Chapter 1121: Just Charge Ahead!
The demonic hound's mournful cries echoed incessantly.
Thunder, shockwaves, and magma axes fell upon it one after another, sending its body flying like a billiard ball. Within moments, multiple charred wounds deep enough to reach the bone appeared across its form.
"Has its magic absorption been countered?"
Mash stared in disbelief at the scene.
In theory, a magical creature like that should be overwhelmingly disadvantaged against magic absorption abilities, yet there was no sign of that happening?
"No, our magic is still being continuously drained. This proves the black hound has never stopped absorbing the surrounding magic!"
Tristan carefully sensed the magic within his body.
As a Servant, his combat consumption relied on his Master's magic. While the magic inside him was being drained, his Master continuously supplied him with more—this flow was undeniable.
"Those creatures called 'Familiars' should also be having their magic absorbed. However, it's likely that either the Familiars or Eiji's magic reserves are so vast that losing a bit is inconsequential..."
The reality was exactly as Tristan described.
The Fourth True Ancestor's magic was so immense that even after summoning three Familiars consecutively, Eiji didn't feel his magic consumption exceed ten percent.
He had once speculated that a True Ancestor's magic reserves were over ten thousand times greater than his own, but now he realized how conservative that estimate had been. This was easily over a hundred thousand times more!
At the very least, he could now effortlessly cover an area of over a hundred square kilometers with his magic, whereas before he couldn't even manage one square kilometer.
This sheer volume of magic far surpassed that of the demonic hound!
Even if he stood still and let the hound drain him, it would take a full day and night to completely exhaust his magic!
Even if abilities countered each other, such counters were meaningless in the face of such a vast disparity in scale!
"Roar!"
The demonic hound let out a short, frantic roar.
Any one of those Familiars would be enough to give it trouble, but with three attacking at once, it was utterly bullied into submission!
"Growl!"
"Howl!"
At that moment, dark shadowy figures emerged from all directions, like bloodthirsty hyenas, their savage eyes fixed menacingly on the group.
"Smaller black hounds? Are they its minions?"
Tristan instinctively raised his hands, a harp appearing in each.
As a Heroic Spirit from Britain, he was familiar with the legends of Bagust in Pan-Human History—a fairy who led packs of demonic hounds, so it was no surprise she had minions.
"Lady Mash, I'll rely on you for defense. I'm going all out with my bowstrings!"
"Understood, leave it to me!"
Tristan positioned both harps in front of him, using his hands and feet to stabilize them. His fingers moved so swiftly across the strings they became a blur.
The demonic chords reverberated like crashing waves, sonic slashes cutting through over a dozen lion-sized demonic hounds as if they were butter.
However, as soon as he cleared the surrounding hounds, more dark shadows gathered from all directions.
"Are they endless?"
Mash gasped, her expression tense.
"No, I'm afraid this is..."
Tristan's face darkened slightly.
The black hounds of British legend, in some versions, also possess the ability to assimilate, transforming any creature they bite into more black hounds.
"Considering these demonic hounds came from the direction of Manchester, it's likely that Barghest unconsciously assimilated the city's humans and fairies into black hounds!"
Tristan sighed inwardly.
He couldn't say this to Miss Mash.
Otherwise, her soft heart would make it difficult for her to strike them down.
In a way, these black hounds were the still-living residents of Manchester!
But there was no turning back now!
"Moreover, magical energy is a major issue! As a Servant, every move I make consumes my Master's magical energy. If this battle drags on, my Master's reserves will soon run short!"
"We must decide the outcome quickly!"
With his resolve firm, Tristan hardened his heart.
He stretched out his hand, and one harp after another materialized in his grasp. In moments, over a dozen harps were lined up neatly on the ground!
Suddenly, the sharp, metallic twang of plucked strings erupted at a terrifying speed, as if capable of slicing through gold and jade!
Nearby.
The great demonic hound had summoned its familiars to break free from its predicament, never expecting two insignificant pests to block them so easily. It seethed with frustration.
"ROOOAARRR—!"
The demonic hound reared back, its hooves kicking at the air. The flames on its hooves merged with the crimson lightning in its mouth, and with a piercing shriek, the scarlet thunderflames coalesced into a concentrated beam, sweeping toward the three familiars like a demonic cannon!
This desperate, cornered strike made the three familiars sense the danger.
The Bull-headed God and the Two-horned Horse immediately dodged to the side.
Only the Golden Lion roared, drawing more magical energy from its master, and met the scarlet thunderflames head-on with pure, ultimate golden lightning!
Most of the Fourth True Ancestor's familiars were rather ill-tempered creatures.
The Golden Lion stood out even among them.
Not only was it ill-tempered, but it was also a reckless brawler!
Why bother dodging? Charge straight in and fight!
"BOOM!!!"
Violent lightning erupted, illuminating the land within a ten-kilometer radius. Astonishing currents ran rampant across the ground, sporadically bursting into dazzling electric sparks!
The entanglement between the golden lightning and scarlet thunderflames lasted only a few seconds.
As the Golden Lion drew yet more magical energy from its master, the golden lightning swiftly overwhelmed the scarlet thunderflames. Under the demonic hound's furious and horrified gaze, the attack struck its chest directly!
The demonic hound was violently blasted backward, blood splattering everywhere, its body charred black.
A gaping, penetrating hole had been torn through its chest!
Seeing the enemy's miserable state, the Golden Lion cast a sidelong glance at the Bull-headed God and the Two-horned Horse and let out a triumphant roar.
See?
This is how you fight—by being reckless!
If you keep dodging like you two, who knows how long the battle would drag on!
The Two-horned Horse shot it an annoyed glare.
The good-natured Bull-headed God decided to ignore the scene entirely.
"What are you so proud of? The enemy isn't dead yet!"
Suddenly, its master's scolding voice came from behind.
The Golden Lion paused in slight confusion, then hurriedly turned its gaze back toward the demonic hound.
Even with its chest pierced and its body covered in burns, the demonic hound only seemed slightly weakened in aura, its vitality remaining incredibly tenacious. After struggling to rise from the ground, the penetrating wound in its chest was already filled with numerous fleshy sprouts, visibly on the verge of healing.
However, its frenzied aura had unknowingly diminished.
Having transformed into a demonic hound, it had long lost its sanity, retaining only the instinct to destroy this island.
Precisely because it was driven solely by instinct, it could keenly grasp the sheer despair of the current situation!
Despite exerting its full strength, a single familiar had overwhelmed it, while the other two familiars had not yet truly gone all out. This made it tremble uncontrollably, and a desire to retreat began to rise within it.
While glaring fiercely in this direction, putting on a brave front as if ready for a final, desperate battle, it slowly lifted its foot and began to retreat backward.
However.
As soon as it raised its foot, it froze.
For some reason, its foot refused to lift, as if nailed to the ground.