Chapitre 187: -184- Hunter, Saint, Knight
----- "Atalanta."
This is a name that would not be unfamiliar in places where Greek mythology is well known.
She is a renowned female hunter in Greek mythology, famous for her swift feet. Her Agility is of the highest A-rank, allowing her to traverse even the most treacherous terrains and forests with astonishing speed, never lagging behind anyone.
Born into royalty, she was abandoned by her father on a mountain due to her gender. The goddess Artemis took pity on her and provided her with protection, allowing a mother bear to raise her. Eventually, she was adopted by hunters who entered the mountains, and she survived.
With her innate talent, this female hunter rapidly elevated her skills and gained widespread recognition.
She is famous for three stories:
1. She was chosen as a member of the Argonauts led by Jason and, along with many other Greek heroes, embarked on a voyage to obtain the Golden Fleece.
2. She once repelled the Calydonian Boar, saving her homeland. She was the first to strike the beast, which had been terrorizing Calydon by destroying crops and livestock, during a hunt led by the prince who summoned heroes from various Greek city-states.
3. She participated in a footrace at her biological father's request, promising that whoever could defeat her in the race could marry her. She outperformed many renowned heroes in the race but ultimately lost due to divine interference.
Such a heroine, if summoned properly, would undoubtedly be a top-tier Archer.
However, now...
"Kill... Kill... Kill... Kill... Kill..."
Amidst the cursed murmurs, Archer, whose true name is Atalanta, appeared in the forest, standing atop a tree. Her eyes were filled with madness as she gazed ahead, spotting the army camp stationed at the forest's edge.
These were the enemies Atalanta had been pursuing for the past few days.
"I'll kill you all!"
Atalanta's sanity was completely consumed by madness.
Because it was impossible for this heroine to assist in wrongdoing, the Mad Enhancement imposed upon her was stronger than anyone else's, leaving her with no trace of rationality.
There were two other Servants who shared a similar fate.
"Thud...!" "Thud...!" "Thud...!"
Amidst heavy footsteps, a girl clad in saintly garments, wielding a staff, rode on a dragon as it emerged from the depths of the forest.
"... Have we caught up?"
This Rider-class Servant's eyes were stripped of both struggle and mercy.
----- "Martha."
This was the Rider's true name.
If Jeanne were present, she would certainly recognize her.
Because she was a Christian saint, much like Jeanne, she was known as the "Holy Maiden," and even shared some similarities. Originally a village girl in Bethany, living with her younger sister and brother, she witnessed the miracle of Jesus resurrecting her brother after his death, which led her to become a devout believer.
In the past, a malevolent dragon plagued the villagers of the village of Nerluc in southern France.
This saint confronted the dragon and subdued it, not only saving the villagers but also converting many of them to Christianity. In the end, even the defeated dragon was won over by her, giving its body to the villagers for penance while its soul remained by the saint's side, accompanying her like a guardian spirit until her death.
This tale gave rise to Martha, allowing her to summon the dragon Tarrasque as her Noble Phantasm.
Naturally, since she was a saint, it was impossible for her to become a Servant of the "Dragon Witch" faction. Therefore, Martha was subjected to the same level of Mad Enhancement as Atalanta. However, due to her purity and faith as a saint, she didn't entirely lose all her rationality.
However, the compassion and tenderness within the saint's heart had undoubtedly vanished.
Thus, even as she resisted with all her might against the power of Mad Enhancement, Martha's eyes still brimmed with a murderous intent.
At this moment, the third Servant also made an appearance.
"It's not easy to catch up to you with my speed alone."
Dressed in attire resembling a swallowtail coat, wielding a Western-style sword, and wearing a feathered hat, this figure that seemed both male and female slowly approached from behind.
"... Saber?" Martha didn't turn around, her gaze still fixed on the army camp ahead. She muttered quietly, "Are you also planning to join in this meaningless slaughter?"
"Does it make a difference?" Saber's expression was devoid of emotion, "Since being summoned, haven't we already been involved in countless killings?"
Stripped of their reason and obscured by madness, all that remained for these three servents was cruelty and ruthlessness.
"We can consider ourselves fortunate not to have fallen into madness as completely as Archer." Saber's voice was cold, "However, resisting this madness from deep within, it seems, remains impossible."
Martha managed to preserve some rationality due to her unyielding spirit and faith.
Saber, however, was different.
In life, this servent was a knight who served a royal family, rumored to be a legendary figure that was both male and female.
Their era was not the present but the 18th and 19th centuries, he was also a scholar and a warrior.
Even though he held the ability to speak, that was because as a spy, he had been active in secret agencies opposed to the great powers. He had served as a plenipotentiary ambassador and the captain of a dragoon squadron, demonstrating a similar dedication even in cruel circumstances, without hesitation in choosing ruthless actions when necessary.
The Mad Enhancement applied to Saber awakened this characteristic, aligned with his past behavior, and allowed him to retain some degree of rationality.
However, like Martha, this small amount of rationality was beyond control, forcing the knight to engage in slaughter.
"It's truly tragic."
Martha whispered softly, "Although neither Archer nor I desire these senseless actions, you must be suffering more than us, right?"
The reason was simple.
"This is the country you once protected."
Martha spoke out the Rider's true name.
"d'Eon."
----- "d'Eon."
An 18th-century loyalist who served the French royal family, a white lily.
This Servant, who could appear both male and female, was now engaging in slaughter in their homeland due to the effects of Mad Enhancement.
d'Eon himself spoke up.
"As long as it's a mission, it must be completed, even if it means being drenched in blood."
Deon replied with a cold voice.
And he declared.
"Even if the enemy is the royal family I protected."
d'Eon had no idea.
His words would become reality.
The noble he once served as a loyal knight was within the camp in front of him.
Unaware of this, d'Eon raised his Western sword and charged toward the camp.
"Kill!"
From the tree, Atalanta also roared and leapt out.
"Let's go, Tarasque."
Martha fell silent for a moment before giving instructions to her mount as well.
"Roar!"
The dragon named Tarasque let out a roar and dashed towards the camp.
The trio of Servants disappeared from sight...
"Chirp, chirp, chirp!"
Several birds flew by, following them.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone