Chapter 41: The Venus

Shidou couldn't make out what the situation is but he bet that it was the doing of the [Goddess]. Maybe, they made the ocean bloodier than he ever thought and make the stars go out and the rumblings of the land made him thought that there was an actual earthquake, if it isn't a coincidence.

"S-Shidou, I'm scared!" Tohka said as he hugged Shidou tightly.

"It's alright. I hope everything is ok." Shidou whispered as he kept on holding on Tohka. He just hoped that the [Goddess] will resolve the issue at the moment.

Little did he know was that one of the Bandersnatch has already descended on the beach, taking advantage of the rumbling and distortion of the space to silence its landing.

Its current target is Tohka. It will try to capture Tohka and will take advantage of its distraction from the sky. It will try to take her whether she'll be alive or dead.

The machine zoomed so fast, its arm outstretched as it tries to catch the former [Princess] to her hair.

*FFWIIISSHHH*

A sword was drawn and the machine was divided into two, destroying it completely. Tohka was thrown to the ground and luckily, it was a soft landing. Shidou pushed Tohka away in danger and slash the offending robot in pieces.

Tohka could only stare to her savior, Shidou, as well as her own sword Sandalphon in his hand. Shidou could only stare at the sword he was holding with wonder and awe.

Shidou wasn't sure what happened but he could absolutely contend that the sword he was holding wasn't his but rather belonged to Tohka.

Before he could contemplate any further, Tohka reminded him quickly.

"Shidou, there were so many!" She commented out of worry as she pointed them out while trembling and unfortunately, a multitudes of Bandersnatch surrounded the duo and then eyeing Tohka warily. Shidou immediately stood ground and showed them the Sandalphon.

"I'll protect you, Tohka." Shidou said coolly as he resorted into a basic stance of sword fighting. As long as he can swing this sword, then he's basically satisfied of it. The Tohsaka Twins were trying to save the Yamai Twins through their own method. Well, Shidou believed that they could save the twins no matter what, no questions asked.

He didn't know where the hell did the robots came from and there is no fricking hell that he will just standing there idly when they are targeting Tohka for better or for worse.

Rejoice, ye visitors of the Underworld!

For you are solemnly recognized by her grace…

The Goddess of the Underworld!

As such, bestow up you her greatest gift…

Protection of the Underworld!

That's the reason why Shidou, Tohka as well as all of the human who set foot on the island felt at ease when they are present in the darkest, deepest underworld they could have experience, not that they need to know that. That's also the reason why Shidou didn't feel any strain from materializing Sandalphon, because mana consumptions here are reduced to zero percent, per Ereshkigal's rule.

Even if the Bandersnatch managed to land a blow on Shidou, it wouldn't have any effect on him because he was well protected by the blessings of Ereshkigal, as well as Tohka herself. The Bandersnatch however, were just a machine and aren't recognized by Ereshkigal. As a result, they operate sloppily as it seemed.

In much more sense, abducting Tohka is out of option, not that the Bandersnatch realized it.

The ship above, however, are unfortunate to receive no blessing for neither it was a living being. Their only saving grace was the Territory it coated the entire ship, which strangely was still as strong as to repel the gravity of the Underworld. God knows how it will last.

Meanwhile inside the hotel, Origami and Caster were barricading the entrance with various furnitures. Well, Caster was just stalling them, pretending was one of her famous abilities. She couldn't just let them witnessed what was happening outside. Especially when she fricking realized they were currently in the Underworld as what her Master said. What in the tarnation has Ereshkigal did? Fortunately, she managed to hide his shock well.

Reine, who was in yukata, arrived shortly and witnessed them barricading the entrance.

"What are you doing, the both of you?"

"Barricading, duh?" Circe answered straight to the point. Although not shown on her face, Origami was looking at her with disbelief.

Subtly, Circe has placed a sleeping illusion on every indivual here on the hotel, save for Origami and Reine, as what her Master dub 'side characters' and she obliged too. Her spells were powerful that they did not even wake up when the land itself rumbled.

Circe insisted to Origami earlier that the land rumbling was just an earthquake. Origami believed her after that.

How long can she kept this in the dark? As long as her Master obliged her too. Fortunately, she has a knack in illusion and memory manipulation, although that's not her main forte.

Reine meanwhile, proceeded to help them barricade the entrance as well as shutting close the windows after she heard a loud banging and saw the same robot outside.

"Bandersnatch…" Origami muttered. Circe has a confidence that the building will stood still; she has reinforced it multiple times, added by the layer of Mashu's Lord of Camelot, as well as the affected by Ereshkigal's blessing, you might as well make the hotel an impenetrable fortress. Maybe they might remain here for a meantime.

