The end is unstoppable.
That sentence remains unchanged.
No matter what one does, it could not be prevented.
"As a last resort… Nobu came up with one plan."
The [End] came straight for the [World]. That was another fact that remains absolute. All the bad endings were merely the 'aftermath' of its conquest against the [World]. Since humanity lives on it, they become affected by it, hence the challenge that they have to face in the first place.
These facts only left a single loophole for Nobu's ending to be achieved.
The other Suimei didn't even have to finish explaining when Manaka understood everything.
"To become a world." She muttered. "That was the choice he made."
Due to the abnormalities within the 'Finality Space', nobody was able to 'peek' through its mysteries. Only the people who were present there knew about it.
It was the first time Suimei had extensively explained these matters to them. After all, that was the 'last resort' hidden by Nobu.
It was the most selfish choice he planned to make when all of his plans failed.
Seeing the [End] invade them, the other Suimei didn't want to keep it hidden anymore. It was pointless to keep it at that point, more so when they would've discovered it sooner or later.
"...That's right." The other Suimei affirmed. "Since it wanted to [End] a world, he chose to take the world's place instead."
""...""
Silence.
Everyone within the room was shocked by that revelation.
"In other parallel worlds, we were only able to divide the burdens ourselves." His explanation carried on. "It was through his sheer power… that he alone was enough for us."
In one iteration, nearly everyone died but Suimei. The God Kings of the spirit realm were forced to make their own lives. The lacking parts were made up by everyone in the physical realm.
Even when Suimei and Reiji managed to come back alive at some point, their days were already numbered. Such was the cost to defeat the [End].
As for the 'best ending' achieved by the parallel world connected to them, the God Kings of the spirit realm sacrificed themselves… along with Nobu. His presence was more than enough to make up for everyone else.
With that, the ending of all parallel worlds were revealed.
"To substitute for a world… that was all we could do. But of course, it is different now. This world would see the most optimal ending."
Presented with the most optimal situation, this world is destined to become the 'best' out of all other parallel worlds.
"Once that time arrives…"
Suimei subconsciously looked at the girl on the huge screen.
"It would be your turn to seal the deal."
*****
Akashic Records.
It is a manifestation similar to [The Root] from another world. It is responsible for 'intercepting' all information from the past, present, and the future. It is akin to a grand library that stored countless knowledge unknown to man.
Simply put, it is the place where no mysteries were left untouched—a place counterproductive for the world's continued existence.
If there are no mysteries left, the world would cease to exist.
Yet, this place remained present.
In such a place, a single 'person' was present.
"It started…"
The girl's blue eyes held an 'artificial' charm, as if it wasn't real in the first place. It was not only her eyes, but her entire 'existence'. It felt as if she wasn't supposed to exist in the first place, yet she did.
Her nature is vastly similar to the Akashic Records. Perhaps… no, it was the main reason why she could stay in this place indefinitely.
She was, after all, someone who was created by the World as one of its last hopes. She held the authority to 'tamper' with the World itself, merging them into a single possibility once the best outcome has been reached.
That way, there would be a guarantee that the [End] will no longer endanger its existence.
Although its appearance was a 'natural process', the World developed several instinctive responses—and one of them is the birth of the 'virtual' existence called Miku.
"The song began playing… it won't be long before the epilogue comes."
Holding this heavy responsibility, she was burdened to become an 'audience' instead of a performer. Her power lay in that sole responsibility, thus she wasn't even able to properly help her goshujin-sama during their final fight.
Buzz-!
Just then, someone is attempting to call her from the other side.
"Even if it was useless…"
Beep-!
"Did you see this coming?"
The voice from the other side asked immediately. It held a mechanical tone, but the feeling of humanity from her was present.
"Slightly." The girl admitted. "Goshujin-sama was the type to move unpredictably. In his own words, it was his 'selfishness'."
"..."
The two remained silent for a while.
"Was this our only choice left?" Miku asked.
"...We have another option."
Hearing this, Miku did not become happy… because she understood where the girl was coming from. If she didn't bring it up since the beginning, it was something that could possibly compromise the entire final fight.
"Instead of using our power to merge all parallel worlds…it could be used to support goshujin-sama."
It was at this moment did they need to make their decision.
*****
Knight.
Numerous descriptions could be used to describe such a person.
Loyalty.
Chivalry.
Courage.
It is a person with such excellent qualities that follows the lead of a King.
No matter what the circumstances…
No matter what she had decided in the end…
Galahad would have chosen to stand by her side… if not for his death.
Such was the reason behind Artoria's approach when they met again.
In the end, this kind of kinship… friendship… turned into something deeper. It may be called camaraderie or companionship.
Nevertheless…
"Departing from this world without a word… Would you mind explaining what happened?"
The second person to arrive in Altair was none other than Artoria. She was currently talking with Manaka who seemed to know everything.
Despite declining Nobu's request on the surface, she still fulfilled it. She explained everything that happened within this span of five minutes.
