Jeanne didn't know how dangerous her situation was at this moment.
The instant she desperately shouted those words, an arrow was already aimed at her from the shadows.
It was Atalante's Bow of Heaven (Tauropolos).
As one of the Black Jeanne's Servants, she had long since noticed the flow of another unfamiliar magical energy signature, and thus had prepared herself early on.
At the same time, as an Archer, she retained the "Independent Action" skill from her lifetime, which granted her extremely high authority.
So even if the Black Jeanne hadn't issued any orders regarding this, she could freely set up ambushes like this according to her own ideas.
The bowstring was drawn taut.
Swish.
The green arrow shot out, then transformed into an attack like a rain of arrows in the air.
This was Atalante's Noble Phantasm, Complaint Arrow Letter (Phoebus Catastrophe).
Its essence was offering prayers to the sun god Apollo and the moon goddess Artemis, shooting out an arrow letter requesting the protection of the two gods.
And at this moment, when it needed to materialize into an attack, it demonstrated that each arrow could individually form a rain of arrows like a "catastrophe," thereby exerting powerful suppression on the target.
Logically speaking, this wasn't a Noble Phantasm that couldn't be avoided.
It could even be said that by pursuing the ultimate range, the power of each arrow was severely reduced.
Masters with some strength could defend themselves with magic alone, without even needing the help of a Servant.
However—
Jeanne's attention was completely focused on the two kissing on the city wall at this moment.
She only wanted to shout her true feelings to him in her memory with all her might, so much so that she ignored everything else.
In a moment of crisis.
A black shadow flashed from behind Jeanne.
It was Elizabeth Báthory—said to be a Servant who came to this world in response to the Saint Maiden's summoning.
She swung the magic spear Prison Castle of Csejte, perfectly blocking all attacks aimed at her Master, Jeanne.
However—
She didn't seem to like doing this kind of thing proactively.
So after defending against this swift rain of arrows, the petite loli immediately turned around and lashed out at her Master.
"Master, you little puppy!" Elizabeth Báthory exclaimed, her red eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"You're not trying to rush to your death so obviously, are you?!" she demanded, pointing her magic spear at Jeanne.
"Eh?!" Elizabeth Báthory's words brought Jeanne back to her senses a little.
Only then did she realize how dangerous her current situation was.
Completely exposed in the enemy's sight;
Drawing the opponent's attention without any defense;
If Elizabeth Báthory hadn't arrived in time, she probably would have died here on the spot just now.
However—
This realization seemed to have come a little too late.
The heartfelt cry of the girl had already drifted on the wind to the Dragon Witch's ears.
This was a completely contradictory statement to what she believed—Ian was her possession, so how could there be any talk of returning him?!
Eager to refute this statement, she looked towards the source of the sound.
The next moment, Jeanne's figure was reflected in her eyes.
The Dragon Witch lost all reason in an instant, and her blood began to boil.
She pushed Ian, who she had been kissing passionately, to the side, then conjured the banner engraved with the dragon's mark and held it tightly in her hand.
Swish.
She flipped over the city wall and jumped directly towards the ground, drawing a black streak in the air before landing smoothly.
Her beautiful eyes had lost their original gold color at this moment, replaced by a fiery red.
The ground she walked on was emitting terrifying heat without exception.
"..." Seeing the Dragon Witch, Elizabeth Báthory restrained the emotion she had just shown when scolding Jeanne.
Instinct told her that this girl, who looked almost exactly like her Master, possessed an extremely large reserve of magical energy.
Was this a human?
Or a Servant?
Elizabeth Báthory couldn't confirm either situation.
Out of safety concerns, she could only maintain the highest level of vigilance.
She tightly gripped her magic spear Prison Castle of Csejte, preparing to make corresponding countermeasures based on the opponent's attacks.
A fierce battle was definitely coming!
The little loli thought so.
However—
The situation wasn't as Elizabeth had thought.
Looking at the little loli Servant protecting the Saint Maiden, the Black Jeanne had no intention of fighting.
She said coldly;
"Get out of the way."
"Otherwise——"
"I'll kill you too."
Although this sentence sounded like it was directed at Elizabeth Báthory at first glance, a little analysis would reveal its true meaning.
