North American Myth War (Beginning)

Life signatures eliminated! ...Whew, what an ordeal. Had me scared a bit.

Doctor, how's the northern front doing?

Don't worry, they've been holding it. This might be possible after all!

HAAAAAA!

SHAAAAAA!

It's Karna and Arjuna! What a chaotic battle!

All forces, keep away from those two! You'll be caught in the crossfire!

...Ever so slightly, Karna is overpowering him.

Ah, you can tell, Nightingale?

After all, an Archer shines in long-range combat. Being so closed in on, even the great Arjuna cannot handle him.

Then again, normally Karna would be overwhelming in a situation like this.

Yet the two appear to be nearly on par with each other. As expected of the great Arjuna!

And yet if things continue this way...

...Tch!

Ugh!

Karna will win!

"Gáe Bolg."

What...

!!!

Wh-What!?

Servant responses have suddenly... Wait, what just happened!?

!!!

...

Don't hate me, Hero of Benefaction. After all, this killing spree has no rules.

...Cú Chulainn...

Cú Chulainn... You bastard!

Shut up. Starting a fight without consulting me... Did I approve a one-on-one?

Wait until you've read the situation before running after your own interests.

At least be grateful that you weren't stabbed from the back, Hero of the Endowed.

!!!

Now let's see Is that the famed Master?

？！

What, shaking all over? My mistake for thinking you'd be a veteran hero.

Y-You're...

？！

Sadly, I don't remember that. A completely different guy.

But...

Fou!

？！

...Yes, I know.

Wait, Cú Chulainn! What happened to Scáthach

Hm? Oh, I defeated Scáthach.

!!!

...You don't mince your words, do you?

No, not Scáthach... Impossible...

Oh yeah, no need for condolences.

You're all going to die here, too. Go lick each other's wounds on the other side.

He's coming! Don't hold back on Command Spells, we'll fight with all we've got!

Hah... Hah... Hah...

The strength of that shield... Strange. I don't recall a shield so powerful, not even in folklore.

But it's definitely a Noble Phantasm. Girl, that shield

...Never mind. It won't matter if I take you down, anyway!

Noble Phantasm incoming, Mash! That vermilion spear aims for your heart no matter what!

You have to run at full speed!

It's no use, I won't make it!

It's go time My demonic thorn of death.

Ugh!

What...

Dozing off as I stroll along, I find myself in a strange land of wilderness.

Is this the dream continued, or merely an illusion? Well, not that it matters.

Good morning and hello, all. Everyone's trusted advisor, Mr. Merlin, is here.

？！

Right, you, never mind that. This appearance is a special service, an incognito visit totally on a whim.

Your paths and mine are not yet set to cross. I mean, I should be a shut-in from a tower in paradise to begin with.

Just consider this a lucky visit from a wonderful gentleman and be done with it, okay?

Sowhat kind of blockhead are you? Is this what they call a daydream?

Of course. It's my ol' specialty, making do by confusing the opponent!

Oh! Congratulations on your coronation, Cú Chulainn.

To think the day would come when the great hero of Ireland settles down on a throne. My, my, destiny is a strange thing.

This feeling... You must be an incubus... Which means... I see, you are the Stargazer.

...Your meddling is breaking the rules. Is this fine, mage? Your pride will crumble to pieces.

Not to worry, we'll play it by ear. Besides, I have no pride or principles, or anything like that.

Whoare you?

I watch everything in this world from an island in the farthest lands. Yes, I watch everything.

That's the important point. I am but an observer, simply observing... At least for now.

...Whoa, I really am about to wake from my nap.

Sorry, but this is about all the help I can lend you. You'll have to finish slaying that beast on your own.

Once you have done so, the future in which we meet shall come.

Farewell, then, until that slightly altered future. Take care of Cath Palug for me.

Tch, behind me!

Burn him to ashes... "Vasavi Shakti!"

...Tch!

Karna!

...

It wasn't strong enough...to reach him... Master...farewell...

...Karna...

One last struggle at the very end. This is why I never trust the comings and goings of spearman.

Quit babbling, now's the chance!

Right back at you, scumbag! Flaunting your borrowed feathers...

That attack left me scorched all over. I'll be going home to cool off now.

...It's no use fleeing, Cú Chulainn. No matter how great your fury, that wound will never heal.

You are ill.

...Ha. It's as you say, bloody saint. The day I'm healed will probably never come.

I'll simply continue being king, until the day I fall and rot.

Come and get me, if you can. I'll fight you in Washington.

...Don't let this opportunity pass! All forces push, push, push!

...

I am sorry Arjuna, but I must kill you!

Er, Nightingale!?

Arjuna. Have you any desire of receiving treatment?

...Treatment? What illness do you think I have?

Karna tried to be a Servant. That is all.

Despite trying to be a hero with a second life, you do not wish to be a Servant.

Our existence sides with neither. We have our self-interests, yet we also have a given Order.

In that moment, Karna acted as a Servant, and believed that stopping Cú Chulainn would lead to victory.

...He believed that it was the right thing to do than indulging you with your deep-rooted obsession.

...Obsession? My long-standing desire...

How could the likes of you ever understand!?

H-Hey, Nightingale. Er, maybe you shouldn't provoke him too much!?

It's a mistaken obsession. No use crying over spilt milk. Defeating a nemesis with an arrow you shouldn't have shot

You must live the rest of your life with that regret. That's how it is for other heroes, too.

Madly wishing to redo, seeking a wish never granted. ...Despite that, a Servant doesn't cross that final line.

You did not try to understand that final line.

...I...

Will you fight? If you would like to, you may.

...You're right. There's no need to fight. I don't even want to vent my anger.

But I...want to settle the score. In order to purge this unmanageable something in my heart.

I'll understand if you decline.

H-Hey!? Master, you're going to fight Arjuna!?

Who is!? We are, yup, of course!

Hahahahaha, Master! I've got something to say to you, as a fellow warrior!

There's no telling whether we'll win. After all, our opponent is Arjuna!

Ah, what the heck! Let's do this!

？！

Thank you. Then let us battle, if you please.

My name is Arjuna. Consider it an honorto fall by my arrow!

I also have the pride of having bested the Demon King Ravana. Prepare yourself, Arjuna!

How's that, Arjuna!

Do you feel better now?

...Yes, very much. I appreciate you putting up with my self-indulgence.

Arjuna. Well... If you wouldn't mind, could you lend us a hand?

...Unfortunately, I cannot. Though I strongly desire to.

I'll be sure to make amends for what I've done. Will you please believe me?

？！

...Your words ring true, even in my hollowed heart. Farewell, then.

...Arjuna... What did he...

It means he was able to sort out his feelings.

He is not as faithful as others think, nor as evil as he himself believes.

He must've led quite a stifling life when he was alive.

After all, he'd been living a life that was decided for him by someone else.

...Oh, I see. Arjuna must have wanted a fresh start.

That day, that moment, that arrow he shot at Karna... He'd been regretting it all his life.

His illness has been cured. Though the price he paid...was all too great.

But despite that, we must forge ahead.

Nightingale is right. All right, march on! Let's charge all the way to Washington!