"Saber-san...?"
Leticia's eyes widened.
What had happened?
She had only lost focus for a moment, yet the reliable back that had been protecting her just seconds ago had completely vanished.
"What did you do to Saber-san!"
Leticia felt as if a huge piece of her heart had been torn away, leaving her hollow inside, and she could not stop herself from shouting.
Metatron said calmly, "I have absorbed him into my body. Before long, he will be reborn into this world as the last human."
"The sin-laden Savior will spend the rest of his life protecting the new humanity that will arise billions of years from now."
Leticia was speechless.
Even more shocking than the Archangel's incomprehensible plan was the fact that even Shirou could not resist Metatron's authority.
If even Shirou could not defeat Metatron, then no matter how hard everyone fought, humanity's destined extinction could not be changed.
At that thought, grief welled up in the girl's heart.
"Why... why would you do something so cruel...?"
Metatron frowned slightly. "Cruel?"
The girl's voice rose almost into a roar. "You're an angel! God's representative! Why must you exterminate humanity?"
"Leticia, do you believe my actions are wrong? Come to think of it, I don't seem to have explained exactly what I intend to do..."
Metatron said expressionlessly, "I will bring eternal rest to the old humanity."
"That's just a pretty way of saying death!"
"No. I am the all-knowing, all-powerful Scribe of God. If it is me, I can truly grant all of humanity everlasting peace."
"...What?"
Leticia's mouth fell open.
Metatron's expression was solemn. Her words did not sound like a lie.
"The commission I accepted from Amakusa Shirou Tokisada was [the salvation of all humanity], and I possess the power to make all of humanity sleep forever within a dream."
Metatron said, "I will erase the bodies and minds of the six billion humans on this earth without leaving behind any suffering. Only their souls will remain."
"The souls of the old humanity will come under my management, forever repeating the happiest moments of their lives in dreams, experiencing their most blissful instants an infinite number of times, until this planet reaches its final end."
Leticia: "......"
The girl's head rang as if she had been struck with a baseball bat.
Literally speaking.
This was the greatest miracle a Supreme Angel could ever achieve: sending the six billion living beings on Earth collectively to Heaven.
"Leticia... girl who has assimilated with the Holy Maiden, girl blessed by God, allow me to ask you once more. Have I done wrong?"
"Uh..."
Leticia's throat went dry at once.
In that instant, she thought of more than a dozen ways to refute the Archangel.
"Better to die than live without freedom!" "You have no right to decide humanity's choices!" "A dream is still only a dream. It isn't reality!" She could think of plenty of arguments like that.
However.
What poured into the girl's mind in that moment was a scene from the future.
What the Archangel Metatron showed her was the appearance of this planet as a wasteland one hundred years later.
A land filled with desolation, bitter cold, and death.
Humans unable to survive on the surface anymore, forced to crowd together in underground shelters.
Grotesque new religions and infectious diseases that caused deformities...
"If I do nothing now, humanity will head toward such a miserable end."
Metatron fixed the girl with those eyes so similar to the Holy Maiden's and asked in return:
"Do you believe humanity only needs to be satisfied with the present, without any concern for how their descendants will feel?"
Leticia could not answer.
It was like asking whether a couple should bring a child into the world when they already knew that child would be born disabled.
According to Catholic doctrine, abortion was an unforgivable sin on par with suicide.
Even so, the Archangel's mercy toward humanity went beyond the Lord's teachings.
She was willing to defy God's doctrine so that, while the old humanity still retained its glory, she could preserve their beauty in a single eternal instant.
The girl suddenly understood.
This cold Archangel before her loved humanity more deeply than anyone else.
Not the new humanity, whose appearance might turn out to be dinosaur-like or octopus-like for all anyone knew. What she loved was the old humanity, the humans now overbreeding upon the earth.
"..."
After a long, long silence that felt like an entire century.
Leticia loosened her bitten lip.
"Metatron-sama, you truly are an angel worthy of respect.
"I now understand why you are God's representative. But."
Flames coiled around her as the girl gripped the Sword of Gods she had inherited from the Holy Sword Master.
"I still cannot accept your methods...
"Even if your methods are correct, even if your judgment is reasonable, I still can't just stand by and watch everyone disappear!"
"That's why I'll fight! Even if I'm the only one left, I'll fight you to the very end!"
Metatron faltered for a brief moment.
She probably had not expected to be rejected by a mere young girl.
"...I see. What a pity. Truly, what a great pity."
The Archangel slowly raised her hand.
"It is deeply regrettable that I must erase your body myself."
Above Metatron's head, Mana gathered into a massive pillar of light.
It was the Second Noble Phantasm possessed by the Archangel in her incomplete manifestation, [Saint-du-mont Pilier: That Flame is Here With Me].
It was the embodiment of Metatron's infinite power and glory, the materialized form of the [Pillar of Flame].
The surging torrent of light, raging like a tidal wave, easily called to mind the Tower at the End (the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad). Though it lacked the Tower at the End's binding power that fastened the world in place, its destructive force was already comparable to the Holy Lance.
