Act I – The Hundred Years' War of Evil Dragons: Orléans.
"Strike to the throat!"
Deadpool's palm edge flew with sniper-like precision at the soldiers.
The problem was that, contrary to his stated intention, his fingers plunged directly into the poor fellows' eyes.
However, it didn't really matter where he hit – the main thing was to suppress resistance. If the enemy is disarmed, the task is complete.
"Strike to the throat! Strike to the throat! Pin them against the wall! Strike to the balls!!"
The target zones became increasingly extensive.
The concept of a "strike" had long since vanished. Sand in the eyes, pinches, bites, pokes, grabs, and kicks – Deadpool fought a real hand-to-hand combat in the style of the dirtiest street brawl. The spectacle was truly disgusting.
"Senpai, watch out!"
Mash and Ritsuka, fighting on the other flank, also tried to act non-lethally.
Fortunately, Mash was gradually getting used to the Demi-Servant's body and was now effortlessly wielding her enormous shield. She didn't just swing it; she precisely struck the soldiers' weapon-wielding hands, their shoulders, and necks – places where a paralyzing blow was easiest to deliver.
"Damn it, retreat! Fall back!"
Only when the French troops sounded their retreat and disappeared could Ritsuka and his companions catch their breath.
"The situation has normalized. It seems we managed without casualties, as planned. Senpai, are you injured?"
"No casualties, you say?"
Deadpool chimed into Mash's report with a skeptical remark.
Unlike her, who masterfully combined offense and defense, Deadpool, after his "dirty fighting," looked, to put it mildly, not great.
Forty-two cuts, twelve stab wounds from spears, five arrows in his body, and one dagger was even stuck in the back of his head. One arm was twisted at an unnatural angle, and an arrow shaft protruded from his knee.
"Ouch, ouch."
For such a gruesome sight, "ouch, ouch" sounded too mundane. However, as soon as he pulled out the embedded weapon, the wounds healed by themselves, restoring his body to its pristine state.
"That's why I say: knocking people out isn't an easy task. I'm a master of killing, and it's hard to gauge strength in such matters."
"And yet, an astonishing ability. Très bien, Monsieur Pool."
"Danke schön, Madame Mash."
The gallant exchange of pleasantries in the style of court aristocracy of the absolutist era didn't last long. They needed to find out the state of affairs in this world, so they decided to try talking to the locals again.
"No tricks this time."
"Wade, you were the one who started it!"
"Shut up, Gudao!" Deadpool playfully slapped the guy on the back of the head.
Ritsuka's group hurried after the retreating soldiers.
◇
The second encounter with the French soldiers went much better.
Fortunately, the Canadian Deadpool demonstrated fluent French, which helped to quickly resolve the misunderstanding.
"Forgive us, for heaven's sake. Seeing the lily crest, we mistook you for those English dogs without thinking… Times are uncertain enough as it is. If you are travelers, be careful on the roads."
Having calmed down, the soldiers told the supposed travelers about the swarms of dragons that were now ravaging all of France.
Three days ago, the saint, burned for blasphemy, rose from the ashes as a vengeful Witch. Leading seven dragons and demons, she unleashed her wrath upon the country that had betrayed her: Bishop Pierre Cauchon was burned alive, and King Charles VII of France was killed.
"This witch's name is Jeanne d'Arc. It is bitter to admit, as just a few years ago she was the saintly maiden who saved our Orléans and the entire kingdom."
At the sound of this name, Ritsuka and Mash's eyes widened in surprise.
A simple girl from Domremy, who heeded divine revelation and saved France from ruin. Whose life was cut short by slander and intrigue, but whose name later became a symbol of heroism and sainthood for the entire world – Jeanne d'Arc.
"1431… This is indeed the time when Jeanne d'Arc was burned by order of Pierre Cauchon. It seems the appearance of the Singularity is directly related to her," Mash stated.
Ritsuka fell into thought.
He knew history well: the real Jeanne never returned as a witch and never took revenge on France. Therefore, some Witch, who had appropriated this name, had seized the Grail and begun the invasion.
"Most likely, the Holy Grail is with this Witch."
"I think so too, Senpai."
The objective was determined even before they found the ley line for resupply. The Grail of this Singularity is in the hands of a pretender calling herself the Dragon Witch.
"This is much more serious than it seems!" Roman's anxious voice sounded over the comms. "The resurrection of Jeanne d'Arc is a monstrous distortion in itself, but the death of the king and the collapse of the country… If it continues like this, the Great French Revolution – a key turning point in history – simply won't happen!"
If the Witch Jeanne destroys the monarchy prematurely and ruins France itself, the ideas of equality will not spread, the era of absolutism will be prolonged, and human history will take a path of degradation.
"Enemy! Enemies on the horizon! Dragons!! The Witch's dragons are approaching!!"
A watchman on the tower sounded his horn, announcing the attack.
But the enemy was an army of wyverns, knowing only destruction and slaughter. The soldiers trembled with fear, and some already fled.
"Senpai! What shall we do?"
Ritsuka was silent, sweat beading on his forehead. Would they have enough strength to defeat these creatures? But if they ran away, all the inhabitants of the surrounding villages would die.
"Mash! Wade! We must stop these wyverns!"
"Yes, Senpai!"
"Tonight's dinner will be dragon steak!"
Ritsuka no longer hesitated.
He didn't want to save his own skin at the cost of innocent lives. The young man vowed to fight the Dragon Witch, retrieve the Grail, and restore the distorted order of humanity.
"This spirit… Never forget it, righteous man!"
At that moment, a silver knight flew overhead Ritsuka and landed in front.
"You…!"
Before Mash's eyes appeared a knight unfurling a banner on a long pole. The flag fluttered high into the sky.
Golden hair, gentle but determined blue eyes, and silver armor shining with a blinding white light in the sun.
"Servant of the Ruler class. True name – Jeanne d'Arc! To save my homeland once more and act as mediator in the Holy Grail War, I have appeared in this world!"
Ritsuka and Mash froze, speechless at the sight of the true maiden. And only Deadpool grumbled disappointedly:
"So, it's not Milla Jovovich?!"
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan