Before it, the ocean boiled, waves vanishing into steam, and even the abyss recoiled.
Its edge is not just destruction, but a power of purification that burns everything clean. Accompanied by the radiance of dawn, it dispels endless darkness, reshaping the world beneath the brilliance of daybreak.
[The Horizon of Dawn That Purifies the Seas(Sul-Sagana)]
The twin swords, the supreme divine constructs of heaven and earth, belonging to the war god Zababa of Mesopotamian mythology.
Emiya Shirou is not a god. What he projects is merely the outer shell of divine constructs, mere remnants of their appearance, unable to touch the true divinity of the twin swords.
Yet even so, these two 'pseudo-divine constructs' still possess immense power, containing a sliver of the divine swords' residual might.
Even if they are false divine armaments, their existence alone is enough to shake the boundaries of the mortal realm.
Moreover, the one they are aimed at, Antares, is merely a "false god" who has stolen divine power.
Thus, even if they are merely 'pseudo-objects,' even if this projection is nothing more than an illusion in shape, it can still withstand Antares' divine power and block the divine arrow that symbolizes destruction.
At the moment the twin swords fell, heaven and earth froze. And at the same time, Antares' [Moon God's Bow] had already been drawn to fullness like a perfect full moon. The divine arrow, carrying the radiance of destruction, streaked through the sky, its silver-white arc like a blade of the firmament.
When the divine arrow clashed with the twin swords, a deafening tearing sound erupted in the air. Green light and flames flickered under the violent impact, and tiny cracks appeared on the outer shell of the massive swords, as if heralding the collapse of mountains.
In an instant, the cracks spread rapidly, and with a thunderous roar that shook the heavens and the earth, the twin swords' outer shells finally shattered, dispersing into countless points of light that scattered into the sky.
After the outer shells broke, the interiors of the twin swords were revealed to be completely empty, devoid of any substance. They were, from the beginning, mere illusions in shape. Like mirages vanishing in the wind, the shattered divine swords dissipated, leaving only fragments of light.
Nevertheless, their final strike was not without effect. Although the Moon God's Arrow had pierced through the twin swords' defense, its power had already been diminished.
The unstoppable divine arrow, under the residual shockwaves of the slashes, was deflected, its force gradually dissipating. The silver-white arrow lost its originally lethal momentum, and its trajectory became imprecise.
The arrow fell into this vast, white wilderness of swords, its silver light vanishing into the snow.
The cold wind howled, and the snowfield, covered with countless sword blades, returned to silence once more. That weakened and deflected divine arrow was completely swallowed by the boundless, icy embrace of the endless snowy plains, fading into nothingness.
On the other side, the twin swords projected by Emiya Shirou, though mere "pseudo-objects", were still powerful enough to make four Lv.6 Elven spellcasters feel a dramatic drain on their mental energy. The moment the twin swords formed, all four felt an invisible pressure sweeping over them.
"This brat... actually projected something of this level!", The elven scholar gritted his teeth in his heart.
The scattered afterglow, like a meteor shower, drifted through the air. Riveria softly chanted, and her [Fairy King's Seal] activated at full force.
In an instant, the shattered radiance was gathered, transformed into a vast and pure energy, absorbed back into her staff, and seamlessly guided into Riveria's body, returning once more to the cycle of magic.
However, they had no time to feel relieved about the returning magic, because Emiya had already begun the next stage of his forging.
What Emiya Shirou was doing was not forging a brand-new divine construct. Such a miracle was beyond his reach.
Moreover, in this lower world, there was no 'Divine Fire' for him to use, nor any true 'Divine Materials' that he could employ.
The only thing he could use was a single divine-powered 'Orion's Arrow', along with the thought-essence of the goddess who coexisted with it. This arrow's divine power, combined with the goddess's thoughts, was all he had to work with. It was the core and foundation of this entire miracle.
Thus, Emiya was not forging a completely new divine weapon. He was creating what he excelled at most—pseudo-objects.
Shameless plagiarism.
Unrestrained imitation.
Brazen theft.
Using every possible method...
Like the scorpion that stole the Heavenly Fire, Emiya was about to steal the core of a divine weapon and forge it into his own sword.
"Unlimited Blade Works is the furnace that forges miracles."
"The divine arrow is the core that constitutes the divine sword."
"The thoughts of the spirit are the brand that elevates its rank."
"The heroic exploits are the substance of the divine sword."
"And next, the outer shell of the divine sword will be forged by these endless swords."
The Philosopher's Stone hanging around Emiya's neck swayed gently in the snowstorm. Then, with a deep rumble, the dazzling red gemstone suddenly shattered, turning into countless tiny crystalline lights that dispersed into the frigid wind.
