Act I – The Hundred Years' War of Evil Dragons: Orléans.
"So, our tasks are divided into two: find the French Resistance and search for holy Servants like myself."
The plan to split into two groups had solid reasoning.
Even before meeting Ritsuka and his companions, Maria and Mozart had encountered Siegfried. After listening to his story, they decided to join forces. It was then that they noticed a massive dragon flying towards La Charité. Siegfried was assigned reconnaissance in other villages, and they parted ways for the journey.
Later, Siegfried, after defeating Tarasque, learned of the existence of the French Resistance fighting against Black Jeanne.
"I apologize for the inconvenience," Siegfried said. "But there is no other way to defeat Fafnir."
The search for holy Servants was necessary: Zig was the key to defeating Fafnir, but due to an imperfect summoning, he could not act at full strength. To support him, at least two Servants of a holy rank were required.
"So, one group searches for the Resistance to sow chaos among Black Jeanne's army, and the second – for holy Servants to support Lord Zig. I think that's an excellent idea."
Mash supported the proposal, and the others nodded in agreement.
It was time to allocate forces.
"In the first group will be Mozart and I, along with Siegfried. The second will be Mash, Deadpool, and Maria."
Jeanne was to go with the search party to provide immediate support if a saint was found. Mozart, whose profile was currently more suited for rear support, was also assigned there. The other three automatically went to search for the Resistance.
"Then let's set out. As soon as we find a holy Servant, we'll reunite with you immediately."
"Hey, imp... Zig-kun."
Just before leaving, Deadpool suddenly called out to the young man.
"Ah, you want to thank me for saving you from Tarasque?" Siegfried bowed his head apologetically. "I'm sorry. If I had hurried, you wouldn't have had to go through this. I'm sorry."
"Forget it, I don't care. I'm talking about something else." Deadpool moved closer and whispered:
"Try your best there, okay? This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. You, Jeanne, some romance... hee-hee-hee!"
Seeing Deadpool's oily face, Zig felt something was wrong and slightly distanced himself.
"I don't understand what you're talking about. Did Jeanne d'Arc and I know each other before?"
"Ha-ha! Look at him spin a yarn! Listen, kid, later Jeanne will hit you so ha-a-ard..."
[That's e-e-enough! Not a wo-o-ord more!! I beg you-u-u!]
Doctor Roman's cry echoed again. A little more, and this guy wouldn't just ruin the intrigue, he'd change the genre of the whole story. It was damn dangerous.
"Well, see you later."
"Mari-chan! I'll be back as soon as I can!"
Mozart clearly didn't want to part with Maria – he kept waving his hand even as their paths finally diverged.
Ritsuka's group, leaving the searchers behind, headed towards Lyon – a large city where, according to Zig's reports, the remnants of the French troops had gathered.
"They say that to counter the Dragon Witch, all survivors are converging on Lyon."
"A cornered rat can even bite a cat. Is that it?" Deadpool chuckled.
Soon, the outlines of Lyon appeared in the distance. As Zig had said, the Resistance forces were indeed gathered there – albeit few in number. Each of them had survived the massacre wrought by the Witch and had come here to defend their homeland.
[Guys, trouble! Multiple enemy signatures detected. Identification: wyverns!]
Following Roman's warning, a flock of wyverns appeared in the sky behind the heroes, flying straight towards Lyon. A legion sent by Black Jeanne.
The city instantly turned into a battlefield. The Resistance fought desperately, trying to fend off the attacks of the winged creatures.
"We can't just stand by and watch! Fairy of Love and Justice! Star of Versailles☆ is on the move!"
"Mademoiselle, allow me to demonstrate a superhero landing."
Maria, who had somehow put on a mask, with Deadpool (who had also updated his costume over the old one) by her side, leaped off the cliff.
"Senpai, after them!"
"Uh... do we also have to land like superheroes?"
"I'm not sure if it'll work, but here goes nothing!"
◇
"Hold the formation! Don't scatter, strike together!"
Meanwhile, in Lyon, the Resistance held their ground steadfastly. It was almost impossible to hit the swift and high-flying wyverns with arrows, so the soldiers waited for the moment the creatures descended to attack, and only then unleashed their blows.
However, it was incredibly difficult for ordinary people to fight against creatures of magic. Despite their iron resolve to stand until the end, the difference in power was colossal.
"We are fewer, but if we fall – Lyon is finished! Fight, even if it costs you your lives!"
The warriors did not give up. This was the last line of defense for France.
"Herald of Death D★pool!"
"Envoy of Love and Justice, Star of Versailles☆!"
"An impressive entrance by the hero duo!!"
As if from nowhere, two masked figures burst into the thick of the battle. Despite the chaos around them, they didn't miss the opportunity to strike dramatic poses.
"Wow, that's cool. I want to do that too."
"Senpai, do you really like that?"
Following them, Ritsuka and Mash joined the fray, providing support to the French soldiers.
"Commander Gilles de Rais! Some weirdos in masks are wrecking the wyverns!"
