House Of Flames

They watched as the scene unfolded before them. The destruction was immense, and Ritsuka's heart sank at the sight of innocent lives caught in the chaos.

"She's giving orders to the wyverns," Ritsuka whispered, his voice tense. "This is worse than I thought. We have to intervene before it escalates further."

Morgan nodded, her expression grim. "If she's truly sparing the children, then it shows there's still a part of her that holds onto some semblance of her former self. But that doesn't excuse the path she's chosen."

Mash clenched her fists, her resolve solidifying. "We need to find a way to confront her and convince her to stop this madness. There must be a reason she's targeting France and its people."

Kama smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Maybe we can use this to our advantage. If she's still holding onto some kind of morality regarding the children, we can leverage that."

Ritsuka took a deep breath, weighing their options. "You're right. If we can show her that there's another way to achieve her goals without the need for destruction, we might reach her. But we need to be careful. She's dangerous, and if we push her too hard, it could backfire."

As they formulated their plan, Ritsuka caught a glimpse of the charred remains of a nearby village, a pitiful reminder of the cost of war. His determination grew stronger. "Let's move quickly. We can't let more people suffer because of her vendetta. We'll have to engage her in a way that forces her to listen, not just fight."

The group stealthily approached the village, careful to avoid detection. Ritsuka led the way, his instincts sharp as they neared the center of the destruction. The flickering flames illuminated the darkened landscape, casting eerie shadows.

Suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the air as a wyvern swooped down, searching for more targets. Ritsuka and the others quickly ducked behind a crumbling wall, holding their breath as it passed overhead.

"That was close," Mash whispered, her eyes wide.

"We can't let this continue," Ritsuka said, determination etched across his face. "Let's find a way to draw Jeanne out without alerting the entire wyvern horde."

As they made their way deeper into the village, Ritsuka's heart raced. He could feel the weight of their mission pressing down on him, but he refused to back down. If they could reach Jeanne d'Arc Alter and understand her motivations, perhaps they could find a way to save her—and the people she threatened.

Meanwhile, Jeanne Alter surveyed the destruction, a cruel smile on her lips as she watched the chaos unfold. Despite her decision to spare the children, the thrill of power coursed through her veins. She felt invincible, her wrath finally unleashed upon those she believed had wronged her.

But even as she reveled in her vengeance, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered doubts. Was this truly the path she wanted to take? Or was there still a fragment of the heroic Jeanne d'Arc within her, buried beneath layers of anger and resentment?

Gilles, sensing her inner conflict, approached with a knowing smile. "What troubles you, my lady? The fires of vengeance are a beautiful sight, are they not?"

Jeanne snapped her gaze to him, her voice sharp. "I have my goals, Gilles. But I won't be swayed by your empty words. My mission is clear, and I will not falter."

Gilles merely chuckled, the darkness within him simmering just below the surface. "Of course, my lady. But remember, even the greatest of heroes can become the vilest of villains when blinded by rage."

As the two continued their dark path, Ritsuka and his group closed in, determined to confront Jeanne Alter and uncover the truth behind her transformation. The stakes were higher than ever, and time was running out to stop the impending destruction.

Just as they neared the center of the chaos, a low growl resonated nearby. Ritsuka turned, instincts kicking in, and spotted a group of children huddled behind a ruined building, fear etched on their faces.

"We have to help them!" he exclaimed, moving toward them instinctively.

Mash reached out, grabbing his arm. "Wait! If we approach them now, we risk exposing ourselves to the wyverns."

Ritsuka's heart ached for the frightened children. "They won't last long out here. If we can draw attention away from them, it might buy them time to escape."

Kama nodded, her mischievous grin returning. "I can create a distraction. Just give me a moment."

As Kama prepared to create a diversion, Ritsuka turned to the children, crouching down to their level. "Listen to me. We're here to help. We need you to stay very quiet and trust us. Can you do that?"

The children nodded, their wide eyes glistening with fear but also with a flicker of hope.

"Good. Stay hidden, and we'll get you to safety," Ritsuka promised before straightening up.

Kama unleashed her distraction—a barrage of energy that erupted into a dazzling display, drawing the attention of nearby wyverns. The creatures screeched, turning their focus toward the commotion.

"Now, go!" Ritsuka urged, motioning for the children to run toward the safety of the trees.

As the children dashed away, Ritsuka felt a surge of hope. They were one step closer to saving not just the children, but potentially Jeanne d'Arc Alter herself.

With the wyverns distracted, the group pressed on, their resolve strengthened. They needed to confront Jeanne and Gilles before more destruction ensued. It was now or never.

Jalter strode down the halls of the castle, her boots clicking against the stone floors as the sound of the children's laughter echoed in the distance. The fire in her eyes simmered as she thought about what she had built—a place that, despite the chaos outside, would serve as a beacon of her influence, a reminder of her control over the fate of those who dared cross her. The House of Flames was no longer just a hideout; it was her legacy, a twisted parody of a family built on flames, fear, and dominance.

As she ascended the stairs to her private chamber, she passed several of her other summoned Servants, all under the effects of the grail's twisted power. A hulking figure loomed by the entrance of the room, his dark armor reflecting the faint torchlight. It was Lancelot, his once-noble visage now tainted with madness, like Atalante's. He said nothing as she passed, simply standing guard as a loyal weapon.

Jalter entered her chambers and made her way to a massive window that overlooked the vast, barren landscape surrounding the castle. She crossed her arms, deep in thought. Her plans were working—slowly, but surely. But she couldn't stop thinking about them—the ones who would come to stop her. Ritsuka Fujimaru, Mash, and the rest of their allies would undoubtedly hunt her down eventually. She couldn't allow them to undo her work.

With a wave of her hand, Jalter summoned a small flame that hovered in the air before her. The orange glow reflected in her eyes as she stared into it, her mind racing.

"I need more strength," she muttered to herself. "They'll come, and I'll be ready this time. Not like before."

As if responding to her thoughts, the door creaked open, and a shadowy figure stepped inside. Jalter didn't need to turn to know who it was.

"Your preparations are almost complete, I assume?" a voice rasped. It was Gilles de Rais, her most loyal servant, who had followed her through every twisted scheme she had devised. His dark blue robes billowed slightly as he entered the room, his sunken eyes gleaming with reverence for his beloved dragon witch.

"Almost," Jalter replied, not looking at him. "But there's still one thing missing."

Gilles tilted his head, confused. "What is it, my Jeanne? You have the children, the castle, and your loyal servants. What more could you possibly need?"

Jalter let the flame flicker out and turned to face him, her expression cold and calculating. "I need a way to break them. Fujimaru, Mash, and their little band of heroes—they'll come for the children, no doubt. But I won't let them take away what's mine."

Gilles smiled darkly, his eyes gleaming with the madness that had long since consumed him. "And how do you plan to achieve that, my dragon?"

Jalter's eyes narrowed as a plan began to take shape in her mind. "I'll make them doubt everything they've ever believed in. Heroes, justice, salvation—it's all a lie, and I'll make them see it. I'll drag them into the flames and watch them burn."

Gilles cackled, his laughter echoing through the room like a twisted hymn of devotion. "Yes! Yes, my Jeanne, let them burn! Let the fires consume them as they consumed you!"

But Jalter wasn't done. She knew she couldn't rely on raw power alone.

"Gilles," she said, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone. "I want you to gather information on Ritsuka's allies. Every weakness, every flaw. I want to know what makes them tick, what could make them break. Do whatever it takes."

Gilles nodded, his smile widening into something grotesque. "As you command, my Jeanne."

As Gilles left the room, Jalter returned to her thoughts. She would make them suffer for daring to challenge her. The children would remain hers, and they would learn to love her as their protector, even as the world around them crumbled. But for now, she needed patience.

Jalter raised her hand, summoning another flicker of flame. It danced before her eyes, reflecting her inner turmoil. For all the power and control she had, a part of her—a deep, buried part—still remembered what it was like to be vulnerable. To be betrayed. To be left alone in the flames, without hope.

She clenched her fist, extinguishing the flame with a snap.

Never again. This time, she would be the one holding the torch, and anyone who stood in her way would be reduced to ashes.

Meanwhile, back at the site of the destruction Jalter had left behind, Ritsuka, Mash, and their team were tirelessly working to save the remaining survivors. The devastation was unlike anything they had ever seen before, and the sight of the charred remains of the once-thriving town weighed heavily on them all.

"Damn it," Ritsuka muttered under his breath, watching as the people they managed to save were loaded onto makeshift stretchers. "We need to stop her before she hurts more innocent lives."

Mash stood beside him, her shield resting at her side. "Senpai, what do you think she wants with those children? Why take them?"

Ritsuka's face hardened. "She's not just killing anymore. She's trying to build something—a twisted version of her own kingdom. We need to figure out her next move."

Kama, who had been scanning the area with a device, approached them. "I've got good news and bad news. The good news is we've picked up a trail—she's holed up in a fortress not too far from here."

"And the bad news?" Mash asked.

Kama sighed, her expression serious. "The fortress is protected by more than just physical defenses. There's something… dark, powerful surrounding it. We'll need to be ready for anything."

