At that moment, one of the many dormant Beast Vassals within Rozen quietly awakened.
It was the Shaula Viola — a humanoid beast wrapped in purple flames with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the tail of a scorpion.
It could produce poisons or antidotal serums, and even steal the mana of enemy Beast Vassals.
Though Rozen didn't summon this Beast Vassal, he borrowed a portion of its power.
As a masters of Beast Vassals, vampires were inherently capable of using part of the abilities of the Beast Vassals they had tamed — though it wasn't something that could be done easily.
Only high-ranking vampires could usually manage it.
But for Rozen, who had earned the absolute obedience of his Beast Vassals, this was naturally no difficulty.
Now, Rozen was using this ability — employing Shaula Viola's power — to steal Ishtar's mana.
This was something he could only accomplish recently.
"Before, my Magic Circuits weren't in good condition. Recklessly absorbing external mana could've placed further strain on them."
Just like when he used the mana of the Holy Grail to cast the Cleansing spell — mana that hadn't undergone refinement or processing flowed directly into his Magic Circuits.
Rozen had used it to refine incomplete Foreign Mana, which in turn worsened the burden on his Magic Circuits, contributing to the problems that arose later.
So, back when he suffered from severe mana depletion, Rozen had already thought of using Shaula Viola's ability to steal external mana to replenish his own.
However, out of concern for placing further strain on his circuits, he ultimately chose not to.
In the time since, Rozen's Magic Circuits had significantly recovered.
They had even been nourished and tempered to some degree using the Holy Grail's mana, and were now capable of withstanding such a load.
After all, these were Magic Circuits of infinite potential, imbued with cosmic truth, and transformed through baptism in Foreign Mana.
Unless he did something truly reckless, they wouldn't be easily burdened again.
Thus, even though his circuits hadn't completely healed, Rozen believed they could now endure the inflow of external mana — process it, refine it, and make it his own.
Moreover, aiming for a quick resolution, Rozen wasn't keen on hurting Ishtar.
Since that was the case, draining Ishtar's mana to neutralize her — while recovering his own — was the perfect solution.
So, without hesitation, Rozen activated Shaula Viola's power. The purple flame-covered palm began to continuously siphon mana from Ishtar's body.
"W-Wait... wait a second..."
Ishtar's resistance weakened more and more.
Eventually, with a voice full of regret, her entire body went limp.
It had to be said — Ishtar's mana reserves were truly abundant.
As a goddess who fired her mana as arrows and cannon blasts, she naturally had a vast supply — likely of EX rank, far beyond the norm.
That level of mana could rival a pure-blood vampire of the old generation, even the third-generation elder.
Thanks to this, Rozen received a massive mana boost.
His internal mana reserves rapidly replenished, and through his Magic Circuits, it was refined and converted into his own.
As the process continued, the two gradually descended from mid-air and landed on the ground.
"That should about do it."
When Rozen finally let go, looking refreshed and satisfied, Ishtar, now left with only a sliver of mana, collapsed on the ground, unable to move.
"Just you wait…"
Ishtar groaned in frustration.
It seemed that the goddess had once again been completely defeated.
"Senpai!"
From the dust-covered crater ahead, Mash came running over with her shield in hand.
Judging by her unscathed appearance, it was clear that even Ishtar's overwhelming attack had been completely blocked.
"Fou!"
Fou, who had hidden somewhere earlier, also ran over.
"Phew…"
In Chaldea, Olga Marie let out a breath of relief upon seeing this scene.
"Seriously, that had me sweating…"
Roman wiped the sweat from his brow as well.
"Well, considering it was a battle with a goddess, resolving it this quickly was a stroke of luck."
Da Vinci also laughed.
Everyone knew — this outcome was as good as it gets.
The opponent was a goddess. If things had gotten serious, the fight wouldn't have ended so easily.
The only reason the battle ended so quickly — just like last time — was because Ishtar underestimated them again and didn't fight seriously.
Just like before, the goddess didn't use her Authority or her Noble Phantasm, and Rozen managed to catch her off guard from behind — naturally leading to this result.
Rozen had to say something.
"You really don't learn your lesson. Don't be so careless next time."
Rozen patted Ishtar's head.
Ishtar glared at him, but clearly lacked the energy.
At this moment, Mash returned.
"I'm sorry, Miss Ishtar. We really had no intention of fighting you. Even if you're one of the Three Goddess Alliance, we believe you're a good person."
Mash bowed slightly in apology. She probably couldn't bear to see Ishtar in such a pitiful state.
Unfortunately…
"Don't think I'll forgive you so easily, you bastards… Once was bad enough, but you did it again...!"
Ishtar, completely drained, could only glare at them with tear-filled eyes, full of grievance.
But there was one thing Ishtar had to clarify.
"And who the hell said I was part of the Three Goddess Alliance?! I'm not with those freaks!"
Ishtar actually said something like that.
"Eh?"
Mash was stunned.
"W-What?"
In Chaldea, both Olga Marie and Roman widened their eyes.
"So it really was like that?"
Only Da Vinci nodded thoughtfully.
As for Rozen, seeing Mash frozen in place, he couldn't help but smile.
"You're wrong, Mash," Rozen said. "Ishtar isn't one of the Three Goddess Alliance."
With those words, Mash was completely stunned.
"Sh-She's not?"
Olga Marie and Roman were just as shocked.
But this was the truth.
"Think about it. The undead monsters attacking from the northeast — Ishtar, as a goddess of the earth, couldn't possibly control those, right?" Rozen shrugged with a smile. "I said it before — the one controlling them is the goddess of the underworld, Ereshkigal, not Ishtar."
And what does that mean?
It means that aside from the Goddess of Beasts and the Goddess of the Jungle, the third goddess threatening Uruk was actually the Goddess of the Underworld — Ereshkigal.
So then...
"Ereshkigal is the final member of the Three Goddess Alliance — the one who stands alongside Gorgon and Quetzalcoatl."
At last, Rozen unveiled the truth.