The Thirteen Flame-Chasers... Elysia's friends.
Those who had appeared in the light curtain before—including Kevin, Eden, or others whose names were linked to Elysia—should all be among these dozen or so people.
Upon seeing the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, the first reaction of the audience outside the light curtain was... Is this some kind of Visual Kei band?
After all, look at them. Elysia was one thing—pink hair might be a unique case—but those Flame-Chasers...
Each one dressed with considerable "personality." Their hair colors were practically a rainbow, and some of them possessed traits that clearly didn't belong to humans.
For example... that pink-haired girl with the katana at her waist. She had very obvious donkey ears on her head... Ah, no, they should be rabbit ears. In any case, they definitely weren't fox ears.
As for the others, they also had more or less non-human characteristics, such as cat-like tails, demon horns, and the like. Combined with Elysia's elf ears...
From this, it could be judged that these were definitely not decorations or cosplay props, but genuine body parts—the symbols of becoming a Fusion Warrior.
If these Thirteen Flame-Chasers walked down the street, they wouldn't look like heroes saving the world. They would look more like a group of edgy punks.
[Light Curtain Barrage]
[Gilgamesh]: "Hoh... Fusion Warriors like Elysia? Warriors who save the world... I suppose I can spare them a glance."
[Conan Edogawa]: "Fusion Warriors? There are actually so many of them. If every one of them possesses power like Elysia's, then that so-called Previous Civilization was far too powerful."
[Hikigaya Hachiman]: "Probably not... Didn't Elysia say she was the 'Number Two' figure? In other words, her strength should also be ranked second..."
[Eden]: "Hmm... That is likely correct. Although the ranking of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers is not based on strength, Ellie's strength is indeed the second among us... Excluding Kevin, it is difficult for anyone else to be her match..."
Number Two... Both in ranking and strength? Then who is Number One?
In an instant, the eyes of the audience outside the light curtain focused almost simultaneously on the man with short white hair and a cold expression, standing in the center position (C-position) in the image.
The image wouldn't give him a close-up for no reason. In other words... this man who had spoken from the very beginning was the Number One of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers... the man whom even Elysia could not defeat...
Even Elysia wasn't his match? Then his strength... what kind of terrifying realm would it have reached?
---o---
[Light Curtain Image]
Facing the "Elysia" transformed from the Holy Grail's consciousness, Sakura realized something was wrong almost instantly. She was naturally sensitive, and since the person acting strange was her close colleague Elysia, it was even easier to spot the discrepancy.
The other Flame-Chasers weren't fools either. Their intelligence and strength were all top-tier, and they had already sensed the abnormality of this "Elysia."
However, perhaps due to a lack of evidence, or perhaps because Elysia was often eccentric even in normal times, they didn't choose to attack immediately. Instead, they sought to confirm it.
"Ellie... is there something on your mind?"
Just as everyone was pondering, a voice rang out... The speaker was a woman dressed in luxurious, elegant attire. She had golden pupils and long, silky wine-red hair. Her face was beautiful, and her temperament was outstanding.
When she appeared, it was as if the stars themselves dimmed. The vast majority of people outside the light curtain had never seen such a magnificent and beautiful woman. That unique, elegant temperament was extremely rare even among the countless people of the multiverse.
"Ah... a little bit. There seem to be a lot of troublesome things lately..."
The Holy Grail consciousness played the role of Elysia extremely unskillfully. No matter what, it had to deceive these people first. From any angle, these guys didn't look like they were easy to mess with.
It seemed its choice to enter and transform into Elysia's appearance first was correct. This way, it could at least choose to hide its identity, wait for an opportunity to eliminate these guys, extract Elysia's memories, and turn her into its puppet.
Thinking triumphantly in its heart, the Holy Grail consciousness failed to notice that the expressions of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers had suddenly changed. They were looking at the "Elysia" in front of them with extremely unfriendly eyes.
That look... was the look given to a dead person!
Everyone knew that Elysia and Eden were best friends. Their friendship was known throughout the entire Fire Moth. If Elysia truly had something troubling her, the absolute first thing she would do was throw herself into Eden's arms, not act like nothing was wrong.
Herrscher!
Almost instantly, that word surfaced in their minds. Only a Herrscher could enter the highly secured Fire Moth and disguise itself as Elysia to deceive them!
"Hehehe... Hehehe~~ Hahahahaha!!!"
A piercing laughter suddenly rang out. The masked man—Kalpas—first let out a growl as if suppressing his trembling body, followed by a loud, maniacal laugh.
Immediately after, he said: "Good! Very good! I commend your courage, Herrscher! Because... you are the first Herrscher who dares to provoke me head-on!"
As the one with the most explosive temperament, whose rage never ceased, Kalpas instantly entered combat mode the moment he realized the person in front of him was likely a Herrscher. Violent flames scorched his body in an instant.
Scarlet light revealed itself from beneath the mask, a light that seemed ready to tear the enemy before him to shreds. He took a step forward and roared:
"Come! Herrscher! Step forward! Face my rage! Face death! Face... KALPAS!!!"
Boom—
Massive flames immediately covered the surroundings completely. The temporary base of the Fire Moth was turned into ruins under Kalpas's fierce fire. The surrounding Flame-Chasers also chose to take defensive measures in the face of Kalpas's fury.
The young man with demon horns picked up the blue-haired little girl, who was standing dazedly on the side thinking about who-knows-what, and left the spot with unpredictable speed.
The pink-haired girl with donkey ears, the martial artist girl dressed so simply she had zero fashion sense, and the white-haired man all entered combat states.
As for the other Flame-Chasers, since they weren't close-combat types, they chose to temporarily avoid the brunt of Kalpas's rage when it surfaced.
At this moment, the only one confused was "Elysia," transformed from the Holy Grail consciousness...
