I, Kenneth, am going to get to the root of the problem today.

Page 57

"Yes, it's not just me. That man was the most shining hero of our time. To catch up with him and surpass him is what I want to do most right now!"

"The most dazzling hero, surpass him..."

Acting as a relentless repeater, Arjuna drew back his bowstring after a long while, his movements powerful and vigorous. Achilles, who had inexplicably become a mentor, turned to look at Arjuna, who had his back to him, sensing the change in Arjuna's aura.

"Still hesitating? A hero bestowed by heaven, in such a large fortress, after that poisonous woman, you're the only one left. It's really not easy to find someone to talk to."

"Hesitation. No, is it because of hesitation that I have been running away? Karna."

Arjuna gave a vague answer to Achilles' question, and having found something, he turned and walked back to the terrace. Arjuna remained silent, while Achilles, already prepared to die in battle, began to ramble on about the past…

While the two Divine Servants whiled away the time before their final battle, in the castle of the Thousand World Tree, Danick, wearing the Mystic Code that he used to contact Sereneke, kept shifting between blue and purple.

The approaching Sky Garden disrupted all of Danick's plans. Through Sereneka's words, Kenneth also conveyed his stalling tactics to Danick. After giving Sereneka the order to bring Rider back to reinforce as soon as possible, Danick, his face contorted with rage, overturned the desk in front of him.

If circumstances allowed, Darnick would have genuinely wanted to leave with the Greater Grail beneath the World Tree. Faced with that heavily armed aerial fortress, Darnick, lacking a powerful Noble Phantasm, could only watch helplessly as the Sky Garden swaggered closer.

"No, the Greater Grail must not be exposed, we cannot sit idly by and wait for death! My king, I urge you to take action and drive the Red faction out of your territory."

The order was given, and before long, after watching Vlad III and Hercules lead the android army to the front lines, a frustrated Darnick once again dialed Sereneke's number. This time, faced with a crisis of survival, Darnick had no choice but to place Kenneth on an equal footing.

After the Mystic Code was activated and Sereneka was given a few words of encouragement, it was handed over to Kenneth.

"Assassin's Master, the fortress of the Reds, I think you've already seen it. As allies of the same faction, I think we should unite for the Holy Grail."

"Chief Danic, as a member of the Black Faction, I will naturally stand with the Thousand World Tree. I will arrange for Faker to take care of that fortress."

Anyone can speak official jargon, and the initiative is always in Kenneth's hands. Since Danick wants to play, Kenneth doesn't mind playing along.

On the other end of the formal attire, upon hearing Kenneth's answer, which was no different from before, Danic's expression twisted involuntarily. He had finally understood that Kenneth's help was all help except for assistance.

With a snap, the jewel set in the scepter shattered in Danic's palm. Struggling to control his tone, Danic tried his best to maintain the elegance he had borrowed from Tokiomi Tohsaka.

"Master of Assassin, we are in the same boat. Archer and Berserker can't handle that Sky Garden. Even if you have two Servants, I think you understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'."

To be honest, this was the first time Kenneth had encountered such a threat. Realizing he had truly pushed his opponent to the brink, Kenneth, far away in Tulipas, calmly placed his piece on the chessboard. Before Kenneth could reply, Danic, on the other side of the ceremonial robes, continued his threat:

"Assassin's Master, since you participated in the Holy Grail War and illegally summoned Faker, you must be determined to obtain the Holy Grail."

"Oh, that's interesting. What are you trying to say?"

Even though he had already guessed Danic's thoughts, Kenneth didn't mind enjoying a bit of leisure during the Holy Grail War.

"You've probably heard that this Holy Grail War is different from other Holy Grail Wars. That's right, the Holy Grail system of Yggdrasil comes from Japan. It's a grand ritual built by the original three families, which means it really has the function of granting wishes."

"Oh, this really is my buddy, the mute Kune. The Thousand Trees really have some big plans."

