Super God: If I punch you, you will die

Keep running.

I've been running.

I just ran straight ahead, desperately, shouting all the while. I never imagined that running on my own two legs could bring such intense exhilaration and excitement.

0242 Cave [Please Subscribe]

The scenery changed in the blink of an eye, and I found myself in a cave at the foot of a beautiful mountain. Wait a minute. I should know this mountain.

Yes, the mountain is called Pyrrhon. In the caves of this famous Greek tourist destination lived a world-renowned centaur tribe.

His name was Chiron, the great sage whom Greece was most proud of, who taught countless heroes.

At this point, I, as Chiron's Master, finally understood. This was the Servant's past. Because of the interconnected circuits, the Master sometimes accesses the Servant's memories while sleeping.

Of course, one could consciously cut off this information, but I instead adjusted my consciousness to a level where it was easier for the two to intersect. Although it took me quite a while because I wasn't used to this approach... as a result, I see Chiron in every dream I have.

I can see aspects of him here that I never knew I knew.

As I approached the cave, a young boy walked towards me. Since he addressed me as "teacher," it meant he was one of his students.

The boy nimbly leaped onto the nearby rock. Then, looking down at Chiron with an expression of anticipation, he said:

"Teacher, let's go hunting! Let's go hunting!"

"No."

Chiron's reply was unusually cold, and the boy immediately puffed out his cheeks. Seeing this, I couldn't help but chuckle. The boy was very beautiful, or perhaps more accurately, handsome. He exuded an androgynous aura that made it difficult to determine his gender. Despite this, his words and actions were full of boyish charm. Having a younger brother myself, I knew this very well.

"It's certainly a good thing to like hunting. Considering your future, it would be better to hone your skills. However, your goal isn't to become a hunter, but a hero. The world won't recognize someone who only knows how to vent violence indiscriminately as a hero. Being able to read is a given, but not learning music and etiquette will also bring you shame."

Despite the teacher's patient and persuasive instruction, the boy's expression of dissatisfaction remained. He wore a complicated expression and murmured in a low voice.

He understood that his teacher was right, so he couldn't continue throwing a tantrum, but what he was about to do wasn't exactly pleasant. Seeing him like this, Chiron said with a wry smile:

"That being said, spending the whole day holed up in the cave must be unbearable torture for you. So, I'll offer a compromise. Memorize all the remaining text by today and carve it onto the stone tablet. If you can do that by tonight, I'll teach you combat techniques."

"Eh, really?!"

"It's a bit dangerous, but you should be fine. Of course, memorizing the text before evening is the bare minimum."

The boy, of course, had no objections. Chiron smiled and placed his hand on the head of the joyfully bouncing boy. The boy accepted his teacher's affection with a shy smile.

While I felt envious, I was also deeply moved. I had heard that Chiron had a wife and daughter. But they must have been almost divine beings. The boy, on the other hand, was undoubtedly filled with human brilliance.

However, when Chiron placed his hand on the boy's head, his behavior looked exactly like that of a father who caresses a child.

"Now it's time for class, Achilles."

Achilles.

How could this be… I was stunned. But Chiron called him Achilles… and the boy called Achilles didn’t deny it. So, this boy is “Red” Rider Achilles?

Achilles is probably the most well-known hero in this Holy Grail War.

Yes, Achilles' father, the hero Peleus, once opposed his wife, the sea goddess Thetis, because of Achilles.

Thetis wanted to transform him into a full god. But Peleus believed that since he was born a demigod, becoming a full god would mean eliminating Achilles' human aspects.

In the end, Thetis accepted Peleus's advice. However, Thetis left Peleus and Achilles and returned to her homeland on the seabed.

Even with Achilles as a buffer, life between God and man was still quite difficult.

Peleus decided to send young Achilles to be educated by his old friend Chiron. After all, Achilles was a child born between a hero and a goddess, and Chiron was the best teacher Peleus knew.

Chiron readily agreed to his old friend's request and imparted all his knowledge to the gifted young man. He taught him everything: writing, music, poetry, morality, etiquette, as well as hunting, warfare, horsemanship, and even medicine.

For Achilles, who had to be separated from his parents from a young age, Chiron was like a father who watched over the boy's growth with both strictness and tenderness.

Perhaps because it was a dream, the past scenes flashed by in the blink of an eye.

Achilles quickly grew stronger, and his previously rudimentary spear skills had now reached the level of a god. He rode freely across the grasslands, his swift hooves traversing all obstacles in his path.

Of course, he is also incredibly knowledgeable. He can spot edible wild grasses and fruits with just a glance at the field, and he knows exactly how to treat injuries.

His manners and behavior befitting a hero, as well as his mastery of court etiquette, were impeccable. Surprisingly, Achilles was reportedly only around ten years old at the time.

What kind of extraordinary person is Achilles, who at such a young age made Chiron say, "There is nothing more I can teach you"?

