Only now did Astolfo and the homunculus beside him finally realize just how incredible Shirou Emiya's actions on the battlefield had truly been.
After all, even Astolfo himself had previously only considered the homunculus who possessed a sense of self-preservation as truly human, and had thus chosen to rescue only him.
For those doll-like homunculi, he held little emotional attachment. Like the other Servants of the Black Faction, while not exactly treating them as disposable tools, he certainly hadn't seen them as genuine human beings.
Only Shirou Emiya had consistently treated them as individuals, regardless of their expressions or behavior. Never once had he looked upon these homunculi differently from how he'd treat ordinary people.
Saving lives had always been an act of noble sanctity. Even Jeanne herself could not be sure if, placed on such a mythical battlefield, she would've done as Shirou had—going to such lengths to rescue the homunculi.
Moreover, as soldiers belonging to the Black Faction, even if Jeanne had desired to save them, she couldn't intervene directly. As the Ruler of this Holy Grail War, it was her duty above all else to uphold fairness and impartiality.
Unless it involved a critical violation or threat to the principles of the war, Jeanne would always prioritize the integrity of the Holy Grail War over her personal judgment.
Those homunculi held deep respect for Shirou Emiya.
He hadn't just saved their lives; he'd shown them clearly how valuable their existence was.
They were neither expendable nor replaceable. Each of them was unique in this world—if they died, no duplicate would ever replace them.
"Emiya-san, please allow us to help you."
The homunculus with one badly damaged leg struggled forward toward Shirou. Seeing this, the homunculus beside Astolfo immediately stepped forward to support him.
Shirou didn't simply stand still and wait, either. Limping slightly, he moved forward to meet him halfway.
The homunculus firmly grasped Shirou Emiya's hand, and Shirou immediately felt a surge of powerful mana flow into his body.
The agony of his mana being peeled away vanished instantly. Although his physical weakness remained, Shirou knew he would quickly recover, now free from the debilitating drain of mana loss.
"Thank you…"
Shirou quickly understood. These homunculi had once again established a mana-supply contract with him. However, this time, instead of directly supplying mana to Arthur, the homunculi fed their mana into Shirou first, with him serving as a conduit.
The homunculi who provided mana to the Servants were separate from those who directly participated in battle. Those mana-providing homunculi, like the one who stood beside Astolfo, remained in vats filled with nutrient fluids deep beneath the Yggdmillennia castle, continuously channeling mana to the Servants.
Those homunculi, specifically designed by Darnic, possessed extraordinarily high-quality and numerous Magic Circuits. Darnic had meticulously prepared for the war, making certain Servants had an ample, near-limitless mana supply. The entire underground chamber housed over a hundred homunculi, ensuring that Servants rarely ever worried about mana depletion.
Meanwhile, the combat-oriented homunculi utilized their own mana but could also provide mana to other Masters or Servants if necessary. After all, they possessed the knowledge required for mana transfers, effortlessly renewing the contract previously established on Shirou Emiya.
Since Shirou Emiya wasn't part of the Yggdmillennia family, his mana-supply contract differed significantly from the others'. His was broader and simpler. The Yggdmillennia family had heavily encrypted their mana-supply contracts, rendering them virtually unbreakable by outsiders. In contrast, Shirou's contract had been modified by Caster for easier control. The supply could be terminated instantly at the provider's discretion, leaving Shirou without mana.
Likewise, due to Caster's modifications, even if the primary contract was severed, Shirou still retained a one-sided mana connection. In theory, as long as someone initiated contact from the supplying end, any magus could channel mana to Shirou.
In other words, aside from homunculi, even other Black Masters—or Jeanne herself—could directly supply Shirou Emiya with mana. All it took was a unilateral link to his existing contract.
However, on this battlefield, there was still one place that had yet to fall quiet.
From deep within a distant forest, a pillar of dazzling red light surged upwards, piercing the heavens, radiating intense pressure across the battlefield.
Although its oppressive aura couldn't rival the power unleashed earlier by Karna or the [Hanging Gardens], as an anti-fortress Noble Phantasm, no ordinary person could fail to sense its terrifying destructive force.
Facing this pillar of crimson brilliance was another beam—a brilliant shaft of pure golden light.
Instantly, Shirou felt an enormous drain on his newly replenished mana.
The Holy Grail War wasn't over yet.
"Rider! Let me borrow your Noble Phantasm!"
Without hesitation, Shirou Emiya leapt onto Astolfo's mount.
Clutching his head tightly, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, Shirou forcibly projected a familiar lance into his grip.
Astolfo's mount seemed to recognize the familiar presence. As Shirou pointed forward, the mount immediately surged ahead, speeding toward the origin of the clashing beams of light.
"Hey! That's my Hippogriff!"
Astolfo stared after his stolen mount in utter disbelief, unable to comprehend how easily it had accepted Shirou without even a hint of resistance.
Turning his head, Astolfo realized that Jeanne had also disappeared without a trace.
The battle here was finished. Jeanne, though burdened with unanswered questions, knew her immediate duty was clear: to reach the ongoing battle at once.
Having missed too many battles already, she was compelled now to fulfill her responsibilities and reach Arthur's battleground without further delay.
Jeanne sprinted forward at incredible speed, her agility and swiftness fully deserving of the nickname "Runner," easily catching up to Shirou Emiya, who awkwardly struggled to control the unfamiliar mount.
Although Shirou had read Astolfo's experiences and knew how to ride, his lack of practical experience made him incapable of matching Astolfo's skill.
---
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Okay, real talk: I am extremely hungry for money, so I'm raising membership prices soon.
BUT.
If you're already subscribed before the change, your current price stays the same as long as you remain subscribed.
So for example:
Person A is already subscribed at $7/month
Price later goes up to $14/month
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Person B was not subscribed before the change
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