Biggest thanks for Ace-Triad for fixing my SPAG problems, and Angel Wraith for beta-reading the chapter and providing feed backs.

As always, I will blabber some more in my end note.

The sudden development Mein finds herself in is so strangely ridiculous it would sound like a badly written joke. The (former) battle saint of the Four Heroes' Church is trying to kill the Shield Hero, while the leader of a group of Three Heroes' Church knight templars is trying to protect the Shield Hero.

Of course, when one remembers who they are, their respective stances make much more sense. Roger of Ajax was nothing more than an arrogant, common thug who was simply promoted into his position for his fighting ability, and his achievement back during The Great War. Needless to say, his personal morality does not fit the virtue suggested by his title. Jaune on the other hand was born into House Arc, and brought up by Archduke Wales. Someone who exemplified a traditional, noble knight. It really shouldn't take a genius to figure out who would do the right thing and who wouldn't.

"You and your redhead bitch want a piece of me too? You blonde pussy boy? Fine! Come and get some!" The scar covered giant jumps back up to his feet. He spits on the ground, and waves his drum like fists at Jaune and Pyrrha, who was riding besides him. She's also the one who tossed the spear at Roger. The giant thug leans his body slightly back, looking like he's about to charge forward like a wild boar before a hand suddenly touches his wrist. Consevatie's hand. Roger of Ajax turns his head down and glares at his fellow sycophant. "WHAT! You-"

"Why fight them when they should be our allies in the first place?" Consevatie The Younger opens his mouth before the battle saint of Romalia the Four Heroes' Church and a chance to spout out whatever profanity filled tantrum he was about to get to. The insane incarnate walks forward and smirks at Jaune and his men. At least, that's what Mein assumes he is doing. She almost feels like he's leering at Pyrrha's body from where he's standing. But surely, not even he is that dump? "Jaune, my good... friend. I see you are right on time to bring the reinforcements and cut off the Shield Demon's escape path. Whatever personal grievances you have with our esteemed Blessed Battlemaster of Romalia can wait till we take the Shield Demon into custody? Or do you prefer to finish him off right here?"

"What?! What are you even talking about, Sieg?" Jaune's eyes grow large as a bell, his body fidgets uncomfortably on top of his steed. Mein wasn't sure what he was doing while Cromwell took control. Most likely not rotting in a prison cell thanks to who his father was. But regardless, the scion of Archduke Wales clearly didn't know the full insanity of what his faith did under the head confessor's leadership. "I'm not here to harm Master Shield Hero, and neither should you, Sieg! I know our faith hasn't exactly done our best for the people of our nation under Confessor Cromwell. But that's why His Eminence Pope Balmus relieved Cromwell of his command! We are here to retrieve the Shield Hero and make sure he's not harmed, so we can rectify Cromwell's mistakes!"

Chapter 122: Breaking Point

The princess can feel her eyebrows twitch. She might already be rolling her eyes if her situation isn't so dire. Consevatie The Younger on the other hand has no such concern, as he returns Jaune's incredulousness with a sneer. "Are you really that dumb, Jaune? Do you think that self-serving old fart Cromwell would have the guts to do what he did if he wasn't explicitly ordered by your precious Pope? No, that old ass confessor was nothing more than a scapegoat for Balmus. Someone who he threw away as a sacrifice so he can look good in front of any idiots who would believe him. Idiots... such as you! No. Let me spell it out for you, Jaune. Your precious Pope Balmus does NOT want to protect the Shield Loser. He might want to hold this pathetic fool as a hostage for leverage, and that's all the 'protection' Balmus would give. So you better get on with the program, and help us catch the little worm before he makes his escape once again."

"No... NO! That can't be true! Pope Balmus only wanted what's good for our people. He wouldn't have put himself in danger and saved Father's life back in The Great War if he's a self-serving, greedy traitor like Cromwell! And that means he needs to make sure the Shield Hero is safe!" The only son of Archduke Wales weaves on his steed. "If one of the heroes are harmed, the Wave of Catastrophe would quickly grow out of control until they are unstoppable. You should know this, Sieg! Why do you think Pope Balmus would do something that'll put everyone, including himself, in danger?"

