Crazy Britain:They’re All Raising Me

"Ella? Ella?! Are you alright?!"

With Gawain's warning still ringing in her ears, Artoria's expression changed at once. She called out to Ella a few times, only to receive vague and jumbled replies:

"No... wrong..."

"I'm not... Ella..."

"I'm... a failed... experiment—!"

As the words left Ella's lips, a burst of blue lightning surged forth, splitting the air and suddenly lashing out at Gawain's hand, which had still been gripping her collar.

Gawain was caught off guard. The bolt struck his hand squarely, sending him stumbling back two steps.

He glanced down at his scorched hand and forearm. Trying to clench his fingers, he quickly realized he could no longer move them. There was no sensation in half his arm—it was as if it no longer belonged to him.

"What the hell…? Frankenstein's lightning shouldn't be able to get through my defenses..."

His expression shifted as he muttered.

And this wasn't just a matter of a defense being breached—his skin bore only a light gray char, showing the attack hadn't caused major damage. Yet the loss of sensation was absolute, as if the flesh itself had been claimed by some external force.

Just then, a familiar system notification popped up:

[You have triggered a Special Hunt Mission: Nightmare Incarnation IV – Ella: The One Who Longed for Love in Vain]

[Within the dream-sculpted London, now transformed into a temporary sacrificial field, you have encountered a Nightmare Incarnation—Frankenstein's. Having assumed a new identity and fused with the "Core," she has completed her transformation. You must suppress or eliminate her.]

[Mission Objective: Subdue or defeat Ella—The One Who Longed for Love in Vain.]

[Reward: One random attribute increases by one level; Hunter Rune: All Life Lives.]

A Nightmare Incarnation… just as he'd feared.

Gawain sighed inwardly. No wonder he'd felt uneasy when he noticed that odd bulge under Ella's chest—the sensation hadn't been wrong after all.

And from his battle with Mephisto, he now understood: each Nightmare Incarnation retained the power of their original heroic self, plus the unique powers granted by the Nightmare. Could this numbing lightning be Frankenstein's new, altered ability?

"Ughh—aaaaaAAAHHHHHHHH!!"

As Gawain stood there deep in thought, Frankenstein—yes, she was truly Frankenstein now, having recalled some remnants of her original self—screamed out in agony, clutching her head.

The storm of blue lightning continued to pour from her body, lashing out in every direction, shattering floor tiles, walls, and furniture in the rest area around her.

"This can't go on! If she loses control here, she'll drag innocent people into this!"

Ritsuka made a split-second decision. "Mash, knock her out of the building before she brings down all of Scotland Yard!"

"Yes, Senpai!"

Without hesitation, Mash hoisted her shield and charged straight at Frankenstein.

"Wait! That lightning—something's wrong with it!"

Gawain tried to stop her, but it was too late. Mash had already charged into the storm of lightning.

Normally timid and hesitant to speak up, Mash became a force of nature when she charged in full tilt. Her massive shield slammed into Frankenstein with a thunderous impact, sending the latter crashing through the window and landing out on the street.

But as Frankenstein was flung out, Mash remained inside, panting, her breathing growing harsh, as though she were in considerable pain.

"That was reckless... Mash, are you alright?"

Worried that she might've been disabled like he was, Gawain asked quickly.

"I-I'm okay. It was just... ordinary lightning damage. It hurt, but I can take it."

"...Ordinary?"

Gawain scanned her over and was stunned.

Burn marks covered her body—especially her hands. Yet despite the damage, she vaulted through the broken window without a second's hesitation, shield at the ready.

What the hell?

Was this lightning... selectively effective? Crippling to him, but normal to her?

While he was still puzzling it over, Ritsuka followed Mash out the window, and Artoria also moved to follow—though before leaving, she turned and gave Gawain a worried look.

"You sure you're okay?"

"Of course."

Shaking off his doubts for now, Gawain replied, "Hurry and catch up. Those two might not be able to handle Frankenstein alone."

He sprinted toward the window—only to feel a sudden weight on his shoulder. Looking back, he saw Artoria had grabbed his right arm.

