Chapter 111 – Jeanne Alter's Second Noble Phantasm
When a massive beam of magical energy appeared on the livestream screen, nearly sweeping across the entire horizon, the excitement in the chat room instantly exploded.
[Breaking news: A gas explosion just occurred in a certain area of Rome. Citizens are advised not to panic, authorities are conducting an immediate investigation.]
[Rome citizen: So it's finally our turn to have a gas explosion, huh?]
[That power level is almost catching up to her dad's Lightsaber, right?]
[If Zhuge Liang adds another buff, this unfilial Saber might blow up the entire city of Rome.]
[Unfilial Saber? How dare you call the most filial child of Britannia Unfilial!?]
[Exactly! A good son who freed his father from the burden of kingship—how could that be unfilial!?]
[.... Okay. Let's hope your kids will show their filial piety in the same way.]
...
[System: 'British Trouble Kid' has sent 10 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: I, Mo-chan's number one Simp, have been watching this stream just for this moment! Keep buffing her! Clarent Blood Arthurrrrrrrr Brrrrrrrrr!!!]
...
Compared to the frenzy in the livestream, Ethan didn't have the mind to care about anything else.
Because on his side, Mash's Noble Phantasm seemed to be getting overwhelmed by Caesar's Noble Phantasm.
From the sword "Crocea Mors: Yellow Death" in Caesar's hand, attack after attack rained down, clashing repeatedly against Mash's shield. Brilliant golden light radiated from the sword, spreading out and completely immobilizing Jeanne Alter.
No matter how she tried to attack, it was all broken apart by that light.
"How's that? Just that many attacks already left you unable to fight back?"
Caesar continued his assault as he spoke with a cold voice.
"With your current form, you are still far from arousing my desire to conquer. But once 'Crocea Mors' is drawn, it will not stop attacking the designated target until all magical energy is depleted. That's why I don't like drawing this sword."
"BANG——————————!!!"
An extremely powerful strike from Caesar shattered Mash's defensive Noble Phantasm!!!
"Ugh aaa!!"
Mash was blown back a full meter.
When Mash still didn't know the True Name of the shield in her hands, facing Caesar—who was wielding a divine-forged weapon—on his own domain was simply too much.
"System, can I use points to enhance Mash's Saint Graph?"
If the True Name of the royal dining table could be released, then stopping the "Yellow Death" might not be impossible.
[Beep beep... Under special conditions, Mash's Saint Graph will be automatically enhanced. Host does not have permission to manually enhance Mash's Saint Graph.]
"So it's as I thought..."
Ethan had suspected earlier that his kouhai-chan would likely only be able to unlock the true power of the royal dining table when facing the Lion King.
But if he didn't come up with a plan now, the holy sword in Caesar's hand might pierce right through both Mash and Jeanne Alter!
If the shield couldn't be enhanced, then the only option left was to enhance the spear!
"System, I choose to spend 100,000 points to enhance Jeanne Alter's Saint Graph!!!"
Ethan stepped forward, extending his hand engraved with the Command Seal toward Jeanne Alter.
"Jeanne Alter, I'm unleashing your second Noble Phantasm right here and now!!!"
[Beep Beep... Host's command confirmed.]
[Proceeding to enhance Jeanne Alter (Avenger)'s Saint Graph.]
A deep red Command Seal vanished, and then Jeanne Alter's body was engulfed in a surge of magical light.
She stared at her hands in surprise, clearly feeling her Saint Graph had become stronger.
"Oho? This overflowing feeling... isn't bad at all."
That familiar wicked smile once again crept across Jeanne Alter's lips.
"No matter what you do, you cannot escape the fate of being conquered."
Caesar gripped his holy sword tighter.
"Because this is the Noble Phantasm that has been sublimated from all the accomplishments of my life—none can escape the fate of being conquered in the face of this Noble Phantasm!!!"
The golden holy sword suddenly radiated intense waves of light and began to charge directly at Jeanne Alter and Mash.
"Ugh..."
Mash suppressed the pain and stood up, intending to continue using her shield to defend, but she could only manage to lift it while half-kneeling.
"I've relied on you enough already, Mash."
Jeanne Alter stepped out from Mash's protection, fearlessly walking straight ahead.
"Jeanne Alter-san!!!"
Mash called out to her in panic.
"The opponent's Noble Phantasm is too dangerous!"
"It's alright. Leave the rest to me."
Mash could only watch Jeanne Alter's back as she advanced, step by step walking into that golden-lit area.
"Mash!!!"
Ethan ran over and helped Mash up from the ground.
"Senpai?! Jeanne Alter-san, she...!!!"
"It's okay. She'll be fine."
Ethan reassured Mash.
"Conquest, huh?"
A scornful expression appeared on Jeanne Alter's face.
When she stepped into the golden area, miraculously, she wasn't eroded by it at all.
What's more, with every step Jeanne Alter took forward, burning ground appeared beneath her feet, as if hellfire was scorching the land.
"————————?!"
Caesar's face was filled with disbelief.
The sword in his hand automatically launched an attack at Jeanne Alter, but she easily blocked it.
"Impossible!!!"
Caesar screamed, even his obese body began to tremble.
"Could there really be something in this world I cannot conquer?!"
"Of course there is."
Jeanne Alter raised her head high and looked straight at Caesar.
"I don't care how boring your achievements are, how many nauseating treasures you have, or how much ridiculous glory you boast about — you cannot conquer something that never existed in the first place."
"Something... that doesn't exist???"
Caesar's palm gripping Crocea Mors was now dripping with sweat.
No matter how intensely that sword shone, it couldn't shake the Fallen Holy Maiden in black armor standing before him.
Behind Jeanne Alter, countless black spears appeared, burning with pitch-black hellfire.
With every expansion of the area beneath her feet, the number of spears increased, until they completely dominated the zone.
Ephemeral Dream.
A being born from personal wishes and illusions. Precisely because it was born from a wish, it retained extraordinary power.
In other words, to Crocea Mors — a Noble Phantasm capable of interfering with nearly everything — the existence of Jeanne Alter is undefined.
Caesar could conquer material things, even abstract concepts.
But he could not conquer something that never existed in the first place.
Born from a dream, a fragile illusion that could vanish with a single touch.
But also because it's an illusion, it is so breathtakingly beautiful.
This is Jeanne Alter's second Noble Phantasm — though to be more accurate, it should be considered her true first Noble Phantasm.
(Note: This is her skill in the game, although here the author has turned it into an NP.)
It seems that only after her Saint Graph was enhanced was she able to use it.
Things taking a turn like this… Caesar probably never saw it coming, did he?
"It's over, you loudmouth fat bastard!!!"
Jeanne Alter raised her black sword high, aiming it directly at Caesar.