Chapter 165: Gathering
The tall man who suddenly appeared on the battlefield glanced around, then looked toward Mordred and Johanna, who were on high alert beside him.
His gaze finally stopped on Mordred.
A powerful pressure radiated from his body, causing Mordred to instinctively grip Clarent tightly—she was ready to fight at any moment.
"You're the Knight of Treachery?"
The tall man in front of her lowered his head and asked Mordred.
"What if I am?!"
Mordred immediately infused magic power into her sword. Johanna also assumed a combat stance, and even Tonbi on her shoulder was ready to launch an attack at any moment.
"Master told me to come support you."
After saying that, the tall man immediately turned to look in the other direction.
"Master?!"
Mordred and Johanna looked at each other, simultaneously voicing their surprise.
"Don't tell me you were summoned by Master?!"
Heracles nodded.
"Leave this place to me."
Then he immediately turned around, facing the several Servants ahead.
A powerful pressure spread from him, making everyone in front of him instinctively go on high alert.
"Mr. Blackbeard, where do you think you're going?"
Suddenly, Hector turned his head to look at Blackbeard, who was sneakily trying to slip away.
"I-I... I suddenly have a stomachache, ah ah ah, even my beard is curling from the pain~~~ Sorry, I'll be right back."
"Bang————!!!"
A gunshot rang out, and a bullet hole appeared at Blackbeard's feet.
"Uwaa! Annie Bonny-chan!!!"
Blackbeard was so terrified he didn't dare move.
"Aiyaya, missed again. But if you dare run away, the next shot definitely won't miss~~~"
Annie smiled as she loaded her gun again.
"Ah ah ah, you guys seriously don't know, that guy is a monster!!!"
Blackbeard pointed at Heracles, shouting in panic.
"He even took down the Berserker under Jason's command—he's not someone normal!"
"——————?!"
"Even that Berserker…"
Everyone present fell into a state of shock.
"Oh? He actually defeated that Berserker?!"
Seeing even Hector show a hint of surprise, Blackbeard immediately started wailing.
"I'm not fighting this kind of monster! If you guys wanna fight, go do it yourselves!!!"
As soon as he finished, Blackbeard tried to run again.
But the moment he looked up, he crashed into another man just as large, nearly falling over backward.
That man's eyes emitted a blood-red glow, and in his hand was a massive bloodstained axe.
"No need to worry, Mr. Blackbeard."
Hector smiled.
"Since I anticipated we'd face a powerful enemy, I borrowed this Berserker from the witch beside Lord Jason."
"Medea-chan? Why the hell did she use the Holy Grail to summon something this dangerous? Just one look and you can tell he's completely unapproachable."
Blackbeard wore a look of disbelief.
"Berserker, your target is that man. Go."
Hector pointed his spear directly forward.
The blood-axe-wielding man immediately turned his gaze to Heracles standing ahead.
"Blood… blood… give me… blood!!!"
Suddenly, he let out a crazed roar and swung his blood axe straight at him!!!
Heracles blocked the strike with his axe-sword in hand.
But the opponent suddenly used both hands to press down with full force—the blood axe bore down with immense strength!!!
Even so, Heracles' body didn't budge in the slightest.
On the contrary, he swung his axe-sword sideways in a direct counterattack!!!
"CLANG————————!!!"
The shockwaves from the clash between the two caused everyone nearby to avoid getting close.
"Alright then, everyone, while reinforcements from their side haven't arrived yet, let's finish them off."
Hector's figure moved like lightning, circling around the frontlines of the battlefield. His spear was aimed straight at Johanna in the rear.
"Clang——————!!!"
Mordred immediately rushed out to block the strike, parrying with her sword.
"You're the one who ambushed me earlier, aren't you?"
Mordred's voice was full of anger.
"Don't be mad, I didn't have a choice. After all, facing a mighty Knight from Britannia like you, I wouldn't stand a chance otherwise."
"Since you know that, then obediently die by my sword!!!"
Mordred gripped her sword with both hands and forcefully slashed down at Hector!
