In Britain, the Noble Phantasm: Divine Key

It really doesn't matter, there's absolutely no problem. From the perspective of the great river of the world, this little bit of stuff is nothing more than a bit of sludge.

And the monster reached out its hand from this pile of filth and was born.

Therefore, this place is hell, purgatory, a sinful city inhabited by inhuman beasts.

"Stop...please stop, no, don't do this..."

Fiore, being the woman, was the first to break down, tears of anguish streaming down her face, and helpless cries escaping her throat.

Extreme realism and despair—this is the true face of hell. No one can remain calm in the face of this scene. Even the Lion Catch Jie Li, who has seen life and death many times, and Danic, who has lived for nearly a century and whose mind has been tempered to be as cold as steel, could not bear to look at it and turned their heads away.

Why did this happen? Shouldn't children be the embodiment of love? Shouldn't they be born blessed? Why must they suffer like this?

Why...why doesn't anyone come to save them...?

The scene changed again, and the group stepped onto the cold road once more. Countless children emerged from the shadows of the alley. Although their appearances were vastly different, they shared a certain sense of unity. Each of them was filthy, with dull and lifeless eyes, devoid of any hope.

They stretched out their hands to the crowd, and countless voices overlapped:

"Please, save us, save us poor souls, take our hands, please, please..."

Boom!!

Crimson lightning descended from the sky, and the children instinctively withdrew their hands, looking in surprise at the knight covered by blood-red armor.

Why, even though I have witnessed their hell and their misfortune firsthand, do I still refuse their pleas for help without hesitation?

"Because I am such a heinous bastard."

No one knew what expression Mordred's face, hidden beneath his demon helmet, truly held. All they could see was the rebellious knight raising his demon sword towards the unarmed children before him, and speaking in a voice so cold and devoid of emotion:

"Since your birth was a mistake, then I will now correct it!"

“Saber…” Shiki’s face showed a hint of reluctance, but before he could continue speaking, Mordred interrupted him.

"Master, do you really think they can be saved?"

This is impossible.

That era has long passed, and they are vengeful spirits forever bound to it. No one can go back in time to save them, just as no one can erase the sins and ugliness of that era.

This hell is the shackle etched deep into Jack the Ripper's soul; only by breaking it can these children find true liberation.

Fragile humans were blinded by the illusion before them, while only the rebellious knight saw the truth hidden behind it all.

If revealing the truth is a sin, then—

“Clarent.......”

I'll carry it.

"BloodArthur!"

Chapter Forty-Five: The Saintess's Redemption

"This feeling is..."

Joan of Arc, who was rushing toward the Thousand World Tree Castle, suddenly seemed to realize something and immediately stopped, turning her gaze toward the small hill covered in thick fog in the distance.

"It's Assassin... Was she eliminated...? No!"

Joan of Arc frowned slightly, took out a bottle of holy water from somewhere, and sprinkled it into the sky. The originally clear and transparent liquid quickly turned into an ominous dark color, and the cries of an infant could even be faintly heard.

"...So that's how it is. So this is Assassin's true identity..."

For some reason, Joan of Arc's expression became slightly complicated, but her large violet eyes quickly regained their previous firmness.

"Since that's the case, I can't just stand by and do nothing."

She took a deep breath, glanced at the location of the World Tree Castle, then turned around without hesitation, activated Ruler's privileges, and ran wildly in a certain direction.

In a small grove of trees about five or six hundred meters from the Thousand World Tree battlefield, Liu Daolingxia stood beside a large tree, gazing worriedly at the bustling battlefield not far away.

This battle between the red and black factions presented Jack with a perfect opportunity to fish in troubled waters. With her abilities as an Assassin, as long as she didn't directly confront those terrifying Servants, she could easily reap her prey in this chaotic battlefield. Those magicians and androids were no match for her.

However, for some reason, since the beginning, Liu Daolingxia had felt an inexplicable unease, especially after seeing the thick fog rise, her unease immediately reached its peak.

As the Assassin's Master, she naturally knew that the thick fog was Jack's last trump card. Using this move at such a sensitive moment meant that Jack's situation was probably not optimistic!

