As the battle progressed, the confrontation between the Black and Red Factions grew increasingly fierce. Chiron had already fought Achilles, and now only the final death match remained. Atalanta, who had entered the Hanging Gardens, was tracking Semiramis's whereabouts with Frankenstein. Outside, Astolfo was now searching for Jeanne, preparing to bring her into this final battlefield.
High above, the battle continued relentlessly. But all those were merely supporting acts. Because everyone knew that the center of the battle would be the duel between Shirou and Karna. The outcome between these two would affect the entire battle.
"Clang!" With repeated sounds of colliding weapons, the two on the slab officially began their battle. Through their previous clashes, both had roughly ascertained each other's strengths and weaknesses. This time, there was no longer any need for mutual probing; it was a full-out engagement from the start.
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Continuously brandishing his spear, Karna's attacks were incessant, like lingering shadows. Facing this deluge of attacks, Shirou continuously swung his longsword across his chest, blocking Karna's spear thrusts. Although temporarily suppressed, Shirou had no intention of remaining so. Taking advantage of one of Karna's spear thrusts, Shirou twisted his body to the side, evading the attack.
Then, he stomped his foot heavily, rushing towards Karna's close proximity. Aiming the tip of his sword at Karna's vital points, Shirou's attack was swift and fierce.
However, even though Shirou's strike was very sudden, Karna still reacted. He swiftly retracted his spear shaft, defending against the blow. It was precisely in this exchange of spear and sword that the two were evenly matched. And this situation was a microcosm of their subsequent battle.
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Spear and sword continuously intertwined, and both their bodies began to accumulate injuries, but no matter how many such wounds they sustained, they had no effect on either of them. Immersed in this duel, neither cared about these minor injuries.
"Clang!" With another clash of weapons, Shirou and Karna temporarily retreated, using the impact of their collision. Looking at the impregnable enemy opposite him, both had expressions of solemnity mixed with smiles. Magical energy began to surge. Flames began to burn on both their bodies. No longer intending to continue in close combat, both began to unleash their full power at this moment. The flames on their bodies continuously climbed higher, continuously burning.
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But suddenly, the flames around Karna gradually extinguished, eventually transforming into pure magical energy.
"It seems you still remember!"
"I will never forget information about my enemies!" In a sense, Shirou had an advantage against Karna. Because Shirou, under Loki's blessing, was immune to fire damage.
But as the son of the sun god, and an existence who became a sun god after death, Karna's terrifying flame ability was an indispensable part of his power. Yet, facing Shirou, he could not use fire. This weakening of Karna was undeniable. And because of this, Karna converted the flames into raw magical energy to enhance his attacks.
"Come on!" With a roar, Shirou and Karna collided once more. This time, the mere clash of their weapons completely destroyed everything around them. At this point, the slabs beneath their feet could no longer withstand their attacks and began to shatter continuously.
Seeing this, Shirou and Karna exchanged glances, then leaped towards the Hanging Gardens to one side. Their next battle would take place within the Hanging Gardens.
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"Jeanne, hold on tight!" Riding the Hippogriff, Astolfo finally reached Jeanne. As Jeanne's plane continuously approached, Semiramis finally stopped letting her advance. She directly used her magic cannons to bombard the planes beneath Jeanne's feet.
Although Jeanne herself possessed EX-rank Magic Resistance, rendering Semiramis's magic cannons useless against her, they were at an altitude of 7,500 meters. If the plane beneath Jeanne's feet was destroyed, even Jeanne probably couldn't land safely.
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But unfortunately, everything was part of Shirou's plan.
Astolfo, who arrived just in time, carried Jeanne forward relentlessly. Facing these two, even Semiramis felt a headache. One had a grimoire that could destroy all magic, and the other had EX-rank Magic Resistance.
Semiramis was completely powerless to stop their advance. Even if she continuously fired magic cannons, she could only delay their progress. Soon, Astolfo and Jeanne, enduring Semiramis's attacks, arrived within the
Hanging Gardens.
"So what should we do next, Ruler!"
"Charge directly, head to the location of the Greater Holy
Grail. Semiramis will surely appear before us to stop us!"
"After all, the Red Faction has no one left to use!"
"Then let's go!" Astolfo wholeheartedly agreed with Jeanne's plan, and the two immediately delved deeper.
Guided by Jeanne's senses, they rushed towards the location of the Greater Holy Grail.
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"Tsk! Did they make it in after all?" Looking at the projection in front of her, Semiramis couldn't help but frown. Now, in her Hanging Gardens, there were four Servants wandering around.
Atalanta and Frankenstein were heading towards the Throne Room where she was, as Atalanta was quite familiar with the architecture here, having lived there for a few days. Jeanne and Astolfo, on the other hand, were heading towards the Greater Holy Grail. There was not just one path leading to the Greater Holy Grail, but to protect it, Semiramis had to guide the two of them onto this specific path! Otherwise, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada would be in great danger.
"It seems I need to separate them!" Looking at the two groups of people, who were engaging the defensive measures at two different locations, Semiramis did not intend to let them rendezvous. After all, Astolfo, who could shatter magic, and Jeanne, with her EX-rank Magic Resistance, were very effective counters to her. If these four were to gather, she would certainly be in great danger.
"Although I don't care about this level of crisis, it's still better to be cautious, after all, the Red Faction doesn't have the luxury of mistakes right now!" Thinking this, Semiramis manipulated the defensive mechanisms within the Hanging Gardens, intensifying the attacks on everyone.
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"Boom!" Two weapons, imbued with magical energy, violently collided. Powerful shockwaves continuously destroyed everything around them. Every clash between Shirou and Karna blasted a massive crater in the ground.
As their fierce battle raged, the surrounding structures had long since been annihilated. Each pit and crater on the ground bore witness to the intensity of their fight. It was merely a single slash, yet it cut through everything in its path.
It was merely a single thrust, yet it pierced through entire buildings. Flying slashes were endless, continuously devastating everything around them. Under their fierce battle, the once solemn and historically rich architecture had long since been completely destroyed.
"Brahma, curse my body!"
"Bhargav Rama!"
A spear thrusting down from the heavens and a greatsword slashing towards the sky. The powerful clash of ultimate techniques contracted and collided in mid-air. Ultimately destroying everything. As this coalesced magical energy annihilated everything in its vicinity, Shirou and Karna continued to fight relentlessly.
They had already engaged in such Noble Phantasm bombardments multiple times. What would be a decisive Noble Phantasm for others was merely a casual strike here. The battle situation here had gradually reached a climax.
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