25 Side Chapter 2 - Shirou's Ideal

Berserker and Archer were fighting against each other so during this moment Berserker gave us, I, Rin, and Saber went inside the church to fight Caster.

"I graciously spared your life. Have you come to throw it away, little girl?" (Caster)

"I didn't come to throw something away, but to take back what's mine. Beating you, someone I really can't stand, in the process." (Rin)

"I offer my compliments on winning over Berserker to your side, but you guys can't still win against us." (Caster)

"That's why I prepared as carefully as I could to win. Saber!" (Rin)

In our last fight, Caster managed to stab me, breaking my Master-Servant relationship with Saber. Luckily, Rin became Saber's new master before Caster could, giving Saber enough magic for her Noble Phantasm to work.

Saber then charged at Caster while I and Rin fought against Souichiro-sensei.

"Sensei! Why are you doing this?" (Shirou)

"... I want to fulfill her dream. So I've got to win to help her out." (Souichiro)

I summoned Kanshou and Bakuya replicas to fight against him, but he easily destroyed it. He was about to land a punch on my ribs, but Rin sent a Jewel to make him retreat.

"Damn... he's tough." (Shirou)

"Shirou! Try your best to survive. I'm trying to support you and Saber!" (Rin)

It was up to me to fight against sensei, an experienced fighter who could defeat Saber, single-handedly.

'I need a weapon that can defeat him.' (Shirou)

Amidst thoughts, I was wondering how Archer could beat him.

'I need to copy it better!' (Shirou)

"Trace On!" (Shirou)

I summoned Kanshou and Bakuya, but instead of glowing and fading like my previous attempts, this time, the swords seemed more real.

Sensei then charged at me, punching his fist, but I kept on thinking about how Archer would defeat.

'I need to think more! If it was him, how would he defeat him!' (Shirou)

Shirou was slowing developing his Eye of Mind and dodge Souichiro's fist, surprising him.

"You avoided it..." (Souichiro)

"Take this!" (Shirou)

I threw on of my blades at him, missing him completely. Souichiro, disappointed, just sighed and charged at me.

'I got you!' (Shirou)

I slashed at his arm while Souichiro targeted my chest. With Souichiro's experience, he dodge Shirou's sword easily and punched really hard. Shirou gasped for air, but he threw his sword last second. Then, Shirou charged at Souichiro and hugged him, leaving him immune.

"Nice tactics kid." (Souichiro)

He then grabbed Shirou in a choke-hold, but Shirou persisted.

"NOT YET!" (Shirou)

Shirou kicked his legs at Souichiro's feet and removed Souichiro's hand off him.

"I got you!" (Shirou)

The blades he threw finally came back and went through Souichiro's stomach.

"Ugh..." (Souichiro)

"Master!" (Caster)

"Don't look away witch!" (Rin)

"EXCALIBUR!" (Saber)

"AHH!" (Caster)

Shirou walked up to Souichiro and punched him on his face. Then, Archer appeared and slashed off sensei's head off.

"Archer! Why did you kill him!" (Shirou)

"I told you, didn't I. I only use the means that give me the highest chance of victory." (Archer)

"So betraying us and betraying them back was your plan?!" (Shirou)

"Precisely." (Archer)

Archer then joined with Saber to end Caster. Caster, bleeding, crawled to Souichiro and died hugging him.

"I don't like this victory." (Saber)

"Why? Is it too much?" (Archer)

"ARCHER! Why did you do this?" (Rin)

"To fulfill my goal all along, kill Emiya Shirou." (Archer)

"Why?" (Shirou)

*Rant about Archer's past and about he wants to be free*

"I'll regret choosing this path, but it's the correct one!" (Shirou)

"It doesn't matter if you have the guts to do it, you don't qualify enough!" (Archer)

With Saber in the arena, Archer couldn't do much, so he got out a broken noble phantasm and his bow and charged it at Shirou.

"Defend this, Saber." (Archer)

"Shirou!" (Saber)

Shirou was stuck. What could he do to fight against him? His own future self?

"If you want to be a hero of justice... you must reach the very end... and copying something has its limits... Temper it with creativity, make it yours, become yourself..." (Zhong Yuan)

Berserker's voice was heard inside my head. To reach the very end, I must become like him or become something completely better than him.

"Rho Aias! Emotion Burst!" (Shirou)

I copied the techniques I had accessed to before. Using Archer's most powerful shield and Berserker's attacks, I managed to create a shield of seven petals, with each containing my will of being a hero of justice.

*boom*

I survived the attack barely and Archer reloaded another arrow. However, Saber arrived at my side to protect me.

"I guess I have no choice..." (Archer)

Another arrow came, but Saber defended against it with her Barrier of the Wind King, launching the arrow away from everyone. It exploded, covering the room with dust, but Archer and Rin was gone.