Ritsuka clenched his fists, determination flooding his veins. "Then we'll be ready. We're not letting her get away with this."

As they regrouped with their allies, the air around them felt heavy with the weight of the coming battle. But Ritsuka knew one thing for sure: they couldn't afford to lose. Not this time.

Back at the House of Flames, Jalter stood at the highest tower, watching the horizon. She knew it wouldn't be long before they came for her.

"Come, Fujimaru," she whispered to the wind. "I'll be waiting."

The flames of war had been lit, and Jalter was ready to watch the world burn once again.

Back with Ritsuka, he was looking at the dark ora, as he activated Fire of the hearth

Ritsuka looked at Kama. "Does toy flames count as Holy flames"

Kama looked at him. "I am Goddes so yes".

Ritsuka then burned the dark energy, they heard a scream but then it stopped, as Ritsuka then stomped on it fully killing it.

As the dark energy dissipated under the intense heat of Ritsuka's Fire of the Hearth, a high-pitched scream echoed through the air, only to abruptly cease. The malevolent aura, once suffocating and palpable, now flickered and died, leaving nothing but faint embers in its wake.

Ritsuka stared at the charred ground where the remnants of the dark energy had been. He stomped once more, ensuring the final traces were completely obliterated. The ground beneath him cracked, a fitting metaphor for the fading power of the dark force Jalter had used to protect her lair.

He turned to Kama, whose divine flames had intertwined with his own in that brief but intense moment. Her nonchalant expression masked the godly might she had just unleashed.

"Looks like that worked," Ritsuka said, brushing off his hands. His eyes were sharp with focus, though a glint of concern lingered. "But I have a feeling Jalter's got more up her sleeve."

Kama smirked. "Of course she does. That woman is nothing if not persistent." Her tone was amused, but her gaze was calculating. "Still, whatever that darkness was, it's not something she can just summon again on a whim. Not without consequences."

Mash stepped forward, her shield at the ready. "Senpai, should we advance to the castle now? If we've neutralized the dark energy protecting it, we may be able to reach Jalter before she has time to regroup."

Ritsuka nodded, eyes narrowing at the distant silhouette of the fortress. "We have to. The longer we wait, the more she solidifies her control over the children. And who knows what other surprises she has hidden inside."

Da Vinci approached, scanning the area with her device. "The path is clear for now, but I wouldn't be so quick to assume we're out of the woods yet. Jalter's smart. She won't have relied on just one layer of defense."

Ritsuka nodded, his thoughts already racing. He had encountered Jalter before, and each time, she had found new ways to test their resolve. She wasn't just a mindless force of destruction anymore—she had plans, strategies. And she had an army of corrupted Servants at her command.

He glanced at Kama again. "Stay close. If she has more of those dark defenses, your flames will be our best shot at breaking through."

Kama shrugged but moved closer to his side, her expression teasing but her posture ready for battle. "You just want an excuse to rely on me, don't you? Don't worry, Master, I'll save the day as usual."

Mash shot Kama a small smile, but her grip on her shield tightened. "Let's be careful. Jalter won't be easy to stop, especially now that she has those children."

With a determined look, Ritsuka led the group forward. The fortress loomed larger with each step, its jagged towers and blackened stone walls a grim reminder of the devastation Jalter had wrought. As they neared the entrance, a sense of foreboding settled over them. The air felt thick, oppressive, as if the very atmosphere had been tainted by Jalter's malice.

"Ready yourselves," Ritsuka warned, drawing his weapon. "This is where the real fight begins."

They pushed open the heavy gates of the castle, stepping inside the dimly lit halls. The faint sound of children's laughter echoed from somewhere deeper within, an eerie contrast to the dark, foreboding atmosphere. Shadows danced along the walls, and the flickering torches provided little comfort.

Suddenly, a low growl reverberated through the corridor. From the shadows emerged several figures—Servants, twisted and corrupted by Jalter's grail-fueled power. At the forefront was Atalante, her cat-like eyes gleaming with a wild, feral madness, her bow already drawn and aimed at them.

Without hesitation, Ritsuka raised his hand, flames igniting at his fingertips. "We're not here to fight you," he called out, though he knew negotiation was likely futile. "But if you get in our way…"

Atalante's response was a snarl as she released the arrow, aiming straight for Mash.

Mash raised her shield in time, the arrow deflecting off it with a loud clang. "We have no choice, Senpai!"

"Then we fight," Ritsuka said, summoning his flames once more. "Kama, Mash, Da Vinci—let's take them down."

The battle was upon them.

To be continued

Hope people like this Ch and give me power stones