Chapter 631

It seemed to be proclaiming that wherever the Old Man of the Mountain was, that was the true "Temple of Azrael".

Therefore, the vast majority of the assassination group's leaders throughout history had only heard of the temple's existence but had never actually visited it.

Even if there were, they were only those who knew their mission was complete and willingly offered their lives.

The figures walking through the valley now are different.

He was neither a member of the Assassin Order nor a believer in that "god".

He was simply picked up by a group of assassins, where he underwent numerous modifications, including Magecraft, curses, alchemy, and science, becoming an assassin known as "Shadow."

It killed a large number of people.

He killed the organization that had nurtured him.

He killed the person who had offered him a helping hand.

When I came to my senses, there was nothing left.

"... Why was I born into this world?"

The Shadow wanted to know the answer, so it embarked on a pilgrimage.

He walked on the boundary between the mortal world and the Underworld, merging with the surrounding energy, simply moving forward, forward, forward—

After overcoming several difficulties and trials, the Shadow finally arrived at the temple.

"... idiot."

Waiting for him there was the legendary "Faceless Old Man".

"What can your hand, which burns and brands like a shadow, and forbids even destruction, grasp?"

"Do you believe that preemptive atonement will bring liberation? Knowing full well that your enlightenment will yield no results, do you still wish to wander eternally between the realms of the living and the dead?"

The Shadow stared in astonishment at the old man who seemed to be the embodiment of the Underworld.

From the very first glance, he knew he would "forever become the shadow of this venerable one."

It's not a decision, but a release.

I understand why I was transformed into something different from others, I understand why I was born without justice and without fear of death, yet I still continue to come this far.

All questions are answered at this moment.

He had found meaning in his birth into the world—to become the shadow of the venerable one before him.

That alone resolved all the questions he had thought he would have to take to the Land of the Dead.

He didn't weep with emotion, nor did he tremble at the intense sight of death before him; he simply accepted it calmly.

In my heart, there is only peace.

He, who never understood why he was born, has finally arrived at the place he deserves.

"If you know, stick your neck out."

The words of judgment flashed like silver light.

Then, passing through my neck, was a sharp yet loving wind.

The Shadow's last feelings before death shone brightly in the memories buried in shadow.

This memory was clearer than anything else in his Spirit Origin, which was mostly submerged in shadow.

That's enough.

Enough to make him a curse that forever lingers in the shadows.

This was sufficient reason for him to embark on a journey of endless suffering.

Because the endless road is not a curse, but a blessing that will be received at the end of the long road.

Or perhaps, at that moment, his mind had already transcended the ordinary.

Then--

The Shadow's life ends here, leaving its mark on the world as a "shadow".

Hassan -Sabbah Servant of Faldeus Diorand, Magecraft who is one of the organizers and masterminds of this Holy Grail War and, to some extent, represents the United States government.

He did not leave his name in history like "Cursed Arm" or "Hundred Faces".

However, his existence was clearly recorded by Human Order.

"Hassan of the Lurking Shadow".

After claiming to be the Executor of the first elder, he launched an attack on Shirou.

Because his movements are completely silent, his martial arts experience is not only useless, but also hinders his Instinct.

Two Shadow blades attacked from completely different directions.

Of Shirou's five senses, touch, hearing, and smell have been completely deprived.

As for vision—since the sky and earth had turned black, and the thrown blades were also black, they were almost impossible to see with the naked eye.

Even so, he still failed to cut Shirou.

Shirou stood still, without moving an inch, but he keenly spotted and blocked the shadow blade from his colorless vision.

If the "Rainbow Mage's Eye" are an acquired ability, then Shirou's extraordinary spatial vision (Eagle Eye) is a talent he was born with.

The assassin's Shadow blade has no concept of thickness; it can take the life of its target without regard for steel shields or armored vehicles.

In response, Shirou Projection sword blades around himself and deflected the attack.

However, the wave of assassinations has not yet subsided.

After the two simultaneous strikes, invisible blades were thrust out from three points—the head, the feet, and the back—at the same time.

Three impactful sounds rang out, only to be absorbed into the darkness once more.

