Racing to Catch Up

Racing to Catch Up (追駆) is the sixth episode of Season 2 and the thirty-first of overall episode The Rising of the Shield Hero anime.

Synopsis
Fitoria appears when the Spirit Tortoise revives, and with her help, Naofumi attempts to destroy its heart and cut off its head at the same time. L’Arc arrives as well, but all of them are helpless before Kyo’s overwhelming power.

Plot
Raphtalia can't believe when Kyo Ethnina reveals in sadistic glee that Ost Horai is the Spirit Tortoise itself instead of being a simple mind-possessed familiar like the Bats and Yetis are. Kyo delights that the Guardian Beast from this world had such monstrous power. The Tortoise's head and heart have both regenerated and the massive monster roars again, restarting the battle. Eclair charges with the troops towards the monster, much to Queen Mirellia's utter displeasure. A barrier forms to protect the Tortoise's core, and Ost explains that this time the Tortoise's head and heart must be destroyed simultaneously in order to break the barrier. Naofumi asks if the Tortoise took souls again in order to regenerate so fast, but Kyo shows the other three Heroes being held as prisoners, their very weapons serving as a backup power source for the Spirit Tortoise. The beast conjures its soul-draining energy spikes again. Filo notices her cowlick hair activating, and Fitoria suddenly shows up in order to oppose the massive beast. The Tortoise then concentrates the energy spikes against Fitoria's Filolial Queen form.

Speaking telepathically to Filo, Fitoria tells that she'll fight against the Spirit Tortoise's head while urging Naofumi's party to go for the heart. L'Arc, Therese, and Glass, guided by their own Vassal Weapons, burst into the room also in search for the heart. Kyo, claiming that "he is not a slave to his own Vassal Weapon", opens his Book Weapon and conjures Composition Form One: Bird of Flame, which is countered by L'Arc and Naofumi. Raphtalia and Filo attack Kyo, who is protected by the same barrier from the Tortoise's core, powered from the other Three Heroes and their weapons). Fitoria protects the marching troops from the Tortoise's soul-draining energy attacks, and Queen Mirellia orders the troops to retreat so Fitoria can fight with full strength. Naofumi's and L'Arc's parties keep striking at Kyo with full force, and Ost opens up another pathway to the Tortoise's core, but Kyo uses Gravity magic to subdue them all. The maniac shows how he uses the power from all souls collected by the Spirit Tortoise, and then proceeds to cowardly stomp on Naofumi's defenseless head, much to Raphtalia's and Filo's horror. Rishia, on the other hand, bravely stands up to Kyo's treachery.

Rishia, barely being able to walk under the pressure of Kyo's gravity magic, tells him that he is similar to herself in terms of relying on others's power and thus he is the real weak person, causing him to get angry and lash at her with energy spikes, tearing out several parts of her Filolial costume. The girl, however, bursts out of the costume and runs towards the Tortoise's core, dodging all attacks, sword in hand. Ost transfers all her powers to Naofumi's Shield, creating something named All-Liberation Aura, which cancels the oppresive gravity magic. Ost opens the Tortoise's core pathway, allowing L'Arc, Therese, Glass and Filo inside. Kyo tries to hinder them, but Rishia valiantly stands firm against him. Naofumi watches Rishia fighting and starts understanding the fundaments of chi manipulation which is part of Elrasla's Hengen Muso fighting style. Kyo summons Composition beasts which are no match for Rishia's nwefound power. Rishia then fires an energy projectile from her sword against the red crystal wall which entraps the Cardinal Heroes, promptly freeing them. Ost states that Rishia is right on calling Kyo a liar, and once again asks Naofumi to kill her. L'Arc's side is having problems against another of the Tortoise's fake hearts. Outside, the Guardian Beast charges a massive energy beam within its mouth, which is rapidly countered by a golden multi-caster ritual magic. Fitoria takes the chance to destroy the Tortoise's head, while the combined powers of Therese and Glass (who drinks a potion given to her by Filo under Naofumi's order) destroy the heart.

The barrier protecting the Tortoise's core finally dispels, but Kyo rapidly rebuilds it as an emergency plan. Remembering the words of Ost telling that Kyo is a complete liar, Naofumi invokes his Wrath Shield intending to kill Ost, but has no hatred to fuel the Shield against Kyo. Ost activates the power she transferred to Naofumi, unlocking The Spirit Tortoise's Heart Shield. This new Shield, which behaves like an energy cannon, fires a massive white energy beam which obliterates the Tortoise's core and rips through the Guardian Beast's entire body, soaring into the skies. Despite the Spirit Tortoise's head and heart being now completely destroyed, Kyo still claims that his real goal was acheived, as he still keeps to himself most of the souls stolen by the Guardian Beast. He then opens up a portal on the ground and makes his escape. Ost, on the verge of death, explains that Naofumi managed to unlock the Tortoise Heart Shield because he didn't succumb to hatred or sorrow, and so the new Tortoise Heart Shield will replace the dangerous Wrath Shield from now on. L'Arc's party then jump into Kyo's portal intending to chase him, promising Naofumi to bring back the stolen souls. Naofumi can't follow, his Shield interface warning that the Cardinal Heroes are forbidden from invading other worlds, but Ost nullifies this and allows them to go into Glass's world. Raphtalia and Filo have no time to cry Ost's death as they must follow with Rishia and Naofumi through Kyo's portal into another world. Ost dies peacefully, wishing to be reborn as a true companion for Naofumi's party. The defeated Spirit Tortoise's mountainous shell disintegrates and gives new life to the nearby landscape, much to Fitoria's happiness.

Light Novel & Manga Differences

 * TBA

Trivia

 * Bring Back was used as an insert song in this episode.