Shinji Matou at Your Service

Not only the Masters and Servants, but even the non-combatants couldn't hold back and joined the battlefield.

Fujino's eyes glowed with spirals, and Kirie activated Gundam.

Touko clapped her hands, summoning a squad of dolls. Led by Katou, they charged directly into the giant's body—curses and filth were effective against humans and Servants, but they did not affect soulless dolls.

The duo known as Shiki unsheathed their blades and unleashed death, while the Tohno family activated their ESP powers, alternating between freezing and burning their enemies.

Ciel and Caren, having officially reclaimed their identities, revealed the Church's signature weapons, hurling over a hundred Black Keys in the blink of an eye.

Reisbyfe stood firm on the front line, her holy shield engraved with God's word, impervious even to the evils of this world.

Sven transformed into a golden wolf, howling; Flat analyzed spells and wreaked havoc; Caules activated the Primal Battery, discharging electricity continuously.

Lastly, under the protection of Kiritsugu and Maiya, Irisviel led the entire Einzbern maid squad, using Einzbern's unique alchemy to support everyone.

At this point, the battle was no longer in doubt.

And that was only natural.

The group attacking Angra Mainyu was so overwhelmingly powerful that even if the true demon king from mythology were summoned, he would likely fall. How could a mere symbol stand a chance?

Even with the support of the Great Holy Grail, all Angra Mainyu could do was delay his inevitable defeat. Once the Servants started releasing their Noble Phantasms, his life was already ticking down.

Amidst countless attacks reminiscent of a mythological reenactment, Angra Mainyu, who had just barely attained a physical body, was forced back to his original form.

A grotesque, nauseating sphere.

And then—

Justeaze transformed into a stream of light, merging her soul, her Magic, and her entire being into Shinji's hands.

In the next moment, Shinji unleashed the power formed from humanity's most beautiful emotions, blasting the sphere apart and plunging directly into the source of it all—Angra Mainyu's core.

The dense curses engulfed Shinji's soul.

In an instant, Shinji felt his body burning as if acid were seeping into his pores.

His consciousness sank into the darkness as if he were in hell.

The initial punishment was fivefold: punishment of life, body, freedom, honor, and property.

Every sin was executed by the mud and malice surrounding him.

"Beheading, exile, and the exclusion of human rights through castration."

"The body tortured by sadistic malice."

"Honor and reputation confiscated and erased by collective will."

"Assets frozen, mocked by desire."

...

Imprisonment, execution, detention, fines, and labor penalties—sins caused by personal grudges, sins caused by personal desires, sins committed unknowingly, sins of arrogance...

...

All at once, the entire weight of humanity's history of sins came crashing down on him.

...

An unfathomable darkness.

An ugliness too revolting to acknowledge.

Sins one desperately wanted to escape from.

Everything in this world could be called the sins of humanity.

So, die.

Those captured by this darkness would be swallowed by their pain and disgust—

But Shinji endured. He bore it all.

No matter how deep the darkness, it could not swallow him.

Because, deep within his heart, there was light.

A power that stood in opposition to curses, to malice, to death, to punishment, and darkness.

A light formed by humanity's most beautiful emotions—courage, friendship, love, hope.

"Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!"

"Why? Why? Why?"

Countless evils roared, and countless voices questioned.

Why are you still unharmed?

Why haven't you been assimilated?

Surrounded by thick darkness, Shinji's soul smiled, transmitting his true emotions.

"Five years ago, I had a similar experience. I didn't fall then, and I won't fall now."

"Eheheh... Ahahahaha!"

Malice boiled over.

"This is the malice of an entire world, the curses of an entire world! How long do you think you can last with just your strength?"

"Until you disappear completely. Your tangible power has been exhausted, but the intangible bonds remain. Even with all the world's evils upon me, they cannot overwhelm my soul. As long as they still think of me, as long as they still trust me, this light will never go out."

Indeed, compared to Atalanta's Noble Phantasm, The Calydonian Boar, Angra Mainyu's curse was far more terrifying in both quality and quantity. But Shinji was no longer the same person he was five years ago. Over these five years, he had gained and grown so much.

He dared to step into this place alone, knowing there would be no retreat because retreat meant failure.

"Come, let's begin—the final purification."

Shinji opened his soul, and buried memories began to surface.

...

Amidst confusion and helplessness, a pure white figure quietly appeared:

"Hello, this is our first meeting. I am Justeaze."

...

The shy look of the girl stirred feelings of compassion:

"From today onward, you are my little sister."

...

In the morning courtyard, twin tails fluttering in the wind.

...

At that banquet, the girl was like a walking corpse.

...

A dilapidated building, with a puppeteer smoking a cigarette.

...

On top of the building at midnight, a ghost standing alone.

...

In a secluded workshop, a queen stands tall and proud.

...

A magus whose legs were paralyzed, but who still longed to walk freely on the earth.

...

A woman on the verge of death, yet refusing to give up on life.

...

A child, ignorant and innocent, with a tragic background.

...

The King of Knights, descending from the starlight.

...

Under the moonlit night, a saint, eager to learn, though a bit clumsy.

...

In an ancient castle, a princess is bound by chains.

...

In an unknown realm, a giant god who had shut herself away for millennia.

...

In the Castle of Separation at night, a radiant figure clutching a cartoon doll.

...

And—

Amidst the beasts, twin tails biting back tears, desperately dragging him to safety.

...

No, it wasn't just them.

There were more, many more—

Parents from both lifetimes.

Mentors and friends like Waver and Kayneth.

Companions like Ryougi Shiki, Mikiya Kokutou, and Shiki Tohno.

Juniors like Gray, Sven, and Flat.

Even classmates like Mitsuzuri Ayako and Issei Ryuudou.

Each memory was precious, each one an irreplaceable treasure.

Suddenly, he recalled what Arcueid had said the day she lost control of her vampire urges and sealed herself away:

"Even if I sleep forever and never wake up again, it's fine. Because I'll keep dreaming of you, of all of you, and that will be... that will be a very happy dream."

Back then, Shinji didn't understand. He thought Arcueid was clumsily trying to comfort him.

Now, he understood. Yes, even memories, even dreams, could give a person infinite strength.

This was the source of his full power, the true strength he had been hiding and suppressing since the beginning of the Holy Grail War.