On the New York main battlefield, the fighting never stopped.
Humans and Deep Sea creatures fell every minute.
Relying on extraordinary command ability, Jeanne d'Arc held back an invasion force of three to four hundred thousand Deep Sea monsters using barely fifteen thousand irregular fighters, locking them outside the defensive perimeter.
But this was only a temporary measure.
Once ammunition ran dry, no amount of tactics could compensate for the gap in physical strength. At that point, slaughter would be inevitable.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Massive chunks of debris were ripped from buildings and hurled through the air by Deep Sea brutes with terrifying arm strength.
Some smashed foundations and brought entire buildings down.
Some landed in crowds, killing dozens instantly.
Some shattered roads and cut off supply routes.
"They're targeting the structure of our defense…"
"If we let those throwers keep going, the line collapses again!"
"Saint, what are your orders?"
Every eye turned to Jeanne d'Arc.
They believed—without question—that as long as she stood at the center, the situation could still be reversed.
She inhaled slowly.
"Execute the decapitation plan."
A silence fell.
This plan meant one thing: someone had to punch straight into the Deep Sea horde, eliminate the command units, and carve a path back out alone. No support. No rescue.
Among those present, the strongest were only Jeanne d'Arc and Gareth Ironblade.
Annie was nowhere to be found.
"Sounds exciting," said Black Swordsman, adjusting the twin blades on his back.
"I'm not suicidal," said Crimson Sniper flatly. "I'm staying on overwatch."
"I'll go," Ken said quietly, cracking his fingers as dark tendrils unfurled behind him.
"I'll open the road," rumbled Armored Titan.
Joining them were Mirrorblade Sage, Hundred-Face Hassan, and two D-Class volunteers: a rookie ninja trainee and a sharp-shooting cowboy.
"We'll support you," said Captain America.
Behind him, Falcon, War Machine, and Hulk re-entered the field after rearming.
Jeanne folded her hands and whispered a prayer.
"Until you return victorious… I will hold the line."
Falcon frowned. "Hold it how?"
She did not answer.
Instead, she raised her war banner.
Golden light began to gather around her.
"Let this boundary be sanctified."
"Grant protection to all within."
Her voice rang like a bell across the battlefield.
"Noble Phantasm — The Lord Is Here With Us!"
Light exploded outward.
A vast golden barrier swept across the entire human defensive line like divine shelter.
Boulders, debris, shockwaves—every external attack struck the light and dissolved harmlessly.
An absolute defensive domain.
A miracle.
"I will maintain this… until you return."
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