To become a king and a magician

"The problem is her Noble Phantasm, especially for a woman like you."

[The Disintegration of Our Lady]

Normally, these are just four small daggers of D rank, which do not have much killing power and can only be used for surprise attacks in Servant battles.

However, if the following three conditions are met: [it is nighttime], [the target is female], and [there is fog], this Noble Phantasm will unleash its true effect, pulling out all the target's internal organs and turning them into a dissected corpse.

It's also worth mentioning that this Noble Phantasm isn't physical damage in nature, but rather resembles a curse. Therefore, it can take effect even at long range, and physical defenses are largely ineffective.

"In addition, Jack the Ripper comes with a Noble Phantasm that can unconditionally trap the surrounding area in a dense sulfuric acid fog formed by magic. Conceptually, it recreates the sulfuric acid fog that caused the deaths of many people in 19th-century London."

"Because of the existence of this Noble Phantasm, and the rule that the Holy Grail War must be held at night, two of the three conditions required for the complete liberation of Our Lady of Destruction can be met directly. As for the third—"

Natsukawa Tora looked at Atalanta: "Well, you're Archer, so just snipe from a safe distance. As for a head-on confrontation, Mordred has Avalon, so it won't be a problem."

"You really do know a lot about Jack the Ripper. Could it be that you and she had a good relationship during the Holy Grail War you were involved in?"

"No, I've never met her."

I just can't seem to get it no matter what!

"The reason I know this is simply because I have knowledge from the source, and it just so happens that this knowledge includes information about Jack the Ripper."

“Is that so… Then, do you also know everything about me?” Atalanta’s eyes sharpened. “Knowing your enemy inside and out—you are undoubtedly quite reliable as an ally, but if I were to be your enemy, as a future rival, I think it wouldn’t be bad to shoot you here on the spot.”

The bowstring was drawn back, and an arrow made of magic was aimed at Natsukawa Torato's head.

Faced with the murderous aura emanating from such close range, Xia Chuanhu simply smiled: "Indeed, but only if you can kill me—"

Pfft!

The moment he finished speaking, Xia Chuanhu suddenly reached out and grabbed the arrow, crushing the arrowhead.

Is it really okay to waste your hands like this?

“My body is in good condition, and this level of injury will heal itself quickly.” Natsukawa Torama flicked the blood off his hands. “As you can see, in close combat, your arrows can’t even be fired, and in long-range combat, you saw the scene last night where Chiron couldn’t hit me with a single arrow, right?”

Atalanta naturally saw it. Although she had absolute confidence in her archery skills, she had to admit that Chiron's archery skills were quite superb. However, Chiron's arrows never hit the man in front of her once. Every time, he blocked them as if he had foreseen the future.

"Clang~~~~~~!"

The clock behind me chimed midnight.

Natsukawa Tora stood up: "Alright, enough of this small talk. Let's take care of Jack the Ripper first—after that, if you're interested, I can tell you something else that concerns you."

"Hey!"

Before Atalanta could ask a question, Natsukawa Tiger had already jumped from the clock tower into the thick fog that had somehow spread below.

Something related to me?

"What do you know? Red Saber's Master."

Atalanta's brow furrowed with a belly full of doubts, but as a warrior, she knew that it was necessary to control her thoughts on the battlefield and only think about killing the enemy and making things better.

Jack the Ripper...

——————————————————————————————

On the streets of Tulifas.

Landing on the ground on the wind, Natsukawa Tiger glanced around, then took out a gem from his sleeve: "Can you hear me, Mo?"

[I can hear you, Master]

Mordred's voice came from the gem.

As a direct disciple of the Lord of Minerals, Natsukawa Torato, though not an expert, does know some gem magic, one of which is the magic of cutting a gem into two parts for communication.

Actually, using a mobile phone would be more convenient, but Jack the Ripper's fog seems to block signals, making it difficult to even use magic tricks—of course, it's just difficult, not impossible.

"You're in position now. I'm going to dispel this fog."

【learn!】

Putting away the gem, Xia Chuanhu raised his foot and tapped the ground with his toe. Centered on him, a raging gale immediately swept out, instantly forming a tornado column that shot straight into the sky! The thick fog surrounding Xia Chuanhu was instantly blown away by this gale!

(This isn't enough to counter a Noble Phantasm, so let's put in a little more effort.)

Absorbing further power from the wind fairy, Natsukawa Torama braced himself with both hands. The strong wind that had been swirling around him for only about a hundred meters instantly expanded to cover almost the entire Tulifas! Its intensity even soared to the level of a typhoon!

The thick fog that had occupied every corner of Tulipas was immediately driven away without a trace by the strong wind!

Looking up at the clear night sky and the bright moon, Natsukawa Tora breathed a sigh of relief: "Well, that's good enough—Mo, Atalanta, I'll leave the rest to you."

67. Assassins without power and connections shouldn't engage in direct combat.

That's simply unreasonable.

This was Atalanta's thought as she watched the raging wind rise in front of her.

She wasn't unfamiliar with magicians; Semiramis, from her own faction, was a remarkably skilled magician from the Age of Gods. Furthermore, Medea, another hero of the Argonauts, had demonstrated the power of magic from that era to her during her lifetime.

Even for the two of them, using magic capable of affecting an entire city required extensive preparation; it wasn't something they could do casually. In the Age of Gods, such methods of influencing the weather with a mere gesture were a privilege reserved exclusively for the gods.

