Chapter 105: The Wild Beast Dies! The Backlash of the Skylight?
Boom!!!
An explosive roar echoed from the Matou Family old residence. A storm-like wave of magical energy shattered the building, sending rubble, wood splinters, and Crest Worm corpses flying everywhere!
Immediately after, two figures shot out from the flying debris like the light of dawn, colliding fiercely amidst the ruins!
Arthur stopped abruptly in mid-air, twisted his body, and delivered a powerful kick to the chest of the black-armored beast, who was unable to defend, sending him crashing into the rubble.
"A beast that only knows how to roar and claw, only this ferocity is commendable."
Before his words finished, he inverted his body, accelerated with a gust of wind, and swooped down like an afterimage!
The black-armored beast, who had just crawled out of the rubble, roared to the sky. The black and red mist around him grew thicker, and blood thorns condensed out of thin air, shooting forth!
Fourth Secret Sword: Mirage Wolf!
Arthur's footwork instantly became chaotic and unpredictable. Several real and illusory afterimages moved separately, pressing forward along completely different trajectories!
The magical mist surrounding the black-armored beast paused slightly. Incapable of deep thought, he let out another low growl and attacked wildly in all directions!
"Tsk!"
Arthur's lips curved into a smile as he was engulfed in the continuous explosion of blood thorns!
The ceaseless Impact waves created layers of powerful currents, making the already dilapidated buildings look even more desolate!
Amidst the swirling dust, he closed in with a ghostly speed, his Holy Sword wreathed in flames, striking down with a furious chop!
Clang! Clang!
Two long, narrow blood thorns attempted to block, but they snapped into pieces the moment they hit Arthur's heavy armor, dissipating into smoke.
The black-armored beast instinctively sensed a fatal danger and turned to flee, but alas, it was too late.
Crack!
The sound of armor shattering and flesh tearing intertwined. The black-armored beast, suddenly heavily wounded, groaned in pain, blood gushing out, and shot backward!
Arthur's expression was cold. He turned his body, sheathed his sword, and held out his left hand, a delicate and complex magical core rapidly unfolding.
Mimicry: Overlord Heavenly Star!
In an instant, a dark black light point suddenly appeared above the black-armored beast.
Space violently vibrated, tearing up layers of ground. All the surrounding rubble and wood splinters were sucked up into the sky!
Accompanied by a series of grating, grinding sounds, a giant sphere of mud and stone, over twenty meters in diameter, floated in mid-air, spinning on its own.
Arthur's gaze swept over the now empty Matou Family grounds after the clearing, and he mused inwardly.
'Indeed, the little girl is also gone. This place, the Matou Family, is strange everywhere!'
He suddenly clenched his left hand. The sphere of ruined mud vibrated violently, and then, eerily, it shrank again!
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Amidst deafening roars, the giant sphere condensed to less than a meter. Arthur casually threw it down, creating a deep pit and sending up clouds of smoke.
The black-armored beast's abilities were special; even Arthur, who possessed the Transparent World, couldn't perceive his internal state.
But if the opponent could still survive after being crushed into such a miserable state along with the ruins and garbage...
Arthur wouldn't mind throwing him out of the atmosphere for a second cosmic-speed freefall!
As the smoke gradually dispersed, within the Matou Family old residence, which had become a desolate ruin, he intently observed the motionless compressed mud ball.
Not long after, a unique spiritual fluctuation, belonging to a Servant's Spirit Core, emanated from within, signaling the complete departure of the black-armored beast.
Arthur was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he keenly noticed something amiss.
The direction the Servant's soul was drifting was not towards the Einzbern Castle, but towards the Fuyuki outskirts behind the Matou Family?
His eyes darkened slightly. He lightly tapped the ground with his toe, his figure transforming into lightning, and rapidly pursued.
...
The wind howled through the empty forest, branches swayed, and withered leaves fell.
Arthur, a blur of motion, followed closely behind the Servant's soul, his brows tightly furrowed.
