Unlike the battles of the other Heroic Spirits, which were generally decided solely by compatibility between combatants or by a clear difference in power, the battle between Jeanne and Jeanne Alter could be described as a true balance of forces.
Their banners clashed repeatedly. Jeanne's white and gold shone as symbols of her unwavering faith, while Jeanne Alter's black reflected the resentment that consumed her existence.
Jeanne Alter was significantly more aggressive, attacking mercilessly with a wicked smile painted across her face. In contrast, Jeanne maintained a firm guard, deflecting and blocking every assault from her counterpart with steadfast determination.
She was not afraid of her dark counterpart, but from the moment their eyes met, a question had begun to weigh more and more heavily on her mind.
Each blow they exchanged seemed stronger than the last until, with a thunderous impact, they finally separated, leaving a safe distance between them.
"The flames of my vengeance... my retribution."
"I'll impale you with my burning hatred!"
"La Grondement Du Haine!!"
"Ahahahaha!" With a laugh filled with madness and contempt, Jeanne Alter activated her Noble Phantasm once again.
Without the slightest hesitation, she planted her black banner into the ground, and in the next instant, the world exploded into flames.
Pillars of fire erupted from the earth around her, spiraling upward toward the heavens like infernal serpents awakening from a long slumber. The ground cracked beneath the overwhelming heat as circles of destruction spread in every direction, consuming everything in their path.
Her flames possessed destructive power comparable to a dragon's breath. That alone was enough to incinerate nearly anything they touched.
This was the accumulated resentment of a soul consumed by the flames of the Dragon Witch's hatred.
Faced with that sight, Jeanne d'Arc closed her eyes briefly and raised her white banner.
If there was anyone capable of facing a storm of hatred of that magnitude, it was her.
"Protect my friends and comrades..."
"Luminosité Eternelle!!"
A white barrier expanded around Jeanne, making it impossible for the flames to burn her body.
"Dragon Witch, I need to ask a question that has been weighing on my mind," Jeanne said, looking directly at her counterpart as she finally found a moment to breathe.
"It's too late to try talking—" Jeanne Alter began mockingly, but Jeanne interrupted her almost immediately.
"My question is simple, my other 'self.' Do you remember your family?" Jeanne asked, her eyes fixed on Jeanne Alter's.
Jeanne Alter was visibly surprised by the sudden question.
"...What the hell are you talking about?" Her brow furrowed in disgust as she replied.
Seeing that reaction from her counterpart, a strong sense of relief washed over Jeanne. She gazed into Jeanne Alter's eyes while a melancholy smile appeared on her face.
"I asked that simple question because... no matter how vivid my memories of the battles and the day I was burned at the stake may be, I still remember my life as a simple village girl: the taste of the bread my mother baked, the children playing in the streets, those peaceful days." Jeanne spoke slowly, her genuine smile reflecting the sincerity of her words.
"I... I..." Jeanne Alter stammered in a failed attempt to respond, visibly confused.
As much as she hated it, she truly did not possess those memories.
Her entire existence revolved around vengeance and the destruction of France.
Seeing her counterpart's reaction, Jeanne was finally able to confirm what she had suspected.
"You don't remember anything, do you?" she asked again.
Jeanne Alter staggered upon hearing her counterpart expose the very thing that had been tormenting her.
But from that panic, an even stronger rage emerged.
"What difference does it make? Whether I remember or not, I'm still Jeanne d'Arc!" Jeanne Alter roared.
"You're right." Jeanne agreed, her smile deepening. "It doesn't matter whether you remember or not. But now everything makes sense to me. I will defeat the 'Dragon Witch' with sadness, not anger."
Jeanne's eyes became completely serious at that moment. Her Noble Phantasm suppressed Jeanne Alter's flames almost instantly.
Contrary to what many might imagine, Jeanne d'Arc was never a weak servant.
However, her kind personality had always led her to prioritize protecting others over attacking.
But now, she finally had a clear purpose for raising the sword she had never wielded in life.
Slowly, Jeanne removed her hands from the white banner planted in the ground. Without taking her eyes off her dark counterpart, she manifested the Sword of Saint Catherine at her waist and drew it with a calm motion.
She then wrapped her fingers around the blade and dropped to her knees. With a firm grip, she pressed her hand against the sharpened steel, allowing the blade to cut deeply into her palm in a deliberate gesture. Blood ran along the blade in crimson trails winding down the length of the metal.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge." She declared calmly.
Flames began to rise around her, and with every word of her prayer, the golden radiance of her sword grew brighter.
"My heart burns within me with the flames of devotion. Here I find my end. My destiny now follows its course. The dream of my life has come to an end. I dedicate the only thing I have left to protect Your path."
The flames spun faster and faster around her, forming a spiral that completely enveloped her body.
"O Lord, I entrust this life to You—" she whispered as the fire spread across dozens of meters, devouring everything around her.
"La Pucelle!"
It is true that Jeanne d'Arc's Noble Phantasm is an offensive weapon. However, unlike Jeanne Alter's flames, those flames could not simply be summoned at their user's will.
La Pucelle was a crystallized Conceptual Weapon; the offensive interpretation of Jeanne d'Arc's execution at the stake. Using the Sword of Saint Catherine as a catalyst, it transformed the very flames that had once consumed her life into destructive power. It was a subtype of Reality Marble, an imagined landscape crystallized into the form of a holy sword.
And that sword was Jeanne d'Arc herself.
By entrusting her body to the Lord and accepting the fate awaiting her, she could once again manifest the fire that had led her to death. In exchange, she obtained a level of destructive power beyond measure, capable of annihilating any existence.
But that power never existed to satisfy hatred, vengeance, or a simple desire for destruction.
The flames of La Pucelle destroyed only what Jeanne deemed necessary to destroy. They were flames meant to protect, save, and clear the way for something greater.
That is why the true price of this Noble Phantasm was never magical energy or mana.
The price of such power was Jeanne d'Arc's own life.
Only by offering her life could those flames be ignited.
A gigantic lotus flower made of fire blossomed above the sea of flames created by Jeanne Alter.
At the center of that burning flower, Jeanne raised her sword above her head and turned her gaze toward Jeanne Alter.
Her eyes contained neither hatred nor anger. No contempt for her imminent victory. Only deep and painful compassion directed toward the one who should have been her reflection.
Refusing to accept that fate, Jeanne Alter let out a furious scream. Holding her black sword with one hand, she raised it and swung it at her counterpart.
Unfortunately, her attempt at resistance was futile.
Before Jeanne's Noble Phantasm, her defeat was already inevitable.
"It's over," Jeanne murmured softly as she unleashed her attack.
The next instant, the crimson lotus exploded into flames.
Jeanne Alter silently watched the attack rapidly approaching her, then turned her gaze toward Arthur in the distance one last time.
A bitter smile appeared on her lips.
She knew she couldn't defend herself. But that was fine. At least that man's plan had failed.
Although dying alongside her counterpart was repulsive, if she were ever given another chance to materialize...
Then next time, she would definitely reduce everything to ashes.
Jeanne and Jeanne Alter closed their eyes simultaneously, resigned to their inevitable fate.
However... the death they both expected never came.
Several moments passed, and nothing happened.
Finding the situation strange, both of them opened their eyes at nearly the same time.
Surprise immediately filled their faces when they saw each other standing there, still alive.
(End of Chapter)
A/N: For some reason, I feel like GPT has been messing with me quite a bit lately. I only use it for editing and translation. Anyway, I think this chapter turned out well. If you noticed any issues in the recent chapters, please let me know.