BOOM—!
Thunder rumbled violently, reverberating through the corridors like the roaring winds of a valley. The entire space quaked beneath its deafening fury.
This was Emiya's final technique—his last, desperate hope of survival.
His legs were already numb from pushing them beyond their limits, the wounds on his thighs festering with each stride as the wind lashed mercilessly against them.
Blood streamed freely down his face, nearly obscuring his one remaining eye.
Not to mention the countless injuries covering his body, and the arm severed at his shoulder that spurted blood relentlessly.
The weakness of extreme blood loss invaded Emiya's body and mind, leaving his complexion ghostly pale, devoid of any healthy color.
He felt sleep tugging at his consciousness, yet the excruciating sensation—like a thousand ants gnawing at his flesh—kept sleep painfully out of reach.
But now was definitely not the time to surrender to exhaustion.
No matter how desperately his body craved rest, Emiya refused to let himself collapse.
Where is she?
Perhaps Nakime believed Kokushibō could easily finish Emiya, or perhaps she considered herself an obstacle in their battle. Whatever the reason, after setting the stage, she'd swiftly vanished through one of her space-shifting windows.
More crucial than continuing a hopeless battle against Kokushibō was eliminating Nakime—or finding a path out.
Regardless of whether Emiya could defeat Kokushibō, Nakime remained the real key to escaping this prison.
If he failed to remove her quickly, another powerful demon would surely appear, and Emiya would be utterly helpless.
He was clearly no match for Kokushibō now.
As Emiya moved at blistering speed, he desperately searched for Nakime, relying on his exceptional dynamic vision.
Within moments, he finally spotted her familiar silhouette.
Nakime knelt on the floor, calmly strumming her biwa.
Gripping his golden Nichirin Blade tightly in his remaining left hand, Emiya lunged fiercely toward Nakime's neck.
She appeared completely unaware of Emiya's swift approach.
Yet—
"I must admit, aside from strength, you've already attained the qualities of a true warrior."
A voice laden with overwhelming pressure resonated beside Emiya. A sinister katana, its blade decorated with countless eyes, once again intercepted his path.
Compared to Emiya's frantic sprinting, Nakime could simply teleport Kokushibō directly to her side.
Anyone could deduce Emiya's ultimate goal: Killing Nakime.
Running wildly within the Infinity Castle had no benefit beyond exhausting himself, inevitably leading to his doom. Killing Nakime would allow Emiya to escape this nightmare, greatly increasing his chance of survival—day or night, outside was safer than here.
"[Moon Breathing—Sixth Form: Perpetual Night, Lonely Moon - Incessant]!"
Shkk—! Shkk—! Shkk—!
A series of swift, intersecting slashes unleashed countless crescent blades through the air, mercilessly piercing Emiya's body as he hovered mid-attack.
Emiya, nearly drained of blood, couldn't respond effectively to this devastating storm of slashes.
His body had no more fresh blood left to spill, only thick streams oozing slowly from his countless wounds. During his rapid movements, Emiya had already been soaked head-to-toe in his own blood, leaving no part of him unstained.
BAM—!
The force of the strikes launched Emiya backward like a thrown weight, violently slamming him against the wooden floor.
"It's over."
Kokushibō calmly sheathed his blade, declaring Emiya's fate sealed as he turned to leave.
He had no interest in devouring a warrior like Emiya—Nakime would gladly claim that honor.
"Cough…!"
Just as Kokushibō started walking away, a faint, hoarse cough halted his steps in shock.
He turned, stunned, to see Emiya slowly staggering back to his feet, using his Nichirin Blade as a crutch to barely hold himself upright.
Emiya had no blood left even for coughing; his mouth and teeth were stained red, coated in dried blood.
"What astonishing tenacity and resolve," Kokushibō praised openly. Even when he'd been human, he doubted he could retain consciousness under similar circumstances.
Only extraordinary willpower allowed Emiya to keep standing now.
Yet Kokushibō knew it was merely the last flare of a dying candle.
"GRAAAAAHHH—!"
Roaring like a beast, Emiya charged again, gripping a now colorless Nichirin Blade as he threw himself recklessly at Kokushibō.
"So be it," Kokushibō sighed. "I shall grant you a warrior's death."
As his words faded, Kokushibō shot forward, his speed far surpassing Emiya's, vanishing instantly.
CLANG—!
Their blades collided with deafening force, hurling Emiya brutally into a wall, splintering it to pieces.
BANG!
With a powerful kick against the floor, Emiya launched himself skyward like a rocket, aiming straight at Kokushibō once more.
"AAAAARRRGH—!"
Screaming defiantly, Emiya's figure blurred again, his blade flashing with fierce silver brilliance.
This was Emiya's last breath—regardless of Kokushibō's actions, death would soon claim him.
With death so near, has even his judgment become simplistic?
No strategy, no deception—Emiya charged forward like a silver spear, aiming directly at Kokushibō's position.
"If only you had become a demon," Kokushibō sneered inwardly. "You would no longer be so foolishly constrained."
In his eyes, human frailty rendered Emiya's actions futile, revealing nothing but endless vulnerabilities.
"[Moon Breathing—Second Form: Pearl Flower Moongazing]!"
Kokushibō pivoted rapidly, slashing twice, unleashing countless crescent moon blades slicing straight toward Emiya.
A faint chuckle escaped Emiya's lips.
"—!"
Only now did Kokushibō realize Emiya's target had never changed.
A fresh slash cut across Emiya's remaining eye, plunging him into total darkness.
Yet his true goal had already been achieved.
Golden lightning flickered briefly over Emiya as he slipped through Kokushibō's defensive web, appearing instantly before Nakime.
"[Sword Breathing—Final Form: Dance of the Hundred Styles]!"
At Emiya's command, four blades appeared around Nakime, each unleashing a different elemental fury.
Blazing flames, gentle water, furious lightning, and slicing winds—
Together with Emiya's own blade, these five Nichirin Blades sealed Nakime's position utterly. She realized immediately that even her fastest teleportation would be too late; her neck would be severed in an instant.
Resistance was impossible.
This was the culmination of Emiya's [Projection Magecraft] combined with breathing techniques—a new technique he'd developed by wielding breathing forms through his projected weapons, even without physical touch.
Breathing techniques relied primarily on breathing rhythms rather than complicated, specialized skills. As such, Emiya's magecraft could execute these moves by combining his breathing styles and projected blades.
Indeed, the Demon Slayer Corps had previously demonstrated that Nichirin Blades could maintain breathing techniques even when thrown.
With this last act, Emiya's magical energy had been fully exhausted.
This strike was Emiya's ultimate, decisive attack—his final blow.
And also the last thing Emiya could possibly achieve.