Chapter 178: No Time Left, Get on the Boat Now!
From above, the black mass like a thundercloud was falling at an increasingly rapid speed, with countless twisted black tentacles pouring out without restraint.
Standing at the bow of the ship, Noah kept his determined gaze fixed on the massive evil creature in the sky.
Even if he wanted to ram the ship into it, that was far from simple—it would first have to break through the layers upon layers of tentacles blocking the path.
Now, the tentacles on that black mass resembled a dense wall, halting the advance of Noah's Ark.
Having lost Zohar's protection, the ship was continuously pierced by streams of thick, black liquid, and it was clear that the hull was gradually reaching its limit.
"Hey, looks like your ragged old ship is about to go under."
Draco stood with arms crossed, not sparing her words.
"That's because this ship wasn't built for battle. Its mission is only to preserve the hope of humanity."
Noah turned back, smiling at Draco.
"That said, if you're planning to help too—could you maybe try a little harder?"
"You're a Grand Rider, aren't you? Shouldn't this be something you can handle yourself?"
Draco looked up at the writhing tentacles in the sky, replying with disdain.
"Besides, I need to reserve my Authority to deal with that creature from the Outer Realm. Until then, I should conserve my energy."
Noah still kept the smile on his face.
"Hmph, if that's the case, then that so-called 'Grand' doesn't seem all that impressive."
Though her words were harsh, a glow quietly appeared on Draco's left hand—Holy Grail.
Moments later, black smoke surged forth from the Holy Grail, coiling around Draco and gradually forming the illusory figure of a Familliar Phantasmal Beast behind her.
"Roar, my servant!!!"
"ROOOOAAAARRRR——————————!!!"
The Familliar Beast, granted a temporary form, roared and then opened its mouth, unleashing a blazing red beam of deathlight!!!
As soon as the twisted black tentacles were struck by the light, they were instantly reduced to ashes!
Seizing the moment, Noah immediately steered Noah's Ark through the newly cleared path, charging straight toward the main body of the black mass!
Before the Familliar Beast could gather more energy, tentacles from all directions shot forth and constricted it—then tore it apart in an instant!
"You dare lay a hand on my servant!!?"
Draco shouted in fury.
At that moment, the Holy Grail in her hand emitted a seven-colored light, piercing through all the tentacles still reaching out!
"Don't fall down there!"
Noah quickly maneuvered Noah's Ark to break through the tentacle blockade.
Both sides of the hull were gripped tightly by the tentacles, as parts of the ship were continuously ripped off!
"CHAK CHAK CHAK————————!!!"
The hull shook violently, the sound of tearing echoing across the sky.
Even so, Noah never stopped directing Noah's Ark forward!
"BOOOOM————————!!!"
A thunderous crash rang out as the ship rammed deep into the pitch-black mass!
As the tattered remains of Noah's Ark pierced into the interior, its final light faded away.
All around was thick darkness. In the silence, only the horrifying sound of squirming tentacles could be heard—it felt like tens of thousands of eyes were watching the intruding ship.
Thanks to the light radiating from the Holy Grail in Draco's hand, Noah could see countless tentacles filling the space, and at the center—a massive eye spinning in madness.
Just the sight of that eye alone caused insane whispers to echo within the mind. If not for being a Heroic Spirit, one would likely have gone mad before even engaging in battle.
Yet, this hellish sight didn't cause Noah to falter in the slightest.
"This... this is the thing twisting the fate of this era, isn't it?"
Draco began gathering all her mana, preparing to strike directly at the enormous eye.
"Wait, Beast of Sodom."
Noah raised his hand to stop her.
"This part... leave it to me."
Then, before the tentacles could encircle the ship, Noah's body began to shine with a brilliant light from within!
"The storm is over. Ark, illuminate the land. I am Zohar, progenitor of the world to come!"
Behind Noah, a golden gate slowly opened.
"Joy shall turn to hope. Noah's Ark!!!"
Along with the release of the Noble Phantasm, a golden deluge burst forth violently from behind the gate!
That flood submerged all the surrounding tentacles, and the chaotic, piercing noises in their minds gradually weakened.
"To survive the storm, to protect countless lives—I possess the skill to evade tempests and raging waves. And the deluge sent down by the Lord shall cleanse all sins, until peace is restored to the land."
The golden flood lifted the battered Ark into view, as seen by Noah and Draco.
Up ahead, a black "island" emerged from the flood—a place untouched by the rushing waters.
Looking closely, that "island" wasn't a real island at all.
It was a grotesque mass formed from a chaotic clump of countless tentacles and eyeballs?!
To counter Noah's Noble Phantasm, the enemy had chosen to preserve its core body.
At that moment, from the center of the "island," a mass of pitch-black matter began to gather and slowly took shape—forming a body with limbs, even slowly rising upright.
It looked toward Noah and Draco standing atop the Ark, with an empty hole where a head should be.
"Disgusting as hell."
Draco frowned, disturbed by its malicious gaze.
"Hey, what the hell is that thing?"
"Normally, powerful Outer Gods can't easily descend into this world. To do so, they need a 'vessel'—a container to reduce the world's resistance."
Noah pointed his sword directly at the black humanoid creature that was still growing larger.
"Just like that Foreigner who specialized in summoning demons tried to use us as vessels for her summoning ritual—this thing is her backup vessel. Probably created from the cursed mud accumulated in the Holy Grail... the so-called 'Mud of Calamity.'"
As soon as he finished speaking, Noah slashed forward with the Holy Sword of Methuselah!
A sharp slash instantly tore through the black mud!!!
The creature's massive arm fell off, but without the slightest sign of pain, the mud quickly reformed—a new arm growing in its place.
"I've used Authority to sever its connection to the Outer World. As long as we destroy this thing here, we can prevent that Outer God from descending!"
Noah did his best to maintain the current balance.
"Be careful. If it swallows you... who knows what kind of calamity might unfold."
"Fufu… is there really any worse situation than this?"
Draco once again summoned the Holy Grail.
"But yeah, I absolutely don't want to become part of that disgusting thing. And I'm definitely not letting it get served on my table—just imagining it is nauseating enough."
The moment she finished speaking, Draco swung her arm—and a crimson beam instantly shot forward!
"BOOOOOOOM————————!!!"
The beam struck the black mud giant, triggering a massive explosion that tore through its body!
Black mud splattered in all directions, falling into the golden flood below. But only moments later, the fragments began wriggling again, inching back toward the core.
This only fueled Draco's rage further, as mana erupted violently from her entire body.
"My servants—bring down calamity upon our enemy!!!"
"GRAAAAAH————————!!!"
Behind her, the apparitions of her Familliar Beasts appeared one by one, then simultaneously unleashed scorching beams toward the black mud giant!
"BOOM, BOOM, BOOM————————!!!"
Multiple beams pierced through the monstrous body of the giant, but upon seeing that it still refused to fall, Draco immediately began chanting to unleash her Noble Phantasm.
"The curtain raises, tremble, sinners. You who build fortune on the land, and won't reach heaven… I will answer to your wishes!!"
Around her, a radiant golden Roman colosseum manifested, enveloping the black mud giant—
"Flames run rampant, laughter resounds. O' seven dragons, become my fingers!! Embrace it, melt it, and swallow it all!"
"Babalon Domus Aurea!!!"
In the sky above the arena, seven dragon heads appeared. At Draco's command, they roared and lunged down toward the black mud giant, jaws wide open!
"BAAAANG————————!!!"
With an earth-shattering explosion, the body of the mud giant was blown apart!!!
"Hmph… so that's all there was to it."
Watching the giant's body dissolve into black sludge, Draco smirked in triumph.
—But that smile didn't last long.
After taking a direct hit from Draco's Noble Phantasm, the shattered black mud once again surged forth, rapidly rushing toward the spot where Noah and Draco stood upon the Ark!!!