"You must be really thick in the skull to not understand this. I wonder why any woman would follow a clueless fool like you. Then again... if she wants a real man who'll treat her like a common bitch she is, I'm happy to oblige." The insane incarnate throws a sideways leer at Pyrrha, making the princess realize that yes, he really was that dumb. "Why, Jaune. My friend. The answer is very simple. You see, Balmus never was such a good, selfless person you believed him to be to begin with. He's nothing more than a greedy, self-serving idiot like Cromwell. The only reason he saved your father back in The Great War was because he wanted to get in bed with a social elite like your father. And he was never in any danger to begin with! Now that he got even older, of course he isn't going to care about anyone else other than his own gain! And you know something? I don't even blame him, other than him being a brainless idiot. Because in this world, only those who are strong, those who can take what they want and don't let anyone else push them around get to have everything. Power, riches, and women. And those are too weak? Well... they'll get nothing."

"No. That shouldn't be how the world works, Sieg! That's the rhetoric of those worst Siltvelt invaders spouts! Is this what your father, Lord Grima told you?!" Jaune's eyes grow narrower this time. It seems like even someone naive like him has his limit at what kind of scum and villainy he is willing to tolerate. "The world shouldn't be all about the strong eating the weak like animals. Those in power need to take care of those less fortunate. Because those like us, born in privilege, have the good, honest common folks to thank for everything. And we have to in term take care of them. Or else where is the sense of right and wrong? Might have to be used for the right reason, or else it's nothing more than pointless violence."

"Sense of right and wrong? Might for the right reason? Man, I always knew you were stupid, but you are dumber than I thought." Consevatie The Younger spat near his feet like Roger of Ajax would. He leans his body back. He slowly raises both of his arms up, almost like he's trying to hold up the physical manifestation of his own argument. "You honestly believe in this bullshit? Let me give you another lesson, my friend. What you just said are nothing more than lies invented by the strong to lead the weak. Because the weak will alway blindly follow the strong, hoping to benefit off whatever scrap the strong leaked between their fingers. Because at the end of the day, all of us. Every human. We want to win more than anything else. As long as you are strong and you beat down all your enemies, those too weak to stand up for themselves will invent the reasons to justify the actions of the strong!"

"No. You are wrong, Sieg. I know you are smarter than me. But you are wrong on this." Jaune kicks his raptor a few steps forward. He pulls out his sword, and points it towards Consevatie The Younger. "The world shouldn't only be about the strong eating the weak like we are nothing more than wild animals. Our nation stood for thousands of years not because of our power, but because of our spirit. The honor to do the right thing, not to always take the easy way out. If everyone only cared about blindly following the strong, we wouldn't have taken our nation back from the Siltvelt occupation when they took over most of the nation! I don't know what has gotten into you, but I will not let you make a mistake that'll bring the end not only to our nation, but the whole world as well. Siegmar Issac Octavius Consevatie. You are ordered to stand down till Lord Commander Fordring, and Pope Balmus arrives with the rest of our forces. If not, I will be forced to take you into custody together with the former battle saint Roger of Ajax!"

"Oh. That's cute, Jaune. Who do you think you are? Ordering my arrest? While you were busy hiding in your own room, it was I who captured the shield loser outside of the capital. This little rebellion caused by the shield loser would not even start if the guards at the dungeon did their job and kept this pathetic worm where he belonged! With the death row low lives. Do you know how many of our men he killed before he was captured, and how many more after he got away?" Consevatie turns a circle on his heels as he sneers at the riders behind Jaune. A low rumbling of murmurs come from the elite knights of the Three Heroes' Church. Clearly, the insane incarnate's rhetoric does have an effect on a religion that has gone crazy. "How many of them would follow you against me, and Roger of Ajax. Pointlessly dying just to appease a murderer who has no problem killing our fellow countrymen?"

"Is it true, Master Shield Hero?" Jaune turns his attention from Consevatie to Naofumi. "Have you been killing our brothers and sisters? I realized you have to defend yourself, but..."

