Chapter 88
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Chapter 88:
Artoria followed behind me as we moved through the compound. I actually didn't know where Yasaka was, nor where the main fights were happening.
Every so often, I could find some people, usually able to tell who is the enemy and who isn't.
There were some surprisingly powerful foes that popped up. And equally surprising, there were friendlies who engaged them. Honestly, I did not expect this faction to have such powerful combatants waiting in reserve like they were.
Several who would fit under the banner of 'ultimate class', even if that whole system of measurement was basically malarkey.
"How you doing on mana?" I quickly asked as we scaled a rooftop to get a better view.
"I'm full, and I was given this." She took out a jewel I didn't recognize, but I could see it was full of Rin's magical energy. "Zelretch said it should work for an emergency."
Ah, good thinking. Though, it wasn't a perfect recovery tool for her magical energy. Since she was a servant, a spiritual being, she couldn't generate magical energy as if she were 'alive'. And trying to forcefully drain the jewel of its contents would cause much of it to go to waste, simply running off in the process.
I looked around and noticed a much bigger fight in the distance. Tengu were taking to the skies, and several groups clashing while some large explosions lit up the sky.
Many types of Youkai I couldn't recognize at a glance were joining the fray.
"Wilhelm, there." She pointed a little off to the side, a swirling pillar of mist burst out. "I briefly saw a women with nine tails, I assume that is the woman you are looking for?"
"Yeah....and that should be dimension lost." I muttered.
"Dimension lost?" She asked in confusion.
"Shit, I never did talk about the sacred gears here.....think of them as noble phantasms." I didn't really have time to explain the differences, but I would rather he be wary of the strange weapons than not.
"Noted." She nodded. "Do you have a plan?"
"Yeah." I took in a deep breath. "Teach some kids a lesson they will not forget." I frowned, trying to wrack my brain around who all was in that little faction of theirs.
"Kids?"
"Idiots who think they can do whatever they want because of some stuff they inherited from their ancestors or some other nonsense."
"I will follow your lead."
I smiled, holding out my hand as she took it and I pulled us both through a portal right to the big dome of mist.
I put my hand on the large dome and cast my gaze inside briefly. I saw Yasaka battling a group of people and somewhat handling herself, but she was slightly wounded here and there...
Without a second thought, I drew Mirage and pulled on the Kaleidoscope.
With a slash, I cut through the false dimension that was cutting off the fight from the outside world.
The mist dispersed aggressively, stopping the fight as all eyes turned to us.
"Wilhelm!?" Yasaka called out as she retreated several yards back.
"YOU!" I saw Georg shout from the corner of my eye.
The 'hero' faction.
More of them that I didn't recognize off the top of my head.
"I guess the lesson I taught you last time wasn't enough." I lazily replied, not giving him much attention.
Yasaka quickly reached our side, perhaps trying to buy herself a moments respite. "Kunou, where is she!?" Her eyes practically dilating.
"She's with my grandfather, completely safe." I gave her a reassuring smile.
Yasaka let out a long breath. "Good." She said quietly.
A big boulder a bit away started trembling and a large man climbed out of some accumulated rubble. "Fucking bitch." He spat as he stood up, dusting himself off.
"Friend of yours?" I raised an eyebrow, glancing at Yasaka.
She sneered. "Idiot calling himself Hercules, said he was going to harm my daughter."
Ah, the idiot who boasts about having inherited the spirit of Hercules, and i looked around and noticed a blonde girl. If I recalled correctly, she is the same but with Jeanne D'Arc.
I paused, reining in my quickly flaring temper. "Did he now?"
"What about you?" Her eyes turned to Artoria, standing to the side. "I don't believe we met."
"She's the one who I grabbed to heal Kunou before."
"Greetings, I am Artoria." Artoria stated.
"Wilhelm, is it?" Another voice cut through the tension in the air. I recognize the person and the spear he held at a glance.
"Cao Cao, are you trying to run your ancestor's name through the mud even more than you have already?" I didn't want to hear any spiel he was going to give.
"So you do know me."
"Well, usually I don't remember dumbasses, but kudos, you are leagues above the common rabble."
He frowned, I don't think he was used to people insulting him so blatantly. "This doesn't concern you, why are you risking your life for these.....Youkai?"
"Are you trying to find common ground with me, perhaps convince me to step to the side?" I rolled my eyes. "Besides, saying I'm 'risking my life' implies anyone in your little posse can even take it."
I was going to break him.
"I could snap you like a twig!" Hercules shouted. "A little magician and a little girl he brought with him, why are we even talking?"
"A little girl?" Artoria quietly repeated, a small twitch of her eyes told me exactly how she felt right now.
I grew up on the internet, insults don't really phase me.....but I'm sure it's an entirely different matter for her.
"He's all yours." I smiled towards my girlfriend, eyes not leaving Cao Cao.
I wanted this little faction of his to be destroyed before I finish dealing with him.
"What, am I supposed to be scared of her?" He laughed. "Come on then, little girl, I'll show you a real man." He threw his head back, posing like an idiot. "You can even have the first hit." He didn't even try to hide his laughter.
Artoria didn't answer, instead her magical energy exploded off her. Armor formed around her body, her armaments manifesting from within. Her Dragon's core practically roared to life as everyone in the area felt her presence.
She moved before most people here could even understand what was going on, a fist buried itself deep into Hercules's stomach.
I saw everything as I reinforced my eyes. Every moment as his eyes widened, blood flowed out of his throat, and his body practically crumbled and lifted off the ground, only to be blown into the side of the building.
"Oh." Yasaka said quietly, perhaps readjusting some thoughts she had about Artoria.
Honestly, I should have been paying more attention, but one thought was distracting me.
I fucking want her right now.
