Chapter 37: Whatever Your Command!
In the area near the port, known as the "Mion River," Caster stood facing the sea.
He was determined to make the person who harmed the Saintess pay a price greater than their life!
He held a yellowed book in his hand, and as if having made up his mind, he flipped it open.
Prana surged instantly.
Boom—!
...
At this very moment, Caster's body was grasped by countless tentacles, gradually sinking into the enormous shadow in the sea.
His figure was already gone, but his voice continued to emanate.
"Arrogant 'Gods'! Callous 'Gods'! We shall drag you down from your divine thrones! God's favored lambs! People with bodies resembling the Gods! You shall be utterly humiliated and torn to shreds by us! The mockery of us rebels shall pound on the gates of Heaven, accompanied by the screams of the children of God!"
Repulsive masses of flesh gradually swelled and took shape.
That huge shadow, towering into the clouds, was the very form of an otherworldly monster.
The octopus monsters Caster previously commanded were merely fragments of this entity, practically cannon fodder.
The grotesque shadow towering in the darkness, its gloom enveloping the entire 'Mion River,' brought an unparalleled sense of oppression with its terrifying appearance and colossal size.
It was comparable to the monsters in Ultraman movies, but placed in this reality, there was no Giant of Light to fight it.
This situation was an absolute disaster.
If that monster was allowed to continue its wanton destruction, the damage would certainly not be limited to Fuyuki City alone.
Even the use of nuclear weapons might instead strengthen the monster's power due to the radiation.
After all, this was a monster from 'R'lyeh.'
At this moment, high up in the distant night sky, two fighter jets were speeding.
"Is there really such a thing as a monster, something that should only appear in movies..." The pilots communicated with each other.
They were on a routine patrol but suddenly received a message from headquarters saying that a creature suspected of being a monster had appeared near the 'Mion River' area.
The reason for this vague intelligence was the obstruction from the Mage's Association, which prevented the true form of the monster Caster summoned from being seen by ordinary people.
From a distance, it looked like a giant layer of mist had appeared.
However, out of caution, headquarters immediately dispatched the two fighter jets to check the situation.
"Hmph, if this were a monster movie, fighter jets like us would just be cannon fodder, smashed by a monster's slap."
"Who says? Maybe I can jump out of the plane and turn into light," the other pilot quipped.
"Hahaha, you're overthinking it." His comrade's voice came through the communicator in mockery.
"If anyone's turning into light, it's going to be handsome me."
"Impossible! With a face no less attractive than young Leonardo DiCaprio's, I wouldn't be chosen by the light!?"
Who would have thought that two pilots would almost argue over such a trivial matter?
After all, in this 'relatively' peaceful era, their daily tasks were simple: either patrolling in the fighter jets or training. In such monotonous days, only humor could spice up their lives.
At this moment, a message immediately came from headquarters.
"Stop joking, you two! We just received news that destruction has already occurred at the 'Mion River.' It's highly likely that there really is something strange!"
The two pilots were stunned by this news.
"Could it really be true? Monsters and all that..."
"Well, won't we know once we get to the scene?"
"Yeah, you're right. Let's pick up the pace."
Their conversation gradually fell silent, ultimately transforming into the ever-increasing speed of the fighter jets.
In the sky, the clouds were torn open, and pitch-black ki gradually surged out.
The two fighter jets failed to detect the threat hidden in the darkness and, completely unprepared, lowered their altitude.
"If this is a monster movie, we're the characters who get taken out, the meat to be carved up by the monster before the 'Giant of Light' appears."
"Stop joking. If there really is a monster, it might not be able to withstand the relentless bombardment of fighter jets."
They joked with each other on the way to the target location, completely unaware that the crisis hidden in the darkness was rapidly closing in on them.
As they flew their fighter jets over a large building, the plane suddenly shook, as if hit by something.
"Huh? What happened!?"
"Hey! Below your fighter jet!" His comrade's voice crackled through the comms.
The pilot immediately felt something was wrong upon hearing his comrade's urgent voice.
"What is it? Tell me!?"
"There's... there's..."
The next second, he saw the thing.
The massive shadow was extending a tentacle-like appendage, wrapping around the fighter jet.
"Ah... Nooooo—!!!"
He screamed, his trembling hand reaching to steer the jet away from the area.
Yes, he wanted to escape. Even if it meant being a deserter, he didn't want to die in such a bizarre incident!
"Aaaaahhhhh—!!!"
This was the most terrified scream, and as the giant tentacle crushed the fighter jet, the pilot's body plunged into the night city, falling into the dense fog. His lifeless corpse was swallowed by the massive shadow below.
On the other side of the coastline, Shirou and Karna witnessed the scene.
"I didn't expect that guy could summon such a huge monster. It's a bit tricky," Karna said with some surprise, gazing at the giant shadow that was constantly churning the dense fog.
"Oh? Can't you handle it, Lancer?" Shirou looked at Karna with curiosity.
"Well..." Perhaps because it was his Master, Shirou, asking, Karna actually considered it seriously.
"With the power of 'Mana Burst (Flame)', I should be able to inflict heavy damage. However, I don't know the monster's regeneration ability. If it's very strong, I might need to unleash my Noble Phantasm to kill it."
Caster's Noble Phantasm, the 'Prelati's Spellbook' (Prelatis Spell), was an A+ rank, after all. Even for a top-tier Heroic Spirit like Karna, instantly killing the entity without unleashing his Noble Phantasm's power was not realistic.
"Then, Lancer, show me your power."
"—Whatever your command."
The 'Undying Blade' in Karna's hand swiftly spun.
"I shall dedicate the victory to you. I swear this by this spear, and I swear this by this armor!"
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