But now, Xia Chuanhu has accomplished what she thought only gods could do.

"Can I feel the breath of nature... Is nature feeling joy and excitement?"

Bathed in the strong wind, Atalanta was somewhat surprised—she couldn't sense any reaction from the magic, as if it were just a naturally blowing strong wind, but it was clearly summoned by Natsukawa Torato...

"Does this mean the world changed willingly for him? He changed the world directly with his will?"

"Red Saber's Master, who exactly are you?"

At the very least, he is definitely not a mere magician. Whether it's the power to fight Servants head-on or the ability to change the world, these are beyond the capabilities of a simple magician. Perhaps someone exists who can achieve one of these, but to achieve both...

"—!"

Suddenly, a magical reaction appeared within her perception range. Atalanta immediately snapped out of her thoughts and focused her mind to trace the source of the magic—

(under!)

As her gaze shifted downwards, Atalanta immediately spotted the figure appearing on a rooftop not far away.

She appeared to be a petite, white-haired little girl, no more than seven or eight years old, dressed in an assassin's outfit that was completely out of place with her appearance. She also had several large and small scars on her body that were heartbreaking to look at.

"Jack the Ripper..."

Drawing back the bowstring, Atalanta channeled magic into an arrow and aimed at Assassin on a rooftop not far away.

(It seems they were targeting Red Saber's Master and tracked her down because of the strong winds earlier? Such a commotion is to be expected.)

Moreover, Natsukawa Torato directly blew away the thick fog and forcefully broke Jack the Ripper's Noble Phantasm. As the owner of the Noble Phantasm, Jack the Ripper would definitely rush to solve this problem immediately.

Unfortunately, she seemed unaware that there was another person present, and all that was needed next was one arrow—

"Buzz—!"

However, just before Atalanta released the bowstring, a chill suddenly ran through her entire body, as if she were being watched by something, causing her ears and tail to stand up immediately, and even her fur to stand on end!

Like a hunter stalking his prey, Jack the Ripper crouched down, his eyes fixed on his target.

"From this point on, it is hell..."

A dark, ominous magic began to emanate from Jack the Ripper.

"We are fire...we are rain...we are power..."

(Noble Phantasm?)

Natsukawa Torama is male, so Jack the Ripper's Noble Phantasm can't reach him—Atalanta's thoughts stopped there. Even if Natsukawa Torama is male and not within the scope of the Disintegration Mother's special attack, there are still women here.

Jack the Ripper, who had been staring at Natsukawa Tora, suddenly looked up at Atalanta!

"—【Mariathe Ripper (Disintegration of the Virgin Mary)】"

The moment his true name was revealed, Jack the Ripper charged towards Atalanta atop the clock tower with lightning speed! Two daggers were thrust straight at her!

But just as she rushed out, another strong gust of wind rose from the ground, as if it had been anticipated, and slammed straight into Jack the Ripper's stomach, changing her trajectory ninety degrees upwards!

"Miss Atalanta".

"Zheng—!"

A crisp bowstring twanged in response to Natsukawa Tora's voice, and an arrow pierced Jack the Ripper's forehead with unparalleled precision, its powerful force instantly piercing through her head!

Even with his Noble Phantasm unleashed, Natsukawa Torama, in his fairy-possessed state, has complete knowledge of his surroundings. Furthermore, once the assassins leave the darkness they are in and launch their attacks in the open, they become even easier to deal with.

Atalanta smoothed her wind-blown hair and jumped down from the clock tower: "Although your reminder was unnecessary, I'll thank you anyway—is that all?"

"Yes, as long as the assassins are not given an advantage, it's that simple to deal with them."

Of course, Grandpa Wang Hassan is an exception; he would simply walk straight at the enemy and behead them with a single sword strike.

Looking at Jack the Ripper lying on the ground not far away, shot down, Natsukawa Torara asked Atalanta, "If I may be so bold as to ask, what are your thoughts on shooting a child like this?"

"Are you looking down on me?" Atalanta frowned in displeasure. "This is the Holy Grail War. Although she looks like a child, she is undoubtedly the enemy, a murderer who has killed dozens of innocent people. You don't think I would show mercy to such a being, do you?"

"Is that so?"

Xia Chuanhu narrowed his eyes and took out a gem from his pocket: "Xiao Mo, I've taken care of things here, how about yours?"

[Heave-hoo—clang—Yo, you're Jack the Ripper's Master, right? Stay put—Hey! What are you doing?]

The voice of Mordred coming from the gem sounded a bit off. Judging from the content, it seemed to have suddenly entered the room where Rokudou Reika was, but what happened next...?

(Command Seals?)

The moment Xia Chuanhu thought this, Jack the Ripper, who should have been shot dead by Atalanta, stood up stiffly, like a puppet, and turned his head 180 degrees to look at the two of them.

"Why...why..."

With his eyes glowing red, Jack the Ripper asked the two men this question in a tone filled with sadness, confusion, and anger.

What is she asking?

Why did you kill her? Or why didn't you want to be killed by her?

"Bang------!"

Without warning, Jack the Ripper's body suddenly expanded rapidly and exploded, unleashing an even denser fog that surged forth like a tsunami from within her! In an instant, it engulfed Natsukawa Tora and Atalanta, who were almost within arm's reach!

68. Meryl: The show's about to begin!