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

Chapter 711: Chapter 710: So What Exactly is Going On?

”Huh?”

Startled by Kurumi’s response, Fiore was momentarily dazed. But before she could say anything more, her vision blurred, and soon, Kurumi had whisked her away from the battlefield.

”Yoshino, it’s up to you now!”

”Okay, Sister Kurumi!!”

Hearing this voice, Fiore was surprised to see a young girl in a green coat, cute as a French doll, approaching from the side. She raised her right hand, then brought it down forcefully.

”Ice Construct!”

As the girl called out, a giant rabbit emerged from the ground. Fiore then saw the girl, quick as a rabbit herself, hop onto the back of the rabbit. She reached out her hands, melding them with the giant rabbit. The next moment, the rabbit dashed towards the distant Magic Puppet.

A piercing cold transformed into a pure white beam of light bursting from the mouth of the rabbit, striking the Magic Puppet. Where the white beam engulfed, all turned to ice. Even the ”Paradise” beneath the puppet’s feet was no exception; the previously vibrant plant heaven was instantly sealed within ice, slowing the puppet’s movements. Hard ice crystals rapidly formed, spreading and expanding over its body.

It was as though shackles were beginning to impede its movements.

”I never thought you would possess such power,”

Standing on the shoulder of the Magic Puppet, CASTER seemed taken aback, but soon he began a low chant, and Arrays formed around him. As he moved, dazzling lights started appearing on the ice-encased body of the Magic Puppet. Clearly, CASTER was activating something...

However, at that moment, CASTER suddenly raised his hand. A circular protective Array rapidly took shape, but it was too late.

”Swoosh!”

The black iron arrow flashed by, effortlessly penetrating CASTER’s still-forming protective Array and piercing his chest. CASTER then looked down at the arrow in his chest and chuckled lightly.

”Is this the end? But my dream... has already been fulfilled. So let us... turn this world into Paradise!”

As CASTER spoke almost like a curse, his body gradually turned into photon particles, dissipating into the air.

”Such a pity, but what can I say? You are CASTER, and I am ARCHER.”

From a distance, Little Hei put down his longbow with a smug expression while watching CASTER, whose vital parts had been struck—indeed, from a certain perspective, Little Hei and Fang Zheng were similar; facing an enemy, they were not the types to rush in blindly and be martyred, but rather they waited for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.

More importantly, Little Hei was not shy about it...

”Now that’s what I call wisdom, wisdom, see that, Illya?”

Turning around with a triumphant expression, Little Hei smiled cheekily at Illya.

”That’s why I told you, don’t just rush at enemies blindly, otherwise Big Brother will still think of you as a child.”

”Aren’t you a child as well, Little Hei?”

Hearing Little Hei boast, Illya retorted unconvinced, and Little Hei responded with a cheeky smile and a wagging finger.

”I’m different, you see? If I want, I can make Big Brother turn me into an adult right away, unlike you who only cares about Little Red Riding Hood.”

”What’s wrong with Little Red Riding Hood? Sister Yoshino likes it too! Besides, Little Hei, what’s with all these inappropriate thoughts you have...”

”Oh?”

Hearing this, Little Hei chuckled and leaned in closer to Illya’s face.

”Then tell me, what inappropriate thoughts do I have?”

”Huh? This...”

Caught off guard by Little Hei’s retort, Illya immediately blushed.

”Just, just that...”

”Just what? I don’t understand at all what you’re saying, Illya. Why don’t you tell me what an inappropriate thought looks like?”

”Really!”

Illya swung her Magic Wand forcefully.

”Don’t talk about such boring things at a time like this, we haven’t confirmed whether the enemy has been eliminated yet!”

”Don’t worry, my last arrow was very accurate... Huh?”

As she spoke, Little Hei looked proudly back at the battlefield, only to be taken aback.

Little Hei’s arrows had indeed pierced CASTER’s chest and completely eliminated him. Logically, since CASTER himself had died, his Noble Phantasm should have disappeared as well, but contrary to what Little Hei had expected, CASTER’s Noble Phantasm Magic Puppet did not vanish; it still stood there and then... its eyes suddenly burst into bright Radiance.

”———!!”

Accompanied by a furious roar, the ice layer that had been binding the giant Magic Puppet instantly burst apart. Then the Magic Puppet extended its right hand towards the void on the side, and the ground’s stones and soil mixed together, forming a giant sword. The Magic Puppet then picked up the giant sword and swung it fiercely towards Yoshino in front!

”Ah!!”

Facing the sudden action of the Magic Puppet, Yoshino was also startled and quickly increased the distance between her and the Magic Puppet. Meanwhile, Illya and Little Hei were also terribly shocked.

”Little Hei, you fool, didn’t you say it was eliminated?”

”I did eliminate CASTER, how was I supposed to know this would happen?!”

The two exchanged complaints, then quickly rushed toward the battlefield. Little Hei raised her black Longbow, aiming at the enemy in front of her and continuously pulling the bowstring. Soon, one after another, sharp arrows whistled out, striking the Magic Puppet’s body. However, these arrows, potent enough to inflict fatal damage on a Servant, seemed to annoy the Magic Puppet very little, causing no harm whatsoever.

”Ice Construct!”

At the same time, Yoshino, who had dodged the Magic Puppet’s attack, spun around in the air and then faced the enemy once again. Along with her shout, sharp icicles quickly emerged in the air around the Ice Construct and shot towards the enemy. This time, however, the Magic Puppet seemed to have learned its lesson and roared as it swung the giant blade in its hands, smashing the incoming icicles into fragments.

”This is really a tough nut to crack, looks like I need to get serious too.”

While saying this, Sister Kurumi flew into the sky, and a huge clock appeared behind her.

”Come forth, Chronos!”

Who exactly were they?

Watching the girls battle in front of her, Fiore stood there dumbfounded, unsure what to say. Although she initially had no doubts about the girls around Fang Zheng, it was normal for a Magician to have helpers, students, or even family members. Moreover, it was the Holy Grail War; it was common sense to bring along trusted individuals to fight, but... These girls were overwhelmingly strong!

What puzzled Fiore was the identity of these girls.

The girl shooting arrows like an ARCHER to restrain the Magic Puppet and another girl draped in light clothing, wielding a Magic Wand, seemed to be of the same kind as a Servant. Fiore felt a presence similar to her own ARCHER emanating from them.

But Miss Tokisaki and Sister Yoshino confused her. They weren’t Servants, nor did they seem like Heroic Spirits, but they also didn’t seem human. After all, Fiore did not remember any Magician possessing the power to freely fly, turn everything into ice, or stop time.

And the power they wielded, what was that exactly...?

”It looks like I’m not too late.”

Just then, Fang Zheng’s voice came from the side, and Fiore, surprised, turned around to see Fang Zheng standing beside her, watching the Magic Puppet. Moreover, beside him, Fiore saw Red ARCHER and RULER... How did they end up here?

”Due to some reasons, I am now ARCHER’s MASTER.”

Noticing Fiore’s puzzled look, Fang Zheng explained.

”As for RULER, when we were leaving the forest earlier, we saw her running in this direction, so we brought her along.”

”I see...”

Although Fang Zheng put it simply and lightly, Fiore’s keen female intuition noticed that the expression on the faces of Red ARCHER and RULER standing behind Fang Zheng was somewhat subtle. Red ARCHER seemed a bit resigned yet appeared to be compliant, while RULER seemed to be wary of Fang Zheng, even seemingly trying to maintain a distance from him.

”Although I’ve heard about what happened from Sister Kurumi, but...”

While speaking, Fang Zheng looked at the berserk Magic Puppet in front of him.

”What exactly is going on here?”