Fate: Question And Answer System of Traversing Heroic Spirits

Tohsaka Rin: "Huh? What the hell is that last option?"

Illya: "Wait, aren't Achilles and Atalanta on the same side?"

Waver: "It's hard to say. Atalanta's reason has been completely consumed. She may no longer be able to distinguish between friend and foe."

Achilles: "..."

Achilles: "I choose F."

[Ding! Congratulations to Achilles for answering correctly. You have received 3 Saint Quartz.]

Everyone: "???"

Atalanta: "Achilles, you—!"

Achilles: "I'm sorry, big sister. If you really end up like that in the video, I will stop you—no, I should say, I will save you."

Achilles: "Because... that wouldn't be you anymore."

Atalanta: "..."

[The answering session has ended. The video resumes.]

[Jeanne d'Arc did not hold back, exploiting Atalanta's weaknesses with every strike. However, the dense forest gave Atalanta an overwhelming geographical advantage.]

[With her agile body and monstrous sense of hearing, Atalanta effortlessly dodged Jeanne's attacks while pinpointing her location.]

["Ruler, this is my forest, my hunting ground!"]

[An arrow pierced through a stone pillar and struck Jeanne's shoulder, catching her off guard.]

["Die!!!"]

[In her frenzied state, Atalanta's arms transformed into wings once again, twisting like rags. She then used the torque to apply a rifling effect to a black arrow, launching it at supersonic speed.]

[This was a simulated rifling technique, an archery method beyond the capability of any living being.]

Jeanne: "That attack method—"

Emiya Kiritsugu: "She's firing arrows like bullets."

Caules: "This is insane… her technique is completely beyond reason."

Tohsaka Rin: "Atalanta has turned into a full-fledged monster."

Waver: "No, rather... a beast."

Achilles: "See, big sister? You've been consumed by the Calydonian Boar's madness."

Atalanta: "..."

[The sheer destructive power of this arrow was comparable to that of a Noble Phantasm. If it landed, Jeanne would undoubtedly be killed.]

[But at that moment, something struck the arrow, deflecting it.]

["What?!"]

[Atalanta was stunned. She quickly retreated and fired five more arrows in rapid succession, but each one was intercepted.]

["Who is it? Who could be stopping my arrows so effortlessly?"]

[Her sanity devoured, Atalanta's vision had blurred, and even the voices around her were distorted and incomprehensible.]

["Alright, let's put an end to this. This is something that needs to be settled between me and ■■."]

["...I'm done. I'm done now. I wish you the best."]

["■■ is already dead. Stop hesitating, hurry up and ■■■■."]

["I can't see who it is... I can't hear their voice... It doesn't matter. I'll just kill them."]

[Atalanta roared and charged at her opponent, the very person who was always smiling and calling her "big sister."]

["...I will be the one to defeat you!"]

[Even though his weak spot had been pierced, it did nothing to hinder his strength.]

[Achilles—now I must attack the person I respect the most.]

[It is precisely because of that respect that I must stop her.]

Waver: "As expected, she can no longer distinguish friend from foe."

Semiramis: "What exactly are you two doing?"

The situation had been perfect, it seemed like Jeanne d'Arc was about to be eliminated. And yet, instead of finishing the job, they were fighting among themselves. It was infuriating.

What was Achilles thinking? Could he not have waited until Atalanta had killed Jeanne before taking action?

As expected, despite their claims of loyalty, these Servants all had their own agendas.

Amakusa Shirou: "Forget it. We've already lost anyway."

Semiramis: "Hmph!"

[Achilles lunged at Atalanta, but she immediately loosed an arrow at him. It tore through his defenses with brute force, piercing his shoulder.]

[Yet Achilles remained unfazed. He seized Atalanta in his arms and slammed her heavily onto the stone platform.]

[Despite being restrained, Atalanta twisted her body forcefully, flipping herself upside down. From this unnatural position, she continued to fire arrows at Achilles.]

[Achilles had not expected such a ridiculous attack method and hurriedly dodged. Even so, an arrow still grazed his neck, drawing blood.]

Achilles: "Damn, big sister, your attack methods are really... unexpected."

Atalanta: "Are you mocking me?"

