Instead was Artoria alter.
Hmm?
Is there something wrong with this script?
"Yo~! I've been assigned to deal with you," Artoria alter said expressionlessly.
Avicebron: "..."
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Although the newcomer wasn't Roche, this truly fell outside of Avicebron's expectations.
However, he did not appear overly panicked. The reason was simple: the girl before him looked quite weak, like an ordinary human maiden. The amount of magical energy she radiated was negligible; clearly, she posed no threat to him!
"Where is Roche?" Avicebron was still most concerned about his vital core.
This girl was merely a stumbling block, her appearance only a slight delay in his process of creating a new world.
Avicebron, also known as Solomon ibn Gabirol, was a prominent 11th-century poet and philosopher. Born in Málaga, Spain, he was a key figure in introducing the scholarship and wisdom of ancient Greece, Arabia, and Judea into the European cultural sphere. One could say he was a founding father of Western "fabricated" history.
Due to his frail body, he was frequently plagued by illness, most notably a persistent and stubborn skin disease. This led him to develop a pessimistic and misanthropic personality; until the moment of his death, he always wore a mask, never showing his true face to the world. In reality, this could also be seen as a manifestation of his specific character as a man of his era.
Because of his extreme loathing and pessimism toward the world, he viewed life through a negative lens and witnessed the endless sins of humanity. Influenced by this, he conceived a desire to emulate the story recorded in the 10th-century Biblical tradition—the legend of Yahweh creating humanity—attempting to re-enact that miraculous scene.
Because of this, he possessed his own unique wish: to complete his Noble Phantasm, which was the goal he was willing to betray his Master to achieve.
Interestingly, Avicebron's vision of the "Original Man" was Adam, while Frankenstein, who shared the same faction, represented the Eve that Professor Victor attempted to mold. Perhaps this was the "Root" that alchemists had always sought.
"You mean that little guy? Oh, I knocked him out and tossed him into the bushes," Artoria alter answered with a hint of irritation, casually scratching her head.
"Hand him over, or do not blame me for failing to show mercy to a lady," Avicebron said softly, maintaining his calm.
However, even as he spoke, three golems loomed behind him. These golems were massive, radiating a suffocating aura that turned the surrounding air heavy.
"Heh, I won't~!" Artoria alter chuckled. A flash of provocation flickered in her eyes, as if she didn't view the threat before her as anything at all.
"My apologies!" Avicebron waved his hand.
At his gesture, the three golems behind him charged at Artoria alter with a speed that belied their massive size. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the space, as if to tear the earth asunder. Avicebron turned slowly, shaking his head and sighing. His eyes held a trace of helplessness, as if he pitied the girl's stubbornness.
I loathe humanity.
But I do not wish to create unnecessary slaughter.
Especially of someone outside the Holy Grail War.
The Lord will forgive me...
BOOM!
Before his lament was finished, a massive explosion erupted behind him. Immediately following, fragments of the golems flew toward him like rain. Some pieces even struck the back of his head, giving him a fright as he hurriedly turned to check the situation.
"What happened?" he asked in shock.
However, when he saw the scene before him, he was completely stunned. Artoria alter stood there, scratching her head, while her right hand had already manifested the "Excalibur." In the next instant, she raised the Holy Sword high, firing a colossal burst of pitch-black magical energy toward the sky. The mana pierced the clouds as if to destroy the entire world.
Avicebron was dumbstruck by the sight.
"You... you are actually an incarnated Servant!!!" he cried out in disbelief, his voice filled with shock and fear.
"How can this be... are you a victor of a previous Holy Grail War?" Avicebron's face turned as white as paper, and his body began to tremble involuntarily. He stared wide-eyed at the Holy Sword in Artoria alter's hand, muttering to himself: "That Holy Sword... impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"...How could you be the King of Knights—" His voice grew smaller until it was a mere whisper. At this moment, his heart was filled with despair and helplessness. Facing such a powerful opponent, he felt like a tiny ant with no power to resist.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Until the final moment of his life, Avicebron failed to complete his dream Noble Phantasm. Before the pitch-black mana released by that terrifying "Excalibur," he had no resistance. Ultimately, he could only turn into a puff of mana dust and dissipate from the world.
