A Turning Point

This lousy author is here begging for votes.

This trashy thing I drew.

Tomorrow, I'll be publicly executed over a PowerPoint presentation. This author is just waiting to die.

Nothing much to say. One word: trash.

I had papers and final exams today, then got dragged off to a team-building event tonight. No update, so I'm just using these drawings to make up the numbers.

-------One Hundred-Word Divider-------

298316354

P.S.: It's pretty bad, so please don't expect too much.

Chapter 21: A Turning Point

The former Fuyuki Church ruins, now an artillery bombardment site.

After Alcaeus unleashed his Noble Phantasm and vented his fury, Fuyuki Church had been wiped off the satellite map. Even the mayor of Fuyuki City would probably stare at the place as if he had seen a ghost. Where the hell was this?

Kirei Kotomine was currently playing the role of a physics and engineering expert who had returned from the USA after completing his studies, solemnly explaining on Fuso's educational television channel to the citizens of Fuyuki City that the series of gas explosions centered around Fuyuki Church.

What could one say? As expected of Fuyuki City's priest—he could spin lies the moment he opened his mouth. His ability to bullshit was on par with Li Zihan's.

Clearly, Kirei Kotomine had the makings of someone who could make it in Hollywood. If he had no money to rebuild Fuyuki Church and could no longer work as a priest, he could always make a living at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.

On this battlefield, which had visibly sunk below the surrounding terrain, the battle between monsters and heroes continued.

Crack. The ground split beneath Lancer's feet. He no longer restrained himself with the refined techniques he had used against heroes, instead swinging his Twin Pistols with considerable brutality—sweeping strikes, thrusts, diagonal slashes, even using them as clubs to smash down hard.

Against mindless, fearless monsters that came in such vast numbers, what was needed was broad, sweeping battlefield spearwork. Delicate techniques were of little use.

Even more violent was Berserker, who had already displayed overwhelming combat power. He swung the enormous greatsword in his hand, smashing the descending tentacles into pulp. Dark green blood splattered across his burly body, making him look especially savage and terrifying.

Just as the Heroic Spirits were adapting to fighting the Sea Monster, the Sea Monster was gradually adapting to fighting them.

It no longer relied solely on its tentacles to attack and restrain its enemies. The Sea Monster had now learned to split parts of its body into smaller Sea Monster individuals, then use its sheer numbers to launch suicidal attacks against the Heroic Spirits from every direction.

It did not seek to kill the Heroic Spirits, only to restrict them and force them to reveal openings, allowing the main body to deal a fatal blow.

If the battle had previously been deadlocked, then it was now clearly turning unfavorable. Although no Heroic Spirit had yet suffered serious injuries, the trend was already painfully obvious.

The Sea Monster had been taking hits all along, but it had not suffered any fatal damage. With its regenerative ability, anything short of a lethal wound was merely flesh damage. The Heroic Spirits, on the other hand, had not been harmed yet, but if they exposed an opening, a single attack could force them straight out of the battle.

Masters had limited magical energy, and Heroic Spirits could grow tired as well. If they did not end this quickly, the Heroic Spirits might be dragged to death here.

An opening would always appear.

After splitting a Sea Monster in two along its centerline, Lancer shook his spear and flung the filthy flesh from its tip. Then, he hurled the Rose of Annihilation at the Sea Monster's main body like a javelin, a meteor tearing through the sky.

The thrown short spear erupted with terrifying power under Lancer's full strength. Its violent force pierced the Sea Monster's body, leaving an unhealable hole in the Sea Monster, which had seemed invincible all this time.

Lancer let out a breath. Perhaps if he directly detonated the Rose of Annihilation with a Phantasm Break, he could deal considerable damage to the monster. Then, if Berserker unleashed his Noble Phantasm, they could secure victory.

But he still needed to report this to Lord Kaineth first.

Perhaps because he had thought of a way to defeat the Sea Monster, Lancer's focus relaxed slightly. In that instant, dozens of tentacles burst from the ground and swiftly wrapped around his legs.