[Rein in the dragon.]
I don't even care if anyone is watching.
I want to make her mine.
[Maybe she's having some sort of effect on you because of her magical core's origin?]
Probably.
I reluctantly pushed down those thoughts, with a mental promise for later, when we eventually get to that part in a relationship.
[Watch out.]
I ducked to the side as a certain holy spear passed by my head.
Oh shit, yeah, god killing holy spear, need to pay attention.
A kid covered in shadows suddenly charged, swiping his hands in the air, shadows rose up from the ground like blades and swept the area. "Oh, sacred gear, noted."
Yasaka bat them away easily enough, the Touki pulsing off her was palpable. "I don't suppose you know anything about them?"
"Edgy kid wearing the sunglasses manipulates shadows with a sacred gear, equally edge name." I spoke, dodging another swipe of the True Longinus.
"That's barely helpful." She deadpanned, stomping on the ground, creating many boulders that she grabbed with her Touki and threw at the shadow manipulator.
My sword swung out, as holy sworda burst out of the ground like thorns. None were powerful by themselves, but holy power was still practically lethal to me. "Discount Jeanne D'Arc can create holy swords, forget the name of that one too."
Neat.
"I guess I am your opponent then?" The other one turned towards Artoria. "I am Arthur Pendragon. I suppose I cannot hold back anything." His gaze briefly swept the broken bodies of his teammates.
Artoria paused, hearing his name. "Are you one of.....his descendants?"
"I am." He nodded, almost uncaring about the battlefield. "It is tradition in my family to name each successive generation after the King, I am not the first Arthur Pendragon. But I have grown accustomed to the name, even if I think the convention is droll." A light erupted from his body, and a holy sword appeared in his hand. "I wield the strongest Holy Sword – Caliburn, prepare yourself."
Artoria narrowed her eyes at the proclamation, I couldn't dare to even guess her thoughts right now. She took her own stance, invisible sword summoned.
The sword this Arthur wielded, it was large, like a great sword, but he wielded it expertly. I could tell even Artoria was mildly impressed by his swordsmanship as she didn't stomp him right from the beginning. But, you could begin to see Arthur getting a bit restless, nearly every move he made was countered with ease and experience he couldn't overcome.
Even with Artoria's smaller stature, he was being dealt blows with far greater weight behind them then anything he could muster. He had to practically retreat on every collision.
They clashed many times, Arthur never even making a comment on her invisible sword as he gradually got used to its dimensions, even able to counterattack every now and then.
I knew Artoria enough to see she was holding back, but I didn't understand why.
In fact, it seemed like they were sticking to purely swordsmanship, like an unspoken agreement between both of them.
Actually....something strange was happening. I wanted to say that Arthur was hesitant to attack, but even looked rather perplexed at what was happening.
After a moment, Artoria even stopped as Arthur's sword swept towards her head. A clean strike, the which could have decapitated her, stopped.
Arthur was straining himself, trying his best to force the blade forward, but it refused to budge.
It wouldn't even touch her skin with its edge.
The sword started to vibrate in Arthur's hands, the holy glow intensified, and Arthur showed a painful look as he suddenly shouted, jumping away, sword falling to the ground and sporting some nasty burns on his hands.
The sword sticking up out of the ground, Artoria stared at it, Arthur looked on in shock as she hesitantly placed a hand on the hilt.
The blade burst out with a golden light, blindingly bright as it began to shift.
"Does it change shape to fit the wielder's desire?" Artoria muttered at the now much smaller blade still impaled into the ground. "Hello, old friend, it has been awhile."
It did in fact do that if I recalled correctly. One of the sword's many abilities.
The new golden words engraved on the sword were easy to read.
Whosoever pulleth out this sword from the stone is rightwise king of all England.
Artoria dismissed her invisible sword, gripping Caliburn tight and pulling it from the ground without any resistance.
"What?" Arthur whispered, clearly in shock. "How? Not even the Church...!? Only someone of his blood should be able to wield that sword..."
"I will be taking this for now, whether you can regain it in the future has yet to be determined." She declared, almost inviting him to disagree with her. "Surrender, this fight is not worth continuing."
Arthur looked down at the sword being pointed at him and raised his arms in the air in surrender seemingly no will to fight in his eyes.
"Well, isn't that something?" Yasaka practically snuck up on me, throwing the body of her opponent ontop of Hercules's prone form. "I believe a few secrets have been hidden from me." She mused.
I guess I was distracted.
"What? How did you defeat Siegfried?" Cao Cao looked at Yasaka in shock.
"Did you seriously believe this brat who hasn't even seen three decades could match me?" She scoffed. "I have ruled over the Youkai in this region for centuries, boy. The only reason I hadn't crushed you all so easily before was that boy manipulating Dimensions, and my unwillingness to cause collateral damage."
"Do you truly think I am defeated?" Cao Cao stood up an edge in his voice, gripping his spear tightly. "The hero always slays the monster in the end."
"By all means, use your balance breaker." I lazily replied. "Make this interesting for me."
He sneered at me. "Balance Breaker: Polar Night Longinus Chakravartin."
The Holy Aura around him exploded out, it became suffocating for someone like me to stand here. A large halo-like ring floated behind him with several orbs. I'm pretty sure each of those orbs corresponds to a specific ability, but the details escape me.
Mirage flew into my hand, Dawnbreaker, Whisper, and Ascalon spun around me, waiting.
I snapped my fingers, A circle of runes burst out underneath Cao Cao, he looked down as they glowed and exploded.
"What an absurd holy power." I couldn't help but comment, as he was completely enveloped in a shield. It was almost like fighting an Archangel.
"Astsusa Ratana" Cao Cao declared as my head snapped behind me, spear being thrust into my back. A pure teleportation, able to slip through my perception, I barely even noticed the space around me shudder.
