Melusine, Become my Noble Phantasm!

"What did you say…! Aaaaaa——!! You bastard!!"

Before Mordred could finish his shout, she felt the magic power inside her begin to run rampant. The suppressor on her body exploded with red thunder, and an irritable voice surged forth, assaulting her mind once again. Mordred's cries and screams filled the entire hall.

"That's right, go berserk! Hold back everyone until the very last moment—until this world is burned to ashes, until only we remain here! There is no need for the king we await to make the final judgment, for humanity can only go this far!"

The golden Demon Pillar spoke arrogantly. At the same time, armor resembling the shell of the Holy Spear materialized over its body. Even after absorbing the Holy Spear and the Lion King within itself, it could barely wield the spear's power through the Lion King and project that force from its eyes. It would not be wrong to call this current Demon Pillar a counterfeit Holy Spear.

A massive surge of magic power was forcibly poured into Mordred's body. The once mad beast reappeared before everyone, her eyes crackling with thunder, surrounded by a sea of red.

"Destroy it! Destroy it! Destroy everything in sight! Stop it all!"

Following the Demon Pillar's command, Mordred charged straight at Aslan and the others. Wrapped in red thunder, she resembled a lightning beast. Her speed rivaled lightning, her strength was fierce as thunder, and the sound of her charge echoed like booming thunderclaps.

Mash immediately raised her shield to protect Ritsuka. A heavy force slammed into the shield, pushing Mash backward, while red thunder scorched the ground beneath.

"Aa…"

Mordred roared again, but this time a trace of involuntary sorrow was audible. From the bulging veins on her neck to the tears and blood streaming from the corners of her eyes, Mordred's state evoked pity. Was it merely an unattainable dream that he could be completely loyal to King Arthur and protect him?

"Mordred… Ouch!"

Mash again used her shield to block Mordred's attack, but trying to awaken her was futile. No matter how she shouted, her voice sounded like irritating noise to Mordred's ears, only sharpening her fury and making his strikes more brutal.

Realizing ordinary attacks were ineffective, Mordred opened a shield before her , then leapt back along its surface to create distance. She raised her magic sword high, and red thunder crackled toward the heavens. It was clear she was preparing to unleash his treasure.

Mash quickly put distance between herself and Mordred and raised her shield. "True name, revealed—I stand at the Seat of Disaster—that is our hometown that heals all wounds and resentments. Reveal! [Already Distant Ideal City]!"

A white city wall appeared inside the hall—so sacred, so pure, so untouchable. Even as red thunder struck the wall, no matter how fierce or bright, it could not shake the gate.

Aslan gazed at the Demon Pillar before him, took a deep breath, summoned the Sword of Glorious Victory, and raised it high. "Here I open a path forward! I will surely win a brilliant victory! Cut down the evil, repel the spirits of darkness, and try to block this glorious light—[Sword of Glorious Victory]!!"

A torrent of golden light surged fiercely toward the Demon Pillar. The Demon Pillar twisted quickly, piecing its Holy Spear-like armor back into a shield protecting its body. The Sword of Glorious Victory's power exploded outward in all directions upon impact. Though the shattering golden light was beautiful, it was also overwhelming.

The Sword of Glorious Victory is already an A++ level treasure. If even this cannot break the Demon Pillar's defenses, then… 

After all, it had now manifested as a split spirit. Even if the Supreme Masterpiece were destroyed here, the original Supreme Masterpiece possessed by its main body would remain unharmed. This was the self-exposure of a man-made god. I don't believe the demon god cannot be seriously wounded!

However, the resulting explosion would devastate the entire area. Mash's walls might block most of the impact, but Mordred… I fear she will be consumed by the blast. But there's no alternative.

Just do it when the time comes. Sacrifice is always necessary.

"Mash! Hold the wall! Hold it!"

Aslan piloted the Supreme Masterpiece directly toward the Demon Pillar, firmly grasping the trunk. He took a deep breath and patted the Supreme Masterpiece's controls. Fortunately, it had come as a split soul. If he thought about it, arriving in Chaldea one day would mean enduring this kind of separation many times.

He opened a special device next to his seat, revealing a red button and a password keypad.

[2887]

"I'm sorry, Supreme Masterpiece. If you are a split soul, you'll have to get used to this outcome sooner or later. It's all my fault for making you like this. Is 2887 your inevitable fate?"

After inputting the four numbers, Aslan left the Supreme Masterpiece cockpit and ran quickly to Mash's side. "Hold on!!"

Aslan once again activated Distant Utopia, ensuring everyone's safety.

With a tremendous explosion and shockwave, a mushroom cloud rose into the sky. Mad Mordred was swallowed by the destructive power. Perhaps this was a fitting end for her.

Distant Utopia trembled violently. The white city walls flickered twice but ultimately held firm without dissipating. Looking up, the Demon Pillar was broken in two—but it was rapidly regenerating. The figure of the Storm King, the Lion King, emerged at the wound. It seemed determined to pursue immediately, whether to destroy the Lion King and Demon Pillar together…

Or to kill the Lion King first and sever the source from which the Demon Pillar absorbed his power.

The Demon Pillar began moving the outer shell of the Holy Spear, preparing to cover the Lion King and ensure it could continue wielding this tremendous force.

-End Chapter-

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