The Pink-Haired Swordswoman

The man explained, "No, we share the same origin, yet we are different. Because of the differences between worlds, we have different experiences, and thus, our own personalities. These are etched in our hearts, and cannot be forgotten so easily."

However, when we merge into one, a unified personality is generated for the sake of harmony. But when we appear as separate entities, our individual personalities will still manifest. Therefore, there are others among us who, like you, want to oppose the existence of a unified personality."

"I see!" Shirou's eyes lit up; he realized he seemed to have found a crucial breakthrough.

"Let me start by telling you about what happened before I died." The man looked at Shirou, reminiscing about the past, and began to tell his story.

"In my lifetime, Projection had the drawback of insufficient magical energy supply, and it could not be maintained without a continuous supply of magical energy. Because I had experience Projection the Jewel Sword for Tohsaka before, it was really difficult at the time. The design blueprints, which were completely different from Magecraft, were barely completed and Projection with the help of Illya."

However, it was precisely because of this that the experience left a deep impression on me. It also inspired me during my later training Magus, and I found a way to compensate for Projection Magecraft. In my later life, I studied iron forging techniques, hoping to forge a prototype that was infinitely close to Noble Phantasm. If I could then use this as a basis for Projection, I could save a large amount of magic power.

However, I do seem to have a good affinity for 'sword forging'. I repeatedly tried to forge a sword, and I don't know when it started, but as long as I found suitable materials, I could create a replica with power almost identical to the real thing, even without Magecraft.

"Do you know Muramasa?" Shirou asked, looking at the other person.

"Ah, I do have some similarities with that swordsmith. But he forged the Kusanagi, which severs karmic ties, while I, in the end, haven't changed at all. Even if I forged a divine weapon, my world was still destined to be destroyed, so I chose to merge with my counterparts in other worlds, borrowing the power of the gods. I just never expected to end up like this." The man sighed as he recalled the past.

"So, isn't the desire of everyone to strip the gods of their power and eliminate mystery the driving force behind this?" Shirou countered.

"Yes... but none of us have the ability to resist the original body, except for you, the exception." The man gazed at Shirou and continued, "Among all of us clones, you are perhaps the most different. Compared to our previous lives, your life has been far less cruel. You grew up smoothly to this age under the care of your family. You also have close friends who are willing to understand you. Therefore, your desire to live is much stronger than ours."

"Yes, the Counter Force once said that I am an accident created unintentionally by the gods in their yearning for happiness." Shirou nodded.

The man said, "Only you can resist the original body. We clones were created under the control of that god in the snow mountain, so although we have our own consciousness, we have no way to resist. You are the only individual created when he was unconscious, and therefore you have escaped his control."

I only wanted to save the person in front of me, but I never imagined that my actions might lead to the destruction of the world. I'm just a burden here, unable to do anything else. Please take care of me from now on."

The man chuckled self-deprecatingly, then grasped Shirou's hand, his entire body radiating a dazzling white light, with colorful specks of light floating around him.

"Wait! What exactly do you mean by this?" Shirou asked in surprise.

'Since you want to rebel, then I'll help you. This power is yours!'

Shirou's eyes widened as he watched the divine clone before him gradually disintegrate into white specks of light, condensing into a pure white yin-yang symbol that swam to Shirou's face, gently touching Shirou forehead. Like a drop of water falling on a lake, it created ripples before disappearing into his body. Instantly, the blood in his veins rushed through him, and the stimulation to his nervous system felt like an electric shock, spreading throughout Shirou's entire body.

Even if a divine avatar were to encounter a powerful being and be destroyed, its power would be reclaimed by the white deity of the command tower; after all, this is already a concept.

The dim space transformed into pure white, with crystalline specks of light floating in the air.

Remember, we possess the Creative Power. The strength of our creative ability lies more in our capacity for conceptualization and imagination—a freedom far greater than Projection.

The man's voice that reached Shirou's ears was the last sentence.

The man's words echoed in Shirou's mind, his feelings were very complicated. He had thought of him as an enemy, but now he had entrusted his beliefs to him.

"Clap clap clap!" At this moment, unhurried applause rang out, and the Dense Forest Witch appeared out of nowhere, speaking in a high-pitched voice.

