The Great Holy Grail War was ultimately suspended. It reached a point where it seemed better to just destroy the Grail like this, but...
For now, I decided to let it go since there were no troublemakers left among the remaining ones. The Red side caused trouble, so the Black side caused trouble, it's not like we're guardians of balance or anything.
"It's over there."
Leaving Reika with Sieg, we left our residence and headed for the Yggdmillennia fortress. The number of vampires had already increased. Not only the homunculi who couldn't evacuate, but even those in the test tubes seemed to have all been infected. Fortunately, we came quickly so there seems to be no civilian damage.
"Medea, Aífe, and Deirdre, please set up a barrier. The rest of us, let's all go fight."
With my instruction, they quickly scattered to the outer perimeter of the fortress. And the vampires who spotted us came rushing.
Twang!
"This arrow is..."
Arrows shot from the forest accurately pierced the vampires' heads.
"It's Atalanta."
"Leave the support to me. Our Rider and the Black Rider will also provide support."
"As expected, the forest is already..."
It seemed there were already many vampires in the forest too. Atalanta dashed at speeds exceeding sound, cutting down vampires with her bow or shooting them with arrows. Had she come first to hold them off? In the sky, two Riders could be seen flying, one a green meteor and the other using spatial transfer.
"... Dracula is inside. It seems Chiron chose to end himself."
"Ugh..."
Did Chiron choose a mutual death in the end to avoid being captured and turned into a vampire? Unfortunately, he had no way to kill Dracula, who was practically immortal. It would be impossible without solar power or firepower on Karna's level, or a perfect counter like Jeanne. Or perhaps an anti-fortress Noble Phantasm like Excalibur.
In terms of regeneration alone, he's probably beyond Gilles de Rais's Dagon. Especially here in Romania, he's a monster... Speed that even Karna might not react to, and destructive power that can tear apart heroic spirits. Among the Red, only Achilles, Karna, and Spartacus are matches for him.
The Black side has none at all.
"Only Jeanne, Spartacus, and I will fight Dracula! The rest of you, handle the vampires──"
Thud....!!!!
"... It's come out, Adam."
A massive golem revealing itself from behind the castle. Avicebron's Noble Phantasm had emerged. This is a bit tough to handle simultaneously. That thing won't die unless its feet leave the ground (Eden). Plus, if time passes and it's completed, it becomes immortal. You need to destroy the two cores in its head and chest simultaneously.
"Change of plans. Let's destroy that first. Astolfo!!!"
"Huh~!? Why!?"
"Come down!"
Since we need to lift its feet off the ground first, we need Astolfo's Noble Phantasm. It's not easy to topple that thing either. We don't know when Dracula might jump out, so I can't step forward first and topple it with brute force.
"When I give the signal, topple that golem."
"Okay~! Leave it to me!"
Astolfo quickly ascended back into the sky. The vampires kept swarming in... bothersome. The Morrígan summoned weapons in the air to attack the vampires. Maybe because it's night, some of them regenerated even after their heads were smashed. Must be because they're combat-type homunculi...
[Deirdre, it's the Noble Phantasm. Summon Wicker Men to suppress it.]
[Okay!]
Soon, as the barrier was deployed, three Wicker Men smaller than Adam revealed themselves. Since a Wicker Man is 15m, Adam is about 25m.
Bam! Kabooooom!!!
Adam fighting the three Wicker Men. Avicebron... found him. He was inside the castle, creating golems.
"Medb."
"{Gáe Dearg}(Dearg's Red Javelin)!!!"
Kabooooooooooooom!!!!!
Medb's sword, which sliced the vampires to pieces, also cut down Avicebron far away. He must have been within Medb's 10km range.
Perhaps because it's stronger than the Wicker Men, Adam knocked down one Wicker Man and was taking down the second. Vampires kept coming in waves like tides... how bothersome.
"{Gáe Bolg}(Barbed Spear that Pierces with Death)"
Transforming Gáe Bolg into chain form, the rapidly flying chains wrapped around Adam, binding him and rendering him immobile.
"Astolfo!"
"{Trap of Argalia}(Touch and Fall)!"
Whoosh!
Adam's legs disappeared as Astolfo charged on his Hippogriff with his lance, causing it to fall. This is the end.
"Please."
"{Gáe Bolg Alternative}(Soaring Spear of Striking Death)!"
"{Areadbhar}(Five Surging Stars)!"
Scáthach's and the Morrígan's spears were thrown simultaneously. The red demonic spear and the white holy spear shot forth, simultaneously piercing Adam's head and chest. Adam's shattered remains fell, clearing the first objective.
The remaining vampires...
"{Brahmastra Kundala}(O Brahma, Cover the Earth)!"
"{Troias Tragoidia}(Tempestuous Immortal Chariot)!"
"{Blasted Tree}(Lightning Tree of Crucifixion)!"
"{Clarent Blood Arthur}(Beautiful Rebellion Against My Father)!"
"{Phoebus Catastrophe}(Arrow Message of Sincerity)!"
The vampires were swept away by the Noble Phantasms unleashed by the Servants of the Great Holy Grail War. From the sky, the sun descended.
"Leave this place to us and go."
