Episode 267: Why... Why Must the Gods Go This Far?
『 "AAAAAA—!" Accompanied by roar after roar, Tiamat expressed her fury. At this moment, that wrathful howling seemed to penetrate the Underworld itself, echoing incessantly in everyone's ears. Not only that, the Underworld was… constantly trembling!
This strike… was truly formidable. She could truly destroy the entire Underworld. Whether or not it could be resisted would depend on Mash and Merlin.
Tiamat, now completely controlled by her beastly nature, had released all her power except for that which was sealed, even repelling all the peaks of the Underworld that had been binding her.
That boundary named Nega-Genesis, a mix of black and white, was approaching the group at flying speed.
Seeing this moment, the audience could no longer remain seated; they stood up one after another, loudly praying for the final victory of those before them.
Watching the boundary approach at high speed, plunging the group into a desperate situation once again, Fujimaru Ritsuka and his party became invigorated.
Excitement surged in everyone's hearts, as if a power was bursting forth from the depths of their souls.
Mash gripped the great shield in her hands and slammed it heavily against the ground. With a massive roar, a huge crater was smashed into the soil of the Underworld. The Chalk Wall instantly rose upon this land, and then…
"LORD CAMELOT—!"
⦍Now is a Castle of Distant Ideals⦎
Mash's roar erupted completely at this moment. Her eyes were filled with steadfastness and determination; her voice, like thunder echoing through the clouds, made the surrounding air tremble slightly.
An inviolable high wall rose from the ground of the Underworld, forming a thick, pure white rampart.
This fortress was as solid as a Great Wall of steel, giving off an impression of indestructibility.
Not only that, the moment Mash released her Noble Phantasm, cyan-blue magical energy began to flicker within the shield, constantly flowing and condensing together, finally transforming into a massive transparent barrier.
This barrier was like an invisible shroud, tightly wrapping around the entire city wall, doubling its defensive power.
Before this solid fortress, Mash stood like a guardian at the gate of the city wall.
Her posture was resolute and upright, providing an unshakeable sense of security.
The audience, sensing the output of massive magical energy, was momentarily stunned.
Though this wasn't the first time they had seen her use this Noble Phantasm, the impact brought by each release was different. This time, the magical energy was clearly more intense and surging than before, as if providing a full sense of security, making people feel that no enemy could break this wall…
"Hum-hum-hum!"
A violent, deafening sound echoed endlessly in everyone's ears.
The churning, surging Nega-Genesis before them was like a tidal wave, constantly crashing against the solid rampart Mash had established.
At this moment, Mash's Lord Camelot was fully deployed to meet the oncoming challenge. It collided violently with the rapidly approaching Nega-Genesis.
However, strangely enough, there was no violent reaction.
Nega-Genesis acted as if the city wall were nothing, easily passing through the defensive net of the Noble Phantasm Mash had laid out.
Despite this, Mash's efforts were not in vain because she successfully protected all her companions behind her from harm.
It seemed that one person's strength alone was not enough to withstand such a powerful energy barrier…
But it didn't matter… because standing behind her was an existence who also possessed otherworldly power—the world-renowned Magus of Flowers, Merlin.
He lightly waved the staff in his hand, and a flow of magical energy, accompanied by countless tiny flower petals, slowly rose up.
These pink petals floated into the air as if containing infinite power.
In an instant, those brilliant, dazzling petals began to spread rapidly forward, forming a vast, magnificent scene.
"GARDEN OF AVALON—!"
⦍Eternally Secluded Utopia⦎
As Merlin's incantation finally ended, under the expectant gazes of the crowd, the powerful Noble Phantasm he wielded revealed its full form, emitting a brilliant and dazzling light. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Shinomiya Kaguya (Love Is War): "Garden of Avalon?" ]
[ Utaha Kasumigaoka (Saekano): "Avalon, huh." ]
[ Eriri Spencer Sawamura (Saekano): "It looks… so beautiful." ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "+ 1 + 1 + 1" ]
[ .....]
『 Indeed, those light and elegant petals flew gently with the wind at this moment. Like a winding, murmuring stream, they brought brand-new life to this originally eerie, terrifying, and lifeless Underworld.
In an instant, the place was transformed into a dreamlike sea of flowers shrouded in pink.
The surging sea of flowers was like countless gentle, small hands lightly stroking the earth.
