The 9th World Champion Tournament

In a blink and a flash, they arrived.

The first thing Shirou felt was the present, gentle breeze.

The two stood on a flat platform on opposite sides near the ledges, the distance separating them being only several meters. The ground beneath them was firm, with patches of grass sprouting here and there, their tips swaying gently in the breeze. The design and pattern of the floor seemed to be a remnant of a once-grand walkway, now a mere fragment that had floated off to become its own little island.

Across the horizon, the backdrop of a warm, radiant sun shines brilliantly across the expansive sky. Fluffy white clouds scattered across the sky, creating a canvas of ever-changing shapes and shades.

As far as the eye could see, the panoramic view was dotted with numerous and seemingly identical floating island-platforms that stretched out in every direction - above, below, and all around. They varied in length and size but remained large enough to accommodate a fight. While some of these platforms carried the remnants of ancient ruins and broken architecture, others seemed to be completely untouched by the passage of time. It was almost as if they were all once part of a greater whole, before being shattered and raised high into the skies above.

Shirou sneaked a glance down from the edge of the ledge, finding only more floating island platforms, and a thick blanket of cloud that stretched out way below them made it impossible to see anything past it.

One could only hazard a guess at just how high up they were, and all it would take was one misplaced fall to send them plummeting to their deaths.

This would be their final destination.

A duel timer appeared and counted down from ten.

[10]

Warrior Takemikazuchi wielded his Takemikazuchi MK 8 in the stance of the Ko-gasumi No Kamae.

[9]

Kanshou and Bakuya appeared in Shirou's hands, raising the married blades in his stance.

[8]

Everyone, from the audience watching in the stadium to those watching the broadcast, made themselves comfortable, their eyes glued to the screen for what was to come.

[7]

All of Ainz Ooal Gown was excited.

Bets were placed, sides were taken, and cheers were heard. Win or lose, they knew that the two guild members would give a fight worth remembering.

[6]

The World Champions sat attentively in their seats, curious and eager for the fight to come and awaiting to see who would emerge victorious to be welcomed in as their new brethren.

[5]

"May the best man win." Touch Me muttered, wishing the both of them luck.

[4]

"I, Shirou Emiya, issue my challenge." The magus announced.

Each of their official duels would begin like this, with the loser of the previous match being the one to issue the challenge next time.

It was nothing too serious that it would warrant being called a requirement, and it was more of a playful formality that persisted between them.

[3]

"I, Warrior Takemikazuchi, happily accept." Said the Bujin.

[2]

"Let our blades determine who is truly the strongest!" The two said in unison.

[1]

The timer hit zero, and with a loud buzz, the final match of the 9th World Champion Tournament began!

Shirou dashed forward with great speed. Warrior Takemikazuchi stood his ground.

As the two met, they swung.

The sound of shattering steel reverberated among the clouds.

Kanshou and Takemikazuchi MK 8 clashed, but only the latter remained.

Shirou's speed allowed him to outpace Warrior Takemikazuchi's continuing swing. The sword's sharp blade sliced through the air, creating a haunting melody that sang throughout the battlefield.

Behind him, the magus swung around with Bakuya.

The Nephilim samurai did the same, twisting his body and bringing around his ōdachi.

Another clash and Takemikazuchi MK 8 emerged victorious yet again.

Shirou's eyes fell onto the shattered married blades.

Only two clashes, but it was abundantly clear which was superior.

When pitted against Takemikazuchi MK 7, Kanshou and Bukuya were able to withstand two to three blows with the help of [Reinforcement]. Yet, Takemikazuchi MK 8 shattered them with almost effortless grace.

He jumped back to dodge Warrior Takemikazuchi's follow-up, a fresh pair replacing his previous.

A brief stillness followed the first exchange, both swordsmen eying the other before the sound of clashing steel resumed.

With the audience, many were excited to see how the final matchup played out. But as the fight progressed, something quickly became apparent. Specifically, they were not employing any skills, showcasing only their swordsmanship.

Much of the excitement dipped as the crowd clamored to see some real action.

"WE'RE GOING OLD SCHOOL HERE FOLKS. THAT'S HOW REAL MEN FIGHT! NO FANCY-PANCY SKILLS, ONLY SOME OL' FASHION STEEL AND BEING BETTER THAN YOUR OPPONENT. WE'VE GOT A REAL SASAKI KOJIRO VS MIYAMOTO MUSASHI FIGHT ON OUR HANDS HERE!" Bob said, trying to rouse the audience.

"Both Players have shown remarkable skill, but it's a deadlock. Emiya cannot seem to bypass Warrior Takemikazuchi's defense and stance, while Warrior Takemikazuchi is unable to reach Emiya thanks to his speed and endless supply of swords." Came the analysis from Sam.

Indeed.

Instead of his usual modus operandi of forcing an engagement and keeping on the offensive, Warrior Takemikazuchi stood and waited. He had barely moved from his spot at all, meeting each of Shirou's rushes head-on and winning every clash.

With his stance and guard, Warrior Takemikazuchi was like an iron wall. One that the magus found no opening to exploit.

Already, he had gone through over a dozen pairs of Kanshou and Bakuya. While they were easy and inexpensive to trace, Shirou knew he couldn't afford to waste his prana continuously.

He needed to break the stalemate, and he had just the idea.

'What are you up to this time?' Warrior Takemikazuchi thought, catching Shirou's expression.

The magus jumped back several paces, putting distance between them.

Shirou threw Kanshou and Bakuya, dashing forward immediately with a powerful kick, as a new pair replaced them.

Warrior Takemikazuchi didn't react.

For a second, it seemed as if they would reach him, only to land half a meter in front of him, stabbing the ground.

The married blades exploded, kicking up a cloud of smoke and dust.

Again, he didn't react.

After all, he'd seen this maneuver before.

From his left and right side, something emerged from the haze, shrouded in the smoky veil.

He swung, catching both of them with a single horizontal swing. The smoke parted, revealing the shattered forms of Kanshou and Bakuya.

Immediately after, two more trails appeared from the smoke, one from above and one from below.

In an instant, Warrior Takemikazuchi swung again, bringing down Takemikazuchi MK 8 and destroying another pair of the married blades with one swing.

Warrior Takemikazuchi remembered the first time he faced off against this. In its original showcase, the pair of Noble Phantasms Shirou threw detonated to form a smokescreen. The samurai was instantly on guard, deducing that he'd used it as cover. From one of his sides, something emerged and he preemptively struck it. What he had attacked was one-half of the married blade. Shirou has used it as a feint, slipping in from the other side to strike at the samurai's unprotected side.

Over the years, he'd seen Shirou use the same maneuver a handful of times, each time with some variations added.

And that was why he knew with confidence exactly where he was coming from next.

'The sides, and then above and below... That leaves behind…' He thought as another pair flew in from the rear.

He swung around, catching the third pair like the others.

'But…'

His swing continued, following through as he swung to his side at seemingly nothing. Only for Shirou to appear, directly in the blade's path.

'That's what you'd want me to think!'

Shirou ran around the outskirts of the smoke, using the smokescreen alongside the three thrown pairs as multilayered feints to misdirect his focus and allow him to attack the side of Takemikazuchi's open flank. A decision his guildmate saw right through, having parsed his opponent's intentions.

Shirou swung with both Kanshou and Bakuya, and again, they fell to Takemikazuchi MK 8's strength.

Warrior Takemikazuchi's leg shot out, stomping on one of Shirou's feet, preventing him from backing away.

"Got'cha!" He crowed, bringing his blade down.

With such proximity, it would be impossible for the magus to defend or recover against the swing.

However, what happened next surprised even him.

Just as the blade reached Shirou, both his hands shot out and clasped the blade from both sides, halting it between his palms.

His face was strained with the effort of holding back the lethal strike.

'A Shinken Shirahadori!' Warrior Takemikazuchi recognized, surprised but also amazed.

The fact that he was able to catch his slash was impressive. However, with Warrior Takemikazuchi's larger frame and superior strength, Shirou wouldn't be able to hold him back for long.

But then again, he knew that from the very beginning.

Warrior Takemikazuchi pressed on, practically making Shirou bend backward as he struggled to hold him back.

'Just a bit more...!'

Just then, his ears twitched, catching a familiar sound. From his periphery, something flew from the fading cloud of smoke, arcing past his vision.

The Bujin's focus was instantly split between finishing his swing or defending against the incoming threat.

He had only a split second to decide as they closed in.

In the end, Warrior Takemikazuchi pulled back his blade and kicked Shirou back, prioritizing the new, immediate threat.

He quickly swung around, destroying all three of the incoming swords.

'Wait… three…?' His eyes widened.

They always came in pairs, this he knew.

That meant…

The lone remaining Kanshou appeared, spinning through the air well after the others. It flew past him, curving behind him within his unprotected blind spot. Exactly where Shirou was waiting, flying right into his awaiting hand.

Warrior Takemikazuchi hastily pivoted, his body twisting as he brought Takemikazuchi MK 8 around.

They swung, Warrior Takemikazuchi with a diagonal downward slash and Shirou with a diagonal upward slash.

Due to his haste and Shirou angling his body at the last second, Warrior Takemikazuchi's slash missed him by a hair's breadth. Unfortunately for the samurai, he wasn't as lucky.

The two immediately jumped back.

Warrior Takemikazuchi glanced down, a hand coming up to his chest over the shallow cut that stretched diagonally across his chest plate.

First blood went to Shirou.

"Damn…" He muttered. "`Thought I finally had ya' there for a second."

"I won't lie, it was close." Shirou hummed. "That blade of yours is truly something." He said, eyeing Takemikazuchi MK 8 appraisingly.

Warrior Takemikazuchi laughed boisterously.

"We worked on this baby for months! It'd better be, or else I'll be having some words with them."

The two friends shared a brief laugh.

The relaxed mood would not last.

"Well, what'd you say we get this show on the road?" Warrior Takemikazuchi's grip tightened, raising his blade in a stance.

Shirou's smile remained, but it was tight, his eyes narrowing with a competitive glint.

Warrior Takemikazuchi dashed forward.

Shirou stomped the ground, prana flowing from his leg into the ground as large blades sprouted from below.

"[Slash]!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi swung, slicing through them with impeccable ease. Shirou immediately jumped back, dodging the samurai's slashes.

"[Trace Bullet]!"

"[Violent Flash]!"

Lighting danced along the ōdachi's blade. Like with everything else, he sliced through Shirou's projection effortlessly. However, that wasn't all, as instead of detonating, they dissipated into motes of light. No different from if they were to break or be dismissed by the magus.

'Takemikazuchi-san wasn't kidding.' His eyes narrowed.

Credit where credit was due, they'd outdone themselves in creating Takemikazuchi MK 8, making it more than just stronger or sharper than its predecessor. However, its true specialty lies in its ability to 'sever'.

Shirou's [Trace Bullet] were simple projections, swords typically, which had been filled with prana to the point of 'cracking'. Their explosive power comes from the 'reaction' of the prana going off.

What made Takemikazuchi MK 8 truly dangerous wasn't simply its strength and incredible sharpness but rather the ability to 'sever' the volatile prana of the Broken Noble Phantasm, in a manner of speaking, preventing the 'reaction' from going off. It was kitted solely around dealing with the magus's Noble Phantasms.

If one were to categorize it in terms of a Noble Phantasm, then Takemikazuchi MK 8 would be considered an Anti-Shirou Noble Phantasm.

A direct confrontation with Warrior Takemikazuchi would only play in his favor.

In that case…

Kanshou and Bakuya Alternative appeared in his hands. He began firing while running backward, retreating to put some measure of distance between them.

Warrior Takemikazuchi gave chase, ignoring the bullets as they pinged and bounced against his heavy armor.

Reaching the end, Shirou jumped off and disappeared over the ledge.

Seeing this, Warrior Takemikazuchi ran to the edge and peered over. The open skies and floating island-platforms filled his view, but there was no sign of his foe.

'Where'd he go?'

He caught a sound — a line being reeled in. It was coming from below him, and then, from behind?

Warrior Takemikazuchi whipped around as Shirou appeared from the other side of the ledge, swinging upward.

When he jumped off, he traced his hookshot gauntlet and hooked onto the rocky bottom of the platform. Using his fall, he swung around to the other side with his shot ready.

Firing a charged shot from Kanshou Alternative, the armored Heteromorph staggered back from the clean headshot.

"Ahh! S-shi–shit!" He cursed, his body tilting and flailing.

His left leg stepped back onto nothing, forcing him to balance himself precariously with his right leg as his arms spun and wobbled about trying to maintain his fragile balance. For a second, it looked like he was going to fall over.

"Safe!" He exclaimed in relief, regaining his footing at the last second.

A victory that lasted for but half a second before Shirou's boot smacked him right in the face, punting him off the edge.

Warrior Takemikazuchi fell and landed on his back on another island-platform, nearly rolling off the side before catching himself.

He shook his head, looking back up to see Shirou with Kanshou and Bakuya Alternative in their bow form and several arrows notched.

He loosed them, their forms turning Gandr-like shots that flew toward the samurai.

Warrior Takemikazuchi immediately readied his swing to intercept, only for the arrows to strike around him rather than at him. They exploded, with cracks spreading across the platform.

The ground beneath him tumbled and gave way.

"[Flash Step]!"

Using the fragmented ground he was still standing on as a springboard, he kicked off of it, blinking forward thanks to his skill. He landed safely on another platform.

Warrior Takemikazuchi was instantly on the move as more arrows fell upon him. It didn't stop there, as Shirou's projection filled the air, flying in tandem with his arrows. He destroyed the floating islands both around and ahead of him, reducing his path little by little.

'He's trying to make me fall to my death.' He quickly realized Shirou's aim.

It was cheap, but clever.

"Ya' know, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you're afraid to take me on mano-e-mano!" Warrior Takemikazuchi shouted.

His taunt didn't so much as earn a twitch from Shirou's stone-faced expression, who continued firing upon him.

Warrior Takemikazuchi skidded to a stop as a wide gap lay in front of him, courtesy of Shirou destroying all the island-platforms ahead of him. His head swiveled around, looking for any alternative paths. Unfortunately, any nearby island-platforms were either destroyed or too far away from him to reach.

A surge of prana flowed as Caladbolg II appeared in his hand.

With nowhere left to run, Shirou readied Caladbolg II as Warrior Takemikazuchi turned around to face him.

'Alright then. Two can play at that game!'

Shirou watched, his eyes narrowing. It looked as if Warrior Takemikazuchi was planning on facing Caladbolg II head-on.

Given who he was going up against, that didn't surprise him. However, not even his Takemikazuchi MK 8 could take on the false spiral sword in a direct match.

"[Kamikaze: Divine Wind]!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi swung his blade, unleashing a fast and wide air slash that cut through the air. It sliced through everything in its path, which included the island-platform that the magus stood on.

Shirou clicked his tongue, jumping off and landing on a lower, adjacent platform to avoid plummeting.

He quickly recovered, notching Caladbolg II back once more and taking aim. Even if Caladbolg II wasn't fully charged, the spiral Noble Phantasm was more than enough to send the samurai to his imminent demise.

There was only one problem with that: Warrior Takemikazuchi was no longer there.

Shirou's eyes widened.

He searched, finding Warrior Takemikazuchi standing on another island-platform within a cluster of them on the other side much closer to him.

'How?' Was the question that rang inside his head. How did he reposition himself over there and so quickly at that?

Unfortunately, he wouldn't have time to wonder as he readjusted his aim, more slashes flew in his direction as the samurai copied his friend's strategy.

Shirou ran, jumping from one stage to another, with Warrior Takemikazuchi following suit. They ran practically parallel to one another, both launching ranged attacks to gain an advantage over the other.

Notching back Caladbolg II, he attempted to aim as he ran.

Seeing this, Warrior Takemikazuchi swiftly reacted.

"[Swift Gale], [Supiasurīarō: Spear Three Arrow]!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi swung, sending a fast vacuum blade that sliced apart the platforms in front of Shirou, forcing him to halt. At the same time, his spectral arrows targeted the islands above him, raining down debris.

Shirou jumped to the side, avoiding the falling rubble and cloud of dust.

He looked back, notching Caladbolg II once more, to find Warrior Takemikazuchi had disappeared yet again.

'Where is he now?' Shirou searched for him, but he was nowhere in his line of sight.

Suddenly, he felt a rush of wind behind him and the ground beneath him lurch before the island-platform split apart and fell, having been cut in half.

'Below?!'

Standing far below him was Warrior Takemikazuchi.

However, even while falling upside down, it did little to hinder the archer as he took aim and drew back his bowstring.

"My core is..." He incanted, streaks of prana flowing forth from the helical arrow.

"[Flowing Spirit], [Mountain Leap]!" Warrior Takemikazuchi bent his legs as his body glowed from the activation of his skills.

With a powerful jump, he leaped towards the magus.

However, it wouldn't be enough to reach him.

"[Caladb—!"

"[Wings of Icarus]!"

Suddenly, great wings sprouted from his back, propelling Warrior Takemikazuchi toward Shirou at greater speed.

Just as Shirou was about to release his arrow, the Heteromorph intercepted and tackled him mid-air. The two spun as they struggled and grappled with each other.

'The [Wings of Icarus]!' Shirou recognized. The ability belonged to a ring that allowed the users to conjure wings, granting them increased mobility and brief flight. That was how he was able to relocate so far and quickly, by using it in combination with his movement skills.

'He must've swapped out one of his usual rings for it before the tournament.' The magus reckoned, having not seen it being used once throughout the entire tournament. 'He kept it hidden entirely for our match…'

The two Players crashed onto another island-stage, tumbling. Amid their roll, Warrior Takemikazuchi managed to gain the upper hand, swiftly grabbing onto the magus's arm in a vice grip. Recovering first, he swung Shirou around, using his momentum to throw him against a broken wall.

Shirou slammed into the wall. He coughed, spittle spitting from his mouth.

Shirou hastily rolled the side, dodging Warrior Takemikazuchi's downward swing as he split the wall.

He backed up, trying to put some distance between them to recover.

"Oh no, you don't. [Thrust]!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi lunged.

Shirou dodged, but thanks to Takemikazuchi MK 8's long reach, it wounded him in the shoulder. Golden electricity flowed from the ōdachi, numbing his entire right arm.

Shirou faltered for a split second, allowing Warrior Takemikazuchi to press the advantage.

The magus was forced to use Caladbolg II to defend, all the good that did as he fell onto his back, lightning shocking and numbing his body.

He quickly rolled to the side and off it to avoid Warrior Takemikazuchi's downward slash, which threatened to decapitate him.

He fell, hitting a lower platform with a less-than-graceful landing. Rolling, he quickly ran.

Standing at the ledge from above, Warrior Takemikazuchi tossed his blade up slightly, catching it in a reverse grip.

"Hey!" He called out, rearing his arm back. "Catch!"

He hurled Takemikazuchi MK 8 at Shirou.

Shirou skidded to a sudden stop. The Divine class blade landed ahead of him, stabbing the ground. Had he not halted in time, the blade would have surely impaled him.

A shout ripped through the air as Warrior Takemikazuchi jumped, falling towards him with his fist clenched and ready.

Shirou brought up both his arms to defend, [Reinforcement] streaking across his limbs.

His arms shook as he defended, his body skidding backward from the heavy blow.

"[Kundali]!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi thrusts his arms forward. The Dispenser of Heavenly Nectar, Gundari Myo-O, released a serpent from his hand. It slithered through the air, coiling around the magus and constricting him.

He rushed in, grabbing his Takemikazuchi MK 8 while his opponent was held in place.

"[Trace Bullet]!"

"[Slash]!"

He readied his skill against Shirou's volley.

Just before they reached him, the projections detonated prematurely, well before he had a chance to swing his blade. While the damage was far weaker than it was normally, he was still caught in the blast of the explosions.

Warrior Takemikazuchi's HP dropped, but that wouldn't be enough to deter him or halt his charge.

He swung, his sword slicing through the veil of smoke.

A metallic shriek pierced the air.

The smoke parted, revealing a thick, towering shield colored in a vibrant shade of hot pink. Tall enough that it obstructed even the wielder from the samurai's sight.

Despite the deep scar that stretched across the shield's surface, it remained steadfast and unyielding.

'Bukubukuchagama-san's [Stalwart Argus].' He instantly recognized the pink Elder Slime's signature shield.

"[Senkū]!"

Empowered by the skill, he swung Takemikazuchi MK 8 at lightning speed, slicing through the sturdy tower shield like a hot knife through butter. The upper half flew off.

Warrior Takemikazuchi saw no sign of Shirou behind it, deducing that he must've broken free of his constraint and ran to gain some distance.

Just then, Shirou popped around from behind the lower half of the shield, having used it as an impromptu cover to launch his surprise attack.

The samurai swung Takemikazuchi MK 8 down out of instinct.

A click was heard, and then a resounding bang, followed swiftly by the screech of clashing lightning.

For the first time in the match, Warrior Takemikazuchi was forced back, something he had not anticipated. Steam hissed from the slash mark that ran down his side, his HP dropping a fraction.

In Shirou's hand were a familiar trigger sheath and crimson katana.

'Deus Machina-san's HF blade!' He thought. 'He used the explosive quick-draw to beat my swing…'

He grinned.

"That's more like it!"

They met, and their blades danced.

[—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—]

Momonga sat at the edge of his seat, his crimson orbs glued to the holographic screens. The intense battle between the two finalists had everyone in Ainz Ooal Gown captivated, cheering them on with endless enthusiasm. It was a fun conundrum — rooting for one while exclaiming and watching out for the other. The support for either of them flipped back and forth with every second as the two finalists duked it out.

While many of them remained neutral, Momonga included, others, such as the likes of Peroroncino, Bukubukuchagama, and Bellriver, were actively rooting for Shirou to triumph, while the likes of Ulbert, Nishikienrai, and Amanomahitotsu were shouting their encouragement for Warrior Takemikazuchi to take home the prize.

Out of the corner of his eyes, Momonga noticed something. Destana was oddly quiet, a contrast to the normally rambunctious excitement that she'd shown throughout the tournament. Although her avatar's expression remained unchanging, he could easily tell that his girlfriend was pensive.

"Is something wrong?" Momonga gently nudged her with his elbow, jolting her from her thoughts.

"Huh? No, not really…" She muttered. "Just a bit surprised, is all."

"About what?"

Destana didn't say anything immediately, a finger scratching at her cheek almost sheepishly.

"It's just, kind of... Well, I guess I'm surprised that Warrior Takemikazuchi-san is able to keep up with Emiya-san." She admitted. "Since, well, he can do a bunch of 'swish' or 'shing!' and 'kaboom!' and 'pew!' Y'know?"

Momonga was confused by her statement, but found her hand gesture to mimic the weapons or action, alongside the onomatopoeia of the sounds to be cute.

It took him a moment before he realized what she exactly meant.

Momonga glanced back at the holographic screen. Shirou had just projected Bukubukchagama's shield, crouching low in wait for his opponent, his hand resting on the handle of the HF katana and a finger on the trigger.

The two Players clashed, and from there, the two dueled.

Though she was part of the guild, that didn't necessarily mean she had a complete understanding of the history of the two guild members, especially concerning the Fake Player. From an outsider's perspective, Shirou's multifaceted build seemed unbelievable and unstoppable. Moreover, his abilities had accumulated quite a notoriety over the years, making it a challenge to distinguish between fact and fiction. The tournament was a testament to some of the exaggerated rumors regarding the magus's abilities, which were proven true.

If one were to go off on the rumors and hearsay, coupled with the faker's versatile playstyle and unique Noble Phantasms showcased throughout the tournament, which contrasted with Warrior Takemikazuchi's straightforward, but audacious and adventurous plays, the assumption that Shirou would hold the advantage handily was far from unreasonable. A bias that he didn't fault her on.

"Is that sword of his really giving Emiya-san that much trouble?" Destana wondered aloud.

Back when Warrior Takemikazuchi first revealed Takemikazuchi MK 8 and made his bold declaration, she first thought of it as nothing more than a cheeky, prideful boast between friends. Yet, seeing it in action, it was clear that it was living up to his promise.

A soft, amused chuckle left Momonga's skinless lips.

"That's certainly a factor, but that's not all." He said. "Would it surprise you to learn that between Takemikazuchi-san and Emiya-san, the former has a higher win percentage over the latter?"

"Really?" She sat up straighter in her seat, her attention divided between the match and her boyfriend.

"Indeed." He nodded.

Touch Me, Warrior Takemikazuchi, and Shirou — it went without saying that those three were the greatest warrior-type Players within all of Ainz Ooal Gown. Nishikienrai was a close contender, but his specialties lie in stealth and assassination rather than physical combat.

Touch Me was renowned for his staunch defense, combined with unparalleled skill and strength that befitted his title as a World Champion. His mastery of counter-combat allowed him to withstand even the most powerful attacks while dishing out equally devastating blows. This harmonious fusion of offense and defense made him a force to be reckoned with.

Where Touch Me's style had a distinct focus on defense while maintaining an offensive front, Warrior Takemikazuchi was the complete opposite. His style of fighting focuses solely on overwhelming force.

The Heteromorphic samurai was well-reputed for blitzing down his opponents, even at a reckless pace. This method of combat was characterized by its aggressive pace, overpowering his opponents with sheer force and skill, leaving no room for his foes to mount a defense or launch a counterattack against his relentless onslaught. His proficiency with the blade rivaled that of Touch Me's and even surpassed the World Champion when it comes to DPS in a few areas.

Lastly, there was Shirou. Where the other two had their own defined form of fighting, the magus favored adaptability above the rest. The sword-spamming Player was the most diverse and dynamic, allowing him to change and adapt his strategies depending on the situation. This fluidity gave him an unparalleled level of unpredictability that made him a terror on the battlefield, as he wasn't limited to just one play style.

"You can almost think of it like a rock paper scissor scenario." He drew a comparison after giving a brief rundown on each of the Players.

Touch Me was the rock; Shirou was the paper; and Warrior Takemikazuchi was the scissors.

It was a vast simplification, in Momonga's opinion, but the analogy was apropos in his mind.

Objectively, all three were relatively equal, with each possessing unique and differing specs and advantages in different areas in comparison to one another.

But when it came to the Fake Player and the Bujin, it was less of a matter of statistics or percentages and more of a coin toss.

The two guildmates have fought together and against one another throughout the years, and they've traded tips and insight far more than either of them could recount. The two were intimately familiar with each other's strengths and weaknesses, and they knew exactly how to exploit or counter them.

And it was this familiarity that allowed the samurai to find the subtle chink in the armor that was the magus's formless fighting style.

The magus was unparalleled in versatility, that was undoubtedly true, but that very strength was a weakness in itself. The gap that existed between his mind grasping the appropriate weapon for a situation among countless, consciously bringing it into reality, and then adapting himself to better utilize the new armament was not an instantaneous process.

In that break in the flow, in that infinitesimal interval, he was compromised, his stance void to preemptively adapt into one more suited for his next weapon.

This was where the Bujin's hyper-aggressive play style excelled, by disrupting that infinitesimal interim to create an opening and capitalize on it. By preventing the set-up, he stops the virtual magus from following through with his moves.

After all, no attack was a threat to him if it wasn't allowed time or was stopped from being one.

'Takemikazuchi-san practically has all his bases covered...' Momonga quickly realized.

With Takemikazuchi MK 8, the samurai had an efficient counter against the magus's usual tactic of firing [Trace Bullet] or detonating his projections to deal massive damage. Even if Shirou were to try and trace his heavy hitters, Warrior Takemikazuchi would immediately rush to neutralize them before he could use them, putting Shirou in a more precarious position than if he hadn't. And as shown with Caladbolg II, he was well aware and vigilant of them, and no doubt had countermeasures in place. This effectively locked Shirou down and made him rely on quicker, but simpler Noble Phantasms to bridge the gap, of which, the Divine class ōdachi would make short work of them.

Furthermore, the locale of the battlefield favored Warrior Takemikazuchi more than it did Shirou, as the close-quarter nature of the floating stages allowed the samurai's specialty to shine.

It was evident that Warrior Takemikazuchi had been planning this for a long time. Every aspect, from his Takemikazuchi MK 8, the finely-tuned strategy, and his fully committed blitz, had been all for this moment - this match. And like the first blooms of a long-awaited harvest, it was time for the Nephilim to reap the fruits of his labor.

'But he's only able to do that by committing to a sustained rush.' Momonga mused.

Warrior Takemikazuchi favored high burst-DPS rush over sustain-DPS, and for him to commit to the latter so heavily spoke of the effort and perseverance needed for him to keep up the pressure on the magus.

The samurai couldn't afford to give Shirou even a chance to recover.

All of Ainz Ooal Gown and Warrior Takemikazuchi, especially, have seen the Fake Player's incredible ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with a single decisive move countless times. That was all it took - a single instant - to turn the tide. Therefore, the only way to prevent him from reaching that moment was to ensure that Shirou was not allowed a chance to do so.

"So how can Emiya-san turn it around?" Destana wondered.

As Momonga opened his mouth, the crowd around him rustled. Gasps and other noises filled the stadium, particularly those from the members of Ainz Ooal Gown, capturing the Guildmaster's attention.

The couples snapped their heads back to the front, returning to the fight and action as their eyes widened at the sudden development.