?
"Wonderfully done, Caster. We have eliminated all six of the other Masters," My Master Marisbury spoke as we stood in front of the manifested Greater Grail. "We have won the Holy Grail War. Once I use my Command Seal to make you kill yourself, the ceremony will be complete," He said as he held up his hand showing the singular seal that remained. "The Greater Grail will be filled with the souls of seven, and the Magical Reactor Core used to reach the Root will activate. And then, the Third Magic shall finally take form. The Third Magic is the materialization of souls. Humanity shall escape the shackle of the physical body, be released from all suffering caused by its 'limitations,' and advance to a new stage. You are a sacrifice for that purpose. I am sure you understand, Caster."
I nodded in agreement. Humanity's salvation and growth were not the tasks given to me. If the humans of the era wanted to grow, I had no reason to stop them. Just as it was during my life, I simply did what was required of me. In the Fuyuki Holy Grail War, there would be no Servant survivors. All Servants were to be eliminated. Even I, the victor, was fated to commit suicide, compelled by my Master's Command Seal. Honestly, I was kinda impressed by what the Mages of the Modern Era had created.
"No, that was a joke. I'm kidding, Caster. I'm sorry. I got overexcited. I have no intention of offering my meritorious partner to the Greater Grail, I won't use my Command Seals, either. That kind of order wouldn't work on you anyway. Do you understand? I will not activate the Greater Grail. The Third Magic means nothing to me. As the head of the Animusphere family and chairman of the Astromancy Division… I must reach the Root in my own unique way. It's preposterous to ask me to rely on other mages' theories. The Miracle proposed by the Einzbern family… The materialization of souls and the growth of humanity… I have no intention of being part of such fantasies."
That was an unexpected development. Marisbury didn't realize it, but that was the first and last time he would ever tell a joke. What surprised me most, though… was how much his thoughts deviated from what I myself had seen.
"Then, what do you desire?" I asked him.
"I'm only after the Grail's ability to grant wishes, and my wish is clear. It's the completion of Chaldeas. Truth is, the one at Chaldea is still just a prototype. It was built to satisfy the sponsors. Sure it functions as an Earth model, but it's far from being complete. It's just like this Greater Grail, Caster. The theory is complete, but the all-important fuel to power it is lacking. The Greater Grail requires the souls of Heroic Spirits, but my Chaldeas needs something more...realistic. To power Chaldeas, I would need to take over power plants that could generate enough electricity for an entire country. For no less than six months, even. Essentially. I need a budget that could fund an entire nation. But the only assets I have… are my precious Offshore Oil Rig, Seraphix, and a French nuclear reactor I managed to buy the other day. That's not nearly enough. Simply put, I need more funds," He said, and I couldn't help but blink in surprise. "...That's fine. Laugh at my absurdity and shallowness if you so wish. Despite the divine greatness that is the Greater Grail, I seek from it neither eternal life, nor the Root itself. What I want is a giant pile of money!"
Marisbury told me to laugh, but there was nothing funny about it. Creating a miracle was his life's work. It wasn't something he could get someone or something else to do for him. Instead, he asked for the time it would take to complete his task to be shortened. Probably because he didn't have much longer left to live. He determined that, in the ten years or so he had left, there was no way for him to complete and activate Chaldeas. And so, to hasten its activation, he joined the Fuyuki Holy Grail War. The war was, to him, a shortcut. It would allow him to obtain the necessary resources without becoming indebted to rival families, or having to worry about financing and its inherent complications. He'd leave no traces. Nobody would be able to see what was coming.
"Thank you, Caster. I knew you would understand. Your cooperation will allow us to keep this ending our little secret. We can let the world think that Saber and their Master won the Fuyuki Holy Grail War. Only a coward would cover this up. But if I don't, the other Lords will be able to get in my way. No matter what the costs, I will complete the true Chaldeas and activate it. It will be necessary in order to secure humanity's future. By doing so, Professor Lev's Sheba will not only be able to see the future, but the light of the past as well. And pseudo-Spiritron projection - the Rayshift theory - will no longer be just a theory. Why did the Age of Gods come to an end? Why has the Foundation of Humanity remained unstable since the advent of the Anno Domini era? Once the Rayshift works, we'll be able to answer those questions."
I knew this man was dangerous in a way unique to mages. Simply put, he lacked the sense of morality. But, his burning passion and love for humanity were unwavering.
I signalled my consent.
This Greater Grail was not to be used to reach the Root, but to grant one man's wish.
"To grant one's desire," Marisbury spoke. "Yes, how ironic. The end result is turning out to be just the kind of nonsense the original ritual's creators promised."
I laughed in agreement, but only because I could tell that Marisbury's smile wasn't entirely genuine.
"What about you, Caster?" He asked me.
…?
"Hey, don't tell me you forgot what the Einzberns said! The Holy Grail will grant the victor's wish. Both the Master and the Servant have the right to ask for a wish. I wish for immense wealth. But what about you? What will you wish for? You can't change the past, but you can change how it is viewed today. Or would you like to be incarnated and live a second life?"
I froze. I never expected this Question.
My wish. My wish. My wish…
I never had the freedom to ask for one. So, I was about to say I didn't have one…
"No, I do. I can really… I can really wish for anything, Marisbury?"
"Yes. Anything but the life or Marisbury Animusphere, the man who summoned you. Come now, Caster. ...No. Solomon, King of Mages. My contractor. My one and only friend. Knowing you, your wish will be a righteous one. Say it with pride."
"..."
I remember my lips up into a grin.
And then the world went black.
Xxx
December 26
Andy awoke with more confusion and clarity than from any of her other dreams of another's memories.
As expected, Astolfo was currently snuggled into her back, while Andy herself was holding Mash in much the same manner. No Ana, because she'd asked Medea, little Gil, and Tamamo for some good sleep aids, which was also why she was confused about the dream.
She quickly checked the time on the wall-7:05—time to get up and face the music.
Andy was pretty sure 'the music' was 'The Final Countdown'.
She carefully extricated herself from the Servant Sandwich, and then woke up her rousing partners. "Hey, Kouhai, Azzy. Wake up time."
"Morning Senpai," Mash said after she arose herself.
"Good morning, Kouhai," Andy repeated as she stretched and got ready. "It's the Big One."
"Yep, it is, so who are you planning on bringing along?" Astolfo asked as he woke up as well.
"To be honest, I've been thinking about that ever since we got back, and uh, sorry honey, but I think it has to be either Lily...sorry, the Arturia formerly known as Lily. She's got a good balance of power and versatility. Sorry." Andy said, cringing as if in pain from saying it.
"That's okay, I know that I am not very strong," He said.
Andy flinched as if struck. "Sorry, Azzy." She repeated.
"It's okay," he replied.
"Still love you Azzy," Andy said, hugging her one fiance (and god, wasn't that a weird thing to think).
"Love you too," He said back with a kiss.
"Senpai, we need to go now," Mash said though her tone indicated that she wanted this to stay in the bed a little bit longer.
"I know, I know…"
And after she had said that the three of them got dressed and left for the Dining Hall, where they met up with Ritsuka, Roman and Da Vinci, many of the other Servants.
"So are you ready?" Roman asked as they sat down.
"No, not in the slightest," Andy said with nervous cheer. Her hands were shaking as she started to eat.
"Oh, that is good to hear, I would have to check you for brain damage if you were," He said back.
"So do you have any new information for us?" Ritsuka asked.
"Well, Sheba managed to analyse the Final Singularity as it were and now we have a good reading of the temple," Da Vinci said.
"And?" Andy asked, eager for any info.
"The temple is its own little world, a conceptual universe. If Chaldeas is a miniature model of Earth, the enemy territory is a miniature model of the universe. Well, it's a universe with no other celestial bodies. On a human scale, it would be about the size of a single cell. And what is interesting we can only detect a singular life form within it," Da Vinci explained. "There is an incalculable amount of magical energy swirling around the centre of the Singularity. That is most definitely the King of Mage's throne. The throne will be your target. But the route connecting to it is currently blocked. That is to say, the gate is shut, it is only to protect one's seat of power. So, to open it up, you're going to have to destroy all the surrounding areas. The enemy territory itself is actually a single massive life-form. It's sending energy from the outer edges to the core. So, once the outer edges are destroyed, the gate barring the way to the throne will shatter."
