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Noble Phantasms were an indispensable power of Heroic Spirits.
Under Ais's relentless pressure, CĂș Chulainn finally activated his Noble Phantasm.
Gae Bolg: Soaring Death Spear.
Violent power erupted in an instant.
Three of Ais's clones shattered on the spot.
Her main body was blown backward by the chain of explosions and sent flying off the stage.
Before she hit the ground, Riveria raised her hand.
Invisible wind wrapped around Ais's body, slowing her descent and gently placing her into Riveria's arms.
After landing back on the stage, CĂș Chulainn threw his head back and laughed loudly.
"Haha! You've really grown."
"To force out my Noble Phantasm at this point... looks like I'll have to work harder too."
"Getting surpassed by a little girl would be far too embarrassing."
Riveria looked down at the injured Ais, her expression tight.
"Couldn't you show a bit of mercy?"
CĂș Chulainn answered seriously.
"For a warrior, mercy is the greatest insult."
Riveria sighed, clearly dissatisfied but saying nothing more.
CĂș Chulainn then turned to Finn.
"Come on. The stage is yours and Heracles's now."
Finn nodded.
He told Riveria to take care of Ais, then stepped onto the stage, spear in hand.
As the captain of the Loki Familia, Finn was proficient in swords and daggers, but the weapon he was best at was the spear.
CĂș Chulainn, having expended most of his mana with his Noble Phantasm, stepped off the stage without hesitation, making room for Heracles.
Finn took a deep breath.
He tightened his grip on the Commander's Spear and leveled it at the demigod standing quietly before him.
The legendary great hero-Heracles.
Even without moving, Heracles radiated overwhelming pressure.
Finn could feel it pressing down on him.
As a Pallum, Finn stood barely over one meter tall.
Heracles, by contrast, was nearly two and a half meters.
They weren't just different in stature-they existed on entirely different scales.
Compared to Heracles's massive frame, Finn looked slender and small.
Yet Finn's eyes were steady.
He had chosen to challenge him anyway.
That was why CĂș Chulainn had willingly stepped aside.
He respected that resolve.
"Then... let us begin, Heracles-sama."
Finn moved first.
He swung his Commander's Spear and launched forward without hesitation.
As a level-six adventurer, his agility was extreme.
The moment the words left his mouth, he had already closed the distance, spear thrusting straight toward Heracles's throat.
Then-
Heracles moved.
His massive body surged forward with shocking agility.
Not slower than Finn.
Not heavier.
Just as fast.
That was the most terrifying part.
Overwhelming strength.
Explosive speed.
Instant reactions.
Terrifying defense.
Bottomless stamina.
These qualities weren't separate-they were Heracles.
He had subdued the Nemean Lion.
Slain the Hydra.
Captured the Ceryneian Hind.
Subdued the Erymanthian Boar.
Cleansed the Augean stables.
Driven off the Stymphalian Birds.
Tamed the Cretan Bull.
Overpowered the Mares of Diomedes.
Defeated Hippolyta.
Seized the cattle of Geryon.
Obtained the Golden Apples.
And descended into the underworld to bring back Cerberus.
The Twelve Labors.
Each legend had become nourishment.
Each trial had forged the hero standing here now.
In strength, agility, reflexes, endurance, mana, and combat experience-
Heracles surpassed Finn in every category.
The moment they exchanged blows, Finn was suppressed.
He didn't possess Artoria's Instinct.
He couldn't foresee danger.
Even with Nen enhancing his perception, even though he could sense every movement-
Heracles was still too fast.
Finn knew where the attack would come from.
He just couldn't react in time.
Always a step too late.
From the very beginning, he was on the defensive.
Yet Finn didn't lose his composure.
He didn't panic.
Instead, he fought back.
Again and again.
Looking for openings.
Testing his limits.
On the stands, Loki clicked her tongue.
"As expected... it's still too early for him to challenge Heracles."
Finn was already level six.
After mastering Nen, his strength had leapt dramatically.
Even against Orario's level-seven ultimate weapon, Ottar, Finn estimated he had a seventy percent chance of winning.
But that wasn't enough.
Heracles wasn't just strong.
He was a demigod.
A hero with the bloodline of the King of Gods.
A legend shaped by divine trials.
Among everyone present-excluding the gods themselves-no one could truly match him.
Not even Emiya.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Dull impacts echoed again and again.
Finn was sent flying repeatedly, battered across the stage like a ball.
If Heracles hadn't been holding back, Finn wouldn't have stood up again.
But even so-
Finn kept rising.
Kept attacking.
Not to win.
That hope was already gone.
He only wanted to know how far he could go.
When Heracles realized this, he nodded.
Approval flickered in his eyes.
Then his attacks intensified.
Three times more pressure.
The audience fell silent at first.
Then gradually-
They began to cheer.
Finn's name echoed through the arena.
Again and again.
The battle dragged on for nearly an hour.
It ended only when Finn collapsed, bloodied and unable to stand.
"I give up."
The moment the words left his mouth, Riveria appeared beside him.
She shot him a sharp look and immediately began casting healing magic.
Light enveloped his body.
Moments later, Finn stood up.
Exhausted-but otherwise unharmed.
He walked toward Heracles, step by step.
"Thank you... for the guidance."
Heracles nodded.
"You have great potential."
"Perhaps you should seek out my teacher."
Finn froze.
He knew exactly who Heracles meant.
Chiron.
The great sage of Greek mythology.
Mentor to heroes.
Teacher of Achilles, Jason, Theseus, Asclepius-and Heracles himself.
A centaur beyond compare.
Master of music, medicine, archery, martial arts, and divine knowledge.
A living legend.
Founder of heroes.
Finn swallowed.
"Can I... really become his student?"
Heracles answered calmly.
"I believe my teacher would welcome you."
CĂș Chulainn immediately shouted from the sidelines.
"Summoning teachers isn't easy! If you want one, I can recommend mine."
"She's in the Land of Shadows and never leaves."
Finn shuddered.
Images of ScĂĄthach flashed through his mind.
He answered instantly.
"No. Absolutely not."
He had no desire for that kind of training.
Emiya glanced at CĂș Chulainn, surprised.
"Do you have a grudge against Finn?"
"No."
"Then why recommend your teacher?"
CĂș Chulainn fell silent.
"...She's strict, but she's a good teacher."
Emiya nodded.
"She's excellent."
"But not just 'a little' strict."
"If you dare call her an old hag to her face, I'll believe you."
CĂș Chulainn stiffened.
"Forgive me, Master. I realize now that recommending her was reckless."
Being killed hundreds of times was not appealing.
Emiya laughed it off.
Finn left the stage soon after.
Riveria didn't step forward.
She forfeited immediately.
As a mage, she had no intention of facing Heracles.
With that-
The champion was decided.
Emiya's Heroic Spirit Team claimed the KOF '96 championship.
Perfect victory.
But the host didn't step forward with awards.
Instead, he asked if the Loki Team and the Nen-ability Team would compete for second and third place.
Ais and Finn exchanged glances.
Both declined.
They were healed, but utterly exhausted.
So the Nen-ability Team advanced by default.
Second place.
The Loki Team took third.
And just like that-
The KOF '96 tournament came to an end.
The audience didn't complain.
The battles between CĂș Chulainn and Ais-
Between Finn and Heracles-
Had already made the tournament worth everything.
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