[FDJ]Chapter 108: Sacred Light

The book-like object returned to Aphaf's hands, though it was difficult for her to even squat down. The pages of the book turned automatically, pausing briefly on a few pages before completing the entire book and presenting its back cover to her.

With a blank expression, Aphaf looked ahead, even more confused. Her divided consciousness had accomplished what needed to be done with this body. However, what else needed to be done was not clear before losing consciousness. Considering the condition of the body, it would not awaken again.

Becoming a Dead Apostle was inevitable. The mysterious magecraft was ever-changing, but it still had its limits. The protective spell designed from a human perspective was activated in a non-human battle. Apart from self-destruction, there were no other words to describe Aphaf's current state.

Stagnating in the perilous center of the battlefield, there was a massive cluster of bubbles that spanned the heavens and earth before her. Any flash of light that landed on her would kill her. The thousands of bubbles did not attack Aphaf solely because they "appreciated" her consecutive contributions of magical power, opening the gate that connects the worlds. Otherwise, even if a mere human could bear the mental burden of facing the unknown, they would be instantly killed upon approaching the bubbles.

The only exception was Berserker Godfrey, who became even more ferocious after enduring fatal attacks. Compared to the elevated beings in the gathering, this knight with undiminished sacred radiance appeared inconspicuous. However, in this enclosed area filled with mad chaos and whispered wisdom, this contrasting touch of sacred color existed as if to deny the other side.

Intense flashes bombarded Berserker Godfrey incessantly. The knight charged and collided with the lower layer of the bubble cluster, enduring yet another unimaginable onslaught.

When the colorful radiance subsided, the lower layer forming the massive cluster of bubbles was unexpectedly emptied. Berserker Godfrey, riddled with wounds from the explosions, still tightly grasped his greatsword, lying on the ground. He had long lost his magnificent next-generation steel wings and that set of shiny sturdy armor. Apart from the helmet with cracks all over it, only fragments of iron remained on his body. However, after a brief pause, he let out a resounding roar.

It is as if this knight will not truly fall until he accomplishes the eradication of heresy. He points his sword at the cluster of bubbles hovering above his head, his entire body radiating with sacred light. From a distance of a hundred miles, his Master successfully used a Command Spell to restore Berserker's injuries. The previous spell that sealed the entire area, forming a magical contract with the bubbles, had its flaws discovered by someone who was not present here. The sixth of the twenty-one Command Spells was once again used on Berserker, the strongest in overall ability.

Although his magical energy was difficult to recover, his entire suit of armor was restored, and Berserker, fully healed, rose from a kneeling position, emitting enough intimidation to the entity above his head.

The A-Rank skills of bravery and divine protection prevent any interference on the mental level, and the immeasurable unique ability of the Holy Sepulchre ensures a further increase in all attributes. It also grants Berserker the ability to ignore attacks that would normally be fatal three times a day. The battlefield is adjacent to the three major religious sites of Jerusalem, and the enemy he faces is none other than a heretical god. Even the concern of his Master, Richard, has been resolved. Going against Berserker Godfrey's own will would also prevent him from fully utilizing the strength of this loyal follower.

Godfrey, who can only unleash his true power under various stringent conditions, now reveals a ferocious side rarely seen in the Holy Grail War. In his madness, he has come to recognize the entity above his head as a deity, and the enemy that can lead him infinitely close to failure has no possibility other than being a divine being.

To him, heretics are undoubtedly evil gods. To uphold his Master's sanctity, the evil gods must also be eliminated. Berserker Godfrey does not question whether he can eliminate the presence that obscures the sky and forms the gigantic magical barrier within his line of sight. The truth that heresy must be eradicated is enough for him.

Berserker knows that the Command Spell urgently activated by his Master is in its optimal state. He has only enough magical energy left for one final Noble Phantasm. Completely overridden by madness, he makes a straightforward decision—to use all his remaining magical energy to annihilate the heretical god before him, symbolizing the eternal existence of the holy city. He does not need to question whether he can do it; he will only follow his Master's truth and carry out the divine judgment it represents.

As he begins to gather his magical energy, his simple intention is seen through countless bubbles. But at this moment, seeing through his intention is meaningless. They cannot stop Berserker in his perfect state. Wisdom can construct numerous shortcuts and find every exploitable weakness... but in the face of absolute strength, there is no room for any tricks. Just as 2 is greater than 1, and 100 is greater than 50, any deceptive arguments will appear powerless before this unreasonable truth.

The brand-new armor withstood all the flashes that swept over Berserker Godfrey. Regardless of the angle or the method of gathering energy, the armor, which required constant depletion to be shattered, only added cracks in response to the enemy's "efforts."

Berserker holds his great sword without taking a step back. With a mad roar, he shouts his belief from the depths of his heart, swearing his devotion to this sword:

"Praise, glory, wisdom, gratitude, honor, authority, and power, all belong to my Lord, until--"

The sacred light converges onto the great sword in his hand. Even though his magical energy is nearing its limit, the reserves are still not to be underestimated. The radiance illuminates his position, as if dawn has arrived a few minutes early.

