Chapter 133: The Last Holy Sword of the Star
The golden circle in the sky continued to expand, dispelling the crimson mist brought forth by the influence of the Beast of Sodom.
The very sky shimmered in his presence.
Rome was not built in a day.
Nor was the miracle of Romulus something he achieved alone.
It was the result of countless citizens who came to Rome and, together with Romulus, reached this realm.
Tearing open the world, igniting a civilization.
Just like one day, humanity will reach the realm of the stars in the universe, like a spear of light.
This is both the pride of mankind—those who have ruled over all things—and the radiance of humanity—those who have always dreamed of a brighter tomorrow.
Per Aspera Ad Astra.
It is the elevation, development, and expansion of civilization into a Noble Phantasm.
At this moment, Divine Ancestor Romulus stood upon the land of Rome, manifesting this Noble Phantasm!!!
Countless spears of light rained down from the heavens, striking the tide of blood—vaporizing it!
Among them, the Phantasmal Species that appeared once more were pierced through by the spears of light, disintegrating with the tide into mist and vanishing.
"Ugh...…"
The Beast of Sodom, at the center of the storm, endured countless spears of light. Her body was torn apart again and again, but regenerated thanks to the power of the Grail atop her head.
Her strength weakened, she raised her head to the sky—at the center of that golden rain was the endlessly radiant Divine Ancestor Romulus.
Suddenly, the Beast of Sodom reached her hand toward that light above.
"Divine Ancestor... why... why am I like this…"
For some unknown reason, tears suddenly fell from the corners of her eyes.
Noticing the Beast of Sodom's condition, the divine ancestor Romulus momentarily halted his attack.
"My child."
He descended through the air above the Beast of Sodom.
"Have you finally awakened from your nightmare?"
"Divine Ancestor... I..."
The Beast of Sodom wept, slowly speaking.
Suddenly, from the golden Grail atop her head, a massive outpouring of black defilement surged toward Romulus!!
"————————?!"
Romulus immediately used light to repel the dark mist and pulled back to create distance.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
The Beast of Sodom laughed haughtily.
"Fool! How could I possibly let that 'other me' break free? If I were to see any of those other Roman emperors, I'd definitely want to tear their skulls apart with my own hands!!!"
She smugly looked at Romulus floating in midair.
"Now that you've been tainted by the Holy Grail, it won't be long before you're swallowed up by Depravity, right?"
Romulus looked down—his God Armor was already being corroded by the black mist. His hands, too, were faintly wrapped in the dark haze.
The output of his divine power began to continuously drop.
Beneath the feet of the Beast of Sodom, the bloody tide began to surge once more.
Not only that, but the great flood outside the city of Rome began to pour in with madness.
"This is the great apocalypse disaster!!!"
Da Vinci anxiously watched the data flashing across the screen.
"This is the final wave—End Wave—meant to reset the world!!!"
"Ethan, Mash!!!"
The voice of Doctor Romani echoed from the wrist communicator.
"If Rome disappears in this flood, then this Singularity will fail in its restoration. You must find a way to stop the enemy from continuing to trigger this catastrophe."
In response to Doctor Romani's warning—
Ethan understood clearly in his heart.
This battle must be ended before the flood drowns the city of Rome, or the future of the Human Order will no longer exist!
"How heartbreaking… my child."
Romulus shook his head solemnly.
"Born from Rome, yet you became the sin of mankind. But Rome cannot be destroyed. Rome will not be destroyed!!!"
With those words, Romulus spread his arms wide, and a colossal spear of light descended from the heavens—piercing through the body of the Beast of Sodom!!!
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH————————!!!"
The Beast of Sodom let out a scream of pain, her body trembling, and the surging floodwaters into Rome grew even more violent!
"Forgive me, Heroic Spirits of mankind who have fought until this very moment, and you—the final Master of humanity—my children."
Romulus's body once again radiated golden brilliance.
"If Rome in this moment collapses, then the future of mankind will surely vanish. In that case—let me shoulder this End Wave of the apocalypse!!!"
With those words, Romulus's entire body erupted with a tremendous surge of Magical Energy.
"I am the son of War God Mars, who used the strength of mankind to become the god Quirinus!!! I am the miracle—I am ROME!!!"
