Jayr POV - Nasuverse, Moon, Far Side, Sakura Labyrinth - 2030 AD
After the announcement of Hakuno's elimination, we slow our pace.
The ruined floor stretches endlessly ahead, but we no longer rush through it like before. Every step is now measured, every movement deliberate. The air itself feels wrong, heavy with something that isn't just residual energy.
Beside me, Nero walks in silence, her usual confidence tempered into sharp focus.
The reason for that is that we both know that there are no more distractions left.
Only two opponents remain, and they are the most dangerous, Kang Yaling and him.
Two Champions, both likely very powerful, and more importantly, one of them is surely working with BB, most likely him.
As we continue to carefully advance, the voice of the Sakura Labyrinth resounds once more.
[The number of active Masters has reached the minimum required.]
[Initiating Final Convergence Phase.]
Hearing that, I stop and so does Nero as she lets out a quiet, "Umu..."
I don't need to say anything as she already understands what is happening, but even so, I exhale lightly and mutter, "This is it. They are making their move."
The next moment, the Sakura Labyrinth answers immediately, and the world around us starts to crack.
A violent tremor runs through the ground beneath my feet. The walls fracture, lines of light tearing through solid structures like broken glass. Entire sections of the floor begin to collapse, dissolving into streams of data that spiral inward, pulled by an invisible force.
Fragments of buildings lift into the air. Geometry twists. Space glitches.
And then they vanish into nothing, swallowed by a growing void, making a calm Nero comment, "So this is how they intend to end this Holy Grail War... I admit, it is quite the spectacle."
The intentions behind what is happening are very clear. No more hiding, no more wasted time. They want it to end.
I glance toward the staircase just ahead, and the moment I focus on it, I understand that there is no "next floor" anymore, only one final destination.
Without hesitation, I move toward it, and Nero follows right after.
The very instant I put my foot down the first step, I realise that the staircase is wrong.
This isn't a staircase any longer, but a long, dark tunnel that seemingly extends without limits. The only true source of light is the glowing, transparent floor under our feet.
What should be a simple descent stretches into a long, endless path. It feels less like I'm moving downward and more like I'm being pulled forward, guided toward something inevitable.
And then voices can be heard; they whisper at first, but the more we advance, the louder they become.
"Help me..."
"It wasn't fair..."
"Noo! This isn't right...!"
"Why are you still alive...!?"
"I should have won...!!"
"This is your fault!"
I don't slow down, and Nero doesn't react either, as these are simply illusions, echoes, nothing but fragments of those erased in this Holy Grail War.
Even more so, it is clear that this isn't a natural phenomenon, but something they are using to try to affect our mentality.
Nero snorts and mutters, her voice steady, "Pathetic. As if such tricks would shake us."
I nod slightly and comment, "They're doing everything in their power to gain as much advantage as possible. It feels like some kind of desperate attempt. But desperation makes people predictable, and that isn't how they operated until now. It is more likely some twisted game to force some kind of reaction."
We keep walking, ignoring the twisted screams around us, and before long, we reach the end of this path.
The moment I step forward, the world opens once more as the final arena stretches before me, vast beyond measure.
Fragments of countless floors float in the air, suspended like broken memories. I recognise pieces of landscapes we crossed and even parts of my own floors as pieces of the Sanctuary are drifting among the debris.
Streams of data flow through the space like veins, pulsing with unstable light.
Some areas are solid, but others flicker, half-erased.
The entire place feels like it's on the verge of collapse, yet held together by something artificial, making me murmur, "Half stable and half controlled... They have chosen quite the stage for this final battle."
Nero's gaze sharpens as she adds, "And quite symbolic, too. It is almost poetic in its own twisted way."
Hearing that, I can't help but agree as I focus my gaze on the floor right in front of us, looking way beyond the surface layer, "Yeah. In the end, the entire Holy Grai War is... reduced to this."
Then I feel it, another presence stepping into this final arena, so I look up, and there she is.
On the far side of the arena, standing as if she has been waiting all along is a tall young woman of slim to athletic build with pale complexion, long, wavy black hair styled in a braided twin tail, grey eyes and long eyelashes, who is wearing a black school uniform and a set of large black glasses.
