Chapter 17: The Little Demon King and the Holy Grail War (6)

"Big sis.... what exactly am I looking at right now?"

"Achilles... pinch me... is this a dream?"

"No... it's definitely not a dream, big sis..."

Achilles and Atalante could not believe what had unfolded before their eyes.

Amidst the devastated surroundings, wearing only the tattered remnants of what used to be clothes—yet without a single scratch on his body—Zod had completely overwhelmed and suppressed Cu Chulainn Alter.

"You certainly caused quite a scene, Cu Chulainn..."

"Guh... cough... If it weren't for my Battle Continuation, I would have de-manifested long ago..."

Coughing up blood, Cu Chulainn Alter looked up at the Master who had not only suppressed him but also broken his limbs and snapped Gáe Bolg. Even at a glance, the Master's appearance was a mess, but there wasn't so much as a single graze or blemish on his flesh.

"Phew... thanks to you, my clothes and hair are ruined... How annoying. I can't even use Magecraft... By one stroke of my Command Spells, I order you. Cu Chulainn (Berserker), heal your damaged body and Prana, and restore your damaged Spiritual Core."

Vrrrrrrrm...

A single stroke of the Command Spell on the back of Zod's hand vanished with a powerful light. Instantly, Cu Chulainn's mangled body was restored to its original state, his slightly damaged Spiritual Core became whole again, and his Gáe Bolg reassembled itself into its form prior to its destruction.

"Ha... are you really going to waste a Command Spell like that?"

"Don't be stupid, it's an investment! An investment in my subordinate... You are useful, and it would be a waste to let you de-manifest like this."

"You intend to take back a hunting dog that bared its fangs at its owner?"

"The hunting dog from a moment ago has been disciplined, so it's fine."

As Zod spoke with a shrug, Cu Chulainn Alter let out a hollow laugh before kneeling before him.

"Warrior of Ulster, disciple of Scáthach, and fighter of the Land of Shadows... The Mad Dog of Culann, Cu Chulainn, acknowledges you as my Master... You are more than qualified to lead me."

"Finally realized your place, have you?"

"Hmph! I don't acknowledge someone as Master just because they're brainlessly strong. I simply took a liking to you and yielded to that strength that overwhelmed me! That is all."

"Fine. I... Zod, permit you to remain as my Servant."

Zod extended his hand, and Cu Chulainn grasped it.

"Heh! Make sure you keep things interesting, Master!"

"You won't be bored."

Just as Cu Alter accepted the situation and officially recognized Zod as his Master...

BOOM—!!!

A tremendous explosion rang out, and a rain of countless arrows, like falling stars, began to embroider the sky.

"Tch! Have we been spotted?"

"It's a miracle we weren't spotted sooner after going on such a flashy rampage!"

Atalante retaliated by firing her own deluge of arrows in rapid succession, but the enemy Archer's rapid fire was far more powerful. Their arrows swallowed Atalante's and continued their advance. Atalante clicked her tongue and prepared to nock another arrow, but...

"Nice try..."

Soaring into the sky, Zod began to spin in mid-air, rapidly increasing his speed. A powerful tornado erupted around him, scattering the entire rain of arrows to the winds.

"An Archer? You seem quite confident with that bow..."

Zod narrowed his eyes and focused his gaze. Exactly 5 kilometers away, he saw the Archer of Black observing them.

"Heh... Accurately aiming a rain of arrows from 5 kilometers away... This is no ordinary Great Hero, then? First-rate... interesting. Atalante! Can you intercept him?"

Zod shouted toward Atalante, but she shook her head.

"Unfortunately, without the Clairvoyance skill, it's impossible. My limit is about 1 kilometer, and even then, I pride myself on having exceptional eyesight for someone without Clairvoyance..."

Being the fastest 'Hunter' of Greece, her vision was excellent, and her physical parameters had improved upon becoming a Heroic Spirit. However, since she lacked the Clairvoyance skill, it was practically impossible to intercept the opponent at that range. Despite her denial, Zod could see the Archer of Black perfectly.

