Looking at Vlad III, who had transformed into Dracula, Shirou's face held a smile, but in his heart, there was no joy. He could have prevented Vlad III's tragedy. Just as he prevented Siegfried's suicide. But he didn't do so, simply because Vlad III and Darnic's existence would interfere with his plans. The genuine Shirou would probably never do this! But he was not purely Shirou; he was an existence integrated with a transmigrator. He had his own selfish motives.
"In the name of Ruler Jeanne, by Command Spell, I command all Servants gathered here! Immediately defeat the vampire who was once Vlad III!"
As Jeanne's privilege activated, Shirou clearly felt as if a chain firmly bound him. That was the power of a Command Spell. Similarly bound by Command Spells were the other Servants present: Karna, Achilles, Atalanta, Avicebron, and Chiron! A total of six Servants, including Shirou. This chain posed no obstacle to fighting the vampire; on the contrary, their abilities as Servants would be enhanced when fighting him.
However, if they attempted to fight against an opposing faction, their movements would become sluggish, and the power of their weapon swings would immediately be greatly weakened. Perceiving their states, the Heroic Spirits present all focused their gazes on Dracula. In that case, it was obvious who they would fight. Besides, they were heroes by nature, and brave individuals who had defeated monsters, demons, ogres, and rakshasas.
"Alright, I and Black Archer will provide support. Rider, Lancer, and Black Assassin, fight as you please."
"Understood, Big Sister. That's how it is, Lancer and Black Assassin!" Seeing Atalanta agree, Achilles excitedly raised his spear.
"I don't mind."
"I'd be glad to!" Since he was responsible for the Archduke's tragic fate, perhaps his demise was what he expected!
"Caster, can you create a cage with golems, like when you captured Spartacus?"
"While not impossible, it won't be as smooth as with Spartacus. At most, it will only slow his movements down slightly. And if he turns into mist or bats, it will be useless." Avicebron wiggled his fingers in the air a few times, and ten golems began to move agilely. He controlled one golem with each of his fingers. With just this, the ten golems each assaulted the vampire with completely different movements.
Compared to this, the golems acting autonomously on the battlefield were mere puppets. The golems dodged the vampire's striking arms while attacking with their bronze fists. Facing a powerful blow that even an ordinary Servant would inevitably sustain some damage from, Dracula merely retaliated nonchalantly. However, with Jeanne's Command Spell issued, he had no allies left. Everyone around him had become his enemy.
Achilles and Karna coordinated their timing, simultaneously striking Dracula with their spears. One was the Hero-Slaying Spear given by his teacher, the other was the Spear of Light that could defeat even gods.
Furthermore, the two archers, whose techniques had entered the realm of gods, could skillfully shoot arrows continuously through openings, even with their allies in such close proximity. At the same time, Shirou, wielding a flaming greatsword, also sought openings from one side, seizing opportunities to strike Dracula's vital points. Beyond this, the Ruler, Saint Jeanne, was also fighting. The young woman held the holy flag, which had a special effect against Dracula, batting away Dracula's outstretched arms one by one.
A total of seven individuals, each capable of being called the strongest Servant. However, none of the seven showed any relaxation in their expressions. This was not to avoid carelessness or mistakes, but truly a desperate struggle. Because Dracula, after transforming into a vampire, was simply too troublesome.
Faced with the attacks of the crowd, he could always transform into bats or black mist to evade them. At the same time, everyone had to constantly watch out for his bites, lest they be turned into one of his kind. Coupled with Dracula's formidable regeneration ability, the group was temporarily unable to deal with him!
However, with six Servants combining their efforts in a pincer attack, they would certainly not fall into a disadvantageous situation. From an overall perspective, the current situation could be said to be one where Jeanne's faction of Servants held an absolute advantage.
After all, they only needed to keep stalling for time. Once dawn arrived, the vampire's power would drastically decrease. It would then become easier to deal with him.
But things rarely go as planned. Very suddenly, without any warning, the Red Faction Servants suddenly bent their knees with pained expressions, stopping their movements.
"Ugh, what's going on?!"
"Is it the Master?!" Though only for an instant, their
existences suddenly became extremely weak. But Dracula did not let that instant gap go, immediately leaping away and heading straight for the Greater Holy Grail.
"Wait!!" Jeanne, Shirou, and Chiron all started running simultaneously. At the same time, Jeanne's unease grew stronger; was this chill she had felt since before the fear of the vampire achieving its wish? Shaking off the extra thoughts, Jeanne focused and chased after the vampire's rapidly speeding back. Fortunately, the Greater Holy Grail's magical energy could also be sensed from here, so she would absolutely not lose her way. But Dracula was too fast!
"Black Archer, stop him!" Hearing Jeanne's instruction, Chiron said nothing, and without slowing down, continuously shot five arrows at the vampire. All the arrows struck his targeted legs and waist. However, the vampire transformed into a bat. Although his speed was slightly reduced, it did not stop the attack. Chiron shook his head, only continuing to focus on the chase.
"Black Archer, do you know why the Red Faction stopped moving just now?"
"No, I initially thought the Command Spell's effect duration had expired, but it doesn't seem to be that."
Chiron could feel a power surging from within, in addition to the magical energy supply from the Master.
This was probably the strengthening effect from the Command Spell. Therefore, it absolutely could not be due to the Command Spell's expiry. Jeanne was also concerned about this. Did the Masters not approve of the joint operation? No, in that case, they should have informed the Servants beforehand. That reaction was almost as if.
"It should be a change of Servant ownership! After all, now is a good time to do this!"
"Change of ownership?" Jeanne's pupils constricted, then she asked Shirou beside her. "It should be, after all, aside from Assassin's Master, the other Red Faction Masters have all been controlled!"
"How do you know this?"
"Of course I know!" Hearing Shirou's inexplicable explanation, Jeanne immediately remembered his identity. That's right, this guy was a Counter Guardian of Alaya; since he came here, there must be a reason.
"Then why are you willing to tell me now?!" Before, Shirou had been tight-lipped about the truth behind this
Holy Grail War.
"Of course, because there's no need to hide it anymore! After all, you'll soon meet the mastermind and understand everything!" Shirou said with a smile.
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