DanMachi: Heroic Epic of Emiya the Great Hero

'A miscalculation,' At the moment fists and feet clashed with Emiya, such a thought arose in Alfia's mind.

It's common sense that the weakness of archers and mages is close combat, unlike ordinary archers who need to deliberately train their strength, adventurers with [Falna] naturally have sufficient strength, so dexterity is actually more important for archers.

Based on this judgment, Alfia deliberately shortened the distance with Emiya, trying to pull him into her rhythm.

Although she was a mage, Alfia's physical technique was by no means weak. Any technique or move, as long as she saw it once, she could quickly learn and apply it, and she often fought at the frontlines as a warrior.

Since magic was ineffective against the enemy, and long-range combat was completely suppressed by that terrifyingly strong archery, she might as well abandon complex strategies and defeat the opponent with the most straightforward warrior approach.

However, the moment she truly entered close-quarters combat, she realized how absurdly wrong she had been.

In close combat, she was by no means a match for this man who called himself [Heracles].

It was a natural result. Due to congenital illness, Alfia's strength and endurance stats were innately insufficient. Her strength was only E, and her endurance was even just G.

If it were an ordinary enemy, Alfia's combat skills could completely make up for the stat deficiency. But now, her opponent was [Heracles].

The confidence she had in her superior dexterity and combat skills was shattered in a single exchange. She understood instantly they were not even on the same plane of existence. Alfia, for once, experienced what it meant to be utterly outclassed in technique.

Her only advantage over Emiya was her agility stat, but without strength and endurance, the slight edge in speed was meaningless.

Alfia raised her arm to block [Heracles]'s punch. According to combat instinct, this was absolutely the correct way to respond. But due to the overwhelming power difference, she was still sent staggering back, nearly losing balance.

The moment she stabilized, she quickly threw a sidekick, only for it to be caught by the opponent, who then hurled her entire body away.

Alfia maintained her balance and, upon landing, immediately chanted:

[Gospel]

She activated her sound-based magic, attempting to destroy the enemy with powerful soundwaves, but the result was the same as before: completely ineffective.

She couldn't approach, because she couldn't win in close combat; she couldn't retreat either, because her magic was useless, and the opponent's archery was terrifyingly powerful.

It was a complete deadlock.

'Use that magic,' The thought flashed across Alfia's mind, the impulse to use her long-chanted magic directly. But the next moment, she gave up the idea.

It wasn't because she was concerned about the damage the long-chant spell would do to her body, but because Alfia realized that the opponent would never give her the time to chant.

Just then, Emiya's voice came, "Your magic shouldn't be ineffective."

"[Nemean Cloak] rejects 'weapons of human civilization,' but it doesn't reject 'humans' themselves," Emiya said slowly, "Just like your punches and kicks just now, they were effective."

"So, you didn't treat your 'voice' as a part of yourself, but merely as a 'weapon.'"

"Why? Even though your voice is so beautiful...", Before he could finish, Alfia cast her sound magic again.

"Shut up! [Gospel]!"

Once more, Alfia chanted her spell. The soundwaves turned into a storm surge of impact rushing toward Emiya. However, this time, Emiya completely ignored the violent sonic assault, charging forward straight into the deafening wave.

He closed the distance step by step, making Alfia instinctively take a step back. Yet this feeble resistance was meaningless, the man gripped her shoulder, forcefully pushed her to the ground, leaned down over her, and firmly covered her mouth with one hand.

Thump! Thump!

Thump! Thump!

This time, what Alfia heard was no longer deafening static, but the strong heartbeat from Emiya's chest, echoing like war drums in her ears.

That heartbeat was so clear, deep and powerful, it overwhelmed her inner fury and humiliation, even drowning out the static that had accompanied her since birth, engulfing her like a tide, forcing her to involuntarily feel the long-lost rhythm of life.

Alfia's body trembled slightly, her delicate fingers subconsciously gripped his shoulder, her eyes flickering with complex emotions, anger, shame, and a certain indescribable yearning.

