Chapter 3. Go Back, Achilles!

I Will Eventually Embark on the Path of No Return Called a Hero [Arc2] - 3. Go Back, Achilles!

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"It feels different from a horse, after all."

Joan of Arc reached out and pushed back a box that was nearly falling off.

"Grandpa, how much longer until we reach Trifas?"

"About twelve hours," the old man hummed a little tune in response, "after all, this guy needs some rest too."

"Oh, so it's just like a horse," Jeanne nodded. Although she wanted to reach their destination quickly, her Master couldn't let her warp space. To pass the extra time, Jeanne took a book out of her backpack.

The Holy Grail grants Servants knowledge, but this knowledge is limited. Jeanne looked at the dense formulas and strange diagrams in her math textbook and fell silent. In her time, as a peasant girl, she hadn't had the opportunity for education. If not for the Holy Grail, she might not even be able to read.

But she still didn't understand!

"Master, please tell me how to solve calculus problems," Jeanne instinctively placed the book in front of her and prayed respectfully.

Five minutes later, realizing that even her Master wouldn't understand calculus, Jeanne gave up struggling and began to read the book from the table of contents.

"!"

After hours of brainwashing with calculus, Jeanne, feeling a bit drowsy, suddenly opened her eyes wide. Her instincts warned her that something dangerous was approaching her quickly!

"Grandpa, don't stop, keep driving forward!" Jeanne hurriedly shouted at the old man, "It's going to get dangerous here soon! Remember to keep driving!"

With that, Jeanne jumped directly off the vehicle.

The old man was bewildered. Were young people this intense nowadays? However, Jeanne had a convincing aura, so despite his confusion, he pressed the accelerator to the floor. He seemed to see a streak of light passing by like a meteor.

"May the Lord protect you," Jeanne set down her luggage, and armor made of magic covered her body. "This feeling… is the Rider from the Red Faction!"

"Boom----"

With a deafening roar, Achilles, holding a long spear, stopped not far from Jeanne. The smoke he kicked up made Jeanne frown; her human instincts made her feel uncomfortable.

"You're the Ruler?" Achilles brushed the dust off his clothes. "I'm here to take you down. I hope you're worth the long trip."

"Red Faction's Rider, why are you blocking my way? I'm just an arbitrator and won't interfere with your actions," Jeanne frowned. "The command spells I have are just precautionary."

If possible, she didn't want to fight Achilles. As a Ruler, she knew very well how strong Achilles was. Unless she used that Noble Phantasm, she probably couldn't win.

"Such a pity. My Master hates this kind of precautionary measures. I, on the other hand, don't mind," Achilles rested his spear on his shoulder. "I'm only here for the fight. It's rare that sister spoke. I thought someone else was coming, but it seems you're the one here. How unfortunate?"

"Someone else?" Jeanne squinted her eyes.

"Enough talk. Let me see your true strength!" Achilles laughed loudly and launched a fierce thrust of his spear at Jeanne like a storm.

"Now's the time!"

"Clang----"

The silver greatsword struck Achilles's head at an extremely tricky angle but collided with the suddenly horizontal spear.

"Ah~ you seem pretty strong," Achilles watched the white-haired swordsman in front of him with interest.

The white-haired swordsman said nothing as he spun around and swung his sword at Achilles's waist, but Achilles dodged with a backflip.

"Red Faction's Lancer, I, Gordes, personally witnessed your attack on the arbitrator of this Holy Grail War. This clearly violates the rules. Now, accept your punishment obediently!" Gordes shouted next to Jeanne, sounding somewhat like a bully.

"Huh? Since when was attacking the Ruler prohibited in the Holy Grail War?" Achilles twisted his neck. "Well, if you two want to team up, I don't mind."

"Ruler, let's eliminate this rule-breaking Lancer together," Gordes tentatively looked at Jeanne.

"He's a Rider, and if you're going to fight, I, as the Ruler, will just watch from the sidelines. Rest assured," Jeanne assured Gordes with great righteousness.

"..."

Gordes felt a bit disoriented.

"Hey, are you going to fight or not? Hurry up and resolve this so I might still be able to check the other side," Achilles said impatiently, knocking the ground with his spear.

"Arrogant! Eliminate him, Saber!" Gordes was immediately enraged by Achilles's behavior and shouted.

Siegfried, the Saber, took a deep breath and stepped towards Achilles. His previously troubled face softened significantly.

"That's the expression I like. I don't enjoy fighting people with a grim face," Achilles laughed and charged at Siegfried, his right-hand spear darting towards Siegfried's neck like a meteor.

So fast!

But!

Siegfried's eyes narrowed, his body slightly tilted, and he swung his sword towards Achilles's neck.

"Boom----"

The pressure from the collision of their attacks sent Gordes flying, while Jeanne, looking relatively weak, stood straight in the gale.

"Forget what I said. You're indeed an impressive opponent!" Achilles widened his eyes. He wasn't holding back, and every strike was with full force, but his attacks, his spear, only managed to make a tiny scratch on Siegfried's shoulder.

