So. Freaking. COOL!!!
With the appearance of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, the light curtain screening reached the absolute peak of its climax.
Across the multiverse, the audience stood up, trembling with shock and excitement!
This was a truly high-tier match now. If it were just Elysia, it would have been a fight. But with the other twelve joining in...
How was the Outer God supposed to fight? With its head? It was no exaggeration to say that even if a more bizarre and powerful, well-known Outer God were to descend, it would not necessarily gain any advantage against this lineup.
And it wasn't just the Thirteen Flame-Chasers. Don't forget, there was still Saber, the 'fated protagonist' of the Type-Moon world. Her strength was also top-class.
With Avalon in her possession, what did the ultimate defense even mean? Unless you could blow up the universe in a single hit, it wouldn't matter how many more Outer Gods showed up; they still couldn't break through her guard.
Light Curtain Danmaku—
Hachiman Hikigaya: "We've finally reached this point. The scales of battle are beginning to tip in Elysia's favor."
Utaha Kasumigaoka: "Barring any accidents, this is a done deal. Just from the description of Kevin alone, he has the ability to solo the Outer God."
Otto Apocalypse: "Actually, if she were willing to pay the price, the Herrscher of Origin could also solo the Outer God. The difference between her and Kevin lies in the amount of collateral damage to the outside world."
Nyarko: "Dammit, dammit! How can you bully someone with numbers! Thirteen against one, nooooo—"
In the world of [Nyaruko: Crawling with Love], the legendary Outer God known as "The Crawling Chaos," Nyarlathotep, was shouting.
Although the thing on screen was ugly as sin, it was, in essence, one of her own kind! Not that she wanted to admit it.
Yukino Yukinoshita: "??? There are actually people supporting the Outer God's side?"
Kuko: "Is it possible that this 'person'... isn't a person?"
Mahiro Yasaka: "Cut it out, you two! If the world is destroyed, all of humanity's entertainment will disappear completely!"
Nyarko: "Ah? That can't happen!"
As expected, the moment Earth's unique brand of entertainment was mentioned, Nyarko instantly had a change of heart. What Outer God? What kin? None of that mattered to her anymore.
Conan Edogawa: "Nyarko... Nya? Masaka, could it be the Crawling Chaos from another world? The Outer God from the Cthulhu Mythos, Nyarlathotep?"
In the world of Detective Conan, Conan, who was slacking off in his elementary school class, felt a jolt. Nyarlathotep was no nameless god like the one in the video. That was a Great Old One, a major figure in the entire Cthulhu Mythos.
But... the Nyarlathotep from another world probably had no connection to the one in the Type-Moon universe...
---o---
On the Light Curtain—
From the light that bloomed as the Holy Grail shattered, the figures of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers gradually materialized. Under the effects of Honkai Energy, their formal wear had already transformed into their combat suits.
The audience outside the screen was already used to this. After all, when Elysia transformed into a Herrscher, her clothes also changed inexplicably. They figured it must be a special ability of Honkai Energy.
Didn't Saber next door use mana to change her outfit? Perhaps anyone with such supernatural abilities could do it...
In the video, Kevin's longsword set the sky ablaze, illuminating the night. Fuyuki City now shone with a brilliant and dazzling light.
The dark clouds and shadows were swept away. Just the kinetic energy from bursting out of the space had such power. It was a clear demonstration of how terrifying Kevin's strength was.
High above, Elysia's figure appeared in a pinkish glow. The other Flame-Chasers materialized around her, flanking her left and right, leaving the central position for her.
Saber stared blankly at the scene. She still didn't understand how Elysia could have entered the Holy Grail's space and returned with so many people she didn't recognize.
And... judging from their eyes and auras, none of these individuals were simple characters. Even in the Age of Gods, they would undoubtedly have been renowned figures.
As Saber pondered, Kevin slowly appeared at Elysia's right, wielding his sword. He stared at the massive, evil-smelling Outer God in the distance with cold, hostile eyes.
He spoke in a tone as chilling as the winter wind: "The enemy... is that it?"
His eyes were filled with ferocity and hostility, an expression rarely seen on Kevin. It was as if his own child had been bullied, and he had come to settle the score.
It wasn't just him; the other Flame-Chasers nearby had similar expressions. Even Griseo, who understood little, was glaring puff-cheeked at the Outer God.
The Outer God, for its part, stared back at the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, its aura no less imposing, fully revealing its form to them.
Thirteen against one. A high-tier match. But I'm not afraid. A professional Outer God must dare to make the call. This is a guaranteed win. They're just a bunch of punks with crazy hair. Behind me stands the entire Void. If even I retreat, what's left to stop these dark forces?
After a brief standoff, as expected, it was the Flame-Chasers' side that broke first, unable to stand the aura emanating from the Outer God.
Pardofelis grimaced with revulsion and said, "Ew, that thing is so ugly. Sister Elysia, you must have really suffered fighting it."
That's right. The main reason they broke was the physiological disgust from looking at it. Pardofelis felt like she was about to throw up last night's dinner. She really didn't know how someone as beauty-conscious as Sister Elysia had managed to endure.
"Kosma, I'm scared..." This was a normal person's reaction to seeing an Outer God. You were supposed to be scared. If a child saw such a sight and felt no fear, her mental fortitude would be off the charts. However... Griseo's fear didn't seem to stem purely from the Outer God's aura.
The sensitive Griseo could perceive the evil and strangeness contained within the Outer God. It was a feeling that made her dizzy and nauseous. She wasn't afraid of the Outer God's power; she was afraid of her own power losing control. Little Griseo immediately grabbed Kosma's hand, as if that was the only way to feel safe.
Kosma quickly shielded her. The Outer God's aura was too strong and completely unrestrained, which could easily affect Griseo.
