บท 456: C456
As they continued, the exit of the boundary drew closer, allowing the light of the outside world to seep in, its brilliance filling the opening with light.
"We're outside... We made it!"
"We've really done it...!"
With eyes brimming with tears, people dashed out, leaving behind the shroud of the night to bask in the embrace of daylight.
People rushed out of the exit, eager to embrace the promise of a beautiful dawn beyond the boundary. But as they stepped outside, their excitement was replaced by a collective gasp of surprise.
The expressions of hope that had lit up their faces froze in an instant.
What greeted them wasn't the expected beautiful sunrise. Instead, a curtain of darkness enveloped everything. The sky was blanketed in a thick black mist, obscuring the stars. Only a hauntingly round moon hung high, casting an eerie glow.
The world had transformed into a canvas of strange anomalies. Unusual and bizarre creatures wandered the land as if the Hundred Demons Parade from Japanese folklore had come into being.
A low rumbling filled the air as military fighter jets streaked through the sky, leaving trails of exhaust as they engaged the bizarre creatures. However, their gunfire seemed to have no effect, the bullets passing through the creatures and disappearing into the distance. In the vicinity of Miyama Town, soldiers clad in military uniforms had gathered, forming a protective perimeter.
"What in the world is going on?" someone whispered to themselves, their voice tinged with disbelief.
...
Stretching as far as the eye could see, an expanse of endless space lay within the Space of Imaginary Numbers. Here, time and space merged into a standstill, forming the core of Solomon's second Noble Phantasm—the Temple of Time.
The forceful might of EA, capable of rending the boundaries of space, funneled the creatures that emerged from the fissures between worlds. These creatures were cleaved from their original place and seamlessly transported into the Temple of Time.
In this process of severance and relocation, the creatures found themselves being transported, while the fissures in dimensions were steadily sealed.
Solomon was seated regally on the royal throne inside the temple, having closed off the various entrances to the outside world.
Shirou, Gilgamesh, and the others stood on the steps, their gazes cold as they looked at the severed creature.
Not only them, but also the Heroic Spirits and Counter Guardians summoned to the present world found themselves pulled into the Temple of Time.
The might of Ea ripped through the fabric of space, cleaving through the creatures. Despite its force, it couldn't completely obliterate this creature.
Gilgamesh let out a disdainful snort and remarked, "Even when faced with the sheer power of Ea, it wasn't destroyed. Hmph, I dare say a bit of praise is due."
But his tone was reluctant.
"No," Karna shook his head. "Your Noble Phantasm should have been more than capable of destroying this thing."
"What do you mean, mongrel?"
Merlin chimed in, "The Sun's Child means that, with your complete release of Ea and without any interference from Gaia, that thing should have been destroyed. However, an external force protected it."
"An external force?"
"You released Ea at full power, and that's why you missed it. But all of us saw it," Shirou said, his expression serious. "The black cup was protecting that thing when you were using Ea."
"The black cup..." Gilgamesh's brows furrowed.
"If I'm right, that should be the heart of that thing."
"It's likely what Zelretch referred to as the 'Wicked Heart,'" Merlin chimed in, emphasizing the point.
He nodded in agreement. "Precisely."
Crackle crackle crackle crackle crackle—!!!
The colossal severed dragon head, still crucified to the sky above the Temple of Time, emitted a thunderous roar.
"Hmph," Gilgamesh sneered, a mocking edge to his voice. "The wailing of a mongrel, truly a delightful sound."
Shirou turned his gaze toward Solomon, who remained seated on the throne, and asked, "How's the situation?"
"The space above the temple has been corroded. However, I've sealed off all the exits."
Emiya added, "In other words, even if we fail, this thing won't be able to erode the outside world..."
"If we start by assuming failure, we won't be able to accomplish anything." Shirou asserted.
Emiya's brow furrowed as he regarded Eternal King intently.
Shirou turned his gaze towards the assembled Heroic Spirits and spoke, "Listen up, everyone. If we don't make it through, there's no telling what might happen. There's only one thing for us to do — give it our all in the fight, and come out on top. That's it!"
The Heroic Spirits shifted their attention to him, captivated by his presence.
Though Solomon occupied the throne, it was Shirou who, in this moment, exuded the air of a true king, issuing commands from the heart of the gathering.
All eyes were on him, yet there was no immediate response, creating an awkward atmosphere. However, he maintained his composure, his resolve unshaken.
What's wrong with awkward silence? Along his journey, these kinds of feelings had transformed into unwavering determination.
Merlin chimed in, "As you wish, Your Majesty."
"Hmph," Gilgamesh snorted, crossing his arms, "Isn't this a matter of course? This King has no intention of losing to a mongrel. It's the ultimate insult to my name!"
Karna raised an eyebrow, "You're trying to boost morale, but it doesn't work well for us. Seems unnecessary too."
Shirou didn't seem phased by the exchange.
Okita Souji shot a quick look at him, then turned her gaze to her fellow Counter Guardian. "Emiya, he's different from us, so you shouldn't say such things."
"Give it a rest, Souji," Emiya muttered under his breath.
"Roar roar roar roar roar — !!!" The enormous dragon head let out a deafening roar across the sky.
In the the pitch-black sky above, numerous massive arms thrashed about like tentacles, launching an assault on Shirou and his companions.
Perched on the throne, Solomon's expression remained calm, yet the ten rings adorning his fingers emitted a subtle glow.
Crackle crackle crackle crackle —
Demons started crawling out from different corners of the temple, as if from a nightmare. They lunged at the massive arms, and the clash resembled a wild dance of light and shadows, creating an eerie sight. These demons were undoubtedly powerful, but the arms proved to be no pushovers either; they held their ground with considerable strength.
The dragon's head had consumed an immense amount of divinity up until now. While it hadn't yet unleashed its full power, its arms proved to be incredibly resilient.
Perched on the dragon's neck, eerie humanoid forms emitted haunting cries, enveloped by dark thunder that crackled ominously. The essence of the gods pulsed within them, creating a dynamic interplay of light and lightning that resulted in a dazzling clash of energy.
Moreover, Solomon didn't just relocate the creature to the temple; he actually transported the entire Fuyuki City into it. Right now, the city was shattered into innumerable fragments, strewn all over the Temple of Time. One could see countless ruins and debris scattered all around.
In the midst of these ruins, it was a full-blown war zone, with Camelot's soldiers locked in fierce battles against these black humanoid creatures. The air was filled with the chilling sound of howls and the chaotic symphony of violence.
A deep, rumbling tremor shook the very ground of the temple, like a heartbeat of impending doom.
Thud, thud, thud...
The temple floor quaked violently beneath their feet, and the cracks that followed seemed to echo the chaos around them. Giant arms made of stone burst forth from the depths of the earth, monstrous appendages that had been held at bay by the Enlightened One back in Fuyuki City started emerging one after another.
The ground quivered as massive stone arms broke through and gripped the earth with a firm hold before wrenching it apart.
Dozens of towering stone giants emerged. Each had a single, glaring eye in the middle of its forehead and wielded a stone club that appeared as heavy as a mountain. They resembled the Cyclopes from Greek myths, as if they had climbed right out of some dark corner of the Underworld. Letting out powerful roars, they lunged at the demons, swinging their clubs with formidable force.
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