"Clang—!"
An incredibly intense light radiated from the Holy Grail.
In that moment, everyone present felt it.
They felt an overwhelmingly terrifying magical power.
Unprecedented and boundless magical power seemed to flow out of the Holy Grail like a volcano erupting, pouring out from the cup's mouth and enveloping Lev.
Rozen's group watched this scene unfold before their eyes, unable to react in time.
In this situation, Lev's voice echoed as if he was looking down on everything.
"I'll make an exception and let you insignificant humans and Heroic Spirits witness."
Lev raised the Holy Grail in his hand and chuckled.
His smile was exceptionally twisted.
"Witness the true form that our most exalted king bestowed upon us as he granted us existence."
As his words fell...
*Hum—!*
The vast magical power that enveloped Lev trembled suddenly. Lev and the golden chalice in his hand were engulfed by the surge of magic.
Blinding light burst forth from Lev's body.
"——"
Rozen held his breath.
Because, in that instant, the eerie sensation Rozen had been feeling from Lev's body seemed to expand. It transformed from a rushing stream into a towering wave.
That swelling eerie sensation was like the substantial pressure of impending death, rushing into Rozen's body.
Rozen's entire body conveyed this message.
Mash and Jeanne seemed to have also sensed something, trembling in fear.
Even the communication from Chaldea was filled with trembling voices.
"Lev's life signs and physical form have suddenly undergone drastic changes...!"
Romani's voice screamed out in report.
Even Olga Marie, who had been hiding in a corner all this time, couldn't help but chime in.
"What... What's with this reaction...!? It's neither a Servant nor a Phantasmal species...! What... What is this!?"
Olga Marie's scream was filled with disbelief.
Amidst this situation, within the blinding light, a colossal entity began to gradually emerge.
Seeing that colossal entity, Rozen, Mash, and Jeanne were all struck with shock.
"What is that...?"
Mash murmured in astonishment.
"What is that...?"
Jeanne's voice carried an incredulous tone.
"What is that...?"
Romani couldn't believe his eyes.
"What is that...?"
Olga Marie was overwhelmed by terror.
"What... is... that...?"
Even the personnel within Chaldea were trembling as they spoke.
Only Rozen remained, staring fixedly at the colossal entity ahead. After a moment, he clenched his teeth and exclaimed,
"What in the world is that thing!?"
Accompanied by Rozen's exclamation, the colossal entity in front of them finally materialized in the air.
"————."
It was hard to find a word that can describe the monster before their eyes.
Its size rivals that of a small mountain.
Its entire body resembles a pillar.
Apart from its pitch-black flesh, it has countless crimson eyes.
"Monster."
This was the word that come to everyone's minds at the first instant.
"Allow me to introduce myself in a simple manner."
Lev's voice resonated as if coming from the abyss, emerging from the flesh column.
"I am Lev Lainur Flauros, an entity that comprehends past and present, foresees the future, the highest life form under the most exalted throne, one of the seventy-two Demon God Pillar under the most revered kings — Flauros."
Lev proclaimed in this manner.
Not a flesh column.
Not a monster.
It is the legendary Demon God Piller.
"See this?"
"This is my true form!"
"Feel honored!"
"Feel fear!"
"You will be eradicated by the Pillar of the Grand Throne!"
An endless torrent of magic surged forth from the Demon God Piller.
"Senpai...!"
"Master...!"
Both Mash and Jeanne shouted at the same time.
However, Rozen, who had already used Spirit Vision to see the magical flow within the Pillar of Demon God, had already given his command.
"Fall back!"
Despite having two Servants with the best defensive capabilities, Rozen's choice was not to stand firm but to retreat.
Mash and Jeanne didn't hesitate to follow his orders, both moving to the side.
As for Rozen, he used his telekinesis to wrap his entire body, as if invisible ropes were lifting him up and dragging him into the air.
In that very instant...
*Boom!*
The ground where Rozen, Mash, and Jeanne had stood a moment ago was engulfed by a surging and turbulent force.
It was a smokescreen formed of dense darkness.
Within the smokescreen, not only did it contain astonishing magic power, but it also carried a terrifying heat and pressure. Like an avalanche, it swept over, reducing everything in its path—be it the ground, space, or even the burning flames—into fragments.
"...!?"
Witnessing this scene, Mash and Jeanne's expression changed.
Such a fearsome power, if it were to strike a human body, even Servants might be reduced to mere dust and bones.
While Mash and Jeanne possessed extremely high defensive capabilities, they might not be able to fully withstand this force. After all, Mash's Noble Phantasm wasn't fully developed, and Jeanne's Noble Phantasm accumulated damage. After their battle with Jeanne Alter, how could they confront an enemy like this?
"Futile struggling."
Lev Lainur Flauros, now a Demon God Pillar, mocked, his body surging with magic once again.
The next second, the powerful smokescreen, with its incredible strength, rolled forth again.
Like an avalanche.
Like a flash flood.
Like a pitch-black tsunami, roaring and crashing towards the group that was now separated.
"No! It's too strong!"
Romani shouted within Chaldea.
"From the perspective of magical reaction and life response, Lev... no, the Demon God Piller far surpasses regular Servants, and even dragons like Fafnir are inferior. You can't handle it. Regroup with the other Servants!"
Despite the suggestion, Rozen strongly opposed it.
"No! Allowing this monster to rampage outside might make the situation irreparable!"
Floating in mid-air, facing the terrifying smokescreen, Rozen gritted his teeth and his eyes filled with determination.
"It must be dealt with here!"
For this reason, Rozen had kept an ace up his sleeve.
"————By the Command Seal, I command you————"
Rozen raised the hand inscribed with Command Seals.
"————My Servants, defeat the enemy before you————"
With the final stroke of the Command Seal, this command transformed into a massive surge of magic. As the last ring on the back of Rozen's hand dimmed, the magical power flowed into Mash and Jeanne through the pathway of their contract.
Mash and Jeanne immediately felt a tremendous power surge from within their bodies.
As a result, both girls showed resolute expressions.
"Lev Lainur Flauros!"
Mash loudly called out his name.
"We will vanquish you!"
Jeanne also let her holy flag flutter and made a declaration that sounded like a judgment.
The shields and banners, symbols of protection, were simultaneously raised by the two slender girls.
Following that, as if challenging an impossible future, they charged forward.