The Dream Shatters at the End / The Time to Wake Has Come

Thus, Shirou Emiya became the being she admired and longed for, someone who gave up everything for all humanity, and even abandoned justice for justice, becoming a concept.

Shirou Emiya became a god not because he was bound by rules and was merely a lower-level god with greater power but who had not broken free from constraints, but because he was a being who acted as a rule, operating in a higher dimension.

Because no one can affect him, he is invincible. Even the Counter Force of Gaia and Alaya cannot have any effect on Shirou Emiya, who is of the same level.

But precisely because of this, Shirou Emiya no longer appears in this world. As the Black Mud, even though she has now become Servant, she has no way to see Shirou Emiya again.

That would be so boring.

Although Black Mud only gained consciousness by chance through merging with Black Mud Heroic Servant manifested from a book, and is essentially still a picture book that children like, she still wants to see Shirou Emiya one more time, so even just seeing him from afar would be enough.

Yearning for that kind of spiritual symbolism, he abandoned justice for the sake of justice, becoming Servant, and then for the sake of humanity, he once again abandoned justice, becoming a god.

He's so handsome, so dazzling.

Sure enough, she also wanted to become a god. Even if it was impossible in her original world, she thought that in the dream world, she might be able to accumulate dream energy and eventually become a god in her dreams.

Chapter 192 The Dream Shattered, The End

"Why are you interfering with me?" The black mud Heroic Spirit struggled to its feet, Black Mud gushing from its body as it tried to heal its wounds.

The black mud Heroic Spirit coldly looked at everyone and asked:

"If I complete this dream world, I will let everyone who comes into this world have the beautiful dreams they desire. Why are you stopping me? Even those who are sucked into this dream world are enjoying their dreams here."

"Initially, I only recruited people who were dissatisfied with reality."

"Let those who want to punish themselves, those who want to vent their frustrations, fight. Let those who want to cry cry, and let those who want to enjoy themselves enjoy themselves."

"In the world I created, everyone can get what they want, whether it's happiness or sadness. Even things that don't exist in reality, like characters from fairy tales and comic books, can be created here."

"Such a wonderful world! Even if they had to give up their physical bodies, there would be plenty of humans willing to come in! All they would need to do is provide me with the energy to maintain this world in the early stages. After that, they could obtain eternal bliss. Isn't that the best deal ever?"

Shirou shook his head and said:

"No, dreams, lies, failures, and setbacks are all necessary steps on the path to achieving what we yearn for, and thus they form a part of reality."

It's not enough to achieve something in a dream; satisfaction isn't found in dreams. Humans are insatiable, seeking both stability and excitement. They want to embrace, they want to touch—these are things that can't be done in dreams.

"For achievements like those in competitions or exams, people don't stop pursuing them in reality just because they've dreamed of getting a perfect score. Dreams are just one aspect of reality; it's precisely because of the urgent desire to achieve them that we have those kinds of dreams."

Even in dreams, one is contemplating and searching for a feasible way to realize that reality; therefore, if one stops at the point of the dream, then everything is backwards.

The black mud Heroic Spirit looked at the boy and said with great dissatisfaction.

"Why? Why would anyone deny me? I could achieve my dreams and get everything I want just by lying down, why?!"

"What I want is for everyone to achieve true happiness; this half-baked approach is completely unnecessary."

There are countless things in this world that are impossible to achieve in reality! But here, I can make them happen!

Shirou looked at the little girl with the black mud Heroic Spirit and retorted, "No! It's precisely because we can't overcome these insurmountable obstacles that we have dreams! If we can bring happiness to all of humanity, then no amount of setbacks or suffering is too much to ask!"

Reality is full of hardships and cruelty. Even if people try their best, the results are often unsatisfactory. However, it is also full of possibilities. Encounters between people and the collision of ideas can always produce unexpected new things.

If there were a mechanism that allowed one to dream of everything they wanted, it would certainly be very relaxing and enjoyable there, but this kind of solitary enjoyment can only satisfy a person's needs for a short time.

Who would want to remain trapped in a dream world where desires can only be satisfied by one's own limited imagination?

