Chapter 56: Circular reasoning! A God... is born!!! Shout for joy! Celebrate!
『 "Perhaps Madoka became a Magical Girl with the strongest potential because you repeated the same time every time, and she became entangled with countless causality."
As the words fell, Homura's pupils suddenly contracted, and her body trembled.
Although her expression remained unchanged, the ripples in her eyes had already betrayed the girl's shock at this moment.
"As expected, the reason lies with you," Kyubey said knowingly.
"To be precise, it should be a side effect of your magic, right?"
"What do you mean..."
"You only have one reason to turn back time: Madoka Kaname's safety."
"For the same reason and purpose, when you rewind time multiple times, you twist countless parallel worlds into a spiral, don't you?"
"With Madoka Kaname's existence as the central axis, as a result, the causal lines of parallel worlds that originally couldn't be entangled together are all connected to Madoka in this timeline."
"So, her immensely huge magic coefficient is not surprising. Everything you repeated, everything in the causality that cycled within it."
"It kept turning, and finally connected with Madoka, as the prime culprit of everything—"
Kyubey paused for a moment, "You've done a great job, Homura!"
"You helped me cultivate Madoka into the strongest witch!"
The scythe-shaped black shadow echoed, and Homura Akemi felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. 』
『 .....』
〜Myriad Worlds livestream Chat〜
[ Lady Avalon (Type-Moon): "Kyubey-chan~, do you really have no emotions? No, you should be pleased~. This last stab really got me~" ]
[ Trisolaran Leader (3-Body Problem): "Each cycle entangled the resulting karma around that girl. To think that through this method... a terrifying causality weapon was created?! How shocking!" ]
[ Aizen (Bleach): "From the very beginning, Homura Akemi's wish had already sealed her fate. This is causality... No, if we're talking about causality, then the birth and destruction of the universe, Kyubey's efforts to prolong the universe, can all be called causes." ]
[ The Doctor ⦍11th⦎ (Doctor Who): "Exactly, but now Homura's wish is the most direct cause, and the effect is the god that is about to be born." ]
[ Kihara Amata (A Certain Magical Index: "What a truly astonishing world. Perhaps we can emulate this and create a similar existence?" ]
[ Lola Stuart (A Certain Magical Index): "Oh dear, such a dangerous experiment won't do~. Otherwise, I'll have to personally visit the safest Academy City~" ]
[ Kiritsugu Emiya (Type-Moon): "...Hope and despair are born together, just like Pandora's Box. Humanity cannot bear the disaster after the miracle." ]
[ Kenjaku (Jujutsu Kaisen): "I see, it's all your fault, Madoka Kaname, you womanizer! You cursed Homura!" ]
[ Madoka Kaname (Puella Magi Madoka Magica): "....." ]
[ Aogami Pierce (A Certain Magical Index): "How rude. Homura's feelings for Madoka are pure love." ]
[ .....]
〜Type-Moon World, G̶̘̏̕͜ṟ̶͠a̵̹͂̆n̵̻̤̎d̶̞͐ ̷̫͇͑C̸̛̪̬ȃ̴̯r̵̓̓͜n̸̜̋͗î̷̭v̸̱͆ȃ̷̫̚l̵͚̋ Worldline, Chaldea〜
"Senpai..."
Mash looked at Homura Akemi on the screen with a forlorn and pained expression.
As an artificial human, Mash hadn't been in this world for long, but she had experienced more exciting things than 99% of people.
The emptiness, despair, and determination in that girl's eyes deeply pierced Mash.
But Homura's actions...
"It's like a Singularity, isn't it, Mash?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka voiced Mash's thoughts.
"...Mm,"
Mash nodded silently. The course of history was for Madoka to become a witch and Kyubey to collect energy, but Homura twisted history again and again.
But...
"But Singularities are wrong, aren't they?"
"Hahaha,"
Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Mash, are Singularities really wrong?"
"Eh?"
Mash was startled.
What is a Singularity? Simply put, it's a distorted history. If Singularities weren't wrong, then why would they go to fix them?
"Singularities aren't wrong, it's just that we think Singularities are wrong."
Fujimaru Ritsuka said softly.
"So, we, who are about to be destroyed, are right in whatever struggles we make!"
The girl suddenly became arrogant.
"Because we are the saviors, not those who criticize and do nothing!"
"My heart and actions are as clear as a mirror, and everything I do is righteous!"
"Watch closely, Mash, Magical Girls are beings called miracles!"
—
〜Puella Magi Madoka Magica World〜
"As expected, there's no other explanation."
Kyubey shook its head, finally confirming it at this moment.
Although it had suspected since the first timeline, even though it hadn't imagined that Homura could continue to move forward through despair again and again.
This situation had never occurred, not even since the birth of the first Magical Girl.
And Homura had achieved this. It really had to thank Homura, otherwise, who knew when enough energy would have been accumulated.
