On the battlefield, Xiao Wu's figure transformed into a pale blue divine afterimage, instantly crossing a thousand-meter distance, surging with cold divine might and killing intent toward the heavily injured, near-death Cú Chulainn.
On the other side, although Cú Chulainn was barely breathing, his chest caved in, and blood constantly spilled from his mouth, the fingers tightly gripping his Demonic Spear remained resolute.
The tip of the scarlet Demonic Spear shimmered with a determined light, like that of a dying beast.
Even if death was inevitable, the Cú Chulainn would die in a vigorous, all-out fight, never surrendering meekly or bowing his neck for the blade.
"Come on, fight until the end!!"
Cú Chulainn's face twisted into a fierce, maniacal grin. The blood constantly overflowing from his mouth added a tragic and brutal aura to him, and his eyes, still burning with unyielding fighting spirit, were locked onto the rapidly approaching Xiao Wu.
"Strike Air!"
Just as life and death were about to be decided in a flash, a clear, severe female voice suddenly cut across the battlefield.
Immediately, an incredibly violent, invisible tornado capable of tearing the sky appeared out of thin air, accurately and fiercely sweeping toward the rapidly moving Xiao Wu.
This storm was not natural; it was the Wind Element Power highly compressed and controlled to the extreme. Its speed was beyond imagination, instantly engulfing the caught-off-guard Xiao Wu.
Boom! RUMBLE—!
The powerful wind pressure enveloped her body, slamming her like a giant rock flung from a catapult into the ruins of a massive building that was already mostly collapsed in the distance.
The sturdy steel supports and heavy concrete rubble were easily shredded into dust by the destructive storm, emitting a grating, ear-splitting friction sound.
As the dust settled, a petite figure emerged slowly from the center of the wind pressure, wearing silver-blue knight armor and with a blue cape flapping fiercely in the turbulent air.
She held a Holy Sword wrapped in an intense airflow, revealing only a faint golden glow, and came to Cú Chulainn's side.
She glanced indifferently at the bloodied, weakened, yet still upright Lancer, her voice calm and utterly devoid of emotion.
"I didn't expect the famed Child of Light to be reduced to such a sorry state."
"Saber... it's you..."
Cú Chulainn was momentarily stunned to see the newcomer was Artoria Pendragon, then a look of obvious displeasure and vexation crossed his face.
"Tch, I can't believe I ended up being saved by you... and letting you see me like this... it's truly infuriating."
Anyone caught by an acquaintance in such a desperate, near-death state would likely feel the same annoyance.
Especially for a proud "hound" like him, who viewed a warrior's honor as life, being saved felt, at times, even harder to accept than defeat itself.
Artoria did not respond to his remark. She simply raised the golden-glowing Holy Sword slightly, dispelling the Invisible Air barrier, and the brilliant blade tip pointed steadily in the direction of the ruins where Xiao Wu had been sent flying.
The pure, powerful golden Holy Light illuminated her resolute, perfect profile and emerald green eyes. Clearly, having chosen to intervene, this battle would naturally be taken up by her, the King of Knights.
Boom—!
From the distant ruins, a powerful sea-blue divine energy burst forth like an explosion, instantly tearing apart and dissipating the remaining invisible wind pressure.
Xiao Wu's figure reappeared. Her hair was slightly dishevelled from the impact, and the hem of her skirt was dusted with a little debris, but her beautiful eyes were colder than before, as if condensed with ice that had refused to melt for ten thousand years.
She stared coldly at the suddenly appearing Artoria, sensing the completely different, yet equally formidable and sacred, kingly aura and power emanating from her. The vast divine power within her body began to accelerate, surge, and boil once more.
It seemed this battle was far from over.
"Saber... facing an enemy like that alone, will she really be okay?"
Nan Qiuqiu closely followed behind her mother, Nan Shuishui, but couldn't help but frequently look back at Artoria's determined figure, which was gradually disappearing into the smoke and dust as she charged toward the battle. Her pink cheeks were etched with unshakeable worry and anxiety.
Although she hadn't spent much time with the King of Gluttony, she wholeheartedly admired and even idolized this resolute, determined King.
During her time training alongside Artoria, personally witnessing her battles and decisions, coupled with the shocking sacrifices seen during the Mingdou upheaval, Nan Qiuqiu felt she had learned far more than her age and experience suggested.
She had grown from an impulsive, reckless girl reliant on her mother into someone who gradually understood the meaning of responsibility, accountability, and composed perseverance, undergoing a transformation of character.
"Don't worry, Qiuqiu."
Nan Shuishui sensed her daughter's concern. She stopped, gently reached out, and stroked Nan Qiuqiu's soft pink long hair, her voice gentle yet carrying a reassuring strength.
"She is strong, much stronger than we imagine. That is a battle beyond the Titled Douluo level, encompassing power and conviction that we cannot comprehend."
