Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 699: Chapter 698: Communication with the Will of the World

Fang Zheng couldn’t help but admit that he was stunned by this cunning operation.

He had never seen someone so spineless, surrendering and pleading for recruitment the moment he acted?

Was this even a thing?

Although Fang Zheng really wanted to ask Jeanne d’Arc about her mental state at the moment, unfortunately, their previous battle had already attracted the attention of other Servants who were now approaching the site of their fight. Consequently, Fang Zheng casually picked up Jeanne d’Arc and teleported away in a sign of ”tactical retreat”...

When the Servants of the Black Camp arrived at the battlefield, all they found was ruins and neither Fang Zheng nor Jeanne d’Arc were anywhere to be seen.

”Swish!!”

The spiritual light of magic flashed in the air, and in the next moment, Fang Zheng arrived carrying Jeanne d’Arc at a plain in the mountains. He glanced around, then unceremoniously dropped the powerless Jeanne d’Arc on the ground. Although still conscious, Jeanne d’Arc seemed unable to even stand due to the exhaustion from the battle.

And also...

At this thought, Fang Zheng glanced at Jeanne d’Arc, who, perceiving his gaze, curled up in fear and apprehension, looking at him. At this moment, she had none of her previous commanding presence but seemed like an ordinary girl...huh?

”Are you Jeanne d’Arc’s host body?”

Upon closer inspection, Fang Zheng realized that the girl before him housed two souls, one extremely weak and the other quite ordinary. It appeared that Jeanne d’Arc had exhausted herself in the fight with Fang Zheng and had now gone off to sleep in some corner, leaving the girl to take control of the body.

”Yes, that’s right.”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s question, the girl— no, not Jeanne d’Arc—answered in a timid voice. Fang Zheng wasn’t surprised by her reaction; after all, he had just run her through with his sword. Although it seemed Jeanne d’Arc had saved her life, the incident must have left a deep impression on her.

”What’s your name?”

”I’m Leticia...”

”I’m Fang Zheng...um, sorry to have scared you, but this is what the Holy Grail War is like. You understand that, don’t you?”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng found a rock to sit on and pulled out a piece of cake from his inventory. After battling for so long, he felt hungry and decided he needed some night snacks. But as Fang Zheng comfortably enjoyed his cola and cake, a sound broke the silence.

”Gollum...”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng looked again at Leticia, whose face turned red as she lowered her head in embarrassment.

”Sorry, I haven’t eaten in a long time. Jeanne d’Arc has been busy traveling all this time...”

”So she neglects her own host body? The Saintess has quite a peculiar hobby.”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng reached out once more and, from the void, took out a snack combo meant for Illya and Little Hei. Now, however, it seemed someone else needed it more urgently.

”Try this, it might be a bit cold, but it should still taste good.”

”Huh?”

Caught off guard by Fang Zheng offering the fast-food combo, Leticia blinked.

”Can I... eat this?”

”Of course, you’re not my enemy. I’m not heartless enough to watch a young girl go hungry.”

”Thank you, thank you so much...”

After Fang Zheng’s response, Leticia hesitated for a moment, then tentatively took the fast-food combo and began to eat. At first, she tried to eat with small bites to maintain some decorum because of Fang Zheng’s presence, but hunger quickly overpowered her restraint. Soon, the girl devoured the meal like a bear prepping for hibernation. Naturally, the large cup of soda didn’t stand a chance either, as she drained it completely.

”Ahh... Thank you, Mr. Fang Zheng.”

Having finished, Leticia couldn’t help but burp, and then shyly lowered her head to thank Fang Zheng who simply waved his hand dismissively.

”No need to be polite, it was nothing.”

”Then... Mr. Fang Zheng, may I ask you something?”

Perhaps because Fang Zheng didn’t seem as frightening anymore, combined with the favor he had done, Leticia looked somewhat less afraid of him now. She cautiously lifted her head and looked at him tentatively. Although she didn’t voice it, Fang Zheng knew what she wanted to ask.

”You want to know why I broke the rules and attacked Jeanne d’Arc?”

”Yes...”

Leticia nodded at his question.

”Miss Jeanne d’Arc is a good person...”

”Whether someone is a good person or not is beside the point,” said Fang Zheng with a dismissive wave of his hand, cutting off Leticia’s defense.

