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IBHJ Chapter 455
🕑 Added 2023-09-05 06:38:29 +0000 UTCShirou remained surprisingly calm. He had become accustomed to these unforeseen twists of fate that seemed to be a recurring theme in his life. With a sweep of his cloak, he shouted, "Attention, everyone from Camelot! Listen up! Help the people around you and bring them out of the city!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The soldiers sprang into action, lifting the residents on their shoulders or in their arms, hurrying toward the exit.
Meanwhile, a few capable citizens hoisted those who were less able and dashed towards the exit themselves.
A hundred-meter dash!
Among those who had already made it to safety, some looked back, their eyes fixed on the figures bathed in light, bravely confronting the disaster. They all bowed simultaneously before resuming their departure.
They didn't know who those people were, nor did they understand why those people possessed such extraordinary power. But one thing was clear—they were being saved.
Counter Guardian Emiya stood there, observing the citizens as they bowed to him. His hands couldn't help but tremble in response to this unexpected display of respect. It stirred something within him, causing his heart, which had been desensitized for so long, to quiver ever so slightly. He turned his gaze away, a faint glimmer of tears threatening to form in his eyes.
It all came flooding back to him now. The reason he had embarked on this journey resurfaced in his mind. It wasn't about chasing after a sinister miracle or trying to prove his self-worth.
It was about that one fateful day. Amidst the catastrophe at the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War, Emiya had been discovered and rescued by Kiritsugu. What he had witnessed then was Kiritsugu's face—a mix of relief and tears. What he had pursued back then was that same feeling. However, over time, it had faded into the background. He had lost himself in the process. Yet now, in this moment, he finally saw what he had originally wanted.
Emiya glanced over, his eyes trailing to Shirou's profile. A blend of satisfaction and jealousy welled up within him. This person had strayed from his predetermined life's course, treading a path similar to Emiya's, yet fundamentally different.
Crackle, crackle, crackle—
The path of escape was completely blocked by a shimmering barrier.
Shirou said in a deep voice, "Solomon, move that thing over to the Temple of Time."
Solomon acknowledged with a nod before closing his eyes. His grip on the tablet emitted a soft glow, causing the surrounding space to quiver slightly.
However—
"It's not working." Solomon opened his eyes and spoke.
Shirou looked surprised, "What did you say?"
Solomon maintained his composure and explained, "That thing can't be moved. It has frozen the spatial and temporal flows, blocking any attempt to transfer it to the Temple of Time."
Shirou frowned and pondered for a moment, a ripple of thought crossing his mind. From the depths of "All the World's Evil" within him, a black hand extended, seizing hold of a fragment. Just as he was about to activate the fragment, Gilgamesh stepped forward.
He turned to Shirou and raised a question, "About what you brought up earlier, your Fourth Noble Phantasm, [Mortal Awakening], does it really exist?"
Shirou nodded, confirming its existence.
"Is that how you plan to win?" Gilgamesh probed further.
He remained silent, not offering a response.
"Hmph," Gilgamesh shot him a cold glance and remarked, "You mongrel, keep that thing for when it's truly necessary. The path to victory chosen by this King is far more flawless than you could ever comprehend! Let the way here be paved by the King of both heavens and earth!"
Subtle, golden ripples spread around him as the gate of his treasury swung open. Gradually, the hilt of the Sword of Rupture emerged from within the Gate of Babylon.
With a firm grip, he drew the hilt and extracted the Sword of Rupture, Ea.
Crackle, crackle, crackle—
Cloaked in his Mythology Mystic Code, Gilgamesh activated the sword.
A surge of crimson mana ripped through the surrounding space, tearing it apart. This formidable power even unnerved the entity above the sky.
"Roar, roar, roar, roar—!!!"
The massive dragon's head let out a thunderous roar, its numerous colossal arms swinging menacingly toward the King of Uruk.
"Defend Gilgamesh!" Shirou's voice rang out, urgent and commanding.
Without hesitation, he took action. The Tower of Light directed its barrage at one of the massive arms, while Merlin unleashed a brilliant beam of light. Simultaneously, Scathach opened the Gate of Skye.
