Chapter 234: Noble Phantasm Clash.
The manifestation of Yamata-no-Orochi roared fearlessly toward Artoria's Holy Lance.
Ibuki-Douji slowly raised the Divine Sword, while the eight serpent heads behind her were already poised, waiting only for her command to unleash a violent assault.
Seeing this, Eikou furrowed his brows.
Although he had mentally prepared for a Noble Phantasm clash, when he saw the state of Ibuki-Douji's Noble Phantasm release, he couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.
[You attempt to use Fae Vampirism to forcibly interrupt her Noble Phantasm release.]
[The opponent's Spirit Origin is unbelievably strong—from class Ruler, highest-level Magic Resistance, to a Divine-class Spirit Origin. Countless disadvantages weigh on you, requiring you to pass a very-hard check.]
[...]
A die falls.
[Check - great failure.]
[You use an Encouragement Dice to redo the skill check. You intend to keep trying until you succeed.]
[First time, great failure.]
[Second time, great failure.]
[Third time, failure.]
[The number of Encouragement Dice usable for this skill has reached the limit!]
"???"
Fuck, all the Encouragement Dice failed!
Eikou irritably tapped the back of his hand, taking a sharp cold breath.
"Damn it, is this the power of a god? She can make me roll so many great failures… even my luck is being manipulated by her at will!"
[No, it's simply because you're unlucky. I genuinely admire you—four checks and three great failures. With this level of bad luck, this really has nothing to do with the opponent's power anymore.]
After rolling so many great failures in a row, even the Encouragement Dice couldn't save him. Fortunately, the last one was only a normal failure.
But at this point, no one could stop Ibuki-Douji from using her Noble Phantasm.
She raised her Noble Phantasm high — the Divine Sword itself.
"Sword of Gods - Kusanagi-no-Tachi."
A sharp flash of sword light appeared.
Ibuki-Douji gracefully spun, lightly swinging the Divine Sword with force. The colossal, ferocious Yamata-no-Orochi surged forward violently, like thunder ripping apart the sky, tearing the world into two brutal shades of black and white in an instant. It roared, shrieked, and the blade's radiance together with the form of the great serpent struck directly at the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad.
Boom!
Kusanagi struck the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad, and the two clearly distinct lights clashed violently. In that instant, everyone felt as if thunder exploded beside their ears, a tsunami crashed right before their eyes, and their bodies were swallowed whole by the rampaging magical energy. It was as if two stars were colliding right before them, and their own existence became insignificant and minuscule!
Dust exploded everywhere, the roaring impact did not cease, yet the lights of the two Noble Phantasms continued their fierce struggle.
The manifestation of Yamata-no-Orochi from the Divine Sword, and The Lance That Shines to the End of the World from Rhongomyniad—magical energy exploding as they collided, the roar of the great serpent, fragments of light scattering from the shattered lion helmet of the Knight King—all of it looked like mythology carved onto stone walls.
Seeing the magnificent scene of the Noble Phantasms clashing before his eyes, Eikou clenched his fist seriously.
"Using the third Command Seal…"
At this point, he no longer cared about anything else. He intended to use the final Command Seal to help Artoria overpower in this clash. If he could force Ibuki-Douji into a disadvantage here and disperse her magical energy, that would be perfect!
Whoosh!
But before he could give the order, something whistled past his ear—a deep crimson arrow.
Eikou saw it clearly—it wasn't an arrow, but a red spear thrusting straight toward him.
A strike so impossibly fast it disrupted his senses. It felt as though he heard the spear's dragon-like roar by his ear first, and only then did he see the red spear tearing through the air toward him.
It was Gáe Bolg, Barbed Spear That Pierces with Death of the Lancer Cu Chulainn!
Eikou instantly understood that Caren would never sit still. There was no way she would let Ibuki-Douji and Artoria duel while she stayed quiet.
He immediately tilted his body to the side, just enough to avoid the thrust.
But before the Lancer in blue could launch a second strike, a graceful purple figure dashed in with terrifying speed. Sparks burst out, the ground cracked, streaks of weapon light intertwined—what should have been a soft body now revealed an overwhelming power, firmly suppressing the opposing Lancer.
It was Rider Medusa.
In a battle stance both seductive and fiercely aggressive, she lowered her body close to the ground, her slender, alluring waist showing incredible flexibility, blocking in front of Eikou.
"Are you alright, Master?"
Medusa, wearing her purple blindfold, asked with concern.
"I'm fine."
Eikou quickly replied.
"Ohya, slipped a bit there."
The tall, lean man holding the dark red spear, dressed in a tight blue outfit, clicked his tongue.
"I thought a brat like you definitely wouldn't dodge that one."
"Thanks to your master's training, I dodged on instinct."
Eikou couldn't stop himself from blurting that out.
Cu Chulainn: "?"
On the other side, the two Noble Phantasms collided again, unleashing a violent shockwave, the force shaking the air like a comet crashing into the earth, making everyone tremble.
Right after, two figures separated swiftly; Artoria rode her warhorse and leaped back toward Eikou, spear in hand, her expression slightly distressed.
"Sorry, Master, I've disappointed you… I couldn't defeat Ibuki-Douji."
The Knight King said with a hint of embarrassment.
"As long as you're safe."
Eikou looked her over to confirm she was unharmed, then turned his gaze toward Ibuki-Douji.
Ibuki-Douji stood firmly in place, smiling, her gaze lowered from above, her pressure still overwhelmingly strong.
However, since she had used a Noble Phantasm once, her mana consumption should be extremely high by now.
If they could stall and choose the right moment to use the last stroke of the Command Spell, combined with the Servants' coordination… maybe they really could win…!
"Umu umu, very nice,"
Ibuki-Douji seductively licked her full lips, looking toward Eikou and the others with interest.
"Let Onee-san feel even more of your intense desire,"
She suddenly looked toward Eikou and Caren, noticing the two were fighting separately, "Even though you're trying hard, it's still not enough to satisfy me. You should be more violent, make me even happier."
She then turned her head toward Gilgamesh, sitting high upon his throne.
"Golden King, would you like to join the fun? A chaotic brawl like this is the most exciting. Onee-san wants even more fun!"
"What?!"
Eikou's heart trembled.
What did she mean, this wasn't chaotic enough yet, and she wanted to drag Gilgamesh into the fight too?!