All the notes intertwined, performing a magnificent, heavenly song—a melody of unparalleled beauty. The entire scene was suffused with passion and vitality, enough to make anyone lose themselves within it.
Clang, tang-tang-tang, dong—!!!
"Kimozi (I feel good)——"
Finally, under Haruka Kasugano's frenzied assault, Jeanne—the rigid, leftover Saint—finally understood the meaning of "pleasure." A look of pure infatuation crossed her face. She had forgotten her mission, even forgotten who she was. She only knew... that right now, she was experiencing incomparable bliss!
Splurt—
Soul was injected into the instrument that was Jeanne.
Slap, slap, slap—
She fell heavily to the ground like a puddle of mud. But amazingly, her soft skin displayed a startling elasticity, as if endowed with a life of its own; the moment she hit the hard floor, she bounced.
"Mmph... hah... hah..."
Jeanne's breathing became ragged and heavy, as if she were releasing emotions that had been suppressed deep within her heart for far too long.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully bluffing Jeanne d'Arc. The 'Cao Cao-style Conquest' mission for Jeanne has been initiated!]
[Jeanne d'Arc is an EX-rank beauty. The rewards are extremely generous!]
[Congratulations! The Host has obtained the One-Time Noble Phantasm: 'La Grondement Du Haine' (Roar, O My Fury) EX!]
Huh, I actually got Jalter's Noble Phantasm... that's interesting.
Haruka Kasugano also collapsed onto the floor like mud, pulling the curvaceous Jeanne into a tight embrace to feel her softness. He began to rest, conserving his energy. Victory was within sight.
On the other side, the battle between Melusine, Astolfo, and Karna was nearing its end. Melusine's Spirit Origin was no weaker than Karna's, and with Astolfo's help, victory was inevitable. Karna, attempting a final struggle, unleashed his ultimate Noble Phantasm!
His armor disintegrated and merged with his demonic spear, causing it to radiate a light so intense it turned the night sky into day.
"Understand the mercy of the King of Gods."
"Indra, observe closely."
"Extinction, within this single strike."
"Burn to ashes—'Vasavi Shakti' (O Sun, Abide to Death)!!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Seeing the Noble Phantasm, Melusine immediately sent a mental transmission to Haruka Kasugano, asking to go all out. Haruka Kasugano instantly used a Command Spell to let her activate [Ray Horizon], transforming her back into the Primordial Dragon! She then unleashed her own Noble Phantasm: [Hollow Heart Albion] (The Undisclosed Pulse of the Unclean)!
This was the Dragon Breath of Melusine in her true form. Two pillars of light collided, piercing the heavens! Astolfo, caught in the middle, nearly turned tail and ran. "Ahhh! You two lunatics!!! I'm still standing right here!!!"
As a Servant no less powerful than Gilgamesh, Karna's full-power strike was earth-shattering, as if the sun itself were falling to Earth. The radiance lit up everything for a hundred miles. But beside it, a purple beam of light held its ground, turning the other half of the sky pitch black. Melusine's Anti-World Noble Phantasm did not back down.
The two massive pillars of light sliced the night sky into black and white halves. Then—BOOM! The explosion created a massive mushroom cloud. Because Melusine's mana was provided by the System, it far exceeded Karna's. The moment his mana faltered, his light was swallowed by hers and dissipated. Melusine's beam tore through the buildings of the Hanging Gardens behind him, punching a massive hole in the fortress!
"Ahhh! That's insane!" Astolfo's eyes were wide. The scale of that little girl's Noble Phantasm was ridiculous!
Shortly after, Karna vanished. Melusine, having exhausted her mana, fell to the ground. Much like Circe before her, she sat there powerlessly. "Master... I can't help you with what comes next..." she said weakly.
Having used [Ray Horizon] to revert to her original form, her Future Vision became more intense. In that instant, a scene from the distant future flashed in her mind: her own small, snowy-white body in a "breaststroke" swimming pose, while Haruka Kasugano stood beside her "teaching" her some very strange things. Her short, porcelain legs were stained red.
Ah... that's the scene of me and Master reaching the peak together... I can't wait!
Melusine's gaze turned misty, looking like a smitten girl in love, her face full of happiness and a touch of "lewd" anticipation.
Chapter 187: Semiramis Moves Against Haruka Kasugano
Upon receiving word that Melusine had dealt with Karna, and assuming Jack's ambush of Achilles was successful, Haruka Kasugano picked up Jeanne to lead her into the final betrayal.
"Ruler, let's go. Let's take down Amakusa Shirou Tokisada together!" Haruka Kasugano joked.
Jeanne regained a bit of her spirit but asked in confusion, "You're dead... what's the point of me killing him now?"
Haruka Kasugano was stunned. After such a deep "exchange of life," she still hadn't snapped out of it? Was Shakespeare's mental attack that strong? Well, I guess I wouldn't know—not even the Great Grail's mud can touch my mind. I suspect my brain is just pure 'yellow' [lewd], making me immune to all poisons...
"Ruler, touch my heart. Look!" He grabbed her soft hand and placed it on his chest.
Thump-thump, thump-thump...
Jeanne felt the powerful heartbeat—the sound of his heart merged with Siegfried's. She remembered listening to this exact beat when they first met. It was so familiar that her vacant eyes instantly regained their luster. Though she didn't understand how, she was certain: the Haruka Kasugano before her was alive and well.
"You... why are you still alive?" Jeanne's jaw dropped.
Wait, why can I suddenly sense Siegfried's Spirit Origin so clearly again? Was I tricked by Shakespeare? That's unforgivable...
Jeanne's emotions boiled over. She lunged forward, hugging Haruka Kasugano tightly and sobbing: "As long as you're alive, it's fine—wait... so what we just did... that wasn't a hallucination? That was really you?"
Suddenly realizing the truth, she remembered the "pain" she had just endured and puffed out her cheeks in a huff. "You scoundrel! Don't you know how to be gentle with a lady? You've become so wicked!"
Haruka Kasugano chuckled, "Hehehe, wasn't it you who taught me all that, Ruler?"
Jeanne immediately turned her head away, her entire face turning crimson. "I'm just glad... you're okay," she whispered happily. Then, she asked tentatively, "My feelings for you... you understand them completely now, right?" She looked like a ripe little apple, a pure girl fallen deep in love.
"Yes. I'm very happy you could be so honest with me," Haruka Kasugano lied with a faint, soulful smile. They hugged for several minutes as the world stood still. Finally, he let go. "Come, let's save the world."
Jeanne nodded and gripped his hand. Together, they ran toward the depths of the Hanging Gardens.
[Ding! Jeanne likes the Host even more. Infidelity Level +10!]
[Reward: Host's Endurance has upgraded to A+!]
Holy crap, A+ Endurance... doesn't that make me even more 'durable' in battle? Gahaha!
Semiramis sat regally upon her throne in the center of the Gardens. She sat with her legs crossed confidently, showing off her long, shapely lines. Her black tube-top dress accentuated her curves, revealing a mesmerizing amount of snowy skin.
She rested her cheek in her hand, staring worriedly at the battle reports. Even in her distress, she was breathtaking. Achilles had lost his immortality and was now a second-rate Servant. Karna had been defeated.
The situation was looking grim.