Was it because of the holy power?
No time to contemplate.
The spire didn't pierce my, my form shattered as I appeared to the side and swiped my sword at him.
"Hmph, lets see how you deal with your weapon being destroyed – Chatsuka Ratana." His spear moved towards my sword, a collision of energy burst out at the meeting point of our two weapons. His eyes narrowed and his expression changed. "WHY WON'T YOUR SWORD BREAK?" He suddenly shouted as he broke off the attack.
"Isn't it obvious?" I sneered. "You're too weak."
He tried to use a weapon breaking ability on me, how adorable. With the Eye of Magnus basically keeping it all together as a Lynchpin, he's essentially trying to destroy a Divine Construct.
"Fine, I will end this in one blow then." He calmed himself, but killing intent was still in his eyes. The holy power around him went another qualitive change, if it was intense before, it was almost obscene now.
I felt a sense of danger at this.
"Balinayaka Ratana" He roared as all the accumulated holy power gathered and released right at me.
"Shield of Asgard" I put out my strongest defensive spell, and I included a Primordial Rune in the creation. It was big enough to envelop both Yasaka and Artoria so they didn't get swept up in our battle.
The buildings behind me were obliterated, and even through the shield, I felt the intense light try to penetrate into me.
"Impossible." Cao Cao muttered as the attack finally died down, to see me standing strong after what was probably his strongest attack. His arms sagged, and his spear no longer holding its powerful killing intent.
Good, his spirit has broken just as his faction has.
Shouldn't have targeted my daughter.
"GAAh" He let out a scream as my swords pierced him from all directions, falling to the ground.
His spear spell next to him with a 'clank'.
....I want it.
[You might be able to take it, it has it's own amount of intelligence.]
Really?"
[That or kill you, call it a coin flip.]
I'll try later...maybe. I shook my head, putting it into my ring without touching it.
"Well, that takes care of that then." Yasaka walked up to Cao Cao, staring at his unmoving body. My swords returned to my ring, but he still didn't move. I'm pretty sure he's still alive, but none of my business anymore, and I'm sure Yasaka also wants her pound of flesh.
"All yours to deal with." I said towards the Youkai leader.
"You give me the best presents." She cooed.
"Lady Yasaka, I request suitable imprisonment for this one." Artoria walked up, Arthur awkwardly following behind her.
Yasaka stared at him, her rage very much still apparent. "I will.....not execute him, but he will be punished."
"That is all I ask." She nodded.
I didn't speak up, the look in her eyes was rather telling. I could see that Artoria felt some sense of responsibility for the one who claimed to be her alternate's descendant. I would leave it to her to deal with him then.
"Actually, I think they're all still alive?" I muttered looking around and saw Connla still breathing haggardly, having been unable to free himself. Jeanne was still bound, her body a mess and her arm looked dead. Hercules was broken underneath the other one --- Sieg, or rather Siegfried? Pretty sure he might be dead, actually. Georg was a bit better if handicap now, but unconscious and Cao Cao....well fuck him. I paid no mind to the growing pool of blood forming around him.
All's well that ends well.
I guess it's time to clean up this mess.
***
First off, big shoutout to TheMadLad over on discord who created the new cover art.
So, the chapter. I know a lot of people were hoping for Artoria going full King Arthur or Excaliburing the lot, but honestly, it seemed like a waste back when I first wrote this chapter. I had her 'reveal' planned for later when the Excalibur swords are more prominent. I think, in character, Artoria wouldn't deem them worthy of facing her real sword, especially releasing its true name. All, in all, they weren't a group that required everyone pulling out all the stops and canon kind of just throws power levels all over the place so its hard to get an actual gauge on people's strength. Like, one moment Cao Cao is matching Azazel in his fake sacred gear, you know, an angel who is older than humanity, then next he can get randomly slapped by some brat still in highschool.
Anyways, if you want to read 5 chapters ahead or support me, visit my /astoryforone
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 88:
Artoria followed behind me as we moved through the compound. I actually didn't know where Yasaka was, nor where the main fights were happening.
Every so often, I could find some people, usually able to tell who is the enemy and who isn't.
There were some surprisingly powerful foes that popped up. And equally surprising, there were friendlies who engaged them. Honestly, I did not expect this faction to have such powerful combatants waiting in reserve like they were.
Several who would fit under the banner of 'ultimate class', even if that whole system of measurement was basically malarkey.
"How you doing on mana?" I quickly asked as we scaled a rooftop to get a better view.
"I'm full, and I was given this." She took out a jewel I didn't recognize, but I could see it was full of Rin's magical energy. "Zelretch said it should work for an emergency."
Ah, good thinking. Though, it wasn't a perfect recovery tool for her magical energy. Since she was a servant, a spiritual being, she couldn't generate magical energy as if she were 'alive'. And trying to forcefully drain the jewel of its contents would cause much of it to go to waste, simply running off in the process.
I looked around and noticed a much bigger fight in the distance. Tengu were taking to the skies, and several groups clashing while some large explosions lit up the sky.
Many types of Youkai I couldn't recognize at a glance were joining the fray.
"Wilhelm, there." She pointed a little off to the side, a swirling pillar of mist burst out. "I briefly saw a women with nine tails, I assume that is the woman you are looking for?"
"Yeah....and that should be dimension lost." I muttered.
"Dimension lost?" She asked in confusion.
"Shit, I never did talk about the sacred gears here.....think of them as noble phantasms." I didn't really have time to explain the differences, but I would rather he be wary of the strange weapons than not.
"Noted." She nodded. "Do you have a plan?"
"Yeah." I took in a deep breath. "Teach some kids a lesson they will not forget." I frowned, trying to wrack my brain around who all was in that little faction of theirs.
