Fate: How About a New Savior?

Shiomi's first impression had been right—the people of Ur not only appeared listless, but they also rejected Uruk's offer of assistance.

Even after Shiomi clearly stated that the king would send a large-scale rescue team to Ur, their answer remained unchanged:

"No, there's no need. Ur is safe. As long as we stay within the jungle, the Magical Beasts can't get in. As long as we follow the 'laws' of the Goddess of the Jungle, we'll be protected."

That response came from the Head Priestess of Ur, who led the local delegation.

Her words immediately drew the attention of several members of Shiomi's group.

Just as the Head Priestess had said, since they'd entered the forest, they hadn't encountered a single Magical Beast—only the usual snakes, insects, and rodents native to dense jungles. The only true anomaly was that jaguar-masked figure, the Jaguar Warrior, who had appeared and vanished just as abruptly, clearly serving as some sort of sentry.

"But what's the price?" Shiomi turned his eyes away, watching the residents gathering in the illusion-covered plaza.

Even at a glance, it was clear—the number of male residents was notably lower than that of women.

If the goddess ruling this jungle hailed from Central or South American myth, then they couldn't help but suspect this was tied to some kind of ritual practice.

"A human sacrifice ritual," Morgan said softly. "Cut open a living person's chest, remove the heart, and offer it to the gods."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for the quiet plaza to collectively flinch.

"Right on the mark," Scáthach sighed, a bit helplessly.

The Head Priestess quickly tried to defend herself. "I-It's not that brutal! We only choose one person a day to be sent to the Eridu Temple as an offering to the goddess! Everyone here has accepted it... and agrees..."

Realizing she had blurted out the truth in her nervousness, perhaps spurred by the unexpected arrival of Uruk's envoy, she quickly covered her mouth in fear—afraid the gods might punish her on the spot.

Shiomi felt a pang of sorrow. He had no intention of blaming these people for sacrificing their own just to survive.

They were just ordinary townsfolk. Even the men, strong as they might be, were still powerless against a jungle goddess.

Even that single glimpse of the Jaguar Warrior was enough to tell—her strength alone was enough to wipe out every last person in Ur with a wave of her hand.

"But if things keep going like this, it's only a matter of time before every man is gone. After that, it'll be the women and children." Shiomi placed one hand on his hip. "You should listen to us and wait for Uruk's rescue team to arrive. Leave this place for now."

The Head Priestess's expression twisted in anguish as she gently declined. "What you say is true, but... we can't leave. And anyone who's seen that 'demon' and stood before her knows... it's impossible."

"You can't leave?" Shiomi echoed, surprised.

Artoria stepped in to explain. "It's likely a 'law' imposed by the goddess of the jungle. A rule that prevents the people here from leaving."

"Gods can create 'laws'..." It was something so basic, yet hearing it aloud triggered a sudden thought in Shiomi's mind. He was just starting to draw a connection when the Jaguar Warrior's voice rang out again.

"Everyone, rest easy—! No human sacrifices! No dying, meow! If I killed a sacrifice, people would call me outdated! These days it's all about forced labor and overtime!"

Standing confidently atop the Ur Temple at the plaza's edge, the Jaguar Warrior crossed her arms, loudly and enthusiastically correcting their misunderstanding.

"Forced labor?" Shiomi tensed slightly, staying alert as he probed further.

"Exactly! Everyone who gets taken away is just sent to the Eridu Temple to work! I'm a foodie, you know—I only feast on the hearts of brave warriors!" the Jaguar Warrior declared boldly, then suddenly leapt into the air.

As she launched herself, the nearby townsfolk—who had gathered in curiosity at the appearance of Shiomi's group—screamed and scattered in every direction, clutching their heads in panic.

They clearly knew exactly how dangerous the Jaguar Warrior was. Her comedic tone didn't match her strength.

With that kind of speed, even if she had no intent to kill, the shockwave from a single landing could be enough to blast a crowd to pieces.

"I like birds, I like fish, and I eat people! Jaguar Warrior, teleporting in!"

As the smoke cleared, the Jaguar Warrior struck an exaggerated pose—but Shiomi couldn't spot a single opening.

"Don't even think about taking the living sacrifice away from here! If you do, all our efforts will go to waste! Kuku will scold me until I cry!"

"All for nothing?" Shiomi narrowed his eyes, sensing there was more behind this.

"Kuku...? Could it be..." Scáthach froze for a moment.

As they suspected, the one who truly ruled the jungle wasn't the Jaguar Warrior—she was merely a subordinate of another goddess.

"That's right! This is our realm—the land of the Feathered Serpent. Humans who fail to comprehend what it means to be divine, begone!"

In the Jaguar Warrior's hand appeared a strange weapon—a mix between a spear and a hammer, crowned with a circular beast claw.

She was dead serious.

"Master, leave this to me," Artoria said, raising her hands.

In an instant, armor formed from pure mana manifested around her. Even greater magical energy surged into her palms.

Wrapped in the barrier of Invisible Air, her Holy Sword could not be seen—its true form hidden.

It had been many years since Shiomi had last laid eyes on this weapon, and the sight stirred a faint sense of nostalgia.

"Then I'll leave the opening strike to you, King of Knights!"

"We're not backing down... So long as the forest shelters us, our sun is invincible! To put it simply—if you show up without a gift, you're just a dumbass!"

Boom!

Artoria released her magical energy, launching forward like a cannonball. Her invisible Holy Sword clashed with the Jaguar Warrior's golden mana-wrapped weapon, and a fierce gale erupted.

In an instant, their weapons struck each other over a dozen times.

"An invisible sword, huh?" the Jaguar Warrior shouted. "But I can still see it, meow!"

"Then—"

Artoria quickly realized: the Jaguar Warrior possessed a wild, instinctual awareness that defied logic. Even if her sword was hidden by Invisible Air, the Jaguar Warrior could still perfectly sense its reach. That left Artoria unable to gain the upper hand through invisibility.

If concealment was useless, then there was no need to conceal.

After a thousand years, she would once again draw her blade—the Holy Sword she had long reclaimed.

"Strike Air!"

She timed it perfectly, releasing compressed air just as her blade met the Jaguar Warrior's weapon. The force shot forward in a focused line of magical energy.

But even at point-blank range, the Jaguar Warrior dodged with ease, vanishing from Artoria's line of sight.

"What—?!"

Artoria turned sharply. The Jaguar Warrior was already scaling the temple wall, rapidly ascending.

"So you're a goddess too? Then there's no need to hold back!"

Using the wall as a launching point, the Jaguar Warrior kicked off just as Artoria turned, rocketing back into close range with a flying kick.

A flash of red light.

A crimson spear came slicing down from above—but the Jaguar Warrior instantly twisted midair, redirecting her kick toward Shiomi's spear. Her follow-up strikes came fast, dense, and relentless—like a hail of bullets.