What is wrong with them? What happened? Why am I here?
Everyone was talking nicely just a moment ago; how did they draw their blades in an instant? And they were aiming at her...
Although she indeed wasn't the real Elysia, shouldn't you guys probe a few more times? You're going to fight after just a few sentences?
Meanwhile, Kalpas, covered in flames, stood in front of the Holy Grail consciousness and said: "Herrscher. I'll give you a chance. Tell me, where is the real Elysia? As long as you speak, I can let you die a little more pleasantly. Otherwise..."
Kalpas didn't continue, but everyone understood what he meant. It seemed that even in a combat state, Kalpas was still very concerned about Elysia's safety.
If it were any other time, his fist would have already been on the enemy's face.
However, even so, Kalpas's current appearance didn't look like someone who could be reasoned with. The flames boiling all over his body seemed ready to pounce on "Elysia" at any moment.
The others in front of it, including Kevin, all looked at the Holy Grail consciousness with solemn faces.
Kevin didn't sense the aura of Honkai energy on its body; instead, he felt another strange power. But that didn't matter. The methods of a Herrscher were unquestionable.
Almost every birth of a Herrscher caused irreversible disasters, and those seemingly weak Herrschers might be hiding even more powerful strength.
Kevin didn't believe a Herrscher would be stupid enough to come to the Fire Moth headquarters while weak. What difference was that from a fish swimming into a net?
The thoughts of the surrounding people were similar to Kevin's. To appear so confidently within the Fire Moth, facing over a dozen Flame-Chasers... the Herrscher in front of them definitely possessed magical powers they couldn't imagine...
However... the attitude of the Flame-Chasers made the Holy Grail consciousness feel particularly puzzled... It hadn't even started preparing for battle yet, and the opponents were already this scared?
Could it be that they weren't as strong as it imagined? Was that just a bluff earlier?
Perhaps to deceive itself, the Holy Grail consciousness actually believed its own absurd idea. So, it spoke arrogantly: "Die a little more pleasantly? Heh~~ Foolish ants. Do you really think you are my match?"
"To tell you the truth, that woman named Elysia has already been completely devoured by me. Dead without even scum remaining. This appearance is the proof!"
It got carried away... It had completely gotten carried away.
Having gathered humanity's malicious thoughts, the existence known as the Holy Grail consciousness naturally also gathered all of humanity's character flaws.
Perhaps because it had no concept of death, or perhaps it simply had a death wish, the Holy Grail consciousness touched upon a domain it absolutely should not have touched.
That was... Elysia!
Elysia was the one person absolutely off-limits. Along with Griseo, as long as these two were harmed, the perpetrator would absolutely suffer the wrath of all the other Flame-Chasers.
And the current Holy Grail consciousness, whether it was just trash-talking or actively seeking death, had already touched the reverse scale that the Flame-Chasers absolutely could not tolerate.
The Holy Grail consciousness said a lot more after that, but Kalpas was no longer listening. Because... there is no need to remember too many words from a dead man.
In the blink of an eye... a fist arrived!
No one saw clearly how Kalpas moved. People only knew that the wind from his fist alone blew the entire floor away. The face of the Holy Grail consciousness was twisted under this punch.
For a moment, it couldn't even maintain Elysia's appearance and almost reverted to the form of black mud.
Too fast, and too strong.
This was absolutely not a fist that a human could throw. Even among Servants, those who could achieve this step were few and far between. Fortunately, the Holy Grail consciousness was not a physical entity, so it largely weakened the impact of Kalpas's fist.
Regarding this, seeing the Holy Grail consciousness still maintaining Elysia's appearance, Kalpas said disdainfully: "Heh, is this your strength? You are simply the weakest Herrscher I have ever seen."
It couldn't even withstand his basic attack. Was this thing really a Herrscher? Kalpas expressed his confusion, but he wasn't the type of character good at thinking. He only wanted the Herrscher in front of him to die!
At the same time, the other surrounding Flame-Chasers also discovered the weakness of the Holy Grail consciousness and frowned one after another.
In Kevin's hand was a giant sword burning with flames, much wider than Sakura's katana. It looked exceptionally cool. It seemed the greatsword had only appeared after the Holy Grail consciousness said it had devoured Elysia.
It appeared that this cold-faced "Number One" was not a heartless and indifferent person, at least not when facing Elysia.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have pulled out his weapon after learning that Elysia might be dead.
At this moment, the Holy Grail consciousness, still trash-talking due to Kalpas's mockery, said: "It was just a punch. A momentary setback proves nothing."
That's right... that was definitely an illusion just now. It was an illusion produced because Kalpas didn't follow martial ethics and attacked directly. Otherwise, with its own strength, it was absolutely impossible to lose.
To this, Kalpas just smiled disdainfully and said: "So you're saying... you're pretty brave?"
Before the opponent could respond, he disappeared from his spot. Subsequently, countless fists swept toward the Holy Grail consciousness.
Accompanying them were intense flames. The burning fire accompanied Kalpas's fists, dealing heavy enchanted damage to the Holy Grail consciousness, beating it from fantasy back into reality.
It was completely no match for just a single Flame-Chaser, beaten into such a sorry state. Let alone facing more than ten at the same time?
The Holy Grail consciousness could no longer act brave. It now only wanted to leave this place of trouble quickly. In the eyes of the current Holy Grail consciousness, Kalpas's mask was as terrifying as a demon.
And perhaps to prevent it from escaping, the figures of the Flame-Chasers had appeared on all sides—front, back, left, and right—of the Holy Grail consciousness without it noticing.
Catching a turtle in a jar. It had to be said, being able to make so many Flame-Chasers engage it in battle proved it had some capability.
One had to know, facing twelve of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers at the same time... this was treatment that not even the Herrscher of Finality had received.