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The black blade that had pierced Muramasa's body was suddenly pulled out and vanished, while at the same time an invisible force slammed into him!

"grandfather--!!!!"

Ritsuka's bloodshot roar echoed across the bridge!

She watched helplessly as Senji Muramasa's powerless figure was flung away like a kite with a broken string, tracing a desperate arc as it plummeted straight down into the abyss of the unfathomable, churning void and darkness that had just been devoured by the Naraku Insects!

"Do not--!!!"

The shouts were drowned out by an even more violent buzzing and the sound of space being torn apart.

The giant mouth of the Naraku Insect has already closed.

It is not a physical swallowing, but a spatial displacement and envelopment.

My vision was instantly swallowed up by an endless, thick, inky darkness.

The Nautilus seemed to have fallen into a strange space devoid of up, down, left, right, and the concept of time. Instead of the fleshy interior of insects, it was a constantly descending, "empty" passage composed of pure gravity and the concept of negation. Powerful, directional pressures pressed in from all directions, causing the ship to groan under the strain, and the light of its protective barriers flickered in the darkness like a candle in the wind.

Inside the ship, Ritsuka, Mashu, Morgan, Liliana, and the others also felt that despairing sense of "falling" and the ever-increasing pressure. It was as if every cell, every wisp of magic, and even every strand of consciousness was being slowly ground and stripped away by an invisible millstone. If this fall continued, it wouldn't be long before not only their bodies, but also their souls and existence themselves would be completely crushed and reduced to nothingness by the gravity of this abyss.

A chaotic twilight, a mocking black wind, nameless insects falling, and... oneself falling endlessly, seemingly without end.

This is the ultimate drama born for the sake of "destruction" itself.

The stage is a one-way street leading to absolute nothingness.

Meanwhile, the director and audience member, Vortigern, is leisurely "enjoying" the prey's final struggle with two completely different yet essentially the same attitude.

Sherlock and Oberon's voices overlapped, echoing clearly in the descending darkness with a nauseating anticipation and pleasure:

"Come on... struggle, wail, use your last strength..."

"Let me see if your dying 'performance' can serve as the prelude to my final script..."

"...What 'interesting' colors should we add?"

"Don't get too cocky—Vottigern!!!"

That clear, firm voice, filled with burning anger and indomitable will, exploded like a thunderclap piercing the darkness in this endless, falling void!

"You think... I'm really going to die by your hand like this?!"

"Cast—!!!" The crowd exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with unbelievable ecstasy and shock.

On the newly forged holy sword that Morgan gripped tightly, pure starlight suddenly erupted! Within the light, a phantom yet incredibly real figure gradually solidified and became clear—it was Artoria Caster! No, at this moment, she seemed to be different.

Her figure didn't appear out of thin air, but seemed to be reborn from the "reason" and radiance of the holy sword. Amidst the swirling starlight, her simple patrol robes vanished, replaced by a full suit of silver-white armor, its design ancient yet majestic, shimmering with a cool, moonlit glow. In her hand, she no longer gripped merely the Staff of Choice, but the holy sword itself—at this moment, the hilt of the holy sword perfectly merged with the form of her staff, transforming into a unique weapon possessing both the majesty of a scepter and the sharpness of a sword. Her face had shed its last trace of youthful immaturity; her features had become clearer and more resolute. Her long golden hair moved without wind in the starlight, and her emerald eyes burned with a burning resolve and icy fury.

She and the Holy Sword had truly become one. Oberon's deadly sneak attack and piercing blow, on the verge of death, provided her with the final and most cruel opportunity to completely merge with the Holy Sword and complete her ultimate transformation. Only by truly "dying" once could she achieve the most perfect resonance and unity with this Star Holy Sword, which bore all of Britain's sins, redemption, and hope.

“You…!” For the first time, Oberon Vortigern’s voice showed a clear fluctuation of shock and extreme disgust.