At the same time, across the boundless snowy plain, every single sword, all the blades that the Heroic Spirit Emiya had replicated in countless battles, rose from the snow.
Their edges gleamed with a chilling radiance, like stars in the heavens, resonating with his will in this endless sea of swords.
Countless weapons ascended into the air, drawn by an invisible force, converging toward the center of the bounded field.
Whether rusted, broken blades or brilliant divine armaments, they all began to shatter under this unseen pressure.
The blades crumbled into countless fragments of light, flickering weakly like falling stars, gathering at the heart of the bounded field.
In the sky, Orion's Arrow blazed like a scorching "sun," burning fiercely. It was not a true celestial body, but a core woven from the divine arrow and the thoughts of a goddess.
As the fragments of endless swords poured in, the core's radiance grew ever more intense. Silver-white flames ignited from the arrow's tip, spreading outward as if they would engulf the entire world.
Each glimmering fragment, carrying the remnants of heroic exploits, was ultimately absorbed by this divine arrow.
The raging torrent of magic made the surrounding space tremble. The runes of the Fairy King's Seal beneath Riveria's feet shone brightly, like a floodgate channeling the magic into her body.
Yet, the strength of this magic far exceeded her expectations. It surged into her with uncontrollable force, nearly tearing her body apart.
Riveria's face turned pale in an instant. A crushing pressure built up rapidly in her brain, the pain stabbing like needles.
The excessive magical impact caused her nosebleed to flow uncontrollably, staining her breathtaking features with crimson. Her forehead veins bulged, her mind nearly shattered by the unbearable energy.
Even so, she clenched her teeth, gripping her staff tightly, refusing to let her body's agony waver her resolve.
'I can't fall... I absolutely can't!'
Her thoughts grew chaotic, her vision blurred, the pain nearly overwhelming her. Yet, she forcibly locked the raging magic within the cycle of the Fairy King's Seal.
Compared to Riveria, Emiya's condition was even more severe. As the surge of magic raged through Unlimited Blade Works, his body could no longer endure the overwhelming pressure.
The rampaging magic surged through his cells like a raging tide, with every strand of power wreaking havoc within him like sharp blades.
Cracks began to appear on the surface of his skin, and blood gushed from the fissures, staining his tattered armor and dripping onto the pure white snow, dyeing the ground crimson.
Every breath felt like fire scorching his lungs. The impact of magic caused his muscles to tear apart, and his bones emitted faint cracking sounds under the strain.
He was covered in blood, his face pale, yet his eyes remained fixed on the light ahead, his expression unwavering.
"Projection, start."
Once again, it was the "sword" he trusted most since coming to this world.
[Nine Lives]
[Skill: "Roadless Valhalla" activated.]
[Temporarily acquiring Development Ability: "Endurance."]
[Temporarily acquiring Skill: "Unyielding."]
[Temporarily acquiring Skill: Twelve Labors (God Hand)."]
Feeling the surge of power within him, Emiya smiled slightly.
He allowed the magic to shatter his body. His posture tilted forward for a moment, but in the next instant, he stood firm again, an even fiercer fire burning in his eyes.
[Skill: Twelve Labors (God Hand)]
[Resurrection, granting resistance to fatal damage.]
Four Lv.6 elven magic users, over fifty bottles of mental elixirs, the Philosopher's Stone still holding most of its energy, the cycle of the Fairy King's Seal, and the ultimate blessing of the Spirit King's Ring...
Harnessing this immense magic, Emiya swung the nearly completed sword.
At the same time, Antares also drew the most powerful bow he had ever wielded.
["All the divine power that was stolen from me... is inside,"] The goddess's voice echoed in Emiya's mind.
"...Artemis-sama, the amount of divine power you lost is a bit too much, isn't it?"
The useless goddess's phantom immediately bowed deeply in apology, ["I'm really, really sorry!"]
["The difference in divine power is simply too vast. Even if the 'arrow' is specifically designed to target Artemis, there's no guarantee that it will be enough..."]
The Orion Arrow could pierce through the power of the Moon Goddess. This divine slaying force allowed it to overcome even a hundredfold difference in strength with ease.
However, compared to the strongest bow in the heavens, the gap in divine power was far greater than just a hundredfold.
Emiya spoke softly, "Then let's increase the constraint."
———
[Labyrinth City, Orario]
The dungeon riot was still ongoing and worsening. It seemed as if an unknown force had awakened the labyrinth, causing monsters on every floor to surge upward in a frenzy, attempting to break free from the dungeon's constraints.
The main defensive line of Orario was managed by the Loki Familia. Although Riveria was temporarily absent, Ais, Finn, Gareth, and other powerful members were holding the frontlines.