Kenneth uttered a few words in gibberish, offering a perfunctory compliment to Danic, before continuing his chess game with Chris across from him. Realizing his threat was ineffective, the breathing emanating from his Mystic Code grew increasingly heavy.

"Assassin's Master! If you refuse to order Faker to attack that Sky Garden, once the Thousand Worlds Tree falls, I will destroy the Greater Grail, and I will force you to participate in the Holy Grail War and exit the stage along with the Thousand Worlds Tree!"

Danic's sudden roar made Kenneth's ears ache. A cold smile crept across his lips; Kenneth completely disregarded Danic's threat. Leaving aside whether Danic actually had the ability to destroy the Greater Grail, Kenneth couldn't help but laugh at Danic's threat that he would only destroy the Greater Grail after the Yggdrasil's defeat. If he was so willing, he should just destroy it now! Why add a condition? When a threat comes with a condition, it becomes nothing more than the howling of a stray dog ​​in the street.

Besides, if Darnick could really destroy the Greater Grail, Kenneth would immediately award him the title of Grand Bomber. Even Lev would bow to Darnick twice when he sees him. Destroying Chaldea is nothing. If he could destroy the Death Beast, Alaya would directly give him the Grand Spirit Origin. He could choose whichever he wanted to be.

"Whatever Chief Danic says, as a member of the Black Faction, I will naturally not watch the Thousand Worlds Tree be defeated. I will deal with the Sky Garden, and I will also deal with the Servants of the Red Faction. Chief Danic, please don't do anything rash."

"I hope so!"

With gritted teeth, he uttered those words, then the communication was cut off. Kenneth nonchalantly tossed the formal attire to Serenekay and continued playing chess with Chris.

To keep Dannick's loyalty intact, Kenneth didn't mind going along with Dannick's ideas and selling him what Dannick perceived as a weakness, giving Dannick a glimmer of hope to persevere. The value of the tool hadn't been fully exploited yet, and Kenneth didn't want the other person to break down prematurely due to excessive tension.

Kenneth wasn't in a hurry; he had everything under control. Even without that phone call, Kenneth would have gone back anyway. Kenneth had been staying in Tulipas simply because the time hadn't come yet. When the Greater Grail was filled into the fireworks, Kenneth would appear. At that time, the woven net would close, and Kenneth would gather all the pieces to face the ever-present ghost.

"Sajyou Aika, the Beast of 666, was she born from the filth of human history?"

Human evil is not evil based on hostility and the destruction of humanity, but rather evil that humanity must overcome. Kenneth strongly suspects that Mushroom drew inspiration from the concept of the final trial of humanity when setting up human evil.

Even now, though far from the Greater Grail, the malice that erodes humanity has been laid bare before Kenneth, one of the only five beings wielding such power in the world. The evil forces of Chaldea have not appeared, the Grand Servants have not appeared, and even the Jewel Mage, who observes parallel worlds and maintains the Mage's Association, has made no move.

The answer was clear: either the world had been abandoned, or Kenneth, as the person involved, had been given the responsibility of transcending human evil. Combined with the faint but powerful aura surrounding him, Kenneth's lips curled into a deeply sarcastic smile.

"Human evil, an evil that humanity must overcome. I never imagined I'd have the chance to shoulder the future of a world. But you've chosen the wrong person; I'm not some savior. I will overcome evil, but ultimately, I'm doing this for myself!"

The piece is placed, and the checkmate is complete.

Chapter 152 The Clash of Myths

Just as Kenneth Yusen was enjoying the peace and quiet before the decisive battle, on the outskirts of Romania, Semiramis, sitting on her throne, pointed her finger at the androids below, who looked like ants, and the Dragon Tooth soldiers, who were to serve as cannon fodder, fell like raindrops.

On the terrace of the Sky Garden, noticing the dark figure moving among the soldiers, Achilles grabbed the railing and jumped from a thousand meters in the air. The next second, Achilles, riding his chariot, appeared in mid-air in front of Arjuna.

