Chapter 76. The Evolution of Emiya's [Unlimited Blade Works]! The Concept of [World Overlay]!
If the Filthy Spirit of the 59th floor was a Cthulhu-esque ecological disaster, then what the 60th floor presented to the world was a pure blankness—the kind that would drive all artists to despair and make all 3D modelers resign in a heap.
There were no rocks, no vegetation, not even the texture of flowing air. What they stepped on was not solid earth, but a translucent crystalline substance emitting a faint shimmer. It felt like falling into a pre-rendered space that hadn't been filled with assets yet, or the low-level code area left over after a server crash. 1zoxK
This was the secret of Orario's deepest depths, the "Abyss of Emptiness" that even the Gods were said to be reluctant to mention.
"My, my, isn't the art style here a bit too simplistic?" Lilliruca Arde clutched the corner of Shirou's clothes, her voice sharp with fear. "I feel like if I shout here, the whole map will crash due to a memory overflow! This is basically bullying a Supporter's eyesight!"
"Don't talk nonsense, Lili," Shirou Emiya reminded her in a low voice.
His current state was extremely bizarre. Although he had successfully ascended to Lv. 4 and his "container" capacity had taken a qualitative leap, the aftereffects of forcibly semi-releasing the Holy Sword of the Stars followed him like a shadow. His right hand had completely turned into a transparent golden beam of light; even the lines at his shoulder were starting to ghost, like a game character with pixel-tearing caused by an overheating graphics card.
Every second, he could feel the laws of this world frantically trying to purge his existence from the current coordinates, like antivirus software cleaning a virus.
"Emiya, your face... is whiter than the floor tiles under us." Bete Loga's mouth remained relentless, but his tightly clenched fists betrayed his inner tension. "If you can't hold on, say something. I don't want to have to run off carrying a transparent person. That would feel like lugging around an invisible *** doll, it's disgusting! Hey, did you hear me?"
"Thanks for the concern, Bete. If you could retract that *** doll metaphor, I might feel a bit better." Shirou managed a trademark wry smile. After reaching Lv. 4, his magic circuits had become broader and his control over his body stronger, but that couldn't negate the rejection of the World's Will.
At that moment, Ais Wallenstein, who had been leading the way, suddenly came to a halt. Her Desperate Monster let out a crisp hum, and the golden ahoge on her head swayed frantically like a precision radar in this silent space.
"Something... is coming. Not a monster, but... a punishment." Ais's voice was as cold as ice.
Everyone followed her gaze. At the end of that stark white void, a massive, pitch-black silhouette slowly emerged. It wasn't a biological creature, but a giant humanoid entity stacked from countless black cubes. Every move it made left behind "glitch" afterimages in the air, similar to corrupted screen data.
Abyss Executioner — Zero (Executioner Zero).
This was the ultimate bodyguard manifested by the Dungeon to eliminate foreign objects—the physical manifestation of the world's laws.
"It's Lv. 7," Finn Deimne's voice was somewhat raspy. Even though he was currently at the peak of his "Braver" state, his thumb was throbbing violently. "This aura... it's purer than Ottar in his prime. This is the authority of 'Erasure' granted directly by the Dungeon. It doesn't need technique; it is the rule itself."
"Everyone, listen up! This is the final battle!" Finn's spear struck the ground heavily, splashing transparent sparks. "This isn't for fame or magic stones; it's so that our most trusted comrade can continue to live as a 'human'!"
"OHHHHHHHH!"
The elites of the Loki Familia erupted in a synchronized war cry. Gareth raised his tower shield, Riveria began her highest-tier chant, and the sisters Tiona and Tione blurred into two afterimages, flanking from the left and right.
However, Executioner Zero merely raised its right hand, which was composed of black cubes.
HUM—
A translucent ripple fluctuated outward. No explosion, no roar. But the moment the ripple passed through, Tiona's massive dual blade—capable of cleaving mountains—actually disintegrated into powder in the air like a piece of dried compressed biscuit.
"My Urga?!" Tiona cried out as she retreated, falling into a state of total existential doubt. "It 'deleted' my weapon?! That's not playing fair at all!"
It wasn't just weapons. Gareth's shield was vanishing. Riveria's mana was evaporating. This was the home field of "Emptiness"; any physical object with a sense of "presence" was forcibly granted the attribute of "Disappearance."
Since there was nothing here, "Possessing" was a sin.
