"Gudako...? Was that a woman's name?"
Jeanne d'Arc Alter had not known Gudako's name beforehand. Well, this orange-haired girl apparently also had the nickname "Fujimaru Ritsuka," but there was no need for anyone to remember that. It would not be on the test.
"Were all Magi at the end of the century freaks?"
"Not exactly."
Lianye shook his head. "There are only two at our level."
The remaining forty-eight were not nearly as impressive. They were all sealed away in cryogenic chambers to prolong their lives.
"Then I'll defeat both of you and continue my plan of destruction!"
Consumed by rage, Jeanne d'Arc Alter seemed not to understand that this goal might be far more difficult than destroying all of France.
The fallen saint planted the evil dragon army banner bearing the Dragon crest into the ground and drew her one-handed sword.
"Then—come."
Lianye answered, ruthlessly driving the Demacian War Banner in his hand into the "ground" as well. He pointed the blade of his war halberd at Jeanne d'Arc Alter in response. He also wanted to test Jeanne d'Arc Alter's frontal combat ability and see how her skills differed from White Jeanne and Jeanne d'Arc Lily.
—Since they were all Jeanne d'Arc, they should be evenly matched, right?!
Plant the banner, then duel!
That was a fairly common way for medieval knights to settle disputes. War banners had originally been flashy tools meant to display one's identity or flaunt one's might. Their ability to protect or repel enemies as Noble Phantasms was merely the result of buffs gained after being elevated into Noble Phantasms.
Using them to plant banners, declare one's identity, and mark out ground for a duel happened to bring out the banners' most primitive purpose.
However, Fafnir, who was being randomly "stabbed" as if he were