There is no doubt that she is Kang Yaling, the Champion of Life.
She is still, calm, completely unmoved by the chaos around her, steel cold in her focus and beside her is an extremely beautiful woman, her Servant.
She stands with a quiet, almost fragile composure, her slender frame drawn inward as if guarding something unseen. Her posture is upright but softened by a slight forward lean, arms crossed gently at her chest, fingers brushing the dark collar at her throat. There's a hesitance in the gesture, a subtle vulnerability that contrasts with the striking presence she carries.
Her hair is impossibly long, spilling past her waist and pooling at her feet like liquid light. It's a pale, shimmering white, touched with faint hues of blue and lavender that catch and shift with movement. Intricate braids weave through it, some thick and deliberate, others looser, unravelling into soft, drifting strands that seem to move with a life of their own.
From her head rise a pair of ornate, ram-like horns, dark grey edged with gold. They curve outward and upward in heavy arcs, their segmented texture resembling polished armour. These, along with the feathered or scale-like adornments framing her neck and shoulders, give her an otherworldly, almost ceremonial appearance.
Her skin is pale and smooth, like porcelain cooled to a faint, bluish tone. Against it, a subtle mark rests on her abdomen, a dark, stylised symbol that feels deliberate, though its meaning is unclear.
Her face is delicate, almost ethereal. Large, almond-shaped eyes glow with a vivid magenta hue, empty of visible pupils, their intensity softened by a downcast gaze. Long, dark lashes shadow her expression, which remains serene but distant, as if caught somewhere between thought and feeling. Her features are fine and restrained, a small nose and gently closed lips completing the impression of quiet restraint.
Her attire is minimal yet intricately detailed, composed of dark, fitted elements that contrast sharply with her pale form. Thin black straps form a delicate, almost skeletal structure at her hips, while ornate thigh-high coverings climb her legs, patterned with segmented gold designs and finished with soft blue tassels that sway with each movement. Around her neck rests a fine, beaded piece, subtle but deliberate, tying into the layered, gothic elegance of her design.
Everything about her feels balanced between strength and softness, ornament and exposure, presence and distance. She is difficult to read at a glance, not because she hides herself, but because she seems to exist slightly apart, like something not entirely meant for this world.
Looking at her, I can't help but freeze and mutter in disbelief, "No way..."
A massive presence looms behind her, something ancient, overwhelming and suffocating to the point that even my senses can't fully lock on it.
But even without seeing everything clearly, I know who and what she is, "The Beast Class Servant… Tiamat…"
(Image Here - Tiamat)
Tiamat is one of the Primordial Deities in Mesopotamian Mythology/Sumerian Mythology.
Before being called Tiamat, she was known as the Goddess of Beginning, the primordial sea, Nammu. Along with Abzu, she was manifested from the Sea of Dawn, an Ocean of Void that lies below the Underworld of Ereshkigal, said to have once been under the administration of the god Enki.
In Sumerian Mythology, the gods were born from the pairing of Tiamat, who is the salt water, and Abzu, who is the freshwater. Afterwards, the gods, who are their children, waved their banner of revolution against the primordial father Abzu and acquired supremacy over the world. At this moment, Tiamat gently approved the deeds of her children. It is proof that her love for her children has won over her love for her husband.
However, the gods pointed their blades even at Tiamat, their mother. Tiamat, in her grief and disorder, gave birth to 11 Magical Beasts as her new children, and they had a showdown with the gods. At the end of the conflict, Tiamat and her 11 Magical Beasts were torn apart.
It is said that the gods tore up her corpse into two, forming heaven and earth from it, and thus, they established the ritual for the creation of the World of Man.
Tiamat was "a womb discarded after the Genesis", becoming the origin of Sumerian Mythology. She was turned into a "Mother Sea" and was put to use as a breeding ground to produce life, but once the earth's environment stabilised and after the ecosystems were established, she was banished to the World of Imaginary Numbers as something unnecessary.
Needless to say, for an entity with such an imposing myth, Tiamat is an absurdly powerful Servant.
