---o---
Although this was not the first time Elysia had used Honkai Energy in the Nasuverse, it was the time it had caused the greatest impact.
In previous battles, while she had used Honkai Energy as a power source, its manifestation had not been particularly dramatic, serving merely as an energy source akin to magical energy.
However, with the appearance of a Honkai Beast, all doubt was removed. The massive ray summoned by Elysia was analogous to the Phantasmal Species of the Nasuverse.
Yet, it was far more powerful. And perhaps due to the nature of Honkai, the ray could also be called an enemy of civilization.
Kevin: "A Judgment-class Honkai Beast, Elysia's kin. I never thought she would have a Companion Honkai Beast."
In the Sea of Quanta, Kevin was somewhat surprised. He had truly never seen a Honkai Beast of this form before, and Elysia had never shown any indication that she possessed a companion beast.
Still... even for a Judgment-class Honkai Beast, its power was only so-so. Even the Schicksal of the current era possessed the means to defeat it.
Eden: "That's Elysia's... how beautiful. As brilliant as a crystal flower, just like Elysia herself."
As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In Eden's eyes, not only was Elysia beautiful, but even the Honkai Beast born from Elysia's will was just as magnificent.
Kalpas: "Hmph—a fragile thing. No matter how good it looks, it's still just an ant that can be crushed with a single swipe."
Kalpas was as hot-tempered as ever. He wasn't wrong, though. After all, few among the Thirteen Flame-Chasers could match his strength. While he couldn't defeat Elysia, he could certainly bully the Honkai Beast by her side.
---o---
The Thirteen Flame-Chasers all showed a keen interest in Elysia's Honkai Beast. It wasn't about it being a Judgment-class beast, but simply because it was Elysia's Honkai Beast. That was all that mattered.
Once again, the audience outside the light curtain witnessed the 'doting' affection the Thirteen Flame-Chasers had for Elysia. Yes... doting.
Mobius and Kalpas would often mock Elysia's actions in the light curtain's comment section, but the moment anyone agreed with them or joined in on the mockery, they would be instantly besieged by the two.
If not for the screen separating them, the person who had spoken out would likely have been decapitated... no, pulverized into dust.
[Inside the Light Curtain—
Elysia single-handedly held back the Outer God.
Nearby, the battle between Berserker and the Red Archer began.
Facing the legendary knight Lancelot, and an enhanced version at that, even the Heroic Spirit Emiya had to approach with caution.
After a flash of blue light, a pair of black and white shortswords appeared in Heroic Spirit Emiya's hands. Judging from his grip, he was a master of blades.
Immediately after, he decisively deployed the "Chrysanthemum Shield." As for why he didn't charge in for close combat... what? You want an Archer to fight him up close with swords? What kind of joke is that? Is that how you play an Archer?
Berserker was clearly not expecting Heroic Spirit Emiya to be so decisive. He let out a roar and charged, which was exactly what Emiya had anticipated.
"I am the bone of my sword!"
A Noble Phantasm... this was clearly the activation of a Noble Phantasm! This nameless Heroic Spirit, facing the strongest Knight of the Round Table, did not hesitate to use his Noble Phantasm to meet the enemy!
On the back of the Spirit of Origin, Elysia glanced back at Heroic Spirit Emiya Shirou, a trace of surprise in her beautiful eyes. No wonder the Counter Force had sent him over in a rational state; such decisiveness was indeed worthy of the name 'hero'.
Clang!
The white shortsword shattered. Heroic Spirit Emiya Shirou immediately tossed aside the broken hilt, which dissolved into pure magical energy. Magical energy surged in his hand once more, and in the next instant...
A new, complete white shortsword, identical to the last, appeared in his hand.
"I have created over a thousand blades."
He used the nearby Chrysanthemum Shield to block another attack. With a single strike, Berserker shattered one of the shield's petals, tearing through Heroic Spirit Emiya Shirou's coat.
"Unknown to Death, Nor known to Life."
Blue magical energy began to radiate from Heroic Spirit Emiya Shirou.
"Have withstood pain to create many weapons."