Seeing Castor, reborn and with a completely different aura, Morgan and Liliana, who had been almost overwhelmed by despair due to the successive falls of their companions and their desperate situation, suddenly had a terrifying glint in their eyes! Their extinguished fighting spirit was like dry tinder thrown into a raging fire, and it was rekindled with a roar!

"Ah—!!!" Morgan let out a low growl that was almost a roar, the holy sword in his hand shining brightly, reflecting the azure magic gathered in his other hand. "It's not over yet! Your Majesty! Caster!"

“Of course it’s not over!” Liliana stepped forward as well, ancient and boundless magic surging around her like a volcano awakening. “Bring it on, Vortigern! This cursed entanglement that has lasted for thousands of years… it’s time for us to sever it with our own hands!” She turned her head slightly towards Ritsuka and Mash, her voice carrying an undeniable resolve and a hint of entrustment, “Children, the battle to come… is ours. This is the final… fateful duel between the ‘Paradise Fairies’ and the ‘World-Destroying Worm’!”

“That’s right!” Caster’s voice was firm and powerful. He stood in a triangle formation with Morgan and Liliana. The three streams of Paradise Magic, which shared the same origin but each had their own unique characteristics, began to resonate and intertwine, creating a relatively stable field of light in this void of falling space. “This is our battle!”

Looking at the three Children of Paradise ahead, their imposing presence seemingly capable of burning away all despair, Ritsuka was deeply shaken. Just then, her fingers inadvertently touched her waist—there, lying quietly, was the small and exquisite Mystic Code that Sylph had entrusted to her before her death.

As if sensing the resolve of the three queens ahead, and the call of this final battle, the formal attire suddenly became scorching hot! Before Ritsuka could react, it activated automatically, transforming into a stream of iridescent light that instantly covered her entire body!

"This is……!"

As the light faded, Ritsuka was surprised to find herself transformed. A light yet resilient, emerald-green magical armor with cicada-wing patterns enveloped her vitals; behind her, a pair of translucent magical wings, seemingly formed from flowing breezes, gently unfurled; the magical energy surrounding her now carried a trace of Sylph's insightful and penetrating qualities. This wasn't a transformation, but rather the final gift and temporary embodiment of Sylph's [Disguised Hunter] ability—her "eyes" and "blade" for seeing through illusions and locking onto truth, temporarily merging with Ritsuka.

"Heh...heh heh heh..." Oberon Vortigern watched this scene, letting out a cold laugh that suppressed his rage and made one's teeth ache. "Yes! Yes! I knew it! That damned, meddlesome cicada demon! Even in death it can't let people have peace! It even left behind such a 'backup plan'!"

Sherlock Vortigern adjusted his monocle, his gaze behind the lens as cold as a knife, yet his tone remained infuriatingly composed: "Hmph, nothing more than... the final lament of a defeated dog before its death, and the futile struggle of a bunch of dying people. Why waste your breath?"

Before he finished speaking, the two Voodoo doves attacked simultaneously!

Oberon's wings vibrated at a high frequency, and countless "winged blade insects" formed from calamity and resentment shot out like a black rainstorm! Sherlock elegantly waved his staff, and from the surging void and darkness beneath his feet rose a monstrous torrent of "sludge" that was as thick as oil and exuded a foul and corrosive stench!

The swarm of insects mixed with the mud waves, transforming into a destructive black shockwave that slammed fiercely towards the radiant domain created by the three Children of Paradise!

However, Morgan, Liliana, and Castor exchanged glances, their understanding already formed.

"drink--!"

The three of them shouted in unison, slamming their weapons down in front of them! The magic of the Triple Paradise resonated to its peak in an instant, and a huge composite magic barrier, woven from pure starlight, azure magic, and holy rainbow light, stood fiercely in front of the black shockwave like the strongest dam!

"boom--!!!"

A devastating collision! The barrier trembled violently, its light flickering, yet it firmly blocked this violent attack, creating a precious opening for those behind!

It's now!

