God Hunter

Chapter 29: Confrontation

The people of the tent city organized fast. Many of them mounted on their horses with bows, firearms, swords, and spears. Khaliun stood front and center. She carried a bow decorated in antlers. She saw the Servants riding on the Pegasi coming closer to the city. Khaliun raised her bow high in the air and let out a war cry. The other warriors followed. The team stood close by. Illya carried her yumi. She knocked an arrow and noticed that the tip had turned black. Her eyes widened and her mind turned instinctively towards Saytarus. Anastasia then rode next to her and touched her shoulder and gave a gentle smile. Illya returned it and then faced front and center.

"Its amazing. Despite the short notice they organized fast," said Illya.

"The steppe people are incredible. It is said their tactics were taught to them by Khutulun herself. Tonight, we get to see it in action," Anastasia replied.

As the Servants charged, horse mounted warriors charged down the nearby hills. They fired their arrows, catching the Servants off guard. Pegasi and Servants fell to the ground from the volleys. Saytarus simply swiped them to the side, breaking them. Servants rushed the steppe warriors and close quarters combat engaged. Screams and the spilling of blood were all that could be seen and heard. The steppe people continued the fight, taking down many Servants. Soon, they turned their horses to the hills. Khaliun raised her bow.

"Now its our turn!" she charged forward with the others following behind.

Illya and the team followed with. Tracker pulled out his rifle and fired, hitting a Servant. Illya fired the yumi. The arrows seemed to track and hit the Servants in their weak spot. Anastasia cast her mana spells, igniting Servants and Pegasi in flames. Kydaana cast her spells of ice, piercing the armor of the Servants. James leapt off his horse to provide shields for the allies. Roven and Crow engaged in melee combat, taking down Servants with their weapons. Khaliun drew her sword and cut down any enemies in her path. Illya swiftly placed the yumi on her back and drew her katana. The blade was black. The blade cut seamlessly through around and weapons. Saytarus punched warriors and seemed unphased when struck with an enemy weapon. His punches had so much that they broke bones and snapped the necks of horses. Tracker smashed armor with his hammer and Kydaana pierced openings in the armor with her spear. Saytarus saw Illya and charged at her. Illya noticed last moment. James placed a shield between them where the God then punched through it. Illya swung her sword and Saytarus caught it between his fingers. She gasped as the God stared at her with a grin.

"Long time no see, niece," he mocked.

Illya scowled and freed her blade from his grip. The two of them continued their battle. Saytarus blocked each strike. He then punched Illya's horse, throwing her off it. Illya fell to the ground and Servants charged her. She summoned the nodachi and took out the legs of the Pegasi. She then stabbed down on the Servants. Saytarus charged her and knocked the nodachi from her hands. She then summoned the nagamaki as more Servants charged. She quickly sent the nodachi back to the pocket dimension and repeated the process of slaying the Servants with the hybrid weapon. Before Saytarus could charge her again, Anastasia rode up to Illya.

"Take my hand!" she called.

Illya grabbed her sister's hand and she pulled her up onto her horse. Saytarus growled and charged behind.

"Retreat!" called Khaliun.

The forces began to retreat towards the tent city. The Servants followed just behind.

"We are retreating?" Illya asked.

"All part of the nomad's plan," Anastasia replied.

When the nomad force made far enough distance, they then stopped and turned around back towards the enemy with the forces from the hills following behind the Servants. The Servants were now surrounded and the bloody battle continued. Illya and Anastasia continued to strike down enemies along with the rest of the team. James was now on his horse and punched any Servants who were close. He grabbed the spear of one and flipped them off their horse. He then stabbed them with their own weapon. A spear then struck Anastasia and Illya's horse, knocking them down. Anastasia swiftly recovered and ignited the Servants in flame. Khaliun saw Saytarus kill two of her men. She fired a few arrows at him. He blocked them and any wound that were inflicted healed instantaneously. Khaliun drew her sword and slashed at him. He parried and deflected her blows with his bare hands. Saytarus then hit her hard in the wrist, dislocating it and forcing her to drop her weapon. Khaliun let out a pained cry. The God then grabbed her arm and slammed his elbow down hard, breaking it. He then readied a fist and punched her in the chest, sending her flying off her horse. She slammed hard into the ground. She could feel her ribs and back were shattered. She coughed up blood. She raised an arm into the air, attempting to pick herself up but she then closed her eyes and her arm fell to the side. Saytarus then noticed Anastasia and Illya without their horse. He charged but then James created a rock pillar appeared and the Pegasi slammed is head into it, leaving brains and blood on it but Saytarus flew through the stone and picked himself up. Illya and Anastasia noticed him and prepared themselves. He slowly approached them with a grin.

"I must say," he began "This little battle is nothing. Soon, I will bring you before mother and father and your world will end! Soon, mother and father will realize just how truly competent I am. I should have been the one to capture you. It all should have been me!"

Saytarus then charged them but then a bullet passed through his leg. Tracker had landed a shot on him. Saytarus turned and looked at him only for James to appear behind him and punch the God in the face. Saytarus growled but Kydaana thene rode up, freezing the God's legs and landing a slash and stab upon him. Tracker then approached with his hammer and smashed Saytarus hard enough the chest, knocking him out of the ice. Anastasia cast a mana spell, igniting him in flame until he landed where he then snuffed out the flames. Roven and Crow then appeared and struck Saytarus with a mix of lightning and wind. The slashed and hacked at him with all their might. Lightning shot through Saytarus' body paralyzing him. The team continued to attack him, landing hits on him. When he could fully move, he dodged most the attacks. His wounds were healing much more slowly. Illya then rushed him, hitting him with every single weapon she had. She slashed, stabbed, cut, hit, and shot with all her strength.

"You Gods!" Illya slashed Saytarus across the chest with her katana.

"You took my family from me!" she hit him with the kanabo.

"I never wanted this life! You are the ones who made it!" she then cut with the nodachi.

She fired the yumi point blank, shooting an arrow through his head.

She stabbed and cut with tanto. She slashed him with the nagamaki. She stabbed and cut him with the naginata. She dug the ono deep into his shoulder.

"I just want my family back!" Illya then stabbed Saytarus through the chest with the yari.

Saytarus had a look of surprise on his face. His wound profusely bleeding. He then smiled and grabbed the yari. Illya gasped as he pulled the weapon from his chest.

"Impressive. Each of you managed to land a hit on me," Saytarus then pulled the blade out entirely and threw it to the side.

"You mortals are something else. Allow me to reward your efforts with my true form!"

Saytarus's arms began to swell in size. His muscles growing. His horns beginning to grow larger.

The team gasped with looks of shock on their faces. Saytarus began to grow taller and his body grew more hair on it. His eyes went from human like to animalistic. His fingers were long and his hooves larger. When he was done transforming, Saytarus was now a tall, large goat. The Servants and nomads stopped their battle to watch the transformation. The nomad's eyes widened while the Servants grinned under their helmets.

"It seems the mortals are doomed," said a Servant.

The team's faces were full of shock, awe, and horror. Illya's face was full of fear.

Saytarus lifted his head high into the air and let out a long, loud, bloodcurdling roar. Saytarus then stared directly at Illya and grinned.