While various strategies were unfolding on the battlefield. Shirou and Achilles were continuously entangled. The two, caught in a protracted battle, were constantly competing in martial arts, injuring each other's bodies, and then watching their wounds slowly heal.
"This kind of battle is simply speechless. I guess the hundred-day war of the Golden Saints in legend was also like this!"
"Without a decisive Noble Phantasm now, it's impossible to determine a winner!"
"But it's not the time for the final showdown yet!" To end the current stalemate, Shirou could only break the deadlock with a Noble Phantasm. Shirou's Noble Phantasm, "That One, the Snowy Pledge," is an Anti-World Noble Phantasm, which happens to counter Achilles' Noble Phantasm, "Andreias Amarantos (The Immortal Hero)'s Little World"! But that's only if the opponent is willing to take his Noble Phantasm. With their speed, ordinary Noble Phantasms simply can't catch them! You can release it all you want, but if I don't take the hit, what can you do?
So, if he wanted to exert the special attack effect of his Noble Phantasm, it would be best to use it on him for the first time, to achieve a first-strike kill effect.
To instantly kill the opponent! But now was not the time for the decisive battle; he still needed to train his magical energy to D-rank. When that time came, that would be the time for their decisive battle. For now, it was just about completing Vlad III's mission.
Therefore, Shirou had no intention of releasing his Noble Phantasm right now. After all, besides "That One, the Snowy Pledge," the only other usable one was Unlimited Blade Works! Although Shirou could now break through defenses, he estimated it would be very difficult to hit him with projected weapons! After all, he was simply too
fast!
"Clang!" After another clash, Shirou and Achilles stood on the branches of two large trees, facing each other.
"Speaking of which, I remember your class is Assassin, right? But why haven't I felt any skills or Noble Phantasms on you that fit an Assassin?"
"Or is it just because you had assassination feats in your lifetime?"
"No, you're wrong. I do have abilities related to this class!" Shirou smiled, recalling a certain ability of his.
Then, he ignited the flames on his body again. Earlier, after entering the forest, he had begun to restrict his flames to avoid setting the surrounding vegetation on fire. But now, he removed that restriction.
"It seems someone's coming!" Glancing behind him, Shirou immediately swung his greatsword, burning everything around him. After dodging Shirou's slash, Achilles found that Shirou had disappeared. Thick black smoke billowed around, obscuring everything.
"Did he run away?" Recalling what the opponent had said earlier, Achilles easily guessed the opponent's intention.
"But is his eyesight that good?" As soon as Achilles finished speaking, a figure constantly leaping through the tree branches appeared before him.
"Did Black Assassin run away?"
"Big sis, why did you come over here?" Achilles asked, confused, looking at the suddenly appearing Atalanta.
"Master told me to lead Spartacus to the Ruler, and then I came to support you! I didn't expect his perception ability to be so strong; he actually detected my presence!"
"It seems the opponent has a reconnaissance skill or Noble Phantasm!"
"It's probably true!" Achilles suddenly remembered that Assassin once said he had skills matching the Assassin class. Could it be this reconnaissance skill? After all, Assassins could indeed be used as scouts in certain situations. No wonder the opponent could detect Big Sis's presence from a long distance.
"Presumably, last time he was able to find Big Sis was also due to this ability!"
"That's probably it!" Atalanta also agreed with Achilles' thought.
"Since Black Assassin has run away, what should we do next?"
"I plan to find Black Archer. That guy can also fight me,
and fighting him should be quite interesting."
"In that case, let's go!" With that, the two ran out of the forest.
Following behind Achilles, looking at Achilles, who was full of openings, Atalanta gently drew her bowstring, aiming at Achilles' heel.
"Thwack!" With the sound of a bowstring snapping, an arrow was instantly shot out.
"What?" Sensing the air vibration from behind him, Achilles instantly turned around. Although he dodged the fatal blow, he had no power to retaliate against Atalanta's subsequent attacks. With terrifying power capable of splitting mountains, Atalanta's punches continuously pounded on Achilles' body.
In the blink of an eye, it was dozens, even hundreds of punches! In a hurry, Achilles, unable to dodge or defend, could only instinctively guard his head with one hand and his heart with the other. He took Atalanta's punches head-on.
Previously, in the duel between Achilles and Shirou, it was difficult for either side to injure the other, not only because of their strong defenses but also because of their superb martial arts. It was difficult for two skilled martial artists to be caught off guard by the other and sustain continuous damage. Moreover, they couldn't break the opponent's defensive stance and output freely.
But now, 'Atalanta' had done it!
Looking at Achilles, who had taken hundreds of punches in a flash and was gradually showing signs of regaining his defensive stance, Atalanta delivered a charged kick, directly sending him flying. The powerful kinetic energy carried Achilles' body, continuously crashing into trees in his path, continuing his backward flight. It wasn't until this force was exhausted, after breaking dozens of trees, that Achilles finally stopped.
"Pfft!" Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Achilles slowly stood up. Covered in wounds, he tremblingly got to his feet and slowly said, "Who are you, you're definitely not Big Sis! Big Sis is strong, but she can't harm me!"
"Of course I'm not Atalanta!" Lightly brushing a strand of hair from his ear, 'Atalanta' smiled and said, "Didn't I say I had abilities corresponding to the Assassin class?"
"You're Assassin!"
"Of course! Besides me, who else has such an ability?!"
Spreading his hands and smiling, Shirou continued,
"Although1 Chiron told me you're extremely cruel to enemies but completely unguarded against teammates, I didn't expect it to be true!"
"Chiron? Master!"
"Eh, you didn't know? Our Black Faction Archer is your Master, Chiron!"
"Master is Black Faction Archer?!"
"How could this be!" Suddenly learning this, Achilles' face couldn't calm down.
"Why not? Aren't we Heroic Spirits just like that?" With that, Shirou, holding a bow, charged forward again in the form of Atalanta.
"Now, let's begin the second round!"
"Great Hero Achilles!"
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