NCCnovel Chapter 649 - 649
Chapter 649 - 649
Within the bronze walls were embedded the figures of Minamoto no Raikou, Black Saber, and another Heroic Spirit.Each had their eyes closed, appearing as if asleep. If not for the gentle rise and fall of their chests, one might mistake them for mere decorative statues on the bronze walls.
Apart from being restrained within the walls, they showed no other visible abnormalities on the surface.
"Miss Raikou entered with you, yet you remained at the entrance while she was immediately embedded into the wall?"
Merlin pondered thoughtfully. "It seems unawakened Heroic Spirits are instantly embedded into the walls upon entering this place. That bronze wall must be a facility related to awakening..."
Artoria.
His gaze fell upon the young woman on the right, his eyes deepening slightly.
Both Minamoto no Raikou and the other Heroic Spirit appeared serene, their breathing steady. But Artoria was different—her brows were tightly furrowed, her complexion ashen, and her breathing rapid.
As if trapped in a nightmare.
"Miss Raikou and the other Heroic Spirit must have just arrived, but Artoria has been here for about a week now. Very few Heroic Spirits have managed to endure this long..."
Merlin murmured to himself, a trace of concern unconsciously surfacing on his face.
He had returned from outside as soon as he learned Artoria had been captured. But with numerous responsibilities—monitoring Goetia's movements while ensuring Chaldea's safety in the Lostbelt—he had returned at his fastest possible speed, though investigating the situation still took considerable time.
Eiji glanced at him.
Though Merlin might be somewhat heartless, his care for Artoria was genuine. In this regard, the incubus was trustworthy.
Confirming that Raikou was temporarily safe, Eiji quickly surveyed the entire labyrinth.
Starting from the rear:
The place they entered was at the end of a passage. Behind them, a swirling vortex of light hung on the wall, seemingly indicating an exit.
From their current position, navigating through various twists and turns and traversing a straight distance of one kilometer would lead to the labyrinth's end—where the bronze wall stood.
However, this wasn't the only branching path; the direction of the bronze wall was merely one of the forks.
And on another branching path—
"Is that... a blood pool?"
A shocking sight of crimson blood flooded his vision.
At the end of one branching path stood a blood pool, approximately one square meter in size, constructed from rock. The thick blood alone was enough to make one feel its pervasive, metallic scent invading their nostrils.
Beside the blood pool stood a man entirely wrapped in bandages, muttering to the pool, though his words were indistinct.
It was Roa!
"Hm?"
The fleeting light at the starting point caught Roa's attention.
"Is that him? He actually found this place? And brought company too... The wall increased by one. Did he find a way to enter?"
Roa rose from beside the blood pool, his crimson right eye narrowing slyly like a fox's.
"It seems we've been discovered."
Merlin remarked with a calm smile.
"Then let's deal with him first!"
Eiji's eyes were cold as he took the lead, striding toward the fork in the road.
Merlin stroked his chin, his gaze shifting between Roa and the brass wall for a moment before he raised his wand and followed.
Not long after.
The two arrived beside the blood pool.
It was a vast, open space with nothing but the blood pool at its center.
Surrounding the blood pool were numerous magic circles composed of numbers, flickering with an uncertain glow.
"I'm impressed you found this place, but it's a pity—you're too late!"
Roa tilted his chin arrogantly, his expression full of conceit.
"Look at this! Arcueid is already in my grasp. Once the ritual is complete, I will obtain the true eternity I've always yearned for from her!"
He gazed at Arcueid, who was submerged in the blood pool, his tone brimming with pride and triumph.
Eiji and Merlin exchanged a glance.
Eiji's expression was somewhat peculiar.
Merlin smiled without speaking.
Roa, on the verge of fulfilling his long-cherished wish, was completely immersed in joy and failed to notice their strange demeanor.
Then, Eiji took a step forward.
Roa's expression tightened, growing slightly alert.
Although he was about to attain eternity, the ritual could not be interrupted, and necessary vigilance had to be maintained.
Eiji walked to a corner of the clearing and, under Roa's puzzled gaze, bent down to pick something up before returning to Merlin's side.
Snap!
Merlin snapped his fingers.
In the blink of an eye.
From Roa's perspective, Arcueid in the blood pool vanished.
Then, in the next instant, she appeared in Eiji's arms.
"Take care of her."
Eiji set Arcueid down and spoke to Merlin.
"Of course."
Merlin replied with a smile.
"——"
Roa's mind went blank for a moment.
"You're messing with me?!"
His eyes widened immediately, burning with intense fury.
He prided himself as a great magus, yet he had been deceived by magic!
In their eyes, his triumphant demeanor by the blood pool must have looked as ridiculous as a clown's!
"So what if I am messing with you!"
Eiji's hands clenched empty air, and the Bling Blade instantly appeared in his grasp.
"Blame your own stupidity!"
"I won't waste words with you. Hand over Arcueid!"
Roa's expression turned icy cold.
"Idiot!"
Eiji spat at him.
"Mere human!"
This blunt insult finally reminded Roa of the humiliation he had suffered the last time he was berated.
Furious, he drew his dagger, gritted his teeth, and charged forward!
Eight hundred years of obsession!
He was so close to achieving his desire, with only one final night remaining, yet it had shattered at the critical moment!
The insult to his dignity and the collapse of his long-cherished wish drove Roa into a rage beyond reason!
Boom!
A deafening roar erupted suddenly!
A black shadow flashed past, and in the blink of an eye.
In his furious state, Roa crossed fifty meters in an instant, appearing right before Eiji.
Eiji's expression tensed.
So fast—his eyes couldn't keep up at all!
Even so.
The moment Roa charged, Eiji's years of martial training triggered a reflexive response, and he raised his blade.
Clang!
The blade precisely intercepted the dagger's tip.
But the immense force struck like a collapsing mountain. Eiji stomped hard on the ground, his body flowing like water to dissipate the impact, yet his feet slid uncontrollably, and he was forced back two meters.
The technique of "Harmonizing Light with Dust" allowed him to dissipate most of the force in an instant, yet it was impossible to completely neutralize all the power upon contact.
If only there were a moment to buffer—
"You can't defeat me!"
Roya laughed triumphantly.
"Dracula is indeed strong!"
Eiji curled the corner of his mouth, revealing a mocking smile.
Roya's face darkened.
Dracula was certainly powerful—even among Servants, he stood at the absolute pinnacle. Aside from a few exceptional beings beyond conventional standards, virtually none could rival him.