Chapter 153: Steel Cataclysm (10)

The fourth level of the dungeon was the largest in area, and Zhao Tianhe and Tianxie stayed behind here to intercept the incoming monsters.

Meanwhile, Zelgadis took the non-combat personnel deep into the interior to set up various barrier arrays, preparing the final line of defense.

Elea slowly faded away, though she left behind two Garuda spirits to help Zhao Tianhe fly in order to dodge the long-range steel needle barrages from the metallic lizard.

On the other side, Tianxie had transformed into a ten-meter-tall overload-mode giant, grabbing the tentacles of the terrestrial jellyfish and unleashing a ferocious beatdown.

Unless an A-rank boss possessed special innate traits, first-tier spells still had a certain probability of taking effect, which was why Zhao Tianhe was able to drastically slow this creature down using curses.

Generally speaking, Zhao Tianhe maintained a rhythm of a hundred curses followed by ten projected swords, doing his best to slow down the metallic lizard.

A pseudo-Pure Yang sword materialized, and a multitude of unfathomable runes flowed through Zhao Tianhe's eyes; this was him reading the information of the Flying Sword Technique.

Then, nine Caliburns appeared. Although these nine swords naturally dropped downward the moment they materialized, they quickly paused in mid-air, and then followed the pseudo-Pure Yang sword in a full-frontal assault toward the metallic lizard's head.

Zhao Tianhe could only use the Flying Sword Technique when projecting the pseudo-Pure Yang sword, because he could temporarily read the spells contained within it—a principle similar to empowering enlightenment, though temporary. Moreover, because the Flying Sword Technique was far too complex, even with the comprehension granted by his high agility, he completely failed to grasp its underlying principles, making it difficult to learn permanently.

"Come to think of it, perhaps Emiya Shirou really is a 'Sword Immortal'..." Zhao Tianhe had always felt that the principle behind Unlimited Blade Works' levitating flying swords was really similar to the Flying Sword Technique he read from the pseudo-Pure Yang sword. Emiya had likely read it from other "flying sword system" Noble Phantasms and learned it.

The tip of the pseudo-Pure Yang sword managed to barely pierce its outer skin before shattering and vanishing, while the nine Caliburns, the moment they touched the metallic lizard's surface, exploded into clusters of fireballs and completely dissipated...

The internal structure of these low-grade Caliburn projections was extremely unstable; they were essentially just fire elements shaped like precious swords.

To be honest, after gradually becoming familiar with the various attributes of projected swords, Zhao Tianhe felt that he should replace all offensive methods entirely with projected swords, leaving only curses and fire spells as subjects worthy of further study.

This is because the projected sword skill of the Unlimited Armament, even when its level increased, was still counted as a mere first-tier spell!

Zhao Tianhe projected once more, and thirteen Caliburns alongside one Pure Yang sword manifested beside him. Furthermore, the design of one of the Caliburns was quite distinctly unique.

The other projected swords all looked somewhat hazy, as if the image resolution was insufficient, but this particular sword was "high-definition"!

In fact, this sword was the result of triggering the lowest probability of the Hyper-Spell Premonition, successfully projecting a sixth-tier sword!

Fourteen flying swords roared through the air. Thirteen of them collapsed upon the slightest touch just as before, but that single sixth-tier projected sword pierced deeply into the boss's body.

Driven by Zhao Tianhe, this projected sword carved all the way across the boss's heavily scaled back, cleaving out a deep ravine.

Yet after this single strike, the projected sword was spent, leaving only the hilt suspended in mid-air, while the fractured fragments lodged within the boss's body suddenly detonated simultaneously.

The power was akin to hundreds of grenades exploding within its body at once, expanding the wound further and causing numerous horrifying cracks to tear across the boss's entire back.

The metallic lizard staggered and fell to the ground from the blast. Naturally, Zhao Tianhe did not have the guts to rush in for the finishing blow; instead, he routinely cast dozens of curses while continuing to widen the distance.

'Restore some mana.' Zhao Tianhe took a deep breath, feeling the surging mana within his body, and cast projected swords once more.

"Hey! Come over and finish this thing off!" On the other side, Tianxie had torn off all the tentacles of the terrestrial jellyfish and shattered its body, exposing the complex structures within its hardened shell.

Clearly, this should be its weak point.

Therefore, according to the plan, Zhao Tianhe would deliver the finishing blow and draw a card to see if he could pull out a game-changing ultimate weapon!

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tianhe did not say a word as over thirty sword blades materialized around him once more, and he fired them all at once!

Tianxie cooperated by exerting force and hurling the body of the terrestrial jellyfish forward, crashing directly into Zhao Tianhe's barrage of projected swords.

Following a flurry of wild bombardment, the interior of the terrestrial jellyfish was reduced to a chaotic mess billowing with dark smoke, finally exploding into fragments with a loud bang.

Two Summoning Tickets dropped out of thin air, and Zhao Tianhe caught them in one motion.

Meanwhile, Tianxie rushed forward to engage the metallic lizard, which was attempting to hunt down Zhao Tianhe.

Clutching the two Summoning Tickets, Zhao Tianhe initiated the card pull without the slightest hesitation!

'Give me something fierce! Preferably something with sustained utility!' Zhao Tianhe prayed with anxious desperation.

Yet with the gacha pool, it seemed to have become an absolute law that the more you desired something, the less likely it was to appear.

On the golden craft essence card was a voluptuous beauty with graceful lines, clad in a uniquely designed red-and-white mobility armor. Behind her, a mechanical beast resembling a giant tortoise roared past.

Swirling Firmament, Heroic Spirit Exclusive Craft Essence.
Upon use, summons the Heroic Spirit Armor F-Girl.
Heroic Spirit Armor F-Girl: Increases the wearer's strength attribute by 20%, grants permanent flight, and alters the spiritual garment state of the Heroic Spirit.
The Heroic Spirit Armor can persist permanently, provided that the Heroic Spirit remains bound to the craft essence.

Without a doubt, this craft essence was very suitable for Artoria, and she could even use the Summer Crown to restore her state before equipping this craft essence.

Of course, more importantly, the spiritual garment state alteration effect of this craft essence was quite stimulating!

However, this was no time for such thoughts; the next craft essence had already materialized!

On the golden craft essence was an adult female with short brown hair wearing Japanese kendo wear and holding a wooden sword, alongside a silver-haired little loli dressed in a Japanese elementary school gym uniform.

Their background was a very standard Japanese kendo dojo.

Bounded Field · Tiger Dojo, Master Exclusive Craft Essence.
Passive Ability: Once More.
Once More: This ability can be activated without being equipped. When the Master dies, they will enter the Tiger Dojo to receive nagging and training, and then resurrect.

'Holy crap, this is overpowered!' Zhao Tianhe was stunned on the spot upon reading this description. This was actually a resurrection ability, and it was even passive!

"Hey! Are you done yet?!" Tianxie roared at Zhao Tianhe.

The metallic lizard in his grip had been pummeled until its entire body was cracked beyond recognition, twitching all over with its tail even torn off.

"No! It can't be reversed!" Zhao Tianhe shouted, shaking his head.

"Then do it again!" Tianxie shouted, stepping on the metallic lizard.

At that very moment, however, a deafening crash suddenly echoed from the entrance of the second level, as the subsequent army of monsters finally surged in!