Chapter 27

Crash Crash Crash Crash Crash

With combination between Two Rider-Class Servants, the Plates couldn't stand a chance. Within three minutes alone, almost half of those plates now are nothing but rubble of steel and stones raining down on whatever lies on ground bellow.

Achilles huffed. "That's the fifth. I'm so not envying whoever and whatever got this weird rain."

He was about to directed his chariot to the sixth Plates when something green caught his eyes.

Bluish-green shoot from one of the Garden's Iron "Cage" spike, aimed towards the Plane where Jeanne was on. The Ruler-class Servant, luckily, quickly rebound it with her spear/flag. The light bounced away from the plane and fall in the quite a distance before explode.

"Shit! Sorry Ruler! I'll intercept her now!" Changing direction, Achilles steered the chariot to the said plane. Throwing his shield midair. Intercepting the next attack, which definitely would've destroyed the plan should it hit. The blow force send the Shield back to Achilles' waiting hand.

"Rider!" Yup, Achilles thought with a grimace, Atalanta is very unhappy right now. "Move away! I have to kill that woman who pretends to be saint!"

Whelp. "Sorry sis! No can do!"

"So you decide to protect her? Fine!" Growled Atalanta. "Then I'll kill you too!"

Achilles just smiled wryly, before pushing the horse to ran faster than they ever been. Dodging all of those arrows that rain upon him like meteor shower. Whelp. It seems three days "training" AKA dodging the hell out of Chiron's shoot did paid off.

Seeing the now-familiar sight of Phoebus Catastrophe ready to shoot, Achilles did quick thinking by zigzagging up to her position, startled her enough that she almost dropped the half-charged Noble Phantasm, before floating almost lazily above the Hanging Garden, as if mocking, 'Well? Aren't you going to shoot me?' Enraged, Atalanta did not hesitated to pull the nocked arrow and release it at Achilles.

That was trap.

Just mere second after the arrow released, Achilles whipped the rein and the chariot ran to other side of Hanging Garden, raced downwards and use the whole structure as shield to safely get across back to where Atalanta stood. Once he arrived there, Achilles jumped off and dismissed the Chariot. It all happens under half a minute.

"You're slipping away. That's not like you."

Normally Atalanta was not one who fall for cheap insult. She would keep her cool and ignored it instead. Focus on her task. For her to fall right into the trap, hook line and sinker, means something was wrong with her.

"Silence!"

Half a dozen arrows aimed at Achilles, who dodge them with ease and caught the last one. They all are full of rage and hatred. Sharpening yet dulled the arrows themselves. One don't have to be genius to know that.

"Shame. These are fine arrow, you know?"

"I don't care!" Growled Atalanta. Shooting several more arrows. None of them hit the target. "Why you... why you... why did you stop me?!"

"Sis..."

The arrow increase in number, yet they somehow feels like wind against Achilles' spear.

"Are you mocking me?! Are you saying my wish is impossible?! ARE YOU TELLING ME TO GIVE UP ON SAVING THOSE CHILDREN?! ARE YOU TELLING ME TO ABANDONS THEM?!"

"Those children... are you referring to remnants of Jack the Ripper? If that was the case then... Yes you should."

Atalanta was so shocked hearing that she froze in her tracks.

Achilles sighed. "Those children were dead. Dead decades ago. It's no matter who killed them or how they die. The fact is they were dead. You can loved them, you can honor them, but that was it. Wishing them back to life is futile. Why? Because they won't."

"...shut up..."

"Orpheus and Euridice... you know their story, right? No matter how skilled Orpheus was, his Euridice never returns. The dead stays dead. They won't come back. That's the rule. Same with those kids."

"Shut Up!" Atalanta pulled her ears. Refusing to hear. She refuse. She refuse to believe such. For those children... she refuse to believe!

"They were not belong in this world anymore. They were history already."