Through our bond, I push the realisation to Nero instantly making her eyes widen just slightly as she mutters, "That is quite the opponent... As expected from a Champion."
I almost let out a chuckle before I hold back and say, "That's putting it lightly. She is outright absurd. On top of her immense firepower, strength, and endurance, Tiamat lacks the concept of death and can heal herself from the Sea of Life over time, rendering her virtually unkillable without being able to enforce the concept on her powerful Saint Graph."
She isn't just dangerous, she is a catastrophe given form.
[Only one shall remain. Fight. Survive. Ascend.]
The Sakura Labyrinth's voice echoes again, sounding almost eager despite its mechanical tone.
However, neither of us moves as we quickly realise that something is off and across the arena, Kang Yaling and Tiamat don't move either.
Instead, she calmly looks around, observing, analysing.
Her expression doesn't change, but when she speaks, her tone is almost disappointed, "So... This is it?"
I blink as she tilts her head slightly, gaze drifting across the arena before she says, "The whole setup is way too crude. All that careful manipulation, all those hidden schemes... And this is the final result? I admit I was expecting something more."
I narrow my eyes, following her line of thought, and then I see it too.
Hidden beneath the collapsing structure, woven into the data streams, something is ready to siphon energy.
It is quite subtle, but not subtle enough and in an instant, I understand its purpose and say, "I see, they want to take advantage of it and harvest the fruit of our labour. Our fight. The energy, the output… everything. Just to empower themselves."
Yaling nods once and says, "It's obvious."
Then her gaze sharpens as she adds, "Which makes it very annoying."
She raises her hand slightly and casually comments, "Since it has come to this, there's no point pretending anymore."
The next moment, her body is briefly engulfed by a pale blue flame for a brief instant, and then, the pale blue flame is blown away, revealing that her attire has suddenly changed, a sign that she has activated her powers.
Her new outfit consists of a black ankle-length tailcoat, a high-necked dark grey waistcoat with gold buttons, cinched black pants, brown-black winklepickers boots with tall heels and red gloves.
Over her eyes is a white, birdlike domino mask with black designs around the eyes reminiscent of full eyeliner and sharp lashes.
Her current attire immediately reminds me of Joker of the Phantom Thieves from Persona 5
After her transformation, her eyes lock onto a specific point in space as she orders, "Force the rats out... Yoshitsune!"
For a brief moment, nothing happens, but then a figure appears behind her, the Persona she just called out.
It is a warrior who hovers poised in a moment that feels just before motion, balanced between stillness and strike.
He is clad in traditional samurai armor, their figure is lean and athletic, the kind of build shaped by discipline rather than bulk.
Every line of his body suggests control; he holds a low, semi-crouched stance, one leg bent forward and the other set back for stability, ready to move in any direction without hesitation.
The hair is long, black, and straight, drawn back beneath a tall, conical helmet. A few loose strands fall around the face, softening what is otherwise a sharply defined appearance.
His skin is pale, almost porcelain, creating a stark contrast with the vivid red markings painted across their cheeks and stretching toward his temples.
These markings frame the face with deliberate precision, amplifying the warrior's presence rather than decorating it.
The face itself is striking. Sharp, angular brows sit above narrow, almond-shaped eyes that seem to cut through whatever they rest on. The irises are dark, nearly blending into the pupils, and the gaze carries a steady, piercing focus. Red lines extend from the eyes, accentuating their shape and adding to the sense of controlled intensity. A straight, pointed nose and thin, slightly downturned lips complete the expression, which settles somewhere between calm determination and quiet menace.
Their armour is elaborate without being excessive, built in layered plates that balance protection with mobility.
It is predominantly a rich, metallic red, trimmed with gold accents that catch the light in sharp flashes. Large, segmented shoulder guards give the upper body a formidable silhouette, while the chest plate bears a central crest, stylised and bold, hinting at allegiance or personal code.
The armour continues downward in overlapping sections that protect the waist and hips, secured with a black belt studded in gold.
Beneath the armour, white fabric shows through in clean, deliberate layers, likely a traditional under-kimono and protective garments.
The legs are protected by padded white coverings and reinforced with red greaves that run down to the ankles. On his feet, simple black shoes with a tied detail ground the otherwise ornate design.
