The Einzbern family themselves are good at "transposition magecraft," so that was the first thing she thought of, but she was clearly mistaken.
"It's not that type of magecraft. I just sped up a bit and sprinted."
Iori's tone was calm, but energy gathered under his feet again.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Although it had changed from spirit particles into magical energy, with the boost from "Art Style Value," techniques like Flash Step were used without any stiffness or resistance. Iori shifted positions several times in a row before finally stopping.
"She shouldn't be able to find us here for now."
Iori put Sella down on the ground, and the artificial girl looked puzzled.
"A good hunter won't easily give up her prey unless their positions are reversed… Stay here. If anything unexpected happens, don't hesitate to use a Command Spell and call me back."
As he spoke, Iori raised his hand. Pale blue spiritual light gathered in his palm, and smooth, mirror-like slanted surfaces appeared out of thin air, forming something like a pyramid that "sealed" Sella inside. The Shihakusho bundle and suitcase were enclosed as well.
'Bakudo No. 73, Tozansho!'
"I'll be back soon."
"…Mm, I'll provide proper magical support." Sella was not stubborn. She had already agreed to follow Iori's arrangements in strategy and tactics, so all she could do now was make sure she did not hold him back.
Although she was very curious why a Berserker could use "magecraft"… what she said was only, "Be careful!"
———
"Disappeared?"
Somewhere in the forest, on a towering ancient tree, a green figure like a wildcat was half kneeling on a branch.
She slowly lowered the gorgeous longbow in her hand. Her sharp brows frowned slightly, and a faint glow of magical energy shone in her emerald-like eyes.
She was a female hunter full of wild beauty. Her impression color was emerald green that could perfectly blend into the wilderness and forest.
Though she wore a skirt that barely reached her knees, it did not affect her movement.
Beneath her seemingly slender appearance were well-trained muscles, especially those full and powerful thighs that seemed ready at any time to give her body the explosive force of an arrow leaving the string.
The cat ears on her head and the tail behind her added a bit of cuteness, slightly softening her fierce aura, but she was still intimidating. On her spirited and beautiful face, there was always a stern expression that did not allow offense.
"Is it a cunning rabbit… no, a fox?"
The hunter pondered, her metal-plated fingers resting under her nose, as if she could smell a trace of blood.
Although she had lost sight of the target, she was not anxious, because the forest "told" her that the other party was still within her hunting range, just playing hide-and-seek with her.
Maybe he was even thinking of turning the tables and killing her?
It did not matter. The female hunter did not think she would lose on her own ground.
She had grown up in the forest since childhood. She knew everything here like the back of her hand. This was not an inherent skill engraved in her Spirit Origin, but pure talent and experience.
"I will find you, and then…"
The female hunter used her sharp eyes to search for the other party's trace. The trees blocking her view seemed nonexistent to her. Her gaze could cross countless obstacles and accurately locate the target.
But it was clear the other party was cautious. He had moved a considerable distance at once, or shifted several positions in a short time, making her unable to find him for the moment.
Patience… was something she did not lack.
Whoosh!
Like a cheetah, she rushed out. The female hunter did not stay in one place, but searched for the enemy while moving.
The longbow was slowly drawn. Magical energy formed a green arrow on the tough string. The hunter focused her attention on it, waiting with full concentration for the next chance to strike.
Finally, by tracking leaves and grass damaged by external force, she found the enemy's trace, "Hmm?!"
At this critical moment, the warning that sounded in her heart was for the female hunter herself.
She suddenly raised her head and looked at the sky. Her body jumped several meters to the left almost without warning.
At that instant, blinding lightning struck down from the clear sky, hitting the tree where she had been perched. The trunk was split in half and fierce flames instantly swallowed it.
"Magecraft?"
The female hunter, Atalanta, was surprised, but her movements were unaffected. She flipped lightly and landed steadily, then shot her arrow almost without any pause.
There was no need to re-aim. For heroes who reached the Archer class, hitting the target every time was just the most basic skill. Not to mention that even among the many heroes of Greece, she was one of the best hunters.