In short, it was time to say goodbye. Chiron and his wife Callicro were seeing Achilles off as he prepared to depart for distant lands.

"Teacher, Lord Carrickrod, thank you very much for coming to see me off."

Achilles, take care of yourself. You must take good care of your health and don't get sick.

With tears in her eyes, Charrick embraced Achilles tightly. If Chiron taught Achilles various kinds of knowledge, then perhaps she taught him the importance of wholeheartedly devoting himself to love.

"Don't worry, I will definitely work hard so as not to disgrace the name of 'Chiron's student'."

His words were very grounded. He didn't just parrot what others taught him; he judged their correctness through his own thinking before speaking.

He was only ten years old when he accomplished this. This explains why he was hailed as a hero from a young age. At this moment, Chiron still placed his hand on Achilles' head.

0243 Achilles [Please Subscribe]

“Very good, Achilles. But that is a greeting meant for people other than us and Peleus. You don’t need to force yourself, because you are already… a true hero.”

Upon hearing this, Achilles showed a hint of surprise, but also nodded vigorously. Then, he hurriedly turned away and wiped his eyes with his hand. Seeing the boy's action, Chiron and Callicro both smiled kindly.

"Well then, teacher, I'm leaving now!"

He didn't shed a tear until the very last moment, and the young man, now a hero, embarked on his journey. Later, just as Chiron had predicted, Achilles indeed displayed remarkable prowess as a hero.

However, just as his mother Thetis had prophesied, Achilles, enraged by his own tyranny during the Trojan War, was pierced by Paris, who, with Apollo's power, shot through his heel and heart—the only parts of his body that retained a human form. Knowing this was a fatal wound and that he would perish there, Achilles mustered all his strength to wreak havoc, ultimately dying on the battlefield.

This is a story known to everyone who knew Achilles. Yes, Achilles never had the chance to reunite with Chiron after that.

Similar to Achilles' tragic death, Chiron also met a violent end.

So this was truly a scene of life and death for the two of them.

The moment I realized this, I was stunned. There was genuine affection between Chiron and Achilles. Father and son, brother and brother… there was a bond of family.

So, what is it that can sever this bond between them?

Needless to say, it's the Holy Grail... and the Holy Grail War. In other words, does that mean it's Fiore, as the Master?

No. Even if they were unaware that the other had been summoned as a Servant, they still clashed twice afterward.

It wasn't my fault.

However, that's all because they are Servants. They are slaves who, if they do not obey their Master's orders, will be subject to Command Seals and will also be unable to avoid being cut off from their magic and dying.

I'm making a father and son fight each other.

However, Archer should accept this. If he didn't want to fight, he should have conveyed this intention to me.

You know absolutely nothing about him.

I know, I know, I know nothing about him...!

I covered my eyes, longing to wake up from the dream as soon as possible. Though it was superficial, though it was ridiculous, I ultimately chose to escape.

I had a dream of freedom.

The knight seemed to really enjoy flying. When asked why, he replied, "Because in the air I can fly as high or as low as I want."

Does that mean the more directions you can go, the better?

In short, needless to say, the knight always lived a carefree life. Despite being born the son of the King of England, he completely avoided the troublesome matters of inheriting the throne.

In some situations, he could easily be mistaken for an unbearable person. But perhaps due to his naturally friendly nature, everyone likes him very much.

He was a man who was naturally free from resentment, and also naturally inclined to affection. However, he lacked intelligence, and it was difficult to describe his character as either naive or foolish, or perhaps reckless and impulsive. In short, that was the kind of knight he was.

He had no desires. He would casually give away valuables he had taken from his enemies. He did not despair, even after being turned into peach wood by the terrible witch Alshina.

He wasn't too worried; he just waited with a relaxed attitude for someone to turn him back to his original state.

He often makes mistakes due to carelessness. When facing powerful enemies, he occasionally suffers defeat... but he also occasionally triumphs. In terms of sheer strength, he is only of a fairly ordinary caliber. However, in terms of the frequency and quality of his adventures, he possesses an extraordinary quality that is completely incomparable to that of ordinary knights.

He was courageous, but weak. Despite experiencing numerous setbacks, he never lost heart or became discouraged.

His death was quite uneventful. Despite the sudden betrayal during the Battle of Lonsforth, Charlemagne's warriors did not succumb and continued to fight valiantly.

Nevertheless, the disparity in troop strength was immense, with 400,000 against 20,000. No matter how skilled a warrior, it was impossible to sustain a situation where one person was simultaneously attacked by twenty soldiers for such a long time.

One after another, battle-hardened warriors fell... and the knight was among them. He wanted to sigh and reach out his hand into the void... but then he smiled and gave up.

His face wore a satisfied smile that seemed to show no regret whatsoever. Despite being covered in flowing blood and enduring the agonizing pain of his impending death, the knight still displayed a genuinely joyful expression.

but if……

If you were to ask yourself, on your deathbed, what your last wish would be...

