IBHJ 1353

“Skadi’s already gone to Britain. Merlin and the others are with her. Vivian too,” Artoria said. “China’s holding for now—Hinako and her sister are stationed there. They’ve got support from the Spiral Manor, and Hinako mentioned a reclusive immortal friend who agreed to help.”

“As for here,” she continued, “Mordred, Kiara, and Kama are on their way back.”

Shirou exhaled slowly. “Then we’ve still got a chance.”

But his voice lowered.

“If that summoning circle completes… and something we can’t stop comes through…”

He trailed off, eyes drifting toward the wooden bracelet on Artoria’s wrist.

“Use that.”

She froze.

“Already? I thought we were saving this—if the Lord of Salvation masnifested.”

He gave a small nod. “We are. But if something worse gets summoned, sealing the planet might be our only way to contain it. Better it happens inside our walls than outside them.”

She didn’t argue.

“…Understood.”

She lowered her gaze and pressed her hand against the bracelet. Her mana flowed into it and light bloomed from the wood, slow at first, then blinding. The name Brigid glimmered faintly across the surface, etched in glowing lines.

And then it spread.

A radiant veil—like a planetary ring of starlight—stretched across the sky. It wrapped the planet in a shimmering halo, enclosing the dark vortex high above in a cage of light.

People looked up from wherever they were.

Some stopped mid-step. Others froze in the middle of conversations, pointing at the sky.

A heavenly belt, glowing softly against the stormclouds.

What… what is that?

Most didn’t understand.

But the ones who did—

They gasped.

They knew exactly what it meant.

War was no longer a distant storm.

It had arrived.

…

On the surface, Artoria slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze dropped to the bracelet on her wrist.

The name Brigid—which had once glowed faintly across the wooden surface—was now a dim shimmer, so faint it seemed ready to vanish at any moment.

A soft wave of sadness passed through her chest.

She turned to him and said quietly, “The barrier is in place.”

He let out a quiet breath. “She still chose to help us in the end.”

She nodded slowly. In her mind, she saw it again—Brigid’s final moment. She still had time. She could’ve said goodbye. She could’ve held on a little longer. But instead… she poured everything—every last drop of strength—into the bracelet. No farewells. No grand speeches.

Just one final smile.

A small, peaceful smile.

And then… nothing.

That was her final choice as the Counter Force of the Eternal Kingdom.

“…We absolutely cannot let her down,” he said.

She nodded again. But before she could reply, her expression tightened. Her whole posture shifted in an instant. “They’re going for this place first!”

Shirou’s eyes sharpened. Without a word, he used Clairvoyance and peered beyond what normal sight could reach—through warps in space, between the seams of dimensions. There, lurking in the split between realities, was a woman.

A Beast.

Mordred and Kiara hadn’t come back yet. Right now, it was just him and Artoria. Of course this would be the first place she’d strike.

But then—

“…Why are there two massive energy signatures?”

There should only be one Beast VII. But two distinct high-frequency signatures had just appeared in Fuyuki.

A horrible realization hit Shirou like ice water. His eyes went wide. "Ritsuka. That thing's going after Ritsuka!"

He was already moving before Artoria could even process his words, disappearing in a blur as he raced toward Ritsuka.

...

The forest outside Miyama stretched for miles, wild and untamed. Twenty years had passed since the Fourth Holy Grail War reduced the Einzbern Castle to rubble, and nature had reclaimed most of the land. Somewhere in that wilderness, tucked away from prying eyes, sat a small cabin where Ritsuka had chosen to disappear from the world.

The mutated beasts that stalked these woods gave the place a wide berth. They could sense it—the oppressive weight of Beast VII's presence radiating from the girl inside. It kept them away, but it also served as a constant reminder of what she'd become.

Mash was the only one who stayed. Her first Servant, her dearest friend, the one person who refused to abandon her when everyone else had moved on with their lives.

The restoration of humanity was complete. Mission accomplished. The Servants who had fought beside her, laughed with her, been her family through countless battles—they'd all said their goodbyes and returned to the Throne of Heroes. The Chaldea she'd known, that warm and chaotic place full of voices and life, was gone. Just like that, Ritsuka went from being surrounded by people who cared about her to being utterly alone.

She couldn't take it. So she ran. Hid herself away in this cabin where the outside world couldn't reach her.

People had tried to help. They'd come knocking, offering words of comfort and understanding. But Ritsuka's heart had closed itself off completely. All they could do was hope that time would eventually heal her wounds. At least Mash was still there to watch over her.

Today, though, their quiet sanctuary had an uninvited visitor.

Mash felt the shift in the air before she saw anything. Her Saint Graph flared to life, spirit armor materializing around her as she raised her shield. Every muscle in her body was coiled tight as she watched the figure approach through the trees.

A girl with snow-white hair, walking like she owned the place.

"Hey there, Mash. It's been a while."

The casual greeting made Mash's skin crawl. "Who are you?"

"Come on, don't play dumb." The girl's laugh was light, almost friendly. "You know exactly who I am. I have to say, I'm a little surprised you're still breathing. I figured Ritsuka would've erased you by now, what with all that guilt eating away at her. But here you are, alive and well. She's been holding it together better than I expected."

The blood drained from Mash's face as understanding crashed over her. Her grip tightened on her shield until her knuckles went white. "You're not Olga Marie."

"Smart girl."

"You're the Beast."

"Of course I am." The girl's voice stayed perfectly calm. Something almost gentle flickered across her face. "Olga Marie's feelings for you are still part of me, you know. That's why I'd rather not be the one to kill you. Just step aside. I'm here for my other half."

"I won't let you touch Master!"

A sad smile tugged at the corners of the Beast's lips. "Still calling her Master, I see. But tell me, Mash—does she still think of you as her Servant?" The words came softly, almost kindly. "You know the answer already, don't you? You've always been dead weight. A failed experiment. A half-baked Servant who could never stand on her own two feet. That's why she threw you away."

"Stop it—"

The truth hit harder than any physical blow. Mash's resolve crumbled in seconds, and that moment of weakness was all Olga needed. She raised a single finger. Light gathered at the tip.

Whoosh.

The beam punched straight through Galahad's shield like it was made of paper, boring into Mash's shoulder. Blood splattered across her armor as she hit the ground hard.

"One sentence. That's all it took to shatter your resolve." Olga gazed down at her with something that might have been pity. "You're not worthy of wielding Galahad's shield."

Mash stared at her fallen shield, hands shaking. The sight of it lying there, broken and useless, made her stomach drop.

"Is that really all you've got?" Olga's voice turned gentle again, almost sad. "Well then. I suppose I'll see you at the Root, Mash."

She lifted her hand. Light began to coalesce around her fingertips.

CRASH!

A wooden table exploded out of the cabin and slammed into the Beast's side. She barely flinched, swatting it away like an annoying fly before turning toward the wreckage.

Standing in the doorway was a girl in a rumpled white dress, orange hair a tangled mess, eyes hollow and exhausted. But those same eyes burned with a cold, dangerous light that made the air itself feel heavier.

Fujimaru Ritsuka had finally stepped outside.