"Kids?"
"Idiots who think they can do whatever they want because of some stuff they inherited from their ancestors or some other nonsense."
"I will follow your lead."
I smiled, holding out my hand as she took it and I pulled us both through a portal right to the big dome of mist.
I put my hand on the large dome and cast my gaze inside briefly. I saw Yasaka battling a group of people and somewhat handling herself, but she was slightly wounded here and there...
Without a second thought, I drew Mirage and pulled on the Kaleidoscope.
With a slash, I cut through the false dimension that was cutting off the fight from the outside world.
The mist dispersed aggressively, stopping the fight as all eyes turned to us.
"Wilhelm!?" Yasaka called out as she retreated several yards back.
"YOU!" I saw Georg shout from the corner of my eye.
The 'hero' faction.
More of them that I didn't recognize off the top of my head.
"I guess the lesson I taught you last time wasn't enough." I lazily replied, not giving him much attention.
Yasaka quickly reached our side, perhaps trying to buy herself a moments respite. "Kunou, where is she!?" Her eyes practically dilating.
"She's with my grandfather, completely safe." I gave her a reassuring smile.
Yasaka let out a long breath. "Good." She said quietly.
A big boulder a bit away started trembling and a large man climbed out of some accumulated rubble. "Fucking bitch." He spat as he stood up, dusting himself off.
"Friend of yours?" I raised an eyebrow, glancing at Yasaka.
She sneered. "Idiot calling himself Hercules, said he was going to harm my daughter."
Ah, the idiot who boasts about having inherited the spirit of Hercules, and i looked around and noticed a blonde girl. If I recalled correctly, she is the same but with Jeanne D'Arc.
I paused, reining in my quickly flaring temper. "Did he now?"
"What about you?" Her eyes turned to Artoria, standing to the side. "I don't believe we met."
"She's the one who I grabbed to heal Kunou before."
"Greetings, I am Artoria." Artoria stated.
"Wilhelm, is it?" Another voice cut through the tension in the air. I recognize the person and the spear he held at a glance.
"Cao Cao, are you trying to run your ancestor's name through the mud even more than you have already?" I didn't want to hear any spiel he was going to give.
"So you do know me."
"Well, usually I don't remember dumbasses, but kudos, you are leagues above the common rabble."
He frowned, I don't think he was used to people insulting him so blatantly. "This doesn't concern you, why are you risking your life for these.....Youkai?"
"Are you trying to find common ground with me, perhaps convince me to step to the side?" I rolled my eyes. "Besides, saying I'm 'risking my life' implies anyone in your little posse can even take it."
I was going to break him.
"I could snap you like a twig!" Hercules shouted. "A little magician and a little girl he brought with him, why are we even talking?"
"A little girl?" Artoria quietly repeated, a small twitch of her eyes told me exactly how she felt right now.
I grew up on the internet, insults don't really phase me.....but I'm sure it's an entirely different matter for her.
"He's all yours." I smiled towards my girlfriend, eyes not leaving Cao Cao.
I wanted this little faction of his to be destroyed before I finish dealing with him.
"What, am I supposed to be scared of her?" He laughed. "Come on then, little girl, I'll show you a real man." He threw his head back, posing like an idiot. "You can even have the first hit." He didn't even try to hide his laughter.
Artoria didn't answer, instead her magical energy exploded off her. Armor formed around her body, her armaments manifesting from within. Her Dragon's core practically roared to life as everyone in the area felt her presence.
She moved before most people here could even understand what was going on, a fist buried itself deep into Hercules's stomach.
I saw everything as I reinforced my eyes. Every moment as his eyes widened, blood flowed out of his throat, and his body practically crumbled and lifted off the ground, only to be blown into the side of the building.
"Oh." Yasaka said quietly, perhaps readjusting some thoughts she had about Artoria.
Honestly, I should have been paying more attention, but one thought was distracting me.
I fucking want her right now.
[Rein in the dragon.]
I don't even care if anyone is watching.
I want to make her mine.
[Maybe she's having some sort of effect on you because of her magical core's origin?]
Probably.
I reluctantly pushed down those thoughts, with a mental promise for later, when we eventually get to that part in a relationship.
[Watch out.]
I ducked to the side as a certain holy spear passed by my head.
Oh shit, yeah, god killing holy spear, need to pay attention.
A kid covered in shadows suddenly charged, swiping his hands in the air, shadows rose up from the ground like blades and swept the area. "Oh, sacred gear, noted."
Yasaka bat them away easily enough, the Touki pulsing off her was palpable. "I don't suppose you know anything about them?"
"Edgy kid wearing the sunglasses manipulates shadows with a sacred gear, equally edge name." I spoke, dodging another swipe of the True Longinus.
"That's barely helpful." She deadpanned, stomping on the ground, creating many boulders that she grabbed with her Touki and threw at the shadow manipulator.
My sword swung out, as holy sworda burst out of the ground like thorns. None were powerful by themselves, but holy power was still practically lethal to me. "Discount Jeanne D'Arc can create holy swords, forget the name of that one too."
Neat.
"I guess I am your opponent then?" The other one turned towards Artoria. "I am Arthur Pendragon. I suppose I cannot hold back anything." His gaze briefly swept the broken bodies of his teammates.
Artoria paused, hearing his name. "Are you one of.....his descendants?"
"I am." He nodded, almost uncaring about the battlefield. "It is tradition in my family to name each successive generation after the King, I am not the first Arthur Pendragon. But I have grown accustomed to the name, even if I think the convention is droll." A light erupted from his body, and a holy sword appeared in his hand. "I wield the strongest Holy Sword – Caliburn, prepare yourself."
