Chapter 54: A Traitor Among Us
The only remaining Noble Phantasm she had left was Luminosité Eternelle.
Jeanne observed the moonlit street scenery with a dazed expression, unable to grasp her current situation for a moment.
"Why am I...?"
She couldn't understand her predicament. Clearly, not long ago, she had faded away after using her final Noble Phantasm, La Pucelle. To be reborn again now—this was absolutely not the work of Alaya.
As the "Counter Force," Alaya is generated by the collective unconscious desire of all humanity (primates) to survive. Ordinary people generally hope their world will extend indefinitely; thus, humans procreate, maintain peace, and create a better future. There may be some misanthropes who wish for the destruction of humanity or the world, but in the grand scheme of all mankind, such anti-human elements are a minority, and thus Alaya ignores them.
However, if a factor appears that possesses both the ability and the will to destroy humanity, Alaya must intervene. It guides heroes to save the world, granting them the power of all human hope to eliminate that factor. This is the reason humanity hasn't been wiped out yet—it's due to Alaya's regulation. Some might find this far-fetched, arguing it's the result of human effort, but one must not forget: Alaya itself is the integration of collective human consciousness.
Besides Alaya, the Counter Force acting to protect humanity, there is a similar existence: Gaia, which acts to "protect the planet." Gaia is also a consciousness that seeks to avoid the destruction of the world, but Gaia responds to the "Planet (Earth)" rather than "Humanity." Normally, the survival instincts of humans and the planet are identical—protecting the world.
However, there is a possibility of divergence. For instance, humans are currently looking for a "second Earth." If a second habitable planet is found, would humans still protect Earth as they do now? If humanity ever intends to ruin the Earth, Gaia would wipe them out. Alaya, on the other hand, cannot stand by while humanity faces extinction and would definitely ensure human survival, even if it meant opposing Gaia.
Furthermore, unlike Alaya, as long as the planet is fine, Gaia doesn't care if the inhabitants are humans or not. If humans were to vanish like the dinosaurs, Gaia wouldn't care as long as the planet remained intact. Conversely, as long as humans survive—even if they moved to another planet—Alaya wouldn't care if the Earth was left to its own devices.
Because humans currently rely on Earth, the goals of the two Counter Forces often overlap. Gaia's consciousness is like "Nature," providing material gifts as well as large-scale attrition. The reason Alaya doesn't intervene during natural attrition is that it knows humanity won't
perish because of it. But if a world-ending flood were to occur, a revelation like Noah's Ark might appear.
"So... could it be...?"
Having thought of a certain possibility, Jeanne turned her startled and suspicious gaze toward the man with the smile on his face. At that moment, she felt a sense of foreboding.
"We haven't seen each other for a few seconds, yet I've missed you dearly, Miss Jeanne."
Shirou raised an eyebrow, looking at Jeanne as she stared back at him warily. "Can we talk properly now?"
"This power of yours doesn't belong to this world at all. What is your ultimate goal?!"
Jeanne gripped her holy spear tightly. After experiencing Shirou's overwhelming strength, the Saint's heart was filled with trepidation.
Saber had long since regained her mobility. She immediately wanted to charge forward with her sword to avenge the humiliation of her previous restraint. However, midway through, Jeanne raised her left hand again, and the crimson light of a Command Spell flared.
"Command Spell, activate—"
Instantly, Saber, who had just begun to move, was once again bound by the power of the Command Spell.
"Dammit...!!" Saber was so furious that the hand holding her sword trembled. She stood in place, staring resentfully at the blonde girl with the braided hair.
At the same time, Jeanne, wielding her white holy spear, had already reached Shirou. The white flag of the spear fluttered as the tip flew toward Shirou's neck!
Swoosh—!
In that split second, Shirou's body leaned back at an incredible angle, letting the spear tip graze past the bridge of his nose by a hair's breadth. Before Jeanne could retract the spear due to her momentum, Shirou unhesitatingly closed the distance. His right hand grabbed the shaft of her holy spear while he delivered a kick to her abdomen.
Thump—!
"Ugh!"
After the muffled sound of impact, the girl's body was sent flying backward. Because Shirou's strength far exceeded hers—even though he had restrained much of his power—Jeanne was unable to hold onto her spear.
The Noble Phantasm left her hands, and Jeanne's body uncontrollably rolled across the ground for a distance. Her deep blue dress and silver light armor were inevitably stained with dust.
Shirou weighed the girl's holy spear in his hand. The white spear spun nimbly in his grip; as the tip cut through the air with a whistling sound, the battle flag with the gold iris emblem snapped in the wind.
"Without your Noble Phantasm, how are you going to fight me now, Miss Jeanne?"
Holding the girl's spear, Shirou walked toward her step by step.
"..." After being hit by Shirou's kick, Jeanne had clearly suffered a significant injury. She clutched her lower abdomen, her expression pained.
First losing her trump card, then having her Noble Phantasm stolen, and now being at an absolute disadvantage in close combat—Jeanne felt an unspeakable sense of powerlessness welling up in her heart. In this desperate moment, she looked toward Caren, who was her Master.
Although she possessed two Command Spells that could be used on other Servants, Saber was the only other Servant present, and those spells had already been used up in the previous two instances.
"Master, please use a Command Spell to restore me!"
At this moment, the Saint did not yet know that it was Caren who had resurrected her after her strength had been greatly depleted.
"I..." Caren bit her lip hesitantly, then looked at Shirou.
Jeanne was stunned by Caren's hesitation. Then, Shirou followed up.
"Use a Command Spell, Caren. Transfer the Saint to me. Consider it repayment for my help back then, alright?"
"Ah... yes, I understand."
Caren gave Jeanne one last look, then withdrew her gaze and closed her eyes, as if she didn't want to see the scene of Jeanne's suffering.
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