Indeed, this was the Lord of Execution.
In Romania, Vlad III's legend as the Impaler had been elevated to its utmost, resulting in this massive anti-army Noble Phantasm, which could cover an area of one kiloter and summon up to 20,000 stakes. However, this was only possible within Romania, where the land and ley lines themselves provided support, boosted by the unwavering faith of the people in their greatest national hero.
But now, neither of these conditions was t. So how had the constraints of faith and the land been broken?
As he continued to spread the stakes outward, Shinji split off a thread of his consciousness to scan his entire body, trying to uncover the reason.
The nearby land and ley lines were still under the dominion of the Forest of Einnashe, offering no support. His only aid ca from within—True Ancestor blood mixed with the power of the Golden Apple, a force remarkably similar to the territory of the Millennium Castle Brunestud he had once visited.
Could it be—
The True Ancestor is an embodint of nature, and the True Ancestor's blood represents nature's life force, which could be considered a Great Source. The Golden Apple, an artifact connected to the Earth Goddess, contained the power of the land. The combination of the two was equivalent to ley lines.
Arcueid's castle, the Millennium Castle Brunestud, was located within Romania, occupying the largest ley line node—arguably the very heart of Romania's ley lines. Perhaps Arcueid had unconsciously absorbed the ley line's power during her long sleep, or maybe she had influenced the ley lines without realizing it. Perhaps, in an even more extre scenario, Arcueid herself was born in the land of Romania. Regardless, Arcueid had a deep connection with Romania.
With this connection strengthened by the Golden Apple, it could simulate the land of Romania, akin to a Romanian embassy abroad.
Yes, that had to be it!
Although much of this was speculation and without hard evidence, Shinji's intuition told him that this series of coincidences had led to the correct solution. Thanks to this, the Noble Phantasm, which had beco nearly useless outside Romania, had regained its true form, instantly becoming one of the most practical of all his Noble Phantasms.
With the final piece of the puzzle in place, Shinji would never have to worry about insufficient attack range again!
Ecstatic, Shinji once again called out the true na of his Noble Phantasm:
"Kazikli Bey (The Lord of Execution)!"
The sa pronunciation, but with vastly different power.
While the Noble Phantasm's rank was only one level higher, the difference in strength was worlds apart. It was a qualitative leap from human to non-human, the step from an ordinary Servant to an elite.
The battlefield's dynamics shifted once more.
Previously, it had been one person fighting an entire forest. But now, it was forest against forest.
A vampiric forest against a forest of steel.
The red forest, mixed with frost, was terrifying, but the vast black steel forest covering the ground was even more oppressive.
Shinji stood at the center of the steel forest, on a platform constructed from over ten stakes. With his arms spread wide, the ground that was already covered in black beca even darker.
Layers upon layers of stakes, like rows upon rows of sharp spears, rcilessly pierced through the frost, stabbing into every branch, every claw, every tendril of the vampiric forest!
Once they pierced, they stayed lodged in place, never loosening, giving the forest no chance to recover.
The impaled forest didn't die; it sprouted new branches, new tendrils. This was its greatest strength and a common trait of plants—exceptionally strong vitality.
However, as these new branches reached out, the steel forest also changed. Stakes sprouted from other stakes, continuing a new round of impalent as if competing with the vampiric forest.
But that wasn't all. The one controlling the stakes wasn't satisfied with the status quo. Shinji sharply raised his outstretched arms.
The stakes that had been planted behind him for testing purposes now burst from the ground, soaring into the sky. They arced high before scattering and descending, driving into the most active nodes of the Crimson Core. The more active the node, the more stakes fell upon it.
As one wave of stakes fell, new stakes imdiately burst from the ground, either piercing directly or shooting into the air, seemingly endlessly. They attacked the Crimson Core from every direction in a relentless barrage, even more intense and concentrated than the assault during the forest invasion.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. And this was just the interest—Shinji intended to take the Crimson Core's life as repaynt for the principal!
Such a massive clash could no longer be described as a battle; it was a war, a terrifying war straight out of myth and legend. The spectacle of two imnsely powerful forces clashing, the mythical scene of high-level mysteries battling for dominance, left every onlooker in awe. It was a sight so grand that no one living in this peaceful era, where the mysteries were waning, had ever witnessed anything like it.
"No, impossible!"
Luvia's eyes widened in disbelief, and her usual ladylike deanor shattered.
"That thing... that's not magecraft!!!"
Olga Marie bit down hard on her lip. She had always prided herself on being at the pinnacle of the magical and mystical world, but the scene before her was beyond her imagination.
"So strong, so terrifying..."
Caules trembled all over. Among those present, he had the least experience, making the impact on him all the more profound. His reaction was reminiscent of Waver's first ti seeing a Servant battle.
"That gentleman, is he human?"
Even Adashino, who had seen all sorts of monsters as a mber of the Departnt of Policies, lost her usual composure.
The reactions of the others were similar—shock, fear, or complete ntal shutdown, with the only difference being the degree of their reactions.
Those who didn't know Shinji well were more shocked, while those who did know him were less so. Waver, Gray, Lorelei, and Arcueid fell into the latter category. Their level of reaction was inversely proportional to their understanding of Shinji's strength. Arcueid, who knew him best, barely even changed her expression.
Of course, there were exceptions.
For instance, lvin, who was focused solely on his interests, stared unblinkingly at the battlefield, his face full of joy, muttering continuously, "Amazing! This is exactly what I wanted to see. As I thought, being with Waver is never boring."
Similarly focused on her interests, Sumire had a much calr reaction. Being one of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors, like the Forest of Einnashe, her power was imnse. Though Shinji's display of strength was terrifying, it wasn't enough to shock her deeply. She rely mumbled a half-drunken "Not bad," and then fell silent.
Sharing the sa body with her, Rozay-en, however, gave Shinji high praise:
"A frightening man. Her eye for talent is as sharp as ever—though she's not the only one with good judgnt... The True Ancestor's princess, is she alright? Should I give her a hand? When individual strength is lacking, other aspects must compensate. Competition is only fun when it's evenly matched, like Sumire and ."
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