"But," Gareth turned his head to look at Emiya again and added, "If it's the [Saber], then maybe there's a way?"
Emiya thought for a moment, then looked up at everyone and said, "Everyone, step back a little."
The group exchanged glances, then tacitly stepped back a certain distance.
Emiya said in a low voice, "Trace, On."
As his voice fell, a massive battle axe appeared in Emiya's hands.
Its overall color was pitch-black, with only the axe blade part flickering with dazzling golden light, emitting an extremely dangerous aura.
[Golden Eater]

The strongest "Mystery" killer of the Heian era, Minamoto-no-Raikou, Sakata Kintoki's Noble Phantasm.
The axe blade of [Golden Eater] stores the power of thunder, loaded with fifteen cartridges containing lightning energy, which can increase destructive power by triggering explosions.
This axe is the prototype of the heavy sword [Golden Impact Modified] currently used by Tiona.
[Skill [Roadless Valhalla] effect activated.]
[Temporarily obtained development ability [Shatter] G]
[Temporarily obtained development ability [Power Assault] H]
[Temporarily obtained skill [Monstrous Strength]]
[Golden Physique] Level temporarily increased]
[A/N: [Golden Physique] is a skill Emiya obtained after defeating Argana and Bache.]
The activation of this skill was because he was revered as the "Strongest True Warrior" by the female warriors of the Kali Familia. Those Amazons who pursued the ultimate physical strength and the identity of the strongest warrior, and they knelt in worship before him.
Emiya took a deep breath, gripping the battle axe [Golden Eater] tightly with both hands, his whole body slightly lowered, legs rooted firmly into the ground like ancient trees.
His muscles were stretched to the limit, veins bulging on his arms, and his whole being resembled a beast ready to pounce.
Suddenly, Emiya opened his eyes wide, and the lightning-like sharp gaze in his eyes exploded with an astonishing aura.
With the tightening and then release of his muscles, Emiya concentrated all his accumulated power into his arms, the trajectory of the axe blade spinning like a fully drawn bowstring.
Explosive power and control were perfectly combined in his movements, the lines of his body at that moment displayed an unparalleled dynamic beauty.
The battle axe swung, like thunder splitting the night sky, lightning flickering on the blade, lighting up the entire passage.
The youth's figure was frozen in the thunderlight, shoulders, back, arms... every part of the body was showcasing the rhythm of ultimate physique and pure power.
The axe blade struck down fiercely on the adamantine gate, a powerful shockwave spreading rapidly from the point of impact.
With a loud crash, the metal door believed to be nearly indestructible actually let out a mournful tremor.
That incredibly sturdy metal door, though not pierced through, had a not-small breach appear at the center of the impact.
Riveria and the other female adventurers stared tightly at this scene, unable to take their eyes off the youth's figure.
They witnessed Emiya's lithe posture and thunder-like erupting power, the ultimate combination of strength and beauty, deeply shaking their hearts.
The moment Emiya swung the axe replayed in their minds repeatedly. The lines of his body flowed smoothly with each movement, like a perfectly sculpted artwork.
That tough body, tense arms, and even the aura exuding from his whole being, all told of the incomparable vitality within him.
Riveria felt a strong tremor. That was a kind of instinctual reverence and mental shock, even mixed with a hint of unadmittable longing. She couldn't help but swallow and slightly averted her gaze, trying hard to suppress the inexplicable stirring within her heart.
Finn stepped forward, carefully examining the metal gate, and sighed in a low voice, "Adamantine, to think it got a breach this large. Truly unbelievable."
Gareth also nodded beside him, a trace of admiration in his eyes, "This kind of thing, even this old man couldn't do."
Although Gareth, as a Lv.6 dwarf, undoubtedly had S-rank strength stats, but the power of a single strike not only depends on strength itself, it also requires the support of skills and magic, as well as the blessing of extreme technique.
"A few more strikes, and this gate might be completely blown open," Emiya mused, rubbing his shoulder, "But that last strike was already my limit. I can't unleash it again in a short time."
That axe strike just now gathered all his strength and skills, yet even so, it only barely left a breach on the hardest metal-made gate.
"But, just as I thought—", Emiya pondered, then suddenly looked up, "That feeling of being watched, it's gone."
Finn's eyes flashed with understanding, "Being watched? Could it be..."
"Exactly," Emiya nodded and continued, "I had always felt something watching us, but couldn't confirm the exact position, so I deliberately released the lightning burst of [Golden Eater]..."
While they were discussing, several female adventurers behind them were trying hard to conceal their reactions. Their breathing had grown rapid, and certain instinctive emotions in their minds and bodies were rising and falling like tidal waves.
However, there were two exceptions.
One was the still young Ais, and the other was the uniquely tempered Amazon, Tiona.
Tiona's attention was focused on the battle axe in Emiya's hands. Her eyes were flashing with excitement, like a child discovering a beloved toy.
"Riveria, what's wrong with you all?", Ais asked in confusion.
"Nothing, nothing at all," Riveria's cheeks flushed slightly. She hurriedly adjusted her posture, her legs unconsciously squeezing together slightly, and responded somewhat awkwardly.
———
After probing the adamantine-made metal gate, the adventurers returned to their base.
Today was not yet the time to launch an official attack.
The issue wasn't just the gate made of the hardest metal. That was just a dead object, and a method to deal with it would eventually be found. The key was that they weren't yet prepared for a full-scale war.
That's right, this was a war. A decisive battle between Orario's adventurers and the enemies of the city.
Finn began active diplomatic efforts. In addition to maintaining vigilance against suspicious guild forces, he held multiple talks with the Ganesha Familia, the Dian Cecht Familia, and even the Freya Familia.
Ais and the others seized time to train, trying to raise their stats as much as possible before the outbreak of war.
For adventurers, every bit of growth could be the line between life and death on the battlefield.
The busiest of all was Emiya, who was racing against time to forge.
———
In the Hephaestus Familia's base, the light of the forging furnace reflected the busy silhouettes of every blacksmith. Not only Emiya, the entire Hephaestus Familia's blacksmiths had begun to move.
The strongest combat group and the strongest production group in the city joined hands, the war machine they formed was now running at full speed.
In the Hephaestus Familia's base, adventurers came and went, conducting equipment and material exchanges.
"[War Wolf], this is your custom equipment," Tsubaki spoke, handing a brand-new set of equipment to Bete, "Besides this pair of [Battle Boots], there's also a melee sword, fully top-grade arms, total cost: 250 million valis."
"Tch, I wanted equipment crafted by [Saber]," Bete frowned and complained.
"I told you, Shirou doesn't have time!", Tsubaki retorted with her hands on her hips, dissatisfied, "Who told you to lose rock-paper-scissors."
Emiya only had time to craft equipment for two people, and one of the slots went to the Loki Familia.
Through rock-paper-scissors, Tione ultimately won, and Bete could only accept gear crafted by Tsubaki.
"No choice, guess I'll make do," Bete muttered with a disgruntled expression.
A vein popped on Tsubaki's forehead. Although her forging skills weren't as good as Emiya's, she was still the second-best blacksmith in the city. And this dog dared call her weapons "make do"?
"You brat, I made you a weapon and you don't even show gratitude!", As she spoke, Tsubaki punched Bete's shoulder.
Then, Bete was directly sent flying and crashed heavily to the ground.
"Ah, sorry, didn't control my strength," Tsubaki apologized without sincerity.
Bete got up covered in dirt, staring at Tsubaki in disbelief, "You leveled up?"
"Yup, just leveled up."
Tsubaki smiled smugly, "Is it so strange? I've been at Lv.5 for a long time."
Tsubaki had reached Lv.5 five or six years ago, and now, the [Cyclops] had quietly advanced to Lv.6.
And her level-up feat wasn't slaying monsters or defeating powerful foes.
Tsubaki placed one hand on the sheath of the tachi at her waist, her lips curving into a faint smile.
Although the blueprint was co-designed with Emiya, the entire forging process was done by her alone. With perseverance, talent, and unyielding obsession, Tsubaki created her own miracle.
The prototype Noble Phantasm: [Kurikara Divine Blade]
———
"Although you only just leveled up to Lv.4 not long ago, I feel like... the day you become a first-tier adventurer isn't far off."
Goddess Hephaestus muttered vaguely as she sucked the blood from her pricked finger.
Emiya stood up, glancing at his stats that had once again risen greatly after defeating the Kali Familia.
His Dexterity stat had already reached C699, and it had been less than two weeks since his level-up.
"Tsubaki leveled up too, your growth these days has really been too fast," The goddess sighed emotionally, while sneakily glancing at Emiya's exposed upper body after updating his status.
The youth's solid muscular lines exuded a powerful charm. Already attractive, now enhanced by the [Golden Physique] skill, he looked even more captivating.
"Hmm, if we had a few more months, after I level up again, we'd definitely be more confident dealing with the enemy," Emiya said, "But we can't delay any longer... Goddess Hephaestus, are you listening?"
Hephaestus blinked, seeming a bit flustered, "Hm? Ah? What? No... I wasn't spacing out from looking at Shirou's body..."
Just then, a knock sounded at the door, breaking the awkward atmosphere in the room.
Emiya put on his clothes and went to open the door.
Standing outside was a tall adult man. He had short, spiky red hair and deep blue eyes, a blue scarf around his neck, wore a dark blue long-sleeve shirt and a black kimono, with a brown belt at the waist, sun-tanned white trousers, and brown boots on his feet.
The clothes bore the Hephaestus Familia emblem, but Emiya had never seen this person before.
Although he was a member of the Hephaestus Familia, because Emiya's activities were completely different from other blacksmiths, and many forgers in the workshop rarely left, Emiya didn't know many in the familia.
"Excuse me, you are...?", Emiya asked doubtfully.
"Nice to meet you. Hello, [Saber]-sama, my name is Welf, Welf Crozzo."
Welf lowered his head slightly. When saying his surname, he subconsciously hesitated a little.
"Ah, nice to meet you, hello, Mr. Welf," Emiya responded politely.
Though they hadn't met, Emiya was not unfamiliar with the name.
Welf was born into the Crozzo family of the Rakia Kingdom. A family once famous for forging magic swords. But now, the Crozzo family's magic sword bloodline had declined, and Welf was the only inheritor remaining, which made him quite famous within the Hephaestus Familia.
"Hello, [Saber]-sama, Goddess-sama... I want to ask—"
"Is the Hephaestus Familia currently preparing for war?", After scanning the room, Welf asked.
Emiya nodded, "Yeah."
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