After hesitating for a few minutes, Director Lingxia finally made up her mind. After all, for her, nothing was more important than Little Jack's life.

"By command of the Command Spell, Assassin, return to my side immediately!"

The crimson light flashed and then dissipated. After a burst of magical energy, a small figure lay down in front of Liu Daolingxia.

"Jack!!"

Liu Daolingxia hurriedly stepped forward and picked up Jack. Looking at the girl's face contorted with pain, she felt as if her heart was being pierced by a thousand needles.

"Mother......."

Assassin, barely breathing, opened her eyes. Although she had no external injuries, her breath was extremely weak, giving the impression that she might dissipate at any moment.

"No need to talk, Jack. What you need now is rest. Come on, get some sleep."

Despite her immense anxiety, Liu Daolingxia gently comforted her daughter, saying that no matter what, the most urgent task now was to find a way to save her daughter's life.

Liu Dao Lingxia stood up, holding Assassin. Although she was a Servant, Assassin only had the weight that matched her girlish appearance. Even Liu Dao Lingxia, who was weak, could easily lift her up, as if her body were hollow.

We have no choice but to retreat for now. Although the thick fog hasn't dissipated yet, it won't last long without Jack's power. If we don't retreat soon, we'll easily be discovered by the enemy. As for the Holy Grail... we can't worry about that now.

Having made her decision, Liu Daolingxia quickly took a step, preparing to retreat to her hiding place. However, the moment she turned around, she discovered a strange figure standing not far away.

It was a woman dressed in strange clothes that were completely different from modern styles. She was covered in gleaming silver armor and held a sacred banner with an iris pattern in her hand. Her dignified face and sacred temperament gave people a sense of holiness, as if an angel worshipping the gods had descended to earth.

Despite this, Liu Daolingxia felt no sense of security. She subconsciously took a few steps back, her heart filled with indescribable fear.

Without a second thought, such striking features clearly indicate that the girl before him is undoubtedly a Servant, just like Jack!

Why at a time like this...?

“I’ve finally found you, Assassin.” Jeanne looked at the girl in Liudao Lingxia’s arms, her tone slightly complicated. “Jack the Ripper, no, to be precise, the nameless girl who has the name Jack the Ripper.”

Liu Daolingxia's body froze instantly. How could the other party see through Jack's true identity at a glance?

"Which side are you a Servant, black or red?" Liu Daolingxia tried to stall the unidentified Servant in front of her with words, and then look for an opportunity to escape.

At this moment, she completely ignored the difference between herself and Servent, and the only thought in her mind was to keep her daughter alive, no matter what it took!

“I do not belong to either of them.” Joan of Arc took a step forward, holding the holy banner. “I am the overseer of this Holy Grail War, Ruler Joan of Arc.”

“Ruler...Joan of Arc?” Liu Daolingxia paused slightly. “Are you that French saint?”

"I am not a saint; I am merely fulfilling my duty according to God's instructions," Joan of Arc frankly admitted her identity.

Liu Daolingxia instantly saw hope. She knelt on the ground and pleaded with Joan of Arc: "Please, Your Majesty, please spare us. Jack is just a child. I promise to take her away from here immediately and never participate in this war again."

“I’m sorry, I can’t do it.” Joan of Arc’s cold words made Liu Dao Lingxia’s face stiffen slightly. “Your eyes tell me that what you’re saying is just a lie to appease me. You could never give up the Holy Grail.”

“This…I…” Liu Dao Lingxia’s eyes flickered slightly. Of course, she could not give up the Holy Grail, because it was Jack’s wish!

“Moreover…” Joan of Arc stepped forward again, holding the holy banner, “Assassin has been corrupted. Now, she is less a heroic spirit and more like a vengeful spirit.”

Liu Daolingxia's body froze instantly.

"Assassin, she—no, it should be said that they—have been embedded in the legend of that serial killer. The killer known as Jack the Ripper has become [anyone and no one]." Jeanne's sharp, violet eyes stared directly at Rokudou Reika. "Think carefully, Assassin's Master. So far, have all the people you've killed truly been victims of Jack the Ripper?"

As if compelled by Joan of Arc's words and imposing presence, Liu Daolingxia subconsciously took a step back, her chaotic thoughts preventing her from uttering a complete sentence.

