Bab 216: -213- This is me....
In this moment, the fiery crimson hue replaced the previous pitch-black, illuminating the entire audience hall.
The flames of the crimson lotus transformed into an unprecedented scorching heat, wrapping around the towering pillar-like colossal flesh, relentlessly incinerating it.
Under these circumstances, the body of the Demon God Pillar began to char.
Finally, just as previously proclaimed, it gradually burned away to nothing.
Even so, the flames of the crimson lotus continued to burn, causing the body of the Demon God Pillar to start disintegrating.
Lev's agonized screams echoed within.
"It can't be...! Impossible...!"
Lev was both disbelieving and extremely unwilling, shouting incessantly.
"We Pillars...! The seventy-two Demon Gods...! To be defeated by mere human Masters and Servants...? This cannot be...! Absolutely impossible...!!!!"
Lev's cries, roars, and shouts persisted in this manner.
However, no matter how he resisted reality, the flames that had consumed him could not be extinguished.
The massive body of the Demon God Pillar was burned to a charred black within the flames.
"To die... in the hand of that lowly counterfeit..."
Lev's voice weakened.
In response, Jeanne Alter, who had fully released her Noble Phantasm, imparted a curse-like farewell.
"Descend to hell. This is the fate of us who have fallen into darkness."
With these parting words, Lev's voice disappeared completely.
"Hum..."
The Demon God Pillar burning in the flames of the crimson lotus began to emit radiance, ultimately transforming into particles of light like a vanishing Servant.
The flames of the crimson lotus ceased burning only at this point.
"Clang..."
Amidst a slight dull sound, the girl holding the black flag finally fell beside Rozen.
"Hmph... so it's over..."
Jeanne Alter collapsed into the pool of blood, her gaze devoid of focus, yet her tone and expression were still filled with mockery and self-derision.
Seeing this scene, Rozen instinctively wanted to approach, but he was stopped.
"I don't need sympathy."
These words came from Jeanne Alter's mouth, causing Rozen to halt his movement.
At this moment, both Mash and Jeanne arrived.
Looking at Jeanne Alter lying in the pool of blood, Mash's eyes were filled with complexity.
Jeanne, on the other hand, silently watched for a moment, then crouched down beside Jeanne Alter and whispered.
"You've worked hard, thank you..."
This was the comfort and respect the Saint offered to the creation that imitated her.
If it weren't for Jeanne Alter's final effort, they wouldn't have been able to defeat the Demon God Pillar.
This was the belief held by Rozen and Mash.
Of course, Jeanne Alter didn't see it that way.
"After all, in your eyes, I'm just a clown, right?"
Jeanne Alter still spoke with self-deprecation.
"Even without me, you could have used your 'second Noble Phantasm' to deal with that disgusting pillar."
This confession from Jeanne Alter left Mash dumbfounded and Rozen surprised.
"You have a second Noble Phantasm?"
Rozen looked at Jeanne with a mix of surprise and astonishment.
You see, a Noble Phantasm is a Servant's trump card, and having more of them means having access to a greater variety of powerful abilities. While the quantity of Noble Phantasms doesn't dictate everything, generally speaking, Servants with multiple Noble Phantasms are top-tier individuals, rarely weak.
Jeanne, who already possessed a Noble Phantasm of the highest rank, also had a second Noble Phantasm, which was surprising yet fitting. She was, after all, one of the world's most famous saints and a top-tier Servant, so having a second Noble Phantasm seemed reasonable.
However...
"That's not a Noble Phantasm that can be used casually."
Jeanne shook her head and spoke these words.
———〈The Crimson Holy Maiden (La Pucelle)〉.
That was the true name of Jeanne's hidden Noble Phantasm.
It was a conceptual armament formed from crystallized inner landscapes of Jeanne herself, using her never-before-used sword, St Catherine's Sword, as a catalyst. It could materialize the flames of the past that she suffered during her execution, a special attack Noble Phantasm.
Normally, this Noble Phantasm was only ranked at C, and even if Jeanne were to draw it, it could only be used as a slightly sharper sword. However, once its true power was unleashed, it would reach EX rank, with immeasurable destructive potential, enough to annihilate anyone Jeanne considered an enemy, almost unstoppable.
If it was this Noble Phantasm, then even an enemy like the Demon God Pillar could be eliminated.
However, using this Noble Phantasm came with a condition.
Jeanne's own death.
After all, it was an armament formed from the reenactment of her execution. Once used, while its power was unmatched, Jeanne would also be incinerated by the flames.
In other words, this was a one-time use special attack Noble Phantasm, Jeanne's true trump card.
The reason Jeanne had chosen to infiltrate the castle was to uncover the truth and also to use this Noble Phantasm to eliminate the "Dragon Witch" and save France.
Now, Jeanne still possessed this Noble Phantasm.
If Jeanne Alter hadn't stood up, Jeanne would have surely chosen to use this Noble Phantasm and perish together with the Demon God Pillar.
However, in the end, Jeanne relinquished this opportunity to Jeanne Alter.
Not because she cherished her own life, but to fulfill the purpose of her own replica created by Gilles.
Jeanne Alter seemed to understand this and her expression grew more self-mocking.
"In the end, I can only pick up what you don't want, whether it's life or a path."
Saying so, Jeanne Alter's tone was devoid of resentment and hatred, and she looked up at the ceiling.
"But, this is me..."
On the girl known as the "Dragon Witch," the light representing her vanishing essence finally emerged, causing her body to gradually turn into particles of light.
Everyone watched this scene in silence.
Rozen remained silent.
Mash closed her eyes.
Jeanne held Jeanne Alter's hand and whispered a prayer.
"May the Lord bless you..."
Under this prayer, Jeanne Alter gave a disdainful snort, as if feeling disdain, and vanished with the particles of light.
The witch that had wrought evil upon France had finally left this world.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone