DanMachi: Heroic Epic of Emiya the Great Hero

However, the moment it was about to cross the passage and charge into the enormous room, a black heavy axe cleaved through the air, smashing its hardened skull to pieces.

In his left hand [Hrunting], in his right hand [Nine Lives], Emiya's figure blocked the only entrance.

"TRACE, ON!"

Without hesitation, he advanced, stepping into the passage.

With each step forward, several silver-white spears manifested, their shafts slanting into the ground with spearheads pointing forward.

The crisscrossed spears formed dense steel barricades behind Emiya.

[Leonidas' Spears]

The Spartan King Leonidas, a hero renowned for resisting the Persian army of 100,000 with merely 300 men at the Battle of Thermopylae.

The spear barricade marked the boundary: behind it lay the vast chamber housing the Labyrinth's Lone King.

Ahead surged the tidal wave of beasts.

And before the spear formation stood a lone warrior.

「Skill [???????? (Roadless Valhalla)] activated.」

「Temporarily acquired skill [Rearguard Battle]」

In this moment, Emiya felt as if hallucinating - he seemed to hear behind him the confident, unrestrained voices of men.

["Now is the time for battle. Day and night, we fight until we fall!"]

["Child of man, fear not. Surmount this 'trial'!"]

["Witness the Spartan spirit! Not one step back - where we stand becomes Thermopylae!"]

For some reason, his mind calmed as he stared down the monsters momentarily stunned by his explosive aura.

["From this moment onward, passage through this place is forbidden."]

The passageway teemed with countless monsters.

Hundreds upon thousands of creatures spawned from the 17th floor, answering the Labyrinth King's call, had gathered here.

Quantitative accumulation forms terrifying violence. Even a Level 4 adventurer wouldn't dare face over a dozen Hellhounds' combined fiery breath.

Even first-class adventurers could be overwhelmed by endless waves of monsters.

Unlike humans, where a single mighty warrior can rout entire armies - for even the most elite troops cannot maintain morale before absolute violence - the tale of one shattering the courage of thousands is truth in this world.

Monsters are opposite. Individual beasts fear, cower, flee. But gathered in thousands, only primal madness remains in their collective will.

Yet now, the monsters hesitated before this solitary figure. From his stalwart posture, the axe and greatsword in his hands, the steel spears behind him, they sensed something deeper than instinct.

"GROW—"

But soon, mad instincts resurged. A Hellhound's roar triggered countless monsters to howl and charge.

"RAAAAAAAAH!!!!"

They were answered by an even more thunderous battle cry.

[Hrunting] swept horizontally like black lightning, tearing through air to meet midair-pouncing Hellhounds.

The blade precisely bisected a hound's midsection. With agonized shrieks, the massive body split, blood raining down.

The greatsword seemed alive, greedily drinking monster blood. Its jet-black surface glowed eerie crimson after satiation, like hellfire burning in darkness.

Meanwhile, the ferocious axe arced overhead, descending with mountain-splitting force upon a Minotaur.

The monster's crude stone axe shattered instantly under impact. The Minotaur's thick skull exploded, spraying blood and bone shards as the axe carried death's breath.

The legendary endurance and vitality that terrified countless foes became fragile paper before [Nine Lives]' heavy axe.

Each swing birthed a death hurricane. Air resonated with slicing winds and dying wails. All resistance seemed insignificant before the axe's might.

Greek myth-born monsters daring to defy [Nine Lives]—

'You bastards, do you seek to insult Heracles!'

Dual-wielding heavy weapons defied reason, yet Emiya transformed this madness into peerless power. Sword and axe became weightless, unleashing lightning attacks.

Obsidian swordlight poured like torrential rain upon the charging horde. Razor edges tore air alongside screams drowned in the blade-storm.

The black greatsword gradually sheathed in crimson bloodglow. Blood rivulets along the blade awakened the slumbering demonic weapon. The sword devoured lives, its bloodlust thickening, mad aura surging like tides, suffocating the air.

Many monsters tried breaching the entrance through speed. Those crashing into spears died instantly impaled. Survivors fell to Emiya's counterattacks.

「Unless this man dies, the spear barrier cannot be broken」—even maddened monsters gradually understood this.

Three Tiger Claws pounced like gales, their strength matching Minotaurs. Razor talons sliced air with lethal glints.

Swift and savage, each strike could rend steel. Gale-force speed and pressure aimed for Emiya's chest.

"ROAR!", The Tiger Claw bellowed. Even with its torso impaled, blood gushing, it charged undeterred. Talons lashed at the youth's shoulder before being severed.

Claws tore deep into his shoulder, staining armor crimson. Yet Emiya's gaze remained ice-cold. Pain didn't weaken resolve—it ignited inner flames.

「[Unyielding] skill activated: Strength increased. Endurance recovery boosted.」

「[Rearguard Battle] skill activated: During defensive battles or chokepoint holds, Strength/Endurance/Defense increased. Effects enhanced in adversity, further boosted in dire straits.」

Emiya raised his axe, smashing down. Talons and life obliterated into bloody mist. Standing at the crimson battlefield's heart, drenched in enemy blood, battered yet unyielding like mythical heroes.

"RAAAAAAAAH!!!!"

The fully crimsonized greatsword unleashed storm-like blade light, instantly bisecting all surrounding foes.

Unicorn Rabbits—fluffy white horned creatures, deceptively cute yet battle-maniacal. Individually weak mid-level foes, manageable for Level 1 adventurers. But en masse, their threat escalates to Level 2 speed-specialized dangers.