It tenderly soothed this Underworld, which was being ruthlessly destroyed by Tiamat, appearing fragmented and on the verge of total collapse.
Under the influence of this miraculous power, the entire scene became radiant and exceptionally soft, shining with the most brilliant and warmest glow.
At this instant, that powerful Noble Phantasm "Nega-Genesis," which had been obstructed once again and found its power difficult to exert, finally came to a complete standstill. 』
『 .....』
〜Type-Moon World, Fifth Holy Grail War World〜
"Well done! What a pair!"
Even though Gilgamesh was currently outside the video, after witnessing all this, he still let out a series of appreciative remarks, his face full of joy.
However, Kotomine Kirei felt quite confused and puzzled by this…
After all, he knew very well that Gilgamesh rarely showed approval or praise toward others or events. But his performance today was clearly different from the past; he kept expressing admiration just by watching this video segment.
Yet, it had to be admitted… the seamless cooperation between Merlin and Mash, as well as the astonishing intensity of the magical energy they erupted with, was indeed an outstanding performance.
—
『 Mash's Noble Phantasm and the one Merlin unleashed seemed to merge into one at this moment, jointly releasing a jaw-dropping amount of energy, even successfully blocking the fatal move of the enemy, who now existed as a Primordial Goddess—Tiamat.
Of course, standing atop the city wall and watching the scene of flying petals, Fujimaru Ritsuka knew in his heart: now was the perfect moment to launch an attack.
Without further hesitation or worry, Fujimaru Ritsuka bit his lip, his gaze firm, with no hint of fear appearing;
On the contrary, an indestructible, unshakeable determination burst from the depths of his eyes.
At this moment, Fujimaru Ritsuka completely cast aside his personal safety, firmly gripping that sharp blade and charging directly toward Tiamat…
He gripped the longsword with both fists and leapt down from the heights.
To an onlooker, Fujimaru Ritsuka's movements might have seemed as slow as an ant crawling, even slower than a snail;
However, those who originally wanted to provoke him with mockery immediately checked their attitude after seeing the resolute boldness in the youth's eyes.
No one expected that he would truly charge forward without the slightest hesitation.
Even as a mere human, this was an extremely bold and challenging way to act!
Just as the powerful forces collided, Fujimaru Ritsuka, existing as the Savior of Humanity, seized the opportunity. He leapt into the air and dashed toward Tiamat's location, the figure of the youth carrying the heavy burden of everyone's hopes becoming increasingly firm and brave…
As Fujimaru Ritsuka's receding figure finally vanished from her sight, the Goddess Ereshkigal, responsible for guarding the order and stability of this place, could no longer hold on.
Her legs suddenly gave way, a wave of dizziness hit her, and she lost her balance, kneeling directly onto the ground—the center of the multi-colored garden Merlin had created with magic.
The moment Ereshkigal collapsed powerlessly, her sister Ishtar, also covered in wounds but still struggling to stand firm to help, immediately ran toward her… 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Rimuru Tempest (Tensura): "What… what happened to her?" ]
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "It seems she's at her limit." ]
[ Fujimaru Ritsuka (Type-Moon): "She… she became like this after I left. Does it have something to do with me?" ]
[ Fujimaru Ritsuka (Type-Moon): "Why… why do such a thing…" ]
[ .....]
『 At this moment… the blonde girl lay quietly in Ishtar's embrace.
Sensing that the woman before her had no strength left, lying in her arms like a heap of limp clay, Ishtar felt an uncontrollable rage rise from the bottom of her heart.
"I knew it was strange! Breaking the taboos of the Underworld, lending power to the living without permission! And using so many Authorities! How could you be fine!"
Ishtar's words were almost a roar, but before she could continue, the extremely weak Ereshkigal interrupted her anger.
"I'm sorry…" On Ereshkigal's face, which had almost no strength left, a smile was forced out—a pale, strained smile full of helplessness and exhaustion.
"You…!" Realizing that the anger in her heart could not be quelled, Ishtar was momentarily unable to find the right words to respond to this sad scene. However, her voice already carried a hint of a sob.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing!" After a few seconds of silence, Ishtar finally squeezed out a sentence. Within these words lay all her dissatisfaction and fury.
At this moment, Ereshkigal had become even weaker than before, to the point where she could only speak in fragments.
"Of course… of course I know… But, but…!"