She paused, her gaze also fixed on the direction from which the terrifying energy fluctuations came, and her tone deepened.
"Moreover, this is her battle, the path she chose and the pride she holds dear. What you need to do most right now is not worry about a battle you can't intervene in, but protect yourself, ensuring you absolutely don't become a burden that distracts her during the fight."
Nan Shuishui knew the kind of pride and persistence the King of Knights, Artoria, possessed. She was unwilling and unable to let her daughter Nan Qiuqiu recklessly get involved in that terrifying clash, which was far beyond the capability of the Earth Dragon Gate.
It was simply too dangerous. With the current strength of the Earth Dragon Gate, even observing a battle of that magnitude was extremely difficult, let alone interfering.
The residual energy shockwaves alone were enough to easily tear apart Soul Masters below the Soul Douluo level.
For Nan Qiuqiu, the best and most important help she could offer was to maximize her self-preservation on this chaotic battlefield, steadily follow the sect's movements, and not give Artoria any cause for worry.
At this time, the disciples and elders of the Earth Dragon Gate, led by Nan Shuishui, had successfully converged with the Heaven Dragon Gate, which had also suffered losses but maintained its main force.
After a brief exchange, the two sects decided to act together. The Heaven Dragon Gate and Earth Dragon Gate trusted each other, and merging their forces provided greater safety.
Even before Artoria decided to leave and join the war for the Holy Grail's ownership, she and the mother-daughter duo had escorted a group of civilians who survived the chaos. After much effort, they finally reached a temporary stronghold protected by the forces of Haiyuan City.
This stronghold, having avoided the core main battlefield where the Anti-Matter Legion's main force ravaged, had not yet been approached by swarms of Vapor-Troopers. The relatively safe environment had already attracted a large number of scattered survivors seeking refuge, gradually forming a crowded yet increasingly orderly refugee camp.
It was precisely because of this that, after confirming the presence of Haiyuan City's forces maintaining order and the temporary safety of the area, Artoria could slightly put her mind at ease and proactively join the war that belonged to the Servants.
Zhang Lexuan, who was in charge of coordinating affairs here, did not reject these survivors from major sects, academies, and the general populace. She displayed excellent organizational skills, systematically arranging Haiyuan City personnel and willing Soul Masters to maintain order, distribute limited supplies, and treat the wounded.
Although the scene was noisy, it did not descend into chaos.
In the very center of the stronghold, a spectacle bordering on a miracle was unfolding.
Herta utilized some of the authority of her Aetherium to open a colossal Spatial Teleportation Gate, standing thirty meters tall.
The pale blue light screen rippled like a calm lake, radiating a gentle and stable light, silently engulfing groups of survivors as they arrived, transporting them to the absolutely safe Haiyuan City, thousands of miles away.
This sight was nothing short of a miracle to the native inhabitants of the Douluo Continent.
Among those being transported were elite disciples from the top sects and elite students from famous academies of the major empires.
Those qualified to represent their respective powers in this tournament were all one-in-a-million geniuses and leaders of their generation, representing the future hope of their factions.
Haiyuan City saving them in this nearly world-ending catastrophe instigated by the Anti-Matter Legion was undoubtedly bestowing an immensely heavy favor upon the powerful sects, academies, and empires behind them—a favor concerning their future legacy.
For Haiyuan City, this was a strategic investment that was guaranteed to yield returns.
While the surviving geniuses themselves might have limited combat power in the current stage, the vast network of contacts and potential future resources they represented meant their long-term value far exceeded the immediate resource consumption.
The broader and denser this web of connections and influence was woven, the better.
Haiyuan City's chosen path was never one of relying on overbearing force, running rampant, and incurring the hostility of the world. Instead, it was to establish itself through gentle means, mutual benefit, and interwoven strategic interests.
With this life-saving grace as a foundation, when Haiyuan City sought to realize its grand ambition of continental unification and resource integration in the future, it would inevitably face far less resistance from these local forces. Their actions would be much smoother, saving countless unnecessary troubles and bloody conflicts.
Nan Qiuqiu took one last deep look at the distant battlefield shrouded in smoke and energy storms. The towering flames and the terrifying energy fluctuations, transmitted like an angry sea tide, attested to the brutal and horrifying nature of the ongoing battle.
She bit her lip hard until she tasted a faint hint of iron, and a strong, unprecedented desire to become stronger, so intense it almost burned, suddenly welled up in her heart.
If she possessed sufficient power, she wouldn't have to simply watch Artoria rush into danger alone, nor would she be a burden who needed protection, transfer, and who might even become a liability to others, as she was now.
Seeing the fiery resolve and determination, which was almost substantial, in her daughter's eyes, Nan Shuishui's face broke into a smile of profound relief.
Knowing and frankly accepting one's weakness was not a bad thing; on the contrary, this clarity of perception was what fueled the most steadfast and powerful motivation to improve.
Her daughter's growth was faster and better than she had ever imagined.
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