Homura Akemi becoming a Magical Girl and constantly looping was truly the most correct choice!
Kyubey was absolutely certain.
—
〜SCP Foundation World〜
"Open your eyes wide, the secret of the supreme divinity is hidden right here~"
Dr. Clef laughed maliciously.
We contain. We protect. We fail. We run~
—
『 After Kyubey's unintentional taunt, it wagged its tail and left, heading to Madoka's home.
Outside the window, heavy rain poured down, and the weather forecast predicted a typhoon.
"Sayaka and Kyoko are both dead," Madoka lay weakly on the bed, her empty eyes staring at the ceiling.
"It's not an unexpected development; there were signs of it long ago." Kyubey's figure appeared in the room at some point.
"Are you saying this doesn't matter? Everyone died because of you," Madoka's voice even carried anger.
"Sigh..." Kyubey let out a deep sigh.
"Madoka, do you feel ashamed of livestock?" Kyubey suddenly asked. 』
『 .....』
〜Three-Body Problem World〜
The Trisolarans and people from Earth instantly perked up. Kyubey was about to... once again explain the truth of the laws of the universe!
—
〜JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Part 3: Stardust Crusaders Worldline〜
"That's right! Who remembers how many pieces of meat they ate!"
Dio affirmed loudly.
—
『 Images of countless livestock being slaughtered flashed in the girl's mind, and Madoka immediately hugged herself in fear.
"Your reaction is very strange. If you find this scene cruel, it means you haven't fully understood the essence," Kyubey said, puzzled.
"Cows, pigs, ducks, chickens, compared to other wild animals, their advantage in species reproduction is overwhelming. Isn't this a win-win relationship between you?"
"Are you saying... we're in that kind of relationship?" Madoka asked hoarsely.
"We don't treat humans as livestock," Kyubey shook its head.
"On the contrary, we've always made concessions to you."
"After all, we acknowledge you as intelligent life forms before engaging in negotiations," Kyubey tilted its head, seeing Madoka still silent.
"Don't you believe it?"
"Then let me show you the history that Incubators and humans have walked together." The next moment, countless images appeared in Madoka's mind.
"We have interfered with your civilization since time immemorial."
Ancient East, Ancient India, Ancient Babylon, Ancient Egypt—
Countless girls, too many to count, signed contracts with Incubators, achieved hope, and then succumbed to despair.
Beginning with prayers and ending with curses, this is the cycle that countless Magical Girls have repeated until now.
Hope—Confusion—Despair, all Magical Girls are like this.
"It's not us who betrayed Magical Girls, but their wishes. No matter what hope, as long as it goes against common sense, it will inevitably breed some kind of distortion."
"Isn't it also a matter of course that disaster would eventually arise from it?"
"If you call such a natural outcome a betrayal, then ultimately, the wish itself was a mistake."
But it wasn't foolish. It was precisely because of their sacrifices that human history could be woven.
This is a fact.
"Thus, with all the tears left in the past as a cornerstone, your current life has been achieved."
Tears silently flowed down the girl's cheeks. Madoka couldn't believe it; so many girls had...
"So why, even now, do you still treat the fate of mere acquaintances as special?" Kyubey soothed.
"Didn't you feel anything while watching them? Didn't you want to experience how much pain everyone was in?" Madoka questioned.
"If we could understand this problem, we wouldn't need to specifically come to this planet to solve it."
Kyubey said as a matter of course, "In our civilization, emotions are an extremely rare mental illness, so when we discovered you humans, we were greatly surprised."
A world where every individual possesses their own emotions and can coexist is simply unimaginable.
"If you hadn't come to this planet..." Madoka murmured.
"Then you might still be naked, living in caves." 』
『 .....』
〜Myriad Worlds livestream Chat〜
[ Aizen (Bleach): "Every individual has selfish motives. Human compassion and empathy are built on the foundation of self-love." ]
[ Trisolaris Leader (3-Body Problem): "Humans, a small yet astonishing existence." ]
[ Uchiha Madara (Naruto): "Everyone can't understand everyone else's world. The final method is to suppress everything with absolute force!" ]
[ Kiritsugu Emiya (Type-Moon): "Higher civilizations truly aren't like humans, are they..." ]
[ Transcendent (???): "Heh, they just unite against external threats. Isn't expansion and survival an instinct for all races? Interstellar invasion, multi-dimensional invasion, when has it ever stopped? A truly peaceful world, perhaps only that one person can create it." ]
[ Ruby (Type-Moon): "AHHHHHH!!! YOU'RE TALKING A BUNCH OF BIG THEORIES, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT AT ALL! I ONLY KNOW THAT MAGICAL GIRLS ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EXISTENCE!!! KYUBEY, YOU BASTARD!!!" ]
[ .....]
『 The wind and rain grew fiercer. In the eyes of ordinary people, this was a natural disaster, but Madoka knew that Walpurgisnacht was descending.