“They didn’t even know what the victims looked like or their names. They killed them simply because they wanted to emulate their mothers. That’s the truth behind the Assassins’ pursuit of killing.” Jeanne took a deep breath. “The Assassins have now been absorbed by the concept called [Jack the Ripper]… They are beyond saving.”

“No…no…that’s not it, Jack! She just wanted to live, she wanted to be loved, is that wrong?!” Liu Dao Lingxia roared at Jeanne with tears streaming down her face, but the latter just stood there like a statue, without any reaction.

“Aren’t you the saint of France? You must have a way to save these children, right? No matter the cost, even my life doesn’t matter, I just want to beg you…” Crimson blood slid down her lips, and Liu Daolingxia knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily to Joan of Arc, “Save Jack.”

"...I can save lost children, and I can purify regretful souls through prayer, but Jack the Ripper is the only one I cannot save." Joan of Arc lowered her eyes slightly, secretly tightening her grip on the holy banner in her hand. "The swelling hatred and despair of those she has killed have completely corrupted these children. Now, none of them can escape the concept of [Jack the Ripper]. The only way to redeem them is to destroy them and let them be completely free."

“How could... such a thing happen...?” Liu Dao Lingxia was completely stunned, and Jeanne’s next words completely pierced through her defenses.

“You must have already seen it,” the French saint said softly, “that hell hidden deep within Assassin’s heart.”

Liu Daolingxia's eyes widened instantly, still filled with indelible fear and anger.

Of course she had seen it all: that cold, dark, and desperate hell; that sinful city that gathered countless inhuman beasts; that filth that gave birth to monsters... She had witnessed it all with her own eyes.

That's why she cherished the girl in her arms so much, not only because the girl had saved her and fulfilled her wish to live, but more importantly—

She also hopes that the girl can find true redemption.

"Their very existence is a mistake. As long as they continue to exist, that hell will forever remain deep within her soul, binding it like shackles, condemning her to eternal damnation in slaughter and suffering." Joan of Arc's voice was calm and composed, revealing no emotional fluctuation. "They have already suffered enough. Do you intend to let them continue this endless cycle?"

"No...I..." Liu Daolingxia tried to explain in a panic, but a childish voice interrupted her.

"Mom, leave the rest to us."

“Jack…” Liu Dao Lingxia stared blankly as Jack left her embrace and walked step by step toward Joan of Arc.

Jack stood before Joan of Arc, raised his small head, and stared intently at the renowned saint before him with his icy blue eyes.

"You... you wouldn't care even if you killed us?"

The girl's gentle words pierced Joan of Arc's heart like a sharp sword. She clenched her teeth and suppressed her emotions.

If she could have saved him, she would have done so long ago; if she could have helped him, she would have done so long ago. But she knew very well that it was something she couldn't do.

"Even so... we must continue to move forward."

Seeing blood trickling from Joan of Arc's tightly clenched lips, Jack smiled with relief.

“If that’s the case, then there’s nothing we can do.” She said softly, as if a kitten sensing that its life was about to come to an end, and grasped the Arbitrator’s hand without any resistance.

"The Lord's grace is immeasurably deep, and His mercy will never perish..."

Amidst the sacred chanting, golden light rose, and the petite girl gradually disintegrated, revealing countless children in tattered clothes around her. They naturally held each other's hands, their eyes no longer filled with the deathly stillness, but with relieved smiles.

"Fill the thirsty soul, satisfy the hungry soul with good things..."

The chant was solemn, and it swiftly annihilated their existence. This was not repeated death, but literal annihilation. They would be excluded from reincarnation, and would never again be summoned as Jack the Ripper in any Holy Grail War.

Throughout, Joan of Arc's expression remained unchanged, solemn as a mask, for if she wept, her children would know she grieved for her own death, leaving behind a regret for the world. Therefore, she could only stand there like steel.

No! No! My child!

Liu Daolingxia rushed forward like a madwoman, trying to hug the children, but no matter how tightly she tried to close her arms, all she got in the end was emptiness.

"Please don't be sad, Mom..." The children looked at her, their smiles pure and gentle, like the warm breeze of early spring.