Chapter 545: Who

She took a deep breath, about to ask something else—

Suddenly, the Giant Fox in the sky let out a low roar.

The sound wasn't Rage, but more like… pain.

Bai Hang looked up and saw the Flame on the azure Giant Fox suddenly surge violently.

The dominant violet‑black light began to flicker, waxing and waning, as if something inside it were struggling.

Those violet‑black Flames— the power of Berserker— were weakening.

Bai Hang's pupils contracted slightly.

"It… what's wrong with it?"

Jing Yuan did not answer immediately.

After a few seconds, his voice came again, tinged with contemplation:

"…Interesting."

"What's interesting?"

"The Giant Fox is devouring Berserker."

Jing Yuan said, "But it seems Berserker isn't that easy to digest."

Bai Hang stared at the sky with wide eyes.

The Flame on the Giant Fox grew increasingly unstable, the azure and violet‑black intertwining as if two minds were fighting for control.

Its movements began to lag, and Divine Lord seized the chance, thrusting a spear into its shoulder blade, detonating a burst of golden lightning!

The Giant Fox let out a roar, its body swaying in the air.

Bai Hang's heartbeat missed a beat.

(This is… about to win?)

But the next second, the Giant Fox snapped its head, and its hollow eyes erupted with an even more intense blaze.

It opened its mouth, and another interwoven azure‑violet‑black column of Flame spewed out, repelling Divine Lord!

Both sides fell back into a stalemate.

Bai Hang exhaled, then suddenly became aware of a problem.

She lowered her head to look at the ground.

Jing Yuan still stood there, arms crossed, a smile on his face.

Huo Huo also remained there, arms crossed, expressionless.

But Bai Hang noticed—

Huo Huo's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Very light, very subtle.

But she saw it.

Bai Hang tightened her grip on the bow.

(This battle… who is actually pretending?)

Perspective shift.

Ilya crouched behind a massive ginkgo tree, poking out half her head, watching the distant sky's movements, feeling completely unsettled.

Her red eyes widened, silver‑white hair pressed to her forehead from tension, her breathing a little labored.

She stared fixedly at the two colossal beings battling in the sky, feeling her worldview being repeatedly hammered.

"Zhigengniao Jiejie…"

Her voice was pressed low, trembling yet unable to hide, "Um… what is that?"

Robin stood beside her, lake‑green eyes also fixed on the sky, eyebrows slightly furrowed.

The azure Giant Fox and golden Divine Lord collided again, shockwaves exploding at kilometer‑high altitude, scattering the clouds.

Even at that distance, the aftershock still made the surrounding trees shiver.

"I don't know."

Robin's voice remained gentle, yet with a hint of gravity, "But a Servant… shouldn't possess such power."

Ilya swallowed.

She entered the Holy Grail War, thinking she would face other Masters and their Servants, like that purple‑haired bad woman from yesterday.

She practiced flight, practiced magical projectiles, preparing for a head‑on fight with the enemy.

But that thing up there…

Can that thing be called a Servant?

That's clearly a monster! The kind that only appears in Ultraman!

"Is this really a Holy Grail War?"

Ilya murmured to herself, "Why do I feel… like I'm filming some tokusatsu?"

Robin was silent for a second, then lightly patted her shoulder.

"Don't be afraid."

Ilya inhaled deeply, striving to steady herself.

She is the main attacker, Zhigengniao Jiejie is support; she cannot panic.

Right, cannot panic.

Just then—

"Woo... Wuwa..."

A faint wail came from not far away.

Ilya froze for a moment, then looked toward the sound.

About twenty meters away, a little girl was crouched on the ground, trembling all over.

The girl looked only six or seven, pink shoulder‑length hair messily scattered on her face, a pair of blue eyes filled with tears, and tear drops sliding off her lashes one by one.

She wore a light‑pink dress, its hem stained with dirt and grass, and a few red scratches marked her calves.

She shivered, curled into a ball, and let out a whimper like a small animal.

Ilya's pupils contracted slightly.

"Someone!"

She instinctively tried to rush out, but Robin grabbed her.

"Wait."

Robin scanned the surroundings warily.

In a place like this, at this time, a little girl appearing out of nowhere…

…but the girl's crying was too genuine.

That fear, that helplessness, that trembling posture couldn't be faked.

Moreover—

Ilya had already broken free of her grip.

"Can't worry about all that!"

She charged out.

Robin could only follow.

—

Ilya ran to the little girl's side and crouched down.

"Hey, are you okay? Why are you alone here?"

The little girl lifted her head, her blue eyes brimming with tears, looking at her pitifully.

"Sister… I… I can't find Mom…"

Her voice was soft and syrupy, tinged with sobs, and Ilya felt her heart melt.

Then she asked gently, "Where's your home? How did you end up here alone?"

The little girl shook her head, and more tears fell.

"I don't remember… I only recall… it's so scary… there was a huge sound over there…"

She pointed at the two massive beings still fighting in the distant sky, her small body trembling.

Ilya clenched her teeth.

In a place like this, at a time like this, a little girl appearing alone here—

…is far too dangerous!

She looked up at the sky and saw a huge stone, dislodged by the battle, hurtling toward this direction!

The stone was over a person's height, roaring with wind, drawing ever nearer!

"Watch out—!"

Ilya didn't have time to think, grasped the ruby, and pink light instantly enveloped her body!

Magical Girl transformation!

She leapt into the air, charging toward the massive stone!

"Ruby!"

"Got it! Maximum mana blast—!"

Several light bolts shot from the tip of her staff, striking the stone with precision!

"Boom—boom—boom—!"

The stone exploded in midair, shattering into countless fragments that scattered.

Ilya hovered mid‑air, panting, watching the fragments fall to the ground, finally sighing in relief.

(That was close…)

She turned her head back—

Robin had already arrived, crouching in front of the little girl, scrutinizing the child.

"It's alright, little miss."

Robin extended a hand, gently wiping the tears from the girl's face, "You—"

The little girl lowered her head, saying nothing.

Robin's gaze fell on the side of her ear—

That ear—pointed.

It wasn't the rounded human ear, but an elf‑like ear.

Robin was momentarily stunned.

"What… race is this?"

"Your ears…" Robin asked softly.