"Congratulations, Shirou Emiya, you've passed through the second world, a world that was supposed to be ruled by the terror of the gods. Unexpectedly, such an accident occurred." The Dense Forest Witch bit her thumbnail as she spoke, but after a moment, she quickly composed herself and smiled at Shirou, saying:

"But it doesn't matter. You still need to complete one last task. As long as you pass this test, then according to the agreement, I won't stop you anymore."

"No, there is no end!" Shirou waved his hand, and a white halo appeared in his palm. The Dense Forest Witch was instantly surrounded by various kinds of Noble Phantasm. At this moment, the witch was like someone locked in a sealed cage, or like Iron Maiden with her face exposed. If she dared to move even an inch, she would be cut by sharp blades and covered in blood.

"Oh ho, so it seems my previous prediction was wrong," the witch said, looking at the weapons around her. They were no longer just white light, but each had its own color. This was a new skill that Shirou had developed himself, unique to this place.

He had always existed by relying on the power of the white god, but now everything was different. He was no longer just an avatar of the white god, nor merely the god's yearning for a happy life.

This time, the boy made his own choice: to become an enemy who opposes the gods!

Shirou received the energy transferred to him by the divine avatar. This was not simply a matter of increasing the Divine Power within him by 1; rather, it was about finding the gateway to mastering all the power of the creator god.

Compared to the many clones Shirou had experienced, the experience gained from them was absorbed by Shirou like a sudden enlightenment. Since they were all originally the same person, the process proceeded very smoothly.

Shirou's mind was filled with images of everything this divine avatar had experienced: whether it was transferring humans destined for disaster to another world, or witnessing Human Evil destroy the region, or rescuing a purple-haired girl from the white space and bringing her to the snowy mountains...

Shirou understood many things, and he also realized that his opponent was not the witch here, but the one who was furthest away, yet the one with the closest relationship to him.

At the summit of the snow-capped mountain, the white deity shifted his head, turning his gaze to this space, the world where Shirou resided.

At this moment, Shirou involuntarily raised his head and opened his eyes wide, looking ahead as if he were standing in front of a mirror, silently staring at the white god's true form from another dimension.

When Shirou unleashed his Divine Power in the previous world, he had already made the decision to settle things with the white god. He believed that the white version of himself on the other side was also aware that this was a battle between himself and himself.

"But an agreement is an agreement. Even if you kill me, it cannot change the fact that you must complete the trials in the three small worlds. Although you think this is my curse, it is actually a vow," said the Dense Forest Witch.

Shirou asked coldly, "Witch, you've tried time and again to stop me from seeing that god. What is your purpose?"

The Dense Forest Witch said:

"Regarding the future, the fact that 'mystery' will disappear is unchangeable. Even if all the witches were gathered together, they would understand that it would be impossible to change that. All we are pursuing is a beautiful ending."

Otherwise, watching the Magecraft we've built decay little by little would be like a woman looking in a mirror and witnessing herself grow from youth to old age, watching herself age bit by bit, her face covered with wrinkles that she can't smooth out—how cruel and terrifying!

For us witches who have had enough of living, this is the only thing we cannot compromise on. If this cannot be changed, then we must wipe them all out, put them on crosses and tie them up, and the fire must burn brightly, until not even ashes remain. There should be no screams, no charred corpses left behind.

Since it is the will of the gods, how can we not resolve everything thoroughly?

"Immortality is a delusion. Even if you complete the Third Magic, it doesn't mean you'll achieve absolute immortality." Shirou shook his head.

"Yes, that god probably thinks the same way, and is planning to present these realities to all living beings, ensuring that all creatures achieve equality of life without exception. At the same time, he will also give us the simplest and most direct funeral, without revealing any ugliness or leaving any trace. So I choose to help him and do my part," the Dense Forest Witch said with a chuckle.

"Then what's this about you saying you're helping me now?" Shirou asked the witch.

"Because it's part of the plan! No, and because of recent performance, it proves my idea wasn't wrong. Yes, Shirou Emiya, you'll be the one to mark everything." The Dense Forest Witch revealed her madness, laughing as she said, "That god is ready to wipe everything out of the world, and then all worlds will return to ordinariness. You can't escape involvement no matter what, after all, you're the same person! Shouldn't you step forward and clean up your mess?"

