In the real world, the light screen in the sky continued to broadcast this fierce battle that transcended ordinary understanding in real-time.
When they saw Kuchiba Hiro stubbornly tanking that world-destroying golden light cannon and even crawling out of the deep crater on the leveled mountaintop unscathed, the online discussions instantly exploded.
"My god! Is this Hardening ability a bug?! He's still not dead? The mountaintop is gone!" Someone marveled at Kuchiba Hiro's unimaginable defensive power.
"Emiya-kun... he's going to die! He's working so hard to protect..." Even more people felt regret and heartache for Emiya Shirou. His figure, covered in blood yet refusing to retreat a single step, and that line "This is the justice I uphold," left a deep impression on many hearts. Seeing him about to meet with misfortune, people couldn't help but feel pity.
But at the same time, a significant portion of people fell into deeper thought, especially regarding Kuchiba Hiro's previous remarks about "reality" and "books," and the "justice" that Emiya Shirou insisted upon.
"I still don't quite get it. What exactly did Kuchiba Hiro mean by 'love concrete people, not abstract things'? Isn't Emiya Shirou protecting the innocent people in the villa exactly what it means to love concrete people?" one netizen questioned.
This question drew many people into the discussion and "popular science" explanations.
"To the person above, think about it carefully. The 'justice' Emiya Shirou speaks of sounds very noble, but does he really know specifically who this family he's protecting is? Does he know their character or their past? He is protecting the abstract concept in his heart that 'innocents should not be harmed.' His 'justice' is a slogan, an ideology, rather than being rooted in a deep understanding and concern for a specific individual."
"Exactly! This kind of 'justice' is essentially hollow and self-satisfying. Look at him —even when he's nearly dying, he insists on that line 'This is my justice.' It's an obsession, a proof of his own choice, rather than truly focusing on the concrete goal of 'protecting the living people before his eyes.'"
"Many Japanese literary works have this tendency; characters are always ready to 'prove their resolve through death' and sacrifice themselves for some ideology. But if you think about it, are so many people bent on dying purely for the ideology itself? Not necessarily. They might just want to prove to the world that 'I am right' or 'My choice is noble.' But this kind of proof, besides self-satisfaction, is often pale and powerless in the face of harsh reality. If the person dies, can the ideology be realized? Not necessarily. Most likely, nothing changes at all."
"So, one must be wary of any form of 'grand narrative' and people who constantly talk about 'great righteousness.' It's not that ideals are wrong, but when a person becomes too obsessed with grand slogans and ignores the circumstances and feelings of concrete people, their behavior can become paranoid or even dangerous. Proving one's resolve through death isn't meant to be used like this; the value of life lies in creation and connection, not in proving a concept that might be ethereal to begin with."
"Although Kuchiba Hiro's methods are ruthless, at least he lives 'authentically.' He faces bloody reality and concrete hatred, not ideologies suspended in the air. That's probably what he meant, even if he didn't say it out loud."
The debate on the internet grew more intense, while the situation in the light screen, following Kuchiba Hiro's mocking and confident "It looks like... I'm invincible!", slid once again into an even more dangerous abyss.
Within the light screen, the atmosphere was as stagnant as iron.
(Watching the approaching, seemingly invincible Kuchiba Hiro, Emiya Shirou took a deep breath, a flash of determination crossing his blood-stained face. He suddenly pushed away Artoria, who was supporting him, with such force that the already weakened girl stumbled.
"Go! Artoria!" His voice was hoarse but carried an unquestionable firmness. "Leave this to me! Run!"
He had made up his mind to martyrize himself for the "justice" in his heart. Perhaps in his current perception, only death could prove the value of his persistence.
"No! Shirou!" Artoria steadied herself and refuted urgently, her emerald eyes filled with worry and disapproval. "You're too heavily injured! You're the one who should leave! I'll cover the rear!" She took a deep breath and gave an even more important reason, "Besides... Sakura still needs you! You can't die here!"
Not far away, Kuchiba Hiro couldn't help but roll his eyes grandly, though no one could see it through his visor. He truly couldn't understand the logic of these two. They clearly had a chance to escape, yet they insisted on performing a tragic scene of life-and-death parting here.
