"Has he really gotten stronger?"
Emiya Shirou wasn't the only one who remembered the battle between Emiya Shirou and Angelica vividly.
Angelica also remembered it clearly. Therefore, both of them were very aware of the difference in their strengths. But now, only half a month has passed since their previous confrontation, yet Emiya Shirou's strength has increased to a point that makes Angelica frown.
Previously, when facing Emiya Shirou's weapons, the quality of the Noble Phantasms she projected was absolutely overwhelming. But now, in terms of weapon quality, the Noble Phantasms projected by both of them are on par.
"How did you improve so much in just half a month?"
"In your eyes, it might only be half a month, but in my eyes, it was several years."
With that, Emiya Shirou increased the number of projections, striving to suppress Angelica. After their previous battle, both of them were very clear about each other's methods. Emiya Shirou knew that he couldn't charge at Angelica, as it would be useless anyway. The current Angelica is not the form where she had half her power taken by Kid Gil in the future; she is at her full combat strength now. And there's no Kuro to assist him, to achieve an instant kill through transference. With everything relying on himself, to win, he must directly suppress Enuma Elish. And that is the opportunity he is waiting for.
"Several years? It seems there have been unexpected
variables in places we don't know about."
"In that case, I can't let you continue to grow stronger."
"I will end your fantasy here!"
Looking at the sword hilt emerging from the ripples in front of Angelica, Emiya Shirou's lips curved into a slight smile, and he raised the sword in his hand, beginning to chant a spell.
"I was once a champion of justice, yet I did not persevere, betraying my ideals. I became an enemy of the world, the evil of this world, solely for her salvation."
"I once prayed for countless heroes to save, yet no one answered. Only I answered my own prayer!"
"Wielding a counterfeit sword, I faced the heroic savior.
Though my body bore a hundred wounds, I still did not let go. Only for her happiness."
And as Emiya Shirou chanted, that sword with supreme divine power was already clutched in Angelica's hand. A terrifying storm of magic rotated around the sword. And at this moment, Emiya Shirou's sword was also similarly entwined with surging magic.
"Proclaim the beginning!"
"World, curse me!"
"Enuma Elish: The Star of Creation that Split Heaven and Earth!"
"Only for that, 'Oath Under Snow'!"
As both of them shouted, two sword winds, sweeping with endless destructive magic, instantly collided. Two vast magical powers continuously clashed, canceled each other out, and spread. With the destruction caused by the spreading magic, Emiya Shirou could clearly feel that his Reality Marble was under immense pressure. The next moment, Emiya Shirou dispelled his Reality Marble.
Immediately, the remaining magi in Fuyuki City felt this destructive wave. This destructive aura continuously impacted everyone's senses. It was as if the entire Fuyuki City would be destroyed in the next moment. A pillar of magical light extended upwards between the two Noble Phantasms, finally piercing through the sky. Under the bombardment of the two Anti-World Noble Phantasms, the surrounding weather and landscape continuously changed. Only when their attacks ended did the anomaly completely disappear.
"Evenly matched?"
Emiya Shirou was not surprised by this result. After all, when he was in Romania, his strongest Noble Phantasm, "Sun, O Death!" against Karna's was a tie. As part of the "Golden Three," Gilgamesh's strongest Noble Phantasm wouldn't be much stronger than Karna's. In reality, for these irregular-class Heroic Spirits' EX-rank Noble Phantasms, their output wouldn't differ too much. It's more about compatibility and counter-measures.
For example, against Achilles' Noble Phantasm, "Troas: The Miniature World of the Heavens!" Karna's Anti-Divine Noble Phantasm, "Sun, O Death!" would be useless. But if it were Gilgamesh's Anti-World Noble Phantasm, "Enuma Elish: The Star of Creation that Split Heaven and Earth," it could definitely break through. This is compatibility and counter-measures. And his own Noble Phantasm, "Only for that, 'Oath Under Snow'!" is also an Anti-World Noble Phantasm. And the clash between Anti-World Noble Phantasms depends on output.
Clearly, their outputs were similar, almost identical. If Emiya Shirou were facing the real Gilgamesh now, he could definitely win. Even easily. But against Angelica, who uses displacement and substitution, he's truly powerless.
Angelica also frowned at the scene before her. She never expected that her strongest Noble Phantasm would completely cancel out the opponent's attack.
"Evenly matched? No, I am the victor!"
As soon as Angelica finished speaking, Emiya Shirou felt a restraining force. It was precisely the Chains of Heaven. Looking at the Chains of Heaven binding his hands and feet, Emiya Shirou couldn't help but smile wryly, "Is your perception so keen? You detected my weakness so quickly!"
"I sensed the aura of divinity in the Noble Phantasms
you projected!"
"Is that so?"
Although divinity is often overlooked, it is definitely a very powerful amplification ability. Non-divine heroes might find it hard to perceive, but for Angelica, who is also a divine hero with Gilgamesh's abilities, it's not surprising that she could sense it.
"It seems the final victor is still me!"
With a wave of her hand, sixteen high-level Noble Phantasms emerged from behind Angelica.
"Your victory? Really?"
Looking at Angelica, who had a serious expression, Emiya Shirou couldn't help but smile. Then, he suddenly loosened his grip, and the next moment, the sword he had been holding floated up. With the manipulation of magic, this longsword, under Angelica's horrified gaze, severed the Chains of Heaven binding Emiya Shirou one by one.
And this was the true ability of Emiya Shirou's unique Mystic Code, Douma Munemasa: the power to sever.
"Though the Chains of Heaven are tough, they are nothing more than this!"
He retrieved the floating sword and gripped it once more. Emiya Shirou said with a chuckle.
Although Emiya Shirou rarely used the power of
severance, he had always been training this power. While he hadn't yet reached the realm of Senji Muramasa, who could sever space-time causality, severing the Chains of Heaven was a simple matter.
"How about it? Do you have any other tricks?"
At this, Angelica frowned, unsure what to say.
"Since you have no other means, then today's battle ends
here!"
"Ends here?"
Angelica was even more puzzled now.
"Of course, you can't do anything to me now, and I can't do anything to you!"
"Since that's the case, why waste time?"
"I still have a lot of things to take care of, and I don't have time to be entangled with you."
With that, Emiya Shirou turned and left. Looking at Emiya Shirou's retreating figure, Angelica's fingers twitched slightly, but she ultimately didn't make a move.
As Emiya Shirou said, neither of them had a way to defeat the other right now. Rather than getting entangled like this, it would be better to fight another day. Next time, she would call her companions, and two against one should be enough to take him down! Angelica thought as she watched Emiya Shirou gradually disappear.
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