"Olga Marie!"
Professor Lev stood at the summit of the Great Cavern, looking down with a gaze full of loathing, as if staring at a pile of garbage.
"Why are you here in this Singularity when you clearly lack the aptitude for Rayshifting?!"
"Why didn't you die when I planted a bomb right at your feet?!"
Olga Marie's face turned deathly pale. She took an instinctive step back, her voice trembling with plea: "Yamero! Stop... don't say any more!"
"There is only one truth!" Lev's smile was twisted and gleeful. "Heh, it's that your physical body is already dead! The moment you return to Chaldea, you will completely vanish!"
The power of the Holy Grail surged in his hand, brutally bridging the connection between Chaldea and the Fuyuki Singularity. Olga Marie's body was pulled uncontrollably toward CHALDEAS, which had now transformed into a giant fireball.
"Now then, I shall be merciful and let you touch CHALDEAS one last time."
"No! If I touch it—" Olga Marie struggled in vain, her voice sharp with terror.
Lev's grin widened. "Exactly. It's no different from touching a black hole or the surface of the sun. You'll fall into an endless death. Heh, who knows?"
"Someone, save me!" Olga Marie cried out in despair, tears streaming down her face. "I haven't earned their recognition yet! I haven't been praised by anyone!"
The only response was the widening, horrifying sneer on Lev's face.
But at that critical moment—
BAM!
A fist slammed violently into Lev's grinning face!
That single punch sent Flauros, one of the seventy-two Demon God Pillars, tumbling pathetically across the ground, kicking up clouds of dust. Lev lay motionless on the cold stone floor. Though he appeared to have no outward injuries, his pupils suddenly dilated.
The Temple of Time
On a magnificent throne at the end of time, a figure abruptly opened its eyes.
Goetia stepped off the throne and appeared instantly between Fujimaru Ritsuka and Lev. Without hesitation, he sent Lev, along with the Fuyuki Grail, back to the Time Temple.
Goetia's eyes narrowed. Ignoring the guarded Mash and the doomed Olga Marie, he locked his gaze onto the expressionless Fujimaru Ritsuka and spoke slowly:
"Just what... are you?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka remained silent. Carrying an unstoppable momentum, she sprinted toward him, ready to throw hands.
A flicker of contempt crossed Goetia's eyes. Even if he had never bothered to learn human martial arts, with his wisdom, the moment Ritsuka charged, all the fighting knowledge, experience, and muscle memory accumulated in human history flooded into his consciousness and was instantly analyzed.
His pride would not allow him to be surpassed by a lower being in any regard, especially in a duel of strength. He would crush Fujimaru Ritsuka head-on, in the purest, most overwhelming way possible!
Goetia raised his hand with precision, assuming the theoretically perfect defensive and counter-attacking stance of human martial arts.
BOOM!
Fists collided!
The expected scene of total annihilation did not occur. Instead, the moment their fists met, Goetia's indifferent pupils shrank to the size of pinpricks! An alarm from the depths of his soul made him retreat instantly, before he could even think.
Simultaneously, he unleashed his Third Noble Phantasm: "Ars Almadel Salomonis: The Time of Birth has Come, He is the One who Points to the Beginning!"
A terrifying torrent of energy, fueled by the entirety of human history, transformed into a devastating beam of light capable of incinerating all things. It roared toward Fujimaru Ritsuka.
"Senpai!" Mash's scream was heart-wrenching. Her Great Shield rose instinctively; her inner strength surged as her EX-rank iron will burned to the limit. She tried to break through the shackles of space-time just to stand before that figure.
But without sufficient fame or the support of a Record Band, she could not recreate the miracle of the Count of Monte Cristo. She could only watch as the destructive light completely engulfed her Senpai.
The energy torrent lit up the Great Cavern like broad daylight.
Strangely, Fujimaru Ritsuka simply stood silently within the sea of light. The massive energy impact was like a violent wave crashing against an ancient reef—it pushed her back continuously, but failed to leave a single scratch on her.
The moment the Noble Phantasm was triggered, Goetia vanished from the spot without even waiting to see the result.
