Chapter Text
Fake Jeanne, watching the heroes' reactions with a cold grin, slowly turned to the crowd of Smiths and Guardians. They, as if on command, parted, forming a wide passage.
"Go," she whispered, her words drowned out by the rain and wind. "Spread. Consume this world."
The Smiths and Guardians advanced, like a wave of darkness engulfing the city. Ron , Waver, and Alexander, overcoming their pain and fatigue, stood in their way, preparing for the final battle. Medusa, kneeling next to Gudako's body , covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
"This is the end..." Ron whispered , clutching his wand in his hand. "We've lost..."
- No! - the real Jeanne's voice suddenly rang out. - Not all is lost!
She pointed to the sky. Everyone looked up, and what they saw made them hold their breath.
A bright point appeared in the night sky, cutting through the clouds. It was approaching quickly, leaving a fiery trail behind it. The point grew larger and larger, turning into the figure of a man flying at incredible speed. A whirlwind swirled around him, lifting leaves, debris, even small stones into the air. The cars parked in the square shook, their alarms howling in terror. The Smiths and Guardians, as if sensing danger, stopped, turning their heads to the sky.
The figure landed in the square with a roar that shook the ground. The vortex of air dissipated, and before the stunned mages stood a young man with long, dark hair and piercing brown eyes. He wore a long, black cloak that fluttered in the wind, and his face was frozen in an expression of cold, unyielding determination.
“I’m here ,” he said, his voice calm and confident. “I came to help.”
Fujimaru whispered , rising from the ground with difficulty. “You came…”
“That doesn’t matter,” Neo replied, his gaze fixed on the fake Jeanne. “What matters is that we have to stop her… now.”
At that moment, another person materialized next to him. It was a tall, imposing man in a dark suit and sunglasses. His face, with high cheekbones and a piercing gaze, radiated calm and strength.
" Morpheus ?" Fujimaru asked , not believing his eyes.
Morpheus nodded . “We sensed that you were in trouble, Master, and came to help you, Ritsuka.” Fujimaru : We know what you're facing ... and we know how to deal with it.
An expression of displeasure flashed across the fake Jeanne's face, but she quickly pulled herself together.
"Two more heroes?" she hissed. "How sweet... But do you think you'll change anything?"
The Smiths and the Guardians, who had been frozen in indecision until then, moved forward as if on command, surrounding Neo and Morpheus . The Smiths' red eyes glowed in the darkness with an ominous flame, and the Guardians' metal tentacles wriggled like hungry snakes.
"Thomas Andersen," came a voice from the crowd of Smiths, cold and lifeless, like the voice of a machine. "You're back..."
Neo, without taking his eyes off the fake Jeanne, slowly turned his head towards the voice.
“Do you know me?” he asked, and there was neither surprise nor fear in his voice.
“We all know you,” Smith replied, stepping forward. “We know your past… your present… and your future…”
“Then you know how it all ends,” Neo said quietly, a slight smile appearing on his face.
Morpheus stood next to him and took off his sunglasses.
"It's time to end this, Neo ," he said. "It's time to free this world."
Neo nodded.
— It's time.
And the battle began.
Neo moved forward like a ghost, passing through the Smiths. His blows were lightning fast, precise, and merciless. He dodged the Sentinels' laser beams with incredible agility, and it seemed as if he anticipated their every move. The Smiths, like puppets with broken strings, fell to the ground, unable to resist him. Morpheus , fighting shoulder to shoulder with him, repelled the Sentinels' attacks with his fists, his movements fluid and powerful, like those of an ancient martial artist.
Ron , Waver and Alexander, inspired by the example of Neo and Morpheus , rushed into battle again. The young mages threw the Smiths back with spells, and Alexander and Mordred, who had arrived in time, chopped them with a sword and tried to strangle them with their bare hands, despite the futility of these actions. The real Jeanne , overcoming the pain, once again raised the banner, directing it at the false Jeanne.
