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The Corrupted Spirit rampaged, demolishing the Adamantium walls of the corridor with the charge of its massive bull-like horns. Debris scattered everywhere, and the sturdy walls that had stood for centuries crumbled in an instant, allowing the colossal beast to force its way through the narrow passage.
Shirou leaped back alongside the other members of the Loki Familia, avoiding the monster's frontal assault. They dispersed, each taking a position to circle the Corrupted Spirit, looking for an opening to attack.
"GRAAAAAAAARGH!" The monster roared, the voice of the woman on its upper torso echoing eerily, accompanied by the horrifying growls of its bull body. The reverberations were so intense that the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble.
Shirou channeled prana into his hands, projecting Kanshou and Bakuya, their blades gleaming brightly in his grip. With a determined gaze, he positioned himself at the front, focusing intently on the monster.
Tiona, not far from him, grinned excitedly. Twirling her Urga with ease, she created a whistling sound in the air. "Finally, I can really let loose! This is going to be fun!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.
Next to her, Tione was ready with a pair of sturdy kukris in her hands. "Don't enjoy yourself too much, Tiona. Stay focused on our objective," she warned, stepping forward with her sharp eyes locked on the monster's movements.
Gareth, standing in the middle of the formation with his massive axe raised, observed the creature calmly. In a deep, rhetorical tone, he asked, "Alright then, what do we usually do when facing a beast this big, huh?"
Raul, positioned at the back with the supporters, replied nervously but loudly, "Take out its legs... and bring it down!" His voice carried determination despite his slight tremble.
Gareth smirked, nodding in approval. "Exactly. Let's make this thing feel the ground on its back!" he declared, raising his axe high, ready to strike.
The Loki Familia moved in unison, executing their strategy. Shirou darted to the creature's left side, Kanshou and Bakuya gleaming as he aimed to slash the tendons of its hind leg. Meanwhile, Tiona and Tione advanced from the opposite side, leaping nimbly like hunters closing in on their prey.
At the rear, Raul and the supporters prepared their backup weapons and potions, ensuring no gaps in their plan. The battle against the Corrupted Spirit had begun.
Shirou charged at the monster's left hind leg and slashed with Kanshou and Bakuya. His blades made contact, but the wounds were shallow, barely slowing the beast. Shirou frowned, realizing the creature's hide was far tougher than he had anticipated. Even with reinforcement, his Level 4 strength was insufficient to pierce its thick skin.
On the opposite side, Gareth advanced, swinging his massive axe with all his might. The blade cleaved through the air and struck the beast's left front leg, leaving a deep gash. But even then, Gareth growled in frustration. "Damn thing's skin is like steel," he muttered, lifting his axe for another blow.
Meanwhile, Tiona and Tione attacked the right side, targeting the creature's front and rear legs. Unfortunately, their strikes left only minor scratches. "Ugh, this isn't like any ordinary monster!" Tiona groaned, spinning her Urga, searching for another weak point. Tione nodded in irritation. "We need to hit it harder!" she shouted.
The creature let out a furious shriek, the upper torso's female face screaming with piercing intensity. Its eyes locked onto Gareth and Shirou, identifying them as the greatest threats after they inflicted the most damage. Suddenly, the massive bull body stomped violently, targeting Gareth in front and Shirou behind.
"Watch out, Gareth!" Tione yelled in warning.
Gareth, with incredible reflexes, raised his axe to block the attack. Clang! A deafening clash echoed through the corridor as his axe absorbed the brunt of the beast's stomp. However, he winced as cracks began to appear on the axe's blade. "Stubborn beast!" he grumbled, panting.
Behind him, Shirou wasn't as fortunate. His eyes widened as the creature's massive hoof came hurtling toward him. "It's too fast!" he thought, barely able to evade. The hoof struck him, sending him flying backward. He tumbled several times before coming to a halt, gasping for air. His swords fell from his grasp, and a sharp pain flared in his ribs.
"Shirou!" Tiona cried, her eyes wide with concern. She started toward him, but Tione grabbed her arm. "Focus on the monster first! Shirou will get back up," she said firmly, though her voice also carried a hint of worry.