Not even the Sword of Gods that guarded the Garden of Eden could possibly withstand such power, much less Leticia, who had been an ordinary high school girl until only half a month ago.
Yet just as the girl was about to be swallowed by the Archangel's light, her body suddenly began to burn fiercely, as if she had sensed something.
In various Catholic myths, a part of the body growing hot or someone falling into a feverish sleep were signs that a divine miracle was about to manifest.
Of course, Leticia was not so naive as to believe that such a miracle would descend upon her.
As if giving up resistance, she slowly closed her eyes.
"Don't give up. Open your eyes."
A familiar, reassuring voice called the girl's consciousness back.
At the same time, a pair of strong, steady hands covered the back of the hand with which she held the sword.
"!"
Leticia looked over in disbelief and found the red-haired boy standing right behind her.
"Master, why...?"
This was clearly Magic.
Just seeing his face made every tremor, fear, and trace of despair in her heart vanish completely.
Even though a flood of light capable of vaporizing her down to the last cell was closing in, she felt completely at ease.
"Leticia, give me your hand."
"Mm!"
The girl obediently followed the boy's movement.
Shirou and Leticia stood pressed close together, gripping the sword as one.
The boy poured in the Mana of a dragon.
The girl poured in the authority of an angel.
In the next instant, a dazzling flash released from the blade swallowed their vision.
"..."
When the light finally vanished a short while later, what Leticia saw was Metatron wearing an expression of shock for the very first time.
"How... is that possible...?"
Confusion and astonishment. Such shaken emotions should never have appeared on the face of an Archangel.
"That belongs to Methuselah and Noah... not a counterfeit based on Magecraft, but the genuine article!"
She stared in disbelief at the Noble Phantasm in Shirou and Leticia's hands.
Shirou nodded and said, "Yeah. This is the guardian sword placed by your God near the Garden of Eden, the [Whirling Flaming Sword - Flaming Sword of the Cherubim].
"It isn't something Projected. It's the genuine article I happened to obtain while searching for the Holy Grail."
If it was the genuine article, then what it had just done was no mystery.
The so-called [Cherubim] was not originally the name of a particular angel, but a kind of being widely passed down in Catholic legend.
In the Old Testament, it was described as a winged heavenly being that obeyed God.
In later theology, they came to be regarded as one of the highest orders of angels, equal to the Seraphim—their name literally meaning 'Angels of Wisdom'.
For the Archangel Metatron, who does not appear in the original canon and is found only in the Judaic Apocrypha, the Cherubim could be considered one of her originals.
In the words of a certain Ancient Golden King, "It is the way of the world that a child cannot surpass its parent. How could a Noble Phantasm degraded through repeated transmission ever rival its original!"
Thus, even the [Pillar of Flame], whose power was clearly far greater, was blocked by the [Flame Sword], which shared a similar nature and possessed the attribute of an original.
Of course, the Flame Sword was not the only thing that shocked Metatron.
"Why are you there?" she demanded.
The Holy Sword User should have been sealed inside her body, yet now he was beside Leticia.
Shirou looked perfectly composed. "Did you forget?
"You didn't completely cut away the power you left inside Leticia, which is why she can use your authority."
"!"
"That's right. Part of the Archangel Metatron's authority is still inside Leticia. So…"
"The fact that I was [sealed inside Metatron] can also be interpreted as me being [sealed inside Leticia]."
"That's absurd..."
The Archangel realized her mistake.
Because she had not wanted to harm Leticia when separating Jeanne's Spirit Origin from her, Metatron had left a small amount of power inside her body.
To the omnipotent Scribe of God, it had been only an insignificant trace of authority, yet it became the crucial loophole that allowed Shirou to escape from within her.
And this was not the first time.
Twice in a row, Metatron had been struck by Shirou in her [Achilles' heel].
"Escaping from Leticia was easier than escaping from me... I'm impressed you even came up with that."
"No, it has nothing to do with which one is easier."
Shirou gave a bold, fearless smile. "Rather than having you give birth to me, I'd much prefer Leticia to be my mom."
"Master, don't say weird things like that...!"
Leticia's cheeks flushed red at the joke.
On the other side, Metatron's expression returned to calm.
"Even if you escaped, what of it?"
"Since you refuse to become the guardian of the new humanity, you are now my enemy, and the enemy of the world."
"I will reject you. Vanish together with the old humanity, Holy Sword User!"
Metatron's Spirit Origin reaction began to climb rapidly, and her Mana grew so dense it could be seen with the naked eye.
This was another form of [Univers Immortelle Metatron], or rather, its standard use.
Earlier, Metatron had used this Noble Phantasm to stop the flow of time, but only now did it reveal its true form.
Transforming into [the noblest angelic form human imagination can conceive], it unleashed an attack on all targets and a recovery on all targets.
No hero in human history existed who could withstand this Noble Phantasm.