"Woah, that's a weird, cool, icky Underworld." Ritsuka commented as she looked outside.

"W-What do you mean, Senpai?" Mashu asked as walked toward the window too. She looked out and was terrified of what she saw. The Shielder almost yelp because of it.

"Ereshkigal managed to pull the island into the Underworld." Ritsuka concluded.

Mashu was flabbergasted. "Wha--? How is it possible?" She was trembling in the first place. She was not afraid of the Underworld in the first place but rather how Ereshkigal managed to do it. As far as she knew, Ereshkigal's Underworld was nonexistent until know.

Her Senpai immediately shook her hands and showed her palms and gave her a shitty grin. "Magic…"

Mashu was not amused.

As for the Yamai Twins who are escaping, they could feel the air trembled from its wake. The atmosphere shifted and the Twins did not know what to do. It is as if they found themselves in an alienic land. Kaguya looked left and right, trying to familiarize the place as best as she can.

All she can see are blood red ocean and a black void surrounding it. This is impossible! How powerful are the Twins that they were facing, whom are capable of moving a part of the earth into oblivion?

Yuzuru was weakening on her shoulders and was becaming a burden. Kaguya doesn't know what to make of their situation. They were completely at the mercy of Tohsaka Twins.

Suddenly, an unknown force made Kaguya drop Yuzuru accidentally.

"Yuzuru!" Kaguya shrieked and streams of tears ran down her cheeks. Yuzuru, as weak as she was, reached out for Kaguya, only to be received by the void.

Eerie arms reached out for Yuzuru and pulled her further into the darkness. Kaguya desperately reached out for her twin sister, only to be swept away by a raging wind. She could only watch Yuzuru consumed by the darkness as Kaguya tried to wrestly away from the wind. She was supposed have power over the winds and yet in Underworld, the wind only obeys to its ruler.

"Yuzuru!!!" Kaguya shouted once more but to no avail. Yuzuru disappeared to god knows where and Kaguya just wept bitterly.

Floating above her were the two Goddesses, waiting for Kaguya to look up and witness their figure. Should she follow her gaze up to the sky, great was her wrath for the [Goddess].

Yuzuru immediately woke up from her minute slumber and found herself being prisoned within an elaborate cage latched from the eerie rocks of ceiling. She found herself inside the cage hanging several thousand meters up. It doesn't help that the light source from everywhere where giving off ghastly blue glow.

She tried to shook the cage and destroy it but to no avail. It doesn't help that she was quite weak for now. She handled the shaft as she looked outside.

What a convenient way to get rid of your twin…

Yuzuru shook herself as she heard someone talking in her mind. "Question. Who's there?" She exclaimed suspiciously as she tried to look around for any figures lurking anywhere, only to find out only endless boundaries.

No one…

"Uncertain. N-no one?" Yuzuru said with uncertainty.

I am nobody but you are something…

"Clarify. What do you mean that I have something…?" Yuzuru asked her. Then a mirror with jagged crystal edges and a smoothed center materialized in front. A ripple was created in the middle and it formed an image, specifically, where Kaguya confronted Ishtar and Ereshkigal.

"Question. Kaguya…?" Yuzuru stated the name of her sister as she gripped tightly the shafts of her own prison.

Aren't you glad that all you just need to do was to hide from your sister and let the [Goddess] obliterate her…

"Congratulations, Kaguya." Ereshkigal clapped sarcastically as Ishtar approached Kaguya intently and see her eye to eye.

"Aren't you glad that you achieved both of your desire; the desire to became one and only Spirit? You've overcome her in terms of survival skills."

"Achievements? Desire? To hell are those!" Kaguya sneered boldly, hands curled into a tight fist. "You kill Yuzuru, and I will make you pay for it!"

"Kill?" Both the Goddess are confused. "I thought you'll be happy once you've become alone, isn't that always your end goal?"

"Where's your proof? I can't feel exactly powerful as I was." Kaguya retorted. Her eyes screamed with fury.

"Oh, that's no problem for me, Kaguya." Ereshkigal bragged. "I can retrieve her powers right here, right now and gave it to you."

Kaguya just gritted her teeth. "Then, hell I care!"

"Remark. That's awful…"

Awful? But isn't this the thing that both of you wanted? To become at least one primary Spirit.

"Comment. This is so unfair, Kaguya doesn't deserve this and I must be the one who must defeat her. Not them."

C'mon, you know that's there's no time for that? Why bother for a fair fight?