———
On the other side of the forest, Iori was half kneeling on the ground, leaning forward with one hand pressed to the earth.
Beneath his palm was a circular pattern divided into four quadrants, each part drawn with unique symbols.
The magical energy he poured into it made it shine brilliantly, and thin threads spread outward from the edge, sinking into the ground and disappearing.
'Bakudo No. 58: Kakushitsuijaku!'
It was originally used to detect fluctuations of spiritual pressure, but Servants were basically spiritual bodies, so it fit well enough.
At the same time he activated the tracking spell, the "Thunder Emperor Gauntlet" on his left hand opened like an awakened beast, and strands of lightning danced across it.
As a modified Imperial Arm, the Thunder Emperor Gauntlet did not have the defensive power of the original armor, but it retained its range and destructive power.
Esdeath could use the Imperial Arm's power to cover a city or even an entire empire. Although Iori could not merge with the Imperial Arm like that, as long as it was within his perception range, any place in the forest could be his strike target.
Whoosh!
An arrow shot through the air, and Iori tilted slightly to avoid it.
At that moment, the two Red Servants, separated by half a forest, both curved their lips at the same time...
The hunt had begun.
There are three ways to hunt.
The first is to set traps and wait patiently, as calm and steady as the most experienced fisherman.
The second is cooperative encirclement, with clear division of labor and seamless teamwork, driving the prey into a prepared dead end.
The third requires extremely high personal ability. That is to continuously track and endlessly chase a specific target in mountains and wilderness.
It is a contest of endurance and will. Ordinary people cannot compete with wild beasts in the mountains, but for heroes whose names are recorded in history, it is nothing special.
The legendary great hero Heracles, while completing the Twelve Labors, carried out such pursuits more than once. In extreme cases, it even lasted for years and took him to the ends of the world.
Atalanta knew that strongest demigod of Greece.
As a woman who was naturally looked down upon on the battlefield, Atalanta always responded to doubts in the most direct way.
Whether in archery or combat, even in direct contests of physical strength, she defeated many famous male heroes. Even Achilles' father had once lost to her.
Thus, she became one of the very few female heroes in Greek mythology remembered for "martial valor" rather than "magic."
Proud as she was, she would admit that her perseverance and courage were inferior to Heracles. But in terms of hunting skill alone, as a follower of the goddess Artemis, she had absolute confidence.
'Run!'
More agile than the swiftest deer, fiercer than the most savage leopard, the green figure moved through the dense forest at a speed the naked eye could not follow. All five senses were fully open, drawing every useful piece of information from the forest.
Whoever gained the initiative in this battle would gain the advantage.
Whoosh!
While sprinting, Atalanta suddenly shot an arrow. It looked like a casual shot without aiming, but the arrow formed from magical energy traced a strange arc, successfully bypassed the tree in front of her, and traveled more than a thousand meters in a wide curve, hitting the enemy from the side.
Clang!
A hard blade knocked the arrow away. Iori, half kneeling on the ground, suddenly opened his eyes and raised his left hand high. Thunder roared in the sky.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Lightning struck down from the clear sky one after another, and thick black smoke rose from several places in the vast forest.
Almost at the same time, as if returning the favor, the arrows shot back with even greater force. The power in them made Iori's wrist feel slightly numb.
"Hm?"
At one moment, Iori sensed something wrong. He decisively abandoned the rune circle on the ground and vanished with Flash Step.
The next instant, shining arrows flew high into the sky, drawing elegant arcs and falling like heavy rain.
Though they were cold weapons, they exploded like artillery shells, blasting craters of various sizes and tearing up the ground, shattering countless large trees.
"She's actively closing in on me!"
The two made almost the same choice. Without seeing each other directly, they moved along twisting, indirect routes to approach one another, constantly releasing probing attacks.
Thunder and sharp whistles turned the forest into something like an ancient battlefield. As the distance between them shrank, both became more cautious, and each attack grew even more destructive.
BOOM!
