Watching the blood-red sword aura condensed from Kriemhild's crimson, blood-like magical energy, Siegfried's expression changed several times before he ultimately drew his silver-white Demonic Sword Balmung and blocked in front of everyone.
As if sensing the aura of the other Demonic Sword Balmung, the moment the silver-white greatsword in Siegfried's hands touched the blood-red sword aura, it spontaneously emitted a burst of silver light, helping Siegfried neutralize this attack.
But even so, after taking this strike, Siegfried's body uncontrollably retreated a few meters. Even the Armor of Fafnir on his body had dimmed in luster because it was tainted by the splattering blood-red magical energy.
The reason for all of this was that Kriemhild's magical energy had reached A-rank. Based on this point alone, Siegfried's Armor of Fafnir was completely useless against Kriemhild.
And Siegfried clearly realized this as well. While his expression inevitably grew grave, he also looked at Kriemhild opposite him with complex emotions.
"Kriemhild..."
He instinctively wanted to open his mouth to say something, but when his gaze touched her pale and bewitching face, Siegfried did not know how to speak.
Even though he knew long ago that he would meet her, even though he knew this was the echo of destiny, inescapable and unavoidable.
But upon truly seeing that face again, those gloomy emotions—regret, guilt—acted like stoppers blocking his heart, rendering him unable to voice his feelings.
In fact, his desire earlier to use the excuse of saving Sieg to exit the stage early... was there not also the reason that he did not know how to face her?
Kriemhild clearly noticed Siegfried's abnormal behavior as well. A mockful smile appeared on her lips as she addressed him.
"What is the matter, Lord Siegfried? Are you surprised to see me? Wanting to speak but holding back. Do you not want to say something to me, this wife of yours to whom you never expressed love?!"
"I apologize, Kriemhild."
Seeing the gray-haired girl's emotions becoming agitated, Siegfried instinctively spoke.
"I just... never expected you to appear here too, Kriemhild."
"Hah?!"
Hearing that Siegfried not only failed to say what she wanted to hear but still used that tone and spoke such irritating words, Kriemhild's expression instantly turned cold.
"So, Lord Siegfried, do you mean you do not wish to see me here? Or have you actually been tired of me all along?!"
"No, that is not what I meant, Kriemhild..."
Looking at Kriemhild's eyes, which were gradually filling with killing intent, Siegfried immediately realized he had misspoken again. He instinctively wanted to explain, but right at this moment, a voice abruptly interrupted their conversation.
"Saber! Sieg is dying, hurry and save him!"
Hearing this, Siegfried instinctively cast his gaze at Astolfo, who cried out these words, and then to Sieg in his arms, whose face was as pale as paper and whose life aura was failing.
"I..."
Instinctively, Siegfried wanted to do something.
But right at this moment, another blood-red sword aura slashed over. Following this sword aura was Kriemhild, who suddenly flashed in front of Siegfried, along with her resentful and deeply embittered words.
"What are you doing, Lord Siegfried! Why would you stop halfway through our conversation to pay attention to that 'woman'? I am your wife. Why can your eyes not be solely on me?!"
"Kriemhild, listen to me..."
"Saber, Sieg... Sieg is really dying..."
"Shut up!"
Seeing that even at a time like this, Astolfo was still calling Siegfried again and again, Kriemhild's anger could finally be contained no longer. Roaring, she looked at Astolfo, who was currently weeping profusely.
"Why do you always entrust your wishes to him! Why must he bear your desires! From beginning to end, you are all acting for yourselves, not considering him at all. It is all because of you greedy and foolish bastards! That my husband, my Lord Siegfried, has to sacrifice his life for you!"
Hearing Kriemhild's roar, Astolfo froze for a moment, but he quickly reacted, instinctively replying:
"But, Sieg is about to lose his life. The only person here who can save him is Saber..."
"So what? What does that have to do with Lord Siegfried? Furthermore, I heavily dislike that guy's name. Sieg, Sieg. Heh, if he does not want to be killed by me, it is best he change his name."
At this point, Kriemhild did not hesitate anymore. She swung her sword at Siegfried again.
This time, it was not sword aura, but Kriemhild using all her strength to slash the main body of the Demonic Sword Balmung at Siegfried.
Although this sword strike looked soft and weak, lacking any technique, and Kriemhild even had to drag it to swing it, upon sensing the amount of magical energy contained on that Balmung, Siegfried's eyes became extremely serious.
Such an attack was already approaching a B+ rank Noble Phantasm.
He instinctively raised his sword to block. But the moment the two Balmungs collided, Siegfried was swept up by the suddenly erupting blood-red magical energy and sent flying toward the depths of the forest. Then, Kriemhild's figure flashed as she pursued Siegfried.
"How... how could this happen..."
Seeing Sieg's savior taken away just like that, Astolfo reached out his arms in despair toward the direction Siegfried vanished, but it was in vain.
To the side, Jeanne sensed that Sieg's life had nearly disappeared. After a silence, she began to pray for him.
Regardless, his death was due to this Holy Grail War. This was an indisputable fact.
Right at this moment, Souya's voice rang out again.
"I say. It is merely a shattered heart. Miss Jeanne, as a Saint, can you truly not heal it?"
"Souya!"
Looking at the figure of the young man who suddenly appeared beside her, this time Jeanne's words lacked the joyous tone from before.
On the contrary, this time her tone carried a hint of heaviness and frustration.
It was as if she was somewhat blaming him for his appearance causing Sieg, who could have been saved, to now fall into death.
But at the same time, she knew very clearly that Souya could not be blamed for this. First, from the Red Faction's standpoint, he did nothing wrong. Second, if Sieg were to be saved, what would be sacrificed would very likely be the life of the Black Saber, Siegfried.
Although as Servants, who had already died once, they were not truly dying in the standard sense, from a rational perspective, this was equally unfair.
Therefore, upon hearing Souya's words, Jeanne did not complain about him, but said somewhat stiffly:
"You are not participating in the battle against the Black Faction. What are you still doing here?"
Hearing this, Souya chuckled lightly. Without answering Jeanne's question, he let his gaze fall upon Astolfo, who was weeping bitterly over Sieg's body.
"Hey, Astolfo, is it? If you want this homunculus to live, then step aside immediately."