Clang...!!!
"Kuh, maintain formation~!!!"
King Ailill's forces continued to fight against us. Their tenacity to never give up was commendable. Even after witnessing overwhelming power, they did not retreat. Using monstrous beasts as shields to withstand the power of Caladbolg... they were using their heads.
Among them, the one who stood out was...
"Uoooooh!!!"
Boom!!!
"Ha! Not bad!"
"You're the greenhorn here!"
It was definitely Conganchnes, whose head I had cut off. Yet, he had reattached his head and resumed battle. At first, I thought he was a Dead Apostle, but he was a chimera. A chimera modified by the druids and magi of Munster—Munster's strongest warrior. Horns like a bull sprouted from him, dragon scales covered his skin, and he displayed monstrous strength akin to a giant.
To think he could fight on equal footing with Setanta. He was a seasoned warrior with vast experience. Setanta's biggest weakness was indeed his lack of experience. No matter how strong he was, he had only fought a limited number of opponents in the Land of Shadows, so he lacked experience compared to a general who had fought on countless battlefields. Though he was the type to bridge that gap with sheer skill.
I thought it would end quickly, but it took longer than expected. It was an army of 100,000, after all... And since this was Ulster territory, I couldn't recklessly unleash the full power of Caladbolg to sweep them away. Because of that, it wasn't ending quickly.
And these guys... they were imitating the Roman legions.
Roman Caesar. They were mimicking the famous Caesar of Rome from the continent across the sea. The coalition's formation and combat methods were just like Rome's. I wondered if they had some connection with Augustus, who became Emperor after Caesar's recent death... It was not the Celtic way.
"You would discard even the Celtic way to win?"
"We are abandoning foolishness! This is the effective way to fight! Look, you monster! We are waging war against you! Many warriors died in panic at the start, but we still have an army of 50,000!"
"...Are you trying to say this is advanced civilization? Foolish. Even if you copy all those methods, there is no true growth. Do you truly wish to claim that a victory won by merely copying Rome is a victory for Connacht?"
"Ugh...!"
"Rome is Rome, and the Celts are Celts, Ailill. Giving you the throne of Connacht was a mistake."
I recalled Caladbolg, which had been flying through the air piercing enemies' vitals, and transformed it back into a spear. Caladbolg possessed a cursed power similar to Gáe Bolg. It didn't just kill. This spear carried the curse of red thorns. Just a slight prick to the heart would avoid instant death, but the cursed thorns would then pierce and destroy the entire inside of the body.
"Die."
Just as I was about to thrust the spear into his chest, a black wind rose. Is this... feathers? Crow feathers.
The sudden wind made everyone stop fighting. The black wind swirled up between Ailill and me, and as it dispersed, she revealed herself.
The Morrigan.
"Stop this war."
"Who are you to command me?"
"....I am the Goddess of War. I have that much authority."
"I am the High King of Erin. Get lost."
"Fergus, do not twist fate any further."
Fate, she says...
"The fate where Ulster is destroyed? I have already changed many fates. Medb's fate, Scáthach's fate, Aoife, Ness, Setanta, Conchobar... and the fate of this Erin. I changed them long ago. What is it now?"
"...That is the correct future. Ulster must be destroyed for the Age of Gods to end. This is all for the sake of you humans."
"There are other ways to end it. Severing ties with the gods... isn't that right?"
If it meant an eternal farewell to the gods, that would be a different story. It was what Gilgamesh did. Unlike the Mesopotamian gods, she seemed to affirm humanity's future... but she shouldn't be stopping me right now.
"I am the Ard Rí (High King). When the time comes, I can do it. We don't need to walk the path of destruction. I cannot sacrifice the people of Ulster to end the Age of Gods. This is your last chance. Move."
"Is that so... Fergus. I have never shown you my true power. I shall show you right here why I am the God of War. Before, I came down with my power sealed because I was just playing, but for you, I will make an exception. The power with which I neutralized the Fomorian god Indech—"
Slash————
Before she could finish her sentence, a sword cut through.
It was the sword that protects Ulster, the guardian demon sword that protects my people. Its true power.
It cuts. The demon sword, glowing with crimson light, cut through the empty air, and all things were severed. It cleaved the void. That blade cut through space itself.
The clouds in the sky split apart. The sky was cut. The earth split open. Everything in front of it was severed. Everything in a straight line for 30 kilometers was cut. It was a single flash that cleaved through space. Even against an invincible defense, or a conceptual defense. This was a slash that cut through space itself.
If Scáthach pierces space... my sword is a technique that severs space. It is the pinnacle of swordsmanship, known as the State of Zero (Nothingness).
Someone reached the realm of infinity and reproduced Magic with sword technique. And I reproduced a sword technique that is the exact opposite. That flash, similar to the phenomenon of Second Magic (Refraction of Space), cleaved space apart.
"(Ulster Caladbolg) (The Sword of Victory that Severs Erin)."
Tick... Tick-tick-tick... Rumble...!!!
"...What."
The sword slash that brushed past Morrigan split Ailill and his bull in half, severing everything behind him. My single strike split the island.
"I wondered when you would use it... You've finally used it."
Scáthach walked towards me with a pleased smile.
This resembled Musashi's sword technique that reached the State of Zero, but fundamentally, it was different. A slash that severs the concept of space. It was the fruit of my lifelong effort and the Wisdom of Dún Scáith.
"If I had used this with Caladbolg's full release... I could cross space and dimensions to destroy the Divine Realm. So, go back, Morrigan. I hold no ill will towards you."
"....."
I walked past her and asked the warriors who were frozen, staring at the slash mark before their eyes.
"My excitement has cooled. The flow was broken because of a high-and-mighty goddess. Even my anger has faded because this is just ridiculous... I will give you a chance. Will you surrender?"
The surviving coalition forces there, surrounded by the corpses of their comrades, bowed their heads and knelt before me. It was respect devoid of malice. Awe. They acted on the emotions they felt as warriors.
I am Fergus mac Róich, King of Erin.
The Master of Erin.
"Your Majesty! It is said that Deirdre has run away on a love escape with a man named Naoise!"
"Is that so... My, my. There must still be those who remember that prophecy. First, we must bring her back and protect her. She isn't at a level where she can protect herself yet. Send Setanta, Celtchar, and Conall to bring her back. As politely as possible. She is the daughter of my close friend, Fedlimid. Explain that the story about her becoming my wife was just a lie to protect her, and bring her back."
Years passed, and Ulster continued to enjoy a peaceful Golden Age.