That's Just Plain Unsportsmanlike.
"But it doesn't matter if you forget. Painful memories should be forgotten. Only by letting go of the heavy past can you move towards the future... You don't need to think too much. Just focus on enjoying the Holy Grail War in front of you."
Like any ordinary high school girl, experiencing joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness... As long as you feel happy, everything else is like that stained glass... Once broken, it will eventually be forgotten in a remote corner..."
"Happiness? Me?"
Gudako dazed, stammered, "My name is... Fujimaru... Guda... no!"
A sharp, intense pain shot through her head, as if it were splitting her brain open, and the girl clutched her head in agony.
"That's not my name! I am, I am, I am—"
A hazy outline emerges in my mind, but I can't make it out no matter what I do. The deeper I think about it, the more unbearable the headache becomes, almost tearing my soul to pieces.
"I am— Ritsuka Fujimaru!"
The moment she uttered that name, it was as if a thread had snapped, and the girl suddenly lost consciousness.
"It's not going to work this time either..."
My consciousness gradually faded, and I couldn't see anything clearly anymore.
"We can only hope for next time..."
But you can sleep peacefully. I will stay with you no matter how many times, until you find true peace.
"You... aren't you Nero?"
"I can be anyone, my Master."
The voice paused for a moment, then said, "However, Nero's image has appeared several times already... You really do like that tyrant."
However, no one will answer him, because everything in this world will be erased and reset into a brand new world, a new story with a completely different background, story, and character relationships.
Ritsuka Fujimaru fell into a deep sleep. The next moment, she opened her eyes and found herself in the Chaldea meeting room. Having just woken up from her dream, she was met with an angry face.
She felt a sense of familiarity and should have been able to call out the name immediately, but for some reason, she instinctively opened her mouth but couldn't utter a word. After a long while, she finally managed to say, "Excuse me... who is this?"
Snap
A piece of stained glass fell from somewhere and came to a stop at Ritsuka's feet.
"!"
The silver-haired beauty boss was furious. "You just arrived and you're already dozing off... You're out of today's Spiritron Transfer!"
~~~~~
Chapter 300: They have no martial ethics whatsoever.
"Now's the time! Go, Iori!"
Cú Chulainn brandished his staff, enduring the raging flames. His clothes turned to ashes, leaving only half a skirt around his waist. He was Magecraft highly skilled in using fire, but against the King of Giants Surtr, he was like a fish trying to swim, unable to inflict any damage, only providing some resistance and protection for himself and his companions.
But that doesn't mean he's useless, because in addition to Celtic druidic magic, he is also skilled in Rune Magic. These runes can have incredible effects as long as they have enough divinity, and even a dwarf can inscribe spells that can injure gods.
As the Child of the Sun, Cú Chulainn's power when using runes is no less than that of his teacher Scáthach, not to mention the Divine Rune Engraving left by Odin!
One was used to weaken Surtr's overall attributes and various privileges as a god, and the other was used to break the protective flame covering his body—which was almost immune to all physical attacks.
Just as his invincibility was broken, Iori unleashed the full power of the Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi, even summoning Susanoo to fight against it, barely managing to restrain the world-destroying Sword of Flame. Only Berserker Beowulf able to unleash his Noble Phantasm to strike Beowulf's chest, plunging him in like a cannonball, the ferocious attack wantonly destroying his internal organs.
Although Beowulf's Spirit Origin was directly vaporized by the golden light summoned by Surtr that ignored his defenses... the Giant King's "heart," which served as the nexus of magic, was completely exposed!
Cú Chulainn helped Iori hold on for a while longer, until Skadi sent a signal via Magecraft. Only then did he make up his mind to use both of his remaining Divine Rune Engraving!
"Victory! Death!"
The Great Rune shot into the air, transforming into two streams of light that entered Iori's body. The black-haired youth's aura suddenly changed, and the burst of magical energy surged forth, merging with the flames spewed by the Flame Giant King.
The Blessing of Victory made Iori's momentum rise steadily, while the Rune of Death flowed around the Heavenly Cloud Sword, as if shrouded in a layer of black water.
At that moment, Iori suddenly realized something:
As the All-Father Odin, the runes he left behind are no longer just Magecraft, but have been sublimated into conceptual mystery. The power that has gathered on his sword at this moment can already be called "power"!
