Anime: Fight Sukuna at the beginning?.

Chapter 408 I am stronger than I was a minute ago

After a two-minute build-up, the notification sound rang in my ears: "[You have acquired the [Specialty] [Spiritual Essence Returns to the Edge]."

Unlike the previous experience of being overwhelmed by a massive amount of information from [Reflecting Blade and Swift Heart], which left me feeling dizzy as if I had eaten expired food, this time it was different.

A series of very fine, quick-acting, needle-like sensations came and went from Fang Yi's forehead.

The enhancements brought by the [Specialty] called [Spiritual Source Returns to the Edge] were also revealed to Fang Yi.

The requirements are extremely stringent, and even someone like Fang Yi, who has never had his "hang" turned off, cannot fully meet the prerequisites.

This also made Fang Yi understand why the space had specifically explained the situation where the [prerequisites] were not met.

This once again proves the principle that space never talks nonsense.

This is a [prerequisite] with six conditions, and a [specialty] that is rated S- by space in its complete state.
-
【Return of the Spiritual Source】

Specialty Category: Skills Expertise Series Specialty

Feat Benefit:

Equipping and using longsword-type weapons will slightly enhance one's ability to perceive and manipulate energy.

When releasing an attack, it can draw upon the energy existing in the space to fill the attack.

This reduces the mana cost of casting attacks and increases their power.

It can be based on one's ability to perceive and manipulate energy, as well as the [magic] skills one possesses.

This adds additional spell damage to the attack.

The specific effects are influenced by the [Spirit] and [Intelligence] attributes, as well as various factors such as related talents, traits, and specialties.

prerequisites:

1. The skill level of [Master Swordsmanship] is not lower than [lv10], and the user has at least two high-value [skill branches].

(Level requirement not met, but [Advance Strike], [Absolute Strike], and [Slay Me] exceed the [Skill Branch] requirements.)
2. Learn multiple sword techniques that surpass the current rank, possess immense power, and consume a great deal of energy.

(The sword that is my only weapon and the moon in the mirror are satisfied.)
3. Able to perform precise energy manipulation and master multiple energy manipulation techniques.

(The skill requirement is not fully met.)
4. Possess traits, talents, or abilities that enhance the precision of energy manipulation.

(The basic requirements are met: [True Knowledge and Radiant Light] and [Pulse of Clear Light].)
5. Master multiple spell-related skills of different natures.

(Not met; only [Frozen Cloud] has been learned; the number of [Spell-type] skills mastered is insufficient.)
6. Must possess extremely strong perception abilities.

(【Transparent World - Enhancement】, 【Score】, 【Advancement】, 【Mind's Eye - True】, 【Mind's Eye - False】, 【Demon Slayer】, 【Shangri-La - Modified】Exceeding expectations) -
Expertise rating: S- (Fully mastered)
Current expertise rating: B+
(The prerequisites are not fully met, and there is insufficient experience in using the expertise.)
Like a child carrying an unopened toy, eager to rush into their room and play with it as soon as they get home.

Although the benefits of the [Main Character] card have not yet been checked.

I also did not claim the skills related to "Spiritual Source Returns to the Edge" in "The Scroll of the Deceased".

Fang Yi also overheard the conversation between Kotomine Riki, who had already woken up, and Otsuko Yuuta, who was trying to secure rewards for Fang Yi.

"That gentleman who readily offered help to the church and us deserves the church's support."

"You're right, the Church of Christ should."

Clearly, Fang Yi should be able to receive some points as a reward simply by talking to the old man.

But Fang Yi, who was itching to play, no longer wanted to think about those things.

All he did was brush the dust off his clothes.

Then he stood up, touched the [Kashuu Kiyomitsu] in his hand, walked to the center of the barrier, and looked at the transparent barrier that bound everyone.

This structure is centered around a church that has now been reduced to ruins, with a radius of ten meters from the church to its outer wall serving as a cage.

Even after being ravaged by a Noble Phantasm and enduring a clash of swordsmanship between the two, the barrier remained standing.

It is currently in the "cracking" stage.

Yuta Otsukoshi was kneeling on the ground, his hands embedded in the soft, gravelly ground, talking to Ritsu Kotomine.

It is precisely through the extremely large amount of curse power within its body, reaching half the total amount of Sukuna's original body.

Little by little, the transparent barrier was tinged with black, a color that signified the power of the curse.

Like playing a strategy game of coloring in a map, the barrier is softened and corrupted in order to break through it.
-
Seeing Fang Yi walk up to his side and examine the barrier's performance.

Misunderstanding that Fang Yi was eager to escape, Yi Gu You Tai first wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Then he offered a somewhat ashamed explanation.

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Fang Yi, the barrier is stronger than I expected."

"Only partial softening has been completed so far; cracking may take more time."

"I didn't expect that I couldn't help in the battle, and I couldn't even provide any assistance in the area of ​​barriers that I'm good at."

After saying that, he turned to look at Kotomine Risei, who had regained his senses.

He acted as a go-between for Fang Yi.

"Mr. Yanfeng, this is Mr. Fang Yi who just saved you."

"They should be on the same side as us."

Kotomine Riko was watching Fang Yi walk to the center of the barrier, about a meter away from her.

He recalled the other party's actions in killing the 'limb borrower' (Cheng Xiang).

And after the scene of fiercely fighting Li Shuwen and Zhang Yong.

He first bowed slightly to show his humility.

Then, using that face, which had lost a lot of moisture and looked somewhat gaunt due to the effects of [Heat Death], she forced a smile.

They began to show goodwill.

"I am Kotomine Risei, the supervisor of this Holy Grail War."

On behalf of the Church, we express our sincerest gratitude for everything you have done.

"Presumably, only someone as 'hero among heroes' as yourself could lend a helping hand against such a formidable enemy."
-
All Fang Yi did was wave his hand to stop the old man's long-winded speech.

At this moment, thanks to the newly acquired [Spiritual Source Return], which is like 'using four ounces to move a thousand pounds'.

Because of the [Frozen Cloud] technique he had previously learned, and the fact that he had glimpsed Zhang Yong's [Heat Death] technique.

Fang Yi has some completely new ideas about knife skills.

He calmly gripped the knife and looked at the darkening sky and the barrier separating it from the sky.

He made a gesture as if to draw his knife.

Meanwhile, Kotomine Ryou was watching Fang Yi's actions.

He then added a sentence very cautiously.

"Mr. Fang Yi, this barrier is a bit strange."

"As long as they are within the barrier, they have extremely strong resistance to Heroic Spirits activating their Noble Phantasms with magical power, I'm afraid..."

In response, Fang Yi drew his longsword.

It's a strange feeling of being in the desert one second and then switching to the dead of winter the next.

In a mere instant, with a gentle flick of the blade...

The energy escaping from within the barrier was instantly stirred up.

It's like rivers and lakes flowing into the sea.

Using the long sword in Fang Yi's hand as a medium, it filled the coldness released from the tip of the sword.

It then easily extracted the heat from the air, coldly and ruthlessly driving away the somewhat warm temperature within the barrier.

The air suddenly froze, giving everyone the illusion that the entire space had been frozen for a moment.

It also created a fine and crisp cracking sound in the air.
-
Kotomine Ryougi, who was trying to persuade Fang Yi, was watching as frost instantly appeared on the surface of the barrier after Fang Yi swung his sword.

And the fine cracks that gradually became visible to the naked eye began to appear on the surface of the barrier.

His somewhat cloudy eyes widened.

While wondering to myself, "Is a Heroic Spirit with such power truly something that can be summoned by the Holy Grail War?"

He silently swallowed the words that were about to escape his lips: "I'm afraid your attack will be ineffective against it."

Like a warrior whose face is flushed from wrestling with a bull, he strained with all his might to straighten the words that were about to come out, turning them into a slightly flattering remark.

"I'm afraid that in this Holy Grail War..."

"Only with multiple interventions from someone as 'hero among heroes' like yourself could it be cracked."

Meanwhile, Yuta Otsukoshi looked at Fang Yi with a look of surprise and delight.

He added in a very excited tone.

"The barrier has been weakened!"
"As expected of Mr. Fang Yi!"

Then he added in a low voice.

"If we could get through a few more attacks like that, we could escape immediately!"
-
Fang Yi, however, did not respond immediately upon hearing their conversation.

After sensing the actual damage to the barrier, he simply stared at the tiny crack and shook his head in dissatisfaction.

[It can be even stronger! This is far from the [Frostwind] I envisioned.]

It is not even the full power of [Spiritual Source Returns to the Edge].

I want more!

He sheathed the long sword he had swung out and closed his eyes.

Then he gripped the long sword tightly.

[Tips for obtaining [Spiritual Source Return] from the [Scroll of the Deceased].

[Claimed. You have obtained the skill related to "Returning to the Spiritual Source"—"Improving the Precision of Energy Manipulation."]

[Influenced by the "Diligent Study and Improvement" and "Module: Limit Breaker" effects, your understanding of "Spiritual Source Returns to the Edge" has deepened.]

He was processing the few insights he had gained about using this "specialty" that were forming in his mind.

Focus your mind on perceiving the floating, controllable energies in the space.

Fang Yi felt a sense of enlightenment and unprecedented confidence.

Now that I've acquired this knowledge, I can do even better what Zhang Yong could do!

[This move can be made even stronger, and I can become even stronger!]

He opened his eyes, his gaze now carrying the same chill as the air around him.

My fingertips lightly touched the hilt of the knife inscribed with the word 'honesty'.

The magic within the body is also connected to every wisp of energy in the space.

The longsword named "Kyushu Kiyomitsu" trembled slightly.

The energy in the air also suddenly converged.

The lingering chill stirred up a storm within the barrier, whipping up everyone's clothes and making it nearly impossible to open their eyes.

It was also mixed with a chill that seeped into the bone marrow, as if it wanted to freeze everything.

The magic within my body resonated with the controllable energy in the space.

A surge of power rapidly gathered on the blade, and Fang Yi unleashed the strike in one fluid motion.

With extreme self-confidence.

Not two or three cuts, just one is enough!

This time, the slashing of the blade did not produce any unusual phenomena or a horrifying shriek.

Some are like rivers that flow ceaselessly and eventually merge into the sea.

It appeared suddenly on the surface of the barrier, followed by a frost wind that swept away and destroyed all wills.

Click.

In an instant, this barrier, which was theoretically impossible to break from the inside, was destroyed.

The surface, which originally showed fine cracks, began to 'grow' at a visible speed as the frost and wind spread and penetrated.

Interspersed with a crisp sound, like the fragile sound of ice cracking.

Finally, it was like a balloon blown to its limit and bursting open.

The barrier only had time to explode with a 'bang'.

It then transformed into countless tiny ice crystals that dissipated into the air, weaving a chilling mist in the sky.

I heard a notification sound in my ear: "Your understanding of [Spiritual Source Returns to the Edge] has deepened. Your [Current Specialty Rating] has been upgraded from [B+] to [A-]."

Fang Yi sheathed his sword after giving his newly named "Frostwind" strike a "passable" rating.

He snapped his fingers with his free right hand, and the increasingly skillful [Frozen Cloud] technique was activated.

One second ago, there was an omnipresent cold mist.

The next second, it vanished into space like a gentle breeze in early spring, leaving no trace.

After doing all this, Fang Yi gave a bland reply.

"No need for a few more cuts."

"I am stronger than I was a minute ago."
-
Hearing Fang Yi's words.

With his hands plunged into the sand, Eku Uta remained silent as he worked to break the barrier.

The boy looked up, puzzled, at the dim sky at dusk.

It seems like they are confirming something.

Then, some of the defiant teenagers pulled their hands out of the sand.

He straightened up and stood up.

Feel the cool air created by Fang Yi, and the wind that sweeps in due to the temperature difference.

Listen carefully to the sounds of the world returning to its bustling state after the barrier was lifted.

The outline of the [Sea Demon] was faintly visible as it snaked and crawled along the mouth of the Weiyuan River.

Yi Guyou seemed to have an unusually long reaction time, stammering out a fact.

"The barrier... the barrier has been broken by Mr. Fang Yi?"
"Just one strike?"

Then he repeated the facts with absolute certainty.

"Just one strike."

Finally, realizing what had happened, he repeated it again in a shocked tone.

"Just one strike!"

Then the boy looked at Fang Yi with an unprecedented gaze, as if he had encountered a powerful player while struggling to rank up in a game.

The admiration in his eyes was beyond words.

At this moment, Eku Yuta already understood the significance of the Red Archer's assessment of Fang Yi: "As far as I'm concerned, he is the strongest person I have ever seen."

Meanwhile, Kotomine Risei's eyes lit up, and he unconsciously lowered his body even further.

He distributed the 'rewards' and tasks to Fang Yi in the most humble tone.

"I have prepared a reward for you and your Master."

"And I intend to discuss new commissions with you and your Master."

"That [Sea Demon] hopes you will..."

I heard a notification sound in my ear.

[You completed multiple tasks before triggering this quest, and are therefore receiving quest rewards.]

You have earned 15000 points, 9 B-level story points, and 15 C-level story points (story points will be distributed after the settlement).

And through the [relic], Miss Merlin conveyed the concise message: [My Master, your Heroic Spirit, and I are all well.]

Fang Yi looked at the enormous, immortal creature standing at the mouth of the Weiyuan River, which was entangled with the Knight King.

That would be an excellent target that would allow his swordsmanship to fully demonstrate its power and not be wasted.

(End of this chapter)