"...I see."
It was unknown to others what Artoria thought, but she fell back upon hearing Manaka's explanation.
Rumble-!
The sudden earthquake on the surface was recorded via Altair's surveillance. What followed next was the 'shaking' of space itself.
A usual scenario opened up. The sky was consumed by darkness, though something different happened.
A blinding sun 'rose' from the West. It immediately brought an unbearable amount of heat to Earth itself.
The problem did not stop there. Soon, seven suns will rise up in the sky. It would not bring light to the earth, but signify its end. A buddha would appear subsequently to 'end' this mortal world.
That was their current enemy.
"We need to handle it—"
Rumble-!
Unfortunately for Suimei, another big surprise occurred before he could even finish his words.
Aside from the 'sun' in the midst of the darkness, a black sphere suddenly appeared on the skies of Tokyo. It was reminiscent of the look outside a 'Domain', yet people would be horrified to discover its true nature—an endlessly expanding black hole that will devour the entire world whole.
Its existence itself embodies the concept of 'entropy', thus anyone who was still reliant on energy could not fight it. Even Magisters would struggle from it if they acted as the 'front'.
It deserves its special place as the thirteenth calamity—second only to the [End].
Seeing these two calamities appear at once, everyone within the room immediately knew it was premeditated. Even so, they don't have a choice but to deal with them.
"Let's deal with them fast. Artoria-san, can you take care of the twelfth?"
"I will." The king with silver armaments replied.
Hearing this, Suimei added, "If Artoria-san finishes first, can you check out Nobu? That finality space… I will create a pathway to that place."
*****
Tick.
Tock.
Inside the space devoid of anything, a man stood still. His golden pupils reflected the endless knowledge stored inside his mind. His entire body, no, existence itself is as solidified as it could get.
"What a troublesome thing."
The man, Nobu, clicked his tongue. Everything that he…
…everything that I received from my other self is consistent with the thing in front of me.
This thing… the [End]... it doesn't have any 'manifestations'. Everything was poured into the space that entrapped him.
"Finality Space… Just like the thirteenth… I see…"
I quickly found out about its nature.
Just like that calamity, this space could only do one thing—to expand enough so that it could envelop the entire world itself.
As time passes, it becomes increasingly stronger. Of course, there would then be time when it comes unstoppable.
By that time, the world had truly ended…
…or so I believe.
Hum-!
A conceptual force worked within this space for the first time. If given a comparison, it would be akin to a hand compressing a cube in its palm. It is as if I am breaking a 'domain', but it is more complex than that.
Just like what Mei used…
I created a power based on the [End]... to fight the end. Fighting fire with fire, or so it is.
Unfortunately…
Crack-!
BAM-!
The sound of glass shattering resounded throughout the entire space. Immediately, the growth of the 'Finality Space' was slowed down.
"...Huff…"
It has been a long while since I experienced this kind of 'feeling' (exhaustion).
"Its power… It's really seeping in…"
I am glad that I took proper countermeasures. Taking the effort to know the 'limitations' of my power bore fruit.
At first, it seemed that nothing could stand in my way. There wasn't any upper limit when it comes to my newfound strength. However, there are 'several' things that even I couldn't do.
That limitation suggested that there could be something beyond my current level. Only, I was unlucky to have never reached it up at this moment.
"My hands are trembling…"
Nobu muttered as he felt this sensation after a long time.
"Just like Goetia's shenanigans… It sucks."
Sensing several presences at hand, I kept my composure. I could already tell how it was going out.
Hum-!
The second… third…
The clashes between us happened several times. It was something akin to a tug-of-war, but it remained consistent.
The [End] was pushed back before it regained its momentum.
That sort of thing happened over and over again.
If other people could see this clash, it would be meaningless. They would only see me standing in a dark room. It wasn't as flashy as numerous disastrous battles that I had in the past.
Crackle-!
Crackle-!
Somehow, the sound of electricity crackling resounded next. This entire battle wasn't perceptible to everyone below my level. The moment they try to 'perceive' this, they would only experience several strange things.
Even now, the sound of glass breaking, electricity crackling, the ground rumbling… so many things are happening all at once.
In the most literal sense, it is the definition of chaos.
"These are driving me crazy…"
Despite knowing that I 'will' experience this, it was still annoying to feel it myself.
As this fight went on, the doubts on my mind became less and less. All the hypothetical scenarios I thought of are being cleared up as of the moment.
Both my advantages and disadvantages are being revealed as I speak.
It's just that…
There was something huge that bothered me.
'Is there really no subjective consciousness… the driving force behind this?'
Most gods are already embedded into a certain concept. When they go beyond that step, they become that 'concept' itself—a will that revolves around that certain concept. These types of 'will' are mechanical and objective. They lack the sense of self that they previously have, something that was thrown away in pursuit of more power.
It seems that the [End] belongs to this category.
It was relentless when it came to descending into this world.
But…
"It aimed for me."
This ominous feeling only grew larger.