"Why didn't you ask your brothers and sisters what they did first?! Do you have no idea they are enslaving the good, honest common folks. Forcing them to fight using those slave seals, and executing anyone who doesn't listen to them!" Naofumi whips his head from looking at Consevatie to Jaune, his face twisted in anger. Jaune actually flinches back at his wrath. "Yeah. A lot of people died because of my actions. But I'm the Shield Hero who barely has any attack power. Heck. I don't even have my SHIELD! Do you think I enjoy risking the lives of my companion, and those who help me because I liked to see people get killed for no good reasons?! NO! It's because I see how the people of this country are suffering under assholes like this piece of shit more than I am! And I want to help give them a fighting chance!"

Mein would have advised Naofumi to not be so blunt and aggressive towards the only person among the church people who is actually trying to help him. But she doubts it would have mattered in the end. The conflict between him (and herself) and the church - the Three Heroes' Church especially, had long escalated where rational mind, good will, and words could resolve. The fact that Jaune (and Pope Balmus, if Jaune is to be believed. Which she doesn't) is even trying to resolve it without violence is commendable, but ultimately pointless. Right now, she only hopes Jaune's stubborness born from both an Arc, and someone of Albion descent can buy them some more time till the other heroes arrive with reinforcements.

"There you have it, Jaune. The Shield Demon has admitted his own guilt. What will you do now? Continue defending a killer who slaughters your sworn brothers and sisters? Whose only fault was following the command of their superior? Go ahead, let's see how many of the men you brought would stand with you for a murderer. Maybe even your own redhead bitch would give you up for someone with a better sense." Consevatie smirks, while casting another sideways glance towards Pyrrha who looks thoroughly disgusted at his behavior.

"How dare you treat Jaune like this, you arrogant daddy's boy- Jaune?" The redheaded former gladiatrix looks ready to jump off her own raptor and skewer the reincarnated madman. But she is stopped by Jaune as he holds his arm up in front of her. "You aren't agreeing with this bastard, are you?"

"I don't agree with him on principle, Pyrrha. But I can't deny Master Shield Hero has caused a lot of casualties among my brothers and sisters." The princess feels like shaking her head. She thought Jaune better than this, not someone who easily folds against a bullying, arrogant fool. Then again, now even his own men are starting to cause some pretty loud noises. Likely on the edge of a small mutiny due to what Consevatie said, and unfortunately helped by Naofumi's own words. Which is why she is surprised when Jaune suddenly dismounts his own ride and walks in front of their group while holding his own hands up. "But out of all of you, I like to think I'm someone who knows Master Shield Hero better. Myself and Pyrrha. For we fought together with Master Shield Hero side by side to clear out the old Seaetto castle, and the catacomb that had turned into an undead nest. And I guarantee all of you. Master Shield Hero isn't someone who pointlessly causes death like some deranged killer. I say we wait till Lord Commander Fordring, and Pope Balmus arrives when we can get a fair verdict from His Eminence."

"Oh. That's extra cute, Jaune. Can't make up your mind. And you have to wait till dear old daddy brings in the calvary?" Consevatie The Younger cast Jaune another sneer. The irony of this useless fool who only got where he did thanks to his daddy's influence and money calling someone else a daddy's boy wasn't lost on Mein. "And who will guarantee this crazy idiot doesn't do something else in the meantime and kill more of our sworn brothers and sisters? You?"

"I have already made my decisions, Brother Siegmar. And it's for the benefit of everyone in the world, including you." Mein can't see Jaune's face while his back is turned to her. But she can feel his defiant glare aimed at Consevatie from his words, and his tone. "The only reason I'm not trying to arrest you, or Roger of Ajax at this moment is because I have taken into account your accusation levied at Master Shield Hero. Something only those higher in our faith is in any position to pass judgment."

Jaune's faith in the Shield Hero is definitely something to be admired. But it's a sentiment not shared by the insane and self-serving reincarnate. Consevatie The Younger simply narrows his eyes as he turns his nose up at Jaune. "Then you will die as you live. An idiot! And you will be remembered as nothing more than a fool who died to shield your own enemy."

Jaune might have tried to rebuke Consevatie's tantrum some more. Or maybe his former gladiatrix girl would have done it for him. But whatever might happen, it is suddenly stopped by a single voice. Despite it coming from a child and being a single word, its ear piercing screech managed to tell everyone the vindictiveness behind the voice's master. "YOU!"

A blurring shadow suddenly passes through them before Mein had any chance to even process what's happening. It charged into Jaune's back, knocking him away with a loud metal clunk, and a sickly wet crunch sound as it barrels into Consevatie. The arrogant reincarnate barely had any time to throw himself behind Roger of Ajax's massive body as Firo glided through where he was standing a moment ago. The completely berserk bird child skids to a stop on the ground, cutting a trench on the grass and dirt and spins around. Chasing after Consevatie again and launching a series of kicks at Roger of Ajax standing in front of him (or more specifically, Consevatie keeps running around to make sure the criminal battle saint stays between him and Firo).

But the attention of the princess is somewhere else. Mainly, the crumbled form of Jaune lying on the ground. His head bent in a way no human neck, no matter how high a level should allow them to bend. Her own body grows cold as a thought rings in her head. Firo just killed Jaune. She always knew Firo was a big problem, considering Naofumi's lack of proper discipline on her, her own petulant personality which always manifested in a physical tantrum, and her growing power which makes her a walking danger to anyone around her. But Mein never thought Firo would end up killing a scion of a powerful noble house considering they usually have guards around them to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen.

"JAUNE!" A desperate, wailing scream brings Mein out of her stupor. She turns around, and sees the other redhead throwing herself off her own steed and running over to the side of the only son (who is now most definitely dead) of Archduke Wales. She cradles his now lifeless body in her arms. Mein only has a moment to throw a glance at Naofumi, seeing his own stupefied face when she hears Pyrrha's hate filled voice. "Knight Templars, kill Shield Demon and his monsters! Avenge Jaune!"

Mein has no time for hesitation, as she hears the tell tell sign of metals clanking together and shuffling feet of the raptors. The knight templars brought with him were now getting ready for a cavalry charge, and she only has mere moment to stop it before they arrange themselves into an attack formation that'll crush everyone, maybe save for Naofumi... if he still had his shield. Her own horror at the death of the boy she had a courtship shoved into the depth of her mind for now, she raises her wand at the riders. They are arranging themselves into rows that resemble an arrowhead even as she charges up multiple glowing spheres of condensed plasma around her. Just as the cavalry are trotting to build up their charge, she releases the spell she's been charging up. "[Fiendfyre]!"

The Three Heroes' Church calvaries quickly change their battle formation as Mein releases her spell. The middle column begins to rapidly slow down, while the two wings begin picking up speed. As the white hot firebolts she released soared in front of the templars, their formation took the shape of a shallow bowl, or a plate as the edge of their two wings hung slightly in the front, and the row gradually shifted behind the closer they were to the center. As her spell finds its target, a pale, ethereal looking cloud suddenly shimmers around them, looking like the opening of a cave while the sound of a tiger's roar can be heard.

The riders in the center of their formation, the ones she actually hit with her spell, look completely impervious to any damage, while the riders and their steed on the outer edges all let out pained groans or screams. Scorched mark appears over the knights' armor, and the scale of their raptor steeds as they reels back. One templar even fell off his ride. Their positions are quickly taken over by the row behind them to maintain the formation.

What the elite knight templars displayed in the split second is the reason why armies are still needed to guard a nation's interest despite the existence of demi-god like powerful warriors and mages who had reached prestige (41-100), or epic (100+) level range. And why dispute and conflict between different nations are still ultimately resolved from open warfare rather than holding a tournament or duels between the most powerful champions of their respective nations. There is still strength to be found among numbers. Not common peasant levies who can't even hold a sword properly, but well trained, professional soldiers. Individually, they may lack behind in strength given through high levels like the powerful, but well trained champions and heroes who had their class-up promotion. But a well trained army can combine their strength in a way that'll simply wash over a single champion (or even a well trained and empowered hero, if they aren't careful) through their drills and discipline.

For mages, this comes in the way of ritual spells. Multiple magic users gathered together and combined their spellcraft to conjure up powerful, even forbidden devastation that even an epic level range spellcaster with powerful bloodline is hard pressed to wave on their own. And for the warriors, this comes in the form of battle formations. A specific way to arrange themselves that forms a flow of their shared life force which grants them powerful enhancement. The one used by the knight templars brought by Jaune is a fairly famous defensive battle formation called [Tiger Nest]. The pure defensive bonus it grants to the user is nowhere near the most powerful defensive formation [Cloud Dragon], or even the most basic [Fish Scale] defense. But its special ability makes it the most potent defense for an army against powerful enemy mages. In addition to enhanced magical defense, it deflected any spell launched at its user to the two edges of the formation, protecting the center by sacrificing the two wings.

Of course, the benefit of [Tiger Nest] formation also comes with severe drawbacks. The first is the massive speed reduction. It doesn't require the army using it to literally grind to a complete stop like the purely defensive [Square Fortress] formation, but it forces everyone using them to move like they are taking a leisure stroll in a garden. Which is why Mein used her strongest spell to force the knight templars into [Tiger Nest] to kill whatever momentum they were trying to build up for a cavalry charge. And the second major weakness... is it's special ability only works against a spell launched directly at their front.

The princess changes her mana flowing through her left side into water and points the index and middle finger on her left hand upwards. Fire and water mix together, as a giant column of steam the size of a monument erupts under the feet of the templars in the middle of the knight templar formation, sending both men and raptors flying all over. Their bodies become weapons against their own compatriots by Mein's [Rising Heat] spell, knocking them over and completely disrupting the battle formation they arranged in the moment. The princess quickly barks out a command to their helper the Spear Hero left them. "Freeze them, Akitsu!"

The filorial is quick to please, as another giant wall of ice suddenly formed all around the reeling knight templars. Possibly aided by the mist her [Rising Heat] spell created. With the templars brought by Jaune (who is now very much dead, she was dreaded to remember) taken care of at least for the moment, Mein quickly turns her head around to see what's happening on the other side of the fight Firo suddenly brings out.

"OW! OUCH! OWIE! BAD RED WOMAN HURT FIRO! FIRO KICKS YOU!" The devil bird isn't doing well, as she's being struck by both a completely berserk Pyrrha, and ironically the much more rational looking Roger of Ajax. Mein can't help but notice how Firo is at least taking all the hits much better than she previously fought against the battle saint. Outside of the capital, one good stomp from Roger of Ajax was enough to have her sprawled helplessly on the floor. Now, she's taking multiple solid hits from him, and Pyrrha but only acts like she's getting whipped in a discipline session. Unless the giant brute is now pulling punches against Firo (which Mein doubts), the bird has definitely gotten much stronger since a week ago. Or maybe it's that special crest feather Fitoria, the current avatar of Alaya, passed down.

"Don't waste your time with the small fry, you big dumb dumb! Didn't you see Slut-chan just froze the templars?!" Consevatie's voice suddenly cut through the battle. Mein turns around, and to her incredulousness, finds him hiding among the men he brought. His head poking out behind the shoulder of sister Amelia. "Get the shield loser first!"

"BAH! I don't take orders from you! You useless daddy's girl." Roger of Ajax spats right back at the insane reincarnate. But he pulls out of the fight against Firo, and charges at Naofumi anyway. Mein and Akitsu both raise their hands at the charging brute, but they are forced to defend themselves with their spells when Sister Amelia launches dozens upon dozens of arrows at them. Apparently, the bespectacled witch didn't hit Mein by luck and surprise alone. [Random Arrow] is one of the more basic bow weapon arts, but from the amount of arrow an user releases and their accuracy one can easily gauge the skill of an archer. Sister Amelia is at least an expert, if not a master archer.

"[FORCE]!" Naofumi pushes a concussive blast towards Sister Amelia, trying to interrupt her attack. A white barrier shimmers into existence in front of the four eyed witch, blocking his attack. Unfortunately for him, there are also miracle users among Consevatie's man. And due to his lack of ATK rating to cause any damage, he can't break through their defense no matter how much he tries. And there's not much chance left for trying either, as Roger of Ajax had already covered the distance between them and swung his fist at Naofumi's head. The Shield Hero, now forced to defend his own life, stops his attempt at throwing pointless concussive blasts at Sister Amelia and brings up his golden miracle shield. The battle saint swings his fist at Naofumi, and the Shield Hero brings his arm up into a guard at the last moment. With a loud bang, both of them wobble a step back. Sir Oersted charges out to Roger of Ajax from the said and swings his sword, he leaves a wound on the giant's leg as the brute curses. A small furry creature falls on his face, and starts scratching and biting his face again. Mein didn't have to look at Raphtalia's whole transformation sequence to know it's her.

