บท 515: C515
[The Seven Arrows of the Big Dipper], shooting straight from the seven stars of the Ursa Major, rained down like a meteor shower.
However, Rhongomyniad in Shirou's hand countered with shining, dazzling starlight. This beacon surged from the ground, resembling a pillar of light, shooting up to confront the descending meteors.
All the Heroic Spirits who were fighting couldn't help but notice.
"What... What's going on?"
Vlad reined in his horse, staring at the boundless light erupting from his castle, his face showing a hint of surprise.
Karna and Arjuna remained calm and kept fighting each other. Both of them sensed that a certain king had taken action, indicating that someone had attacked that king!
Yet, in that tense moment, neither Arjuna nor Karna spoke of the king's identity.
Arjuna had better emotional intelligence than Karna, knowing what to say and what not to say. Despite his seemingly indifferent expression, he was more likable than Karna.
While Karna may have lacked emotional intelligence, he was currently in a tight spot, sandwiched between Arjuna and Vlad, with no leisure to speak. Furthermore, he wouldn't have done something as foolish as revealing information about Eternal King to the Black faction.
Meanwhile, deep within the forest...
Semiramis and Kotomine Shirou were watching the dazzling starlight.
Kotomine remarked, "Could this be the Noble Phantasm of Eternal King...? It's really dazzling."
"Hmph," Semiramis muttered in annoyance, "My Hanging Gardens are way more dazzling, you fool."
But even though she said that, when she saw that towering beam of light connecting heaven and earth, Semiramis couldn't help but put on a grave expression.
Endless light surged from the earth to the sky.
And with a thunderous 'boom,' the meteor shower from the sky was obliterated.
"That's... incredible...!"
Astolfo was left gaping.
Just then, seven meteoric arrows rained down from behind, chasing after him.
Frantically steering his griffin, he yelled, "Shirou, a little help over here!"
"Hahaha... I don't think so. I always have a feeling you'll mess things up. You better stay up there and keep moving," Shirou said with a laugh.
"What... Why are you like this!? So mean!"
Astolfo sobbed as he pushed his griffin faster with seven arrows hot on his tail.
"Is this your Noble Phantasm, Assassin?" Jeanne asked, somewhat surprised. Due to the malice of [All the World's Evil], she couldn't see Shirou's true name, skills, or Noble Phantasm.
"Noble Phantasm?" Shirou gave Jeanne a quizzical look before it dawned on him that, to the onlookers, it might seem he had unleashed a Noble Phantasm.
He nodded, saying, "Yes, let's go with that. Think of it as a Noble Phantasm."
What does he mean by that? she wondered.
Just then, the Holy Lance that he had projected began to crumble, breaking apart into countless fragments before fading away after its magnificent display.
It was, after all, a mere projection. While it could be projected because Shirou had the record of Eternal King, it was not enough to manifest the Tower of Light and was just a single-use consumable.
Shirou returned his reversed Saint Graph to normal. Then, with a slight push from his foot, he glided down gracefully from the castle wall.
As he landed, he smiled at Atalanta who stood not too far from him.
Typically, as an archer, one should avoid making such a showy entrance onto a battlefield and should instead remain hidden in the shadows. But here, outside the castle, there was only an expansive open field with no place to hide.
He mused, "It seems Karna has already exposed my identity. You're after me now, aren't you?"
On high alert, Atalanta didn't respond. Instead, she quickly notched her bow and unleashed a deadly volley of five arrows.
Shirou's C-ranked [Protection from Arrows] wasn't quite up to the task of deflecting all five. But in a quick move, he projected five swords and sent them flying forward. A symphony of metallic clashes resounded as the projected swords deflected Atalanta's arrows mid-flight.
"You... are you that king?" she asked cautiously. "No wonder Lancer said you pose the greatest threat."
"Being praised by the legendary huntress is truly an honor," he smiled and said, "I can understand your intentions, but if you're here by yourself, I'm afraid you've come to die."
