DanMachi: The Epic of the Heroic Spirits of Emiya Shirou

"It's okay, it's just that the clothes are wet. You can dry them with fire for a bit and they'll be fine."

As Emiya spoke, he was about to project the [Sword of Arish]

"No, no, it's not about that..."

The goddess Artemis spoke softly.

Emiya was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke after a few seconds: "If you're referring to what happened this afternoon, Ryu and Mr. Hegny weren't injured..."

"no!"

The goddess buried her head in Emiya's arms.

"It's all because of me that 'Andaris' has become so out of control... It's all my fault, I killed them... I killed everyone..."

The goddess's body and voice trembled incessantly, and glistening tears streamed down her face.

Emiya sighed softly. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but the goddess's next words made his heart tighten.

"The children of the lower realm, they are so beautiful, this world is so lovely, it's all because of me..."

"Wait a moment--"

Emiya's heart pounded violently, and so did Hedin, who was hiding behind a tree, who was also sweating profusely.

They realized that the goddess was referring to "everyone" not as a specific group, such as all members of Artemis's Familia.

Instead, it means "everyone" in the literal sense, without any restrictions!

Many images flashed through Emiya's mind: Ryu, Seele, the goddess Hephaestus...

In that instant, Hedin thought of his most important goddess, Freya.

"Andaris, you have absorbed my divine power."

Artemis whispered, "Now it can unleash one of my arrows, an arrow that will destroy this world."

"It's all my fault, because I violated the most important rule of the gods in the mortal realm; I used divine power..."

"The goddess Artemis..."

Emiya remained silent for a long time before asking, "Could that gun kill Andaris?"

Artemis clenched her fists: "Yes, and no... That gun is a god-slaying weapon created to end the lives of gods. It's powerful enough to kill Andaris, who absorbed my divine power, but..."

Her voice trembled: "You can force the gun to work, but that method cannot unleash its true power... Forcing it with immense magic will yield the same result..."

Previously, Artemis still harbored illusions, believing that as long as someone could pull it out, even if they couldn't completely free it, it would be enough to end Andaris.

However, now that she has truly entered the Great Sea of ​​Trees and felt the divine power within Andaris, Artemis has finally come to terms with reality.

To kill the "Andaris" who possesses divine power, the true power of that weapon must be unleashed.

The "Spear of Artemis," or the "Arrow of Orion," is a weapon of the gods, and to truly wield it, one must comply with its rules.

Whether it's skills or magic, they are all insignificant compared to true divine power, like fireflies to the bright moon in the sky, or mayflies to the vast firmament.

"Orion's Arrow" is destined to belong only to "Orion".

unless--

Without a word, Emiya pulled the goddess up, placing his hands on her shoulders from both sides and gazing intently into her eyes.

Gazing into the boy's eyes, the goddess's gaze trembled, her heart raced, and her breathing grew heavy.

"Wait, what is he going to do? This distance is too close, could it be..."

The goddess remembered the stories that the children of her clan had shared with her.

Artemis is the goddess of chastity, and love, marriage, and contact with men are things she has always resisted the most.

However, after arriving in the lower realm, the lovely children Artemis loved most told her that love was a wonderful thing.

"Artemis, the goddess."

Emiya said in a low voice.

"Yes……"

Artemis's voice trembled with tension.

Emiya asked, "Really, is there no way?"

Artemis fell silent, pursing her lips. "No, I want to use Orion's..."

As she spoke, the goddess suddenly froze.

Suddenly, she remembered her initial conversation with Emiya no Tsurugi.

"Can you become my 'Orion'?"

“Nice to meet you, Goddess Artemis… My name is Shirou Emiya.”

Artemis parted her lips slightly: "Yes, there is a way, I've thought of something, I've thought of something..."

She stretched out her arms and wrapped them around Emiya's neck.

The goddess looked into Emiya's eyes and softly explained the method.

Reforge the "Arrow of Orion" and create a new divine weapon.

Upon hearing the goddess's words, Emiya was stunned, while Artemis gently bent down and softly touched her forehead to the boy's.

"Go for it, Shirou... This is the meaning of 'my' existence."

The "goddess" showed a long-lost, and most beautiful smile in front of Emiya.

141

Chapter 141 [The Complaint in Arrows] VS [Shooting Down a Hundred Heads]

"Watch out, a rain of arrows is coming."

Riveria looked up and spoke up to remind her.

Almost as soon as she finished speaking, a rain of arrows of light tore through the sky and fell from the heavens.

The magnificent rain of arrows reminded Emiya of a Heroic Spirit's Noble Phantasm—[Phoibos Catastrophe].

The Noble Phantasm that embodies the concept of "drawing a bow and releasing an arrow".

Using the Tauropolos, a bow bestowed upon them by the goddess Artemis, they shoot arrows that pray for the protection of the moon goddess Artemis.

The Moon Goddess responded to this request, bestowing the "Hero" with the blessing of calamity upon the enemy, and raining down a barrage of light arrows from the sky for a wide-ranging, all-encompassing attack.

The size of the area can be adjusted; the more compressed the area, the more concentrated the light arrows fall, and the greater the destructive power.

