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Each member of this formidable army donned gleaming silver armor and wielded the legendary spear Gáe Bolg.

Astraea sneered, "You've merely summoned a bunch of lackeys who grovel before gods. What can they possibly do?"

"While I can't bring them into complete physical form due to the limitations of magical energy, underestimating them would prove fatal."

"They are nothing but a bunch of insignificant—"

Before she could complete her sentence, the commander positioned at the forefront of the materialized army raised his Gáe Bolg, which emitted a subtle crimson glow. With a resounding cry, he proclaimed, "Release the Noble Phantasm, a distant blow from the king's glory—!"

Hurling his Gáe Bolg, it morphed into a scarlet meteor hurtling straight towards Astraea!

"Foolish! How could this meager C-ranked Noble Phantasm break my divine authority?"

Astraea's True Ether surged within her, unleashing a magnificent divine power that coursed through her entire being like a swirling hurricane of magical energy.

But that wasn't all. Behind her, the fallen god's dark radiance expanded, engulfing everything in its path. It formed a colossal shield, providing her with an immense protection.

This divine shield had multiple layers, each more formidable than the last. It possessed such incredible strength that even a B-ranked Noble Phantasm would struggle to penetrate it. It would take an even more potent A-ranked weapon to even make a dent, let alone harm her physical form.

This was the confidence of a god, unwavering and resolute.

However...

To everyone's surprise, as she unleashed her divine power, it triggered an unexpected reaction from the "distant blow from the king's glory." Suddenly, the spear hurled by the commander gained an extraordinary boost, bypassing her divine shield and striking her directly.

With a piercing noise, the spear shattered the divine protection, leaving a deep gash on her arm, from which crimson blood began to flow.

Astraea stared at the wound on her arm with a look of disbelief on her face.

This shouldn't have happened!

Among humans, there existed heroes capable of slaying gods. However, those who achieved such a feat were either demigods or individuals of unparalleled power. In her eyes, the figures before her, including the one who had unleashed the Noble Phantasm and hurled the spear, were nothing more than insignificant insects. How could they possibly pose a threat to her?

The commander gestured, and Gáe Bolg returned to his hand.

Pointing the weapon directly at Astraea, he seethed with anger, "I am Ywain, the 19th Legion Commander of the Eternal Throne! You, vile woman who has dared to besmirch the honor of the king's army, meet your end—!"

"Meet your end, vile woman who has dared to besmirch the honor of the king's army—!" A chorus of raged voices erupted, their Gáe Bolgs radiating a fierce crimson glow, as if they were on the verge of unleashing their devastating Noble Phantasms.

"No way, this has to be some kind of dream, right? Are all those soldiers actually Heroic Spirits? And those weapons... can they all unleash their Noble Phantasms?" Waver blurted out, his eyes practically bulging out of his head, while Orlocke Caesarmund stood at his side, supporting him.

Noble Phantasms, those legendary weapons and skills wielded by Heroic Spirits, were like the pinnacle of their power, physical manifestations of the incredible feats they accomplished in their lives. They were extremely precious.

But now, standing right in front of them, were all these soldiers, each wielding their own Noble Phantasms. It was mind-boggling!

Could it actually mean that every single soldier summoned by the Eternal King... was a Heroic Spirit? Waver's mind raced, trying to comprehend the sheer magnitude of what he was witnessing.

Suddenly, a memory flashed in Waver's mind—the Noble Phantasm of the Conqueror King, the "King's Army."

But there was a crucial distinction here. The Heroic Spirits within the "King's Army" weren't capable of unleashing their Noble Phantasms!

This realization shook Waver to his core. However, it wasn't just him who was startled; Astraea herself was not only shocked but also filled with a sense of fear!

Why? Because as the army thundered their triumphant shouts, it finally dawned on her. She understood the anomaly that existed within this army, and it sent chills down her spine.

She now understood why she had been wounded by that seemingly insignificant soldier.

It all came down to their grand achievements!

Their audacious feat of slaying gods, the transcendence that bestowed upon them a unique advantage against these so-called "gods"!

But throughout history, the monumental task of slaying gods had always fallen into the hands of mighty heroes. Yet, this army standing before them was something entirely different.

They weren't just ordinary soldiers. They were a formidable force that carried within them the very essence of that monumental feat—the grand achievement of slaying gods themselves!

This... It was just too unbelievable.

How could something like this even exist?

Astraea felt a twinge in her eye. Without that grand achievement of slaying gods, this army wouldn't have stood a chance against her. They would have been utterly powerless.

But precisely because they possessed that awe-inspiring grand achievement of slaying gods, their attacks had an astounding impact on her. They had the ability to cause her harm!

"I told you, don't underestimate my army. Every single person here is a renowned hero with a name and a legend!" Shirou chuckled.

"And guess what? We're not done yet."

His hand rose high into the air, and with a snap of his fingers...

- Imperial Privilege EX!

An invisible ripple spread from him, enveloping everyone in the area.

Suddenly, the army's presence became even more formidable and intimidating!

The mere aura they emitted was enough to send shivers down one's spine.

Even the distant magi who were observing couldn't help but break into a cold sweat, feeling overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere.

It wasn't like facing tigers or lions; it was akin to stumbling into the den of a dragon.

Every individual in that army exuded a intimidating aura that commanded respect, much like a colossal dragon.

Lorelei couldn't help but exclaim, her forehead glistening with sweat, "The... the difference is just too immense. Is this really the army under the command of the Eternal King?"

She had always believed that her own elite magi, under her leadership, constituted the most formidable army in the world. However, after witnessing the sheer power and presence of this army, she found it impossible to even utter the word "elite" anymore.

Observing the young king's demeanor, standing there with a gentle smile, as if he had complete control over everything, yet radiating a refreshing aura like a gentle spring breeze. It stirred something deep within her stubborn aristocratic mindset, creating a sense of longing for it.

"Perhaps... this is the regal bearing that befits a monarch," such thoughts quietly emerged in her mind.

As Imperial Privilege EX was unleashed, Astraea couldn't help but instinctively take a step back as she gazed at the formidable army.

It felt as if she was staring down an army of her natural enemies, triggering a deep-seated fear within her—an instinctual response!

"The astonishing feat of slaying gods... it has been amplified!" Astraea whispered, her body breaking out in a chilling sweat.

Indeed.

Following the activation of Imperial Privilege EX, the dreadful and awe-inspiring [God Slayer] skill possessed by each member of the army were magnified to a terrifying degree.

For Astraea, it was akin to confronting an entire army solely dedicated to annihilating "gods"!

To add to her distress, she sensed her own divinity diminishing, as if fading away.

"This... this sensation of being forgotten... this sensation of being forgotten..." Astraea's palm trembled uncontrollably.

Among the gods, their greatest fear wasn't the God Slaying Heroes, but the prospect of being forgotten!

In that very moment, as "Imperial Privilege EX" enveloped her, she was struck with the very fear that haunted the gods—the fear of being forgotten!

Her Divine Core weakened, and her once formidable power diminished, as if it was only natural for it to happen.

After all, "Imperial Privilege EX" was a skill that fused together the strengths of "Wisdom of Mortal," "Heroic Mortal," and various other skills. It possessed all the abilities encompassed within the combination skills.

Summoned by the Noble Phantasm, "The Hour of Decisive Confrontation: I Am the Vanguard of the Century," this army had already acquired a formidable "Anti-God" effect, courtesy of the Noble Phantasm.

And now, Young Shirou bestowed upon this army an additional layer of buffs, further augmenting their power.

The special attacks against "Gods" received a substantial boost, making the army even more potent in their divine-slaying capabilities.

Moreover, the presence of "Wisdom of Mortal" elevated the army's fame and legend while simultaneously diminishing Astrea's own, thereby fortifying the army's strength and weakening Astrea in comparison.

This is how the Eternal King's First Noble Phantasm was used, but it wasn't its final form yet. [The Hour of Decisive Confrontation: I Am the Vanguard of the Century] has three stages, and what just happened was only the first stage. It represents the prelude of the Eternal King!

Observing Astraea, who seemed slightly shaken, Young Shirou wore a sincere smile and reassured her, saying, "Don't worry, neesan. I'm kind-hearted, so I won't go too hard on you."

...

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