End Of An Era

Rain poured harder, smearing ash and blood into the earth. The air trembled with grief.

Sarah's fingers went numb. Her sword slipped from her trembling hands, clattering lifelessly on the soaked ground.

Her divine form dissolved, golden light fading into pale emptiness. Her knees gave out as her gaze locked on the projection before her—Alica, her daughter—lying unconscious, her tiny frame covered in wounds and mud.

Sarah's lips parted, but her voice broke into a whisper. "A…Alica…"

Brown stepped closer, his steps slow and deliberate. The crunch of stone under his boots echoed like approaching doom.

"In the end," he said, resting his axe on his shoulder, "even the War Hero couldn't protect her own."

Tears streamed down Sarah's cheeks, lost in the rain. "First Max… then the children at the orphanage… Chris… Cherry… and now… Alica…"

Her dull eyes were empty now—drained of light and will. "I failed… again."

Brown grinned, lifting his heavy axe. "This is the end, Sarah.

May you meet your loved ones in heaven."

He raised his weapon high—

—and froze.

A sudden burst of crimson flame cut across the field, devouring the rain in a hiss of steam.

A sword, wreathed in fire, slammed into Brown's axe, sparks exploding like shattered stars. The blow forced him back several steps, boots dragging trenches into the mud.

"Stay… away from her!"

The voice tore through the thunder.

Through the flames strode Shirou—soaked, battered, eyes burning with fury. His white hair clung to his face, dripping water and blood, his crimson eyes blazing like wildfire through the storm.

Brown's grin returned, cruel and dismissive. "You… I've seen those eyes before." He squinted as he remembered her. "Ah, it seems the Hero adopted a wild beast after all."

Zenjo cracked his knuckles, stepping forward with a predatory grin. "Seems one of those brats I crushed at the orphanage still breathes. Should've stayed dead, kid."

He lunged, the ground shattering under his charge.

Shirou ducked low, spinning on his hands as his foot whipped upward—three rapid kicks striking Zenjo's jaw, ribs, and shoulder in a single fluent motion before flipping back onto his feet.

Zenjo stumbled back, spitting blood, a feral smile spreading across his face. "You've got bite, runt."

Before Shirou could respond, a wave of cold air swept through. From above—a scythe sliced downward, whistling like death's cry. Shirou twisted mid-step, narrowly avoiding the blade as it cut clean through a stone pillar behind him.

"Too slow," Stynx murmured from above, eyes glowing red through her black hood. Dark mana gathered around her as spectral chains slithered from the ground, trying to ensnare Shirou's legs.

He rolled aside just as the chains lashed up, cutting through the ground he'd been standing on. The impact shattered the stones, leaving a crater where he'd been milliseconds earlier.

The moment he landed, a blur of crimson light raced toward him.

*Cling! Cling! Cling!*

Shirou barely registered Maxim's movement before the rapier struck—so fast it looked like threads of lightning. Each thrust sparked against Shirou's blade as he blocked by instinct alone.

He leapt backward, panting, his cheek burning with pain. A searing cut ran across it—Maxim's flaming rapier had grazed him, leaving charred flesh.

Maxim lowered his weapon, twirling it once casually. "A child dares to strike a Pillar… how amusing."

Sarah reached out weakly from the mud. "Don't… Shirou… You can't win… they're—"

"Shut up!" Shirou shouted, eyes wide with fury. "I know I can't! But they—"

Images flashed through his mind—burning orphanage, Chris's face, Cherry's head, Alica's smile fading in smoke.

He gritted his teeth until they cracked. "—Why you all steal everything!!"

With a scream, Shirou blurred forward, his sword glowing crimson.

He swung at Maxim first—three furious strikes in a heartbeat. Maxim parried with elegance, but Shirou's final slash caught him off-balance, gashing his shoulder.

Before Maxim recovered, Shirou pivoted, kicking him square in the chest and sending him tumbling through the rain.

Zenjo lunged again, blood spraying from his lip, roaring with fury. Shirou sidestepped, dragging his sword upward in a spiraling arc that tore across Zenjo's torso—drawing sparks and blood both. The beastman howled, grabbing Shirou by the throat and slamming him into the ground, cracking the very earth beneath them.

The shock rattled Shirou's bones. He punched Zenjo's face with his free hand over and over, crimson eyes blazing—but the beast only grinned and hurled him aside like a ragdoll.

Shirou rolled, coughing blood. His body screamed in pain, but his rage burned hotter.

He pushed himself up again, trembling, sword trembling in his grip.

"You still standing?" Brown muttered, brushing rain from his axe. "You've got her stubbornness, I'll give you that."

Lightning crackled above.

The battlefield glowed white.

Shirou raised his sword once more, crimson flames erupting around him. He roared—a defiant shout that echoed through the storm—and sprinted straight at Captain Brown, faster than before.

Brown met him halfway, axe crashing down like a meteor. Shirou caught the weapon against his blade, sparks flying as their auras collided—red fire against brown mana, shaking the air itself.

Then, from behind—another presence.

Maxim's rapier. Styx's scythe. Zenjo's fist.

All at once.

Shirou twisted, blocking one, dodging another, but Zenjo's punch crashed into his ribs, sending him airborne. He struck a ruined wall, the impact cracking stone.

He slumped to his knees, blood pooling at his lips.

"Shirou!" Sarah screamed, trying to crawl toward him, legs unresponsive.

Shirou grinned faintly through the blood. "Looks like… I'm not done yet."

He pushed himself up one last time, dragging his sword along the ground, the flames dimming—but his eyes still burning with vengeance.

