Crazy Britain:They’re All Raising Me

[Skill: Dual Blade Frenzy · A]

[This unique swordsmanship hails from a distant, alternate realm. A young swordsman named Lancelot, captain of his kingdom's White Dragon Knights, would always overwhelm his foes with breathtaking speed, carving through all opposition with dazzling blades of ice.]

[When you perform a crossing slash with dual blades while shouting the special incantation "Ha! Seya!", your agility will verge on the conceptual. For a brief moment, your body will slip into the void, evading all worldly harm, and from there, you can launch an inescapable flurry of strikes.]

["Is that the only move you know?" — A certain noble lady who lost amidst endless cries of 'seya'.]

This was a newly acquired reward from Melusine's recent simulation—a skill she was quite pleased with. Not only did it suit her dual-wielding fighting style, but the high-speed assault paired with evasive maneuvering meshed perfectly with her battle philosophy.

Moreover, the skill's origins came from another "Lancelot," captain of the White Dragon Knights—just like her. It felt tailor-made.

The only reason she hadn't used it sooner was due to her pride as a dragonkind. Born strong, she disdained relying on powers not her own. But now, in order to protect Uther, she could no longer afford such restraint.

Turning back, she saw Guinevere staggering to his feet. Without hesitation, she lunged in to finish the job.

Both Artoria and Bavanzi reacted immediately, charging in to shield Guinevere. But with two crisp "seya!" cries, Melusine slipped through them like smoke, not even sparing them a glance, heading straight for her true target.

Sure, Bavanzi had sparked the whole conflict—but after so many simulations, Melusine knew she wasn't worth worrying about. Aside from a single-target kill curse, she was basically useless. Even with a century, she wouldn't be a threat. Guinevere, on the other hand, was another matter entirely.

If she could take him down first, the rest of the group would be easy. Artoria and Bavanzi might fight back, but they'd just be throwing themselves into the fire. That weird fairy Oberon might slither away as usual, but without allies, he'd never stir any more trouble in the Fairy Kingdom.

As she closed in and drove a sword through Guinevere, pinning him to the ground, he looked up at her. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, but in his eyes, she saw no fear.

Then he spoke.

"Can I touch them? Let me, and I'll let you kill me. If not, then forget it."

"Huh?" Melusine blinked, confused.

Guinevere pointed at her chest.

There was a pause—then realization dawned.

Her eyes narrowed in anger.

"Pervert!" she snapped, and with another slash, chopped off his outstretched hand.

"Knew you'd say no," Guinevere muttered. "That's why... I'm not letting you kill me."

He yanked the pull cord on his chest.

[Ding. Despite being in mortal peril, you took the time to flirt with a deadly beautiful enemy. This behavior aligns perfectly with the Chainsaw Man archetype. Devil contract gauge: +20%. Current charge: 100%.]

[Contract full. You now have one Chainsaw Man transformation available.]

In the next instant, Guinevere transformed. His torn flesh healed, even his severed arm regrew. The steel heart at his core roared to life, growling like a beastly engine.

Before Melusine could react, he lunged up, grabbed her wrist mid-retraction, stopping her from launching another ridiculous "seya slash." Then, he rammed his forehead straight into her face.

"—Ugh!"

In his devil form, Guinevere's stats had spiked again. Though still technically in the C-rank range, it was enough to overpower Melusine's grip. She wasn't built for raw strength. Caught off-guard, she couldn't escape.

The visor on her helmet split open. A shallow gash appeared on her beautiful face, blood dripping freely.

But while her strength wasn't remarkable, her endurance was pure dragon-tier. Her body was tougher than steel. Even the surprise strike from Guinevere's chainsaw head had only scratched her. Breaking through her skull? Impossible.

"You bastard—let go!"

The pain enraged her. Magic surged through her body in a violent outburst. Guinevere tried to hold on, but she took off like a rocket, dragging him skyward.

Realizing he couldn't afford to be taken airborne, Guinevere let go. If she got him up into her domain, he'd be nothing but prey.

But just as he released her, Melusine twisted midair and lashed out with a whip-like kick, her slender leg glowing with power.

It caught him squarely, flinging him to the ground.

Yet even as he fell, Guinevere lifted his left arm—now fully morphed into a cannon. Flames roared from the muzzle, a surge of energy gathering fast.

Target locked.

Chainsaw Judgment: Flame Enchant activated.

He fired.

The flaming beam shot through the sky, slamming into Melusine midair. The blast sent her tumbling backward, cracking the armor on her chest and abdomen.

"So that's the strongest dragon fairy?" Guinevere mocked. "Doesn't look like much to me."

Of course, he wasn't speaking out of arrogance. Deep down, he was unsettled.

The gap between them was still massive. Even with the surprise transformation, even with the stolen moment of control, he hadn't dealt her a serious wound.

That alone said it all.

Unless Melusine made another major mistake, he wouldn't get a better chance.

Flight, insane mobility, targeted immunity, invincibility frames, burst damage, and now incredible regeneration? This woman had every broken mechanic known to gaming.

His only hope was to drag things out, heal through his devil form, and bait her into screwing up again.

So he talked trash. Maybe she'd snap and get sloppy.

It worked a little too well.

"Is that so... Very well."

Melusine exhaled, calming herself. But when she looked at Guinevere again, her voice was as cold as death.

"Then let me show you... what it truly means to face the blade of King Uther."

"What?"

That line rang far too familiar. Dread crept into Guinevere's chest.

But before he could remember where he'd heard it, Melusine was already upon him.

She placed one hand over the other, pulling one wrist-blade back behind her like a poised swan. One knee bent, the other extended—a perfect stance, elegant as a bird gliding to water.

...Wait. A bird?

Guinevere's eyes widened in horror.

He remembered now.

This was that sword form.

But it was too late.

"—Waterfowl Dance!"

Like a graceful, deadly waterfowl, Melusine leapt forward. Her blade unleashed an endless flurry of flowing slashes, wave after wave of sword energy surrounding her.

Guinevere was immediately drenched in blood.

Were it not for his regenerative power keeping pace with the cuts, he would have been diced to pieces then and there.

Even so, by the end, dozens of wounds still marred his body.

Meanwhile, the cuts Melusine had suffered earlier—including the facial wound—were completely gone.

[Noble Phantasm: Waterfowl Dance]

["Have you truly felt it? The edge of Miquella's blade."]

[Noble Phantasm Rank: A]

[Type: Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm]

[A legendary technique from a distant world, once wielded by an unbeatable red-haired Valkyrie.]

[Born with a terminal curse her god-blooded father could not heal, she endured endless decay and torment.]

[Taught the Flowing Sword by a blind swordmaster who had sealed away an ancient rot-god, she would etch her own legend into history.]

[Her prosthetic arm became a symbol of victory; her phantom wings, a beautiful illusion.]

[Upon activation, recreates the Valkyrie's whirlwind barrage. Every hit absorbs life energy from her foes to heal herself.]

...How do you even fight this?

Mobility, burst, invincibility, sustain—it's like a patch note horror story.

Guinevere was at a complete loss.

But just then, a cloud of golden dust swept in from behind, enveloping both him and Melusine.

Melusine sneezed.

And that's when Oberon grabbed Guinevere by the collar and bolted.

"Bro! Stop fighting her head-on! Let's get into the cave where she can't fly!"