"Looks like I'll have to go first. Hero of Heaven, shall we go down and warm up? That Romanian Grand Duke is quite strong."

“Vlad III…is a good warm-up target.”

Arjuna did not refuse Achilles' invitation. His body floated up, and he landed in the spot Achilles had given him. Although they were strangers, after a brief exchange, Arjuna, whose eyes were only on Karna, did not mind giving this Trojan hero, who had taken a liking to him, a ride.

"Hahaha, as expected, you're not a straightforward guy. This time, don't let yourself have any regrets, giddy up!!"

With a flick of the reins, the warhorse gifted by Poseidon galloped down from the sky, crashing down like a meteorite with a deafening roar. It swept aside the enemy ranks, raising dust as the neighing horse dug craters of varying depths into the solid ground.

"It's a pity, but this time I won't have any regrets."

Responding to Achilles' farewell, Arjuna parted the dust, his toes barely touching the ground, and landed steadily in front of Vlad III. Raising his longbow, Arjuna aimed at the Grand Duke who stood in his way.

"Hell will appear next, so be prepared, Grand Duke of Romania."

Arjuna's challenge was met with sharp wooden stakes that broke through the ground, thus setting the stage for the decisive battle.

"Wow, what an impatient person! And what terrifying strength! If I had the chance, I'd love to fight you, but before that..."

Boom——

The dark stone axe sliced ​​through the afterimages and reached the ground. Hercules' casual strike had the destructive power of a grenade launcher. The spreading impact dislocated the bones of the Dragon Tooth soldiers within a radius of dozens of meters, and shattered the magically enhanced skeletons into fragments through physical means.

"What terrifying power, Heracles! Achilles, son of Peleus and Thetis, challenges you!"

Achilles reversed his flail, pointing the tip directly at Heracles, and in a Greek greeting, challenged the star that loomed over all the Greek heroes.

Roar! !

Even when reason is lost, a response is still necessary; the instinct ingrained in Heracles answered Achilles, his little brother from the same mythology.

With a deafening roar, the ground collapsed, and Hercules, who had stepped into the realm of the gods in human form, appeared above Achilles at a speed far exceeding his size. His stone axe swung down heavily, his spear bent and his arm went numb. Under the pressure from Hercules, Achilles' legs were embedded in the ground like nails.

"Hahaha!! This is how we greet each other! Come, Hercules, let me witness your legend!"

Ah →↗↑！ ！ ！

Veins bulged on his arms, his handsome face gradually became distorted, and the blood of a demigod began to burn. Under the pressure of Heracles, Achilles' power at this moment surpassed the limitations of a Servant's body.

"Hercules! Let me witness your legend!!"

Zheng!

The spear trembled, and with Achilles's outburst, the shadow that enveloped his body was flung away. With a crack, he broke free from his restraints and faced death with life, pulling out the spear and thrusting it straight at his heart. Achilles raised the spear of rebellion against the legend.

The twelve trials that Heracles overcame not only bestowed upon him the legendary tales that etched history, but also granted him martial arts skills that allowed him to reach the impossible. In the shortest time, Heracles twisted in mid-air, using his waist to generate power, gripping the spear handle with his left hand and slashing out with his stone axe in his right, instantly thwarting Achilles's deadly strike.

"That's it, that's it, this is how Hercules should leave! Let me start the fight!!"

Achilles flew out of his hand and closed in, his fists striking Hercules with a metallic clang. The wind from his punches whistled as they passed by, and the flying pebbles, propelled by Hercules's acceleration, left dents of varying depths in Achilles's armor at speeds far exceeding those of bullets.

Simple violence, ultimate enjoyment, no probing, Hercules' attack shattered everything with overwhelming destructive power. Achilles' comet-like speed was fully unleashed, but it offered no advantage to this great hero whose fighting instincts were ingrained in him. One strike, just one strike, and this man would cripple Achilles.

Roar--! !