"Oh boy, so we're going straight into a hungry dimension that's self-cannibalizing and will undoubtedly try to eat us while we break it. Good to know!" Andy said, a rictus grin on her face.
"It's not alive in a sapient sense, the closest comparison is that of a tree, and its roots as it were, are several bases that serve as terminals for guiding the energy to the centre so if you either suppress them or destroy the path is going to open up," Da Vinci fully explained. "Though I do have a bit of bad news as well."
"Yeah expected that," Bazett said as she and Irisviel joined them at the table.
"Hit us with it, Leo, suspense is not good for me right now," Andy said, drinking the tea in front of her in the hopes of calming her nerves.
"It's our timeline, we forgot to take into account our approach to the Temple of Time, our acceleration towards it increased as we got closer," She said.
"Shit, gravity, my life-long nemesis," Andy swore. "How long we got, 24 hours? Less?"
"A lot less, we will collide with it in six hours, and be fully destroyed by it in twenty-four hours, if we do not destroy it before that. And when we do we will return to normal time with the date being December 31st," Da Vinci said. "And when you defeat the King of Mages you will have to walk back to the spot you arrived in."
"The exact coordinates?" Andy asked. "Will we even be able to tell where that is?"
"You will arrive in an arch from the looks of it," Da Vinci told them all.
"Oh good an arch that totally won't be destroyed during the fight that we will totally be able to find in a place the size of a galaxy, yay!" Andy drank more tea. "Sorry, sorry, just- this is a lot."
"The space is that, the base itself is not, it is much smaller," Da Vinci added.
"Okay, good, that's good," Andy said. "Anything else we know?"
"No we do not, have you decided on who you're going to bring?" Roman asked.
"Mash, obviously," Andy said. "And I had to go with my first. #1 Arturia."
"That makes sense," Roman said. "Though Miss Bazett only has one so do you think-,"
"Pick a dog, it's yours," Andy said, ready to sever the contract with any of her three Cu Chulainns.
"I will take the Berserker," She said.
"Mad dog! Get over here, you're going to a better Master." Andy ordered.
"Well, at the very least I am going to get a bit of big action," Cu Alter said as he came over and switched his contract with Andy to Bazett.
"You say as if you weren't the Big Bad Godzilla warrior back in America." Andy snarked, before having a thought. "Wait, is Godzilla still alive in this timeline?"
"...What?" Ritsuka asked as his spoon fell out of his hand.
"Oh my god, do you guys not have a Godzilla?" Andy asked in horror. "Do you at least have a Gamera? Who defends the planet? Oh god, no wonder all the magic shit's still running around here!"
"The movie characters, are you telling me they are real in your universe?" Asked Ritsuka with a loose hanging jaw.
"Wait, they're fictional here?" Andy asked, visibly shocked. "Oh my god, so it does go both ways! Nothing has made me want to actually talk to Zelretch more than finding this out, and what a time for it, holy shit!"
"Senpai," The singular word was filled with more 'shame on you' than any other rant she had heard in her life, or reprimand for that matter.
Andy immediately deflated, the wind taken out of her sails. "C'mon, lemme have a little fun at the end of the world, Kouhai."
"And now just crushed a thousand of childhood dreams," Ritsuka said in disappointment as he just picked his spoon back up and spun it in his cereal.
"Listen, I've been trying very hard to summon Godzilla this entire damn time, and also I'm lucid enough right now to admit I might have been having a panic attack and diverting in literally any way possible," Andy admitted. "Godzilla would be great right now."
"...Can't disagree with you on that," Ritsuka said.
"So, can you all finish up? We're going to Rayshift soon," Roman said.
And at that, they all nodded their heads.
Xxx
Andy sighed as she heard the computer's countdown reach zero and she saw the blue swirls of the rayshift process, though only for a second as it was replaced with the same image of suffering she had seen when she had gotten the vision from the Book of Destiny.
We can't bear to see this endless slaughter.
We can't bear to hear this ceaseless screaming.
Our Clairvoyance reveals all the horrible truths of past and future.
I, as king, cannot turn a blind eye.
I… We simply lack the ability to turn a deaf ear.
...How ugly.
Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly.
We are forced to witness all the horrors of this world. The revolting and the hideous are forced onto us, burned into our memory.
The only sensible thing to do is to rectify this repulsive state of being. But how? Even if we were to eradicate their filth, humans would simply create more. The very premise is wrong. As long as life exists, We can fix nothing.
It must be redone. That is the only option. Everything must be redone, and perfected right from the beginning.
What must be erased is not merely history, nor the ecosystem, nor continents, nor time itself.
We must begin from true nothingness.
Our plan was to re-create this planet from its beginning.
In order to do so, considerable resources are required. We need a truly massive amount of fuel.
For example, the massive amount of energy generated by incinerating all life on this planet.
But… a one-time harvest will not be enough. We will need to draw from the past, the present and the future of the whole world.
One second. One Minute. One hour. One day. One month. One year. Energy generated in each of these time spans will be harvested going backwards in time.
That should work… Three thousand years' worth of the planet's most potent energy.
Once it is collected, bound, and controlled, our task can be accomplished.
Our kindred, the portents We scattered across the land: We write here our indignation.
We shall leave a path for our kin who follow behind Us.
Build up a Temple. Pile up the bands of light.
We need every existing resource to destroy Humanity.
We need every second of eternity to forget Humanity.
Seek the way to the Final Singularity. There you shall find US, on the Throne of the King of Mages…
And the second it had appeared it was gone, and they were standing in by an Archway of Marble in an alien-looking realm.
"Okay did anyone else just experience that?" Ritsuka asked as they all quickly did a landing check.
"I did, but I didn't comprehend any of it, just that terrible image of suffering," Bazett said.
"Build up a Temple. Pile up the bands of light." Andy repeated, before shuddering. "That. That was the message from the Tablet. That message wasn't for us. He was calling more beings like himself. That was the message to Tiamat. Oh, g-" At that, she actually lost her breakfast on the alien landscape at the multiple realizations she was being hit with simultaneously.
"I heard words as well," Irisviel said.
"Okay I have a connection with you all, and to warn you all, the entire space now is giving off the same readings as Tiamat did, I am getting the reading of the Beast-Class Saint Graph," Da Vinci said, confirming the conclusion Andy had just come to.
And at that sarcastic clapping echoed throughout the area.
"You've got that right. Looks like you've wisened up a bit, Chaldea," Said a voice that made Andy's blood boil. "The fact that you made it past the Seventh Singularity is an accomplishment worthy of praise from me."
They all turned towards it and standing little aways from them stood Lev Lainur.
"Genuinely how the fuck are you alive, you shitty excuse for a demon catalyst," Andy said, all her nervousness immediately transmuting into anger.
"What? No 'Hi, it's been a while Lev?' and honestly, that question has an obvious answer. But honestly, right now I am just sick to my stomach by your persistent knack for survival," He said. "Can't you just lie down and die? That is such a simple thing to do."
"Lev Lainur, before our battle starts, I wish to know one thing," Mash said. "When you approached The Director, was your intent to destroy Chaldea and humanity from the very beginning?"
"My that is such a 'Mash' question. But there must be something else you'd like to ask me, no? 'He must have been on humanity's side, at least in the beginning.' 'Surely Lev Lainur was originally an honest man. He must have been seduced by the King of Mages at some point.' Isn't that it?" He asked.
"I want to know too, Lev," Roman butted in. "You were working for Chaldea even before I joined. The Foundation of Humanity could not be restored solely with Chaldeas. It was Sheba, which you developed, that allowed us to get this far. It's hard to believe that you had been working for Solomon from the beginning."
"Yeah," Da Vinci commented as well. "It's hard to believe you were able to deceive me for four years. When did you become a Demon God Pillar?"
"Oh my, how good to hear you Romani, and you as well Da Vinci. So you want to know when I started serving the King of Mages? Kekeke...hahahahaha! Beginning 3000 years ago, of course! From the moment the plan was set in motion, we were already in place throughout the world! Lineages destined to birth a Demon God Pillar in a hundred years, in five hundred years…" He spoke with glee on his face. "Or even one thousand years later! I just happened to be the one designated 2017 A.D.! We were like seeds planted in the ground—an original Order, handed down through generations of mages. A certain "way of being" that must be protected absolutely. Our Grand Order is the rule that the King of Mages created for this very moment. While human mages established their own principles and theories and passed them down to their descendants. We, whose power of the King of Mages, survived through the generations until the designated time. We etched a curse into our genes to host the Demon God Pillar, and continued our until our appointed era arrived. And in 2017, at the point, I should have awakened for I had to do it a bit earlier as Lev Lainur had become aware of me and tried to kill himself to stop the plan, but thankfully I managed to destroy his mind and take the body for myself. There I was the last Demon God Pillar, and your history came to an end. But it seems I miscalculated a bit thanks to your presence Murphy and so because of your presence Romani ended up surviving," Flauros growled in anger.
"Thank God for Nyarlathotep, because I'm still here motherfucker." Andy said.
"Oh… it all makes so much sense now, well today I am going to tie up this very loose end, I will not allow you to reach the Throne you little pests. I am the Demon God Flauros, of the 72 Demon Gods, the one who governs information!" He said as he exploded and took his tentacle form.
"Senpai, combat orders!" Mash shouted as she brought up her shield, and the rest took their own stance.
"Saber, Excalibur! Everyone else, hang back, normal attacks only! We're going to want to conserve mana!" Andy ordered, deploying her armour as she followed her own orders and jumped away from Flarous. Because as much as she wanted to literally rip and tear the bastard to shreds, she knew this would be better tactically.
"Order acknowledged, this is a fight to save the world! Excalibur!" Saber shouted as she swung her blade and the beam of Holy Light grinded the Demon God Pillar into dust. "Enemy eliminated," She said as planted her sword, but their victory was short-lived as an instant later Flaurus appeared fine and whole.
"It is pointless, everything you do here is pointless, we are inexhaustible. This entire space IS us! Come forth my kindred," Flaurus said and all around them manifested additional Demon God Pillars cutting off all avenues of escape. "Yes, we are the 72 Demon Gods, and they are us! You killed me. But what of it? There will always be 72 Demon Gods Pillars, no matter what you do to us. As long as the Throne exists upon this land, our number will never decrease! You face an infinite amount of 72 Demon Gods,"
"...But we can still injure you, you know," Andy said, drawing Shatterthorn. "We can inflict incurable wounds. Tell me, Flarous: Do you feel pain?"
"And so what? You can not defeat all Seventy-Two of us at once, where is your army? You will all die here today, Chaldea will end today. But you have our utmost respect for you all coming this far, you were supremely entertaining! We laugh at your resistance in the first Singularity. We laugh at your zeal in the second Singularity. We laugh at your adventure in the third Singularity. We laugh at your quest in the fourth Singularity! We laugh at your advance during the fifth Singularity! We laugh at your survival in the sixth Singularity! And the seventh Singularity… Well, that wasn't very pleasant, was it? It was a poor show… Not the least bit entertaining. Let's just forget about it entirely. Well, time to die," He said, and all around them the eyes of the Demon God Pillars lit up and beams of fire were launched.
"Mash! Mash! Camelot! Camelot!" Andy said frantically.
Though before she could slam her shield into the ground, another voice spoke up.
"Luminosité Éternelle !" And the area was bathed in light. "The time for them to die is not yet. This battle was a long journey that took you back through human history. However, you never once fell to despair. That is because you had so many encounters on that journey. Even if this entire planet became the battleground for the Holy Grail War. Even if everything on this land had turned into eternal ruinous grounds. Even if countless powerful enemies stood in your way at the end of your journey. You never gave up. You looked forward, knowing that fate has not been decided. This is no different. Now… let the battles begin Master." Stated the form of Jeanne as stood before them her banner raised high into the air as she protected them all from the attack of the Demon God Pillars that were now being eliminated by attacks launched by unseen allies. And Andy could hear them start to panic.
"Jeanne! I'm not complaining, but how are you here? And who did you bring with?" Andy asked excitedly.
"I don't know how but, the FATE system has gone into overdrive, Saint Graphs copies of the Servants within Chaldea and new ones are manifesting within the Temple of Time, twenty, thirty, even more, are manifesting now," Roman said in genuine surprise.
"How many I do not know Master, but hear me Heroic Spirits, Mighty Warriors from all corners of the world and all Eras. My True Name is Jeanne d'Arc, we might have our differences, but today we all fight for a common cause, today we fight for the ones that believe in heroes like us!"
"We, the ones who believe in you! The last remnants of humanity, all 41 of us! We ask you to accept this call, to answer our prayers! Heroes of the past, fight on for humanity's future! Our will creates your bodies, and your swords our destinies! We swear that we shall be all the good in the world! That we shall defeat all evil in the world! Guardians of the Scales!" Andy declared. "We need some Heroes!"
"And we shall answer, your words Master! Let us go forth and suppress the First Order of Pillars!" Jeanne shouted as the Pillars present at the entrance were eliminated.
"In other words, let's Rip and Tear!"
Xxx
"Activate. Activate. The nine pillars that govern the Melting Furnace: Zepar. Botis. Bathim. Sallos. Purson. Marax. Ipos. AIm. And I, Naberius. We nine pillars know sound. We nine Pillars weave song. In the name of the 72 Demon Gods, our Luminous torch shall never be extinguished!" The centre Pillar shouted as it tried to attack the group of Servants that were damaging them.
"Unfortunately, it looks like we need to put out that little light of yours, Naberius." Andy declared as Ahriman launched an Eigaon into a bigger eye near the middle of the DGP in question. "Can't let that shit shine."
"Yes, that would be the best thing for all us, that song of theirs is terrible for all our ears," Mozart said.
"Yeah we gotta show them how to do a proper concert," Elizabeth said.
"Please the sounds the two of you produce, is worse than the sounds that they are creating," Sanson spoke.
"Yes, while I like torture that would be too much even for me," Carmilla added.
"I, for one, think a concert would be great now!" Andy said as she dodged a laser. "Also, anyone else seeing the fork in the road here?"
"I do, guess we have to split up to suppress them all as fast as possible?" Ritsuka asked as he launched spears of darkness at the Demon God Pillars.
"I'll hang right, so you can get the Left Hand of Darkness path," Andy said, Ahriman cutting through Naberius. "Iri, you should probably go with me, more balanced that way."
"Yes that is probably a good idea," She said, as Vlad began repeatedly staking them together with Marie who was creating deadly stakes of diamond and having Martha fling them through the Demon God's eyes.
"I must say these things are quite disgusting. I am glad that I didn't get to fight them before now," Siegfried said as he landed beside them after having cleaved one in half with Balmung, while Kiyohime was burning one to death repeatedly.
"Attagirl Kiyohime!" Andy cheered as she ducked behind Mash who blocked another laser. "And yeah Sieg, always hated these things. Still don't get why they're made of corpses."
"Perhaps it is symbolic imagery pertaining to their source of origin," Saber Gilles said as he took out his blade. "But questioning will have to wait for later, we shall need to destroy this area's ability to direct magical energy to the centre. Lady Jeanne, lend me your power."
"Of course Gilles, Luminosité Éternelle !"
"Saint War Order!" He said as he gathered the energy of Jeanne's Noble Phantasm into his sword and then unleashed it into the ground, making it crack.
"Argh, we are being defeated! How could we be losing? Where is the information from the Command Terminal, how are we being overpowered by a ragtime group of Servants," One of the Pillars raged.
"Because fuck you, that's why!" Andy said as she slashed at that pillar. "We won't lose now! We can't lose now!"
"Critical damage to the furnace has occurred, breaking away from the Throne, focusing on self-recovery, Naberious rebooting," Naberious said and then went silent.
"Ha, so that is how we do it, if you focus on damaging them hard enough, killing them enough times, they have to cut off their other functions and focus on surviving, and so as long as you keep them doing that, the gate will open," Da Vinci said.
"Oh my god, the solution is literally-" Andy cut herself off. "EVERYONE! Rip and Tear! UNTIL IT IS DONE! AHAHA!" She cackled, because finally, finally, the design of her armour was actually coming into play. "In that case, it looks like everything's pretty much handled here! Everyone who's going with me, to Echo we go!"
