Soul Rings flashed, Soul Skills collided, and roars and explosions filled the air without end.
The top-tier combatants on both sides were evenly matched, locked in a fierce, intense stalemate that made it impossible to determine the victor. The forces of Shrek Academy and the Holy Spirit Church were locked in a chaotic brawl, their strength comparable as they attacked and defended without giving an inch.
However, everyone knew full well that Jeanne d'Arc and the other Servant who had yet to truly engage, Aglaia, were like two swords suspended over the Holy Spirit Church. Should they commit their full power, the tide of battle would instantly shift.
But what was deeply unsettling was the complete lack of panic on the faces of Zhongli Wu and Huo Yuhao—the two at the center of the storm. Instead, they maintained a cold composure, as if everything was well within their control.
"They're here."
Huo Yuhao suddenly looked up at the ominous, increasingly crimson blood moon hanging high in the sky, a chilling, emotionless smile playing on his lips.
As if to confirm his words—
Boom!!!
A colossal, savage figure radiating an aura of endless tyranny descended like a meteor, smashing heavily onto the earth. The terrifying impact tremor shook the entire battlefield as if a violent earthquake had occurred.
The newcomer was none other than Hoolay, wielding his massive blade. With his arrival, the light of the blood moon high above abruptly became viscous and blindingly crimson, as if endless blood were about to drip down and swallow all light in the world.
"Get out of the way, you bothersome woman!"
Hoolay's low growl rumbled like muffled thunder. His crimson pupils immediately locked onto Jeanne d'Arc, who was currently suppressing the Bone Dragon King. The ridiculously large battle-blade was swung single-handedly, carrying a terrifying kinetic energy capable of splitting mountains and cleaving cliffs. Engulfed in a colossal, crimson, blood-fire, it tore through the atmosphere and fiercely slashed down toward Jeanne d'Arc's back in the most brutal and direct manner possible.
This attack was unadorned but condensed ultimate power and will. Before the blade even struck, the horrifying pressure had already cracked the ground again, and ripples of distortion appeared in the space itself.
"Watch out behind you!"
Xuan Zi and the others cried out in alarm and anger, but they were each desperately entangled by their respective opponents, unable to break free. They could only watch helplessly as the devastating giant blade descended.
In that fraction of a second!
Jeanne d'Arc's eyes flashed with intensity. The sacred golden radiance around her abruptly burst forth, like an eternal divine fire lit in this dim world. She spun around, her movements fluid and swift. The holy flag in her hand, which symbolized faith and guardianship, became the most impenetrable shield, intercepting and blocking the strike just in time.
"Rumble—!!!!"
A deafening, terrifying boom instantly swallowed all other sound.
The giant blade and the holy flag collided without any flourish, and the point of impact erupted with a blinding glare that could scorch the retina. A ring-shaped, devastating energy shockwave, a mix of crimson and gold, swept outwards with overwhelming force.
The ground was violently gouged out like soft biscuit, forming a massive crater more than fifty meters in diameter. Countless dense cracks radiated from the center of the pit like a crazy spiderweb, extending hundreds of meters. Everything in their path was reduced to dust.
Surging smoke and dust soared into the sky.
However, when the dust slightly settled, Jeanne d'Arc's figure still stood firmly at the center of the deep crater. She was enveloped in a brilliant yet gentle sacred glow. Her pure white battle armor was spotless, and the holy flag in her hand remained upright, the patterns on its banner flowing with divine light. It had sustained Hoolay's brutal, mountain-splitting slash completely unscathed.
Though the ground behind her was torn into abyssal traces by the aftershock of the attack, she herself was as steady as a rock, without the slightest disturbance in her aura. This Holy Maiden might not be a top-tier offensive fighter, but when it came to absolute defense, she possessed a terrifying, almost "conceptual" level of endurance—both physical impact and energy corrosion were largely nullified.
"Oh? Interesting!"
A clear look of surprise flashed in Hoolay's crimson beast-eyes, which was instantly replaced by an even more intense mix of excitement and brutality. He grinned savagely, slowly raising the battle-blade, which was once again engulfed in raging blood-flames.
"Woman, you're resilient. That's good... just don't shatter too quickly!"
The blood-flames surged, their power several degrees stronger than before. Clearly, Jeanne d'Arc's perfect defense had not discouraged him; instead, it had completely ignited his inner, brutal desire for slaughter and conquest.
Jeanne d'Arc slowly turned around, her pure white battle skirt remaining motionless in the turbulent airflow. Her clear purple eyes calmly watched the beast-like Hoolay before her. The staff of the holy flag in her hand was slightly raised. Pure and dazzling golden light once again condensed and flowed at the tip of the spear, emanating an undeniable solemn majesty.
When it came to pure destructive power and offensive capability, she was indeed not Hoolay's match. But if Hoolay wanted to defeat or even kill her, it would be extremely difficult. Resilient guardianship and extraordinary endurance for sustained combat in adversity were precisely the domains she excelled in.
