Chapter 62. Noble Phantasm Release, Gae Bolg Tearing Apart the Sky!

Chapter 62. Noble Phantasm Release, Gae Bolg Tearing Apart the Sky!

[Under the hazy moonlight, everyone turned their heads in astonishment.]

[The mountain range collapsed, roaring flames soared, and a new variable appeared in the burning battlefield.]

["GRR...!!"]

[After the finishing move was blocked, the giant growled and fell from the sky, his pitch-black feet stomping onto the mountainside, slamming the ground into deep dents several meters wide, his blazing red eyes fiercely staring at the newly arrived enemy.]

[The instinct to sense danger, honed through countless battles, told him that this was not an opponent to be taken lightly.]

[Very strong, must face seriously.]

[First, observe a bit...]

[Immediately after, hearty laughter echoed.]

["How pathetic, little girl~."]

[The Cursed Spear fell from above. The man dressed in a tight-fitting blue outfit chuckled lightly, raised his strong arm, caught it with a crisp "clack" sound, and skillfully spun the spear with a beautiful flourish.]

[Bringing a sense of refreshing boldness, and at the same time, a hint of friendliness.]

[His entrance was extremely cool, causing everyone present to feel slightly shocked.]

["...Are you Lancer?!"]

[On the ground, Artoria stood up clutching her wounded shoulder, her expression slightly surprised, as if she couldn't understand why a potential enemy would come to her aid.]

[Even Yukino, Archer, and Raku Sou were all stunned.]

[Since when did they invite such a powerful reinforcement?]

["That's right, I am Lancer~."]

[Cú Chulainn did not deny it, nodded, and when he noticed the position of the young master in white, he was slightly surprised, showing an approving smile: "Yo~ you brat also joined the Heroic Spirit battle? Not bad!"]

["Just taking advantage of the chaos to fish in troubled waters, this guy is even stronger than Saber, truly a monster-level existence~."]

[Raku Sou also laughed heartily, not denying it.]

[Though not a main force, Gem Magecraft and Reinforcement Magecraft had managed to mitigate part of the damage.]

Witnessing the "hero acknowledges hero" atmosphere between the two, people all over the world couldn't help but reveal an "oba-san" style smile.

At the same time, rejoicing over Artoria's survival, countless people furiously typed away at their keyboards, pouring out their emotions, an endless tide of comments flooding in.

"My Artoria-chan is alive, thank god!"

"Wan-chan bro is explosively cool!!"

"Wan-chan is truly the ultimate good man~."

"Since ancient times, Lancers have always been brave and loyal!"

"I love Cú Chulainn, full score for personality and charm."

"Thank goodness, thought the King of Knights was about to turn into a divided one."

"Damn it, if Artoria had been summoned normally with full mana supply, she wouldn't have ended up like this."

"Just raising her hand to unleash the Noble Phantasm 'Sword of Promised Victory', a torrent of light would have annihilated Heracles directly, solo kill no problem."

"Emmm, saying it sounds awesome and all, but doesn't anyone like Berserker?"

"I love Heracles, grew up with Greek mythology, just a pity that his Master is that brutal King of Purge, haiz."

"Well, the Purge King is quite pitiful too..."

"Yeah..."

"All the fault of Yukinoshita Haruno!"

"Exactly, all the fault of Yukinoshita Haruno!"

...

[The situation on the battlefield seemed to calm down slightly, and even Yukinoshita Yukino didn't know when she had arrived.]

["Lancer, why are you helping us?"]

[The Knight King frowned and asked. Although she was grateful for Lancer's help,]

[there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world, nobody helps others for no reason.]

[Moreover, this was the brutal Holy Grail War!]

[Cú Chulainn curled his lips roughly, carrying an innate sincerity and deep loyalty.]

["Ah~ that, you have to ask my Master. Anyway, my Master order is: prioritize protecting Yukinoshita Yukino, everything else is up to you, Lancer."]

["But relying on myself alone, I can't fully protect this little girl."]

["..."]

[Artoria immediately fell silent; she understood the meaning Cú Chulainn wanted to convey.]

[So, saving her was merely an act of necessity.]

[Even so, she silently remembered this kindness. Though she would not offer up the Holy Grail for it, if Cú Chulainn were ever in trouble, Artoria would definitely lend her aid — that was her knightly spirit.]

[Solving one problem undoubtedly led to a new one.]

["Lancer, why does your Master want you to protect me?"]

[Yukino tightly furrowed her brows and couldn't help but ask.]

[In Fuyuki City, she didn't know many people, let alone someone who could be a Master.]

["Secret~."]

[Cú Chulainn placed a finger against the corner of his lips, smiling mischievously, indicating his refusal to answer.]

[The doubt in Yukino's heart deepened, but she sincerely pleaded: "Could you please hold back that Berserker? Saber still needs a bit more time to recover."]

[Hearing that, Cú Chulainn flashed a savage grin, revealing his white teeth, and slowly lowered his body.]

["It's fine if I kill him, right?"]

["?"]

[A question mark appeared above the girl's head as she looked blankly into the air before her.]