The user of the "Arrow of Judgment" was Atalanta, a famous female hunter from Greek mythology, who was known for being the first to shoot an arrow at the boar of Calydon.

"Projection, start."

A heavy, massive longbow appeared in Emiya's hands.

The longbow was entirely black, exuding a cold and mysterious aura. The bow seemed to be forged from some unknown metal, its black luster shimmering with a deep light under the sunlight.

[Shoot Down 100 Heads (Nine Lives)]

This is the third volley of arrows they have encountered since they set off today.

Upon first encounter, a rain of arrows of light hurtled towards the goddess Artemis. Hedin promptly unleashed lightning magic to counter it, but the arrows of light seemed to have a special resistance to the adventurer's magic, even penetrating the lightning net and Freya's barrier magic, nearly striking the goddess.

Ryu took an arrow to the shoulder while protecting the goddess. Fortunately, the arrow of light had limited effect on the adventurer's body; a single arrow was only as powerful as an attack from a Lv.2-Lv.3 mage.

At this point, they also discovered the pattern of the arrow rain.

The arrows falling from the sky were met with a shot from below. The heavy blow from [Shoot Down a Hundred Heads] pierced the clouds, its roar like that of a raging dragon.

In mythology, Atalanta was born in Arcadia, a paradise of nature, and was nurtured by the moon goddess Artemis with the milk of a mother bear.

Because of this favor, she became a fervent follower of Artemis, and it is for this reason that Atalanta possesses the "Archive of Appeals," a Noble Phantasm that invokes the protection of the moon goddess.

In addition, she was one of the heroes of the Argonauts, a group of great Greek heroes.

However, at this moment, it was not a human hero who summoned the rain of arrows, but a monster that stole Artemis's power.

A surge of magical power flowed violently within the jet-black bow of the [Shoot a Hundred Heads], as if the strongest hero, who had also sailed on the "Argo," was raging.

[Skill [Oath Under the Snow] effect activated]

When you have a close bond with the person you are protecting, all your abilities are enhanced beyond the normal realm, your ability value growth is accelerated, your ability value cap is broken, and the effects of magic and skills are enhanced beyond the normal realm.

[Skill [Roadless Valhalla] effect activated.]

[Temporarily gained the ability to develop [Martial Arts] I]

[Temporarily gains the development ability [Archer] E]

Temporarily acquired the skill [Valiant]

[Temporarily acquired skill: King's Order Eleventh Order]

In that instant, the figure of Emiya drawing his longbow seemed to truly overlap with that of the hero.

Arrows shot forth from the bow, their black light slicing through the air. Carrying destructive power, they met the rain of arrows falling from the sky with overwhelming force.

"boom--!"

The arrows met the rain of arrows from the [Plaintiff Arrow] in mid-air, instantly unleashing a deafening roar.

The arrows, like raging dragons, carried unparalleled power, completely tearing apart and shattering the rain of arrows falling from the sky. That heavy blow pierced the clouds, scattering the dark clouds and the rain of arrows along with them, turning them into countless points of light that vanished completely in the air.

Those arrows of light, symbols of destruction, were now devoured by the single strike of [Shoot Down a Hundred Heads], like moths to a flame. Only aftershocks echoed in the air, as if announcing the outcome of the battle was already decided.

"This attack is definitely not Lv.2..."

After a brief silence, Freya spoke softly.

Riveria reached out and caught Emiya as he fell backward. She then carried the temporarily exhausted boy on her back, ignoring Ryu who was staring at her expectantly.

"Let's keep going; it should be unable to attack for the time being."

"We can give up on Flying Dragon; it's not far. We're faster on foot now."

Emiya: "Sister Riveria, I can walk by myself..."

"Can you keep up with our speed on your own?"

Riveria did not put him down, while Hedin and Ryuya carried Hermes and Artemis on their backs respectively.

Ryu stared at Riveria, seemingly wanting to switch partners, but Riveria completely ignored her.

As you venture deeper into the Great Forest, the once lush forest is gradually replaced by withered trees, and the earth changes from fertile black to a ghastly white.

"Andaris is absorbing the life force of this land."

Looking at the lifeless forest, Riveria felt both heartache and anger.

The first-level adventurers were far faster than the dragons at full speed, and soon they approached the front-line camp.

Shouts came from the camp.

"Wait, don't attack! It's reinforcements! It's Lady Riveria!"

"And the [White Demon Staff], the [Black Demon Sword]..."

"[Gale] is here too!"

"This lineup is just too amazing!"

The adventurers in the front-line camp cheered with delight, but there were also some dissenting voices.

"Lord Hermes!!! How dare you leave me here!!!"

A blue figure rushed out of the camp. Upon seeing the other person, Hedin decisively threw Hermes down.

The White Demon Wand looked disgusted. If it weren't for the fact that Hegni was really useless, he would never have wanted to come into contact with any deity other than the goddess Freya.

"Asphie, it's been so long! You've really worked hard!"

"Really, you big idiot..."

However, faced with Hermes' smile, Asphie forgave him very easily, making Riveria secretly shake her head.

"Is this the front line facing the ruins of Elsos?"

Under the incredulous gazes of the elven girls, Riveria carried Emiya directly into the camp before belatedly putting him down.