He tried to dodge, but his arm still wouldn't respond—she easily caught him.

Holding his scorched hand, she frowned.

"Stop being stubborn. Your arm's barely functional and you still want to say you're fine?"

"...It's just a bit numb," Gawain muttered, averting his gaze.

"Oh, for the love of—when did you get so damn tsundere? You didn't used to be this difficult."

Snapping at him, she continued, "We don't know what Frankenstein's lightning does, but clearly, it's bad news for you. Since your only real tools are close-range, and she's clearly not a good match for you right now, back off. Let me take the front."

"Hah? What kind of nonsense—"

"Shut it. That's final. You're on defense this round. Leave the offense to me."

Then, her tone softened just a little.

"...It wouldn't kill you to rely on me once in a while, would it?"

Before he could argue, she vanished in a flash of light.

When he looked up, she was already outside, standing beside Mash on the street, ready to confront Frankenstein.

"Tch... damn woman."

Gawain cursed under his breath and leapt after her—but he did hold himself back just slightly, taking position at the rear of the group, right within support range.

"...Much better."

Artoria gave a small nod of approval, then turned to Mash:

"Mash, don't rush in. That idiot's reaction confirmed it—Frankenstein's powers are strange. Avoid her lightning at all costs."

Then she glanced at Mash and Ritsuka behind her.

"If we can't get close to her, I'll take point. You two support me."

She said it gently, as though asking—but her eyes made it clear there was no room for argument.

Both nodded reflexively.

"Uh—y-yes, ma'am!"

Was this the legendary aura of a king?

Ritsuka found herself wondering, but then her eyes drifted to Gawain approaching from behind.

Come to think of it... he kind of has that same vibe too. Like when he gives an order, I just instinctively want to follow it...

And if Artoria keeps calling him "Blood Prince"... maybe he is royalty too?

But if both of them are kings... then what is their relationship?

And wasn't the Gawain we met in Singularity F also a king from Fairy Britain?

While she puzzled over that, Frankenstein finally seemed to stabilize. Her breathing steadied, and she turned toward the group with a feral glint in her eye.

"Kill... give you... DEATH—!"

Muttering incoherently, she reached to her side. A massive, spiked hammer with a long handle materialized in her hands—her Noble Phantasm: Bridal Chest.

With a shriek, she charged.

Artoria sighed.

"Guess talking's off the table for now... I'll try to restrain her."

She raised one hand—and the four translucent, crystal-blue spears hovering behind her spun once around her before vanishing.

The next instant, Frankenstein heard multiple whistling sounds.

Before she could react, sharp pain exploded in her limbs.

In one blinding moment, the four spears stabbed down from four angles, pinning her to the ground like a specimen on a dissection table.

"Whoa..."

Mash, mid-shield-raise, froze on the spot.

She said we should support her... but I haven't even moved yet?

Artoria stepped forward, her body flickering in light again as she landed nearer to Frankenstein, and murmured:

"...Feeling calmer now? Sorry, I didn't want to do this. But if it stops you from escalating things, I had no choice."

But her voice didn't reach. Frankenstein glared back, rabid, and shrieked again as electricity crackled around her.

Artoria instantly flickered back to Mash and Ritsuka.

"Sigh... no good. I held back too much. Anymore and I risk permanent damage."

"AAAAAHHHH—!!"

Just then, Frankenstein screamed again. Despite the crystal spears nailing her limbs to the ground, she began rising.

The jagged edges tore into her flesh—exposing blood, muscle, even shattered bone—but she kept going.

And as the blue lightning surged once more, her wounds closed rapidly in a haze of regenerative energy.

"...So she's got insane healing now too... I see."

Artoria tightened her grip on her hybrid blade-staff weapon.

"In that case, I can afford to hit harder."

As Frankenstein charged once more, Artoria raised a hand—an immense wave of mana burst from her palm, ripping up the pavement and hurling Frankenstein back in a flash.

"...Why are you all looking at me like that?"

She glanced at the group, who stared at her as though seeing her for the first time.

With a resigned sigh, she said:

"I mean, it's not like I ever said I was just support, did I?"