Madoka actively sought out Homura and told her that, in order to defeat Walpurgisnacht, she was willing to become a Magical Girl.
But as soon as Madoka said it, Homura immediately stopped her. Homura told Madoka the whole truth: she had repeated this countless times within this month, only to find a way to save Madoka.
But as the number of times traveled increased, her relationship with Madoka grew more distant. Even after learning the truth, she wavered in her own heart!
Until Madoka's words just now, she once again firmed her resolve: no matter what, she had to protect Madoka!
And so, Homura stopped Madoka and went to fight Walpurgisnacht alone.
But no matter how thoroughly prepared she was this time, Homura was still no match for Walpurgisnacht.
Madoka, who had already taken refuge in the rescue center, left her family and came to a super-large floor-to-ceiling window.
"Is it true that Homura said she could win alone?" Madoka asked softly.
"If I denied it, would you believe me?" Kyubey countered.
"There's nothing special to say now. Witness it with your own eyes."
"How far can Homura Akemi go?"
"Why is she still fighting at this point..." Madoka murmured.
"Because she's still pursuing hope. If it doesn't work, this timeline will once again turn into nothingness, and Homura will continue to fight."
"But nothing will work. Madoka's fate will never change. The moment she confirms that, Homura Akemi will transform into despair and become a Grief Seed, won't she?"
Rather than saying Homura created Madoka, it's more accurate to say Madoka cursed Homura.
"If you have hope, can you not be saved?"
"Exactly, you've seen it too."
That's right... Becoming a Magical Girl means despair, but... but!
How could she let Homura endure such pain alone!
The girl turned to leave, but a hand grabbed her.
"Where are you going?"
"Mom?!" Madoka was startled.
"I... I have to save my friend."
"Leave that kind of thing to the fire department," Junko Kaname said expressionlessly.
"It has to be me," the girl retorted, but a slap landed on her face.
"Your life isn't just your own! If you do something so selfish, the people around you will..."
"I know, I know... I also love Mom and Dad very much, which is why I can't waste myself. Precisely because of that, I must cherish everyone, and I must protect everyone!"
"...Can't you explain why? Or at least let me come with you."
But the girl's silence answered everything.
"Mom said you raised me to be a good child, didn't you? Someone who doesn't lie or do bad things. Do you still believe that now?"
Junko Kaname seemed to know something. Her eyes flashed with pain.
"You won't do anything foolish, will you? You haven't been swayed by anyone's lies, have you?"
"Mm!"
Then go— 』
『 .....』
〜Naruto World〜
"Is this what a mother is..."
Gentle, reliable, trusting...
Naruto's eyes flashed with envy but quickly dimmed.
But he was a child without a mother...
—
『 Sharp laughter echoed in every corner of the world—
Walpurgisnacht descended, the world turned to ruins, and Homura's figure was sent flying again and again.
"Why! No matter how many times, I can't defeat that thing!" Her limbs shattered, her magic exhausted, she couldn't even recover...
Homura felt she could no longer fight, instinctively wanting to rewind time.
"If I repeat it, Madoka's karma will increase again, but..."
The internal conflict caused the girl's heart to ache and her breath to catch. The corruption gradually stained her Soul Gem, and the bewildered girl completely lost her direction at this moment.
I... in the end... changed nothing!!!
Despair completely spread, and a witch was about to be born at this moment!
But just at this moment...
"Enough, it's enough, Homura."
A pair of gentle hands held Homura. Homura looked at Madoka in disbelief.
"Madoka... could it be?!"
"Homura, I'm sorry, I'm going to become a Magical Girl." Madoka smiled apologetically.
"Then... then what was I fighting for?" Homura still tried to stop her.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I am who I am today because Homura has always protected me. I've finally found my answer," Madoka gently embraced Homura.
"You, who embody the fate of countless worlds and have become a singularity of causality, can grant any wish, can't you? Now, Madoka, what is your wish?" Kyubey stared intently at Madoka.
"My wish is..." The girl smiled gently.
"All the witches in all universes, past and future, by my own hands—"
Causality converged, the void shattered—something... capable of shaking the universe had appeared!
All living beings looked there in shock!
"If this wish, this prayer, is granted!" Kyubey said in shock, "That's not a level that time can interfere with. This is a violation of the law of causality itself!"
"Are you really going to become a god?!"
"God or anything doesn't matter."
"...Everyone who has fought witches until today, the Magical Girls who once believed in hope, I wish they could all keep smiling until the very end." Madoka's figure was enveloped in light.
"The rules that obstruct this, I will destroy them, I will change them! This is my wish."
"Now—make it happen! Incubator!"
Brilliant light burst forth from the girl's body, dispelling the darkness and illuminating this despairing world!
A single circle covered the entire universe!
Rejoice! Celebrate!
The true miracle! The true hope—
At this moment!
A GOD WAS BORN!!! 』
『 .....』