Shinji Matou at Your Service

The katana embedded itself into Shinji's chest, reaching his spine and almost splitting his upper body in two. Blood gushed out along the blood groove, adding a touch of crimson to the deep sea.

The one wielding the sword was also knocked to the ground at the same time. Even with the water's reduction, it still created a massive crater on the seabed. What was even more surprising was that Shirou's right cheek, centered at the point of impact from Shinji's punch, had a terrifying crack spreading across his body. It looked like tempered glass struck by a sledgehammer—fragile yet unshattered, eerily so.

Lying in the pit, Shirou touched his cheek and grinned, projecting his thoughts towards Shinji.

"That was a harsh blow, you shattered my spiritual foundation. I'm truly done for. You're in the same boat, aren't you?"

"That's right. The boar hide isn't invincible after all. Surviving your slash was already my limit."

"Both of us have lost our ability to move. How about we call it a draw?"

"Although I'm reluctant, no... I win."

"Huh?"

Despite having difficulty even standing, Shinji suddenly gripped the katana embedded in his body and, with strength from an unknown source, pulled it out.

Shirou seemed startled by this scene, taking a moment to react.

"A Command Spell?"

"Exactly."

Shinji nodded, and the wound on his chest quickly healed. "Don't forget, I have a Master. She may not be participating in the battle, but she won't abandon me."

When one party's life is threatened, the other will sense it. This is the most basic function of the master-servant contract. When Shirou severely injured Shinji with the sword, Fiore, far away in Millennia Castle, immediately sensed Shinji's weakness and at once transmitted her prayers and the miraculous power of the Command Spell to Shinji.

"Don't die!"

This intent, this magic, became Shinji's new source of strength and the final weight tipping the scales of victory.

"It's not just me, it's us who have won, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada."

"Yes, you have won, you both have."

Shinji's victory was not his alone but a triumph for the entire Black faction. Neither Shinji nor Shirou fought alone. The winner gave their all, and the loser accepted it without complaint.

"It was truly remarkable, especially that last punch—what do you call it?"

"It doesn't have a name yet... Let me think. This punch was an evolution of Chiron-sensei's 'Antares Snipe,' borrowing the power of 'Perseus.' Let's call it 'Perseus Punch.'"

"Perseus Punch? That sounds so lame."

"Then what would you call it?"

"Isn't it obvious? 'Magic Perseus Fist,' of course."

"Huh?"

Hearing this name, Shinji couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

"What's with the 'huh'? I'm serious! Haven't you heard of the Four Great Guardians of Fuyuki's Underworld, also known as the Four Great Strongmen? Do you need me to give you a rundown?"

"No need."

As a devoted fan of the Moon, how could Shinji not be aware of the Four Great Strongmen of Fuyuki's Underworld? They are even more "powerful" than the Four Heavenly Kings and the Inner Four Heavenly Kings. They are—

"God-Slaying Nuclear Arrow" Ayako Mitsuzuri.

"Anti-Matter Emperor Fist" Issei Ryuudou.

"Planetary Watcher" Taiga Fujimura.

And—"Magic Perseus Fist" Shinji Matou.

Aren't those names flashy and over-the-top?

However, they are all products of various parodies. These four people are ordinary individuals, hence the quotation marks around "strongmen." Especially the last title, which is more derogatory than complimentary, considering Shinji is an outright villain in the main Fate storyline.

Therefore—

"Frankly, I don't like this name, and you should know why."

"I can probably guess but think about it carefully. Excluding the comedic factor, the name is quite fitting. That punch borrowed the power of Perseus, but what directly harmed the spiritual foundation was your magic. 'Magic Perseus Fist' is indeed accurate."

"Now that you mention it, you're right."

Shinji didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"I'll think about it seriously later. For now, you need to fulfill your promise, or I'll kill you right here."

"Yes, I know. Follow me."

After a brief rest, Shirou's stamina and magical power had somewhat recovered. He waved his hand, and a white void appeared before them.

"This is—?"

"A special space I prepared in advance. It can block all observations. Come inside, and you'll know everything. Rest assured, at this point, I won't deceive you. You should also know that if I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."

As Shirou spoke, he struggled to get up from the ground and plunged into the white void.

Perhaps due to the fierce battle, the anger in his heart had been largely vented. Or maybe he knew Shirou was telling the truth. Shinji no longer hesitated and followed him in.

After a brief feeling of weightlessness during the spatial transition, the scenery changed dramatically.

They stood in front of a door that opened inward, made of aged oak, carrying a sense of history. The door was adorned with an old-fashioned brass doorknob, and a sign hung on it depicting a lifelike sled dog sticking out its tongue.

Seeing this door sign, Shinji's expression changed instantly. He seemed both expectant and fearful. Finally, gritting his teeth, he pushed open the oak door. The door swung open, causing the wind chimes at the entrance to emit a crisp sound.

It was an enclosed room without windows, yet it didn't feel dark. The ceiling and walls were equipped with numerous light fixtures, casting a bright but gentle light. Neatly arranged tables and chairs, like the door, were made of wood and had seen many years, but they were well-maintained, providing a sense of plain comfort. Transparent glass bottles, ceramic cups and pitchers were placed on the tables.

Yes, this was a uniquely styled small restaurant.

Upon hearing the wind chimes, someone peeked out from the inner room. It was none other than Shirou, who had arrived ahead. He waved at Shinji at the door and said:

"Sit anywhere. It'll be ready soon."

"Ah… oh… okay…"

Shinji responded dazedly, walking into the shop in a trance and choosing a spot in the middle, neither too close nor too far.

Soon after, Shirou came out, carrying a tray with two bottles of wine in ceramic containers and four plates of small dishes. He was no longer wearing the church's robe but a chef's uniform commonly seen in restaurants.

"After fighting for so long, you must be hungry. Let's eat and talk."

Shirou placed the dishes and wine on the table, then sat down opposite Shinji. He opened the ceramic containers and poured a cup for each of them.

"Here, cheers."

Shinji didn't raise his cup. He just stared blankly at Shirou, his lips trembling and his expression rigid.

"You… you… this place… is…"