This mark is so powerful that ordinary Servant would never be able to unleash its full potential. Even Demigod Hero would likely be unqualified. But Cú Chulainn... is it just because he is familiar with runes that he has an advantage?
Or perhaps... just like the speculation I saw on the forum before Iori's transmigration, Cú Chulainn actually has some kind of connection with "Great God Odin"?!
His mind raced, but he had no time to think it through. In reality, a few seconds passed in the blink of an eye. The eyes of the King of Giants Surtr shone with Pure Gold Radiance, which was the deadly attack that had instantly vaporized Beowulf earlier.
It is said that this Surtr symbolizes Supervolcano in the apocalypse, which is the real World-Ending Fire, and its radiance has the high temperature of the Earth's Core Center. At its peak, it is enough to burn down a continent in an instant!
"Bring it on!"
Iori was in a period of rapid growth in strength. His abundant magic power made him feel invincible. Even when facing the power of this World Anomaly, he showed no fear and instead laughed out loud in a carefree manner.
Immediately afterwards, a violent gust of air shot straight into the sky, tearing through the dark clouds, and even causing Cú Chulainn, who was in the distance, to feel a stinging sensation.
"Is this the power of victory?"
The druid's expression was solemn, knowing that the battle had reached its final moment, and the same was true for Skadi... This was their only chance to break through this barrier and reach the mastermind's location!
The Divine Rune Engraving was used up, and the dice had already been thrown, but Iori's performance exceeded his expectations.
This power is simply too strong, even with the Jiachi of runes it is somewhat exaggerated. It can only be explained that Iori's Spirit Origin has met certain conditions and begun to sublimate after going through these layers of trials!
When Cú Chulainn looked up, he saw that Iori's eyes were shimmering with golden iridescent light, like Burning flames, and that there were Pitch Black Markings spreading from his chest on his body.
The magical fluctuations increased almost exponentially!
Spirit Origin Burning?
Cú Chulainn didn't know what method Iori had used, but in his perception, Iori had already transformed into a shell about to explode... no, a nuclear bomb!
"[The Yakumo stand tall, the layers of clouds surge, the Mountain Clouds Clear the Land, Eightfold Fence, I wish to enclose my wife here, so Izumo, Eightfold Fence—] "
A giant of similar size to Surtr descended, with facial features remarkably similar to Iori.
At this moment, what descends upon us is no longer merely Servant, but the Mythological Archetype!
In fact, Iori himself was in a strange state. His heart suddenly became incredibly calm, as if he had transcended the world. Everything in front of him was irrelevant to him. He was no longer facing it personally, but observing everything from the perspective of a third party, God.
But this did not dull his reflexes; on the contrary, it allowed him to perceive the fluctuations and trends of all things in the world, including the golden light released by Surtr and the magic power that was constantly being compressed and transformed within his own body.
It was as if a switch had been turned on, allowing his mind to expand infinitely. A massive amount of information flowed into his brain without causing any discomfort or dizziness. In his absolute calmness, he subtly controlled every bit of magic power, throwing it all into the "furnace"!
This is... the Oneness with Nature?
No, it must be even colder and more detached; this is Bleach that will absolutely not be swayed by external demons—
Selflessness!
In just Flash Step, Iori was completely different.
At this moment, he seemed to have shed his original form and completely transformed into a supreme deity.
Iori then swung the blade in her hand—
"[The World Carving Heavenly Flash]!"
—Buzz!!!!
Light and shadow shattered like a mirror, and everything from Abelion Hills and hills to clouds in the sky shifted instantly. Space itself was as fragile as a torn piece of paper. Even the Core Light released by Surtr could only be torn into countless pieces by this violent power and disappear into the infinite void!
"Hold head high!!!"
Surtr's arm was shredded, and half of his head was blown apart, but his momentum was still astonishing. With his other hand, he raised the Sword of Flame, Demonic Sword of Destruction fused with "Valentin". With a slight movement, it was enough to change the terrain. It would not be difficult to turn a mountain range into a rift valley.
Cú Chulainn was shocked to find that he still had energy left!
In his view, Iori's power just now was comparable to that of a true god, while Surtr was merely a being summoned by [Mooncell] and should be weaker than the true Flame Giant King, but now...
In the face of life and death, Cú Chulainn saw ice crystals beginning to condense on the broken surface of Surtr's severed arm. The high temperature, enough to melt rocks, could not evaporate them; the two contradictory forces maintained a strange balance.
