When the endless radiance dissipated, revealing the scene on the land scorched by the Holy Sword—
"What!?"
"How could this be!?"
"Damn it…"
Whether it was Saber or Irisviel, or even Saber's true Master, Kiritsugu Emiya, all were stunned upon seeing the scene before them!
The pitch-black Dragon Witch had completely shed her previous seductive and unrestrained demeanor. Her battle standard stood upright, the banner depicting the evil dragon fluttering in the air without wind. Jalter knelt on one knee, hands clasped together before her chest, eyes closed in contemplation, exuding solemnity, reverence, determination, serenity, and even an unshakeable sense of holiness! The Dragon Witch was praying… A layer of faint white light formed a secluded domain, protecting everything within it, and even behind it, from being destroyed by the might of the Holy Sword.
My faith remains!
Jalter's A-rank barrier defense noble phantasm, sublimated and synthesized by unshakeable firm belief, could directly convert her EX-rank magic resistance into a defense against all attacks that had not reached the realm of miracles!
While the destructive power of Saber's city-destroying noble phantasm was earth-shattering, it was still insufficient to break through Jalter's faith defense.
Jalter opened her eyes and stood up, her gaze not on Saber but directed towards the mountain peak a kilometer behind her, where Kiritsugu Emiya was concealed in that area.
When Jalter's gaze returned to Saber, she found the petite king of knights' face filled with shock, bewilderment, and disbelief, and she couldn't help but speak again in a mocking tone:
"What, you can't believe your ultimate trump card was directly blocked? Actually, it's nothing extraordinary. Besides blocking it directly, I could also use my offensive noble phantasm to clash with yours, but if I did that, this mountain forest would probably be razed to the ground."
However, Saber's astonishment did not fade; her gaze at Jalter remained one of disbelief, clearly not surprised that her noble phantasm was blocked, but rather...
"Battle flag, female, armor, faith, burning at the stake... Could it be that you are Joan of Arc, the Saint of France?!"
As Heroic Spirits summoned for the Holy Grail War, separated by time and coming from various eras, they had no historical connection.
Invited from their respective times, through the legends of those past eras, they also learned about heroes of later generations.
Even King Arthur of the 5th century could know the legend of Joan of Arc, the Saint of France from the 15th century, a thousand years later.
Jalter didn't expect Saber to be concerned about that, and with a raised brow, she said, "No, although there's a slight connection, I'm not that idiot.
While I dislike that idiot quite a bit, King Arthur, compared to that idiot, I despise you even more right now!"
Saber questioned, bewildered and uncomprehending, "Why?"
"Why? Because you're showing off while also pretending to be pitiful! Your childish and ridiculous wish and dream simply make me sick to my stomach!"
Without giving Saber any room to refute, Jalter pulled out her battle flag and turned, "Seeing you feign such pitifulness makes me want to hit you uncontrollably.
If my Master hadn't forbidden me from killing you, I would have burned you to ashes long ago, leaving not even a trace!
It's truly laughable that such a selfish person is also recognized as a hero."
The moment her voice fell, the figure of the dark witch vanished!
It wasn't spiritualization but a direct disappearance from that spot.
At a speed that even a Heroic Spirit's vision couldn't capture, she instantly left the range of all sight, and even the most excellent tracker couldn't trace her whereabouts.
Saber lowered her battle-ready stance, looking down at the Holy Sword in her hand, lost in thought.
The dark witch's parting words made her feel uneasy.
Her wish, her dream, her prayer to avert the tragedy of her homeland's destruction—how could such a dream be childish and selfish?!
"Saber!"
Irisviel, who had been standing on the high slope, ran towards Saber with light steps, shouting to Saber while shaking her flip phone, "Kiritsugu told us to leave here quickly; other Masters' scouts will be arriving soon."
Saber also knew this was not the time to be dazed; she immediately reacted, instantly understood the seriousness of the situation, quickly stepped forward, directly carried Irisviel on her back, and left the battle scene at a speed beyond the limits of normal human vision.
Only a vast, scorched, desolate crater remained, as if struck by a meteor.
Looking down from the sky, a large area of green forest within Miyama Town appeared as if an eraser had wiped out a circular hole in its midst!
On the other side, Rin, still in the car seat, let out a huge sigh of relief after sensing that Jalter had returned to their Twin Mansion.
When she heard Saber release the true name of her noble phantasm, her heart was in her throat.
It wasn't that she feared for Jalter's safety; Rin had great confidence in Jalter's strength.
She was afraid that Jalter would truly get angry and, regardless of the consequences, directly reveal her noble phantasm to clash with Saber!
If that happened, it would truly become unmanageable.
If Jalter didn't show herself, all Masters would be in fear for their lives, not daring to make a move.
Now, the situation was slightly better, though Saber would probably be exposed.
But it didn't matter; her identity was already revealed in the first battle of the original work/canon anyway.
However, it was good; these actions not only showed their swords in the dark but also served as a warning.
Now, all participants would probably have to make a move.
"Ugh..."
Looking at that familiar, unchanging radiance, Lancelot's nostalgic and excited emotions were conveyed to Rin through the contract link.
Rin smiled as she communicated with Lancelot, "Even after such a long time, will Lancelot, engulfed in madness, still be drawn by that radiance?"
The Berserker, in spiritualized form, still looked in that direction; the light had faded and dispersed, but he still faced that way.
"The memory of gathering under that light in the past, as a Knight of the Round Table, and riding alongside my King on the battlefield, is a sight Lancelot will never forget, even after one hundred, two hundred, or even a thousand years.
It is a memory that, even if I fall into hell, I will never let go of!"
"Is that so? I truly envy such an Artoria.
I hope that the memories of our battle together this time will also be worth cherishing when you return to the Throne of Heroes."
"I believe they will."
"That would be for the best."
At this moment, the vehicle emitted an arrival notification sound:
"Next stop, Shin-Shino."
"Ahhhhhhhh! I missed my stop!"
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