Chapter 54: I Am the Bone of My Sword
Noble Phantasms identical to those behind Gilgamesh began to manifest continuously behind Shirou: "Durandal," "Arondight," "Dáinsleif," "Gram," "Xuanyuan Sword," "Misteltein," "Tyrfing"...
Seeing these "swords" appearing behind Shirou, Gilgamesh's jade-like red eyes flashed with a look of genuine interest.
"Heh. So you've copied a bunch of glasswork? Interesting. Then allow this King to test their quality for you."
With those words, the massive golden wall behind Gilgamesh tilted slightly. In an instant, hundreds of Noble Phantasms shot toward Shirou with explosive speed!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!
It was like facing a literal rain of arrows; the Noble Phantasms, trailing golden light, almost completely occupied Shirou's field of vision.
"Experience shared. Connection complete. Process finished. Full Projection... Fire!"
In that split second—
Blue magical energy rampaged like lightning, and mana transformed into a gale swirling around Shirou. Amidst the sparks of azure lightning, Noble Phantasms flew out one after another!
Noble Phantasms trailing dazzling golden and blue lights collided violently in the next moment—countless weapons detonated simultaneously!
The roar echoed, and a shockwave expanded like a rainstorm. The intense gale raged, blowing Shirou's red hair into a mess.
The grand spectacle of Noble Phantasms exploding upon impact unfolded before Irisviel, Saber, and the others. The firelight from the explosions reflected on their faces, tinting their pupils a fiery red.
"Just what is this..." Irisviel couldn't help but marvel.
To bring "Projection" magecraft to such a level was no longer something a human magus could achieve; it was something only a Heroic Spirit should be capable of. It was truly terrifying that such a brilliant magus had appeared in this tiny Fuyuki City.
"I remember... isn't he just a child?" Saber watched the scene in a daze.
At this moment, Gilgamesh frowned slightly upon seeing his weapons destroyed.
"For glasswork, they certainly hold up well..."
Only a few hundred Noble Phantasms had been destroyed. In his "Gate of Babylon," weapons of this quality were a dime a dozen, so he felt no regret at all.
"As entertainment, you've given this King a bit of a thrill. Now then, embrace your gratitude and be put to death by this King!"
Even without the "Sword of Rupture, Ea," Gilgamesh could still look down on everyone with the sheer quantity of Noble Phantasms within his "Gate of Babylon."
The fact that he, the great King of Heroes, was being pushed to such a point by a mere seven-year-old child made Gilgamesh extremely displeased.
"This King shall crush every single one of your fakes, leaving nothing behind!"
Gilgamesh's words carried an undeniable authority. Within the undulating golden ripples behind him, the sharp edges of Noble Phantasms emerged once more. They were all A-rank—even if they were merely fired like crossbow bolts, their power was not to be underestimated.
"Fakes, huh..."
Shirou's eyes reflected the Noble Phantasms shrouded in golden radiance.
"Indeed. I am a Faker."
As he spoke, a gust of wind rose, swirling invisibly around Shirou's body. It was no ordinary wind, but a reaction formed by the violent surging of magical energy.
"My 'Unlimited Blade Works' is not about creating swords. There is only one thing I can do..."
Within this surging wind of mana, azure magical energy drifted like lightning.
"And that is to forge my own heart into form! Even if it is a fake, as long as the foundation is strong enough, it can still shatter the truth!"
In the torrent of magical energy, cracks began to appear on the ground beneath his feet, spreading continuously in all directions. The mana in the atmosphere seemed to be squeezed, turning into a rampaging gale.
Both Saber and Gilgamesh noticed the abnormality in the flow of magical energy in the air and turned their gazes toward Shirou in astonishment. The red-haired youth standing in the center of this phenomenon was releasing a power that shook even these Heroic Spirits.
"Could it be...!?" Saber looked at Shirou in disbelief.
Gilgamesh's red eyes also widened, filled with incredulity.
"That mongrel... actually possesses a 'Reality Marble'!?"
If it were just a "Reality Marble," Gilgamesh wouldn't be this shocked.
What he found impossible to believe was that Shirou was only seven years old. For a seven-year-old to be able to use a "Reality Marble"—the pinnacle of magecraft—was too absurd, even for Gilgamesh.
A "Reality Marble" is magecraft that materializes one's inner landscape. Once activated, it causes the surrounding space to transform into a completely different scenery. It is the materialization of a mental image, meaning it replaces the world with oneself while the boundaries remain unchanged.
At that moment, the scale of the self and the world are swapped. The world is completely enclosed within a tiny container—the "World Egg."
A world formed by a mental storm is a miniature world created by thoughts, equivalent to a divine authority. Just as gods are restricted by the laws of heaven or Ragnarök, a "Reality Marble" is restricted by Gaia. Similarly, with the "Sword of Rupture, Ea," the Counter Force prevents such overwhelming power from being fully unleashed to protect the Earth or humanity.
Nonetheless, its power is not to be trifled with. One could imagine that if this Holy Grail War were a separate battle between Masters and Servants, it would have undoubtedly ended on the first day.
Gilgamesh stared blankly ahead. A gale of magical energy was swirling around the youth confronting him.
In the reflection of Gilgamesh's pupils, the boy raised his right hand, palm open toward him. The mana in the air gathered rapidly, condensing into substance. Pale blue ribbons of light coiled like snakes around his outstretched arm.
An invisible hurricane swept through the area, and magical energy flickered around him like azure lightning. With all these phenomena occurring at once, Shirou looked as if he were standing in the heart of a thunderstorm.
"I am the bone of my sword."
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