Chapter 29. Self-Destruct

I Will Eventually Embark on the Path of No Return Called a Hero [Arc2] - 29. Self-Destruct

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Unfortunately, the heavens did not listen.

"That thing... is a joke, right!?"

Astolfo clasped his head and groaned.

"It seems the Red Faction has chosen the plains as their battlefield."

Chiron stroked his chin. As an Archer, he was the first to notice and report to the Master. To be honest, his initial reaction wasn't any calmer than Astolfo's. It was a normal reaction to such a sight.

"Is this really okay?" Caules adjusted his glasses. "Although it appeared at night, once daylight comes, such a large fortress cannot be hidden. Ruler will definitely interfere."

"Even so, they must not be afraid... That seems to be their intention," Fiore tightened her grip on the armrest. "Even Ruler might not be able to deal with such a large fortress."

"Saber, can your Noble Phantasm destroy it?" Gordes asked softly, frowning at Siegfried.

"I'm afraid not. That fortress probably requires a national treasure to deal with," Siegfried thought for a moment before shaking his head.

"Damn it! Are we just going to watch them flaunt it in front of us?" Gordes bit his nails in frustration. "Especially at a time like this."

"There's no need to fear!"

Particles of light gathered in front of them, and Vlad III, holding a lance, appeared before everyone, gazing at the fortress in the sky. His towering figure gave everyone a reassuring sense of security, as if he could bear anything.

"They are merely invaders. I will annihilate them all."

"Ah, that really is reassuring," Astolfo chuckled and rubbed the back of his head.

"If it were just me alone, it would probably be a repeat of the past. But this time, I have all of you," Vlad III spread his arms wide. "Lend me your strength, and let's win!"

…

"Turn, turn, turn!"

"Huh? I only choose to follow my own path!"

Mordred, with a wild grin, kept turning the steering wheel.

It must be said that she truly excelled at driving. Modified by magic, the car was unrecognizable, maneuvering around obstacles in various tricky ways. However, apart from Mordred, who was high-spirited, the others looked as if they were about to die from excitement and fear.

Laeticia had switched back to Jeanne halfway through, but due to Laeticia's dizziness and fear, Jeanne inherited all the negative buffs immediately upon appearing. Still, she was much calmer than Laeticia, simply numbly praying while holding on to Cyd's waist.

"Hey! Aren't we there yet!" Sisigou roared, enduring the dizziness. "I feel like we're going to die before we even reach the battlefield!"

"Their battlefield is on the plains!" Cyd's mouth twitched. "Can't these idiots stay quiet for just one night? How many days has it been!"

"This is... the Holy Grail War!" Mordred laughed heartily while spinning the steering wheel, the speedometer needle spinning around who knows how many times.

"I can see it already!" Atalanta pointed out the car window, struggling against the strange sensations coming from her tail.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Sisigou shouted and slammed on the brakes without regard for whether Mordred would be angry.

"Crash---"

As expected, the car flipped due to inertia.

"Stop it!"

Cyd raised his right hand, piercing through the car's roof. Black scales rapidly assembled on his arm, forming a somewhat menacing dragon hand. The magically modified roof was easily torn apart by Cyd.

"My car!" Mordred wailed.

"This isn't even your car!" Sisigou roared, pressing the brake pedal to the floor.

Cyd reached out, grabbing Laeticia and Atalanta's waists. As the car roof crashed onto the ground, he rolled them both to safety and landed on the ground. The car continued to roll forward due to inertia.

"Success in detaching."

Cyd's scaled cape on his right shoulder formed a victorious scissor hand gesture.

"How long are you going to... hold on," Atalanta gazed at Cyd with a somber expression.

"Smack—"

Cyd released Jeanne without hesitation.

As soon as they landed, Jeanne immediately clutched her mouth in pain, clearly still affected by the negative buffs she inherited from Laeticia.

"Let go of my tail!" Atalanta pushed Cyd's face with her soft, fluffy fist.

"Ah, I'm just... afraid of being beaten by you," Cyd said innocently, holding tightly onto Atalanta's tail without any intention of letting go.

This is a lie—

Although partially true, Cyd had never seen Atalanta in such a fluffy state and was somewhat tempted. Moreover, with Atalanta's tail continuously flicking in his hand, it was even harder to let go...

"Alright... if you let me touch your ear, I'll let go!" Cyd said seriously, reaching out towards Atalanta's ear without considering her opinion.

"Wait... wait! I'll definitely meow later!!!"

Five minutes later, Jeanne, who had recovered, looked at the strange position of Cyd and Atalanta with confusion.

"Where are Red Saber and her Master? And what's going on with you two..."

At that moment, Cyd was sitting cross-legged on the ground with his white hair somewhat disheveled as if it had been scratched by someone. Atalanta was curled up on Cyd's lap. Jeanne knew that in mythology, this couple had no issue with this position, but why did Atalanta look so humiliated she wanted to die?

The reason likely...

Jeanne looked at Atalanta's head, where cute cat ears were being played with by a hand.

"The two of them? They're probably already at the center of the battlefield. As for my current actions..." Cyd seriously pinched Atalanta's ears. "Since she will definitely attempt to attack Ruler, I'm just subduing her without harming her. That's right! I have no impure intentions! I just want to rub her ears!"

"Ugh... I want to die..." Atalanta buried her face.

If there were no one around, it would be fine, but to show such an embarrassing side in front of the somewhat awkward Jeanne was particularly distressing.

"I think... you should let go now," Jeanne said, knowing it might be a bit meddlesome but still deciding to remind Cyd. "Miss Archer doesn't seem very pleased."

"Eh! Are you unhappy!" Cyd stopped rubbing Atalanta's ears, looking hurt.

"Well, I can't resist you anyway," Atalanta raised her head and glared at Jeanne in annoyance.

Jeanne felt a bit wronged; she was clearly trying to help Atalanta.

"Well, we should get serious now," Cyd helped Atalanta to her feet.

"Tsk." Atalanta reluctantly pushed Cyd away.

"That... was a bit excessive," Cyd pointed to the glaring fortress in the sky. Even though they were still a bit away from the battlefield, they could still clearly see the fortress.

Although it was said that battles could only occur at night, it didn't mean they could do whatever they wanted at night. Some people might still be awake, and if anyone notices the fortress in the sky, it would be troublesome. Moreover, the fortress clearly wasn't something that could be withdrawn before dawn.

"Negotiate with the Red Assassin?" Jeanne suggested.

"Useless. I've met that woman. Although she seems a bit lazy, she is definitely the type who looks down on others. That's her Noble Phantasm. With her personality, she wouldn't be willing to hide the territory she worked hard to create. Perhaps..." Cyd narrowed his eyes. "This is a declaration of war against us."

"Then we can only stop it?" Jeanne sighed.

Cyd gave Jeanne a sideways glance. Although he didn't understand what confidence a village girl with a self-destruct Noble Phantasm had to destroy this garden, it was better to let her calm down first.

"Can you fly?"

"No," Jeanne blinked.

"Can you jump up there?"

"No."

"Then how are you going to stop her?"

"..." After a moment of silence, Jeanne cautiously raised her hand. "Convince her?"

"I remember you have a self-destruct Noble Phantasm," Cyd placed his hand on Jeanne's shoulder, pointing to the fortress in the sky. "Why don't you just use it?"

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