Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

Although she repeatedly claimed that she was not a magician, the Empress was still proud of her magic in her heart.

She can accept others using Noble Phantasms or "magic resistance" to fight against her, but she cannot tolerate anyone engaging in a magical battle with her.

Just as Semiramis was about to launch a second, more powerful volley,

"Alright, then I should retreat as well."

"Are they trying to escape, Black Swordsman!"

"I never intended to start a war with you in the first place?"

Shirou waved at her with a hint of mockery: "Just here to deliver goods... See you later."

"What!?"

Semiramis suddenly turned her head and saw a majestic white figure.

"Don't treat people like merchandise... you idiot."

Ruler, holding the holy flag, appeared on the deck of the Hanging Gardens.

"Finally, I've met you, the 'Red' assassin... Empress Semiramis of Assyria."

Is this your true purpose, Saber...?

Assassin bit her red lips in humiliation: To allow Ruler to break through to this point was an absolutely intolerable breach of composure.

Fortunately, Shiro was not in the Sky Garden at that moment.

If Ruler were to see him, everything would be for naught.

Although Semiramis was initially flustered, she quickly regained her composure.

Ignoring the red-haired boy who was leaving the scene, she gave the adjudicator girl a confident smile.

"So it's Ruler. Why are you hanging out with the 'Black' Swordsman? Did you make some kind of deal?"

"No... there was no indecent behavior at all! Our relationship is purely platonic!"

Semiramis: "?"

Ruler blushed for some reason when he asked the question casually, and began to shyly and vehemently deny it.

……

……

"Alright, the mission to escort Ruler is complete. Next..."

Shirou steered the spaceship toward the main battlefield.

The battle between the "black" and "red" factions should have reached a fever pitch, and he plans to take advantage of this opportunity to pick up a bargain.

According to the agreement made with Shiro yesterday, Mordred's main attack direction will be "Black", while Shirou's main attack direction will be "Red".

Seeing Mordred's high spirits yesterday, Shirou also got motivated: He couldn't lose to her.

Thinking this, he turned around.

"It seems there's no need to actively seek out the enemy... As an archer, isn't it a bit reckless of me to come looking for them?"

Shirou stared at the beast-eared girl, "Red" Archer, who was about ten meters away from him.

Atalanta's long hair was blown by the high-altitude air currents and fluttered in the wind.

Shirou thought to himself: She must have jumped in when Shirou crashed into the Hanging Gardens and sent Jeanne up there.

Their movements are incredibly agile.

So, this was Assassin's doing? I was outmaneuvered by her?

No, Assassin was undoubtedly unaware of this.

Moreover, sending Archer to deal with an opponent that even the "Red" Lancer couldn't defeat is just sending meat into the enemy's mouth.

After seeing my ship, Archer ignored the order to attack the "Black" faction and hid in the fortress waiting for me...?

That's really reckless.

Shirou looked at the "Woman's Difficulty EX" status on his panel and sighed helplessly.

"Is it lucky or unlucky of me to be targeted by a beauty like you?"

"..."

Atalanta's eyes flashed with murderous intent.

"Just kidding... I understand, I understand."

With an attitude of "I really can't do anything with you," Shirou summoned his favorite black bow.

"Anyway, you're just looking forward to this thing, aren't you?"

Atalanta curled the corners of her mouth.

Before her death, in order to protect the purity she had sworn to preserve, she presented a test to the suitors who were attracted by her beauty.

That means racing against her and beating her, while the loser must die.

Even so, men, unwilling to give up, continued to challenge this test—and everyone failed.

Atalanta had absolute confidence in her archery skills, just as much as in her speed.

This divine bow, blessed by two great gods, will absolutely not lose to anyone—

Volume 5, Chapter 216: Sigh, another boring thing shot down (girlish heart).

In order to avenge the "arrow that killed them in the first battle," the "red" archers chased after the "black" swordsmen's airship.

At this moment, Atalanta's beast ears trembled slightly with excitement.

Just as she drew her bow and nocked the arrow—

"Wait a moment!"

