Chapter 194
That's right, they can neither call out to them nor find the location of their Master.
So Amakusa had no choice but to make this decision, but fortunately Jeanne d'Arc didn't arrive here immediately, which was quite lucky.
However, while this is the case for the Red Faction, the Black Faction, in order to ensure their advantage, has sent Siegfried, a dragon-slaying hero with no 'flaws' and a close friend of the world-renowned King of the Huns, to deal with the Ruler. After all, in their view, the King of the Huns once destroyed Church, so it is perfectly normal for his friend Siegfried to eliminate the Ruler.
And so, under the pitch-black night, on one side, there was a fierce battle between the five Servant the Black Faction and the four Servant of the Red Faction, and on the other side, there was a meeting between the dragon-slaying hero and the savior Saintess in Bucharest, the City with the Fifth Sun.
265: The time has come to prove you are a believer. You know what to do. (4k)
Rouen, France, in the distant past.
The flames gradually scorched the skin, charred the flesh, and burned the bones. If cursing was a song from a distant land, then Sorrow was like a mother's lullaby.
While many cursed the Saintess was being executed, some wept for her sake.
Therefore, being verbally abused is not an unbearable pain.
You should have known this would be the outcome, right?
A voice echoed in my ears, or perhaps within my heart.
She knew, of course she knew. She knew that as long as she kept fighting, this day would eventually come. So even if someone called her stupid, there was nothing she could do, but she absolutely wouldn't allow herself to laugh at her own choice as foolish.
Whether Witch or Saintess, they have lives saved through this, so this path is definitely not wrong, as long as everyone in France can muster the courage from now on, even if it means doing so for themselves.
And so, amidst the raging flames, the young girl of Domrémy, who had heard the voice of God and chosen the path of battle for her village, her country, and the Lord, met the end of her Flesh suffering.
Despite living in such a cruel and tragic situation, until the very end, she felt no remorse, only a pure and virtuous prayer—
Lord, I will dedicate myself to You.
The final sentence signifies the complete severing of human consciousness and the liberation of the body from all forms of suffering.
The girl's dream ended there, but it wasn't over yet, for the Saintess's dream was only just beginning.
Back to the present, on a highway outside Bucharest, the capital of Romania, the faint moonlight is insufficient to illuminate the road and road signs; one can only rely on the feel of the asphalt surface to confirm whether they are on the right road.
As the Ruler, Jeanne d'Arc sensed the presence of Servant approaching her, so she got out of the taxi to avoid causing unnecessary casualties.
"The one who comes here must be the Ruler."
The voice came from directly in front of her, and through Jeanne d'Arc's eyes, she saw a White-Haired Goddess man holding Demonic Sword slowly approaching her.
The Demonic Sword was magnificent and heavy, making one feel that it could not have been forged by human hands. The most eye-catching part was the blue gemstone inlaid on the hilt.
"You are the Black Faction's Saber, aren't you, Siegfried?"
"Um."
The nod of the dragon-slaying hero was undoubtedly enough to make many Servant of the Church feel uneasy. The reason is simple: Siegfried was among the Western Rome Church when it was destroyed. Therefore, based on this, the 'Seat' might grant him special attacks.
"Then, Siegfried, what are you doing here?"
"Just like before, Saintess Maiden, you are a member of the Church, aren't you? In that case, the reason why Siegfried and I are here is quite obvious, isn't it?"
The fat man who walked out from behind Siegfried was Siegfried's Master, Gordes of the Yggdmillennia Family, and also the father of the fat Director of Chaldea in another world. The father and son's personalities were almost identical, but one focused on the glory of Magecraft, while the other focused on human nature. Perhaps it was because Gordes was raised by Magecraft elders, while his son Goredolf was taught by a homunculus with human Homunculus.
Although Jeanne d'Arc had already made up her mind, hearing the announcement still disappointed her greatly. However, it also made her extremely cautious, after all, the person in front of her was a former great hero who had once destroyed the Church with the King of the Huns, which showed that his strength was absolutely formidable.
"In that case, I also have an obligation to abide by the rules of this war. I can only eliminate you before I see that Deity, Siegfried."
Jeanne d'Arc declared to the equally indifferent Siegfried with a cold expression.
For Jeanne d'Arc of Arc, the sudden announcement of the existence of the 'Fifth Sun' was truly a... warming feeling?
Or perhaps it was the feeling of being easy to get along with that led her to Bucharest in a daze, intending to meet the person. Strangely enough, although she hadn't heard the voice of God in a long time, Jeanne d'Arc felt that when the figure appeared, the voice of God seemed to say something, but she couldn't make it out.
However, since it is an existence acknowledged by God, it must be the kind of good God that everyone strives to be, even if it is Heterodox Faith one.
Jeanne d'Arc thought so.
As for Siegfried, he didn't care too much about the 'Fifth Sun' in the Americas. After all, although he saw a 'campfire' similar to the one in the past in the Sun, he just thought it was because of the Sun. In Siegfried's memory, Avia always had silver hair like him, not blond hair.
I once met someone whose Divine Image yours.
Siegfried said something inexplicable, Jeanne d'Arc tilted her head, as if she didn't know why they were talking about this when war had already been declared.
"Augustine, as Saintess, you should know this person."
"Ah..."
Augustine? What Augustine? Which Augustine?
While the Holy Grail contains essential knowledge applicable to modern life, one cannot expect too much from the Saintess's level of education.
Ah... it's Augustine, one of the Saint who wrote "The City of God"... "The City of God" has so many words, and I can't understand it at all.
Although she quickly tried to read the book using the knowledge bestowed by the Holy Grail, the girl felt overwhelmed after just one glance. However, she nodded nonchalantly when Siegfried asked her a question.
"That man is undoubtedly a hero, in some ways more so than I am..." Siegfried remained indifferent. "If you looked at me like that, then you shouldn't have fought me."
"... I see. Hmm, how should I put it, it's that... I should be familiar with it, right..."
"However, it's merely a resemblance, so there's no need to say more, Ruler."
The Od that surged instantly after Siegfried uttered those words left Jeanne d'Arc speechless. He had no intention of fighting and planned to unleash the true name of his Noble Phantasm directly.
"That's right, Siegfried, just use your Noble Phantasm!"
Gordes shouted, and that was exactly what he had in mind.
Therefore, Siegfried's Noble Phantasm will be activated before Jeanne d'Arc exercises her 'Class Authority'.
Just as Jeanne d'Arc hastily summoned her weapon, the 'Banner,' to prepare for resistance, Siegfried's Demonic Sword, guided by a blue light resembling a 'leaf' on its back, shone like the rising Sun, illuminating the night.
When Jeanne d'Arc summoned her weapon, the 'Banner,' the world froze for a moment, not because of Jeanne d'Arc of Arc, but because of Siegfried.
For the sword of illusion that once roared and slayed enemies, piercing through demonic energy, has now appeared.
In Jeanne d'Arc's eyes, the scene of Siegfried's dragon transformation as his Demonic Sword manifested, along with the brutal battle between numerous Phantasmal Species and a massive army of Magecraft, was like a dream. It depicted what could be considered the final, mysterious war of the fifth century. But how many people would actually believe such a legend?
However, in any case, on that day, the mythology of the Church was completely brought to an end.
Jeanne d'Arc of Arc, who was considered part of the Church, certainly felt this way.
That Demonic Sword, and most importantly, that leaf, seemed capable of Overturning the laws of the All Creation. It appeared not only to be able to accomplish many things that Magecraft could achieve, but also to be able to reproduce phenomena that were close to the realm of True Magic.
Therefore, it substantially conveys a chilling fear to those who use the Bible Foundation, a fear powerful enough to kill. When a person observes something terrifying that does not exist in this world, even if the Flesh is not destroyed, the spirit will collapse.
Especially when there are no means to counter it, the situation will be more certain to fall into crisis.
But for the Saintess, such pain was entirely bearable, and not something insurmountable.
"Lord, bring forth your divine work—"
"I see, I'll be right there."
Just then, a 'Revelation' was born in Jeanne d'Arc's heart. It was a voice that was different from the voice of God she knew before, yet felt extremely similar, as if there was a decisive difference between them somewhere.
Holding the Banner, Jeanne d'Arc stared in astonishment into the distance. Even though she couldn't perceive it visually, she could still sense the overwhelming, pure heat, comparable to the Sun.
Without a doubt, it is the Sun God who appeared in the Americas here.
But why?
He actually received God's 'Revelation'?!
"Phantasmal Greatsword"
But at that moment, Siegfried roared loudly.
Even today, the hero who slays the dragon has a wish: even if he lives a happy life and is admired by many, he receives not only blessings and praise, but also insults for participating in the war of his close friend, which led to the destruction of the Church.
"Ugh, I can't stand it! Why do you keep talking about that guy? Why don't you just go live with him?!"
