Just how powerful could Aoko possibly be at her peak?
Even Naoki didn't know. Partly because there was no need to find out, and partly because it would simply be too uncomfortable to witness. It should be noted that Aoko had earned the nickname "Human Rocket Launcher" when she was still in her twenties. Now nearly fifty years old, of course she hadn't stagnated—she had undoubtedly grown even stronger.
If she were to unleash her full power even once, people from the Clock Tower would come hunting for her before the day ended, triggering a cascade of complications.
But within this Singularity, things were different. In this era of the past, Aoko didn't need to worry about anything. Even a magical cannon fired at maximum power could now be used without restraint.
Therefore—
*BOOOOOM!*
Witnessing the Mana reaction as the magical cannon pierced through the evil dragon and sky like it might blast straight into outer space, Naoki, sitting in the control room, let out a wry smile.
"She really hasn't changed at all—actually, she's even more absurd than before, Aoko."
"If I fought her seriously right now, I probably wouldn't win easily."
("Only 'wouldn't win easily'?")
Hearing Naoki's words, the other staff members in the control room exchanged slightly helpless expressions. They'd become somewhat numb to such remarks from their Head of Operations, especially after witnessing the incredible feats he demonstrated following the start of the Human Order Burn.
Yet, as the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Aoko, who could stand beside an extraordinary being like Naoki, truly possessed skill on par with his own.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Jeanne Alter couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Fafnir, the legendary evil dragon—whom even Siegfried had needed immense luck and favorable circumstances to defeat—had just been completely obliterated by that Magician in a single attack?!
This was the pinnacle of Phantasmal Species! Not some mass-produced crocodile troops like the Wyverns! And given dragons' natural resistance to magecraft, shouldn't a simple magical cannon—a basic form of Magecraft—be incapable of even scratching its scales?
It shouldn't have left so much as a mark!
Yet, sensing Fafnir's complete annihilation within that beam, Jeanne Alter had no choice but to accept reality. The Magician named Aoko had truly erased Fafnir in one strike.
"Huuu…"
Exhaling deeply, Aoko turned toward Ritsuka and the others—who were staring in stunned silence—and flashed a large V-sign with her hand: "Alright! Mission accomplished!"
"B-b-b-b-b-b…!"
Ritsuka stammered, mouth hanging open for a long time, unable to utter the words "incredible." Though she'd seen grand spectacles before—even witnessed the battle between Naoki and King Solomon in Fuyuki City prior to leaving—this moment left a far greater impact on her than any before!
She had torn through the sky with a single blow! The visual spectacle was utterly mind-blowing!
"Is this… what a Magician can do? This is unbelievable! Aoko-san!"
Mash also shouted in excitement, her face radiant with enthusiasm.
Magi cannot defeat Servants. When facing Servants—or even Phantasmal Species whose mysteries far surpass those of modern Magi—modern Magi are always powerless. That was the unwritten rule Roman and Marie had always taught her.
But now, Aoko had shattered that rule into pieces. Or perhaps that beam of light was actually Magic itself? Was the Fifth Magic essentially extreme destruction?
Mash couldn't even ask—her overwhelming shock caused her to completely forget to speak.
Meanwhile, Hinako, arms crossed and leaning nearby, frowned. As a fairy who had lived from ancient times into the modern age, she was no stranger to Magic. After all, in the distant past, there weren't only five Magics. Immortals could achieve effects similar to Magic through various Xian Arts.
Yet even compared to other forms of Magic, the power Aoko displayed still astonished her.
This Magician born in the modern age was far stronger than she had imagined.
As for Jeanne… this village girl from rural France was likely the most shocked among them all. Unlike the others, who had already seen great wonders, she had only recently become a Servant. Her perception of time remained frozen at the moment of her execution. So in terms of experience, she had only ever seen battles where two armies attacked each other with cannons. The phenomenon Aoko had created was something she had never witnessed before.
First encounters are always the most shocking.
"It's not that impressive." Aoko said, walking over to Ritsuka's wrist to speak with Naoki. "I heard from Lia that you once went into space and destroyed a meteor, right? Compared to that, what I just did was nothing."
"Eh?! The Department Chief can destroy meteors?!"
[It wasn't a real meteor. You could've destroyed it too if you'd gone there—but anyway, we can still detect Mana reactions from Jeanne Alter and the others. It's not over yet. But since Fafnir is dealt with, the rest is just cleanup work.]
[The primary cause of this Singularity is the Holy Grail. Based on the current situation, there's no doubt the Grail is in Jeanne Alter's possession. Retrieve it cleanly, then return.]
"You make it sound so easy."
Aoko stood up and looked toward Jeanne Alter and the two others: "It's over, Sorceress Jeanne, Gilles de Rais, and Atalanta. How about handing over the Holy Grail peacefully? If you do, I'll let you leave with minimal damage."
"How arrogant! Do you think you've already won?"
Jeanne Alter's expression twisted in fury. At the same moment, golden light suddenly flared in her hand. A golden Holy Grail instantly materialized in her grasp.
"Over? Don't joke around. It's far from over… No, you're the ones who will end here. Do you really think defeating Fafnir means victory? Such shallow thinking. As long as I hold this Holy Grail, Fafnir can be summoned again and again—"
*PU-CHI!*
Jeanne Alter's words were abruptly cut off by a piercing sound—behind her, both Atalanta and Gilles de Rais had been impaled through the heart by three massive tentacles that had appeared out of nowhere!
"W-what… is… this…"
"The Magician is correct. It really is over, false creatures."
As everyone stood in shock, a voice strikingly familiar to those of Chaldea suddenly echoed across the battlefield.
Dressed in his usual green jacket, he quietly stepped into the center of the warzone. Glancing at the five allies standing with Aoko, Professor Lev offered a faint smile: "For you, it's been quite some time, hasn't it?"
"I'm deeply disappointed to see you're still alive, Mash, Akuta, Fujimaru."
"Professor… Lev…"