บท 458: C458
Karna remained remarkably composed, a testament to his unwavering composure in the face of anything. However, there was a slight increase in his pace, indicating that he couldn't maintain his composure when it came to his brother. Likewise, the feeling was mutual for Arjuna. As Karna picked up the pace, Arjuna's expression hardened, and he quickened his stride as well.
The two brothers were now in a race!
Meanwhile, the three Counter Guardians were teaming up to take down the one-eyed giant. For Emiya and Kiritsugu, it was a weird mix of emotions. On one hand, it felt good to be on a mission that was about saving people for once, not just eliminating them. On the other, these mythic monsters were no joke—they were tough to beat, and that made things complicated.
Emiya had it relatively easier since he could project his Spiral Sword for long-range bombardment. However, Kiritsugu faced a completely different problem. As an Assassin, he specialized in covert assassinations, and dealing with mythical creatures like the one-eyed giant was as difficult as anything could be. If it weren't for Shirou buffing him with three stacks of "God Slayer (C)," granting him a tremendous advantage against the giant, his attacks might not even scratch the creature's skin.
But with three stacks of "God Slayer (C)" in his arsenal, he finally had what it took to breach the creature's defenses.
However, one of the Demon God Pillars, Barbatos, wasn't having any of it. In a voice tinged with annoyance, he snapped, "Could you please stop causing trouble? Just watch from the sidelines. If you keep causing trouble, I'll blast you to smithereens with my eye beam!"
This gloomy guy Kiritsugu was really getting on his nerves. He was darting around at the feet of the one-eyed giant, waving around a small knife that was barely 20 centimeters long. It was like some sort of comedy routine. The giant was over fifty meters tall; trying to attack it with a 20-centimeter knife was like giving it a mosquito bite!
What made it even more frustrating was that this guy's tiny knife was poisoned. When he stabbed it into the giant, the wounds actually healed even faster! It was as if he were an infiltrator working for the enemy!
Kiritsugu: "..."
He looked puzzled, suddenly doubting his own capabilities. Here he was, on a mission where he could finally play the hero without taking lives, and yet he felt utterly useless.
His "God Slayer" and the knife—which combined his "Sever" and "Bind" Origins—ended up doing more harm than good. The "God Slayer" should've given him an edge against gods, but it was useless here. "Sever" did nothing to the One-Eyed Giant, and "Bind" actually seemed to speed up its healing. It was all so counterproductive.
Kiritsugu walked away in frustration, obediently watching as Barbatos dealt with the one-eyed giant.
Barbatos was equally frustrated. All the other Demon God Pillars had helpers who were at least competent, if not downright powerful. None of them actively sabotaged their own side's efforts. But his own helper? It was nothing short of a disaster! Barbatos couldn't shake the feeling that someone was deliberately messing with him!
Meanwhile, things were looking up for Okita Souji. For the first time since she had become a Counter Guardian, she felt a genuine sense of happiness. So much so that she burst into hearty laughter as her longsword transformed into a deadly tool of death, wreaking havoc on these one-eyed giants.
"Absolute Sword - Endless Three-Stage!"
The words captured the essence of Okita Souji's swordsmanship at its pinnacle: absolute, boundless, and infinite. Every swing had reached a level of skill that defied imagination. This was a killing technique so advanced, even the legendary swordsman Sasaki Kojirō could never achieve. It was a sword technique on par with a Noble Phantasm!
Enhanced by Shirou's triple-stack of "God Slayer (C)," her blade emitted an endless torrent of light, slicing the one-eyed giant to ribbons.
However, she didn't immediately obliterate the one-eyed giant. Instead, she savagely battered it until it teetered on the brink of death, then delivered the final blow with a joyful expression on her face.
This display of savagery left another Demon God Pillars, Flauros, soaked in a cold sweat.
This woman... was insane!
Merlin and Scathach were also busy dismantling the one-eyed giants. Merlin's capabilities are almost a given. As a top-tier Caster, his mastery of Magecraft might not equal that of Zelretch, but it's still second to none. He made quick work of the Cyclops without breaking a sweat.