Artoria narrowed her eyes at the proclamation, I couldn't dare to even guess her thoughts right now. She took her own stance, invisible sword summoned.
The sword this Arthur wielded, it was large, like a great sword, but he wielded it expertly. I could tell even Artoria was mildly impressed by his swordsmanship as she didn't stomp him right from the beginning. But, you could begin to see Arthur getting a bit restless, nearly every move he made was countered with ease and experience he couldn't overcome.
Even with Artoria's smaller stature, he was being dealt blows with far greater weight behind them then anything he could muster. He had to practically retreat on every collision.
They clashed many times, Arthur never even making a comment on her invisible sword as he gradually got used to its dimensions, even able to counterattack every now and then.
I knew Artoria enough to see she was holding back, but I didn't understand why.
In fact, it seemed like they were sticking to purely swordsmanship, like an unspoken agreement between both of them.
Actually....something strange was happening. I wanted to say that Arthur was hesitant to attack, but even looked rather perplexed at what was happening.
After a moment, Artoria even stopped as Arthur's sword swept towards her head. A clean strike, the which could have decapitated her, stopped.
Arthur was straining himself, trying his best to force the blade forward, but it refused to budge.
It wouldn't even touch her skin with its edge.
The sword started to vibrate in Arthur's hands, the holy glow intensified, and Arthur showed a painful look as he suddenly shouted, jumping away, sword falling to the ground and sporting some nasty burns on his hands.
The sword sticking up out of the ground, Artoria stared at it, Arthur looked on in shock as she hesitantly placed a hand on the hilt.
The blade burst out with a golden light, blindingly bright as it began to shift.
"Does it change shape to fit the wielder's desire?" Artoria muttered at the now much smaller blade still impaled into the ground. "Hello, old friend, it has been awhile."
It did in fact do that if I recalled correctly. One of the sword's many abilities.
The new golden words engraved on the sword were easy to read.
Whosoever pulleth out this sword from the stone is rightwise king of all England.
Artoria dismissed her invisible sword, gripping Caliburn tight and pulling it from the ground without any resistance.
"What?" Arthur whispered, clearly in shock. "How? Not even the Church...!? Only someone of his blood should be able to wield that sword..."
"I will be taking this for now, whether you can regain it in the future has yet to be determined." She declared, almost inviting him to disagree with her. "Surrender, this fight is not worth continuing."
Arthur looked down at the sword being pointed at him and raised his arms in the air in surrender seemingly no will to fight in his eyes.
"Well, isn't that something?" Yasaka practically snuck up on me, throwing the body of her opponent ontop of Hercules's prone form. "I believe a few secrets have been hidden from me." She mused.
I guess I was distracted.
"What? How did you defeat Siegfried?" Cao Cao looked at Yasaka in shock.
"Did you seriously believe this brat who hasn't even seen three decades could match me?" She scoffed. "I have ruled over the Youkai in this region for centuries, boy. The only reason I hadn't crushed you all so easily before was that boy manipulating Dimensions, and my unwillingness to cause collateral damage."
"Do you truly think I am defeated?" Cao Cao stood up an edge in his voice, gripping his spear tightly. "The hero always slays the monster in the end."
"By all means, use your balance breaker." I lazily replied. "Make this interesting for me."
He sneered at me. "Balance Breaker: Polar Night Longinus Chakravartin."
The Holy Aura around him exploded out, it became suffocating for someone like me to stand here. A large halo-like ring floated behind him with several orbs. I'm pretty sure each of those orbs corresponds to a specific ability, but the details escape me.
Mirage flew into my hand, Dawnbreaker, Whisper, and Ascalon spun around me, waiting.
I snapped my fingers, A circle of runes burst out underneath Cao Cao, he looked down as they glowed and exploded.
"What an absurd holy power." I couldn't help but comment, as he was completely enveloped in a shield. It was almost like fighting an Archangel.
"Astsusa Ratana" Cao Cao declared as my head snapped behind me, spear being thrust into my back. A pure teleportation, able to slip through my perception, I barely even noticed the space around me shudder.
Was it because of the holy power?
No time to contemplate.
The spire didn't pierce my, my form shattered as I appeared to the side and swiped my sword at him.
"Hmph, lets see how you deal with your weapon being destroyed – Chatsuka Ratana." His spear moved towards my sword, a collision of energy burst out at the meeting point of our two weapons. His eyes narrowed and his expression changed. "WHY WON'T YOUR SWORD BREAK?" He suddenly shouted as he broke off the attack.
"Isn't it obvious?" I sneered. "You're too weak."
He tried to use a weapon breaking ability on me, how adorable. With the Eye of Magnus basically keeping it all together as a Lynchpin, he's essentially trying to destroy a Divine Construct.
"Fine, I will end this in one blow then." He calmed himself, but killing intent was still in his eyes. The holy power around him went another qualitive change, if it was intense before, it was almost obscene now.
I felt a sense of danger at this.
"Balinayaka Ratana" He roared as all the accumulated holy power gathered and released right at me.
"Shield of Asgard" I put out my strongest defensive spell, and I included a Primordial Rune in the creation. It was big enough to envelop both Yasaka and Artoria so they didn't get swept up in our battle.
The buildings behind me were obliterated, and even through the shield, I felt the intense light try to penetrate into me.
"Impossible." Cao Cao muttered as the attack finally died down, to see me standing strong after what was probably his strongest attack. His arms sagged, and his spear no longer holding its powerful killing intent.
Good, his spirit has broken just as his faction has.
Shouldn't have targeted my daughter.
"GAAh" He let out a scream as my swords pierced him from all directions, falling to the ground.
His spear spell next to him with a 'clank'.
....I want it.
[You might be able to take it, it has it's own amount of intelligence.]
Really?"