"Right see you when the door opens!" Ritsuka shouted as he and Bazett went left.
Xxx
"Activate. Activate. The nine pillars that govern the Observatory: Glasya-Labolas. Buné. Ronové. Berith. Astaroth. Foras. Asmoday. Gäap. And I, Forneus. We nine pillars smell the scent of time. We nine pillars follow phenomena. In the name of the 72 Demon Gods, we will not allow this aggregation to cease!"
"Wow, if you guys are the observatory then you must really suck at your job for you should have easily been able to see this coming," Drake said as the Golden Hind opened fire on the Demon God Pillars. "Hello there Master going to board?"
"Sure! Always happy for a better vantage point." Andy said as she hopped on, Irisviel following soon after. "Also, isn't Ritsuka technically your Master?" She asked as she began firing over the side of the ship at Pillars.
"Semantics in this situation right now, now we gotta beat up some seafood, even Teach is getting in on it," She said.
"Of course, I am!" Shouted the pirate who was flying at the other end on the Queen Anne's revenge. "Can't let these tentacles keep the internet down any longer, for my por-wha!" he shouted as he dodged a laser.
"You, especially, we reject. We repudiate," Forneus spoke.
"LOLWTFFML, what I do to you to make you attack me in the middle of my super cool monologue? That is so not cash money," He said. "Anne, Bonney blast them full of holes, and Mr Achilles turn them into yesterday's American roadkill."
"Can't believe I got to be on this guy's ship again, but at least you're a lot of fun, Captain Blackbeard," Achilles said as he jumped onto his chariot.
"We will not be left in the dust, here Medea, and Medea you will assist Heracles, and Caenis. Asclepius you support Castor and Pollux!" Jason shouted as the Argo came barreling through between the Hind and the Revenge and on the front of it stood six servants with two of them being big and little Medea with big being behind Berserker Heracles and Medea Lily behind who Andy presumed to be Caenis. And besides her stood two people who Andy presumed to be the Gemini and behind them was Asclepius.
"HMMMM!" Came the growl from Heracles.
"Yes, I am sure, if they all protected me, I would only amount to a ten, but if they support all of you, you would be worth a hundred," Jason said.
"Hahahaha, I think that is the first time, I ever heard you not talk like a coward, Jason," Caenis spoke with a maniac grin on her face. "So these are Demon God Pillars, I wonder how they match up to the might of a Divine Spirit!" She shouted as she rocketed off, and collided with one of the Demon Pillars and began to rip into it. The other Argonauts followed suit with Atalanta providing a rain of arrows.
"Yeah, go my boys," Artemis cheered as she and Orion came up behind them alongside Euryale and Asterios.
"You think we can fit any more of the Greek Pantheon in here?" Andy asked, a massive grin on her face as she continued to shoot Demon Pillars. "Ares? Queen Hippolyta? Prometheus maybe?"
"Sadly no, this place is connected with Okeanos, so only us that had a connection with that could appear here, the Argonauts just cheated with Jason's Noble Phantasm," Artemis answered.
"Gotcha gotcha," Andy said as she daka daka'd. "Oh, by the way, in case you guys didn't hear, we literally just need to kill them so hard they can't do anything else to get through, just realized you might not have heard." She announced.
"Oh, we did you voice echoed all over the place," David said as he began to swing his sling. "And thankfully the Demon Gods are very big fellows. Now which of you want daddy's belt?"
"...That is in horrible taste, good sir," Irisviel said as she healed up some of the scuffed crew of the hind.
"...Guess you're right, apologies my dear Abishag, now how about after this we go to a lovely Isla-" His speech was cut off as Kiritsugu's Thomson Contender was fired from right beside his head.
"Sorry, one of them was taking aim at us," The Counter Guardian said.
"Also, no hitting on married women you cuckold," Andy warned.
"Hey, no kink-shaming," He replied.
"No, there is plenty to be shamed," Mash said as she repelled back another attack.
"Yeah dude, NTR is a trash fetish. Even I know that," Came Blackbeard's comment from the other side.
"You are all disgusting, we will kill and eliminate your filth," The nine Demon Gods present spoke in unison.
"After that conversation, that's understandable," Andy said. "Still not gonna let you do it though." She said as the claws shifted into the bulky shape of the BFG-9000 and fired, wiping out one of the pillars and damaging a few others.
"As if we would heed your...arghhh," Forneus screamed as Heracles unleashed Nine Lives upon it and the surrounding area smashing the place into pieces.
"I believe that's our cue to move on?" Andy said as the DGP's stopped talking and just started screaming.
"Yeah we keep the fort down here, assist the others in the suppression," Drake said.
"Great! Mind giving us a boost there?" Andy said, grabbing Mash and Irisviel awhile.
"Sure thing!"
Xxx
"Activate. Activate. The nine pillars that govern the Armory: Furfur. Marchosias. Stolas. Phenex. Malphas. Räum. Focalor. Vepar. And I, Halphas. We nine pillars mourn the flames of war. We nine pillars honour the dignity of the fallen. In the name of the 72 Demon Gods, we shall not allow eyes to be shut away from this truth!"
"Then I shall answer," Nightingale said as she reloaded her gun. "It is natural for humans to be moved to grieve for and to honour those who have fallen. But, we must also move beyond that. That's right. Instead of remaining steadfast and stagnant, believing all is well, we must extinguish war's smouldering flames. So that those who lost family, friends, and loved ones will never have to lose anyone again! We shall stand our ground here before you all!"
"Yes, exactly. You all do your grieving and your honouring, but fail to go beyond that. Now you are ready to throw the whole world into the wastebasket, as if cleaning up a child's scattered toys. This is the inane logic of a coward, who can accept neither his own faults, nor anyone else's! I am Rama, King of Kosala. Henceforth, my whole spirit shall become Andy's shield!"
"Mister Rama, that is my job," Mash said, seconds after their landing.
"Ah as if it isn't the little Missy and the Hero," Gyro said as he and Johnny landed with their horses.
"Well hell, never thought we'd see you two again," Andy said as she put down her passengers. "You'll never guess what I managed to do since we last met!" She declared seconds before Ahriman burst forth and began shredding the nearest Pillar.
"So you managed to obtain as Stand as well?" Johnny asked as Tusk drilled into Pillar.
"Well, something close enough to one, yeah," Andy admitted as she began carving at a Pillar with Shatterthorn, still trying to get that strategy to work.
"To manifest one's will is an impressive feat, one I commend," Came the voice of Karna as he landed. "Halphas you said that you will not allow my eyes to be shut? When I shall let mine stay open for a true hero kills with his eyes! Brahmastra!" He shouted as he blasted two of them.
In sync with this, Andy also declared "A true hero kills with her eyes! FUCK YOU!" And used the Mystic Eyes of Fuck You to significantly less effect on the Demon Pillar she was fighting, but she literally couldn't resist doing eyebeams in sync with Karna, she'd been waiting to do that literally since America.
And at the same time as the eye beams, three Demon Pillars were killed by another Servant. "It seems that I am ahead brother, with one kill," Arjuna said.
"Actually I am ahead of the both of you with two," Cu Alter said as he killed four and the nine quickly respawned.
"Well, all of you seem to have it in the bag," Irisviel said.
"Of course Ma'am, this is the power of America," Edison said. "Aren't I right, Mr President?"
"Of course America is the greatest country in the world, of course, any of our allies would be able to quickly suppress these Demon Gods," Funny Valentine said as he appeared from behind Edison, eliciting a cheer from Andy. "And the other thing we do well is further stacking the odds in our favour. D4C!" He said as he flipped his flag around and from it appeared Sita.
"Lord Rama!"
"Sita! How! The Curse?"
"It seems that, in this space, it does not register, so for now let us fight together once more," The Archer said as she drew her bow.
"Funny Valentine, you are officially my favourite president ever!" Andy declared, happy for the reunion of the star-crossed lovers. "Since you guys have got this in the Rama-bag, anyone got an easy lift to the next one?"
"Well, I could throw you?" Beowulf suggested.
"I think it would be better to have just Coyote carry, I think that would be more pleasant?" Geronimo offered.
"Thank you, Goyaałé, that would be great," Andy said.
"Of course my child, you need to advance as fast as possible," He replied.