The princess didn't witness Naofumi's full clash with Roger of Ajax back in the village of Balafon as she had more pressing matters taking her attention. But she remembers how the battle saint had the Shield Hero on his knees pretty quickly. Now, it looks like they are more evenly matched, at least in their first clash. Mein hopes it's a sign that whatever gift Fitoria, and Metatron imparted to them were enough to tip the scale enough in their favor to survive till the other heroes arrive.

With the condemned battle master taken care of at the moment, Mein turns her head towards Sister Amelia... and Consevatie again. The insane incarnate still looks content to let Roger of Ajax do most of the work, while he hides behind his men and Sister Amelia despite his arrogant display. It seems like he is someone who still values his safety despite all his smug bluster. Akitsu's ice wall is holding well against Sister Amelia's assault, so Mein decided to go on the offense. Unlike the Shield Hero, she prefers to go on the offense than defense.

Taking over the [Hydro Sphere] spell she constructed in front of her a moment ago, the princess sent it soaring out behind Akitsu's iceberg towards Amelia. A giant blob of water flying towards someone with the speed of a bolt fired out of a crossbow must be an intimidating sight, as Amelia lets out a scream, stops her own attack and leaps to the side to avoid getting hit. Unluckily for Consevatie The Younger, he apparently didn't have a clear line of sight hiding behind his female sycophant. There's clearly not enough time for him to react when his human shield is suddenly gone. So the ball of water completely entraps him, and takes him flying back into a tree. That should take care of him for a while.

"AH~! OUCH! Why can't Firo kick you!?" The frustrated screech of Firo catches Mein's attention once more. The princess casts her eyes over, and sees the devil bird is throwing multiple quick kicks at Pyrrha. Yet, her metal claw wearing feet always seemed to slide right off the body of the ex-gladiatrix at the last moment.

Recalling their brief fight against Zellus under Eclair's family catacomb, Mein understood why Firo's attack ended up missing like water sliding the back of a duck. "Take off your damn claws, you stupid bird! Your opponent is using her lightning magic to repel metals!"

"NO! Firo doesn't listen to bad wo- OW!" Frustratingly, but perhaps predictably, Firo refused to listen to Mein's advice simply because of who is talking to her. It results in her getting hit by Pyrrha a few more times due to her too busy screeching back a reply to Mein than paying attention to the fight. If they aren't in such a life and death situation, Mein would have felt vindicated at such a result. She still does, but she's not feeling much satisfaction due to the danger she is in.

A small, black bundle suddenly gets tossed over the direction where Pyrrha and Firo are fighting. The princess focuses her attention on it for a brief moment, and realizes it's the animal form of Raphtalia. Roger of Ajax either successfully peeled her off his face, or she jumped over on her own. The raccoon girl changes into her adult form with a roll as she stands up. "You help Master Naofumi fight the big bully, Firo. I'll keep her busy!"

"FINE! Firo's done with the bad woman!" Firo turns around, leaving Pyrrha in the dust as she charges straight at Roger of Ajax. Raphtalia runs in the opposite direction, straight as the ex-gladiatrix champion. The princess feels her breath caught in her throat again. Pyrrha's attack might not have looked like much when Firo was taking them by the dozens, but Mein had seen what Pyrrha could do when they were fighting in the catacomb. When she was stationed at the size of their group, the red haired spear user was able to stop the entire passage of undead by herself. And while there are many good things one can say about Raphtalia, 'durable' in the most traditional sense isn't one of them.

"Stop, Raphtalia! You'll get killed!' Mein's desperate warning is ignored by Raphtalia as she blocks Pyrrha's path. The gladiatrix turned templar had clearly let anger and hatred take over her thoughts as she swung her weapon with the intention of skewering right through Raphtalia's body. The Zeltoble colosseum champion clearly no longer cares that she's not fighting against the one who killed Jaune, or she had fought side to side with the ones who she is trying to kill.