The fake Jeanne , instead of gloating or making threats, watched the fight unfold in silence. Her eyes, gleaming with a cold, metallic gleam, reflected something more than mere gloating. It was like the curiosity of a scientist observing an experiment whose outcome he already knew.
“I wonder,” she whispered, her words barely audible over the noise of battle. “How long will they last?”
She turned to Gudako's body and, bending down, took her hand. Her fingers, cold as ice, felt her pulse.
“It’s a pity,” she whispered, rising. “You were an interesting specimen… Ritsuka.” Fujimaru …
She glanced at Neo, who at that moment threw aside another Smith.
"Do you think you're special, Thomas Andersen?" she asked, her voice steely. "That you're the chosen one?"
Neo, without stopping, answered without turning to her:
- I'm not the chosen one. I just do what I have to.
- Oh, how noble... - the fake Jeanne grinned. - But you forgot one thing, Thomas. There are no heroes in this world... there are only programs...
She waved her hand again, and more hordes of Smiths and Guardians burst forth from the ground. There were hundreds of them now… thousands… They filled the entire square, turning it into a teeming sea of black figures and glowing red eyes. The mages, surrounded on all sides, fought desperately, but the forces were unequal.
"We can't hold out much longer!" Ron shouted , fending off two Guardians at once. "We need a plan!"
“We have a plan,” Morpheus replied , calmly reloading his pistol. “Neo, distract them…”
Neo nodded and spread his arms, sending a wave of energy into the sky. The Smiths and Guardians, as if sensing danger, turned to him, and he rushed forward, dragging them along with him.
“Now… it’s time to finish this ,” Morpheus said , pointing his gun at the fake Jeanne.
Morpheus's movement , only smirked contemptuously.
"Do you think a bullet can kill someone who is already dead?" she hissed.
But Morpheus , without answering, pulled the trigger. The shot thundered across the deserted square like a clap of thunder. The bullet, leaving a fiery trail behind it, rushed towards the false Jeanne. But she, as if anticipating the trajectory of the shot, deviated to the side. The bullet flew past, ricocheting off the wall of the house.
“Missed,” she said, a wicked smile appearing on her face. “I told you… bullets are powerless against me.”
“Maybe,” Morpheus replied , calmly reloading his pistol. “But I still have aces up my sleeve…”
At that moment, a bright flash appeared in the sky, and two new figures materialized in the square. The first was Voyager, his spacesuit gleaming in the streetlights, his helmet lifted to reveal a young, curious face.
- Wow ! - he exclaimed, looking around. - This is fun!
The second figure was Astolfo , his pink hair fluttering in the wind and his bright, festive attire a stark contrast to the dark atmosphere of the battle.
"What an outrage?!" he exclaimed, seeing Gudako's body lying on the ground . "Who dared to attack such a sweet girl?!"
“I,” the fake Jeanne answered coldly . “What?”
"You will regret this, witch!" Astolfo shouted , drawing his sword. "I will punish you!"
“Try it,” the fake Jeanne grinned . “If you can…”
She waved her hand, and the Smiths and Guardians rushed forward with renewed vigor. Neo, dodging the blows, retreated back, covering Morpheus and the other magicians. Voyager, like a rocket, soared into the sky, and, diving at the Guardians, attacked them with laser beams from its gauntlets. Astolfo , fighting shoulder to shoulder with Alexander, deflected the blows of the Smiths with his magic sword.
Medusa jumped to her feet, pushed off the ground and soared into the air. She raced over the rooftops like a shadow, leaving behind trails of purple smoke. Her eyes, cold and dispassionate, scanned the city streets, searching for the points she needed.
"What is she doing?" Ron asked , not taking his eyes off the battle.
“I don’t know,” Fujimaru replied , struggling to fend off the Smiths’ attacks. “But it seems like she’s up to something…”
At that moment, the ground beneath their feet began to shake. The buildings around them began to sway, and fountains of black smoke burst from the ground.
“What is this?!” Waver screamed , barely able to stay on his feet.
