Melusine, Become my Noble Phantasm!

"This guy… Tsk! Melusine!"

Seeing the situation unfold, Aslan immediately gave the order. Melusin burst forward, arriving before the Demon Pillar in an instant. The two clashed head-on, but the Demon Pillar's speed was still slightly superior, blocking Melusin's chance to strike the Lion King directly.

Clang!

The Demon Pillar's sword and the Holy Spear's shell collided violently. Melusin spun her sword and thrust forward again but was forced back by the Demon Pillar's overwhelming magical force. Once more, they opened some distance between them.

At that moment, the magic power inside the Lion King's body was rapidly draining. She lacked the strength to speak, but her eyes still conveyed a clear message—if necessary, destroy her and the entire Demon Pillar together.

"Hateful!"

Ritsuka cursed under her breath, but venting frustration did nothing to change the rapidly recovering Demon Pillar.

Aslan's fury intensified. From his magical attire, he drew a black vial and poured the compressed black liquid directly into his mouth. The island's potent power activated the dragon blood coursing within him. His eyes gleamed golden as the gentle radiance faded, replaced by fierce savagery.

"At this point, you're done. You should die! I sacrificed my masterpiece—why aren't you blown to bits?!"

Dealing with a Demon Pillar carrying the Holy Grail was so difficult! These cursed beings seemed capable of regenerating endlessly as long as their magic supply remained. One Holy Grail was troublesome enough, but paired with the Lion King, it was like facing two entities fueled by immense magic power—both restoring themselves continuously.

Perhaps the self-destruction of the Supreme Masterpiece was neutralized by the Demon Pillar forcibly activating the Holy Spear's power. It had exploited the existence caught in its trap to the extreme. As expected, once the Demon Pillar appears, it must be chopped up and pickled as a side dish!

The edge of this world was still shrinking. The city ruins near the boundary had already been swallowed whole. Viewed from high above, it resembled the shrinking poison circle in a battle royale game, except this time, no chance for survival remained. Once consumed by the edge, nothing remained.

"I said the journey of mankind ends here. Let us put an end to all things!"

The Demon Pillar's arrogant words echoed through the air. Aslan narrowed his eyes. Truly arrogant. Next, he and Melusin would pour every last drop of magic into blasting it to ash. Having already suffered from the Supreme Masterpiece's self-destruction, the Demon Pillar would be unable to withstand the combined assault.

"You're the first to act so confidently before me!"

The boiling dragon blood caused Aslan's magic to darken into a golden hue, becoming more violent and oppressive.

Before Aslan could make his move, a majestic voice cut through the Demon Pillar's tirade:

"Without death, there is no life, and only through death can life flourish! You have seized the foundation of the gods, burned the soul of the world, and sought to bring death to all things here. Your destiny ends now."

Before the Demon Pillar could react, a sword light tinged with blue flames swung from the side, freezing time for an instant and halting all at once. The Demon Pillar's body expanded rapidly, then the Holy Spear and the Lion King's body were violently expelled from its form, severing their fusion.

Even the Demon Pillar's seemingly indestructible body fractured with an unimaginable crack.

A dark, muscular figure glanced around before vanishing without a trace, as if merely taking a stroll. Yet during that stroll, he severed the ambitions of this Demon Pillar with a single sword strike.

"Here I open a path forward! I will surely achieve brilliant victory! Cut down the evil, drive away the wicked, and block this radiant light—[Sword of Glorious Victory]!!"

With the Demon Pillar severely wounded and powerless to absorb the goddess before it, Aslan raised the Sword of Glorious Victory again and unleashed its full power. The dark golden light engulfed the Demon Pillar entirely. Listening to its screams fade, when the dust settled, nothing remained but the distant border of the world.

Oh—and one more thing: the golden Holy Grail.

As Ritsuka reached out, the golden Holy Grail returned to her hand as if summoned. The mission of this singularity was now truly complete. The world's burning had ceased, and the Lion King had lost all will to fight. She sat silently on the throne, eyes closed.

The Lion King would wait for the end here, disappearing with the city. Even if King Arthur wielding the Holy Spear were summoned again, she would no longer be present.

As golden light shimmered across Ritsuka's body, signs of dissipating magic power appeared on Aslan and Melusine. It was clear their mission was finished. What would happen after this singularity was no longer their concern.

There was no doubt—the Lion King lost this time. Hassan and Arash would remain here, either until humanity's burning was completed or halted.

The dragon blood in Aslan's body slowly faded. Before it vanished completely, Aslan glanced at Ritsuka. They were not well acquainted—after all, they had only fought together during this massive assault on the holy city. Still, if given the chance, she hoped to visit Chaldea someday.

"Kid, you arrived late for this singularity. Most problems were already handled by our resistance forces. But in the next singularity, you will face unprecedented challenges—and true gods. That's where the Magic King believes you will fail. Be ready. If fate wills it, we will meet again."

Melusine rested her hands on Aslan's shoulders, asserting her bond, then the two transformed into points of light and vanished. Meanwhile, Aslan's form within the Inner Sea of the Stars opened their eyes.

-End Chapter-

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