Yet now, Emiya's blade outpaced their charge. Cold glints exterminated crimson-eyed war-thirsty rabbits before approach. The fortunate few breaching the sword screen left bleeding wounds with their horns, only to have necks crushed underfoot, final whimpers drowned in blood.

Crystal Mantis—rare precious monsters with translucent crystalline bodies glowing internally. Their unique forms make them among the mid-level's most magic-resistant foes.

Yet their glittering shells proved fragile as thin ice before [Hrunting]'s strikes.

With thunderous impact, the greatsword shattered crystalline carapace. Glittering shards fell like luminous rain amidst blood tides.

More Minotaurs, Hellhounds, Tiger Claws—flesh-and-blood monsters surged endlessly.

Black Goliath's roars drove them to utter madness. Burning with infinite greed and rage, they charged death-defyingly.

Emiya met them with scythe-like strikes. His blade light—slaughter or final redemption for these mad creatures.

Blood sprayed in slender rings, etching a blazing Ring of Divine Punishment at his feet.

Distant Hellhounds ceased mindless charges. Gathering, their bloodthirsty eyes filled with savagery, they simultaneously opened maws to spew scorching flames.

The conflagration spread, forming sky-blotting waves seeking to consume the man.

In mid-levels, this blaze ranked among deadliest attacks. Countless adventurers turned to ash under Hellhound breath. Where flames passed, only scorched earth remained.

Yet facing this incinerating inferno, Emiya didn't retreat. Gripping his axe, he swung full-force. The great axe carved a perfect circle, devouring incoming flames.

Black blade light ignited golden rings. Fire remnants danced around the axehead like solar corona edges—blindingly radiant.

The axe merged with flames, becoming an unstoppable weapon scattering heat and power.

Wyverns—five-meter dragonoids including tails—were sole monsters enduring fire and axe to charge.

A crimson draconic beast charged, using its bulk to disrupt the axe's circular swing.

Even decapitated, the dragon's massive body delivered crushing impact. Emiya vomited hot blood.

「[Unyielding] activated: Strength boosted. Stamina recovery greatly enhanced.」

「Temporarily acquired Development Ability [Mad Enhancement] G」

「Temporarily acquired Development Ability [Mad Enhancement] F」

"RAAAAAAAAH!!!!"

Using the dragon corpse to block another Hellhound salvo, Emiya counter-charged.

Monsters gained no ground—his position advanced further.

But this wasn't enough. Though holding the line, their numbers demanded annihilation before his stamina and spirit depleted.

'Not enough—I need greater power—'

「—Grow larger」

A voice echoed behind.

「Its power its deeds, countless treasures countless wishes. When bells toll, pray for glory and fantasy」

A melancholic, ethereal female voice.

「—Grow larger」

Yet now, the voice held iron resolve.

「This body that consumed divine offerings bestows godly radiance. Hammer returns to earth, bestowing blessings.」

Like pious prayers from a distant land.

「—Grow larger」

Golden particles flooded the youth's body like warm tides, permeating every fiber.

His body lightened as if gravity vanished. Surroundings slowed multiple times. Enemy movements clarified into slow-motion. Weapons fused with flesh, moving like natural extensions.

It felt like parched earth receiving spring water. Grave wounds trivialized. Exhausted muscles reinvigorated. Drained stamina surged beyond prior limits.

To describe it—life essence sublimated. Each breath overflowed with boundless power. As if transcending mortality, nearing divine realms.

[Uchide no Kozuchi]

Sanjouno Haruhime's sole magic, effects simple—"Level Boost".

Single-target, 15-minute duration. Elevates target's level by one.

This simplicity made [Uchide no Kozuchi] the mightiest support magic in Orario's history—no, since gods descended.

Emiya hurled [Hrunting]. The blood-sated demon blade became crimson light streaking through air like bloodthirsty hound amidst monsters.

Blade light danced between beasts. Each flash mimicked hound-mauling prey, blood blossoms and screams rising.

[Nine Lives] reverted to bow form. Drawing the string, he chanted—

Both [Hrunting] and [Nine Lives] were "anti-unit" armaments. Even with monster-specific advantages, their area damage remained limited.

As Level 1, even with [Oath of Protection], Emiya couldn't project [Anti-Army Noble Phantasms].

Until [Uchide no Kozuchi]'s radiance descended.

"Witness the true rainbow—[Fake·Caladbolg]—"

Strangely calm, Emiya whispered the Noble Phantasm's true name.

Bow's center blossomed pure white light, condensing into focused beam. Dazzling radiance bordering on blinding held swirling rainbow hues, weaving dreamlike luminescence.

The light pierced void. Space tore instantly. Atmosphere ruptured mercilessly. White radiance—divine punishment transfixing heaven and earth—brought momentary stillness and silence.

The brief tranquility froze time, only light persisting. Then world-shaking thunder erupted, distorting vision, shaking space itself—declaring this strike's finality and invincibility.

Emiya turned away. Ignoring the army-destroyed monsters, he strode through passage toward Black Goliath.

Bow-formed [Nine Lives] dispersed into particles. Drinking the last half-bottle of spirit medicine from Alicia, he projected this battle's final armament with residual magic—

An ordinary stone devoid of magic or mystery.

Emiya hurled the stone at the giant's head with all strength. The projectile streaked through air as his body finally collapsed.

He fell heavily, vision dimming. Consciousness ebbed, sinking into deep slumber.

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