The resolve in Rikka's eyes was sharp, but beneath it burned a terrifying, quiet fury directed at the Beast who had incinerated the world and stolen the future.
—Ninety percent of the Gate of Babylon?! Ea thought, her mental voice wide-eyed. That's massive! I have to put retrieval markers on everything!
"There is no need. If they can be recovered, fine. If not, so be it."
—Eh? But… your treasures! If you're firing that many…
"As long as I have you and these companions, it matters not. If the King's Way is to protect one's treasures, then this is the moment to expend every coin in the vault. Isn't that right, Ea?"
The personified sword paused, then nodded fervently as the weight of his trust hit her.
—Yes! To protect the Master, Mash, and everyone!
(In that case, I suppose I should get serious too,) Fou added, puffing out his chest. (I have to stay by Ea's side and keep her safe, after all.)
Ea pulled the small creature into a warm, adoring hug.
"We are masking our phase signature with the Marduuk," Gilgamesh continued. "Unless Goetia destroys the Marduuk, he cannot pinpoint Chaldea's location. We must exploit this advantage to the fullest."
This was why the Grail hadn't been sent back immediately. Chaldea knew the enemy's coordinates, but the moment Marduuk made landfall, Goetia would lose sight of them. The Marduuk was acting as a lightning rod, housing the final Holy Grail.
"We have potential reinforcements, but there are too many variables. Relying on others is a fool's errand. We must enter this battle with the conviction to overwhelm them single-handedly. I shall cast aside all negligence and pride into the abyss; I will give this battle my absolute soul."
The King spoke with chilling finality. Failure was not an option.
"Rest easy, as if you were aboard a Great God itself. Seventy-two demon gods? I shall eradicate them as easily as if I were snapping twigs."
"Hahaha! You're so reliable I don't even have anything to add!" Roman laughed, before pulling up a schematic of Goetia and the great band of light. "Then, allow me to brief you on Goetia himself."
"Goetia possesses a Noble Phantasm: Ars Almadel Salomonis: The Time of Birth has Come, He is the One who Points to the Beginning. …To be blunt, Mash is the only one who can defend against this."
"Me?" Mash asked, breathless.
"Yes," Roman said, expanding the data. "This is an attack that converts the entirety of human history into raw heat. Nothing currently existing on this Earth can withstand it."
—Nothing 'currently' existing…
Ea caught the subtle nuance in Roman's words.
"The only thing that can repel it is a defense of the soul—a protection that nothing can violate. Mash, only your Noble Phantasm can become the bulwark against that heat."
Roman looked at her with piercing sincerity.
"You… your life is the one variable Goetia didn't account for. You are the breakthrough. Do you understand? Your heart, your will… they shall become the castle that topples his aeons of regret."
"My will…"
"Yes. Your journey has led you here, to the point where you can overturn his entire plan. …However, if it's just you, sacrifice will be unavoidable." Roman's voice faltered with sadness. "Even if the shield itself isn't burned or breached, your physical body cannot endure that much heat. If Mash is to protect everyone, then someone must protect her."
He placed a hand on Rikka's shoulder.
"That's where you come in, Rikka. You must use your power—your status as a 'Beast of Humanity'—to shield and defend Mash."
The two girls looked at each other and nodded in silent, fierce agreement.
"Use your power to guard her against the heat that will rain down incessantly. Mash will take the direct hit; you simply need to keep the two of you alive. If you can do that, Goetia will be exposed."
We can win. Roman was saying it clearly.
"After that, Rikka, it's your turn. Give that pessimistic familiar of mine the thrashing of a lifetime. You can do it. He possesses 'Nega-Summon,' which gives him resistance to anything summoned from the past. In other words… Goetia can only be defeated by a human living in the 'now.'"
A human living in the now…
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