Chapter 78: Lucias vs. Astaroth (4)

"You're sending him alone, Master?"

Skaði asked as she watched her disciple step on top of the magic circle with an unsure expression on her face.

"Yeah, is there something wrong with that?"

Lucias asked, confused as to why she held that kind of expression while staring at her own disciple that she trained.

"No... it's just that... his Luck isn't that great..."

"Don't worry, it's not like something bad is going to happen"

Lucias said with a casual smile on his face before hearing the voice of the announcer.

[Combatant Lucias Frey has send out his [Rook] for the third round of the match. He's name is... Cú Chulainn!! The man with the same name as the hero of Irish mythology!! The child of light! The rabid dog of Culann!!]

The announcer causing a oversized man with long a beard on his face, wearing a large robe that covered his entire body to look at Cú Chulainn in surprise.

"Cú Chulainn... It's been so long since I've heard that name..."

Dagda, the supreme god of Irish Mythology muttered whiel stroking his beard, while the other mythological gods around him to look at Cú Chulainn in curiosity.

"No man can possibly contain Cú Chulainn's soul. To think an imposter of a hero to show up in this place"

One of the mythical gods muttered in a displeased tone, but Dagda only smiled in response while looking at the blood red spear in Cú Chulainn's hand.

"Surely no imposter can possibly use and control [Gae Bolg] at will... To think I will meet that battle maniac again hahahaha. I made a great decision to come to this realm"

He muttered with a large grin on his face.

[For combatant Diodora Astaroth... He sent out both his [Bishop] and [Rook]. What a surprise!! Diodora Astaroth is going all out in every round!! It looks like Lucias Frey is now in a great disadvantage!!]

The announcer shouted while looking at the [Bishop] who wore a large pointy mask that hid his facial features and the [Rook] that was, unlike before had a very refined body, that was not too mascular, holding two large brass knuckles in his fist.

Lucias on the otherhand recieved a dangerous glare from Skaði who correctly predicted that something bad might happen in the match, causing him to wryly smile at her direction.

"... For him to actually send out his [Bishop] instead of a pawn... It looks like his going to push his own team to win, huh?"

Lucias muttered, ignoring Skaði who helplessly sighed before turning his head to watch the match of her disciple.

"Cú Chulainn at least will be able to bring down one of them together with him... so even if we lose this round. It will be not for naught"

Skaði whispered to herself before the voice of the announcer suddenly echoed throughout the entire stadium.

[The third match will now begin!! And the field for this round is a... enclosed box? Forgive me folks but this is the first time that such a stage is ever used in a [Rating Game]. An enclosed box that contained no escape routes and the only open space available in that field is the open space inside the box itself. This stage was suppose to be banned for use due to the dangers that it posed to it's participants]

The announcer explained with a slight frown on his face as he turned his head to look at the higher ups who were watching at the VIP seats in the stadium, only to recieved a dangerous glare from each of them as he tried to question why this field was available for use.

"I see..."

Lucias muttered while glancing at Astaroth who held a large victorious smile on his face causing Lucias to grin in response.

"So this is how they'll play"

Lucias said before staring at Cú Chulainn who was casually waiting for the match to begin inside the projection above them.

"[By the command seal, I order you... Activate your noble phantasm without constrains]"

Lucias said causing Cú Chulainn's [Gae Bolg] to illuminate in a vicious blood red light, activating all of its functions as it quickly drained Lucias of his mana.

"Both teams get in your position"

The arbiter urged, causing Cú Chulainn to frown from being ordered around by someone as weak as him before testing out his blood red spear in his hands with a vicious smile on his face.

"BEGIN!!!"

The arbiter shouted causing the Diodora's [Rook] to immediately punch the ground at full force, causing hundreds of debris to fly into the air as the [Bishop] covered all of the pieces with his mana.

Transforming all of them into a variety of weapons, ignoring Cú Chulainn who got into position with the butt of his spear pointed at the ceiling of the field.

"Enkidu wannabe"

Cú Chulainn muttered as hundreds of swords suddenly rained down on his position causing him to immediately deflect all of the swords with his spear before kicking the ground to propell himself towards his enemies.

"[Transcend Limits]"

The [Rook] casted before kicking the ground to launch himself at Cú Chulainn who was charging at their direction.

Cú Chulainn who saw him dash at him, immediately pierced his spear to the ground, using it as a support to launch himself into the air causing the [Rook] to miss his attack before recieving a powerful kick on the head. Burying his face to the ground before Cú Chulainn threw the spear towards the [Bishop] to stop him from creating more weapons using the debris around them.

"Useless"

The [Bishop] muttered as he pointed his open palm towards the spear's direction, causing thousands of swords to condense infront of him to block the spear from reaching his location.

Cú Chulainn quickly grabbed the [Rook] below him by the head, lifting his body in front of him before striking a powerful kick at his stomach, causing his entire body to crash against the sword barrier before his spear completely pierced through his chest.

"GAH!!"

The [Rook] screamed in pain as the spear completely pieced a large hole in his heart before it pierced through the large quantity of swords behind him.

"What!?"

The [Bishop] shouted in shock before jumping to the left to dodge the blood red spear which pierced through his barrier.

"Another monster"

The [Bishop] muttered as he quickly dissected the weapon barrier around him before launching all of it at Cú Chulainn's direction.

Cú Chulainn who was charging at them immediately shifted his body to the side to dodge the upcoming sword aimed at his direction before twisting his entire body to dodge two spear that were aimed at his head.

"Gae Bolg!!"

The called as he opened his palm to his side while dodging all of the incoming projectiles with ease, causing the blood red spear to react as it immediately launched itself towards Cú Chulainn, shattering all of the swords that got in its way.

"Dorgath, Hurry up and get up!!"

The [Bishop] shouted towards the [Rook] who was struggling due to the curse that Gae Bolg inflicted on its body as his wounds slowly healed back to its peak.

"Don't order me around, Orzareth"

Dorgath warned in a deep and vicious voice before kicking the ground as he launched himself at Cú Chulainn's direction.

Cù Chulainn immediately swung his spear as soon as it arrived in his grip towards the rain of projectiles at his direction, shattering every weapon that came to him to pieces before recieving a powerful punch at his stomach, sending him flying towards the wall of the field.

"[Artificial Domain]"

Orzareth casted causing his mana circuit to expand while pressing his arm to the ground, causing his mana to take control of the entire field as several black marks appeared on the walls of the field.

Dorgath on the otherhand immediately charged at Cú Chulainn's direction while he was still buried on the wall. 

Sending a powerful hook at his face but was stopped by Cú Chulainn who raised the pole of his spear to block his attack, but due to the force of his punch. His body was further buried into the walls of the field.

"Bastard"

Cù Chulainn muttered in anger as he repositioned his grip on his spear, spinning it in around while Dorgath's fist was still connected to the pole of his spear. 

Dorgath who felt the sudden shift in the center of force in his fist, accidentally punch the wall behind Cú Chulainn as his force was redirected by him before receiving a knee at his stomach.

"Ugh"

He grunted in pain as Cú Chulainn twisted his entire body around to move towards Dorgath's back.

"Got you!"

Cù Chulainn shouted as he swung the blade of his spear at his right arm. Completely slicing it off his body before thousands of swords were rained down at his direction.

"Annoying"

Cú Chulainn muttered in irritation as he quickly blocked all of the projectiles with his spear, shattering them into pieces as they all reverted back to stone upon their destruction.

"[GAE BOLG]!!!"

Cú Chulainn casted as the light within his spear started to shine brighter before he threw his spear at Orzareth's direction at full force and speed. 

"[Demonic Barrier]!"

Orzareth casted in a panick to block the spear, but failed as it easily shattered through his barrier due to his lack of mastery of the ancient spell [Demonic Barrier].

"AGHH!!!"

He screamed in pain as the spear pierced a large hole on his shoulder.

"This fucking rabid dog!!"

Orzareth shouted in anger before injecting all of his mana in the terrain of the field, causing him to be given full control of the land of the field.

"Tch"

Cú Chulainn clicked his tongue in annoyance as several massive spiked appeared at his location while he was charging at Orzareth's direction.

He jumped on the massive spikes that blocked his way before stretching out his palm to call for his spear.

"Dorgath!!"

"Shut up!"

Dorgath shouted in anger as arrived behind Cú Chulainn who retrived his spear back at his palm before throwing a powerful right hook towards his liver, but was blocked by Cú Chulainn who spun his spear around his body to block his fist with the pole of his spear.

Cú Chulainn then repositioned his spear before thrusting its blade at Dorgath with great precision and speed, causing Doragth to unconsciously raise his fist to block his attack, only to get it pierced by his spear.

"ARGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

He screamed in pain as the spear completely pierced through his arm and in his right eye, causing his blood to flow down his cheek as he quickly grabbed the spear with his left hand to pull it out of his head before it completely pierce through his brain.

Cú Chulainn immediately retracted his spear back as he prepared to launch another thrust at his chest, but was stopped as a large fist made from the materials of the walls in the field, punched his entire body. Launching him towards the top part of the wall.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

Dorgath shouted as his eyes completely lost their light while all of the thoughts in his head completely disappeared. Leaving nothing but a single objective, to kill Cú Chulainn who was stuck inside the ceiling.

"... Why does he have that skill?"

Lucias muttered while observing the fight from the projection above them.

"[Mad Enhancement]... Don't tell me he got that from the True Goddess of Wrath"

Lucias said, narrowing his eyes towards Dorgath who kicked the ground, creating a massive crater below him as he launched himself towards Cú Chulainn direction.

"Die!!!"

Dorgath shouted as madness devoured his expression before launching a powerful punch at Cú Chulainn's face, causing his head to bury further inside the wall as Dorgath immediately bombared him with punches.

"Die!! Die!! Die!! Die!!"

Dorgath shouted as the walls around them started to collapse due to the incredible force contained in each on his attacks.

"Don't look down on me!!"

Cú Chulainn shouted as blood started to pour down his head due to the constant punches aimed at his head.

He raised his spear at his head, blocking Dorgath's attack before kicking him at his crotch at full force, sending him crashing towards the opposite wall as several boulders were launched at his direction.

Cú Chulainn then kicked the wall to give his body enough force to launch himself towards one of the boulder aimed at his direction.

Jumping from boulder to boulder as he prepared to throw his spear at Orzareth's direction, but was stopped by Dorgath who launched himself at his direction and hugged his waste, sending both of them towards the wall of the field.

"[Flame Enhancement]"

Orzareth casted, causing bright red flames to devour each of the bouldes floating above him before launching at Cú Chulainn's and Dorgath's direction.

"This son of a-"

Cú Chulainn cursed as the flaming boulders buried him and Dorgath deep inside the wall of the field while dozens of more boulders were aimed at their direction to make sure that he wouldn't survive the attack.

"Ha... Ha... Ha..."

Orzareth panted in exhaustion as he knelt on the ground while his wounds slowly recovered.

"Finally-"

He muttered but froze as a massive explosion occured inside the walls of the field, shattering all of the boulders that buried Cú Chulainn and Dorgath on the wall while a single body flew towards his direction.

"Dorgath!?"

Ozareth shouted in shock as he saw the charred body of his partner while it quickly regenerated back to his peak.

"Shit!!"

Ozareth cursed in anger as he launched several weapons at Cú Chulainn's direction who ran against the walls of the field with a bloodied body, holding his spear in hand as he quickly shattered all of the weapons aimed at his direction.

"[High Heal]!!"

Ozareth casted while Cú Chulainn was defending against his barrage of attacks towards Dorgath to quickly heal his wounds.

Dorgath who felt his senses return back to his body immediately launched himself towards Cú Chulainn who had a large frown on his face while defending against the barrage of attacks as he ran against the walls of the field.

"Arghh!!"

Dorgath shouted as he crashed against the wall close to Cú Chulainn causing Cú Chulainn to immediately reposition his spear as he launched several thrust as his direction.

Dorgath who saw the quick succession of attacks placed his fist in front of his face before redirecting all of Cú Chulainn's attack with his fist since he can't directly face his attacks head on.

He then launched a powerful hook at Cú Chulainn's stomach, causing him to spit out blood before his leg got pierced by a large spike coming from the wall that they were fighting at.

"AHHH!!!"

Dorgath shouted as he threw a powerful punch towards his face, sending him launching towards the ground, while his body fell along with him due to the awkward footing that he had when he launched the attack.

Ozareth immediately used that chance and transformed all of the land below Cú Chulainn into several thin spikes to skewer his body, but failed as Cú Chulainn quickly reacted by twisting his body around and slicing most of the spikes with the blade of his spear.

"Aghh!"

He shouted in pain as he landed on the ground due to one of the thin spikes that he wasn't able to cut off, piercing through his foot.

"This is the end!!!"

Dorgath shouted as he threw a powerful hook at his head while he was struggling to break his foot free from the spike, causing his head to bury on the ground while the spike sliced off his foot, creating a large laceration on his foot. 

"Haa... Ha... Ha..."

Dorgath panted in exhaustion without removing his fist from Cú Chulainn's face but froze as Cú Chulainn suddenly grabbed his head and smashing it against the floor of the field.

"That isn't enough to stop me"

Cú Chulainn stated before sending a hook at his head, crushing his own hand due to placing all of his strength in that attack. 

"A..A..."

Dorgath twitched as his brain was severely crushed by Cú Chulainn who stood up from the ground. Not bothering to see if he was able to crush Dorgath's third eye. The only part of his body that can kill him once destroyed.

"How come you're not dead yet!?"

Ozareth shouted in anger as he recklessly launched several projectiles at his direction.

Cú Chulainn immediately repositioned himself as he blocked each one of the projectile with his spear before jumping above the ground and throwing his spear at Orzareth's direction.

"That-"

Ozareth shouted but was cut off as the spear pierced through his mouth, piercing the ground at his back as Cú Chulainn threw himself towards Gae Bolg's location.

As he crashed against the floor behind Ozareth, he then grabbed his spear and swung the blade vertically upwards at Ozareth, slicing his entire body in half from his crotch up to his face, slicing his third eye into two. Killing him in an instant.

"You shitty zombie!!"

A loud voice suddenly shouted in front of him as a hand suddenly pierced through his chest, crushing his heart, causing him to vomit out blood while glaring at Dorgath who was recovering from his wounds.

"You're not going to survive this time"

Dorgath stated in a victorious smile causing Cú Chulainn to grit his teeth in annoyance.

"Hahahaha... I win"

"Don't celebrate just yet"

Cú Chulainn said with a large grin on his face while his [Battle Continuation] activated to keep him alive.

"I'm taking you with me"

He said as he pierced his fingers to the exposed third eye of Dorgath with all of his strength, causing him to scream in extreme pain as his blood showered Cú Chulainn's face.

"... Idiot..."

Cú Chulainn muttered before completely losing his conciousness, causing both his and Dorgath's body to fall on the shattered floor of he field. Indicating the end of the round.

[Combatant Diodora Astaroth's [Bishop], and [Rook] retires]

[Combatant Lucias Frey's [Rook] retires]

[Due to both participants being unable to continue fighting. I declare this match to be a draw!!!]

The arbiter announced causing the crowd to loudly cheer in excitement as the bodies of both participants were transported back to their respective base.

"Bring his body to me!"

Lucias shouted causing Heracles to quickly grab Cú Chulainn severely injured body before placing it on the sofa, causing his blood to drench the clean sofa of their base.

"That... was fun"

He muttered in a weak voice causing Lucias to frown as he took out 5 bottles of Pheonix Tears from his inventory.

"You're lucky that you have [Battle Continuation] or else you would've died"

Lucias said as he opened each bottle and forcefully placed one on his mouth before pouring the rest of the 4 bottles on his body.

"Heroic spirits... like us... don't... die that.... easily"

Cú Chulainn retorted in a weak and pained voice as his wounds slowly healed as Lucias reconstructed his heart himself while allowing his blood to circulate around his injured body with mana to keep him alive.

"Did you forget that this is your real body? *Sigh* nevermind... You're a heroic spirit that is directly attached to my soul, so you won't die unless I do... but it consumes a lot of my soul essence to recover your original body if you die"

Lucias muttered before injecting his own mana into Cú Chulainn's body to increase the rate of his recovery.

"With this... you'll recover after 1-2 days..."

Lucias sighed in relief as he glanced at Astaroth who was glaring at his direction.

"You did a great job, Cú Chulainn even when you were placed in an disadvantageous field. All of us expected that you will lose this round"

"... You have no sympathy, Master"

Cú Chulainn muttered with a wry smile on his face before Lucias poured another bottle of Pheonix tears on his body.

"Aren't we wasting too much, Pheonix Tears?" (Okita)

"Not really, even though I'm not as proficient as Asia, I still have a respectable amount of knowledge in [Support] Magic, so I'm just using the pheonix tears that they gave us so that I wouldn't waste mana"

Lucias assured with a light smile on his face before the voice of the arbiter echoed throughout the stadium, causing the cheers of the crowd to die down.

[It is now time to start the fourth round of the games!! And I have to say, both teams have bought quite a show for all of us to watch in this night!!! For combatant Diodora Astaroth and combatant Lucias Frey to command such powerful pieces!! What a surprising turn of events!!]

The announcer shouted before the arbiter took over to announce the start of the fourth round.

[Both Kings in your respective stands]

He shouted causing Lucias and Astaroth to walk towards their respective stands, grabbing both of their dice as both of them waited for the arbiter's signal.

[SHOOT!]

He urged causing both of them to throw their dice at their respective stands while the results were projected above them.

[Combantant Lucias Frey has rolled a value of... 6!! Combantant Diodora Astaroth has rolled a value... of 3!! Giving both teams a total value of 9!]

The announcer shouted before pointing his finger at Lucias' direction.

[Lucias Frey has a total of 22 values for the 4th round while still having 14 pieces to send out!!! What an extremely disadvantageous situation combatant Diodora Astaroth is in! The chances of winning has become incredibly slim for combatant Diodora Astaroth, but will he still be able to turn the tables around for the upcoming matches!?]

The announcer shouted, hiding the ill feeling thay he felt inside of him due to the higher ups' bias action in the sacred rating game just to give Astaroth a disadvantage for the match.

[Both teams will again be given 10 minutes to prepare for the fourth round! Due to the complications in the field in the previous round. The 2 Maous, Serafall-sama and Sirzechs-sama, will be the ones to take monitor and control of the [Rating Game System] to avoid such events from occuring again!]

The arbiter announced causing Lucias to glance at Serafall and Sirzechs' direction with a light smile on his face, causing both of them to give him a thumbs up in response.

"I guess they're not as useless as I thought they were"

Lucias whispered to himself as a barrier surrounded their base causing Lucias to glance at the two injured servants on the sofa.

"Master, what is your plan for this round?"

Merlin asked with his usual kind and gentle smile causing Lucias to sigh as he recalled the remaining pieces in Astaroth's peerage.

"... Let me asses everything first since his actions are a bit... suspicious"

Lucias said causing Skaði to nod her head in agreement.

"I knew it was strange that he wasn't sending out any of his pawns"

Skaði commented while having her arms crossed below her chest as they tried to asses what was the reason why he was doing such a thing.

"There are only two possibilities why this is happening... either he wanted to win in the first few round so he reckless sent his stronger pieces... or..."

"The pawns are the real threat to us"

Skaði added causing Lucias to nod his head in response.

"Exactly, but... it looks like this plan isn't conducted by him based on his expressions. He looks like he knows nothing, that's why he feels devastated in every lose"

Lucias explained before pointing his thumb at Astaroth who was throwing a tantrum while glaring at his [Queen].

"But didn't you use your [Appraisal] on them, Master?"

Ishtar asked in a confused tone causing Lucias to shake his head to the sides before answering her question.

"Appraisal isn't all that powerful since there are certain skills that could manipulate the status that is displayed by a being... but all Illusions don't work on me unless..."

Lucias muttered before looking at the Queen in suspicion.

"The [Queen] is a True God since they are the only beings that are capable of masking the status of a person from another True God, except for the primordial beings and Origins"

Lucias revealed causing Merlin and Skaði to widen his eyes, while the other servants looked at him in confusion due to hearing an unfamiliar race.

"True God?"

Gohg asked while pulling his sleeve causing Lucias to smile before patting her head with his right hand.

"Only a handful of people know the existence of True Gods, so I'm not surprised that most of you haven't heard of them... but basically they're extremely powerful beings that most of the members of my faction will have a hard time facing. The only beings that can put up a fight against them is Ophis, Great Red, Tobiichi, Lucifer, Azazel, and me... but the chances of them winning are still 50-50"

"Them?"

Ereshkigal asked causing Lucias to mysteriously smile in response.

"I forgot that all of you don't know what my true race is... You only guessed that I'm a god right?"

Lucias asked causing the two goddesses to nod their heads in response.

"... To put it simply, I control two of the main domains that defines existence. So it will take a lot before someone can take me down"

Lucias explained with a light smile on his face before turning his attention back at the rating game.

"They got a value of 13 for this round so it's extremely dangerous if he suddenly sends out his [Queen]. Right now only Merlin, Skaði, and Altera has a chance in getting out alive in a fight between them and the [Queen]"

Lucias muttered before looking at the remaining time that was given to them to prepare.

"I recommend that you send at least 3 servants, Lucias"

The 'creator' suddenly advised inside his mind while he was contemplating on who to send for the next round.

"Why?"

"They are planning on using a strategy that involves alternating the pawns in their hands for each round. I recommend that you don't send the furst 4 servants that you sent out in the previous rounds... They already have a clear grasp on their strength, so it's dangerous to send them out again"

The 'creator' explained causing Lucias to narrow his eyes as he glanced at his servants with a serious expression on his face.

"Who are they sending for this round?"

"3 pawns and 1 bishop... If you are feeling guilty for cheating... don't be since they are listening to your strategies right this instance"

The 'creator' suddenly revealed causing Lucias widen his eyes, but remained calm as to not look suspicious to his enemies.

"Fortunately, you only spoke out the guesses that you have about who they will send out during the time duration that was given to you to plan, and not which servant you will send for the round... so they weren't able to counter whoever you are going to send out for the round"

The 'creator' added while patting Hanna who was excitedly watching his father's game, sitting on her mother's lap with a sweet smile on her face.

"They purposely sent out 2 of their weakest pieces in the first round, and sent out 3 powerful pieces for the 2nd and 3rd round to make you lose your guard, and recklessly send out your pieces for the upcoming matches... without ever appearing suspicious"

"I will send 3-4 servants to fight for the next rounds. It's an all out brawl, so I'm allowing all of you to use your noble phantasms without restrains... Use my mana as much as you like"

Lucias added before pointing his finger at the Ereshkigal, Ishtar, Kintoki, and Skaði who were silently waiting for his decision.

"You four... try to avoid destroying the entire field for the next round..."