He carries two weapons. A katana rests across their back, one hand already placed on the hilt as if drawing it is only a matter of timing. At his side, a shorter wakizashi sits sheathed, its grip patterned and ready.
Both scabbards mirror the armour in deep red, tying the entire figure together in a cohesive palette of red, black, gold, and white.
(Image Here - Yoshitsune)
Without hesitation, the Persona moves where Kang Yaling is pointing and unleashes eight strikes in an instant.
Without any doubt, it is his signature move, Hassou Tobi.
The space itself cracks like glass, and something hidden behind it is forced into the open as the familiar voice of BB echoes out, slightly panicked, "W-Wait...! Shouldn't you two be fighting first…?"
Soon the broken space is repaired, and two figures become quite clear, one is BB and beside her stands another figure, Age Svenson, the Champion of Destruction, or at the very least it has his appearance.
He is calm, composed, smiling as he lightly comments, "Ah… I suppose hiding here while you two fought and killed one another was a bit too optimistic."
Hearing his tone and watching how he acts further confirms the suspicion I had had since the first time I saw him in this Holy Grail War, so I step forward slightly, narrowing my eyes before I declare, "You're not Age."
He looks at me, amused as he says, "Oh? You noticed."
His smile widens as he continues, "That's good. It would have been disappointing otherwise."
The presence he gives off is completely different from the Age I fought before.
It's sharper, colder, more deliberate.
I continue to keep my gaze on him, but without dismissing BB, Kang Yaling, and Tiamat as I say, "The one I fought before wouldn't talk like that. Wouldn't stand like that either."
He chuckles and comments in a dismissive tone, "Ah, yes. That horny idiot... He was just a puppet and now... Just a convenient shell."
Then his eyes lock onto mine as he says, "My name is Lucas Burns."
After a brief pause, he adds, "The Champion of Restoration."
The words settle heavily in the air while I connect the dots, 'So that's it. Everything clicks into place. That strange feeling. BB. The manipulation. The accelerated war.'
While thinking that, I say, "You've been behind all of this."
Lucas replies with no hesitation or denial in his tone, "Of course. Efficiency is key, after all."
Before I can respond, Yaling moves with no shift or warning.
One moment, she stands across the arena and the next, she's already there.
Inside Lucas' range with her Persona behind her. However, the first strike doesn't come from Yoshitsune; it comes from her.
A blade forms in her hand mid-motion, a short knife shaped from pale blue energy, its edge thin enough to barely exist. She drives it forward in a direct, precise thrust aimed straight for Lucas' throat.
At the same instant, steel flashes behind her as Yoshitsune draws his katana.
Two attacks, perfectly layered.
Lucas reacts on instinct, power surging outward to intercept, and the clash detonates.
Yaling's knife meets a wall of force that collapses and rebuilds in the same instant, while Yoshitsune's slash cuts through the outer layer a fraction of a second later, striking the exact point destabilised by her attack.
Space folds and then ruptures.
The arena shudders as the impact ripples outward, fragments of floating terrain scattering before snapping back into place as if dragged by invisible threads.
Lucas doesn't move as he meets everything head-on.
Energy erupts from him in violent waves, destruction and restoration overlapping so tightly they become indistinguishable. Matter is erased and rebuilt in the same breath, the battlefield flickering between states of existence, forcing me to erect a barrier around us to protect us from the effects of their clashes.
Meanwhile, Kang Yaling is already gone. She isn't retreating but moving to a new, more favourable position.
She slips to his side, low and fast, her knife carving a horizontal line toward his ribs, and a gunshot follows shortly after.
The weapon appears in her off-hand without transition, a compact black firearm formed from the same energy as her blade.
She fires point-blank.
The bullet isn't purely physical but more like compressed kinetic force.
It detonates on impact an instant before Yoshitsune's second strike arrives from above.
Three vectors of attack in almost a single moment.
In response, Lucas laughs out loud, "Hahaha! Good! Let's see what the Champion of Life can..."
He cuts himself off as the sequence doesn't stop, but it accelerates even more.
