"Bastard!" roared Semiramis, her voice dripping with fury as she gazed down upon the devastation before her eyes.
The Hanging Gardens—her pride, the very symbol of her existence, the materialization of her legend—lay in ruins. Floors ripped apart, pillars collapsed, entire corridors reduced to rubble. At least eighty percent of her creation had been destroyed or erased outright by the violence of the battle.
Her heart clenched as though every shattered stone was a dagger stabbing her chest. She knew it would take two or three days of relentless effort to restore everything… and even then, it would never be the same.
Semiramis's gaze darkened, her eyes sinking into a shadowed abyss. Then she cast a venomous glare at Karna—sharp enough to curse.
He was one of the culprits behind this destruction.
Yet the Indian warrior showed no concern.
Karna stood tall, imposing, as if the devastation was nothing more than a breeze brushing against him. His lips curved ever so slightly, a faint smile—a flash of satisfaction. He was calm, even joyful.
The clash with Arthur had brought him an unprecedented joy. The impact of each strike, the crushing pressure… it all made him feel alive. Though their duel had ended abruptly once again, Karna knew deep down this was not the end, but merely a prelude.
"Wait for me, King Gilgamesh… our final confrontation is inevitable. Sooner or later, it will reach its conclusion," he murmured, his voice low and resolute.
---
At the same time, Arthur soared through the skies, leaving the floating fortress behind—Chiron in his right arm, Jeanne firmly in his left, and Mordred still unconscious upon his back.
The wind whipped across his face as he flew at high speed.
Jeanne looked back, her eyes widening at the devastation wrought by the battle between Arthur and Karna. Broken towers, shattered walls, the landscape scarred as though the wrath of the gods themselves had struck. She let out a deep sigh, her voice soft but trembling with awe:
"As expected of you… this level of destruction is beyond imagination."
Arthur gave no reply. His silence was eloquent. The fight against Karna had granted him something rare: genuine joy, a blazing flame that reignited his warrior's soul.
Still reflecting, Jeanne whispered:
"What should we do now?"
Arthur turned his eyes toward her, his voice firm, unyielding:
"I think that's quite obvious, Jeanne. You must put an end to Shirou Amakusa."
Jeanne raised her face, startled by the weight of those words.
"That's right!" she answered with conviction.
Her heart burned with determination. She finally understood the reason for her summoning—she knew she could no longer remain neutral. Her impartiality had reached its end. Fate demanded she choose a side.
And so, Jeanne d'Arc, the Ruler, would join the Black Faction. Alone, she would never stand a chance of even approaching Shirou Amakusa.
Chiron smiled warmly, welcomingly.
"Welcome to the Black Faction, Ruler."
She nodded lightly, but Arthur quickly interjected:
"Leave the greetings aside. There's something more urgent now: protecting Roche."
Chiron's face hardened instantly. Without delay, he began contacting his Master, Fiore, to raise the alarm.
Jeanne, puzzled, asked:
"The Roche you speak of… isn't he Avicebron's Master? But didn't he offer to protect his Servant? Why should we be concerned about him?"
Arthur answered without hesitation, his tone edged with steel:
"The very fact you ask that shows you still don't understand the true nature of magi. Most of them, consumed by their own ambitions, have no regard for life or feelings. Avicebron never intended to protect Roche. His true desire is something else: to complete the Noble Phantasm he left unfinished in life… the Golem Keter Malkuth."
Chiron added:
"And to activate it, he requires a core. Nothing is more suitable than the heart of a first-rate magus. To him, Roche is nothing more than fuel."
Jeanne's eyes widened in shock.
"What?! That's horrible!"
Arthur confirmed coldly:
"Yes. Avicebron's goal is to use Roche's heart as the core."
Chiron then continued:
"I've already notified my Master. She must restrain Roche at once. We can't let him fall prey to Avicebron's deception."
At that moment, Mordred began to stir. Her blurred vision slowly adjusted until she recognized where she was. Perplexed, she realized she was being carried on Arthur's back as he flew swiftly through the skies, Jeanne and Chiron cradled in his arms.
Mordred huffed, her pride wounded, and muttered irritably:
"Master…"
Arthur glanced back and chuckled softly.
"Sorry, Mordred. I guess I got a little carried away fighting Karna."
She narrowed her eyes, still annoyed.
"You'd better not interrupt my next fight again."
With a rough motion, she wrapped her arms around Arthur's neck, almost as if trying to put him in a chokehold.
Arthur burst out laughing.
"All right, all right, I promise I won't interfere in your next battle."
Jeanne and Chiron couldn't hold back their laughter at the scene. The heavy tension around them seemed to melt away, replaced briefly by the lightness of camaraderie.
---
"Hey!"
The call rang out from the walls of Millennia Fortress. Arthur slowed his pace, glancing down to see who it was.
Astolfo was waving cheerfully, with Frankenstein, Caules, and Fiore standing at his side.
"Welcome back! How did things go with the Red Faction?" Astolfo shouted, smiling as brightly as ever.
Arthur landed firmly atop the wall, setting Jeanne and Chiron down and allowing Mordred to climb off his back. His expression, however, was grim as he answered:
"The Greater Grail is now in the hands of the Red Faction. Vlad III and Darnic are dead."
Mordred spat to the side, her voice laced with fury:
"And that masked bastard betrayed us."
"Let's head inside, and I'll explain everything. Fiore, summon the other Masters of Yggdmillennia," Arthur ordered as he strode into the fortress, with Mordred and Jeanne following close behind.
After briefing Fiore on the essentials of what had occurred, Chiron entered the fortress alongside her.
Soon after, Caules, Frankenstein, and Astolfo followed them inside.
---
(End of Chapter)
A/N: Sorry for the short chapter.
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."