The Dense Forest Witch whispered the method she knew into Shirou's ear...

Several hours later, Shirou passed through the portal and arrived in the world of the final trial.

In a mansion within the Tokugawa family's territory, a petite young girl from the Tokugawa family for generations, was practicing alone in the training ground. She was diligently thrusting her spear, her hair damp with sweat, but her eyes lacked confidence, appearing less heroic and more self-conscious.

Chapter 340 The Pink-Haired Female Swordsman

Shirou passed through the portal and arrived in a Warring States period world connected to a certain Shirou Emiya. He transformed into the other person's appearance: red hair like flames, a white cloak, bare-chested, revealing well-trained muscles, and a samurai sword at his waist.

Before me lay a scorched grassland, and in the distance, the flames of war raged. Land that should have been used for farming and building houses had become a desolate wasteland, its surface now flowing not with fertilizer, but with dark red blood. This once fertile land had, in people's eyes, become black soil, incapable of growing crops due to an abundance of vengeful spirits.

"Hey! Young man up ahead!" A middle-aged, overweight man speaking in a Kansai dialect leaned out of an oxcart and waved in their direction.

Shirou turned around and took a closer look. The man was dressed as a merchant, and when he smiled, he had two big dimples like Maitreya Buddha, which made him look particularly cheerful. However, he seemed to have a lot of money, and there were five or six oxcarts following behind him. He was a merchant caravan.

The merchant chuckled and exclaimed, "Young man, you're quite the expert and daring one to be here all by yourself!"

Shirou said, "I have no burden when I travel alone, but you, leading such a large caravan, dare to appear in a place where a war has just ended. I truly admire you."

"Hehehe~! We merchants from Osaka are under the protection of Lord Hideyoshi! No matter which city we go to, no army will come to harm us." The merchant uncle was still laughing happily, but a sense of pride was welling up in him.

"Osaka merchants, I see." Shirou nodded knowingly. Osaka merchants are somewhat like Wenzhou merchants in China. They started as a circle of mutual benefit and assistance established by people from the same hometown, and later developed into a nationally renowned group.

When it comes to some of the most famous merchant groups in Japanese history, the earliest ones were the Osaka merchants, followed by those from Kyoto, Omi, and Nagoya, with Tokyo being the last.

"Young man, since we've met in a place like this, it must be fate. Why don't you get in my car and I'll give you a ride? There's some snacks and tea to entertain you. If anything unexpected happens, please help me out. Once we get to the city, I'll pay you a good price," the merchant said with a smile.

"Aren't you afraid of this place?" Shirou realized that the other party was trying to hire him as a bodyguard but didn't want to pay him for nothing, and asked with amusement.

"It's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings. If some bandits were to run out in this desolate wilderness, they wouldn't care whether we have Lord Hideyoshi's protection or not," the merchant uncle said with a wry smile.

"Then why do you think I can handle those bandits? Do you even know what I do?" Shirou asked with a smile.

"Young man, you're quite the joker. Judging by your strong physique, clean skin, and the knife you're carrying, you must be a warrior from a prominent family, training as a martial artist," the merchant guessed with a chuckle.

Shirou shook his head and said, "Unfortunately, you guessed wrong. I actually forge swords for samurai. Because I forge iron every day, I certainly have plenty of strength, but I'm not good at killing people."

The merchant looked at Shirou with surprise, and asked, seemingly unwilling to give up, "Could you be the disciple of the legendary swordsmith Masamune, who forged famous swords for the shogun?"

"No, I'm just an unknown blacksmith," Shirou said, shaking his head.

Realizing he had been presumptuous, the merchant waved his hand and complained, "What a waste of breath. But then again, if you were the disciple of some important figure, your hands and feet would be too precious to risk venturing into such desolate wilderness. Fine, seeing as you're traveling alone, sit with the driver of the last carriage in our caravan, and we'll give you a ride."

The merchant then returned to his carriage, never looking at Shirou again.

