IBHJ Chapter 997

The young man paled. "You were defeated by my future self, what does that have to do with me? If you want revenge, go find him! Don't take it out on me! Don't be a coward!"

"Oh, darling," she sighed, her tone dripping with sympathy. "I'm afraid that's not an option. Your future self is currently... indisposed. Locked away and being pampered by a rather troublesome woman. Even I can't get near that cage." Her lips curved into a smile. "But you'll do just fine. After all, you're the same person, aren't you? And with the older you out of the picture, there's no one here who can stop me."

As her smile widened, the air itself seemed to grow heavy. Raw hatred and killing intent poured from her in waves, causing everyone present to take an instinctive step back.

It's not fake, this killing intent is definitely not fake!

The young man instinctively reached for the Command Spell on the back of his hand.

Demonic Bodhisattva's eyes flicked to the movement, her smirk deepening. "The same trick won't work twice. You fooled me before, but not this time. Past, present, I know everything about you. That Saver is not yet your Servant at this point in time!"

The young man was taken aback. Saver? What the hell is she talking about?

His fingers brushed the Command Spell again, not to repeat the old trick, but to summon his most trusted Servant — Gilgamesh!

Mordred launched another fierce attack towards Demonic Bodhisattva. However, the Bodhisattva smiled, seemingly unfazed. Several pale hands erupted from her abdomen, reaching for Mordred.

"Useless!" Mordred relied on the Grail's power to phase through the hands, her sword slashing relentlessly at Demonic Bodhisattva.

"Oh, is it now? Look what I have, Mordred-chan." A sweet smile spread across the Bodhisattva's face. A hand emerged from the ground behind her, holding a Grail covered in strange patterns.

"Recognize this? You thought you were clever, tossing it 300 meters underground. Pity I was watching your little tussle with my senior Sixth Seat before."

"So what? My Noble Phantasm won't work on you even if you have it!"

"Is that so?" Demonic Bodhisattva chuckled. "That bluff won't work anymore. I've had enough of it from Mr. Shirou."

Without warning, she smashed the Grail against the ground. With a thud, Mordred groaned and clutched her head, her face contorted in pain – as if Sun Wukong's headband had suddenly tightened around her skull.

"Your true form is hidden in this cup. Now that it's in my hands, you're no longer a threat."

Her gaze flicked back to Mordred, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. "Though I must admit, my senior's handiwork is impressive. Even my authority can't quite crack it open to drag you out."

Mordred, teeth clenched in pain, raised her sword defiantly. "I'm... not done yet!"

Demonic Bodhisattva's response was quick. She struck the Grail again, sending Mordred reeling, her vision swimming.

Kiara wasn't a threat, nor was Cu Chulainn. Misaya's combat power was zero, and at this point, Shirou was just an ordinary college student with no combat skills. Demonic Bodhisattva, however, was a Beast that required seven Grand Servants to defeat. The situation looked grim for the young man and his companions.

Feeling confident in her control of the situation, Demonic Bodhisattva couldn't help but smirk. Suddenly, the Grail erupted with blinding light, and a sword shot out from within.

THUNK!

The blade pierced her right eye, driving clean through her skull.

"Nngh!" she stumbled back, her hands flying to her face. The Grail slipped from her grasp, hitting the ground with a clang.

Mordred, who had been grunting in pain, now stared at the Bodhisattva with cold, calm eyes.

Demonic Bodhisattva realized that this had all been Mordred's plan. From finding the Grail underground to her act of dizziness and weakness when it was shaken—it had all been a ruse!

All to set up this fatal blow!

"I'm impressed, Mordred-chan. But I'm curious, how were you so sure I'd find your little trap?" Demonic Bodhisattva asked, covering her right eye. Her face was a gruesome mix of blood and brain matter.

Mordred scoffed. Like hell she'd reveal her hand now.

But her eyes, just for a moment, flicked towards the young man partially hidden behind Misaya. In that split second, a memory surfaced:

-- When the enemy is most proud, that's when they're least guarded. Strike with surprise.

The words echoed in her mind – a lesson from the Wisdom Books she'd studied as a child under Agravain's supervision. Mordred had always scorned Eternal King, but she couldn't deny how deeply those teachings had shaped her very thought processes.

-- Learning is using others' knowledge and wisdom to form your own."

This was the first sentence in the Book of Wisdom, and it had stuck with her.

Mordred suspected that Demonic Bodhisattva had feigned being controlled during their brief encounter in Iceland. Growing up surrounded by political intrigue and false smiles, Mordred was adept at spotting deception. So she decided to play along, using the Bodhisattva's perceived knowledge of her weakness against her.

Demonic Bodhisattva, also quick-witted, realized this and sighed. "As expected of Mr. Shirou's daughter. Battling those connected to him always highlights my own shortcomings."

Mordred's eyes blazed with anger. "My name is Mordred, not Eternal King's daughter!"

Though her knowledge and wisdom were built upon Shirou's teachings, they were shaped by her own experiences and thoughts. Mordred deeply resented being reduced to a mere extension of the Eternal King.

She would not live in his shadow. Not then, not now, not ever.

Demonic Bodhisattva's hand fell away from her face, her ruined eye knitting itself back together with unnatural speed. Her face was filled with a gentle smile, but it sent shivers down everyone's spines.

Demonic Bodhisattva's power was immense, yet she had limits. A shattered skull and pierced brain should have been fatal. But the current situation was strange. She seemed to have drunk an elixir of immortality. Even with her head severely wounded, she quickly recovered, as if her body was indestructible.

"Immortality?" the young man gritted his teeth. "Absolutely despicable!"

Her laughter was like silk over steel. "Oh, my dear boy. You say that as if you wouldn't jump at the chance yourself." Her eyes glittered with amusement. "But you lack the means, don't you? Such a pity. A blow like that would send some of you scurrying back to your precious Throne of Heroes." Her gaze swept over the group, lingering on the humans among them. "As for the rest... well, death tends to be rather permanent for mortals."

The situation was not good.

Mordred's eyes darted to Kiara, seeing the usually cheerful woman trembling, her face filled with terror. It was clear that the fear of Demonic Bodhisattva had completely paralyzed her.

She gritted her teeth. With Kiara out of commission and the others outmatched, the burden of this battle fell on her shoulders. She tightened her grip on her sword, the metal humming softly as she stepped forward.

But ironically, she was the worst suited for this type of enemy. Her most compatible class was Assassin, and when facing an immortal enemy, which Assassin, besides Grand Assassin, had any hope of victory?

Yet, she was the only one who could fight Demonic Bodhisattva.

Mordred swung her sword, but Bodhisattva snatched the Grail and hurled it out the window.

Mordred reacted instantly, catching the Grail in mid-air. If it strayed too far, her projection would vanish. Her fingers closed around the cold metal just as the Bodhisattva made her move.

Time seemed to slow as the Beast lunged towards the young Shirou, malice gleaming in her eyes. But then, unexpectedly, Kiara stepped into her path.

"You... you... you... don't do this anymore. This isn't right. Please spare Mr. Shirou. Let's stop hurting each other, okay?" Kiara's legs were trembling, her face pale with fear, her tone full of hope.

She hoped the Demonic Bodhisattva would understand her feelings.

Demonic Bodhisattva's eyes flashed with disappointment as she gazed at Kiara. In a blur of motion, a pale hand erupted from her abdomen, seizing Kiara by the hair and hurling her against the wall with brutal force.

The impact knocked the breath from Kiara's lungs. Pain bloomed across her back, causing hot tears to stream down her face.

Demonic Bodhisattva suddenly paused. Looking at Kiara, she said in a cold tone. "Such a child. Naive, afraid of pain, craving freedom, yet utterly foolish. Is this why that priest manipulated you so easily? When will you grow up?"

Each word was a dagger to Kiara's heart. Demonic Bodhisattva continued. "Has no one told you how insufferable you are? Naive, cowardly, immature... you're nothing but a liability."

Kiara felt her chest constrict, struggling to breathe as the weight of those cruel words crushed her.

"I had hoped for... more." Demonic Bodhisattva's sigh was heavy with disappointment. "I suddenly felt that capturing and reclaiming you would only weaken me." Her gaze was cold and dismissive. "I've lost interest. You should go and find a hole to hide in, and fend for yourself."

"I can't stand this anymore!" Cu Chulainn charged forward with his spear. Misaya shouted, "Don't go, stupid dog, you're no match for her!"

But Cu Chulainn ignored Misaya. His eyes, burning with righteous fury, locked onto Demonic Bodhisattva. In that moment, he wasn't just a Servant – he was the Hero of Ulster, defender of the weak, champion of justice.

"Beast!" he roared. "Your time ends now! GAE... BOLG!"

The air trembled as Cu Chulainn unleashed his Noble Phantasm. He knew the odds, understood the vast gulf in power between them. But in his heart, in his very soul, he knew he had to take this chance.

As he thrust forward, memories of countless battles in the Land of Shadows flashed through his mind. Master, he prayed silently, thinking of Scáthach, lend me your strength. Grant me this killing blow!