Time rewinded. While Shirou and Atalanta were engaged in a chase in the jungle, on the other side, Achilles, appearing as Red Faction Rider, seemed to be effortlessly handling the siege of Siegfried and Frankenstein. Under his invincible speed and impenetrable defense, both Siegfried and Frankenstein were caught in a bitter struggle.
Facing a formidable opponent, Siegfried, while coping, also pondered. His attacks left no wounds on the opponent. It seemed the opponent, like him, was a hero with powerful defensive capabilities. Coupled with his god-tier spear skills and unmatchable speed, although he himself wasn't injured due to his Noble Phantasm Balmung, the situation on the field was clearly not in his hands, but in the opponent's. Even though they were two against one.
"Saber, what are you doing! Quickly use your Noble Phantasm!" Hearing his Master's continuous shouts, Siegfried couldn't help but ponder the possibility of using his Noble Phantasm. Using the Noble Phantasm was possible, but could his Noble Phantasm truly eliminate the opponent? After all, he still didn't know the breakthrough point of the opponent's defense. Could his
attack penetrate the opponent's defense?
"What are you doing, Saber! I command you with a Command Spell, use your Noble Phantasm!" With Gordes' exasperated command, a massive amount of magic power instantly condensed on Siegfried's sword. This was the prelude to a Noble Phantasm release. But Siegfried was very resistant!
If he could defeat this Red Rider in front of him, it might still be worth taking a gamble. Siegfried would agree and would not refuse to use his Noble Phantasm.
But Red Rider was displaying his immortality without hesitation, and he couldn't imagine his Noble Phantasm being effective. It wasn't just a defense that could be broken by raw power; it required something specific. For example, fire, lightning, or attacks with a specific nature. Or conditions, such as being in a forest or at night, similar to immortality. There were many heroes with such legends.
Once upon a time, there was a dragon named Vritra, who exchanged a contract with the war god Indra: "No harm can be inflicted by wood, stone, steel, dry things, wet things, or any weapon, and cannot be defeated day or night." So the war god, at dusk, neither day nor night, used a foam pillar, neither dry nor wet, and certainly not wood, stone, or steel, to defeat Vritra. Indeed, there is no such thing as complete immortality in this world.
Moreover, although he was a Heroic Spirit, he could not escape the category of "human" no matter where he was.
Those who deviate are often extraordinary beings who could not originally be summoned as Servants in the Holy Grail War. He himself was like this. Attack methods above B-rank, plus the only part that wasn't bathed in dragon's blood, the back. As long as one aimed there, even the weakest Heroic Spirit could kill him.
What kind of immortality did Red Rider possess? To unleash his full power without solving this mystery was truly foolish. Once this Noble Phantasm was used, at the moment its name was shouted, his true identity would most likely be exposed. After all, there was only one Heroic Spirit in the world who used this illusionary greatsword.
Once his True Name was seen through, his fatal weakness would be exposed. In that case, he would instantly fall into a disadvantageous situation. Thinking this, Siegfried became even more resistant. But the Command Spell's order was absolute; Siegfried couldn't stop it.
"Releasing your Noble Phantasm? Come on, Black Saber! Let me see your strength!" Looking at the confident smile of Red Rider opposite him, Siegfried's last glimmer of hope was completely shattered. The enemy was not afraid of his attack at all. His attack couldn't penetrate his defense. He was about to be exposed!
"I command you with a Command Spell, cease the release of your Noble Phantasm!" Under the restraint of the Command Spell, Siegfried finally stopped his movements, but knelt on the ground exhausted due to the continuous commands.
"Hahaha, your Master is truly foolish!"
"First he commands you to release your Noble Phantasm, then he commands you to stop it. Two Command Spells just gone!"
"But my Master is quite sinister too!" Just as Achilles was mocking the Black Faction Master's miraculous actions, a sudden arrow pierced the sky, instantly piercing his shoulder!
"Who?!" His proud defense breached, Achilles instantly became wary. But after the wariness, came joy! Achilles' whole body trembled, not from shame, but from delight.
He thought from the bottom of his heart, it was truly great that there was an existence in this Holy Grail War that could harm him. The Black Archer's bow was so clear and resonant. He had thought that there was no archer who could surpass his own Archer, Atalanta, and he felt ashamed of himself for thinking that.
Arrows were shot again. Judging from the faint sound of air being cut and the air vibrating, five arrows were rapidly fired in succession. It was easy to escape to the rear, but twice already, he had done so, yet his escape position was seen through, and he was still pierced by arrows. Was his inner thoughts being read? Or did the other party possess a skill similar to precognition, or a Noble Phantasm? But none of that mattered. The most important thing was that his arrow pierced his defense.
This meant that he and he were of equal existence.
Achilles recognized the Black Archer, who possessed both lineage and skill, as his greatest rival in this Holy Grail War.
The third rapid-fire attack came. This time, Achilles advanced fearlessly. However, even so, his movements were still seen through. The released arrows, at some point, had pierced his knee. The long-awaited intense pain made Achilles unable to suppress the emotions
surging in his heart.
"Haha, hahahaha! Wonderful! Truly wonderful, Black Archer! Can you hurt me, kill me! Then, the battle between you and me is fate!! Oh, gods of Olympus.
Please bestow glory and honor upon this battle!"
However, it was too regrettable to decide the victor here.
Neither his original mount was summoned, nor were his companions who should have come to witness his glory present. To decide the outcome in this somewhat desolate forest was truly a waste.
Just as Achilles' fighting spirit surged, a blue magic arrow suddenly rose into the sky from the distant jungle.
It then transformed into an arrow rain, rapidly descending.
"That's Sister's Noble Phantasm!" Achilles' pupils constricted. He knew very well that Atalanta, who had no sense of honor, would absolutely not actively confront an enemy at this time. "Ambushed, and it's even reached the most dangerous moment?" Achilles, realizing Atalanta was in danger, quickly snapped his fingers.
Immediately, three swift steeds appeared above, pulling a chariot, and knelt beside him. Achilles leaped into the charioteer's seat and declared loudly, "Black Archer! Let's settle this another time! Next time, I absolutely must see your true face!" Then, he immediately rushed towards the place where Atalanta's Noble Phantasm was activated.
In the face of the chariot's divine speed, the distance between them was but a flick of the finger. But he seemed to have arrived a moment too late. Looking at the enemy who, under an irresistible charge, unleashed a terrifying blow, Achilles, still in mid-air, roared, "Kosmos Kyrios!" (Small World Encompassing the Heavens!)
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