"If possible, I'd actually prefer you go easy on me a bit."
Hector smiled warmly like a kind neighborhood uncle, stepping back.
"Attack!!!"
"Bang————————!!!"
A bullet zipped through the air—only to be instantly deflected by Mordred's sword.
"Tch, you think a cheap trick like that can hurt me???"
"Well, yeah, it's a bit tough… but you were never our real target in the first place."
Hector replied casually.
"————————?!"
Mordred turned her head—only to see that Johanna had been surrounded by Blackbeard and Mary.
"That girl who looks like a pope isn't bad, but she's way out of my preferred 'attack-defense' age range. Mary-chan is still the best—petite and super cute."
"Careful or I'll carve you with a knife."
Mary said coldly.
"Does that count as a reward? Oooohhh, I suddenly feel motivated!!!"
Blackbeard drew his short sword and, together with Mary, attacked Johanna from both sides.
"Bestow your protection!!!"
The silver cross-shaped holy staff in Johanna's hand suddenly lit up, summoning several silver moons that revolved around her, blocking the enemies from closing in.
"Chiu chiu————————!!!"
Tonbi refused to be left out and flapped its wings, charging straight at Blackbeard.
"Aaaahhh! It hurts! It really hurts!!! My legendary beard is about to get plucked clean!!!"
Blackbeard covered his face with one hand while wildly firing his gun with the other.
"Vwoosh vwoosh vwoosh————————!!!"
Mary's cutlass launched a flurry of lightning-fast strikes at Johanna. Not skilled in close combat, Johanna found herself in a tough spot, caught between two Riders relentlessly pressing her.
Tonbi's support, in the end, had its limits. The constant barrage from Mary and Blackbeard left Johanna unable to even chant a counterspell.
"Damn it!!!"
Realizing Johanna was in danger, Mordred prepared to rush to her aid.
"Whoosh——————————!!!"
A sharp spear tip curved around Mordred's Clarent, thrusting straight at her already damaged armor from the previous battle!!!
Mordred was forced to switch hands and intercept the blow.
"Get lost!!!"
Just as Mordred was about to activate Mana Burst, her instincts suddenly screamed danger!
"Bang————————!!!"
Another bullet came flying straight for her head!
Forced to dodge, creating a gap in her stance, Hector's spear once again aimed precisely at Mordred's leg for a takedown!
Unable to dodge in time, Mordred gritted her teeth, deciding to tank the blow and immediately counterattack—
"Clang——————!!!"
A familiar shield suddenly appeared before Mordred, not only blocking the oncoming bullet but also pushing back Hector and his spear!
"Are you alright, Mordred-san?!"
Mash, with her light pink hair and shield in hand, appeared beside Mordred.
"Sorry, I'm late."
"Mash?! What are you doing here... wait, don't tell me!!!"
A familiar voice rang in Mordred's ear.
"Burn bright, my flames!!!"
Black flames surged forth as a black spear tore through the air, blasting Blackbeard and Mary away from their encirclement of Johanna.
"Aaaaah! My beard almost got singed off again!!!"
Blackbeard screamed in agony.
"Jeanne Alter-san!!!"
Johanna cried out joyfully upon seeing the newcomer.
"Hmph, aren't you the one who called yourself a pope? Pull yourself together!!!"
Jeanne Alter, holding the wicked flag of the Evil Dragon, stood firmly beside Johanna, clearly displeased.
"It's been a while since I last fought beside you, Jeanne Alter-san. Honestly, I'm kind of happy."
Johanna smiled at Jeanne Alter.
"Cut the sweet talk! I'm the Dragon Witch, alright?! A pope like you better not get too chummy with me!"
"Alright, alright. It's been a while, but you really haven't changed at all. But if you're here, that means Master's here too, right?!"
Johanna and Mordred both began scanning the area for signs of Ethan.
Soon enough, the familiar silhouette of the young man came into view.
"Huff… ha… ha…"
At that moment, Ethan was leaning against a nearby tree, gasping for air.
