"Really now, I actually forgot my duty as a Servant because of the joy of battle." Charon lay prone on the back of the aircraft, a red fist print over one eye, his body covered in bruises from punches. He spoke with a faint smile on his face.
Achilles clenched his fists, looked down at Charon, and said, "Teacher, I won this battle."
Charon maintained the smile on his face and nodded, saying, "That's right, you won, Achilles. You truly are one of the disciples I am most proud of."
"However, I must also perform my final act as a Servant."
After saying this, Charon's right finger pointed toward sagittarius in the starry sky. The light of sagittarius instantly overshadowed the other stars. Charon looked at the shining constellation and said, "sagittarius, shining in the firmament—if that is me, I shall always be drawing my bow, with an arrow already notched."
"Could it be!!" Achilles looked at the starry sky in surprise. Having received modern knowledge, he naturally knew the legend of his teacher: how he was sublimated into a constellation after Death, specifically sagittarius, one of the twelve zodiac signs that revolve around the sun.
Just as Achilles was in shock, the star at the tip of sagittarius's arrow seemed to condense energy, transforming into a stellar arrow aimed directly at Achilles—or more accurately, at his heel.
[Antares Snipe]
[Rank: A]
[Type: Anti-Unit Noble Phantasm]
[Range: 5–99]
[Maximum Targets: 1]
[The embodiment of the anecdote where Charon, transformed into sagittarius, continuously aims at Scorpius. It is a strike said to be capable of piercing the stars, the pinnacle attainable by an Archer. It can be fired instantly at the decided moment; it relies not on a bow, but on a meteor-like strike shot from the constellation itself. Even upon Death, it will automatically activate after one turn. Once the Noble Phantasm is used, it cannot be used again until the next night. Among the offensive methods Charon can employ, this absolute shot possesses the highest power and precision. Since sagittarius in the heavens represents Charon, he is always drawing his bow. One only needs to decide the target for the arrow to fire, requiring no True Name Release or accumulation of magical energy, completely eliminating the time lag inherent in bow-type weapons due to the actions of nocking and drawing. This is a meteor strike that can only be realized by the constellation that has always been drawing its bow toward the scorpion in the sky.]
Seeing this, Achilles showed no sign of panic. Instead, he was very calm, looking up at the meteor arrow of immense energy and saying:
"You truly are worthy of being my teacher, to still have a trump card left. What a beautiful and powerful Noble Phantasm. But!! I won't admit defeat so easily!!"
Saying this, Achilles brought out a silver shield and held it high above his head. When Charon saw that Noble Phantasm shield, his expression immediately soured, and he felt a sense of dread because he knew the True Name and ability of that Noble Phantasm.
[Achilles Cosmos]
[Rank: A+]
[Type: Barrier Noble Phantasm]
[Range: 0]
[Maximum Targets: 1 person]
[A defensive-type Barrier Noble Phantasm comparable to 'Rho Aias'. It is a shield forged by the god Hephaestus. Upon it is projected the world as seen by Achilles, with the outer edge featuring the surging currents of the sea god. To face this shield is to face the world itself; once activated, it can defend against Anti-Unit, Anti-Army, Anti-Fortress, Anti-Country, and even Anti-Divine Noble Phantasms.]
[Originating from the 'Iliad', the eighteenth book spends over a hundred lines describing this shield. The blacksmith god reproduced the world itself in which he lived on the shield in a miniature state.]
"Achilles Cosmos!!" Achilles shouted the Noble Phantasm's True Name as he raised the shield.
The shield emitted a rainbow-colored light, and the surrounding environment began to change. The setting transformed into an ancient Greek city, complete with a massive wooden horse, battling Soldiers, and Achilles's parents. It was as if the famous Trojan War of the past was being reenacted.
The silver shield blocked the meteor arrow from sagittarius. It was estimated that in a few more seconds, the attack of Antares Snipe would completely vanish.
"It's a pity, Teacher. Such a powerful Noble Phantasm has gone to waste." Achilles raised his shield and spoke with a relaxed smile.
Seeing this, Charon could only close his eyes and give up the struggle.
"Don't get too arrogant, Achilles!! Terror of Fate—!!" Just then, a voice that belonged to neither Achilles nor Charon rang out, and a terrifying ball of energy shot toward the defenseless Achilles.
With a single strike, Achilles's 'Andreias Amarantos' was shattered, and even the armor on his body turned into countless silver fragments that drifted in the air.
After coughing up a mouthful of blood, Achilles fell backward.
"Are you all right, Charon? Your spiritual core is collapsing, and you will soon return to the Throne of Heroes. My power of Sleep can keep you alive for a while longer." At that moment, a blond figure gently helped Charon up and placed a hand on Charon's chest. An invisible energy was released, making the crumbling Charon feel a bit more comfortable.
"Who are you?" Charon slowly opened his eyes, and Achilles, forcing his body up, looked at the two figures before them—one with golden hair and one with silver, wearing grey-silver armor resembling peacocks and eagles—and spoke in unison.
"Caster, Hypnos."
"Caster, Thanatos."
The Twin Gods spoke their Class and True Names in this world simultaneously.
"So it's the two of you..." Charon said with a look of relief after hearing their True Names.
Achilles forced his body up and murmured, "Hypnos, the God of Sleep, and Thanatos, the God of Death—the right and left hands of Lord Hades? The Holy Grail shouldn't have been able to summon you. Lord Hades must have summoned you from the Underworld."
No wonder Achilles's 'Andreias Amarantos' had failed; the Twin Gods were the sons of Nyx, the Goddess of Night who had existed since creation. Their divinity far surpassed his own.
Thanatos said, "Correct. Lord Hades summoned us just now. Furthermore, you have already been struck by my Terror of Fate, and your spiritual core has shattered. Return to the Throne of Heroes obediently."
"Heh heh heh... as expected, at the end of my life, it is the God of Death who finishes me..." Achilles chuckled softly. Then he closed his eyes; his spiritual core had completely collapsed, and he no longer had the strength to support his body. He slid down the side of the aircraft, dissolving into particles of light that scattered in the air.
Thanatos extended his right hand and made a grasping motion in the air. The light particles gathered into his hand, condensing into Achilles's heroic spirit card. On the golden background of the back was a knight in full armor holding reins and standing on a chariot, while the front depicted Achilles charging into battle in golden armor.
"Thank you, Hypnos, Thanatos. I'll leave helping Hades to you now." Charon's time was also up, and his body gradually began to dissolve into particles of light.
"No problem, it is what we should do." Hypnos looked at the fading Charon and nodded solemnly.
"Mm..." Charon nodded with a smile, then transformed into a heroic spirit card and fell into Hypnos's hand.
Hypnos looked at the Charon in his hand—now in his centaur form, holding a bow and arrow. A flicker of light shone in his hollow golden pupils. He then exchanged a glance with Thanatos, who held Achilles's heroic spirit card, and they nodded to each other.
They then vanished from the back of the aircraft.
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