"... Yes, everyone, please fight alongside them! Spartacus, Jeanne. Let's go quickly with me!"
Heading forward with Jeanne and Spartacus, the additional vampires that emerged were cleared by Artoria's Wind and Iron Hammer. Soon after, Scáthach's and Aífe's Gates of Skye opened, sucking in the vampires, Karna's Brahmastra Kundala exploded... and we entered the castle.
"Well now... there are still golems left too."
Whether he had set up some other magecraft or not, the golems were still operating even without Avicebron. They were golems with Servant-level strength. And there were still vampires.
"Ooh, comrades. Go on ahead!"
"Will you be alright alone?"
"Hmph! I am not alone, comrades!"
"Bye-bye~"
Whenever she had secretly followed, Jack appeared cutting vampires' throats. With Jack's speed, she should be fine.
"Then, I'll leave it to you two."
"Let's go quickly."
I headed with Jeanne to where Dracula was. Dracula's location was none other than where the Grail originally was.
"Dracula... no, Darnic Prestone. Do you intend to destroy Romania, or even more, with your obsession for the Grail?"
".... Ha, what does that matter?"
Had Darnic's personality taken over among Dracula and Darnic's personas?
"You've even lost your noble pride... The head of Yggdmillennia, the Great Holy Grail War happened because of you. Yet, are you trying to plunge not just Romania but the world into crisis?"
"Shut up, Ruler! What do you know!? A mage's wish is to reach the Root... do you know the effort to gain recognition in this world!? Even if the world perishes, it's fine. The mage society will remain, and I will reach the Root and restore everything! What kind of mage doesn't penetrate such stubbornness, such absurdity!?"
"... Fergus, please. Buy us just a little time."
"Leave it to me. You, there's no need to use a sword. You're a monster of obsession where skill doesn't exist. You're the reincarnation of Matou Zouken."
"Shut up...! You from the Counter Force!!!"
Bam!!!
As Jeanne prepared her sacrament chant, I received Dracula's attacks with my bare body. Incredibly fast consecutive strikes exceeding the speed of sound. But... it's not something I can't withstand.
"What?"
"Hoo... My body is the pinnacle of flesh. Even Siegfried could probably withstand this much."
It's not that there's no damage. I felt like I got hit a bit, and there were scratches. Truly, the fame and terrain advantage of Romania. However, a monster with just its bare body, no skills or Noble Phantasms. Apart from abilities like bat transformation, mist form, and captivating eyes, it's just a tough body... If I'm stronger, that's all that matters.
"My Berserker form had greater martial power... but this is my original self, so it's fine."
Whoosh!!!!
"Guh!?"
The moment I threw a punch, Dracula tried to evade through mist transformation. But still, it's just magical mist. My fist clad in magical energy can nullify his transformation into magical mist. I just need to engrave runes like Gáe Bolg.
"There were many monsters like you in the Reverse Side of the World. Mist transformation... there were such monsters too. Regenerate all you want. I'll keep hitting you."
"You...!"
He then transformed into numerous bats to attack Jeanne and me...
"The Lord's grace is deep, His mercy is eternal and endless."
"!?"
Soon, holy white magical energy flowed from Jeanne. The bats instantly burned away, and Dracula felt fear and stepped back.
"You dwell in a desolate wilderness, not knowing the way to a place to live. Hungry, thirsty, your soul weakens. Utter His name and be saved. The name of the one who will lead you to a place to live."
"Tsk...!"
"Where do you think you're running?"
Kaboom!!!
I blew away all the bat fragments trying to escape by splitting at sonic speed with my fists, forcing Dracula to reassemble.
"Kuh... you!"
"Sorry, but turning into bats will hurt more. Beast Slaying includes phantom species like vampire bats."
"He fills the thirsty soul with satisfaction, and the hungry soul with good things. There is salvation for those bound in deep darkness by pain and iron. Now break the bonds and be saved from deep darkness. There is salvation for those who grieve over sin-stained deeds and mourn injustice."
"Uoooooh!!!"
Judging he couldn't defeat me, Dracula quickly tried to attack Jeanne. But I protected her and landed hundreds of consecutive blows on his face.
Puhbuhbuhbuhbuhbam!!!!!
Immortal-like regeneration. He should have died several times over already but was still alive. That's why Jeanne's presence is important.
"For the righteous, a song of joy; for the wicked, silence."
"Ah, no───"
"Pax exeuntibus (Peace to the departing souls)"
Kwaaaaaaaa!!!
A pillar of intense holy light soared, and Dracula was annihilated by the powerful divine power.
"... Well, I guess we'll meet again in the distant future, Darnic. You'll lose then too, though."
"With this, the other vampires will disappear too. As for Miss Nessa's case..."
"It's fine. The retreat isn't far off anyway, I just need to keep her with me until then."
"Is that so..."
"Now, then let's go. Let's quickly wrap up the Great Holy Grail War."
"... Yes."
I took Jeanne's hand and left the castle. Outside, as if the temporary alliance had ended, the Red and Black were already fighting... Well, judging by specs alone, Red seems likely to win... but since the Black side was being pushed back again, Spartacus and Jack joined in and fought alongside them. Will it end today...