99. Miss Kyuushou Makes Her Appearance!
Everyone instinctively frowned upon seeing Kingu's entrance.
Because he was truly troublesome.
Seeing their unpleasant expressions, Kingu smiled.
"It seems you don't like me very much. What a pity. But don't worry, my disgust for you also grows stronger every day!"
The instant Kingu uttered his last word, countless Kingu clones multiplied and split wildly! They wove together into an enormous, impenetrable net of filth, layer upon layer, instantly enveloping Tiamat's massive silhouette at its core!
Meanwhile, the black mud clung to Tiamat's rapidly changing body, accelerating her self-transformation!
Romani's urgent warning blared through Fujimaru Ritsuka's communicator:
"Magic power surges exponentially! Ritsuka! Interrupt her! You must stop her transformation immediately! Her Spirit Origin is breaking through a critical point! Moving towards... towards a true divine body! There's no time to analyze it, hurry!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka knew she had to interrupt Tiamat's transformation, but how?
Dan Heng slammed the water dragon into Tiamat, but Kingu and its countless clones desperately blocked the attack, preventing it from reaching her.
The others also attacked desperately, but there wasn't enough time to activate their Noble Phantasms!
It was too late.
Tiamat's body, blocked by her children, completed its dragon transformation!
The thick black mud covering Tiamat's body, like an eggshell that had fulfilled its purpose, exploded and dissipated in all directions!
Before everyone's eyes, an ultimate monster, beyond description, descended!
"Roar—!!!!!!!!!"
Tiamat unleashed a roar proclaiming her completion upon the entire Underworld!
This dragon's roar was no longer merely a sound, but a materialized chaotic shockwave! Visible dark red ripples, centered on her, swept across the entire Underworld like a destructive tide in an instant!
At this moment, a terrifying, chaotic tide began to spread rapidly throughout the Underworld, relentlessly eroding its entirety.
Sensing the Underworld's power gradually slipping from her control, Ereshkigal gritted her teeth and shouted.
"Not good! The Underworld can't suppress her anymore!"
The monster born from the black mud before her completely surpassed any description in any ancient text. At this moment, its dark red wings instantly began to expand and change.
"Oh no, she's going to fly!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka's heart nearly leaped out of her throat.
"Once she leaves the Underworld, everything we've done, all our sacrifices... will be for nothing!"
Ereshkigal's eyes burned with unwavering resolve.
"Absolutely... not!" She practically roared, her arms snapping open, the immense magical power of the Goddess of the Underworld gathering frantically! She was about to activate her Noble Phantasm, forcibly locking Tiamat within the Underworld!
"Leave it to me!"
A shout filled with burning conviction instantly interrupted Ereshkigal's actions!
It was Quetzalcoatl! The South American goddess's usual cheerful smile vanished, and the Sunstone in her hand suddenly erupted with an even more dazzling light! She slammed the Noble Phantasm against her chest!
"Miss Quetzalcoatl!" Mash cried out in alarm.
"No need to worry! I've wanted to do this for a long time!"
Boom! Quetzalcoatl's entire body instantly transformed into a ball of flame! The terrifying heat distorted the surrounding space, and her pterodactyl mount let out a mournful cry, instinctively moving away from the all-consuming sun.
"Everyone, get out of the way! O Goddess of Creation!" came her thunderous declaration from within the flames, "Taste the impact that will wipe out countless lives!!"
Before her words even finished, this humanoid ball of flame, moving at a speed beyond the limits of vision, shot through the enormous hole straight to the top of the sky! She transformed herself into a true meteor for this final strike!
Kingu, hovering around Tiamat, gazed up at the soaring flames, a mocking and cold smile on his face:
"Hmph... Overestimating yourself. The mere remnants of a Servant dare to attempt to shake Mother's divine body? It's a futile struggle."
Just as Quetzalcoatl reached the highest point of the dome, and was about to plunge down with world-destroying momentum—
Tiamat seemed to sense the danger. Halfway through her flight, she stopped, her head snapping back, a terrifying surge of magical power gathering in her mouth!
Dan Heng's expression was extremely grave. The water he could control was nearly exhausted; the filthy black mud instantly assimilated each water dragon that struck Tiamat, and the moisture in the air was pitifully thin.