Shirou slowly stood, gritting his teeth against the pain. "I'm fine," he said weakly, though his body clearly showed signs of exhaustion. Once again, he projected Kanshou and Bakuya into his hands, his gaze unwavering. "I won't give up now."
Seeing that direct attacks on the Corrupted Spirit's legs weren't yielding significant results, Gareth quickly took charge of the situation. In his deep, commanding voice, he shouted, "Tione! Start chanting your spell now!" as he dodged a swing of the beast's tail.
Tione groaned, clearly irritated by the order. "I'm not a mage like Lefiya or Riveria! Chanting mid-battle isn't my specialty!" she protested, dodging another stomp from the creature. "I need time and focus, you know!" she added, stepping back slightly.
Tiona, standing nearby, grinned brightly despite the dire circumstances. "Then leave it all to me! I'll make sure you have the time you need to chant, Tione!" she declared enthusiastically. She spun her Urga and positioned herself in front of her twin, ready to act as a shield.
Meanwhile, Cruz noticed Gareth's axe beginning to crack. Swiftly, he retrieved a spare axe from his pack. "Gareth, catch this!" he shouted, tossing the weapon with precision. Gareth caught the axe effortlessly, stepping aside just in time to avoid the monster's bull head lunging at him.
"Good work, Cruz!" Gareth called, brandishing the new axe and fixing his sharp gaze on the monster. With a voice full of authority, he called to Shirou, "Hey, Shirou! Close combat isn't cutting it. Attack from a distance! Let Tiona and me keep it distracted."
Shirou gazed at Kanshou and Bakuya in his hands. Realizing that close-range combat only made him more vulnerable, he decided to project a new weapon. "Alright," he responded briefly before fading his swords into prana. In an instant, a large black bow appeared in his hands, with magical energy glowing on its string. Shirou raised the bow, focusing intently on the Corrupted Spirit.
Meanwhile, Tiona and Gareth began moving more aggressively, attacking the monster from both sides to divert its attention. "Come on, you ugly beast! Face me if you dare!" Tiona shouted as she leapt and spun her Urga in her signature style. Gareth, wielding his new axe, swung the massive blade at the monster's legs, aiming to cripple it from below.
At the same time, Tione started chanting a spell. With labored breaths, she closed her eyes and gathered magic around her. "I can't believe I'm doing this..." she muttered in an annoyed tone, but she pressed on, trusting her sister to protect her.
Shirou drew the bowstring, preparing an Inferno Arrow that began to glow brightly. He waited for the perfect moment to launch a long-range attack, hoping to deal significant damage to the Corrupted Spirit.
Tione closed her eyes, her voice firm despite her body trembling slightly as she chanted. "My desire that was sunk in the sea, my longing that was nurtured in the sea—the time has come..." Her incantation grew clearer as magic flowed in the air around her, creating an aura full of intensity.
Meanwhile, Gareth and Tiona charged forward aggressively, leaping with incredible speed toward the woman-like part of the giant bull monster. "This is going to hurt, you ugly creature!" Tiona shouted enthusiastically, spinning her Urga and preparing to strike the foe.
The bull-woman monster, her expression cold, began chanting a lengthy spell—a warning sign to everyone nearby. But Shirou, who had been waiting for this moment, drew his black bowstring and prepared a Broken Inferno Arrow. The fiery energy radiating from the magical arrow illuminated the dark corridor of Knossos.
"This is it!" Shirou whispered softly before releasing the arrow. The Broken Inferno Arrow shot forward, striking the monster's torso. In an instant, massive flames engulfed the upper half of the creature, forcing its spell to halt midway. The monster screamed in fury, its body writhing against the relentless flames.
Seizing the opportunity, Gareth and Tiona reached the monster's humanoid body. "Let's finish this now!" Gareth shouted as he swung his axe with full force. Tiona, meanwhile, aimed her Urga at a weak point she had identified, ready to deliver a lethal blow.