Zod descended to the ground, casually uprooted a tree, aimed it toward the sky, took a javelin-throwing stance, and hurled the tree into the air with all his might.

K-BOOOOOM!!!!!!!

He threw it with such force that the ground beneath him caved in, and the tree flew away, trailing a massive sonic boom.

"That should serve as enough of a warning..."

"Whoa... you're a Master who exceeds all imagination."

Watching Zod's actions—actions that could never be attributed to a human—Achilles began to doubt if Zod was truly mortal.

"You..."

And Atalante cautiously voiced her question toward Zod.

"Are you truly... human?"

"Me? Of course not... My existence is of an entirely different scale compared to those monkeys you call humans."

"Hah? What, are you saying you're some kind of god then?"

Achilles looked at Zod as if he were being ridiculous, but Zod merely gave a faint, mocking smile.

"Who knows... At the very least, I consider myself a being distinct from humanity..."

"If you think you're a god, stop right there. You'll bring down divine punishment on yourself."

Even if it was toward the end, Achilles was a hero who lived through the Age of Gods. Having received Noble Phantasms, armaments, and blessings (immortality) directly from the gods, his faith in the Greek pantheon was sincere.

Naturally, he felt a strong aversion to Zod claiming to be a deity.

"And? Are those gods here right now? That Great Hero of Ulster, a demigod, fell by my hand. If I am not a great being, then what am I?"

"Don't get cocky just because you defeated one hero! I'll admit you're an unknown superhuman who has transcended humanity! But that's as far as it goes! Don't cross the line any further."

Achilles spoke while glaring at Zod. A confrontation between him and the mocking Zod seemed imminent... but surprisingly, Zod was the one to back down first.

"Hmph... I see. I misspoke. I apologize for that."

Zod was arrogant, but he was not conceited. Nor was he careless—at least for now. He didn't let the mere defeat of Cu Chulainn lead him to drop his guard. Until he obtained even more power and truly ascended to the rank of a god, he decided to play along with the whims of those who called themselves heroes.

Quick wits and social navigation... these were among his methods for survival.

"Hmph...."

Seeing that Zod had backed down obediently, Achilles decided there was no need for further conflict and stood down as well.

"The mood is ruined... let's go back..."

"Balmung!!"

"Blasted Tree!!"

In that instant, a slash imbued with immense magical energy and a powerful discharge of lightning struck them.

"Hah! So we really have to do this?!"

Achilles's previous irritation vanished, replaced by a gaze burning with the spirit of combat as he looked at the Saber and Berserker of Black.

"Don't be careless. More enemies might be hiding..."

"They're jumping out just as you say it..."

A legion of homunculi and dozens of golems from the Black Faction emerged, surrounding and encircling them.

"We're completely surrounded...."

Atalante pulled back her bowstring with a troubled expression, but it was Zod who stepped forward.

Vrrrrrm...

"Duck.... unless you want to die."

BOOOOOOOM!!!!

Then, without mercy, he spun in a circle, firing his Heat Vision in every direction. The homunculus units and golems caught in the path of the beams were shattered, sliced apart, and met gruesome deaths. He did not let even the homunculi trying to flee in terror escape, kindly executing them one by one by boring holes through their heads or chests with his vision.

Achilles, Atalante, and Cu Alter luckily survived by ducking as instructed. The Saber and Berserker of Black, possessing sharp instincts, managed to evade the attack and remained unharmed, but the rest of the lifeforms were not so fortunate.

"Hmm... is this all? How dull..."

Stepping forward with a suppressed scoff, Zod stared at the Saber and Berserker of Black.

"Are you a Servant as well?"

Ignoring the question from the Saber of Black, Zod gave a command to his Servant, Cu Alter.

"Berserker.... you kill that guy who's likely Saber... I'll handle the girl..."

"Heh! Sounds like fun, Master!"

Cu Alter immediately lunged toward the Saber of Black, while Zod charged toward the Berserker of Black.

"!!!!!...... You... Ugh..."

"Would you care for a dance, Mademoiselle... or perhaps..."

Vrrrrrrrrrm.......

"Would you rather die?"

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