Thankfully, Raphtalia didn't try to fight against Pyrrha directly. She focused on dodging her opponent's strikes, keeping the ex-gladiatrix busy rather than trying to genuinely defeat Pyrrha. Even turning into her raccoon form in between, and clinging onto Pyrrha's body to cause distractions. It seems the arena champion is finding out the hard way of what it feels like for an epic range fighter to swat a fly. As Raphtalia waves her head and body around her opponent's strikes, she seems to have dropped something on the ground... and Pyrrha's legs suddenly give away under her. Did Raphtalia still have some of Naofumi's failed hair potion left? Regardless, it would have been hilarious for a former Zeltoble colosseum champion to be brought low by slippery ground.

Raphtalia didn't waste any moment with the opening she created herself. She turns into her adult body and flips on top of Pyrrha's back. She wraps her arms tightly around the neck of the red haired templar. It's honestly rather surprising to see Raphtalia acting so wildly, almost animalistic as her face twists in what could only be fear driven determination. All the while as she tries to choke her opponent into unconsciousness, or even trying to break Pyrrha's neck.

Pyrrha's eyes begin to roll to the back of her head. Raphtalia's hold on her is definitely producing effect, despite a raccoon race not being known for their strength. But something is clearly wrong with Rapthalia as her body seems to freeze for a moment, before she lets go of Pyrrha's neck and falls onto the ground. The ex-gladiatrix shakes, while letting some rough coughs, but she's the one who has it easy as Raphtalia's body is spasming while the raccoon girl claws at her chest. It reminded Mein of a scene she nearly forgot. The time when she first went to the slum trader Beloukas' warehouse, and the diminished fixer showed them the effect a slave seal had on Farkas...

Mein whips her head around, expecting to find someone else, maybe Sister Amelia who was also given command over Raphtalia's slave seal. To her surprise, she sees Consevatie The Younger, standing with his head held back, almost like he wasn't just slammed into a tree by a [HydroSphere] spell. "I didn't want to do this, Raphtalia. But only I get to decide if I want to kill Jaune's bitch or not!"

With little time to spare to save Raphtalia's life, Mein immediately pumps her magic. She can fear her heart growing heavy in the most literal sense, but she pumps her magic into another [Rising Heat] spell. White hot steam erupts under Consevatie's heat, cooking the man inside of his fancy armor as he lets out a scream that's sound equally painful and satisfying in Mein's ears. He is tossed into the sky for a brief moment, and then drops on the ground like a rock. Mein has little time to appreciate her own handiwork, or feels the sense of vindication as pain shoots from her chest to her arms, making her fall on the ground. She's not going to be able to cast another spell in her state without killing herself.

The princess turns her attention towards where Pyrrha and Raphtalia fall a mere moment ago. The ex-gladiatrix had managed to recover first. Using her spear and shield as support, she shakily got back to her knees, and then her feet. The red headed templar turns around, and stabs her weapon towards the ground where Raphtalia lies. For a brief moment, Mein was fearful that she had wasted her last spell for nothing. Thankfully, Raphtalia had recovered enough to roll away from Pyrrha's would-be killing strike. She is still in immense danger with Pyrrha's near berserk state, but at least she's still alive.

"Let go! Let go of Firo, you big meanie!" Firo's scream brings Mein's attention to the other side of the battlefield. The devil bird doesn't sound petulant for once, and the princess quickly realizes why. It seems that Roger of Ajax, despite his clearly substandard intelligence, had figured out that punching and kicking Firo isn't very effective. What he had done instead was grabbing Firo by her ankle, and waves around like a makeshift flail and uses her body to whip at Sir Oersted and Naofumi.

The young Gallian knight was able to jump away from the battle saint's relentless assault. The Shield Hero by comparison wasn't so lucky. Since his role was to soak up damage, none of his training had focused on his footwork geared towards avoiding hits, and only prepared him to steady himself and better brace for attack. With Firo's body being used as a weapon, Naofumi was clearly hesitant to put up a defense against Roger of Ajax. Resulting in him being whipped around in the face by Firo till he falls on his knees. Sir Oersted tried to step in and help him, but Roger of Ajax was able to hit him much easier this time without another target to distract the battle saint. The young knight falls face first into the ground, while Firo continues to make unrecognizable screeching sounds.