"SHUT UP!" She bellowed. "Shut up shut up shut up shut up SHUT UP!" If she can rip her ears off, she would do so. Just so he won't hear those cruel words anymore. "You don't... I thought you understand! You lost your friends and family to war! You saw them die by your own eyes! Have you not wish them back?! Your precious?!"

Achilles' face was picture of shock, before it quickly morphed into anger. Don't kidding me. "I WOULD NEVER WISH THAT!" He shouted back.

"Yes I cherish them! Yes I have regrets for bringing them to their death! Yes I hate and cursed the gods when my cousin die! But I never wished the history to change! Why? Because I am warrior. We all were warriors! We marched forward to new day, knowing it could be our last day! We did not ran from our death with tails tucked between our legs. We face it with our head held high! We chose to do so! If I wish to change it all then it means spitting all over what we have went through and I would NEVER done that!"

There was only silence between them. Achilles was breathing heavily after the shouting match, while Atalanta simply stared in numb shock.

"...i see." The huntress said, almost inaudibly. "I see now. You and I. We were different."

"So it seems." Achilles nodded. Spear pointed at Atalanta who... pulled a rag? No. That was—

"My father always told me 'Behave, you are a princess' but he forgot something: I am raised in wilderness, and forever will be huntress first, woman second. If my existence as woman is hindrance, then—" With a roar, she shoved the black pelt of a certain boar monster to her chest—to her core. "—Then I shall be a beast!"

Black miasma flowed out from her core. Corrupting and twisting her existence. What once green and light brown hair now is ashen gray. What once regal yet practical dress now is nothing more but skimpy armor decorated with black boar fut, and giant black boar head with purple marking rested on her shoulder. Atalanta roared. Showing her sharp, dangerous teeth.

"Noble Phantasm Agrius Metamorphosis: Boar of Divine Punishment!"

Achilles could only shook his head. "Throwing yourself away... you are crazy."

It was irony that he was the calmer and saner one.

"I'll kill you." Growled Atalanta, lowered her body and getting on all four "legs". "You are in the way. I'll kill you. And then... kill that Fake Saint!"

~X~

Crash!

"Ahahaha! Look Master! That's the seventh already!" Even though it was serious situation, Astolfo still found a time and opportunity to laugh. "This may be Time-Limited Event, but tonight I'm special! Come, Assassin of Red! Me ain't scared of you!"

In response of his Servant's action, Sieg could only smiled and think, it perhaps the best choice they decided to wait Three days for the New Moon. Casseur de Logistille: Destruction Declaration perhaps is the perfect Noble Phantasm against the Garden's Defense Mechanism, with its property to cancel any Magecraft even the High Thaumaturgy. Of course it's only possible if Astolfo remember the True Name.

Crash!

"Eight! We're unstoppable!"

"—I'm afraid not."

CLANG!

"Master!"

"I...am... fine!" The Divine spear was blocked by a sword. Sieg gritted his teeth as he tried to push Karna back. It was no easy feat, considering he was standing on a Hippogriff and, knowing Astolfo, the balance could've tipped at any given moment. Seeing no other way, Sieg decide to take a gambit and get closer to Karna before trying to swept him off using clawed hands.

Even if his skin wasn't covered by armor, they are as tough as ten inches thick shield made of finest steel.

Still, it worked. Karna reeled back in surprise seeing Sieg's nails turned into claw. The suddenly-missing force made Sieg almost fall off, if not for Astolfo quickly grab the back of his vest.

"Rider, go. Destroy the remaining plates. I'll stall him."

"But—"

"Go." Sieg's tone leave no argument.

Biting back a scathing remark, Astolfo let go of Sieg, who promptly unfurled his wings. "Don't die, you hear me, Master?! Don't you dare to die!" He shouted before reluctantly steered the Hippogriff to the next plate. Leaving two inhuman persons facing each other.

"...you are not usual Master, are you?" The Demigod inquired. Curious. Sieg did not register as human or Homonculus, or even demigod. Him possessing leathery wings similar to bat but also so different in same time made sure of that. In fact his existence was registered close to demon but not quite right. Something along the lines of fierce creature from wilderness. His eyes, if Karna looked closely, also similar to a reptile.

