"Gilles de Rais, what... are you doing?"
Jeanne's face darkened, her banner gripped tightly, her gaze fixed on Gilles, Ryunosuke Uryuu behind him, and the children.
"Ohhh, my holy maiden!"
Gilles ignored Jeanne, wailing as if heartbroken, clutching his hair. His once-joyful expression twisted dramatically into one of wretched despair, his mood shifting with alarming volatility.
His demeanor reminded one of the phrase "a trembling mind."
"It's me! Your ever-loyal servant, Gilles de Rais! I've prayed for your resurrection, fervently awaiting this miracle, longing for the day we could meet again. I came here for this very purpose, Jeanne!"
"He seems quite the fanatic, Jeanne-nee!"
Reines' eyes burned like fire, the intense magical fluctuations triggering a fierce reaction in her Mystic Eyes.
It was no exaggeration—her eyes felt as if they were truly ablaze.
Yet, despite the pain, she smiled, a genuine human joy known as "pleasure."
"Enough chatter. What about your eyes?"
Jeanne's gaze remained locked on Gilles, though her peripheral vision caught Reines' fiery-eyed state.
"It's fine, just an old issue. A bit of medicine will do."
Reines smiled, pulling out a vial resembling eye drops and applying it. The liquid spread evenly, a cooling sensation soothing her body, gradually extinguishing the burning in her eyes.
This was a "potion," designed to suppress her Mystic Eyes and mana surges.
Reines had always relied on it to manage her occasionally rampant Mystic Eyes.
"Jeanne... my devotion must have moved God... No! God fears my blasphemy! Hahaha, to celebrate this great victory, I'll terrify God with even grander sacrilege!"
Gilles roared maniacally, spinning around with a sharp snap of his fingers.
The children's vacant gazes grew hazier.
They looked around, confused, unsure why they were there.
"Now, children, let's play a game! Ten seconds—you have ten seconds to escape. If I catch you..."
Gilles placed a hand on a child's head, mana rippling outward.
"It'll be like this..."
Crack!
The child's head exploded, blood and brain matter splattering as the headless body collapsed.
"Aaahhh!"
The children screamed in terror, scattering instinctively.
"Gilles!"
Jeanne's fair face contorted with indescribable rage, her voice a furious roar.
She couldn't believe her eyes. Her former comrade, once a noble knight, had fallen into this repulsive state.
Her anger wasn't for Gilles' betrayal of God or his deranged demeanor. She couldn't forgive his actions—unleashing his rage and ugliness on the innocent.
"Sit back and enjoy the banquet of death and madness I've prepared for you."
Gilles cackled wildly.
Whoosh!
Jeanne's banner sliced through the air, whipping toward Gilles.
A tentacled monster erupted from the grimoire in Gilles' hands, blocking the strike.
The creature shattered, chunks of flesh spraying, splattering Gilles' face and adding a bloody edge to his already eerie presence.
"Ohhh! You wish to join in? Then... come!"
A black mist formed a vortex, repelling Jeanne. Gilles and Ryunosuke vanished from the spot.
Jeanne remained, her expression grim.
The situation was dire!
Frightened by Gilles, the children had fled toward their homes. His familiars began their hunt, and Jeanne, alone, couldn't protect them all as they scattered.
"If that's the case..."
Jeanne's resolve hardened. On her back, a radiant pattern of Command Seals, resembling wings, glowed crimson.
"I am the Ruler, Jeanne! Overseer of this Holy Grail War. I request the aid of all Masters and Servants to protect the children hunted by the vile Caster, Gilles de Rais."
...
"Ruler? Jeanne? What a mess!"
Samuel shook his head. Jeanne's voice, transmitted through the Holy Grail system, reached all Masters and Servants except Gilles and Ryunosuke.
"What do you think, Roman?"
"Ugh, I hate trouble... but this time, I have to go."
Roman, the old shut-in, was moved by his care for children and set out.
...
"Let's go, kid!"
"Huh?"
Iskandar, illegally driving with Waver, responded to Jeanne's call.
Though curious about this "Ruler," the Holy Grail system confirmed her legitimacy, and images flooded their minds, so...
"Ooohhh!"
The king, driving his thunderous chariot with his companion, set off to deliver justice.
...
"Iri!"
"Got it, Saber!"
On Fuyuki's outskirts, a car sped toward the city. Inside were Saber and Irisviel. Irisviel floored the gas, racing forward.
...
"Master? You're not stopping me, are you?"
At the church entrance, Assassin faced Kirei Kotomine.
"Why would I? I'm a man of faith. How could I stop you?"
"Good!"
The heavily armored Assassin, wielding a massive double-handed sword, stepped out.
...
"Kids? Tch, who cares!"
A haughty girl wandering the streets leaped to a rooftop, her eagle-like vision scanning the city for the so-called children.
...
"Kids? Fine. It's a chance to take Caster out of the game. Go, Berserker!"
...
"Body damage exceeds 37%, mana flow reduced, Servant parameters diminished. Even so... you're still going?"
Nyarlathotep teased Kariya Matou as he prepared to leave.
"Of course I am!"
Kariya's resolute tone answered.
***
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