harleyscars Page 75
Page 75
“I see…” Jeanne looked at Shirou, her eyes revealing a genuine, heartfelt appreciation and expectation. “Your ideals are remarkable, Mast.”
Their relationship deepened quietly amidst this clumsy training filled with sweat, ideals, and philosophy.
However, this tranquility was completely shattered by a sudden, leisurely sound.
"The training methods are too inefficient. The rate of progress is also too slow."
Before anyone knew it, Gu Chuan, along with Artoria and Rin Tohsaka, appeared silently at the entrance of the dojo, as if taking a stroll.
"Tohsaka?! And...Sab?!" Shirou tensed up the moment he saw the newcomers and instinctively assumed a defensive stance.
Joan of Arc also gripped the holy banner tightly in her hand, and her eyes, which were always full of love, were filled with vigilance when she looked at the unfathomable man with black hair and golden eyes.
"No need to be nervous." Gu Chuan waved his hand casually, and the invisible, suffocating tension seemed to be soothed away by an unseen hand.
He glanced at Shirou, who was covered in sweat, then at Jeanne d'Arc beside him, and a playful smile appeared on his lips.
"Since you're all so enthusiastic, then I'll give you a real practical lesson."
"—A small-scale simulated battle."
"What?" Shirou and Jeanne were both stunned.
"The two of you will join forces to attack me." Gu Chuan said in a relaxed tone, as if inviting someone to afternoon tea, words that left everyone present (except Rin and Sab) in disbelief: "As long as you can make me move one step, you will win."
These words were filled with extreme and undisguised arrogance!
“Your Excellency…” Joan of Arc’s brow furrowed deeply. “I admit, you are powerful. But to so scorn me and my Mast, is that…”
“No, I am not belittling you.” Gu Chuan shook his head, his golden eyes as calm as a bottomless ancient well. “I am simply stating a fact to you.”
Seeing Jeanne's doubtful and wary expression, Rin couldn't help but whisper a gloating, "Hey, Saintess, I advise you to go all out. Otherwise, you might lose pretty badly later."
Ultimately, driven by Rin's "persuasion" and Shirou's indomitable spirit, this mock battle, which could be described as "self-humiliating," began in the courtyard outside the dojo.
"—Then, I'll go!"
Joan of Arc's face was devoid of any trace of kindness; instead, it bore the absolute solemnity and holiness befitting a saint! She fiercely planted the holy banner in her hand into the ground!
"—My Lord is here (mnost Etnelle)!"
A dazzling, golden light erupted from the banner, forming a sacred protective barrier that could isolate all curses and calamities! She believed that with the defensive power of her Noble Phantasm, coupled with her EX-level magic resistance, she could hold out against even a god for a moment!
Traceon
Shirou, standing to the side, also exerted all his strength, pushing his magic circuits to their limits! This time, he no longer projected ordinary swords, but instead projected the most sturdy, legendary shield he could imagine—the [RhoAas]—in front of him!
However, facing the seemingly absolute defensive formation constructed by these two Servants and Masters, Gu Chuan remained standing still, not even bothering to raise his hand.
He simply watched them quietly with his golden, divine eyes.
Then, in a soft voice, he gave the only command.
"—I command, all the light and magic here, shall submit to me."
In that instant, the whole world seemed to have been muted.
Joan of Arc's banner, which was radiating supreme holy light, suddenly dimmed like a light bulb whose power had been cut off! Her sacred connection with the mysterious "Lord" was forcibly severed by a higher, more domineering, and unreasonable "power"!
Shirou's fantasy shield, made of seven petals and supposedly capable of withstanding all projectiles, couldn't even maintain its shape. Like a sandcastle, it crumbled inch by inch in a silent ripple, turning into countless meaningless magical specks of light!
"Wha...what?!"
For the first time, Joan of Arc's face revealed an extreme look of horror and bewilderment, like that of a mortal witnessing a divine miracle! Her Noble Phantasm, her miracle born of faith, had actually... failed?!
This was completely beyond her comprehension!
This so-called "simulated battle" didn't even last a second. It ended in the most absolute, overwhelming, and unreasonable way.
Joan of Arc collapsed to her knees, powerless, and the holy banner, now devoid of all its luster, slipped from her grasp. Shirou's legs buckled, and he slumped to the ground, pale-faced, gasping for breath, as if his very soul had been drained away in that instant.
“This…is…” Joan of Arc raised her head, looking at the man who hadn’t moved an inch from beginning to end with a gaze filled with awe and trembling, as if she were looking up at a god. “…Your power?”
“No,” Gu Chuan shook his head and said calmly, “this is just the reality of this world that you are about to face.”
Meanwhile, Artoria watched this familiar scene unfold before her, and once again felt grateful for her wise decision to choose loyalty.
Rin, on the other hand, crossed her arms and wore a smug smile that said, "I told you all this before."
As for Arch, who "observed" the entire "battle" from Rin's perspective...
The core of his spirit had long since fallen into an unprecedented, deathly silence.
...Words become law...
...to completely dominate the concept itself...
……I see……
...Is this...the true...god...?
His worldview, forged from countless betrayals and despair, as hard as steel, was utterly shattered at this moment.
139 Nameless Blade
After personally experiencing Gu Chuan's absolute power, which could be described as "divine" and utterly unreasonable, Shirou Emiya and Jeanne d'Arc finally understood the source of the "fanatic trust" that Rin had mentioned.
This so-called "simulated battle" was less a real fight and more a one-sided, overwhelming display of "miracles." It shattered the pride that Jeanne and Arch held in their hearts as heroic spirits, and for the first time, it caused Shirou's belief that "miracles can be created with effort" to waver violently.
It turns out that in this world, there truly exists an absolute "reality" where even "effort" itself seems pale and powerless.
"Alright, that concludes the lesson." Gu Chuan looked at the two distraught "allies" whose worldviews were being reshaped, and said calmly, "Now, you should understand what kind of war you are about to face."
"...What should we do next?" Shirou struggled to his feet, his voice carrying a hint of confusion for the first time.
“It’s simple,” Rin said, recovering from her shock. Her ruby-like eyes regained the shrewdness and confidence of a magician. “Now that we’ve confirmed the power of Bsk and Arch (Gilgamesh) and are aware of the threat posed by the Church and Cast, then our next target is only one.”
Her gaze fell upon the ancient temple perched atop the mountain, which appeared exceptionally tranquil and mysterious under the moonlight.
"——Ryuudou Temple."
In the end, this hastily assembled reconnaissance team, with its incredibly diverse and somewhat bizarre composition, made up its mind.
They planned to take advantage of the chaos tonight to sneak into Ryudo-ji Temple and see for themselves what kind of insidious traps the witch from the Age of Gods had prepared in her "temple".
The group arrived silently at the foot of the long stone steps leading to the mountain gate of Liudong Temple.
The closer they got, the stronger the immense and oppressive aura of the Age of Gods magic became. But to everyone's surprise, they encountered no magical traps or attacks from any Dragon Fang soldiers along the way.
The entire Ryudong Temple was unusually quiet.
“…Something’s not right.” Rin’s brows furrowed deeply. Given Cast’s cunning and cautious nature, there was no way he would have laid down such a weak defense in his own base.
Just as they were about to step onto the last stone step and reach the platform in front of the mountain gate—
A calm, unassuming voice, like a clear mountain spring, drifted out unexpectedly from beneath the ancient mountain gate.
"—Let's stop here, you uninvited guests."
The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a mysterious swordsman dressed in a purple kimono, with long purple hair reaching his waist, a handsome face, and an ethereal demeanor. He was holding a katana of astonishing length called "Monogane-cho," and was quietly leaning against the gatepost of the mountain gate.
He was clearly standing there, yet his aura was ghostly, as if he had completely merged with the surrounding night and the ancient mountain gate. If he hadn't spoken, probably no one would have been able to detect his presence.
Job class: Assassin, Kojiro Sasaki.
A "dead spirit" that exists only in legends and was illegally summoned by Cast using the mountain gate of Ryudoji Temple as a "catalyst." It doesn't even qualify as a "heroic spirit."
"Are you... Cast's Servant?" Rin asked, trying to remain calm, and held several gems between her fingers.
"You could say that," Assassn said with a helpless, bitter smile. "Even though I'm just a doorman, since I'm getting paid, I have to do my job well."
"—This door is closed."
His words were calm, but the absolute confidence and oppressive aura of a master swordsman hidden beneath that calmness sent a chill down everyone's spine.
A bead of cold sweat appeared on Rin's forehead. Arch, behind her, also issued a grave warning via telepathy.
...Rin, be careful! This man is very strong! His swordsmanship has reached a state of perfection!
Just as Rin was about to give the order for Arch to force a breakthrough, a golden, meteor-like figure silently landed in front of them in a gentle breeze.
It's Artoria.
“Mast’s orders.” She looked at the man below the mountain gate. For the first time, a hint of excitement and fighting spirit, typical of a swordsman, appeared on his usually expressionless face. “I will deal with the guards here.”
