Chapter 19: Choosing the Wrong Opponent
"If that's the case, then I'll just have to defeat you!"
Gudako didn't hesitate for a moment. "Mash!"
"Yes, Master!"
The girl manifested her cross shield and charged toward the Jaguar Warrior.
"You won't leave, huh... As long as we have the protection of the forest, our sun is invincible! To put it simply... the least you could have done was bring a gift for our first meeting, you idiots!"
As she shouted this, golden lightning surged around the long staff in the Jaguar Warrior's hands, and she lunged violently toward Mash. The tip of the staff struck Mash's shield, producing a dull, heavy thud.
"Oh ho, that's quite a shield you've got there!" The Jaguar Warrior couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, seeing that her weapon hadn't left so much as a scratch on the shield.
"My shield is the embodiment of the wish entrusted to me by the Knight of the Round Table, Galahad!" Mash responded, pushing forward with all her might to repel the Jaguar Warrior.
At the same time, Ana gripped her scythe and rushed in. "Die!"
"Too slow!" The Jaguar Warrior leaped backward with feline agility, scrambled onto the city wall, and pushed off with a powerful kick, charging back toward Ana. "This time, the attack is coming from above. Take this!"
The Jaguar Warrior's speed was so blinding that Ana only had time to raise her scythe horizontally to defend against the blow.
"Wha—!?"
Ana gasped, barely able to track the Jaguar Warrior's movements, which were nothing more than a blur. Being of slight stature, she couldn't withstand the impact, and as she was knocked backward, the Jaguar Warrior seized the opening to kick her in the abdomen.
Boom—!
Ana was sent flying, but the Jaguar Warrior didn't stop. She blurred through the air, reappearing beneath Ana to knock her high into the sky.
"Ugh!" Ana grunted in pain. Twisting her body mid-air, she launched a long chain from her left hand.
However, the Jaguar Warrior, who had been hanging in the air just moments before, vanished the instant the chain struck.
"This is—!?"
Before Ana could finish her exclamation, the Jaguar Warrior was already right in front of her.
"That was just my afterimage!"
The next moment, Ana was struck down to the ground by a blow from the Jaguar Warrior's staff.
"Ana!" Mash, seeing Ana struck down, immediately rushed forward.
"Jaguar Flying Kick!" The Jaguar Warrior slammed her foot into Mash's shield. Goddess or not, the strength behind that blow was beyond what Mash could handle; the girl was sent flying backward, unable to resist the force.
Meanwhile, Ana scrambled to her feet and launched another attack with her scythe.
"Jaguar Javelin!"
The goddess raised her staff, gathered electricity, and slashed down at Ana. Paralysis coursed through Ana's body from the lightning, and before even two seconds had passed, the Jaguar Warrior delivered her next strike.
"Jaguar Hammer!"
Boom—!
Taking the full brunt of the blow, Ana was driven deep into the ground.
"Oh no!" Mash gasped at the sight.
Just then, the Jaguar Warrior rushed toward her. In her desperation, Mash raised her shield to defend.
"Jaguar Bomb!"
Mash's static defense gave the Jaguar Warrior the perfect opportunity.
Boom—!
Struck by this blow, Mash was sent flying backward, unable to keep her footing.
Leaning on her staff, the Jaguar Warrior let out a boisterous laugh. "Heh heh~ Don't underestimate the gods!"
"Damn it, that self-proclaimed Jaguar Warrior is a formidable foe!" Gudako gritted her teeth.
At this moment, the Jaguar Warrior shifted her gaze toward Shirou, who was standing beside Gudako. Seeing his calm, scrutinizing gaze, she decided to teach this disrespectful human a lesson.
"Your presence feels stronger than theirs, so what's with hiding behind them like a coward? Take this!"
Golden lightning crackled and pulsed at the top of her staff as the Jaguar Warrior charged toward Shirou. The staff struck Shirou on the shoulder, and golden lightning instantly swarmed over his body.
"Eh?"
The Jaguar Warrior was certain her attack had landed perfectly on the man, yet his body hadn't moved an inch, as if he were completely indifferent to the power of a god.
"If the gods of this world are all as weak as you, I'm truly disappointed." Shirou looked expressionlessly at the Jaguar Warrior, whose pupils were rapidly shrinking, and reached out to grab the staff in her hands.
The moment her weapon was seized, she tried to yank it back, but her divine power, which had been unstoppable until now, completely lost its effect. She felt as powerless as a child trying to arm-wrestle an adult.
"You... what are you!?"
"Exactly what you see," Shirou replied with a smile.
Simultaneously, he placed his hand on the back of the Jaguar Warrior's head and slammed her face-first into the ground!
Boom—!
A deep crater was smashed into the earth. As for her Noble Phantasm, Shirou casually absorbed it into his "Unlimited Blade Works"—he had no intention of returning it, even if it ended up gathering dust like trash.
Gudako, Mash, and the others, still stunned by what had just occurred, stared blankly at the scene.
"Th-this... have we really done it? Have we defeated a... 'God'?" Gudako asked, uncertain.
"Indeed. The Jaguar Warrior possesses divinity. Theoretically, a Servant without divinity should be unable to defeat her..." As Merlin spoke, his gaze fixed on Shirou. "In other words, his power is already comparable to that of a 'God'..."
"To think he could actually oppose a god... This Age of Gods is truly interesting; anything can happen," Merlin said with excitement. "I'm glad I came to the right place!"
"But now that we've defeated this Jaguar Warrior, does that mean the city of Ur is saved?" Gudako suddenly wondered.
"Yes, indeed. However, that god she referred to as Quetzalcoatl may still be eyeing this place," Merlin noted.
"No, that won't happen! Quetzalcoatl has no need to attack this city!" The Jaguar Warrior, pinned to the ground by Shirou, squirmed.
"How can we trust your words? We should lock her up and take her back to Uruk!" Merlin proposed.
"No! I don't want to leave the forest, waaaaah!" Having finally escaped the ground only to have Shirou seize her by the scruff of her neck, the Jaguar Warrior acted just like a child who had lost a fight, wailing as she spoke.
"Do you really think anyone cares about your opinion?" Merlin mocked.
Just then, Ana trotted over and kicked the Jaguar Warrior. "This is for earlier!"
With the crisis in Ur finally resolved, the Jaguar Warrior helped them rescue the people who had been taken to the Eridu Temple.
"Thank you! Envoys of King Gilgamesh!" The citizens of Ur expressed their gratitude as Shirou and his group packed their gear, preparing for the return journey.
"Hahaha, don't mention it, don't mention it. It was just a small favor~!" Merlin laughed and waved to them.
Seeing Merlin's current behavior, Ana said coldly, "It's not like you were the one who did it, you idiot Merlin!"
Merlin: "..."
After escorting the Jaguar Warrior back to Uruk, Gilgamesh was quite satisfied and sent several gifts to the group for their return trip.
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