Achilles: "How could I? You're overthinking it."

[Realizing he could no longer afford to be careless, Achilles immediately drew his meteor spear to block her next arrow.]

[Atalanta charged forward again, but Achilles struck her hard, sending her flying. However, she managed to land a blow on his chest in return. Fortunately, his breastplate absorbed most of the damage, preventing serious injury.]

[In that moment, Achilles couldn't help but think of the curse upon the spear in his hand.]

[Though this spear had brought down countless heroes, it bore a terrible curse.]

[One day, this spear will pierce the person you love most—]

[It was shortly after he had slain Hector. The Amazonian queen, Penthesilea, had led her forces in support of Troy, but she, too, fell by his hand.]

[Curious, Achilles had removed her helmet to see her face. And in doing so, he committed a grievous sin.]

[To the warrior queen, this was the greatest humiliation imaginable.]

[And so, with her dying breath, Penthesilea cursed him.]

["I curse you. One day, your spear will pierce the one you love."]

[Achilles had not taken her words seriously at the time. After all, he died not long after.]

[But he never expected that now, with this second life, her curse would finally come to pass.]

[Now, he had to pay the price for his careless curiosity.]

Achilles: "...Damn."

Waver: "So your spear is actually cursed?"

Achilles: "Yeah. I had almost forgotten about it myself. I never thought..."

Tohsaka Rin: "Well, at least it's not taking effect right now, right?"

Achilles: "That's true. It seems this Holy Grail War has taken an unexpected turn. I guess that works in my favor."

[Achilles dodged three more of Atalanta's arrows, but the wound on his heel was worsening.]

[Atalanta noticed this immediately. Without hesitation, she charged at him at full speed.]

[She first fired an arrow from the front, then quickly loosed another from behind, but Achilles blocked both.]

[But this... this was the limit of his speed.]

[For her next shot, Atalanta poured all of her strength into a single arrow, aiming straight for Achilles' forehead.]

["Ooooooooh—!"]

[Achilles let out a fierce roar and used every ounce of his strength to block the arrow.]

[But the cost was devastating, his entire body cracked, blood poured from his wounds, his internal organs suffered immense damage, and even blood leaked from his seven orifices.]

[He now looked like a dead man standing.]

Illya: "Oh my god! This is brutal!"

Tohsaka Rin: "You looked so calm earlier, I thought it wasn't that serious! But this—"

Achilles: "How could it not be? That's my weak point."

Chiron: "If you stop fighting and seek treatment now, you might be able to hold on a little longer."

Achilles: "Don't be ridiculous. A warrior must die on the battlefield. Clinging to life isn't my style."

[Achilles forced himself to remain standing, but Atalanta could tell he was barely holding on. In her madness, she disregarded him.]

[Yet, even though her reason had been devoured, she still retained some judgment.]

[Her opponent was a Heroic Spirit. As long as he was not completely dead, there was always a chance for him to turn the tide.]

["Tauropolos!"]

[Without hesitation, Atalanta landed in front of Achilles and loosed an arrow straight at his spiritual core.]

[Achilles had already accepted his second death.]

[Even though I've accepted it... there is still one thing I can't let go of.]

[My spear is cursed.]

["Go! Diatrekhōn Astēr Lonkhē!"]

[The spear and the black arrow streaked past one another but they did not collide.]

[Achilles willingly took the black arrow head-on, while Atalanta attempted to dodge the spear. But she was a fraction of a second too slow. And in that brief instant—]

["Ah..."]

[Atalanta was pierced through the abdomen. Though the wound was fatal, it did not bring her immediate death.]

["Ugh! Aaaahhh—!"]

[Achilles, his body wrecked, charged forward with all his might.]

[Atalanta tried to retaliate, but the spear lodged in her body restricted her movements.]

[Still, she forced herself to draw her bow and loosed three more arrows in rapid succession. Yet Achilles did not even attempt to dodge.]

[One struck his abdomen. Another hit his thigh. The last pierced his chest.]

[But these wounds meant nothing, his entire body was already beyond saving.]

Waver: "He knew he was doomed, so he didn't even bother avoiding the attacks."

Tohsaka Rin: "This is... way too tragic."

***

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