Chapter 127: Projection, Five Soldiers of the War God!
- Emiya Shirou is the Sword Demon of the Dungeon!
The moment she saw Shirou fighting using projection, Asfi, captain of the Hermes Familia, immediately came to this conclusion.
And while she was shocked by this astonishing realization, she also instantly recognized her own miscalculation.
Because, although the trap she had laid was sufficient to deal with a level 5, or even level 6, it was still far too inadequate against someone who could come and go in the Dungeon as they pleased, and even hunt down Monster Rex as prey.
Upon realizing the overwhelming gap between herself and the enemy, Asfi even had the fleeting thought of turning around and fleeing.
However, that thought only lasted a moment. She quickly realized that she had no way to escape.
Since she had already made a move against the man in front of her, there was no turning back.
From now on, there was only one thing she could do: to eradicate the threat completely—otherwise, both she and her Familia would be doomed!
"All personnel, activate the barrier!"
Determined to stake everything on this final gamble, Asfi ordered her fellow Familia members nearby to deploy the barrier.
The so-called "barrier" was, in essence, an anti-gravity magical field Asfi had set up in advance.
Constructed using a large number of magic stones, it formed a massive area that would gradually sap the stamina and drain the mana of anyone inside. It was a grand-scale magic capable of suppressing even high-level adventurers.
However, although this barrier could gradually exhaust a level 6 adventurer, Asfi still felt it wasn't entirely secure.
That's because the barrier took time to take effect. If the enemy could unleash a burst of power strong enough to shatter it in an instant, the barrier would be meaningless.
Thanks to her unique ability as the "Performer of All Trades," Asfi had enhanced the domain barrier's effect. As long as enough adventurers maintained it, the barrier could even suppress a first-tier level 6 adventurer.
That's why Asfi had been so confident in leading her people to intercept Shirou.
Because, even if Shirou had used some method to hide his true level, she had estimated him to be no stronger than level 6—certainly not level 7.
After all, the strongest in Orario today was only level 7.
And in this entire city, the only level 7 was Ottar of the Freya Familia.
Asfi simply couldn't believe that Shirou Emiya might be a hidden level 7.
But ultimately, Asfi had still underestimated the limits of her own imagination.
Now, in Orario, there were all sorts of rumors circulating about the "Sword Demon."
The man before her might not just be level 7—he might be the Sword Demon who once slaughtered his way through the Dungeon.
According to legend, the Sword Demon's strength might even be suspected to surpass level 8—a monster only seen in the age of the Zeus and Hera Familias.
Facing such an existence, Asfi had no confidence in her ability to resist. She had even mentally prepared herself to die here.
However, Asfi soon noticed something wasn't right.
After establishing the barrier with her companions, she realized Shirou was in very poor condition.
His whole body was trembling slightly, and cold sweat was pouring from his forehead—as if he was suffering from some kind of illness.
"Is this guy… sick?"
Asfi showed a surprised expression.
She seemed unaware of Shirou's poor physical condition, and even more ignorant of the possibility that it might be due to a divine power.
Only at this moment did she and her allies confirm that Shirou was not in good shape.
When they tentatively launched an attack on him and saw that he could only barely dodge, unable to retaliate like before with a rain of projected weapons, they became even more certain.
They all breathed a sigh of relief.
A fully-powered Sword Demon was an opponent they clearly couldn't defeat. But if he was a Sword Demon on the verge of collapsing from illness, then with the help of their barrier, they might have a real chance to kill him.
Because the barrier Asfi laid out would continue to drain the target's stamina as long as it remained intact.
No matter how powerful the individual was, if they stayed inside long enough, they'd be weakened to the point where even low-level adventurers could overpower them. At that point, they could easily kill him.
So Asfi resolutely gave the order: everyone must focus on maintaining the barrier at full strength, and avoid direct confrontation with the Sword Demon.
They would wait until they were certain he had lost all stamina and consciousness, then finish him off in one strike!
"Using this kind of trick…"
Inside the anti-gravity barrier, Shirou's consciousness was becoming increasingly blurred.