Suddenly, the monster-woman sneered despite being ablaze. "Rage, Fury of the Skies: Caelum Veil Distel!" she chanted a short spell. Her body was immediately surrounded by crackling electricity, creating an intense burst of energy. The electrical surge struck Gareth and Tiona forcefully, forcing them to retreat with cries of pain.
The electricity surrounding the monster's body then flowed into the hooves of its bull-like legs. With a powerful stomp, the ground beneath it shattered into pieces, releasing a wave of electricity that surged backward, striking Raul, Narvi, and Cruz, who were standing guard. They were thrown back, grimacing in pain from the shock.
Amid the chaos, Tione stayed focused on her spell, even though her body was slightly jolted by a minor shock. "Shape yourself, bare your fangs, and become a snake. Escape the sea, cross the land, and cover the world. Capture time, stop time, and trample over time..." she chanted with increasing determination.
The magic she had been gathering finally reached its peak. With sharp eyes, Tione shouted her final incantation: "List Iorum!" From her hands, glowing chains shot out, swiftly wrapping around the rear left leg of the giant bull monster, binding and immobilizing it.
"Direct hit!" Gareth shouted, his body still weak from the earlier shock. He looked at Tione with admiration, knowing that the chains would be key to subduing the massive monster.
The humanoid portion of the Corrupted Spirit began showing signs of regeneration. The previously burned skin gradually healed, though scorch marks remained in places. Her menacing eyes fixed on the glowing chains binding her bull leg with disdain as if they were merely minor obstacles.
The giant bull monster began thrashing wildly, pulling its bound leg in the opposite direction. Despite being a Level 6 adventurer, Tione felt the tremendous strain of holding back the monster's immense strength. Her muscles tensed, and she was dragged forward a few steps despite her desperate efforts to hold her ground.
"Ugh... Stubborn beast!" Tione grumbled, her breathing growing heavy.
Seeing Tione struggling, Shirou stepped forward and clasped her right hand. "Trace on," he said calmly. Using his remaining prana, he projected glowing chains similar to Tione's, this time wrapping around the monster's rear right leg. The chains glowed brightly, further restraining the monster's movements.
Tione glanced at Shirou, a mix of relief and annoyance on her face. "Of course! I have to chant a long spell, and you just say two words to make this happen!" she complained.
Shirou gave a faint smile, though his hands trembled from the prana he was expending. "The perks of being a magus," he replied briefly.
Even with two chains binding its hind legs, the giant bull monster continued thrashing wildly, pulling at them with seemingly endless strength. Shirou and Tione were dragged further forward, nearly losing their balance.
From another direction, Gareth leapt to their side. With his massive axe strapped to his back, he grabbed the chains alongside Shirou and pulled them backward. "Let's hold this beast together!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the corridors of Knossos. His added strength gave them a brief reprieve, and the monster finally stopped struggling momentarily.
Gareth turned to Shirou, his expression serious. "Shirou, do you have anything we can use to finish this monster off? Maybe another legendary weapon you can project?" he asked, still pulling on the chains.
Shirou nodded, though sweat trickled down his temples. "I do," he replied, his breath slightly labored. "But... I only have one shot. My prana is almost depleted." His voice was hesitant, knowing the attack had to be precise.
Gareth spoke firmly, "Leave the chains to us. Focus on timing your strike." His wide grin radiated confidence that they could hold the monster without Shirou's help.
Shirou nodded and released his grip on the chains. He stepped back a few paces, his sharp eyes studying the monster's movements. He knew this was the pivotal moment to end the battle and couldn't afford any mistakes.
"We'll hold it with everything we've got!" Gareth shouted, tightening his grip. "Make sure your attack destroys this thing, Shirou!"
Shirou moved cautiously around the battlefield, his gaze fixed on the enormous monster in front of him. He knew that even the smallest misstep could have catastrophic consequences. He waited patiently, calming his breath as he searched for an opening.
During his observation, Tiona suddenly landed beside him. "Hey, Shirou!" she called out enthusiastically, despite her exhaustion. "Can you project another chain? Gareth and Tione need more help holding this monster down!" Her eyes sparkled with determination.
