DanMachi: Unlimited Blade Works

Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Falling Stars



Looking at the terrifying scene, Shirou cursed inwardly once again. Fortunately, he hadn't relied on the anime's version. In the anime, Riveria had withstood two spells before breaking. If he'd believed that, he might not have known how he'd perished. Still, the situation was within his acceptable range—the Fallen Spirit was rated LV.7, while Riveria was LV.6. Moreover, the enemy was a Spirit, a manifestation of the gods and a being far more knowledgeable in magic than even elves. Losing to such an entity was no disgrace.

"Damn it, the barrier's going to shatter!" Riveria shouted, her voice urgent as she saw the cracks spreading through the barrier. "Gareth, protect Ais and the others!"

In an instant, Gareth snatched two shields from the supporters and jumped behind Riveria. He set the shields in front of Ais and the others. The next moment, Riveria's barrier magic emitted a piercing sound and fragmented into shards.

"Riveria!" Ais cried out, watching in horror as Riveria was nearly engulfed by the crimson flames. Ais understood that Riveria and Gareth were taking the brunt of the damage to protect the group. But before she could even mourn, Shirou's figure suddenly appeared beside Riveria.

"As a middle guard, how could I let the rear guard stand in front?!" Shirou shouted as he rushed to Riveria's side, embracing her to shield her from the magic's recoil. In his other hand, a pink flower petal bloomed in response to the flames. The shield, made of seven petals, stood firm in front of everyone.

"Rho Aias!" The petal-shaped shield withstood the flames, dividing the torrent of fire as it flowed around Shirou. Behind him, the others couldn't help but feel a deep sense of trust. Shirou always brought surprises in the most critical moments.

"Ahhh!!!" Shirou clenched his teeth, struggling to hold the shield in place. Unlike a magic barrier, Shirou had to endure the kinetic energy of the attack. If he faltered and was pushed back, the shield would be rendered useless.

Bang! The shield shattered quietly. Rho Aias, with its seven layers of protection, only held for a few seconds before the first layer broke. The subsequent layers followed suit, one by one, and the pressure from the incoming flames intensified.

Though the situation was growing more dangerous, Shirou's eyes sparkled with determination. He could sense it. This magic was nearing its end. This was the Fallen Spirit's final attack.

"Ais, catch Riveria!" Shirou tossed Riveria to Ais behind him, just as the heat grew unbearable. He extended both hands, bracing against the incoming attack.

"Hold on, damn it!" Shirou gritted his teeth, as the sixth layer of Rho Aias shattered, leaving only one layer to stand between them and the fiery torrent. His body was pushed back, his boots digging into the earth as he fought to hold his ground.

Just as Shirou felt himself faltering, a force pressed against his back. He didn't need to look to know whose hand it was.

With his companions supporting him, Shirou roared, "No way!!!" Despite the first six layers of Rho Aias being destroyed, the final layer held strong. Through Shirou's perseverance, he shielded his companions and endured the Infernal Storm.

"Huff, huff, huff!" The flames had finally ceased, leaving only Shirou's heavy breathing in the silence. After the battle, he felt completely drained.

"I really want to lie down and rest!" Shirou sighed, but Tiona and Tione, who had been supporting him, cheered him on.

"That was amazing, Shirou! You saved everyone!"

"Did I?" Shirou glanced at the scorched earth around them. There was no sense of pride in his eyes. Riveria, suffering from the magical backlash, couldn't cast magic again immediately. If the Fallen Spirit cast another spell, they would be in serious danger.

"Thanks, Shirou. You saved my life."

"What are you talking about, Riveria? I don't think that spell would have killed you."

"Who knows?" Riveria replied with a weak smile, breathing heavily.

"Shirou, be careful! My thumb is still throbbing. The danger isn't over yet."

"Again?!" Shirou's mind raced. The Fallen Spirit had released two spells in the anime, but Riveria's barrier magic had held for two. Now, the first spell had shattered the barrier. If he hadn't intervened, Riveria and Gareth would have been down. But how had the Loki Familia survived the next magic in the anime? They had more supporters than they did now. Could it be that someone had fallen?

As if to confirm Finn's suspicion, another chant echoed through the air.

"[O Earth, groan...]"

"Seriously, again?!" Shirou looked back at Riveria. "Can you still chant?"

"Bále pelheim is out of the question for now. I can only cast Veil Breath!"

"Then do it!" Shirou shouted, raising his shield high.

"Understood!"

"[Echo...transmit desires (voices), robes of the forest!]" As Riveria chanted, the Fallen Spirit's chant continued.

"[Come, come, come. Shell of the earth, flash of black iron, hammer of falling stars, reversal of the contract of creation. Burn the sky, shatter the earth, bridge heaven and earth, bring down the axe of the sky, disaster of destruction...]"

The chant came too fast—an acceleration far beyond anything Shirou had anticipated. The Fallen Spirit's magic was more advanced than before: continuous, long, and supersonic. It was breaking the Loki Familia's understanding of magic.

"[By the name of the Proxy, I command thee, bestow upon me the name of the Earth Spirit, Incarnation of Earth, Queen of Earth...]" The chant's acceleration filled the air, and the magic circle above the Fallen Spirit grew ever larger. Finn's urgent voice broke through, "Faster, Riveria!"

"No, it's too late! The chant speed's too fast!" Riveria cried out in frustration, but it was too late. The magic circle above the Fallen Spirit was already glowing with immense power.

Shirou raised the last remaining layer of Rho Aias and shouted, "I'll buy us time!"

"[Falling Stars!]"

The sky lit up with the overwhelming light of the magic circle. A massive amount of magic power gathered, and meteors began to rain down upon them.

"Get behind me!" Shirou shouted as he retreated to stand in front of Riveria. He raised his shield high, bracing for the impending onslaught.

The meteor shower summoned by Falling Stars wasn't just a magical attack—it carried massive kinetic energy, the kind that could obliterate anyone caught beneath it. Shirou knew that his shield might not break, but he could still be crushed by the sheer force of the impact.

But Shirou's resolve was stronger than his doubt. As his shield began to crack, he knew he couldn't let his comrades fall.

With one hand gripping the shield, he concentrated his magic into the other. "How can I fall here?!"

The instant Rho Aias shattered completely, Shirou swung his left arm, summoning another weapon. Above them, a massive sword appeared—Green Horizon of the Thousand Mountains. This time, it wasn't imbued with its divine essence, but it was large enough to protect everyone beneath it.

With the sword in place, Shirou roared, "I promised Loki I'd bring everyone back safely! We will never fall here!"

"Ah!!!"

Aaaaaa...

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