A finger was placed in the mouth, and a crisp whistle rang out.
Responding to the summons was a chariot pulled by three divine horses—the Immortal Chariot of Tempest and Torrent (Troias Tragoidia)!
The three divine horses, wreathed in emerald divine winds, galloped like a storm across the land and sky.
Without saying much to Jeanne, Achilles leaped onto the chariot and began pursuing Alari's rapidly disappearing figure.
Alaric, operating at full power, had already distanced himself from most of the battlefield the moment Achilles summoned his chariot. He glanced back at Achilles and the chariot beneath him.
That was Achilles' Noble Phantasm. The three horses were: Xanthos and Balios—two divine horses gifted by Poseidon at the marriage of Achilles' father, Peleus—and Pedasos, a famed horse captured during one of Achilles' raids.
Among Achilles' numerous Noble Phantasms, this chariot consumed the most magical energy.
Theoretically, if Achilles were to go overboard, the mana consumption might even be enough to summon another Servant besides him.
Additionally, the Immortal Chariot was unquestionably one of the most mobile assets in this Holy Grail War.
However—
"You think you can catch up to me when I'm running at full speed?"
The flickering light trail symbolized someone's retreating figure—a black meteor streaking across the night sky. Even the Immortal Chariot had trouble catching up due to its slightly slower start.
After all, the wings of steel Alaric had deployed were purely magical constructs, unaffected by the limitations of magical systems. Theoretically, as long as Alaric released enough mana, he could generate sufficient light for propulsion.
With Alaric's current level of mana output, he was already at the pinnacle of this war.
The result was supersonic speed several times the speed of sound, allowing Alaric to reach the Hanging Gardens in just a few breaths.
As Alaric was about to arrive at the gardens—
The interception technique deployed on the outer edges of the Hanging Gardens, The Eleven Black Coffins (Tiamtum Umu), was activated!
Over twenty meters of black stone began to shift and transform, with dazzling light erupting from the joints of the plates. Its power was akin to a meteor striking the ground, comparable to an anti-army-level attack!
With all eleven black coffins activating simultaneously, their target was singular—none other than the great hero Achilles!
"Hey, hey, hey!!"
Riding the Immortal Chariot, Achilles looked at the eleven black coffins locking onto him and immediately wore an expression that screamed, "You've got to be kidding me."
Initially, upon seeing the black coffins activate, Achilles assumed that Semiramis had finally decided to attack Alaric. But he never expected that the black coffins would target him instead!
Unaware of the shift in control over the Hanging Gardens, Achilles felt as though this was some kind of joke.
The Hanging Gardens, constructed by Semiramis, naturally carried a trace of her divinity, meeting the conditions for the Immortal Flower's attack.
However, whether the black coffins could hit Achilles was another matter. Furthermore, the coffins' attacks were ineffective against Achilles, who possessed A World Enclosed by the Azure Sky (Achilles Cosmos).
The biggest problem was—Achilles might not have enough mana.
Even though Achilles' Master had high-quality mana, sustaining multiple Noble Phantasms—especially the mana-hungry Immortal Chariot—was nearly impossible.
Fully aware of this issue, Achilles did not abandon his pursuit of the Hanging Gardens. Instead, he had to evade the attacks of the eleven black coffins while making his way into the Gardens.
This resulted in his failure to catch up to Alaric!
This scene did not escape Jeanne's notice from the ground. She had originally intended to head toward the Hanging Gardens but was troubled by her inability to fly.
The current situation, where the Hanging Gardens were capturing the Greater Grail, presented a perfect opportunity, but—
"Rider, take care of Sieg."
Without much hesitation, Jeanne glanced at Astolfo, who was still holding the unconscious Sieg, and said, "Don't let him interfere in this war any further."
Before her words even faded, Jeanne rushed toward the Yggdmillennia castle at full speed, determined to enter the Hanging Gardens before the Greater Grail was completely captured.
As for the events occurring on the ground, they were no longer within Alaric's realm of concern.