[Indeed, the moment his voice fell, Lancer's figure disappeared in an instant, and in the blink of an eye, he had already appeared above Berserker, his eyes flashing with a mixture of rage and astonishment. Lancer thrust his spear straight downward.]

[Heracles agilely retreated, baring his teeth while raising his stone axe.]

["Clang!!"]

[Sparks flew as the sharp clash of metal echoed through the air, causing the very atmosphere to ripple with nearly tangible waves.]

[Cú Chulainn, face alight with excitement, his body howling in the heat of battle, frenziedly swung his deep crimson spear like a ferocious war god.]

[This terrifying strength, combined with his battle-honed muscle memory...]

"Compared to Sasaki Kojirou, Cú Chulainn is truly a battle maniac, huh?"

At Celestial Curtain, a short-haired, muscular young man sighed with emotion.

As a descendant of Hanma, Baki keenly sensed the burning passion for battle radiating from Lancer, a pure fighting spirit that even he couldn't help but admire.

It was just like...

A warrior fighting wholeheartedly for his own ideals and pleasure!

"That's right, Sasaki Kojirou mostly fights to test his own progress."

Sakurajima Mai coldly analyzed, clearly seeing the fundamental difference between the two Servants.

...

[So strong!!]

[Such a perfect opponent to vent freely against!]

[Under the moonlight, the silver armor on Lancer's shoulders shone brilliantly.]

[That light reflected the wild grin on Cú Chulainn's face, as he wielded his deep crimson spear drenched in the hue of blood, looking every bit like a war god descended to earth.]

[Facing Berserker's furious counterattacks, the cursed spear swept horizontally, stirring up a violent storm.]

["——Clang Clang Clang Clang!!"]

[The sound of metal clashing echoed to the heavens, bursting forth into the most dazzling brilliance under the moonlit night.]

[In the blink of an eye, the two Demi-Gods had already exchanged countless blows across the battlefield.]

[Between the Cursed Spear and Stone Axe, the unending sounds of collision played like a grand symphony of battle.]

[On the grand stage of Fuyuki City.]

[Two heroes from different eras fought desperately for supremacy.]

[Their transcendent martial skills, like the embodiment of heroic ideals, erupted with boundless valor, creating waves of breathtaking brilliance.]

[Life is but a fleeting moment, years wear away with the passage of day and night...]

[Yet the heroic songs passed down through generations, that undying light, will be forever remembered.]

"What a magnificent battle, hohoho~."

In the real world, many martial artists laughed heartily, a wave of exhilaration surging in their hearts.

...

["Yukino, please heal my wound."]

[At the edge of the battlefield, Artoria's sharp eyes focused intently on the two Servants clashing in the distance.]

["You're talking to me?"]

[The long black-haired girl looked somewhat apologetic, "Sorry, I don't know how to use magecraft as difficult as that. I've only ever been good at『Reinforcement』..."]

["Then just use that, it should be enough to deal with that guy together."]

[Artoria paused slightly in her tone, calmly preparing to rush back into the battlefield.]

[It was truly strange...]

[Clearly she was of the Yukinoshita family, yet she didn't even know healing magecraft?]

[What on earth had Haruno taught this child?]

[Suddenly, a modest, gentle, magnetic voice rang out.]

["Healing? I know a little about that."]

[Raku Sou smiled as he stepped forward, his hand glowing with a soft green light.]

[In the King of Knights' eyes, filled with both astonishment and joy, he gently placed his hand on her wounded shoulder, and vibrant energy slowly flowed into her.]

[Very quickly, the bleeding stopped, and the terrible wound healed rapidly.]

[It wouldn't be long before Artoria could return to the battlefield without any problems.]

[Although she didn't possess any real self-healing skills, the『Red Dragon Heart』granted the King of Knights an extremely powerful physique, not only with extraordinary strength, but also monstrous stamina recovery and wound healing abilities.]

["Thank you, you truly are an excellent magus, Master of Archer."]

[The King of Knights praised, feeling relieved to have such a reliable ally.]

[At this rate, the wish to lift the Holy Grail might very well come true.]

[Raku Sou smiled and shook his head.]

["I just happened to know this type of magecraft."]

"King really likes to act tough."

Someone sighed sorrowfully; many people loved the King of Knights precisely because of this trait.

...

[On a higher street, Purge King Subaru was also coldly observing the battle.]

[Although Lancer had appeared unexpectedly, he showed no fear whatsoever. Berserker was the strongest, that much was absolutely certain.]

[Even if the Three Knight Servants joined forces, Berserker would not lose!]

[Staring at the blue-clad Lancer, whose spear techniques were overwhelmingly refined, Purge King narrowed his eyes.]

[Across all of human history, Lancers with such skill could be counted on the fingers of one hand. His attire also carried hints of the Celtic lands.]

[The identity of this one was easy to guess...]

["Child of Light, Cú Chulainn, huh?"]

[He raised his eyebrows, the dark circles under his eyes revealing deep fatigue, and muttered to himself.]

[This was Japan, such a pity...]

[If the battlefield of the Holy Grail War were in Europe, Cú Chulainn would receive a Local Advantage, his power and equipment would be closer to the legends.]

