Opening her mouth, Leonardo Da Vinci paused. Her gaze lowered slightly as he looked at Romani with a complicated expression.
"...Honestly. When you say something like that with that kind of expression and tone, I can't even bring myself to nitpick."
Da Vinci asked again, "But is it really okay? If this continues, you'll have to give up this freedom again."
"It doesn't matter anymore, because Ritsuka Fujimaru is still there..." Looking at the status of Ritsuka Fujimaru displayed on the auxiliary screen, Romani knew he could no longer delay.
The emergency injectors on the specially made shoulder guards and arm-armor Mystic Code Ritsuka wore had already been mostly used up. This kind of stimulant—something like a combination of adrenaline, morphine, and magical energy recovery—came with severe side effects.
He had already reached his limit—no, surpassed it. The fact that you can still stand is incredible.
Ritsuka, this kind of pain, this kind of enemy... even those so-called elites of Team A would have already failed. Your burning determination—I've received it. I've long since received it.
Romani glanced over and smiled. "As long as he becomes an outstanding Master, then my existence has meaning. That's the greatest purpose I've found in being human."
Rustle rustle—
Walking to the drawer on the right side of the command seat, Romani rummaged through the stacked folders like chatting with an old friend, without even looking up. After a moment, he pulled out a treasured tin of black tea and a mismatched set of teaware. As he twisted open the lid, he let out a gentle chuckle.
"As a reward for the freedom I've had until now... this is more than enough."
Whoosh—
Setting out the teacups, cleaning the utensils, waiting for the water, adding the tea leaves, rinsing them, brewing, pouring... everything felt as though it belonged to another lifetime.
Lifting what might be the last cup of tea he would ever brew himself, Romani carefully held the steaming cup and handed it to Da Vinci, who stood frozen. "Here—top-grade Darjeeling from the Apennine Peninsula. It's rushed, so it might..."
"Hey, don't look at me like that. Having a hobby is perfectly normal..." Noticing the question in Da Vinci's eyes—You slack off?—Romani scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
He then handed over the cup, gently blew on his own tea, raised it in a casual toast, and drank the hot tea in one go. "Mm—ah... hot."
Placing the cup down on the table, Romani patted his chest and wiped the corner of his mouth before stepping past Da Vinci. "Well then, see you."
"If I'm gone, I'll leave everything after this to you, Leonardo~"
Finally, before the door closed, Romani made a peace sign and tapped it against his forehead.
Click!
"That last message really suits your style, Romani..."
Da Vinci watched as the control room door shut.
Yes... even if you suspect that Selene's target is you, you still have to go.
Unless you can harden your heart—ignore Ritsuka Fujimaru, ignore Mash, ignore the incineration of human history entirely.
But you can't.
After a long moment, Da Vinci turned back to the screen. The steam from the teacup had diminished slightly. She took a small sip.
Mm. Smooth, slightly sweet, slightly bitter...
...
Rumble—!!!
The 'sun' dimmed. Above the temple, the halo hanging high in the sky began to leak a crimson glow from its edges.
Like a surging tide, the mutated wave of Demon God Pillars swept toward the struggling 'fool.' Countless points of light filled the sky, forming a barrage that covered everything.
His eyes slowly opened. What appeared in Ritsuka Fujimaru's vision was Mash's back as she desperately held up her shield—and the many Heroic Spirits fighting with all their might.
Aside from the throne atop the white jade staircase, everything around them had transformed into a vast ocean formed by the Demon God Pillars. This 'ocean' seemed endless—the only thing visible was the dark red stretching to the horizon.
"Cough... cough..."
Veins bulged across his exposed skin. His face flushed unnaturally, the whites of his eyes bloodshot and red—but his azure pupils shone brightly from the massive magical energy conversion within his body. He clenched his teeth.
We can't win!
The thought involuntarily surfaced.
No... I have to win!
At that moment, 'Solomon's' voice rang out from above, proud and resonant. "Rejoice. No matter how foolish humanity may be, I am still merciful."
Thud! Thud!
The Demon God Pillars scattered, and a massive pitch-black creature stepped forward.
A towering, muscular body knotted with sinew. Limbs as brutal as a beast's. Facial features twisted together. Withered yellow hair like branches. Eyes covered his hands—one even embedded in his chest, bloodshot and glaring. The violent, savage aura surrounding him sent chills through the air.
This was the true enemy of humanity—the calamity of extinction. The mastermind behind the incineration of human history. One of the Seven Evils of Humanity—Beast I, embodying 'Pity.'
"You're not Solomon at all! A form like that—there's no way that noble king would ever wish to destroy his own people!"
Ritsuka Fujimaru stood again, shouting sharply.
"Noble?"
At those words, the creature paused arrogantly. Its blood-red eyes rolled wildly before it burst into mad laughter.
"Hahahahaha—!"
"That's the funniest thing I've ever heard. Ignorant, foolish mortal—Solomon? Noble? He was nothing but a cowardly fool. He saw everything, yet chose to ignore it, letting it all unfold naturally. All tragedy and disaster stem from him—yet he cloaked it as obedience to divine will."
"Hahaha... fine. It's about time to discard this foolish king's shell. Foolish one."
"Listen well. The moment I reveal my true form and entirety shall be your greatest honor! This is the end that humanity fears above all. You may call me—Goetia, the Incineration of Humanity!"
Like a thunderclap, a deafening roar erupted as monstrous magical energy burst forth.
BOOM—!!!
Goetia's twisted face stretched into a wild grin. Raising his beastly claws, his voice carried a prideful sorrow toward humanity—a condescending pity from above.
"Burn to ashes and scatter. That is the future awaiting you!"
At the instant he spoke, the terrifying magical energy surrounding Goetia—hovering before the luminous bands in the sky—began to erupt.
"Watch closely. Having destroyed the foundation of human order and reduced the strength of human history to zero, it shall be ignited through our observation—"
Goetia's merciless proclamation.
In an instant, it felt as if the entire world had been pressed down by an invisible gravity, forcing the bodies of all Servants to sink.
"Never..."
Just as Ritsuka Fujimaru raised the Command Spell in his hand once more—ready to burn his life again like a mayfly shaking a tree—a gentle hand rested on his shoulder, and his body suddenly felt light.
"You've done well, Ritsuka. Leave the rest to me."
...
"Oh? That presence... looks like the finale has begun."
Maintaining her gradually fading body, surrounded by scattered remains and chunks of flesh, Selene—holding a massive golden sphinx she had just ripped from a tomb—sensed the strange aura that had suddenly entered the temple's barrier and couldn't help but grin.
'Bianka, the time is almost here.'
'Understood.'
...
Ritsuka Fujimaru turned his head, disbelief written across his face. "Doctor Romani?! Why are you here?"
Dressed in his Chaldea physician attire, Romani stood behind him as if on level ground, calmly gazing at Goetia.
"Goetia, you said you do not want the name of the King of Magecraft. Then allow me to introduce myself as such."
Hum—!
Vast golden magical energy enveloped Romani's entire body. The gravity of the world seemed to be dispelled in an instant. When the light faded, his silver-white braided hair and red-and-white robes left Ritsuka stunned.
"Doctor Romani... you... Solomon?"
"I'm sorry, Ritsuka, for hiding it for so long. Leave the rest to me. I will atone for my mistakes." Romani—no, the true Solomon—spoke with an apologetic expression.
"I know my sins cannot be expressed with words, but please allow me to make amends."
With that, resolute, Solomon stepped past Ritsuka. "My name is Solomon, King of Magecraft. Goetia, the beast born from my remains, the shame I have carried for ages—now is the time for me to personally judge your evil."
"Hahahahahahahaha—!!"
At the sight of him, Goetia laughed.
A savage, frenzied, almost hysterical laugh. "Look who it is. How can someone be so shameless...? The most foolish human, the most incompetent king, only shows himself now! But it does suit your style perfectly!"