Shirou suddenly raised his hand to stop her.

"What's wrong?" Atalanta frowned.

Shirou said, "If you think about it carefully, why should I, as Saber, have to compete with you in archery?"

"Huh? Who cares about you?"

Atalanta scoffed dismissively.

"If you are also a hero with a name in history, don't easily refuse other people's challenges."

"It's okay if I don't become a hero," Shirou muttered nonchalantly.

Ignoring his opinion, the girl decisively shot the first arrow.

Her entire process, from nocking the arrow to releasing it, was seamless and exemplary, making her a model archer.

If Shirou's archery represents the ultimate "stillness" of being one with nature, then Archer's archery is the opposite of his, representing "movement."

"—"

The arrow tore through the air and shot toward the boy's forehead, but he decisively drew his sword from the void and cut it down.

"Hey!" Atalanta roared, "No swords allowed!"

"I'm a swordsman, what else would I use if not a sword... Big sister, you're asking too much of me."

Atalanta, who had adventured with many heroes during her lifetime, keenly sensed Shirou's attitude.

Observing the red-haired boy, she asked, "So what do you want?"

"I'll let you have an archery contest, but there's a condition."

"Humph……"

Atalanta raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue, while Shirou merely glanced at the already distant Hanging Gardens.

The girl with animal ears immediately understood.

What this guy wants is the "Red" faction... especially information about Assassin and her Master.

Did she realize that Assassin and I didn't get along?

No, that can't be possible...

"How is it?" Shirou urged.

Atalanta thought for a moment, then nodded: "I understand, if you win—"

I will tell you all the information I know.

"make a deal."

Shirou sheathed his sword: "If I lose..."

"Then I'll take your life!!"

Atalanta shouted and jumped backward, landing on the ramming horn of the ship, creating a large distance between herself and Shirou.

Two arrows were nocked on the bowstring of the sky (Tauropolos).

She wasn't aiming at the red-haired boy in front of her, but at the night sky illuminated by the hazy moonlight.

"With my bow and arrows I pray for the protection of the sun god (Apollo) and the moon goddess (Artemis)."

The moment the incantation was uttered, the arrow between the girl's fingers flashed with a dazzling light.

Atalanta, the "Red" archer—her Noble Phantasm is neither a bow nor an arrow; both are merely catalysts.

Her Noble Phantasm lies in the "technique itself" of drawing the bow, shooting the arrow, and releasing it.

Conversely, it could also be said that her skills had become so powerful that they were sufficient to be elevated to the level of a Noble Phantasm.

"I offer this calamity to the two great gods... the Phoebus Catastrophe!!"

The two arrows shot into the sky left a dazzling trail as they pierced through the clouds and disappeared.

In an instant, the night sky was filled with a faint light, accompanied by a soft, gentle sound like a fine drizzle breaking through the wind—but this was no rain of mercy.

Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of arrows of light fell from the sky.

Apollo, the sun god, and Artemis, the moon goddess, are deities deeply associated with the sun and the moon, respectively, and are also the gods of archery and hunting.

Atalanta, through prayers offered to two gods, showered the earth with a destructive rain called calamity upon her enemies.

The "Red" archer slightly raised his chin, gazing at his prey with a proud yet cold gaze—

So, what would you do? You're not a hero, boy.

"........."

Shirou stood motionless, silently gazing up at the rain of arrows of light that filled the sky.

While you could block Archer's attack with Excalibur or a barrage of projection Noble Phantasms, doing so would invalidate the bet.

Since that's the case, let's use "that move"...

That move that can destroy thousands or tens of thousands of arrows with a single shot...

To be honest, Shirou had never used "that move" in actual combat before; this was his first attempt.

So he himself wasn't sure if he could succeed.

If he fails, Shirou will be pierced through his spirit base by a hail of arrows without any resistance.

This is an enormous risk.

But why is Shirou unusually calm now, as if he has entered some kind of special state?

That is to say-

The moment Shirou was certain of his success, he raised the black bow, its magical power surging ever higher.

"Don't forget our bet, Archer."

"!"