BCloud
patreon
IBHJ Chapter 642
🕑 Added 2023-12-27 01:32:14 +0000 UTCSpartacus and Dracula fought.
It was a completely one-sided battle.
In his Romanian homeland and having become Dracula, Vlad's strength was approaching Karna's. Spartacus had zero chance.
Yet ultimately, Spartacus was the victor.
The moment Spartacus' spear was about to pierce Dracula's heart, Dracula, who could easily slay Spartacus, gave up all defenses and counterattacks - allowing the spear to cleanly pierce his heart.
"As expected, this was your aim, right oppressor?" Spartacus said.
"With this, the last vestiges of evil lingering over this land can finally dissipate. The rest...will be up to them now." Vlad revealed a smile.
His gaze looked towards the east in the distance.
As the crimson sun slowly rose amidst the dawn, the long dark night had faded away.
Dawn had arrived.
"I am like that faded sunset, never to return again. But my people's bright dawn has finally emerged after the long night. I only hope that they may find their own path, just as those homunculi... No. Just as Adam and the rest, finding the path to strengthen themselves. I am... Dracula."
Dracula smiled as he welcomed the rising sun on the horizon, allowing its radiance to shine upon him, burning his body away into motes.
"Lancer!" Darnic shouted.
Dracula turned his head to look at Darnic, smiling. "Master..."
Then he faded away like scattering snow, sprinkling across the entire land.
"Spartacus!" Adam shouted.
Spartacus turned to face him, smiling as he said: "This time, I finally succeeded in my revolt, huh, Adam. You guys should properly enjoy your lives from now on... Farewell..."
Spartacus disappeared.
Everyone had disappeared.
All the Heroic Spirits summoned by the Holy Grail War were gone.
Save for Mordred.
Due to that swindler bastard, she alone remained.
The sole, only Heroic Spirit left behind.
As Shirou had destroyed the anomaly, Gray was able to reestablish contact with Chaldea and prepared to return.
Mordred bid farewell to Kairi.
"Regarding that curse on you, Master, I already helped resolve it long ago with my Noble Phantasm. Afterwards, feel free to let your clan prosper! Though for that adopted daughter of yours, I'm helpless about her condition," she said.
"I understand... What a pity indeed," Kairi smiled.
She empathized somewhat.
Just then, he said, "So don't repeat my regrets, Sir Galahad."
"What?" she frowned.
"I can tell you don't actually resent Eternal King. So next time you meet, you must get along well."
"Are you kidding me? I completely hate him! My hatred for him pierces the very sky! Can't you see that? Just look at my tear-filled eyes! The words 'hatred' and 'detest' are written all over them! That damn swindling bastard! Tricking me into his stupid trap... Why the hell should I be listening to your preaching anyway? Who the hell are you to me? Forget it, I'm not wasting my breath with you!"
She stomped off angrily.
Watching her departing back, Kairi smiled.
When away from home, never forget the road back...Sir Galahad.
"Well, time for me to report to the Magus Association then," he lit a cigarette and departed alone.
Gray recovered the blackened [Council] Grail from Adam. With the Grail's retrieval, the black ring in the sky disappeared as well, attracting considerable attention from many in this world.
"What are your plans next, Adam? Or rather, all of you?" Gray gestured at the homunculi around Adam and asked.
"I'll probably head to the Inner Sea of the Planet. Since my current existence would only trouble the present world. The Counter Force is also warning me," Adam smiled carefreely. But when looking at his homunculi brethren, worry showed on his face. "I'm just concerned they have nowhere to live. If so many undocumented citizens suddenly appear in a nation, it would definitely cause trouble right?"
"If that's the case, let them come to Chaldea then," Gray suggested.
"Huh?" Adam stared blankly.
Gray said, "Chaldea is extremely understaffed. Regardless of background, as long as they're human and not threats to humanity, we can accept them. Just that with your massive size...you probably can't even fit through the passageway."
"I understand that. I intend to head to the Inner Sea," Adam nodded before turning to face his brethren. "My friends, what are your thoughts on this?"
"We are willing to go."
"Yes. We're willing. This world is magnificent, but there is another world that requires our aid. Mr. Assassin and Spartacus told us that when there is trouble, we should extend a helping hand."
They replied.
"Very well." Adam nodded, then said to Gray: "They agree to it."
"That's truly great to hear." Gray smiled.
Adam waved them off with a faint smile. As they left, the smile faded and his expression grew solemn.
He had lied. He wasn't headed to the Inner Sea at all. Using the massive force from rejecting the Counter Force's offer, he'd been violently ejected from that world toward the dimensional rift.
But he wasn't angry. Instead, he smiled.
He remembered the direction. Yes, right here
Endless chaos and death stretched across the land. Countless Chthonians corpses littered the ground.
Amidst all the carnage, a man sat breathing steadily off to one side.
He turned and looked at Adam, chuckling. "Why come here? Getting ejected from the World means you're stranded in the dimensional rift just like me now. Wouldn't heading to the Inner Sea of the Planet be better?"
Hearing that, Adam smiled. "Because I don't want Mr. Assassin shouldering this weighty path alone. That would be far too lonely for Mr. Assassin."
"Is that so?" The man smiled and stood, presenting his lonely back to Adam, "Then make sure you keep up."
"Ah...!"
Adam stepped forward.
...
As they approached Chaldea, Mordred clenched her fists tightly. For some reason, she felt rather nervous.
She watched Gray fiddling with the terminal interface projected from her bracelet, apparently operating something.
Mordred frowned. “What are you doing?”
"Preparing the mission report for Chaldea,” Gray replied. “And I plan to inform Saber about your situation."
Mordred stopped her in a panic. “Wait! Don't do that! Don't tell her about me!”
“Why not?” Gray looked puzzled.
Kiara stared curiously at Mordred. She had never seen such flustered panic on the Knight's face before.
"Just don't! I forbid it!" Mordred shouted.
"Oh...alright then," Gray nodded.
"There's something else!"
"What is it?"
Mordred hesitated briefly before pursing her lips. "Tell me about her range of activities in Chaldea and her daily habits!"
"What are you trying to do?" Gray looked baffled.
"What else!? Avoiding her of course!"
"I see..."
"Just tell me!" she demanded.
"Very well..." Gray nodded again.
Mordred heaved a sigh of relief.
Having to meet and interact with her mother face to face...it was far too difficult.
Too difficult!
She'd honestly rather fight endless battles and die a thousand deaths. That seemed so much easier than this.
But with Gray agreeing to help, things were looking good now!
Mordred relaxed and sighed in relief.
Then she remembered who put her in this mess in the first place: that Eternal King, arbitrarily deciding to save that summoning chance for her, just so she could reunite with her mother...
Geez, could he not see through it!?
She didn't dare face her mother directly at all!
All she wanted was to use the Grail to free her mom's real body from that prison between time and space. Then she could quietly withdraw after that.
That had been her real goal.
But then she remembered that damn bastard's gentle smile and clenched her fist.
She owed him one this time.
Damn it!
Fine, Eternal King, you got me. But don't let it go to your head!
Mordred gritted her teeth.
Next time – if they met again – she would definitely take the win.
That gentle face and warm eyes flooded Mordred's thoughts.
She clenched her fist.
The path ahead narrowed to an end, leading her toward the unfamiliar halls of Chaldea and an uncertain future.
For this ghost trapped in the past, an unexpected future had finally emerged!
Comments
JeanMartin Freites
Mordred ended up acting about how I expected.