However, Yuzuru thought that the voice was right. The only thing that they should do was to merge together and decided who'll be the main person. Kaguya was the one who imparted the idea that they must have challenges in order to make this fair and square.

In the real sense, they do not need to do this challenges anymore.

But…

But…?

Why is it so hard accepting this reality? Yuzuru knew she had to face the reality and yet her heart ached so much.

"Retort. This is so … wrong…" A single tear dropped from her watery eyes as she looked down defeated.

There's nothing wrong here…

Yuzuru looked again at the mirror and see that Kaguya was still facing the two Goddess. Although she could feel that she was intimidated, Kaguya was just as stubborn as Yuzuru expected.

"If this is just a nightmare them please wake me up!" Kaguya insisted as she shut her eyes and kept on slapping her cheeks until it reddened. Ishtar and Ereshkigal.

"But this is the outcome the two of you have desired, don't you?" Ereshkigal told her certainly.

"I don't want to! I don't want to!" Kaguya repeatedly shook her head as tears and snoot were shot out. Both Ishtar and Ereshkigal were partially disgusted by her.

"I want Yuzuru to come back. I want my other half to come back!"

"I promise I won't fight her anymore! I promise I won't hurt her anymore!" Kaguya bawled like a child in tantrum.

"So it came to this then…"

Yuzuru tried to reach for the image of Kaguya imprinted on the mirror. Even though vague as it is, she could feel that Kaguya was crying bitterly. If only she was there beside her. Her fingers couldn't reach the mirror but it was enough for her.

This what you wanted right?

"Retort. I don't like this anymore. Kaguya is hurt, if this is what the outcome will turn then I would deny this chance." She said as she swayed her head in denial and was now crying.

You… you don't want it?

Yuzuru again swayed her head in refusal. "Refusal. I don't want to. I don't want her to be alone, I don't want to disappear. I want to be with Kaguya forever more." The tone of those words struck true.

So it came to this then…

Ereshkigal snaps her finger and immediately Yuzuru and Kaguya opened their eyes. The Goddess of the Underworld immediately bestowed them her blessing, in order to make Yuzuru recover from her bodily harm.

They were back on the island, albeit, still in the underword. The Yamai Twins were kneeling in front of the Goddess. They looked to each other and realized that they were back for real.

"Y-Yuzuru, whahh!!"

"Kaguya!"

They both hugged each other tightly as if they don't want the others to disappear. They regretted their choices. They regretted their motivations. They regretted their end goals. They regretted everything!

"I-I'm so sorry, I didn't listen to you. I don't want you to disappear."

"Rebuttal. Me too. Me too, Kaguya. I lied about becoming fine after we've became one."

"I don't want to disappear, Yuzuru. I just want to beside with you!"

"Me too, Kaguya. I just want to have a twin and nothing more!"

Kaguya and Yuzuru cried bitterly into each shoulder. They were interrupted when Ishtar clapped twice. Both of the twins quieted and looked up at her.

"Before you continue your embrace, I would like to say that you two are officially lost for real. You are both both pain in the neck." Ishtar said with a smug, which later on, made Ereshkigal hit her by her shoulder to scold her.

"What my sister is trying to said is that you must do something for us because you lost…"

"Clarify. Please."

"I couldn't understand you."

"You are both a danger to this world." Ereshkigal answered straight as she crossed her arms underneath her chest, a beat and there's silence.

Even though the Yamai Twins have something to say to Ereshkigal, it seemed that they couldn't muster their courage to say things about that. After witnessing Ereshkigals true power, they have this instinct to listen and follow what she said.

"It is clear that the powers you wield does not equate to responsibility for the both of you. Your tantrums can potentially endanger an entire island over a petty misunderstanding. Both of you have no control over the emotions and therefore you have no complete control over yout powers and abilities." Ereshkigal explained. As a Goddess of Underworld, she was well aware of responsibilities and sacrifices in exchange of tremendous power. The Yamai Twins do not deserve this or there will be a heavy consequence. There will be only suffering in the end.

She truly believed that Ishtar and her knew that it was for the good of them.

"Question. What must Yuzuru and Kaguya do?"

"Yeah, right, what should we do next?"

Ishtar raised her index in front of her with a continuous smug adorned on her face; this means that they only need to do one thing. "There's only one thing that you need to do; let Shidou seal your powers by will."

Yuzuru and Kaguya looked to each other.

Shidou and Tohka hurriedly went to the area where they see a bright light that came from the other side. Upon arriving they saw Ereshkigal and Ishtar overlooking the Yamai, who are kneeling in front of them. Shidou does want to misinterpret the situation and just approached them discreetly, followed by Tohka.

