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IBHJ Chapter 607
🕑 Added 2023-12-05 04:15:58 +0000 UTCShirou, Vlad and Spartacus marched steadily toward the central area. It seemed Semiramis and Kotomine had sensed the danger as well, as more monsters blocked their path, including some large beasts.
But these creatures posed no true obstacle. Between Shirou, Vlad's ferocity, and even Spartacus's berserker strength, how could mere monsters stop them?
Nor could Semiramis rely solely on her Hanging Gardens to fend off Shirou's advances. She seemed to know this too. However, the Assyrian queen did not appear flustered in the slightest.
As long as she stayed within the Gardens, all of Semiramis's parameters would be strengthened. Her fame would also be boosted to the highest level, and she would gain beneficial modifiers when attacking. She could even cast magecraft on the level of magic, such as forcibly dispelling spirit or materializing binding chains from thin air to restrain her opponent within the Gardens. There were also spells to invalidate Command Spells within a certain range!
And most importanly, the Hanging Gardens was also equipped with 12 cannons capable of firing EX-ranked magical energy blasts, and she could summon grotesque divine beasts like monsters within the Gardens!
Inside her Gardens, Semiramis could compete with even the likes of Shirou, Karna, Arjuna and Vlad.
It was only a pity the Red Faction had too few heroic spirits available, while Shirou's side had too many.
Although those monsters were powerful - to the point of being like natural disasters in the eyes of ordinary people - they were still just beasts to Shirou and the others.
Seeing Shirou's group of three penetrate deeper and deeper like they had a direction, pressing straight towards her central location, even Semiramis couldn’t help being anxious.
Atalanta was formidable, yes, but she was no match for them - fighting head-on would only lead her to her death.
And the powerful monsters Hydra and Basmu were kept in check by Heracles.
If they charged unchecked to her position, she could face a siege by all three of them. She knew that one-on-one, empowered by her Gardens, she would not fear even the likes of Shirou or Karna. But against all three? She was truly overmatched.
After thinking about it, Semiramis brought the external twelve magic circles into the interior, preparing to launch an attack against Shirou and the others. To her astonishment, she discovered that several of her circles had failed to activate.
She hurriedly investigated and found that the black faction’s Rider was riding a Hippogriff, being chased by a large group of monsters behind him. In his panic, he took out a strange book, with pages falling out. This not only destroyed the traps she had set up within the Hanging Gardens, but also interfered with the operation of several magic circles.
"What is that?" Semiramis looked stunned.
Cursing, she ordered the monsters to chase after Astolfo. They cried excitedly and desperately pursued the Paladin.
"Ahhhh, get away from me!" Astolfo drove his Hippogriff wildly, running for dear life. Though he wept, he kept using the book in his hand.
While Semiramis was dealing with Astolfo, Shirou and the other two had advanced a lot more, scaring Semiramis into quickly setting up spells to hinder them.
She wanted to bombard them with the remaining circles, but they moved too quick - her speed couldn't match their pace!
Left without options, she tried hindering them by other means, but all met with failure. It was as if they had known her location all along, marching straight towards her.
"Damn it!" she grit her teeth. "How did they find me?"
"There's no use thinking about it now, Assassin," Kotomine said, shaking his head. "You must let me out."
"What are you going to do?" she frowned.
"If we keep waiting, we'll be sitting ducks. I must go and do something."
She stared at him sharply for a moment before sighing. "Do as you wish, Master."
She opened the exit. As Kotomine turned to leave, he paused and looked back at her. "Thank you for staying by my side, Assassin."
"Humph. Spare me your thanks, it's too unpleasant to hear."
Kotomine smiled. "Pleasantries never were my strong suit."
He turned his back and walked out from the garden. Semiramis sealed the entrance and refocused on obstructing Shirou's party, but to no avail. No matter what she did, the three pushed ever closer.
"Damn it!" she gritted her teeth in frustration.
Semiramis was caught completely off guard by Shirou's surprise attack. According to their plan, her faction should have ambushed the black faction. Instead, reality played out in reverse.
At this point, she only had two pieces left that she could use.
One was Atalanta, who was still wandering about somewhere. The other was...
Semiramis’s gaze turned to Area 7.
"Gareth... can she still be of use? How much time could she buy for me?" Semiramis thought to herself. She had no other options left. Her only hope now was to temporarily rely on the red Saber.
However...
"Damn it! How on earth did they know I was right here?"
She gritted her teeth in frustration.
This was the question that puzzled her the most.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was a Noble Phantasm she had never revealed in this Holy Grail War. Logically, the others shouldn’t be aware of the spatial divisions within. So why did the opposing side seem to already know the layout, marching straight towards her position?
She was extremely perplexed.
At that moment, a woman's voice whispered in her ear, "Do you need help, Assassin?"
Semiramis jerked her head sharply, her gaze fixed on the high throne.
That’s right. Although she was the rightful owner of the Hanging Gardens, the one occupying the throne was not her.
This irked Semiramis to no end, yet she was powerless about it.
"No need!" she said coldly.
"What a pity then." The woman sighed and then smiled, "Well, I’m off."
"Where are you going?" Semiramis questioned with disgust.
"They've brought another me here. Hehe..." The woman laughed. "I've been separated from my body for so long, it's time I returned."
The woman's figure disappeared from the throne and Semiramis clenched her fists.
Part of her wanted nothing to do with that woman, yet another part of her yearned for her company.
These contradictory desires left Semiramis feeling just as helpless. Because that woman was even more twisted than Semiramis herself - a femme fatale, yet somehow...
Semiramis shook her head, forcing herself to ignore that woman's affairs for now. Instead, she turned her gaze intently on Shirou's group.
At the moment, Shirou’s party had stopped at Area 7. Good, their Red Saber, Gareth, had temporarily hindered the three invaders!
Semiramis breathed a sigh of relief. She had been wondering - if the Red Saber failed to obstruct them even for a moment, how would she defend herself? She probably would have had to make an untimely exit.
Fortunately, Gareth intercepted them, buying Semiramis the opportunity to mobilize her remaining defenses and magic circles, establishing a line of protection.
...
In Area 7...
It was an area shrouded in unrelenting darkness.
While the other areas held swamps, verdant hills, and tranquil waters, Area 7 alone was cloaked in shadows that could not be dispelled.
Gazing at the petite girl standing not far away, Shirou took a deep breath. He had finally arrived.
If possible, he would have avoided this place entirely.
But the area Mordred had chosen was too important.
This was the only pathway to the central area. No matter what, he had to pass through this place.
He inhaled deeply and said to Vlad and Spartacus, "You two go on ahead. I'll handle this area!"
Vlad and Spartacus simply nodded in response and turned to leave without a word.
Before departing, he granted them some buffs, which they accepted without protest unlike Arjuna.
He took a deep breath and slowly walked towards Mordred.
"I'm here." He said.
"But you're not the one I was waiting for..." Mordred whispered, sounding dejected.
Comments
JeanMartin Freites
That last line was unexpected.
