326 Mysterious Vortex
Jeanne's dilemma didn't last long.
*ROOOAAAAAARRR—!!!*
When she heard a resounding dragon roar overhead, she knew she wouldn't have to intervene anymore.
A colossal shadow descended from the sky, and Nidhogg's pitch-black dragon eyes fixated on Frankenstein with uncontrollable rage and cold gaze.
*WHOOSH—!*
Her massive body plunged downward, and the intense air pressure brought by her body sent the entire forest into disarray.
Sensing the impending danger, Frankenstein hastily adjusted the direction of her Noble Phantasm, raising her hammer toward the sky.
Countless yellow arcs of electricity surged out, resembling a lush forest from a distance.
Despite its grandeur, Blasted Tree as a B-rank Anti-Army Noble Phantasm was useless against Nidhogg, whose parameters had reached godly ranks. The electrical arcs couldn't even penetrate her defenses and were effortlessly crushed by her claws.
"AAAHHH!"
Frankenstein retreated in fear, but it was already too late. Nidhogg raised her colossal dragon claw and mercilessly swatted Frankenstein down.
*BOOOOOM—!!!*
Like a meteor crashing to the ground, the terrifying force made the entire earth tremble slightly. When Nidhogg lifted her claw, Frankenstein had been thoroughly pounded into the ground, her vitality feeble like a flickering candle.
Confirming Frankenstein's inability to continue the fight, Nidhogg turned her attention to Jeanne standing beside Arkhan.
"Please, please calm down. I bear no ill will toward Mr. Rider." Jeanne hurriedly explained.
"Stay away from him." Nidhogg's deep voice rumbled.
Jeanne hesitated for a moment, then quickly took a few steps back, creating distance between herself and Arkhan.
Nidhogg moved forward, using her massive dragon body to shield Arkhan. Her black eyes were filled with intense vigilance and wariness.
As Arkhan's summoned beast, Nidhogg shared a close connection with him that surpassed both body and soul. It was this connection that allowed her to swiftly sense his trouble and come to his aid.
She could keenly feel that Arkhan was in a dangerous situation, and any disturbance could have severe consequences for him. Therefore, she was determined to ensure that no one, whoever it may be, would be allowed to approach him!
===
"Ara~ Nidhogg, the dragon of despair that once brought Ragnarok, truly lives up to its reputation. Just looking at it makes one feel powerless. No wonder even the Hanging Gardens of Babylon is no match for it."
On a hill not far from the small grove, Sesshouin Kiara, dressed in her usual nun outfit, remarked while gazing at the colossal body of Nidhogg, then turned to the nearby Kotomine Shirou with a smile.
"Don't you think so, Father Kotomine?"
Shirou didn't directly answer her question; instead, he silently took out a dagger and aimed it at the back of her neck.
"What is the meaning of this, I wonder~?" Kiara tilted her head, showing no sign of panic, instead showing a gentle smile on her delicate face.
"Tell me, Sesshouin Kiara, what's your true origin?"
Shirou stared intensely at the woman before him, whose entire being exuded a sacred aura. If there were any sudden movements from her, he would not hesitate to sever her head.
From the beginning, he felt something was amiss.
Originally, he was supposed to be the only one appointed by the Holy Church to participate in this Holy Grail War. Yet, out of nowhere, a Japanese nun named Sesshouin Kiara appeared. This was highly unusual, considering the Holy Church's usual cautiousness.
Driven by curiosity, he asked his Japanese cousin to investigate information about this nun, and the results sent shivers down his spine.
"I've checked it thoroughly... There's no Shingon Tachikawa Eiten School in Japan, and there's no woman named Sesshouin Kiara either. The Holy Church also didn't dispatch anyone other than me for this Holy Grail War. Who the hell are you?!" Shirou exclaimed, his tone solemn.
It wasn't just about a fabricated identity; what truly bothered him was how this woman managed to sneak and join the Holy Grail War unnoticed.
That was the most unbelievable part.
Moreover, he had witnessed Kiara do nothing, yet Berserker of Black suddenly froze as if possessed. This mysterious nun's mysterious methods heightened his wariness.
"To think Father Kotomine would get so worked up over a little thing..." Kiara sighed.
"I don't consider this a little thing..." Shirou narrowed his eyes slightly.
"But Father Kotomine, isn't your goal the Holy Grail?" Kiara tilted her head. "As long as I ensure we get the Holy Grail to fulfill your wish, my background shouldn't matter to you, right? After all, for now, we're allies, aren't we?"
Hearing that, Shirou lowered his head slightly, falling into silence.
Seeing this, Kiara gracefully approached him, moving close to his ear. With a seductive and sweet voice, she began to whisper.
"Do you know why I chose you, Father Kotomine? Our goals align because your wish is—"
"My wish."
===
Time flowed smoothly, and after ten minutes, Arkhan finally opened his eyes, exhaling slowly.
"Hahhh... At last, it's resolved..."
He rubbed his temples wearily; the vortex was far more powerful than he had anticipated. If it weren't for Fenghuang Down, he might have succumbed long ago.
"Um, Mr. Rider, are you, like, okay now?" Jeanne asked cautiously.
"Yeah, I'm in much better shape now. Thanks for your help, Jeanne." Arkhan nodded toward her and then looked up at the towering dragon. "You too, Nid."
"As long as you're okay." Nidhogg shook her head slightly, her eyes filled with warmth.
"Just got lucky, that's all." Arkhan chuckled and opened his palm, revealing a vibrant and multicolored feather hovering above it.
Despite being in the middle of the night, it refracted various splendid hues, reflecting the purest and most corrupt desires hidden deep within all living beings.
Contained within it was the mysterious power of the vortex that attacked his consciousness.
Honestly, Arkhan had rarely seen such a potent and terrifying mental power. Even Heroic Spirits couldn't withstand the corruption of this power.
The so-called unyielding will, forged through a thousand trials, would easily crumble in the face of this power.
Unless one possessed a Noble Phantasm like him, with a powerful mental power like Fenghuang Down, the inevitable outcome would be drowning in endless desires, completely melting into a blissful yet distorted world.