Kang Yaling doesn't disengage after the first exchange. She stays inside his range, weaving through the violent surges of power with movements so tight they barely clear the edges of annihilation.
Her knife flashes again. It looks like an obvious feint, but it is in fact a setup.
Lucas shifts to block it, his power surging to meet the threat, and Yoshitsune strikes from behind, blade cutting through the exact point Lucas just reinforced, unleashing his signature move.
Hassou Tobi begins, but it isn't isolated.
Each of the eight strikes lands in coordination with Yaling's movements.
First cut, she steps in, driving her knife into the gap created by the impact.
Second, a gunshot forces Lucas to redirect his output upward.
Third, Yoshitsune's blade descends through the opening.
Fourth, fifth, sixth.
They come faster, layered so tightly that they blur into a continuous assault, each hit setting up the next, each motion eliminating the need for the following one to adjust.
Lucas' power surges outward in response.
Much larger, much heavier, and less controlled.
Entire sections of the arena collapse under the pressure, reduced to raw data and immediately reconstructed into jagged structures that explode outward in every direction.
Yaling moves through it.
She doesn't try to overpower the waves. She threads between them, her body turning just enough to avoid contact, her steps placing her exactly where the destruction isn't.
A construct forms at her flank; she shoots it without even looking, making it detonate before it fully manifests.
Yoshitsune's seventh strike lands at the same instant, cutting through the destabilised space and forcing Lucas' regeneration to spike unevenly.
Lucas turns faster this time and catches the eighth strike.
Their power collides, and the resulting impact bends the space around them, a shockwave tearing a clean void through the floating debris.
For a moment, they're locked. Force against precision.
But then, Lucas grins, "Is that all..."
However, Kang Yaling steps in, inside his guard, inside the clash, where his power is at its densest and least stable.
Her knife twists. Not to cut deeper but to redirect his attention.
A subtle shift in angle. A minimal input. But it's enough to work.
Yoshitsune's blade follows that line instantly, slipping through a gap that didn't exist a moment ago and carving across Lucas' side.
A shallow wound.
Insignificant in the grand scheme of things, except for the fact that his regeneration stutters just for an instant.
At this moment, Kang Yaling is already gone from her previous position as she reappears above him, gun raised.
She then fires, not at him, but at the space around him.
Three shots.
Each one detonates at a different point in his field, disrupting the flow of his power just long enough for Yoshitsune to descend again.
Lucas answers with scale.
His power expands outward in a violent surge, swallowing the entire area in a storm of destruction and reconstruction. The arena fractures, layers of space peeling apart and snapping back together under the strain.
At first glance, it looks overwhelming.
Like he's taking control of the whole area, but I notice something that makes me mutter, "He's strong."
Nero, who notices the same thing, narrows her eyes beside me and adds, "But..."
I understand what she means and cut her off, "I know."
I don't look away. I can't. At this speed, to anyone else, this would be incomprehensible, but to me it's clear, 'I see it. Lucas isn't fighting. He's reacting with power. Every attack follows the same pattern. Expand. Overwrite. Restore. Repeat. No variation. No adaptation. Just escalation. He is almost like a kid swinging an object that is too big and too heavy. Meanwhile, Kang Yaling is doing the opposite. Every movement she makes has purpose. Every attack feeds into the next. Knife, gun, Persona... they aren't separate. They're one continuous system. One honed through countless life-death battles.'
She slips past an attack that should have sealed every possible path and reappears at his blind spot.
She cuts, fires and withdraws, not to retreat, but to reposition for the next sequence already in motion.
She's not testing him anymore. She's mapping him. Learning the rhythm of his power and exploiting all the openings she can find.
As a result, for the first time, Lucas takes a step back.
Barely, nothing more than a fraction of a step, but it's there. A clear break in his stance.
A moment where his output doesn't align with his intent.
He tries to cover it immediately, power surging to erase the opening, but Yaling has already seen it.
Of course she has.
She doesn't rush in or make a mistake and overcommit, but she simply adjusts, tightening her control over the pace.
And without even realising it, Lucas yields the initiative. It doesn't show in his expression, not yet, but I can see it, clear as day.
This fight is already slipping out of his hands.