Roar!!!
Searing heat and roiling flames scorched the air, emitting a piercing hiss.
As the endless flames surged toward her, Taiga, who had appeared panicked, suddenly flashed a triumphant grin at the last moment.
"Fool, you fell for it!!"
Roar!!
The flames swept forward, effortlessly incinerating everything in their path, their blistering heat capable of melting the world's toughest metals. Yet, there was no trace of dissipating Spiritrons or the expected scream.
Something's wrong!!
Humbaba's pupils constricted, his mind screaming in alarm.
But he realized too late.
As expected, when the flames subsided, there were no Spiritrons of a fallen Servant, only a tattered yellow jaguar pelt, scorched to rags.
Beneath Humbaba's massive form, a slender figure in black with golden hair crouched low. Her crimson eyes, no longer foolish, gleamed with cold resolve. She gripped a long, chilling, unfamiliar blade in a poised stance, then took a heavy step forward.
"Got you, idiot."
Clear water swirled around the blade's edge. In an instant, the sword, famed for slaying Yamata-no-Orochi, was unsheathed.
As Taiga channeled her immense magical energy into the divine blade, its already radiant edge blazed brighter, like a cyan blade capable of cleaving the world.
A spark flashed in Taiga's eyes as she shouted the true name, learned from Gilgamesh beforehand.
"Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi · Released · Decisive Strike!!"
With the true name's chant, the blade, glowing cyan, surged with endless clear water.
As Taiga poured her vast magical energy into it, the razor-sharp water blade extended several meters, mirroring its myth of slaying Yamata-no-Orochi. In moments, it shredded the countless earthen tendrils blocking its path, slicing toward Humbaba's most vulnerable spot.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
A storm mixed with raging torrents, the emerald light like a holy sword piercing the galaxy, carried overwhelming momentum, unrelentingly cleaving into Humbaba's body.
Then,
"Hah!!"
With Taiga's fierce cry, the surging torrent erupted the moment the blade bit into Humbaba's flesh.
Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!!!
In an instant, the flesh and clay within Humbaba's body began eroding under the relentless rush of clear water, drawing agonized screams from him.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!!!
The water churned endlessly. Humbaba could feel his flesh disintegrating under the ceaseless torrent. No matter how he tried to regenerate, the clear water scoured his innards, relentless, as if it would not stop until he was utterly destroyed.
What's happening? What is this?!
Where did this strange sword come from?
How could this damned jaguar wield such a weapon? She's not supposed to be an Japanese Servant!!
Humbaba's eyes widened in disbelief, staring at Taiga, who wielded Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, commanding the clear water against him.
Unfazed by Humbaba's terrifying, devouring expression, Taiga in her fully unleashed state showed no fear.
She tilted her head, a slight smile curling her lips. Her crimson eyes, beyond their killing intent, brimmed with mockery.
Finally, she could stretch her legs.
Merged with that bizarre jaguar goddess, her consciousness had been muddled. Though she'd taken control, her mind reverted to her teenage self, playful and unserious. That ridiculous weapon had kept her from unleashing her true strength.
What was with the Lancer class?
Her best weapon was a katana, not some absurd jaguar-claw spear. Was this a joke?
Her younger self, suppressed by her teenage consciousness, couldn't act until she met Roy. His infinite magical energy allowed her to gradually break free from the jaguar goddess's hold, restoring her true self.
But her younger self, fond of playing, refused to yield control, wanting to stay out and enjoy time with Roy and the others.
Until before the decisive battle, her other self sought her out, requesting her strength to help Roy defeat the enemy and save the singularity.
Oh? Willing to swap now? She thought her younger self would hog the body forever, running wild.
Though surprised, knowing herself best, she had no reason to refuse.
Being summoned only to fade without showing her face would be too dull. She wasn't some task NPC.
And helping Roy? Even more reason to agree.
Showing off in front of Roy, letting him see her growth, proving she was no longer the clumsy Taiga he always worried about or tutored, showing him the dashing Fuyuki Tiger, Taiga Fujimura, wasn't that great?
"Hey, stupid lion, you're done for messing with me~"
"I'm no jaguar now, I'm a tiger, Fuyuki's Tiger. And tigers eat lions!!"
Narrowing her eyes, Taiga amped up her output, channeling more magical energy. The emerald water blade erupted, its boundless energy exploding within Humbaba like a tidal wave.
"Aaaah!!!"
The searing pain from within drove Humbaba to howl, but retreat was impossible. The divine sword, wreathed in clear water, carved through his flesh. Any slackening would mean being severed by Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi. He could only stand his ground, facing this damned jaguar.
Roar!!
Enduring the agony of being nearly bisected, Humbaba opened his maw, desperately opening the Golden Capital's gates, hurling as many weapons as possible to interrupt Taiga's descending strike.
But how could Taiga let him escape so easily?
For this plan, she'd borrowed a fitting weapon from Gilgamesh, one capable of harming Humbaba.
She'd hidden her mature state, playing along with Ishtar to wear down the beast, all for this killing blow.
So how could she let Humbaba break free so easily?!
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!!!
As countless golden weapons hurtled toward Taiga, golden ripples shimmered in the air. Dozens of golden portals opened before her, absorbing Humbaba's weapons into the Gate of Babylon, locking them away.
Humbaba's desperate counterattack became a joke.
"Haha, no way out now, Humbaba. Die obediently!!"
Ishtar, gripping the Key of the King's Law, laughed loudly while opening the treasury's gates to shield Taiga.
"Ishtar! Finish him, take down this beast!!"
His desperate counter failed, his Golden Capital's weapons locked away by Ishtar, and Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi pinned him, restricting his movements.
His vaunted attacks and escape options were nullified. Humbaba was at his end.
Seizing the chance, Ishtar didn't hesitate.
"Leave it to me!!"
___
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