No matter how strong a Servant is, the 'rank' of the familiar it summons and controls is limited. However, if control is not considered, this limit does not exist.
The Sea Monster summoned by Caster before them was exactly like this. If it were to be rated as a noble phantasm, it could be unceremoniously labeled an EX-rank Anti-Army noble phantasm.
Without considering control after summoning, if it is merely for the sake of summoning, any powerful monster can theoretically be summoned, as one only needs to infinitely expand the 'gate' through which the summoned entity passes using magic power.
At this moment, the giant Sea Monster was completely beyond Caster's control, because it had transcended the realm of magic, a materialized product entirely filled with desires of gluttony and devouring. The act of summoning such an entity could no longer be called magic.
This Sea Monster was never meant to challenge anyone; it was merely invited to feed! If it were to crawl ashore, the entire Fuyuki City would be devoured by it in less than two hours!
Countless tentacles, over ten meters long, stood like a forest on the dark river surface, so dense that the river surface was almost invisible, only massive tentacles.
The Sea Monster, from another dimension, released a purple-black magical mist that enveloped the entire Weiyuan River the moment it appeared, which incidentally provided a degree of concealment for the battlefield.
A sword light, so intensely bright it instantly blinded, flashed and was gone. The giant tentacles standing on the river surface were cut down and sent flying like weeds by a lawnmower. Large amounts of foul-smelling purple magical blood instantly erupted like a volcano, staining the lower reaches of the Weiyuan River purple. The dark Berserker, who wielded this sword, stepped on the severed tentacles for leverage, rushing to the next battlefield without a moment's pause.
But no matter how sharp Lancelot's chunjun (ancient sword name) was, the wounds rapidly underwent cell division, instantly being filled with new flesh.
At this moment, whether it was the King of Conquerors flying in the air in his Chariot of Divine Might, or Saber running on the water with the blessing of the Lady of the Lake, they all faced the same situation as Lancelot: the Sea Monster's immense size meant that the damage inflicted could not keep up with its healing speed. The Servants were like digging holes in a swamp, completely futile.
Fortunately, at this time, compared to the original work/canon, there was one less Lancer who could only watch from the shore, and one more Berserker who should have been playing an aerial chase with Gilgamesh.
Lancelot, whose combat power had almost increased tenfold compared to the original work/canon after contracting with Rin, moved through the dense Sea Monster tentacles like a harvester, cutting down swathes of tentacles with a single sweep of his sword. Lancelot even tried to cleave the Sea Monster in half, but alas, even if his sword light extended ten meters, it was less than a small fraction of the Sea Monster's horizontal width. The massive wound seemed to have a huge effect, but in a few seconds, it healed as if new.
"Berserker, reinforcements are arriving soon. Stall for a little more time. Remember not to act too surprised by Jalter's appearance."
After receiving Rin's message, Lancelot focused on swinging his sword to block the Sea Monster's advance onto the shore, causing the Sea Monster in the center of the river to be unable to move forward. Thus, the King of Conquerors no longer needed to use the Army of the King's barrier to stall for time.
It's worth noting that Lancelot, who was fighting by leveraging the Sea Monster's tentacles, could actually fight on the water like Saber. Lancelot was called the knight of the lake because he was raised by the Lady of the Lake by the lake since infancy, until he reached adulthood and received the holy sword gifted by the Lady of the Lake before leaving. The grace and blessings the Lady of the Lake bestowed upon Lancelot were far greater than Saber's, even forming Lancelot's inherent skill: Protection of the Fairies.
However, Lancelot did not want Saber to discover this point, as she might deduce his identity. Therefore, the knight of the lake intentionally concealed his ability to fight on water; otherwise, his battle at this moment would be even more relaxed and graceful.
Saber's Anti-Fortress noble phantasm, Excalibur, was undoubtedly the best choice to eliminate the Sea Monster at this time. However, unfortunately, due to the curse of the inevitable yellow rose on her left thumb from Diarmuid, she was unable to release her noble phantasm. The reason was simply the elven script engraved on the spine of her holy sword: 'This sword must be held with ten fingers!'
It's worth noting that Lancelot, who was fighting by leveraging the Sea Monster's tentacles, could actually fight on the water like Saber. Lancelot was called the knight of the lake because he was raised by the Lady of the Lake by the lake since infancy, until he reached adulthood and received the holy sword gifted by the Lady of the Lake before leaving. The grace and blessings the Lady of the Lake bestowed upon Lancelot were far greater than Saber's, even forming Lancelot's inherent skill: Protection of the Fairies.