The Magical Energy surged endlessly, counteracting the might of the great flood, striving to recreate this ancient Rome upon the world once more.
"We've detected gravitational readings above the sea near Rome returning to normal—the tides are receding!!!"
"The Rome Singularity has once again become verifiable—the End Wave has disappeared."
"..."
Doctor Romani's clenched hand finally relaxed.
The Rome Singularity had been temporarily protected.
—But what was the cost?
"Ha ha… even if my Authority has been blocked… you've completely exhausted all your Magical Energy… you can't hold out any longer… Once I recover my strength… I'll slaughter every last one of you!!!"
The Beast of Sodom struggled to lift her head against the binding of the Light Spear, mocking Romulus.
Romulus's body gradually began to fade into particles of light. His gaze turned downward to Arthur.
"Holy Sword Wielder from another world, may I entrust to you the duty of slaying this beast?"
"..."
Perhaps sensing the uncertainty in Arthur's heart, Romulus spoke with firm conviction:
"Just as all of mankind must overcome the desires within their hearts, surely you too have something you must overcome, don't you? The Holy Sword of the Star in your hands is a blade forged on this planet to fulfill humanity's wish—there is no reason it cannot defeat humanity's enemy!"
"————————!"
Watching Romulus's body vanish, Arthur once again found hope.
"Fools, utterly ridiculous and unbelievable in your stupidity!!!"
With Romulus gone, the Light Spear restraining the Beast of Sodom vanished as well.
"But now, hehe, I can finally savor the light of the Human Order's annihilation. Before that moment comes—let your despair serve as my final feast."
The Beast of Sodom let out a laugh dripping with lust.
"Senpai!!!"
Mash summoned the last of her strength, raising her shield to guard Ethan.
Jeanne Alter, Mordred, and Iskandar also stepped to the front lines, prepared to fight at any moment.
But all of them had completely depleted their Magical Energy. And under the Authority of the Beast of Sodom, not only could they receive no Blessings—they were continuously being drained of power.
Facing the provocation of the Beast of Sodom, Arthur stood boldly in front of her.
"Holy Sword wielder, at this point, what can you even do? That ridiculous Holy Sword of yours is useless against me."
"No. Within this sword lies the immense hope of humanity. I must defeat you."
Arthur raised his sword to confront the Beast of Sodom.
"This is my mission—and the mission of this sword!!!"
"Oh? If that's the case, then come at me! Let me devour those hopes and turn them into despair before your very eyes!!!"
The Beast of Sodom swung her arm forward—black defilement spewed from the Holy Grail, surging toward Arthur!
A white figure appeared at Arthur's side, casually drawing a Holy Sword from within a staff.
"Hey."
A golden Sword Beam burst from the blade's tip—cutting straight through the black corruption!
"Merlin!!!"
Arthur cried out in shock.
"It's the final hour, after all. Let me step onto the stage myself to help my disciple one last time."
Merlin tilted her head and gave a charming smile.
"Thank you, Merlin!"
Arthur then looked forward with unwavering resolve, raising Excalibur high.
"Seal Thirteen, Decision Start!!!"
Twelve golden pillars of light appeared beside him—but this time, they were different—within each pillar stood the figure of a Heroic Spirit.
Merlin stood within one pillar, chanting loudly:
"Knights of the Round Table, the once and future king summons you! The Holy Sword of the Star yearns to break its seals! Now—the resolution begins!!!"
"The enemy must be more powerful than oneself!"
Merlin declared.
In the golden pillar, a silver-haired knight with a silver arm appeared.
"Approved, Bedivere."
A seal on Excalibur unlocked, and the golden light shone even brighter.
"The enemy must not be an elemental!"
A man in violet armor nodded inside the pillar.
"Approved, Lancelot."
"The battle must be one against evil."
Within another pillar appeared a knight identical to Mordred—but male.
"Approved, Mordred."
"The battle must not involve personal gain."
A white-haired knight stepped forward within the light.
"Approved, Galahad."
"The battle must be to live."
A knight clad in heavy armor gave a nod.
"Approved, Kay."
At last, Arthur gripped the Star Holy Sword, stepping forward.