At this point, Ereshkigal's voice suddenly took on a slightly excited tone. She desperately mobilized what little strength remained in her body to cry out, "If! If I didn't give him my power! He would die! He would really die, do you know? He would die…"
As these words left her mouth, a faint sound of crying could be heard in Ereshkigal's trembling voice, but in the end, she forced back the tears…
No one could accurately foresee what fatal fate Fujimaru Ritsuka would have suffered without the addition of Ereshkigal's great power.
Thinking about it now… if not for that extra bestowed ability—especially the flight magic that helped him land safely in the Underworld at the very beginning—he would have perished the moment he first stepped into this forbidden land.
Realizing this, Ishtar's originally tense expression turned blank.
Setting aside whether the loss of flight in the even more arduous and uncertain battles later would have also led to the youth's demise.
Based on that initial moment of choice alone, Ereshkigal had long ago decided to give her all for this young man who was moving further and further out of their sight.
Perceiving the body leaning against her chest becoming increasingly frail, Ishtar, who had been suppressing her complex emotions, finally couldn't help but burst out, "Stupid… Ereshkigal, you really are a complete and utter fool…"
Ishtar, with tears shimmering in her eyes, was clearly not ignorant of all this.
How could she not understand the simple and stubborn thoughts held by her sister?
However, looking at it now, after outputting such a massive amount of Underworld power and even releasing her Noble Phantasm, the Ereshkigal before her might hardly have a chance to survive.
Realizing this, Ishtar fell into a deep sense of helplessness.
"Yeah… I am a fool… a total and complete fool…"
Ereshkigal spoke of her own foolishness with a smile, her expression full of tenderness.
Her words were like a ray of warm sunlight, dispersing the surrounding cold atmosphere.
"But… so what…?"
Ereshkigal's voice had become increasingly weak, almost like a whisper in the wind.
Everyone present realized simultaneously that the woman's time was running out; her life seemed to be reaching its end.
"I am the Mistress of the Underworld. To protect the Underworld, I simply chose the method with the highest success rate…"
Ereshkigal's hands trembled incessantly, as if making a final struggle against some irresistible force.
She wanted to grab onto something to support herself, but her body was completely devoid of strength; even the simple action of clenching her fist had become incredibly difficult.
Watching Ereshkigal, whose whole body was shaking uncontrollably, Ishtar could no longer stop the tears from overflowing.
Her eyes were red, her heart filled with endless sorrow and reluctance.
"But… you finally met someone you could talk to. If you disappear now, what was the point…?"
Listening to Ishtar, who was still bitterly pleading for her not to disappear, Ereshkigal's heart was filled with mixed emotions, yet at this moment, she once again showed that familiar, gentle smile.
Despite her terrible physical condition, her smile was exceptionally serene and firm.
At this moment, she just quietly gazed in the direction Fujimaru Ritsuka was heading, as if there lay some special meaning or unfulfilled wish.
That gaze was deep and tinged with anticipation, like a lonely soul finally finding a place to belong.
"I wonder if next time, there could be a more romantic encounter…"
"After all, my true nature is a bit darker than it is now…"
Now, Ereshkigal's physical state was getting worse and worse. It wasn't just the constant trembling; even basic communication had become extremely difficult.
Yet, even so, she persisted at this final juncture, as if she still had some unfulfilled wish and was unwilling to let go easily.
"But… that's okay. Because… It's not that I like who I am now, I just simply like that person's way of life…"
With great difficulty, Ereshkigal slowly raised her arm.
Hidden within her palm was an extremely vivid and eye-catching pink-purple flower petal, emitting a charming luster.
When she saw this flower, she seemed as happy as if she had seen the most precious treasure in the world, a brilliant smile spreading across her face.
"Amazing… flowers actually bloomed in my Underworld…"
With the conclusion of those words, Ereshkigal's figure gradually became blurred and finally transformed into streaks of bright and beautiful pink light.
Then, these lights slowly merged into the petal she held, drifting down with it into the brilliant sea of flowers.
Ereshkigal… thus quietly vanished from everyone's sight. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "She… she's just gone like that." ]
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "No wonder Fujimura Ritsuka had so much power after coming to the Underworld; it was all because of the power lent by this goddess." ]
[ Tanya von Degurechaff (Youjo Senki): "This goddess… why go to such lengths…" ]
[ .....]