The black mud Heroic Spirit said in a deep voice, "Is that so! Is that so! Shirou, it's precisely because you're not that Shirou Emiya that you utter such despicable words! Enough is enough, I'll kill you! Then no one will stop me. I will become the god of dreams, and then let everyone here find fulfillment. I don't need a dream as worthless as you!"

Shirou has already seen through the Magic Eye the true nature of this book; although its body is that of Rhyme, its interior has been replaced by Black Mud.

The pages of the book did not initially house the little girl named Rhyme, but rather chaotic Black Mud, like the hole that emerged when the corrupted Holy Grail was summoned.

However, during this process, the Servant's system needed a medium to drive its Spirit Origin and body, so the Black Mud inside was born and developed consciousness.

Clay, as an object, after acquiring inner qualities and thoughts, became the little girl before us who wanted to become a god and, in her own opinion, wanted to give people beautiful dreams and happiness.

Although she possesses a great deal of knowledge and common sense, she has been alive for perhaps less than six months and is merely a clumsy imitator of a deity.

The Black Mud monster then looked at the woman and shouted, "Marie, don't you want revenge? Come and help me! Then you can avenge yourself against the descendants of those who did those things to you and your children back then."

"Shut up! I don't need your kind of revenge that comes from dreams! Even in a script, I have absolutely no interest in beheadings! Besides! Under the White Lily's crown, there are no traitors." Black Queen Mary rebuked in a deep voice, raising her hand and activating her Noble Phantasm once again!

A white horse flew out from the crown, the symbol of the White Lily Dynasty, trampling over flower petals as it charged towards the Black Mud monster.

The black Beam Cannon was emitted from the book, but its power was significantly reduced. It barely managed to neutralize Marie's Noble Phantasm before running out of steam.

"I'm not reconciled! Why! I could have become a god! Why are you stopping me!" The Black Mud monster roared, releasing all the Black Mud within its body, and charged forward, attempting a final act of resistance to devour everything.

"A god like you is unnecessary! Vanish! -- Roar! My wrath!!!" Jeanne d'Arc activated her Noble Phantasm.

The demonic flames burned the Black Mud that rushed towards them, enveloping the Black Mud monster within a circle of fire.

"It's not over yet!!!" The black mud Heroic Spirit emerged from the flames, its body enveloped in Black Mud. The Black Mud was continuously burned away by the flames, turning to ash and disappearing. Its foremost arm was burned off by the Black Mud, and the exposed skin was charred black, yet it still stubbornly protected its body.

"Aaaaah! Why won't you fall even after fighting like this?!" Jeanne d'Arc frowned and cursed as she looked at the wounded black mud Heroic Spirit. Facing such an opponent, even with all the advantages, she couldn't feel happy at all.

"It's not over yet, it's not over yet..." the black mud Heroic Spirit muttered repeatedly. This was the only dream that Black Mud, as a non-human being, had ever had. An unconscious object had been transformed into a conscious being, pursuing her dream in the body of Servant. Perhaps among all Servant, she was an exception among exceptions.

"That's enough. Let me get to know you." Jeanne d'Arc said, stepping forward with a serious expression.

Servant did not originally exist in this world appeared because of a miracle and a coincidence.

It appears strong, but it is actually very fragile, like an illusory dream, a bubble on the water, a fleeting phantom.

Suddenly gaining life and developing consciousness must feel incredibly important, right? There's no past, no future, and compared to normal humans, life is extremely short. Once you die, you have nothing left.

Even something like this can still have desires, which is why it's showing such tenacity now.

The Black Mud monster... no, she no longer had any Black Mud on her body; it was all used up. Now she was just Servant looked like a little girl covered in sores, wearing a black dress.

The two wounds that the boy had previously inflicted had stopped bleeding; perhaps she had bled out of her body.

But! That's precisely why we have to send her on her way; enduring this painful ordeal will not achieve anything.

"Die!" Jeanne d'Arc unleashed a demonic flame that exploded in front of the black mud Heroic Spirit. She shielded herself, but was blasted away and struggled to her feet.

She was swept away again by Jeanne d'Arc's powerfully swung flagpole. She managed to block it with her books, but was still sent flying by the force. After falling, she got up, unwilling to admit defeat, and stood in front of the enemy.