"Ah, I really want to go back to that place again."

For the knight, that must have been the most beautiful memory. A boundless world, said to contain everything that doesn't exist on Earth. The other side of another dimension, unseen by anyone.

Those were perhaps just words uttered in the hazy consciousness before death. But they were the right wish, and a thought worth fulfilling.

Since that's the case, as the Master, I also very much want to fulfill this wish for Astolfo. Regardless of how noble the wishes of others may be, I feel the same way…

In an instant, the world was distorted. It was a leap into the unreserved mental safe zone between dreams and the subconscious. One was seized by this terrifying force and torn away.

His skin felt like it was burning hot, but his body seemed frozen solid from the inside out. So, what was here must be... that monster.

He was well aware that sooner or later he would have to confront that monster head-on. Its true nature was also quite obvious. It was the most famous "dragon-slaying" story in the adventures of the world-renowned hero Siegfried.

Legend has it that Siegfried, wielding the fantastical greatsword Balmk, clashed head-on with the evil dragon Fafnir. Perhaps no story could be more heroic.

I couldn't help but gasp.

It was a very spacious and expansive cave, yet at the same time it felt incredibly narrow and cramped. There were two reasons for this… The first was the treasure that occupied most of the cave's area—a mountain of treasure that, once obtained, would guarantee a lifetime of wealth and luxury.

0244 Unusual Pressure [Please Subscribe]

There's another reason: a heavy, immense darkness lying there, as if concealing a vast treasure. Though its form blends into the darkness, it exudes an unusual pressure. It is this pressure that stimulates the imagination. Black scales, a fiery tongue, snake-like eyes, a poisonous aura… and all of this constitutes an incomparably powerful, fully-fledged life form.

The fact that the heart was not subdued by this is truly terrifying and unbelievable. Or perhaps it was already utterly shattered, so even the awareness of being subdued by the other person vanished along with it?

That place is a place where only one life is allowed to exist. In other words, it is a place where all life except for the "evil dragon" Fafnir must perish.

The mere existence here evokes immense terror. Even if one wanted to escape, their feet seemed nailed to the ground, unable to move. Any movement would mean death, even a glance would be fatal… It felt like common sense to them.

The dragon opened its mouth.

What's even more terrifying is that dragons are indeed living beings. If they reached this dimension, they should have been able to survive even without eating anything. This evil being must feed on its prey to torment and manipulate it. Like a cat constantly tormenting a mouse, or a snake slowly digesting it… that's the kind of ferocious beast it is.

Fear was slowly burning through my skin. If this were a dream, I would wake up now. But... is this really a dream?

If I were eaten here, would I even be able to wake up?

If not, then I have no choice but to fight. But I have absolutely no chance of defeating it. At least if I had a sword in my hand, I could choose to commit suicide…

"what?"

It was only then that I realized I was holding a sword in my right hand, and wearing a gauntlet on my wrist. And so I finally understood… I seemed to be “Siegfried” now.

Then I can fight... A glimmer of hope began to rise in my heart. That way I wouldn't need to look away and could face the dragon head-on.

The dragon stopped moving, its previously surging killing intent gradually receding, replaced by a gaze as if it were cautiously observing something. I gripped my sword tightly, and after a moment's thought... I suddenly lunged forward.

Instantly, Fafnir also entered battle stance. Accompanied by a roar that seemed to shatter my soul, the battle between man and dragon began.

The swirling flames that swept across the surrounding area instantly turned the darkness into ablaze. However, it was not the light of justice, but rather the raging fire of karma meant to reveal the horrors of hell.

I didn't even know how to attack; I was just wildly swinging my greatsword. I poured all my strength into it, but I didn't feel like I was actually hitting anything.

A chill ran down my spine as if countless insects were wriggling inside me, and I unconsciously rolled over on the ground. Just then, the dragon's tail swung up and passed right over my head.

It's like the difference between a fly and a human... no, it's probably an even greater disparity. If you get even the slightest brush against them, there's no question of luck; you'll die instantly.

I roared as if to mask my fear, striking the dragon's body while simultaneously delivering a blow to its tail. It was far from dragon slaying; I was simply too close to death.

There is absolutely no chance of victory.

Such a thought flashed through my mind... In reality, it was indeed impossible to defeat. The monster at the pinnacle of all fantasy species was the dragon. It could breathe fire, ice, or poison; its strength was greater than a city wall; its claws could easily tear steel; and its tail could pulverize diamonds with a single blow.

However, my body, Siegfried's body, has indeed defeated this dragon. Therefore, there is no reason why I cannot defeat it.

That's how it should have been, but I couldn't find the path to victory at all. The dragon's claws ripped through my chest along with my armor, shredding it like paper, and blood gushed from my chest. A large chunk of flesh was even ripped away.