Heracles vs. Karna (Continued)

Ares's beloved birds!

The bronze arrows in the air transformed into a tempestuous rain of arrows. Fearless of Karna's searing heat, they charged at him as though marching to their deaths.

Karna was immediately startled and hurriedly swung his massive spear.

In an instant, a vast swath of arrows vanished.

Yet this did not make the bronze arrows disappear. Instead, there were even more of them, seemingly inexhaustible!

Because the arrows themselves were alive—they were merely feathers from the beloved birds raised by Ares, the God of War.

Feathers were like human hair. How could they ever run out?

"Archer, I underestimated you. So you had this move—was this your plan? But aren't you underestimating me too much? If I destroy the original arrows in the sky, won't it all become meaningless?"

Beams of light shot from Karna's eyes, aimed at the strange bird in the sky.

The beams swept over, but with the air distorted, even Lancer found it difficult to aim.

"Brahma, curse my body!"

Karna drew another spear with his left hand and hurled it toward the bronze arrows, where it exploded violently.

Heracles had no more tricks left. He possessed no Noble Phantasm capable of surpassing the golden arrows and the strange bird above.

But that did not mean he had lost!

Or rather, he had already won!

The strange bird had bought him enough time. That was enough!

The flames began to fracture, like a balloon bursting from being overinflated.

Karna narrowed his eyes slightly and saw a golden-red beast emerge from the fireball, roaring as it charged toward him.

No, it was not a beast, but a bronze shield nearly melted by the extreme heat.

And behind it—

Was Heracles!

Heracles grinned, pushing the shield with his left hand as he viciously smashed it