He was already suffering from severe physical exhaustion due to some unknown divine power. Even his ability to think was rapidly deteriorating.
Now, under the effects of Asfi's anti-gravity barrier, his stamina and body temperature were steadily draining. His condition was worsening with every passing second.
Though Asfi and the others didn't seem to understand the divine authority affecting him, Shirou himself could clearly sense that a divine power was aggravating his fever-like state—like a virus triggering the collapse of his internal body.
He urgently needed treatment to stabilize his condition. If he continued fighting like this, his body would collapse first.
However, the presence of Asfi and her people made it impossible for him to escape and get treatment.
That was probably the enemy's plan.
They had used two different divine abilities: first, inducing a high fever and cognitive impairment in Shirou; then using another ability to further impair his reasoning, causing him to come to this secluded alley alone—thus walking right into Asfi's trap.
It was a perfect, interconnected trap—a sure-kill setup aimed directly at Shirou himself.
And the reason why two deities would go so far, with one of them likely being Hermes—the god behind Asfi and her people—was probably because of Shirou's contact with Thanatos in the artificial dungeon.
Just meeting Thanatos had triggered such a massive response.
Shirou couldn't help but suspect that the one orchestrating everything behind the scenes… was the Heaven God Ouranos.
"If you're the true source of this evil… then no matter what status or power you possess, I will defeat you completely. Just wait and see!" Shirou murmured to himself, heart filled with unwavering resolve.
Of course, before facing Ouranos, he first had to escape the current predicament.
The barrier set up by Asfi and the others was far too specifically tailored against him.
His mind, already clouded by the fever, made it impossible for him to perform large-scale projection attacks like before.
Naturally, he couldn't forcibly break Asfi's barrier.
By Shirou's own estimation, he could now only manage one or two more projections at most.
If he couldn't finish the enemy within those two attempts, he would likely lose consciousness completely and fall into a coma.
In that state, he'd be nothing but meat on the chopping block, left at the mercy of the adventurers before him.
And what awaited him then—was certain death!
Shirou had to end the battle within two projections, eliminating all enemies in front of him.
Even for the current Shirou, that was an extreme challenge. He had to focus every ounce of his thoughts and energy, and unleash his strongest ability in the upcoming moment.
With every passing second, his condition worsened. So the instant he finished planning in his mind—
"Trace On!"
"Five Soldiers of the War God!"
Shirou clenched his right hand and concentrated the greatest mental focus of his life into a single point. In the next second, he completed the projection he desired.
BOOM!
As magical energy surged into his hand, he slowly completed his projection—creating a Noble Phantasm the likes of which had never been seen.
It was a weapon of highly unusual shape—resembling a long spear.
One of the rare special Noble Phantasms within Shirou's arsenal, Five Soldiers of the War God was the weapon of the Heroic Spirit Lü Bu Fengxian—a double-handed polearm known as the Fangtian Huaji, revealed in its true name-released form.
Though the form was a massive halberd, it would automatically adjust to match the wielder's physique, manifesting in a size that anyone could use.
So despite the significant height difference between Shirou and Lü Bu, the projected Five Soldiers of the War God still suited Shirou's body perfectly!
"What is that…?"
Seeing Shirou's projection, Asfi and the others became extremely alert.
They had heard many rumors about the Sword Demon—especially about his ability to freely create weapons and master all manner of arms.
Many believed those tales were exaggerations.
However, back on the 18th floor of the Dungeon, the Sword Demon had used a projected Hrunting to destroy the Goliath in front of numerous adventurers in the town of Rivira.
That scene had been witnessed by many.
It was because of that moment that the Sword Demon's name had truly shaken Orario, and he became a monster in the eyes of countless adventurers.
Now, seeing Shirou project a long spear, Asfi and the others—though unaware of the Sword Demon ever using spears—immediately grew vigilant, watching his movements carefully.
"End this in three strikes!"
Shirou took a deep breath.
His stamina was already rapidly draining, so he couldn't afford to waste a single second. He had to end the battle as fast as possible.
