She's coming.
This thought simultaneously arose in everyone's minds.
The appearance of this voice meant that the final enemy everyone had to face would soon appear.
And the next moment—
"Gurgle gurgle!"
The shadow beneath Naoki's feet seemed to lengthen, instantly stretching for dozens of meters. Then, accompanied by a sound like boiling water, the shadow rose. Countless dense black materials crawled out of the shadow, gradually merging to form a female figure.
*WHOOSH!*
A pair of iridescent black wings spread behind the woman. Her long, whitish-gray hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
The woman, whose body was clad in a black dress, raised her pale face. After sweeping her gaze over everyone present, her eyes finally settled on Naoki.
It was a face very similar to Naoki's, but far more feminine, like a gender-swapped Naoki.
"First time meeting, or rather, finally meeting."
The woman slightly lifted her black dress and bowed in salute to Naoki.
"I am Vortigern—not Oberon, just Vortigern."
"A woman?"
Naoki looked at her with a hint of surprise.
The third manifestation of the Cursed Worm... turned out to be a woman?
[Of course]
Merry's voice sounded in everyone's ears.
[There's something we haven't had a chance to tell you. Actually, the Vortigern egg we took in the Sixth Singularity was taken away by Morgan a long time ago, and its whereabouts have been unknown.]
"Eh?"
Merry's words immediately made everyone shift their attention to Vortigern.
And Vortigern smiled and nodded: "It seems you all already know. Indeed, I was brought here by Morgan from Proper Human History six thousand years ago. I am that egg—the egg born after the previous Low King Vortigern, whom you defeated, made a request to the Holy Grail before his death."
Low King Vortigern.
The being summoned by Morgan with the Holy Grail in the Sixth Singularity, and eventually defeated by Naoki, Arthur, and Artoria—though in truth, he died from being forcibly hit by Naoki's Moon Fall.
And that Vortigern, before his death, to fulfill his long-held desire to destroy Britain, made a request to the Holy Grail. He asked to have offspring, and the Holy Grail granted his wish, giving birth to an egg.
Initially, after taking the egg, Naoki stored it in Merlin's Tower of Avalon for safekeeping. But from Merry and Vortigern's words, Morgan seemed to have secretly taken the egg, and brought it to this Lostbelt.
"What a long time."
Vortigern sighed.
"Six thousand years. I spent six thousand years in a dark abyss without light. I spent six thousand years in empty darkness... It really drove me mad, you know?"
"Plus, there was an old man constantly repeating the same sentence in my ear, 'You must destroy Britain, You must destroy Britain'... This went on continuously in my ear for six thousand years! So annoying!"
As if venting the pent-up hatred in her heart, Vortigern, who looked like a sickly beautiful woman, was now cursing and complaining without restraint. Her thin feet stomped hard on the ground, and she laughed wildly after stomping the ground into a small crater, only then looking up.
"This feeling... you all must understand it, right? You Magi from Proper Human History."
Aoko and the others, who were gazed upon by Vortigern, showed dark expressions.
Indeed, they could understand it.
Grand Order—the most noble blood law in the mystical world.
An initial command held by a bloodline that has continued since before Christ. They must sacrifice for that mission until their clan perishes. The pride of absolute obedience, like a curse. Every Magus of their lineage must dedicate everything for this command, completing the mission by all means.
Vortigern's situation was similar to this.
From the moment she was born six thousand years ago, the same sentence kept echoing in her mind—"You must destroy Britain."
This was the will inherited from the previous Low King Vortigern, an obsession he failed to complete. And to achieve this goal, he forced it upon his offspring. For six thousand years Vortigern was suppressed in the deepest part of the great hole, this voice kept echoing!
"So... I will destroy Britain."
Vortigern grinned.
"Although it failed twice before, this time it succeeded. Using Cernunnos to drain the Mana in the throne, removing one of your trump cards, and at the same time removing the eternal old man who suppressed me. And now, due to the return of the Holy Sword, the impossible-to-defeat Fairy King has also disappeared."
"With this, all obstacles that could stop me are gone—I win. I am free. Free from the endless torment of that voice in my head!"
"Oh, yes, and thank you too for killing all the fairies, Holy Sword Bearer. To be honest, I always hated seeing those fairies, and always wanted to kill them all, kill them completely. You striking them all dead beforehand was truly wonderful. This alone I really like. I truly love you, Holy Sword Bearer."
This emotionless confession, coupled with Vortigern's pale, empty smile, sent chills down people's spines.
Naoki gripped the Holy Sword tightly.
"You think I'll let you succeed?"
"Huh? Did you misunderstand? My goal has long been achieved. Next is just a matter of time." Vortigern sneered.
And at that very moment, Merry's voice sounded in everyone's ears.
[Emergency! Gravity changes detected across the entire Island of Britain!]
Everyone: "!"
"Indeed, this has been going on for a long time."
Vortigern spread her arms.
"The collapse has begun. From the moment you defeated Cernunnos, I have already begun my efforts to destroy this island. One hour from now, the engulfment of the entire Island of Britain will be complete. All existence on this island will be swallowed into endless Naraku (Hell)."
"Look at the sky in the distance. Look at the sky to the north, losers. The insects are feasting."
As Vortigern said, in the northern sky, a giant insect had appeared, though no one knew when.
It looked as if it were made of black mist, and it continuously consumed, swallowed, tore at the island, starting from the Boundary Island and moving south, devouring everything—perhaps the most fitting analogy would be a super large vacuum cleaner?
The concept of a Hole, which would swallow the Island of Britain, and then swallow the entire planet with the infinite holes it generated.
Demonic Dragon—Vortigern.