Sieg smiled wryly. "No. Never been one, and will not be one." He raise the sword in striking position. Pulling the blade parallel to his face. "Before I begin, I have to apologize first."

"What for?"

"I may inherit Saber of Black—Siegfried—heart, and decide to fight you in his stead, but I am not him. He is a Knight and I am a Dragon—even though I am only week old Dragon at the most. I did not fight fair. If I see it fit, I will Curse you. So, apologize in advance, if I put a rather disappointing battle."

"...no." Karna shook his head with a smile. "Quite the contrary, I think this will be wonderful battle."

Yes, it was disappointing he cannot fight Siegfried again. But that was fate. You can't choose it. After all, Sieg perhaps can bring different challenge. India did not have that many Nagas, and he never fought one during his life.

It was an exciting prospect.

Both of them smiled to each other, before clashing.

Spear meet sword, armor meet claws. White-ish spark creates when they meet. The force and small burst of prana whenever the weapons clashing against each other enough to damaged the surrounding.

You could call it impenetrable force meet unstoppable force. Which one is impenetrable, which one is unstoppable, is up to debates.

Sieg's skin was thicker than any normal human, or Homonculus for that matter. They are covered by transparent scales, which are further reinforced with Sieg's natural odd. A Crest glowed brightly from his heart and spread to his body. Signaling his Sacred Gear, [Cursed Core], was active and in use. Furthermore increasing the defense. Anything less and he would've start bleeding anytime now, as he was not up to Karna's skill in weapon-wielding.

Karna himself, is no joke. He is a demigod and known as Top-Class Servant for reasons. While he received gift from Divine Intervention, all of his skills are pure result of his dedication and hard work. The weapons are just mere tool. He didn't need them to be deadly. Even more, he is known as fearsome person during Kurushetra War. Everyone knows that the only reason why he's dead is because he was strikes on his defenseless back when his attention was elsewhere.

Of course. That was after he was struck with multiple curses too.

And Curse is Sieg's new specialty.

The Dragon parried Karna's attack with extremely high difficulty. One spear strike almost beheaded him, should he did not folded back his wings and let gravity take hold for short moment. Despite that still using the momentum to wrap his tail around Karna's ankle and drag him a bit to throw his balance off. And of course, he sustained more injury than Karna was.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sieg gritted his teeth as each strike seems to determine to knock the everloving air out of his lungs.

'Just a little more...' He thought, enduring yet another strike.

"What's wrong, young Naga? Why did you not attack?"

Clang! Shrrk!

'Just a little bit more...' Sieg put the sword into horizontal position, barely able to block the spear this time. He was actually trying to get closer to Karna. His eyes was aimed to the strange red jewel on Karna's chest.

The Demigod retreated a bit and draw back his spear, raising it high and—

'Now!'

Slash!

"Urk!"

The spear cut at Sieg's back, narrowly avoided crushing his spines, leaving long vertical line. Sieg himself use the opportunity to cut Karna. Not enough to be anything serious, but deep enough to draw little of blood. Mixing it with his own, Sieg smear the blood on the jewel. It glowed and blinked rapidly, like lightbulb having problem, before its luster become murky.

Karna staggered back. Feeling oddly weak, as his flame almost goes up. No, that was exaggerating. His fire was still here, but they are definitely weaker. He threw a retreating figure of Sieg a questionable look.

"Sun," Sieg gasped, using the moment to focus healing magecraft to hear his wounds, specifically the wound on his back, "belongs during the day. Not the night."

"Ah." Karna nodded. "I see, just like Ashura who gained power during the night. I suppose to lost mine when sun set."

Sieg grinned weakly. "I'm just evened the field." It was an absurd, suicidal stupid plan that sureway will earn him half-day lectures from everyone, include Mordred and Achilles. It was a curse he creates on whim with Karna in mind, using the natural phenomenal as base. The sun and the moon rotates the earth in turn. The Sun during the day, and the Moon during the night. Never together.

Its aspect was simple one. Basic, even. Cause and Effect. [If the Sun missing from Sky, then it was Night] reversed in order into [If it was night, then Sun have to missing from Sky]. In this situation, Karna's power is the [Sun], and the time of events is the [Night]. Putting emphasis on Night part to weakened Karna's power. The blood was catalyst for it to happens.

It did help it was new moon. Sieg heard Moon actually reflecting the sun's light.

Yep. Absurd and suicidal. His luck have to be high for it to even work.

"Second Round?"

"As you wish."

He was not complaining. Nope sireee.

~X~

Purplish black and green raced alongside surface of Hanging Garden.

"GRAAAAHHHHH!"

If someone saw Atalanta right now, they will have hard time connecting the Huntress with beast that now attacking Achilles in crazed state.

"Fuck fuck fuck... how far are you planning to fall, Nee-san?!" Shouted Achilles as he once again thrown his spear and let it zigzagging around the sky to diver the arrows from Tauropolos away from Achilles. Divinity be damned if any of those corrupted arrows hit his heel. He immediately raise a hand and braced for impact when Atalanta throw herself at him. Snarling, digging into his skin, and biting at his neck like a wounded animal.

Growling in frustration, Achilles elbowed Atalanta in the spine, hard, and knees her in the gut before throwing her as far as he could.

The berserk huntress climbed out of the columns and ruins of empty building. Her eyes were demonic if seen from this distance. And the bat-like wings doesn't help the image. "RIDER!" She roared.

"This gives me Deja vu vibes." Achilles can't help but reminded of certain white-haired amazoness. He cringed. Oh damn it.

An inhuman roar followed by more purplish black projectile aimed at him. The Trojan War Hero summoned back his spear and twirled it to deflect those arrows. He also don't stay put, but jumping to the buildings and pillar. Do his best to not staying in one place and made fool out of himself.

It feels like Hunting Game he used to play when he was young, except he was the Target this time.

Seeing an opening, Achilles ran faster his body become blur green after image. He ran past Atalanta, before stopped on a giant building and using it as launching ground back at her. Using the momentum to drag her along with him and pin her down. Just to be safe, he stabbed the spear through both of the wings. Atalanta screaming. Either pain or rage, it was uncertain which one.

"...KilL... I'Ll kILl you..." Growled Atalanta. Her voice become more and more demonic. "fOr tHe CHIlDReN... I'll Kill You and that FaKE sAINt..."

Clumsily, she stood up, but the pinned wings stopped her. Growling, Atalanta put a clawed hand on them and start pulling them. Achilles could only watch in horror how the huntress mutilated herself. The sound of flesh and bones forcibly torn off made him sick.

Hence why he was bit late in reacted to Atalanta's next attack. He was thrown to wall behind him before he registered what had happened. But once he did, he wrestle control back from Atalanta.

Kick. Punch. Claw. Snarl.

Their battle had ended up with both of them rolling on the ground, wrestling each other into submission. Atalanta gained an upper hand when one of her kick nearly hit Achilles between legs, forced the male Servant to flinched back to avoid his soft spot get hit. Atalanta use the opportunity to claw him across the face, blinded one eye, before send Achilles back.

His back hit the spear.

"Hear my curse! Achilles son of Tethys! You shall kill person you love with this Spear!"

Damn it. Curse his younger self.

Sighing, Achilles waiting for Atalanta to gain momentum and leap at him with intent to kill while discreetly removed his spear. He had made sure her bow snap in half when he hurl at her earlier.

"RIDEEEEEERRRR!"

Here she come.

Screaming bloody murder, Atalanta running at Achilles on four legs. Claw sharpened and ready to tore the other Hero into shreds. Normal people would've been dead by now. Atalanta is known as quick-fleeting even when she only run on two legs. On four legs? She's almost as fast as Achilles' chariot.

However—

CRASH! SLAM! SPLAT!

"GaaaaAAAKH..."

—Achilles was used to such high speed and blurred images. He quickly side-stepped from fire line, spinning and twisting his spear through Atalanta's torso as he threw them to nearby pillar.

Blood dripped down.

"Achilles... you..." Atalanta speak, only to coughed blood.

"It's over, sis." Whispered Achilles. He walked up to her, and pull the spear out.

"Kill."

"Kill."

"Kill."

"Kill."

"Kill." "Kill." "Kill." "Kill." "Kill." "Kill." "Kill." "Kill." "Kill." "Kill."

"Kill." "Kill." "Kill." "Kill." "Kill." "Kill."

"Kill—"

"Shut up." Splat! Mercilessly Achilles stabbed Atalanta's arm. Specifically, her blackened arm that smelled like rotten ege. "You are annoying."

Perhaps it was shock of being told off—Atalanta clearly never done so. Perhaps it was shock that someone dare to hurt them—to kill what remains of them—and Atalanta did not stopped him. Either way the remnants of Jack the Ripper become quiet. Their hateful words that fed Atalanta's hatred stopped, and the grip on the Kaledonian Bear loosened up.

It fell off.

Atalanta blinked drowsily. Her head hurts. Her body hurts. It was like she had return from one of hardest night on Argo during storm and dragged to drinking contest. No. It was... worse than that. Much, much worse.

"Rider?"

Achilles grinned half-hearted. "Nice to have you back, sis. You made me worried." He tried to lightened up the tension.

No use. Atalanta looked down on her torso, that now had a gaping hole, and to her arm which was still pinned to the wall by Achilles' spear. "Oh." It didn't take long for her to connect the dot. "Oh... I see..." She chuckled weakly.

"Sis..."

"Nee, Rider. What... am I supposed to do?" Atalanta whispered. "Those children... they can't be saved... I knew it already... but then... what should I do?"

Achilles sighed and smiled wryly. "Silly sister. Isn't the answer obvious? You could honor their memory." Atalanta looked at him in surprise. "What's the purpose of Lethe River, sis?"

Lethe River? Isn't that River... oh. Oh. Oh

"Yes. That river erased memories for soul who wish rebirth. Washing their sins away. Those children... surely, someday, they will reborn anew. As blank canvas. In better place."

Atalanta chuckled. "I am an idiot, aren't I?" She whispered. "Had I remember it earlier... then those children..." Her body started to dissipate.

"...you know, sis? I always looked up to you."

Yellow eyes looked in surprise and curiousity.

"My father, Peleus, used to tell me about swift-footed lady who won Kaledonian Bear Hunt... and courageously joined Hunt of Golden Fleece with Argonauts. That's why I like spending time with you. A star I always looked up for. You are... always will be my hero, you know?"

That's right.

He become hero not just because Fate machinations. He was inspired by the Huntress who challenge all men in Hunting event and won despite all odds were against her. Meeting her was childhood dream come true.

Atalanta closed her eyes. That... somehow warmed her heart. "I see... then, Rider."

"Hm?"

"Will you promise me something?"

"...what is it?"

"Flip the Gods the Bird, will you?" with that, she finally dissappeared. A cheeky smile, befitting for a girl raised in wilderness, forever burned to Achilles memory.

"Heh." The Rider chuckled. "Sure. You don't even have to ask." He too, after all, was screwed over by the Gods. "Well, then, I guess—"

"RRRRRRRRRROOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

All hair on Achilles' body standing on their end when that inhuman roar echoes. It... it was ten times scarier and more dangerous than Berserk Atalanta. What... what in the world was that?

"Achilles? HEY! You hear me?!"

"Loud and Clear Master. What was THAT?!"

"Hell if I knew, but it comes from room behind the Throne Room. Ruler and Archer already went there. Hurry up! Mordred and I stall this quee—WATCH OUT THAT YOU PESKY SNAKE!"

Achilles clicked his teeth, but take other route to the room. If whatever caused is as half scary as the voice, then it was clear Jeanne and Chiron were in danger.

He had to act, fast.

TBC