IBHJ Chapter 816

Shirou pulled back his Clairvoyance and frowned as he gazed into the distance. Even without his skill, anyone could make out the giant figure wreathed in flames, building a road that reached for the sky like a stairway to the heavens, leading to the ominous black ring that hung in the air like a dark portal.

"It's come to this." He furrowed his brow with concern.

Skadi nodded beside him, her long, deep violet hair swaying gently in the breeze. "Just a little more, and it will reach Pan-Human History, breaching the barrier between worlds."

At that moment, the tent flap rustled, drawing their attention as Artoria entered the tent with Salter, their armor gleaming in the dim light. Skadi became a bit flustered at their sudden appearance, a faint blush coloring her pale cheeks. She shuffled her feet and averted her gaze, suddenly finding the ground very interesting. This unusual behavior made Artoria and Salter both eye her suspiciously.

Artoria turned to Shirou, her expression solemn. "Your Majesty, the final moment is here. We need your order."

"I understand," Shirou said with a nod. He glanced at Skadi. "Skadi, you should get ready. We'll need your strength in the battles to come."

Skadi nodded. "You can count on me."

Seeing Skadi's confidence, he walked out of the military tent, Artoria and Salter following close behind.

Suddenly Salter frowned, "Artoria's strategy is pretty risky. I have to say, I never thought..." She turned to Artoria, surprise and uncertainty etched on her face. Artoria's tactics had truly caught her off guard. They were unconventional, even dangerous. It was the kind of plan Salter might've come up with, but would never actually go through with. After all, she walked the path of a righteous king and wouldn't take such risks.

Artoria met her gaze. "When you're up against an enemy this troublesome, you don't have a choice. It's risky, but it's not like we don't have a chance. Agravain ran the numbers, and he says our odds of winning are as high as 40%."

"40%? That's nowhere near enough!" Salter couldn't hold back, her voice rising with each word. "We're talking about the fate of Pan-Human History here!"

A smile played on Artoria's lips. "The king once said that on the battlefield, 30% odds are enough to take a chance, and 60% odds are enough to go all-in. If you wait for 100%, you'll miss your opportunity. Isn't that right, Your Majesty?"

Artoria turned to Shirou, her blue eyes shining with admiration and longing, despite the time that had passed and the painful realization that he now held her in low regard.

Shirou waved off the comment. "Don't mention it. It's all just silly stuff from when I was young and liked to mess with people. Who knows why it ended up being taken and recorded in the book of wisdom."

"Really?" Salter studied him thoughtfully before turning back to Artoria. "I've never taken risks like this, so I can't say I get it. And I've never led an army this big. I'm not sure I could handle commanding so many legions, to be honest." Thinking about what Artoria was asking her to do, Salter felt immense pressure.

Artoria met her gaze, her voice filled with confidence. "Have faith in yourself. You can do this."

Salter hesitated, studying Artoria for a moment before speaking. "You're not quite what I expected."

"What do you mean?"

"No, it's nothing." Salter shook her head, dismissing the thought.

As they approached the assembled troops, the sight was breathtaking. Nearly 500,000 soldiers stood tall and proud, their legions perfectly aligned, a testament to their exceptional quality and discipline.

As all eyes fell upon him, Shirou stepped forward onto the commander's platform. He drew Caliburn from his waist and raised it high, his voice ringing out across the assembled troops. "Soldiers, my brothers and sisters in arms, the time has come for our final stand! We have fought long and hard to reach this moment, and now, the fate of humanity rests in our hands. Our enemies may be strong, and the odds may seem insurmountable, but I know that the courage and valor within each and every one of you will see us through to victory."

Shirou paused, his eyes scanning the sea of faces before him, witnessing the determination on their faces. "Let the blood of our enemies melt this frozen wasteland, and let their cries of defeat echo across the barren plains. Today, we fight not just for ourselves, but for the future of all mankind. Today, humanity will prevail!"

"Humanity will prevail!"

The soldiers' voices rose in a deafening roar.

...

On the vast expanse of the ice fields, nearly 200,000 giants stood shoulder to shoulder, their massive forms towering over the frozen earth. Their bodies were huge, dwarfing any human in comparison. They gazed towards the snowy mountain range to the north, only to witness the human army pouring out from those icy peaks like a terrifying flood. It was none other than the legendary army of Eternal Kingdom, each soldier clad in resplendent silver and golden armor that glimmered and shone in the cold light. They wielded crimson spears and silver halberds, marching forward in an endless stream, an unyielding tide of steel that seemed to stretch on forever.

