Astolfo sharply whistled.
A piercing screech instantly replied, and a shadow descended swiftly from the distant sky, resolving into a magnificent beast—its upper half was that of a griffin, while its lower half resembled a powerful steed with razor-sharp hooves.
This was the Hippogriff, a beast born of a griffin and a mare.
Legend had it that Astolfo had once rescued this impossible creature from an evil sorcerer.
Indeed, the Hippogriff was a being that should never have existed. Griffins hunted horses as prey, much as lions preyed on rabbits. To speak of a griffin and a mare mating was utterly absurd, a philosophical metaphor with no place in reality.
Yet, in Astolfo's legend from Orlando Furioso, the Hippogriff was a living part of the tale, having been protected by the fearless knight.
Now, this improbable beast served as Astolfo's loyal steed.
The sheer power of its charging attacks rivaled physical strikes of Rank A.
It soared through the air at over four hundred kilometers per hour; while not as fast as the divine griffin of ancient myths, it was nonetheless an authentic phantasmal creature. Its mystery far exceeded even that of most Heroic Spirits—indeed, it might very well be the only one in existence.
And once its true name was released, both the Hippogriff and its rider would vanish from all worldly perception at the creature's piercing cry, escaping even attacks capable of annihilating gods or Buddhas, reappearing unharmed elsewhere.
"Hup!"
Astolfo sprang upwards, landing gracefully atop the Hippogriff's back.
"Let's go, Hippogriff!"
At Astolfo's command, the Hippogriff shrieked sharply once more, spreading its wings wide and climbing rapidly into the sky.
"Oh? How very amusing..."
Semiramis licked her apple-red lips with interest, her gaze fixed curiously upon Emiya Shirou as he charged headlong into the toxic mist.
She had intended this poisonous fog as both deterrent and weapon. Though deadly, Semiramis knew its dispersal speed was limited—it couldn't keep up with a Servant's pace, especially not one mounted by a Rider with A+ rank [Riding] skill. Her real aim was to stall them until sunrise, buying valuable time for Amakusa Shirou Tokisada.
If the Black Faction couldn't neutralize this poison, they'd be incapable of reaching her Master unless they brazenly violated the Grail War's rules by attacking during the day. Even then, Jeanne herself would never allow such rule-breaking.
Thus, Semiramis wasn't particularly worried about daytime assaults. She had plenty of defenses arranged in daylight as well, though fewer than at night.
But this reckless youth who'd thrown himself straight into the poison truly intrigued her.
Truthfully, Semiramis had grown somewhat interested in Emiya Shirou from the moment she'd first laid eyes on him. After all, a human defeating a Servant was practically unimaginable, yet Shirou had done exactly that.
Atalanta was no ordinary Archer—she was unquestionably among the elite. While underestimating him had undoubtedly contributed to her defeat, Shirou's victory was nonetheless genuine. Beyond doubt, Semiramis was deeply curious about the potent poison Shirou had used against Atalanta. After all, in this modern age, a poison powerful enough to affect a Servant was exceedingly rare.
Analyzing it, she'd found it to be merely an imitation, significantly weaker than its authentic form—at least one rank lower in potency. She had been eager to witness the full potency of its original form.
Yet afterward, Shirou's strength had proven insufficient to meaningfully alter the battlefield, and amidst all the chaos, Semiramis had largely forgotten about the young man entirely.
But now, watching him recklessly storm straight into her deadly mist, she felt a sudden eagerness to see the poison claim his life.
"Hmm?"
Yet, the unfolding scene on her magical surveillance caused Semiramis's eyes to narrow in confusion.
Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!
In rapid succession, Shirou propelled himself forward with immense power, flashing through the poisonous haze toward the Holy Church.
Having previously visited Sighișoara alongside Arthur Pendragon, Shirou clearly remembered the route. Perhaps that was partly why he charged so confidently into the poison without a hint of hesitation.
Bzzz—!
Evidently, Dragon Tooth Warriors and poison mist weren't the city's only defenses.
Magical circles suddenly unfolded across the surrounding buildings, arranged strategically like artillery batteries, swiftly locking onto Shirou's position.
If Semiramis relied solely on poison, a countermeasure might allow Servants free passage to the church. Even if Amakusa Shirou Tokisada allowed it, Semiramis herself wouldn't accept such carelessness.
Though practically no method existed to counteract her poison, nothing was ever truly absolute—just as this human, Emiya Shirou, currently proved.
His armor seemed to resist the poison, partially neutralizing its effects.
Yet even this could not entirely shield him from the Hydra's legendary poison.
Unquestionably ranked as Rank A, the Hydra's Venom vastly exceeded what Shirou's projected version of [Incursio] could withstand. Perhaps if he'd possessed the original [Incursio], it might've evolved to resist such lethal toxins. Unfortunately, Shirou's armor was merely an inferior projection, lacking that critical adaptive ability.
Even the original [Incursio] would likely have failed here—the Hydra Venom could kill its wielder long before the armor completed its adaptive evolution. It was akin to facing Akame's sword, Murasame; the poison's swift lethality would claim its victim before any countermeasure emerged.
Yet, for the moment, the serum Sisigou Kairi had prepared granted Shirou temporary immunity to this fatal poison.
Vrrrm—!
Suddenly, dazzling magical radiance erupted around Shirou's position.
From high above, Astolfo clearly felt a surge of potent magical energy beneath him, bright streaks piercing through the dense violet fog.
Countless beams of magical energy descended like torrential rain onto Shirou's path.
Under such merciless, indiscriminate bombardment, any ordinary magus would've been instantly reduced to ashes.
Fortunately, these blasts paled compared to those of the [Hanging Gardens], far below the monstrous EX-rank devastation Semiramis once commanded.
These magic arrays had been hastily prepared by Semiramis together with Amakusa Shirou Tokisada earlier. Although incapable of shattering Yggdmillennia's fortress in one strike, each beam rivaled the destructive might of Atalanta's Noble Phantasm.
Their relentless barrage created intense pressure, threatening to obliterate Shirou in an instant.
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T/N: yeah no excuse this time :sob: WAIT NO I WAS STARTING NEW TLS SO HA! yeah sorrrey heres the 4 chapters!
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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