I cannot accept this.
I absolutely refuse to accept such an ending.
On a timeline that was steadily collapsing, Shirou silently gazed up at the twilight sky.
This was the highest hill in the region known as Camlann. In the original story, this was where King Arthur, Artoria, encountered the Counter Force. Here, the girl who had watched her kingdom fall with her own eyes, a girl driven into despair, heard a tempting voice.
That voice did not come from the planet, Gaia, but from humanity, Alaya.
The planet accepted the end of civilization, but humanity, as the primate of the stars, refused to accept civilization's end.
Alaya is the defense mechanism of the "human world," created by the collective unconscious of mankind. In order to ensure that human history can continue, it absorbs countless records and countless powers, a storehouse of souls that will endure forever until the end of Human Order.
Put simply, it was a loan shark with no credit limit.
If someone was judged to be "useful for the continuation of humanity," Alaya would grant that person unlimited Mana, giving them opportunities and using them as a tool so that human history could continue.
King Arthur, having fallen to the depths of despair, made a contract with the Counter Force. From that moment on, she wandered through endless parallel worlds in search of the Wish Machine that could save Britannia.
This was the origin story of F/SN, and Shirou, as a transmigrator, knew it well.
Unfortunately, he had now found himself in a situation much like Artoria's.
Only this time, it was not an island facing destruction, but the world itself.
Thanks to Shirou's efforts, Britannia had escaped its destined destruction, but because of that, it had also been judged to be a "world with no future (Pruning Candidate)."
The universe is infinite. That is why it allows for infinite possibilities. Countless parallel worlds and histories that branch in different directions are born this way.
The universe is finite. That is why, when a world is judged at a certain point in time to be "meaningless to continue," Human Order takes action to prevent the improper waste of energy.
The "Pruning" had begun last night.
As if the power had suddenly been cut, the world entered a countdown to destruction without any warning.
Continents collapsed, the seas boiled, and an apocalyptic tsunami swept across the entire world.
Eastern civilization and Western civilization alike were powerless before the absolute will of the multiverse.
Human buildings, wonders, towns, palaces, all of it was being erased moment by moment.
The land scattered away like snowflakes. Mountains and rivers crumbled like dust.
Humanity could not escape either. Even those who had barely managed to flee the towns were still fated to die.
All of it felt like a fleeting dream.
Shirou, the one who had brought about this Pruned Event, stared fixedly at the sky and waited for that voice to appear.
Alaya appeared.
It used the same old trick, trying to tempt Shirou into offering up his soul and freedom.
"I have no interest in becoming a Guardian."
With a cold sneer, Shirou rejected the Counter Force's offer.
Even if he became a Guardian, he would not be able to save Britannia.
More importantly, saving Britannia had never been what he wanted. It was not his wish.
"I'll take Gaia's place and become the new 'World'... As I am now, I should be capable of that much."
Shirou spoke the terms of the contract he desired.
He would abandon himself as a human and create a...
No. He would make himself into a world where Morgan could find happiness too.
After a long silence, Alaya accepted Shirou's wish.
The chaos around him was so overwhelming that he failed to notice the approach of the girl he loved.
"Shirou... who are you talking to?"
When he turned around, he saw the silver-haired fairy queen standing some distance away, looking toward him.
"It's too late! Shirou! We need to evacuate too, now!"
They had only been apart for a single day, but just seeing her face filled Shirou's chest with strength.
Beautiful, pure, enchanting, intelligent, and that smile she showed only to him.
"The world is already over."
Shirou answered while doing his best to keep his emotions in check.
"We can't survive on the surface anymore, but if we go to the Inner Sea of the Planet... we can still escape into Avalon! Even if it's only the two of us, we have to survive!"
Morgan seemed to realize that something terrible was about to happen, and she started running toward him.
"What are you thinking? Don't do anything reckless! Stay right there! Don't move! Wait until I get there!"
Morgan cried out in panic.
She was usually so composed, but every now and then she showed a flustered, disheveled side. That was exactly what made her so adorable... and the way her chest was shaking was almost indecent.
How wonderful it would be to hold her right here.
How happy it would be to flee to Avalon together with her.
But Shirou could not do that.
Because they had made a promise back then, that he would make her the happiest girl in the world.
So...
Even if I can never see you again, I will still do this my way.
For your sake, even if I lose my human emotions, even if I am no longer myself, that is fine.
Because... this is the only wish I found in this world.
Countless emotions raged through Shirou's heart, and then at last they settled.
With his back to Morgan, he stepped toward the sky.
"Forget me."
...
...
