Fafnir.
The evil dragon of Norse mythology. A legendary beast appearing in works such as the Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Volsunga Saga, and Der Ring des Nibelungen.
He was an existence greatly feared by people of that era. Even heroes who gathered their courage to slay him ultimately all perished by his fangs. It wasn't until the dragon-slaying hero Siegfried appeared and killed him with a Holy Sword—bathing in the dragon's blood to gain immortality—that the legend of this evil dragon finally came to an end.
Yet even that hero, when facing this evil dragon, had to endure countless dangers and an extraordinary amount of luck just to succeed.
In terms of sheer power, Fafnir was unquestionably a Phantasmal Species—and one at the very peak of that category.
And now, such an existence was under the control of Sorceress Jeanne? Obeying her to destroy France?
[Are you sure, Jeanne? If that really is the evil dragon Fafnir, facing it... Could Akuta and Aozaki even defeat it?]
Roman, who had been about to say it would be impossible, paused and instead turned to ask Hinako and Aoko. In the current situation, the two of them were clearly the strongest combatants present. To face Fafnir, they could only rely on them.
Aoko and Hinako were silent for a moment, then both nodded in agreement.
"If we use Magic, it won't be a problem."
"I'm not much different. It's just an ordinary evil dragon. I can blow myself up a few hundred times—if that doesn't work, a few thousand times."
Ignoring Aoko, the words coming from Hinako's mouth immediately made Ritsuka and Mash tense up. Both vividly remembered the phenomenon that occurred when Hinako self-destructed. Just one explosion caused devastation on a massive scale. If she blew herself up hundreds—or even thousands—of times…
Thinking about it, Mash quickly cautioned, "Akuta-senpai, please consider the collateral damage when you self-destruct! If you really explode yourself hundreds of times, the surrounding area will surely—"
[I don't think that's something to worry about.]
Naoki interrupted Mash's words, turning his gaze to Jeanne.
[Jeanne, can you use your Noble Phantasm right now?]
Jeanne's Noble Phantasm, Luminosite Eternelle—if she activated it while Hinako self-destructed, the side effects wouldn't be a concern.
Asked this, Jeanne gave a small nod. "Yes, using my Noble Phantasm is not an issue. Although I was summoned shortly after my execution, I am still a newly manifested Servant. But my connection to the Heroic Spirit in the Throne of Heroes is stable. Even though the privileges and base stats of the Ruler class are weakened, using my Noble Phantasm is still possible."
[Good. Senior Hinako, this time, you can self-destruct as much as you want. As long as Jeanne's banner can hold, that will be your time to unleash your full power.]
"Hoo~ You're the one saying it."
It was rare for Naoki to actually tell her she could act without worrying about consequences. Hinako's usually expressionless face lit up slightly with excitement and anticipation. She wasn't someone who enjoyed fighting, but after being restrained for so long, she occasionally longed to let loose.
[Then, we've gathered enough information about Sorceress Jeanne and this Singularity, right? With this much knowledge, we won't be caught off guard and immediately defeated when we start fighting them.]
"Yes, but..." Mash still frowned with concern. "I feel like our combat strength might still be lacking... They have seven Servants, plus Sorceress Jeanne and Gilles de Rais, Fafnir, and a massive horde of Wyverns. If we start fighting them, our forces are clearly outnumbered and outmatched."
"The Wyvern swarm can actually be ignored." Hinako said. "After all, Wyverns are just small fry. No matter how many they summon, I can blow them all up. In truth, the only ones we need to worry about are the seven Servants, the two leaders, and Fafnir."
In reality, that was just nine Servants and one Phantasmal Species. Still, Mash wasn't wrong. There was a clear gap in combat power. Unless Hinako self-destructed continuously from start to finish and wiped out every enemy with explosive force, in a one-on-one battle, their side held little advantage.
"What if we stop here for now?"
Aoko suddenly suggested.
"After talking so much, I think you're all thirsty. Especially since you've just walked here. Even if Mash and Akuta aren't tired, Fujimaru must be. Maybe we should rest first and continue this discussion later—"
*BOOM!!!*
Aoko's words were cut short before she could finish. A sudden, deafening roar exploded through the air, interrupting her. Then, continuous screams and cries erupted from outside!
Without hesitation, Aoko was the first to rush out of the room. And when she stepped outside—
"ROOOOARRRRR!!!"
A dragon's roar, like a storm, echoed across the entire sky. The bright midday sun, once clear, was now completely obscured, blocked by an endless shadow. A massive swarm of Wyverns had already filled the skies above Vaucouleurs, blanketing the city beneath their dark wings!
Buildings were torn apart and crushed by the Wyverns' sharp claws. Dragon breath scorched the earth, dragging every corner of the fortress into a sea of fire.
Just minutes ago, citizens had been walking the streets. Now, aside from those who fled indoors, only charred corpses lay scattered on the roads. On the nearby city walls, soldiers desperately fired cannons at the swarm in the sky—but against such overwhelming numbers, a few cannons made little difference.
It was like throwing pebbles into the ocean—aside from a few ripples, nothing changed. Worse, the Wyverns hit by cannon fire would retaliate by diving straight at the walls, crashing into them in near-suicidal attacks, creating hole after hole. Soldiers and cannons atop the walls were obliterated along with them!
The city was under attack.
And it was already too late. There was no longer any chance to minimize the damage.
Some who witnessed this scene realized it instantly.
At that moment, a loud voice suddenly echoed from above them.
"This is such a delightful sight."
Holding her dragon banner high, the figure of Jeanne Alter appeared atop a building within their view.
"A burning city, foolish people burning to death... Good. This is truly delightful. Eliminating the nuisances in my sight and making me genuinely happy at the same time—don't you all agree?"
"Hello, witch... and also, my other self."