Perhaps sensing the growing power of Emiya's magical energy, Lancelot immediately increased the force and speed of his attacks, gradually battering the Chrysanthemum Shield to pieces through sheer brute force alone.
"Yet, those hands will never hold anything."
Heroic Spirit Emiya did not get entangled further. He decisively abandoned the Chrysanthemum Shield and retreated, instantly throwing his twin swords. They spun towards Lancelot's head and detonated upon approach.
However, the explosion was useless. The next moment, Lancelot burst out from the smoke and charged towards Heroic Spirit Emiya, the immense magical energy causing the ground to crack.
The Chrysanthemum Shield was broken, and it would take time to project the twin swords again. Heroic Spirit Emiya was now in a desperate situation.
But this deadly predicament was no longer a threat, because in the next moment, Emiya Shirou's chant was complete.
"So as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works!"
In the next instant, the magical energy within Heroic Spirit Emiya erupted completely, sweeping over the surroundings in a flash of white light, ultimately engulfing Berserker and the Saint, Jeanne d'Arc.
An Intrinsic Bounded Field—without a doubt, the Noble Phantasm used by this nameless Heroic Spirit was an Intrinsic Bounded Field, just like the one used by the King of Conquerors!
As the inner world of a Servant, Heroic Spirit Emiya's Intrinsic Bounded Field was naturally different from the King of Conquerors', as everyone's inner world is unique.
A twilight sky turned the clouds a dusky yellow. In the distance, countless giant gears turned slowly in the sky, as if conveying the turning of Emiya Shirou's wheel of fate.
The ground was a hilly landscape resembling a barren desert, full of rises, falls, and craters. On the distant horizon, burning flames danced, making the land seem like a crimson wasteland.
And upon these hills were densely packed swords.
Longswords, shortswords, broadswords, rapiers, flexible swords, greatswords, Western swords, Eastern swords...
Countless swords of every variety were plunged into the earth, dense and endless. Each sword was different, each one bearing the marks of time, as if countless stories were sealed within them.
This was a hill of swords, and also a graveyard of swords. Unlimited Blade Works, just as its name implied!
Heroic Spirit Emiya Shirou stood upon this hill of swords. He slowly raised his head, and under the sunset-like glow, a confident smile touched his well-defined features.
This was the Intrinsic Bounded Field of Emiya Shirou, his inner world.
Unlimited Blade Works!]
---o---
Outside the light curtain, countless versions of Emiya Shirou and those who cared for him witnessed this moment.
As a well-known protagonist in the Nasuverse and Alaya's favorite go-to handyman, Emiya Shirou's name was known throughout the worlds.
Furthermore, after Alaya broadcasted his high jump live, countless people had become smitten with him.
In another timeline—Rin Tohsaka stared at the Heroic Spirit Emiya in the light curtain, then couldn't help but glance at the Red Archer by her side, and then back at the Emiya Shirou in the light curtain again.
Finally, a blush crept onto her face, and her heart began to beat a little faster.
Ugh... how can he be so cool? It's almost as cool as when Emiya-kun did the high jump...
Elsewhere, a certain purple-haired female passerby also silently watched everything on the screen, thinking to herself, "So cool!"
It was a scene so cool that neither boys nor girls could possibly resist it.
[In the light curtain, the camera shifted to Jeanne d'Arc. She wore a slightly stunned expression as she said, "This is... an Intrinsic Bounded Field? And so many swords, many of them are Noble Phantasms... What is the origin of this Archer? Because he is not a participant in this Holy Grail War, my Ruler authority cannot retrieve his True Name..."
Beside her, Berserker had no reaction, having completely lost his reason.
And while Unlimited Blade Works seemed astonishing, if it came to an all-out fight, Lancelot would not be at a disadvantage.
Admittedly, Emiya Shirou's Unlimited Blade Works was very strong; even a certain king possessing an anti-world Noble Phantasm lost an elbow when trapped inside it.
However... unlike the King of Heroes' Gate of Babylon, the swords within Unlimited Blade Works were mere reproductions. All the swords, all the weapons, everything inside—except for the Noble Phantasm Unlimited Blade Works itself—were fakes.