Shirou looked back at the rear of the convoy and found that his treatment had suddenly dropped from a luxurious private box to a dilapidated flatbed crammed with goods. In reality, it was just a large door panel attached to the wheels, with two old oxen tied to the front. The flatbed was packed full of goods, and there was barely enough room to squeeze a person's buttocks onto the edge of the front of the flatbed. Sitting on it was a thin, middle-aged man.

However, Shirou didn't complain; he greeted them and sat down as well.

"Sir, may I ask what brings you here?" The middle-aged man, who appeared to be in his forties and was being driven by a merchant, pulling a cart of goods with two oxen, asked curiously, his hair now covered in white from overwork, a stark contrast to his bronze skin.

"I'm a blacksmith. What else can I do besides forging iron?" Shirou said.

"Haha, I'd believe you if you said you could forge iron, but I don't believe you only know blacksmithing. I may not be very skilled, but I've been driving a cart to transport goods for people and traveling the world for many years. Someone like you traveling alone in a place like this is either a fugitive who has gotten into trouble with the law, or... well, you're clearly not the former."

"You have a good eye, sir! Yes... I guess I'm here to do my part in saving the world." Shirou said with a smile.

"Huh?" The driver's eyes widened, speechless. He had to admit that this was the first time in over ten years that he had misjudged someone; he hadn't expected to encounter a madman.

Shirou didn't care about the other person's surprised look. He just remembered the words the witch had used to persuade him to come here willingly. There was really no other way, so he could only do whatever he could, like rivers flowing into a vast ocean.

"If you want to defeat a god, you must first come up with a condition that surpasses the god's, even if it's just a tiny one. As long as you accumulate them, even streams can converge into rivers and oceans."

The white god is now a conceptual entity formed from all of Shirou Emiya. You must understand yourself better than that god, and know Shirou Emiya's original intention in wanting to become a god. Create internal contradictions within the god and resolve the destruction that Shirou Emiya couldn't prevent.

"To surpass a creator god like that? How can I do that?" Shirou asked the witch. If there really was such a method, he would really like to ask her for advice.

The witch's eyes darted around, revealing an enigmatic expression. She bent down, lowered one arm, and slightly curled it, offering a salute to the distant deity.

"First of all, as a human being, I must pay my respects to that lovely yet pitiful god. Although there have been gods who have loved or sympathized with human beings since ancient times, there has never been one who has put human beings before himself with such dedication."

His figure is truly captivating. If we weren't in this situation, I would definitely pursue him without hesitation.

The witch's face flushed, and her eyes gleamed with an aggressive light. From her dangerous and eerie smile, it was clear that she was not joking.

Shirou was so frightened that his hair stood on end, and he quietly tried to take two steps back to create some distance between himself and the witch.

At that moment, the witch shifted her neck, staring intently at Shirou, and said, "Beating him isn't a matter of whether you can or can't, but that you must! That lovable yet pitiful god has his limits. Even if it wasn't his intention, when he became a god, it was destined that he would no longer be human."

Standing atop a mountain several times higher than humans, it's impossible to sit lazily and leisurely with them, enjoying flowers, chatting, laughing, and drinking.

While he could create a world where humans could live, he couldn't create anything that would bring them joy or happiness. In this respect, you, who can bring laughter and happiness through your cooking, have already surpassed him."

"The power of creation lies in imagination..." Shirou recalled the words spoken by the strong man who had given his divine avatar to him—himself from another world.

The witch nodded, looking at Shirou approvingly, seemingly quite satisfied with this impromptu lesson, and said, "That's right! A roc spreads its wings and soars into the wind, able to fly to a height of 90,000 miles above the ground in an instant. But it can't perch on a branch like a sparrow, nimbly darting among the grass to find food that has fallen to the ground."

What the high and mighty gods, who are unaware of human emotions, deem impossible, doesn't mean that insignificant humans are absolutely incapable of accomplishing. Your ability to surpass the gods often lies in these small things in life, yet humans are surprisingly oblivious to their own true strengths. For example, being gentle to family and loved ones, being loyal to friends, proactively helping others, and engaging in conversation with strangers.

"Are these also advantages?" Shirou asked in surprise.

The witch nodded in agreement, saying, "These are all advantages."

The saying "Everyone has their own unique talents" is true. These talents don't necessarily refer to extraordinary abilities; they could be a seemingly insignificant skill. But that doesn't mean everyone possesses that skill.

Just as people have things they are good at, they also have things they are not good at.

Such as the ability to read people's expressions, sensitivity to atmosphere, and the sincerity shown when speaking and receiving guests.

Some people are incredibly charming and diplomatic, even with strangers. Others, despite caring for someone, often speak harshly, ultimately hurting the person they like.

For example, you might want to help someone but don't know how, so you have to leave, and afterwards you inevitably feel guilty. Therefore, I respect and admire people who can maintain a warm heart to help others.

When they see a child who seems lost and is crying, or an elderly person who has fallen to the ground, or even if it's just a matter of standing up to offer a seat on a bus, some people always have various concerns and hesitate about whether they should sit down.

Freud once proposed a concept that the human psyche is divided into three levels: the id, the ego, and the superego, which together form a complete personality.

The id is the most primitive part of the personality, the unchanging primal desires hidden deep within the psyche. It represents instinctive impulses, disregarding worldly laws and regulations, and lacking understanding of morality and common sense. It pursues satisfaction and pleasure without any scruples, such as appetite, sexual desire, the desire for self-expression, and possessiveness, just like a newborn infant.

The self is the aspect of a person's personality. A person's self-awareness is the standard by which they recognize their differences from others when they begin to see themselves as a member of society and compare themselves with others. This self is the one that is constantly changing through these perceptions.

The superego represents the ideal self, the perfect self. At this point, the 'self' is no longer judged by reality, but by the standard of what is better in one's mind.

Because of the id, people will always have desires and pursuits. Because of the ego, people know how to observe external evaluations while pursuing them. Because of the superego, people will be more demanding of themselves, sometimes leading to unexpected achievements and showcasing their strengths.

As a composite of Shirou Emiya, the god should have been in a superego state, existing as the righteous partner that all Shirou Emiya admired. But now, he has even lost his self, simply following his innately kind self, using his instincts to save humans in distress.

The witch continued, "That god appears powerful and invincible, but in reality, he carries a lot of burdens, and his own functions are already overloaded. From my observation, apart from actions aimed at saving and protecting humanity, he hasn't actually done anything else. The only exception might be 'you' and those three worlds."

"Is that so?" Shirou understood. He had heard Alaya say that the two worlds were the key to victory or defeat when he met the Counter Force.

"Without desires or wants, without any flaws, yet without any consideration for humanity. They simply carry out their mission. In the eyes of that god, humans are nothing more than endangered animals in a zoo, protected pandas."

Although they are provided with comprehensive protection, ample food, and 24-hour air conditioning, they are still kept indoors. At least humans will try to train pandas in survival skills so that they can return to the wild.

In this respect, because the gods lack emotions, all they do is simply carry out protection. The care that humans receive is even worse than what pandas feel. Although their fate was already sealed from the beginning, even if they are transferred to another world, they will still perish; it's just a matter of time." The witch said with a subtle smile.

"What happened?" Shirou asked in surprise.

"Because the beings that make up this deity almost all possess a much stronger passion for helping others, a desire to benefit the world, or an obsession with justice than most humans."

Despite its powerful exterior, it is riddled with holes inside, awaiting the fate of that poor god. I think it will inevitably be destroyed by the Counter Force. But before that, it may choose to end its own life. When that happens, the world it created will collapse and be destroyed, and all the creatures living on it will naturally disappear."

The witch pursed her lips, which were painted a vibrant red, and revealed a sinister smile, as if mocking the world, or perhaps laughing at herself.

"In fact, most of us, without family lineage or any inheritance, those ordinary people who struggled to even start a fire thousands of years ago, the descendants of farmers and craftsmen with no status, are now using 'science' to drive us witches and Magecraft to the brink of despair. So this time, let you, as a human, push the gods to the brink of self-doubt!" The witch pointed at Shirou and said.

"What should I do?" Shirou asked the witch.

"First, let's go and save the world where Shirou Emiya disappeared, what do you say?" the witch said with a sinister smile.