Watching his companions fall into a bitter struggle, the flame in Shirou's heart finally ignited completely. The Lv. 4 container was no longer a burden, but the foundation of his counterattack. He knew that the only thing that could counter Emptiness now was his "Infinity."
Because Emptiness represents "Zero." And Infinity represents the "Endless" that follows "One."
Trace On.
Shirou reached out with his almost-vanished right hand. This time, he didn't project a sword. He was projecting "himself."
Analyzing structural components—the causality named Shirou Emiya. Determining basic frame—the pride of twenty-seven magic circuits. Granting true attribute—the obsession of an Ally of Justice.
HUM!
The Protection of Artemis on Shirou's back suddenly exploded, turning into a sky full of silver feathers. These feathers did not dissipate; instead, they acted like nails, pinning themselves firmly into this void space.
"Since this world rejects me, I will use my world to forcibly overwrite it!"
Reality Marble — Partial Deployment!
The originally white crystalline ground was suddenly replaced by a dark red wasteland. Giant iron gears appeared out of thin air in the sky, turning slowly and heavily. Under that crimson sunset, countless swords of varying designs were planted into the earth like tombstones.
Reality Marble — Unlimited Blade Works (Reconstructed Version): Sword Works Under the Moon · Cradle of the Stars.
Because this was an otherworldly boundary that did not belong to the laws of the Dungeon, those so-called "Erasure Ripples" actually made a crisp sound like breaking glass when they crashed against the edge of the barrier.
"Ais! Use the swords here!" Shirou roared.
Ais froze for a second, then quickly spotted a longsword shimmering with green wind currents planted at her feet. The moment she pulled the sword and took it in hand, she was stunned. This sword... was actually responding to her mana?
It wasn't just Ais. Finn grabbed a spear engraved with runes of victory. Gareth gripped a massive axe capable of supporting the heavens. Bete stepped into war boots imbued with wings of wind.
Inside Shirou's barrier, everyone received a targeted conceptual buff. This was the true strength of Lv. 4 Shirou Emiya—he alone was a fully equipped arsenal.
"This is my battlefield, and my will." Shirou walked slowly toward Executioner Zero.
His right hand finally stopped its trend of transparency. In its place, countless dense, glowing red circuits—looking like a circuit board—covered his entire arm. These circuits were greedily absorbing the surrounding void energy, converting it into a brand-new substance.
"Are you, a guy without even a face, planning to scare me off with that mosaic skin?" Shirou smiled provocatively. Though every step felt like his soul was being torn apart, it didn't stop him from activating his "snark" skill. "Sorry, but I've seen things much uglier than you."
Executioner Zero seemed provoked. Its body of cubes suddenly collapsed and then reconstructed into a massive black blade that blotted out the sky. The blade fell, carrying the power to destroy all sense of existence, vowing to slice Shirou's barrier completely open.
"Trying to cut through Infinity? Then you might need to learn how to count first!"
Shirou did not dodge. He raised his newly born right hand, which shimmered with red-gold light.
Projection — Ultimate Release.
Behind him, several thousand famous swords emitted a resonant hum simultaneously. These swords were no longer static decorations; they turned into streams of light, forming a massive vortex around Shirou.
"This is my answer."
Shirou slammed his fist shut.
Blade of the End · Moonlight Manuscript — Full Armament Form!
A golden light-sword, a hundred meters long and aggregated from countless sword shadows, appeared on his right hand. This sword had no physical form; it was a "Miracle" constructed from concepts, experiences, protections, and the wish to survive.
"SLASH!"
The golden light-sword collided with the black giant blade in the center of the Abyss of Emptiness.
In that instant, the entire 60th floor of the Dungeon lost all color. After an extreme brilliance came an absolute darkness.
The members of the Loki Familia felt like they had lost their senses at that moment, able only to hear their own heartbeats drumming frantically in their chests. It felt like watching an IMAX movie at the center of the Big Bang—it was so shocking it made one want to vomit.
Who knows how much time passed.
When vision returned, the Executioner made of black cubes had completely shattered, turning into a sky full of corrupted data. Like a digital funeral, it vanished into the dark abyss.
Shirou's Reality Marble had also dissipated.
The youth knelt on one knee on the ground, gasping for breath. His right hand was no longer transparent, nor was it pure flesh; it was a marvelous material presenting a semi-crystalline texture with lava-like golden light flowing inside.
