Light Screen Danmaku——
It has to be said, Elysia's combat power is truly formidable. However, because of her appearance and personality, many people subconsciously overlook her strength.
But even with such a powerful display, the possibility of her defeating an Outer God is still slim.
This is not Elysia's home world. Setting aside whether Honkai energy can be fully utilized here, just manifesting her Herrscher of Origin form is not so simple in this world.
[Otto Apocalypse]: "Outer Gods... gods who exist outside the world. Apart from all looking equally disgusting and causing one's SAN value to plummet, there's a significant lack of detailed information."
[Lord El-Melloi II]: "It would require at least seven Grand-class Servants, or perhaps beings of a divine spirit level, to even have a chance of defeating one... This... is far too demanding."
Grands and divine spirits? Where would beings of that caliber appear in a conventional Holy Grail War? To see them, one would basically have to travel through time to the Age of Gods.
[Gilgamesh]: "A swarm of vermin trampling upon this king's garden. Even if they are powerful, they are merely larger insects. They are only fit to grovel on the ground and gaze upon the splendor of a king."
[Durandal]: "It's a wonder you can still speak with such arrogance when facing an opponent far superior to you in strength."
[Gilgamesh]: "Far superior? Do not misunderstand, mongrel from another world. Would you fear a beast simply because it was born with sharp fangs?"
In ancient times, when faced with powerful beasts, humanity often relied on its astounding wisdom and extraordinary courage to achieve victory—
Therefore... the Outer Gods are not to be feared. They will not be humanity's match.
---o---
[Light Screen Projection——
With Elysia's magnificent arrow, even though the Holy Grail War was technically two days from its true conclusion... the prelude to the final battle had quietly begun.
The intervention of the Outer Gods had caused the Holy Grail War to completely deviate from its original purpose.
It also rendered the rules of this conflict utterly void—
"Outer Gods? Are you certain, Elysia? The Age of Gods ended thousands of years ago. For an Outer God to appear now, and its true body at that... humanity lacks the strength to resist!" Saber said grimly.
The holy sword in her hands, while seemingly an Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm, was, upon the release of its seals, specifically designed to combat world-ending disasters like the Outer Gods.
However, in her current state, just undoing a few seals would damage her Spiritual Core. Under these conditions, the holy sword could not unleash its full power.
Elysia adjusted the pink bow in her left hand, flicked her bangs, and replied, "The survival of the world is at stake. Do you really think I would joke about something like this?"
Saber: "..."
Before Saber could say anything more, a new development occurred—
BOOM~~~
The nearby Einzbern Castle erupted with a violent, deafening explosion. A mushroom cloud soared into the sky.
The terrifying blast instantly engulfed the entire castle, reducing the centuries-old structure to rubble.
The rising mushroom cloud and the explosion that shook the whole of Fuyuki City sounded the horn for the war's final act.
Countless eyes across the city turned toward the site of the explosion, filled with terror and confusion. The shockwave could be felt throughout the city, and even the ground trembled.
"What happened— Irisviel?!"
The catastrophe at the castle left Saber no time to deal with Elysia. The Command Spell was on Kiritsugu's hand, and she could clearly sense he was still alive, but... Irisviel was still in that castle.
"Is that... a Servant?"
Elysia's gaze shifted. Another Servant had appeared. Was this an ally sent by the Counter Force? Or an enemy?
However, that Servant was likely not the cause of the explosion. Neither Elysia nor Saber had sensed any fluctuation of magical energy. To blast such a large castle into ruins in an instant... there was no doubt. It was definitely that man, Emiya Kiritsugu.
To install so many explosives in his own base just to ensure his final victory... what a dangerous and terrifying man.
---o---
"Is she dead? No... she's not."
Amidst the ruins of the explosion, with smoke and dust still lingering, Emiya Kiritsugu watched a red figure slowly walk toward him.
A Servant... the eighth Servant? No, it should be the ninth!
Under Kiritsugu's watchful eye, a tall, muscular man with dark skin emerged from the rubble. In his arms, he carried Maiya Hisau, who had been knocked unconscious by the blast.
"Though this person allows herself to be used completely as a tool, she has been your subordinate and assistant for many years. Do you really not care if she lives or dies? This one doesn't have King Arthur's scabbard inside her."
The red Archer spoke in a relaxed tone, as if the explosion just now was a mere parlor trick.
Kiritsugu didn't answer, merely aiming his gun at the red Archer. It was the only way he could feel at ease.
"A ninth Servant. From his performance just now, an Archer. He seems to know me well, having constrained all my actions from the start, leaving me no opportunity to use a Command Spell."
Kiritsugu was troubled and confused. Why was this Servant so familiar with his methods? Not only that, but he even knew about the scabbard inside Irisviel.
The mysterious Servant paid no mind to Kiritsugu's vigilance. Although killing Kiritsugu would still achieve his goal, this was, after all, the foster father who had raised him for over a decade. The red Archer found he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Still... it was hard to believe the Counter Force had let him keep his sanity. Hmph— in the past, it always stripped away my reason before using this body. Now... it's playing the good guy for once.
Although the mission is to assist a certain pink-haired girl, taking out a little brat who hasn't grown up yet on the side should be permissible...
"CRASH—"
As the red Archer was lost in thought, a golden sword slash came at him. After dodging instinctively, he noticed Saber, who had arrived at the castle at some point.
Did Saber's familiar presence bring such a long-lost sense of security that I failed to notice her approach?
Fortunately, because Maiya Hisau was still in his hands, Saber's previous strike had not been at full power; her priority was to rescue Maiya.
