Akhilleus Kosmos was a shield and a barrier. Until now, Achilles had always used it to defend against powerful attacks he couldn't dodge.
But using that barrier to attack… this was the first time for Achilles. Even its creator, Hephaestus, never imagined it being used like this.
It was Achilles' desperation, too. Aerial battles weren't his strong suit, so he had no choice but to seal the sky with his Mini World...
"What the hell is this?! Why won't it move?!"
"Answer: it is that legendary shield, a barrier of God..."
Unlike Kaguya, who didn't know anything, Yuzuru was well-informed about Achilles' Noble Phantasms. He was a powerful Hero with many Noble Phantasms, but even so, Yuzuru also knew that while dangerous, Achilles wasn't a threat to them—except for his Troias Tragōidia, which was why they had destroyed it...
Still, she never thought this man would use his Mini World against them like this. The twins had already touched down and were pushing the Mini World with the full force of their wind, but it was useless. Their feet cracked the ground and sank into the earth...
"Danger: we will be crushed..."
"Kuuhhh, I know!"
This Mini World was incredibly heavy—an entire city, thousands of tons, falling on them. They couldn't stop it, and just as they were about to slip into the Spirit World, the Mini World halted a few meters above the ground...
Leaving the twins in confusion...
But it made sense. The Mini World covered hundreds of square meters, and Achilles' free fall would also endanger Ritsuka Fujimaru and his group, since they were inside the attack zone.
Because of that, it was impossible for Achilles to use it to crush the twins, so he left it hanging in the sky...
"I'm sorry, ladies, but the sky is 'closed' for the moment..."
He left the shield floating overhead, maintaining his Noble Phantasm—something that under normal circumstances, or in a normal Holy Grail War, would be impossible due to the massive magical energy cost. But this was the World Holy Grail War. The Servants didn't just have the stats of their true selves; they also had an abundant supply of magical energy from the World Holy Grail, which allowed them to unleash their Noble Phantasms up to three times a day without draining their Master's mana—something that had once been impossible. That was why Achilles could afford to leave his Noble Phantasm in the sky. For the same reason, he could fly without worrying about mana consumption.
Landing without issue, Achilles spun his spear...
The ground was his domain. Now it was time to show his true skill...
"Hmph! Insolent. We are the Sisters of the Storms—invincible even on the ground..."
At barely five meters of clearance, it was impossible for the sisters to fly without crashing into the Mini World. If they could escape the barrier's area, they could take to the air again, but it was obvious Achilles wouldn't let them regain that advantage. Kaguya panicked for a second, then quickly composed herself. She set a hand on her hip and declared with confidence, while Yuzuru stayed silent as her Pendulum circled her...
"I almost thought we were going to get crushed too. Nice work, Rider..."
"Sealing the sky with a barrier? What an ingenious method—worthy of the World Holy Grail's supply..."
At that moment, the Chaldea group approached. They were sweating cold over Achilles' Mini World, worried it would crush them along with the twins, but their fears proved unfounded...
"Senpai..."
"I'm fine, Mash. Do what you can..."
With Ritsuka Fujimaru's approval, Mash leapt to Achilles' side and raised her enormous shield.
"As a warrior, I won't allow others to interfere in my fight... But I'll make an exception..."
Even if he didn't want to admit it, the Yamai sisters were powerful. Taking away their "sky" didn't mean Achilles would lower his guard—if anything, against a common enemy, it was better to have allies at his side...
"It doesn't matter how many of you join in! The result is the same against us!"
"Agreement: the Yamai sisters will not lose...."
Using the wind to propel themselves, the sisters didn't wait for the enemy to attack...
"Watch out!"
Clang
Standing in front of Achilles, the shield repelled the Pendulum, but it created an opening that Kaguya exploited. She moved to stab Mash—only for a spear to cut her off. Their weapons collided, sparks bursting....
"Haa!!"
Bommm
Mash's momentum was tremendous. The ground cracked under her shield, but it was useless against the Yamai sisters. They weren't just stronger—their agility was superior, and the Pendulum twisted like a viper as it chased the Demi-Servant...
Clang, clang...
"Kuu! Kuu!"
Unlike Yuzuru, who was pressing her opponent, Kaguya—after splitting away from Yuzuru—pulled back, only for Achilles to close the distance in seconds...
In the same way, her martial arts created openings in her defense that Achilles exploited with thrusts. If not for her Astral Dress, which nullified most of the strikes, Kaguya would have already been killed...
"Damn it! Why are you so fast?!"
Even if Achilles was better than her at martial arts, that was an undeniable fact. In the world of Date A Live, the reason Ellen Mira Mathers could suppress Spirits wasn't because she had more energy—it was because of her martial arts...
The same applied here, and Kaguya accepted it. But her agility—the thing she was proudest of—was being crushed by the man in front of her...
That wounded her pride....
"Hahaha. Funny thing, miss—it's because I'm known as the fastest hero of my era."
In Ancient Greece, there was no Hero faster than Achilles, and he took pride in his swift feet. That was terrible news for Kaguya...
She was being outmatched by sheer attributes...
"Guh?!"
Stabbed again, Kaguya was sent flying, and Achilles chased after her. The wind surged, trying to obstruct him, but it meant nothing—his spear tore through it with force...
Clang...
It was unfortunate, but just as Achilles was about to deal the killing blow to Kaguya, the Pendulum struck, throwing him off balance and disrupting his attack, making it miss...
"Relieved: that was close..."
"Kuuu... thanks, Yuzuru..."
As her sister, Yuzuru knew how badly Kaguya was struggling. She had no choice but to abandon her mission to knock out the Demi-Servant and help her sister...
BAMMM
But they didn't get a moment to breathe—Mash slammed into both of them with her shield. Thanks to the wind beneath their feet, they managed to retreat safely...
"We're in trouble, Yuzuru. That guy is way too fast..."
"Agreement: that shield is too thick. I can't pierce it..."
They both had their problems. The Pendulum was nowhere near capable of breaking through Camelot's defense. Maybe Kaguya's spear might have a chance.
On the other hand, Achilles wasn't someone who could defeat either sister easily...
"What's wrong, ladies? Is that all your speed? Is this the strength of the rulers of the winds? Hahaha!"
"Rider-san, please don't mock the enemy. That's bad luck..."
"Haha, sorry. I couldn't help it."
As a Hero proud of his swift feet, he was fascinated by these sisters who were as fast as Atalanta.
If possible, Achilles wanted to keep testing them. The last exchange made one thing clear: on the ground, these sisters weren't a threat. That was why he didn't hesitate to laugh at their arrogance...
Mash, as a veteran of many Singularities, knew the angrier an enemy got, the more terrifying they became. She didn't want to take that risk.
Too bad. The sisters were already furious...
"Humans—how dare you laugh at us! Hey, Yuzuru, let's do it..."
"Approval: no one mocks the Queen of Storms and escapes the price..."
There was fear and anticipation in the twins. Since the last time they inverted, they had never united again—but this time, thanks to Yuki, the union wasn't dangerous. Their hearts pounded...
They took each other's hands and slowly brought their faces closer. Both blushing, they didn't look away, and under Achilles and Mash's disbelief, the twins sealed their lips in a kiss...
BOMMM....
Their magical power surged, and both sisters' bodies lit up....
Shielding herself, Mash was forced to retreat. Achilles' smile vanished as he looked at the new figure that appeared...
"Intrusion. For those who mock my power, listen to me—look closely if you wish. I am the king of the typhoon that reaps all creation."
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