The End Draws Near
Indeed, without a doubt.
The end of Nameless—draws near—
Descending the elevator, they arrive hundreds of meters beneath London.
"Well then. We've come to retrieve one of my treasures—a Holy Grail among many…"
The vessel rests his chin in hand.
"Yeah. It's right there, huh? How's it look, Roman, Marie?"
"Yes, securely in place. Detaching it from the device shouldn't be too hard."
"Precisely. Remove it, return to the apartment—that completes the mission…"
—But for a simple retrieval, the vessel's on high alert.
Arms crossed, muscles taut, he steps ahead, shielding Master and Mash.
"Aye. This Singularity's resolution is our victory. As victors, claiming the spoils—the Grail—is our right. But…"
He steels himself and speaks.
"…Recall my talk of the Grand Orders? The Heroic Spirit ritual summoning superior Spirit Origins?"
"Seven Heroic Spirits against one evil—the Grand Servant framework, right? What of it?"
"…Timing's unfortunate. My eyes foresee it: a mongrel overreaching in that vessel will manifest here soon."
"Wha—?!"
—What?!
Manifest… means one Grand Servant appears here?!
"W-Why?! Grand Servants protect the world from Godzilla-level threats—humanity's allies, right?!"
"Yeah, Gil! No reason for a Grand Servant in this underground pit! We crushed every enemy!"
"Indeed, by sound logic, impossible. Such a lofty title demands decorum—or we fellow Heroic Spirits would be disappointed. If it were a true Grand Servant."
—Grand, yet not Grand…?
"To interfere now, post-victory? No hero of pride would stoop so low. Not like the Storm King. Thus, it's an overexcited mutt, or corpse-picking rabble. Likely mistaking my vessel's resilience for its own glory, clinging to rank to sneer down in delusion. Unbelievable—I'm ashamed. The Grand titles have fallen so low, I can't stifle my mockery… Enough. Mash, Master—prepared?"
—The question's for us too.
"Likely Caster-class. Sly tricks abound—might hurl curses with a glance. One slip, and death without a twitch."
—Soul, mind, flesh—links looser than ever. Will alone could flee instantly.
—'If you wish, escape now.' The vessel's mercy, consideration.
—The unprecedented warning steels the spine.
"Your battles in this Singularity are done. I brought you for appearances… If unready, leave it to me—wait at the apartment."
"Then you, Gil…?!"
"Of course I claim the Grail. Flee abandoning my treasure? Collecting them is instinct. Treasure is treasure—reason enough to shelter and seize it. I'll pulverize any obstacle. Even a Grand-crowned mongrel… Decided?"
His tone: no laugh, no rage. Deadly serious.
"Guts to face humanity's peak idiots—the fools who birthed this Incineration mess, 'concluded' nonsense, and swept my garden clean—staring death in the face?"
…My mind's set. No need to wait.
Since coming here—no, since shaking my head at Fou's question—my answer's fixed.
—Sort the treasures.
"…"
Against a Grand, select top-tier treasures with full spirit.
Eyes of flesh, foresight—preload, predict moves.
—To guard the king's body from all foes, I can't flee. Not about losing my soul's anchor.
(—You won't run, Nameless.)
—Yeah. I swore.
No stain on the Hero King's glory, so long as I exist.
Above all—this is my heart.
Protected, colored, dazzled by his radiance. Journeyed together. My fate's his.
Victory or defeat. If shattering awaits, together.
That's my soul's pride. My flesh and mind's utmost respect.
I won't run. —And above all—
(—)
Reality be damned—I won't accept a future where this Hero King loses! I'll shatter any 'inevitable' end!
Just as he's done for us—!
(Nameless…)
"Of course—not running!"
The Master girl matches me.
"I've agonized and suffered a lifetime's worth—most things are fine now! As me, I won't flee anything! That's my chosen way!"
She declares her existence clearly.
"By Gil and Mash's side to the end, as Master! When death comes, I'll be there! So I won't run—from anyone!"
"Me too—same as Senpai."
The snowflake girl shares the resolve.
"My mission: protect the world-saving Master and Chaldea's king. So—weak as I am—this heart and body, pledged to the end!"
—Master, Mash…
"Right. Then… I resolve too."
Chaldea's hopeful flower blooms determination.
"I've died once. Nothing scares me now. No time to cower—I must fulfill my duty, bearing your lives."
"Marie!"
"Joy doubles with friends. Pain halves. That's friendship, Rikka."
Rikka nods, beaming at Marie's wink.
"If Mash and Rikka-kun won't run, my path's clear! What's a Grand?! We've faced death a dozen times—tears and terror sold out! Nothing frightens meee!"
"That's just bravado."
"Don't ruin my resolve! Anyway, I won't run! Left a will with Magi☆Mari! I'll live 'til I die—that's my way! And in this paradise—gorge free sweets, surf free net forever!"
"Hahaha, this fool—fine, charge you next month."
"The world's doomed—!!!"
(Noisy. Me too. Won't abandon precious friends.)
—Fou…
(Promised that tour. I'll keep it.)