But now, seeing Tiamat's massive body about to break free of its final restraints and rise into the air, he knew there was no room for holding back!
"Roar—!!!"
A hundred-meter-long water dragon, though not as massive as before, appeared in response!
"Go!" Dan Heng pointed sharply at Tiamat!
The water dragon crashed into the canopy of chains woven from Kingu and its countless clones!
The moment the water dragon struck, the chains frantically coiled, strangled, and attempted to erode it.
However, the water was no longer a simple impact; it instantly penetrated and filled every crevice and joint of the chains! With its all-pervasive nature, the water tore a tiny passage through the seemingly impenetrable defensive net!
The condensed water dragon precisely pierced through this tiny opening!
Boom!!!
The condensed, almost tangible water dragon slammed solidly into the side of Tiamat's enormous head, which was gathering terrifying magic cannons!
Tiamat's massive body jerked violently to the side! The dark red, destructive magic cannon, poised to erupt from its mouth, was instantly interrupted!
Now!!!
Accelerated to its limit! Quetzalcoatl's figure vanished completely in the flames, leaving only pure, burning power!
"Ultimate! Impact! Flying Kick!"
Her roar pierced the heavens and earth!
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
The next second—
A true cataclysmic event appeared!
An indescribable, terrifying shockwave erupted instantly!
The entire Underworld groaned and trembled violently under this unimaginable power! The solid earth was whipped up like a raging torrent of lava! Kingu and his summoned clones evaporated the instant the shockwave swept through! The eleven enormous magical beast offspring didn't even have time to cry out before being swept into the vortex of destruction, their figures blurring and dissipating in the light and heat!
"Ughh ... "
Tiamat had never let out such an agonizing scream before!
Her massive body, which had just lifted off the ground and was poised for flight, was slammed back down by the impact of the falling meteor! With the force of a thunderbolt, she was forcefully smashed back to the very bottom of the Underworld! The impact triggered an even more terrifying earthquake, and the entire Underworld seemed to collapse downwards for a moment!
The Underworld was burning, boiling, writhing in the destructive shockwaves!
And Quetzalcoatl...
Her figure vanished in that instant.
After a brief silence, Tiamat's heart-wrenching roar echoed once more amidst the churning lava and dust, like a death knell for the end of the world!
On the scorched earth of the underworld, the black mud began to surge stubbornly once more. In mere breaths, twelve figures struggled to their feet once more from the viscous filth!
Kingu's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. He elegantly spread his hands:
"See? A futile effort! All the wounds you inflicted, all your desperate attempts to obstruct, were nothing but futile struggles against Mother! Everything you did was meaningless!!" "
Fujimaru Ritsuka looked up at Tiamat. Despite Quetzalcoatl's sun-like attack that had slammed her down... she had risen again! Her wings began to flap once more!
"Why..." Fujimaru Ritsuka's voice was hoarse, trembling with disbelief, "Even a powerful attack like Miss Quetzalcoatl's last attack... or even Mr. Dan Heng's crucial blow... couldn't completely break her?"
Whoosh—!!!
Tiamat's wings completed their final charge, then slammed downwards with tremendous force!
"She's flying away!" Mash cried out, her voice almost ripped apart by the howling wind, her shield desperately bracing against the pressure.
No one could stop her now.
Kingu and his seemingly endless swarms of multiplying clones clung to her like leeches, relentlessly pursuing or hindering every Servant who tried to restrain her.
Even Dan Heng, without water to control, couldn't halt Tiamat's advance.
Everyone was pinned to the ground!
"Is this...the end...?"
Watching Tiamat about reaching the top, Fujimaru Ritsuka felt a surge of resentment. Everyone had given their all, yet it was all in vain...?
"It's not time to despair yet."
A calm voice rang out clearly—it was Dan Heng! His spear transformed into a cold gleam, piercing precisely through yet another charging demonic beast, his movement without the slightest hesitation.
"What?" Everyone was stunned, their gazes involuntarily focusing on him. Tiamat was about to escape the Underworld! Where was hope?
Dan Heng offered no further explanation, because he... trusted his companions.
Just then, a strange connection surfaced in everyone's minds!
"Shared vision...?" Fujimaru Ritsuka was taken aback.
