Hatred. An unparalleled hatred for the Machine Gods.
To be honest, Crimson Moon herself didn't harbor any great hatred towards the existence of the Machine Gods. The humans of the Lunar Civilization had committed too many mistakes and foolish acts, so many that Crimson Moon had become immune to them.
It was just some hostility. In Crimson Moon's view, even the life-and-death struggles with the Machine Gods back then were acceptable to her now.
After all, without the rise and fall of the Lunar Civilization, she probably wouldn't have met Ryuya.
But!
The flames that once engulfed the entire Eternal Night Empire were still vivid in her memory. The burning of the Aestus Estus, the passing of the Earth King... Even if it happened again, Crimson Moon could not forget.
She valued Ryuya immensely, so much so that she didn't even love her own daughters, Arcueid and Altrouge, that deeply. Crimson Moon's love for Ryuya had become distorted.
Therefore, she also held immense hatred for the Machine Gods Prosperity and Justice, who attacked the Eternal Night Empire and caused Ryuya's death once. She hated them to the extent that she had to take revenge personally.
That's why, after sensing the two Machine Gods had also descended upon Snowfield City, Crimson Moon brought Hope to the library.
On the surface, she claimed boredom from staying in the castle, but her true desire was to personally destroy the two Machine Gods.
She didn't want Ryuya to intervene. As the principal wife, Crimson Moon also wanted to fulfill her responsibility, not wanting Ryuya to bear all the pressure alone.
The reason for not telling Hope the true purpose was simple: Hope was undoubtedly more loyal to Ryuya, something Crimson Moon understood. If she told Hope her plan, Hope would definitely inform Ryuya.
Then, to protect Crimson Moon and prevent her from getting hurt, Ryuya would take action himself. To Crimson Moon, that would feel just like before.
But if Crimson Moon didn't say anything and waited for the two Machine Gods to arrive, Hope would surely help her eliminate the Machine Gods first before speaking to Ryuya. That way, Crimson Moon's goal would be achieved.
"Just a little more reading will suffice."
Ignoring the gazes of the surrounding ants, under Hope's puzzled expression, Crimson Moon indeed got what she waited for.
Boom...
Fierce flames surged as three figures descended. The two Machine Gods from the zenith of the Lunar Civilization had arrived as expected.
After all, Crimson Moon's aura was being emitted without restraint here. It would be strange if they couldn't sense it.
"Crimson Moon, you actually came too."
Sensing Crimson Moon's aura, Prosperity and Justice came directly.
Including Prosperity's Master, Darnic. Only Justice's Master, Zelretch, had been temporarily banished by Ryuya.
They looked coldly at Crimson Moon. They had repeatedly confirmed that Ryuya wouldn't be in this Holy Grail War, which was why they dared to appear so arrogantly.
Otherwise, just remembering the power of that Earth King, even though Ryuya was only barely a Planetary Singularity back then, made them both very apprehensive.
"What do you mean, 'I actually came too'?"
Indifferent to the presence of the ordinary people around, Crimson Moon didn't care about their lives or deaths. If they were smart, they should know to run after seeing this scene.
Step by step, step by step, Crimson Moon approached Prosperity and Justice. A rare smile appeared on her face, "It's been a long time, Prosperity, Justice."
"Right now, I really, really, really, really want to take your cores and see if you can still resurrect after I kill you this time."
"Oh?" Long accustomed to Crimson Moon's attitude, Justice took two steps forward, "Is that really appropriate, Crimson Moon, to be our opponent?"
"If it weren't for the Earth King back then, the Eternal Night Empire would have been destroyed by us."
"Just by you?" Smiling disdainfully, Crimson Moon said coldly, "As for you, you're probably just an appetizer to amuse me."
Watching the conversation between the two Machine Gods and Crimson Moon quietly, Darnic had many thoughts in his heart.
'The Machine God Prosperity once told me about the existence of the Sun-Crowned King, the Earth King. According to his account, if the Earth King isn't present, the combined power of the two Machine Gods is absolutely greater than the Moon King's.'
'The Moon King alone shouldn't be a match for the two Machine Gods. But why is the Moon King so calm?'
'Could it be... could it be that the Earth King is also here?'
Though he had many thoughts, Darnic didn't show them on his face.
Completely ignoring Darnic, Crimson Moon's crimson eyes looked at Prosperity and Justice as if they were already dead, "Hope..."
"I understand, Crimson Moon-sama."
Nodding obediently, after Prosperity and Justice appeared, Hope also understood Crimson Moon's intention. Having lived with Crimson Moon for a thousand years, she naturally knew what she should do now.
Instead of intervening in Crimson Moon's battle, she set up a barrier to conceal everything happening here.
Judging by Hope's power as a Star God, even Alaya would find it hard to detect this place. The same went for Ryuya.
"Crimson Moon-sama, I will honestly report everything to our Master."
Knowing Crimson Moon wanted to handle this with her own power, and after observing the combat strength of Prosperity and Justice, Hope concluded that these two Machine Gods posed no threat to Crimson Moon. So she chose to stay silent.
Otherwise, at the slightest sign of instability, she would have reported to her Master, Ryuya.
"Thank you, Hope."
For the first time in her life, she thanked Hope. Crimson Moon had never been so excited before.
"Finally... I can have my revenge."
As Crimson Moon's icy words fell, the flames of the Moon King's wrath ignited within the barrier.
"How... how can she be this strong?"
Having already lost one arm, the Machine God Prosperity crouched on the ground in utter disarray.
"To be this powerful? Are you really Crimson Moon?"
Similarly barely standing, covered in wounds, the Machine God Justice was clearly not faring well either.
Their memory and data on Crimson Moon only indicated the strength of a Planetary Singularity. Moreover, after the fall of the Lunar Civilization, the combat power of the Moon King, Crimson Moon, had plummeted.
Coupled with Alaya's empowerment, Justice and Prosperity initially didn't take Crimson Moon seriously.
Who would have thought that with just one strike, just one, Justice and Prosperity were severely wounded by Crimson Moon.
They were completely outmatched, not on the same level at all.
They had no idea what had happened to Crimson Moon over the years. Their memory of her was still from a thousand years ago, so this outcome was entirely beyond their expectations.
For the first time, a sense of fear arose towards Crimson Moon's figure. At this moment, the Moon King from their memories had reappeared.