—Yeah!
"Hah! My folly, asking the obvious! Bunch of gutsy idiots, every one! My treasures, shining so blindingly I'm stunned! Fuhahahahaha!!"
The Hero King slaps his knee, roaring laughter.
"Ahh—you've grown beyond my polish, dazzling me with your own colors. Chicks long fledged. Time to ditch the babysitter sign!"
—Yes. They're the king's favorite—best humans ever.
—Now I'm certain.
I'm glad I came here.
"Forgive my pointless question with smiles! Then—let's claim the prize head! Graciously appraise it!!"
His fuhahahahaha echoes—
"…Amusing. Laughable. Resolve? Shine? What use? Pathetic. Utterly pathetic."
Ice-cold voice. Crushing pressure.
"There—curtain rises on the worthless puppetmaster!"
"Romani! That's—!"
"…Impossible."
Romani mutters in shock.
"Familiar, Romani?"
"No doubt… Impossible! That's Solomon! Magecraft King Solomon!"
"Magecraft King… Solo—"
"Fool. Don't utter it. Words might carry curses. Sly beyond measure."
The vessel crosses arms coolly, mana gusting past.
But we struggle just to stay conscious…!
—What pressure… What majesty…! Without the king's shelter, we'd vaporize…!
Mana and aura blanket everywhere but the Hero King. Beyond angels, demons—godlike.
This—is a Grand… Servant…!
"——"
—?
"Who permitted thy gaze, base cur? Before a king, bow and kneel—that's etiquette."
—Staring at us…?
"'Absent.'** —Foolish lives before me. Chaldea—adrift ship in the incinerated world. Pitiful strugglers aboard—that's you."**
Words flat, emotionless, toneless.
"Mash! Shield Rikka! Don't separate!"
"Yes! Senpai!"
"Yeah! —You're the Grand Caster! The 'King' Lev spoke of?!"
Rikka demands.
"Silence!!"
"!?"
The Grand Caster flusters—panics, unraveling.
"…Hoh. I see."
"Don't look at us—DON'T LOOK!! Sick of it, sick, bored!! Saw it endless—gouged eyes, blind spots, shoved in my face! We concluded! Deemed worthless!! Enough—discarded, surpassed!! Stay out of sight, don't shake our resolve! Unneeded, unnecessary! Stop—don't show more! Ugly, ugly UGLY UGLY UGLY!!!"
The Magecraft King clutches his face, wailing pity and grief.
"W-What? What's wrong?"
"Peered into thy abyss—mind scorched, eroded. Laughable. Even I couldn't pierce it—how could he? Parable: rabble gazing thy mirror-dark recklessly go mad. Thy abyss—only thou can bear."
—Saw Master's heart… broke him…?
"E-Eh? My heart that bad…? Could've just seen post-Gudoshi memories…"
Master slumps, dejected.
"…See tragedy… Ahh… I get it… right?"
"…Romani?"
"N-No, nothing! Mash—talk to him! Gil or Rikka-kun won't work!"
—Master aside, even the vessel can't…?
"Y-Yes. Are you truly Grand Caster?!"
"…I'll answer. Questions demand replies."
Rational now, prior frenzy a lie.
"…Ahh…"
"I am Grand Caster, Magecraft King Solomon. Seven strongest the world summoned as one. The one who incinerated thy Human Order."
"…MedEa's warning—'mages can't win'—this is it…! Grand Caster, the enemy head…!"
"Yes! Yes! Why didn't I see?! Why overlook!!"
Shifts again—hysterical, shrieking like a girl.
"All that intel, yet I missed it?! That dense?! Incompetent?! My oversight this vast?! Impeach, impeach, IMPEACH! Pity and despair—fit for fury-death!!"
"Like Marie back then!"
"Yup. That Solomon flips with the foe. Mirror-like."
—Mirror-like…?
"Hoh, Solomon fans see something?"
"Overused familiars broke his brain, probably."
"True. Then I'll play. —Hear me, rabble."
—Movement halts. Dead stop.
"——"
"What, rabble? No retort for me? Or is it 'No one worthy of me'? Speak! 'Surpass' yet 'enslaved'—contradicted Magecraft King. Or unfit for a king's table, mongrel?"
The vessel taunts, amused.
"—Corresponding pillar: absent. Dialogue: unnecessary."
—What?!
"—Propose: imprisonment in prison tower via evil eye. Accepted."
Instant.
"!"
Rikka sways.
"Senpai!?"
"?...F-Fine, fine! Just got dizzy from the glare!"
"You—!"
(—Bad! Nameless!! Steel thyself!!)
—!?
"—Initiating dialogue with internal soul."
Decision falls—the scene blacks out.
"What?—..."
The Hero King freezes.
"Gil!?"
(Those bastards—!!)
"Gil!? What's wrong?! Gil! Gil?!"
"Hero King!?"
"————————————————…"
The 'soul' binding 'flesh' and 'mind'
Falls now into the 72 Demon Gods' hands—
Nameless's Soul
—That soul's final hour—looms just ahead—
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