Japan, Mifune City, 2015.
In an era where Human Order Incineration has been confirmed to occur, this is the only era unaffected by it.
This situation isn't because this era has special properties, nor due to any particular event here, but simply because one person exists here.
When Human Order Incineration occurred, that person, with her own power and various Noble Phantasms from the Gate of Babylon, successfully withstood the impact of Human Order Incineration, creating a sacred land in this incinerated world.
Not only that, she then concealed the existence of Mifune City. Aside from Chaldea, no one else knows the current situation of Mifune City. Even Goetia was unaware of such a massive variable in his plan.
That person's name is Ryougi Shiki, from the Ryougi family, a being inherently connected to the Root within her body. She is a figure who should be impossible to meet.
And now, Merry sat before her.
"It's rare."
Root Shiki (Shiki connected to the Root) gazed at the Incubus before her.
"You coming to see me—this is our first meeting, right?"
It's not that Merry and Shiki had never met. In the past twenty years, they might have met more than thirty times? After all, Shiki rarely left Japan, or even Mifune City. Merry also rarely left London.
But with Root Shiki, the two had indeed never met at all. In the past, when Naoki was in a parallel world, Merry once wanted to speak with Root Shiki but received no response whatsoever.
Only now, because Root Shiki must remain awake for an extended period to safeguard Mifune City's security, could the two possibly meet.
Taking the teacup in her hand and sipping from it, Root Shiki smiled: "Your visit this time must be regarding that child, right?"
"Nothing can be hidden from you."
Merry had interacted with three people connected to the Root. Among them, Sajyou Rei and Sajyou Manaka had lost this characteristic ten years ago. Though they gradually recovered afterward, it was impossible for them to truly return to their former near-omnipotent state.
But the Root Shiki before her was different. She had never lost her power, and to this day, she could still do anything, nearly omnipotent.
Even for events from the distant Age of Gods.
[To defeat Tiamat, someone is needed who can bestow the concept of death upon her]—the final problem facing Merry and her companions, Root Shiki might be the only one who could resolve it.
"So, can you do it?" Merry asked. "With your Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, can you bestow the concept of death upon the Mother Creator?"
"Yes, I can."
Root Shiki pointed to her eye: "However, in exchange, one of these eyes might go blind."
Only the Old Man of the Mountain's attack, unleashing his Grand Class, could bestow the concept of death.
Though Root Shiki was near-omnipotent, in a certain sense, she also had limits—she did everything on the condition of paying a price she could accept.
Losing vision in one Mystic Eye of Death Perception—this was the price Root Shiki had to pay.
Of course, that eye could be restored afterward. After all, it would just be blind. For Root Shiki, restoring it wouldn't be difficult.
"So, can I take that as you accepting our request?"
Root Shiki nodded: "Yes. But if I leave here, the city I've been protecting will also turn to ash under the impact of Human Order Incineration—is that okay?"
"No problem." Merry smiled. "After all, if Human Order Incineration is successfully eliminated afterward, the fact that this city burned will vanish, and everything will return to normal. So, a temporary death once now doesn't matter."
If there were any impact, perhaps after the Seventh Singularity issue is resolved, Ritsuka couldn't return home for a vacation, but after this final Singularity ends, the final battle would soon come. Returning after victory would be the same.
Therefore, overall, Root Shiki's temporary departure now wouldn't cause any impact on Mifune City's outcome.
"I understand. Then, after you drop the Mother Creator into the Underworld, I will go to the Underworld to bestow the concept of death upon her."
"Thank you so much for your help, Shiki. After Human Order Incineration ends, Naoki and I will come to express our gratitude—the operation time is in four days. If it's you, you shouldn't need a signal to know when to act, right? Then, I leave it to you."
With that said, Merry's body turned into countless flower petals and vanished.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Seventh Singularity, in Uruk's Ziggurat.
Opening her eyes, Merry looked at the people surrounding her: "It's agreed. Though she can't come directly right now, after we drop Goddess Tiamat into the Underworld, that side will definitely bestow the concept of death upon her."
"Huuu~~~~~"
Hearing such a definitive answer from Merry, Ritsuka and the others immediately felt relieved. The burden in their hearts was finally lifted.
With this, preparations for the War of Extermination against Tiamat were fully complete.
Naoki, Arcueid, Kingu, and Rei holding back Tiamat's movements in the Persian Gulf.
Quetzalcoatl, Ishtar, Ereshkigal—the three Goddesses had accepted Uruk's alliance request.
Marduk's Axe, which could significantly weaken Tiamat's power.
Plus the person Merry had agreed with to bestow the concept of death.
"Unexpectedly, things went very smoothly, Master!"
Seeing the extremely luxurious lineup gathered in the Ziggurat, Mash couldn't hold back her joyful expression. In the battles so far, the largest was the Mythological War in the Fifth Singularity, but now, the gathered forces were far more luxurious than back then.
If it were the people gathered here now, they might truly win the battle against Tiamat!
Standing from his throne, Gilgamesh looked at the people below.
"Good! From now on, everyone disperse! Go and prepare for the War of Extermination against Goddess Tiamat in four days!"
"When Ereshkigal moves the Underworld to the designated location, that is when the first stage of the battle begins!"
"This will be the final battle of the Age of Gods! Whether the Gods will destroy humanity, or humanity will ultimately defeat the Gods, let us conclude it in this battle!"
Final Battle, Countdown, Four Days.