A massive surge of prana erupted from Wayland's body, manifesting as a brilliant, bloody radiance directly before him.
"Explode!"
In the next instant, he released his grip on the two spears. The crimson light surrounding the weapons formed a violent shockwave, detonating outward with merciless intensity.
Level 1 Explosion Magecraft.
By rapidly destabilizing the regulated flow of prana and compressing it within the narrow confines of the spear shafts, the energy was forced to reach its critical point before erupting in a primal, chaotic burst.
The skeletons caught in the blast were instantly dismantled, their shattered remains sent flying as burning clusters of bone.
The fires spread, igniting one another in a chain reaction.
A dark red ritual circle materialized on the ground beneath Wayland's feet. He gripped his right wrist with his left hand, extending his palm forward with fingers spread wide.
"Fireball!"
The burning fragments acted as a catalyst, the small fires swelling into a massive, soaring pillar of flame.
Shards and sparks drifted through the air like a rain of crimson blossoms. Fireworks of prana detonated in the sky, easily incinerating any undead caught in the crossfire.
Within seconds, a three-meter radius around Wayland had been transformed into a sea of fire.
Gasping for breath, Wayland looked up to find Scathach watching him with an approving gaze.
Behind her, the tide of undead was slowly receding. It was only then that Wayland realized the enemies he'd faced were likely ones she had intentionally left for him--none of them possessed a rank higher than his own.
"My intuition has always been keen." Scathach stood before him, her voice soft yet carrying a strange weight. "Future is never set in stone. When destiny descends, you possess the will to decide."
Wayland blinked, the words striking a chord of familiarity.
'Wait a minute... I know you have Clairevoyance and can see the future, but aren't you stealing your own student's lines?'
In the FGO prologue, Cu Chulainn had said something remarkably similar to Ritsuka Fujimaru: "The luck to seize destiny, and the decisiveness to act when that luck arrives."
'And besides, I'm not Ritsuka Fujimaru. Even if I was the one controlling him in the game.'
He scratched the back of his head, unsure of how to respond.
"Every so often, the dead within the Land of Shadows attempt a breakout." Scathach turned her head, looking past the walls at the world within. "Why is it that those who are dead yearn for life, while those who are alive yearn for death?"
Wayland shook his head.
He knew that Scathach's deepest wish was to one day be killed by another, though it was a wish that might never be granted.
As the saying went, the joys and sorrows of humans were not interchangeable; one person's heaven was another's hell. Some sought immortality at any cost, while others sought only the finality of the grave.
"Your progress with the Shadow Realm Spearmanship has reached fifty percent, has it not?"
"Yes." Wayland paused, his eyes widening. "Wait, how did you know that?"
"I have known Irigal for a very long time."
"?"
'Is this actually just a memory anymore?'
Wayland was becoming increasingly suspicious. He took a chance and asked, "Did you meet her through Chaldea in the future?"
"I became acquainted with her through Chaldea, yes. I am quite familiar with their systems."
"I see..."
"A Master who never fails to deliver," Scathach said, her expression softening into a rare smile. "Regardless of the era, you possess the resolve to keep moving forward. I hadn't considered it before, but now... I find myself wanting to take you as my disciple. What do you say?"
"Sure." Wayland didn't see any reason to refuse. He'd been calling her "Shishou" anyway, which literally meant "Master" or "Teacher."
Scathach's smile widened, but the sudden shift to a friendly, "big sister" aura only made Wayland feel more uneasy.
"Since you've agreed, once you have fully mastered the Shadow Realm Spearmanship, you will undergo a true Celtic warrior's trial."
"Wait, what?"
"Is there a problem? A disciple of mine cannot be chosen so easily."
"..."
'This memory is definitely cursed.'
He was starting to suspect that Irigal--that "dog" of a system--had tampered with the contents. He didn't believe for a second that this was just a simple training memory anymore.
"Is it... difficult?"
"Not at all. Many have passed it."
Wayland let out a sigh of relief. If it was just a simple initiation test, it shouldn't be too much of a headache.
"For example," Scathach added casually, "the last one to pass was Cu Chulainn."
"???"
'Shishou... comparing me to Cu Chulainn? Are you insulting him, or are you drastically overestimating me?'
Wayland was certain he was a dead man.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]