Xxx
"Activate. Activate. The nine pillars that control the Chamber of Life: Shax. Viné. Bifrons. Vual. Haägenti. Crocell. Furcas. Balam. And I, Sabnock. We nine pillars celebrate birth. We nine pillars praise the union. The name of the 72 Demon Gods, we pronounce that disdain will never come to this adoration!"
"Hi, Hägen-Daz! I was feeling kinda hungry!" Andy greeted cheerily as they arrived, waving at the Pillar she'd helped pancake.
"...ARGH!" It screamed in fear. "I will kill you and take back the factor you stole from that version of me. I will not succumb to fear of you!"
"Wow, Andy, what did you do to this one?" Ishtar asked. "I had this big speech for these fake Demon Gods, and you just took the sail out of all of it."
"Oh, I made pancakes with him and Medea Lily," Andy said simply as they began the assault, Andy staying true to her word and targeting Haägenti.
"Humans can truly be more evil than any god," Though she quickly had to dodge a rain of spears. "Argh, what the hell Enkidu, did you throw them knowingly at me?"
"Oh, sorry, my hand slipped. I was aiming for your head, but I didn't think that you'd manage to dodge," The green-haired mud man said in an all too serious tone of voice.
"Did you remember to oil yourself? You're saying things you shouldn't, you piece of junk. "
"Right I am sorry, I shouldn't put you in danger. And just to clarify I am not talking to you, I am talking to the body you're borrowing. She is suffering enough sharing it with you," Enkidu said. "Though how about you pick up some of the Demon God pieces and put them in your hair, it matches with you since you're evil beings that bring peril to humanity, so do people a favour and put your true nature on the forefront."
"..."
"Senpai, I am sensing a bloodlust from Ishtar I've never felt before, and the smile on her face is really disturbing," Mash said in worry.
"Oh knock it off you too, be better in front of Andy," Ereshkigal said as she walked between the two.
"Hi, Eresh!" Andy greeted excitedly with a wave. "It's good to see you again! Are the other members of the Alliance also here?"
"Of course, I have yet to pay you back for your help," Gorgon said in a form that was much closer to her Babylonia monster form though significantly smaller, closer to five meters.
"I think after this we'll be pretty even, yeah?" Andy asked as she carved into Haägenti some more with Shatterthorn. "If we aren't, you can just let me pet your snakes a bit after we're done."
"No we are even," She said.
"You should loosen up a little bit Gorgon, Andy is just being nice," Ana said as she landed on the ground. "And by lighten up I mean you should lose some weight."
"Little brat, you better be careful, or else a little thing like you could vanish easily," Gorgon said.
"Now, now, Senorita, we snakes have to stick together," Quetzalcoatl said as she spun her club in her hands. "I would like to test my wrestling moves out on them," She said with shark teeth on display.
"Yeah, Merlin is a no show since he can't walk here," Ana said. "But he did leave a message for you," At that Ana hit a recorder.
"Sorry I can't have fun with you all! I am a little busy updating Magi Mari's website. I see you all in the future, if you undertake another adventure."
"Wait, did I just hear something that destroys my entire world!?"
"Doctor, I'm sorry about this, but online idols don't just magically appear on the internet… Wait were you in contact with Merlin the whole time?" Mash asked.
"Magi Mari, is real. It's just that she is managed by a complete slimeball, that's all," Said trying to salvage his sense of self.
"Well, not like we need him," Eresh said while Andy was dying of laughter as she kept stabbing her pancake with her sword. "I've got extra help with me."
And in a show of light, Leonidas, Ushiwakamaru, and Ibaraki appeared.
"I come to this battle after having trained three thousand years in the depths of Kur!" Leonidas shouted.
"G-good to-good to see you all!" Andy said through the tears brought on from laughing so hard at Merlin's message, still hacking away at Haägenti, who was also crying, but for other reasons. "Wait, wait, is Archimedes here?"
"No, I didn't save his Spirit Core," Eresh said. "It's time for us to shut down this area."
"And let me do it!" Came the voice of Paul Bunyan and an instant later, her massive foot stamped into the ground cracking it and causing the necessary damage.
"Awesome! Great work, Paul!" Andy said, still hacking away at poor, poor Haägenti. "Boss, how are Ritz and Zetti doing on the other end?"
"They have finished and ehhh! An eighth site has appeared? You all need to go there now," Roman said.
"Nine times seven is… oh shit yeah that makes sense, Quetz you feel like throwing?" Andy asked.
"I do," She said with a grin.
And Irisviel was starting to look a little green.
Xxx
"Activate. Activate. The nine pillars that govern the Trash Heap: Murmur. Gremory. Ose. Amy. Delial. Decarabia. Seere. Dantalion. And I, Andromalius. We nine pillars bury failure. We nine pillars cause discord. How resentful. How uncertain. In the name of the 72 Demon Gods, this structure shall not be closed!"
"Dammit the others were connected to the seven Major Singularities, and I can detect no Servants here, we must take down this one alone," Roman said.
"Yeah, we have to neutralize these on our own, but if we waste too much energy this could be bad," Ritsuka said.
"Yes. Perish, final Masters. You will not reach the throne. There is nothing here. We have nothing. No future. No past. No fate. No hope. Not even a miracle that people call 'God.' Everything becomes worthless here. Everything deemed unnecessary is disposed of. This domain is such a place. It is an island of death, and no one is coming to save you, humans. Fall to your knees. Bow your head. There is no need to even despair. Everyone resigned themselves here and cast everything away, for this is the 'end of will.' No one shall ever speak your names again!"
"Oh shut your fuck, BadMan," Andy said.
And as soon as she did that they froze as a certain laugh began to echo throughout the area. It was one Andy hadn't heard in months.
"Ha. Hahaha. Heehahahahahahahahahha!"
"What? A Saint Graph, approaching us at ultra-high speeds? It can't be! Who is it?" Andromalius asked.
"I come from a place beyond love and hate, to join my co-conspirator in battle once more!" The Count of Monte Cristo declared as he appeared before them.
"Gank! I was hoping you'd show up eventually!" Andy said happily, willing to take literally any help available at the moment.
"Geez, why do you look so happy?" Said the anger-filled voice of Jeanne d'Arc Alter. "He is not the only one who came."
"Hi, Joan! Or are you Miss Holy Maiden? And I didn't see you there yet." Andy said.
"I've told you don't call me that!" She screeched.
"And of course I came along as the leader of this group, couldn't let these problem children act on their own," Amakusa said as he and a bunch of other Servants that had shown up in the lesser Singularities.
"I don't really care about the end of the world, but I want to see what one of these Demon Gods tastes like, what blend of sake could I make with you?" Shuten-Douji asked as she licked her lips.
"Hehe, if you drink them I fry them up to be eaten," Ibaraki commented.
"I have not tasted the flesh of a demon before, but I am sure if you cook them enough, they can become edible," Iskander said as he and Waver came rolling up in the Gordius Wheel.
"Ara, Ara, you shouldn't eat things like them, they will upset your stomach Mr King of Conquerors, and also destroy anything these bugs offer you," Raikou said.
"Hey, so, BadMan, what was that you were saying about Despair?" Andy asked, the blade glowing as she and the many Servants around stood menacingly assembled.
"SABER!" Came the shout of Mysterious Heroine X as she arrived on the field. "The one true Saber has arrived!"
"Dammit, Mys-X you ruined the moment!"
"Sorry, Andy? (Though between you and me? What event is this? With the whole space theme, I thought this was Saber Wars Episode 2?)"
"...The Final Boss. This is the Final Boss, Mys-X. The climactic showdown with the 72 right before fighting King Slut himself. Please get with the program." Andy said with a sigh.
"Ah...Okay, I am on the program."
"Well, Guda Guda this is not, and why are these Pillars calling themselves Demon Gods, they aren't even triggering my Skill? What a bunch of posers," Nobu said in disappointment.
"PERISH! PERISH. The ones who carry flaws, perish like moths to a flame," Andromalius screeched.
"That is my line," Dantes said. "Are these the desired results after telling mankind to carve their own tombstones? What are these extras? What are these flaws? What do you call off this mass salvation? You say joy and sorrow, life and death should all perish? I see, it truly is salvation. What a relief that would be. Of course, that's something I refeject! I'm dying to rip all of you apart! You who have insulted my anger!" He shouted and unleashed his flames on the Pillar.