In the face of such a scene, all the bubbles transform into layer upon layer of polygonal nets. They still hold the numerical advantage, and as long as they can endure this Noble Phantasm, they can continue to wear down the knight on the ground.

Not only the two in confrontation but also Rider Baldwin I, outside the bounded field, sees a more dazzling divine light than himself. It is a pure light without any impurity like the morning sun brushing the highest spire of the holy city. Whether it is a Christian church or a mosque of another religion, that sunlight is pure sanctity.

Even the young girl, Aphaf, who holds a book in her hands and remains still, feels the radiance emanating from the knight ahead. Unconsciously, she kneels and opens the closed book. The divine power needs someone to witness it, and as devout as she is, she instinctively activates the transformation into the book of "Don Quixote."

The absurd knight records the protagonist's various absurd achievements. The delusional knight is also born within the fantasy. He interferes with reality by opening this book and allows fantasy to influence reality, transforming into a knight who embodies dreams. The power to restrain all Knight-class Servants corresponds precisely to the power that grants Knight-class Servants illusions. A donkey turns into a spirited horse, a broken spear becomes a steel lance, and the illusion granted to the divine knight is merely an even more brilliant radiance.

For Berserker Godfrey, this level of enhancement is insignificant, but he still notices the girl behind him, the Master of the opposing Servant.

"The Endless Crusades!"

Berserker Godfrey roars out the true name of his final Noble Phantasm, entrusting all his magical energy to the blade and releasing it all.

The light illuminates the entire area enveloped by the bounded field, deserving of the A+++ rating that Suzuki caught a glimpse of. The sacred replaces all chaos, and the evil forces that persist until dawn, with their attempts to remain, vanish within this light.

Only a fleeting image of the holy city passes by, proving that the knight who radiates this light is its protector.

The madness of the night comes to an end, and the knight stands proudly in the wilderness, looking up at the sky that has turned pale after the radiance. In his line of sight, there are still a few bubbles that have not been eliminated, but they have become mere illusions before dawn, enduring unimaginable impacts and existing for only a short while longer.

"Is this the limit of your human power?"

A faint whisper reaches Berserker Godfrey's ears through his helmet. Berserker has also exhausted all his strength, and if it weren't for his Master reconnecting magical energy with him at the first opportunity, he would have vanished along with the light.

"..."

Berserker pays no attention to the other's words. He slowly lifts his sword and walks towards the few remaining bubble spheres ahead. Heretics must be eliminated; nothing else matters.

He must continue to fight, even if his body is so weak that he can barely lift his sword.

"Humans truly are interesting. Indeed, we should not underestimate you."

Still ignoring the voice, Berserker steps forward and swings his sword, shattering two floating bubbles in mid-air, reducing the remaining count to six.

But the remaining six bubbles simultaneously emitted flashes towards Berserker, who was unable to dodge due to his exhaustion. He was consecutively struck, and this time he was knocked back, only managing to stay on his feet by exerting all his strength to support his sword.

In the next moment under the sacred light, the final six bubbles were instantly eliminated. Rider Baldwin I, wielding his holy spear, returned to the side of his brother.

Still without words, for Berserker, his younger brother didn't need to be praised or blamed. He respected the knight and the path of faith.

"You need to rest well, brother. I cannot describe what you have accomplished tonight. I only know that by normal standards, a perfect outcome like this would only have a 1% chance." Rider Baldwin I broke the silence. He didn't believe his advice would be effective, but as a younger brother, he needed to do so. It was his consistent demeanor, doing what he believed was right.

Berserker Godfrey didn't pay much attention to his younger brother. In his eyes, those who were uninjured didn't require his time and attention. Both of them were already Servants, and there was no need for excessive interference. He simply nodded and lifted his sword, walking in the opposite direction.

Behind them, a young girl lay on the barren ground, clutching a book tightly.

"She's beyond saving. It's only logical for someone who doesn't value life to meet such an end."

Berserker nodded in agreement, perhaps only to the first half of the statement. He stood in front of the girl, blocking the sunlight that was already shining on the ground.

He slowly raised the great sword in his hand but withdrew it after lifting it above his head.

"Give her a swift end. End her suffering," Rider Baldwin I also approached the girl, bowing his head to assess her general condition. He even doubted himself because a human body shouldn't be able to endure for this long. The girl lying on the ground should have died from exacerbated injuries long ago.

Godfrey touched the back of his helmet with one hand as if releasing a lock, and then he removed his helmet, solemnly placing it beside the girl. "Bestow... honor..."

After saying these words, he once again raised the great sword.

"Light... I saw... light..." The girl, who shouldn't have awakened, murmured incoherent words at this moment. There were signs of trembling in her fingers. "My wish... has come true..."

The blade pierced deeply into the earth but did not stain the ground with any blood.

Baldwin I turned his head, astonished, and looked at his brother. The resolute face of the tall man revealed a pensive expression and the armor he wore suddenly vanished, with all its magical energy disappearing in an instant.

"I grant you a reward worthy of your courage."

The sunlight brushed across the girl's face, and the miracle that could be called a "resurrection" manifested.