As the displacement magic was undone by Illya using Ruby, the castle began to revert to its original form—a barren rocky mountain.
"What an incredible scale of magic, swapping a rocky mountain with an entire castle. It's unbelievable."
Luvia, who had just arrived next to Bazett, couldn't help but exclaim in amazement as the surrounding rocks continued to rise abruptly.
"No, it might be more than just the castle..."
Kneeling to confirm that Bazett's injuries weren't fatal, Rin spoke up, then turned to look at Darius, who was exposed on the stone platform and being guarded by Angelica and Beatrice.
Having withdrawn from the battle, Red Archer, as a Servant, joined Rin, folding his arms and staring intently at Darius.
On the other side, Illya and the others had also regrouped, all eyes fixed on Darius, who seemed to be slowly melting on the stone platform.
"You... noticed it too?"
The hero asked Illya.
"Yes..."
Illya nodded slightly, her gaze still locked on Darius.
"Darius, Julian, and the Julian's father you mentioned—based on all the information we've gathered, this is the most plausible scenario!"
"Huh?" Shirou blinked his confused eyes, "What scenario?"
"I always thought Darius was similar to Ahad, but I was wrong. Darius is actually the ancestor of the Enzbern family! He has lived for over a thousand years, sustained by... displacement magic!"
As soon as Illya finished speaking, Darius's body, writhing in agony, finally collapsed, and a black shadow was released from the disintegrating form!
At the same time, Angelica quickly covered the released shadow with a cloth, standing protectively in front of it!
Although the appearance of the shadow lasted only a moment before Angelica covered it, Illya and the others caught a glimpse.
"Julian..."
The hero murmured. There was no mistaking it; that shadow was his classmate and "friend," Julian!
"Who the hell is Julian?"
Shirou, utterly confused, looked around for someone to explain, but in this critical moment, no one could spare the time.
Seeing Shirou's puzzled expression, Illya merely replied, "Just an enemy."
Illya wasn't stupid. If she revealed the whole truth and the Enzbern's objectives to Shirou now, who knows what decisions he might make or actions he might take.
So, the best course was to say nothing, work together to clear this stage, and then take Miyu and the hero to the other world.
As for this world, destined to end, it could be ignored since there was no way to save it anyway. This was the most perfect and reasonable conclusion... for Illya.
"I see. So, we just have to defeat them, right?"
Unaware of the full situation, Shirou believed Illya completely. He activated his projection, summoning Kanshou and Bakuya to his hands, his eyes fixed on the three figures on the stone platform.
"Hahaha... hahaha..."
Julian, now stable after separating from Darius's body, suddenly burst into wild laughter. This development was beyond his expectations.
"What a joke, laughing so much has worn me out. Not funny, not funny at all!"
Rising, Julian raised his right hand, and a black cube with a diameter of over ten meters began to manifest above him!
"Your words, will, emotions, they are just materials! It's useless. My myth will not be overturned by anyone!"
"What the hell is that..."
Shirou's pupils trembled as he stared at the massive black cube. Even he could sense that it was beyond human capability to handle.
"Shirou, that black object is dangerous!"
Saber, with her brows furrowed, gripped her sword tightly, her eyes fixed on the black cube above.
"So you can sense it too..."
Julian's voice in their ears caught everyone off guard. The two Shirous reacted first, turning and slashing without thinking!
But... they were already a step too late.
Using displacement magic, Julian's sneak attack succeeded, lightly injuring Illya's left shoulder and stripping the Caster card from Miyu, who was standing beside her.
"Illyasviel, Emiya Shirou, granting Miyu excess wisdom and power, disrupting my father's concept displacement, those are trivial matters. But mark my words, if you seek to destroy my myth, if you aim to overturn the ending I've set, I will personally eliminate you!"
As he spoke, Julian crushed the Caster card in his hand!
"So, to free Miyu, you are an obstacle we must overcome, Julian!!"
The hero roared with determination, but his twin swords couldn't touch Julian, all deflected by the displacement magic surrounding him.
"Tch!"