“He’s waking up…” the fake Jeanne whispered , and a malicious smile appeared on her face. “He’s waking up…”
The square heaved like a living creature, torn apart by an invisible force. The asphalt cracked, forming deep chasms from which fountains of black smoke and tongues of flame burst forth. The buildings around shook, their walls became covered with cracks, and then, unable to withstand the load, began to collapse, turning into heaps of rubble.
Jeanne screamed , her voice drowned out by the roar of destruction. "Run! Save yourself before it's too late!"
But there was nowhere to run. The whole city was shaking as if in a fever. Bridges were collapsing, roads were rising like waves in a storm. The sky was covered with black clouds, and a rain of ash and dust fell on the ground.
“It’s… it’s the end of the world…” Ron whispered , covering his head with his hands.
“No, Ron ,” Morpheus said , his voice calm and firm. “This isn’t over. But we need to act… fast.”
Neo, pushing through the chaos, rushed towards the false Jeanne. She stood in the middle of the destruction, her figure, shrouded in a dark aura, seemed untouchable, as if she was part of this chaos.
"You've released a power you can't control ," he said, stopping in front of her. "Stop it before it's too late."
"You think I'm afraid?" she sneered. "I'm part of this power! I'm its embodiment!"
“Then you are doomed along with this world ,” Neo said, his eyes flashing golden.
At that moment, the real Jeanne , screaming, rushed at the fake one. Her banner, blazing with white flame, cut through the air like a sword.
"I won't let you do this!" she screamed. "I won't let you destroy everything that's dear to us!"
Jeanne replied , parrying her blow with her black sword. "This is not your battle!"
Medusa, continuing her mad flight over the city, placed magical seals on the roofs of the buildings. Her movements were precise and fast, as if she were dancing in the air. She knew that she had very little time. The power of the Earth Archetype was growing with each passing minute, and soon it would become uncontrollable.
***
At Westminster Palace, Voldemort , awakened by the rumbling and tremors, jumped out of his chair. He had dozed off while sitting over a map of the city.
"What's going on?!" he screamed, grabbing his wand. "What the...?!"
Bellatrix , pale and frightened, ran into his room.
“My Lord…” she whispered. “There… there…”
- Speak, stupid woman!
— In the city... some kind of battle... earthquake...
Voldemort rushed to the window, and what he saw took his breath away. All of London was in chaos. Buildings were collapsing, roads were heaving, and a storm of fire and ash raged in the sky.
“It’s them…” he hissed, clenching his fists. “These damned Smiths… They’re destroying my city!”
"My Lord, what shall we do?" asked Bellatrix .
"We must stop them!" Voldemort roared . "Gather all the Death Eaters! Summon all the Servants! We are going to war!"
***
Snow began to fall to the ground. Large, fluffy flakes slowly swirled in the air, settling on destroyed buildings, on torn wires, on the bodies of the dead... December had arrived.
Fujimaru , barely able to stand, fought off the Smiths' attacks. He was wounded, exhausted, and almost out of strength. But he couldn't give up. He had to protect his friends... protect the world.
He himself didn’t notice how Lily ran up to him, her face was pale, and horror was frozen in her eyes.
" Ritsuka ..." she whispered, grabbing his hand. "Jason... they took him... I saw... he... he became one of them... I miraculously escaped..."
Fujimaru , barely able to maintain consciousness, sank to his knees. His hands, covered in abrasions and burns, were shaking, and his head was spinning like a carousel. He saw how the Smiths and Guardians, like waves of a black tide, were washing over the square, leaving no chance for salvation.
"Jason..." he whispered, looking at Lily, her face pale as a sheet, her eyes frozen in horror. "I'm sorry... I couldn't..."
"It's not your fault, Ritsuka ," Lily whispered, clinging to him. "You did everything you could..."
Morpheus landed next to them . His face was focused, and his eyes were filled with determination. He extended his hand to Fujimaru , helping him stand up.
"Get up, Ritsuka ," he said. "The battle isn't over yet."