"OOOOOOOHHHHH, this is not part of the plan. Not. Part of. The Plan. Cursed Command Terminal, using a wretched avenger! Your one and only whim had led this of Heroic Spirit into my territory!" He screamed as he was destroyed.
"HAHAHAHA! Now help us subjugate the last of them, coconspirator!" Dantes shouted.
"Of course, co-conspirator!" Andy laughed, caught up in the moment as she began to do just that, targeting Andromalius with her blade and Persona.
And they crushed them until all sending of magical energy had ceased and a dimensional fissure had opened up that let directly to the centre.
"Andy go through it! There aren't enough Servants here to keep them all down," Ritsuka said as Arjuna and Nezha were really the biggest amount of firepower they had in the area.
"Oh shit, so we're finishing this like we started it huh?" Andy asked, voice cracking as the euphoria began to fade in light of the 'oh god why'. "Let's go! Once more, into the breach!" And the three of them jumped into the rift.
Xxx
"Visibility has returned, this is the throne?" Mash asked as they all landed in a field of white grass and stared upon a massive white throne of marble that looked like it had been fused with a crystalline substance.
"Fou, fou!" Said the small critter who appeared on Mash's shoulder.
"Huh? Fou? Did you sneak into my shield again when I wasn't looking?" Mash asked the small familiar of Merlin. "Talk about that later."
"Fou, buddy, maybe get back in the shield, for now, this is gonna get dangerous," Andy warned the strange white cat as she looked around cautiously.
"We underestimate the Heroic Spirits, all of the sectors of the Temple has been silenced and suppressed," Spoke the figure of the enemy who sat upon the throne.
"Solomon," Arturia spoke as she clenched her blade.
"Yes. We've met once before, I believe? Welcome, Chaldea's Master. Kings are usually pleased to show hospitality to guests from faraway places, I, unfortunately, hate you with a slight passion. I will give you neither a reward for your journey, nor goodwill. For why did you come here so soon? Couldn't you just have restrained yourselves for a few minutes? We were just putting the finishing touches on the Virtual First Noble Phantasm, 'Ars Nova.'"
"Well, you see, it's because by this Command Seal, Galahad, give us your spear, and by this Command Seal, Shielder Mash Kyrielight, put it in this fuckers heart!" Andy said, two Command Seals flashing and fading as she unleashed the Big One.
Andy saw the flash of crimson fly by her and impale Solomon right through his chest.
"Forgot that was something that Galahad possessed," Solomon said as he looked down at his chest as it and his mouth bled.
"You have the body of Solomon, who is a direct ancestor of Christ, you stupidfucking meat computer!" Andy declared happily. "I've been planning for this literally since London! Feel free to fuck off and die now, Slutoman!"
"Argh, so you figured out the truth then?" He asked as he stood up but looked like he was about to collapse.
"Yeah, took literal Sherlock to help us figure it out, but it was kind of obvious," Andy said as she took a ready stance and had Ahriman Heat Riser herself, Mash, and Arturia.
"Ah, then allow me the honour of showing you my true form, I longer have need of this form and name," 'Solomon' spoke, and at that, his form exploded. "Let this room be filled with our blessing. For one of the Beasts of Disaster, and Evil of Humanity shall manifest right here! I am the King of Mage's avatar, as well as the system he created. I am the first familiar he created that became the foundation of for you mages. I ruled a nation with Solomon and was left when he died, as a primordial curse. I used Solomon's body as a nest and achieved incarnation!" And as the light show died down the true form of 'Solomon was revealed to them.
"I am the Human Incineration Ritual, Goetia! King of Demon Gods, Goetia! Beast I, Goetia!" He declared. "I am the unification of the 72 Demon Gods, the one that shall create a new world!"
"...I think I might have been a little hasty," Andy said, voice cracking as she stared up at the massive repulsive monster. "Saber, I think it might be a good time to Excalibur?"
Her Servant acted immediately, and the beam of light was unleashed upon the King of Demon Gods and enveloped him. But when it was over, he stood utterly unscathed. "Have you learnt nothing! There is no difference between then and now, even with all seals unleashed even the light that banished the White Titan will not harm us, for we are immune to all Noble Phantasms. But for your tenacity and inevitable death, I will grant you knowledge, tell me what do you know of the bands of light?" Goetia asked, assuming himself with their despair.
"That they are what burned human history as the source of heat that surpassed everything on the planet," Mash said as she raised up her shield.
"Silly child you have it in reverse it was not the cause of the incineration, but the result. Yes, it is a heat source that could never exist on Earth for it did not. It is you, it is human history. It is the culminated energy of burning the earth with our gaze after setting the strength of human history to zero. Flames engulfed the earth and burned all life and civilisation, the resulting release of energy was extracted as Spiritrons. But one burning of the earth doesn't result in much energy. So we did again, again, and again, turning back the clock one second, and so a new surface could be burnt, and we did so for 3000 thousand years."
"What, what do you need that much energy for?" Mash asked while Andy was having a panic attack.
"To correct this world, we saw no but death and suffering in humanity, and so we wish to eliminate that, we do nought but pity humanity in its current state. And so with the energy of Bands of Light, we will use the Virtual Phantasm Ars Nova to travel back 4.6 Billion years into the past. At the birth of this celestial object, absorb all of its energy and then become the core of a new Earth, one that does not bear the curse of Nyx. An Earth that has a humanity that is eternally happy and immortal." Goetia spoke. "I shall rewrite Genesis, that shall be our grand deed."
That snapped Andy out of her furor. "That's your plan? You are going to go back in time, to prevent Adam and Eve from finding the apple?" She asked furiously. "That is the most idiotic, self-centred, ill-conceived plan I have ever heard, and I've heard my own plans before! Humanity is like the banana tree, not the fucking moon! If Adam and Eve never gain morality, they most likely never fuck, and if they do, they're little better than pre-programmed apes! So sure, 'all of humanity' might be happy, but that would consist of roughly two fucking people! Are you insane?! Did you lose your collective 72 minds? You're no better than the Lion King! You don't want to make things better for humanity, you want a fucking terrarium! Newsflash asshole, if you wanted to redo genesis there's a Servant who can do that with his Noble Phantasm, guess what his name is huh? Fucking guess? Cuz it's Solomon ibn-Gabriol, aka Avicebron, someone with the exact same fucking plan but infinitely better because it doesn't erase the good the people of the world have done! Somehow, you're pulling a cheap knock off variant that explodes compared to the superior version that comes later, you fucking deranged idiots!" Andy ranted, panting furiously as she stared up at Goetia. "Fuck you."
"Your perspective is limited human, someone like you and the King of Knights could never understand us, only one person here has the ability to, and that is Mash Kyrielight, for we understand and sympathize with her, a being like us that was created to serve humans and their selfish desires. I shall give you the chance once more to reject human history and live an eternal life as the Queen of the new humanity," Goetia spoke as he directed his attention towards Mash. "For something within us is telling us to not let her die, so will you let her give her answer to us Master of Chaldea, or will you prevent her from doing so, and prove you see her as nothing but a tool to be used without a will? Nothing but a puppet to string along?"
"Mash is my fiance, not my tool, you raging cuckbungalo!" Andy said, making no move to deny Mash. "If she makes a decision, I'll trust in it! Always!"
"Goetia, like in my dream yesterday, I reject you, and your words. So what if death is certain and life is meaningless. Human's don't find meaning in their own life, others find meaning in yours. My Master, my Senpai, my lover, gave my life meaning, and if they were gone, it would lose that meaning. I would rather live a year with them, than live an eternity in yours, the world, the Earth I fight for is the one right next to me," She declared.
"Mash…" Andy said softly, her name holding so much emotion, eyes focused entirely on Mash, while flipping off Goetia with all four hands in an 'I told you, motherfucker' manner.
"Shame," Goetia said. "Let us end this conversation, your journey ends here and now deploying third Noble Phantasm Ars Almadel Salomonis!" He declared and the dark circle up in the sky lit up and. "Be burnt to ashes, die in the hellfires of creation, be utterly annihilated, down to very last scrab of D...N...A!"
