The Sword of Rupture's peculiar cylindrical design unleashed an unimaginable wind pressure, simulating a space-shredding effect!
To the naked eye, the Sword of Rupture, upon releasing its proper name, seemed to shatter the entire space above the river easily!
In the black void, hundreds of silver space fragments swirled, the fierce wind appearing to tear everything apart!
"Boom! ——"
Like thunder in a dry sky, the space rifts simulated by the wind pressure instantly clashed with the universe formed by the inverted tree!
The silver fragments moved at such high speeds they were almost invisible!
The stars around the "Inverted Tree Universe" were all swept into the spatial turbulence and obliterated!
From its looks, the Sword of Rupture seemed capable of devouring the "Inverted Tree Universe" entirely quickly!
In her divine state, Kurumi remained expressionless, as if the oncoming spatial turbulence couldn't harm her.
Until the first silver fragment reached the vicinity of the inverted tree and mysteriously stopped!
The other silver fragments following the turbulence also came to a halt!
It was an eerie sight!
The entire scene looked like it had been captured by a master photographer, everything frozen in place!
Kurumi's pale golden eyes lifted slightly as the inverted tree suddenly released a powerful suction!
In the spatial turbulence, the silver-reflective fragments were crushed into powder and absorbed by the inverted tree!
The trunk of the inverted tree seemed to become more solid!
Calm and serene, Gilgamesh's face was stiff, and the Sword of Rupture in his hand felt unusually heavy.
The bizarre inverted tree, shimmering with points of silver light, seemed to mock him silently!
The Sword of Rupture, which should have caused cataclysmic destruction, had vanished without a sound.
Gilgamesh looked at the pale silver tree trunk; familiar spatial fluctuations emanated from it, but the more he recognized it, the more horrified he felt!
The inverted tree universe floated quietly beside the "witch," without any sign of attack or hostility.
A natural fear arose in his heart.
He couldn't understand this thing at all!
"Splurt!~"
In the quiet night sky, a large plume of steam drew the attention of both parties.
"Nightmare's" back armor opened, and the overheated and exhausted energy reactor accidentally slipped into the river.
The incredible heat met the cold river water, causing an immediate reaction. Holding the first-generation reactor, the Red Queen quickly installed it into "Nightmare!"
After closing the armor, she wiped her non-existent sweat with her sleeve, striking a pose of triumph.
Another gust of night wind blew, and "Nightmare" pulled back on the "Chains of Heaven," finally turning her attention to the battlefield.
Her heart skipped a beat!
Forcing a smile, she said, "Are you... are you taking a break?"
"Boom boom boom!"
Before the Red Queen could react, the "Gate of Babylon" fired a barrage of Noble Phantasms, seemingly venting anger.
The golden streams of light increased, shooting faster and faster. "Nightmare's" bone wing defense was bombarded continuously, ringing with hits!
The once black paint was a mess, with countless scratches and dents, making the Red Queen's heartache!
Hiding behind "Nightmare," despite her high-grade runes, she had no desire to face the "Gate of Babylon's" bullet hell!
Looking up at the sky, she shouted, "Master! Quickly defeat Gilgamesh! 'Nightmare' can't take much more!"
"Boom! ——"
As the Red Queen finished her shout, the "Gate of Babylon" reached nearly complete firepower, the ruins in the river showing signs of being swept away!
And "Nightmare," now half-submerged in the river, cooled rapidly due to the strong current! But the Red Queen, with a tearful face, clung to "Nightmare," fearing the Noble Phantasms would pierce her petite frame!
The real issue was that the initial energy reactor couldn't provide enough power to the limb armor. It was a third less effective than the previous reactor!
In other words, "Nightmare" couldn't maintain its grip on the "Chains of Heaven." If her divine state master didn't quickly defeat Gilgamesh, they could be in serious trouble!
Noble Phantasms fired from the "Gate of Babylon," the wind from their passage blowing Gilgamesh's hair aside.
The Sword of Rupture is still in hand, and he contemplates rereleasing its proper name.
Fear of the unknown had clouded his judgment. Otherwise, he might have already won and started enjoying the spoils.
He should not have attacked that bizarre inverted tree! If he had targeted the armor, the "Chains of Heaven" would be free!
Then, facing the divine witch would be a sure victory!
But now!
His crimson eyes narrowed, and the "Gate of Babylon" kept firing!
He watched Kurumi's every move, the divine witch acting like a naive girl, studying the inverted tree before her.
"Tch!"
The flood of Noble Phantasms drowned out the Red Queen's shouts, and she desperately wanted to pull the divine power seed from her primary!
"Nightmare" kept sending information to Kurumi, but in her divine state, she showed no interest!
If not for her subconscious still existing, she might have swatted away the "fly" buzzing in her ear!
"Sizzle——"
Sparks flew from the Chains of Heaven, and Nightmare's limb armor slipped further back. If this continued, it wouldn't be long before it lost its grip!
With her master in this state, the Red Queen thought, "We're doomed!"
In "Nightmare's" database, the Red Queen ran countless simulations. After getting her answer, her central consciousness returned to her body.