Upon re-entering the false Hanging Gardens, Alaric immediately took in the extraordinarily familiar scenery.
A black ocean now covered every corner of the Gardens. The neatly arranged floating islands, lush greenery, marble floors, columns, and the various plants that once intertwined in the garden had all been transformed into orderly darkness.
The rivers flowing through the garden had also become the medium for the expanding Sea of Life, accelerating Tiamat's control over the Hanging Gardens to the extent that she could now use techniques like the Eleven Black Coffins and extraction rituals for the Greater Grail.
Originally, these techniques would have required Semiramis to personally construct them. However, due to the nature of the Hanging Gardens, they had been pre-installed within the Gardens for quick activation during the capture of the Greater Grail.
This allowed Tiamat to activate pre-set techniques even without understanding magic.
Beyond the Sea of Life's encroachment, Alaric also noticed many of Semiramis' Dragon Tooth Warriors being coated with the black divine mud. The divine mud, capable of creating monsters like Lahmu, now formed flesh-like substances over the skeletal frames of the Dragon Tooth Warriors, usurping their control.
Without paying much attention to the extent of the Sea of Life's spread, Alaric headed straight for the edge of the Gardens.
Although the Greater Grail would ultimately be taken to the center of the Gardens, Karna and Atalanta were still locked in combat with Tiamat—or rather, the monsters created by her. Meanwhile, Alaric sensed that Kotomine Shirou and Semiramis were attempting to approach the Greater Grail while Tiamat was occupied with Karna.
This was unacceptable.
Amid streaks of light, the steel wings behind Alaric began to disintegrate, shrinking to a more suitable size for moving within the Gardens. They propelled him forward as he advanced swiftly toward Kotomine Shirou's location.
The moment Alaric entered the Hanging Gardens, both Tiamat and Semiramis became aware of his presence.
As Alaric's contracted Servant, Tiamat naturally didn't need further explanation. Meanwhile, Semiramis, though she had lost control of the Gardens, still retained the magical enhancements tied to the location. In essence, the Gardens were still the Hanging Gardens and had not been entirely transformed by Tiamat.
At the end of the day, Tiamat had merely seized operational control.
Semiramis did not keep this information from Kotomine Shirou.
This caused Kotomine Shirou, who had been pondering how to bypass the Sea of Life and reach the center of the Gardens, to suddenly stop in his tracks.
"It seems we'll have to pause here for now," Kotomine Shirou remarked.
He gazed at the unceasingly surging chaos before him. The pitch-black waters were not something a Servant or human could touch.
They had to be avoided.
If it were just the waters, Kotomine Shirou could rely on Semiramis' magic to fly over them or establish defensive barriers. However—
"Hoho—"
Low, guttural breathing spread through the air alongside the rising waters. Dragon Tooth Warriors were now eyeing Kotomine Shirou and Semiramis hungrily.
These Dragon Tooth Warriors were even riding creatures like Bashmu, venomous snakes whose toxins filled the atmosphere. The venom, a hallmark of Semiramis, now permeated the air itself.
Basmu was one of Tiamat's eleven types of magical creatures and a pinnacle of the Phantasmal Species—a divine beast. Its venom was so potent that it could even kill Mordred.
Although Tiamat, far from her primordial divine form of Mesopotamian mythology, could not produce Basmu in numbers as overwhelming as Lahmu's billions, there were still enough of them to pin down both Karna and Atalanta.
Moreover, the Gardens themselves were too perfect—so perfect that the shift in ownership significantly limited Semiramis, the original creator.
Although Semiramis' ability to cast magic remained unaffected, she could no longer deploy large-scale or near-magical-level techniques reliant on the Gardens.
Only the status enhancements she had received remained intact. However, regardless of what enhancements she had, they were meaningless in the face of a divine being—especially when she also had to consider her Master's well-being.
With these thoughts in mind, Semiramis glanced at Kotomine Shirou, who was staring at the passage ahead. Tiamat's capture of the Greater Grail was nearing its conclusion. If this continued, the Grail would fall into the hands of Alaric and Tiamat.
