From his vantage point, the red bowman surveyed the whole Tzannis Plateau and the two armies gathering there. After alerting the Auguste military of Erste's presence on the Plateau he didn't return to Eugen and the others but sought out an ideal place to perform the specialty of his Class: long-distance sniping.
Granted, the requirements to be an Archer in the Moon Cell's Holy Grail War were somewhat loose and he himself was not a very good example, but there were few Heroic Spirits that were as good as him with a bow.
A quick search revealed Eugen and the others were behind the allied lines, busy... eating? Well, it was wise to recover spent energy before its lack could be a hindrance. They were safe, and that was one less problem to worry about.
Now, it was time to make sure this battle would be over with the least amount possible of causalities.
Normal arrows, their tips stabbed into the earth, began to appear all around him, ready to be picked up and shot at any given time. While swords caused more damage, it was a style too distinctive. In this case, it was better for the enemy to believe he was just one of the normal archers serving the Auguste Army. Picking up one arrow he held it up to his bow and drew back the bowstring.
With his enhanced eyesight he swept through the Erste troops until he found a captain giving out orders. A small application of Alteration changed the arrowhead to a squared metal spike, ideal to pierce armor, and another of Reinforcement increased the 'piercing' attribute.
He let go of the string.
The arrow covered two kilometers in a few seconds before stabbing through the helmet and into the captain's temple, killing him instantly. Archer waited a few moments to see if someone among those present had enough authority to calm the panicking soldiers. Seeing none, he searched for another target, his hands already pulling back a new arrow.
It was a job without glory. It was perfect for him, who never sought glory nor recognition. He left those to the soldiers fighting on the frontlines, who were performing quite admirably even. Erste had the technological advantage, but terrain knowledge and the desire to protect your own home were powerful compensating forces.
The battle had been going for a while when Archer noticed Eugen's group retreating even further away from the battlefield. Were they having trouble with monsters again? ... Yes, he could see a weak pack coming ahead of them, but also a group of imperial soldiers following from behind. It didn't take a genius to guess their objective.
"Seriously," He scoffed, stabbing back into the ground the arrow he was previously going to shoot and aiming his bow in another direction. In his now free hand, a new type of arrow appeared one of several Mystic Codes he had made by an expert for when he needed a special effect without having to Trace a Noble Phantasm.
He aimed at the back of the imperial group and shot. Upon hitting its target, the arrow exploded, releasing a paralyzing chemical that leaves those affected unable to move for a few hours. Some of their comrades will be forced to stay behind to bring them to safety, thus further reducing the pressure on Eugen and the others.
Or so he thought until he spotted many other groups of imperial soldiers converging in the crew's direction. And they even had tamed monsters with them.
"Is Erste really prioritizing capturing Lyria above winning the battle?" He wondered aloud before chuckling. "Well then, thanks for making things easier for me then."
After all, protecting a single person is easier than protecting the many.
[*]
"Hm? What do we have here?" Furias laughed after he and his soldiers surrounded Gran and the others. "Are you trapped? You are, aren't you? Someone do something interesting before I die of boredom!"
Eugen narrowed his eyes. "If yer feeling bored, why don't you take us on yourself?"
"Staining my hands? Gross." The blond Harvin made a disgusted face. "Besides, this place is already finished."
"What do you mean... finished?" Lyria asked, a feeling of dread slowly creeping up her back.
"You'll see soon enough! You ruined our research lab! Oh yes, you did!" Furias sneered. "But too bad! The weapon that was developed there... is already finished. And it's on my beautiful battleship."
"Say what?"
"Oh, I would just looove the chance to show it to you... Even if it would be a waste to use it on cornered rats." Furias' grin was positively sadistic. "It's not like you can escape. Mh? Now that I think about it, aren't you guys down a member? What, did they run away after seeing how hopeless you are?" He laughed again.
"Damn, I don't want to agree with him but he's not wrong," Rackam frowned. "Oi, Eugen. Where's Archer? We can use a helping hand here!"
"Yer a fool." Eugen declared, no one knowing if those words were directed to Rackam, Furias or both. The old agent's tone was even, and his posture relaxed.
"...What was that?" Furias demanded.
"That guy likes to downplay his own accomplishments, but I fought by his side for months and I know how dependable he can be." Eugen grinned. "Archer. His name isn't just for show; you know?"
"The hell does that even mean, you old fool?!" Furias spat.
The Black Knight, who was just observing the events, suddenly looked up. Her eyes widened under the helmet.
"It means-" Eugen slowly raised a hand before suddenly thrusting a finger to the heavens. "Watch the sky."
"TAKE COVER!" The Black Knight screamed, unsheathing her sword with one hand and grabbing onto Furias with the other.
To those watching in the right direction, a large area of the sky above was suddenly littered with red dots before they closed in to reveal a shower of arrows traveling at breakneck speed. The projectiles rained on the imperial troops in a restless onslaught, armors, and shields offering only temporary protection before being overwhelmed. The only one left unscathed was the Black Knight, whose sword was a blur as it deflected all arrows directed her way, and Furias, who screamed in outrage as he was tossed back and forth in the knight's grip.
"Is... Is this Mister Archer's doing?" Gran exclaimed, awestruck.
"'Course it is," Eugen dropped his hand, a large grin on his lips.
"Where is he firing from!?" Rackam looked around. "I can't spot him!"
"Eh, probably one or two kilometers in... whatever direction I suppose."
"One or two kilometers!? Most bows only have a range of four, five hundred meters at most!" Katalina declared in shock.
"I take back all the bad things I thought about him," Vyrn gulped. "I truly do."
"ADVERSA! SOMEONE ACTIVATE ADVERSA! ERASE THIS UNSIGHTLY ISLAND!" Furias was screaming when the rain of arrows stopped. Already regretting helping the vile midget the Black Knight unceremoniously dropped him. Furias landed face first in the sand before immediately pushing himself up.
"Didn't you hear me!?" He spat out the sand that entered his mouth. "Why aren't you moving!?"
"No... This can't be happening..." Lyria muttered the feeling of dread had not subsided at all in the meantime. And now she knew the cause.
"No need to feel sorry for those punks," Yuisis reassured her. "Whatever this weapon of their is, I'm sure it's nothing to-"
"No! I mean the Imperials!" The blue-haired girl interrupted her. "They're being swallowed up!"
"Sir!" A soldier came running from where the battle between Auguste and Erste was still being fought. He paused for a moment at the sight of his comrades being utterly defeated before his sense of duty spurred him on. "General Furias! I have orders from-!"
He barely managed to dodge the gunshot from Furias.
"Are you deaf?!" Furias loaded another bullet. "I said ACTIVATE ADVERSA!"
"B-But Sir!" The soldier tried to reason with the deranged Harvin. "We've been given the order to retreat! More than half the airships we're anchored have been swallowed up by the sea!"
"What is the meaning of this?" Furias blanched. "Dammit! My beautiful battleship!" Without even waiting for the others he began to ran away.
"I'm not sure what's going on, but we're got a chance now!" Rackam suggested.
"Agreed." Katalina nodded. "Gran, let's take advantage of the confusion to escape!"
The Black Knight made no move to stop them.
"It's time." She muttered before turning around and leaving.
Archer didn't lower his bow even after confirming Eugen and the others were safe. He too saw the imperial airships being swallowed by the sea, and it was setting off all of his alarm senses.
It was at that moment that an overwhelming magical scent hit his nose. It brought to mind the sea, the murky depths, and an all-consuming feeling...
... of
hunger.
Somewhere between the Tzannis Plateau and Mizarea, a large portion of the sea rose up in a gargantuan water column that seemed to brush against the sky canopy. When the water collapsed it revealed what was concealed within.
A long, sinuous body that even while partially submerged was already as tall as a mountain. Blue scales, with shades of red and purple, created a natural armor that no normal weapon could even hope to scratch. Four great wing-like fins flapped in a frenzy, the air movement alone creating powerful gusts of wind and high waves. Its maw was large enough to swallow whole buildings, while a ring of water spun fast around it.
That wasn't a Phantasmal Beast. That was a
Divine Beast.
"Leviathan..." Archer muttered in awe and disbelief, suddenly glad he has been born in a time when such creatures had withdrawn from the world. It was a different feeling than facing Saver. While the first spoke of a sense of inevitability, of defiance being futile, Leviathan's aura was simply so powerful you couldn't help but compare it to a natural disaster, something that could only be endured and, with enough luck, survived.
Any hope the Primal Beast was there to help was squashed when Leviathan roared angrily, followed by the smaller islands and beaches around it being swallowed by the sea. When swarms of monsters began to gather around the great serpent Archer swore under his breath, "Damn it, Eugen! I know you always say Leviathan protects Auguste... but right now, that thing is a danger to everyone!"
All the arrows he projected beforehand disappeared. They were useless anyway. Holding no certainty but the need to do something Archer opened all of his Magic Circuits.
"Trace, on!"
A sword formed in his right hand. It was a pitch-black weapon, with a few small edges coiling around the thin core, spiraling around it and somewhat curving outward. Glowing red lines of magical energy began to cover its surface, changing its form to a more aerodynamic one while simultaneously overloading it to the breaking point. Notching the now arrow-like sword he pulled back the bowstring while taking aim at Leviathan's head, tracing a path to avoid the monsters around it.
"Fly, Hound of the Red Plains!" He intoned before releasing the arrow.
"Hrunting!"
The Broken Phantasm shot out like a lightning bolt, tearing through the air while being barely held together by the will and magic of its owner. With a single target in mind, the sword sought out the most direct path to it, moving around anything else with sharp turns than not even a bird could pull out.
Leviathan turned around to face the sudden disturbance, only to reel back in pain and shock when a large explosion went off right into its face. Scales were torn off and skin seared by the heat, while the monsters too close to the radius was instantly vaporized.
The white-haired bowman was already projecting another copy of Hrunting. "It's hurt. It can be hurt. And if it can be hurt, it can be killed."
The Primal Beast of Auguste glared in the direction the attack had come from, part of its face still smoking. It fully opened its gigantic maw, water and magical energy gathering in front of it. Realizing the creature was preparing an attack Archer moved away from the cliff he was standing on. A few instants later Leviathan shot a blue beam that traveled at the same speed of Hrunting and cleaved the cliff into two perfect halves. Along with the rest of the landscape around it.
"A water jet cutter. It can use a water jet cutter." Even if by size alone it was more akin to a waterfall, but when you have the power to use that much water to cut instead of crushing then the rest was just semantics.