Taking two deep breaths, her dress turned into a black and blue combat suit. With a determined look, she leaped into the cold river!
The "Gate of Babylon's" bullet hell left many Noble Phantasms in the riverbed. The Red Queen eyed them greedily but stayed focused on her plan.
Carefully dodging the submerged Noble Phantasms, she swiftly swam behind Gilgamesh!
"Nightmare" continued its calculations, ready to provide the best plan.
A surprise attack wouldn't heavily injure him!
A charged surprise attack might be detected!
The Red Queen hid at the river bottom, waiting for a shift in Gilgamesh's emotions to strike!
This plan had been simulated thousands of times, with a high success rate, or she wouldn't use it!
In this state, while her master wasn't precisely a "flower vase," it was close enough!
A sense of duty filled the Red Queen. In past battles, her master led the charge. Now, it was her turn to protect her master!
She wouldn't let her master become Gilgamesh's... no! Shaking her head, she focused on her mission.
Big eyes fixated on Gilgamesh, suppressing her aura to the extreme!
On the ruined bridge, "Nightmare's" energy reactor was maxed out but couldn't compete with the "Chains of Heaven!"
Sparks flew from their connection, the "Chains of Heaven" slowly slipping from "Nightmare's" grip.
The Red Queen, formed from data streams, looked at the conventional weapons and stifled her thoughts.
In her divine state, Kurumi had forgotten her purpose here!
Her pale golden eyes stared at the inverted tree, focused on a specific area!
The dim circular pattern, even with spatial fragments, remained inconspicuous.
Yet she felt a strong sense of familiarity! As if it was her origin!
Who was she? Where did she come from?
She was Tokisaki Kurumi! The Spirit of Time!
She was Mo Xiao! A Reincarnator!
Chaotic thoughts filled her mind. The goddess seemed to be deep in thought to an observer, but she was in a "crash" state!
Gilgamesh wished Kurumi would stay like this, giving him time to prepare!
He would likely win if the "Chains of Heaven" slipped free from that strange armor!
A smile tugged at his lips.
Was this a thank you to the gods?
His smile took on a mocking edge, disdainful of "gods."
"Crack!"
A loud noise drew Gilgamesh's attention; the "Chains of Heaven" finally freed from the armor's grip, smashing into the bridge ruins!
A deep gorge formed, and "Nightmare" hurriedly adjusted thrusters to grab the chains again!
"Hmph!"
Gilgamesh's mocking smile remained, and the "Gate of Babylon" fired more Noble Phantasms at "Nightmare!"
Forced to dodge, "Nightmare" missed the chance to grab the chains!
The "Chains of Heaven" retracted into the golden ripples of the "Gate of Babylon," and Gilgamesh put away the Sword of Rupture.
His predatory gaze fixed on Kurumi!
His smile widened, showing his delight!
At that moment, "Nightmare," while passively defending, aimed its conventional weapons at Gilgamesh!
It took just seconds from the chains' release to the weapons' fire!
In that time, the Red Queen, hidden underwater, activated her attack runes!
Her small form became a black blade, darting towards Gilgamesh on the ruins!
Her target was his heart! If he dodged, she would shatter his spine!
Even for a spirit, that was a deadly wound!
With no Master nearby for healing and her attack's corrosive magic, he was doomed!
The magical ripple from the Red Queen's approach set off Gilgamesh's alarms, making him dodge!
But... the worst-case scenario from her simulations played out!
Bright red blood splashed into the river, a golden-armored arm flying into the air!
Gilgamesh's unbalanced body fell into the water, blood gushing from his severed left arm!
The Red Queen's face paled. Unleashing so much magic at once was torture for her tiny body!
Her simulations showed a less than 20% chance of cutting off his arm, but she managed it!
Meanwhile, "Nightmare," having fired its ammunition, dodged the "rain of Noble Phantasms," its thrusters receiving full power.
The cockpit opened, enveloping the Red Queen!
The arm armor retrieved the heavy spear, and "Nightmare" soared!
Its precise electronic eyes spotted the blood in the water, diluting rapidly.
Gilgamesh's severed arm hit the ruins, twitching before turning to stardust.
Gilgamesh himself, clutching his right arm, leaped into the air!
His face twisted, wet hair clinging, resembling a drenched Kotomine Kirei!
The Red Queen, safe in "Nightmare's" cockpit, felt a drumbeat in her chest.
Her corrosive magic was working, soon reaching his heart!
Black veins spread on Gilgamesh's face, his left arm bleeding black.
"Ahhhhhh!"
His roar echoed over the water, heart pounding. Glancing at Kurumi, the "Chains of Heaven" encircled her!
In an instant, she was bound!
Arms tied, suspended in the air, the inverted tree vanished without the divine glow.
Her divine power felt blocked.
Her golden eyes were unchanged; she tilted her head at the chains, wondering why they bound her.
Seeing this, the Red Queen raised "Nightmare," believing Gilgamesh wouldn't last long. Once the corrosive magic hit his heart, he was dead!
Black veins covered half his face, and he was about to shoot "Nightmare" when his body froze!