"Careful! Don't let it swallow you!!!"
Noah immediately reached out and pulled Draco toward him, then swung the Sword of Methuselah in front of them!
"SWOOOSH——————————!!!"
A spatial rift tore open before them, visibly slowing the advance of the black mud.
"O Lord, please grant me radiant light!!!"
Moments later, brilliant rays of light rained down in front of Noah—but they weren't enough to stop the tide of surging black mud!!!
"Damn it! Even my Authority is weakening under the gaze of the Outer God?!"
Noah struggled to maintain the Reality Marble from collapsing while desperately trying to contain the black mud's spread within a limited range.
Just as Draco was about to summon all her Familliar Beasts for a counterattack—
—She suddenly felt something wrap around her ankle.
"———?!"
Before she could react, a tremendous force yanked her downward, pulling her into the mud as it engulfed her entire body!!!
"Beast of Sodom!!!"
Noah's urgent shout echoed in her ears, but Draco was already swallowed deep into the black muck, unable to respond.
In her haze, a lullaby-like whisper drifted through her ears:
"Crimson, burn me into ashes.""I too, am sinking into that red hue.""Pain, emptiness, like longing, like being torn apart—reach your hand toward the sky.""Ahh... the filthy cauldron shrouds the heavens..."
Hearing the lullaby-like chant, Draco murmured:
"So this is my end—'Beast'... No matter what form I take… in the end… I still die alone..."
Just as Draco, dazed, reached out for something—Suddenly, a hand grasped hers tightly?!
"Hold on to me!!!"
A wave of warmth surged from the hand holding her.
Moments later, a powerful force pulled Draco straight out of the roaring black tide?!
"Cough, cough…"
Draco was dragged up, collapsed on the floor of a boat, gasping for air.
Soon after, she looked around and realized she was on a small boat, staring into the worried eyes of Ethan and Mash.
"You guys———!!!"
Draco's face filled with disbelief.
On the boat, along with Ethan and Mash, were Jeanne Alter, Johanna, Mordred, and even Heracles.
"Why are you all here?!"
"Obviously, we came to take down the final boss."
Ethan replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Glad we made it in time."
"But how… how did you even find this place?"
Draco asked, still shaken.
"This boat's connected to Noah's Ark, so I had Mordred—who's got the Riding skill—track its location easily."
Mordred, holding the oar, grinned smugly.
"Rowing a boat's way easier than riding a horse, so it wasn't hard for us to track you down!"
"Idiots! That thing isn't someone you people can handle! If you all die so easily, then what the hell was the point of my efforts?!"
Draco didn't thank Ethan—instead, she lashed out in anger.
"Then don't die. Simple as that."
Ethan replied casually.
"—————?!"
"Besides, if you all fail, the world collapses, and humanity's future ends right here. Better I come in with you and think of a way to fix things, rather than wait outside."
"Senpai, I've detected traces of Noah-san!"
Mash called out, pointing toward the water not far away.
"I'm counting on you, Mordred!!!"
Ethan immediately called out.
"Leave it to me! Let's see if my boating skills are any worse than my father's!!!"
Mordred swung the oar, and the small boat sped off toward Noah in the distance.
At that moment, Noah was still struggling to hold off the mud with the Methuselah Sword, but his situation was clearly worsening.
"Shine brilliantly!!!"
Waves of silver crescents flew forth, tearing through the black mud around Noah.
"Noah!!!"
Suddenly, the boat emerged right in front of him.
"Master?! Why are you all—"
"No time to explain, get on the boat now!!!"
At Ethan's shout, Noah nodded and leapt off the sinking deck of Noah's Ark.
Now that it had failed to secure a 'vessel', the black mud on the water quickly reassembled into that same massive mud giant.
"Detected Holy Grail energy within the current target. Defeating it will bring an end to this warped era!"
Support intel from Doctor Romani in Chaldea came through the communicator.
"Everyone—commence the final assault on that thing!!!"
From the boat, Ethan raised his arm and pointed directly at the black mud giant.