Raikou's Motherly Side Appears
The golden light of the Sword in the Stone struck the eyeball monster, but it was blocked by a solid magical barrier and didn't cause any damage at all.
"Shirou, this time the mutated attribute of the monster is a high-density magical barrier. Normal attacks won't be able to inflict any damage," said Da-chan as he flew over to the boy, explaining while freely moving around the alternate space.
"This monster's strength is just absurd," Shirou exclaimed in shock.
What's the deal with these monsters? The first time, they were strong enough to destroy buildings in the alternate space. The last one was so fast you couldn't hit it. And now, it's so tough you can't even cut through it.
"I have an idea. Shirou, please cooperate with me in battle," the girl said confidently.
"I understand! What do I need to do?" Shirou asked.
"Although reality is certainly different, since this monster has appeared in the game before, I'll use game logic to defeat it.
If this monster is in an invincible state, then I'll use an ability that can pierce through invincibility! I'll rely on my Noble Phantasm for a one-hit kill!
That's the only way, so please give me the greatest possible buff!" the girl said.
Through constant dodging, she had managed to fully charge her Noble Phantasm, but it still wasn't safe.
A monster this huge couldn't possibly have low HP. If it couldn't be defeated in one hit, things would become much more difficult later.
"I got it! I'll give my all to strengthen you! Even though I only got a little experience, Merlin knows way too many things," Shirou said, activating his amber-colored Mystic Eyes and raising his magic staff.
"Shirou! The powers of Heroic Spirits are just too strong.
Without proper training and knowledge, it's impossible to wield them well.
So when Da Vinci developed the FGO system, she created simplified strategies for ordinary people. Just fight using the same logic as in the game," Da-chan reminded him.
"If it's possible to reach that level, then I'll just try my best and see!" At that moment, the amber-colored Mystic Eyes changed, glowing with a rainbow-colored brilliance.
Projection: Suzuka Gozen's sacred sword forged by a Bodhisattva—Shoutouren.
Bestows upon the user the "Blessing of Wisdom".
The sword flashed with silver light, the mind became clear, thoughts agile, and control over magical energy improved greatly, adjusting the body into peak condition.
First was Mystic Charm—as the son of a human and an incubus, the mage Merlin possessed massive magical energy. He cast enhancement magic on the girl's body, increasing her Noble Phantasm charging speed.
Next, Merlin's illusion magic, which had reached a level where it could deceive the world and change the environment. He cloaked both himself and the girl in a layer of mist, concealing her true form, confusing the enemy and protecting her.
Then, the great achievement of Merlin's life—as he shaped the king and red dragon's child of Britain, he taught them martial arts, ethics, statecraft, and military strategy. He led them to draw the Sword in the Stone and become the perfect king.
In that moment, the girl's spiritual foundation was reshaped and temporarily sublimated, improving her stamina, endurance, and magical power in all aspects.
Finally, the boy held the golden Sword in the Stone in his left hand and the silver-glowing Shoutouren in his right, casting the most powerful reinforcement magic he could through his Mystic Eyes.
Several beams of light flashed. The girl's flaxen hair and the white feathered robe she wore fluttered in the strong wind pressure generated by magical energy.
She felt an immense boost in physical strength and power. Her magical output more than doubled. Due to the intense magical energy, a red aura overflowed from her body, covering her skin in a mist-like magical shield.
It seemed Shirou's skill far exceeded her expectations. The girl nodded at him.
"Thank you, Shirou-kun. I feel a surge of power overflowing through me. With this… there's no problem at all!"
She sheathed her white sacred sword Dojigiri Yasutsuna and began chanting her Noble Phantasm's activation incantation.
"This is the divine Noble Phantasm of Indra, the Eastern god's incarnation—Gozu Tennou. An unstoppable, indestructible weapon forged by the bones of saints through the power of the gods…"
A bolt of lightning fell from the sky. A golden vajra crackled and tore through the air, electric arcs dancing on its body. The girl, as one with Minamoto no Raikou, gripped it tightly and spun it rapidly.
"Annihilate all enemies—Shakti Huanin Vajra!!"
She crouched and hurled the vajra, transforming it into a bolt of thunder with maximum power. Its divine might was like the ultimate strike of a god.
The lightning hit the eyeball monster squarely.
Blue electric arcs danced like flying dragons. Against this single blow, all defenses became meaningless. The lightning broke through the invincibility barrier instantly. The monster's massive body was swallowed by the blinding light and exploded into nothing, not even ashes remaining.
