Enduring the pain, Shirou turned his body and swung his sword again.
This time, Shinji saw it. Shirou was holding only one sword, but at the moment the sword fell, there were indeed three swords slashing at him from different directions. He only managed to block the first sword aimed at his head with his shield.
Unsurprisingly, two more wounds appeared, and blood gushed out.
These two wounds precisely severed the tendons in Shinji's legs, causing him to collapse to the ground, unable to stand.
"First, the first strike."
Shirou, seemingly confident in his swordsmanship, turned his back to Shinji after the second slash, presenting a calm silhouette.
"Wait!"
Shinji struggled to prop himself up with his hands. "How do you know Tsubame Gaeshi?"
"I know much more than that—earlier, I gave you a chance to leave; now it's too late!"
Shirou grasped the sword with both hands, assuming a thrust position, the tip of the sword aimed directly at the vampire who had quietly slid to the door.
That's right, the vampire was trying to escape.
By now, even a fool could see that this young priest named Shirou was a formidable opponent. The vampire's various proud abilities were completely restrained by him, leaving no chance of victory.
Having abandoned his human form and using his second Noble Phantasm, the black Berserker had long discarded the pride and honor of the Romanian duke. His only goal now was to survive and win, so his actions were understandable.
Upon being discovered by Shirou, the vampire quickened his escape, his agility at level A pushed to its utmost limit.
However—
"You can't escape."
With Shirou's declaration, a piercing sonic boom filled the air, a testament to the sword's speed breaking the sound barrier, and reaching supersonic velocity.
"First step, swifter than sound... Second step, infinite suffering... Third step, the absolute sword!!"
Just as the vampire's hands touched the door handle, Shirou's body appeared behind him.
"Mumyou, Sandanzuki: Lightless, Three-Stage Thrust!!!"
As he uttered the word "thrust," the katana pierced the vampire's back, driving into the hilt, causing the vampire to spray a mouthful of black mist onto the door.
Shinji was utterly dumbfounded.
What did I just see? What did I just hear?
Lightless, Three-Stage Thrust?
Could it be that I've been poisoned by Semiramis, and I'm hallucinating?
Shinji's doubt was reasonable; after all, the secret sword technique displayed by Amakusa Shirou was astonishing.
Lightless, Three-Stage Thrust:
A sword technique against humans and demons.
A rare genius swordsman, Okita Souji's ultimate demonic sword technique, created with unparalleled skill and speed.
As the name suggests, it's a continuous threefold thrust, starting with a standard Chūdan-no-kamae stance. However, it's not an ordinary triple thrust but a "first thrust" that encompasses both the "second thrust" and the "third thrust."
Notably, the threefold thrust is not "nearly simultaneous" but "completely simultaneous" horizontal thrusts. The three thrusts "exist simultaneously" at the "same position."
Even if the first thrust is blocked, the second and third thrusts, which are in the same position, will still pierce through. This paradox causes the sword tip to create a local "phenomenon saturation," leading to "phenomenal collapse." Thus, the threefold thrust becomes an essentially indefensible sword technique.
Because it is indefensible, even if a vampire had pre-generated enough stakes within their body, they could not block the thrusts.
Since it is a conceptual "phenomenal collapse," even if a vampire turns into mist, they would still be injured.
Just from the description, it is clear that this secret sword technique, like Tsubame Gaeshi, has reached the realm of magic and is worthy of being named a Noble Phantasm, a supreme sword technique.
One unavoidable Tsubame Gaeshi is already exaggerated enough, and now there is another indefensible Lightless, Three-Stage Thrust? How is anyone supposed to survive?
Could Amakusa Shirou be the chosen one of this world?
Could it be that my interference has caused a backlash from the Counter Force?
To master one such technique is to stand at the pinnacle of swordsmanship (katana). To master both, Shinji didn't even know how to describe it. Even his two mentors, who had greatly enlightened him, might not have reached such a level. Amakusa Shirou's abilities were beyond the realm of common sense.
Regardless of Shinji's thoughts or the vampire's unwillingness, nothing affected Shirou's actions.
Twisting his wrist, the blazing summer sunlight once again shone from the blade.
Since the sunlight emanated directly from within the body, its destructive power was even stronger, and the Hades Cloak, which Shinji had high hopes for, failed to provide its expected light-blocking effect.
"Aaaaahhhhhh—"
A scream, heard many times before, not worth describing again.
"How pitiful, I almost feel sorry for you. Let's end this quickly—"
"—Inferno, burn away all sins."
Under the blazing sunlight, flames erupted. The two natural forces most effective against vampires exploded simultaneously. Within the vampire's body, the shadows condensed from magical power melted away rapidly like snow in boiling water.
"It's over, Vampire Dracula."
"Is it really ending?"
The vampire's trademark red eyes gradually lost focus. Just as he was about to lose his last bit of clarity, the closed door suddenly swung open, accompanied by a voice.
"No, it's not over yet. There's still hope. Have you forgotten, Berserker, about my Command Seals?"
"Darnic..."
The unfocused gaze gathered again, centering on the man in white before him. He raised his arm, marked with crimson patterns.
"I command you with my second Command Seal, Black Berserker, you must survive."
"I command you with my third Command Seal, Black Berserker, you must obtain the Holy Grail and fulfill your wish!"
With all of Darnic's magical energy infused, the compulsion of the two Command Seals was pushed to its limit.
The crimson glow revived a miracle. The shadowy magic, like a candle flickering in the wind, suddenly came to life, beginning to repair the vampire's tattered body and engaging in a tug-of-war with the relentless sunlight.
"Such remarkable persistence, Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia, but it's useless. Your wish will not come true."
Shirou's head emerged from behind the vampire.
Seeing that youthful face, Darnic felt a chill run down his spine, making him shiver instinctively.
A certain memory gradually resurfaced in his mind. Despite the long years, despite consuming souls and losing himself to survive, this memory was one he would never forget—the Third Holy Grail War, where he, as a magus, fought for his life. It was the battle that marked the beginning of everything, a battle he could never forget.
"...No, it can't be!"
As the memory resurfaced, the persistence on Darnic's face turned into shock and even panic—a look that neither Shinji, the Black Faction's Servants, nor their Masters had ever seen before.