Siegfried blinked. His sword had hit Achilles's neck, but not only had it not decapitated Achilles, but there wasn't even a mark left.

"This is undoubtedly an exhilarating battle!" Achilles laughed excitedly. "It was worth coming here. Come on! Fight with all your might, Saber of the Black Faction!"

Despite being a challenging and nerve-wracking opponent, Siegfried couldn't help but feel exhilarated. After bathing in dragon's blood, that kind of thrilling, intense battle seemed to have faded away. All battles seemed less engaging, but now! This Rider seemed to have a body even stronger than his!

This was the battle he had been waiting for!

The inhuman battle began. Each of their attacks tore at the earth, and every swing of their weapons stirred up a gale. Gordes stood at a safe distance, anxiously watching Siegfried and Achilles brawl.

Siegfried was strong enough to be considered the strongest Saber. The dragon's blood armor had the ability to nullify B-rank and below attacks, but now Siegfried was struggling because he couldn't harm Achilles. Yet, every clash left a wound on Siegfried, though shallow, indicating that Achilles was on the offensive.

"Ruler, at least tell me the true name of the Red Faction's Rider!" Gordes asked Jeanne again.

"No," Jeanne coldly refused.

"Damn it!" Gordes stomped his foot in frustration. Facing a Rider, who had subdued his strongest Saber with just a spear, he wondered what would happen if the Rider had a chariot. If he knew the true name, he might devise a countermeasure, but why was this Ruler so unyielding?

The battle between Siegfried and Achilles seemed endless. They were immersed in the clash of their weapons, and the sword and spear battled with fiery intensity, but the night was limited. Dawn's light slowly spread across the street.

According to the rules of the Holy Grail War, battles should occur only at night and cease during the day. Gordes was considering a retreat, thinking that the enemy Master would likely do the same, especially with the Ruler still present.

"Very well! Saber, you've pleased me. You're the first opponent in this Holy Grail War to make me so happy! For that!" Achilles, with fire blazing in his brown eyes, unleashed a full-force strike with his spear. Terrifying magical energy surged from behind him. "I will offer you my full power! Come, my chariot!"

A streak of light shot across the sky, and the roar of a horse made Gordes's face turn pale.

Shouldn't they be retreating now!

"Wait! Red Faction's Rider, it's daytime now. Please stop your actions," Jeanne stepped forward. "Your actions will expose the Holy Grail War to the outside world. If you don't stop, I will force you to cease!"

"Who cares about you!" Achilles leaped onto his chariot. "I am Achilles. Black Faction's Saber, you don't need to reveal your true name. Your full power is the best answer!"

Since the chariot had appeared, his identity would be exposed, but he wasn't worried. This was the pride of the strong!

Siegfried's eyes narrowed as he instinctively tried to adjust his sword's grip, but he still looked at Gordes.

"Go, Saber! Use your Noble Phantasm to defeat him!" Gordes ordered fiercely.

Now that the Red Faction's Rider was clearly preparing to use his Noble Phantasm against Siegfried, if Siegfried didn't respond with his own, he would certainly die! And Gordes had confidence in Siegfried's Noble Phantasm!

Siegfried's eyes widened in surprise as he adjusted his sword's grip.

"Master, I will repay your trust with victory!"

The silver magic energy shot into the sky, its aura as overwhelming as Achilles's, seemingly capable of sweeping the world.

"This is how it should be! This is the battle I've been waiting for!" Achilles laughed maniacally.

"Stop your actions immediately!" Jeanne said urgently. It was already daylight, and if they both unleashed their Noble Phantasms, the Holy Grail War would definitely be exposed!

She hadn't expected to use up two command spells at the very beginning.

Jeanne sighed and raised her hand. "If you don't stop, I will use a command spell!"

"Attack, Black Faction's Saber!" Achilles roared. "Troias Trago…"

"With a command spell, I order you, Red Faction's Rider, to return to where you started," Jeanne sighed.

The imminent magical energy was instantly suppressed. Achilles, with a face full of unwillingness, turned into a streak of light and disappeared from the spot.

Siegfried blinked, awkwardly holding his dragon-slaying sword. Should he cancel his Noble Phantasm himself?

Don't cancel, just keep the pose, act like you're about to release it.

At this moment, his Master's voice echoed in his mind. Although puzzled, Siegfried continued to hold his sword, ready to strike at any moment.

"Ah! Ruler, Saber's Noble Phantasm is already in the release stage and cannot be withdrawn," Gordes looked at Jeanne with a pleading expression.

"Order him with a command spell," Jeanne raised her hand. "Black Faction's Saber, stop your Noble Phantasm."

"Whoosh---"

The blazing light disappeared, as easily as turning off a flashlight. Siegfried adjusted his sword's grip and obediently stood behind Gordes.

"Uh…" Jeanne blinked. Compared to the unwilling Achilles, Siegfried seemed too indifferent, and his action of retracting his Noble Phantasm didn't look forced at all.

"Ruler, how about discussing the Red Faction's actions against you with us from the Black Faction?" Although he had little hope, Gordes extended an olive branch to Jeanne.

"No," Jeanne decisively rejected.

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