"It's not over yet..."

"I can't stand it anymore! What kind of obsession is this, so deep and incurable, just like the Avengers'?! I'll give you the final blow! As long as you have hands and feet, you'll definitely stand up!"

"Then this time, even if I summon Fafnir, I'll burn you to ashes!!" Jeanne d'Arc gritted her teeth, drew her black sword, and frantically absorbed the magic of the Holy Grail, determined to end it all.

The black mud Heroic Spirit stared directly at the girl, unable to utter a word this time, but its gaze remained resolute.

"Jeanne d'Arc ..." The boy placed his hand on the silver-haired girl's shoulder and pulled her back.

"Shirou!? You don't pity her, do you? Then shut up! Get out of my way! Otherwise, I might punch you away!" Jeanne d'Arc shook off the boy's hand, glared at him, and shouted.

She was prepared to kill this black mud Heroic Spirit. For the part of the Black Mud that had gained consciousness, this was indeed a very short and precious, unique life.

But if she is the boy's destined enemy, then she will show no mercy. If the boy is unwilling to do so, then she will take action alone.

"No, Jeanne d'Arc, this child has reached her limit." Shirou shook his head as he looked at the silver-haired girl.

Shirou observed the Black Mud monster's state with his Magic Eye, lowered his twin swords, and said softly, "It's over. I don't know exactly what he did, but through this method, he won't acknowledge you."

"Ah... it's over." The Black Mud monster's body was cracked with scars, looking as if it wouldn't be surprising if it were to turn into pieces at any moment. The Black Mud on her body had long since dried out and fallen off, and she could no longer even breathe.

He fought on with only his astonishing willpower, holding onto his last breath, and using his already exhausted body.

He finally let out that last breath.

The small body fell to the ground this time, and the earth that had been covered in black had now returned to its former state of grass and green. The black mud Heroic Spirit lay there, gazing at the stars in the sky.

The Morning Star twinkled high in the center of the night sky; it was almost dawn.

"I'm sorry, if we had met sooner and had a proper talk, perhaps things wouldn't have ended this way," Shirou said, crouching down and looking at the little girl.

"Cough cough... that's impossible." The little girl said weakly but with a smile. "If that's the case, then you shouldn't have bothered with my affairs in the first place."

"Since what you did was wrong, I will come and curse you no matter what. It's just a pity that you have only just awakened your intelligence, like a child, yet you made the wrong choice because of orders," Shirou said sincerely.

"I really don't understand. Why are you apologizing? You're just a remnant of a god too. Except for the gods, all Shirou Emiya will disappear. But even you will eventually disappear, right? Haha... In the end, I'm the same as you. It's just that if I disappear like this now, I'll never be able to see that god again."

"... You really do like that Shirou Emiya, don't you?" Shirou said.

"Ah, I really long for it. In the moment when I first came to my senses and was a little lost, wondering whether I should follow the orders, I saw that figure. Long silver-white hair, spotless white clothes, snow-white skin, she was just so dazzling."

As the little girl spoke, she transformed into a beam of light and vanished from this world.

The next time I see a little girl like this, I will only see the Servant Rhyme, and never again the Servant dreaming while fused with the Black Mud.

As the world, shrouded in darkness, regains its former colors, the space here becomes unstable.

"Marie, my lovely wife, I hope you will find more happiness in the future. It's a pity we have to part now. Although there are still many things I want to say to you, I missed them all during the days we lived together." Louis XVI, who had temporarily taken over Shirou's body, said to his beloved wife with a light laugh.

"Your Majesty... since that's the case, you must come to see me again. If I'm in danger, you'll have to come and save me, okay?" Black Queen Mary said with a light laugh as she looked at her husband.

"Ah, it's a deal!" Louis XVI replied decisively this time.

"Excellent answer! Your Majesty is more handsome than ever today!" Marie wanted to give her husband a hug and even a passionate kiss, but she quickly stopped herself when she remembered that his body was actually Shirou's.

However, as a France, I think it's acceptable to give a cheek kiss to a handsome and kind-hearted young man.

The somewhat cold gazes of the France perverted alliance swept over, and Louis XVI coughed.