“But… but there are too many of them,” Fujimaru whispered , looking around at the swarming crowd of Smiths and Guardians. “We can’t stop them…”
Morpheus said , his voice full of steely confidence. “We must. For this world, for everyone we care about. Believe in yourself, Ritsuka . Believe in us.”
Fujimaru glanced at him, then at the other mages. The real Jeanne , with despair in her eyes, continued to fight the fake one. Neo, like lightning, darted between the Smiths and the Guardians, his blows precise and merciless. Alexander and Astolfo , back to back, repelled the attacks of the enemies. Ron and Waver , shouting spells, tried to fight their way through the crowd.
And at that moment, looking at their faces, distorted by fatigue and pain, but still full of determination, Fujimaru felt hope reborn within him. He took a deep breath of the cold, smoke-filled air and said:
- Okay. I'm with you. Until the end.
"Then let's fight!" Morpheus shouted , and, snatching a second pistol from his holster, opened fire on the Smiths.
Neo, seeing Fujimaru re-enter the fight, smiled, and his attacks became even more powerful and merciless. He moved with such speed that it seemed as if he was in several places at once. The Smiths, not having time to react, fell to the ground, as if mown down by a scythe.
- Rrraaaa ! - a thunderous voice rang out over the battlefield, and Hercules materialized on the square, immediately bursting into an even more furious roar.
His gigantic body seemed indestructible, cloaked in a red aura of rage. He roared as he charged into the crowd of Smiths, throwing them aside like bowling pins without touching them. Each blow caused a mini-earthquake, causing the asphalt to crack and trees to fall.
" Mordred !" Ron shouted , calling for his Servant.
Mordred emerged from a whirlwind of magical energy , her green eyes glowing with fighting spirit, and in her hand sparkled the enormous sword Clarent .
- Finally! - she grinned, looking around the battlefield. - And here I thought you were completely bored here without me...
She rushed into battle with a battle cry, her sword whistling through the air, leaving behind bloody traces.
" Passionlip ! Jack!" Fujimaru shouted , calling for the rest of his Servants.
Passionlip and Jack materialized next to him. Passionlip , with sadness in her eyes, looked at the destruction and Gudako's body .
“What a horror…” she whispered. “Is this world doomed?”
“Not yet,” Fujimaru answered her . “We must fight… to the last.”
Jack bared her teeth and pulled out her knives.
"Well, boys, shall we play?" she hissed, and her eyes flashed with an angry light.
She charged headlong into the crowd of Smiths, her knives flashing through the air like lightning. The Smiths, like dolls, fell apart, unable to resist her.
Suddenly, a shadow flashed across the battlefield. It was James Moriarty , his top hat askew and the excitement of the hunter shining in his eyes. He took aim with his revolver and fired at one of the Guardians. The bullet, leaving a trail of fire behind it, hit the Guardian right in the "eye", and it exploded and shattered into pieces.
- Ha! - Moriarty laughed . - Got you, my dear!
At that moment, Edmond Dantes flew into one of the Smiths. His fist, shrouded in black flame, pierced Smith's chest, and he, screaming, disappeared into thin air.
"For Haidee !" Dantes growled, his eyes burning with rage.
But despite all their efforts, the mages were losing. There were too many Smiths and Guardians. They were attacking from all sides, not knowing fear or fatigue. The earth continued to crack and crumble, and the sky was covered with black clouds, from which snow mixed with ash and blood fell.
On one of the few remaining rooftops stood a figure, swathed in a long, dark cloak. King Arthur Pendragon watched the carnage unfold below, his face impassive beneath the shadow of his hood. What was he thinking at that moment? Did he regret what he had done? Or did he revel in the chaos that had engulfed his city? No one knew the answer to that question.
Meanwhile, in the very center of the battle, Neo demonstrated his incredible strength once again. He crashed into one of the Smiths at full speed, and the man shattered into pieces like a porcelain doll. But at that very moment, the space around them distorted. The air trembled like a surface of water, and Neo, having disappeared for a moment, reappeared in the same place. But now he looked... different. His clothes turned into a black suit, and his face became pale and lifeless, like a mask.