It was Lemuen!
Instantly, a heart-stopping scene was forcibly projected into everyone's mental vision—
It was the vast yet desolate Mesopotamian sky beyond the Underworld!
And in the center of the image, a figure as small as dust was charging resolutely towards the overwhelming, dark red shadow that blotted out the sky!
Long purple hair danced wildly in the raging air currents, and a fiery will burned in the girl's eyes!
It was Houraiji Kyuushou!
After Tiamat left the Underworld, Kingu gave a cold laugh to the crowd.
"So, you remnants of the old era, always fond of pointless resistance. Wouldn't it be better to peacefully welcome the new world Mother brings, awaiting gentle demise? Truly... utterly foolish!"
Leaving behind this cold taunt, Kingu ignored the battlefield below and followed Tiamat into the Underworld.
Below, Dan Heng seemed to have confirmed something!
"Now!" His voice drowned out all the clamor.
"Everyone! Prepare immediately! Unleash your strongest attack! Target—Tiamat!!"
Although they didn't understand what was happening, although the girl's charge in the image seemed like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, their unwavering trust in their comrades ignited a final flame!
Magic power began to gather, a prelude to everyone unleashing their Noble Phantasms.
But Kingu, rushing out of the Underworld, was suddenly drawn to that tiny figure. She had actually reached such a close position to Mother?
"Hmph, an overconfident insect!" Kingu sneered, completely unconcerned. An individual of this caliber wouldn't even deserve a glance from their mother; the chaotic tide would instantly assimilate her.
However, in the instant this thought flashed through his mind—
The figure of Houraiji Kyuushou seemed to transcend the boundaries of space, arriving beside the colossal dragon's head!
She reached out!
She touched Tiamat's dark red scales, which were flowing with molten blood!
The Dark Night Wings weren't just about knowing how to fly!
As long as it was within her line of sight, she could traverse freely!
"Arrogant god!" Houraiji Kyuushou's voice suddenly rose, filled with burning excitement and a judgmental declaration, resounding like a great bell in the deathly silent sky and in the minds of everyone in the underworld below!
"You will pay the price for your arrogance!!!"
Buzz—!!!
An incomprehensible phenomenon occurred!
The instant Kyuushou touched her, Tiamat's colossal body, seemingly capable of shattering the sky!
Under Kingu's utterly shattered expression, transforming into utter astonishment, bewilderment, and then incredulous horror—
Tiamat's massive dragon body, almost completely detached from the Underworld a moment ago, vanished the next!
Kingu abruptly turned his gaze downwards; Tiamat's enormous body was right where she had been standing before!
Mother… forcibly dragged back by a tiny ancient human?!
"At times like these, we really do need our savior!" A clear yet satisfied voice echoed through the Underworld. Houraiji Kyuushou gave everyone a thumbs-up and vanished without a trace.
"This is the opportunity! Attack!"
"Shatter! Mountain-shaking star-studded fire!"
"Spirit Peak Embracing the Underworld's Saddle!"
The Cloud-Striking Spear, sharp as a blade, struck Tiamat's abdominal scales!
Boom! Boom! Boom—!!!
Triple devastating attacks erupted almost simultaneously!
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
An unprecedented, heart-wrenching scream of pain burst from Tiamat's mouth!
"Damn it, you bunch of bastards!" Kingu was filled with rage, wanting to return to the Underworld to help his mother, but before he could advance, an attack instantly blocked his path.
At the same time, a voice rang out, "What are you looking at?"
That voice… an etched familiar voice!
Kingu turned his head towards the direction of the voice.
Below the earth, Gilgamesh stared directly at Kingu.
"Gilgamesh!" Upon seeing the king attacking him with a provocative expression, Kingu's initial thought of rushing into the Underworld to help Tiamat vanished.
In its place was a strange feeling, a feeling that made him incredibly irritable.
"Mother is invincible. Even without me, she can show those people what despair truly is," Kingu seemed to reassure himself, justifying his next move.
The next second—
Clang!!!
A deafening clang of metal clashing echoed through the sky!
Kingu and Gilgamesh collided!
A violent energy shockwave exploded in a ring, dispersing dust over hundreds of meters!
Both combatants wore smiles.
...