Olga Marie, half-merged into the scorching glow of CHALDEAS and covered in tears, struggled to meet the still-indifferent gaze of the distant Fujimaru Ritsuka. She forced the corners of her mouth up into a grimace that looked more like a cry than a smile.
Thank you for standing up for me.
And...
It really hurts...
Back at Chaldea
"Haa... haa... haa—!"
Olga Marie, now a ghost wearing her Director's uniform, bolted upright in bed. She panted heavily, her chest heaving. The agonizing pain of CHALDEAS searing her soul and the despair of death from the dream still lingered vividly in her senses.
"What is it, Director? Another nightmare?"
A teasing voice rang out. Olga Marie turned her head stiffly.
There sat Gudako, completely stark-naked, propping her head up with one hand as she reclined beside her, staring back. A smooth, firm, long leg was shamelessly entangled with Olga Marie's red-stockinged legs. Her free hand wasn't idle either, roaming mischievously around the Director's waist and arms.
Seeing the heartless grin on Gudako's face, Olga Marie sighed in resignation.
"Fujimaru Ritsuka! Get your paws off me! And put some clothes on!" she hissed, trying to struggle out of the clinging leg and wandering hands, though to little effect.
"Good morning, Marie-chan~"
Instead of backing off, Gudako leaned in closer, her smile as bright as a husky that had successfully stolen a treat. "Had a nightmare? There, there, a headpat will make it all better~"
As she spoke, her restless hand reached for the Director's silver hair. Olga Marie slapped the hand away, her cheeks flushing.
"Who... who gave you permission to call me that! And I don't need that kind of comfort!"
She was actually used to this girl's lack of shame and misplaced enthusiasm. After all, she was the one who had pulled her out of CHALDEAS.
Sometimes, Olga Marie missed the Fujimaru Ritsuka she first met—the one with the cold face who didn't give her the time of day. At least she was cooler then! Not like this... pervert!
Beep! Beep!
The communicator on her wrist chimed perfectly, interrupting Gudako's attempt to bury her face in the Director's neck. She checked it half-heartedly, but then her eyes lit up.
"Oh! A message from Da Vinci-chan! Mashu-chan is already in the workshop and wants me to come over for some 'cuddles'! Hehe, Mashu-chan, wait for me!"
Gudako announced excitedly, about to jump out of bed and rush off to "grace" Mash with her presence.
"Hey!" Olga Marie was startled and immediately floated over to grab the naked girl. "At least put on some clothes, you idiot!"
Gudako blinked, showing zero remorse. Instead, she twisted her body and, like a koala, accurately clamped onto Olga Marie's stocking-clad leg. She buried her face in it and rubbed.
"Ehehe~ Marie-chan's red stockings, slurp..."
"Eek—! You idiot! Pervert! Let go!" Olga Marie was mortified, desperately trying to pull her leg back.
"Mm... no!" Gudako held on tighter, looking up with eyes that seemed innocent but were actually filled with pure chaos. "Marie-chan, help me get dressed? If you help, I'll be a good girl and go out properly~" she said, sounding entirely too reasonable.
"Huh?! Why should I! You're the one losing face, not me!" Olga Marie barked back, but despite her harsh words, her body honestly bent down to pick up the scattered clothes—all while Gudako remained attached to her leg.
She roughly shoved a shirt over Gudako's head, muttering through gritted teeth: "...I swear, you're impossible! Just this once!"
At the same time, she couldn't help thinking that being a ghost wasn't all bad; at least she didn't have to worry about smelling like sweat... Wait! Why should I care what this idiot thinks!
After a fair amount of dawdling, the two finally made it to Da Vinci's workshop.
In the Workshop
Mash was repeating the information she had just heard with a grave expression: "So, at the undisturbed true timeline, the process of Gaia converting the 13.8 billion light-year universe into a 'Known Domain' has actually been completed?"
She paused to digest this world-flipping information. "Instead, it's because of the Incineration of Humanity caused by Goetia—which froze this entire planet and human history in a crack in time—that we've unexpectedly gained time to prepare?"
Her tone was complex; it was hard to tell if this was luck or a greater misfortune.