Brown sighed, raising his axe high. "You should've stayed down, kid."

As the axe fell, lightning flashed across the sky—blinding white—and the echoes of battle drowned in the roar of storm.

Shirou's breath came ragged, every exhale steaming in the cold rain. He staggered back to his feet, body trembling, blood dripping down his chin. Each heartbeat echoed through his skull like distant thunder. But he wouldn't stop—not yet.

He surged forward once again, sword dragging a crimson arc through the flooded ground.

Brown met his charge, swinging his heavy axe. The clash thundered across the ruins. Sparks burst with every strike as Shirou swung furiously, his movements wild but filled with conviction.

Steel screamed. Each blow from Brown sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Shirou struck, blocked, countered—but his strength was fading. The crimson light around him flickered, his body refusing to keep up with his will.

A crushing blow from Zenjo's fist landed across his ribs, and Shirou doubled over, coughing up blood.

He still swung, blade trembling. Another hit from Maxim's rapier slashed across his back; another from Stynx's scythe grazed his side, tearing flesh.

He fell to one knee. Rain pounded against his face.

Then he stood again.

Brown watched, expression unreadable. "Persistent brat…"

Shirou roared, charging again. He slashed at Brown's leg, barely dodging the countering axe swing. He spun, slicing toward Zenjo and forcing him back with pure willpower. His movements were slower, less controlled—but his eyes never dimmed.

A powerful kick from Brown sent him crashing into a wall. He fell—stood again—only to be struck by Maxim's burning rapier across the arm. He fell once more. The mud splashed around his face.

He pushed himself up again, roaring through blood and rain.

Over and over.

Falling.

Rising.

Falling again.

Until his body finally refused to move.

He collapsed forward, sword buried in the ground just to hold him up. Blood poured from his wounds; his breathing turned shallow, uneven.

Brown watched in disappointment. "He's… still alive. That's troublesome." He turned to Maxim. "End it."

Maxim nodded, drawing his rapier once more. "As you wish, Captain."

Sarah's body trembled as she tried to move. Crawling through the dirt, nails breaking, she forced herself toward Shirou. "Stop… please… He's just a boy…" she whispered. Her voice was nearly lost under the rain.

Maxim ignored her plea, stepping closer. "You fought well, runt. But it's over."

Shirou barely raised his head, eyes defiant even now. "Go… to hell…"

Maxim thrust.

The air split—but before the blade could pierce Shirou's chest, a shadow moved between them.

Blood splattered across the ground.

Maxim froze.

Sarah stood there. Her arms wrapped around Shirou, shielding him completely. Maxim's rapier had driven straight through her chest. Blood poured down her body, mixing with the rain.

"Sarah!!" Shirou's voice cracked in disbelief.

She coughed weakly, blood trailing from her lips, a faint, pained smile crossing her face. "You fool…" she whispered hoarsely.

Shirou shook his head violently. "Why…?! I'm your enemy! I…I should've been the one to kill you!"

Sarah's trembling hand reached for his cheek. "Because…"

Her lips moved, but the rain drowned her final words—leaving only mystery in the storm.

Her hand fell to the ground. Her breath ceased. Sarah's body went still.

"No… Sarah…" Shirou's voice broke, tears mixing with rain as he held her lifeless form. Rage and grief twisted in his chest until it erupted in a raw scream.

Maxim raised his rapier again to finish what he started. "I'll end your misery—"

Before he could strike, Shirou kicked upward with all remaining strength. His boot connected with Maxim's chest—sending him flying backward into the mud with a violent crash.

Shirou rose, staggering, his sword still clutched in shaking hands. His crimson eyes flared, burning hotter with grief and fury.

He turned toward Brown.

"Brown!!!"

He sprinted forward through the storm, slashing wildly—a cry of vengeance ripping through the night. But before he got within reach, a massive hand grabbed his neck mid-lunge.

Brown lifted Shirou effortlessly into the air, choking him with one hand. "You're still moving? Pathetic."

Zenjo lift Lance as he was unconscious during the fight with Sarah.

Shirou struggled, clawing at Brown's arm, punching, kicking—but his strikes were weak, hollow. His lungs burned as his vision darkened. His hand loosened around his sword. His body began to fade.

Brown stared into his eyes, cold and merciless. "Rest, kid. The war's over for you."

With that, he released his grip—dropping Shirou like a broken doll into the mud. The boy didn't move.

Zenjo approached, his knuckles crackling with aura. "Want me to finish him off?"

Brown shook his head. "No. Let him die with his failure. This is punishment enough."

The Pillars turned away, disappearing slowly into the storm's haze. The sound of their footsteps faded, leaving only rain, wind, and silence.

Shirou's eyes fluttered open faintly. His body no longer answered his will, but somehow—he began to crawl.

One inch. Then another. His blood left dark trails behind him. He clawed at the ground, dragging himself forward toward the faint shapes walking away.

"Wait…" he murmured weakly, voice trembling. "Wait…"

He reached the forest's edge before his vision blurred entirely. His arms gave out. He collapsed face-first into the mud.

The forest shifted around him. From the shadows, glowing eyes emerged—wolves, drawn by the scent of blood. One sank its fangs into his leg, dragging him backward toward its den.

More followed, snarling, biting at each other for the prize.

Their den rested near a cliff edge. The struggle grew violent—the wolves tearing at one another in frenzy. The ground below them crumbled.

With one final growl, the cliff gave way.

Shirou's limp body slipped, falling into the darkness below as the storm swallowed the sound.

High above, lightning flashed. Sarah's sword remained planted in the ground, its once radiant glow flickering—then fading into darkness.