"General Jing Yuan... even you..."
Just then, Han Ruoruo's voice, filled with disbelief and deep bitterness, rang out. Her gaze passed over the chaotic battlefield and landed on a massive broken stone pillar not far away.
There, the tall and straight Xianzhou General stood with his arms crossed, silently watching everything below. His stance was now self-evident.
Although an ominous premonition had struck Han Ruoruo the moment Beibei resolutely chose to stand by Tang Ya's side, their hearts sank dramatically when Jing Yuan truly ceased fighting Hoolay and stood, with a near-tacit default, on the opposing side.
The entire core of their previous battle strategy had been built around this unfathomable Xianzhou General—his strategy, his strength, and his composed demeanor in the central position had won everyone's trust and reliance.
But now, this most reliable pillar had become a "bystander" with an ambiguous stance. This unexpected development left Han Ruoruo with a bitter taste in her mouth.
"My apologies, it seems my stance has undergone some unexpected changes."
Jing Yuan's voice was still gentle, but carried a clear hint of apology. His gaze swept over Beibei, who was tightly embracing Tang Ya below, and his tone revealed a genuine sense of helplessness.
"To be honest, this development was also outside my expectations."
He had never anticipated that his Master would make such a resolute choice—even going against their original faction—just to protect a girl. In his original world, facing a "scourge of Abundance" like Hoolay, he would undoubtedly fight to the death until the creature was completely purged.
But here, the rules of the Holy Grail War were different, and the lines between factions were inherently blurred. He felt no guilt in his heart—a Servant's ultimate goal was the Holy Grail itself, not the stubborn clearance of a particular faction. Of course, given the opportunity, he still hoped to see Hoolay retire from the stage.
It was just that now, with Beibei joining the Holy Spirit Church, he and Hoolay had become part of the "same faction" in name.
However, being in the "same faction" by no means implied he would help the Holy Spirit Church against Shrek. At least at this moment, he had no intention of striking against the comrades he had briefly fought alongside. That was not his style of doing things.
On the other side, Hoolay, carrying his ferocious battle-blade, glanced at Jing Yuan on the stone pillar. Though his crimson beast-eyes still held brutality, the frantic, never-ending killing intent was gone. He was savage and bloodthirsty, but not an utterly irrational beast, possessing a high degree of combat intelligence. After receiving the information from their respective Masters confirming the faction switch, he naturally wouldn't continue his deadly struggle with Jing Yuan.
Thus, the two had tacitly agreed to stop fighting.
"A'Ya!"
Seeing that Jing Yuan truly had no intention of interfering, Han Ruoruo quietly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately gave a look to Aglaia next to her.
Aglaia subtly nodded, elegantly raising her pale hand and clenching it in the air—instantly, electric light flashed violently. A longsword, wreathed in fierce golden lightning, suddenly materialized from the void, held firmly in her hand. The sword hummed and vibrated, as if countless incredibly fine golden threads containing the power of rules were circulating and being born and extinguished within it!
Simultaneously and silently, the Garmentmakers she perfectly controlled with golden threads also quietly appeared, standing like the most loyal shadow guard to her side and rear.
In the next moment, Aglaia and the Garmentmakers moved simultaneously, one on the left and one on the right, their auras instantly intertwining, locking onto Hoolay in the field!
"Sizzle—!"
A piercing thunderclap ripped through the sky. Countless dazzling golden electric lights instantly erupted, weaving into a vast net of thunder that covered the sky. With a sharp roar that seemed to destroy everything, it enveloped Hoolay's head. On the other side, the Garmentmakers's ten fingers danced, and countless seemingly soft yet incomparably sharp transparent threads transformed into invisible blades in the sky, silently attacking all the flaws around Hoolay from extremely tricky and fatal angles.
Even the arrogant Hoolay instantly lost the casual expression on his face when faced with Aglaia's sudden full-power burst and concerted attack, replaced by a look of grim focus.
He let out a low growl, fiercely swinging the giant battle-blade in his hand horizontally. A surging crimson aura erupted like an explosion, smashing directly against the golden thunder net covering the sky.
Rumble rumble—!!!
The colossal sound of energy annihilation was deafening.
The instant Hoolay blocked the thunder net, Jeanne d'Arc moved. She brandished her flag-staff, and the holy golden radiance surged out like a tide again. Instead of a direct, forceful attack, it transformed into solid walls of light and bindings, precisely restricting and interfering with Hoolay's movements from the side, greatly limiting his ability to exert force and dodge.
In a flash, the three-way battle was established. Jeanne d'Arc primarily defended and restrained, her defenses impenetrable. Aglaia primarily launched fierce attacks and surprise assaults, her movements sharp and unmatched. The two Servants, one defensive and one offensive, displayed astonishing synergy despite this being their first time cooperating, instantly dragging the infamous Hoolay into a fierce and drawn-out struggle.
The intensity of the entire battlefield soared again, entering a critical, white-hot stage.
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