"Why! Why do you want to kill me?! Why do you want to kill everyone I cared about!" Naofumi pushes himself up from the ground. He wipes the corner of his mouth as he looks up at the towering brute. Mein can't see his face, but she imagines him glaring back at the battle saint defiantly.

"Why? WHY!? A pampered little shit like you dared to ask me why I hate you?!" Roger of Ajax glares down at Naofumi. "A soft pussy boy like you knew nothing about the brutality of war. Yet you stomp around, thinking you are the boss of everyone. Having everything handed to you on a silver platter and hogging all the glory just because you have one of them cheating magical weapons. While a veteran like myself who fought, and bleed in the mud of a war had to give all of our credits to you. And you dared to ask why I hate you? Well, I have something to tell you, pussy boy! I had just about enough of pampered little shits like you. And I'll put you in your rightful place: being crushed below my feet!"

The hulking brutes throw Firo away. She impacts the ground with the speed and force of a falling meteor. Roger of Ajax raises his right foot, and stomps down at Naofumi's head. The Shield Hero puts his arms up, trying to force the battle saint's feet away. He is slowly crushed into the ground while the towering thug laughs like an animal. And then, the battle saint's laughter turns into scream as he falls backwards. The foot he was using to crush Naofumi is caught on fire, but not the orange, red... or even the white one. A flame that's as dark as a starless night, which is spreading upwards to his leg from his feet.

As a fire user herself, Mein isn't a stranger to the idea of 'living flame'. Something the sorcerers from Siltvelt claim to possess, which supposedly gives fire a mind of its own beyond the malleability of even a [Fiendfyre] spell. Privately, the first princess of Melromarc believes it's nothing more than a tall tale made up by the Siltvelt sorcerers in an attempt to besmirch the name of Brimir's Wizardry school while elevating their own backwater magic tricks.

But whatever fire that had taken the right foot of Roger of Ajax clearly has a mind of its own. Even more, the same kind of flame is now wrapped around Naofumi's body like an aura. The golden light shield he had on his right arm he conjured up with Chief God's miracle had disappeared. Replaced by a shield that looks both solid, and in a form the princess hasn't seen before. Its black, jagged edges are reminiscent of the same dark fire that's now wrapped around Naofumi's body like a cloak.

The Shield Hero lets out a beastly roar, and charges forward at Roger of Ajax.

End Note:

IS YOUR EXPECTATION SUBVERTED YET~?

And that's how Jaune Arc got isekai'ed into Remnant where he became the main character of the story, ladies and gentlemen. Not by truck-kun, but by Firo-tan.

For those who might be completely surprised by Jaune's death (and more specifically how he was killed). I would like to say that in my defense I have long telegraphed this plot point. Malty, and other people constantly pointing out Firo's volatile actions aside, I had Malty literally warn Naofumi that Firo could snap Jaune's neck during the arc where they fought side by side in that undead infestation. And yeah... while what happened in this chapter is in a way, the culmination of Firo's out of control subplot through all the build up in the narrative... the metanarrative is actually the exactly opposite.

Back when I was writing the first draft of this story before it even got published, I had thought about having one of the three heroes church members who Firo kill in the final battle being Jaune. In that first hypothetical iteration, he wouldn't even have a single line of dialogue. He's just one of the faceless mobs whose neck get snapped by Firo, and one of the female templars (obviously Pyrrha) would scream his name. Everything else Jaune is connected to: his family, the world he (and his family) reside in, his past with Malty and Palmus saving his father during The Great War... all of this came after I wanted him being one of Firo's victim in the final battle... and then I decided to give him, and the world some more depth. Needless to say, all this extra lore and world building of Melromarc wouldn't have happened... or I might have came up with something else if I didn't decided to have Firo kill Jaune.

How's that for an ascended extra, huh?

And also... Wrath Shield. Yeah. That happened in the end.