Chapter 633
As for the Root of that misunderstanding----
Shirou spoke up, "Goddess, can you tell me? What exactly did you hear from Ishtar?"
Ereshkigal wiped away his tears and glared at the boy as if he were an enemy.
"I've heard about what you did during your time in the Underworld."
"Deceive me... please me... play with me... and then cruelly abandon me!!"
Shirou: "... Huh?"
"Absolutely unforgivable."
The goddess clenched her trembling fists and uttered words of curse.
"I must have been out of my mind in another world to fall for a human like you."
Even if one possesses the capacity to save Uruk, what then?
Ultimately, he was just an ignorant and superficial mortal, his soul captivated by the dazzling brilliance of Venus.
"Wait... wait a minute, what are you saying?"
How long are you going to pretend to be stupid?
Ereshkigal shouted, "It was you! You abandoned the chance to live with me, fled the Underworld, returned to the earth... and finally threw yourself into Ishtar's arms!"
"..."
After standing there stunned for a while, Shirou couldn't help but shout, "Stop talking nonsense!"
"You're saying I'm talking nonsense?"
"No, no, no, I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about Ishtar!"
Don't believe everything she says!
"?"
Ereshkigal frowned. "Are you saying that Ishtar is lying?"
"That's right... Although I did enter the Underworld and eventually Underworld, it's not like that at all!"
I didn't abandon you for Ishtar, it's all that guy's exaggeration! A lie he told to show off!
The goddess of the Underworld, not expecting Shirou to say that, paused for a moment and then said coldly.
"Are you saying that even though you've escaped the Underworld, you still think of me (Ereshkigal)?"
"Um."
"Then why did you accept Ishtar's blessing?"
"I still retain Ereshkigal's blessing."
"Huh...?"
The Queen of the Underworld blinked.
So, he...
Shirou possesses the skill "The Protection of the Queen of the Underworld".
This is why, even though he is no longer alive, he can still retain a physical body in the world of the dead.
This is the highest level of blessing from Ereshkigal in another world.
She initially thought it was her other self who was too infatuated, remaining devoted even after being played by a scumbag.
If it weren't like that...
Uh, so that means...
"Whether it's Ereshkigal or Ishtar, I don't want to give up on either of them, and I will never betray them."
Shirou speaks out, as is the man in the harem.
His upright and honest attitude confused and bewildered Ereshkigal, and eventually made him panic.
"Hmm... I won't fall for your tricks again, anyway--"
You're probably trying to gain my trust so I'll spare your life, aren't you?"
Shirou honestly replied, "Yes, that's right."
Ereshkigal's face darkened further. "See? I knew it."
Shirou: "That's true... that's definitely right, but..."
Ereshkigal: "But what?"
"That's the only thing I hope you can believe me about."
Ereshkigal gave a dismissive snort, while Shirou said solemnly:
"I'm so glad I got to see Ereshkigal."
"!!"
The goddess felt a tightness deep in her chest; she heard the sound of her own heart pounding.
I... I like him???
Meat processing plant outside Snowfield.
"... Are you here?"
Alcides used his peripheral vision to observe the new enemy that appeared on the battlefield.
"She is both Queen and a warrior."
The strong aura of the divine era highlights Rider's identity.
That was the complete opposite of the demons, who regarded their noble bloodline as an honor and constantly radiated Divine Aura of superiority.
Her father was Ares, and her mother was Miko of Artemis, the goddess of the moon.
Hippolyta, the Queen and warrior leader of the Amazons.
As a girl born into the world inheriting the blood of the gods, she lost her life at the hands of Heracles due to the machinations of the great goddess Hera.
However, due to the fact that she now possesses a Master group that can be described as cheating, her strength is no longer what it used to be.
In terms of stats alone, even if it doesn't reach the exceptional level of Enkidu and Alcides, it surpasses the Saber known for their top-tier stats.
"Alcides...!"
The Queen pulled on the reins, commanding her beloved horse to charge toward the enemy.
It is said that her name Hippolyta means "the one who liberates horses" or "one who knows everything about horses".
She has indeed freed the horse from its constraints and fears, giving it true freedom.
Meanwhile, Ai Ma, having figured out his thoughts, stayed by his side, fearlessly running towards him despite the demon's terrifying aura.
Hippolyta's Noble Phantasm, "Goddess of War God's Belt".
That was Noble Phantasm that transformed the military banner, symbolizing the incarnation of the father god Ares, into the shape of a belt.
Not only does it greatly increase Rider's divinity, strength, durability, agility, and magic power stats, it also imbues Hippolyta's attacks with divine Divine Aura.
This also includes Caleion, the steed that shares a Spirit Origin with its master.
The accelerating Rider had become an unstoppable cannonball, crashing headlong into Alcides.
Its power is probably comparable to that of Anti-Army Noble Phantasm.
Let alone ordinary people, even Magecraft could be torn apart by the wind pressure generated by the Rider.
Even so, Alcides made no move to retaliate, but continued to fight Berserker.
"... Does that mean you don't take me seriously?"
Rider slowly adjusted his breathing on horseback.
Thinking back to when I was first summoned—when I first encountered Alcides and the golden archer in that canyon.
Thinking back to the words the red-haired boy had spoken to encourage him before he entered the battlefield.
Her hand was fully drawn, patiently waiting to pierce the enemy's heart.
It moves around at speeds that could even tear the wind apart, yet it waits in a contradictory way.
Like a fighter pilot in aerial combat, feeling the immense weight pressing down on his body, searching for the moment to shoot down his opponent.
This body, forged over many years as a warrior captain in a distant Mythological Era —a world teeming with heroes, powerful beings, and monsters—will never lose its posture, no matter how fierce the wind.
Despite her changed nature, she is still challenging the greatest Great Hero of Greek Mythology, and there is no reason for her to back down at this crucial moment.
Like a torrent of wind and magic, the Amazons warrior captain fired his arrows without missing a single gap.
The flying arrow pierced through the seven-colored rainbow light emitted by the berserker and hurtled towards the Avenger's Spirit Core.
This was a strike that could be considered a fatal blow.
After signing a contract with a skilled Magecraft like Rin Tohsaka and receiving the collective magical power of thirty Master, Hippolyta's arrows possess the power to pierce through city walls.
Even though the Nemean Lion Pelt covering Alcides' body could withstand all man-made weapons, it couldn't stop this arrow, imbued with divine power by the War God's Belt, and it would inevitably wound him.
If the attack hits, the balance will tip heavily in favor of the cavalry.
Alcides, on the other hand, neither dodged nor evaded.
His arrow might have been able to deflect the blow, but he still didn't seem inclined to raise his bow.
Is it because Berserker is keeping them too busy?
Absolutely impossible.
Even if he has changed, even if he has abandoned his glory, he is still the strongest hero of the Age of Gods.
A mere monster that has lost its mind cannot restrain his limbs.
With that thought in mind, Rider drew his bow again and gave chase.
The arrows, fired without pause, hurtled toward Alcides with a speed exceeding that of the wind.
The arrows, imbued with Divine Aura, traversed swiftly like flowing water, each one seemingly possessing its own life as it hurtled towards the enemy.
But--
Alcides simply swung his arm, and his great bow deflected the Queen's arrow.
Rider gasped, sighing and muttering, "So this attack was useless after all."
Before reuniting with him in the northern valley, Alcides had also withstood the King of Heroes's overwhelming attack— Noble Phantasm poured in from all directions.
It wasn't just because of the Nemean Lion Pelt.
The reason that Great Hero was able to overcome all difficulties and accomplish many great feats during his lifetime was not entirely due to divine power.
The vast majority of his abilities stemmed from the various Martial Arts he acquired later in life, which complemented and blossomed within his soul.
Besides archery and swordsmanship, he also learned many other weapons and techniques, and even fought armies and monsters bare-handed, which gave him the skills to handle any situation.
And that culmination of skill and experience must have been etched into his Spirit Origin as a human being.
The fighting style is "Nine Lives".
Engraved at the foundation of his Spirit Origin, the accumulation he made throughout his life's journey did not manifest as Noble Phantasm, but rather as a natural reaction of his body.
Faced with that overwhelming force that had entered the realm of gods, his proud swordsmanship and horsemanship were utterly insignificant.
The girl felt discouraged.
The gap between myself and Heracles cannot be bridged simply by acquiring a superior Master.
To defeat him, one must completely overcome the "Nine Lives" technique.
But... is it really possible for me to do that on my own?