It meant she intended to kill Jeanne and was telling her not to block her way!
Elizabeth, of course, couldn't allow such a thing to happen—no matter how stupid Jeanne was, she was the Master who had summoned her.
How could she... possibly watch her little puppy be killed?!
Moreover—
She really didn't like the way this girl spoke.
Get out of the way?
So far, only she had ever told others to say that word.
And no one had ever dared to say that word to her!
"Such a big mouth... probably as useless as that other me," the little loli spun her magic spear. "I can defeat you in an instant," she declared confidently.
"That other you——?!" Hearing these words, the Black Jeanne stared at Elizabeth before her, feeling like she looked somewhat familiar, and then she suddenly realized something.
"Did you kill Carmilla?!" the Black Jeanne demanded, her red eyes narrowed in anger.
"So what if I did?" Elizabeth didn't shy away from her achievements being discovered.
"If growing up would turn her into such a terrible person——" Elizabeth Báthory began, her red eyes looking at the Black Jeanne with disdain.
"It's better to kill her beforehand," she concluded, shrugging slightly.
"I believe she would have been very happy to accept that death as well," Elizabeth Báthory added with a sweet smile, completely unaware that her words had stepped on the Black Jeanne's landmine.
"Is that so?" The Dragon Witch sneered.
"If that's the case——" She revealed an extremely ferocious expression.
It was a completely different look from when she was kissing earlier, one that could cause insomnia for several days just by glancing at it.
"Then even if you get out of the way now... I'll still have to kill you!" the Black Jeanne declared, her voice filled with rage.
After uttering those harsh words, the Black Jeanne directly swung her evil dragon banner and fiercely thrust it towards Elizabeth.
It was a swift and savage attack.
Elizabeth wasn't surprised.
She had already known that the other party was not simple when the Black Jeanne approached.
However—
She wasn't one to be trifled with either.
The moment the Black Jeanne launched her thrust, the little loli reacted almost simultaneously.
She spun her magic spear Prison Castle of Csejte and accurately blocked the tip of the Black Jeanne's banner.
This was almost the same counterattack method as before.
Elizabeth knew that once she fell into this rhythm, the other party's defeat was already a foregone conclusion.
Because no one could defend against the Dragon's Roar and Thunder (Kilenc Sarkany) at such close range!
However—
A situation that was beyond Elizabeth's expectations occurred at this moment.
Although the little loli did indeed block the fatal attack from the Dragon Witch's banner, she was unable to release the Dragon's Roar and Thunder (Kilenc Sarkany) afterwards.
Because the Black Jeanne's magical energy was simply too powerful.
Elizabeth could clearly feel the oppressive force—as long as she relaxed for a moment, she would be pierced through the body in an instant!
But even more terrifying things were yet to come.
Elizabeth discovered that this was just the beginning—the other party's magical energy release was far from reaching its limit.
"My anger... is something you can absolutely not withstand!" the Dragon Witch roared.
Crack.
Crack crack.
Cracks appeared on the magic spear Prison Castle of Csejte.
Immediately afterwards, the number and size of the cracks grew at an unimaginable speed.
Elizabeth also knelt on the ground, resisting the Black Jeanne's pressure with only her last bit of willpower.
But this situation didn't last too long.
Crack—!
The little loli's Noble Phantasm broke into two pieces in front of the Black Jeanne's banner.
Her body was pierced by the banner in the next moment, splashing out a large amount of blood, blooming into a crimson flower on the ground.
It was an almost identical way of death to her grown-up self.
The idol Servant who looked down on everyone widened her eyes, swayed, and fell to the ground, then gradually dissipated like a phantom.
Lancer had confirmed her withdrawal at this moment.
But the Black Jeanne didn't gain any pleasure from Elizabeth Báthory's death for even a moment.
She tightened her grip on her Dragon Witch Banner and walked towards Jeanne step by step.
"How could I possibly give him back to you?!" The Black Jeanne exclaimed, her red eyes blazing with fury.
"You can just die too!" she declared, raising her banner high.
Although both were Masters of the First Singularity, Jeanne's and the Black Jeanne's strength weren't on the same level.
The former was an ordinary nun who had successfully escaped being burned at the stake under the protection of her brother.
