"Whoooooo—!"
It was as if even the heavens themselves were lamenting the fate of this era.
Today, the winds blowing over Mesopotamia carried with them a sorrowful chill.
Rozen and Ishtar streaked across the skies like twin beams of light, slicing through the air at incredible speed. Bathed in that mournful wind, they looked down as they flew.
On the earth below, from every direction, black figures crawled rapidly over the land—like countless ants.
But these "ants" were not aimlessly scattering. They were deliberately spreading toward every direction.
Through the combined perception of Wise Eye and Mind's Eye, Rozen knew exactly where they were headed—toward human cities.
They were unlike ordinary demonic beasts, who wandered the wilds without purpose.
These ones sought out life itself.
They were moving toward the remaining human settlements, their goal nothing less than the complete annihilation of humanity across the land.
"What a disgusting method of action."
Even Ishtar seemed unsettled as she clicked her tongue.
Rozen's expression remained impassive, though his eyes burned with a cold fury.
To be frank, never before had Rozen encountered creatures more detestable than the Laḫmu.
Even the Armored Beetles that once overran another world, driving humanity into the skies, had not seemed so loathsome.
Those creatures were simply mindless, lost in frenzy. They attacked and devoured humans like wild animals. Hated, yes—but not revolting.
The Laḫmu were different.
Their mocking laughter made it clear—they were intelligent.
Their behavior constantly displayed their individuality, making it impossible to dismiss them as mere beasts.
And yet, that awareness brought not familiarity, but only revulsion and rage.
Their every action seemed like derision toward all living things.
As if sweeping away garbage, as if holding a feast, as if playing house with humanity as their toys.
Everything about them was unbearable—infuriating.
If the Armored Beetles in the world of the Sky Wizards had behaved this way, Rozen would never have remained so passive.
He would have exhausted every drop of mana, summoning forth all Beast Vassals and familiars, letting them rage across the land for ten days and nights, sinking both monsters and continent alike into the sea.
That was just how vile these monsters called Laḫmu were.
Worse still, they treated death as nothing. They threw away their own lives, cackling madly as they slaughtered across the earth.
To exterminate such creatures brought not the slightest satisfaction.
"Garbage that exists solely to test the very limits of human tolerance."
So said Rozen mid-flight, unleashing the seventh Beast Vassal, Kiffa Ater.
It descended from the skies, striking down with apocalyptic force—obliterating the earth for a thousand mile, reducing the laughing swarms of Laḫmu into nothing but dust.
And if even Rozen's patience was worn so thin, one could only imagine how others would rage and despair upon witnessing the Laḫmu's mockery.
It only solidified Rozen's resolve.
"We must destroy Tiamat."
Thus, Rozen and Ishtar raced across the land, cutting through endless miles, until finally they reached the edge of Mesopotamia—the shores of the Persian Gulf.
They soared into the waters, gazing down at the endless stream of Laḫmu crawling from the sea, swimming toward the land. And then, they saw it.
The Black Sea.
"Gululu…!"
With a sound like boiling corruption, black mud spread rapidly, devouring the ocean's domain as it expanded outward.
From that mud, the Laḫmu were birthed, crawling forth into sea and land alike.
"That's the curse-soaked mana…?"
Ishtar unconsciously held her breath.
"The Black Sea…"
Rozen's face hardened.
From the communicator, voices of Chaldea's staff rang out.
"We're analyzing the structure of the Black Sea now—the results are in."
Da Vinci's voice came through.
"To be brief—the Black Sea itself is Tiamat's Authority. It can corrode anything, even rewriting down to the cellular level. Only the Laḫmu born from it are immune."
In other words, that black mud could alter the very nature of any being, reshaping them entirely.
Ishtar nodded grimly.
"Mother… Tiamat possesses many Authorities. As the Mother of Life, the Goddess of Creation, all of them relate to birth, generation, reproduction, and transformation."
She explained:
"Things like Self-Modification, Individual Multiplication, Biological Fusion—all her specialties. Even the Authority Gorgon used, Beast Mother's Womb, comes from her. But among them all, the most powerful is surely Cellular Manipulation."
That Authority…
Simply put, it rewrote the very essence of a being, reshaping them into something entirely new.
To phrase it more plainly—it corroded both mind and body, turning the victim wholly into Tiamat's property.
And thus—
"You mustn't touch that mud. Whether human or Servant, you'll be blackened instantly, transformed into Tiamat's puppets."
Ishtar looked sharply at Rozen.
"Not even gods are exempt. So don't think that Bird and Rabbit will protect you if you just dive in. Even if you bind them with your absolute contract, their minds will be lost to madness. You'll be left chaining two rabid dogs for eternity."
At that, Rozen frowned, but he did not refute her.
For Kinu and Gyokuto had indeed relayed to him their own dread of the Black Sea. Clearly, they too wished to avoid it.
"Black mud that can even corrupt gods…?"
Rozen murmured quietly.
"That's right."
Roman's voice cut in over the communicator.
"Also—we've detected a spiritual foundation at the very center of the Black Sea. Its scale dwarfs the mana of seven Holy Grails combined. Honestly, it may even rival your own, Rozen. With just Altera and Ishtar at your side, charging in is reckless. I can't recommend it."
He had repeated this warning countless times since Rozen had first declared his intent.
But—
"If we don't strike at the source, the foundation of human history can never be restored. This crisis will never end. If you're confident in escaping alive, then infiltrating for investigation may still be worth the risk."
Olga Marie's voice was firm.
"In any case—we're here now. All we can do is move forward, one step at a time."
So concluded Ishtar.
Rozen was just about to respond—when his face stiffened.
He lifted his head and stared into the distance.