Furious lightning and brilliant magical arrows exploded almost at the same time less than a hundred meters apart, sending out two shockwaves. Smoke rolled through the air, and trees between them tilted and fell.
"..."
For a moment, silence fell over the forest. But beneath the calm, wind stirred. Invisible pressure brewed, and leaves and grass bent low, "Thunder Emperor Summon, Dash!"
Crash! Crack!!
A streak of lightning shot through the forest like a wild beast, twisting unpredictably and arriving in front of Atalanta in an instant.
But the cat-like hunter seemed prepared. She burst out with astonishing speed and changed direction several times in a row, causing the lightning to strike only a few trees.
Iori was about to continue the pursuit when an arrow appeared in front of him without warning. Even though he reacted quickly, he barely avoided it.
The sharp wind blade cut open his upper sleeve and skin. The wound was shallow but bleeding heavily.
"This is…"
The boy had no time to think. He adjusted his movement and chased after her, and as expected, Atalanta began to flee.
Although the Thunder Emperor Gauntlet could attack at long range, locking onto and hitting a nimble target like an Archer was difficult.
For Iori, who was skilled in close combat, it was better to close the distance. After all, Atalanta was a rare "traditional archer" in this world, at least before she was corrupted.
Atalanta herself knew this. Her arm strength and fighting skills would not lose to ordinary male heroes, but that was not her specialty.
A mature hunter would not abandon her strengths just to prove something, so she had to maintain distance from Iori.
Then why had she approached earlier, only to flee now?
Twang!
Twang!
Twang!
The sound of the bowstring echoed repeatedly. The arrows were powerful enough to pierce even a Servant's body.
A distance of about one hundred meters was no different from face to face for a hunter from the Age of Gods. Each arrow was as if it appeared directly before Iori.
This was no longer something that could be dodged with the five senses alone. In fact, Iori relied only on instinct and reflex to barely avoid them. Before long, several cuts appeared on his body, making him look battered.
He held on tightly and raised his speed to the maximum. Even so, he could not shorten the mere hundred-meter gap.
He could only endure the counterattacks. Under the constant threat of arrows, he did not even have the spare time to aim with his Imperial Arm.
In contrast, Atalanta's figure was swift and light. No matter how fast Iori was, she always stayed one step ahead, as if she could predict the future.
Whenever Iori adjusted, whether slowing down or speeding up, she followed instantly and kept the distance between them at about one hundred meters.
Nothing in the forest hindered her. Whether blocking trees, frightened beasts, or deep ravines, she moved across them as if walking on flat ground.
Her running and jumping were smoother than any animal in nature, and even her backward shots remained perfectly accurate.
Clearly, the female hunter was demonstrating her tactics through action.
Crossing Arcadia and Aesthetic of Pursuit were the two personal skills born from her life experiences.
The former allowed her to move across all obstacles on the field, including enemies. The latter was a counterattack method,
After confirming the enemy's action, she would respond accordingly, and each time she would gain the upper hand.
With these two skills and her masterful archery, she became a woman very difficult to "catch."
In the epic, it was indeed so. Countless outstanding warriors fell while chasing her. To please the fastest female hunter in Greece, the price to pay was life.
A distance of one hundred meters could keep the prey hanging, unwilling to give up, while also providing the perfect chance for a deadly snipe. It was an ideal gap.
Of course, outrunning others was not hard. But maintaining the same distance constantly, especially against another Servant, was quite a challenge.
But in this regard, Atalanta had absolute confidence. No one could catch her.
"She should have noticed by now, right?"
The female hunter did not even need to look. Her body instinctively avoided obstacles ahead, and she still had time to glance back with a provocative smile on her lips.
"If this continues, you'll only be slowly strangled by me… So what will you choose? A desperate all-out strike, or turn and run?"
She drew her bow, gathering power for the coming change.
Suddenly, the young Servant who had been sticking to her like glue vanished out of thin air.
Losing sight of the target instantly startled Atalanta, but her experience as a hunter kept her from panicking. Instead, she sensed danger from the left front almost instinctively. Without slowing down, she suddenly leaned her body back.