"What... what happened?" Fujimaru whispered , not believing his eyes.
“He became… one of them,” Morpheus replied , his voice full of alarm. “Smith absorbed him…”
But the Smiths, as if they hadn't noticed what had happened, continued to attack. They rushed at Neo with even greater fury, their fists and laser beams striking him from all sides. Neo, as if in a trance, repelled their attacks, his movements mechanical, devoid of any emotion.
- Neo! - screamed the real Jeanne . - Wake up! Fight!
But he didn't hear her. He was absorbed into the system, became part of it.
Hercules, seeing that Neo had stopped fighting, rushed at the Smiths with a roar. His fists, shrouded in a red aura of rage, crushed bones and metal. He was like an uncontrollable force of nature, sowing chaos and destruction around him.
Mordred , screaming in rage, charged the Guardians, her sword, Clarent Arthur's Blood, blazing red as it tore apart the metal bodies.
"Die, iron!" she screamed. "Die!"
But there were too many of them. For every Smith or Guardian killed, more would appear in their place.
"It's no use..." Ron whispered , lowering his wand. "We've lost..."
Medusa didn't hear Ron's words and continued her mad run through the city. Her purple hair fluttered in the wind and her face was frozen in an expression of inhuman concentration. She jumped over ruined buildings, slid along icy sidewalks, climbed the walls of houses with the agility of a spider. Each stop was lightning fast: she pressed her hand to the wall, a purple symbol flashed in the air, and she rushed on again, without losing a second.
Finally, she reached another point and stopped. It was the roof of an old church, its spire pointing skyward like a finger at the storm clouds. Medusa leaned on the parapet, breathing heavily, looking down at the battle raging below.
“Just a little more…” she whispered, clenching her teeth. “Just a little more…”
She looked at her palm, and then, without thinking, ran her sharp nails across it. Blood, dark, almost black, gushed from the wound, dripping onto the stone slabs. Medusa, ignoring the pain, quickly drew a complex symbol on the floor, placing a drop of her blood in the center. The symbol flared with a bright, purple light, and then disappeared, as if dissolving into thin air.
“It’s done,” Medusa whispered, a look of satisfaction appearing on her face. “Now they have a chance…”
She pushed off the ground again and launched herself into the air, heading for the next point. She had to make it before the Earth Archetype's power destroyed the entire city... before it was too late...
The square turned into a real battlefield, where the raging forces of nature knew no mercy. Smith, having merged with the Archetype of the Earth, became an irresistible, destructive element, controlling reality at his whim.
The earth beneath the mages' feet heaved and collapsed, opening up deadly chasms and raising threatening hills. Buildings, like insignificant toys, piled up into ruined heaps, wiped from the face of the earth by the raging power.
The sky above the city was covered with ominous black clouds, from which cruel hail and snow whirlwinds fell, replaced by twinkling stars again, as if mocking the futile attempts of the magicians to resist these destructive forces.
Smith, like an all-powerful titan, dominated the elements, playing with reality like a child with sand castles. His will was unyielding, and his power was as devastating as a bolt of lightning. The mages could only watch helplessly as their world crumbled under the onslaught of the unbridled power of the Earth Archetype.
“He… he controls everything…” Fujimaru whispered , barely able to stay on his feet. “The earth… the sky… even… time…”
Morpheus answered , shielding his eyes from the flying fragments. "It is limitless... and merciless."
At that moment, some of the Smiths, as if on command, began to transform. Their bodies stretched out, became covered in fur, and their faces distorted, turning into animal muzzles. A moment later, dozens of huge, black wolves were already prowling the square, their eyes glowing with red flames, and poisonous saliva dripping from their mouths.
" Fenrir !" the real Jeanne cried out , repelling an attack from one of the wolves. "He's using Fenrir's power !"
