DanMachi: Unlimited Blade Works

"Ah!!!"

Shirou raised the greatsword high, and it transformed into a shield, blocking the meteorites raining down from the sky. The greatsword, not being armor and thus offering no damage reduction, bore down with overwhelming weight. The relentless onslaught of meteorites pressed continuously against Shirou's body, vibrating his internal organs.

Gazing at Shirou, who was holding up a piece of the sky for them, everyone's eyes were filled with both gratitude and self-reproach. Gratitude for Shirou's courageous stand, protecting them, and self-reproach for their powerlessness, for lacking the strength to assist him.

Unlike when they previously withstood the flame attack head-on, when they could support Shirou from behind, the sword Shirou projected now wasn't supported by his physical body but by magic. This sword was a weapon of the gods; normal humans couldn't possibly wield it. They were utterly incapable of helping Shirou as he bore the brunt of the meteorite attack on his own, leaving them feeling guilty.

"Brother!" Ais looked at Shirou, who was holding up this small piece of the sky for them. She felt like she was seeing her father, who had protected her when she was a child. A moved expression slowly appeared on her face.

At this critical moment, Riveria's magic was finally complete.

"[Veil Breath]!"

The magic circle beneath Riveria's feet expanded, enveloping everyone in green magical robes. Seeing this, Finn quickly ordered, "We can't let Shirou bear this any longer. All first-class adventurers, use your remaining strength to guide the supporters and evade the meteorite attacks."

"Ais, stay behind Shirou. When the time comes, take him and dodge!"

"Understood!"

No sooner had Finn's words fallen than all the first-class adventurers began evading the falling stars with their supporters. Although it was impossible to dodge every single meteor, Riveria's Veil Breath minimized the damage they sustained.

After ensuring everyone was safe, Ais approached Shirou. "Let's go too, brother!"

"Then I'll leave it to you!" Shirou said as Ais hooked his arm over her shoulder and led him away from the greatsword's protection, dodging through the falling stars. However, the density of the meteorite attack was too high, and it was impossible to avoid all of them.

Finally, after enduring the barrage, everyone survived the falling stars.

"That was truly reckless!" Shirou exclaimed as he lay on the pockmarked ground, looking at the injured, but relatively unscathed, group. A smile spread across his face. He had ultimately protected them.

"I think you're the reckless one!" Riveria grumbled as she helped Shirou up. "If we had retreated any later, who knows what would have happened to your body!"

Feeling the pain radiating through various parts of his body, Shirou grinned. "Who says? I definitely could have endured it!"

"Brother, quickly drink the elixir!" Lefiya handed Shirou the elixirs and spiritual potions. He immediately gulped them down, feeling his body and magic power rapidly recovering.

"See? Nothing happened, did it?" Shirou chuckled.

Looking at the grinning Shirou, Riveria paused, then said earnestly, "No matter what, I must thank you again, Shirou. You saved me, and you saved everyone. I..."

"Isn't that just normal?" Shirou interrupted, his tone serious. "We're comrades. We're family. Isn't saving family a matter of course?"

Riveria fell silent for a moment, then suddenly revealed a beautiful smile. "Yes, saving family is a matter of course."

"Exactly, that's right!" Shirou said with a grin.

Finn, stepping forward as the leader, looked at his standing members and said seriously, "The kinship between family members is the bond that connects us. This bond connects not only us but also those comrades we brought with us, who trust us and are waiting for our return. They are waiting for our triumphant return on the fiftieth floor!"

"Therefore, we absolutely cannot die here!" Finn continued, his voice resolute. "This is not just for ourselves, but for everyone! So, I will subdue her. I will subdue that fallen spirit!"

With Finn's declaration, everyone's gaze shifted to the Fallen Spirit. At this moment, she was absorbing the dispersed magic power from the fifty-ninth floor. When her magic power was fully condensed, that would be when her magic would manifest again.

Honestly, the previous battle had shattered everyone's morale. Her defense, attack power, and magic ability surpassed anything they had ever encountered. She could perform all three simultaneously without flaw. This was the strongest enemy the Loki Familia had ever faced.

No one could fathom how to defeat her. But after Shirou's brave stand and Finn's declaration of subjugation, flames of determination reignited in everyone's eyes. They wanted to fight, to slay, to subdue her! Protect themselves, protect everyone, protect all!

How could they accept the idea of their comrades dying here?

They glared at the Fallen Spirit with eyes full of murderous intent, tightly gripping their weapons, ready to unleash their strongest attack at any moment.

"Shirou and Riveria's protection has preserved our chance at victory. Can we seize this tiny opportunity?" Finn said, his voice filled with unshakeable confidence.

"The enemy is indeed strong, stronger than ever before," he continued. "But there is no fear in my heart—only excitement. Isn't this the unknown we seek? Or are you convinced you can't do what Shirou did and are willing to accept your inferiority, to be quickly surpassed by him?"

Shirou, having just reignited his own fighting spirit after hearing Finn's speech, suddenly froze. Wait—shouldn't Bell Cranel be the one to motivate everyone at this point? How had it turned into him?

Shirou didn't realize his standing in everyone's hearts. In a world without Shirou, Bell might have been the one to provoke them. But now, it was clear that he was more suitable.

As an excellent leader, Finn had perfectly mastered the art of provocation. Although Shirou was progressing rapidly, growing stronger and more reliable, everyone still saw him as a rival. Since he reached LV.4, they had considered him a competitor to defeat. How could they accept admitting their inferiority now?

At this moment, fierce flames burned in everyone's eyes, filled with fighting spirit.

"How can we lose to that guy?" one of them shouted.

"I absolutely won't admit it!" another declared.

"I won't lose!" a third cried.

Remembering Shirou's brilliant image, everyone's hearts burned with fervor. Looking at the battle-ready group, Shirou couldn't help but grin.

"Fallen spirit, I will definitely subdue you!" Shirou clenched his fists tightly, recalling the words in his mind. "I once heard a saying: fight magic with magic. We've suffered huge losses from our opponent—how can we not retaliate? So Finn, let me finish her off!"

Finn, looking at Shirou with a serious expression, asked, "Are you confident?"

"Of course!"

"Then I'll leave it to you!"

-----------More Bonus Chapters!!!!

Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter