The end-device of the British Isles, the Naraku Worm named Vortigern.
Three thousand six hundred years ago, due to Morgan's Rayshift, it witnessed events related to the Seventh Singularity.
It sensed a threat, felt fear, felt the pressure of death from the Holy Star Sword Bearer. And afterward, because of that entity's arrival, it learned its fate in Pan-Human History.
It would be defeated. It would fail to destroy the British Isles. It would be vanquished by the Holy Star Sword Bearer who opens the future.
Thus, the Naraku Worm felt fear.
So it decided to fight back—to confront the inevitable threat.
Fortunately, the Holy Star Sword Bearer's arrival was still far off. It had plenty of time to prepare countermeasures.
Those preparations took three thousand six hundred years. After expending so much time—so very long—it finally awaited the Holy Star Sword Bearer's arrival. And now, the Naraku Worm acts.
In the information known to Naoki, the Naraku Worm has launched three invasions of the British Isles.
The Oberon of 2015 in the future Queen's Calendar was the third. That one caused the total destruction of Britain.
The Mors King of 1000 in the future Queen's Calendar was the second. That one caused the death of the Fang Clan head, Wryneck.
And the current one could perhaps be considered the first.
Its manifestation: twenty thousand mass-produced fairy-killer dolls, specially tuned, modeled after the Eleven Children of Tiamat from Pan-Human History—specialized to counter Aesc with Extreme Magic Resistance and Naoki with Holy Sword Resistance.
They can fully withstand and decompose Aesc's Magecraft. In theory, they can fully withstand attacks from the Holy Sword. The twenty thousand girl-shaped dolls gathered here now are such mass-produced humanoid weapons.
Standing amid the vast crowd of human(oid)s, Naoki swept his gaze several times before suddenly saying: "Not even twenty thousand."
"Hmm?"
"I mean your numbers here—there aren't actually twenty thousand." Naoki said. "Don't underestimate my senses. Only five thousand are surrounding us. The remaining fifteen thousand aren't here."
"—Don't tell me you think five thousand alone can defeat us? If so, we're truly being underestimated."
The girl smiled slightly: "No, no, impossible. I've been anxious, terrified, and dreading you for three thousand six hundred years. I've thought endlessly about how to face you. Of course we wouldn't dare underestimate you."
"It's just—the other fifteen thousand have a different mission."
A different mission?
Naoki frowned: "What mission?"
"Mass extinction of the fairies." The girl laughed. "Though we were created to oppose the Holy Star Sword Bearer and the savior, we were also given the mission to slaughter fairies. After all, this island is an island of sin. I've always craved its destruction."
"Thus, when we were made, this desire was built in. The fifteen thousand of us not here have already begun marching across the entire British Isles, carrying out mass extinction against all fairies."
"Not just the living fairies—but the fairy corpses that form this island itself."
"Exterminate the fairies. Destroy the island. Oppose the Holy Star Sword Bearer and the savior."
"Those are the only orders I gave."
This is the power the Naraku Worm has amassed over three thousand six hundred years—power enough to drag all of Britain into the fires of war.
Aesc's face turned completely pale.
Humanoid weapons that can destroy a small fairy settlement in an instant—one unit alone—now fifteen thousand units marching across Britain?
Even the Fang Clan—
"By the way, three clan heads are already dead."
The girl continued.
"Wind, Earth, Wing—Though we originally wanted to kill the Fang Clan head too, unfortunately he escaped. In the end we only managed to devour one of his arms. Such a shame."
(Even Wryneck—)
Aesc's heart shook violently once more.
If everything the girl said was true, then right now all of Britain was facing the most terrifying calamity since its birth!
A once-in-a-century disaster? A once-in-a-millennium catastrophe?
None of that even compared to what was happening now!
"Melusine, take Aesc and go ahead."
Suddenly, Naoki's voice rang out like that.
Aesc looked at Naoki's back in front of her: "Naoki, you—"
"Try to fight back first, Aesc. Fairies and humans alike—in this great crisis, I think they'll be willing to listen to you. Gather all remaining forces. Try to resist."
Naoki said to her while facing away.
"The five thousand units here—leave them to me. Once I'm done here, I'll catch up immediately."
"…"
Aesc fell silent.
She felt she shouldn't leave now. After all, leaving Naoki alone here was too dangerous. Even he would struggle against so many enemies. The three of them together, cooperating, was the best solution right now.
Yet he told her to go.
Aesc knew—Naoki was helping her make the choice. He respected her wish and pushed her toward the side of saving the fairies.
"Thank you, Naoki. See you later. Come back quickly."
Naoki didn't answer. He simply stomped the ground, unleashing a powerful storm that sent Melusine and Aesc soaring into the sky.
As Melusine and Aesc departed, a large number of the five thousand girl-soldier units immediately flew upward to intercept. But just as they rose—
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
A several-kilometer-long iceberg suddenly erupted from the ground! Like a barrier, it instantly cut off the girl dolls' pursuit! And right after, three more icebergs emerged from the other three directions! Together with the first, they formed a massive square ice prison! Trapping all the girl dolls inside!
Finally, in the sky above—
"First, allow me to thank you—humanoid weapons created by the Naraku Worm, carrying out mass extinction against all fairies… I must say, you're doing an excellent job. For this purpose alone, I truly want to praise you from the bottom of my heart."
"So, my reason for fighting to the death here isn't to avenge the fairies you killed—but for myself, and for Aesc."
"You want to kill me and Aesc. So in self-defense, I will kill all of you here—that's all there is to it."
Light shone behind Naoki. Imaginary Manifestation activated—countless swords of light condensed into form. With a snap of Naoki's fingers, the skyful of light swords instantly became a meteor shower raining down!
Since they were weapons specialized against the Holy Sword, there was no need to use it. Imaginary Manifestation was enough.
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
Under the bombardment of the light meteor shower, deafening roars echoed inside the square ice prison!