Distant flames signaled the dire state of the battlefield. Even now, Tiamat had yet to make a direct move, relying solely on Dragon Tooth Warriors and the like to gradually wear Karna down. Karna's mana reserves were already showing signs of depletion.
Even though the Master currently providing magical energy is of decent quality, it's barely sufficient to sustain a battle of Karna's caliber. It cannot support a prolonged confrontation.
The fight the other night against Alaric and Siegfried was within tolerable limits, but this time, the Master was approaching their limit.
As a Servant, Karna cannot defeat a fellow Servant like Tiamat. Only a Noble Phantasm could pose a threat to the current Tiamat.
Semiramis was acutely aware of this, but Kotomine Shirou—
Swoosh.
A gust of wind carried the mist, surging toward Semiramis and Kotomine Shirou, forcing Semiramis to deploy her magecraft to block the poison gas while retreating with Kotomine Shirou.
The Hanging Gardens could be described as massive, yet under someone's relentless advance at all costs, it began to feel constricted.
Layer after layer of walls were pierced through, and the magical traps set up in the garden to hinder intruders proved ineffective. Against B++ level Magic Resistance, most magecraft simply fail to activate.
The resulting wind pressure from the movement disrupted the Sea of Life below and the spreading poison mist, sweeping them backward and even exceeding the set boundaries.
At the end of the day, Tiamat never intended to use the Sea of Life or the Dragon Tooth Warriors to kill her children—these were merely meant to intimidate.
But in the presence of someone, these measures lost all significance.
When the storm subsided, the Sea of Life parted under the approach of that person, leaving behind pure land.
Click. Click.
Now clad in a fresh outfit, Alaric surveyed the battlefield before him without sparing a glance at Karna, who was fighting Dragon Tooth Warriors and Bashum. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Kotomine Shirou and Semiramis before him and said, "I don't need to explain the situation, Kotomine Shirou."
"Indeed, it seems Achilles was unable to stop you."
Kotomine Shirou and Semiramis were well aware of the battles on the ground. Even Achilles, known as the fastest Heroic Spirit, was unable to stop Alaric due to the Hanging Gardens' interference.
This failure forced Kotomine Shirou and Semiramis to face Alaric directly, along with his extraordinary Servant, Tiamat.
At this moment, a girl's delighted voice rang out.
"You're back!"
With light steps, Tiamat spread her arms and ran up to that person without hesitation, hugging him tightly.
Just like on the day they reunited.
Alaric didn't reject Tiamat's embrace. This time, however, the goddess had preemptively retracted her impressively cool, enormous horns, sparing Alaric from having his face poked by them.
"The real show is about to begin."
Alaric's gaze never left Kotomine Shirou as he whispered into Tiamat's ear, "Kotomine Shirou, take Karna and Atalanta and leave. I look forward to our next meeting.
As for Semiramis, you need to transfer her Master's rights to a magus from the Clock Tower. I know they're not all dead yet."
Alaric didn't plan to eliminate Kotomine Shirou, but he also wasn't about to let him leave the Hanging Gardens unchallenged.
Karna's presence was inconsequential; Semiramis was the one Alaric sought to win over. Even if he couldn't gain her power, he couldn't allow someone as familiar with the Hanging Gardens as Semiramis to remain by Kotomine Shirou's side.
"What if I refuse?"
Hearing Alaric's almost unreasonable terms, Kotomine Shirou raised a hand, signaling Karna to stop fighting.
Karna, who had been engaged with the Dragon Tooth Warriors and Basum, immediately withdrew and moved to Kotomine Shirou's side. As his Master's entrusted Servant, he was obliged to obey Kotomine Shirou's orders.
Atalanta, meanwhile, stayed in her elevated position, her hand on her bow, ready to fire at a moment's notice. Her target, however, had shifted to that person.
Karna also noticed Alaric embracing Tiamat. His expression showed subtle ripples as he said, "So, you're the mastermind behind all this—"
"Indeed, I suppose you could call me the mastermind."
