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IBHJ Chapter 596
🕑 Added 2023-11-29 13:16:35 +0000 UTC“My God!”
“This can’t be real!”
“T-that’s a Heroic Spirit?”
Inside the castle, Darnic and the other Masters of the Yggdmillennia clan peered through their familiars' eyes at the unfolding scene outside, shocked and bewildered.
Before them stood a gigantic pitch-black giant, towering over 60 meters tall like a mountain range that had suddenly sprouted from the sky. It was an unbelievable sight to see!
"Don't panic, everyone!"
As a modern magus descended from a lineage spanning hundreds of years, Darnic naturally did not lose his composure at the sight.
"The king will take care of this," he stated confidently, his expression steady. He had complete faith in Vlad's strength. Yggdmillennia clan were from Romania, after all. How could they not revere such a legendary local hero? That was precisely why Darnic had made the decision to summon Vlad in the first place.
Seeing the enormous mud giant, Vlad furrowed his brows, considering: Could this be Assassin's secret weapon?
Though skeptical, Vlad realized trying to intimidate him with a mere giant was foolish.
Vlad unleashed [Kazikli Bey]. Bolstered by his personal skill [Demonic Defender of the State EX], he could produce over twenty thousand wooden stakes.
A staggering number!
And though each stake posed little threat alone, such sheer quantity made them formidable.
Vlad pushed [Kazikli Bey] to its limits, converging the countless stakes into a single dense beam hurtling at the giant's abdomen.
Shirou would not let Vlad succeed so easily. Wielding twelve Caliburns with the giant's arms, he formed a combined torrent of light that thundered forth like lightning to meet the stake bundle head-on.
Crackle!
Sensing an opening, Shirou took out a sixty meter long Ig-Alima and fiercely smashed it towards the converged stake bundle that even the combined light beam failed to destroy.
Boom!
The impact shook the earth with thunderous force. Though the shoddy fake Ig Alima failed to slice through the dense barrage of stakes, it succeeded in batting the bundle aside.
Vlad’s face was aghast. He truly hadn't expected his attack to be deflected so easily.
“Raaaahhh!” Heracles unleashed a roar as he charged the mud giant.
Glancing down impassively, Shirou raised the giant’s leg and stomped with crushing power. Nothing more need be said about a 60-meter giant’s strength. Coupled with its sheer bulk, this stomp could rupture the land itself. Yet Heracles took the blow with his bare hands!
Though prepared for this, Shirou was still stunned by such godlike might. It reminded him of Arcueid.
Steeling himself, he unfurled two massive wings from the giant's back. With a heavy flap lifting its bulk aloft, the giant drew back its legs to concentrate its weight before pile-driving down onto Heracles’ body.
With a cracking boom, the earth split apart as Heracles was pile-driven down like a nail under Shirou’s hammering strikes.
Watching this, Vlad gathered over twenty thousand wooden stakes into yet another line barrage. But this time, he sprouted the stakes out from within the mud giant's body instead of aiming directly at it.
The giant's massive frame was suddenly bristling all over with countless stakes, making it look like a colossal porcupine.
The stakes kept growing parasitically within the giant's body, piercing towards Shirou in the head.
Shirou separated out a glob of black mud to encapsulate the invading stakes, expunging them from the body.
Vlad frowned. This isn’t working either?
In fact, it wasn't that he didn't want to directly grow stakes out of the mud giant's head, but that this was where the black mud was most concentrated. He couldn't make them grow there.
Just then, Heracles roared and tore open the earth, climbing back out with rage.
"This is bad...”
Jeanne watched on the side with a frown.
She could tell the situation was extremely bad for Assassin.
Using her Ruler class privileges, Jeanne could discern the power levels of Vlad and Heracles with a glance. They were both extremely troublesome Servants. If this was a normal Holy Grail War, they would likely dominate the battlefield.
Yet now, they were double-teaming Shirou!
And not only that, there was also Arjuna eyeing him like a tiger watching its prey.
This kind of line-up...
It was truly too luxurious for her to even imagine!
So luxurious that she didn't even dare think about facing off against the four of them!
Even with her Command Spell privileges, she would likely fall before using them against such enemies. And her flag that could block any attack...how many times could it really hold out?
She felt her scalp tingle.
And of course Shirou also knew of his dire situation.