Under the staring eyes of the silver-haired girl, the cat's pupils turning vertical, and the gloomy, solitary gaze of the homebody Princess, Marie stopped her hand that was reaching for the boy's face.

The two separated in an instant, as if by unspoken understanding.

"Chevalier d'Eon, Sanson, and the musicians, next time let's have tea together not as kings, but as friends," Louis XVI said with a kind, good-natured smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty (Louis)," the others replied.

In his Inner World, Shirou bids a final farewell to Louis XVI.

Chapter 193 The Time Has Come to Awaken

"Shirou, thank you so much for helping us protect France. You've been a great help. If you ever need any help in the future, please don't hesitate to summon me. Although I'm not a particularly powerful Servant outside of France, I can still help if there are any mechanisms or locks that you can't unlock," Louis XVI said with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. This is simply what I should do." Shirou nodded in agreement. Initially, it was only to protect the world, but after arriving in Paris, he met the enthusiastic headmistress and his classmates, and he could no longer say that the city was unimportant.

"Is that so? It's wonderful that you've come to like this country. Well then, farewell! Young man, I wish you a happy and fulfilling life!" Louis XVI seemed to have read the young man's thoughts and said with a smile.

With a mix of relief, sadness, and regret, Louis XVI returned to the Throne of Heroes.

After seeing the boy remove his spirit armor, Marie turned to her friends and said...

"Although I'd like to hold another tea party—we haven't had tea together since this happened—there's no time left. So, everyone, please do what you want to do in these final moments. Don't worry about me; if you want to leave, then leave."

Black Queen Mary spoke, she walked straight into the Palace of Versailles, a place filled with her memories.

Chevalier d'Eon and Sanson exchanged a glance and followed behind Marie.

"What's wrong? Don't you have anything else to do?" Marie asked.

"Yes, we'll follow you, Empress."

Mozart, who was silently following behind, asked in bewilderment, "Marie, why don't you ask me?"

"Anyway, whether you're black or white, you'll keep following me, right?" Marie said irritably.

"Ah, when Marie said that, her breathing quickened by three-quarters of a beat. Is that what they call tsundere?" Mozart said excitedly.

"Get back to Vienna!! You hopeless scum!" Chevalier d'Eon cursed.

Looking at the Palace of Versailles, which was mostly destroyed, Black Queen Mary, felt somewhat depressed. When her family was taken away from here, a mob rushed up and smashed, looted, and demolished the palace, and this was probably the kind of tragic scene that followed.

"As expected! I can't forgive those people!" Marie, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.

"Empress..."

"But His Your Majesty said he hopes I will be happy, so I will smile and love those who are worthy of my love, and the country that is worthy of my love. Then, as everyone's idol, I will attain supreme happiness, receiving the love and respect of all my people while leading them to enjoy a fashionable and fun life."

Then, secretly, I'll search for my enemies. If I ever get the chance to meet the descendants of those who persecuted me and my child, I'll secretly take revenge! Hmm... People who do this kind of work are like the my-homies in the theater before, those honest and reliable black brothers would be great. I'm really looking forward to it!"Marie said with an angelic smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty! As your knight, I will always follow you." Chevalier d'Eon swore. Indeed, whether it was the goddess-like idol Marie or the dark world queen who secretly controlled the black mafia, as a knight of yuri, she would unconditionally protect her by her side.

"What an amazing idea! She's absolutely a goddess!" Sanson exclaimed in astonishment.

"Well, no matter what kind of Marie are, I'll always be on your side," Mozart said with a nonchalant smile.

"Hahaha..." Shirou chuckled dryly as he moved away from the France side, feeling that no matter what type of person he was, it would be difficult for him to fit in, and he didn't want to.

"Well then, we're leaving too. Little Deer, and you guys, don't be sad. Although we had to split up because of the previous battle and missed my amazing performance, I'll remember to send you invitations next time. You can come to my concert then!" Elizabeth comforted Shirou and the others, patting her chest as she assured them.

"Ahaha, that's a real shame." Jeanne d'Arc seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Mr. Shirou, you must keep in touch with me after you go back, or I'll fold a paper doll of you and curse you!" Hime no Toki ran up and said, revealing a cunning and sinister expression as she pushed up her glasses.