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IBHJ Chapter 623
🕑 Added 2023-12-15 07:25:29 +0000 UTCBeast III could forgive anyone's hostility and hatred directed at herself. Any violence against her she took in stride, even relishing it. But there was a sole exception—the only thing intolerable to her: this split-off part of herself!
Even if she couldn't eliminate her existence, Beast III absolutely refused to confront her.
And now, because of his words, Kiara struggled more fiercely than ever, wrestling with the intent to break free of Beast III's body through sheer willpower alone.
That was unforgivable.
Killing intent swirled in Beast III's eyes as she looked at him. If he wished to serve as a beacon to guide this other self to escape, she would erase him first.
"You're not heading back to paradise, Assassin. I'll make sure you never taste that pure land's bliss again," Beast III said with a smile.
Detecting the icy murderous intent radiating from her, he let out a laugh. "The evil lurking within finally reveals itself, Beast."
Shirou faced Beast III squarely. "Perhaps my reason for coming here was to defeat you after all."
"You think you can defeat me?" Beast III's lips curled into a mocking grin.
Shirou tightened his grip on the spear of endless light, a relaxed smile on his face. "Alone, I don't stand a chance. But inside you lies an ally who will fight alongside me, no?"
Beast III's expression shifted drastically.
"Too late, I already know where she is!"
He bent his legs and launched forward powerfully. With a sonic boom, he charged toward the colossal Beast, brandishing the spear of endless light.
...
"You okay...?"
Adam pulled Goredolf Musik from the rubble and helped him sit to the side.
"Why did you save me?" Goredolf stared at him in bewilderment.
"Why wouldn't I?" Adam shook his head. "I'd help if I could."
"Even though you're just a lowly homunculus..."
"I have a name - it's Adam. Please use it."
Goredolf gazed wordlessly at him.
Adam turned to the distance.
The massive giant continued trampling the earth while three Heroic Spirits waged a fierce battle against it.
The towering wooden stakes. The mentor with his blade. The hero wheeling through the skies.
Almost immediately after the giant's emergence, nearly every Master of the Yggdmillennia clan used their Command Spells trying in vain to recall their Servants.
Yet out of all those efforts, only Lancer - Vlad III and Rider - Astolfo and Red Berserker Spartacus heeded the summons and returned.
For whatever reason, none of the others came back.
But the situation remained dire.
The giant continued growing without end, and the black miasma its body exuded hindered any attempts to bring it down.
Just then, someone came running over. "Adam! We managed to rescue everyone we could."
"Wonderful news," Adam smiled.
"There's also..." They hesitated.
"Yes? What is it?"
"We found him!" the group responded, bringing forth the bound Caster - Avicebron.
Seeing Avicebron, Adam couldn't hide his surprise. "It's you."
Avicebron didn't struggle. Calmly meeting Adam's gaze, he replied, "That's right. I never thought you'd be so close. Had I known, there would have been no need to use that black cup as the core."
"So that thing was your Noble Phantasm after all!" Goredolf shouted, leaping up and striding toward Avicebron as if to punch him, only to be blocked by Adam.
Goredolf was furious. They had been on the verge of victory given the circumstances.
Yet due to Avicebron's interference, their fortress collapsed and they nearly died inside!
Avicebron remained unruffled by Goredolf's agitation, turning to Adam with an air of tranquility. "Now, I'm your prisoner. You must harbor deep resentment towards me. Go ahead."
Goredolf glanced uncertainly at Adam.
There was no need to elaborate on the animosity between the two.
Other than hatred, only ill will existed between them. After all, Adam still vividly remembered that day, surrounded on all sides by cold indifference and hostility.
And of them all, Avicebron had wished him the utmost malice.
It would surprise no one if Adam chose to end Avicebron's life then and there.
However...
Adam slowly shook his head.
"There's no need to kill you. It won't accomplish what I want," said Adam. "And in a way, you could be considered my 'father'. If I ended you now, I imagine it would only unsettle the Yggdmillennia and any who later learn of our origins."
Adam looked gravely at Avicebron. "Please, stop that giant. It has already caused too much destruction."
Avicebron stared wordlessly back at Adam for a long moment before slowly shaking his head. "It's too late. I can no longer stop the primordial titan."
"What did you say?" Goredolf glowered accusingly at Avicebron. "You can't stop it? But that's your Noble Phantasm!"
Avicebron met his glare and shook his head again. "There's no other way now. Because—it has already become the Red Faction's Noble Phantasm."
"How did this happen?" asked Adam.
In response, Avicebron explained, "The core used to activate the primordial titan was a black cup given to me by the Red Faction's Master, Kotomine Shirou. It succeeded in rousing my creation, but in doing so, severed my control."
Adam's brow furrowed as he briefly glanced at the rampaging giant before meeting Avicebron's eyes again. "Isn't there some other means to stop the giant?"
"There is one way."
"What is it?"
"You have to merge with the primordial titan!" Avicebron proclaimed, gazing at him.
Adam froze, pointing incredulously at himself. "Me - become one with the titan?"
"Correct," Avicebron nodded gravely. "Of all homunculi, only you are unique. None but you can serve as the primordial titan's core. And likewise, none but you have any hope of wresting control from it now."
"Why is that?" Adam couldn't resist asking. "Why am I the only special one?"
"Because you were created from that very titan itself!" Avicebron declared, pointing at the rampaging giant. "That is your parent body! Forged from the titan's fragments to trigger the automatons' awakening - that is your origin!"
Adam stood rooted, stunned. The persistent ringing in his ears intensified.
"What...what should I do?" he finally muttered.
"Return to your parent body and replace the black cup as the primordial human's core," Avicebron said solemnly. "But remember—the moment you do, all the rationality, memories, and soul you've developed will vanish. You'll become the Royal Crown through and through. Any trace you've left here will fade to meaningless dust."
"That's your destiny. But thanks to that damnable Rider and Assassin, you now have a choice. To become the primordial human, or stay as you are. This time, I cannot sway your fate further. You must decide alone." Avicebron's expression was grave.
Adam froze in disbelief.
So this was his origin all along. No wonder Avicebron had never stopped hounding him. He was the key to the primordial human.
Indeed—he, A-11072, was the key to the first human, Adam.
From the very beginning, he was Adam.
A bitter smile rose on Adam's face. Perhaps the reason he chose "Adam" to name himself lay in a predetermined affinity bound to him since birth.
However, thanks to Astolfo’s efforts and Assassin’s kindness...he now had the right to choose his own path.
With Avicebron now his prisoner, the puppet master could no longer manipulate his fate.
So what should he choose? To go or not to go?
No one would interfere with his decision or blame him either way.
Yet when he saw the raging giant... he thought... perhaps he should go.
But in that moment, he finally realized—this one step forward...how difficult it was!
I...I...
Adam clenched his fists tightly.
I don't want to disappear...
Maybe leaving things as they were wouldn't be so bad after all...
Maybe, Maybe...
"Adam!"
Someone called out to him.
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