Chapter 1101: Going All In
"Ignoring me?"
Muramasa's eyebrows shot up high, anger flashing in his eyes.
"I've been wanting to settle the score with you for a long time, and it seems today is the day!"
Seizing the opening when Eiji exposed his back, Muramasa charged forward with his blade!
Meanwhile, facing Eiji's charge, Mash stood ready, channeling all her magical energy into her defense.
She knew this level of defense would be utterly insufficient against Eiji, but even a little firewood had its value now!
"—"
Silently, Eiji's blade fell upon the shield's surface.
At that moment, Muramasa had already reached his back, his seemingly all-severing sword cutting straight toward Eiji's back!
"Boom—!"
The clash of blade and shield resonated like a great bell.
Mash's arms trembled violently, while an inexplicable force surged from beneath her feet, destabilizing her stance and causing her whole body to sway unsteadily.
She resisted with all her defensive power, barely blocking this first strike.
She intended to counterattack immediately.
Because in her calculations, when Old Man Muramasa attacked from behind, Eiji would inevitably have to defend—a necessity if he wanted to survive.
However.
"Clang!"
Amid the sharp metallic clash.
Blade met blade.
"Dual Wielding!"
Muramasa's expression tightened instantly.
Eiji had drawn a second sword, simultaneously confronting Mash's shield and his own blade!
"Wait, how can he block my attack in that posture?"
Eiji, primarily facing Mash, had most of his body oriented toward her, with only one arm and a small part of his torso twisted around to parry Muramasa's strike.
The most unbelievable part was that despite this seemingly awkward, biomechanically inefficient posture—theoretically incapable of exerting even one percent of his strength—he perfectly defended against the slash!
To avoid harming Mash, Muramasa hadn't unleashed his sword's true power.
And this very restraint was exploited by Eiji!
"Your combat intellect is too naive!"
Eiji appeared completely at ease.
With a sudden exertion of one hand, he delivered a short-range explosive force.
Mash, who had loosened her defensive stance to counterattack, was caught off guard and sent flying by this force, crashing into a civilian house as well.
"In that case!"
Witnessing the strongest shield shattered in an instant, Muramasa retreated a step.
He channeled magical energy into his blade, a hammer-like resonance echoing within the heartstrings of all present.
In that instant, a breathtaking sword light swept forth!
This was the blade forged by Muramasa.
His very Noble Phantasm.
The Tsumukari Muramasa—capable of severing all karma and fate!
In Japanese mythology, this was another name for the Kusanagi Sword!
The Muramasa he forged, though essentially a replica of the Kusanagi, did not adhere to the notion that copies are always inferior to the original!
At the very least, he could casually slice through space!
Eiji curled his lips slightly.
Then, with a backhanded motion, he drew a sword and swung it in a reverse strike.
Sharp sword lights clashed against one another, space upon space exploded and shattered, mirrors fractured like glass—in an instant, the entire area became fragmented and broken!
"What in the world?!"
Muramasa was utterly stunned.
He couldn't have been mistaken!
The blade Eiji had just drawn was completely identical to the one in his own hand!
Not only in function, but even in appearance—it was as if it had been carved from the same mold, without the slightest difference, as though his own sword had been directly copied!
"How did you get that blade?"
"I projected it!"
Faced with Muramasa's agitation, Eiji grinned mischievously.
"If you have the skill, you can try projecting one too—let's see whose projection is faster!"
Muramasa suddenly grew eager.
It was as if the word "projection" had struck a chord deep within him!
But he quickly regained his composure and nearly cursed aloud, "Bullshit!"
The Tsumukari Muramasa he had forged had reached a level comparable to divine constructs—ranked as an EX-class Anti-World Noble Phantasm! Even he himself, without the support of divine power, would perish immediately after swinging it!
Did Eiji really think it was that easy to project?!
With his proudest blade copied, Muramasa lost the use of his most skilled technique and was swiftly smashed into a nearby house by Eiji.
Though the description is lengthy, less than 30 seconds had passed since the battle began!
And at that moment, Grimm's preparations were finally complete!
"Wicker Man!"
Like a Druid's special technique.
A massive wooden cage rose from the ground in the form of a giant, trapping Eiji entirely within the wooden chamber of its chest. Flames swept through the surroundings, scattering intense heat everywhere.
"Ochd Deug Odin!"
Good grief.
This was truly ruthless!
A formless, invisible barrier materialized out of thin air, enveloping the wooden giant and sealing it tightly.
In the blink of an eye, flames capable of destroying the world, like those of Lævateinn, roared within the barrier, coiling around the wooden giant like fiery dragons!
A double Noble Phantasm activation!
And a coordinated combo at that!
Grimm, truly worthy of being a sage!
However!
Eiji sheathed his blade.
He gathered his momentum for merely a second.
"Rip—!"
In an instant, a sword light seemingly capable of severing everything stretched across the sky!
The wooden cage shattered instantly, scattering into countless fragments!
The boundless barrier, like a deflating balloon, lost all its power in a flash and crumbled away naturally.
"How can there be such an absurd swordsmanship?!"
Grimm staggered back several steps, his face flushed.
"Thud!"
Eiji delivered a kick.
Perfectly aligned, all four of them crashed into the house.
Then, he turned his gaze toward Da Vinci-chan.
"Uh... me too?"
Da Vinci-chan pointed at herself in confusion.
The chaotic battle among top-tier Servants was far too complex, changing every second—she hadn't managed to intervene at all. By the time she regained her senses, the main combatants had all been knocked into the house by Eiji.
"Can't skip the formalities."
Eiji walked over and grabbed Da Vinci-chan by the head.
With a sharp "Eek!" from her, Eiji tossed her into the neighboring house.
"To conclude."
Eiji scanned the surroundings.
In just one minute, only Gudako and Artoria remained standing.
"All of you combined aren't enough to fight the Queen with just one hand!"
The disparity in strength was utterly merciless.
Without sufficiently powerful reinforcements, Chaldea stood no chance of defeating the Queen!
And in this Lostbelt, there were no powerful allies from Proper Human History to be found!
"I haven't even made my move yet!"
Artoria lifted her chin defiantly.
If she were to take action, even just by granting protection, she could elevate everyone's combat prowess by a whole level!
"Is that so? Then to what extent can you hold your ground against the Queen?"
It would have been better if she had kept silent.
The moment she spoke, Eiji's gaze instantly darkened.