"Now that everything is already too late—die, die, die! Useless king, take your naive dreams with you to the grave! I'll send you to the underworld with your own Noble Phantasm!"
Raising both hands, the countless eyes upon Goetia's arms began to shine, resonating with the halo in the sky.
Rumble—!!
The entire temple, the entire world trembled.
Unmoved, Solomon slowly raised the hand bearing the single silver ring. "Yes, that was my intention from the very beginning. I will be destroyed by my own Noble Phantasm. Because that is the ending of King Solomon."
"Goetia, allow me to teach you the final magecraft."
"—What?"
In that instant of realization, terror flashed across Goetia's horrifying face.
"No! No—you're already dead! How could a Heroic Spirit defeat me? You can't do it! A coward would never make such a choice! Stop. Stop, stop, stop...!!! This ring, this throne of omnipotence—it does not belong to you alone—!"
At this moment, the so-called King of Demon Gods abandoned all composure, screaming like a child whose favorite toy had been taken away.
"The Time of Birth hath come, I am the remedy of Eternity."
"The Time of Coronation hath come, I am the beginning of Eternity."
Spreading his arms as if embracing the sky, Solomon's face was devoid of joy or sorrow—only a faint sense of release.
As his incantation continued, Goetia's overwhelming presence collapsed like a breached dam.
"O' Heavenly Father, I return to you your blessings."
"No!!!"
"And—The Time of Parting hath come,"
"He is the One who Lets Go of The World—Ars Nova!"
Hum—!!!
A blinding radiance erupted amidst the entwined Demon God Pillars, illuminating heaven and earth.
...
"We did it! Lord Ritsuka Fujimaru succeeded!"
High above, the ominous crimson surrounding the halo rapidly faded. Without the Noble Phantasm sustaining it, the halo itself began to crumble, its magical energy dissipating as it shattered into dazzling streams of light raining down upon the ravaged earth.
The Demon God Pillars—once impossible to destroy—instantly lost their vitality, collapsing and disintegrating.
"We won!!"
The few remaining, heavily injured Servants couldn't help but cheer.
Suddenly—"Ahahahaha—!"
"You've kept me waiting long enough. The true Solomon! Yes, this is it—the Noble Phantasm that returns all blessings to the heavens!"
A familiar, booming laughter cut through their celebration, freezing every Heroic Spirit in place.
"Goetia, it seems you have already failed. In that case, our contract is void."
Selene's sudden laughter left the battered Ishtar confused, though she still instinctively raised her guard.
"You've already lost, Selene! Just give up! You don't have much time left anyway—how about we stop here?"
"Lost?"
Sitting cross-legged atop the barely-breathing 'spinning blue lancer,' his face swollen beyond recognition, Selene—her form flickering with particles of light—casually tossed aside the severed head of a dark-skinned king of kings. Brushing the blood from her gauntlet, she let out a soft laugh.
"It's only just begun."
Raising her index and middle fingers, Selene spoke lightly, "Corrosion—begin."
Rumble—!!
In that instant, the crumbling Temple of Time, bathed in falling light, trembled violently. Endless violet-red runes reappeared like parasites clinging to bone. The patterns writhed as if alive, dancing wildly within an eerie glow.
"Selene, you—!"
Before Ishtar could finish, her vision blurred—Selene's figure had already vanished.
...
Elsewhere, as the sky was once again replaced by a violet-red firmament—
Whether it was the half-destroyed, dying Goetia or the fading Solomon delivering his final words, every Heroic Spirit sensed something was wrong.
"Within the returning 'blessing of heaven,' there is an embedded, highly infectious corrosive energy particle... a modification of this world's Age of Gods—ugh—!"
Crackle—!
A surge of purple-black energy erupted from the ground, transforming into countless twisting Subspace Ribbons that pierced directly into Solomon's half-fading spiritual body. As the Honkai energy flooded in, his entire body lit up with violet-red patterns.
The faint void-like connections extending beyond the sky grew increasingly clear.
"That presence... Selene."
"I've been waiting for you for a long time—the true King of Magecraft, Solomon."