Aozaki Aoko Case File [148]

As the three entered a grand building that resembled a temple, the relentless bombardment from the Eleven Black Coffins ceased.

Or rather, it might be more accurate to say that the enemy-repelling defenses, amplified by the Hanging Gardens themselves, were simply too massive to penetrate the structure's interior.

Kayneth and Waver both breathed a sigh of relief. Although Waver was currently a highly capable pseudo-Servant, he still found it extremely difficult to deal with Semiramis, who had fully activated the Hanging Gardens.

"Professor Kayneth, you must be careful of Kiritsugu Emiya's sneak attacks," Waver said seriously. "Although he's slightly different from the Kiritsugu I remember, his methods remain the same. He's incredibly skilled at ambushing magi with modern weapons."

"I witnessed that firsthand yesterday," Kayneth replied with a frown. "The bullets that rat uses are exceptionally insidious. If a magus gets hit, it's game over for them."

"That's why we must avoid splitting up," Waver said cautiously, scanning their surroundings. "I'll handle Assassin with Karna as quickly as possible, but Professor Kayneth, you must prioritize your safety."

Usually arrogant and sharp-tongued, Kayneth surprisingly accepted Waver's suggestion without resistance. He adjusted the Mercury Magecraft liquid's automatic defense system, setting it to the highest priority. With this, bullets alone wouldn't be enough to breach his defenses.

...

While Kayneth and his group were urgently searching for Semiramis's location, Aoko and Artoria bypassed the outer defensive barriers of the Hanging Gardens with ease, using a teleportation gate to enter the floating fortress.

Unlike Waver and Kayneth, Aoko felt no sense of urgency due to the overwhelming difference in their base combat prowess.

She and Artoria strolled leisurely through the garden, filled with artistic sculptures and strange plants, as though they were merely visiting a public park.

"It's rather ironic when you think about it," Aoko said casually while chatting with Artoria. "The actual builder of the Hanging Gardens wasn't Semiramis but Nebuchadnezzar II."

"Oh?" Artoria asked curiously. "Then why can she use this Noble Phantasm?"

"That's the interesting thing about the Throne of Heroes," Aoko replied with a shrug. "There's a legend that the Assyrian empress built the Hanging Gardens, and since this story has spread among the people, Semiramis is granted this Noble Phantasm."

"Speaking of which, Artoria, aren't you familiar with these rules?" Aoko asked inquisitively. "After all, there are countless legends about King Arthur."

"I'm not sure," Artoria replied. "If we're talking about legends, King Arthur is supposed to be male. And my current power is far from the peak of my life."

"The rules of the Throne of Heroes are just too ambiguous," Aoko said with a shrug. "In some parallel world, there might be a male King Arthur."

Artoria frowned slightly, considering the possibility of herself as a male. If that were the case, would Guinevere still have betrayed her? Would Lancelot have remained a loyal and perfect knight?

...

Meanwhile, Kayneth and his team navigated the vast architecture of the Hanging Gardens. Although they had evaded the pursuit of the Eleven Black Coffins earlier, the interior of the floating fortress was filled with numerous defensive mechanisms.

Waver channeled his mana and snapped his fingers forward. A massive burst of fire erupted, shattering a golem and attacking it into fragments.

However, before he could catch his breath, more golems and dragon-tooth warriors poured in from all directions, reminding Waver of a certain Greek Caster he had met at Chaldea.

Karna raised his hand and gently blew forward. Countless fireballs rained down from the flame orb in his hand, sweeping away the swarming enemies with ease.

"Master," Karna said, unfazed by the small fry, which left Waver feeling both relieved and embarrassed. "Assassin is likely inside that tall tower ahead. The powerful attacks we encountered earlier came from there."

"Then let's finish this quickly!" Kayneth took a deep breath, his expression serious. "After dealing with Assassin, we'll make that despicable rat regret ever crossing the line!"

...

On the other side, Aoko and Artoria arrived at a corridor where moonlight spilled onto the marble floor through arched windows, enveloping the space in an eerie silence.

"Hmm?"

Aoko noticed a thin metallic wire brushing against her calf and paused to think.

A clicking sound echoed, signaling that some mechanism had been triggered. This was followed by a series of deafening explosions, with flames, smoke, and countless steel balls engulfing Aoko and Artoria from all directions.

For an ordinary magus, surviving such a trap would be a challenge, let alone emerging unscathed.

But for Aoko and Artoria, a few claymore mines were hardly a threat.

A sudden gust of wind blew away the gunpowder smoke. Artoria stood with a fierce gaze, her holy sword wrapped in swirling winds.

Aoko, her right hand casually outstretched in a pushing motion, was surrounded by a thin, translucent shield that effortlessly deflected all the explosions and shrapnel.

It was a defensive spell—a force field that lasted for one minute.

"Ara~, what a warm welcome," Aoko remarked as she waved her hand, dispersing the shield. "Artoria, you go deal with that Assyrian empress. Don't worry about me."

Unharmed by the claymore mines, Artoria gave a firm nod and leaped through the hole in the corridor caused by the explosion. Aoko, meanwhile, continued walking down the trap-laden hallway without a care.

When Aoko reached the end of the corridor, she entered a room resembling a chapel, filled with numerous statues. Suddenly, gunfire rang out.

"Reverse Arrows."

The spell Aoko had prepared activated the moment she sensed the attack. Her reaction speed was superhuman, bordering on foresight.

The bullets from the submachine gun froze about thirty centimeters away from Aoko, then reversed direction and shot back toward their origin.

A muffled groan echoed, and Aoko turned toward what seemed like an empty space. Blood began to drip from thin air onto the ground.

"I despise traitors, Kiritsugu Emiya," Aoko said coldly. "And to me, betrayal is something that cannot be forgiven easily."