis waved her hand, unleashing numerous magical cannon blasts.
Then, several chains struck towards the two of them.
And at this moment, dozens of arrows consecutively shot towards Semiramis.
"Atalanta, you traitor!"
Erecting a magical energy shield in front of herself to
block Atalanta's attack, Semiramis cursed loudly.
"I have never pledged allegiance to you!"
Saying that, Atalanta swiftly fired several arrows, aiming directly at Semiramis.
And so, the final battle began!
________________________________________