"Beast III?"
"Kiara Sessyoin?"
The moment Kiara Sessyoin confidently declared her name and identity, both Artoria and Shiomi reacted with surprise.
Although they had already detected signs of a Beast's transformation within this Singularity, unlike Tiamat or Goetia, Sessyoin stood there in the form of an ordinary human woman.
Even though an overwhelming non-human aura emanated from her, it was clear that this form wasn't a disguise or transformation.
"...I know that name. A psychologist dispatched to Seraphix. A practitioner of Eonten-ryu, a side branch of Japan's esoteric Shingon Buddhism from the Tachikawa School." Shiomi narrowed his eyes, gauging the timing to strike.
Despite standing there seemingly without a care, Sessyoin didn't reveal a single opening. Striking blindly would be unwise.
More importantly, Shiomi knew he lacked the means to effectively counter this Beast. No Grand Servant had been summoned in this Singularity, making it all the more crucial to proceed with caution.
"Oh my, I didn't expect to be so famous," Sessyoin said cheerfully.
"I just saw the personnel transfer records for Seraphix in documents only the Director has access to," Shiomi replied. "There aren't many Japanese working at the offshore facility—it wasn't hard to remember. But... where's the Demon God Zepar? That thing left behind in the control room is just his remains, isn't it?"
"Of course. He's become one with me," Sessyoin answered with a bright smile. "Originally, I was just a pitiful woman whose body had been possessed by Lord Zepar, waiting to die. I was supposed to vanish, just like the others in Seraphix, dissolved into a SE.RA.PH. mirage..."
"But Zepar wasn't satisfied with merely possessing your body. That Demon Pillar did something more, didn't he?" Shiomi subtly gestured to the three behind him, signaling them to spread out. "Yet in the end... you turned the tables and devoured him?"
Sessyoin lit up with joy, as if delighted to be understood. "Oh my, I didn't expect you to be so sharp—able to see right through me! But devoured isn't quite right. Under Lord Zepar's design, I merged with SE.RA.PH., and across stretched time, I was attacked, destroyed, and abandoned over and over in the repeating Holy Grail Wars..."
As she spoke, her face flushed with a strange mix of shyness and bliss.
"Ah... it was like a dream. That kind of ecstasy—one could never obtain it, no matter the cost."
Shiomi arched an eyebrow. Something was off.
Though this was only a conversation, Sessyoin's words and demeanor seemed to erode his will, bit by bit.
"I've heard enough excuses, Sessyoin." Shiomi steadied himself with a hand to his face, breaking free from the seductive haze. "You talk like you were just a pawn of the Demon Pillar, but you've clearly come to enjoy it. And now you want to keep playing the victim? If you truly had any remorse, you would've stopped using this Holy Grail built on human sacrifice long ago."
Sessyoin immediately wore a mix of mock anger and sorrow. "I know it's disgraceful to have been at the mercy of a Demon Pillar... but the way you Servants fight—it's so intoxicating, so delicious. Especially someone like you, who's defeated a Beast twice already... I can't help but wonder how you taste."
She spoke with a disturbingly calm certainty, as if human life meant nothing to her. "That's why I figured, before their bodies are ruined beyond use, there's no harm in making the Masters dance for a while, right? So... sorry, I stopped counting after seventy."
She smiled like a merciful bodhisattva, but to Shiomi, it was the smile of a demon.
Demonic... From head to toe, this woman radiated an unholy mix of Buddhist serenity and unhinged depravity.
"Is that so? Then let this be the final time—Gungnir!"
At last, spotting a slight crack in her defense, Shiomi didn't hesitate. He unleashed the True Name of Odin's spear.
The unerring spear pierced through Sessyoin's chest.
"I didn't expect that you, who saved an entire world, standing on the boundary between humanity and divinity… would still deem me evil." Sessyoin remained motionless. The spot where she had been pierced didn't even bleed. "What a pity. If you could've understood me, I'm sure that after becoming part of me, you would've reached a higher state—transcending even the concept of a Beast."
"What are you spacing out for? Attack already! I won't die—take me down with her!"
Shiomi didn't hesitate. Using his spear as a medium, he activated the Primordial Runes' binding Magecraft and gave the others their orders.
"This sword is a replica of the sun. Its flame shall cleanse all the impurity of this world. 'Excalibur Galatine'!"
"Redeem yourself in death. Bring closure through slaughter. The sin and price of arrogance will be paid here. 'Failnaught: Phantasmal Music of the Painful Lament'!"
"Sheathed in the breath of the planet, a torrent of shining life. Feel its wrath! 'Excalibur'!"
Following Shiomi's command, the three hesitated only briefly before unleashing their prepared Noble Phantasms.
Although their target was Kiara Sessyoin, Shiomi was inevitably caught in the blast as well.
Light swallowed them both, along with the Observatory.
"A wise choice. Once SE.RA.PH. sinks into the ocean, I'll become one with this planet… No, this planet will become my body. This time, I'll save humanity—relieve all suffering and pain, and use all seven billion for salvation."
Amid the radiance, Sessyoin remained composed. The Observatory, bathed in the mana of the Noble Phantasms, shifted into a strange new realm blooming with lotus flowers and golden auspicious clouds.
"Too late for everything. To be interrupted by ants at the most crucial moment—how disappointing."
Her appearance transformed again.
Gone was the nun's robe. Now, she stood in a revealing white vestment, horns rising from her head—an embodiment of the 'lust' she symbolized as a Beast.
"I'm sorry… but you'll all slumber peacefully in my paradise."
Sessyoin looked down at Shiomi.
The combined Noble Phantasm barrage hadn't harmed Sessyoin, and Shiomi had only taken minor damage. Kneeling with his spear, he couldn't get back on his feet.
"How can this be?! Not a scratch!"
Even knowing how troublesome a Beast could be, Artoria was still shocked by how little damage they'd done.
"There's no time—fall back, now!"
Just then, Shiomi thrust his hand up. A Water Mirror opened behind the three, pulling them in before vanishing.
It was a ceremonial artifact Morgan had given him to regroup, but with everyone too far apart now, Shiomi had no choice but to stay behind alone.
"To think you'd still prioritize your comrades at a time like this… Don't worry."
Sessyoin cupped Shiomi's face in her hands.
"I'll swallow you whole—and slowly make you a part of me."
He could barely move. Just as he prepared to trigger a detonation in his internal Magic Circuits, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"Don't be afraid."