---------
After receiving the news, a faint smile appeared on Haruka Kasugano's face. He turned and said softly to Fiore beside him: "The good news is here. Caster has been successfully eliminated by the person I arranged!"
Hearing this, Fiore's eyes lit up instantly, her face overflowing with irrepressible joy. She grabbed Haruka Kasugano's arm excitedly, her voice trembling slightly: "Is it true? Thank you so much!"
She was well aware that Haruka Kasugano possessed such strength and means. After all, she had personally witnessed the extra Servants around him. At this moment, Fiore's affection for Haruka Kasugano grew even deeper.
Because while Haruka Kasugano was still "laboring" to smash the homunculus cultivation vats, the Black Faction Masters held a brief, emergency meeting. Since Darnic had followed the others to the Hanging Gardens and the Greater Grail had been stolen, Fiore had been appointed the acting head of the family. This sudden responsibility weighed heavily on her delicate shoulders.
If something were to happen to Roche at this time, she would never forgive herself and would even start to doubt her ability to bear this heavy burden. Therefore, when she learned Caster had been eradicated, her joy was beyond words. After all, except for Celeike, every member of the Yggdmillennia family viewed restoring the family's glory as their lifelong mission.
[Ding~! Fiore has become the head of the family, losing her shackles, and her adoration for the Host has increased. Thus, her "Affection" has reached 100%~!]
[Merging previous banked Affection points and merging the rewards for completing the conquest mission...]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining "Demonic Face EX"!]
Skill Effect: In one word—"Handsome"!
------
Hmm? What kind of bullshit skill description is this?
As for [Demonic Face], he certainly knew what it was. Wasn't that Lanling Wang's innate skill? But in the game, it seemed to be a group Arts buff. Clearly, the version the system gave was different; it seemed to be the actual manifestation of Lanling Wang's legendary beauty.
Soon, the system provided the correct description:
[Grants the Host the appearance of Lanling Wang, whose beauty was praised even in history books! Simply revealing it will impact the surroundings, Charming everyone and Inspiring allies! As for whether it can fire light beams with the support of the moon, it remains unclear.]
I'll be...
To put it plainly, it just makes him more handsome? Previously, his charm skill was just the [Love Spot]. The spot only increased his ability to charm women, but it didn't actually change his face. But this [Demonic Face] actually made him more handsome?
My god~! He was already handsome enough—making him even more so? How are the women of this world supposed to survive?! Truly a sin!
--------
After Fiore announced the homunculi's freedom, the atmosphere became both warm and tense. All the homunculi immediately moved to the battlefield to help their wounded companions. Haruka Kasugano was no exception; he put on a busy front, actively participating in the rescue and seriously bandaging the wounded.
Just then, Jeanne returned. She walked straight to Haruka Kasugano and called out: "Haruka Kasugano!"
Her brow was furrowed, and her eyes held deep concern, clearly weighed down by many worries. Seeing this, Haruka Kasugano put on a sincere smile and asked with concern: "Ruler, are you okay? You didn't run into any danger, did you?"
However, Jeanne didn't respond to his concern. Instead, she said firmly: "Now is not the time to discuss my well-being. I have something important to tell you!"
With that, she stepped forward and, like a woman taking charge of her man, grabbed Haruka Kasugano's hand and led him away from the scene. This sudden act left the surrounding homunculi and Caules staring in a daze.
Thud!
Jeanne pinned Haruka Kasugano against the castle wall with both hands.
Here it comes. The dream-like famous scene. Being wall-pinned by Jeanne!
Haruka Kasugano suppressed the urge to smirk, looking at the serious Jeanne. Because they were so close, he could smell the intoxicating, lily-and-musk scent emanating from her. Not only that, he could even feel a faint warmth.
Jeanne was acting very dominant, forcing Haruka Kasugano against the wall. However, unlike Sieg, Haruka Kasugano was quite tall. This forced Jeanne to stand on her tiptoes just to rest her hands on his shoulders. Consequently, her body leaned forward involuntarily.
At this very moment, Jeanne's rounded figure was pressed tightly against him, especially those soft "spheres of fat"—it was an irresistible temptation.
This is simply fantastic~!