"This one cannot strictly be defined as a Heroic Spirit," Ashiya Douman said with a thin smile.
"To be precise, I am a conduit, a link to the 'me' that exists within a parallel universe."
"I have descended with a mere fragment of knowledge, intending to plant a new Fantasy Tree and forge a perfect vessel for an Alien God. A body truly worthy of my presence."
Kawashima Toya stared at him, his azure eyes cold.
While he wasn't intimately familiar with the concept of an Alien God, he knew one thing for certain: the existence of a Beast was a catastrophic threat to human history.
In the records he had seen, even Fujimaru Ritsuka, the Master of Chaldea who could summon countless Heroic Spirits, only narrowly defeated such entities after facing death countless times.
If this Alien God lived up to the hype, it wouldn't be any less dangerous than a matured Beast.
I have to go all out.
The temperature around Toya seemed to drop as his aura flared.
Douman noticed the shift and chuckled.
"You know, Savior-dono, you remind me quite a bit of that Master from Chaldea. You both struggle so desperately for the sake of humanity. But why not try a different path?"
"The mystery of this world has withered. If you agree to help me cultivate the Fantasy Tree, I could ensure that an Alien God vessel of your own is prepared for you in the new world."
"How ridiculous. A mere Calamity of Humanity thinks I'd join his side?" Toya let out a derisive snort.
"Why don't you just crawl back to the Throne of Heroes where you belong?"
As the Savior of this era, Toya understood his role.
Even if the world's foundations had crumbled and magic was a fading memory, he had a duty to perform. It was the price he paid for his existence in this reality.
"Gáe Bolg!"
The words had barely left his lips before Toya vanished. In the next moment, the vermilion spear point struck directly at Douman.
"Useless."
BOOM!
An earth-shattering explosion rocked the mountain peak, and the ground beneath Douman's feet disintegrated. Yet, amidst the smoke and debris, he stood perfectly still. He hadn't retreated a single inch.
"I do not know how a 'Savior' like you rose to power in such a barren era, but the gap between us is vast."
Douman's face contorted into a cruel grin.
"No matter how many times you strike, you cannot hope to bypass my protection. While I am but a sliver of consciousness, I am tethered directly to the Rakshasa King, Ashiya Douman."
"Those eyes of yours are truly peculiar. I cannot say why they appeared in this world, but one thing is clear... they share a lineage with the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. Perhaps they are even a thousand times more refined."
Toya felt a massive, invisible force ripple out from Douman's barrier.
Thump!
In an instant, Toya was sent hurtling backward like a falling star.
"As long as you cannot touch this physical form, even the most divine eyes are worthless," Douman said.
He reached out with claw-like hands, as if to caress the black sun looming in the sky.
"How beautiful. This time, I will not fail."
"I shall descend once more as an extraordinary Beast beyond the records. I will devour every living soul in this world to understand the limits of 'Ultimate Love.' I shall become the Calamity that should not be, could not be, and does not exist."
.....
Nearby High-Rise Rooftop
Several hundred meters away, Toya stood atop a building, his gaze fixed on the distant mountain.
This is a problem. I can't even crack his shield, Toya thought.
Douman's counterattack had sent him flying, but it hadn't actually managed to wound him. However, it proved that with his current gear, even if he could technically "win," he couldn't actually kill the monk.
If Douman wasn't eliminated soon, that eerie black sun would surely trigger some irreversible catastrophe.
I need to see what the System Shop has to offer.
Sensing that Douman wouldn't be able to trigger the black sun immediately, Toya sat down on the ledge and opened his interface.
[Current Origin Points: 317,000]
What can I buy that can actually put him down?
Toya scrolled through the list. EX-rank Noble Phantasms like Ea or Hanging Gardens of Babylon were all priced well over a million points.
Should I just call for back-up? He could call Nyaruko, the avatar of a chaotic god, or Tohru, the chaos dragon. He was certain they had the power to deal with Douman.
But he quickly suppressed the urge.
A Savior who has to call for help the moment things get tough... how pathetic. I have to face this myself.
Just as he was about to settle for a lower-tier weapon, a unique item caught his eye.
[Item: Savior's Mystery Box]
[Grade: N/A]
[Description: A blind box containing various specialized Noble Phantasms used by legendary saviors. Possible pulls include items associated with Arash, Sajyou Manaka, Hakuno Kishinami, Romani Archaman...]
[Price: 300,000 Origin Points]
Three hundred thousand. I can actually afford it. Toya stared at the box, hesitating. He generally expected the worst from his own luck, and a random box was a massive gamble.
"GAHAHAHA!"
Douman's arrogant laughter echoed across the distance. Toya's expression hardened.
Fine. I'm done hesitating. Let's gamble!
[SystemNotice: Purchase Successful. Remaining Origin Points: 17,000.]
A shimmering, dreamlike gift box materialized and floated before him. Toya took a deep breath. I hate gambling, but I can't deny the anticipation.
He reached out and tore the box open. A blinding flash of golden light erupted before condensing into a heavy, ornate holy sword in his grip.
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Star-Holy Sword: Excalibur!]
[Item: Excalibur (Sword of Promised Victory)]
[Rank: EX]
[Description: A Star-Holy Sword forged to champion the good and strike down evil. It is the hope of the world condensed into a blade, created to defeat external threats that seek to destroy the planet. It can repel almost any evil.]
[Note: When used to save the world, its true power is unleashed to annihilate all malice. Usage is restricted by the Thirteen Restraints; each restraint released unlocks a portion of its true power.]