Assassn looked at the blonde girl who had suddenly appeared in front of him, dressed in a modern suit, yet exuding an incomparably pure and powerful sword intent. His eyes, which always carried a hint of laziness, instantly lit up!
"Oh? Finally, a worthy opponent has arrived?"
He slowly straightened up and held the "drying food" in his hand across his chest.
"—I am Sasaki Kojiro."
"—Sab, Artoria Pendragon."
Without any unnecessary words, the two true "masters" who stood at the pinnacle of swordsmanship in their respective eras completed their pre-battle greeting—a mere exchange of glances—without risking their honor or lives!
next second!
The two figures vanished from their spot at the same time!
when--!!!!!!
A sharp, ear-piercing metallic clang, loud enough to tear eardrums, suddenly exploded in front of the silent mountain gate!
That is the purest collision between speed compressed to the extreme and skill honed to its peak!
In Rin, Shirou, and Jeanne's almost imperceptible field of vision, all they could see were two blurry afterimages, one gold and one purple, like two intertwined bolts of lightning, engaging in a dazzling, ultra-fast offensive and defensive battle on that small mountain gate platform!
Countless intersecting, silvery-white sword lights, like mercury spilled on the night sky, each flash accompanied by a crisp, teeth-grinding clash!
Assassn's sword represents the pinnacle of skill. The "Dried Wood Blade" in his hand seems to possess a life of its own; every swing follows a perfect, textbook-perfect trajectory. His swordplay appears simple, consisting of only straight slashes, horizontal cuts, and diagonal parries—a mere handful of moves—yet each one embodies the refined, unadulterated principles of swordsmanship. The 1.5-meter-long blade, in his hands, moves like the lightest willow leaf, agile yet deadly, always striking Artoria's weakest points at the most unbelievable angles.
Artoria's sword represents the pinnacle of "power" and "speed." Her body, enhanced by Gu Chuan to the point of being comparable to a divine beast, grants her absolute power and speed far surpassing Assassin's! Every swing of her holy sword carries a terrifying, mountain-like pressure that can crush everything! Her swordsmanship may not possess the exquisite finesse of Assassin's, but it exudes a kingly, expansive, and unstoppable domineering power and majesty!
She abandoned all unnecessary defenses and poured all her strength into the attack! Attack against attack! Speed against speed!
Jingle bells!
The sparks from the clash of swords, like grand festive fireworks, burst forth wildly before the silent mountain gate!
This ultimate duel, decided purely by "sword skills," captivated Rin and Shirou, who watched from afar! It also stirred up a storm in Arch's heart, which had been as calm as a guardian!
...Impossible! Sab's swordsmanship was clearly still a bit raw and confused! But her strength and speed completely surpassed Assassin's! This...this is not the physical ability a Heroic Spirit should have!
Finally, after hundreds of fast-paced and dizzying exchanges, Assassn, who had been on the back foot the whole time, seized a fleeting opportunity!
His figure suddenly separated from Artoria's!
He slowly raised the "drying utensils" in his hand to shoulder height, assuming an ancient yet mysterious starting stance.
The air around the entire mountain gate seemed to freeze at that moment.
"—A very good sword, Sab." A genuine, satisfied smile appeared on his face, a smile that suggested he had met his match. "In return, I will show you the one and only ultimate sword that I have been pursuing in my life."
"Secret Sword——"
"【Swallow Return】!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the "Dried Wood Blade" in his hand, in an instant, simultaneously slashed towards Artoria from three completely different and contradictory dimensions and trajectories!
One sword, cleaving into the future!
One sword strike, aimed at the present!
One sword strike, slashing towards the past!
Three "absolute blades" that could not be defended against or dodged, and which severed cause and effect and time and space, sealed off all of Artoria's escape routes at the same time!
This is no longer within the scope of "sword skills".
Rather, it is the multi-dimensional twisting phenomenon that a swordsman who has reached the pinnacle of skill can unleash with a mortal human body, comparable to a second magic!
However, Artoria remained calm in the face of this "magic sword" that was capable of slaying any hero.
Because, in the very instant before those three "Absolute Blades" were activated, her A-level "Intuition" had already acted like the loudest alarm bell, frantically warning her from the depths of her soul!
She didn't think about how to defend herself, nor did she calculate how to dodge.
Because the first lesson Gu Chuan taught her was—
"When your enemy bares his strongest fangs, what you should do is not retreat."
"Instead, with even greater speed and power, before he can even make a move, we will shatter his fangs and his head together!"
"—StrkeAr, the Wind King's Hammer!"