[That or kill you, call it a coin flip.]
I'll try later...maybe. I shook my head, putting it into my ring without touching it.
"Well, that takes care of that then." Yasaka walked up to Cao Cao, staring at his unmoving body. My swords returned to my ring, but he still didn't move. I'm pretty sure he's still alive, but none of my business anymore, and I'm sure Yasaka also wants her pound of flesh.
"All yours to deal with." I said towards the Youkai leader.
"You give me the best presents." She cooed.
"Lady Yasaka, I request suitable imprisonment for this one." Artoria walked up, Arthur awkwardly following behind her.
Yasaka stared at him, her rage very much still apparent. "I will.....not execute him, but he will be punished."
"That is all I ask." She nodded.
I didn't speak up, the look in her eyes was rather telling. I could see that Artoria felt some sense of responsibility for the one who claimed to be her alternate's descendant. I would leave it to her to deal with him then.
"Actually, I think they're all still alive?" I muttered looking around and saw Connla still breathing haggardly, having been unable to free himself. Jeanne was still bound, her body a mess and her arm looked dead. Hercules was broken underneath the other one --- Sieg, or rather Siegfried? Pretty sure he might be dead, actually. Georg was a bit better if handicap now, but unconscious and Cao Cao....well fuck him. I paid no mind to the growing pool of blood forming around him.
All's well that ends well.
I guess it's time to clean up this mess.
***
First off, big shoutout to TheMadLad over on discord who created the new cover art.
So, the chapter. I know a lot of people were hoping for Artoria going full King Arthur or Excaliburing the lot, but honestly, it seemed like a waste back when I first wrote this chapter. I had her 'reveal' planned for later when the Excalibur swords are more prominent. I think, in character, Artoria wouldn't deem them worthy of facing her real sword, especially releasing its true name. All, in all, they weren't a group that required everyone pulling out all the stops and canon kind of just throws power levels all over the place so its hard to get an actual gauge on people's strength. Like, one moment Cao Cao is matching Azazel in his fake sacred gear, you know, an angel who is older than humanity, then next he can get randomly slapped by some brat still in highschool.
Anyways, if you want to read 5 chapters ahead or support me, visit my /astoryforone
Chapter 88:Artoria followed behind me as we moved through the compound. I actually didn't know where Yasaka was, nor where the main fights were happening. Every so often, I could find some people, usually able to tell who is the enemy and who isn't. There were some surprisingly powerful foes that popped up. And equally surprising, there were friendlies who engaged them. Honestly, I did not expect this faction to have such powerful combatants waiting in reserve like they were. Several who would fit under the banner of 'ultimate class', even if that whole system of measurement was basically malarkey. "How you doing on mana?" I quickly asked as we scaled a rooftop to get a better view. "I'm full, and I was given this." She took out a jewel I didn't recognize, but I could see it was full of Rin's magical energy. "Zelretch said it should work for an emergency." Ah, good thinking. Though, it wasn't a perfect recovery tool for her magical energy. Since she was a servant, a spiritual being, she couldn't generate magical energy as if she were 'alive'. And trying to forcefully drain the jewel of its contents would cause much of it to go to waste, simply running off in the process. I looked around and noticed a much bigger fight in the distance. Tengu were taking to the skies, and several groups clashing while some large explosions lit up the sky. Many types of Youkai I couldn't recognize at a glance were joining the fray. "Wilhelm, there." She pointed a little off to the side, a swirling pillar of mist burst out. "I briefly saw a women with nine tails, I assume that is the woman you are looking for?" "Yeah....and that should be dimension lost." I muttered. "Dimension lost?" She asked in confusion. "Shit, I never did talk about the sacred gears here.....think of them as noble phantasms." I didn't really have time to explain the differences, but I would rather he be wary of the strange weapons than not. "Noted." She nodded. "Do you have a plan?" "Yeah." I took in a deep breath. "Teach some kids a lesson they will not forget." I frowned, trying to wrack my brain around who all was in that little faction of theirs. "Kids?" "Idiots who think they can do whatever they want because of some stuff they inherited from their ancestors or some other nonsense." "I will follow your lead." I smiled, holding out my hand as she took it and I pulled us both through a portal right to the big dome of mist. I put my hand on the large dome and cast my gaze inside briefly. I saw Yasaka battling a group of people and somewhat handling herself, but she was slightly wounded here and there... Without a second thought, I drew Mirage and pulled on the Kaleidoscope. With a slash, I cut through the false dimension that was cutting off the fight from the outside world. The mist dispersed aggressively, stopping the fight as all eyes turned to us. "Wilhelm!?" Yasaka called out as she retreated several yards back. "YOU!" I saw Georg shout from the corner of my eye. The 'hero' faction. More of them that I didn't recognize off the top of my head. "I guess the lesson I taught you last time wasn't enough." I lazily replied, not giving him much attention. Yasaka quickly reached our side, perhaps trying to buy herself a moments respite. "Kunou, where is she!?" Her eyes practically dilating. "She's with my grandfather, completely safe." I gave her a reassuring smile. Yasaka let out a long breath. "Good." She said quietly. A big boulder a bit away started trembling and a large man climbed out of some accumulated rubble. "Fucking bitch." He spat as he stood up, dusting himself off. "Friend of yours?" I raised an eyebrow, glancing at Yasaka. She sneered. "Idiot calling himself Hercules, said he was going to harm my daughter." Ah, the idiot who boasts about having inherited the spirit of Hercules, and i looked around and noticed a blonde girl. If I recalled correctly, she is the same but with Jeanne D'Arc. I paused, reining in my quickly flaring temper. "Did he now?" "What about you?" Her eyes turned to Artoria, standing to the side. "I don't believe we met." "She's the one who I grabbed to heal Kunou before." "Greetings, I am Artoria." Artoria