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"Keep your hands to yourself." Shirou snarled, dismissing the blade with a thought, Valper's smile fading, though his intrigued look remained as he watched the blade dissolve into prana and vanish into thin air.
"Now that was rude," The Archbishop noted with a frown "I was merely complimenting your skill. It's rare that I come across a blade able to match a Holy or Demonic Sword while lacking the Holy Power or Demonic Taint of either." He adjusted his glasses with a smile "I find it even more intriguing that you are able to do so despite clearly possessing no Sacred Gear. Is it some branch of Thaumaturgy I wonder? Alchemy perhaps?"
"None of your business." Shirou shot back, disgusted more at the very idea that part of him could ever agree with a monster like Valper Galilei than the old man's opinion of the Married Twin Blades.
One of the few things that Shirou and Archer shared in common was their admiration for the beautiful, captivating craftsmanship of Gan Jiang's magnum opus, the blades his wife, Mo Ye, had sacrificed herself for in order for him to forge. More than any other weapon in Unlimited Blade Works, the Married Twin Swords had become a symbol of the man who would become the Counter Guardian Emiya. Created without vanity, lacking a true sense of purpose like other swords, they bore neither the desire to defeat others nor the desire to become famous. They were simply swords that were good at what they did,
They were never meant to be held by the likes of Valper Galilei. That a man responsible for so many deaths could share the same appreciation for their craftsmanship disgusted Shirou to his core.
"I suppose it will have to wait for another time." Valper sighed before turning to Freed "Let's be on our way, Freed, it doesn't look like you'll be able to handle those two from the church with just Transparency after all."
"Valper Galilei!" Kiba snarled, lunging forwards, intent on skewering the old man with his blade, only to be intercepted by Freed, who drove him back with a slash to the chest "Damn it!"
"Sorry kiddies, time for bed!" Freed chirped mockingly, wrapping an arm around the old man's considerable waist even as they faded from view "Don't worry! I'll be sure to kill you all next time!"
"There won't be a next time!" Xenovia snarled, bringing Destruction down in an overhead slash, the resulting crater decimating the structure Galilei just exited, only to curse as it was clear neither target had been hit "Damn it! They got away!" she muttered, only to trail off as Shirou dropped to his knees, still clutching Hrunting in his left arm "Emiya!"
"I'm…alright…" Shirou panted, tugging the Shroud back into place with his free hand, blood dripped from one of his eyes due to a burst blood vessel "Don't worry about me…go after them…" he held out Hrunting to a concerned looking Kiba "Take this with you…it doesn't matter where they hiding, Hrunting will lead you right to them."
"Hrunting?" Xenovia repeated, eyeing the ominous looking black blade warily "You mean the pagan blade used by the Geatian Hero, Beowulf? I thought it was lost during his fight with Grendel's mother. How did you come across it?"
"There's no time!" Shirou snapped, glaring up at the trio intensely, "The longer you talk the further those two will get and Hrunting's the only thing that'll let you find them!"
"Emiya…" Kiba muttered, eyeing the redhead in shock before nodding, taking the Hound of the Red Plains in his hands, flinching as the blade seemed to tug his arm in a specific direction "Looks like we have the scent…you sure you'll be alright?"
"I'll feel a lot better knowing those maniacs aren't walking the streets anymore." Shirou shot back wryly, the Knight scoffing in agreement before turning on his heels, vanishing in a burst of speed, Xenovia and Irina hot on his heels.
"Wait, Kiba!" Issei called out, reaching for his fellow peerage member as the trio disappeared into the night, only to look around in alarm as Shirou crumpled to the ground with a grunt "O-Oi! Emiya!"
"Holy! He's burning up!" Saji exclaimed, recoiling from the touch of the Faker's skin even as he checked him over "This doesn't look good, Hyoudou! We need to get him to a healer or something!"
"Goodness me…" a familiar voice called out, the Pawns tensing, turning slowly to face the arrival of their respective King and Queen, Rias' and Akeno's coy smiles a stark contrast to Sona and Tsubaki's bespectacled glares "Just what kind of trouble have you all been getting yourselves into behind our backs?"
A little more action in this chapter, and Shirou shows off a little more of his ability.
For the record, I'm still unclear as to just how Hrunting is rated, but considering it managed to take out one of Berserker's lives in UBW I think we can safely say it's ranked somewhere in the upper B class to lower A-Class.
Also, for all of you who are sure to mention this in the reviews: YES, I am well aware that there is more to the whole Catholic/Protestant thing than what Shirou mentioned. I grew up in Ireland for feck's sake, trust me, I know. Shirou however, despite being a redhead, did not, and so did not have to deal with any of that baggage due to most of Fuyuki's residents being happily Shinto. Or, y'know, DEAD. Because of the Fire.
Moving on.
For those who will surely ask: Yes, if Shirou had been given the option he'd have pulled and Archer and just sniped Freed from a distance. And he COULD have made the shot, even if he needed to loosen the shroud (not remove it) to access the knowledge for Hrunting.
That'll be it for now. Should be reaching the climax soon though.
In the meantime? Winter is coming *readies burial blade* And with it, a new Hunt begins.
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If you want to read ahead by 25 chapters from her you can visit my Patre-on.
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