In the city below, Karna stood tall, ready to unleash a spear capable of toppling gods. At his side, Arjuna let fly an arrow of divine fire.
Pooling their combined strength, they shattered through the onslaught of massive arms, pushing back the enemy's assault.
Draped in his Mythology Mystic Code, Gilgamesh harnessed the might of Ea to a remarkable degree. The column of crimson mana connected the heavens and the earth, plunging time and space into chaos.
Gazing at the roaring dragon, Gilgamesh sneered, "A rat is just a rat, fit only to crawl before the might of this king! As Heaven and Earth split, my Sword of Rupture cleaved the world—Enuma Elish!"
With Ea aimed at the dragon's head, he unleashed a tremendous strike. A surge of crimson storm pierced through the fabric of space, and the awe-inspiring power of destruction tore through the very fabric of time itself.
Every shape, every existence, was torn asunder and returned to a state of primordial chaos. This was the essence of Enuma Elish—a force that shattered all forms, reverting them to their original state. Not even Gaia's aurora could withstand its might, crumbling before its indomitable force.
A resounding "crack" echoed through the air as the spatial confines around the massive dragon head and its numerous colossal arms shattered. Above, the sky splintered akin to a spider's web, while the very boundaries between dimensions were thrown into disarray, a chaotic maelstrom of disruption.
The connection between the dragon's head and the tightly locked threads of space and time was forcibly severed, all the while being ravaged by Ea's crimson storm.
"Solomon!" Shirou shouted.
King Solomon extended his arms, the tablet within his grasp emanating a brilliant light. "Ars Paulina: The time of crowning has come, He is the one who begins!"
...
Due to the Gaia's aurora phenomenon, Fuyuki City underwent a transformation into an entirely new world. The city became isolated from the outside world by a boundary zone of sorts. However, it wasn't a mere cave that connected Fuyuki City to the world beyond – it was a tunnel that twisted through dimensions.
Walking through this tunnel, light and darkness blended together, creating a mesmerizing display of stardust. It was like wandering along a path that resembled the vastness of a starlit sky, and the whole place felt like a distant dream.
Galahad took the lead, gently carrying Ritsuka as they made their way through the tunnel. Following closely behind was Artoria and a small group of friends.
"Brother... Brother..." Ritsuka's voice trembled with soft sobs.
Galahad offered comfort, saying, "Your Highness, the king... your brother, will be alright. He'll come back soon."
"Mhm..." Her response was gentle and subdued. She felt reassured by the young man holding her.
Meanwhile, Gareth trailed behind, engaged in a conversation with Artoria.
She held a great deal of respect for her; after all, it had been Artoria who had triumphed over Attila more than fifteen hundred years ago. However, her demeanor grew icy as her gaze settled on Attila standing beside them, her eyes gleaming with deep-seated animosity.
Back then, Attila had played a significant role in the downfall of the dynasty over fifteen hundred years ago. However, she chose to restrain herself for the moment. As Heroic Spirits, they were now technically on the same side, and considering the pressing matters at hand, it wouldn't be wise to become hostile with each other. So she simply chatted with Artoria, but the overall atmosphere was pretty tense.
"Ugh! This is getting on my nerves!" Arcueid exclaimed in frustration. While others might interpret the solemn atmosphere as a moment of reflection, it was nothing but torment for the restless Arcueid.
She gazed at Artoria and earnestly spoke, "I might not understand the specifics of what's bothering you, but if you're facing some troubles, don't hesitate to tell me. We're close friends, after all! I won't just idly watch; I want to help!"
"Arcueid..." Artoria's gaze shifted to her, a faint smile gracing her lips, "Thank you."
She waved her hand dismissively. "No need for thanks. Heh heh heh. After all, I am the legendary True Ancestor—an unbeatable legend!"
A slight sense of relief diffused through the previously tense atmosphere. Maybe this was one of Arcueid's distinct talents at play.
Comments
JeanMartin Freites
Seems like our friendly Ancestor has a way of leavening things up. Like always.