stated. "Wilhelm, is it?" Another voice cut through the tension in the air. I recognize the person and the spear he held at a glance. "Cao Cao, are you trying to run your ancestor's name through the mud even more than you have already?" I didn't want to hear any spiel he was going to give. "So you do know me." "Well, usually I don't remember dumbasses, but kudos, you are leagues above the common rabble." He frowned, I don't think he was used to people insulting him so blatantly. "This doesn't concern you, why are you risking your life for these.....Youkai?" "Are you trying to find common ground with me, perhaps convince me to step to the side?" I rolled my eyes. "Besides, saying I'm 'risking my life' implies anyone in your little posse can even take it." I was going to break him. "I could snap you like a twig!" Hercules shouted. "A little magician and a little girl he brought with him, why are we even talking?" "A little girl?" Artoria quietly repeated, a small twitch of her eyes told me exactly how she felt right now. I grew up on the internet, insults don't really phase me.....but I'm sure it's an entirely different matter for her. "He's all yours." I smiled towards my girlfriend, eyes not leaving Cao Cao. I wanted this little faction of his to be destroyed before I finish dealing with him. "What, am I supposed to be scared of her?" He laughed. "Come on then, little girl, I'll show you a real man." He threw his head back, posing like an idiot. "You can even have the first hit." He didn't even try to hide his laughter. Artoria didn't answer, instead her magical energy exploded off her. Armor formed around her body, her armaments manifesting from within. Her Dragon's core practically roared to life as everyone in the area felt her presence. She moved before most people here could even understand what was going on, a fist buried itself deep into Hercules's stomach. I saw everything as I reinforced my eyes. Every moment as his eyes widened, blood flowed out of his throat, and his body practically crumbled and lifted off the ground, only to be blown into the side of the building. "Oh." Yasaka said quietly, perhaps readjusting some thoughts she had about Artoria. Honestly, I should have been paying more attention, but one thought was distracting me. I fucking want her right now. Rein in the dragon. I don't even care if anyone is watching. I want to make her mine. Maybe she's having some sort of effect on you because of her magical core's origin? Probably. I reluctantly pushed down those thoughts, with a mental promise for later, when we eventually get to that part in a relationship. Watch out. I ducked to the side as a certain holy spear passed by my head. Oh shit, yeah, god killing holy spear, need to pay attention. A kid covered in shadows suddenly charged, swiping his hands in the air, shadows rose up from the ground like blades and swept the area. "Oh, sacred gear, noted." Yasaka bat them away easily enough, the Touki pulsing off her was palpable. "I don't suppose you know anything about them?" "Edgy kid wearing the sunglasses manipulates shadows with a sacred gear, equally edge name." I spoke, dodging another swipe of the True Longinus. "That's barely helpful." She deadpanned, stomping on the ground, creating many boulders that she grabbed with her Touki and threw at the shadow manipulator. My sword swung out, as holy sworda burst out of the ground like thorns. None were powerful by themselves, but holy power was still practically lethal to me. "Discount Jeanne D'Arc can create holy swords, forget the name of that one too." Neat. "I guess I am your opponent then?" The other one turned towards Artoria. "I am Arthur Pendragon. I suppose I cannot hold back anything." His gaze briefly swept the broken bodies of his teammates. Artoria paused, hearing his name. "Are you one of.....his descendants?" "I am." He nodded, almost uncaring about the battlefield. "It is tradition in my family to name each successive generation after the King, I am not the first Arthur Pendragon. But I have grown accustomed to the name, even if I think the convention is droll." A light erupted from his body, and a holy sword appeared in his hand. "I wield the strongest Holy Sword Caliburn, prepare yourself." Artoria narrowed her eyes at the proclamation, I couldn't dare to even guess her thoughts right now. She took her own stance, invisible sword summoned. The sword this Arthur wielded, it was large, like a great sword, but he wielded it expertly. I could tell even Artoria was mildly impressed by his swordsmanship as she didn't stomp him right from the beginning. But, you could begin to see Arthur getting a bit restless, nearly every move he made was countered with ease and experience he couldn't overcome. Even with Artoria's smaller stature, he was being dealt blows with far greater weight behind them then anything he could muster. He had to practically retreat on every collision. They clashed many times, Arthur never even making a comment on her invisible sword as he gradually got used to its dimensions, even able to counterattack every now and then. I knew Artoria enough to see she was holding back, but I didn't understand why. In fact, it seemed like they were sticking to purely swordsmanship, like an unspoken agreement between both of them. Actually....something strange was happening. I wanted to say that Arthur was hesitant to attack, but even looked rather perplexed at what was happening. After a moment, Artoria even stopped as Arthur's sword swept towards her head. A clean strike, the which could have decapitated her, stopped. Arthur was straining himself, trying his best to force the blade forward, but it refused to budge. It wouldn't even touch her skin with its edge. The sword started to vibrate in Arthur's hands, the holy glow intensified, and Arthur showed a painful look as he suddenly shouted, jumping away, sword falling to the ground and sporting some nasty burns on his hands. The sword sticking up out of the ground, Artoria stared at it, Arthur looked on in shock as she hesitantly placed a hand on the hilt. The blade burst out with a golden light, blindingly bright as it began to shift. "Does it change shape to fit the wielder's desire?" Artoria muttered at the now much smaller blade still impaled into the ground. "Hello, old friend, it has been awhile." It did in fact do that if I recalled correctly. One of the sword's many abilities. The new golden words engraved on the sword were easy to read. Whosoever pulleth out this sword from the stone is rightwise king of all England. Artoria dismissed her invisible sword, gripping Caliburn tight and pulling