The latter was a Dragon Witch empowered by the Holy Grail, capable of easily controlling dragons and destroying countries.
The combat power of the two from the beginning wasn't on the same level.
Now, at this moment of direct confrontation, it was naturally an overwhelming one-sided victory.
The Black Jeanne raised her Dragon Witch Banner high, preparing to execute the other her before her.
But just at this moment—
"Mashu!" Fujimaru Ritsuka's voice rang out.
"Understood!" A figure leaped out from behind Jeanne—it was Mashu, who had already deployed her Noble Phantasm, the round shield.
"I absolutely won't let you hurt Miss Jeanne!" Mashu declared, her violet eyes filled with determination.
Clang.
Mashu blocked the Black Jeanne's attack, just like last time.
However, this time—
The situation was slightly different.
Having reunited with her Master Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mashu received a Command Spell enhancement from her in this critical situation.
This was a configuration unique to Chaldea.
It could increase the abilities of their Servants in a short period of time!
In other words, Mashu's combat power at this moment was much higher than when she first met the Black Jeanne!
But—
For the Black Jeanne at this moment, anyone who dared to stop her from executing Jeanne would only face death.
She began to attack recklessly.
The dragon's flames, with each swing of the magic banner, continuously spread like waves across the giant shield held by Mashu.
One slash;
Two slashes;
Three slashes;
All of the Master Command Spells on Fujimaru Ritsuka's hand were used to provide magical support to her Servant Mashu.
But just as there was an absolute difference in strength between the two Jeannes.
There was also an insurmountable difference in strength between Mashu and the Black Jeanne.
She couldn't do anything except defend Jeanne.
Unless—
Some force capable of reversing this situation joined the battle!
And such a thing did indeed happen.
"Radiant and Brilliant King Sword (Clarent)!" Mordred's voice rang out, activating her Noble Phantasm—it was a full-force attack from her, realizing the urgency of the situation.
A lightning-like beam of light shot from afar, directly towards the Black Jeanne.
It was an attack comparable to the Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur).
Although the Black Jeanne sensed this powerful magical energy fluctuation, she was focused on killing Mashu and didn't have time to evade.
However—
She also didn't receive any damage.
Because at the moment Mordred activated her Noble Phantasm, a voice also came from the Black Jeanne's rear.
"Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur Morgan)!" A jet-black beam of light erupted from behind the Dragon Witch, colliding with the beam emitted by the Radiant and Brilliant King Sword (Clarent).
Boom!
A huge explosion erupted on the ground, physically separating everyone who had been confronting each other.
In the smoke of the explosion, Ian and Atalante walked out of the city of Jura one after the other, then came to the Black Jeanne's side and helped her up.
The man's gaze swept over his companions who had arrived at this Singularity together, with countless words seemingly wanting to be spoken.
But in the end, he only looked at Jeanne.
The man's lips moved slightly, but quickly returned to their usual calmness.
In front of everyone's eyes, he leaned close to the Black Jeanne and whispered softly in her ear.
It was an extremely intimate gesture—just like on the city wall.
The Dragon Witch looked at the man beside her, nodded with a smile, then lightly kissed him and whistled.
Several evil dragons flew over from the distance and stopped beside her.
This was clearly a sign that they were about to leave.
"Dad!" Mordred, extremely anxious, was the first to shout out.
"Senpai!" Mashu, also very worried, followed suit.
"..." Fujimaru Ritsuka wanted to shout something as well.
But due to the battle just now, she had consumed too much magical energy and could only gasp for breath.
However—
The girls' calls had no effect.
Ian gave them a meaningful look, then picked up the Black Jeanne beside him and sat with her on the evil dragon, as if he naturally belonged to her camp.
Atalante drew her bowstring taut and, in a state of vigilance, sat on another evil dragon.
Dragon's roar, fire rises.
In a whirlwind, the evil dragons rained down city-destroying fire on Jura, then flew away into the distance.
But looking at the figures flying further and further away, the Saint Maiden Jeanne's mind at this moment was filled with the man's silent words just now.
It was a lip shape that only she, who had lived with him for more than ten years, could understand.
"Jeanne, don't reveal our relationship."
"And then——"
"Find more Servants and come to Orleans with them!"