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"Cough...!"

Accompanied by a cough, spatters of blood were expelled from the mouth.

"Drip...drip..."

Drops of blood flowed from the abdomen, where a bloody wound had opened, merging into the expanding pool of blood below.

Supported by her black flag, Jeanne Alter struggled to rise, her existence fading to the point where it could disappear at any moment.

"...Miss Jeanne Alter...?"

Witnessing this scene, Mash widened her eyes slightly.

"You..."

Even Jeanne's gaze toward Jeanne Alter held a ripple of emotion.

Rozen, using his "Spirit Vision" ability, immediately perceived Jeanne Alter's dire state.

Naturally, Jeanne Alter wasn't a legitimate Heroic Spirit; she was a fictional Servant created by the Holy Grail, her existence is very tenuous.

Now, having lost the Holy Grail as a source of magical energy and suffering near-fatal wounds, it was unsurprising that this constructed Servant could vanish entirely from the world without leaving a trace.

However, at this moment, she was desperately clinging to her last traces of existence and life force, focusing her hate-filled eyes on the direction of the Demon God Pillar. She even sought Rozen's help.

All this, just for the sake of vengeance.

"Are you... alright?"

Rozen condensed a thousand words into this single sentence.

But...

"No need for you to worry."

Jeanne Alter retorted nonchalantly.

"All you need to do is provide me with magical energy. The rest is my concern."

Without this, Jeanne Alter, bereft of the Holy Grail, couldn't even activate her Noble Phantasm. Once she could use her Noble Phantasm, the power of her A+ ranked Anti-Army Noble Phantasm would indeed serve as the final blow against the Demon God Pillar.

Rozen didn't say much more, turning his head to look at Mash and Jeanne.

"Senpai..."

Meeting Rozen's gaze, Mash's eyes shimmered.

"... It's your decision."

Jeanne fell silent for a moment, then offered Rozen a trusting look.

Rozen took a deep breath and nodded firmly.

"Then we'll stake everything on her!"

Rozen made his decision, fully prepared to give his all.

"Mash, Jeanne, be ready to follow my orders!"

Leaving only this sentence, Rozen controlled his eagle and flew towards Jeanne Alter's position.

Before long, Rozen landed by Jeanne Alter's side.

"——!——!"

Ahead, the raging Demon God Pillar continued to roar, with the accumulating black smog growing denser around its body.

It could be imagined that if things continued like this, the Demon God Pillar's next attack would be truly catastrophic.

However, for some unknown reason, Rozen's heart held no trace of fear.

"Heh..." Jeanne Alter glanced at Rozen, her voice full of self-mockery. "Who would have thought that in the end, I'd have to rely on a human Master like you."

Her words elicited a wry smile from Rozen.

"Isn't it a good story for both erstwhile foes to join hands at the end, defeating the ultimate boss together?"

Rozen's tone regained its usual carefree and light quality.

"Don't misunderstand." Jeanne Alter's voice remained cold. "We're just using each other."

Rozen paid little heed to this and simply nodded.

"That's enough."

At those words, Jeanne Alter huffed again, but a smile briefly crossed her face.

However, that smile lasted only an instant.

"I can only attack once! Choose the timing yourself!"

Jeanne Alter shouted.

"I know!"

Rozen took up the responsibility without hesitation and yelled at Mash and Jeanne in the same manner.

"Let's go! Mash! Jeanne!"

As his words fell, both girls responded simultaneously.

"Yes!"

In the next moment, Mash and Jeanne shattered the "Magic Defense" shield beneath their feet, charging toward the direction of the Demon God Pillar.

This action seemed to stimulate the enemy's nerves.

"Disappear!"

Lev's furious roar resonated within the Demon God Pillar, causing the accumulating black smog to surge out.

In an instant, the sky seemed to change color drastically.

Far more powerful and terrifying than any previous attack, a torrential surge of darkness shattered the ground and shook the space, like a rolling cloud, shrouding Mash and Jeanne's direction.

This level of attack could cancel out or even overpower the might of an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm.

If Jeanne Alter were to release her Noble Phantasm directly, wouldn't it be nullified by the Demon God Pillar's strike?

Rozen understood this, which was why he sent Mash and Jeanne ahead first.

In other words, relying solely on Jeanne Alter would not be enough to defeat the Demon God Pillar.

Even knowing the method to defeat the enemy, they needed everyone's concerted effort to overcome this challenge.

So...

"Activate Noble Phantasm!"

Mash's voice rang out loudly.

"『Virtual Noble Phantasm Pseudo-Deployment/Foundation of Anthropic Principle (Lord Chaldeas)』!"

A rotating magical barrier lit up on the surface of her shield, forming a sturdy defense.

"O flag of mine, Protect my comrades!"

Similarly, Jeanne cried out the true name of her Noble Phantasm with a strong voice.

"『My Lord is here (Luminosite Eternelle)』!"

A hazy golden light blossomed from her pure white flag.

With sturdy barriers and the hazy golden light, Mash and Jeanne directly charged into the torrent of darkness.

"Haaa!"

With a soaring cry, the two girls charged forward, disregarding everything. They paid no heed to the approaching terrifying power, blocking the billowing black smog.

Finally...

"Clang—!"

The pitch-black smog was dispersed by the flickering white barrier and the suddenly intense radiant golden light.

"What...!?"

Lev's shocked voice finally echoed from within the Demon God Pillar.

Exhausted and weary, the two girls, as if they had fulfilled their mission, knelt down and shouted.

"Senpai!"

"Master!"

Mash and Jeanne had successfully completed their task.

"Good!"

Rozen didn't hesitate at all. He expended all the magic within him, pouring it all into Jeanne Alter through the temporary contract they had formed.

Jeanne Alter's eyes snapped open.

"Burn! My anger!"

"Burn! My hatred!"

"Even if it means consuming my entire existence, I will surely reduce the enemy to ashes!"

Jeanne Alter roared with all her might.

"『Roar! My Rage (La Grondement du Haine)』!"

The flames of the crimson lotus exploded, engulfing the entire audience hall in an inferno.

And then, those flames surged forth, enveloping the colossal body of the Demon God Pillar entirely.

"Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!"

Lev's desperate screams filled the sea of fire, echoing atop the flames of the crimson lotus.