After the destruction of the Church, he experienced various events, found love, and eventually settled in the land of his former friend Beowulf. His lover often murmured these words.
"They're friends after all."
"Friend, friend, why don't you tell Beowulf that although you did kill Fafnir with him, you did a lot too, didn't you?"
"You can't say that. Without Avia, I might not have been able to defeat Fafnir so easily. Avia was the one who put in the most effort."
"Speechless, how could I possibly like... Oh well--"
"But then again, I do love you, that's not a lie, Kriemhild."
"Aaaaaah, what nonsense are you spouting?! Don't talk nonsense, okay?! Keep those kinds of thoughts to yourself, okay?!"
"Don't always remain silent about important things and then act as if nothing's wrong, or you'll be very lonely," Avia once told me. And it's true, important things must be said no matter what...
What was once a vast, cold, white wasteland has now become a warm and beautiful world.
The dragon-slaying hero and the king of the kingdom competed in drinking contests and continued their naked battles in the snow year after year. The amount of alcohol they drank increased, and their fighting skills improved, but unfortunately, they never saw the person they were supposed to see.
The dragon-slaying hero, even at the very end, still hoped to meet again.
That is why the heroes who fight today are fighting again for the person who once made them understand the benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and love they believed in.
This was Siegfried's dream, his wish.
I want to see Avia again.
"The Heavenly Demon’s Fall!"
The Twilight light, comparable to that capable of destroying an entire legion on an ancient battlefield, mingled with the raging blue lightning, and the raging flashes of light, aimed only at pure destruction, intended to devour the tiny Saintess, for the light came from the heavens and ravaged everything.
This space, filled with red and blue light, seemed to announce the end of the world. Perhaps it was sublimation, or perhaps it was because of that leaf, that it created a scene that could only have been born in the Age of Gods in human history.
Without intervention, this area could have been wiped out, but everything eventually comes to an end.
The ever-expanding light subsided in an instant, vanishing like dust, and the dazzling Sun shone down, while surging waves of Od rolled on.
Sometimes near, sometimes far; sometimes near, sometimes far.
Then--
Novia looked down at the man who was staring at her in a daze and said.
"It's been a long time, Siegfried."
"How..."
Gordes was speechless, partly because he was surprised by Siegfried's disappearance of his Noble Phantasm, and partly because he was astonished by the person who had appeared.
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief and looked down, only to find that it was the Fifth Sun, wearing a half- Jaguar Man Mask in a style distinctly the Americas, who was holding Siegfried's Demonic Sword. Gordes simply couldn't believe it; how could his Noble Phantasm, which he had already unleashed, be so easily suppressed?
And that's just using his hands! That's incredibly impressive!
Even if Servant of god-level status is downgraded, it's still too overpowered!
"... Indeed, I didn't expect it to be you. And you look really good with blonde hair."
At the very moment Siegfried muttered those words, he naturally smiled, though the smile was fleeting and so subtle that it went unnoticed by anyone. But it was at that moment that he truly smiled again after many years.
"This is something that can't be helped."
"Indeed, Avia."
Only now did the dragon-slaying hero belatedly realize that the man's eyes evoked a sense of nostalgia. Although the identity he had revealed was not the same as before, his essence remained unchanged; in fact, he had always been the same.
You can still call me Favia.
"Is that so? But according to the information the Holy Grail gave me, isn't the Fifth Sun God of the Americas Tonatiuh? In that case, perhaps I should call you Favia Tonatiuh? Isn't that right?"
"That's true, but it's too long and can be troublesome. But really, it's all the same; you can call it whatever you want." Novia sighed and continued, "Speaking of which, now that you've participated in the Holy Grail War, is there something you wish for?"
"No, no." Siegfried shook his head. "I just came to check on things. You know I come when someone calls for me."
In fact, his wish had already been fulfilled, so there was no need to say it aloud.
"The same old story—"
"Um... could you do me a favor? Ah, Fa, no, I should call you Lord Tonatiuh, right?"
Just as the two were talking, Jeanne d'Arc of Arc, who was standing to the side, clenched her fists and shouted, perhaps feeling that it was inappropriate to be making a request while still wearing armor. So she hurriedly removed the armor that was woven with Od and changed back into her original casual clothes.
In truth, the Saintess, who had just heard the voice of God again, had some doubts about whether the 'Revelation' was orchestrated by the blond man before her. After all, this was the first time she had ever heard the voice fluctuate even slightly.
"Ha... Pagan God are not allowed to appear. You should know what to do."