"Finally… finally made it in time…"
When several signals were detected approaching Mordred and Johanna's location, Drake had immediately pushed the Golden Hind to its top speed across the sea.
Even though Ethan didn't get seasick, the sheer velocity of the ship had it swaying wildly like a runaway rollercoaster, almost making him vomit up last night's pirate feast.
Barely managing to get off the ship, he had to sprint nearly a kilometer to reach them—just in time.
"Are you... are you two alright?"
While wiping sweat from his forehead, Ethan asked Mordred and Johanna between gasping breaths.
"I'm fine, but... Master, are you okay?!"
"Your face is pale—you look totally out of it! Master, don't move, let me heal you first!"
Mordred and Johanna looked at Ethan with deep concern in their eyes.
"Aiyaya, one step too late again, huh."
Hector scratched his head awkwardly.
"I really gave it my all, but hey, things rarely go how we want them to."
"More enemies incoming. Anne, get ready to cover me!"
Tiny Mary instantly shifted into an attack stance.
"Roger!!!"
Then, without warning, Mary kicked Blackbeard right in the butt.
"Yaa?!"
"Think of something, will you?! Try to run again and I'll poke some holes in you first."
"Ah! Mary-chan, that cold tone of yours really is a reward for me! But at this point, I—Blackbeard—can't run away mid-battle anymore!!!"
A massive surge of magical energy suddenly erupted from Blackbeard's body.
"Ooooooh! I feel it, I feel it coming!!! Iron and gunpowder are every pirate's dream! Buster, Buster, and one more Buster!!!!"
Far out across the ocean, a colossal three-masted warship materialized.
"Clack clack clack."
All the cannons on deck rotated—aimed directly at their enemies.
"Queen Anne's Revenge!!!"
At Blackbeard's command, the warship's cannons opened fire, unleashing a torrential barrage!!!
Seeing this, Mash immediately deployed her Noble Phantasm.
"True Name, Pseudo Register!"
"Unleash the Noble Phantasm—Lord Chaldeas!!!"
Before the cannonballs could rain down on the group, a shimmering silver shield expanded above them!
"BOOM, BOOM, BOOM——————!!!"
Explosions blasted against Mash's Noble Phantasm, the overwhelming shockwaves shaking her to her core.
"Urgh...!"
Even so, Mash gritted her teeth and held firm, mustering every ounce of strength to endure.
"With my prayer, open the path forward!!!"
Without hesitation, Johanna began chanting her own Noble Phantasm.
A gentle silver light began to radiate from her body as Tonbi circled around her in the air.
"I am the Lord's representative, seated upon the throne as proof… Though this body be mere fiction, His grace is ever-present.
Pray to the Radiant, Glorious Throne!
Legendom Papa Thronus!!!"
The Papal Throne slowly manifested behind Johanna. As she sat upon the radiant throne in her resplendent vestments, a boundless light burst forth from her body—instantly erasing every cannonball hurtling toward them.
Not only that, a consecrated Holy Domain formed beneath her feet, preventing enemy Servants from stepping inside.
"Uwaa, it's so blinding—brighter than even that tiny little girl!!!"
Blackbeard screamed, shielding his eyes.
"Nope, nope, I'm out! No matter what anyone says this time, I'm retreating! I does not want to die here!!! At the very least—I gotta see Medea-chan one last time!!!"
But behind him, Hector had silently taken his stance—preparing a javelin throw.
"The mana I've got left... just enough for one shot. But if I can take down that Master, there's still hope to turn this around."
The spear in Hector's hand began to pulse with a terrifying energy.
"Let me be selfish—just this once, Durindana!"
Hector adjusted the trajectory of his throw, aiming directly at the young man behind the Popess—Ethan was the main target.
Just as he was about to release that deadly spear—capable of piercing through anything—a blazing red light suddenly tore through his arm from afar?!
"Childish tricks like that wouldn't normally even scratch me… but going after my Master? Now that's just pure arrogance."
Before anyone realized it, a petite blonde girl had appeared beside them, a terrifying smile on her face.