Opening his eyes, Homura found that the sky had already turned dark, while his head was no longer on Hyouka's lap.

"You're awake. Hyouka and Akira left to stock up on supplies."

Sitting up, Homura found Yona seated across him with a can of beer in her hand.

"Here."

Catching the beer can, Homura pulled the tab and took a gulp.

"Haaah..."

Letting out a satisfied sigh, Homura placed the can down on the table and said.

"If Hyouka found us drinking, we're going to get killed."

"Kekeke..."

Snickering, Yona took another swig of her beer, before saying.

"You drink and smoke whenever it's your turn to keep watch."

"Without alcohol and tobacco, life just isn't complete. Cheers."

"Cheers."

Clinking their cans together, the two cheered and downed the rest of their beer.

"Doesn't this remind you of the first time we snuck your mother's beer out of the house?"

Homura said, throwing the empty can into the distant trash can.

"How?"

Raising an eyebrow, Yona opened her second can while asking.

"It was nighttime, and we were alone on the roof. While your mom was behind you with her paper fan."

Homura pointed at Hyouka, who was standing behind Yona with her arms crossed. A translucent demon mask appeared behind her, while an illusionary mist of blood formed around her.

Sensing the bloodlust, Yona calmly placed her beer can onto the table and stood up.

"I'll see you later."

Leaving those words behind, Yona sprinted away, leaving behind a trail of smoke.

"Yona! Stop there!"

Hyouka yelled, chasing after Yona.

"Hahaha..."

Laughing, Homura walked over to Akira who was unpacking the supplies.

"So? How was meeting your mother for the first time?"

Homura asked, causing Akira to freeze up before speaking.

"...She felt familiar."

The child of Demeter answered, his voice soft.

"She fitted Dad's description. But, I don't know if I want to call a woman who abandoned her family as my mother."

Shaking his head, Akira continued to unpack.

"Hmm..."

Letting out a thoughtful hum, Homura patted Akira's back and said before walking away.

"Even if I hate the Gods, I still have to say this. She's still your mother, no matter what she's done. However, no matter what you choose, we will be behind you on it. We're family, aren't we?"

Homura's parting words made Akira slow down, and a look of contemplation appear on his face.

...

Within an unknown location, a meeting was occurring.

"How much longer?"

Ripping off a chunk of meat from the lamb leg she held, Caenis faced Medea and asked. Around her, were multiple wooden barrels and a few animal carcasses.

Placed in front of Caenis, was an open-fire grill with a three-legged grilled lamb on it.

"At least another month."

Medea replied without looking up from her work table before continuing.

"Once I link all the leylines of America together, I should be able to empower our Saint Graphs enough to reach the realm of the Olympians."

"One month, huh? I've waited for some many years to kill them, so another month isn't going to make any difference."

After saying so, Caenis washed down the lamb with a barrel of ale, before letting out a satisfying burp.

"...Could you stop eating right behind me!? I can't concentrate!"

Medea shouted, a vein threatening to pop on her forehead.

"What's the point of eating! You're a Servant!"

"Eating and drinking! That's the pleasure of life!"

Laughing boisterously, Caenis devoured the remainder of the lamb leg.

"Homura and his allies will be a problem. The four may be less experienced than us, but their talent for combat is the real deal. If we don't eliminate them now, they will be a problem."

Leaning against the wall, Alcides suddenly stated.

"Then you search for them. I like fighting against Homura. He's getting stronger every time we fight."

Caenis snorted, ripping off another lamb leg from the grill.

"Other than Medea who is currently busy, we aren't good trackers."

Aiming at Witch of Colchis with her half-eaten lamb leg, Caenis pointed out.

"Don't point that thing at me."

Medea shot a laser at the lamb leg, turning it into dust.

"..."

Dusting off the ashes of her hand, Caenis ripped off another lamb leg and bit into it.

"What are your thoughts on this, Medusa?"

Alcides looked up at the tree and asked.

Standing atop a tree branch was a woman with long purple hair and a similarly coloured eye cover.

...

Within the forest surrounding the Yuugami base, a group of young women dressed in silver parkas and equipped with bows gathered.

They were the Hunters of Artemis, the virgin maidens of the moon goddess.

One of the Hunters took out a bottle of water and sprayed into the air, flashing a light at the mist at the same time, creating an artificial rainbow.

"Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering and connect to Lady Artemis."

While saying so, the Hunter flipped a golden drachma into the artificial rainbow.

The drachma disappeared, and less than a second later, the image of Artemis appeared on the rainbow.

"What is it, Thalia? Do you have news on the three?"

Artemis questioned.

"Yes, we have discovered an abandoned warehouse located deep in the woods. After further investigation, we found traces of human activities and divinity. It is highly likely that this warehouse is their hideout."

Thalia reported.

"...Alright. Stay where you are and do not make any unauthorized moves. I shall bring the rest of your sisters to your location, and then we shall move to capture them."

After a few seconds of consideration, Artemis issued her orders.

"Yes, My-!"

Before Thalia could finish her sentence, an arrow shot through the artificial rainbow and dispersed the mist, cutting off the Iris Message.

Stunned by the sudden attack, the Hunters were momentarily frozen.

Taking advantage of their daze, Homura and Yona shot multiple rubber arrows at the heads of the Hunters, effectively knocking them out.

"The Hunters of Artemis? How did they find us so fast?"

Examining the unconscious form of the Hunters, Yona asked.

"Other than Hyouka, none of us can use Magecraft. What's more, Hyouka's specialization doesn't lie in Bounded Fields. The Hunters of Artemis can easily bypass the redirection barrier that Hyouka set up."

Homura explained while picking up a few of the Hunters.

"Let's go, Artemis will be here any second."

Gesturing to Yona with his head, Homura walked towards the Yuugami base.

"I am already here!"

A cold, female voice sounded from behind Homura, accompanied by a silver arrow that grazed his cheek.

Feeling the blood drip down his cheek, Homura dropped the Hunters and leapt towards Yona while materializing his bow.

Nocking three arrows and aiming at Artemis, Homura found him and Yona surrounded by the Hunters of Artemis.

Yona had already drawn her bow and was ready to fight.

"Who are you, boy?"

Artemis questioned, her cold gaze fixed on Homura.

"I have no obligation to reply to you."

Homura smirked, drawing his bowstring even more.

"Some of my Hunters have already invaded your camp. If you do not surrender now, your friend will be in danger."

Artemis threatened.

"My brother and my sister will not be defeated by a few of your Hunters. Unless your Hunters have immunity against poison made using Gorgon or Hydra blood, I don't think they are going to survive."

Yona laughed, but her expression immediately changed into one more aggressive.

"However, on the off-chance that my family gets harmed. I will kill every single one of your Hunters and destroy every trace of your existence. I will make sure you fade into inexistence like your predecessor."

"You!"

Hearing Yona's threat caused Artemis' eyes to turn red in anger.

Feeling the killing intent radiating from Artemis, Homura immediately released his arrows and shot at her feet.

"Stay there."

Warning the goddess, Homura shouted at the direction of the base.

"Akira, Hyouka! Come here! If you haven't killed those Hunters, then bring them along!"

There was no response, but less than a minute later, Akira and Hyouka entered the fray while dragging five Hunters tied with a rope.

"What do you wish to do, Lady Artemis."

Materializing his stone greatsword, Homura placed the blade against Thalia's neck.

"Do you not fear my retaliation!?"

Artemis shouted.

"I think my actions speak for themselves."

Homura's smile disappeared as he spoke, pushing his sword a tiny bit closer into Thalia's neck, causing a few drops of blood to appear.

"...What do you want?"

Gritting her teeth, Artemis asked, her knuckles growing whiter as she tightened her hold over her bow.

"We settle this like the olden times. A duel between representatives, without weapons, tools or blessings, only using their limbs. Will you accept?"

Dematerializing his sword, Homura suggested.

Seeing Homura release Thalia, Artemis contemplated his suggestion.

"I accept. My representative shall be Reyna, my newest Hunter."

Artemis nodded and pointed to one of her Hunters, a beautiful young woman of Hispanic descent.

"Then, my representative shall be Akira...Can you do it?"

Homura said, before turning to Akira and whispering.

Akira nodded after a few seconds of hesitation.

"Okay! Akira is my representative."

Clapping his hands together, Homura declared before continuing.

"If Akira wins, the Olympians shall leave my family and me alone."

"Then if Reyna wins, you shall release my Hunters, and all of you will come to Olympus with me."

Artemis quickly said, not allowing Homura to say anything else.

"Alright, then let us take a swear on River Styx."

Homura nodded and said, before materializing his sword and pointing it at Artemis.

"...What are you doing?"

Artemis questioned, puzzled by Homura's actions.

"We shake on it while taking the oath, but I don't want to touch you. So shake the sword."

Homura's expression and tone remained neutral when he spoke, making it hard for it to sound like an insult.

"..."

Narrowing her eyes, Artemis still complied and grabbed the tip of the sword, hard.

"We swear on River Styx, that no unfairness shall occur during this duel and we shall keep all promises made."

Lighting struck, signifying the establishment of the oath.