”Be it the Black Side or the Red Faction, there are decent folks on both, but that doesn’t really mean anything. The Holy Grail War is still ongoing, and we are meant to continue slaughtering each other. Since the Greater Holy Grail has yet to be activated, after we eliminate our enemies, we’ll have to turn on those we think are alright. The winner takes all, and the loser dies. Those are the rules of the Holy Grail War. To me, whether it’s Jeanne d’Arc or a Servant of the Red Faction, they’re all just obstacles in the way of me obtaining the Holy Grail. So, no matter if they are a good person or a saint, if they stand in my way, they face certain death.”

”...I’m sorry...”

”There’s nothing to apologize for; this is not your fault.”

While speaking, Fang Zheng reached out idly and picked up a stone, then arranged it on the ground before him.

”It’s normal for someone of your age to be full of fantasy. The Holy Grail War, the great battle of heroes from the past—it does sound romantic. But in the end, it’s nothing more than a massacre among fools chasing their hopes. Betrayal, conspiracy, assassination—none are less ugly than the duels that seem glorious on the surface. By the way, how is Jeanne doing now?”

”She’s resting. She seems to have been seriously injured...”

After all, if not for the sudden intervention of the three Command Seals, he would have burned out her soul completely.

Hearing Leticia’s response, Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders. Of course, he would not strike at an unrelated ordinary person. The sword stroke he had delivered to Leticia had pierced through her chest but had deliberately avoided vital organs like the heart and major blood vessels, and the Primordial Soul Fire he unleashed afterward aimed to incinerate Jeanne d’Arc’s soul... By now, her soul was probably quite weakened.

To not have been completely burned away was lucky enough.

”All right, I have some things to do. You can rest over there for a while.”

After Fang Zheng said this, Leticia obediently curled up and watched him in silence, curiosity evident in her gaze. Fang Zheng, however, paid no further attention to the young girl. He reached out and withdrew a precious gemstone from his inventory, then began to chant a Spell Text in a low voice.

Soon, magic power began to dance at Fang Zheng’s fingertips once more. It drew upon the Magic Power stored within the gemstones, and the unstable Magic Runes formed invisible chains. They traversed distant boundaries, entering a domain imperceptible to ordinary people, summoning that ancient, mystical being.

Before long, accompanying Fang Zheng’s spellcasting, the stones he’d placed so casually begun to levitate, and sparks spread across the ground, drawing the stone fragments together like a magnet, and condensing them into a spinning golden orb. Fang Zheng could faintly sense an aura emanating from the orb, an aura identical to what he had felt within the Command Seals.

”You know why I’ve summoned you,” Fang Zheng said, staring at the golden orb before him.

”We’re not children here; let’s be direct in our speech and actions. I have no interest in obscure guidance or prayers, nor am I keen on solving riddles others present. So, if you have something in mind, wouldn’t it be better to just speak plainly?”

The golden orb began to spin, and soon an image appeared in Fang Zheng’s mind.

Creviced, barren wastelands with gray fog enveloping the sky. The world was shrouded in a shadow of death, and the planet was on the brink of demise, as if an old man was stepping into the grave, left with only his final breaths. Above the clouds, humans in steel contraptions were battling massive creatures—explosions, destruction, death. It all seemed like the final epitome of the planet...

The planet did not fear death, even if it was destroyed by the species it had nurtured, it did not harbor resentment. It believed that, after destroying their Motherbody, these species would meet their own demise too.

But, reality proved different.

Humans surpassed the constraints of their home planet, and even though it had completely perished, they managed to survive.

This instilled fear in the planet.

Against the human species, the planet experienced an unprecedented terror.

They wouldn’t care for any planet or any other will. Like locusts, they would greedily devastate everything for their own survival, leaving only death and destruction in their wake.

Thus, facing imminent death, the planet sent out its final message, calling upon the Will of the World of the other eight planets, pleading with them for aid.

Please, kill all life forms.

”So, you need my help,” Fang Zheng stated, his eyes narrowed as he gazed at the orb.

”...”

The golden orb resumed its spin, and then, a sequence of messages appeared in Fang Zheng’s mind.

Is this your condition?

Closing his eyes, Fang Zheng absorbed the intent of the distant mysterious will, and after a moment’s consideration, he shook his head.

”That’s not enough. If you truly seek Redemption, then show some sincerity.”

”...”

The golden orb paused for a moment, and then new images emerged in Fang Zheng’s mind. Seeing these images, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

”Good, then...I hope we can have a fruitful collaboration.”

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.