"...How could this be? Impossible."
Although the skin color and hair color had changed, Darnic would never mistake that face.
The boy shrugged and said with a relaxed attitude:
"To you, this is an ordinary and mundane line, Darnic. Since you're still alive, then it shouldn't be surprising that I'm alive as well—though this 'alive' might be a bit different from what you think."
"No, impossible! This can't be! Why? Why are you here?!"
"Of course, I have participated in this Holy Grail War as the Master of the Red Faction. So, the unfinished business from last time can be settled now!"
As he spoke, Shirou's body flickered and appeared ghost-like in front of Darnic.
Sensing danger, Darnic was just about to dodge when a Black Key had already pierced his heart. Consuming others' souls could only prolong his life but could not strengthen his body.
"It ends here."
"Yes, you're right. My life ends here, but—"
Drawing unknown strength from somewhere, the dying magus pushed the him away and walked towards the vampire.
"—My dream, my wish, will not end here."
"What are you trying to do?"
Ignoring Shirou's question, Darnic forcefully slashed his vein and offered his blood-soaked wrist to the vampire's mouth.
"I told you, Duke, I will atone for my death. Now is my atonement—drink my blood."
Under the temptation of blood, the vampire bit into Darnic's wrist and drank ravenously.
In the blink of an eye, Darnic's body shriveled to half its size, but his face showed no pain, and his voice grew louder.
"With my blood, my soul, my magic, and everything I have as sustenance, fulfill our wish, King of the Night!"
A Servant can devour a human soul and convert it into magic power, and a vampire can absorb human blood to restore its body. The two Command Seals ensured the vampire could exist even without a Master.
Darnic, on the brink of death, offered everything he had, entrusting all to his Servant, for the wish he had pursued for eighty years.
With his life, blood, and soul entirely consumed, he couldn't even become a ghoul. Thus, the only beneficiary of the Third Holy Grail War perished.
His sacrifice was not in vain. The power of his very existence allowed the vampire's recovery speed to surpass the purifying speed of the sun.
With a roar filled with sorrow and anger, the vampire pulled out the katana lodged in its body and broke it forcefully.
Without a host, the magic infused by Shakespeare lost its effect, and the sun and flames dissipated.
"Darnic, your wish, your last request, I have received it. I promise you, I will fulfill your wish. Rest in peace."
With the sun no longer suppressing him and having replenished his blood, the vampire regained the dignity of the King of the Night.
The cloak, used to shield the sunlight, expanded, and a swarm of bats flew out from it.
Shirou, with a flick of his wrist, gripped six Black Keys in each hand, but the bats' target was not him. Instead, they aimed at the Servants standing outside the door behind him.
The vampire, having calmed down, knew he was no match for Shirou and realized his true objective—to offer enough Heroic Spirits to activate the Greater Grail.
So, he set his sights on the Servants who had come with Darnic.
As long as he could take a bite and ingest even a little blood, they would become his thralls. Whether they fought or received commands to commit suicide, it would all be up to him.
Achilles was the first target, not only because he was an enemy Red Faction Servant but also because he was currently in a very poor state. Though the reason was unknown, the vampire wouldn't miss such an opportunity.
Achilles did not expect the vampire to target them. Due to the rapid series of events, he was slow to react. By the time he realized the danger, the bats had already formed the vampire's hand, gripping his throat.
"Rider!"
Karna and Atalanta, standing nearby, changed their expressions and were about to rush to his aid. However, in a flash, the arm holding Achilles was cut off at the wrist.
When they looked closely, they saw Shirou holding a katana, his face full of amusement.
"Your blade—"
"Fool, just because Darnic can use a Command Seal, doesn't mean I can't."
Shirou explained calmly. The blade gleamed with the same red light that signified a miracle, and the previous breakage was barely noticeable.
"Ugh!"
The vampire clutched his wound, and a cloud of black mist burst from his severed wrist, blinding Shirou as it rushed towards Atalanta, who was closest.
But his attack was interrupted again, by Shirou, who severed his wrist with a single slash.
"What's going on?"
The vampire's mood, which had just stabilized, was thrown into disarray once more. Although his enemy's movements were slower than his own, why did they always manage to strike first?
The other Servants were equally baffled. Shirou's method of movement was beyond their understanding. Could it be some kind of magic?
"It's the pinnacle of footwork—'Reduced Earth'."
Only the wise sage Chiron saw through the mystery.
Indeed, Shirou wasn't using any ordinary footwork but the superior technique of Reduced Earth.
This is a skill that allows one to instantly close the distance between themselves and their opponent. It's the ultimate form of footwork pursued in many martial arts. It's not merely about agility; it's a technique that combines footwork, body movement, breathing, and blind spots into a seamless whole. Though it doesn't work for long-distance travel, even Achilles and Atalanta, known for their swift feet, might not gain the upper hand in close quarters—because, in the end, all paths converge.
Only by mastering such a technique could one ensure the accuracy of the Lightless, Three-Stage Thrust. Otherwise, no matter how strong the swordsmanship, it wouldn't reach its full potential.
"This is the end—Caster!"
"Understood."
At Shirou's call, Shakespeare spread his arms and cast an enchantment for his Master once more.
"Let the light of the sun illuminate the stage, and let the blazing flames bring down the curtain."
Shirou assumed a stance once more, but this time, he performed a brand new move instead of the Lightless, Three-Stage Thrust.
"Cutting through ignorance, the luminous blade—Dawn!"
After the night, dawn breaks.
This slash, true to its name, had the heart of the blazing sun and the edge of karmic flames, reducing the vampire who ruled the night to ashes.