And so, Shirou took the place of the dead Gaia and became this planet's new Counter Force, "Terminus."
The "Harvest" came to a halt because a new Counter Force had been born.
Even across infinite parallel worlds, a situation like this had never appeared before.
Having sensed a certain "possibility," the universe stopped the "Pruning" and gave this world one chance to begin again.
Just as Alaya treats the "continuation of humanity" as its highest priority, "Terminus" also had priorities of its own.
"The continuation of the world" and "Morgan's happiness."
Compared to the soul of the planet, the Counter Force known as "Terminus" was far too weak, and its influence extended only across the surface.
Under that premise, the existence of Britannia in the Age of Gods was permitted, and the future of the "Pruned Event" was avoided.
Though it had all begun from a wish for the happiness of one woman, in the end, everyone obtained happiness.
As for Shirou, he lost his sense of self and his ability to think, and became something like a computer program.
If there was one thing he had failed to account for, it was his own peculiar nature as a transmigrator.
His body and mind had already been destroyed, but his soul, unfortunately, remained behind.
His current state was like being trapped in a very long dream, one he would never wake from.
The transmigrator's soul drifted and wandered through a pure white world.
Unable to think. Unable to act.
Until the very last resource ran dry and the universe reached heat death, he would likely go on dreaming forever.
In the haze of that endless sleep, the transmigrator heard the voice of an old man.
"I had thought this was a branch destined to be destroyed, and yet it was forcibly sustained... just what happened here..."
The man, the Second Magician, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, muttered to himself in a deeply puzzled voice.
"So the problem really was that fake King Arthur. Reaching that level alone is already unbelievable. He's not the protagonist of some overpowered wish-fulfillment novel. What did he do after that?"
"Hm? He actually made that kind of contract with the Counter Force?"
"The contract was to make himself the new Counter Force. That's completely absurd, hahahahaha!"
"Even if you searched through infinite parallel worlds, you still wouldn't find a second madman like him, would you?"
The Magician was undoubtedly talking about Shirou.
But in his current state, Shirou could do nothing but listen.
He could not think, and he could not understand.
"Receiving Alaya's assistance alone is nowhere near enough to replace Gaia. He also needed enough power of his own."
"The moment he drew the Sword of Selection, his body stopped growing. That was the first step."
"By wielding the Holy Sword for so long, he gained immortality. By using the Holy Lance for so long, he gained Divinity."
"After the battle with the Grand Dragon, he devoured the dragon's heart and formed the strongest heart on the planet, a Magical Energy Reactor."
"And finally, during his battle with Crimson Moon... he was drained of blood by that monster and obtained the highest-grade Principle: Idea Blood."
"I see. He really is a monster worthy of becoming the Counter Force. He has probably surpassed every life-form born on this planet in the past 4.6 billion years."
"Of course, he still cannot compare to the soul of the planet, Gaia. But it is enough. Enough to carry out the duties of the Counter Force."
After reviewing Shirou's entire life, Zelretch sank into a very, very long silence.
"All this just to make your wife happy..."
"I've seen quite a lot in my time, but someone like you. I've truly never met anyone like you."
"But, Shirou, did you ever think about what kind of consequences this would bring?"
"The moment a new Counter Force was born, this world became the one and only exception among infinite parallel worlds."
"In order to explore possibilities, the universe will devote as many resources as possible to satisfying the needs of an exceptional world like this."
"To put it simply, it's like an elite class at an experimental school. Compared to ordinary classes, it gets the best resources, and the most of them."
"And who decides how those resources are used? You? Of course not. You no longer have a self anymore, do you?"
Shirou listened in silence.
"In the end, this world... revolves around your wife's will."
Zelretch continued with an amused smile.
"Unfortunately, there's no room left for me to interfere anymore."
"...You created a truly monstrous existence, Shirou."
...
…
Morgan arrived at the Hill of Camlann.
This was the place where the Queen had met her beloved husband for the last time.
As more and more of her memories returned, Morgan finally recovered this part of them as well.
It was here that Shirou offered himself up in sacrifice... Morgan thought sadly.
I'm sorry... I'm sorry...
She repeated the apology over and over in her heart.
If I had been able to tell you how I truly felt, you would not have sacrificed yourself.
If I had been a little more honest, none of this would have happened.
Shirou, I do not like the history you created for me at all.
In a world without you, I will never be happy.
So I will deny the history you created.
With unshakable resolve, Morgan closed her eyes and softly murmured an incantation.
The next moment, a small cage appeared in her hand, with a white orb of light sealed inside.
This world revolved around Morgan's will.
