You call this a projection?

”This is all your fault, Emiya Shirou!

It’s because you were the first to break the rules of the Holy Grail War that I appeared early.

It’s because of the things you’ve done that I suddenly remembered this—that I must retaliate against you humans in kind later!

If you had just honestly let me leave from the start, I might not have even done this.”

[All the World’s Evil] arrogantly spat out these words that could never truly be realized. Seeing that Emiya Shirou still hadn’t stopped his movements and was still forcing [Pseudo-Crazy Diamond] to throw punches, it intended to up the ante:

”After all, the ’me’ right now is only a part of my main body still residing within the Grail.

As long as the magical ritual of the Holy Grail War doesn’t produce a final winner, and that winner doesn’t make a wish upon me, it’s impossible for me to truly manifest.

I won’t be able to truly recreate the disaster of ten years ago within Fuyuki City.

But now, I’ve changed my mind!”

An arm was shattered.

Contrary to the arrogant bluster of its words, the reality for [All the World’s Evil] was that the moment it finished that sentence, [Pseudo-Crazy Diamond] had already beaten its arm to a pulp.

Though it felt like a slap to the face—getting pummeled by Shirou the instant it threatened revenge against humanity—[All the World’s Evil] smiled. Controlling Matou Sakura’s body, it laughed with genuine delight.

Shirou’s reaction proved that he understood the threat and acknowledged its weight!

Because the body [All the World’s Evil] currently occupied was Matou Sakura. She was the true Master of Rider in this Fifth Holy Grail War.

Even though Tohsaka Rin and the others had previously stormed the Matou household and beaten Shinji Matou—including the Rider who attacked them under Shinji’s orders—to a pulp, things were different now. Once they realized Sakura was the true Master and Rin explicitly stated they were there to take Sakura away, the ”battle” between Rider and Rin’s group became more of a performance than a fight.

Rider, possessing a high rank in the [Independent Action] skill, had not yet exited the stage.

In other words, [All the World’s Evil] now essentially functioned as Rider’s Master. It held a valid qualification in the Holy Grail War and the ability to make a wish upon the Greater Grail.

That was why Emiya Shirou, having understood its words, aimed his attacks at the arm bearing the Command Seals—to ensure it had no time to use a seal to summon Rider to its side!

”I will use this body to participate in the Holy Grail War and seize victory! Then I will make a wish to the Grail—to my main body within it—to bring about the extinction of all humanity on Earth!”

Seeing that Emiya Shirou had finally reacted to its words, [All the World’s Evil] refused to let the chance slip by, continuing its gleeful taunting: ”The responsibility for this outcome lies entirely with you, Emiya Shirou!”

’Get angry. Be furious. Emiya Shirou, don’t you want to be a Hero of Justice? Then hurry up and show some of the responsibility a Hero of Justice should have!’

”...Hey, Angra Mainyu, do you know why I listened to you spout so much nonsense?”

Emiya Shirou spoke. However, his tone was quite different from what [All the World’s Evil] had expected.

”Because I briefly couldn’t think of how to defeat you. Yes, not how to beat you out of Sakura’s body, but how to actually deal damage to you once you were out.

Even though you, bearing the name ’Angra Mainyu,’ are not the supreme evil god of Zoroastrian myth, you have assimilated with the magical energy of the Grail. Having gained traits of the Third Magic, you possess an immortal body that is very difficult to kill. I verified that just a moment ago.”

Shirou continued, ”With the specifications of the Third Magic, I’m afraid even Lancer’s demonic spear wouldn’t be qualified to inflict an unhealable curse on you.”

”Hey, kid. If you’re going to explain, do you have to use me as the example?” Lancer, who had been watching the spectacle, spoke up in annoyance. Even though he admitted that in the face of the Third Magic’s healing capabilities, the ”unhealable” curse of [Gáe Bolg] might as well not exist.

But the curse still exists. The wound pierced by this spear will absolutely never heal.

Still, he had his pride. Emiya Shirou could have phrased it a bit more tactfully.

But based on Shirou’s words... had he found a way to break the current deadlock? After a few grumbles, Lancer looked toward [All the World’s Evil] and Shirou with newfound interest.

After all, if they had a choice, Lancer and Saber wouldn’t be standing on the sidelines. The reason they were quietly watching the confrontation was that they simply couldn’t interfere. Going in to ”help” would only make things worse.

Lancer had originally thought this stalemate would continue until one side gave out. But now it seemed... was there some factor he wasn’t aware of?

Lancer looked at Shirou expectantly.

”This answer, which I couldn’t find no matter how hard I thought about it, was provided to me by your words just now, Angra Mainyu. You gave me a viable solution.”

Shirou did not disappoint Lancer. After finishing his sentence, he immediately turned to the Saber beside him.

”Saber, prepare to release your Noble Phantasm at full power!”

”...?”

”...!?”

’What is he talking about? This isn’t how it’s supposed to go!?’

[All the World’s Evil] looked at Shirou in horror as a realization dawned. Similarly, Tohsaka Rin, having vaguely guessed what Shirou intended to do, cried out in shock: ”Emiya-kun, you’re not planning to...!”

”Rin, do you trust me?” Shirou interrupted.

”...?”

Shirou continued, ”Do you believe I can defeat [All the World’s Evil] and save Sakura?”

”!!?”

Read ahead (100 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting