Looking at Emilia's serene smile, Julian couldn't help but recall the scene from his childhood where this very person lay in a pool of blood, pleading with him to end her life.
Back then, he had agreed, but deep inside, he didn't want her to die; he wanted to see her smile.
Now, has his wish finally come true?
Pandora, on the brink of her end, was smiling sincerely. Could this be considered the fulfillment of his wish?
Suddenly, Julian noticed a faint glow emanating from Pandora!
"This is…!"
Julian's eyes widened. If he wasn't mistaken, Pandora, having accepted that unbelievable truth, would soon disappear!
Pandora turned slightly, looking relieved as she gazed at Shinji standing not far away, and spoke softly.
"It seems… it really is just like that man said. It's not others, not my duty or the box that kept me bound to this world, but my own thoughts."
"Emilia… sister…"
Julian lowered his head again, biting his lip to hold back his tears.
Even though he had imagined this day might come, he never thought it would happen so suddenly, without any time for him to prepare!
"Julian, I am… content now."
Hearing this, Julian wanted to scream that he didn't want this outcome, that he wanted her to live, but no matter what, he couldn't say it out loud.
At this moment, Julian even felt a twinge of hatred towards the man who suddenly appeared. If it weren't for him, Pandora might not have disappeared so quickly.
At the same time, Shinji, who had more or less figured out Julian's thoughts from his expression, was silently cursing.
This man was a bundle of contradictions, wanting Emilia to be freed and smile while knowing that her liberation could only come through death, yet not wanting her to die.
Sometimes Shinji wondered if contradictions were the central theme of the Fate world—Shirou's contradictions, this man's contradictions, Bazett's contradictions… contradictions everywhere!
He took a deep breath, carefully controlling the power of the Harpe, the weapon that could kill immortals, to gradually reap Pandora's life.
Only Young Gilgamesh in the sky and the distant Gilgamesh watching the broadcast noticed something amiss. The faint aura of the Harpe was detected by them.
Young Gilgamesh quickly understood what was happening and why the Harpe could now take Pandora's life.
If Pandora's immortality was a rule of this world, then it could be countered with the same rules, and Shinji happened to possess the attribute of death from another world.
Combining the death attribute, which didn't belong to this world, with the Harpe, originally from Greek mythology and capable of nullifying immortality, along with Pandora's acceptance of death, made her death possible.
However, the process was somewhat slow. By Young Gilgamesh's estimation, it would take a few hours for Pandora to completely die at the current rate.
He glanced at Julian, whose face was marred by several dark lines, showing signs of intense pain, indicating that Darius was getting desperate and accelerating the displacement process.
Julian could only hold out for about ten more minutes before being completely replaced by Darius, and then all efforts would be in vain.
Shinji's hidden efficiency in reaping Pandora's life force increased, reducing the time needed to just ten minutes.
Seeing the water droplets on the ground near Shinji's feet gradually disappear confirmed to Young Gilgamesh that Shinji was speeding up the process.
Shinji was terrifying. His ability to hide his true intentions was exceptionally high. Even his sweat was being hidden and transferred elsewhere, demonstrating his meticulous execution—he allowed no room for error in his plans.
Time ticked by, with no one realizing that two individuals on the field were fighting desperately: Julian, silently resisting Darius's invasive consciousness, and Shinji, covertly pushing his body to its limits.
Drawing on chakra, mental power, and inner energy at a frenetic pace, Shinji estimated that he could exhaust all his strength without sacrificing his life, just enough to push Pandora to the brink of death.
It was a race no one knew who would win. Shinji couldn't gamble on how many tricks Darius had up his sleeve, which might halt Pandora's death.
Thirty seconds… twenty seconds… ten seconds…
"Ahhhhh!!"
Julian suddenly let out a painful scream, clutching his arms as he collapsed to the ground.
Black, branch-like magical circuits began piercing through Julian's skin, visible to everyone.
Hold on for just ten more seconds, kid!
Shinji silently encouraged Julian, knowing they were so close to allowing the woman who yearned for death to finally achieve it!
"Arghhh—!"
Julian's agonizing cries left everyone around in a state of confusion. If not for Miyu holding him back, the Great Hero might have charged in first.
Despite being from another world and having chosen a different path, his core essence was identical to Shirou's.
"Ah—!"
Julian's screams intensified. Emilia, Angelica, and Beatrice watched in agony, unable to help.
This was the inevitable fate of the Einzbern family, where the head would always be replaced by Darius, an irreversible rule.
Finally…
Just as Julian was about to be completely replaced by Darius, Shinji succeeded in filling Pandora with the essence of death!
"Bastard! Bastard! Bastard! Damn liar!"
Darius erupted into a frenzy upon awakening, screaming and cursing, aware that Pandora was now irreversibly filled with death!
Seeing Darius's outburst, everyone tensed up, knowing he would target Shinji first. Prepared, Shinji knew that Darius's displacement magic was faster than Julian's, possibly even faster than teleportation!
"So… there's no need, is there?"
Suddenly, Darius stopped his frenzied ranting, staring blankly as he uttered those words. Then, he instantly stabbed Pandora through the heart.
Thud—!
The scene shocked everyone, and Shinji immediately understood Darius's plan.
Darius was discarding Pandora's life, intending to use her final moments to forcibly displace the box's hole to the outside world!
"If you don't want this world to perish, stop him."
Shinji's voice carried a serious note, causing the Great Hero and the others to freeze momentarily.
Seizing the moment, Shinji took a deep breath.
"So, if you don't want this world destroyed, if you don't want humanity to perish, stop him, idiots!"
As soon as the words were out, two Shirous appeared before and behind Darius, each wielding Kanshou and Bakuya to strike at him!
It was the Shirou and Red Archer who had been in the reality marble!
Clang!!
"Did I get it right, Shinji?"
Shirou shouted without looking back.
Shinji, hands in his pockets, responded calmly, "Think of him like the final boss in a game. Just cut him down, you won't be hitting the wrong person."
"Got it!"
Shirou adjusted his stance and struck at Darius again!
Red Archer aimed for a surprise attack from behind but was repelled, even getting kicked away by Darius.
Seeing Shirou and Red Archer struggling, the Great Hero, Miyu, a slightly recovered Bazett, Cu Chulainn, Luvia, and Illya all jumped in to help with their special skills!
"Aren't you going?"
Shinji asked Saber, who stood with her head bowed and fists clenched, a dark aura enveloping her.
"Tch!"
Saber turned away angrily, still reeling from Shinji's earlier words.
"Saber, after this world's crisis is over, I'm planning to host another banquet..."
"Shirou! I'm coming to help you!"
Saber shouted, gripping Excalibur as she charged forward!