Julian clicked his tongue, then returned to his original position on the stone platform. Simultaneously, he activated spatial displacement again, bringing a blonde little girl to the platform.
"Bro... brother?"
Holding a teddy bear and wearing cute pajamas, Erika clearly didn't understand the situation, looking around in confusion.
"What's going on? Daddy told Erika to sleep, and Erika listened. Also... why is Miyu dressed like that? It's Erika's first time seeing it. And those two big brothers who look exactly the same... did brother find all these friends for me?"
"Tch!" Beatrice clicked her tongue, turning away with a scornful face, "Friends? They are all our enemies!"
"Shut up, Beatrice!"
Julian scolded, then walked slowly towards Erika. His voice, though cold, held a hint of warmth.
"Erika, your only companion and family is me. There is nothing else. Humans are born to perish, the world is already broken. The future is a dead end. That's why, I will show you that I will protect you. The Enzbern's wish will be fulfilled by you and me. Understood?"
Hearing this, Erika couldn't hold back her tears, wiping them with her small hands, and then smiled brightly.
"Yes! It's okay without friends! Because Erika has brother! So, Erika will do her best! Brother!"
At that moment, an unexpected figure stepped onto the stone platform.
"Huh? Protect the world? What an incredible wish."
Seeing Red Archer suddenly appear with folded arms, Angelica and Beatrice immediately moved to protect Erika and Julian.
"Don't misunderstand, I am a guardian of humanity. Unlike them, I have my own judgment."
Raising his hand, Red Archer projected a Ruby and tossed it to Julian.
Seeing Red Archer, seemingly defecting, Julian frowned but caught the Ruby.
"Stand down, Angelica, Beatrice."
Holding the Ruby, Julian stepped forward. Though unsure of Red Archer's true intentions, Julian welcomed any help, genuine or not.
Moreover, he wasn't afraid of being tricked.
"Hehehe... your comrade has betrayed you!"
Seeing Red Archer using the Ruby to sever his contract, Beatrice mocked the stunned group below.
"What the hell is he doing!"
Shirou was furious. Even without knowing the specifics, defecting at this critical moment was too much!
Moreover...
Seeing Luvia, who had been knocked out by Red Archer, Shirou was even angrier. That traitor had attacked his own ally!
"Wait! Where's Tohsaka?"
Noticing someone missing, Shirou looked around frantically.
"Up there..."
Illya, frowning, kept her eyes on the stone platform. Even she hadn't anticipated a traitor at this moment.
On the stone platform.
"What's with this woman?"
Julian glanced at the bound, gagged, and struggling Rin behind Red Archer.
"Just a means to restrain the enemy."
Red Archer replied, then looked down at Shirou and the others, speaking softly, "The enemy is not just these people. The real troublesome enemy hasn't appeared yet. She is to restrain that most troublesome guy."
Meanwhile, in the gap between worlds, Shinji, watching the battle, couldn't help but ponder.
After a few seconds, he pointed at himself and asked Gilgamesh and Young Gilgamesh.
"Um... is the troublesome enemy he's talking about me?"
"You really have a good sense of self-awareness, big brother."
Young Gilgamesh's innocent smile did nothing to endear him to Shinji. Then he looked back at the screen.
"But you lost the bet, big brother. He did defect."
"Don't be silly. In what way has his behavior contradicted his role as an ally of justice or a guardian of humanity? Betrayal? I see none. His allegiance hasn't changed. Did anything change?"
Young Gilgamesh awkwardly pursed his lips.
"Big brother, you're cheating..."
"He hasn't betrayed his identity or his true allegiance, so this can't be considered a betrayal. You lost."
Young Gilgamesh didn't argue further, sighing heavily. The reasoning was sound, and he had indeed fallen into the trap.
"Still... it's just like him..."
Shinji muttered, understanding Red Archer's plan. Unlike in UBW, where he denied his past self, this time, Red Archer aimed to push his past self to the opposite of justice!
Shinji could even guess Red Archer's lines when confronting Shirou.
Red Archer: "You, who abandoned your ideals (justice), must die!"
Shirou (confused): "???"