To Jeanne Alter, Vaucouleurs was an utterly detestable place. It wasn't just a fortress she couldn't conquer—it was also home to her: both Aoko and Jeanne.
The first was that irritating Magician who had defeated her and frightened her with nothing but empty threats. The second was her other self, the very person she never wanted to see, the one she wished would simply cease to exist.
She hated this place so much that she couldn't bear for it to exist even for a single second. And now, that goal had been achieved.
Looking down at the fortress engulfed in flames, Jeanne Alter couldn't help but wonder why she had been so foolish before. It was just a fortress. Even if that troublesome Magician was inside, the stronghold itself wasn't indestructible. All she needed was to send a massive swarm of Wyverns to overrun it!
Why hadn't she thought of this earlier?
"Did you see that, Magician?"
As if mocking Aoko below, Jeanne Alter wore an exaggerated, manic grin on her face.
"This is the fortress you've been protecting. These foolish people see you as their guardian, believing you can shield them forever. They trusted you just as they once trusted me, Magician."
"But look at what you're protecting?"
Her dragon banner swept toward the burning ruins beneath.
"Fragile city defenses, weak defenders... A place that could be obliterated with just a little effort from me, yet still wasted so much of my time. This is what you've been defending, Magician—no, this time, you can't protect it~"
"Come on, let me see your expression of despair. The look on your face as you fail to save anything, forced to watch everything burn to ashes!"
Jeanne Alter's speech—more of a theatrical performance than a real declaration—only tightened Aoko's fists further.
They had been discussing how to confront her, and now she had arrived and launched a surprise attack. That wasn't the issue—Aoko wasn't the type to get angry just because someone attacked her underhandedly. But she hadn't expected Jeanne Alter to be so arrogant, so openly mocking…
*ZING!*
Suddenly, several magic circles appeared on Aoko's arms. Like sparks igniting, bright blue magical energy erupted violently. In the next instant, Aoko, who had been standing on the ground, leapt high into the air—higher than Jeanne Alter herself. Her right arm, glowing with intense magical energy, slammed down toward the spot where Jeanne Alter stood!
*BOOM!*
A magical cannon blast tore straight through the building.
Landing gracefully on another rooftop, Jeanne Alter gazed at Aoko, who touched down not far away. "Are you angry, Magician?"
"No. I'm just annoyed by your cheap provocations. I'm a very vengeful person. I think I'll have to make you pay for what you just said—pay you back properly!"
"Oh? Good. If you were angry just because of my actions, I'd be disappointed in you… But it seems you've misunderstood. I never said I wanted to duel you. You have many others to face."
Jeanne Alter said this while tapping the ground with her banner. Immediately, several Wyverns broke formation from the swarm above. Seven figures leapt down from their backs.
"We meet again, Magician."
Landing beside Jeanne Alter, Atalanta—bow in hand—fixed her gaze on Aoko. "This time, my arrows won't miss. Prepare for one to pierce your head."
"If you said that to Naoki, I'm sure he'd be absolutely thrilled." Aoko said, taking a deep breath. "So, it's just you two against me? I'm truly being underestimated. Do you really think a single Servant can stop me?"
"Of course not."
A cold female voice echoed from the other side. Instantly sensing a violent gust of wind attacking from behind, Aoko spun and threw a punch without hesitation!
Fist met massive metal object in midair. A tremendous burst of mana swept across the entire rooftop.
Stepping back several paces to create space, Aoko shook her slightly numb hand and glared toward the source of the attack. "Attacking people with something like that—you really have terrible taste."
That massive metal object, in Aoko's opinion, looked like a coffin—or perhaps a cage meant to trap something. Its shape resembled a girl in prayer. Only someone with truly twisted aesthetics could possibly find it appealing.
And the woman wielding this giant coffin-like object with heavy chains was someone radiating a strong scent of blood. Her skin was pale, clad in a strange red dress adorned with numerous metal ornaments, as if entangled in thorns. Her very presence made Aoko feel nauseated.
"What a magnificent entrance, Assassin." Jeanne Alter laughed. "Then I'll be off to face my other self. I leave this place to you, Archer, Assassin."
"Of course. Actually, I'm very glad you're leaving it to me."
The Assassin stared at Aoko with wild, excited eyes. "You're truly beautiful. Though you're not the young, pure maiden I usually prefer, with beauty like yours, I want to drink every last drop of your blood. If I drain you completely, I'll surely become even more beautiful, won't I?"
"Assassin… never mind."
Atalanta, clearly uncomfortable with her ally, hesitated for a moment, then held back her thoughts and raised her bow, aiming it at Aoko.
Facing the two Servants before her, Aoko let out a deep sigh. "Haaahhh… How dare you talk to me like that. From your tone, it sounds like you look down on mature, grown women like me? You'd rather have some immature little girl than a real woman?"
"Thankfully, my man doesn't discriminate. If he thought like you, I'd make sure he couldn't get out of bed every single day—Fujimaru! Mash! Jeanne! Akuta!"
Hearing Aoko's sudden shout, Ritsuka and the other three—engaged in battle with Wyverns and other Servants below—immediately perked up.
"Even though I wanted to give you a break, it looks like we'll have to fight this through to the end. Just like we discussed—Gather up!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Aoko leapt down from the roof, swiftly returning to Jeanne's side. Ritsuka and the others quickly broke away from their battles and regrouped where Jeanne stood.
"Jeanne, please!"
"Understood!"
Jeanne spun her war banner and planted it firmly before her. "Noble Phantasm, activate—My banner, protect my nation! Bring down the will of God here! Luminosite Eternelle!"
At that moment, the Fleur-de-lis banner blazed with a radiant, gentle light. A vast shield of light expanded, protecting Jeanne and everyone around her.
Everyone—except Hinako.
As if forgotten, or perhaps deliberately keeping her distance, Hinako was the only one left outside Jeanne's Noble Phantasm protection.
"Akuta-senpai!"
"Don't shout so loud. I know exactly what I need to do."
After giving Ritsuka an annoyed glance, Hinako looked around at the Servants approaching with confused expressions. Slowly, she removed her glasses. Like a wild beast awakening, a fierce, almost predatory smirk spread across her face.
A swirling vortex of red mana began to form around her as she slowly rose into the air. Hinako sneered—and then, amid the growing, uncontrollable storm of mana—
*BOOOOOOM!!!*
A torrent of blood-red rain fell from the sky, accompanying her self-destruction like a violent downpour!