Still enjoying the warmth of Tiamat in his arms, Alaric's lips curled into a faint smile. For some reason, though, his earlobes were slightly red as he said, "Now then, what are your thoughts on my proposal? If you refuse, it will come down to a battle to the death, Kotomine Shirou. Do you have the confidence to defeat me?"
Alaric's unmasked strength reverberated through the gardens, causing even Karna to narrow his eyes slightly.
Karna held respect for Alaric, the man who had fought him for an entire night, but that didn't mean he believed Alaric could surpass him.
Even with an overpowered Servant like Tiamat, Karna would not retreat.
But as a Servant, Karna would not act rashly. He simply waited in silence. Atalanta, too, refrained from making a move, unable to find the right opportunity.
Kotomine Shirou fell into silence, prompting Semiramis to raise an eyebrow slightly. "Master, do you wish to fight?"
At her question, Kotomine Shirou shook his head and said, "I'm sorry Assassin. I'll have to inconvenience you for a while. I must retreat at this moment.
He won't allow me to remain in the gardens now."
These words caused Semiramis' expression to shift slightly. However, upon seeing Kotomine Shirou's resolute gaze, the unease in her heart settled.
"If that's your decision, then I have no choice but to comply."
Semiramis smiled faintly, offering no resistance.
Shortly after, Dragon Tooth Warriors brought forth a still-unconscious Master from the Clock Tower, Feend vor Sembren, who had previously been Karna's Master. Under Karna's watchful eye, Kotomine Shirou completed the transfer of Semiramis' Master's rights. He was then taken by the Dragon Tooth Warriors into the depths of the gardens, along with the other Masters.
As for Kotomine Shirou, now without Semiramis, Alaric watched as he and Atalanta were escorted out of the Hanging Gardens by Karna, ensuring they wouldn't encounter the Black Faction's Servants, who were entering the gardens alongside the Greater Grail.
"So, what do you plan to do with me?"
Semiramis crossed her arms, her expression lifeless. Without Kotomine Shirou, she seemed to have lost her vitality, merely staring quietly at the pair before her.
"I hope you won't make a move. Just stay put."
Finally releasing Tiamat, Alaric smiled and said, "That shouldn't be too hard, right?"
"Whatever you say. I don't mind."
Semiramis shrugged, showing no objection to Alaric's arrangement.
"Well then, I'll be right back."
Letting go of Tiamat's hand, Alaric smiled and said, "See you later."
Before the words had fully left his mouth, Alaric transformed into a streak of light and disappeared before Tiamat and Semiramis, heading straight for the Black Faction Servants who had arrived with the Greater Grail.
This left Semiramis and Tiamat staring at each other. As the origin of her nation's mythology, even Semiramis couldn't muster much indignation and instead smiled faintly, saying, "Goddess Tiamat, can you tell me the truth?"
...
Meanwhile—
"Be careful!"
As the Black Faction Servants Chiron and Vlad III entered the Hanging Gardens, they encountered the same situation Alaric had faced. The seemingly endless tides of chaos exuded an ominous aura.
As a great sage, Chiron quickly discerned the nature of the chaotic tides and fired arrows to use as footholds, moving cautiously through the gardens.
Vlad III attempted to raise the stakes in the chaos to create platforms, but his efforts failed. He was forced to mimic Chiron, using iron stakes to stab into the walls for movement.
Darnic, who had also pursued the Greater Grail, relied on magecraft to fly through the air. His expression was grave as he observed the corridors already engulfed by the chaotic tides.
What exactly is happening now?
Because none of the Red Faction's Servants are present in the Hanging Gardens at this time, the remaining Black Faction Servants launched an invasion. However, what they encountered were hordes of Dragon Tooth Warriors—and—
Boom!
The aurora that shot from deep within the corridor didn't stop; instead, it charged toward Vlad III at an astonishing speed!
Even Chiron, who had sensed it in advance and shot his arrows, couldn't intercept it.
Barely managing to react in time, Vlad III raised his hand to summon his iron stakes, but—
"Are you still considered home ground now, Impaler?"
