That being was unimaginably massive.
It seemed to fill the entire moon, tearing through the lunar crust as it emerged from beneath the surface, its gaze fixed upon Souma.
This was the true form of the Star-Spangled Banner—
The Giant God Attila!
Also known as the White Giant Sefar!
"Civilization, from its birth, development to prosperity, will inevitably attract what is called the [Harvest Star]—the Star-Spangled Banner," Abigail explained, looking up at the figure beyond the gate. "Just as humans consume food, the Star-Spangled Banner consumes 'civilization'! It releases the Star-Spangled Banner soldiers to harvest the civilizations of Earth."
"All knowledge, technology, and other achievements of civilization are its nutrients, transformed into magical energy to endlessly enlarge itself."
The true enemy of civilization!
So powerful it defies imagination, capable of standing alone against the entire world.
Not just humans, even gods fall within its harvest.
The so-called mighty deities are merely more robust "leeks" in its eyes.
Once they grow fat enough, it's time to reap them!
"Truly terrifying," Souma nodded.
The Olympian gods who once came to Earth were forced to abandon their Machine God forms and merge with the local Greek pantheon after being attacked by the Star-Spangled Banner soldiers.
This terrifying entity was the natural enemy of gods, leaving deities utterly powerless against it.
Fourteen thousand years ago, the Star-Spangled Banner soldiers wantonly destroyed and devoured human and divine civilizations, attempting to reduce Earth to ashes.
After annihilating all civilizations, it would self-destruct.
A standard doomsday enemy.
Yet, curiously enough.
Over a thousand years ago, this Star-Spangled Banner soldier had a dream.
It dreamed of living as a human, becoming a king of the Huns, freely galloping across the grasslands like the Ash Girl.
Heroic spirits don't dream, and Star-Spangled Banner soldiers even less so.
Thus, this was an accidental transformation into a true human, allowing those memories to dominate its original form.
A descendant of the Xiongnu, leading his people—utterly defeated by China—from Central Asia all the way to West Asia and Eastern Europe.
Even France fell before him.
Feared by countless Europeans as the [Scourge of God], regarded as a demon king who destroyed everything.
That human was none other than the Great King of the Huns—
[Attila!]
"Actually, it's not just the Olympian gods. Even the so-called Outer Evil Gods you mentioned are countered by it," Abigail's small face turned extremely serious. "The Outer Evil Gods are actually called the [Cthulhu] Outer Gods."
"Oh?"
Souma was slightly surprised.
Logically speaking, fourteen thousand years ago, the Star-Spangled Banner soldiers didn't descend upon China.
It should have been the Outer Evil Gods corrupting China that stopped them, right?
"There are two things that counter the Outer Gods. One is the Star's Tear of Attila the Star-Spangled Banner soldier, the other is the Holy Sword of the first Holy Sword Wielder," Abigail revealed without hesitation. "The former is a planet-destroying laser, while the latter is Earth's self-protection and purification mechanism."
The Outer Gods aren't truly invincible.
Otherwise, the entire universe would have long been corrupted and infected by them.
"Oh, so the Holy Sword counters the Outer Gods," Souma looked at her with great surprise.
Hey now, you're the Outer God's spokesperson—how can you casually reveal their natural enemies like this?
Could a single meal really make you turn traitor and become a double agent?
The so-called Holy Sword refers to none other than [Excalibur], also known as the "Sword of Promised Victory" wielded by King Arthur.
Even with King Arthur's formidable strength, she could never fully unleash its true power.
Just like Ea in Gilgamesh's hands, it requires a level beyond that of the gods to truly unleash its world-sundering, primordial terror.
[Excalibur], currently classified as an A+-rank Noble Phantasm, is in fact restrained by its scabbard [Avalon], which imposes the [Thirteen Restraints].
Only when faced with a threat to the very existence of Earth can it be truly unsealed.
Releasing its terrifying power to rend everything asunder.
For instance, when the Velber attempted to consume and annihilate both human and divine civilizations, unleashing the Noble Phantasm [Teardrop Photon Ray] to destroy Earth itself.
[Excalibur] was fully unsealed, transforming into the Star Holy Sword.
Abigail clearly understood what he was thinking and smiled. "The so-called restraint against Outer Gods has little effect on the Father God."
Among the Outer Gods, there are hierarchies of strength.
The Father God is second only to that indescribable existence.
"..."
Souma had no words for this.
A simple statement confirmed his suspicion—that the Outer God known as "He Who Begets All, The All-in-One" was undoubtedly on the same level as [God] and [The Enlightened One]!
A truly transcendent being, possessing supreme freedom and eternal liberation.
"Fourteen thousand years ago, the first Holy Sword Wielder, with the assistance of Earth's will [Gaia], unleashed the true power of the Star Holy Sword to defeat it."
Abigail gazed at the colossal figure reviving on the Moon and sighed softly. "But now, Earth's will [Gaia] has merged with that Beast of Humanity and will no longer favor mankind."
"That Beast of Humanity seeks only to ignite human history, forging its own eternal world—one that surpasses Heaven!"
The two Counter Forces.
One is the collective self-preservation instinct of humanity, [Alaya]—Souma's employer.
The other is the self-preservation instinct of the planet itself, the will of Earth, [Gaia].
When faced with a calamity threatening the planet's destruction, [Gaia] and [Alaya] would join forces, bestowing the Holy Sword Wielder with power surpassing that of the gods.
Empowered by both Counter Forces, the Holy Sword Wielder would gain strength sufficient to defeat the Velber.
However.
The planet's will has long since merged with that Demon God King, utterly indifferent to whether it is destroyed or not!
A planetary will tainted by the Beast of Humanity—even Abigail couldn't predict what it might do.
"No longer favoring humanity, huh?"
Souma's expression turned slightly strange.
