Chapter 40. This Familiar Scene

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I Will Eventually Embark on the Path of No Return Called a Hero [Arc2] - 40. This Familiar Scene

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This was not forged during his lifetime but rather turned his boundless dream into a Noble Phantasm. Mimicking 'the First Human (Adam)', it was endowed with the inherent boundary of life.

Its name – Golem Keter Malkuth: Royal Crown – the light of wisdom.

As long as it is on the ground, it can endlessly supply magical energy while eroding the surrounding land, gradually transforming it into a "paradise." When it was first born, it was fifteen meters tall, but this was merely the height of its "initial birth." With enough time, it could even grow to one thousand meters, but...

Jeanne d'Arc stopped in her tracks, staring blankly at the giant, at least sixty meters tall, gradually emerging from the Black side fortress.

"How is it growing so fast!"

"Because of the Holy Grail," Kotomine Shirou casually pushed open the still-standing gate of the Black Faction fortress. "The abundant magical energy from the Holy Grail accelerated the puppet's growth. This puppet is no longer something that can be dealt with easily."

"Boom----"

The massive puppet swung its arm and threw the Holy Grail directly into the aerial garden.

"Such brutality, but it's enough," Semiramis, sitting on the throne, snapped her fingers, and a fierce wind immediately sprang up at the bottom of the hanging garden. The thrown Holy Grail was sucked into the hanging garden by the wind.

"Eh?" Cyd raised an eyebrow. "This hanging garden seems quite well-prepared."

"After all, it was prepared to seize the Holy Grail," Kotomine Shirou shrugged and naturally walked over to stand beside Cyd, admiring the ever-growing puppet. "If this Noble Phantasm is used, it might indeed turn this world into a paradise."

"But the one responsible for concealment might end up vomiting blood," Cyd raised his left hand, holding the [Reforged Pandora] upright, "The ruler's face will be lost too~"

"Are you more concerned about these small matters than turning the world into a paradise?" Kotomine Shirou frowned.

"Turning the world into a paradise? That should be something humans create with their own hands, not something completed by the obsession of the dead," Cyd said, curling his lips.

"I see. Do you still believe in humanity now?" Kotomine Shirou sighed and turned towards the direction of the hanging garden. "It seems we'll have to become enemies."

"We were never allies from the beginning," Cyd flicked his hand, and the gem symbolizing Ares's blessing on his left hand began to glow, with blood-red patterns spreading from his arm to his face.

Jeanne glanced at Kotomine Shirou, who was leisurely leaving, wanting to stop him, but the bigger problem prevented her from interfering.

"The Noble Phantasm cannot be allowed to activate any further," Jeanne summoned her battle flag.

"Before that," Cyd cleared his throat and shouted towards the puppet, "Hey! I know you can hear me! Caster, stop the growth of your Noble Phantasm! As long as you can ensure it doesn't grow any taller and doesn't erode the earth, I'll pretend I didn't see it!"

"Eh! How can you do that!" Jeanne opened her mouth wide. "This Noble Phantasm clearly violates the rules!"

"How can using a Noble Phantasm be a violation of the rules," Cyd placed his right hand on Jeanne's face.

"But!"

"Impossible," Avicebron materialized on the shoulder of the puppet. "This Noble Phantasm is my long-held wish. I have no regrets now. Next, this giant will—"

"Whoosh----"

An arrow accurately pierced Avicebron's heart.

Cyd silently turned to look at Atalanta, who was nocking a second arrow, ready to finish him off.

"He rejected it," Atalanta shrugged innocently as the second arrow exploded Avicebron's head.

Jeanne was speechless. The ruler's authority clearly indicated that the Black Faction's Caster, Avicebron, had been eliminated and his spirit origin had completely vanished.

Without Avicebron's control, the giant... went berserk.

"Ah~ This is a big problem," Cyd, somewhat distressed, shouldered the Ares-shaped [Reforged Pandora]. "Why does this scene feel so familiar?"

"Whatever the cost, we must stop it!" Jeanne resolutely looked at the giant that was beginning to roar.

"Are you going to self-destruct?" Cyd tilted his head.

Why does this village girl, who only knows how to basic attack and use an invincible shield, have the confidence to handle this giant that's almost seventy meters tall?

Jeanne's expression stiffened as she stammered, "Well... I definitely won't hesitate, but the Lord's voice tells me the anomaly is with that priest. If I use the Noble Phantasm now, I won't be able to stop that priest."

"I understand. Then you can assist from the sidelines," Cyd waved to Atalanta. "Atalanta, lend a hand."

"Wait! I can pause this Holy Grail War and use a command seal to have other Servants help deal with this giant," Jeanne said hastily.

"Not allowed!" Cyd forcefully pinched Jeanne's face.

"Why! This is an emergency situation!"

"Please, command seals are meant for when Servants break the rules, not for commanding other Servants," Cyd sighed. "Honestly, I seriously suspect you might misuse command seals. You can't just use them so casually on all Servants."

Jeanne's face stiffened. Honestly, she couldn't read a single word, and relied on luck and recklessness to defeat invaders. She wouldn't think this deeply, and without Cyd, she might have already used a command seal.

"So what about this giant..." Jeanne pouted.

"Handling anomalies is the ruler's duty," Cyd patted Jeanne's face and slowly walked towards the giant. "Now that an anomaly has appeared, it's of course up to us to deal with it~"

"Boom----"

A massive object fell from the sky and crashed beside Cyd. The huge figure stood up amidst the smoke.

"My ally, where is the oppressor!" Spartacus, smiling, set Frankenstein down on the ground from his shoulder.

"Uh? Wu wu wu wu!" Frankenstein, upon landing, first sniffed the air, then ignored Cyd and charged towards the ruins.

"An ally?" Cyd extended his right hand towards Spartacus, with the sinister black scales slowly dispersing. "Then please."

"Yes! I will pave the way to freedom!" Spartacus's huge hand enveloped Cyd's right hand.

"Wait, wait, wait!"

With a roar, a war chariot stopped beside Cyd. Achilles, looking tattered and worn, jumped down and excitedly slapped Spartacus's hand.

"I'll join you in battle!"

"Is that really okay? Working with us on the Black Faction," Chiron shook his head and jumped down from the chariot.

"Teacher, you came here on my coattails," Achilles pouted. "Besides, I just want to help the ruler maintain the Holy Grail War. This big guy makes fighting very uncomfortable."

"Then I guess I'll also have to help maintain the Holy Grail War~" Chiron, smiling, placed his hand on Achilles's hand.

"Teacher!" Achilles looked serious.

"Hmm?" Chiron tilted his head.

"Don't press down on me from behind!" Achilles squirmed, feeling uncomfortable. Chiron, taking advantage of his centaur form, pressed his chin down on Achilles's head. For a moment, Achilles remembered the days living with Chiron, and felt inexplicably...

Embarrassed!

Atalanta silently leaned against Cyd's back.

She didn't want to mix with these stinky men.

This person, whom they trusted, despite this being a battle fought for personal desires, could make them willingly turn their backs on each other.

She was truly envious. Maybe his words really didn't need command seals...

Jeanne watched enviously as Cyd was surrounded by Servants.

"Let's fight," Cyd smiled lightly at Jeanne. "Together."

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