IBHJ CHapter 813

Morrigan looked into the distance, her eyes filled with regret and acceptance as her mind drifted to memories of the past. "Sorry, Shirou. I don't have the courage to face you right now, so I can't stand by your side. The only way I can help is from a distance. Maybe you've already recognized me, or maybe you haven't. But it doesn't matter. The Dead Apostle named Morgan le Fay was killed by the Council thirteen years ago. The one standing here now is just a fairy named Morrigan."

"What are you smiling about this time? Don't even think about borrowing money from me," Hinako said, narrowing her eyes. She knew Morrigan's tendencies all too well and wasn't about to fall for any of her schemes.

"No, it's nothing," Morrigan replied, still smiling.

Suddenly, her expression turned grave, her face tightening, and the air around her seemed to shift. Her eyes widened and her body tensed.

"What's wrong?" Hinako asked, a hint of concern in her voice. She had never seen her like this before.

"This... this aura..." The smile vanished from Morrigan's face, replaced by a solemn and serious look. She turned to Hinako and said, "Hinako, I'm leaving this place in your hands."

Hinako was taken aback for a moment, but then nodded, "Leave it to me."

As Morrigan turned to leave, Gao Changgong couldn't help but worry, his brow furrowed beneath his mask as he spoke, "Hinako-sama, Morrigan-dono, she..."

"Don't worry about her," Hinako said, turning around and lowering her voice, "And don't make the mistake of thinking she's a bad person. Even though only her fairy side remains, she's still that witch. The one who survived from the Age of Gods and mastered the world's oldest Magecraft - the strongest witch of all!"

Hearing this, Gao Changgong was surprised, but then a smile appeared on his face beneath the mask, "You've changed quite a bit yourself, Hinako-sama."

Hinako neither confirmed nor denied his words.

"Hmm—!?" Not far from them, someone else also sensed that something was wrong. Mordred, who was beside Mash, suddenly tensed up as her instincts screamed at her that danger was near. She stood and gazed into the distance, her expression flickering between killing intent and worry.

"What's wrong?" Mash asked.

Mordred's jaw tightened, the muscles in her face twitching as she ground her teeth together. She whirled around, her eyes scanning the area until they settled on Little Mo. With a quick gesture, she beckoned the other Servant over.

Little Mo raised an eyebrow, "What? If you're trying to prank me, at least pick the right time and place."

"I need your help with something."

A laugh escaped Little Mo's lips. "You, needing my help? That's a first."

Mordred's hand shot out, gripping Little Mo's arm. Her fingers dug into her skin. "I'm serious, help me out here!"

Little Mo was taken aback for a moment. Mordred's gaze was genuine, lacking her usual playful nature. She couldn't help but match Mordred's serious tone and asked, "What is it?"

"I need you to protect my Master. Also, have all the Servants here go into spirit form and keep their distance from their masters! It's best if all the masters are ready to use a Command Spell to control their own Servants in case of an emergency!"

Little Mo recoiled, her mouth falling open in shock. She stared at Mordred, her eyes searching her face for any hint of a joke or prank. Finding none, she shook his head in disbelief. "What are you talking about? Having the Servants go into spirit form and stay away from their masters? And the masters using Command Spells to control their own Servants? Do you even realize what you're saying? There are enemies about to rush out from the connection point as we speak!"

Mordred's gaze never wavered, her eyes boring into Little Mo's with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine. "If you don't do this, we might all—die!"

Everyone was stunned by Mordred's words, unable to process what they had just heard.

Mash's brow furrowed, her eyes searching Mordred's face for any hint of what had caused such a drastic change in her demeanor. She stepped closer, "Mordred, what exactly did you sense?"

Mordred's gaze darted away, her lips pressing together in a thin line. She shook her head, as if trying to dislodge an unwanted thought. "Maybe it's just my imagination..." she muttered, her voice trailing off. Then, her eyes snapped back to Mash. "No, I hope it's just my imagination. If that woman is still alive—"

She whirled around, giving Little Mo a heavy glare. "Little Mo, just do as I say!"

Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heel and kicked off the ground, her body a blur as she rushed towards the distant iceberg. The wind whipped through her hair, the cold biting at her skin, but she paid it no heed. Her focus was solely on her destination, on the aura that had sent such a chill down her spine.

Halfway to the iceberg, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the Grail. The ancient artifact glinted in the pale light, its surface covered in bizarre markings. Her fingers tightened around it, her knuckles turning white.

"Please, let it be my imagination!" she whispered and, with a deep breath, she activated the Grail, the artifact flaring to life in her hand.

Instantly, her body was engulfed in a blinding light, the Grail's power surging through her veins. Strange, bizarre runes spread from the artifact, covering her entire body. With a whoosh, she passed through the obstructing iceberg as if it were nothing more than a mirage and emerged on the other side, her feet landing on the frozen ground, not far from the area where she had sensed the aura.

In that icy, snowy land, two figures caught her eye. One was a woman who looked exactly like Kiara Sessyoin, only more seductive. The other was a mysterious person wrapped in a black cloak, with faint black mist spilling out from the sleeves and collar, forming a misty head similar to a real one.

There was no doubt about it—the woman who looked like Kiara Sessyoin was Demonic Bodhisattva that she had fought in Romania.

Demonic Bodhisattva was a formidable enemy, but Mordred's gaze was fixed on the mysterious figure beside her.

"That bastard!" Mordred snarled, her face contorted with rage. She drew her sword, and a beam of crimson, heavy with hatred and vengeance, slashed down towards the mysterious person!

Demonic Bodhisattva's lips curled into a smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh my, an attack? How exciting!" she purred, even as the mysterious person dodged out of the way with supernatural speed. Black mist swirled around him as he shifted his steps like a ghost, landing not far from Demonic Bodhisattva.

The crimson slash struck the ground a split second later, the impact shattering rocks and sending them flying through the air. The earth cracked open, a long crevice carved into it by the strike.

Mordred landed, one hand gripping her sword, the other clutching the Grail. She gritted her teeth, glaring fiercely at the area clouded with snow dust.

"Well, well, if it isn't the little one from Romania," Demonic Bodhisattva said with a smile. But Mordred ignored her, eyes locked on the black mist person.

As the dust settled, the figure spoke, his voice distorted by the swirling mist. "As expected, it's you, Mordred."

Mordred's glare intensified, her face twisting with anger. "I never thought you'd still be alive..."

The black mist person scoffed. "Don't be like that. The power you're using now is just borrowed strength, no different from your foolish father. Making the Grail your source of power is like talking nonsense in your sleep. You really haven't changed at all."

"Sure, I agree that Eternal King is foolish, but..." Mordred sneered, "Since getting this Grail and assimilating with it, I've started to see everything clearly!" An angry red crimson slash shot out from her sword, striking at the black mist person's weak point. But the mist surged, forming an even more terrifying shape that blocked the attack with ease.

A voice could be heard from within, tinged with annoyance and dark amusement. "You're as annoying as ever, just like your father. When the time is right, I'll take back the Grail."

The figure paused, as if considering his options. "Still, right now you're really getting on my nerves. Too bad I can't retrieve the Grail from your Saint Graph in the Throne of Heroes..."

Suddenly, his tone shifted, a hint of realization creeping in. "Wait, hmm, maybe if I catch you, I can get it back...?"