Chapter 186:

Chapter 186:

"Damn kid." Kairi pulled his sunglasses down. "You really did a number on this thing." He surveyed the area around us.

"Shit, there are even pieces this far out." Mordred walked up, kicking a huge piece of the fortress that was sticking out of the ground.

"Praise me more." I preened.

"Oh fuck off." Mordred rolled her eyes as she continued to poke at the strange structure. "The hell is this even made of? It's like stone, but also metal."

"Probably some material originating from the Age of Gods." I shrugged. "I would take some, but I doubt it would last for long considering its nature as a Noble Phantasm." Well, considering it belonged to someone else and wasn't abandoned in the same way that Ascalon was.

Ascalon was a unique set of circumstances that would be very hard to replicate again. It's not like a Servant can just permanently give away their Noble Phantasm after they leave the world.

Now that I thought about it, Avalon is one of the few exceptions as well, but that comes from the fact that it was created as a Noble Phantasm and wasn't elevated into Legends after the death of its wielder.

But I digress.

I walked up to another piece that impaled itself into the ground, towering above me by several feet. I withdrew Mirage from my ring and swung it at the strange material.

I frowned, running my hand along the small groove now carved out of it. It was shallower than I expected, but I could more or less estimate the durability of this stuff. Whether it's the same strength throughout, I had no idea, but the thought of merely bulldozing me way through the structure itself was not at the top of my plans.

"Hey Raikou." I looked towards my Servant who stood attentively at my side. Though her gaze was off into the distance, as if something was waiting for her there. I wanted to say something about Karna....but I held back. "How difficult do you think it would be to break through this?" I put a hand on the stone.

Raikou's attention shifted to me and to the stone I was touching. "I could guess the amount of strength behind your blow. It would not be difficult for me to cleave that piece apart." She answered. "But if you wish me to assail the fortress that is made of this material, I fear it's a futile effort."

Yeah, I figured, but second opinions are always appreciated. She does have the Mystery Slayer ability, but I guessed this stuff is still just a mineral, even if it's intertwined with a Mystery from an old age.

I turned towards Kairi. "You prepared?" I asked the other master who stood nearby.

He gave me a look. "As much as I could be." He patted the shotgun at his side with a grin.

I'de been meaning to ask him about that. "Without prying into secrets....what exactly does that do besides normal bullets?" I tried to be polite. Gods know that Magi protect their secrets religiously. While he was not a traditional Magus, If I started trying to pry into his Mysteries, he could become hostile quickly.

"I'm a Necromancer, what do you think I use?" I couldn't see, but I could imagine him quirking an eyebrow.

"Bones?" I hazarded a guess. "I know the Magus Killer did something similar with his own Ribs due to his special Origin." I mumbled rubbing my chin.

"Huh?" Kairi looked at me strangle. "The Magus Killer has a special origin?"

"Woops." I blinked I realization. "Forget I said that." He was a mildly interesting subject for Zelretch for various reasons. One reason in particular was his dual Origin of 'Binding and Severing'. He surgically removed some ribs, and turned them into special bullets that severed Magic Circuits on contact, and bound them up like tying together tubes. It made it so your magical ability was completely crippled. "So probably the use of bones, as the most obvious answer. Perhaps grinding them down? Adding on a curse-based ignition due to their nature to conduct such things easily?"

"Close enough." He just nodded, and I took that as a que to stop delving into his specific craft.

"Hey, don't go." I reached out grabbing her shoulder.

"Wilhelm." She said quietly. "I can't—"

"I like my meat shields in bullet blocking distance."

"....." She gave me a very dry look.

I couldn't help but laugh before pulling her into a hug, earning a little 'eep' from her. "No matter what happens, I'll think of you as a friend."

Yeah, I've gotten rather attached to this Penniless Saintess.

"Wilhelm." She said quietly, accepting the hug. "Thank you." The smile she gave me seemed to bright up the night. We broke away after another moment, a little sad look she gave me. "I will take my leave." She looked at everyone. "Thank you for taking care of me all this time." She lightly bowed her head in thanks.

Without another word, she turned and headed off towards the Fortress in a different direction.

Well, she had her duties and wouldn't budge from them. Not much I could do in these circumstances, and forcing anything on her would just lead to resentment.

"Shall we head out as well?" I smiled towards Raikou.

"I am ready for battle, master." Raikou took on an even look, one that truly displayed her alertness.

"Finally." Mordred punched her palm, summoning up her armor. "This is gonna be great."

We started moving towards the Fortress in the distance, passing several large slabs of stone that jutted up from the ground. Watching each piece and looking for any signs of traps or the like.

"With my Bows and Arrows, I respectfully ask for the Divine Protection of the Moon Goddess Artemis, and the Sun God Apollon." Foreign words echoed throughout the surroundings carrying far more than volume implied.

Words that carried weight to them as we all seemingly moved at the same time. Instinct driven, we may not have known exactly what was coming, but it was dangerous.

"I offer thee this calamity....."

"Phoebus Catastrophe." Not far way, twin arrows shot towards the sky, and a bright light shined in the heavens as an uncountable number of arrows fell down like the wrath of God.

***

I think I wrote this chapter when I wasn't feeling too well, so it's a little shorter than my normal ones. But here begins the final leg of this Arc. Just a reminder, No chapter tomorrow.....or later today depending on your time zone.

If you want to read 7 chapters ahead or support me, visit my /astoryforone

We have a discord -- JbwkdNDt7F