A glint flashed in Ritsuka's eyes, and her wings of light flapped violently! With the support of Sylph's remaining abilities, her speed and mobility soared, transforming her into a streak of emerald light. She passed through the gaps at the edge of the barrier erected by the three queens, and at an incredible angle and speed, she rushed toward the two Vortigern bodies that were leisurely floating in the center of the Naraku passage!

Meanwhile, inside the bridge of the USS Nautilus*

The piercing red alarms were almost continuous, causing great anxiety. The data on the instrument panel jumped wildly, most pointing to the danger zone. The ship writhed and groaned violently in the chaotic and powerful pressure field of the Naraku Passage, with structural overload warnings ringing incessantly.

Aside from Nemo, who gritted his teeth and persevered in the captain's seat, his face pale but his eyes incredibly determined, and Kalia, who clung tightly to the fixed object, struggling to maintain his balance, his eyes fixed on the external monitoring screen, the other ordinary sailors and staff had long been tormented by the omnipresent pressure and weightlessness, to the point that even standing was extremely difficult, let alone operating effectively.

On the screen, the battle situation in front of the deck was being transmitted in real time. Watching the three queens fight to the death, watching Ritsuka transform into a streak of light and charge forward alone, watching those two terrifying figures radiating endless malice... Kalia's heart jumped into her throat, and her nails dug deeply into her palms.

Amidst this extreme tension and worry, a long-buried, distant memory and emotion, almost deliberately forgotten, burst forth uncontrollably, like a seed buried deep in the ground struck by lightning, surging into her heart.

The floodgates of memory opened with a bang, and the scene was as vivid as yesterday.

That was a long time ago, when Morgan had just pulled her back from the brink of despair, bestowing upon her the name "Gareth the Fairy Knight" and a place to live. Back then, she was like a block of unpolished ice, yet harboring a terrifying chill, often unable to control the surging ice magic within her. A careless emotional fluctuation, a surge of uncontrolled magic, could instantly freeze everything in sight—the fountain, the corridor, even her companions' weapons. She brought much trouble and panic to the newly arrived royal city.

However, Morgan never reprimanded or rejected her for it. The queen, who always had a cold expression, simply looked at her calmly with her all-seeing purple eyes and said, "Losing control of power is not a sin. Everyone has moments when they cannot fully control their own power."

Then came the tireless, meticulous guidance: how to sense the flow of magic, how to calm the turmoil within, and how to tame the raging power of ice into a weapon and shield at his command. Day after day, year after year, under Morgan's rigorous yet incredibly effective tutelage, Kalia gradually learned to coexist with his own power and to control the chilling cold that could freeze the soul.

The peaceful days lasted for a long time, so long that Kalia almost thought they could continue forever. Until one day, a secret buried deep in her heart, which had almost become her nightmare, could no longer be suppressed.

“Your Majesty…” she said, summoning unprecedented courage, her voice barely audible after reporting her daily affairs to Morgan, “There’s something… I don’t know if I should say it… It’s about me… myself…”

Morgan looked up from the mountain of documents, his gaze falling on her, calm and unwavering: "Hmm? You mean... that 'thing' in your heart area, right?"

Kalia froze instantly, as if pierced by an invisible icicle.

Morgan nodded slightly, his tone remaining calm: "I know. I 'saw' it a long time ago, when I was helping you suppress and regulate the magic within you. That power... is very 'unusual,' isn't it?"

Faced with His Majesty, who already knew everything, Kalia's initial shock quickly turned into understanding and a bitter self-mockery. Indeed, as the queen who ruled Britain, whose magic and wisdom were unfathomable, how could Morgan not sense the...foreign object lurking within her?

“Yes…yes…” Kalia lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, “But…that power…it…”

“There’s no need to worry too much.” Morgan interrupted her potentially incoherent explanation, his voice devoid of emotion. “Hopefully… that power won’t be easily triggered. But, Kalia, there’s one thing you must remember—”

The Queen's gaze became incredibly sharp, as if trying to pierce through her soul.

"When you need to protect what's 'most important' to you... that power might be useful."

