Fate: How About a New Savior?

As an Archer, Arjuna's stats were exceptional—everything aside from Luck and Noble Phantasm ranked above B, and his Strength even reached a

As an Archer, Arjuna's stats were exceptional—everything aside from Luck and Noble Phantasm ranked above B, and his Strength even reached a staggering A.

That was why this seemingly emotionless hero could move like a mobile artillery platform, loosing deadly arrows in rapid succession while darting across the battlefield.

Each shot was precise. Each shot lethal. Even those that missed their mark and struck the earth or hillside exploded violently on impact.

Is this the effect of Clairvoyance? Shiomi speculated.

Not the kind possessed by the King of Magecraft, but the "Eagle Eye" variety, typically ranked between B and C.

What's more, Arjuna calmly used his mobility to reposition and shoot, forcing Shiomi into a formation where he and Scáthach stood back to back.

Shiomi saw right through the tactic.

A glance out of the corner of his eye confirmed Scáthach was still locked in battle with Cú Chulainn, and Shiomi felt the pressure mounting.

From this point on, dodging wouldn't cut it—he had to intercept every arrow. He couldn't allow a single stray shot to reach his master.

Whether they landed or not, each one could disrupt her rhythm or expose an opening.

Her spear technique was already beginning to lose its sharpness under the strain of battling Cú Chulainn's superior power and speed.

"That flawless spearwork…" Arjuna seemed to recall something, but stopped short and raised his bow again.

Shiomi caught that moment of hesitation and emotion instantly. He charged forward, swinging the crimson spear to deflect incoming arrows, while his other hand worked magic through his wand.

He didn't dodge—he forced Arjuna to concentrate every shot on him. At the cost of only minor grazes, he reached striking distance.

"At this range, you won't have time to nock another arrow!" Shiomi spun his magic spear and brought it crashing down.

"Guh—!"

Arjuna raised his longbow to block the strike. The clash let out a deep, heavy thud.

A human had just surged with more force and speed than before. Arjuna realized he'd underestimated him.

He hadn't heard any of the earlier conversation—only noticed that Medb and Cú Chulainn had been sealed off by some sort of barrier. Following his instincts as a warrior, he'd loosed an arrow the moment he saw Scáthach locked in combat with Cú Chulainn.

"But seriously… do all Indian heroes really enjoy going against their hearts, obeying rulers like that?" Shiomi laughed as he threw the words like a blade.

"What did you say?" Arjuna's expression flickered.

"Edison, Medb… Karna, and you. Birds of a feather." Shiomi had already guessed that ordinary provocations wouldn't work.

The only one who could shake Arjuna's composure… was Karna.

"You… fought Karna?"

Arjuna gritted his teeth, and his power waned further as he closed one eye.

"Of course I did. Killing him would still cost both me and my master a heavy price… but killing you?" Shiomi made his gamble. "I can handle that alone."

The words struck like daggers. Arjuna's eyes flew wide with rage, and flames erupted from his longbow.

Mana Burst (Flame).

It was similar to Karna's, but subtly different—this wasn't an innate trait. It was a skill granted to Arjuna by the flame god Agni through the Noble Phantasm he wielded: Agni Gandiva.

Fury, then the loss of calm.

Whether it was being compared to Karna or mocked as inferior didn't matter.

Shiomi understood one thing clearly—heroes, for all their legends and glory, always carried vulnerabilities tied to their myths.

In that sense, he wasn't any different from them.

Even as he thought this, the spell he'd been preparing burst forth—an eruption of glacial Mana surged from the point where spear and bow clashed, aimed straight at Arjuna.

"What is this—?!"

Arjuna was stunned.

His Magic Resistance couldn't withstand Shiomi's high-grade Magecraft; both he and his bow were frozen solid.

That alone wouldn't be enough to seriously injure Arjuna. "Agni Gandiva" could shatter the ice from within.

But Shiomi, having already dealt with Karna, wasn't about to leave things at that.

"While I've got the chance, let me send another—"

Suddenly, lightning coiled around his wand.

But before he could act, Scáthach's sharp voice rang out from behind.

"Reality Marble! Gate of Skye!"

Startled, Shiomi turned to see a massive, weathered stone gate slowly descend from the twisted sky and begin to open.

It was the entrance to the Land of Shadows. Once opened, it would drag all life within its range into the dominion Scáthach ruled—her own world.

Only Scáthach could wield this Anti-Army Noble Phantasm. Shiomi himself could only open a rift under certain conditions, and only to seal beings like spirits.

Medb had already withdrawn to a safe distance. The only one still in range was Cú Chulainn.

But as someone who had also trained in the Land of Shadows, being pulled in wouldn't kill him. Scáthach's intent was to trap Cú Chulainn inside the burning Land of Shadows for several days while she and Shiomi regrouped and led the others to restore the Singularity.

With that, the Mad King Cú Chulainn summoned by Medb's wish would vanish as well.

It was meant to be the final blow—but the instant the gate closed behind the dragged-in Cú Chulainn, a scene from a nightmare suddenly materialized.

"Turn."

Just before a low voice echoed from within the gate, Shiomi reacted on instinct and activated a spell.

"In my body, in my name—!"

Sensing something was wrong, Scáthach tried to turn, but before she could, her vision spun—she had swapped places with Shiomi and now stood in front of the frozen Arjuna.

Arjuna, still reeling from the appearance of the gate, was stunned once more by the sudden switch.

Then, long claws burst out from the heavy stone doors of the Land of Shadows, piercing through Shiomi's chest and stomach. He barely managed to hold on to his crimson spear and wand.

"Oh? Even sharper than master. Shame." Cú Chulainn's voice came from beyond the gate, calm as death. "Whatever. Doesn't matter who. I'll send you off first. Medb's opinion doesn't concern me."

Then his Noble Phantasm activated.

"Slaughter. Without exception. Liberate all curses. Without moderation. Be prepared to challenge despair...!"

Scáthach finally understood what was happening and turned to hurl her spear, but Arjuna, having shattered the ice, blocked her path.

"Curruid Coinchenn!"

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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