Gilles de Rais, a knight in silver armor commanding the Resistance forces, followed the soldier's gaze. His eyes fell upon warriors who were effortlessly cutting down enemies.
"They... are Servants?"
As if suspecting something, Gilles de Rais, along with his subordinates, charged into the attack.
"Mari-chan! We're on the same wavelength, don't you think? Maybe we should form a team?"
"Oh god, I'm all for it, but Mo-chan will be jealous."
"We'll take him too, why not. The name should be catchy and tolerant... let's call ourselves 'Ex-Fo...'"
[Sorry to interrupt, but there's a Servant signal here!]
Roman, unintentionally interrupting Deadpool, felt the bloodlust coming through the communicator.
"Oh, look who's here. Saved me the trouble of walking."
Berserker Lancer. Last time they had to flee without a proper fight, and now the Lancer grinned in anticipation of a rematch.
"Berserker Lancer... So you're the one who brought the wyverns!"
"I came here, craving a bloody storm. By the will of my lady, Jeanne d'Arc!"
Lancer raised his spear. His gaze betrayed a manic unwillingness to let his prey escape this time.
"Looks like it's my turn."
"Lord Pool!"
Deadpool stepped forward. He had already held off Berserker in Fuyuki once, buying time for Ritsuka and the others.
"I'll help!"
"Nah, you'd better help those guys. I can handle this alone."
Mash hesitated – this was the second time she had left him alone against a strong enemy. But the soldiers really needed help, and she had to retreat.
"Besides, this kid can be a bodyguard."
"What...? Ah, yes! I understand!"
Mash left the combat zone. Only Berserker Lancer and Deadpool remained in the cleared space.
"Berserker Lancer. True name – Vlad III. The greatest monster in the world, Dracula, son of the dragon."
"Servant Deadpool. True name – Martha, what was your mom's name. Attack! I have old scores to settle with vampires, so I won't hold back!"
Vlad didn't make them wait. A furious thrust of his spear created a real hurricane, but Deadpool lightning-fast drew his twin blades and blocked the strike.
"You reek of a warrior's blood. You've trampled battlefields for centuries, spilling rivers of scarlet moisture. I like that!"
A double spear attack followed. Deadpool deflected it all, but the impact of the shaft sent him flying back. He immediately drew his pistols, keeping the enemy at bay from the range of a thrust.
"Are you hitting on me now? Sorry, but I prefer big guys with cybernetic eyes from the future!"
They closed in again, a hail of sword strikes. But Lancer wielded his weapon with virtuosity, not allowing himself to be scratched.
"Besides, I've been a vampire once and recovered! Well... when I was called Hannibal King... anyway, it doesn't matter."
They separated again. After exchanging dozens of blows, no winner was apparent.
"Returning to human form? Well, you're a rare specimen. Savoring your demise will be a true pleasure."
"Eek?! What a pervert!" Deadpool whispered into the void:
"Hey, don't get me wrong, I'm all for gender equality and love without borders. But this guy is just a sick bastard."
Irritated that his opponent was muttering to himself, Vlad concentrated his mana, unleashing his Noble Phantasm.
Bloody King of Demons.
"Kazikli Bey!"
Vlad plunged his spear into his own body, and the blood that gushed out like a fountain instantly froze, turning into countless sharp stakes.
"Wait, stabbing yourself again?"
Before Deadpool could finish speaking, a stake that erupted from the ground pierced his foot, and following it, dozens of sharpest spikes embedded themselves in his flesh.
"This is the end!"
The final stake, created from Vlad's blood, pierced Deadpool's heart through and through.
"Argh!"
Even for him, the pain from hundreds of wounds and a destroyed heart was unbearable.
"Become my food, red warrior. A part of me, to eternally fight and die under my command."
Vlad approached closely, driving the stake deeper. He bared his fangs at the victim's throat, anticipating triumph.
But Deadpool... he was laughing. Whether from madness induced by pain, or from despair – he looked Vlad in the face with a wide grin under his mask.
"What are you laughing at?"
"That you, like an idiot, took the bait."
"What?!"
At that moment, a shot rang out. Vlad's face froze.
Deadpool's hand, which should have been paralyzed, turned into a bloody mess, but it tightly gripped the pistol pressed to the enemy's temple. Blood splattered from the Lancer's head.
"Aaaaaah!"
Screaming, Vlad loosened his grip, and the stakes trembled. And then...
"Say hi to Wesley Snipes for me!"
Breaking free from the trap, Deadpool swung his blades in one fluid motion. Steel cleanly severed Vlad's throat.
"No... it can't be..."
"This is for Douglas and his team."
As soon as Vlad's head touched the ground, his bloody stakes crumbled to dust.
With the commander's death, the wyverns became completely disoriented. Sensing the enemy faltering, the Resistance launched a decisive counter-attack.
"After all, Lancers are the easiest frags among Servants."
Deadpool's victory dance ended with him face-planting in the mud from blood loss.
"Mom... buy me a Choco Pie... buh-uh..."
He passed out right there on the battlefield.
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan