(The scene continues from the previous cliffhanger. Lev, who had disappeared, is now looking down at them from a higher vantage point.)
[Bang! Bang!]
Two sharp, mocking claps echoed through the ruined air.
[Tsk, tsk, I didn't expect you guys to make it this far!]
Lev's voice was laced with a venomous sweetness.
[It's really beyond the plan... and beyond my tolerance...]
Fujimaru Ritsuka stared at the man with green hair, his voice filled with shock and confusion:
[Who are you!?]
Mash, however, recognized him and shouted with a mix of surprise and hope:
[Professor Lev!]
The Director, Olga Marie Animusphere, was stunned for a few seconds. A look of pure, unadulterated joy spread across her face, and she kept murmuring, [Lev... Lev... Lev...]
[Very good... you're still alive!] she finally cried out.
Olga ran towards Lev excitedly, like a child rushing to a parent.
[Without you... I...]
Behind his back, Leif's hands clenched. A sly, cruel smile twisted his features, hidden from the running girl.
[Yo~ Olga... You have worked hard too!] he said, his tone deceptively light.
[Yes! It's all been so unexpected! It confused me so much!]
[But... you are here! Everything can be solved now!]
Olga, in her joy, noticed nothing wrong. She didn't ponder the ominous meaning behind his earlier words about them being "beyond his tolerance."
[Of course...]
Lev's voice began to drip with a false warmth that quickly curdled into malice.
[These are all unexpected situations, really irritating!]
His expression turned ferocious for a split second, his hidden fists clenched tight with rage, yet he maintained an outward calm.
He then turned his gaze to the communication device.
[Romani, I clearly asked you to come to the control room!]
Fujimaru and Mash's hearts tightened. They knew what had happened in the control room! Why would Leif say such a thing?
[You too, Olga!]
Lev continued, his voice taking on a conversational, almost chatty tone that was utterly horrifying given the context.
[I clearly placed the bomb right at your feet.]
[I didn't expect you to be alive...]
[No... I can't say you're still alive...]
[You are already dead... Your body is already dead!]
Lev finally let his mask slip completely, revealing a grotesque, predatory smile. His eyes were dark and ferocious, his face a mask of cannibalistic glee that sent chills down their spines.
Upon hearing this, Olga froze on the spot. The light in her eyes gradually dimmed, replaced by dawning horror.
[You're lying...]
Her voice was a mere tremble, the words of her collapse.
[Even if you return to Chaldea, your consciousness will die, but that would be too pitiful. Let's take a look at Chaldea now!]
A yellow crystal emerged from the ground, flew into Lev's hand, and merged with it. Instantly, a projection of Chaldea's central power source – Chaldeas, the Humanity Observation Prism – appeared behind him.
But now, it was not the serene blue globe it should be. It was a raging, violent inferno, as hot and destructive as the sun!
Olga couldn't believe her eyes.
[What is that... that's a lie!]
Lev smiled sinisterly.
This is what I connected time and space for you....]
[With the Holy Grail... this can still be done...]
Leif opened his palm. Olga's body was lifted uncontrollably and flew towards the blazing, monstrous projection of Chaldeas.
[What do I do!?]
Olga cried out in horror, trying to retreat but powerless to resist the force pulling her in.
[This is the treasure you cherish so much, go and touch it!]
[Stop! This is Chaldeas!] she screamed.
Lev smiled ferociously, his excitement palpable:
[Well, now it's no different than a black hole!]
[Humans will be broken down to the molecular level the instant they touch it!]
[Just taste the feeling of being alive yet experiencing infinite death!]
Seeing this, Fujimaru tried to rush forward but was held back by Mash.
Olga's desperate cries for help echoed through the air!
[I don't want to... I don't want to... help me... Someone help me!]
[Why!]
[Why is it always like this... I don't want to... I don't want to... I haven't done anything yet... I haven't been praised yet...]
[NO!]
Finally, Olga was devoured, her form decomposing into nothingness against the searing surface of the corrupted Chaldeas.
The director of Chaldea died here, in infinite agony...
One Piece World
"What a disgusting person!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku punched his desk!
The anger in his heart burst forth. How was this act of playing with another's life any different from the wanton plunder of the worst pirates?....
Many people across the worlds felt profoundly sick watching Lev Lainur Flauros.
Perhaps the most revolting thing was his utterly repulsive appearance.....
[Back in the Singularity]
Mash reacted instantly, stepping protectively in front of Fujimaru Ritsuka....
Lev saw Mash's action and praised coldly:
[As expected of a Demi-Servant.]
[You can actually realize that humans and I are completely different species!]
He turned his gaze to Ritsuka.
[Competent Master No. 48...]
[I let you go because I didn't think highly of you....]
[Why do humans always want to deviate from the established track?...]
[Let me reintroduce myself...]
Lev bent down, performing a standard, mocking Western European salute, his voice dripping with condescension.
[My name is Lev Lainur Flauros.]
[I was sent from the year 2016 to deal with you humans...]
[Did you hear that, Dr. Roman~?] (The unspoken taunt: "Boss, are you listening?")
[Let me give you my final advice.... The future didn't just disappear... It was reduced to ashes.]
[Relying on Chaldeas' magnetic field, Chaldea itself was saved!]
[But I'm afraid the world outside Chaldea has met the same end as Fuyuki City....]
Romani's face was grave. He thought of something and said:
[It's not a communication failure... it's that there's no one left out there to communicate with anymore!]
Lev said gloomily:
[It's not because you reached the end of your evolution and declined.... Nor is it because you are at war with outsiders that you will be destroyed!]
[It is because you are incompetent... because you have lost the favor of our king!].....
(In Chaldea, Romani's pupils shook. Damn it, when did I stop loving humans? When did I stop loving Guda-kun? Come here and look at me properly! My 'boss' actually rebelled!... )
The ground began to shake violently. The earth started to collapse, and the world began to end!
Lev looked at the changes with immense dissatisfaction.
[This Singularity has reached its limit.... Damn Saber! I gave her the Holy Grail, but she still insisted on maintaining this era, forcing me to waste so much effort!]
[So goodbye, Romani, Mash, and candidate No. 48!]
Lev disappeared into thin air.
The void kept collapsing; it wouldn't be long before it was completely destroyed...
[Mash!] Ritsuka yelled.
[Senpai!] Mash cried out.
The two reached for each other, their hands clasping tightly together as the world dissolved around them.
When they woke up again, they were back in Chaldea's familiar corridors.
Fujimaru Ritsuka hurried to the control room and saw Mash, now back in her white Chaldea uniform.
He walked over to her, almost unconsciously.
[Good morning, Senpai!] Mash greeted him warmly.
[Mash...] Fujimaru Ritsuka's voice was thick with emotion. He pulled her into a tight embrace.
Mash panicked slightly but returned the hug gently.
[Senpai~]
Fou! Fou turned his head away, as if saying he was too embarrassed to look.
The doctor sitting nearby watched the two blankly, looking a little dull. Ignore me?
Shouldn't I exist?
I'm a pretty big living person right here!
[Ahem!] The doctor cleared his throat loudly, looking at the two with a serious face. His expression was solemn:
[Competent Master No. 48... Fujimaru Ritsuka, do you and your Servant have the resolve to shoulder the future of mankind together?]
Fujimaru was stunned for a moment. He glanced helplessly at Mash beside him, then turned back, his own expression firming with determination.
[As long as I can do it!] he declared.
Hearing this, the doctor nodded and addressed everyone in the room:
[We will continue the plan of the former director... Our purpose is to protect and reclaim human history!]
[What we must resist is history itself... Standing before you will be countless Heroic Spirits and legends.]
[If you want to live... this is the only way...]
[The battle plan is called....]
[The Humanity Foundation Restoration Grand Order!]
At that moment, the screen flashed with images of iconic figures yet to come: Jeanne d'Arc, the Roman Emperor (Nero), the King of Knights (Artoria), Ushiwakamaru... and many other Heroic Spirits.
(The screen hints at the epic struggles to come, the Seven Singularities that must be overcome.)
[To be continued...]