Just then, the workshop door was slammed open.
"Mashu-channnnn!"
A bright orange whirlwind charged at Mash, shattering the serious atmosphere. Before Mash could react, she was locked in a bear hug. Gudako nuzzled into Mash's soft pink hair, her hands expertly ruffling the girl's head before sliding down to her chin to give it a playful flick.
"Ara ara~ Mashu-chan is so cute today! So soft and squishy, like a fresh pudding! Waa, looking so defenseless makes me really want to... really want to bully you!"
She leaned in and sniffed Mash's neck, looking intoxicated. Mash's face turned a deep shade of crimson, her eyes watery and eyelashes trembling. She tried feebly to push Gudako away, protesting in a small, shy voice: "Se-Senpai! Not like this... everyone is watching..."
Her voice was so soft it sounded more like an invitation than a rejection.
Eisen, watching from the side, couldn't help but sigh. So this is what they mean by a girl's blush being more effective than any love letter? He realized why the "Willpower Glasses" side effect made the wearer look so charming.
He looked away guiltily toward some glowing magical parts, pretending to study the truths of the universe. He knew exactly why Mash was being "bullied"—it was a side effect of using the "Possibility Avatars" too many times; she now naturally triggered people's desires to protect or tease her.
"Ara ara~" Gudako ignored the surrounding gazes, getting even more excited by Mash's reaction. She whispered into Mash's ear, just loud enough for everyone to hear: "So... that means it's okay if we're in private?"
Her breath on Mash's sensitive ear made the girl shiver.
"Then..." Gudako drawled happily, "Mashu, come sleep in my room tonight, okay? I'll give you a 'full body checkup'!"
"That... well..." Mash's face turned even redder as she looked away, her hands giving Gudako's shoulder a symbolic, gentle push. "Senpai, really..."
The lack of force only fueled Gudako's interest.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!!!"
Olga Marie, having witnessed the whole thing, had her face puffed up like a steamed bun. A visible low-pressure zone formed around her ghost body. Unable to take it anymore, she zipped between them, snatched Mash out of Gudako's clutches, and shielded her, glaring at the orange-haired girl.
"Didn't you say there was something important to discuss?! Idiot! Everyone is waiting for you!"
"Ahem!" Dr. Roman coughed awkwardly, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "Yes... indeed, there are very important matters to decide." He felt a headache coming on just looking at his Master.
Da Vinci sighed and rubbed her forehead, used to Gudako's antics but still powerless against them. She turned to Eisen with an apologetic look. "Sorry, this child... her situation is a bit special."
A flicker of realization passed through Eisen's eyes. He hadn't expected to meet again like this.
In his final moments, when he had taken the First Flame and watched the world shatter, he had sent the souls of several companions into the infinite void. He never dared hope for a reunion.
Yet, fate was full of surprises. Although the Fujimaru Ritsuka before him had changed immensely, the "fire" of her soul identified her as the "Tardy Hero"—Iudex Gundyr.
Thinking about it, it wasn't that strange. Looking at the Throne of Heroes, the Root clearly enjoyed "plucking wool" from other worlds. It had a powerful ability to absorb and assimilate information, localizing foreign concepts.
And Gundyr, a hero qualified to link the fire, being caught by the Root and localized as "Gudako" wasn't too far-fetched.
Da Vinci, seeing Eisen's contemplative look, thought he was uncomfortable with Gudako's behavior. "Apologies. Since birth, this child has been a vessel for 'All the World's Evil,' which forced her alignment into Chaotic Evil. Later..."
She paused. "Inspired by the Beast of Pity, Goetia, I used the concept that 'Human Evil is Human Love' to forcefully flip her malice toward humanity into an intense love for humanity. That's why her behavior is... unconventional."
She added, "Of course, this only worked because Ritsuka herself had a powerful obsession with saving the world. She loved humanity to begin with; she was just polluted."
Eisen understood. It seemed the Root, when reconstructing Gundyr, kept his heroic nature but also packaged in his "Abyss" and "Pus of Man" traits.
He shook his head. "Don't worry, I understand her uniqueness. Let's get back to the point. What makes you think she can defeat that 'Will of the Earth'?"
Da Vinci ignored Gudako (who was making faces at Olga Marie) and Mash (who was still blushing) and explained seriously: "The key lies in Ritsuka's nature. Her existence is infinitely close to the Root itself."
"Infinitely close to the Root?" Eisen arched an eyebrow.
"Yes," Da Vinci nodded. "This means that unless an attack reaches the level of the Root, no law-based attack from within this world can cause her physical harm."
Dr. Roman added, "And anyone she attacks is effectively taking a direct hit from the Root. It's an absolute trauma on a conceptual level. It can knock Heroic Spirits straight off the Throne. Even the King of Demon Gods, Goetia, chose to avoid her strikes rather than tank them."
Eisen pondered this. In the world of the First Flame, everything—matter and soul—was a part of the Fire. The Root had adopted this underlying setting. Gundyr was part of the Fire; localized here, Gudako was part of the Root.
To the beings of this world, Gudako was a pure "BUG."
It was like a fighting game where Fujimaru Ritsuka has no health bar and no hurtbox. To hurt her, you'd have to jump out of the game and attack the source code. Meanwhile, every punch she throws, no matter how ordinary it looks, edits the opponent's code directly, dealing "True Damage."
"So, theoretically, for the Incineration of Humanity alone... she could have soloed the entire thing?" Eisen asked. Invincibility plus True Damage—how do you lose?
Roman and Da Vinci exchanged a look of utter helplessness. "Theoretically, yes," Roman sighed.
"Theoretically?"
Da Vinci glanced at Gudako, who was currently trying to poke Mash's cheek. "The issue lies in the 'treatment' we gave her. Since we flipped her malice to love, she refuses to launch a hostile attack against any enemy Heroic Spirit."
"She keeps mumbling about 'Full Collection' and 'They're all my wings, I can't leave even one behind'..."
Eisen's lip twitched. He understood. People from the world of the First Flame were naturally "attracted to light" and had a hoarding problem. He was no different.
"The most ridiculous time," Roman said, shivering, "she reached her hand into CHALDEAS and manually fished out the Director's soul! CHALDEAS is a simulated environment of the Earth! It's basically a duplicate of the Earth's soul! I thought my heart was going to stop!"
"A duplicate of the Earth's soul, huh..." Eisen repeated meaningfully.
"A duplicate of the Earth's soul..." Da Vinci repeated thoughtfully.
The three of them locked eyes. The air froze for several seconds. Finally, by silent agreement, they dropped the subject.
Eisen broke the silence. "So, given her... style of combat, what is your current strategy?"
"Currently, Ritsuka acts as the Commander-in-Chief. Her Rayshift compatibility and affinity with Servants are irreplaceable," Da Vinci explained. "Occasionally, she acts as a pure meat shield. Servants have pride; they want to protect their Master, not be protected by her."
"A reasonable arrangement," Eisen nodded. "And what about her own strengthening? Are you relying on Mash's chat group, or does Chaldea have its own plan?"
"Gaining help from outside the world is the icing on the cake," Da Vinci said professionally. "But Chaldea hasn't stopped its own research. Our most promising project is the 'Shadow Servant' technology."
She explained that they could use Ritsuka's mana and the "Saint Graph Portraits" to manifest shadows of contracted Servants on the battlefield. "The key is that these shadows are an extension of Ritsuka herself. Therefore, they inherit her Root-level defense and her True Damage!"
Eisen's eyes flashed with admiration. "Clever. Turning individual advantage into a group advantage."
"And the strength of these shadows is tied to her bond with them. The deeper the bond, the stronger the shadow—potentially even surpassing the original Heroic Spirit."
Eisen finally understood Chaldea's path. "Using the journey itself as a furnace... an excellent concept." He smiled. "I am honored to witness this savior's journey woven from bonds."
Just then, a message arrived from the Fire Keeper in the sub-group: The supplies for Chaldea were ready for handover.
Would you like me to translate the next chapter or provide more details on the lore mentioned here?
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In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 120)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 95)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 85)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter85)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter81)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter60)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter66)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 40
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 50
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