"Camelotcamelotcamelotcamelot" Andy was frantically repeating, cowering behind Mash literally as soon as Goetia said 'Noble'.
"That which heals all wounds and grudges, our glorious homeland. Manifest yourself, Lord Camelot!" Mash shouted, and the walls of Camelot were deployed around the and the barrier erected in front of them.
An instant later, the beam collided with the shield and Mash roared in defiance as the energy attack was continuously unleashed.
Andy stood behind her, supporting Mash with her own body, pumping magical energy into Mash as she did.
"Thank you for everything. I wanted to pay you back for everything you gave… That's why I was able to put my own weakness aside and push ahead, Senpai… I said my life didn't have meaning with you, but yours have meaning without me," Mash said, and she turned her head back to face her. "You always supported me Senpai, for once I wanted to be useful to you SenpaI." She said, and at that, the light blinded Andy's eyes, and when she could see, again she heard no sounds, and in front of her stood a towering shield with no Mash to wield it.
"Behold the result. Her body could not take the heat from the Bands of light, and evaporated," Goetia spoke. "But her heart remained untouched, and her snowflake shield remained unscathed, and the Master she held dear was left unscathed. It ended as I foresaw, but in her memory, I will allow one singular punch from your hands, and then you will die."
Andy wordlessly picked up Mash's shield in her left hand. It was heavy. Heavy, heavy, heavy. She needed her larger hands to support it.
That was fine.
She wasn't going to be punching with those hands.
Andy turned to Goetia.
"WAIT! Wait, wait, wait, calm yourself, Andy," Spoke a familiar voice and steps were heard. "A suicidal move isn't your style," Roman said as he came up beside her. "Save your strength."
"Doctor?" Saber asked in surprise as she stood by Andy, ready to die with her.
"Boss. Doc. Roman. Dad. Whatever." Andy said, breathing heavily, not taking her eyes off of Goetia. "Please tell me you can fix this."
"I am sorry, but I have to take responsibility now. Thank you for making this coward act," he said as he walked past her.
"Romani Archaman? How did you gain access to my throne?" Goetia asked in genuine confusion.
"Your throne? This is Solomon's, and since you relinquished that name, title and body, I will be taking that back," He said as he removed his glove and showed a singular golden ring.
"Why! Why! Why! How, how, how is this! Impossible! Absurd. Were you blind Flauros? No, no, no, no, you can't be him."
"Oh I am, when Marisbury and I won the Grail War I wished to be human, without any of my abilities, but before I changed I got a singular vision of humanity coming to an end, and so I am here and with Chaldea," Roman said.
"Impossible! Solomon had no wishes, no desires, he was inhuman and cruel, such a machine could never have possessed such an ordinary wish," Goetia growled.
"Ouch, that stings a bit hearing that coming from you. You hate me that much? If so let's get this over with," At that Roman's body lit up and was replaced with that of Solomons. "Life always comes to an end. Life is a pilgrimage of suffering. But it is not a story of death and separation. Goetia embodiment of all my sins, Beast born from my corpse. I shall pass judgement of your evil with my own hands."
"Hahahaha! This was so unexpected, I didn't know how to react at first, but yes, this is so much like you! Now that it's already over, mankind's greatest fool, this worthless King, makes an appearance! How like Solomon, to come and try to erase his shame! You are no match against us as a mere Servant. Only the living Solomon could stop me. Now let me blast that head of yours off with your own Noble Phantasm!"
"Yes, my own Noble Phantasm will destroy me. It will be the end of King Solomon," Roman spoke.
"...What!"
"Goetia, let me teach you the final magecraft. You knew that Solomon had three Noble Phantasms, but you were never able to learn the First ones True Name. No, it was never possible for you to do so. You possess nine rings, and I possess the tenth. And now with all ten here I can recreate that moment. I can recreate Solomon's true first Noble Phantasm. I can recreate the one 'human' heroic legend about me," Roman spoke.
"You don't mean, no that's impossible. A coward like you couldn't make that choice!" Goetia shouted. "Stop, stop, stop, stop. These rings, the omnipotent seals are no longer yours alone!"
"My third Noble Phantasm. The Time of Birth Hath Come, I Am the Remedy of Eternity: Ars Almadel Salomonis," Goetia reacted instantly to Roman's words and tried to kill him with a flurry of punches, but a barrier appeared in front of them, which stopped him from acting, so he just repeatedly hit, again and again, hoping to crack it. "My second Noble Phantasm. The Time of Coronation Hath Come, I Am the Beginning of Eternity: Ars Paulina. And now, O Heavenly Father, I return to you your blessings. Omnipotence is too much for humans to handle. My work shall be done within the limitations of mankind. Recreating the First Noble Phantasm… The Time of Parting Hath Come, I Am He Who Surrenders the World: Ars Nova," Roman whispered, and at that, the ring on his finger lit up with a flare of light.
And after that Goetia collapsed onto the ground as if his strings had been cut and Roman collapsed as well onto the ground.
"Boss!" Andy shot over to Roman to check on him. "Boss, are you okay?"
"Feeling a bit ghostly," He said as his body started becoming see-through. "Sorry, I lied to you, it was a suicide attack."
"You fucking liar." Andy choked through the tears she had been crying literally the entire time as they came back in force, though less in rage than before.
"It is even more than that you fool," Goetia spoke as he tried to lift himself up. "You just gave up on being a Heroic Spirit. It's not giving up one's life. It's the complete abandonment of one's existence, one's everything! Everything Solomon made will become worthless. The Temple of Time will lose its power. Our union is becoming undone, we will cease to be a colony, and go back to being individual demons. Neither King Solomon nor his work will ever appear on Earth again! You're about to disappear from even the Throne of Heroes! You will experience true nothingness! The complete annihilation of your being and you did it to yourself? How? Why? For what?"
"For the future, for humanity, for the people I care most about in this world, I am sorry Andy, wish I could have seen the wedding, I really wanted to. Though thankfully I managed to do this my way," Roman said as he vanished in Andy's arms. With his final words being. "Kick his ass."
Andy stared at where Roman was for a moment in silence before clenching her fist. "Hey. Goetia." Andy said, looking over to the massive demon as she stood, the M.E.S.S. in her chest glowing bright. "I think." She said, before leaping up, landing on Goetia's back as he attempted to get up, slamming him back to the ground. "As dad's favourite demon." She pulled her right arm back, the one that had her command seals and not holding Mash's shield. "I still owe you that punch." And at that word, her right arm turned into a complicated pile-bunker mechanism with a shining red tip that was then plunged into Goetia's back just opposite of his massive eye with a primal yell of fury, sinking in with a flash of magical energy. "THIS IS THE FURY OF HUMANITY! THE MIGHT OF CHALDEA!" She declared as she pulled back, right arm little more than a stump.
"WHY!WHY!WHY? DO you continue to fight, when you have lost everything?" He shouted as his limbs crumbled into mush.
"Because," Andy said, raising her larger arms, which did much the same transformation. "Humanity will never bow or break to the likes of you." She said, as her left arm impacted, left in a similar state. "Not in a million years!" The right arm impacted. "AND MASH!" At this, she raised Mash's shield, and bashed it downwards into what remained of Goetia. "DESERVED!" Slam. "BETTER!" Slam.
"Ah, doing it for love? Huhuhuh, perhaps there is truth in the King of Heroes words, Flauros...shutting...down," He said, and the body began completely dissolved into mush.
"Master we need to leave now," Arturia said as she ran over to Andy.
"The spear," Andy said. "Get the spear. It was Mash's. We can't leave it behind." She insisted.
"Okay," She said as she quickly ran over to where it was. Standing behind the now crumbling throne.
"Okay, we have a connection now, after you get that Andy, you need to leave as the Temple is coming undone and is going to explode into a supernova, so you need to get back to Chaldea, the others already are getting back!" Da Vinci said.
"Understood." Andy was as much holding Mash's shield as she was leaning on it for support as the M.E.S.S. sputtered out. "Lily, do you have it?"
"I do Mom," She said as she picked her up and made her lean on her right shoulder, while the left hand one held the lance. "We need to go," Arturia said, and the Saber began to carry her past the Throne and through the dimensional fissure arriving in the area where they had fought Naberius.
The area breaking apart around them.