Not good!
Could it be that Skadi succeeded ahead of time, and Fenrir is already dead?
"Hurry up! If this continues, once it successfully evolves, Surtr will truly be invincible!"
"Invincible? Who gave that permission?"
The cold voice entered his ears, causing Cú Chulainn's heart to skip a beat. Even though the air was scorching hot, he inexplicably calmed down.
When he looked at Iori again, his red pupils narrowed slightly—
He was still the same person, but his demeanor was completely different. If he had previously given people the feeling of a gentle breeze, a kind and approachable young hero, then now he was like a deep pool, unfathomable. Looking at him, it was as if he could see an endless void. Even with his eyesight, he could not judge what state Iori was in.
But this state did not last long. The moment the King of Flame Giants swung the demon sword down, the black-haired young war god transformed into a meteor, using the Great Rune of Death as a blade, and just as the flames fell, he pierced through Surtr's heart!
Not a single ounce of power was wasted, and the timing was perfect. Facing this colossal creature that seemed to have stepped out of mythology, the disproportionately small Iori ended it all with a mere "stab."
This effortless process made Cú Chulainn almost think he was hallucinating!
But that's reality. When Iori burst out of the exploding flames, the dark magic that flowed like Flowing Water remained in Surtr's body, spreading rapidly along his skin. The Giant King let out a painful roar, but it was to no avail, and his body "dimmed" at a visible speed.
The flowing lava slowly solidified, forming rough obsidian, with only faint red light flashing through the cracks. The massive body eventually became a statue maintaining a defiant posture...
"Yamata no Arashi."
As the calm voice rang out, the violent magic manifested as a hammer of Lightning Bolt and storm, piercing through Surtr's body from top to bottom, and then the spreading magic completely shattered him from the inside out!
Bite!
[CG included]
Giant Killer
Art Style Value +4;
Giant Attack B;
Boom!!!
A massive storm swept everything away, Cú Chulainn inscribed Rune Circle at his feet to fend off the missile-like flying rocks... It lasted for a full thirty seconds before finally subsiding.
"Phew~"
Letting out a long breath, Cú Chulainn stood still and looked around, only to find Iori standing on a huge obsidian rock, her face blank and somewhat dazed.
"... Iori?"
"Um?"
With a slight movement of her eyes, Iori snapped out of her daze and turned to look at Cú Chulainn.
He remained silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts, which worried the disheveled druid.
"... I have successfully completed my mission."
Finally, Iori's usual smile returned, putting Cú Chulainn at ease.
"Are you feeling alright? You seem a little unwell."
"It's just a little bit of sentimentality, nothing more."
Iori shook her head nonchalantly, but in reality, she was filled with lingering fear.
During his battle with Surtr, he unintentionally entered the state of "selflessness," which allowed him to fully control his own power. Under his extraordinary performance, he was even able to perfectly simulate Susanoo's Noble Phantasm to fight against the Core Light of the Flame Giant.
But the feeling was so strange that even though he was fully conscious, he felt as if he were "observing" from the sidelines, completely stripping away his emotions and likes and dislikes, leaving only pure rationality—so calm that even Iori himself was a little scared.
The worst part is... Iori doesn't dislike that feeling.
Fortunately, she quickly broke free from the state of "selflessness" after that, otherwise... Iori didn't know what would have happened if it had continued, but she felt vaguely uneasy.
'I originally thought I could explore the [Muku Shiki], but now it seems a bit dangerous. I'll put it aside for now and think about how to control [Selflessness] first.'
Having made her decision, Iori began to look at the spoils of this battle—a Ruby encased in obsidian, with only one-third of its surface exposed.
It's about the size of a fist. Initially, it was incredibly the Heat to the touch, probably hot enough to easily melt through an iron plate. Now, it has gradually calmed down, and the temperature is about the same as a hot water bottle.
"This is?"
Iori asked Cú Chulainn, who was walking over.
"A fragment of Surtr's 'heart'."
Cú Chulainn took it, Shikai, nodded, and handed it back to Iori.
"A high-purity energy entity, which stores not ordinary magic power but 'True Aether' from the Age of Gods. As a god-level being, even the remains left behind by its summoned clones can become the embryo of 'God-Forged Weapon'."
If this thing were released to the outside world, even the most Mage of the Age of Gods would be eager to possess it, wouldn't they?