Though he claimed to have retired, he had actually been looking after the very terror she spoke of.
Alas, time was too short.
In just a few short years, countless enemies had descended, forcing [Alaya] to frantically expose his past to restore his combat strength.
This exposure had also caused that being to gradually awaken alongside him.
A fate that transcends time and gods—
Such is destiny!
Souma didn't dwell on this point but instead asked curiously, "So, what did your Father God want with Tiamat?"
The strongest Noble Phantasm of this Outer God's chosen was summoning the power of the Father God [Yog-Sothoth] to create a "Gate" of boundless might.
It was this very Gate that had pulled him and Tiamat here.
"I'm not quite sure. Perhaps they're discussing our marriage?" Abigail's cheeks flushed pink, looking utterly adorable.
In her eyes, the Father God was like her parents, the ones who could decide everything for her.
And the Beast of Humanity, Tiamat, was respectfully referred to by her as "Mother Tiamat."
Was this really their second meeting, and they were already meeting the parents?
"..."
Souma didn't know how to respond for a moment.
This little loli's personality was far too unpredictable.
It made him start to wonder if her wholehearted devotion to helping him was just another fleeting joke.
More importantly.
He already had Roya, Illya, Miyu, and several other lolis around him—was he really going to cement his title as a "loli-con" in the eyes of the world?
He clearly preferred girls like Mother Tiamat or the Lion King—those with ample charm!
Damn it!
Meanwhile.
Beyond the Inner and Outer Worlds, in the void of the Imaginary Number Space where no life existed.
Tiamat, half-human and half-dragon, found herself face-to-face with a mysterious presence.
The figure resembled a humanoid silhouette, draped in a veil of faint light, obscuring its true features.
Tiamat stared expressionlessly at the being: "Aaaaa (Why have you sought me?)"
The entity before her wielded an unfathomable, alien power—one that did not belong to Earth.
It had already put her on full combat alert.
Here in the Imaginary Number Space, she had released her [Self-Sealing], unleashing her true power as the Primordial Mother Goddess—dozens, even hundreds of times stronger than before.
"Greetings, one of the creators of all things. I bear no ill will toward you," the being replied gently.
It spoke in the ancient tongue of the primordial gods.
The mere words carried a majestic force akin to magic.
"I know all things and can bestow all knowledge. The omniscient and omnipotent transcendents of Earth have invited me to witness humanity's performance."
The silhouette's tone grew even softer. "And the one you favor is the focal point of this stage."
"Aaaaa (Why seek me? What do you intend to do with him?)"
Tiamat remained on guard.
The power of this being was too peculiar—an arcane force she had never encountered before.
Yet, this silhouette's target was Souma, making it impossible for her to back down from a fight.
"I possess all knowledge, yet I crave more. That one, blessed by fate, has restarted the entire world, allowing me to witness even greater possibilities."
The silhouette seemed to smile. "When the actors, the time, and the script all change, the outcome will diverge entirely from before."
"I merely wish to observe every possibility, every result—to watch this play unfold."
The previous world reset had only affected Earth.
For transcendent beings like it, such an event held no consequence.
Not even [Alaya] and [Gaia] combined could achieve that.
"An observer?" Tiamat felt a flicker of doubt.
This transcendent existence was even more peculiar than the Beasts of Humanity—its motives utterly incomprehensible.
Or rather, attempting to understand it would lead to the same hysterical madness that had consumed the gods of the Heavenly Court.
Thus completely descending into a terrifying evil god!
"I possess all knowledge and am more than willing to bestow it upon any who seek it."
The silhouette figure smiled gently despite their wariness, continuing: "For instance, that Olympian goddess of wisdom who yearned to pray to me for knowledge—observing her reaction after receiving it has also become a form of harvest for me."
Possessing all knowledge, yet delighting in granting all knowledge.
This unreserved gift, if you can endure it, becomes your greatest blessing.
In its eyes, there is no distinction between believers and strangers.
If you pray, it shall be granted.
After all, witnessing the transformation of those who receive is also its source of amusement.
Humans and gods, Earth and the universe—in its view, they are merely divided into material zones and knowledge repositories.
"I have no need for your gifts."
Tiamat refused without hesitation.
This reminded her of a poem Souma had once recited to her—
[You watch the scenery from the bridge,]
[While someone watches you from the tower.]
[The moon adorns your window,]
[And you adorn another's dream.]
That wisdom goddess Athena, who wished to behold the "scenery," had herself become the "scenery" in another's eyes.
Free things are often the most expensive in this world.
Thus, Souma never sought to gain without giving, instead upholding the principle of equivalent exchange.
Even when obtaining power from her, he sought to offer something in return.
For instance, what she most desired—
Love!
Loving humanity deeply, yet betrayed by them.
Yearning to be loved.
Yet afraid to draw close to humans.
Because of love, she feared harming them—and being hurt herself.
Only that child could converse with her gently and equally, utterly unafraid of her identity as a Beast of Humanity.
"You love humanity and believe they can stride toward an infinite future, even if it means you must remain alone in the imaginary number space."
The silhouette figure continued softly: "Only the most extreme love can transform into a Beast of Humanity."
"My chosen has already allied with yours. Allow me to witness a dream leading to infinity—I am most curious about your eventual outcome."
Its appearance before the Beast and humanity this time was purely at the request of its chosen.
That, and the wary observation of the collective human consciousness.
A grand play determining humanity's survival had fully commenced.
Until the final moment, none could know whether humanity would endure.
Or in what form it would persist.
"I believe in that child. He will ultimately guide humanity toward an infinite future," Tiamat affirmed with certainty.
"Then, we shall wait and see."
The silhouette figure gradually faded away.
Simultaneously.
Within the human world.
A new wave of catastrophe had truly descended!