A group of people.
On the sandy ground, there were more than a dozen people wearing khaki cloaks.
Some of these people fell to the ground, while others stood.
Most of those who fell to the ground were scattered around Shinji, while those who were standing gathered around another person.
The familiar black coat, the burly figure, the serious and distressed face.
Araya Soren!
This guy is still alive? Hasn't he been "burned" to ashes by the "root"
But even if it's not "burned" to "ashes", it won't last long.
The cloaked men around him, one stabbed his chest with a sword; one cut him in half with a katana; the last one flashed behind him, aimed a classic submachine gun at his back, and then pulled the trigger, shooting the burly body into a sieve.
It was not until this time that Araya Soren finally reacted and shouted as if waking from a dream:
"It's you again, lackeys of the power of inhibition!!! Why? Why do you have to stop me every time!"
"'The Origin Vortex' is not something that humans should touch." The man who fired the gun said indifferently.
"I won't give up, I'll get there one day!"
This was not the first time that Araya Soren had said this, nor was it the first time that he had been stopped.
"No matter how many times you go, we will stop you."
The woman, who looked taller than the man, was holding a large sword and slowly sheathed it.
The moment the sword was sheathed, Araya's soul returned to "stillness".
The next moment, the woman leaned forward slightly, ready to draw her sword and aimed at Shinji.
The latter spread his hands to indicate that he had no hostility: "Uh, well, I was simply dragged into this. I have no interest in reaching the 'Root Vortex', and I am now looking for a way home. If it is convenient, can you tell me how to go back? You should know it, the guardians of Alaya."
Although it is unknown why, those who go to the "source" will be stopped by the restraining force. Looking at the desolate sand desert around them, the aura of the servants revealed by the three people, the cloaks wrapped around their bodies, and the brown skin exposed outside, Shinji can be sure that this is the legendary scavenger of the restraining force, the guardian of the Alaya side.
The existence of Guardians is similar to that of Heroic Spirits, but the difference is that most of these people did not ascend to the throne of Heroic Spirits by their achievements in their lifetime, but because of some reasons, they signed a contract with the restraining force and handed their souls to Alaya, and ascended to the throne of Heroic Spirits by cheating. As a price, these people will always be driven by Alaya to act in order to eliminate threats or potential threats from humans, and they will never be free.
There are exceptions, such as Altria, who made a contract with the hero's body and restraining power, but they are very few.
The guardians did not listen to Shinji's explanation. As soon as he finished speaking, the guardians with modern firearms came behind him and fired at him mercilessly with their submachine guns.
"Hey, listen to what I'm saying." Shinji complained as he dodged.
At this moment, there was a violent sound of breaking wind overhead, and dense swords and knives fell like rain.
Shinji supported himself with one hand, rolled sideways, and activated "King of Punishment" to collide with the rafters and swords. Having fought with Gilgamesh before, he was very familiar with this aspect.
However, just as he was about to deflect a wave of arrows, the last female guardian wielding a katana approached, and the large katana in her hand was unsheathed at a speed that even Shinji could not see clearly.
Even though Shinji used the fastest speed to materialize the "Shield of Athena" for defense, he still couldn't block this terrible knife. Not only was the shield cut, but even Shinji himself was affected by the black sword energy emitted from the tip of the knife, and a hole was opened in his abdomen.
The female guardian seemed to have not expected that her special move would miss, and her movements were slow for a moment. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Shinji detonated the "Shield of Athena" without hesitation, blowing the guardians away.
The young man, who survived the explosion with the help of the rafters and the blood of the True Ancestor, waved his hands to push away the wind and sand around him, and looked with a strange expression at the three guardians who surrounded him in a triangular shape.
"I think I should get to know you. Emiya Kiritsugu, Emiya Shirou, Okita Souji, um... maybe it would be more appropriate to add Alter?"
The three of them paused at the same time, proving that Shinji's guess was correct.
Like Heroic Spirits, the existence of Guardians also transcends world lines. Being a winner in this world line does not mean that you will not become a lackey of the restraining force in other world lines. Especially people like Shirou and Kiritsugu who have lofty ideals are the most favored by Alaya.
The evaluation that "the Emiya family is full of loyal and brave people" is not undeserved.
As for Okita Souji, she is one of the few guardians who has signed a contract with the restraining force as a hero. She is the other side or possibility of the hero named Okita Souji.
These three guardians were undoubtedly strong, so they were able to easily kill Araya instead of him falling to the ground like his companions.
Shinji thought for a moment and continued, "I think based on your appearance and fate, Okita, you should change your last name to Emiya."
Guardian Okita Souji shook his head: "There is no need for this. Guardians are all nameless."
"Oh, really? I don't think they think so."
Shinji pointed in the direction of Emiya Shirou, who was staring at Kiritsugu in a daze.
"They are—?"
"Father and son. To be more precise, they are adoptive father and adopted son, but of course they are not from the same world. If Kiritsugu had not made a contract with the restraining force, but had taken another path, he would have adopted a child named Shirou. After his death, this child would have inherited his ideal of becoming a partner of justice, and would eventually be abducted by Alaya, the number one chef in the universe, Emiya."
"..." Okita Souji was speechless.
Emiya Kiritsugu finally stopped being silent. He lifted his cloak, revealing a face that was exactly the same as the one Shinji was familiar with, except for the skin color and hair color. "I... am not your father."
Shirou also lifted his cloak, revealing a gentle smile: "I know, but I also know that you are the same person as him. In comparison, you are far from the guy I am familiar with. That's right, Matou Shinji from a world I don't know, I never dreamed that you could come here."
Shinji chuckled: "The universe is so vast that nothing is impossible. You certainly never thought that you would become the 27th Senko Muramasa. The 27th Senko Muramasa never thought that he would become a guardian."
"You're right. Now that you've become a guardian, there are some things you have to do. I, we must kill you here." Emiya Shirou said, raising his most commonly used black and white swords, a projected modified version of "Gan Jiang Moye".
Shinji shrugged helplessly: "I understand. But considering the connection between you and me, can you tell me one thing - why did Alaya want to get rid of me?"