As long as she understood that, she could make anything she desired come true, for example.
Recovering Shirou's soul, which had already faded away.
[You cannot continue any further.]
At that moment, a voice rang directly inside Morgan's mind.
The Fairy Queen now understood that this was the one Shirou had been speaking to back then, the Counter Force known as Alaya.
[You wish to revive your husband, but that is not permitted.]
The complete resurrection of life was a miracle that surpassed the Five True Magics.
Though impossible in theory, it was not entirely beyond reach in practice. A vast enough amount of energy could make it happen.
But Shirou's case was even more complicated.
He had not died. He had become [nonexistent].
This new world, and this new Human Order, had been built on the foundation of his disappearance.
If Shirou were to be revived, then this world would vanish.
This time, there would not even be any need for pruning. The world would burst like a bubble and leave behind no trace at all.
[So give up.]
That hateful voice continued to echo inside Morgan's mind.
[.........Foolish.]
Morgan gazed lovingly at the pure white soul of the boy she adored, a scornful and bewitching smile curling across her lips.
So this is the level of the collective unconscious of humanity. How stupid, hehe... No wonder humanity ends up perishing.
The Queen could not even be bothered to respond to the Counter Force. As her Magic Circuits ignited and began to operate, a blue Magic Circle spread outward at high speed beneath her heels.
In the blink of an eye, the barren and ruined Hill of Camlann was completely transformed.
A sea of flowers, whiter than snow, stretched all the way to the horizon.
The scenery of the Inner Sea of the Planet replaced the landscape of the surface.
[What are you planning to do?]
The lingering echo of the succubus in Morgan's mind asked in confusion.
[If this world won't work, then I'll just change to another one.]
A trace of Divinity colored the witch's blue eyes as she answered calmly.
[I will create a new parallel world. A world where Shirou and I can live together in happiness.]
[If one does not work, I will create another. If that one still does not work, I will create a third.]
[I will keep creating them until every last thing that stands in the way of Shirou and me disappears.]
Morgan's goal was not [resurrection], but [creation].
Not [creation] in the mythological sense, but physically creating a universe, a galaxy, a solar system, and an Earth.
If Alaya had possessed a personality, it would surely have been stunned at that moment.
Because from just then onward, Morgan's magical energy had begun rising at an unbelievable rate.
At that instant.
Golden starlight poured forth from the sky and the earth.
In answer to Morgan's declaration, infinite resources drawn from countless parallel worlds gathered into her body.
A thousand, ten thousand, a hundred million, a trillion, ten quadrillion, a hundred quintillion, a sextillion, a septillion, an octillion, a nonillion... Light beyond counting converged into a single point.
As she gained that energy, Morgan's spiritron structure also began to change.
The first sign of it appeared in the transformation of her perspective as a life-form.
It took only a few short minutes for her to rise from human to Divine Spirit.
Two days after she began chanting, she rose from Divine Spirit to planetary scale.
To rise from planetary scale to galactic scale took a full ten months.
Morgan continued chanting without food or water, with no intention of stopping.
Compared to what Shirou had given, what she was doing amounted to almost nothing.
It was in the three hundredth year after she began chanting that Morgan's Spirit Origin rose from galactic scale to cosmic scale.
The witch still did not stop. A mere universe was nowhere near enough to contain her love for Shirou.
Then an unknowable span of time passed.
The world had become something Morgan no longer recognized.
The Kingdom of Britain, which had once flourished to its utmost under the Queen's hand, had long since become a legendary nation of ancient myth.
At last, at the end of that infinite ascent, she attained a multiversal perspective.
The world that had once seemed vast now looked pitifully small, even laughable.
To Morgan now, the third planet of the solar system did not even amount to a grain of sand.
Time, space, and causality had completely lost all meaning before her overwhelming vastness.
And so.
On that day, a new queen was born into the universe.
With a single thought, she could create countless parallel worlds.
With the slightest movement of a finger, she could alter the parameters of the Quantum Time-Lock.
The newest. The strongest. The ultimate.
Omniscient. Omnipotent. Omnipresent.
The God of Creation who possessed a multiversal perspective and a cosmic-scale Spirit Origin was named Morgan le Fay, the Goddess of the End.
[Come, my husband, my brother.]
Overflowing tenderness shone in the goddess's eyes as she gazed at the pure white soul in her hand and murmured softly.
[Let us go to a new world and create a new encounter that belongs to us.
I would love to experience being sister and brother, and husband and wife, with you all over again, but...
Hehe, what do you think of the setting of human and fairy, knight and witch?]