At the same time, the already unfriendly gazes of Mobius and Aponia intensified when they saw Griseo's discomfort.
Elysia and Griseo. To provoke both of them was to make an enemy of the entire Thirteen Flame-Chasers. From the strongest, Kevin, to the weakest, Pardofelis, every single one of them was now glaring at the creature with the fiercest loathing of their lives.
While the Outer God was unaffected, Saber, caught in the middle, wore an awkward expression and quickly moved to the side. Standing in the center of such an atmosphere was indeed quite uncomfortable.
After a short stalemate, Kevin stepped forward with his sword and asked, "Should I strike now, Elysia?"
Although he was nominally the leader and Number One of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, at this moment, all of them, including Kevin, would follow the instructions of the young woman before them.
Elysia shook her head. "Kevin, I definitely believe in you, but... the body the Holy Grail gave you will turn to ash from the strain of using Judgment of Shamash just once, won't it?"
Kevin fell silent. It was true... Aponia's discipline had indeed made the Grail grant them physical forms, but... these bodies were not those of Fusion Warriors. They were only slightly stronger than an ordinary person, weaker than even the lowest-ranking Schicksal Valkyrie.
The so-called Judgment of Shamash was a double-edged sword that hurt its wielder even more than the enemy. Normally, Kevin's body could freeze the blade with its own low temperature, but... this body would probably incinerate itself before the sword was even fully drawn.
And for Kevin, unsheathing Judgment of Shamash—a world-ending weapon, an ultimate move to the warriors of the future—was his basic attack. The fact that he couldn't even use a basic attack showed just how weak his current form was.
The other Flame-Chasers were in a similar predicament. Except for psychic-types like Aponia and Su, who could use their abilities without hindrance, the rest were all restricted to varying degrees.
However... the Flame-Chasers had not manifested to drag Elysia down. The fact that the bodies created by the Grail were too weak was something Vill-V had anticipated from the start.
So, naturally, it was Vill-V's showtime again. "Hmph hmph~ My dear audience, it is time for the great magician to take the stage once more!"
She leaped out from behind the group, took off her magician's hat, and said, "Do you all... remember the Elysian Realm?"
The Elysian Realm—one of the legacies the Thirteen Flame-Chasers left for the future. It contained the memory data of all thirteen of them, which they updated periodically. It was similar in principle to the memory constructs in the previous memory space.
The construction of the Elysian Realm was undoubtedly a massive undertaking. To build such a device without the support of the many politicians was, without a doubt, an incredible feat.
But why was Vill-V bringing it up now?
Puzzled, Elysia asked curiously, "Vill-V, you have another idea, don't you?"
Vill-V smiled confidently. "Of course, Elysia. I wonder if you remember the mechanism known as 'Signets' that was created during the construction of the Elysian Realm."
"Signets?" The others were still confused, but Mobius seemed to have realized something. "You mean that special mechanism that can only be used within the Realm?"
"Hmph, speaking of which, I had a hand in creating that mechanism. In essence, it's just using data to enhance the abilities of later visitors. It turned the Realm into something like a monster-grinding, level-up game," Mobius grumbled. She never understood the point of such a mechanism.
"The Signets can make subsequent visitors stronger, which means they can also make Elysia stronger, correct?" Su said slowly.
"Correct! Just like in many anime and movies, the Herrscher of Origin possesses incredible compatibility, allowing her to continuously absorb our powers, just like Signets, into her own body."
Vill-V explained that because the Herrscher of Origin was the most unique Herrscher, she was capable of perfectly integrating the powers of the other twelve.
"I see. Concentrating all the power into one person is far more effective than spreading it out. Elysia's Origin power might erupt with a strength infinitely close to Kevin's," Aponia said slowly, a smile on her face.
A full-power Kevin could surpass Finality. The Herrscher of Origin, armed with the power of all thirteen Flame-Chasers, would be no weaker than the so-called Finality.
---o---
Light Curtain Danmaku—
Raiden Mei: "The Elysian Realm? A gift from the Previous Era to the present? Can we meet the Flame-Chasers there? I really want to go see it..."
Kiana Kaslana: "Yeah, yeah! I wanna go see what it's like too! Preferably with Mei, hehe..."
Bronya Zaychik: "Idiot Kiana, that last part was your real goal, wasn't it? You just want to cling to Sister Mei."
Utaha Kasumigaoka: "You all are from the same world as the Flame-Chasers, so you're focused on the Elysian Realm. I'm just thinking that this Vill-V is ridiculously overpowered."
Eri Sawamura: "Vill-V... seriously, she's been carrying the team since she showed up. The Thirteen Flame-Chasers can't exist without Vill-V, just like the West can't exist without Jerusalem."
Conan Edogawa: "Ah, this woman is terrifying. A 100% engagement rate. It's as if everything is within her calculations. Even without knowing the enemy's details, she still crafted such an exquisite checkmate."
She was too strong. By now, Conan was thoroughly intimidated. How long had it been since Vill-V appeared? A day? Probably not even that. From realizing she was a memory construct to laying out this entire plan, it had been less than a single day.
And in that short time, she had completely grasped the situation and secured a path to victory without even knowing who her enemy was. If a person like that turned to crime, Conan feared he could rack his brain forever and never find a single trace of her.
Otto Apocalypse: "As expected of the greatest deceiver of the Previous Era. Even I feel humbled by her strategic abilities."
Similarly, Otto Apocalypse was astonished by Vill-V. While he was confident he could come up with a similar plan and set up a similar situation... that would require time, and quite a lot of it. The time Vill-V had spent thinking so far was probably less than five hours.
A talent among talents, a genius among geniuses. In the Previous Era, the only person whose strategic ability and intellect could match or even surpass hers was probably that legendary woman named MEI.