So, the moment he projected Five Soldiers of the War God, he immediately began swinging the halberd of the Heroic Spirit Lü Bu and charged forward—
"Five Soldiers of the War God— Thrust!"
Shirou swung the halberd in a unique stance.
Though his stamina continued to deteriorate, the weapon moved as if it were alive, coordinating with the user's movements, thus lessening the strain on him.
That was also why Shirou had chosen to project the Five Soldiers of the War God as his breakthrough Noble Phantasm.
Compared to other weapons that heavily relied on the user's own strength, this one demanded the least from its wielder.
However, the Five Soldiers of the War God also have their drawbacks. When wielding this halberd, the user's own consciousness becomes affected by the weapon's will, causing sluggish thinking, and in some cases, even inducing a certain degree of berserk state.
This is because the original owner, Heroic Spirit Lü Bu, did not possess high intelligence.
As a result, when his heroic essence was projected onto the Noble Phantasm, it also affected the weapon itself.
For this reason, Shirou generally refrains from projecting this particular Noble Phantasm as a weapon.
But now, due to an unknown reason, Shirou's high fever has drastically reduced his cognitive ability. In this state, a weapon that imparts a berserk trait will not cause additional harm to him; on the contrary, it will allow him to maximize his combat capabilities.
"Boom!"
As Shirou launched an attack with the halberd, Asfi and the others quickly set up a serious formation and responded.
They had clearly realized just how terrifying Shirou's actions were.
A cornered beast often unleashes power far more terrifying than that of a wild one—it is an existence that must be guarded against to the utmost.
"Falgar, take your men and stop that guy at all costs! Don't let him break out of the barrier!"
Asfi issued this command to the Level 4 vice-captain of the familia.
She herself immediately began preparing various tools and enhancements for her comrades, while also laying traps for Shirou.
However, before she could act, Shirou had already appeared before the members of the Hermes Familia.
"Bang!"
No unnecessary words, no prior warning.
Shirou gripped the halberd with both hands and suddenly swung it with explosive force, delivering a devastating throw!
A terrifying storm erupted directly ahead of the halberd. Shirou flawlessly executed the full effect of the Five Soldiers of the War God, using the weapon like a spear to pierce through his opponents!
If it weren't for the many debuffs he was currently suffering from, and the barrier continuously draining his stamina, this one attack might have been enough to settle the fight.
Yet because of these overwhelming debuffs, even though Shirou's attack sent many members of the Hermes Familia flying, the weightless barrier remained active.
With Asfi pouring her all into maintaining it, the barrier's influence grew stronger, making it difficult for Shirou to even stand steadily, and his vision began to blur.
"Every time he attacks, he burns through a massive amount of stamina!" Asfi saw through everything. "Everyone, hold on as long as you can! As long as the barrier stays intact—we win!"
"Yes!!!"
Asfi's words stirred the morale of the Hermes Familia members.
Facing the infamous Sword Demon, they felt an indescribable fear—yet also a deep excitement.
After all, if they could defeat the Sword Demon here, they would achieve an unprecedented feat—
A feat that would make them legends in Orario!
However, becoming a legend always comes with a price.
Facing the Sword Demon—facing Emiya Shirou—they would inevitably have to pay a price far beyond what they could imagine!
"Five Soldiers of the War God—Cleave!"
While the members of the Hermes Familia maintained a vertical formation, trying to defend against the stabbing thrusts of Shirou's halberd, none of them expected the weapon in his hands to suddenly change shape.
The shaft of the halberd split off, leaving only the tip, transforming it into a special type of long blade.
Shirou swung the long blade in his hand, charging straight at them, and unleashed a flurry of strikes too fast to be seen by the naked eye.
"Pfft!" "Pfft!" "Pfft!"
With just a single attack, several members of the Hermes Familia were struck down, collapsing to the ground covered in wounds.
With fewer people maintaining the barrier, the weightless field began to destabilize.
Though Asfi was shocked by the change in Shirou's weapon, she quickly assessed the situation and issued a decisive order: have the remaining members gather around her and block any incoming attacks as much as possible.
She had observed that after Shirou's series of assaults, his stamina was nearly depleted. He likely had only one or two attacks left in him.
As long as she, the core of the barrier, survived—if she could maintain it for even just a few seconds longer, and force Shirou to collapse from exhaustion—it would be her victory!
Asfi's judgment was correct.
The strength in Shirou's grip on his blade had nearly vanished. His body felt as if it had been scorched; you could crack an egg on his skin and it would cook instantly.
The splitting headache was also severely disrupting his thought processes.
Because of this, he had only one chance to end it—to defeat all enemies before him in a single strike—otherwise, he would be finished.
"Five Soldiers of the War God—Gate Halberd Shot!"
At last, Shirou slowly raised his halberd and transformed it a third time—this time into a special kind of bow and arrow.
However, this bow had only one arrow—and it wasn't even really an arrow, but a gigantic halberd that couldn't be described as such.
As the final form of the Five Soldiers of the War God, Gate Halberd Shot was a unique attack that involved using the halberd as an arrow—its power comparable to that of a light cannon!
"Hoo—"
His consciousness was hanging by a thread.
His awareness flickered like a candle in the wind.
Yet Shirou showed no hesitation and felt no fear of defeat.
With this final blow, he would decide the outcome.
"This ends now!"
Shirou drew the bow and loosed the massive projectile with the last of his strength—this was the finishing move!
As the strike was about to be unleashed, Asfi instinctively sensed the danger and did everything she could to cast a magical shield.
But in the very instant her defense was raised, the enormous halberd flew like an oncoming storm, smashing forward with indescribable speed.
Her thoughts couldn't even keep up with reality.
Asfi could only watch helplessly as the shield she created, and the defenses set up by her teammates, were sliced apart like paper—then the halberd plunged straight into her chest.
"Gah—!"
Her mind went blank—as if a string had been cut.
"BOOM!"
The halberd blasted away everyone from the Hermes Familia—including Asfi—sending them all flying, smashing them hard into a nearby wall.
A whole row of buildings was destroyed in the aftermath, reduced to nothingness!
This earth-shattering strike was something unimaginable for a man on the verge of collapse—it was more like a death lunge from a wild beast.
Under such power, the members of the Hermes Familia—if not killed—had definitely lost consciousness completely.
"Pfft!"
However, Shirou himself also coughed up blood after unleashing that final strike.
The bizarre illness had completely compromised his mind, and his lack of healing skills was now becoming a fatal issue.
Due to the severe fever, Shirou didn't even have the strength to check whether Asfi and the others were still alive—let alone interrogate them.
His mind was solely focused on getting to Apothecary Street and receiving treatment from a healer.
"Celestine Apothecary... Dian Cecht Familia... Wait!"
Suddenly, Shirou's eyes widened.
Though his fever was blurring his thoughts, his danger instinct—his "mind's eye"—screamed at him: he absolutely could not go to Apothecary Street.
If all of this had been a trap targeting him, then Apothecary Street was probably already a web waiting to ensnare him!
More importantly, the one who caused his high fever might very well be a god skilled in medicine!
No matter what, he must not go there!
But then—where else could he go?
The Loki Familia?
No, if the enemy had already abandoned all pretense and launched a direct attack on him, it meant that the Loki Familia likely wasn't in much better shape—perhaps even worse.
The Hestia Familia? Even more impossible—he couldn't bring danger to them.
Thinking it over, Shirou realized there was only one option—
Go to the Dungeon!
If he wanted to escape the gods' attention—evade the control of the heavenly god Ouranos—there was only one way: to go to the place even the eyes of the gods could not reach.
Only by heading into the Dungeon—perhaps even to its deepest levels—could he cling to a sliver of survival!
"I'm sorry…"
Shirou offered an apology in his heart to his familia.
He knew how much chaos his sudden disappearance would cause—how much worry it would bring to his comrades—but now, he had no other choice.
To survive, he had to risk everything—by plunging headfirst into what looked like the most dangerous cage of all.
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