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Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Hallelujah

"—The works of the Lord, here and now—!"

Hallelujah

"Hahahahahahahaha!! Burn, burn, blaze—!!"

Swords of wrath materialize, flying at Jeanne in droves.

"Scorch, rot, melt away! This is the fire that burned me. This is my outrage—!!"

Raging flames, an inferno of despair and fury, engulf the Saint—!

"Don't these feel familiar, my other self?! You remember, don't you?! This heat, this suffocation, this regret—!!"

The Witch advances, her accusing blades slashing at Jeanne.

The Witch slams down her despairing cry.

"These flames are France's deceit!"

Jeanne stamps forward, proclaiming boldly.

"These blades are the people's mockery!"

Jeanne counters, slashing with burning anger—!!

"This rage—is my unending vow of vengeance—!!"

Slamming, slamming, slamming.

Burning, burning, burning—!

The Witch, with her soul as kindling and heart as fuel, screams.

To the entire world—despair.

To all deceit—condemnation.

To everything—her inferno of hatred—!!!

"—!!"

"Burn, burn, burn to nothing—!! Whiter than my white self! Until only ashes remain—!!"

The Dragon Witch roars ferociously—!!

"—Such unbearable howling. It must reflect the twisted tastes of her creator."

Just listening makes my soul feel scorched. Her cries, her soul's screams, make me feel like my own soul is burning.

"Jeanne…"

"Well, no wonder. From an outsider's view, that girl's end was that horrific."

—Every torture, every violation.

—Even I felt chills at times.

"I won't forgive! Not France that betrayed me! Not the priests who burned me! Not this world that didn't save me—!!"

Floating swords streak toward Jeanne! Each stab ignites flames, searing her—!

"Guh—!!"

Jeanne rolls forward, trying to escape, but the Dragon Witch kicks her back.

"—Ahh!!"

"No escaping!!"

The Witch's blade swings down.

Jeanne responds, drawing her own Crimson Holy Maiden and parrying!

"Trying to spite me with that name?! What irony!!"

"—Aaaah!!"

"—To challenge me with crimson flames? How absurd—!!"

From behind and both sides, swords of hellfire materialize—!

"Pierce—!!"

They stab into Jeanne in one swift motion—!!

"Guuuhhh!!"

Blood splatters, staining her pure white.

Black flames close in on the Saint—!!

"She's holding her own, for a counterfeit. Clinging to the original's glory, but forged with meticulous care."

"Jeanne-san—!!"

"Is she okay…?! We're just watching…!"

"Let her be. This is her chosen fight."

The vessel declares firmly.

"But…!"

I understand Master's feelings. Jeanne's clearly at a disadvantage, pierced multiple times. The worry is palpable.

—Yet, an unshakable certainty remains.

"Tch, fine. As her equal, say something, 'Jeanne.'"

The vessel juts his chin.

"Yes!"

"Whoa!"

"Jeanne-san?!"

The comms connect, and Jeanne's voice rings out.

"I'm fine! If I am truly myself, I will not lose! Please, believe in me!"

"Jeanne…"

"Heh, well said. But what's your basis?"

The vessel smirks mischievously.

I can vaguely grasp it myself.

"The basis is clear! 'Because you all, who believe in me, are here!' I'm the woman who bore a flag and inspired others!"

Jeanne proclaims, as if it's an absolute truth.

"As long as there are those who rise at my back, I will never kneel! —That's—"

"Haaaa!!"

She swings her flag, scattering the Witch's flames—!!

"—the way of Jeanne d'Arc, who chose a flag over a sword and joined the battlefield!"

"—Exactly. She's a flag-bearer. As long as there's someone to lead, she won't break."

Yes. She's the Saint, Jeanne d'Arc. The Saint who gave everything to save France.

"Taaaaahhh!!"

She brandishes her flag, slicing through and sweeping away the flames!

"Tch—!!"

As long as she fights for France.

Countless blades rain down.

"Ooooh!!"

"Yaaaah!!"

She rolls her flag, wielding it like a spear to fend them off!

As long as comrades rally under her flag.

"Zeeeeyaaaah!!"

She plants her flag in the ground, using the momentum to slam into the Dragon Witch!

"Guuuhhh!!"

As long as she is herself.

"—Taaah!!"

"Gahh—!!?"

In a fleeting clash, she headbutts the Dragon Witch, staggering her—!

"Zeeeee!!"

"No way I'll lose—! No way—!!"

Even if her foe is herself!

"You! Me! You—!!"

She unleashes flames—

Jeanne charges through, piercing the blaze with her body!!

"Quite the coincidence—"

She slams her flag—!!

"So am I—!!"

She will never yield!

"Jeanne—d'Arc!!"

"Prepare yourself!!"

That's the hero, Jeanne d'Arc—!!

"She's not alone…!"

"Not alone…!?"

"She's got a reliable Senpai!"

—Look forward. Ignore minor wounds.

(Yes!)

"Zeeee!!"

She curls her body, letting the flames graze her.

—Minimize the hits!

(Yes!!)

She calmly dodges the falling blades.

"What—!?"

—Step in! Keep your guard tight, eyes straight!

(Yes!!)

Pushing through lung-searing hellfire, parrying with her arms, she advances bit by bit—!

"What is she…?! Why, why won't she stop?!"

Flames burst, burst, burst, burst.

—No big deal, this little fire. Remember my Tarasque!

(Of course—Saint Martha!)

Jeanne's skill 'Revelation' is at its peak!

"Haaaa!!"

In one breath—she closes the distance!

"This feeling—! You're borrowing someone's power—!?"

—Good, like that. You can do it, Jeanne!

(Yes—! Thank you!)

She clenches her fist—tightly, tightly, tightly!!

—Follow the voice granting Revelation.

—With Saint Martha's prayer—!

"If you're Jeanne d'Arc, you'd understand!"

—You're my kouhai…

"The master of this voice lending me strength—!!"

"The voice's master—!?"

"HAAAAAAAAA—!!!!"

Charging, pressing forward—straight at the Witch!

Cutting through flames.

Cutting through despair.

—Aiming for the self fallen to vengeance—!!

"—!! 'Roar forth'—!!"

"Too slow—!!"

Jeanne closes in for the killing blow—

—You inherited my prayer!

Clenching her fist—stronger, stronger, stronger!!

—Let her have it, Jeanne d'Arc!!

"Teyaaaaa!!"

"—!!?"

—And she strikes—!!

"—'Hallelujah'—!!!!"

Her full-bodied, soulful prayer—!!

"GAAAA—AAAAHH—!!?"

Taking the full force of the prayer to her face—

"—Seiii!!"

With a swing, the Dragon Witch is blown away!!

"Gah—!!"

She crashes into the throne, falling silent.

—Your form's still rough, but not bad.

The voice of Revelation fades.

—Don't forget this feeling, Jeanne.

The Praying Saint vanishes once more to the ends of time.

"Haa… haa… haa…"

"…What… was that… just now…?"

"—What pierced you wasn't my power. It was the Praying Saint you summoned, you drove mad."

"…Saint… Berserk… Rider…?"

"Yes. Saint Martha's… prayer."

"…What… I don't get it… Charging through flames like that…"

Heroes never grow.

But their souls can inherit something.

"—My thanks to you, Saint Martha."

Jeanne d'Arc has truly—

Inherited Saint Martha's prayer.

Hallelujah (The holy word that delivers prayer)

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