After the attack, the girl ran over and gave Shirou a high-five.
Slap!
"That's how it should be! Shirou-kun, we make a great team!" she said excitedly, grasping his hand and waving it in the air, laughing joyfully.
Maybe it was because of the influence of the Heroic Spirit within her, or maybe the girl herself had an affinity for battle.
It felt like she had just played an exhilarating game and was overjoyed.
A powerful monster, the tension of possibly dying every second, and then a flashy move to settle it all in one blow! Nothing in the world was more exciting and fun!
'So this is what they call a mystery-slayer…' Shirou thought to himself.
When he was enhancing her through his Mystic Eyes, Shirou had already learned that the Heroic Spirit summoned by Yuuki Asuna was the Lancer-class Minamoto no Raikou.
But wait—Minamoto no Raikou? Wasn't he that bearded general from Japanese legends who worked with the onmyouji Abe no Seimei to slay demons?
The one who always appears in games, anime, TV shows, and movies?
Why is she a woman? And why does she look like a fanservice character?
Though her fighting was incredibly cool.
Then again, he had previously fought alongside the Heroic Spirit Ushiwakamaru, who was also a woman.
Maybe it's a parallel world thing? It's not too hard to accept. And frankly, he wouldn't want to be summoned by a burly bearded man.
Right now, the girl seemed to still be lost in the excitement of battle.
"Hey, Yuuki-san?" Shirou called to bring her back to reality.
"Hm?" she asked, smiling gently.
"Well, if you were to walk down the street in a bikini, waving your fists around cheerfully… wouldn't that be a little embarrassing?" Shirou hinted tactfully.
"What are you talking about, Shirou-kun? I'd never let such a disruption of public order happen!" she replied righteously, completely unaware of how she currently looked.
Shirou covered his face.
As expected, this girl was also influenced by the personality of her other side. As the Shadow Disciplinary Committee Chair, she ran around upholding public order—yet she herself was the biggest violator.
He had no choice but to change the subject.
"Yuuki-san, anyway… maybe it's about time to turn back. Otherwise, someone might show up here soon."
"Asuna!" the girl gently brushed her hair behind her ear and smiled at the boy.
"Eh?" Shirou blinked in confusion.
"Just call me Asuna. That's my nickname. My close friends all call me that. Since we've fought together now, there's no need to be so formal," Asuna said with a smile.
"I see, Asuna. Then you can just call me Shirou," the boy readily agreed.
"Then let's fulfill the Heroic Spirit's wish," Da-chan ran over to remind them. If the wish wasn't fulfilled on time, the Heroic Spirit might retaliate.
"Huh? Exchange? Well, okay." The girl responded to the voice in her mind, stunned at first, then her demeanor suddenly changed.
From a girl with the potential of a good wife and mother, she transformed into a big sister overflowing with maternal instinct.
The Heroic Spirit's name was Minamoto no Raikou, class: Lancer.
In a parallel world where a summer event was held on a southern island, she served as the Shadow Disciplinary Committee Chair maintaining order among swimsuit-wearing girls.
Her weapons were the sacred sword Dojigiri Yasutsuna and a reinforced yo-yo suited to a delinquent leader.
Even if she temporarily suppressed her motherly side, after the battle ended and she relaxed, her true nature would inevitably emerge—especially when looking at a child that evoked pity.
"Oh my… I saw those eyes once in life. So it was you?
Back then, I thought those were such painfully strong eyes.
I promised myself, if I ever found the owner of those eyes, I'd shower him with love.
So this really is fate?" Raikou blushed and looked at the boy with a joyful expression. "I'm so glad you've grown up well."
"Um… Miss Raikou, do you know me?" Shirou asked, addressing the Raikou-Asuna hybrid now dominated by the Heroic Spirit.
Come to think of it, not long ago, when he projected Ame-no-Habakiri, the weapon of Ushiwakamaru, he had briefly locked eyes with a female general of the Genji. So it had been Raikou, huh?
Such a gentle big sister... But why did she look at him so strangely?
"Ahem! Although I'm currently in my Disciplinary Committee mode with motherly feelings suppressed, this is a rare opportunity. I must say it! Shirou, is that okay?" Raikou, now in control, took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling as she looked directly at the boy.
"Go ahead," Shirou replied, though he felt there was something dangerously obsessive—like a possessive mother's love—in that gaze.
"Young man… would you like to become my son?" Raikou asked tenderly, her voice soft and loving as if it could melt hearts.