Merlin, beside him, declared the final decree.
"This is a battle to save the world."
"Approved, Arthur."
Six seals had been released. The Holy Sword burst forth with an unmatched radiance of golden light.
That brilliance tore through the sky, its dazzling glow spreading the power of hope.
This was the very limit of what Arthur could unleash in that moment.
"Come then, Holy Sword wielder!"
The Beast of Sodom roared and charged forward.
"Let me devour your hopes in their entirety!!!"
Arthur hesitated no more—he swung his sword once more!
"EX——CALIBUR!!!"
A torrent of blazing golden light surged forward, heading straight for the incarnation of Human Evil known as "Depravity"!
——BOOM——————————!!
The golden beam struck head-on against the jet-black filth spewing from the Holy Grail atop the Beast of Sodom—but it still hadn't completely broken through.
"Ahahahaha! Look at that! How tiny your hopes are compared to desire!"
The Beast of Sodom cackled.
"Humanity is nothing but a pack of creatures chasing their desires—parasites clinging to this planet. No matter how much time passes, that nature doesn't change—I shall be the one to witness the collapse of the Human Order!!!"
"No. This sword is the crystallization of humanity's hope. Desire may be the force that drives progress—but mankind is a species capable of overcoming its own desires!"
Arthur took a single step forward.
"And just like this Excalibur in my hand—it shall defeat you!!!"
"Hmph! Bold words—but how exactly do you plan to defeat me? Ahahahaha!!"
The output from Excalibur began to dwindle. Under the Authority of the Beast of Sodom, Arthur's Magical Energy was being steadily eroded.
The golden lights were gradually being pushed back by the oncoming flood of darkness.
"Obviously—like this!!!"
Suddenly, a thunderous voice rang out.
Ethan raised the arm bearing his Command Spells.
"By Command Spell, I order you—Arthur Pendragon, annihilate Beast VI!!!"
One stroke of the red Command Spell vanished.
Immediately, the Holy Sword in Arthur's hand flared even brighter.
"Again—by Command Spell, Arthur Pendragon—destroy the Beast of Sodom!!!"
Another stroke disappeared.
The golden particles of light began to push back against the overwhelming black flood.
"Final Master of Humanity!!!"
The Beast of Sodom screamed at Ethan.
"Let's see just how far you can go!!!"
"For the final time—one more order, by Command Spell."
Ethan aimed his arm toward Arthur and spoke the final command.
"Arthur Pendragon—eradicate the Beast!!"
The moment the final stroke of the Command Spell faded from Ethan's hand, the light from Excalibur became so intense it couldn't be looked at directly.
"Understood, Master!!!"
Arthur charged forward!
"—HAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The golden blade pierced straight through the Beast of Sodom, and the Holy Grail above her shattered to pieces.
Seeing the Holy Sword impaled through her body, the Beast of Sodom didn't show anger—she laughed uproariously.
"Now that is humanity… flesh that does not understand the decay of love!"
"So it was, after all… descending into this vessel… was my fatal mistake…"
With those last words, her body slowly faded into the air.
The blood moon began to dissipate. The black-and-red sky shifted back to a brilliant blue, and everything around began to return to normal.
Staring at the spot where Beast VI had vanished completely, Ethan exhaled a long breath.
As expected, all fear is born from lack of firepower.
Three Command Spells—crushing heaven and earth—never once betrayed me.
"Beast VI/S, Saint Graph reaction… has disappeared!!!"
"Singularity Rome—confirmed stable! Restoration complete!!!"
The Chaldea technicians stared at the monitor in disbelief—then erupted into a chorus of cheers.
"Unbelievable… That Master really accomplished all this…"
Da Vinci breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at Doctor Romani.
"…You did well, Ethan."
Romani slumped back into his chair and spoke softly.
Then he stood up and issued his orders:
"Ethan, Mash—congratulations, the Rome Singularity has been repaired! Begin the recovery of the Holy Grail, just as we did in the France Singularity. After it's retrieved, we'll proceed immediately with Rayshift."
"Understood."
Just as Ethan and Mash prepared to collect the spoils of battle—they suddenly noticed—
—not far away, on the devastated earth, there was a blonde girl lying there?!