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IBHJ Chapter 60
🕑 Added 2023-01-30 00:31:12 +0000 UTCShirou grabbed the Formalin box and dashed out of the mortuary. As he ran, he merged with his Saint Graph, revealing his location. He headed towards the area where the fire burned brightest, the ruins were most extensive, and the smoke was thickest.
Due to Assassin's Presence Concealment, Shirou was unable to sense his opponent's presence. However, for reasons unknown to Shirou, he was highly sensitive to sight. He could feel multiple malevolent gazes converging upon him, undoubtedly belonging to Assassin.
He quickly darted into the ruins he had scouted out earlier and used familiar cover to shield himself from prying eyes. Once he was safely concealed, he promptly ended the fusion of his Saint Graph and hurled the Formalin box he was holding into a distant fire.
"Bang!!"
The box exploded in a fiery blast, sending plumes of flame soaring into the sky. The pungent scent of Formalin mixed with the acrid odor of burnt earth, saturating the air and making it hard for him to breathe.
Shirou sought refuge in the underground cave ruins, holding his breath as he peered out through a small gap between the broken bricks and tiles of the surrounding buildings. Despite seeing several dark figures approaching, he stayed hidden and carefully watched their movements with one eye.
It's Assassins!
Shirou's heart raced, but he managed to keep his cool. He could maintain his composure thanks to the first night when he had forced himself to be brave. Without that experience, he knew that the adrenaline coursing through his veins would have overwhelmed him by now.
As the Assassins spread out, Shirou slowly emerged from the cave. He was familiar with the layout of the ruins, which had once been a three-story outpatient building. This gave him an advantage as he knew the terrain better than his opponents.
The fire continued to rage, and in the distance, a faint light flickered, indicating Kiritsugu's location through the use of flares.
'The countdown has begun. I need to hurry!'
He stood up, ready to run, but as he looked in the direction of the flares, he was shocked and quickly dropped back down.
Ahead of him, there was a tall, collapsed tower, which was the highest point in the area. He could see an Assassin perched on top of it, surveying the area.
"One Assassin keeping watch from the highest point, while the others scour the area?" Shirou worriedly thought to himself. He understood that he would have to neutralize the Assassin on the tower before he could make his escape. However, to accomplish this, he needed to eliminate him quietly, without alerting the other Assassins.
This task seemed nearly impossible, the difficulty level was too high, wasn't it?
Another flare was ignited in the distance, indicating Kiritsugu's location. This meant that he had used two flares to signal his whereabouts.
With flares being set off at 30-second intervals, starting with three and increasing to five, Shirou understood that he had only 90 seconds to eliminate the Assassin on the highest point and reach Kiritsugu's location before the fifth flare expired. His ultimate goal was to kill Tokiomi.
The task seemed impossible, the difficulty was too great. But, there's no other way!
Shirou gritted his teeth, steeling his resolve. "Come on, brain! Think, think hard. There has to be something that can be done," he urged himself. He racked his brain for a plan, any plan, but in the end, he realized that there was only one option – a risky gamble that could potentially cost him his life.
But as he considered this method, a new idea formed in Shirou's mind. The enemy was in the light, while he was in the dark. If this was a gamble, why not take a chance and try to take them all out?
Shirou was hesitant about this idea. He knew that his own combat power was only slightly stronger than one Assassin, and in terms of fighting experience, he was far inferior to any one of them. In theory, his first instinct should have been to escape. However, he was now considering the possibility of counter-killing.
He couldn't help but wonder if this sudden change in thinking was a result of inflating his ego the previous night. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He knew that this was a risky move, but he felt that he could at least give it a try.
According to his calculations, the probability of success was about the same as the probability of escape, so why not take a chance? He knew that it was a gamble, but he was willing to risk it all for a chance at survival.
He quickly estimated his current magical energy. After a bit of rest and fusion with the Saint Graph, he felt that he still had enough energy to use Unlimited Blade Works one more time.
Shirou knew that fighting head-on with the Assassins would undoubtedly lead to his death. However, he had a plan. he would use his Noble Phantasm, Unlimited Blade Works to trap the Assassins within the reality marble. Once they were inside, the missiles would fly and the Assassins would be the ones who would die!
His plan was certainly risky, but it held the potential to succeed if he could successfully trap the Assassins within Unlimited Blade Works. However, it was important to note that even with the advantage of the terrain and the cover of the fire and smoke, there was still a chance that he may not be able to complete the incantations in time, or the Assassins may discover him before he could activate his Reality Marble.
In the end, the success of his plan would rely heavily on the execution, as well as a bit of luck.
"But It's definitely possible, and worth a try!"
Having faced the fear of death and found the determination to survive, Shirou had gained the courage to take risks and fight back. He recognized the change within himself; he was no longer the timid and cowardly Shirou of the past. With a resolute decision, he rose to his feet, ready to put his plan into action.
Shirou projected a sword and strategically placed it in the ruins. He kept a close eye on the Assassin's movements, calculating their field of vision in his mind before making his next move. With each new position, he left behind a sword.
This tactic was incredibly dangerous, as one Assassin occupied the highest point with the best vantage point, while dozens of others scoured the ruins for him. He had to be extremely cautious to avoid being spotted by the Assassin on the high ground, move slowly and cautiously, and evade detection by the other Assassins searching for him.
The most crucial aspect of the situation was that Kiritsugu's flare had already been used twice, and only three remained. This meant that if Shirou failed to kill the Assassin or reach Kiritsugu's location within the next ninety seconds, he would lose Kiritsugu's position and cause his death. The Assassins would then converge on him and he would ultimately face defeat.
Additionally, according to Kiritsugu's intelligence, there were still many of Tokiomi's familiars scattered throughout the entire police hospital, including potentially some in the ruins. As a result, Shirou needed to proceed with great care. While seeking revenge, he also had to be vigilant about evading detection; otherwise, his efforts would be in vain, and he would be outmatched by his enemies.
Shirou took a deep breath. He made his way through familiar terrain with careful movements and a bit of luck, managing to reach the highest point of the Assassin's location without encountering any obstacles.
Along the way, he buried 17 swords strategically. However, this did not ensure success, as laying the groundwork was only the beginning. The decisive outcome was yet to come!
——"Broken Phantasm"!
Shirou detonated the first sword he had buried, creating a loud explosion. The Assassin had Presence Concealment, making it impossible for Shirou to detect his aura. So, Shirou fixed his gaze on the Assassin perched at the highest point.