The ferocious wolves, possessed by uncontrollable rage, rushed at the wizards, their fangs flashing dangerously in the air. Ron , barely dodging the attack of one of the grinning predators, threw it back with the Stupefy spell. But the incredible happened - the wolf, as if not feeling the blow, rushed at him again, its eyes blazing with a wild, mad thirst for blood.
Waver , terrified, desperately fought off two wolves at once, his wand barely managing to cast defensive spells, barely holding back the onslaught of the ferocious creatures. And Alexander, wounded in the arm, retreated back, his saber covered in scarlet, still hot blood.
These creatures turned into wolves seemed to know no pain or fear, sweeping away all living things in their path. Their fangs tore flesh, and their eyes blazed with a primal, animalistic rage that could not be pacified. The air was filled with the bloodcurdling screams of the mages, trying to resist the unstoppable onslaught.
Morpheus shouted , firing his pistols at the wolves. "Don't give up!"
But the forces were unequal. The Wolves, supported by the Smiths and Guardians, attacked from all sides, leaving the mages no chance. Laser beams flashed in the air, mixing with spells and cries of pain.
Fake Jeanne , as if enjoying the chaos, began to attack. Waves of fire, ice and lightning burst from her hands, falling on the mages from the sky.
"Die!" she screamed. "Die, all of you!"
Fujimaru , shielding Lily with his body, led her away from the battlefield. He was on the verge of exhaustion, but he couldn't give up. He had to protect Lily, take her to safety.
" Ritsuka !" a familiar voice rang out over Fujimaru's head . "Leave her to me!"
Medusa materialized next to them like a ghost, her purple hair fluttering in the wind and her face set in a look of cold determination.
"Run," she said, taking Lily's hand. "I'll take her away. Find shelter as quickly as possible. And take the others away."
And without waiting for an answer, she pulled Lily away, weaving between collapsing buildings and attacking Smiths.
“But…” Fujimaru wanted to object, but Medusa, without turning around, threw over her shoulder:
- Trust me, Ritsuka . I know what I'm doing.
Fujimaru clenched his fists and turned to face his enemies. He had no time to hesitate. He had to fight.
Meanwhile, the battle became more and more cruel and merciless. The ground under the mages' feet continued to crack and crumble, fountains of fire burst from the abysses, and shards of stone and ice fell from the sky. The Smiths and Guardians, like immortals, attacked from all sides, not giving the mages a single chance to catch their breath.
" Confringo ! " Harry shouted, pointing his wand at one of the Smiths.
But Smith didn't even sneeze.
Hermione cursed , deflecting the Guardian's attack with her shield. "There are too many of them and nothing can take them down!"
Tesla, standing on the rubble of a destroyed building, raised his hand to the sky. His eyes, usually calm and dreamy, now burned with a fanatical gleam.
"It's time to show these machines the true power of science!" he proclaimed. - System Keraunos !
Above Tesla's head , a majestic, glittering tower rose rapidly, like a menacing lightning rod. Furious lightning bolts tore down from its top, illuminating the skies with blinding, branching discharges that struck everything for kilometers around.
The air thickened with ozone, and the rumble of thunder merged with the deafening crackle of electrical flashes. Under the hail of this furious heavenly fire the very earth shook as if in agony.
The Smiths and Guardians caught in the blast zone let out shrill screams as they turned into smoking ruins. The power of the released energy was so terrifying that it seemed as if the very air itself was being consumed by the infernal flames.
Tesla stood impassively, as if the thunderstorm were his faithful servant, obeying his slightest gesture. A sinister smile touched his lips as he watched his enemies vainly try to hide from the inexorable electrical wrath.
- A-a-a-a-a! - Tesla's inhuman scream sounded in the sky , merging with the rumble of thunder. - Get your portion of electricity, you worthless ones!
But even this incredible force could not stop the Smiths' advance. They continued to advance like zombies, regardless of losses. There were too many of them.
