Chapter 586: The Giant Roars in the Storm
The distant clang of blades echoed as the golden-haired King of Saints leaned against the rotting hull of a ship, flipping through the documents transmitted by Julius.
"Matou Shinji, male, actual age eight, affiliated with the Asian division of Western European conglomerates... Asian gaming champion and renowned hacker... I see. So he altered his appearance to sixteen out of sheer bravado. What an immature child."
Completely disregarding that he himself was only fourteen, Leo continued scanning the materials about the Servant.
"Female, facial scar, wields 16th-century flintlock pistols... appears to be a famous captain. As for physique... hah, exactly Gawain's type. Based on coliseum performances, capable of directly controlling ship cannons to launch beam attacks with extreme destructive power. Spirit Origin qualifies as Rank A."
"A Master with exceptional magi potential paired with a powerful Servant, and seemingly perfect compatibility between them. Shinji and that Servant undoubtedly make an outstanding team."
Closing the dossier, Leo shut his eyes, basking in the beach sunlight while rapidly cross-referencing information in his mind.
"In comparison, the amnesiac Hakuno is at a clear disadvantage. Though Sakatsuki frequently appears in the coliseum, he's only demonstrated dual black-and-white blades and close-quarter combat. Hard to tell whether he's carefully controlling intel or if that's truly his limit... Well, he is a modern-era hero after all."
The older the era, the greater the mystery.
It's said that heroes from the Age of Gods could unleash unimaginable power—not just through forbidden spells drawing directly from the Source or divine blood flowing in their veins, but even the accumulated fame from their legends alone could forge miracles.
In contrast, modern heroes emerging in this age of fading mystery, no matter how qualified, ultimately lack depth. Their deeds haven't been sung, their power no longer blessed by gods or the world itself. How could they possibly surpass those predecessors?
This wasn't merely battling against ancient heroes—it meant fighting against the weight of all the years their legends had accumulated since.
What kind of overwhelming strength would be needed to pierce through millennia of epic tales in a single strike?
"Difficult... Extremely so..." Leo sighed softly. "Moreover, Hakuno isn't an exceptional Master."
A Servant with inferior mystery facing superior opponents, a Master with weaker magecraft than their rivals.
Leo couldn't conceive any scenario where Hakuno and Sakatsuki might defeat Shinji's team. Yet setting aside rational logic, emotionally he found himself rooting more for Sakatsuki's victory.
Was it because of the brilliance he'd shown during preliminaries? As a modern hero, he undoubtedly shone radiantly in the eyes of magi like them.
But unfortunately, his true opponents weren't the Masters—they were the myths of antiquity summoned by those Masters.
Blades cleaved through flesh, imaginary number barriers descended. Master and Servant dissipated with unwilling howls as the knight, pristine as a fairytale prince, approached Leo and knelt respectfully.
"My King, I have vanquished the wicked."
"Magnificent work, Gawain." Leo snapped back to attention with a flawless smile. "Let's proceed then. I fancy grilled steak for lunch today."
"Excessive intake of grease is bad for your health, my King. I recommend the mashed potatoes I personally prepared—nutritious, simple, and portable..."
"Gawain..."
"Yes?"
"Whether in official histories or folk tales, I've read stories about King Arthur." The young King Sage sighed. "Such delicacies are best left for King Arthur to enjoy slowly."
Engaged in such leisurely conversation, they left the finals arena of the first round. Just before stepping into the elevator, Leo seemed to sense something and glanced back, as if catching a glimpse of the phantom struggle in Sakatsuki's mind.
"Was this expected, or will it bring me a surprise?"
"I look forward to your performance, Sakatsuki..."
————
When the shadow of the giant rose from the horizon, even the legendary pirates who roamed the seas couldn't help but tremble.
"What on earth..."
"Is that thing?!" Shinji screamed, but this time, no one would blame him for overreacting, for what appeared before them was a fifteen-meter-tall colossal golem!
"Born of earth, devoured by wind, filled with water, wielded with fire, demons disperse."
The green of life spread like jewels embedded in the giant's body. Though born upon the sea, it turned the ground beneath its feet into paradise soil. Princess Sakatsuki held Hakuno in his arms, standing tall on the giant's shoulder, his voice clear as he recited the final incantation.
"Guide your own blood toward purity. You who bear the holy spirit, your name is Adam!"
Crown·Light of Wisdom (Golem Kether Malchut), projection complete!
Beams of light stormed down upon the giant like a tempest, waves of air surging, flames blooming. Faced with the boundless malice within, the giant embraced it with incomparable compassion. Even as its body was torn apart, its arms and legs broken, the surging light rapidly healed its wounds as if they had never existed.
"High defense, extraordinary recovery, massive size, yet such low mana consumption!" Shinji stared at the results of his detection magecraft, his eyes nearly popping out. "Th-this... Could this be an autonomous Reality Marble? This is downright cheating!"
Referee, I want to report someone using a Gundam!
"Bingo, you got it right, Shinji-kun!" A grating voice called from afar. "Marvel at it well. Though only a prototype, this is one of my most treasured collections—the Primordial Giant·Adam, recreated in the form of a golem."