This wasn't heroic; it was stupid, and seriously ill! If they turned and ran now, he really wouldn't bother to chase them. His goal from beginning to end was only the people in the villa.
He looked at these two "fools" who were giving up their chance at life for an "ideology" and an "employer," and malice rose in his heart. He didn't have a particular hobby for killing; it didn't bring him pleasure, but was merely a means to achieve a goal or clear an obstacle. But if someone insisted on seeking death, he didn't mind sending them on their way.
"Hmph." Kuchiba Hiro let out a cold sneer, breaking the tragic atmosphere. "I have no interest in watching you perform your deep affection here."
His voice, filtered through the visor with a texture like grinding metal, clearly reached their ears:
"Get lost already. This is my final mercy." He raised a finger and pointed at the villa behind him. "My target is only the people inside."
He paused, his tone suddenly turning freezing cold as killing intent spread like something physical:
"If you still insist on obstructing me... then stay and be buried with this family. I'll count to ten."
This sudden "way out" actually left Emiya Shirou stunned. The "justice" in his heart did not allow him to recoil before evil, let alone abandon the people who needed protection to escape alone. That black-and-white concept was deeply ingrained.
"No... I won't give up!" He struggled, trying to stand straighter even though his body was teetering. "This is my justice! Even if I die... I won't run away!"
Artoria, however, was more clear-headed than he was. She knew the absolute gap in their strength; even Excalibur couldn't shake the opponent, so continuing to fight was just a senseless sacrifice. She grabbed Emiya Shirou's arm, her tone almost pleading: "Shirou! Face reality! We are no match for him! Leave this place! Staying alive is what's most important! You still have someone you must protect!"
However, Emiya Shirou was like a stubborn donkey stuck in a quagmire, staring fixedly at Kuchiba Hiro, even muttering, "I... I still have one move... I can... perish together..."
Kuchiba Hiro didn't bother listening to their argument anymore. His cold voice rang out like a death knell as he began the countdown:
"Ten."
"Nine."
Every number was like a heavy hammer striking Emiya Shirou's heart. He looked at Kuchiba Hiro's unwavering eyes, felt the other's undisguised killing intent, then looked at Artoria's anxious and pale face beside him, and the "Sakura" she had mentioned... "Eight."
"Seven."
Run away? Abandon those "innocent people" and the oath he had made? Then what would his "justice" be? An excuse for desertion?
But... if he didn't run, he would truly die. Not only would he die, but he might also drag Artoria down with him. And once dead, there would be nothing. In the face of death, what could so-called "justice" still prove? To whom?
"Six."
"Five."
Matou Sakura's gentle smiling face flashed through his mind, along with his ideal of becoming an "ally of justice," and the incredibly cruel reality before him. Ideals and reality clashed violently, tearing his belief to shreds.
"Four."
Artoria pulled at him sharply: "Shirou! Let's go!!"
"Three."
Emiya Shirou's lips trembled violently. That phrase "perish together" was stuck in his throat, yet he could no longer shout it out. The fear of death and the concern for those still living flooded over his obsession like a cold tide.
"Two."
In the instant before the final number was about to fall, the determination and light in Emiya Shirou's eyes were completely extinguished, replaced by a hollow, deathly gray. He abruptly lowered his head and, using the last of his strength, squeezed a single word through his teeth:
"...Go."
Artoria felt a surge of relief and immediately supported him, turning to flee.
Just then, Kuchiba Hiro's mocking voice, like a poisoned barb, accurately pierced into Emiya Shirou's nearly collapsed heart:
"Scram, 'ally of justice'."
These words were the final straw that broke the camel's back.
Emiya Shirou's body jerked violently, and a mouthful of blood surged into his throat again, but he forced himself to swallow it. He didn't look back; he just stumbled, almost fleeing the battlefield where his beliefs had crumbled, supported by Artoria. His departing figure was pathetic and panicked, with none of his previous persistence or tragic heroism.
He truly felt the brutal beating of reality—what he thought was noble turned out to be so fragile, so... laughable, in the face of absolute power and cold, realistic choices.
Kuchiba Hiro watched them disappear at the end of his vision with indifference, then turned his gaze back to the silent villa. )
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