Chapter 23: Your Divine Artifact Is Quite Splendid!
Gods almost never utilize combat techniques such as punches or kicks, yet their physical strength is immense. Any deity can survive and speak freely within the vacuum of space, and their punching speed and physical movement can reach sub-light speeds. Relying solely on their powerful bodies is enough for them to roam the universe at will.
Even for Second-Class Gods whose souls are inhabiting ordinary humans, their physical strength remains a terrifying force beyond the imagination of the magi in this world.
Only now did Shirou understand why Nidhogg, the "Black Dragon" of Norse mythology, stayed hidden beneath the World Tree gnawing at the roots instead of directly attacking the gods. Even for a being as powerful as the Black Dragon, it likely could not survive a coordinated assault from a host of powerful deities. Thus, it relied on its immense devouring capability to consume Yggdrasil, indirectly triggering Ragnarök.
At this moment, because Shirou's body had undergone two stages of evolution, he was able to faintly suppress Hephaestus, one of the Twelve Olympian Gods. However, defeating him would be no easy feat.
As the two separated once more, both noticed the collapse of the mountain peak, but since they both possessed the power of flight, they paid it no mind.
"Ignorant mortal, even if your physical strength is greater than mine, as long as you cannot completely kill me, you cannot escape the fate of destruction."
The burly Hephaestus cast a gaze of disdain toward Shirou, as if looking at an ant. Hearing the god's confident words, Shirou merely smiled.
"Isn't it a bit too early for that? I haven't even used my full strength yet."
These words caused Hephaestus to show a look of surprise. "Impossible! In the battle just now, I am certain you exerted your full power; there was no room for holding back!"
"That's not what I meant."
Shirou shrugged, then suddenly stomped his foot hard against the ground. An invisible force began to alter the surrounding scenery. That power shattered the space in an instant!
Boom!
Then, with Shirou as the center, all the surrounding scenery began to transform rapidly. Under Hephaestus's bewildered gaze, the clear sky where the sun had been blazing began to turn orange; the sun shifted to the west, creating a twilight scene.
Next, Hephaestus looked at the ground and found himself in a wasteland. Stuck into the earth throughout this wasteland were various swords—weapons that even in the eyes of the God of Fire and Craftsmen were of excellent quality. Although they couldn't compare to Divine
Artifacts, he was impressed that a mortal could possess such a vast number of high-quality weapons.
Hephaestus gazed into the distance. The wasteland extended infinitely, seemingly without end or boundary.
"What is this place...?" Hephaestus's pupils vibrated slightly.
Shirou stood in the wasteland, facing Hephaestus. The orange sunlight shone behind him, stretching his shadow long.
"Fantasy and reality, the individual and the world. Exchanging the inner and outer, rewriting the reality of the world according to my thoughts—a world that contains infinite swords. How do you see it?"
Knowing that this red-haired youth was a "Campione," Hephaestus wasn't overly shocked. After a few seconds of surprise, he regained his composure and spoke slowly.
"Truly an interesting place. Is this your Authority?"
Shirou reached out and casually pulled a golden sword from the ground, pointing the tip toward Hephaestus. The information regarding this sword flooded his mind the moment he gripped it.
[Caliburn: The Golden Sword of Assured Victory]
Rank: B (A+ when conditions are met) Type: Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm Description: The holy sword that appears in the legend of King Arthur. The sword Arthur pulled from the stone upon becoming king. Only one with the qualifications of a "King" can unleash its greatest power.
The "Anti-Personnel" classification here did not refer to the "enemy," but rather the "holder." Only one with the qualifications of a "King" could unleash its A+ rank power.
"I wonder if I count as meeting the conditions now..."
In Shirou's mind, the image of that blonde, blue-eyed girl appeared again; the breathtaking smile she showed him at the final moment remained vivid in his memory.
As the memory flashed for an instant, Shirou suddenly felt the golden sword in his hand grow hot. He quickly looked at the blade and saw it erupting with an incredibly dazzling golden light. Checking the attributes of the golden sword again, Shirou's pupils shook slightly.
[Caliburn: The Eternal Distant Golden Sword]
Type: Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm Rank: A+
Description: The pinnacle of projection. An eternal, distant holy sword that only a "King" acknowledged by the blade is qualified to hold.
Looking at the radiant holy sword in his hand, Shirou's gaze was complex. Finally, he gave a small smile.
"Are you missing her as well?"
With those words, the golden sword hummed slightly, as if answering him.
"In that case, lend me your strength!"
Shirou raised the golden sword high above his head. Light gathered frantically, the blade becoming increasingly brilliant. When the light reached its zenith, Shirou swung the sword down toward Hephaestus.
"Excalibur Image!!"
The golden blade transformed into surging, overwhelming energy, bursting forth as it shattered the constraints of the physical sword! It was a pillar of light capable of instantly piercing through a city; the hardest materials on Earth could not stop its unstoppable momentum.
Faced with the pillar of light that seemed ready to break through all obstacles, even Hephaestus did not dare to be careless. The pure white Greatsword in his hand erupted with light, its blade seemingly transforming into a thousand-meter-long pillar of energy. With a forward swing, he released it!
BOOM!
The two pillars of light collided, and the resulting power caused the entire space to vibrate. Shirou felt his spirit tremble; he hadn't expected the impact to actually shake his Reality Marble.
The golden sword in his hand also began to vibrate; clearly, it found it difficult to withstand the power released by Hephaestus's white blade. After all, that was a Divine Artifact comparable to an EX-rank Noble Phantasm. Unless it was the original "Golden Sword of Assured Victory" wielded by Saber in her peak condition, it was impossible to compete with such a Divine Artifact.
"That Divine Artifact is truly excellent..."
Shirou looked at the white sword gripped in Hephaestus's hand, his mouth practically watering with envy.
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