Without hesitation, Shirou nodded. "Trace on," he murmured softly, as blue prana light began to form another glowing chain in his hands. He threw the chain with precision, binding the monster's front right leg tightly.
Tiona quickly grabbed hold of the chain with agility. "I've got this!" she declared, planting her feet firmly on the ground and pulling the chain with all her strength. Her muscles strained, but her resolve was unwavering.
The Corrupted Spirit began to show signs of losing balance. Its massive body tilted slightly, and its enormous legs trembled under the relentless pulling from all directions.
Not far away, Cruz, Raul, and Narvi ran closer, their faces filled with determination. "Shirou!" Raul shouted. "We need chains too! Lock the remaining leg!"
Shirou repeated the process, projecting another chain, this time directing it toward the monster's front left leg. The chain wrapped tightly, immobilizing the last unbound limb.
"We'll handle this!" Cruz declared as he gripped the chain alongside Raul and Narvi. Together, they pulled with all their strength, working to restrain the monster's movements.
The woman atop the monster's body began to panic. Her eyes darted wildly as her body thrashed, but her movements grew increasingly restricted. "You insignificant creatures! Do you think you can defeat me?!" she screeched, her voice full of rage as she struggled to break free.
Every member of the Loki Familia holding a chain fought with unyielding determination. "Pull harder!" Gareth shouted, still holding the chain around the monster's rear leg. His face was flushed from exertion, but he stood firm, like an unshakable boulder.
Tiona chimed in, her voice is loud and encouraging. "We're almost there! Don't give up now!" Her hands gripped the chain tightly, her muscles straining visibly under the immense pressure.
The monster became increasingly unsteady, its massive form teetering as it completely lost balance. The glowing chains holding it from all sides stood as a testament to their teamwork and resolve.
Shirou stood tall, observing the Corrupted Spirit now tightly bound by chains from every angle. He saw his companions pouring all their strength into holding the monster immobile. Clenching his fist, he thought with conviction, They've given me this chance—I must finish it.
He closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath and focusing his thoughts. "Trace on," he muttered, this time with firm resolve. Red prana light began to coalesce, forming the shape of a legendary spear in his hands: Gae Bolg, the cursed spear known as the "Reverse Causality Spear."
Gae Bolg was the weapon of Cu Chulainn, a great hero Shirou had once faced in the Holy Grail War. The spear possessed a unique ability to pierce the heart of its target with unerring precision, defying causality itself. Shirou vividly recalled how Cu Chulainn wielded the spear with unmatched skill—a level of mastery Shirou had never attained. But this time, skill was unnecessary; the enemy was bound and unable to move.
Opening his eyes, Shirou's gaze sharpened, filled with unshakable courage. He gripped Gae Bolg with both hands, feeling the cursed energy coursing through the weapon. The air around him swirled slowly, creating a foreboding atmosphere.
The woman atop the bull monster's body grew visibly uneasy, her expression now one of sheer panic. "What is that?!" she shrieked, her eyes widening in terror at the sight of the cursed spear now aimed at her. Even the monster itself, despite its regenerative power, seemed to waver at the prospect of surviving the attack.
Shirou took his stance, drawing the spear back as his eyes locked onto the Corrupted Spirit's chest, where a large Magic Stone pulsed intensely—the core of its life force. His voice was low but carried the weight of finality. "This ends here."
With all his strength, Shirou hurled the spear. "GAE BOLG!" he cried, his voice reverberating through the corridors. The spear shot forward like a crimson bolt of lightning, tearing through the air directly toward its target.
Gae Bolg struck the woman monster's chest with devastating force, shattering the Magic Stone within. A blinding red light erupted, accompanied by a piercing scream of agony as the colossal body began to convulse violently. The light from the destroyed Magic Stone coursed through the entire monster, causing cracks to form along its massive frame until it started disintegrating into ash.
The monster let out one final, anguished scream: "NOOOOO!!!" before collapsing entirely, its body dissolving into dust that scattered with the wind.
Shirou stood, breathing heavily, watching the ashes drift away. He felt the heavy burden on his shoulders begin to lift. As he looked around, he saw the relieved faces of his companions. They all understood—this battle was finally over.