DanMachi: The Epic of the Heroic Spirits of Emiya Shirou

"Freeze, lock of winter!"

Alicia unleashed a short incantation spell, sending ice spikes hurtling towards the black Goliath's gaping maw, interrupting its roar once more.

Short spells are often less powerful than long spells, but they are superior in terms of flexibility and casting speed.

"Shirou, project the demonic sword with all your might!" Alicia commanded while attacking. "Ryu, I'll hold here, you go to Shirou's side!"

Emiya's magic sword, fired with an arrow, couldn't penetrate Black Goliath's tough skin; both of them, at Lv.4 level, needed to personally insert the magic sword into Black Goliath's body.

"Projection, begin (Trace on)!"

Emiya pressed one hand to his head and projected a crimson flaming demon sword with the other, his expression contorted by the intense headache.

The mental energy consumption was too great. Even though he drank high-grade spiritual medicine like water, Emiya still felt like there were countless needles shaking in his head.

"Hold on, I need to help Ryu and Alicia..."

Skill [Oath Under the Snow] activated

When protecting others, attack power and durability are increased, as are the effects of magic and skills.

"Projection, begin (Trace on)!"

Throwing the projected demonic sword to the ground, Emiya did his best to retrieve the last bottle of high-grade healing potion from his satchel.

Ryu rushed to the boy and grabbed the demon sword, but Emiya grabbed her hand and poured healing potion on Ryu's injured left hand.

"——Shirou."

"Let's... get some treatment first..."

Seeing the elf girl's once fair skin turned into a bloody mess, Emiya couldn't help but feel a tightness in his chest, and his headache became even more severe.

"It's alright. For an adventurer, such injuries are nothing. Thanks to Shirou's projection, we've already found the path to victory—"

"Roar!!!"

A roar far more ferocious than ever before interrupted Ryu's story. The astonishing sound echoed throughout the empty room, and Haruhime even had to cover her ears to avoid being knocked unconscious.

The terrifying sound waves even forced Alicia to temporarily avoid their impact, taking a few steps back, otherwise she felt as if her eardrums were about to be pierced.

Black Goliath's roar this time was not simply an emotional outburst, nor was it a ranged attack using the magic cannon [Roar].

As the roar continued, the black Goliath's originally firm, metallic skin became dull and dry, as if it had aged decades in just a few seconds. At the same time, the muscles and skin on its right leg were rapidly regenerating and recovering.

"How can someone have the ability to recover from injuries by consuming their entire life force?!" A sense of despair rose in Alicia's heart.

The severe damage to the Titan's right leg, rendering it immobile, was an extremely significant achievement for her and Ryu.

Because once Goliath loses its mobility, its massive size will become a disadvantage, turning it into a sitting duck. Even if Alicia and Ryu lack offensive power, they can slowly whittle it down.

However, now, due to Black Goliath's sudden burst of self-regeneration ability, Alicia's original plan has completely fallen through.

If we look at this battle from the perspective of a "video game", Goliath's total HP has not increased at this point, and he even suffers additional losses due to forcibly healing his severely injured thigh.

But real battles are not games; losing a leg and having your overall vitality reduced are two completely different concepts!

Even though Black Goliath's overall capabilities, especially its defensive capabilities, will certainly be reduced due to the loss of its overall vitality, this is nothing compared to the strategic value of losing a leg.

What made Alicia even more desperate was the sound that followed.

"Moo!!!"

"Roar!!!"

"Ow!!!"

Through the passageway leading into the enormous room, the cries of various monsters could be heard.

The room they are in now only produces Goliath, and no other monsters can be spawned. This is the reason why adventurers must face Goliath here.

However, the monsters are mobile; they are responding to the call of Black Goliath.

Following [Roar] and [Self-Recovery], Black Goliath once again displayed a special ability that ordinary Goliath lacked, and which was also the most disastrous ability for adventurers—

[Monster Summoning]!

The potential of Lv.5, plus the special abilities of [Roar], [Self-Recovery], and [Monster Summoning].

Without a doubt, this black Goliath is the Lone Boss of the Labyrinth, with a difficulty level of Lv.6.

-

The monster's potential ability and the difficulty of defeating it are two evaluation dimensions.

For example, the two-headed dragon with a potential ability of Lv.5 actually has an ability value of Lv.5 in water combat, but the adventurers' strength will be greatly limited in the water combat environment, so the difficulty of defeating it is rated as Lv.6.

And then there's the boss of the 49th floor, the One-Eyed Demon King Balor, whose potential ability is Lv.7, but the battlefield where he is located is filled with many savage monsters of at least Lv.4 strength, Furmor. When defeating Balor, you must face the siege of these monsters at the same time, making it a level 8 difficulty level.

Black Goliath's inherent potential ability is Lv.5, and the difficulty of defeating it increases to Lv.6 after [Monster Summoning] is activated.

Chapter 45 [The Oath of Protection]

"Ryu, go and guard the entrance! Don't let any other monsters in!" Alicia roared.

Her once beautiful and neat orange-gold hair was now completely disheveled, and Alicia could no longer maintain her usual composure.

Ryu gritted her teeth, looked at the entrance to the room where the monster's roar was becoming increasingly clear, and then turned to look at Alicia.

Once the monsters break in, not only will Emiya and the others be doomed, but Alicia and Ryu will also be unable to withstand the monsters' onslaught against Black Goliath.

It's safe to say that once they're surrounded by the monster group, their inevitable fate is annihilation!

But can Alicia alone really withstand Black Goliath? Even if she can hold her own against Goliath, so what? Alicia's short magic is too weak. She doesn't have the means to kill giants. Is she going to compete with Goliath in endurance?

"Ryu, go guard the entrance! Lefia, move! Move!" Alicia shouted hysterically as she attacked the giant.

"【Advanced Sword of Victory】! Use this magic!!!"

【High-Grade Sword of Victory】—This is one of the powerful spells wielded by Rivera, the vice-captain of the Loki Familia and one of the Nine Demon Princesses. Alicia clearly remembers that this spell was already inscribed in Lefia's 【Fairy Ring】.

In terms of the power of a single strike, this magic definitely ranks among the pinnacle of all urban offensive magic.

If Lefia can successfully complete the incantation of [High-level Sword of Victory] and accurately hit the upper body of the black Goliath, its power will be enough to take away most of the Goliath's life, even if it is a level 5 Goliath with strength and durability specialization!

That's right, this is the only way out. In terms of pure magical firepower, Lv.2 Lefia surpasses Lv.4 Alicia, and even surpasses Ryu!

Ryu held off the other monsters, while Alicia and Emiya restrained Black Goliath, allowing Lefia to unleash her magic and kill him.

As the commander, Alicia instantly found the path to victory, but the problem was—

"I...I..." Lefia's heart was pounding so hard that Emiya could hear it. Her hands, gripping her wand, trembled uncontrollably. She couldn't even speak coherently, let alone chant any spells.

The ordinary Goliath was already a psychological trauma for her, let alone such a terrifying black Goliath!

On the other side, Haruhime was also trembling all over. She hugged the unconscious Aisha and said, "What... what should I do..."

She seemed to be able to cast a spell, but everyone in the Ishtar Familia told her that she must never reveal the spell to outsiders.

"Lord Emiya, what should I do—" Haruhime looked at Emiya, hoping that his figure could give her courage.

At that very moment, while Haruhime and Lefia were still trembling and hesitating, Emiya made his move.

"I don't know if this will work, but I'll have to take the gamble." He said softly, then suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Ryu's shoulder with his left hand, and wrapped his right arm around Ryu's head from behind.

He pulled Liu into his arms and kissed the elven girl's lips tightly.

Ryu's brain shut down due to the sudden accident, and her body froze completely. She felt the hot and sweet smell spreading in her mouth.

To stay conscious, Emiya had already bitten his tongue, and their first kiss tasted of blood.

"Ryu, go help Alicia. I'll hold off the monsters here. I'll protect you."

[Oath Under the Snow] Skill effect activated

When you have a close bond with the person you are protecting, all your abilities are enhanced, your ability growth is accelerated, your ability cap is broken, and the effects of your magic and skills are enhanced.

Skill effects increase based on the number and strength of bonds.

·

The moment Emiya suddenly kissed Ryu, the whole world seemed to fall silent.

Lefia stared in disbelief, while Haruhime covered her eyes with both hands, but with her fingers wide open, just in time to catch Alicia, who was turning around to urge Ryu to act quickly, also dumbfounded.

Even the Black Goliath seemed to be stunned for a moment.

What shocked them even more was the change that had occurred in Emiya.

A vast and intense magical power surged from his body, and a powerful sense of strength burst forth from within. His deep red hair danced in the air, as if waves of energy were rising from his body.

Alicia was the first to react:

"...Ryu, let's make a trade!"

"Eh?"

While Ryu was still in a daze, Alicia had already rushed over. Seeing that there was no one blocking her way, the black Goliath immediately tried to unleash [Roar]. Ryu quickly threw out her magic sword to interrupt her.

"Alysia, what are you doing—" Ryu roared as she charged toward the black Goliath.

"Although I don't quite understand what your skills or magic are all about, this should be fine."

Alicia hugged Emiya, closed her eyes, and kissed him.

"Alicia!!!!!"

The background sounds were Ryu's furious roar and the sound of her katana slicing through the air as she violently swung it at the black Goliath, her recently dyed green hair dancing wildly in the air.

[Oath Under the Snow] Skill effect activated

When you have a close bond with the person you are protecting, all your abilities are enhanced, your ability growth is accelerated, your ability cap is broken, and the effects of your magic and skills are enhanced.

Skill effects increase based on the number and strength of bonds.

"We're leaving our backs to you, Shirou." Alicia turned her head away, not letting the boy see her expression.

"Yes, I will protect you. This is my oath."

Alicia turned and rushed toward the black Goliath, while Emiya rushed toward the entrance to the enormous room in another direction.

"Identification and Creation Concepts"

Scenario Basic Framework

Copy the component material

Imitation production technology

Empathetic growth experience

Replay cumulative years

Overcoming and completing many projects──

At this very moment, the sword that embodies all of fantasy is complete—

"【Red Plains Hound】!"

Emiya's left hand gripped the deep black greatsword.

Although it is still a fake from the perspective of the projected object, this time, what he projected was no longer an empty shell without any content.

"[Shoot down a hundred heads]!" With a low roar from the boy, a surge of magical power flowed into the heavy bow held in his right hand, giving this projectile, which was about to reach its time limit, new power.

Magic and will constitute the contents of the Noble Phantasm, and the giant bow gradually changed its form, transforming into a terrifying giant axe.

[Shoot Down 100 Heads (Nine Lives)], Axe Form!

All kinds of handheld weapons, or martial arts performed bare-handed, can in a sense be transformed into the Noble Phantasm of the technique [Style: Shoot Down a Hundred Heads]. By bringing out the maximum power of the weapon, it can manifest in various forms depending on the situation, from fighting against people to fighting against armies, and even being capable of besieging cities.

At this moment, what Emiya needs is a simpler and more direct force than a bow and arrow.

"The effect of the skill [?????? (Roadless Valhalla)] is activated."

"Temporarily gained the development ability [Hunter] H"

"Temporarily gains the ability to develop [Berserk] I"

Temporarily acquired the skill [Valiant]

Temporarily acquired the skill [Unyielding]

The first to rush into the cave entrance was a black-haired wolf that looked like a wild dog; this was a mid-level monster known as the Hellhound.