With a roar like that of a wild beast, even with all his intelligence, Achilles' movement trajectory was already seen through. The tearing afterimage crashed down, and his domineering body, which looked down on steel, turned into a moving cannonball that ripped the ground apart. The black stone axe was raised high, and in the burst of firelight, Achilles, who was blocking with his spear, felt every organ in his body tremble.

Snap! Thud! Achilles was sent flying like a golf ball by the mythical Hercules. Trees snapped in half, boulders shattered like tofu, and a metallic taste filled his throat. Before Achilles could even swallow his blood, that oppressive shadow enveloped him once more.

Roar--!

"Don't underestimate me, I am—Achilles!"

The stone axe slammed down, and with a roar, Achilles moved his spear sideways to meet the iron fist. His spear trembled as it sank into Heracles' shoulder. With a thud, the iron fist struck, shattering the armor and sending Achilles flying. From that blow, Achilles felt his internal organs shudder.

"Pfft, cough!"

The bloodied figure struggled to pull his body, embedded in the rock wall, from the wall. Achilles' eyes held no pain, only fervor. Pulling the toothpick-like meteor spear from his shoulder, Heracles appeared before Achilles in a mere instant, covering a distance of a hundred meters.

With a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes and his thick breath blowing away the loose soil on the ground, Hercules pulled back his right arm, his muscles bulging, and with a single punch, shattered the rock behind Achilles.

Roar!

Boom! Boom boom! The solid cliff trembled precariously under Hercules's fists, and the ground shook violently with each of Hercules's attacks, like a small boat in a storm. Achilles dodged Hercules's attacks by maneuvering and keeping a tiny distance.

The giant fist reached right up to his brow, leaving him with almost no room to dodge thanks to the man's blockade. With his arms crossed in front of him to protect himself, Achilles' body was blasted away like a cannonball by the frenzied beast.

"What superb martial arts, Hercules! I've been waiting for this day for a very long time!!"

The beast was like a shadow, giving Achilles no chance to react. Its fists, capable of crushing flesh and bones, rained down like a storm. Excruciating pain surged through every cell. In a swift movement, Achilles grabbed the spear that Heracles had discarded.

"Pierce through! Pierce the tip of the star that soars across the heavens!"

Amidst the afterimage of the fist's gusts of wind, Achilles found a tiny opening, and with a cold glint like a dragon's, he pierced the heart of the beast before him as Hercules' fists struck down.

The damaged armor shattered completely under the surging force, and the blood that had been suppressed for so long gushed out of Achilles' mouth uncontrollably. His flying body pulverized everything in its path, and with this punch, Achilles' sternum collapsed.

"You really are like a monster. Even while you're berserk, you still possess such martial arts skills. As expected of you, Hercules!!"

As Achilles rose, crimson magic surged forth, shattering the shackles binding the beast. Crack! His hands crushed the stubborn rocks, his body shattered the earth, and he let out a roar that shook the heavens and the earth. Heracles, on all fours, tore apart Achilles' afterimage with the force of pulverizing everything.

"Twelve trials! Is this the miracle you've achieved?! I'll utterly crush you!"

The legendary spear, imbued with the power of legend, groaned under Hercules's onslaught. The once invincible spear now only managed to leave sparks on the man's skin. The situation grew increasingly critical, yet Achilles's composure only deepened.

The spear pierced Achilles' throat with a metallic clang. As the spear thrust forward, Heracles slammed his palms together. Crack! Buzz… Before Achilles' eyes, the spear given to him by Chiron shattered under Heracles' relentless blows. The broken spear struck Heracles with a dull thud. Facing the iron fist so close at hand, Achilles smiled.

Pushing his speed to the limit, Achilles reached forward, his arms wrapped around Heracles's arms, and soared into the sky. Crack—boom! The cliff behind him collapsed completely at that moment, and after a roar that shook the air, the laughing rocks surrounded Achilles like missiles. Blue magic overflowed, and a horse galloped from the horizon with a neighing cry. Amidst the exploding rocks, Achilles locked onto the roaring Heracles below.