"You need to hurry it, the Rayshift point is five hundred meters ahead… oh come on what does it take for him to die!"
"I finally understand you Andy Murphy of Chaldea. I'm not going to let you leave alive. You will die here with me. My dream is in ruins. Everything I did here in this temple, all the time I spent planning… All of it, for nought. That's right, I lost. The band of light is vanishing. The Incineration of Humanity will be reversed. The moment King Solomon ceased to exist, all my work was undone. I, too, am no longer the 72 Demon God Pillars. This is all that remains. No matter what I do here, I cannot redeem my failure. Killing you will change nothing. This is a meaningless battle. This would have been an unthinkable choice for me before. But… Now, I have a sense of pride. I now understand human mentality. Now that I have a limited, mortal life, I finally understand. It's been a long journey. So very long... I have dwelt here for 3000 years. My sworn enemy. My hatred. My destiny. I want you to witness this. This brief moment is now my story. This brief but precious time has given the creature called Goetia true life," Goetia spoke.
"...Lily, put me down," Andy ordered, Silkies pouring out of her storage and rebuilding her missing main arm.
And she obeyed.
"You. The newborn birthed of Solomon. Congratulations on achieving humanity. Congratulations on attaining the rebirth you were questing for." Andy started as she stood, taking Shatterthorn in her newly reformed hand. "Just as your father took on the name Romani, referencing Romanticism, I christen you 'Schism' in your final moments, you shade. I cannot forgive you. But I will grant you this: nothing you just said was incorrect. Killing us means nothing. Me killing you means nothing. This place is going to be gone in a few moments anyway." Andy's grip on Mash's shield tightened. "You were right. This battle is meaningless. But it doesn't mean I won't fight. Nothing in life has meaning. Humanity gives life its own meaning. Mash gave my life meaning. Roman gave my life meaning. Lily gives my life meaning. Astolfo gives my life meaning. My family gives my life meaning. My choices give my life meaning. In a weird, twisted way, you did too." She chuckled darkly. "You, you who have nothing, I will grant you this: shame. Fall, and die, in shame. And know even a fraction, a modicum, the tiniest speck of the suffering you have inflicted."
And at that, Andy charged, shield first, the broken remains of her larger arms streaming behind her like burnt wings.
The clash happened, and it was over in an instant.
Schism smashed his singular fist against the shield of Snow, and with his guard open, she pierced his heart with Shatterthorn.
"Tragically short, and yet… Strangely fascinating, thank you for showing me the joys of life, thank you for giving it meaning," Schism said as he vanished with a grateful smile on his face.
Andy stood there for a moment, sword still extended.
"Mom, we need to go, you won," Arturia said with a tone of tragic happiness in her voice, as well as begging.
"I know," Andy said as she trudged for the archway.
The world was crumbling, and as they did, the world seemingly slowed to a crawl as she heard a new voice, one that was reminiscent of her daughter's but not quite it.
And saw the shadowed outline of Fou.
Oh, good. You're still here, Mash.
You've completely disappeared.
This, Mash, is your death.
Even still, your will persists in this void.
There are yet many things you need to do.
That's why I'm not saying, "Well done."
Instead, I will say, "Goodbye."
…
We don't have much time, so I'll be brief: I am going to bring you back to life.
I am the embodiment of comparison.
I am the Beast that feeds on the energies that come from humans who grow and compete, who envy others' strength, who regret their own weakness. I am the Beast who stands over any and all opponents.
I am Cath Palug, a Beast of Disaster. In a different world, I was called "Primate Murder."
As long as I stay away from human society, I'm just a harmless animal. That's why I remained on a remote island. But the mage who was taking care of me was a real bastard. He kicked me out of his warm, snug tower, and forced me to live outside. But, that is how I ended up in Chaldea… Which is where I met you and Andy.
I hope you don't mind me interfering like this.
Then again, the mage always said that an act of goodwill was something forced onto someone… Let's just go with that.
Over the last few centuries, I've accumulated incredible amounts of magical energy. Using that, I'll perform a miracle that even True Magic could never achieve. Although, I suppose death in the Temple of Time doesn't quite count in reality.
What I am going to do is transfer my future to you. It will be powerful enough to extend your life to what it should truly be. Enjoy a long child-filled life, with Andy, Mash.
Though after this, I will just become an ordinary animal. I lose my intellect and personality.
Merlin told me to go and see beautiful things, I have truly seen that.
Congratulation you have defeated Beast IV without as much as dealing a single blow.
And at that, reality returned to Andy. Reality, at the moment, was falling.
"SENPAI! TAKE MY HAND!" Mash shouted as she stood at the point and held out and hand to grab Andy's falling body as the road had collapsed.
"MASH!" Andy shouted in euphoric surprise, her right arm extending out to grab Mash's and the second they touched Andy saw the blue light of the Rayshift tunnel.
Xxx
"HOLY FUCK DID WE ACTUALLY WIN?!" Andy heard Ritsuka shouted as she fell out of the Coffin.
"Headcount, now," Andy ordered, breathily but loudly, from on the ground as her busted armour fell off her body. "Sound off!"
"Here!" Bazett said.
"I am alive," Irisviel said.
"Didn't die in the last two seconds," Ritsuka said.
"I am here Senpai," Said Mash and Andy found herself being picked up by her, her Kouhai's face smiling down at her.
"Oh. Good. Then, uh, this is really important, can someone get me the Gilga-Grail?" Andy asked.
"Andy, Roman is gone, Solomon is gone," Da Vinci said.
"Solomon is gone, Solomon can't be summoned, but the man who we all know and love only became Solomon for about two minutes." Andy insisted frantically. "I want to at least try to bring back Romani Archaman. I don't give a shit about Solomon. I want to try and bring back Romani Archaman, the bravest man I ever knew, dammit."
At that, Da Vinci hugged her. "I know, I know, I know, I want him back as well. But you can't rule lawyer stuff like that, they are one and the same, one can't exist without the other," She said.
"Then. Then. I want-I need to pay it forward. There's still someone we can save, you know?" Andy said. "Olga-Marie Anumisphere. We can try and bring her back, right? I need to pay it forward."
Da Vinci shook her head. "The Grail can only grant wishes using your own methods, and there is no method to put her back together we tried to find her, and we failed," Da Vinci said.
"...Kirchstaria Wodime," Andy said, desperate to save someone she couldn't before. Anyone.
"Andy, focus not on the what if's, the losses, focus on the win, focus on Mash," Da Vinci said.
Something in Andy's head snapped back into focus, and she realized she was still being held by Mash, whom she proceeded to turn and hug. "Stand up Senpai, and come with me."
Andy nodded and did so.
Andy followed Mash out of the Command Room, and through the halls of Chaldea until they came to a large metal gate that opened up for them, and they stepped outside.
"Look, Sepai it's the sky, the clear blue sky, our sky," Mash stared up at that clear blue sky, that was for a brief moment not covered in dark clouds and snowstorms.
"We did it," Andy stated simply, the fingers of her right hand intertwined with Mash's. "We actually did it."
"We did it Senpai, we took back our future," She said as she turned her head to look at her and she smiled.
"Yeah. We did it." Andy repeated, smiling back even as tears fell.
Xxx
…
… …
… … …
"Did you honestly think this is over? That this was it?"
"That after all of that you can just live a happy life?"
"That there are no consequences for your actions?"
"Oh no, my dear, I am far from done with you just yet."
"For I have not been sufficiently entertained by your suffering."
"Now my dear little Survivor, go and deal with the Remnants, after that? Well, there is only the cosmos in, sight. Hahahahahahahaha!"
"But don't be too sad, you did a good job, so enjoy this reward."
January 1 2019
Andy opened her eyes, expecting to find herself squeezed between Mash and Astolfo, but instead, she found herself in a strange room she had never seen before.
It looked like the interior of an old-school train.
And then a voice spoke, and she turned her head forward and before her sat a man with a very long nose.
"Hello and welcome to the Velvet Room, this place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter. My name is Igor, and I am pleased to finally meet you, Survivor," The man's bloodshot eyes stared at her.
"Well, took you long enough."
Xxx
A/N: Well the story is over Observer on Timeless Temple has been completed, now there is Epic of Remnant on the horizon, which will start come February.
