Child: "Big sis, gimme some sweet treats!"
Child: "Super sweet ones! A taste so amazing it makes reality vanish?"
Jeanne Alter: "Kids and their vague orders... Fine. I'll whip up an apple pie with those surplus apples."
Children: "Yay!"
Hector: "...Is that okay?"
Jeanne Alter: "It's fine. Sometimes you just do it."
Hector: "...Sorry, Jeanne Alter."
Jeanne Alter: "Hmph. I only want to hear 'delicious.'"
Hector: "Got it...!"
Final Battle
Hector: "Yo, Captain! They're coming at us again!"
Aboard Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge, the green Lancer, Hector, shouts.
Blackbeard: "Mmph? They got thrashed and still won't quit, eh? Well, thanks for bringing Euryale! Nice BBA!"
Hector: "...Francis Drake and Gilgamesh's ship, charging without a plan?"
Anne: "Still lively despite the holes in their hull. Slacking, Uncle Hector?"
Hector: "No way. I ease up on spirit, not effort."
(...The real issue is why they chose the sea route. They've got a plan.)
Blackbeard: "Oi, Euryale! Jump into my arms already! Then we'll do that deck pose—"
Whoosh! An arrow grazes Blackbeard's face.
Blackbeard: "Huh?"
BOOM! Explosions and water pillars erupt around the ship, relentless blasts shaking it to its core!
Blackbeard: "What's happening!?"
Hector: "Calm down! Count primes or something!"
Anne: "Uncle Hector!"
Hector: "...Unbelievable."
Hector mutters, stunned.
Hector: "That's... arrows!"
Euryale: "...I missed. Or maybe I meant to."
She sighs in relief.
Euryale: "Didn't want my arrows sullied..."
Gilgamesh: "Slacking, are you? My patience has limits! Are you a stand-in for a goddess statue!?"
Drake: "Can you take this seriously? It's a crucial moment!"
Euryale: "Shut it! This is fine! My arrows work better hitting the surroundings!"
Gilgamesh: "What...?"
Euryale: "Just watch!"
Euryale: "Sorry, Arash. Telling you to 'miss'..."
Arash: "Nah, it's better than orders to crush them mercilessly. Leave it to me."
The great hero draws his crimson bow.
Arash: "A third-rate like me's gotta show some use!"
Gilgamesh: "False humility's just arrogance, hero!"
Arash: "My bad, then!"
Arrows rain down with missile-like force, pummeling the ship's surroundings, each shot capable of obliterating it entirely!
Blackbeard: "Hard to port! Aim for their gut! Get ready, you dogs!"
Crew: "Yargh!"
Blackbeard: "Rikka! Protect Euryale at the bow! It's the big one!"
Rikka: "Got it! You're safe, Euryale!"
Euryale: "Hmph! You and Asterios better guard me right!"
Euryale's enchanting arrows and Arash's relentless barrage sow chaos!
Blackbeard: "Alright, mates! Get hit by Euryale's arrows, and I'll kill you myself!"
The ship trembles under Arash's onslaught as Blackbeard roars.
Thwack! An arrow pierces a crewman.
Crewman: "Agh! For Lady Euryale, I'll die—"
BANG! Blackbeard's bullet silences him, blood splattering his grin.
Crewman: "W-Why, Captain...?"
Blackbeard: "Blood's messy! My crew better clear this without a scratch! Next?"
Crew: "We won't get hit!!"
Anne: "Can we shoot back!?"
Anne: "No way! Not in this quake!"
Blackbeard: "Damn! Didn't expect such a wild archer!"
Hector: "Arrows stronger than cannons? That BBA pissed or what?"
Artemis: "Hiii! It's Artemis! Time to shoot you all down! ♥"
Light arrows rain chaotically, piercing and disabling crewmen.
Crew: "Argh!"
Crew: "Ugh!"
Crew: "Gah!"
Blackbeard: "Mary!"
Mary: "I know! Archers are nothing up close!"
Mary charges—
Artemis: "Oh, that's no fun. So—"
Crash! A majestic beast leaps from ship to ship!
Blackbeard: "Mary!!"
Mary: "Tch—!?"
Artemis: "Meet Atalanta! Your attacks? Atalanta'd! Haha!"
It's not the graceful hunter but a demonic figure cloaked in black mist, clad in the boar's hide of divine punishment—Atalanta's other Noble Phantasm, Agrius Metamorphosis, unleashed as a near-Berserker servant.
Atalanta: "I am Atalanta, divine punishment incarnate! My anguish and shock at faltering faith—I'll hurl it all at you!!"
A hefty dose of venting included!