Even against the pinnacle of firepower among all Noble Phantasms, the combined Projections of hundreds of millions of Holy Swords of the Planet, Metatron was confident she could overpower it head-on.
And yet, Shirou, who she thought would certainly draw his Holy Sword and face her down, summoned a different sword right before the Archangel's eyes.
"That is...!"
It was a long sword with an elegant design and a sacred air, its hilt adorned at the end with a bud-like ornament.
As a Noble Phantasm, its rank was neither [EX] nor [A++]. It was only [C] rank.
Yet at this moment, it was the one thing capable of threatening the Archangel Metatron.
Jeanne's personal sword, Saint Catherine.
"The Holy Maiden inside you entrusted this to me. You know exactly what that means, don't you?"
Metatron naturally knew the ability of this Noble Phantasm, sublimated from the end of a life spent saving a nation.
With the deathbed verse, "Lord, I entrust this body to Your care," as its activation Chant, the Holy Sword Catherine would leap from C rank to EX rank.
Its name was [La Pucelle].
It was a conceptual crystallized armament born by interpreting the burning at the stake that Jeanne herself experienced as an attack.
A subspecies of a Reality Marble, a Holy Sword formed by crystallizing a mental landscape.
Most importantly, activating this Noble Phantasm would kill the Ruler. It was a special-attack Noble Phantasm that annihilated all existence at the cost of her own Spirit Origin.
The Noble Phantasm itself possessed astonishing power, but not enough to seriously wound Metatron.
However, the side effect of [causing Jeanne's Spirit Origin to collapse] was fatal to her.
After all, Metatron had manifested using Jeanne's Spirit Origin as her vessel.
"Stop!"
For the first time, unmistakable panic surfaced on Metatron's solemn face.
The sealed Jeanne could not use [La Pucelle] from within, but she had actually handed the sword to Shirou.
That meant the use of [La Pucelle] had been unlocked.
To think he could come up with such a method...
No. Wrong. Wait.
It was only a bluff. He had no intention of releasing that special-attack Noble Phantasm.
Metatron knew the Holy Sword User was a noble Heroic Spirit who valued his companions. His pride would never allow him to trade Jeanne's sacrifice for victory.
"Put down that sword and fight me fair and square, Holy Sword User."
Metatron admonished him.
"If you release that Noble Phantasm, Jeanne will vanish with it! Surely even you cannot accept that outcome."
"Do you think... we aren't prepared for that?"
The words Shirou spoke while glaring at her left the Archangel speechless.
His determined expression made everything clear.
His resolve, and hers.
The Savior who had cast aside the pride of a Heroic Spirit.
The Holy Maiden who had saved a nation and now cast aside her Servant Spirit Origin.
Their determination to take her down with them, even at such a cost, was that strong.
In that instant, the Archangel felt as though she understood humans a little more deeply.
These beings seemed so weak compared to Elementals and Divine Spirits. What, then, had allowed them to rise to the throne of primates?
Their cleverness, or perhaps their cunning, which could freely make fools of gods and angels alike.
Their willingness to do whatever it took to achieve their goals, or perhaps their baseness.
Most importantly, their courage to never retreat and never give up, even when facing an enemy far stronger than themselves.
If it was them, if it was humans, then perhaps they really could overcome that future of despair...
"..."
Metatron slowly lowered the arm already filled with authority.
"[Please do not underestimate humanity]."
The red-haired boy held the sword hilt out toward the Archangel and spoke in a low voice.
"[After despair, hope is sure to come]... Those are the words Jeanne asked me to pass on to you."
At this very moment, Jeanne was probably praying silently inside Metatron's body.
Praying for humanity's future. Praying for my victory.
Shirou could feel himself connected to her.
Even though they were in different times and spaces, they could clearly sense each other's presence like this.
Speaking of which, what exactly is the [response to a confession]? I really want to know the answer.
Thinking that, Shirou poured Mana into the Holy Sword Jeanne had entrusted to him.
The bud at the end of the hilt immediately blossomed into a flower.
The Holy Sword sensed its master's prayer and began to burst with beautiful, ephemeral flames.
The shining flower of flame transformed into an explosive blade of energy, as though piercing the midnight sky.
This time, no one expected [La Pucelle] to possess the power to decide the battle. And yet...
The Servants and Magi locked in fierce battle with the Angelic Legion all looked up at once.
Everyone's gaze was drawn to that blazing fire of life. That shining flame was simply that beautiful.
Compared to the great authority released by Metatron, it was insignificant in both Mana and Mystery. And yet...
For an instant, it was as though everyone saw the most brilliant radiance in the world within that flame.
It was the flame that took the life of Jeanne d'Arc.
Those who condemned her believed that flame was punishment for a witch, but Jeanne believed it was the final salvation.
Something that purified, became the cornerstone of the future, and redeemed her.
A beautiful sight that would not be forgotten even after one hundred years, two hundred years, or a thousand years.
Just like the light of hope that would never fade so long as humanity endured.
***
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