[Benefiting from that, he could even "gain additional Noble Phantasms."]

[If summoned in his homeland of Ulster, he would further gain a Fortress, a Chariot, the Blessing of Wakefulness, and so on...]

[In Japan, Lancer Cú Chulainn only possessed the strength of a First-Rate Servant.]

[But if in Europe, in his homeland, he could easily become an Overpowered-Class Servant.]

[Only such a Cú Chulainn could stand a chance of defeating Heracles.]

"I can't believe it, Doggo bro is that overpowered?"

All over the world, countless people exclaimed in shock.

It turned out that Lancer's already powerful stats were not even his complete state.

Some familiar with Celtic mythology sneered, for they had long known that Cú Chulainn was not at his full potential.

Among the most brilliant tales of Cú Chulainn, none surpassed the[Cattle Raid of Cooley], the story of the lone warrior Cú Chulainn defending against the invading army of Queen Medb, queen of Connacht.

...

[The fierce battle raged on, the horizon beginning to show the faint white streaks of dawn.]

[After continuous rounds of combat, Heracles was still brimming with vigor, roaring with undiminished might, but the Child of Light, Cú Chulainn, had begun to show signs of being pushed into a disadvantage.]

[This did not mean that Cú Chulainn's combat technique was inferior to Heracles'.]

[It was simply that Heracles was too "monstrous," the cursed spear piercing him repeatedly was little more than scratching an itch, and even when injured, Heracles would swiftly recover, while if Cú Chulainn were hit even once by Heracles' strikes, he would suffer serious damage.]

[In this kind of blood exchange, the more it continued, the more it favored the giant!]

[If this cold steel duel dragged on, the one who would surely lose was Lancer.]

["Truly a foe no one would want to face..."]

[Once again, Cú Chulainn pushed back the giant brute and sighed.]

[Honestly, the fact that Saber hadn't fully recovered yet worried him a little, but more than that, he felt exhilaration and joy—being able to solo against such a strong opponent was the greatest pleasure for Cú Chulainn.]

[However, it couldn't be dragged out any longer.]

[As a warrior, the ultimate goal was still victory.]

["Berserker, come and try to withstand my ultimate technique~."]

[Cú Chulainn grinned, but suddenly his eyes turned serious, exuding an overwhelming aura.]

[The sharp tip of his spear touched the ground, and a terrifying amount of magical energy concentrated into the cursed spear『Gae Bolg』, igniting into a blazing crimson light, forming an invisible curtain of fire, with waves of immense magical power surging like roaring flames.]

[Lancer's blue ponytail fluttered wildly despite the absence of wind, and his two earrings shook violently.]

[Heartbeat racing,]

[Extremely dangerous!!]

[An intense sense of threat surged up, and Berserker roared as he charged forward.]

["...This abnormal amount of magical energy, is he planning to use a Noble Phantasm?!"]

[Yukino gasped in surprise, having once witnessed Strike Air, she was quite excited.]

[Saber was initially shocked as well, but quickly realized the situation and immediately shouted a warning.]

["Lancer, the armor he's wearing isn't simple! Unless it's a Noble Phantasm of Rank A or higher, don't expect to even scratch him!!"]

["I noticed that during the fight with him."]

[Cú Chulainn's expression remained calm. Gripping the spear tightly, his entire body erupted with magical energy once more.]

[Finally, it transformed into countless mystical "Rune" symbols, white letters floating midair, brimming with an ancient, mysterious, and spiritual feeling.]

[In the blink of an eye, countless mysterious characters surged into Gae Bolg.]

[An overwhelming aura erupted, boosting the Noble Phantasm's rank from B to A.]

[The bloody lights continued to expand...]

[Facing the roaring giant charging toward him,]

[Cú Chulainn shouted loudly, putting all his strength into hurling the brilliantly crimson spear.]

["——Gae Bolg!!"]

[The sharp crimson light pierced through everything, dragging along countless howling gales.]

[This was the spear that twisted causality itself, ensuring an inevitable hit and inevitable kill!]

[The trajectory of the spear was meaningless, for the moment it was thrown, it was already destined to pierce the opponent's heart!]

[The thick clouds that had just gathered over Fuyuki City were instantly torn apart, the sky itself ripped like a shattered painting.]

[Heracles, who had leapt high into the air, was struck by the spear mid-flight. His face instantly twisted in ferocity, roaring in defiance, but was dragged by an overwhelming force of inertia, falling like a shooting star across the sky.]

[In a flash, he traversed thousands of meters, tearing apart the atmosphere with the roaring tempest!]

["BOOM BOOM BOOM...!!"]

[Like a blood-colored lightning bolt, it pierced through the mountain range in an instant, nailing the mighty Heracles firmly into the ground.]

[The scene was horrifying, like a nuclear explosion!!]

[The sky darkened ominously, as if narrating an unspoken, earth-shaking shock!]

The magnificent sight made the viewers' eyes feel as if they would explode!

The world trembled endlessly, bodies shivering, everyone unable to believe what they were witnessing.

"Berserker... is he dead?"

"The famed Demigod of Strength, Heracles of ancient Greece, just died like that?"

"This is way too badass!"