"Hercules, with a life-or-death strike, let me show you the meteor of my life!"

A meteor descended, and the great Trojan hero, shining like a meteor, transformed himself into a meteor. The speeding chariot continued to accelerate, and the dissipating magic pulverized all the incoming stones. Below, Hercules was still roaring, and the aura at the peak of his power raised Achilles' fighting spirit to its extreme!

"Not enough! All kinds of speed are not enough! My life, everything I have, my meteoric life, I offer it all up!"

Come, stand in my way! My chariot, like the stars, will crush you mercilessly! It's too late! Undying chariot of the raging storm!

The swirling magic coalesced into a storm, warhorses neighed, blood burned, and with the determination to challenge the legend, Achilles descended from the sky, riding a chariot surging with waves, offering up all the beliefs of his life.

Roar!

The unparalleled warriors advanced instead of retreating, their violent magic overflowing from every pore beneath their dark skin. The roaring beasts spread their arms, tearing through the light and crashing into the speeding chariots. Meteors that ripped through the night sky transformed into meteorites and crashed down. The Romanian ley lines trembled violently at that moment, and towering fluorescent lights enveloped the battlefield. The spreading wind pressure completely destroyed the surrounding mountains and forests.

Beyond the scorching smoke, soaring magic tore through the obscuring dust, followed by the roars of wild beasts, and a bloodthirsty red light ignited in their dim eyes. The mythical monster had returned once more.

Chapter 153 Kenneth: You are a hero

The chariots that had swept across the battlefield were shattered by steel-like flesh, and the frenzied warriors also left amidst their battle cries. Clutching his chest, pierced by an iron fist, Achilles struggled to his feet from the crater resembling a meteor impact. Watching the receding black shadow, Achilles let out a self-deprecating bitter smile.

"It seems this is the end of it, Hercules."

With a thud, his shattered body crashed to the ground. Bathed in the rubble falling from mid-air, Achilles, whose spirit origin had been destroyed, closed his eyes and awaited his departure.

"Regret, are you satisfied?"

"Satisfied? How could I be satisfied? I've finally seen it clearly, I've seen the distance between myself and the peak. Climbing it, surpassing it, that's what I, Achilles, should do!... Cough cough!! Cough cough cough!"

A surge of energy dispelled all his physical exhaustion. He opened his eyes, his blood-stained right hand reaching towards the stars. Achilles' unfocused eyes were filled with the fighting spirit to reach the pinnacle. His arms, twisted by brute force, supported his torn body as he stood up. The blood that had accumulated in his chest splattered down, and the steed-like hero stood tall once more.

"Then he'll leave it to you."

"Leave it to me, I will overcome it!"

His staggering steps became more solid, and his dislocated arm swung rhythmically. Arjuna, leaning against his bow, watched Achilles run again and quietly awaited the man's arrival. Just moments before Vlad III was pierced by him, Darnic, far away at the Yggdrasil, once again used a Command Spell to recall the Grand Duke who was about to die. And now, Vlad III was glaring at the man before him, raising his cracked spear.

"Are you insulting me, Danic?!"

"Hmph, hahaha! Humiliation? You dare to humiliate me! You mere familiar, what right do you have to defy my will!"

The shadow of the Sky Garden had enveloped the castle of the Thousand World Tree. The twelve magic cannons, each capable of wielding an EX-rank Noble Phantasm, were accumulating magical power that could crush the sky. The flame of hope was completely extinguished. With a curse upon Kenneth, Danic raised his arm, causing Vlad III's pupils to shrink instantly.

"How is this possible?! Command Seals...you bastard!"

Upon seeing the Command Seals covering the back of Danic's hand, Vlad III, realizing what was happening, threw his spear to stop the mad magician before him.

"I won't let you succeed, Danic!"

"Pfft!! Cough cough! In the name of the Command Seals, Lancer, stop! Live on until the Holy Grail is obtained in the name of the Command Seals!"

"Cesa! Danic!"