In Blackbeard's powder magazine, two creatures tamper.
Fou: "Fou! (All set. Ideally, Blackbeard goes up in splinters too.)"
Rikka: "That's your vibe? Cute on the outside only?"
Fou: "(I just hate ugly foes. That's my nature. Plus, it's bad PR. Gotta boost my image—well,)"
Rikka: "?"
Fou: "(—that's just an excuse. I want to help, be part of the team. No matter what awaits.)"
Rikka: "...You're saying this before lighting the fuse?"
Fou: "Fah!? (Crap! Explosion endings suck! Run—!!)"
Rikka: "Wait! Don't ditch me—!!"
Atalanta: "I won't lose!!"
She repels Mary.
Mary: "Guh!"
Atalanta: "Even if my goddess is a love-obsessed sweet-tooth!"
She deflects Anne's shots.
Anne: "Tch!"
Atalanta: "Even if Artemis and Master are too alike, hitting it off!"
Her roar shakes the ship!
Atalanta: "My faith won't waver!! I won't yield to cruel reality!!"
Hector: "What's this lady on about!?"
Artemis: "Kyaa! Atalanta's so cool! Almost as cool as Orion!"
Atalanta: "Gah—!!"
Atalanta spits blood and staggers.
Atalanta: "Below Orion!?"
Artemis: "What's wrong, Atalanta!?"
Anne & Mary: "Now—!"
But—
Orion: "Kept you waiting, Artemis! Say it!!"
Fou: "Fou! (I wanna go home!!)"
The two beasts leap onto the deck.
Artemis: "Go, Captain! Rikka! Do it!"
Blackbeard & Hector: "Damn, that's it!!"
Both: "Everyone, hit the deck!! It's gonna blow—!!"
Crew: "Huh—"
Rikka: "Explosion!?"
A deafening blast, cabins obliterated, black smoke rising.
Artemis: "Nice work, Fou!"
Fou: "Kyau! (Goddess boobs! I'm alive!!)"
Orion: "No time for antics! Duck! The real attack's coming!!"
Rikka: "Real!?"
Blackbeard: "Dufufu! Always wanted to say this! Brace for impact!!"
A golden stag charges, slamming toward the ship's belly!
Hector: "The BBA's here!!"
The ship-shattering impact and roar echo, timbers snapping.
Blackbeard: "They crashed right in...! Flashy as hell!"
Rikka: "Domo! Edward Teach-san! I'm Ritsuka Fujimaru!!"
Master Rikka stands at the bow, bowing deeply.
Blackbeard: "Domo! Ritsuka Fujimaru-san! Blackbeard here! Dufufu! My rival and comrade, not quite a BBA!"
Rikka: "Here I am! The world's greatest pirate, Blackbeard! Our Chaldea-Zitsu will send you to hell!"
Blackbeard: "Careless! Try it, if Rikka-tan's feeble attacks can touch this epic pirate klan!"
Rikka: "Careless is you! I'm not alone!"
Drake: "Forgetting me? Bold move, Blackbeard! I'm here for revenge!!"
Blackbeard: "Geh, BBA—!!"
Rikka: "It's Sekigahara, Blackbeard! Compose your haiku!!"
Junior: "Senpai!?"
Gilgamesh: "Hmph. Master's getting carried away."
Drake: "Not joining, acting all high and mighty?"
Gilgamesh: "Hah. I don't go to them—they come to me."
Pinch! He tweaks Euryale's cheek.
Euryale: "Fwah!? What're you doing!?"
Gilgamesh: "A charm. Done."
Snap! Her cheek pops back.
Gilgamesh: "Come, pirate wench."
The dual pirates descend.
Drake: "Greetings, Hero-King."
Gilgamesh: "A quick reunion. You know what it means to face me, thieves?"
Drake: "Obviously! Get ready, Hero-King. You're in our way, so we'll cut you down!"
Anne: "And shoot you through!!"
Gilgamesh: "Fine. Show me your circus tricks!!"
The final battle begins!
Artemis: "Welcome back, Atalanta!"
Atalanta: "Ah..."
Artemis: "You were amazing! So cool! I'll pat your head!"
Atalanta: "...Ah..."
Jeanne Alter: "Here's apple pie. Chamomile tea's my treat. Good work."
Atalanta: "Ah...!"
Jeanne Alter: "Hey, why're you crying!?"
Child: "You made her cry!"
Child: "Naughty!"
Jeanne Alter: "Why!? What's wrong!? Need a handkerchief...?"
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The battle isn't over... and the truth has yet to be revealed. Read the next chapter now on Patreon! [patreon.com/Greyhounds]