Shinji found himself completely unable to follow Atalanta's train of thought.
"Uh, I just complimented the beautiful moonlight. How does that turn into disrespecting the moon goddess?"
"Artemis is great, noble, and sacred. How dare you mention her with such a tone?"
When Atalanta was abandoned, Artemis was the first to extend a helping hand. Since then, the moon goddess had become her sole faith, an existence supreme in her heart, not allowing any form of desecration.
"Well, I was talking about the moonlight, not the moon goddess—ah, sorry, sorry. I forgot you're a devout follower of the moon goddess."
Halfway through his explanation, Shinji finally remembered Atalanta's legend and hurriedly tried to mend the situation.
Although Atalanta's reaction was exaggerated, it wasn't surprising. In many mythologies, celestial bodies are synonymous with the deities themselves, and Greek mythology is no exception.
For example, Apollo, the sun god, opposed his sister Artemis's union with Orion and tricked her into killing him. When Artemis learned the truth, she grew to hate her brother and never saw him again. Thus, the sun rises by day, and the moon by night, alternating in cycles.
Disrespecting the moon, in Artemis's eyes, equates to disrespecting the moon goddess.
These nature deity followers are troublesome, Shinji grumbled silently. After hesitating for a moment, he added, "You... probably haven't met the moon goddess in person, right? Maybe you haven't even directly communicated with her much."
"So what if I haven't?"
Atalanta retorted, her tone sour. This fact wouldn't shake her faith.
Shinji chuckled.
"If you had met her, you wouldn't be saying that."
"Like you've met her. Then tell me, what is the real Lady Artemis like?"
"Do you want to know? I think it's better if you don't, to avoid shattering your faith."
"Nothing can shake my faith in Lady Artemis."
"Then what if I told you the moon goddess you worship is a love-struck romantic, naturally inclined, hopelessly in love with that playboy Orion, and is incredibly jealous? What would you do?"
"I..."
Atalanta's eyes filled with blood, her chest heaving violently, "No—"
Seeing Atalanta in such a state, Shinji shrugged helplessly. I warned you, but you insisted on hearing it. Don't blame me if your faith shatters.
"—Unforgivable!"
Shinji quickly tried to console her.
"Hey, hey, don't be so shocked. Gods are like humans; they have emotions and desires. Romance is quite normal. You should understand—"
"—Unforgivable!"
Atalanta's expression twisted with rage. If the fury in her eyes could become tangible, it would reduce the entire battlefield to ashes.
"You blasphemer of Lady Artemis."
"What? Blaspheme the moon goddess?"
Shinji was utterly bewildered. This reaction was not what he expected—where was the faith collapse?
"Wait, wait, that's not what I meant. What I said is true."
"Great moon goddess Artemis, please forgive me. This is also to punish the sinner who disrespects you."
At this point, Atalanta refused to exchange another word with Shinji. She had already categorized him as someone who must be punished by any means necessary.
To use such vulgar terms to describe Lady Artemis.
Unforgivable!
Unforgivable!
The enraged huntress put away her bow and took out a piece of pitch-black cloth.
No, it wasn't a piece of cloth! Upon closer inspection, one could see its surface bristled with hair, forming a twisted shape.
Seeing this ominous pelt, Shinji felt a chill and cursed aloud:
"What the—! A boar's hide? Archer, have you lost your mind?!"
This pelt was Atalanta's second Noble Phantasm.
The Calydonian Boar. King Oeneus of Calydon, in his offerings to the twelve Olympian gods, had neglected to offer one to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. Some say the reason he didn't offer a sacrifice was because he was chosen as the sacrifice. Regardless, Artemis, feeling slighted, sent a giant beast as punishment.
To call it a boar was an understatement. Its body was enormous, emitting a foul stench that polluted vast areas. Crops would rot and spoil merely by its proximity, making it a living disaster just by existing there.
People quickly organized a hunting party.
As Greek heroes volunteered one after another, the only woman to join the hunt was Atalanta. And while many men were devoured by the beast without even getting a shot off, it was her arrow that first pierced the monster.
Afterward, through the blood-soaked efforts of the surviving men, the beast was finally slain. It was Meleager, the son of King Oeneus, who delivered the final blow with a spear and skinned the beast, severing its head.
However, he gave the pelt and the head to Atalanta.
"You were the first to draw its blood. Therefore, this pelt rightfully belongs to you."
Whether this act was out of romantic affection or simply a desire for fairness is unclear. What is clear is that the survivors vehemently protested.
Some argued that if Meleager didn't need the pelt, it should be given to them; others claimed Atalanta's arrow did no real harm to the beast, and the pelt should go to the one who truly wounded it—
For Atalanta, who lived in the forest, status and honor meant nothing.
However, to say her arrow didn't wound the beast was an insult too far.
Thus began a pointless slaughter. Those who loved her, those who hated her, and those who coveted her all met tragic ends.
Atalanta kept the pelt, now adorned with countless grudges and delusions. She saw it as a sign from Artemis—never to fall in love, for love only breeds hatred.
She had never intended to use it.
But the pelt of the beast existed here, as a Noble Phantasm.
It was a meaningless Noble Phantasm until recently, even though she had brought it into this world.
Now, she understood its purpose.
This Noble Phantasm could only be used when she was consumed by hatred.
It was a blessing bestowed when she harbored the desire to tear her opponent to pieces, regardless of what happened to herself.
Ah, perhaps I am mad. I don't care if I die or go insane.
I just cannot forgive this man, this desecrator of sacred hunts, this blasphemer of the great moon goddess. I am willing to pay any price for it!
Lady Artemis, please lend me your strength.
The Calydonian Boar, a messenger of the moon goddess Artemis is a symbol of divine punishment, but also a manifestation of hatred and desire.
Wrapped around a boar, it becomes a great beast that ravages lands; wrapped around a human, it turns them into a monster surpassing humanity; wrapped around a hero—it transforms their body into that of a demon.
In her final prayer to the moon goddess, Atalanta held up the boar's pelt, ready to drape it over herself.