According to the Holy Grail ritual's preset, the souls of departed Servants would only gather within the Lesser Holy Grail. Once its power was full, it could open a hole leading to the Root.
But what was this situation now?
Could there be something else with a stronger pull on Servant souls than the Lesser Holy Grail?
While he pondered, Arthur had already reached the outer eastern suburbs of Fuyuki City.
'Here... it's not biased towards any leylines node. What exactly is going on...'
Whoosh!
Beneath the tree canopy, a short, sharp whooshing sound suddenly struck!
Arthur moved with the sound, raising his sword without hesitation and slashing upward. The sensation of the blade cutting through flesh was clearly transmitted—
A fatal blow!
A withered, mummy-like decaying body fell heavily to the ground. An old head, still clinging to remnants of flesh, flew into the air, surprisingly held aloft by countless Crest Worms!
Immediately after, the shriveled body scattered on the ground began to squirm, slowly transforming into a swarm of flapping insects, clustering around Matou Zōken's head.
Seeing this disgusting scene, Arthur's brows furrowed tightly. He raised his finger again, and a volley of crimson magic bullets shot out at high speed!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The magic bullets, powerful enough to shatter stone and pierce monuments, instantly pulverized Matou Zōken's head, and with undiminished force, they pierced through several giant trees, sending leaves flying.
"Hee hee hee... With just these petty tricks, you can't kill this old man!"
Matou Zōken's old, decaying voice came from within the swarm of Crest Worms. Although he had lost his human form, he was still unharmed?
Screech! Screech!
Amidst a series of hair-raising, eerie friction sounds, the Crest Worms flapped their wings, covering the sky, sweeping forth like a plague of locusts!
These Crest Worms, meticulously cultivated by Matou Zōken, each contained magical power no less than a magic bomb!
An ordinary person, if carelessly touched by them, would instantly end up losing limbs and dying!
Arthur's eyes showed impatience. Sensing that the Servant's soul was about to drift out of the forest, he made a decisive move, raising his palm as crimson magical energy surged!
"In the name of the Command Spell, Merlin, come and repel the enemy!"
Hum!
Dazzling light instantly bleached the dark forest. The raging magical storm scattered the Crest Worms, accompanied by a rustling, flapping sound.
Fragrant flower petals drifted down, and Merlin, dressed in a magnificent sorcerer's robe, appeared out of thin air, giving a wry smile.
"Master, I am merely a succubus skilled in trickery and illusions, not adept at combat."
Arthur waved his hand without looking back. His figure flashed, and he rapidly pursued in the direction the Servant's soul had departed, his words drifting back on the reverse airflow.
"Less talk, just exterminate the pests."
Merlin shrugged helplessly, glancing at the Crest Worms re-gathering nearby. He slightly raised his staff and mumbled in an unenthusiastic tone.
"Ah, though this isn't quite my style—Heave-ho!"
The tip of his staff lightly touched the ground. A ripple like water spread rapidly across the earth. Everything around them suddenly froze, then immediately returned to normal.
Only Merlin stood smiling, cradling his staff under the tree, calmly waiting for the Crest Worms to self-destruct and face extinction!
...
Meanwhile.
Arthur, accelerating to catch the Servant's soul, flew out of the forest and saw a dark figure in the distance, opening his arms and swallowing the soul.
No need to say more, this guy was definitely suspicious!
The sky exploded with light, and thunder roared!
Arthur, in a flash, charged in front of the opponent, his sword edge transforming into the fangs of a roaring thunder dragon, vowing to tear and devour the opponent!
Crack!
The sound of shattering bones was ear-piercing. A dark-skinned severed arm flew into the sky. The opponent actually didn't dodge or evade, enduring his swift and unparalleled sneak attack head-on?
However, in the next instant, an equally violent, pitch-black lightning surge suddenly reversed from the opponent's severed arm, reflecting directly back at Arthur!
Its speed was so fast that it was comparable to the Light Fang he himself unleashed!?