And then there's Scathach. She mastered her spear techniques over fifteen hundred years ago and has been the Gatekeeper of the Land of Shadows ever since. Equipped with "God Slayer" and boasting base stats at a B level, she was already formidable. But, with Shirou's triple-stack "God Slayer (C)" boost and the anti-divine capabilities of her Noble Phantasm, her "God Slayer" reached an awe-inspiring A-level status.
For these one-eyed giants, facing Scathach was like being helpless children. A single thrust from her spear was all it took to end them. Without exception.
Though her face stayed gentle, her actions were anything but merciful, leaving the Demon God Pillars in a state of cold sweat.
And once these one-eyed giants were completely eradicated, there was no coming back. No new giants spawned, no regeneration took place. This was to be expected; their original form had been shattered by Ea. What appeared here were simply scattered fragments of the once mighty beings.
The enormous dragon head in the sky was no different in this regard. However, what set it apart was the black cup resembling a core within that dragon head.
Thud, thud, thud...
As the one-eyed giants were vanquished, the colossal dragon head grew increasingly agitated, emitting an ominous and unsettling sound.
But the dragon head's actions were held in check by the combined might of the three Kings and the available Demon God Pillars. Each attempt from the dragon's massive arms was quickly thwarted.
The tide was definitely turning in their favor!
...
Outside of Fuyuki City,
A rainbow-colored barrier enveloped the city, akin to a white blood cell encasing and isolating afflicted Fuyuki City. Thankfully, the residents had successfully evacuated.
This was a silver lining amidst a cloud of bad news. However, the area outside of Fuyuki City was an even more chaotic scene.
A dense black mist shrouded the area, an eerie full moon hung overhead, and various phantoms or illusions roamed the landscape, creating the impression of a haunting procession with hundreds of ghosts moving through the area.
It was truly a terrifying sight to behold!
Military fighter jets streaked across the sky while soldiers in full combat gear patrolled the ground. The atmosphere was thick with the tension of impending battle. But this wasn't a war between human factions; this was mankind against otherworldly beings, a clash with the supernatural!
But they should be safe, right? After all, they had successfully escaped from Fuyuki City...
"Look at that—!" Someone suddenly shouted.
"Oh my God!" Someone pointed at the sky, covering their mouth.
People's eyes followed the gesture. Above them, a grand temple materialized in the sky, serving as the battleground where one-eyed giants clashed with a terrifying spire made of countless eyes. Humans with extraordinary powers weaved through the chaos, taking down the giants.
The sky was a canopy of darkness, dominated by a colossal dragon head and its enormous arms. Yet, a Tower of Light pierced through the gloom, casting its brilliance on the darkness below.
Within that tower, three figures stood, awash in the light, locked in an intense battle against the dragon head.
"It's the King!" Galahad shouted, recognition lighting up his face.
Ritsuka stood beside Galahad, holding his hand, as she gazed at the figure clad in silver armor standing in the Tower of Light. She murmured, 'Brother..."
People couldn't help but gaze at the sky, which was displaying a battlefield as if it were a massive screen. This wasn't an illusion; it was an actual projection from the Temple of Time!
Gray supported Artoria as they both gazed at the sky where an image of Shirou was projected. "His Majesty, the Eternal King..."
Add said, "Don't worry, the King will come out on top. After all, he's never been defeated before."
Ever since parting ways with Shirou, Add had found his voice, becoming more assertive in conversations. Gray gave a slight nod, acknowledging him with a simple, "Hmm."
Just then, the unsettling full moon overhead seemed to glow even brighter, and a contradicting voice sliced through Add's confidence. "No, Shirou has already lost!"
A 'whoosing' noise tore through the air, faster than the speed of sound, so fast that it warped space itself.
Yet faster still was Artoria's instinct.
"Gray—!" Acting purely on instinct, she shoved Gray out of harm's way.
Almost at the same time, a pale and slender hand shot through her back, reaching for Add who was being held by Gray. With a quick tug, the pale hand snatched Add away.
This shocking turn of events left everyone there completely dumbfounded.
Artoria fell, a pool of blood forming around her.
...
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