Several minutes later.
Near the now sufficiently destroyed ice mountain, which was previously built from Naoki and Arcueid's Imaginary Manifestation.
After treating Ritsuka's arm with Healing Magecraft, Rei smiled: "There, it's all better now."
"Thank you, Rei-senpai."
Ritsuka moved her arm. Though she was only slightly grazed by the lightning, it honestly hurt a lot, so she felt extremely fortunate to be healed now.
Seeing the other three who were also more or less injured, Rei sighed softly: "So, all of you were thrown here at once."
Yes, the reason Ritsuka and the others appeared here was due to the storm and thunderstorm caused by Arcueid's roar earlier.
Ishtar stomped her foot irritably: "Seriously, what was that True Ancestor's deal? We came to help her, but she attacked without a word, and even triggered that excessive thunderstorm—is she blind?"
"More or less." Rei nodded. "Because Arcueid is currently in a pretty extreme condition."
"Extreme condition?"
[Do you mean the Vampiric Impulse?]
The one answering Ritsuka's question was Roman.
Ritsuka raised her wrist: "Do you know something about Arcueid-san, Dr. Roman?"
[Rather than knowing, her story has become common knowledge in the mystic world]
Roman explained.
[Arcueid Brunestud, the Princess of True Ancestors born eight hundred years ago. Just like Natsukawa, she is a planetary sensor, a type of fairy. However, unlike Natsukawa who is a perfect form, she is a being with a flaw.]
[Namely, the Vampiric Impulse]
The bloodsucking impulse, an inherent flaw in the True Ancestor species. All True Ancestors have a desire to suck human blood, and this generates a physical urge based on that desire.
[True Ancestors themselves are existences close to fairies. They can alter the world's form just by thinking, a race where all members can use Imaginary Manifestation. However, to suppress the impulse caused by their flaw, they use nearly all their thoughts and power to hold back the Vampiric Impulse.]
[Even the Princess of True Ancestors is no exception]
(Using her full power to suppress her own flaw...)
Ritsuka frowned: "So, that means Arcueid-san right now is..."
"She voluntarily released her Vampiric Impulse."
Rei revealed the truth.
"Arcueid normally uses seventy percent of her power to suppress the Vampiric Impulse. With her strength, even with thirty percent, the number of people worldwide who could match her wouldn't exceed ten. So, she never considered voluntarily releasing her power before."
"However, clearly Tiamat isn't an enemy she can face with thirty percent of her power. So, to respond to Master's request and to protect Master from Lahmu and Tiamat, she chose to release her power fully."
With one hundred percent full power, plus support from the planet, only then did Arcueid succeed in suppressing Tiamat.
"However, in exchange, her Vampiric Impulse can no longer be suppressed. And to avoid becoming a monster that only knows how to suck human blood, Arcueid set an absolute Resolve for herself."
"Resolve..."
Recalling the earlier situation, Ritsuka asked: "You mean... Protecting the Department Head and Defeating the Beast?"
Rei nodded: "Probably something like that. I don't know the details myself, but judging from the situation, that's the only possibility. That's why she attacked you all earlier."
Arcueid mistook Ritsuka and the others who came to rescue as enemies who would harm Naoki.
After all, she was currently unconscious, with only two simple thoughts in her mind. Perhaps besides Naoki and Tiamat, she could no longer distinguish anyone else.
"Then, how can we save Big Brother?" Mash asked confusedly. "Do we have to... defeat Arcueid-san?"
"No, that's impossible."
Rei shook her head: "Arcueid is an existence that absolutely cannot be defeated. Even the South American Chief Goddess over there can't do it. Because for a fairy's enemy, the planet will automatically grant the fairy sufficient power for a suppression battle."
"In simple terms, anyone facing Arcueid will only be suppressed and beaten senseless by her. Plus, Arcueid has immortality. Even if she dies, she can resurrect in a way similar to time reversal. So, she absolutely cannot be defeated."
Absolute suppression power, and time-reversal immortality.
The information revealed by Rei made everyone shudder. Quetzalcoatl, used as an example, slightly puffed her cheeks, then immediately deflated them.
"Then, what should we do?" Ishtar asked in a helpless tone. "If she's there blocking and attacking indiscriminately, we can't bring Naoki back at all, right? By the way, she's also one of the people we need to bring back. Is it okay to bring her back in that condition?"
She was worried the entire Uruk would be destroyed by Arcueid.
After pondering for a moment, Rei stood up: "Then, let's do it this way—I, Kingu, Ishtar, and Quetzalcoatl will distract Arcueid. Fujimaru and Mash, use the opportunity to bring Master back."
"Distract? Is that possible?" Quetzalcoatl was somewhat unsure. "As you said, that girl can't be defeated. Plus, she's acting based on the resolve to protect that child. Can we distract her?"
"That's not a problem either." Rei smiled. "Though she can perform suppression battles on anyone, adjustment also takes time."
Adjustment?
Ishtar and Quetzalcoatl instantly understood Rei's intent and smiled meaningfully.
Rei looked up at Kingu in the sky: "You heard that too, right, Kingu?"
"Yes, we must bring Master back." Kingu lowered his altitude slightly. "Indeed, the time gained now is sufficient. If it drags on longer, Master won't be able to hold out—but I think there's no need for everyone to distract that True Ancestor. I alone should be enough."
"Fujimaru and Mash stick to the original plan, go and bring Master back. As for Arcueid, leave distracting her to me. The rest of you, please stay here and deal with the Lahmu swarms; their numbers haven't decreased at all."
As Kingu said, though many were wiped out by the shockwaves from Arcueid's earlier attacks, the Lahmu numbers kept increasing, not decreasing. If no one held them back, casualties would surely mount in Uruk with their combat power.
Taking a deep breath, Ritsuka clenched her fist: "Can we leave it to you, Kingu?"
"I think so."
"Then... let's go, bring the Department Head back."