IBHJ Chapter 782

As long as we don't run into that turtle shell bastard, we should be fine, Eldrimr thought to himself. The memory of the turtle shell he faced at the gate of Muspelheim made him sneer. That's right, he was the giant commander who initially fought against Galahad. He had the upper hand at first, but the reason he was defeated at Muspelheim's gate and forced to retreat was because of Galahad's Noble Phantasm, which left Eldrimr feeling sick. Moreover, Eldrimr's legion relied on their physical prowess, making them basically a moving target for Galahad's Noble Phantasm.

Eldrimr wasn't sure about the extent of Galahad's strategic abilities, but he was definitely sick of his Noble Phantasm. He had no desire to face Galahad again. However, as soon as they passed the mountain and saw the familiar, shimmering glow of the "turtle shell," Eldrimr immediately cursed under his breath.

The deputy general at Eldrimr's side was also at a loss for words. He understood what made Galahad's power so sickening and had witnessed Lord Eldrimr's previous arrogance firsthand. In that moment, it was like both subordinate and superior had bitten into a bitter melon, leaving them feeling extremely uncomfortable.

The sickening feeling of being pushed around by Galahad's Noble Phantasm was unforgettable, and even now, Eldrimr couldn't shake it off.

"It's that old turtle again!" Eldrimr gritted his teeth.

Standing on the shimmering castle wall, Galahad also spotted Surtr. They were thousands of miles apart, but it was like a meeting between old friends—they both recognized their annoying counterpart right away. Galahad knew that Eldrimr was a tough nut to crack, so he deliberately provoked him. He stood on the city wall and had the magi use a spell to amplify his voice, taunting Eldrimr. "Gentlemen, I haven't even made a move yet, and you're already running with your tail between your legs. You guys are too weak and not worth my time. I'll just stand here and give you a few rounds."

Eldrimr's face turned green with anger, but before he could say anything, an enraged giant shouted, "Stop hiding behind your walls and spouting nonsense. If you have the guts, come out and fight us one-on-one!"

"Shall we charge, General?" the giant deputy asked in anger.

"...We'll settle the score with this turtle when our main army arrives," Eldrimr said, glaring fiercely at Galahad, who was still taunting them from the city wall. "Let's go, he's about to start bombarding us."

...

Galahad had indeed guessed correctly. He was provoking Eldrimr to draw his attention, allowing the assault and magi units to bombard him from a distance.

"What a pity," Galahad sighed, feeling a bit regretful as he watched Eldrimr leave. However, in his heart, he became even more cautious. It turned out, Giants were not impulsive beasts but beings more rational than humans. With bodies surpassing those of humans and even Heroic Spirits, they possessed the military discipline and high qualities of soldiers from the Eternal Kingdom, as well as a rationality beyond that of ordinary people. And now, they even had the buffs from altering the world's laws.

Galahad's expression grew solemn as he said, "This battle won't be easy."

The other knights nodded, their faces serious.

"They're coming. The main force is probably not far away. Please start preparing early. I will continue to expand my Noble Phantasm." Galahad couldn't help sighing inwardly as he continued monitoring the soldiers, ensuring they kept preparing the area to transform it into a large-scale fortress that would be easy to defend.

The knights around him were the most elite of the elite. One of them patted his steel plate and said, "Don't worry, we didn't come to the present world to be defeated!"

Another chimed in, "We fight for the history we have created."

"Failure is absolutely not an option in this battle!" a third added.

Seeing his brothers so enthusiastic, Galahad couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as well. Galahad raised his voice, rallying his men. "Everyone! We weren't summoned here to fail! It's been a thousand years since we last fought together, and we can't afford to lose this time. Remember, our kingdom was destroyed a thousand years ago because of infighting. We can't make that same mistake again! Camelot must endure forever!"

The knights erupted in a chorus of shouts. They firmly believed that the current unfavorable situation was only temporary and that the king would surely find a way to turn the tables. It had always been this way, for as long as they could remember. The knights' faith in their king and in each other was unshakable. It was that simple.

...

In Chaldea's virtual training room, Artoria swung her holy sword with clean and precise movements, her speed incredible as she lunged forward and thrust Excalibur in a blur of shining blade. Parrying an incoming strike from a shadow enemy, she spun around and slashed in a wide arc, cleaving through multiple targets.

It was rare to see her so lively and fierce during training. Nero turned her head and noticed Gray looking at Artoria with a strange expression.

"What's wrong, Gray?" Nero asked.

"Her Highness seems anxious about something..." Gray said, worry evident in her voice.

"Really? I can't tell."

Unlike Nero, Gray was supposed to be a vessel for Artoria's descent. Not to mention, she had been with her for a long time, so she could figure her out with just a glance.

"Maybe Mordred has done something again-"

Suddenly Artoria turned around and interrupted, "Nero, come on, let's spar."

Nero quickly shook her head. If it were any other situation, she would have accepted the sparring invitation without hesitation. She wouldn't hold back against such a beauty, even if she looked exactly like her. It wouldn't be a mere sparring session, but a full-on battle. However, Nero knew that Artoria was currently in a state of anxiety and going all out against her would be disrespectful. Nero didn't want to fight a troubled beauty.

Gray's eyes filled with concern as she asked, "What's wrong, Your Highness?"

"I don't know. I just feel uncomfortable." Despite facing Gray's questioning, Artoria couldn't shake off the uneasiness. She looked around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"Could it be that Mordred did something to you while you were sleeping last night?"

"No, that can't be. Mordred wouldn't play such a malicious prank on anyone. That child may dislike me, but she wouldn't do this," Artoria said with certainty.

Just then, a shout came from outside the room.

"Merlin! Where the hell is Merlin? That bastard went AFK! He's our only damage dealer and yet he ditched us in the middle of a monthly quest and got us all killed! Merlin, get your ass back here!"

Artoria: "...."

Gray: "...."

Nero: "...."

....

Skadi led Shirou and the others through the roots of the massive tree that was holding up the dying earth from completely crumbling, guiding them along the twisting path toward the heart of the World, Yggdrasil. The ancient roots creaked and groaned as they made their way deeper, carefully treading over gnarled bark and ducking under low-hanging boughs. The air grew thick with the musty scent of decay.

The sight that greeted them was one of utter desolation and decay. Everywhere they looked, the once-vibrant tree roots, usually pulsing with life energy, had withered and dried up, hanging limply like desiccated husks. The sickly gray pallor of the deadwood stretched out into the shadows as far as the eye could see. Even the faint luminescent glow that should have emanated from the heartwood had faded to a dim flicker.

They pressed on for what felt like an eternity, clambering over desiccated coils of roots and squeezing through narrow passages, until Skadi finally came to a stop at the edge of a small clearing. She gazed solemnly at the barren expanse before them, a crater of cracked and parched earth that had once held the World's life essence. Now, not a single drop of water remained, leaving only a gaping void at the center of Yggdrasil.

Chloe peered into the spring and couldn't help but ask, "Wait, this is the legendary well that's supposed to grant wisdom to anyone who drinks from it? It has completely dried up, there's not a single drop of water left."

"How could it have ended up like this?" Brynhildr looked at the well with some surprise.

Skadi turned and looked him straight in the eye. "Eternal King, are you sure you've drunk from the Well of Mimir?"