Before the sound completely disappeared, four more slashes struck Shirou.

Still no hit.

Five slashes.

Six thrusts.

Ten swings.

Twenty.

Hundred.

Thousand.

Finally, it stacked into a continuous, all-around combo, while Shirou continuously Projection sword blades as counterattacks.

If it were an ordinary Heroic Spirit, their Spirit Origin would have been sent back to darkness by Hassan of the Lurking Shadow long ago.

Standing in the darkness, Shirou calmly addressed the mask gazing at him:

"I see, your ability is quite cheating... you can even trap your opponent's body and voice in the Shadow."

Hassan of the Lurking Shadow did not answer, but simply continued to unleash more than a thousand Shadow Blades.

Shirou continued to mutter to himself, "If I were to face an ordinary Heroic Spirit, I could probably kill them as many times as I wanted."

If you have that idea, you might be able to make any Master or Servant die without ever knowing why.

Alcides might be a bit more difficult to deal with, but as long as his Master is human, he can be easily killed.

But...

I'm sorry, but the Underworld environment gives me a sense of peace and comfort, like returning to my hometown.

I'm tired of this kind of trickery.

With that, Shirou grabbed a longsword floating beside him, took a step forward, and slashed down.

Then, as if by divine True Magic, an incredible scene unfolded—

The Shadow that shrouded the world was cleaved open by this slash, revealing its original color and temperature.

"!!"

Shirou's skills far exceeded the assassin's comprehension.

Because it was clearly a casual, impulsive chop that severed the barrier space he had painstakingly set up.

This is the ultimate dream of all those who dedicate their lives to the way of the sword.

The ultimate strike that transcends dimensions and causality.

I've heard about it, but is it really something that can be done so easily and effortlessly?

In any case, Shirou easily broke through the Death Domain set up by Lurking Shadow Hassan.

Therefore, his true form is inevitably exposed.

"Goodbye... When you return to your seat, please give my regards to Sister Hundred Faces."

The next instant, the Projection sword blade fell from the torn darkness.

The moment the assassin wearing the skull mask revealed his true form, he was pierced by countless blades all over his body, resembling some kind of bizarre modern art.

The Spirit Core shattered, and the pulse of the Heroic Spirit could no longer be felt.

"Looks like I overestimated you... I thought you were something special, but it seems you're nothing special after all."

Shirou said casually that he had lost interest in Lurking Shadow Hassan.

Shadow is just Shadow; it is a phenomenon and cannot exist within light itself.

Assassin uses every trick in the book to steal light not only from the eyes, but also from the world itself.

However, these tricks were utterly ineffective against Shirou's overwhelming strength.

The outcome is decided; it seems that's the case.

However, a sense of unease suddenly arose in Shirou's heart.

The shadows cast by the assassin.

Countless invisible combos.

This assassin's true nature is definitely not limited to this.

Shirou narrowed his eyes, noticing that Assassin's Spirit Origin had not collapsed.

Although the Spirit Core had long since decayed, the assassin still maintained his sense of self.

"..."

Shirou's relaxed expression vanished. "I see. Claiming to be the First Elder's Executor (Shadow)... wasn't just empty boasting."

"Of course not."

The assassin, who should have died hundreds of times over, said calmly.

"My journey as Servant (illusion) etched into the shadows ends here."

Lurking Shadow Hassan's voice was extremely cold, as if it had penetrated into the very soul.

"Now is the time to return this endless shadow to the boundary between the living and the dead."

Upon hearing this, a torrent of "shadows" immediately surged forth from Assassin's remains.

The shadows spread like a black explosion, once again devouring all color, engulfing the world in darkness deeper than the night.

That was a unique and extraordinary technique that transcended the power of words and could even suppress the laws of nature.

This was not something an assassin could have accomplished.

Only Hassan, the Origin, could do that.

Therefore, in order to activate this Noble Phantasm, Lurking Shadow Hassan must offer up his own "death".

It does not cause death, but rather the cause and effect established by the fact of death.

In the name of Lurking Shadow Hassan, the supreme technique assimilated with "Shadow"—