And despite the vast number of swords, Heroic Spirit Emiya could not wield any single one to its absolute peak. Unlike Lancelot, in whose hands any weapon, be it sword or spear, would be used to its utmost potential. This was something Heroic Spirit Emiya could not hope to compare to.
Even so, the red-clad youth spoke with a confident smile, "As you can see, what you face now is an infinity of swords. It is also my strongest attack."
"So, Knight of the Lake, Lancelot. Are you ready?"
In response, Lancelot gave no answer. His magical energy erupted, replying to Heroic Spirit Emiya's words with an attack!
---o---
Within the Intrinsic Bounded Field, Unlimited Blade Works, a deafening roar echoed.
Lancelot's magical energy exploded. He casually picked up a sword from the hill of blades and unleashed a strike, shattering the numerous incoming blades.
It seemed that even within the Intrinsic Bounded Field, his powerful Noble Phantasm could still be used.
However... Heroic Spirit Emiya paid this loss no mind. He raised his right hand, and tens, hundreds, thousands of swords flew up from the ground, forming a torrent of steel that swept towards Lancelot.
In that moment, the countless swords formed a veritable waterfall, surging towards Lancelot as if they cost nothing.
The terrifying torrent of swords closed in on Lancelot in an instant, forcing him to let out a furious roar. He continuously unleashed bursts of magical energy, shattering countless blades with his blackened light-saber.
However, the torrent of swords was simply too vast. Even if he could destroy some, others would slip through the net, forcing Lancelot back under the pressure. Some swords even struck his body, creating cracks in his armor or shattering it outright.
But with the near-limitless supply of magical energy from the Old Worm, this damage healed rapidly. Even the wounds inflicted by the swords healed in an instant.
So, although he was on the defensive, Lancelot was not in any real trouble.
Seeing this, Heroic Spirit Emiya Shirou muttered under his breath, "This is really troublesome..."
He couldn't get close. Once in melee range, even within his own Intrinsic Bounded Field, he would be instantly killed. Such was the intimidating presence of the strongest knight; Heroic Spirit Emiya absolutely could not compete with him in terms of martial skill.
To defeat this warrior, he had to use that technique!
Instantly, the view shifted to Heroic Spirit Emiya Shirou's magic circuits. They blazed as if coursing with incandescent electricity, as if they were on fire.
"Projection, start!"
[Searching, selecting, analyzing!]
It was the voice of Heroic Spirit Emiya Shirou. This time, it seemed to be his inner thoughts, yet also like a narrator's voice.
"I am the bone of my sword!"
As Heroic Spirit Emiya gathered his power, Lancelot seemed to sense a great danger. He let out a roar and charged like a wild beast, the terrifying power within him erupting continuously as he swung down the longsword in his hand! The sound of a magical explosion boomed!
"Projection—"
"Rho Aias! (The Seven Rings that Cover the Fiery Heavens)"
Instantly, the brilliant, pink, petal-like energy shield once again unfolded from Heroic Spirit Emiya's hand.
The next moment, Lancelot's terrifying mana burst slammed into it, sweeping towards him with incomparable force and destroying a large part of the Intrinsic Bounded Field.
In the blink of an eye, the blast struck the petal shield. One by one, the petals shattered as the terrifying impact of the mana burst broke through the shield layer by layer.
Under this assault, even the Intrinsic Bounded Field began to destabilize. The sky started to show the outside world again as the Bounded Field flickered in and out of existence, and the storm of swords clashing with the beam of light began to dissipate.
Facing this situation, Heroic Spirit Emiya's expression was calm as he whispered, "Truly troublesome. But it's thanks to the Counter Force's help that I can even use this move."
"Broken Phantasm!"
As Heroic Spirit Emiya's words fell, in that instant, every remaining sword in the entirety of Unlimited Blade Works suddenly detonated. A terrifying, deafening explosion instantly swallowed Lancelot's figure.
Aside from the area around Jeanne d'Arc, which remained untouched, the entire interior of Unlimited Blade Works was filled with the sound of explosions.
The Intrinsic Bounded Field could finally no longer hold and dissipated. Amidst the explosion, everyone returned to the real world.]