Alaric's laughter accompanied the brilliance of his holy sword, severing Vlad III's proud iron stakes. The sword beam, glimmering like an aurora across the atmosphere, grew larger and larger in Vlad III's eyes until it finally culminated in a spray of blood and a dismembered arm flying through the air.
In just a fleeting moment of confrontation, Vlad III had already lost another arm!
"What?!"
The sudden turn of events shocked not only Chiron and Darnic but also Vlad III himself, who was utterly horrified. He instantly realized that his power was rapidly weakening.
Was it due to a lack of magical energy? Or was it because of the terrain?
Vlad III could feel the blessings of the Guardian of the Nation leaving him, and the enhancements brought by his abundant magical reserves were also gone!
What exactly was going on?
As for the answer, only the master of this Hanging Garden—or the knight standing before Vlad III—could provide it.
With a vicious grin, Alaric who had severed Vlad III's remaining arm gripped his sword tightly, ready to deliver the final blow.
Vlad III's sudden weakness? Oh, Alaric was well aware of the cause.
The ostentatious Hanging Gardens were a fortress created by Semiramis, allowing her to enjoy the benefits of local support. In terms of the concept of territory, the Gardens deviated from the boundaries of Romania. Consequently, Vlad III, who relied on the Guardian of the Nation's blessing, naturally lost his abilities in this environment.
Furthermore, Sieg had released the homunculi supplying magical energy in the Yggdmillennia castle, cutting off Vlad III's magical reserves.
Deprived of these factors, Vlad III was no different from the version encountered in the Sixth Singularity.
In fact, with his severed arm, he was even weaker!
"By the Command Seal—"
Seeing this, how could Darnic sit still?
Realizing that Vlad III had become vulnerable due to various reasons, Darnic's only recourse was to activate his final Noble Phantasm.
But—
Before he could finish speaking, a sharp hum split the air. A bloody gash appeared on his neck.
Like trimming weeds on the roadside, Alaric casually ended Darnic's life without a second thought. Instead, he focused his attention on the Lord before him. His gem-like Mystic Eyes gleamed brilliantly as he grinned and said:
"Farewell, Impaler!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several arrows flew through the air, attempting to stop Alaric's strike. However, the exploding chains of heaven intercepted every single one of them.
The sword had already been swung!
Slash!
A downward strike cleaved through death itself, forcing this Lord of an era to return to the Throne of Heroes.
Completely unable to resist, Vlad III could only watch helplessly as the blade brought him death. He didn't even have the chance to utter any last words.
"Black Lancer?!"
At the very moment Vlad III was ruthlessly slain, Jeanne d'Arc finally arrived, letting out a startled cry. She quickly noticed Alaric who had killed Vlad III and the chaos that engulfed the Hanging Gardens.
Although Jeanne couldn't fully comprehend the situation, she was certain that Alaric was at the center of it all.
"Please tell me where the Red Faction's Master is!"
Compared to Alaric, Jeanne was more concerned about the whereabouts of Shirou Kotomine, the Master of the Red Faction.
Of course, Jeanne was highly wary of Alaric as well. However, since she couldn't get anything out of him, she had no choice but to temporarily shift her focus to Shirou, the elusive Master of the Red Faction.
"He went down. If you go now, you should be able to find him."
In response to Jeanne's question, Alaric waved his hand dismissively, glancing at Chiron, who was preparing to retreat.
"This Garden is no place for you to linger. Either leave or die here. What will you choose?"
"They've left?"
Hearing this, Jeanne's expression shifted slightly. With her heightened senses, she could detect Karna and Atalanta leaving the Hanging Gardens, accompanied by another magical signature.
That must be the Red Faction's Master.
Without paying further attention to Jeanne, Alaric turned his gaze to Chiron and asked:
"Great Sage, what's your decision?"
"It seems I have no choice but to leave."
Chiron smiled wryly. "You're not going to attack me?"
With Darnic and Vlad III dead, Chiron relayed this information to Fiore Forvedge through their Servant connection. Her response was a decisive order to retreat.
After all, an Archer fighting alone in enemy territory would be tantamount to suicide.
However, Chiron found it curious that Alaric didn't intend to kill him. Eliminating a single Servant could give him a significant advantage, yet he chose not to act.
"I want to see the result of my wish."
Alaric rubbed his chin with a smile. "After all, a stage needs an audience, doesn't it? Wouldn't it be lonely if no one were watching?"
"A wish? The Greater Grail—"
Hearing this, Jeanne's expression turned serious.
"What is your wish?"
"Just the revival of the Third Magic, Materialization of the Soul. And it's only for me. Did you know the Red Master plans to materialize the souls of all humanity?"
Alaric waved his hand as if it were no big deal: "I can't even imagine what that would look like."
"What—"
It seemed Jeanne had heard something extraordinary.
But before she could press further, Alaric raised his hand to stop her.
"If you want answers, go find him. Don't bother me here."
"No. Your actions are also extremely dangerous. Please stop."
Jeanne immediately said, "Such a wish—"
A strong wind suddenly rose. Alaric, abandoning any pretense of conversation, lunged at Jeanne with a punch!
'!'
Jeanne hastily raised her flag to block the blow.
However, the overwhelming force behind the punch was too much for even her to handle.
Alaric, now entirely devoid of patience for idle chatter, decisively attacked when Jeanne refused to back down!
"Just wait for the curtain to rise on the stage."
Effortlessly overpowering Jeanne with one hand, Alaric said coldly:
"Otherwise, both you and this vessel you're possessing—hmm, Leticia, was it?—will die together."
Boom!
Without further words, Alaric increased his strength, forcing Jeanne to retreat step by step until she was pressed against the edge of the Gardens. One more step back, and it would be an endless freefall into the sky.
"See you next time. I hope you'll give a better performance."
Suppressing Jeanne beneath him, Alaric stared into the saint's eyes in front of him and said, "Goodbye, Jeanne."
Click.
Jeanne, who stepped into thin air, was immediately seized by gravity, plunging downwards at high speed.
LAlaric then turned his head, glancing briefly at the Sage Chiron who had already dissipated into spirit particles, no longer paying attention to the others. Instead, he walked directly toward the center of the courtyard—the location of the Greater Grail.
A few minutes later, Alaric, who hadn't recklessly destroyed walls, followed the path to the central chamber where the Greater Grail was housed.
Tiamat and Semiramis had been waiting for him for quite some time.
Upon seeing Tiamat, Alaric took quick steps, jogging over to her. He raised his hand.
Understanding his intent, Tiamat's eyes curved in a gentle smile as she extended her small, pristine hand, slapping it firmly against Alaric's much larger one.
Clap!
"Yeah! Big victory!"
Alaric extended his hand toward Semiramis and said with a grin, "High five?"
Though looking dejected, Semiramis did not refuse and raised her hand to meet his for a high five.
After briefly reuniting with Tiamat, Alaric turned his gaze toward the object quietly awaiting them.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it? One year, four years… oh, combined, it's about five years, right?"
Looking at the sphere in front of him—half-hidden, half-revealed—Alaric saw within it a statue of a certain saint. It was the first time he had seen the Greater Grail in this form. After all, the Greater Grail was usually just a pillar.
But regardless, Alaric now stood at the forefront of victory.
Five years. How many five-year spans does a person have in their life?
All things considered, Alaric's entire life had been just over twenty years. Adding these five years, he was on the verge of turning thirty.
The fleeting years are but a snap of the fingers.
And now—this time, I've won.
With such thoughts in mind, and witnessed by the Primordial God Tiamat and the Empress of Assyria, Semiramis, Alaric stepped toward the Greater Grail.
Step, step.
In no time, he ascended several steps, raising his hand to press it against the object known as the Greater Grail.
Hum.
Ripples emanated from the sphere, causing its hardened surface to begin dissolving, allowing Alaric to step slowly inside.
Without a Lesser Grail to serve as a terminal for connection and manifestation, using the Greater Grail's functions required entering its interior.
At this moment, the interior of the Greater Grail was already filled with the souls of multiple Heroic Spirits, and the accumulated mana had reached the required threshold.
As Alaric entered the inner chamber of the Greater Grail, a brilliant light assaulted his vision. Though it didn't obscure his sight, he still couldn't see anything.
It was as though the world before him was nothing but pure white.
Soon after, a sea of pure white flowers appeared before Alaric—a sight resembling a world beyond this one, a star's origin point unreachable by human intellect.
Amid that sea of flowers stood a saint Alaric had once seen before.
The Winter Saint—Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern.
As the foundation of the Greater Grail, Justeaze had, after sacrificing herself to construct it, left a remnant of her consciousness within its interior, which now served as a sort of terminal.
Aware of this, Alaric slowly approached Justeaze and asked, "Should I greet you, or can we get started right away?"
"Please state your wish."
Her eyes hollow, Justeaze responded to Alaric's words. "At this point, I only function as a terminal of the Greater Grail and cannot fulfill your request for dialogue."
"Alright then, tell me—"
Clearing his throat, Alaric gazed solemnly at the Winter Saint before him and asked, "With the current Greater Grail, is it possible to achieve the materialization of my soul?"
"Response: Negative. With the mana currently stored in the Greater Grail, it is impossible to meet the standard required to materialize your soul."
Justeaze responded immediately, as though the answer had long existed.
"Then how much is needed?"
Alaric, showing neither surprise nor disappointment, continued to ask, "How much would it take to materialize my soul?"
"Equivalent to the world's total mana reserves—"
The Winter Saint Justeaze's eyes seemed to shimmer with light as she continued, "A pseudo-reconstruction of a celestial body. If you were to drain all the ley lines of the world, there is a chance the standard could be achieved."
"Then switch the target. Abandon materializing all souls. Instead, perform regional materialization, opening a hole in my soul and providing knowledge related to the Third Magic."
Alaric tapped his forehead, his expression calm. "Can the resources accomplish that?"
"With full resources, it can be done—"
The Winter Saint Justeaze raised her hand, her delicate fingers pressing against Alaric's forehead. Radiant light began to bloom—a brilliance filled with the power of the Greater Grail, a force that had never successfully realized a wish.
Accompanying this radiance was—absolute black aurora.
The light ignored the boundaries of the inner and outer realms, reaching into the surface world. Under the watchful eyes of Tiamat and Semiramis—
A slender black aurora pierced the sky and the earth.
The absolute black aurora, like a pillar of light, stretched endlessly toward the boundless sky and earth. Around this aurora, dazzling starlight quietly blossomed.
Yet this starlight was not the brilliance emitted by the aurora; it was the sky itself, torn apart by the aurora.
The sky of the world split apart, revealing the truth glimpsed through the cracks—the true majesty of what had been born.
If the radiance that reached the heavens was so, then what of the aurora that touched the earth?
The light piercing the ground began to seize and devour for its continuation, stripping away the material of the planet itself to fuel the aurora's drive. The land began to subtly erode, flowing toward the anchor embedded in the planet.
This sudden spectacle was reflected in the eyes of the saint who sought salvation. An uncontrollable fear began to surge.
Looking at the airborne garden now far from Yggdmillennia's castle, at the radiance emanating from it—
What was that?
Jeanne didn't know, but she was certain that it was nothing beneficial to the world. Its mere existence was an act of plundering the world.
For its continuation, it was driving the world toward destruction.
At that moment, Jeanne's mind recalled the image of Alaric, and she immediately realized that this anomaly was intricately tied to him.
Was this his goal all along?
Unable to comprehend, Jeanne began to regret not dealing with Alaric earlier. Now it was too late to undo it—
No, there was still time!
Jeanne steeled herself. In her perception, many Servants from both the black and red factions were still present. If she could gather them together, there was still hope!
As Jeanne began to act, far away, Shirou gazed at the radiance that split the heavens and murmured to himself:
"So this is your wish?"