Morgan paused, his voice lowering slightly.

Even if... the price might be your life. Are you... willing to accept such an exchange?

At that moment, Kalia, almost without hesitation, immediately straightened his back, his eyes burning with pure loyalty and determination: "How could I be unwilling! If that time truly comes, I will never be negligent or retreat in the slightest! This power... just as Your Majesty said, must exist to protect!"

The words of conviction, like a brand, are deeply engraved in the depths of my soul, and still echo clearly in my ears to this day.

"...That thing can be used when you need to protect what's most important to you. Even if the price is death, are you willing to accept it?"

【How could that be? When that time really comes, I will absolutely not slack off!】

"The most important...thing..."

Kalia muttered to herself, her gaze fixed on the external surveillance screen—His Majesty Morgan was fighting a bloody battle with those two terrifying monsters, Miss Ritsuka was risking her life to charge forward, Her Majesty the previous Queen, Miss Caster… everyone was fighting to the death for the last hope.

But I... am hiding in this relatively safe metal shell because of so-called "safety" and "orders"?

No.

no way!

If that sealed, ominous yet powerful force truly exists for the purpose of "protection"... then isn't this the moment when it should be awakened? Isn't this her last chance to fulfill her vow from years ago and protect what is most important to her with her life?

An unprecedented resolve, like a wildfire, instantly burned away all hesitation and fear. Kalia gritted her teeth, and with all her might, struggled to rise again from her limp state caused by the immense pressure. Her bones creaked under the strain, and her muscles trembled from the exertion, but her eyes were fixed only on the portal leading to the outer deck.

She took a step, staggering but determined, toward the door.

"Halt! Fairy Knight Gareth!" Captain Nemo's youthful yet stern voice rang out. He had been distracted by the situation inside the ship and immediately noticed Kalia's unusual movement. "Where are you going?! Stop immediately! His Majesty Morgan ordered you to stay inside! The pressure outside is far beyond what your weakened body can withstand! Going out now will not only be of no help, but will only be a burden to His Majesty! Come back here!"

Kalia paused slightly, but didn't turn around. Her voice was slightly hoarse from weakness, yet exceptionally clear, carrying an undeniable calm:

"At this point... what's the point of saying all this, Captain Nemo..."

She slowly turned around, her icy blue eyes staring directly at the small captain, burning with a kind of almost martyrdom-like flame that Nemo had never seen in her eyes before.

"My life... was given to me by His Majesty."

"Now--"

Her voice suddenly rose, becoming resolute:

"This is the moment for me to protect...the most important thing!"

Looking into those eyes, sensing the unwavering resolve in those words, Nemo, usually so calm and rational, felt for the first time the inadequacy and powerlessness of words. He understood instantly. Kalia… she wasn't going to “help”; she was going to her death. Within her lay a final, deadly weapon—a weapon even His Majesty Morgan knew of, yet tacitly approved of. As one of the last surviving fairy knights, she believed she had a final, essential “mission” to fulfill.

"Are you... serious?" Nemo's voice lowered, carrying a hint of difficulty he himself didn't realize. "If you do that... you..."

will die.

He didn't say what came next, but they both understood each other perfectly.

Faced with Nemo's worried, almost final, words of dissuasion, Kalia slowly smiled, a faint smile that seemed to convey the weight of all her burdens. She didn't answer directly, but instead tilted her head slightly, gazing at the cold ceiling of the bridge, as if through it she could see the chaotic, dark void outside, the land she had sworn to protect, now on the verge of utter destruction.

"You'll die... right?"

Her voice was as soft as a sigh, yet as heavy as a thousand pounds.

“As a knight…as the head maid…I have never feared this ending.”

She withdrew her gaze and looked at Nemo again, her eyes filled with sincere gratitude and farewell.

"Thank you, Captain... thank you for your concern."

Her tone suddenly became like reciting poetry, carrying a strange, melting, and gentle sense of relief:

"The Frost Knight of the Fairy Kingdom... today, will finally melt away."