Chaldea – Central Command Room
When Rozen and Mash arrived, preparations were already entering their final stages.
Staff members moved efficiently, calibrating equipment and aligning the main devices—centered around the coffin-like frame—neatly in the center of the control room, bringing them online one after another.
Inside the command center, technicians had all taken their stations, operating consoles as status reports echoed continuously throughout the room.
Olga Marie, Roman, and Da Vinci were already present, all wearing serious expressions as they oversaw the procedures. Only when Rozen and Mash entered did they turn their attention toward them.
"You're here," Olga Marie said from her commanding seat. Her voice was stern and tinged with urgency. If not for her owl-like appearance undermining the mood, she might have been radiating even more authority than usual.
Da Vinci also sized Rozen up.
"You've recovered well. Not quite there yet, though. And just when you're not in top form, the spiritron transfer has to be ready. Talk about bad timing, Rorelei."
She sounded far more amused than concerned.
"Please don't add insult to injury," Roman grumbled, shooting her a sidelong glance before turning back to Rozen with a worried look. "Are you sure you're up for this?"
Was he sure?
Of course not.
Though he wasn't completely incapable of battle, ideally, Rozen would have faced this final Singularity in perfect condition.
But he also understood—no one could afford to wait.
The year was already 2020. The end was near. Time was no longer on their side. This final restoration would undoubtedly be the hardest of them all, with an uncertain timeframe. Now that spiritron transfer preparations were complete, they had no choice but to go.
Thus, Rozen had only one answer.
"I'm good," he said with a relaxed tone. "The mana I've accumulated recently should be enough to handle plenty of situations. Besides, I've still got a few Servants at my side. Even if the battlefield is the Age of Gods, it shouldn't be total chaos."
But no one echoed his confidence.
Especially not Mash, who voiced her concern: "Senpai, with your current mana... can you really support that many Servants in combat?"
As Rozen's familiar and Servant, Mash knew all too well that his current mana supply wouldn't be enough to support a full-scale deployment of all his Servants. Even one major battle could drain him significantly.
And it wasn't just the mana depletion—if he overextended and exhausted his circuits, it could slow down their already delicate recovery.
In such a case, facing a formidable enemy would leave Rozen severely handicapped.
That wasn't a good scenario.
The others seemed to be thinking the same thing, their gazes toward Rozen filled with uncertainty.
On the one hand, they clearly wanted Rozen to wait until he had fully recovered.
On the other, Chaldea simply couldn't afford the delay.
The contradiction left them hesitant and conflicted. Understandable.
But Rozen remained unfazed.
"Don't worry. Even in the Age of Gods, we're not going to be facing non-stop large-scale battles. If it's just the usual skirmishes, I can manage. I'm not so weak that I'd collapse from regular combat."
His gaze swept across the room as he continued.
"Besides, I've been thinking. This might actually be a good thing for me."
Why?
Simple.
"If our destination is the Age of Gods, then we're heading straight into a world overflowing with True Ether."
Rozen's lips curled slightly.
—True Ether.
The power that formed planets. The material that made up celestial bodies.
Compared to the modern era, the Greater Source of the Age of Gods was vastly superior in both quantity and quality.
Post-Common Era mana is artificial in nature, classified as the Fifth Imaginary Factor.
Pre-Common Era mana, on the other hand, is true magic energy—the Fifth True Theoretical Factor.
In that ancient era, before humanity's civilization took form, the world overflowed with the Fifth True Theoretical Factor—True Ether.
It was the origin of gods, the cradle of the planet. As it faded, mystery diminished, the Greater Source itself deteriorated, and after the Common Era, the world was no longer home to the Fifth True Theoretical Factor. The Imaginary Factor replaced it, marking the age of mankind.
In short, True Ether was a power far superior to modern mana.
Thanks to it, the gods of the Age of Gods could wreak havoc upon the land.
Rozen was certain that this True Ether was either equivalent to—or even identical with—his own High-Grade Mana.
Thus, magecraft and magi born in that age were far beyond anything modern practitioners could rival. Back then, mystery was truly alive in the world.
Rozen had already thought it through.
"In a place like that, my Magic Circuits will be nourished and restored even more effectively. Their recovery rate will absolutely accelerate."
That was his conclusion.
"As the saying goes, fortune and misfortune come hand in hand. This spiritron transfer may not be all bad for me after all."
At that, the others exchanged looks—then nodded.
"You have a point. Operating in an Age of Gods saturated with True Ether could actually benefit your Magic Circuits," Da Vinci admitted with a serious tone. "Still, you better take it easy for now. No more reckless stunts, got it?"
"I know," Rozen replied, shrugging. "This time, I'll avoid heavy mana usage. Barring any surprises, I plan to only bring Mash and Altera into combat."
"That's for the best," Roman said with relief. Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "By the way—where's Miss Altera?"
The moment he spoke, a cold voice answered.
"I'm already here."
With those words, a flash of light appeared beside Rozen. From within the shimmering mist of mana, Altera emerged like a mirage.
It was clear—up until now, she had been moving around in spirit form.
As everyone laid eyes on the pale, white-haired girl, the room fell into silence.
No helping it—Altera's overwhelming presence always had this effect. Every time she appeared, people instinctively tensed up.
Still, in the current situation, her presence was undeniably reassuring.
"This time, Miss Altera, we'll have to handle most of the battles for Senpai," Mash said resolutely, her face filled with determination.
Altera remained expressionless.
Because—
"This is my specialty."
Exactly.
At that point, Olga Marie finally spoke.
"Since you're all ready, then let's begin."
"The final spiritron transfer."