Right now he could still somewhat suppress Heracles and Vlad. But Arjuna was still eyeing him greedily on the side.
Fortunately, Saber seemed to be holding back. Other than that first blast to show her presence, she had just been treading the water.
In fact, this was also something he had counted on.
Even though he was unfamiliar with this Saber, he knew Artoria extremely well. After revealing their bond and abandoning the Holy Grail, she was unlikely to turn on him given their history.
While Arjuna was simply watching on the side, not holding back but unable to make a move since Shirou had transformed into the mud giant, he was waiting for an opening from him.
But Shirou was being overly optimistic.
Against any one enemy alone, he could likely prevail. But all four together? Victory seemed doubtful.
If truly forced to face them in a one-versus-four battle, he may have no choice but to unleash his child form as Eternal King to stand a chance.
Glancing slightly to the side, he looked at Mash who was holding a large shield, seeming somewhat nervous.
He took a deep breath.
In fact, aside from subduing Vlad and the others, his goal this time was to force out Mash's Noble Phantasm!
Other than Galahad himself, no one understood Galahad better than him.
He could tell that Galahad hadn't actually placed any restrictions on his Saint Graph at all, and his Noble Phantasm could be used normally. But Mash seemed to be unable to unleash her Noble Phantasm for some reason.
Shirou had wanted Mash to unlock it herself at first, but with possible Beasts present in this world, Galahad's overpowered shield Noble Phantasm would be indispensable.
Shirou had used Galahad's record so he knew just how broken that shield was!
If Avalon was the ultimate defense, Galahad’s shield was an unrivaled countering force, reflecting both magical and physical attacks at a 100% ratio!
Galahad's Noble Phantasm was an impenetrable wall - the stronger his mental fortitude, the greater the attack it could withstand. It was a mind over matter shield.
In theory, as long as Galahad could withstand a single attack from Goetia, he could directly reflect that attack back at Goetia!
That was why he had set up this battle to force out Mash's potential and make her unleash her Noble Phantasm.
Of course, most importantly, if Mash couldn't use her Noble Phantasm, he wouldn't be able to beat Heracles, Vlad empowered by Romania, and Arjuna's encirclement either.
Indeed, when faced with the attacks of these three, who in the sprawling Throne of Heroes would dare thump their chest and boast an easy victory?
Eternal King could, naturally. But Shirou, summoned simply as "Fujimaru Shirou," was sorely outmatched.
I'm relying on you, Master! Shirou thought.
He had predicted everything, but then the unexpected happened.
Saber who he assumed would keep treading water suddenly charged forward with invisible sword.
With one blast of light she completely ruptured the giant's chest, stepping forth.
Shirou was stunned for a brief moment before smacking himself on the head. This Saber wasn't his Artie after all. Gauging Saber based on Artie would ultimately lead to mistakes!
Saber stepped onto the mud giant's body.
The giant's body was made of mud, but with her blessings, it was like solid ground under Saber's feet.
Although she fell short compared to Arjuna, she was by no means mediocre either. All the black hands along the way were severed by her as she dashed straight for the giant's head.
Just as Shirou was about to act, Mash grit her teeth and charged out.
Saber had arrived at the giant's shoulder when Mash burst out from its head, fiercely smashing her shield at Saber!
Seeing this, Saber placed Invisible sword horizontally to block.
The shield and holy sword collided with a metallic "clang".
Saber blocked Mash's shield strike, looking surprised as she asked: "Are you sure you want to fight me, Mash?"
"I am Mr. Fujimaru's Master. I... will protect him!" she said with utmost seriousness.
Since when have Servants fallen to the point of needing their Master's protection?
Naturally Saber did not say such demoralizing words aloud.
Seeing the determination in Mash's eyes, she couldn't help but nod, saying: "I truly feel your resolve. Then—be careful!"
Saber let out a great shout as she stabbed with her sword.
The sounds of metal clashing rang out continuously.
Mash was but a fledgling, her combat experience far inferior compared to veterans like Shirou and Saber. Fortunately, Saber was holding back in the end.
But...
So heavy!
Saber couldn't help but frown.
She realized Mash's shield was truly heavy. With each clash, even with her B ranked Strength, plus reinforcement from Mana Burst, she still felt an immense weight, as if having an entire fortress pressing down on her sword.
Comments
JeanMartin Freites
Shirou it sure as hell taking a Gamble here.
