-198- A fated meeting

"Camilla."

This name should have belonged to Elizabeth.

Just as Vlad III was known as "Dracula" and became widely known as a vampire, Elizabeth had a similar path. Her name "Camilla" was evidence of her future and her downfall as a vampire.

However, Elizabeth, summoned at the age of fourteen, had not yet committed the crime of drinking maiden's blood, nor had she been associated with the name "Camilla."

Yet now, Elizabeth had called out that name, a name that belonged to her future self. But now the recipient of this call was Assassin.

Using torture devices known as Iron Maidens, she tormented countless young maidens, thirsting for blood – Assassin, the ruthless enemy Servant.

"You...! You've been summoned...!?"

Camilla's voice cried out as her other hand darted forward.

Her sharp claw-like nails immediately lunged at Elizabeth, cutting a bloodied path as she aimed for her.

"If you can be summoned, why can't I?"

However, Elizabeth swung her magical spear without backing down, thrusting it at the incoming claws.

"Clang!"

Amidst intense sparks, the magical spear and the claws clashed, causing Elizabeth and Camilla to separate and retreat, creating distance between them.

Yet even with the distance, their intense gazes collided, igniting a fierce spark.

It was hatred.

It was disgust.

It was rejection.

Elizabeth and Carmilla vented these emotions toward each other.

All because...

"You naive little brat...!"

Carmilla glared at Elizabeth through gritted teeth.

"I'm not a little brat! I'm everyone's idol! I-dol!"

Elizabeth shouted, as if provoked.

However, this only twisted Camilla's expression further.

"What idol? How foolish!" Camilla glared at Elizabeth and said, "Stop indulging in such unrealistic dreams!"

"No!" Elizabeth stubbornly retorted. "If anything, you should be the one to stop those meaningless actions!"

What actions?

Of course, it was the obsessive pursuit of maiden's blood and the pursuit of beauty.

Even if Elizabeth didn't say it aloud, Carmilla understood.

The reason was simple.

"Since you are me, and we are of the same existence, there's no reason you shouldn't listen to yourself. Do you understand?"

Elizabeth unreasonably demanded.

However, the content of her words was enough to shock anyone.

"The same existence?"

Beside them, Vlad III, who was facing off against Kiyohime, turned his head with apparent interest.

"...So this is how it is?"

Kiyohime finally understood why Elizabeth was so determined to deal with the enemy's Assassin.

Indeed.

Elizabeth and Camilla were originally the same entity.

As mentioned earlier, even for the same entity, there's a possibility of being summoned simultaneously, with only differences in attributes, age, and the time period they belong to.

That was the case with Elizabeth and Camilla.

One was summoned at the age of fourteen, Elizabeth, who hadn't committed any heinous crimes yet. The other was the adult Camilla, who had committed bloody deeds as a countess and ended up imprisoned for life, ultimately dying in prison.

This led to a decisive conflict between the two.

Elizabeth, although noble, domineering, cruel, and ruthless, wasn't as inhumane as the legends painted her to be. She was an evil Anti-Servant, yes, but also a young girl longing for romance, having a timid side, and not completely evil. When summoned, she either helped her allies or allowed her enemies to escape, showing kindness at critical moments. She was a somewhat sensible villain.

In contrast, Camilla relentlessly pursued blood and lacked the cuteness of her past.

Such differences between the two were only natural.

After all, Camilla's pursuit of blood stemmed from her desire to maintain her beautiful appearance.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, still retained her youthful appearance and didn't need to chase after beauty. As an Anti-Servant, she was half-baked.

One was her past self, the other her future self, and they were inherently at odds.

Young Elizabeth refused to become Camilla, not wanting to commit foolish deeds for such meaningless matters.

Camilla, in turn, despised Elizabeth. To her, Elizabeth was simply ignorant, singing praises of her youth, still beautiful and lovely without making any effort – an absolutely unforgivable symbol.

Given these factors, Elizabeth stubbornly aimed for Camilla.

Similarly, when Camilla saw Elizabeth, her eyes had no room for anyone else.

"Unpleasant... truly unpleasant..."

Camilla muttered.

"To see someone completely unaware of reality, squandering their youth and beauty, it's truly unpleasant!"

In response, Elizabeth's expression tensed, and she softly spoke.

"I know you're my future, my true nature, and also my downfall. Even if I reject you, history won't change. I'll still be the feared Bloody Countess, and the sins you commit will be the burden I must bear."

However...

"But even so, I want to say."

Elizabeth spoke loudly.

"I absolutely don't want to become you! Absolutely not!"

For this reason, Elizabeth had come here, solely to stop her future self.

This ignited Camilla's anger.

"Then I'll deny you with all my might and erase this regrettable past!"

A strong surge of blood emanated from Camilla.

"Come!"

Elizabeth also channeled her full magical power.

As two Servants, two facets of the same existence, stared each other down, they shattered the ground beneath them and charged at each other.

Vlad III and Kiyohime, watching this scene, turned their attention toward each other as well.

"An unimaginable impromptu performance."

Vlad III commented with a sense of wonder.

"Shouldn't we also join in and perform a magnificent dance here?"

With a serene smile, Kiyohime responded to Vlad III's comment.

"Naturally, I've never let my enemies off easily on the battlefield."

Vlad III chuckled leisurely.

"Then let me offer a dance for my Master."

Kiyohime raised her fan.

In the next instant, iron stakes and flames burst forth.

"Boom!"

The sound of explosion echoed ceaselessly on this battlefield.

Meanwhile, at the edge of the battlefield, two individuals fated to meet clashed once more.

"It seems my partner in this dance is you, my knight."

With a captivating smile, Marie welcomed the enemy who came to assassinate her.

"Although I might not be up to the task."

D'Eon stared intensely at Mary. Sword in hand, he no longer hesitated and pointed it at his once sworn allegiance.

The second reunion of the protector and the protected, as expected, unfolded on this battlefield.