Bergelmir rose to his feet, his voice booming across the battlefield. "Giants, we have clawed our way up from the depths of the abyss. This is our final stand, and we must emerge victorious, no matter the cost!"

The giants roared in response, beating their fire swords against their shields, the metallic clash ringing out across the land. Their determination to win surged through their veins, their boiling blood threatening to melt the frozen land beneath their feet.

The human magi were the first to strike, uniformly constructing magic circles that pulsed with powerful mana. The energy rumbled and shot across dozens of miles, striking the giants' military formation. Boom! Boom! The sound of explosions filled the air, relentless and deafening. However, the giants were not mere instinct-driven magical beasts. They held their ground, using their own flesh and blood to block the magi's bombardment, forming a shield wall with their towering obsidian shields.

Bergelmir waved his hand. "Shoot!"

Countless giants lowered their shields, hefting giant bows and arrows. These weapons were no ordinary instruments of war; they were huge in size, crafted to match the immense size of their wielders. The giants hefted these bows with ease, their muscular arms drawing back the bowstrings with a power that no human could ever hope to match. In a single, synchronized motion, they released their arrows, sending them soaring through the sky like a deadly rain of destruction.

The arrows, each one as long as a tree trunk and as thick as a human arm, arced through the air with a terrifying grace. They filled the sky, blotting out the pale sunlight and casting ominous shadows across the battlefield while the sound of their passage was like a chorus of whistling death.

"Shields!" Salter shouted loudly.

Volley after volley of these massive arrows rained down on the human army, a relentless barrage of destruction that seemed to have no end. The projectiles struck the earth with devastating force, shaking the ground and sending shards of ice and rock flying in all directions. Where they found their mark, they wreaked havoc on the human ranks, piercing through armor and flesh alike with sickening ease.

Rumble! Rumble! The ground quaked as explosions tore through the landscape, leaving behind gaping pits and craters. Seeing the devastation, several legions of giants on the edge of the formation drew their swords and charged towards the human army, roaring with determination.

Salter's shout spurred the army into motion, the iron hooves of their mounts rumbling like thunder as they surged forward. The earth trembled beneath the weight of both armies' advance, the fireworks of life burning brightly against the frozen battlefield.

As the two armies clashed, the human forces were like a blank canvas, while the giants were a can of crimson paint violently splattered upon it. The once pristine, snow-covered landscape was immediately desecrated by sprays of blood, the precious lifeblood of fallen human soldiers gushing out in sickening spurts.

Giant blades cleaved through ranks of men like a scythe through wheat. Screams of agony pierced the air as soldiers were hewn in two, their innards spilling out in glistening ropes onto the reddening snow. Massive maces smashed into formations, instantly pulverizing dozens of men into unrecognizable pulp with each mighty swing.

Trampled into the mud and slowly crushed under the weight of the giants' thunderous advance, broken human bodies were ground down further with every earth-shaking step. Limbs and entrails were strewn about like the discarded, broken playthings of a murderous child.

As the soldiers' form were destroyed, their shattered bodies began to disintegrate. The once-vibrant crimson blood and viscera that painted the battlefield slowly faded, transforming into shimmering spiritrons that drifted away on the icy breeze. The glistening entrails and severed limbs dissolved into sparkling motes of light.

No matter how formidable Eternal Kingdom's army was, the giants defended against any attack they could muster. The crucial point was that the giants weren't careless, not even allowing themselves a moment to relax their defenses.

Logically, victory should have made them proud and complacent, but these giants were disciplined and remained vigilant. They understood that even a single moment of inattention could potentially turn the tide of battle against them. Eternal Kingdom's forces had fought valiantly, employing every strategy and tactic they could conceive, but the giants' unwavering focus and superior strength rendered their efforts futile.

Bergelmir had already transcended common sense. By all rights, he should have been inflated with pride, but instead, he continued to issue orders even as his forces maintained an overwhelming advantage, never letting his guard down for a second.

And in that situation where the enemy was strong and they were weak, with less than a 40% chance at winning... only that move... only that move had a glimmer of hope for victory. But the price was too high!

"Still, the giants had their eyes on us now, and Eternal King should've made his move by then. Perhaps..." Salter turned her head and looked towards the snowy mountains up north.