Saber was now scrutinizing the Servant before her. Judging by his reaction just now, this man was no ordinary foe.
Facing a familiar face he hadn't seen in who knows how long, the Archer felt a trace of happiness. Under Saber's confused gaze, he greeted her, "It's been a long time, Saber! To see you again, it's truly a rare pleasure."
---o---
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city.
Apart from the red Archer reminiscing in the ruins of the Einzbern Castle, another reinforcement sent by the Counter Force had manifested at Ryuudou Temple on the mountain.
With no Master present, a figure slowly materialized.
First the legs, then the waist, then the back, and finally, the face was revealed.
She wore silver female armor and a long, deep-blue battle skirt, with a matching deep-blue cape that snapped in the night wind.
Atop her long, deep-blue leggings, a sliver of fair skin was faintly visible beneath the skirt armor. A magnificent flag spear, bearing the fleur-de-lis of ancient France, fluttered in the breeze, showcasing the glory and honor of the era she represented.
Her delicate yet resolute face, along with the prominent curves that made her attire appear taut and distinct, all highlighted her unique charm.
Most dazzling of all were her large, blue eyes—firm yet as gentle as water, so expressive they seemed to speak, filled with a vibrant and beautiful spirit.
As her full form was revealed, the newly appeared girl announced her identity to the audience across the multiverse.
"Servant, Ruler. Jeanne d'Arc. I have descended under the class of Adjudicator!"
The Saint, Jeanne d'Arc—when a conventional Holy Grail War encounters problems, she manifests as a Ruler to maintain its proper proceedings.
Although Jeanne wasn't the only Ruler, she was certainly the most obedient and manageable, and the one the Counter Force frequently dispatched to solve problems.
But... the Saint, Jeanne d'Arc?
This was no ordinary Servant—the Saint who saved France during the Hundred Years' War, a national hero whose statues still stand across France today.
Legend says that Jeanne d'Arc followed the will of the Lord—that is, God—to lead her armies to victory after victory. Though it was just a legend, the viewers outside the light screen had no doubt about the existence of God in the Fate world.
From a historical perspective alone, Jeanne's strength was already extraordinary. With mythological enhancements, she was a top-tier Servant at the very least.
At this point, ten Servants had appeared in the Holy Grail War. Although two had already been eliminated, eight remained. With a lineup like this, defeating the Outer God no longer seemed so difficult...
---o---
"The Saint, Jeanne d'Arc? An Adjudicator? To think that I, this old man, would encounter such a beautiful young lady on a trip out~~~"
Just as the viewers were speculating about Jeanne's combat power, a disgusting and familiar voice interjected at an inopportune moment. Following a swarm of flying insects, Zouken Matou's shadowy form slowly manifested from within the swarm.
Jeanne frowned as she looked at the old man before her, who could barely stand even with a cane. The evil stench emanating from him was overwhelmingly thick. To encounter such a person immediately upon arrival—could it be that the Lord wished for her to eliminate him?
"Hehe, you've arrived just in time, Miss Jeanne. There have been quite a few unexpected turns in this Holy Grail War. If you hadn't come, it would be quite difficult to clean up the mess—"
The old worm spoke to Jeanne in a sinister voice. His goal was simple: to guide the young woman before him with his words, making the already chaotic Holy Grail War even more disorderly.
It was a good idea, but unfortunately, he had picked the wrong target. Who was Jeanne d'Arc? She was a woman guided by God himself. Such simple manipulation was utterly useless against her.
"You need not trouble yourself. I will see for myself what has happened in this Holy Grail War. If there are truly those who have violated the rules, they will certainly pay the price."
Jeanne gave the old worm a slight nod and then vanished from her spot at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye. The body of insects standing here was not Zouken Matou's true form. Even if she destroyed this body and all the surrounding insects, she could not kill that man.
Moreover... as an Adjudicator, Jeanne had to uphold the principles of fairness and impartiality. She had no authority to decide Zouken Matou's fate, even if he was not a participant.
"One, two, three... seven. No, the presence of eight Servants."
"One of them is clearly not a participant in the Holy Grail War. In the castle ruins in the distant forest, there is another... whose exact location I cannot pinpoint? Is it a Caster with a special Noble Phantasm?"
As she headed toward the city center, she sensed the participants of this Holy Grail War, a privilege granted to her as a Ruler.
However... according to the knowledge she received upon summoning, she was supposed to find a young woman with pink hair. But since the other party was not a Servant, she couldn't confirm her location.
After a moment of silence, seemingly unable to decide, Jeanne knelt on one knee, clasped her hands together, and assumed the most devout posture of prayer.
"O Lord! Grant me a new revelation!"
Then, before the eyes of the entire multiverse audience, a golden holy light suddenly appeared in the sky above, showering down upon Jeanne.
A Divine Revelation...? It actually descended? Just because of Jeanne's words?
With the appearance of the Divine Revelation, Jeanne's perceived power level skyrocketed in the minds of the multiverse viewers, reaching a level comparable to the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh.
After all... no matter the world, there was no shortage of people who believed in God.
The Divine Revelation was brief, lasting only a few seconds. Afterward, the holy light vanished. Jeanne immediately rose to her feet, her gaze turning toward the Fuyuki Grand Bridge.
"Is it there...?"
Muttering these words, Jeanne hurried in that direction.
It was not where Elysia was, but the revelation told her to go that way, and so she went.
She presumed that the young woman would also join her there soon. According to the revelation... on the Fuyuki Grand Bridge, the greatest enemy would manifest.
And her mission was to assist that pure maiden in defeating it—]