Amid the hurricane stirred by the bombardment and the spreading flames, the white-haired youth raised his head, gazing down at Shinji's grimacing face with unparalleled pride.
"Run for your life, Shinji! Before the giant devours the sea whole, before the Golden Hind runs aground!"
"Not a chance! How could I flee in disgrace before you?!" Shinji retorted loudly, his neck stiff, though his bravado couldn't mask his confusion. "And how did you summon something this absurd when I had you immobilized?!"
"All thanks to my Master, you fool." Sakatsuki laughed heartily in response. "Did you really think Hakuno, who's endured such hardships to learn until now, would have nothing to show for it?"
Though she was outmatched in speed, Hakuno's efforts were not in vain. Before Drake's Noble Phantasm bombardment could commence, she successfully deciphered Shinji's spell, allowing Sakatsuki to regain his mobility. He then projected Avicebron's Noble Phantasm, blocking the attack.
"As expected, my Master is the best. You've truly caught the enemy off guard—nothing could be more delightful, Hakuno!"
Setting down the dazed girl whose eyes were spinning from the turbulence, Sakatsuki's grin twisted into something ferocious. Gripping his twin blades, he crouched low, like a coiled spring, gathering terrifying power.
"Now then, Captain Drake... let's see whether your gun is faster, or my sword."
The sea churned, one abyssal whirlpool after another emerging beneath the storm-darkened sky, like colossal eyes gazing upon this epic battle. Rain lashed down as the roar of the tempest filled the air. The giant Adam took heavy steps, closing in on Drake's fleet—an unstoppable bow drawn taut, its string coiled beneath Sakatsuki's feet, ready to unleash devastation.
"Damn it! To think I'd lose to Hakuno of all people..." Shinji slammed his fist against the mast, his throat bobbing as he struggled to suppress the fear gnawing at him. "Rider, stop holding back! I know you're going easy on them! Forget about mana consumption—release your Noble Phantasm at full power! Use it again!"
"Show them that your Noble Phantasm is far more than just this!"
Contrary to Shinji's expectations, Drake didn't respond with her usual boisterous energy. Instead, she leaned wearily against the ship's hull, downing the last of her murky liquor.
Her crimson hair fluttered across her bold, striking features.
"Sigh... Honestly. It really was supposed to be our trump card."
Only then did Shinji notice the grievous wound at her side, blood soaking through Drake's coat.
"W-what the—?! When did you get hurt?! Was it during the fight just now?!"
"That injury... was sustained in your battle against Leo's Servant earlier, wasn't it?" With a groan of straining wood, the giant wrapped its arms around the Golden Hind, immobilizing it completely. Yet Sakatsuki remained poised, his Clairvoyance keenly tracing the extent of Drake's wounds. "I see. Your Noble Phantasm should have been capable of shredding the nascent Primordial Giant to pieces."
But Gawain's holy sword had left Drake with a wound that refused to heal.
Had she hidden it to preserve her Master's confidence? Or had she simply overestimated her own strength? Regardless, that concealment had led both her and Shinji into peril.
"Hey there, Sakatsuki." Tossing the empty bottle aside, Drake pushed herself upright with a cold smirk. "Stowing away on someone else's ship isn't very polite, y'know."
"I may not have Imperial Privilege, but I do have a strong sense of ownership. A dangerous battleship like this? Best to confiscate it." Sakatsuki returned her smirk with a cheerful yet bloodthirsty grin. "What can I say? I'm just a greedy man."
The tides surged, the flowers of Eden bloomed, and upon the deck reflecting sea and sky, time seemed to freeze like amber. All noise faded, leaving only the sound of the pirate queen's fingers brushing against her pistol grip and the crunch of splintering wood beneath Sakatsuki's feet—a tension resonating between the four of them.
Then, in the silence before the storm—
A new surge of violence erupted!
First, a crack—then a BANG!
The metallic fire erupted from the gun barrel like a crimson brushstroke across paper, yet the sound of a drawn blade came faster—an arc of alternating black and white severed sound, color, even the very canvas of reality itself!
Spraying droplets obscured vision, and when the blurred sight cleared again, Drake still stood firm upon her beloved ship. Yet amidst the fluttering crimson robes, Sakatsuki had somehow appeared behind her.
A deep rumbling spread as, before the young man, a colossal wave surged from the Golden Hind, rising several meters against the ocean current before crashing forward, gradually dissolving into a wisp within the Moonlit Sea.
As if in fear, the clouds on the horizon parted to reveal a blue pathway. The storm ceased, and the setting sun cast its rays through the gap, turning the dancing reflections upon the sea into golden light that dyed red hair into brilliant gold. Drake silently watched the waves disperse, and when the evening hues fell into her eyes, the motionless statue finally stirred—
Under the astonished gazes of both Masters, Drake slowly collapsed onto the deck.
"A splendid... single strike."
My, what a powerful fellow. Seems I've hit the jackpot.
From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of her Master's panicked expression. Beneath the veil of her long hair, Drake's lips curled into a bitter smile.
"That brat... I was hoping to keep him around a bit longer, to train him properly."
With a dull thud, the legendary captain fell upon her beloved ship.
Thus concluded the first battle.