"You really underestimate me!" Like a wildcat whose tail had been stepped on, she glared at him. "Let's see your true colors in combat!"
"Of course, all the talk in the world is meaningless if one doesn't have the strength to back it up," he laughed and then added, "However, I don't think I've collected you yet."
"What!?"
Shirou's words left her momentarily stunned.
At that moment, his eyes blazed with a vivid, almost tangible flame.
Atalanta's figure was reflected in them.
And then, the [Heroic Mortal] skill was activated!
— [Crossing Arcadia C]
— [Hunter's Aesthetic C]
— [Calydonian Hunt C]
Shirou nodded, smiling, "There we go. All collected."
"What on earth are you blabbering about!?"
In her angered embarrassment, she drew her bow again.
...
Behind the forest...
The priest and the Assassin of Red, Semiramis, were observing the battlefield through a crystal ball.
"Atalanta has engaged with Eternal King, Master," Semiramis remarked, arching an eyebrow.
Kotomine nodded, concern evident on his face. "Karna mentioned Eternal King isn't at full strength right now, but after seeing that light earlier, I doubt she stands much of a chance."
Semiramis huffed, her arms folded. "You worry too much. Let me tell you, Achilles has successfully broken through the Black faction's defenses and is rapidly approaching Eternal King."
"Achilles, huh... That's good news. At least we've sent Achilles in." Kotomine nodded, and a faint smile finally appeared on his worried face. "I don't know what Eternal King's trump card is, but Achilles indeed possesses a Noble Phantasm that can surely kill him."
...
With a quick assessment of his mana reserves, Shirou projected a series of swords, launching them in Atalanta's direction.
Since the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War, there hadn't been an energy source like the leyline that had gathered energy for 240 years. As a result, his approach to battle had evolved from being free bombardment to becoming meticulously precise and calculated.
Most people found this change uncomfortable. Going from being frugal to being extravagant was simple, but the opposite was not so easy. When you were used to having an advantage, it was hard to adjust without it.
But for Shirou, this wasn't a big deal. Right from the start, he was all about strategy and finesse. He knew how to make the most of every bit of his mana, using it to his advantage.
Over time, this keen sense of energy management had become second nature to him.
He had to adapt. The sheer scale of his power and the significant drain of his skills demanded careful management. So, while keeping a close eye on his energy levels, he also analyzed the battlefield for the most effective tactics.
So his style wasn't that of a frontline brawler but rather that of a commander!
But since Atalanta had already broken through, he didn't mind letting her taste the commander's fists.
Quick as lightning, she notched her bow, releasing a volley of nine arrows in quick succession, each meticulously aimed at his head, torso, and limbs.
Although this level of archery couldn't be claimed as unparalleled in the world, it was undoubtedly the mark of a top-tier archer. The arrows she released seemed to predict and cut off all of his possible escape routes.
For an average Heroic Spirit, this might have been the end of the line.
But in response to these nine arrows, he projected a whopping sixty-four swords, unleashing them like a torrential wave, barreling straight for Atalanta.
Her nine arrows?
They were instantly swallowed by a massive wave of blades, which relentlessly surged forward toward Atalanta.
With quick reflexes, she hit the ground in a swift roll, dodging the overwhelming flood of swords.
"Clang clang clang—"
The force of sixty-four swords striking the ground echoed loudly throughout the area.
As Atalanta readied herself to strike back, he simply smiled and made a fist.
— [Broken Phantasm]!
"Boom boom boom boom boom—!!!"
In a coordinated burst, all sixty-four swords erupted at once.
The sound was deafening, akin to a series of thunderclaps in rapid succession!
Atalanta was blasted away by the explosion, her figure tumbling several times on the ground, resembling a wildcat rolling in the dirt, her flowing green hair now coated in a layer of dust.
...
- There's a bonus chapter for reaching 400 Power Stones.
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