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The fabricated Noble Phantasm, "Time, Stand Still! (Faust)" — Sphinx knows it exists.
As the name "fabricated Noble Phantasm" suggests, this is a fake, conjured up by Mephisto through the "liar" imagery tied to its True Name, mixed with the legend of Mephisto claiming Faust's soul. In effect, it can slow or even freeze time within a certain range. But it's all an illusion, a massive trick played on everyone caught in its radius. Casting this Phantasm is like using a True Name that doesn't belong to it, and that takes a heavy toll on Mephisto itself.
Yeah, thanks to the "True Name Discernment" ability of her "Arbiter" class, Sphinx had long confirmed Mephisto is indeed this demon's True Name. Weird as it sounds—any demon could claim to be the "Lightless One"—it's legit. It's the name of its true Noble Phantasm.
That's why Sphinx felt safe letting it tag along with Chaldea's Master. A demon named Mephisto might tempt people to fall, but it doesn't resort to cheap, underhanded tricks. In its showdown with Faust, it only ever tried to erode his will with endless pleasures.
But now, out of nowhere, it flips the script and lands the heaviest blow yet.
Sure, its fabricated Noble Phantasm is just a mirage, but time's subjective when you're a conscious being. When everyone in an area feels their time slow to a crawl, it's as good as real until the Phantasm fades. Mephisto's goal is complete. Right now, no one can stop Pavone's awakening.
Sphinx appears before Chaldea's Master, her face heavy with defeat.
"We failed," she says. "Mephisto betrayed us. Time… it's run out."
Ritsuka, still in the dark, gets a quick rundown from Mash, who fills her in on Nero's intel and Georgios' final warning.
Mash also mentions that Nero's hauling Beatrice toward the cave nearby. If they use Yamato's space-slicing power, they might just make it in time.
"But it's still not enough," Sphinx cuts in.
The cave's visuals are scrambled by Pavone's power, so Nero can't teleport them straight there. And fighting through an army of demons to reach the cave, then taking down Pavone? Three hours, as Sphinx calculates, is way too short.
But Ritsuka shakes her head. "No, there's gotta be a way."
In this final moment, the last person still trusting Mephisto is, ironically, Chaldea's Master. "My contract with Mephisto lasts until the Singularity's gone. If it doesn't vanish, it can't claim my soul."
No way, as a demon, it'd break its own wager. Ritsuka's sure of it.
"So there's something we can still do. Can we reach Kenshin's group?"
"Trying to connect… Miss Nero's almost there!"
A moment later, a blade tears through space, and a hand reaches out from the rift.
"Here we go!"
Ritsuka snaps to attention, grabs the hand, and gets yanked through. Three Heroic Spirits follow close behind.
They cross space, landing in a land of twilight.
A Demon Pillar leads a massive army of demons, looming under a sickly yellow sky. Six Heroic Spirits and two humans stand before them, looking like ants in comparison.
"You're finally here," Izumo no Okuni says, exhaling in relief as Ritsuka appears. "Get Kenshin to ferry you through this mess. Time's running out, isn't it?"
Ritsuka knows what that means but can't help asking, "What about you…?"
"I'll clear the way," Okuni replies.
Gone is her usual playful, teasing vibe. Her grip tightens on her spear, dead serious. "Just a bunch of filthy demons. No way they're stopping the War God's chariot!"
Okuni spins her spear, stomps the ground, and dances into the wind. Countless automatons spring to life, transforming into trees, boulders, animals, and humanoid figures, joining her on this grand stage.
"The stage is set! The actors take their places! Go ahead, fall for me—it's fine by me!
Okuni's Eighteen Scenes: Izumo Wild God Kabuki!"
"Master, get in!"
As Okuni's Noble Phantasm unfolds, Uesugi Kenshin loads everyone into her war chariot. The vehicle, packed way beyond capacity, is a chaotic sardine can of bodies.
Just as Okuni promised, her summoned automatons swarm together, tearing a gap through the demon army. The chariot dodges the Demon Pillar's magical barrages, slamming forward without mercy.
"You demons better not underestimate the War God's name!"
Leaving her allies behind, Kenshin charges ahead, eyes blazing, and unleashes her Noble Phantasm: "Charge forth—Bishamonten's Eight Aspects: Chariot Suspension Formation!"
In an instant, the speeding chariot splits into seven copies, each accelerating in turn to hammer a single point in the demon ranks, carving a clear path for Ritsuka and the others.
"We're about to hit the unobservable zone, Senpai. Be careful…"
Mash's voice fades as the chariot surges forward. Nero weaves through the crowd, grabbing the silent Sphinx by the collar.
"Spill everything you know!" she snaps urgently. "Including how we deal with Pavone!"
She's not wrong. Once they hit the heart of the barrier, Pavone's demonic aura will cut off communication. If they don't know the enemy's abilities or how to counter them, they'll fumble, and distrust could tear them apart.
The self-sealing effect of anti-prophecy, the corrosion of demonic aura—Sphinx quickly briefs the others. The chariot barrels through the demon horde, racing toward the cave.
Into the pitch-black night.
"Ha… talk about something that doesn't suit my style."
Watching the demons crush her automatons and close in, Izumo no Okuni sighs. "This kind of exit? Boring as hell."
"What, decided to sacrifice yourself but still think it's not worth it?"
A voice cuts through nearby, and the Demon Pillar orders its demons to halt.
A figure steps forward from the horde, cane tapping the ground lightly. "Interesting. Truly interesting."
"Mephisto—!"
Okuni grips her weapon tighter, stunned this jerk has the guts to show its face again.
"You already know that name, huh?" the demon chuckles. "It's a bit plain, but surprisingly useful, don't you think?"
"Am I right… Forneus?"
The demon slips behind the Demon Pillar, and before its thousand eyes can react, it rips out the Pillar's heart.
"Time to come back… to me," it whispers.