They have already slayed multitudes of Bandersnatch along the way and realized that they all came from the sky, particularly from that large ship. He was also aware that there is another ship and it was familiar for him because it was the Fraxinus itself.

By the time they have arrived, he willed the Sandalphon out of existence.

"Thank goodness, you are all safe."

""Shidou!!!""

Upon arriving, the Yamai twins were glad that Shidou arrived and went to hug them tightly as they could. Cue, Tohka's pouting tendency because of jealousy.

"So we fulfilled my end of bargain, Shidou boy." Ishtar said smugly and then she pointed him at his chest. "You better do yours more efficiently!" She warned her.

"Y-Yes, Ainu-san!" Shidou said as he saluted in front of the Red Devil of Venus.

Then both Ishtar and Ereshkigal looked up, which were followed by the gaze of Shidou, Yamai twins and Tohka.

They saw the large ship as well as the another smaller one. It seemed that based on their random movements, it seemed that they were blindly floating up the sky. The other although was a bit annoying as it kept on releasing thousands and thousands of Bandersnatches. Both Ishtar and Ereshkigal were aware that the smaller ship was Fraxinus itself, meaning Shidou's ally.

"Before we could formally return this piece of earth back to its proper place, I think we need to clean up what was happening above." Ishtar pointed up.

"Wait, you mean—" Shidou was curious.

"Yes, Shidou I will destroy that large, annoying ship just for you!"

"But the other ship—"

"I'm well aware of the other one, Fraxinus was it? My sister will take care of that in making sure that they will indeed safe."

"Worry not, Shidou, for we are 'responsible' of our powers and abilities." Cue, Yamai's hearts struck for no reason.

Ishtar's eyes glowed with eerie light as she continued to stare at them. "…and I will show to you how I am a threat if you thread with carelessness. I will show you four what is a real apocalypse is!" Ereshkigal has this hunch that Ishtar will use her Noble Phantasm at this moment and that Ishtar placed her trust on Ereshkigal herself because of the Protection thingy. Ishtar also has a full permission from her Master to use her Noble Phantasm responsibly.

After Ereshkigal used her NP, Ishtar was honestly jealous that she can show off and now its Ishtar's time to shine!

Cue, Ereshkigal facepalm herself. "As expected of a show-off Goddess." She muttered to herself.

As fast as her mana could carry, Ishtar zoomed up to the sky, leaving a trail of dust and sands. Shidou needed to shield himself as they observed Ishtar up above the sky.

Fly, Maana! Gate Open!

Ishtar uttered and behold a dome of portal opened above the ship and revealed thousands of stars glittering from above. Shidou and the rest of his gang just gawked at the presentation.

All of you are honored to see my entirety!

Ishtar's voice reverberated with power and majesty as she reached the summit. Slowly a large planet, exited out of the portal.

The Captain of Arbatel wondered why there was a great light that lit into the windows. He still has the thought that they are still in the night. He tried to look out when one of the staffs called.

"C-Captain! Bad News!" The staff was ridiculously sweating as his voice was filled with nervousness and tension.

"What is it!"

"We detected a large mana concentration coming from near us." The staff reported. "…and it was a planet size."

"W-wha!!!" The Captain was speechless. He then scrambled out to the one of the windows and behold, a literal planet.

"The Planet Venus?" The Captain uttered. His shock never recovered. The siren was now blaring in intensity. The Bandersnatch outside were melting due to the intense heat of the planet. They have no choice but to close the gate.

But the Captain knew there's no more chance for them, only to prolonged their extinction.

Then he heard it, the voice of the Goddess, whispering into his ears about sweet thoughts.

A void that was ripped directly into the Solar System and manipulated the planet Venus itself. That's how Shidou concluded the situation. He wondered if the Solar System will be affected by it.

Now, he realized that he was facing an incredible threat to the humanity, who are willing to become civil. Shidou now understood fear for the first time.

[Goddess] Ainu then condensed the planet Venus into small orb of energy and placed it into her heavenly bow, Maana. With her index finger as a pointer, the bow stretched itself several meters and focused on a passive ship Arbatel.

Behold my true strength! Annihilate them!

Ishtar said before the pure energy ball sailed into the atmosphere and will be in a direct collision of the ship itself. No one can stop the inevitability

An Gal Ta Ki Gal Šè!

The entirety of the Underworld lit, comparable to the sun itself. A shockwave that can quench the oceans dry and stripped of the land of its strongest tree. The Underworld protected its island visitor as well as its waters.

There no sound can be heard but a deathly ringing that could last for several hours.

In seconds, the Arbatel vanished and turned into dust.