Under the powerful warmth from his chest, her frail body, long tormented by illness, seemed to instinctively crave the vigorous vitality from that [Golden Physique].

"Ah... I lost," Only after a long while did Alfia belatedly realize this fact.

At the same time, on the other side of the cliff, Zald slumped to the ground, gasping for breath. He looked up at Ryuu with a bitter smile on his face, "Your magic's a bit too much of a cheat, don't you think?"

His body was covered with battle scars, from cuts and burn marks to scorch marks from lightning, all kinds of magical damage layered on top of his muscular frame.

Ryuu was also breathing heavily, but she still stood tall. The elven girl sheathed her [Judgment of Justice], her golden hair fluttering lightly in the breeze.

"Sigh, I lost," Zald sighed, his tone surprisingly relaxed.

———

"Is this... true?" Zald's voice trembled slightly, and so did his hands.

"Yeah," Emiya nodded, withdrawing the [Pain Breaker] in his hand, "The toxins in your body have been completely eliminated."

Zald stared blankly at his hands, in disbelief. He had never thought that the toxin which had tormented him for years, the deadly venom from [Behemoth], could be so easily removed.

He could clearly feel the changes in his body. The heaviness that had burdened him for years seemed to lift all at once.

"But," Emiya continued with a shift in tone, "in the past few years, the poison's erosion has greatly depleted your vitality. That can't be fully recovered. Because of the toxin, your lifespan has been reduced by at least thirty years."

Zald paused, then burst out laughing, "So what! I'm already satisfied."

"Congratulations, Zald," Erebus also clapped sincerely, "You no longer need to be a stepping stone for future heroes, the current you has the right to become a true hero."

Zald took a deep breath, then bowed his head and pleaded, "Lord Heracles, please save Alfia as well!"

"Don't do unnecessary things, Zald!", Alfia's voice turned cold, "I don't need anyone to save me!"

Emiya was silent for a moment, "Alfia's situation is much more complicated."

Zald's problem stemmed from poisoning, and even though the [Behemoth]'s venom was strong, it was still within the realm of monsters. But Alfia was different.

Alfia had suffered from a terminal illness since birth. After becoming a member of Hera's Familia, her disease not only failed to improve, it became her skill.

[[Calamity Compensation (Gif Blessing)]: Allows her stats to always be in a released state, but with tremendous side effects. When triggered, it simultaneously applies multiple abnormal conditions like 'poison,' 'paralysis,' and 'functional disorder shock,' semi-permanently reducing her stats, stamina, and mental power.]

If Alfia hadn't received the [Falna], her illness might have been easily cured by Emiya. But now, the disaster had been engraved into her stats, the problem had moved to another level.

Alfia's suffering was no longer just a disease. It had even surpassed the scope of a curse. It was deeply entangled with her very being, a fate inseparable from her life.

However, precisely because it was fate, there was always a sliver of hope, no matter how despairing the situation. That was Emiya's intuition, as someone who possessed the development ability [Fate].

But this path to salvation could not be paved by Emiya, nor guided by the goddess Hera.

The so-called [Fate], could only be faced and conquered by herself.

"Though I can't guarantee a complete cure," Emiya paused, "it's still possible to ease the symptoms and extend her life."

"No need," Alfia responded coldly, without a trace of hesitation.

She turned around, straightened her thin back, and walked off into the distance. The sea breeze lifted her silver-white hair, making her figure appear all the lonelier.

"Why?", Zald looked at Alfia's back in disbelief.

"Because she's throwing a tantrum," A female voice came.

Haruhime, wearing a fox mask, pushed a wheelchair with the fox woman slowly approaching. Beside them were the [Sword Saint] and [Stellar Bow].

"...The [Celestial Fox], the [Sword Saint]? You're still alive?", Zald said, stunned.

"If a fool like you who swallowed [Behemoth] meat is still alive, why should I die just because I lost my legs?", The fox woman laughed gently, "Lately, I even took in a young girl of our race as a student, life's been more interesting than before."

"Come on, Tamamo-chan, massage your master's tail. Ahh, I'm so jealous! I want a big fluffy tail too~"

"Guyaa~", Haruhime let out a cute sound, suddenly hugged from behind by her senior.

Zald frowned, "A tantrum? But this is about her life! What kind of joke is this?"

"Sigh, that's why I said, Zald, you really don't understand a woman's heart. No wonder you've never had a girlfriend despite your age, all you know is eating, how could that work?", The fox woman shook her head.

"Alfia is fiercely competitive, you know that," The [Celestial Fox] continued, "Even back then, she hated losing to the captain in sparring."

"Her only loss was in the battle against the [Black Dragon]. Among humans, she never lost," The fox woman paused, "So, Heracles, you really did beat her, huh?"

Emiya nodded, "Yeah."

Zald's mouth fell open, "Yo-you actually won?"

He recalled the earlier scene. Only remembering that Emiya and Alfia came back together, neither saying anything about it.

Honestly, he hadn't thought that it would be this [Heracles] who defeated Alfia.

Emiya calmly explained, "Our compatibility is terrible. My combat style completely counters Alfia."

"A win is a win," The fox woman smiled, "Alfia's heart is probably in turmoil right now."

"This is a rare opportunity. To her, you're now a very special existence."

Emiya shook his head, as if wanting to say something.

"Don't be so quick to refuse," The fox woman said softly, "Think carefully. You're the only one who can save her."

Emiya fell silent for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth, "Senior, regarding how to repair the missing parts of your bodies... I have some ideas."

"Eh?", The blind [Sword Saint] suddenly turned around. The [Celestial Fox] in the wheelchair also froze for a moment.

Moments later, the fox woman lowered her head and chuckled softly, "You really are... a greedy man."

———

[Orario, Dian Cecht Familia]

Today, the hospital was filled with clouds of gloom and people. A heavy atmosphere lingered in the air.

"Has the number of victims been confirmed?", God Dian Cecht pressed his aching stomach and asked with a frown.

"Mm," A healer replied softly, "All members of the Freya Familia above Lv.2, all of the Loki Familia, all of the Ganesha Familia above Lv.2, and all members of the Astraea Familia."

She paused, her eyes flickering, as if she herself didn't want to believe the horrifying number, then continued, "Our medical capacity... is on the verge of collapse."

Healers bustled through the crowd. Every face was filled with fatigue and anxiety. Potions were running out fast, and there were no available beds.

At this time, Dian Cecht Familia hadn't yet become half-crippled from the Great Strife. Among their members, there were even two Lv.4 healers. Even so, they were still overwhelmed by today's sudden crisis.

"What about Airmid?", God Dian Cecht asked.

"She's already collapsed," The healer answered, "At the earliest, she'll be able to use magic again tomorrow. That child is still too young, if she forces herself..."

"Let her rest tomorrow too," Dian Cecht waved, "Airmid is our, no, the world's future. She must not collapse. Damn it, looks like I'll have to act personally. Prepare the operating table!"

He stood up and added, "Also, transfer all minor injury patients to other hospitals as soon as possible! Besides Miach Familia, notify all major hospitals to come take people!"

"Lord God," A passing Familia captain, a Lv.4 female healer, paused her work, lifted her head, and looked at him seriously.

"Alright, alright! Even Miach Familia's fine! Go contact them!", Faced with the captain and other healers' gazes, the god finally chose to put down his personal grudge.

The healer nodded in satisfaction, then instructed the girl beside her, "Right, go and transfer the [Braver], [King], [Elephant God's Staff], [Scarlet Harnel], and their vice-captains all into one ward."

"Even in the hospital, have them hurry and come up with a countermeasure."

"Yes."

After giving orders, this female doctor, who, in another timeline, perished during the [Great Strife], let out a light sigh.

"This really is... an apocalyptic calamity."

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