He had succeeded.
He had utilized the power the Dungeon used to try and erase him, turning it around to forge that "Emptiness" concept into his own flesh. To put it simply, he had forcibly physicalized himself. From now on, neither time-space correction forces nor the malice of the Dungeon could easily shake his existence.
Because his body at this moment was itself a sword capable of carrying the Light of the Stars.
"Emiya..." Ais stumbled over but stopped a step away from him. She looked at Shirou's right hand, which was filled with divinity, her eyes full of confusion and worry.
"Are you still you?" Ais asked softly, her ahoge shrinking into a question mark from nervousness.
Shirou looked up, his amber eyes still gentle, even carrying a hint of relief from surviving the disaster.
"Of course. If it weren't me, who else would be thinking about going back to camp to make you that meal of fried shrimp tempura with cheese? Though ingredients might be a bit scarce right now."
The air fell into a brief silence.
Then, a loud laugh from Bete broke the deadlock.
"You bastard! Even at a time like this, you're thinking about fried shrimp?! You really are an irredeemable chef with a head full of flour and oil fumes! I give in to you!"
Lili and Haruhime hugged Shirou and wailed, as if venting all the suppressed fear from before. lzoK
Riveria stepped forward, observing Shirou's right hand with a complex gaze. She reached out, her fingertips lightly touching the shimmering gold light, sensing a "Mystery" that would make even Elven royalty tremble.
"Lv. 4 can no longer fully define you, Emiya," Riveria sighed softly. "Though numerically you might not match a First-Tier adventurer, your 'Quality' has already touched the domain of the Gods. This is a devastating blow to the balance of Orario."
"Not only that." Finn walked over, his expression very serious. "Everyone, look at your feet."
In the once-empty Abyss of Emptiness, where the Executioner had been shattered, a massive rotating vortex had appeared. It wasn't a trap. Coming from the vortex was the fresh scent of greenery from the surface.
The Great Hole.
This was the shortcut to the surface, the oldest scar at the heart of the Dungeon.
"It seems the Dungeon has truly admitted defeat this time." Finn revealed a relieved smile. "It probably feels that rather than keeping a high-grade virus like you who makes a mess of the house, it's easier to just throw you out. It's executing an 'Uninstall Program'."
"Indeed." Shirou stood up, flexing his right hand, which had fully regained sensation and even felt a surge in power. This feeling was like just switching to the latest model of a high-end graphics card; even breathing felt smoother.
Just as he was about to step into the vortex with his companions...
HUM—
The strong sensation of the Divine Eye peeking down came from the sky once again. 1zoxK
This time, it felt stronger than ever. It was a morbid fanatical heat from Freya that almost overflowed from the Divine Mirror.
"Ah... Shirou Emiya. You have finally finished forging. That hand, that brilliance... even if it destroys the world, I must take you. You belong to me, my only 'Rough Diamond'."
The Goddess's whisper seemed to follow the wind, burrowing directly into Shirou's ear.
Shirou stopped and looked up at the empty vault of heaven. He knew that at the very top of Babel, the war called "Ownership" had only just begun.
But he felt no fear. On the contrary, he reached out his golden right hand and made a gripping motion toward the void.
"Then come and try, Goddess of Beauty. No matter what kind of script you've prepared, no matter what kind of power you use... I will write my own ending with this hand. My fate is never decided by the Gods."
"Let's go, everyone." Shirou turned to look at his partners.
"Back to Orario, and then... let's eat our fill! And pay off those fines while we're at it!"
"OHHHHHHHH!"
Amidst a burst of energetic cheers, the entire Loki Familia expedition team disappeared into the white light.
At the same time, in the shadows of the 61st floor, deeper within the Dungeon.
A man cloaked in black watched the residual image of Shirou's departure with those red compound eyes.
"Hehe... to think even the Executioner couldn't kill him? It seems that useless Thanatos was right. This outlander is the top priority that must be eliminated. The scent he carries makes the Mother Goddess feel threatened."
The man turned around, looking at a massive meat cocoon behind him that was slowly growing and emitting an extremely ominous aura.
"Accelerate the progress. Before that boy reaches Lv. 5, we must let all of Orario see what a true... Doomsday looks like."
Darkness writhed once more in the abyss. And the legend of Shirou Emiya had only just entered its true mid-game. This time, the world would no longer be gentle.
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