The labyrinth that once imprisoned the minotaur, Minotaur, was a place that buried countless so-called heroes who had courage but lacked the strength to match.
Even Theseus, the famed hero, only managed to escape its depths with the help of others.
Yet neither Artoria nor Heracles seemed particularly troubled about being trapped here.
Even in their weakened states.
"Do you want me to get you out of here?"
Heracles suddenly broke the silence, turning to Artoria. "If I use that Authority, I should be able to destroy this labyrinth and get you out."
Hearing this, Artoria's eyes widened slightly, her expression frozen in disbelief.
Then, she turned toward Heracles and shouted angrily:
"An Authority that can destroy this labyrinth? Are you telling me you've been holding back in our fight?!"
"No! No! I swear I've been fighting you with everything I've got! I wasn't holding back!"
Seeing the black flame-wreathed sword about to cleave him in two again, Heracles hastily explained:
"My Authority can only unleash its full potential when used against massive structures. That's why I didn't use it in our fight. Against an opponent like you, my twelfth Authority was already my strongest… Though I still lost in the end."
Since being killed by Artoria once, Heracles seemed to have mellowed considerably, his divine madness as a God of Unyielding War diminishing.
"Besides, using this Authority would cause my entire body to completely collapse. I'd lose all ability to fight. If I had gambled on it in our battle and missed, I would've been utterly defeated. Your speed is terrifying, after all."
Artoria lowered her sword, seemingly accepting his explanation, though her expression still carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Hmph! I don't need your concern. Destroying a mere labyrinth is something I can handle on my own."
"But the Godslayer who created this labyrinth is likely still nearby," Heracles countered. "If you destroy it with your own power, will you still have enough strength left to deal with the Godslayer who's waiting for you to exhaust yourself?"
To Heracles, Artoria's current state might be slightly better than his, but not by much—her magical energy reserves were likely at about 20%.
He didn't want the warrior he respected to fall victim to some sneaky opportunist after defeating him.
Artoria glanced back at him with an odd expression.
"…Is that what you're worried about?"
"Hmm?"
A sly smile tugged at the corners of Artoria's lips.
"If those Godslayers are thinking the same way you are… then this could get very interesting."
Magical energy wasn't something Artoria lacked.
By drawing vitality from the earth, she could replenish her reserves, heal her wounds, and strengthen herself.
If those Godslayers truly believed she was weakened and attacked her in that state… she could stop holding back and finish them all in one fell swoop.
It was for this reason that Artoria now carried herself with complete confidence.
After surveying her surroundings, she stroked her chin thoughtfully, an idea forming in her mind.
"Hey, Heracles. Show me that Authority you mentioned."
Her sudden request made Heracles pause, perplexed.
She had just said she didn't need his help—why ask him to use it now?
"But…"
Artoria walked a short distance ahead of him, planting herself firmly in place. With one hand on her hip, she said, "You'll aim in this direction."
"Huh?"
Heracles blinked in confusion.
"No, I already explained. If the target is you—"
"I'm not deaf, nor do I have memory or comprehension issues. I don't need you to repeat yourself."
Artoria frowned slightly before elaborating: "Your Authority can only unleash its full power when targeting something massive, like this labyrinth. So all you need to do is aim at the wall behind me."
Under Heracles' gaze, Artoria shrugged.
"And I'm merely standing in front of your true target. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Heracles quickly grasped her reasoning, a look of realization dawning on his face.
"If you're still alive and capable of fighting, then our battle isn't over. The victor has yet to be decided."
Artoria fixed her eyes on Heracles, her pure, unyielding fighting spirit surging like a tidal wave. It roused Heracles' instincts as a warrior, his entire body tensing in anticipation.
"Using the environment to maximize your strength is part of strategy. I won't fault you for it. Likewise… I'll also use my strongest attack next. This will be the true final blow."
"To bring our battle to a conclusion that satisfies us both."
Though Heracles was the larger and more imposing figure, in the face of Artoria's overwhelming presence, it was as if he was the one being overshadowed.
Sighing in resignation, Heracles scratched his head.
"Ah… I can't win against you. Whether it's strength, talent, or your warrior's spirit, I'm completely outmatched."
Lowering his hand, Heracles grinned, his golden eyes fixed on Artoria's form, as if engraving her figure into his very soul. He resolved that every incarnation of "Heracles" would remember… that he had once faced such an exceptional warrior.
"Well, since you've gone out of your way to invite me, how can I refuse?"
He bent forward, his right hand clenching into a fist. The sheer force of his presence seemed to surge toward the heavens as his magical energy erupted, burning like fire.
In an instant, Artoria felt her own blood quicken, her dragon heart beating more powerfully than ever.
A profound sense of danger enveloped her.
"You bastard… you've been holding back this level of power?"
She could tell that the strike Heracles was about to unleash posed an even greater threat than the arrow that had pierced the heavens and wounded her before.
Yet what surged in her heart was not fear, but exhilaration and anticipation.
Her instincts as a warrior, her madness as a God of Unyielding War, all drove her to overcome this crisis and seize this glorious moment.
"Let this move serve as our parting gift!"
---
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