The elite teams of the Loki Familia quickly established defensive positions at various entrances, trying to contain the monsters within the first few floors. However, as the riot continued, the number and strength of the monsters became increasingly difficult to control.
On the 6th floor of the dungeon, a strengthened four-horned minotaur suddenly broke through several blockade lines. Each of its attacks carried terrifying destructive power.
Ordinary adventurers stood no chance against it and could only retreat under the cover of high-level adventurers.
Only [Braver] Finn, personally stepping in, managed to put an end to the resilient monster.
In addition, monsters from the lower levels also began appearing in the upper floors.
A Blood Dragon, a five-meter-tall red carnivorous dinosaur from the 30th floor, suddenly emerged from the depths and charged at the frontline.
A monster of this caliber should have remained in the lower floors, yet now it was ignoring floor restrictions and rampaging through the adventurers' defenses.
Fortunately, among the Loki Familia was the Sword Princess, Ais Wallenstein. With the boost of Avenger, she could slay even the highly durable Blood Dragon with a single sword strike, instantly ending the battle.
However, the true threat lay in the deep-floor monsters that were now surfacing.
"Beast Barbarians, Skeleton Rams, Earthborn Warriors... seeing these monsters on the 4th floor is like a nightmare," [High Novice] Raul's voice trembled slightly.
Beast Barbarians, monsters from the 37th floor, were two meters tall with massive curved horns, black skin, red hair, and yellow eyes, resembling minotaurs.
They possessed immense strength and endurance, with estimated combat capabilities equivalent to a Level 3 or 4 adventurer. Their durability made them a major headache.
Skeleton Rams, also from the 37th floor, were 1.4-meter-tall skeletal creatures. Though they appeared fragile, they were highly troublesome.
Their bone structure allowed them to blend into the dungeon's dim environment, seemingly floating in the void, making their movements unpredictable. Furthermore, they could launch rapid, precise long-range attacks.
To make matters worse, Beast Barbarians and Skeleton Rams cooperated seamlessly. One overwhelming the frontlines with brute strength while the other provided ranged support, making the battlefield even more treacherous.
Then there were the Earthborn Warriors, skeleton monsters possessing combat strength comparable to a Level 4 adventurer.
They could generate weapons like swords, spears, or shields made of bone at will. Their combat style and skills resembled trained warriors rather than mindless monsters. As the most dangerous warrior-type creatures on the 37th floor (excluding rare monsters), their presence alone put immense pressure on adventurers.
Even first-class adventurers from the Loki Familia found themselves gradually drained of stamina amidst the endless waves of monsters.
Making matters worse, their most powerful mage, Riveria, who possessed large-scale annihilation magic, was not present.
In her place, [Thousand Elf] Lefiya, escorted by Alicia, was dashing across battlefields, repeatedly casting Fairy Canon and Double Canon.
The young elven mage was already on the verge of collapse from mental exhaustion, forcing her to temporarily retreat from the frontlines.
"We'll take over here—get some rest."
"Shakti, you're finally here."
Finn sighed in relief.
Shakti Varma, Captain of the Ganesha Familia, a Level 5 warrior known as [Elephant God's Staff], arrived with five other first-class adventurers to reinforce them. Meanwhile, the rest of the Ganesha Familia's Level 5 members remained on the surface, maintaining order and standing by as backup.
At that moment, a massive figure suddenly leaped past the adventurers' defensive line, charging into the enemy ranks alone.
Lv.7, [King] Ottar.
Claws and fangs of the monsters struck his body repeatedly, but they were as ineffective as striking steel. The Boaz Warrior moved like a storm, his twin swords dancing with overwhelming might, cutting down multiple monsters with each strike.
Ottar never paused, his figure swiftly weaving through the battlefield, tearing apart even the largest of creatures in an instant.
The shockwaves of his attacks made the ground tremble slightly, and wherever he passed, blood rained and monster corpses piled up.
The King's battle was a one-sided massacre. Monsters' attacks seemed no more than gentle taps against him.
The Boaz Warrior rampaged through the battlefield, not a single monster able to get close. Every swing of his blade completely crushed any enemy in his path. The scene was nothing short of breathtaking.
Ottar ignored the dying monsters' screams. His gaze remained locked ahead, his speed unwavering as he cleared the battlefield, giving other adventurers a brief respite.
"...As expected of the 'Berserker',"Finn murmured in admiration.
"That disgusting endurance of his... he could probably keep fighting here for three days straight."
A male cat person, Allen, lazily leaned against the wall, holding a spear but showing no intention of joining the battle. His gaze, however, remained locked onto Ottar's back.
The dungeon riot intensified, yet on the surface, the gods watching over the city finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
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