it from the ground without any resistance. "What?" Arthur whispered, clearly in shock. "How? Not even the Church...!? Only someone of his blood should be able to wield that sword..." "I will be taking this for now, whether you can regain it in the future has yet to be determined." She declared, almost inviting him to disagree with her. "Surrender, this fight is not worth continuing." Arthur looked down at the sword being pointed at him and raised his arms in the air in surrender seemingly no will to fight in his eyes. "Well, isn't that something?" Yasaka practically snuck up on me, throwing the body of her opponent ontop of Hercules's prone form. "I believe a few secrets have been hidden from me." She mused. I guess I was distracted. "What? How did you defeat Siegfried?" Cao Cao looked at Yasaka in shock. "Did you seriously believe this brat who hasn't even seen three decades could match me?" She scoffed. "I have ruled over the Youkai in this region for centuries, boy. The only reason I hadn't crushed you all so easily before was that boy manipulating Dimensions, and my unwillingness to cause collateral damage." "Do you truly think I am defeated?" Cao Cao stood up an edge in his voice, gripping his spear tightly. "The hero always slays the monster in the end." "By all means, use your balance breaker." I lazily replied. "Make this interesting for me." He sneered at me. "Balance Breaker: Polar Night Longinus Chakravartin." The Holy Aura around him exploded out, it became suffocating for someone like me to stand here. A large halo-like ring floated behind him with several orbs. I'm pretty sure each of those orbs corresponds to a specific ability, but the details escape me. Mirage flew into my hand, Dawnbreaker, Whisper, and Ascalon spun around me, waiting. I snapped my fingers, A circle of runes burst out underneath Cao Cao, he looked down as they glowed and exploded. "What an absurd holy power." I couldn't help but comment, as he was completely enveloped in a shield. It was almost like fighting an Archangel. "Astsusa Ratana" Cao Cao declared as my head snapped behind me, spear being thrust into my back. A pure teleportation, able to slip through my perception, I barely even noticed the space around me shudder. Was it because of the holy power? No time to contemplate. The spire didn't pierce my, my form shattered as I appeared to the side and swiped my sword at him. "Hmph, lets see how you deal with your weapon being destroyed Chatsuka Ratana." His spear moved towards my sword, a collision of energy burst out at the meeting point of our two weapons. His eyes narrowed and his expression changed. "WHY WON'T YOUR SWORD BREAK?" He suddenly shouted as he broke off the attack. "Isn't it obvious?" I sneered. "You're too weak." He tried to use a weapon breaking ability on me, how adorable. With the Eye of Magnus basically keeping it all together as a Lynchpin, he's essentially trying to destroy a Divine Construct. "Fine, I will end this in one blow then." He calmed himself, but killing intent was still in his eyes. The holy power around him went another qualitive change, if it was intense before, it was almost obscene now. I felt a sense of danger at this. "Balinayaka Ratana" He roared as all the accumulated holy power gathered and released right at me. "Shield of Asgard" I put out my strongest defensive spell, and I included a Primordial Rune in the creation. It was big enough to envelop both Yasaka and Artoria so they didn't get swept up in our battle. The buildings behind me were obliterated, and even through the shield, I felt the intense light try to penetrate into me. "Impossible." Cao Cao muttered as the attack finally died down, to see me standing strong after what was probably his strongest attack. His arms sagged, and his spear no longer holding its powerful killing intent. Good, his spirit has broken just as his faction has. Shouldn't have targeted my daughter. "GAAh" He let out a scream as my swords pierced him from all directions, falling to the ground. His spear spell next to him with a 'clank'. ....I want it. You might be able to take it, it has it's own amount of intelligence. Really?" That or kill you, call it a coin flip. I'll try later...maybe. I shook my head, putting it into my ring without touching it. "Well, that takes care of that then." Yasaka walked up to Cao Cao, staring at his unmoving body. My swords returned to my ring, but he still didn't move. I'm pretty sure he's still alive, but none of my business anymore, and I'm sure Yasaka also wants her pound of flesh. "All yours to deal with." I said towards the Youkai leader. "You give me the best presents." She cooed. "Lady Yasaka, I request suitable imprisonment for this one." Artoria walked up, Arthur awkwardly following behind her. Yasaka stared at him, her rage very much still apparent. "I will.....not execute him, but he will be punished." "That is all I ask." She nodded. I didn't speak up, the look in her eyes was rather telling. I could see that Artoria felt some sense of responsibility for the one who claimed to be her alternate's descendant. I would leave it to her to deal with him then. "Actually, I think they're all still alive?" I muttered looking around and saw Connla still breathing haggardly, having been unable to free himself. Jeanne was still bound, her body a mess and her arm looked dead. Hercules was broken underneath the other one --- Sieg, or rather Siegfried? Pretty sure he might be dead, actually. Georg was a bit better if handicap now, but unconscious and Cao Cao....well fuck him. I paid no mind to the growing pool of blood forming around him. All's well that ends well. I guess it's time to clean up this mess. *** First off, big shoutout to TheMadLad over on discord who created the new cover art. So, the chapter. I know a lot of people were hoping for Artoria going full King Arthur or Excaliburing the lot, but honestly, it seemed like a waste back when I first wrote this chapter. I had her 'reveal' planned for later when the Excalibur swords are more prominent. I think, in character, Artoria wouldn't deem them worthy of facing her real sword, especially releasing its true name. All, in all, they weren't a group that required everyone pulling out all the stops and canon kind of just throws power levels all over the place so its hard to get an actual gauge on people's strength. Like, one moment Cao Cao is matching Azazel in his fake sacred gear, you know, an angel who is older than humanity, then next he can get randomly slapped by some brat still in highschool. Anyways, if you want to read 5 chapters ahead or support me, visit my /astoryforone