However, Lancelot did not want Saber to discover this point, as she might deduce his identity. Therefore, the knight of the lake intentionally concealed his ability to fight on water; otherwise, his battle at this moment would be even more relaxed and graceful.
Saber's Anti-Fortress noble phantasm, Excalibur, was undoubtedly the best choice to eliminate the Sea Monster at this time. However, unfortunately, due to the curse of the inevitable yellow rose on her left thumb from Diarmuid, she was unable to release her noble phantasm. The reason was simply the elven script engraved on the spine of her holy sword: 'This sword must be held with ten fingers!'
This is why in the original work/canon, Saber, with her injured thumb, couldn't use her holy sword. Excalibur is a noble phantasm that requires both hands to be clasped firmly together to release; it's not something that can be used casually without conditions.
Wielding the invisible sword, Saber, with the aid of Mana Burst, unleashed a golden sword qi that swept away the Sea Monster's tentacles within tens of meters. Although her movements weren't as swift as Lancelot's, her ability to release Mana Burst externally meant her clearing efficiency was not much worse.
Just then, Saber suddenly felt the lingering pain in her left thumb disappear. She then moved her left hand, and her left thumb, which had previously been immobile, was now as flexible as before. She once again clasped her holy sword tightly with both hands, and the spiritual holy sword once again hummed softly to her.
It seems Lancer has truly departed.
Feeling the recovery of her left hand, a faint sense of regret rippled through Saber's heart, but remembering the dazzling light of loyalty she had seen not long ago, her heart immediately found peace.
Saber stomped her silver battle boots on the water, running towards the distant Sea Monster. At the same time, she didn't forget to turn back and shout loudly to Lancelot and King of Conquerors, who were still delaying the Sea Monster:
"Berserker! King of Conquerors! Retreat to the shore quickly! I'm going to destroy this monster completely with my noble phantasm!"
Lancelot swung his sword again, cutting off and sending flying a cluster of Sea Monster's tentacles. Hearing Saber's shout, his helmet-shrouded gaze lowered, and he murmured to himself:
Did I not make it in time?
He didn't dwell on it. If he were to stop Saber from releasing her noble phantasm, then when Jalter arrived, it would be tantamount to telling everyone that his group was allied with the outlier Servant about to appear. Moreover, Lancelot would not obstruct any decision made by his King.
Lancelot stood on the Sea Monster's tentacles and leaped with all his might, flying over a hundred meters of the river directly to the bank. The dark Berserker landed heavily, creating a huge stone pit on the riverbank. Lancelot chose the bank in Miyama Town, directly opposite the Shinto (New City) bank where Irisviel was located, as no Master wanted to be alone with another group's Servant.
With a thunderous rumble of electric hooves and chariot wheels, King of Conquerors, driving his chariot, stopped next to Lancelot. The two men on the bank—no, all three, including Waver, who had joined King of Conquerors on the battlefield—turned their gazes towards Saber, who faced the Sea Monster in the center of the river.
Saber looked gratefully at Lancelot and King of Conquerors, who understood her feelings, then clasped her hands tightly around the invisible sword—
A fierce wind suddenly erupted on the river. The Wind King Barrier had been dispelled, and the golden sword revealed its true form amidst the roaring storm. Its brilliantly shining blade seemed to illuminate the surrounding darkness as if pledged to victory.
"That's King Arthur's..."
Witnessing the supreme and sacred strongest holy sword with his own eyes, Waver was dumbfounded with astonishment.
It was as if seeing a ray of dawn in a long night; the anxiety and unease that had plagued his heart were swept away by this light.
Yes, this is the ideal of a knight.
This is the culmination of everything people envision in their hearts when they steadfastly extol the dignity of humanity, even while in a bloody battlefield, amidst the terror of death and the despair of an endless hell, and vanish in infinite glory.
The time was ripe.
Saber poured all her magic power into her wrists, which tightly gripped the sword hilt, and raised the golden sword high.
Light was gathering.
As if illuminating this holy sword was its supreme mission, the light converged infinitely, forming a dazzling beam.
Bathed in this intense and clear light, everyone was speechless.
The heroic figure who once illuminated the darkness of a chaotic world deeper than night.
Unyielding for ten years, undefeated in twelve battles. This achievement is unparalleled in the world, this glory is unmatched, transcending time and enduring forever.
This dazzling noble phantasm is precisely the dream pursued and yearned for by all warriors who have perished on the battlefield throughout history, a crystallization of prayer named glory.
Proud to uphold this will, righteous to carry out this belief, now the king of knights loudly chanted the true name of the miracle in her hand—
"Ex—..."
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