"Well, while having a burning heart is good, it's already impossible to stop now," Irisviel explained. "The All the World's Evil lurking inside the Holy Grail will begin to expand. Although the previous war completely eliminated that Servant's ability to think, this malice will still spread throughout this world by instinct."
Jean Stardust also watched the black mud spreading. The disgusting stench rising from it was uncomfortable, but that was all; in reality, Jean Stardust could not sense any threat from the black mud.
For now, all that was needed was to defeat Lia, enter the black mud to rescue the two Illyas, and then see if Medea had any way to isolate the Third Magic's ritual. If all else failed, returning to the Reincarnation World would also work.
However, Jean Stardust had thought too simply. Within the black mud, one pitch-black humanoid figure after another gradually emerged. Looking closely, these figures were likely all Servants.
These pitch-black Servants showed no signs of rationality, emitting strange cries as they attacked every living person or Servant they could see.
Irisviel was also startled by this scene, but she quickly reacted, weaving a giant bird out of white threads, mounting it, and hiding in the sky.
Meanwhile, Cú Chulainn immediately protected Matou Sakura and Rin, retreating backward. Only Jean Stardust and Lia remained in the middle, confronting each other.
Jean Stardust had no intention of running away. Instinct told them that the longer this scene dragged on, the more troublesome it would become. A quick battle was necessary, but Lia, who was right in front of them, also showed absolutely no intention of retreating.
"This wasn't in your plans, right? Stop being so stubborn and blocking me," Jean Stardust attempted to persuade her.
"I don't know what the plan is, but I have accepted the mission to stop you in the name of a knight, so I will not let you pass."
Since reasoning wouldn't work, then it was time to force her to withdraw completely. The current Jean Stardust was entirely different from before.
Sheathing the sword, then activating Reinforcement, Jean Stardust erupted at speeds exceeding the speed of sound, simultaneously unleashing a full-power Iaijutsu strike.
However, Lia intercepted Jean Stardust's attack with an incredible movement, blocking Jean Stardust completely at the cost of stepping back a few paces.
Feeling the magical energy and power radiating from her opponent, Jean Stardust quickly discovered the truth behind her becoming stronger:
"command spells enhancement?"
"My apologies, Lord Jean Stardust. This state cannot be maintained for very long, so I need to end this quickly."
Next, Lia assumed a stance as if preparing for a decisive final blow, but Jean Stardust didn't care. Synesthesia allowed for omnidirectional observation; if they hadn't seen the ten-plus command spells still on Irisviel's hand in the air behind them, Jean Stardust would have believed her bluff.
On the other side, Cú Chulainn had already begun engaging the shadow Servants. His enemy was none other than the knight also hailing from Celtic lore, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, the Face of the Spot.
One wielded a long spear, the other dual spears; the two fought in a lively clash. However, gradually, more and more enemies joined the battlefield, and the pressure on Cú Chulainn began to mount.
Fortunately, Matou Sakura also possessed considerable combat power; ordinary Servants were no match for her at all, and Rin was doing her best to provide support using the few remaining jewels she had on hand.
At this rate, before long, this black mud would likely surge down the mountain, and all of Fuyuki, or at least the Miyama Town area, would be doomed.
"It looks like this is the end. Little junior sister, open your eyes and watch clearly. This is the embodiment of the life of a warrior named Cú Chulainn."
Next, using the magical energy within his body without restraint, Cú Chulainn's speed increased continuously, until finally, only blue afterimages remained, darting constantly across the battlefield.
First was Diarmuid. With gorgeous footwork, he dodged the attacks of the two spears, then used the butt of his spear to flick away his wrist, simultaneously landing a punch right on his undefended chest.
Then, moving faster than his opponent flying backward, he caught up and pierced through his chest from behind with his long spear—Diarmuid, defeated.
Without any pause, he attacked the cluster of shadow Heroic Spirits again. The clones and the original of Hassan of the Hundred Faces were reaped like straw, and the bull pulling Iskandar's chariot was pierced through.
Then, the King of Conquerors, fighting on foot, was no match for Cú Chulainn and was defeated again after a few rounds.
As for many of the other Servants from previous wars, few could withstand even a single blow from him. The pinnacle of Celtic heroes, the Child of Light, Cú Chulainn, displayed his incomparably powerful side.
Finally, as his magical energy was about to be exhausted, he encountered the only existence among them capable of rivaling him: the strongest knight of the Round Table from the Celtic region, the Flower of Knights, Lancelot.
At this moment, relying on his innate Battle Continuation ability, he revealed a bright smile. This feeling was exactly the battle he had dreamed of. This sense of fulfillment, this exhilaration—this was the true lifelong pursuit of a warrior.
Wielding his long spear, he clashed against the pitch-black longsword. Relying on his keen instincts and wild nature, he forcibly held his own against martial arts comparable to Arms Mastery.
Matou Sakura's remaining two command spells had already been fully used to replenish his magical energy, but it could only go so far. The battle of one man against dozens of Servants reached its conclusion.
Arondight pierced through Cú Chulainn's body, yet Cú Chulainn was still smiling. There was no doubt that his wish had been completely satisfied at this moment.
However, he still used his final strength to throw the spear in his hand to Matou Sakura. "Little junior sister who appeared so suddenly, I don't have any welcome gift, so I'll give this spear to you..."
After seeing that Matou Sakura had caught it securely, Cú Chulainn gradually turned into particles and vanished.
After casting Runes to fix the spear, Matou Sakura watched the back of Cú Chulainn as he disappeared, pondering the meaning of the name 'warrior', unable to calm down for a long time.
The battle between Jean Stardust and Lia was not going smoothly. After all, looking at the fluctuating state of Lia, Jean Stardust couldn't help but retort:
"This is your third command spell already, can you have some shame?" Having cut off the magical connection with Rin, Jean Stardust couldn't receive support from command spells and, to be honest, was a bit jealous.
Lia, however, was not angry and said seriously, "Fighting by relying on one's own advantages is, by nature, honorable."
However, Lia also realized that even using command spell reinforcement was merely delaying time.
Although it wasn't clear how Irisviel could manipulate the Holy Grail to such an extent, if the situation dragged on, Irisviel probably wouldn't be able to handle it on her end either.
Thus, Lia raised her Holy Sword and began pouring magical energy into it, while the Holy Sword began to emit a golden radiance.
Seeing this, Jean Stardust became puzzled. Daring to charge up a beam attack against a speed-type opponent like them—wasn't that going a bit too far?
Therefore, to test it, they slowed down their speed this time, leaving more reaction time for themselves. As expected, Lia swung the Holy Sword downward, carrying the golden radiance.
Accompanied by a loud boom, a large crater was smashed into the ground. Because Jean Stardust's speed was slower than before, they were able to withdraw faster and dodge the attack.
"Changing an anti-fortress attack into an anti-personnel one? You can do that?!"
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