Passionlip , protecting Fujimaru from another attack by Smith, screamed. A sharpened tentacle from one of the Guardians pierced her chest. She staggered, and her body, like a doll, went limp, falling to the ground.
" Passionlip !" Fujimaru shouted , rushing towards her.
But before he could reach her, her body disintegrated into thousands of bright sparks. Fujimaru's face froze in silent despair, tears in his eyes. He stretched out his hand, trying to hold on to the elusive sparks, but they disintegrated, burning in the air. Passionlip , loyal to her last breath, sacrificed herself to protect him.
The sky above London flared with a bright, unnatural light. The sun, which had been hidden behind clouds just a moment before, suddenly found itself at its zenith, bringing down a wave of scorching heat on the city. The snow that had just fallen to the ground began to melt, turning into muddy puddles.
"What...what is he doing?" Fujimaru whispered , squinting against the bright light.
“He plays with time,” Morpheus replied , his voice tense. “With day and night… with the seasons themselves…”
And to confirm his words, the sky darkened again, the sun disappeared as if it had never been there. A new wave of cold fell upon the earth, and the wind rose, whirling the snow in a mad waltz.
Suddenly, the ground beneath the mages' feet began to shake again. This time, the tremors were stronger than before. The asphalt cracked, creating wide chasms from which fountains of fire and hot lava erupted. From one of the chasms, with a roar and a grinding sound, a huge earthmoving machine crawled out. Its metal body was covered in spikes and blades, and instead of a bucket, it had a giant, toothy mouth.
"An earthmoving machine?!" Ron shouted , jumping aside.
“Another of Smith’s toys,” Alexander answered, raising his saber. “Prepare for battle!”
The earthmoving machine roared and charged at the mages, its jaws snapping like a trap and its blades flashing in the air, leaving fiery trails behind them.
" Incendio ! " Harry shouted, pointing his wand at the car.
The fireball hit the metal body but did not cause any damage.
"It's no use, Harry!" Hermione screamed at him . "Not normal spells will work on her!"
"Then we'll need something stronger!" Harry replied, jumping to the side to avoid the blades' attack.
Morpheus , seeing that the magicians were unable to cope, took a small metal sphere out of his pocket.
"Neo!" he shouted. "Catch!"
He threw the sphere at Neo, who was at that moment fighting off an attack by a dozen Smiths. Neo, without turning around, caught the sphere in mid-air and, squeezing it in his fist, turned sharply towards the earth-moving machine…
Neo clutched the metal sphere in his hand and concentrated. His eyes flashed green for a moment, and then he thrust his hand forward, aiming the sphere at the earthmoving machine. The sphere, as if alive, rushed toward its target, leaving a bright, fiery trail behind it. The next moment, it crashed into the machine, and a deafening explosion was heard. The metal body of the machine was torn apart, fragments flying in all directions like shrapnel.
"Got it!" Ron shouted when he saw it. "We did it!"
But it was too early to rejoice. From the abyss from which the first machine had emerged, two more appeared with a roar. They were even larger and more terrifying than the previous one, their mouths bristling with rows of razor-sharp teeth, and their blades flashed in the air like tongues of flame.
- Damn it! - Alexander cursed, fighting off the Smiths' attack. - Where did so many of them come from?
Morpheus shouted . "Fight! Don't give up!"
Neo, seeing new opponents, prepared for battle. But at that moment his attention was distracted by a new danger. Two Jeanne Alter, with cries of rage, clashed in a fierce battle. Their banners darted through the air like tongues of flame, and their swords whistled through the air, striking sparks.
"I will destroy you!" screamed the real Jeanne , her eyes burning with righteous anger.
“You are already dead, stupid copy!” the fake Jeanne answered her , her voice full of cold hatred. “I am the real Jeanne.” D'Arc ! And I will not allow you to desecrate my name!
Their figures, shrouded in a magical glow, seemed ghostly, unreal. They moved so fast that the eye could not follow their movements. A whirlwind swirled around them, lifting snow, stones and debris into the air…