173 One Son
At the same time, in various corners of the empire, Imperial soldiers were advancing toward the direction of the explosion.
In the already completely demolished secret base of the Holy Lance Sisterhood, YY and her new little sisters had happily turned and left.
They paid no attention to XX, who was gradually turning into light particles and disappearing little by little.
"Am I... am I d-dead?"
XX stuttered and felt that breathing became harder and harder.
"No, I can't... I... I haven't... haven't..."
XX felt herself floating in mid-air, her consciousness on the brink of leaving her body.
That was the precursor to her impending death and return to the Servant Universe.
She knew that if she continued like this, her consciousness would return, slowly reborn at a random birth point. This infinite cycle of life was the phenomenon after Third Magic had become widespread on a galactic scale.
In this way, it would be very difficult to re-enter the 'world of the son'. Becoming the sole mother of the son was even closer to impossibility.
She had completely lost her chance, lost her chance to be close to Artorius.
"What am I... even doing... anyway...?"
XX pondered her life, from ignorant innocence to being a bit foolish, from a naive and innocent unemployed wanderer, part-timer, and galaxy police to a free-spirited cosmic adventurer.
Everyone would fool around together every day, have parties on the ship, and revel in their adventures on the next planet. If there were bullies or villains, they would take care of them.
On the ship, everyone was like her, an Artoria Species. They were like sisters, innocent, childish, and idealistic.
"We have to find One Son!"
"For the people, by the people!"
"All Artorias are sisters!"
Excitedly, they gathered together and made a sincere oath at the Round Table. The legend of 'One Son' was what brought them together, the greatest legend among the Artoria Species.
Artoria Species, the most numerous and widely distributed intelligent beings in the Servant Universe, had a 'son'.
He was Artorius.
He was the best, the most outstanding, the most handsome, the gentlest, and most considerate boy in the universe. He was the son of Artoria Species, the child that Artoria Species should care for the most.
The Artoria Species who possessed him would gain unparalleled happiness and pleasure. Only the most powerful, the greatest, the most outstanding Artoria Species in the entire universe could have this child.
The Artoria Species who possessed this child would gain infinite power. They would become the rulers of the universe.
Although at that time, they couldn't fully understand the meaning of the words in the legend, they simply thought—'Ah, so amazing, so powerful.'
Even if a bit nonsensical, they were determined to find that son.
===
This desire, this yearning, this fantasy. It was as if becoming a certain rookie trainer in the Pokemon League, dreaming of the Pokemon championship.
Every Artoria Species embarked on the path to find 'One Son' at different stages of life.
They traveled planets, ventured into black holes, extinguished stars, obliterated fleets, saved or destroyed civilizations and worlds, left their footprints across the entire galaxy, and even began to touch the worlds beyond the galaxy.
But no matter how hard they searched, they couldn't find him. No matter how hard they tried, they just couldn't find him!
Many Artorias gave up.
They thought that 'One Son' was just a legend and not real.
How could there possibly be a perfect son in this world? It was all made up to entertain the Artoria Species.
Some Artorias became disheartened, while others lost their sense of purpose. It looked like the end of the world for them.
XX, as one of the older Artorias, once thought the same. She even considered quitting the adventure crew to continue as a galaxy police. It might not have been a bright future, but at least she could make a living.
However, when the remaining Artorias were on the verge of losing hope completely, they heard him.
All Artoria Species in the Servant Universe heard the son's voice.
Very gentle, very enchanting.
Just listening to his voice made their ears tingle with delight.
"Oh, Great Mother from the Servant Universe, your son is being bullied by the Counter Force. Please bring your spaceship with the Dark Rounds and wear the Holy Lance Armor Aahvalon to help me."
In an instant, those words spread through the hearts of all Artoria Species, reigniting their determination.
"Hey, Artoria over there, I'd like to place an order—"
"—Get lost! I quit this job!"
...
"Oy, Artoria, daydreaming again? Want me to deduct your pay?"
"You stupid boss! I'm resigning!"
...
"Artoria, please, calm down, I surrender, please mercy—"
"—Disappear! Supercaliburrr!"
...
It was something like that.
In the Sapphire Galaxy of Servant Universe, the event known as the 'Great Artorius Uprising' erupted.
The desire that was once extinguished was reignited.
Every Artoria Species shouted—"The son exists!"
They abandoned the cash registers, assaulted their bosses, slapped customers with fried chicken, and quickly formed organizations, all heading in the direction of that voice.
The fanaticism for their son burned like an uncontrollable wildfire, igniting the entire galaxy!
Even after countless years had passed, the passion of Artoria Species for him remained unchanged!
But changes did occur.
They were no longer young, no longer the naive girls they once were. Beneath their passion for their son, chaos and madness gradually crept in.
There was only 'one' son.
So, how should they divide him?
Who could claim Artorius as their own?
When the first Artoria Species realized this, a civil war became inevitable.
As they marched, the Artoria Species engaged in chaotic battles.
Hundreds of galaxies and thousands of planets were destroyed. Most mother planets perished, returning to a point of origin in the Servant Universe. In the end, only three organizations and four spaceships arrived in the son's world.
XX belonged to the 'Holy Lance Sisterhood'. While the others were the 'Dark Rounds' and the 'Order of Avalon'.
These three organizations schemed against each other, just like the Autobots and Decepticons, Jedi and Sith.
Among the spaceships, one crashed in outer space, another fell beneath the ice, and one even landed on the moon.
Also, X's spaceship wasn't crashed due to the Artoria Species infighting; it was simply because she had been shopping cheap on 'Amazoness.com' and got a bargain on subpar goods. Without surprise, after arriving in Artorius's world, the spaceship suddenly malfunctioned and crushed the Palace of Orleans.
===
"Ahh..."
In a daze, XX seemed to see that gentle and handsome face.
'Ah, yes, that's my son. My very own son. Is he here to rescue me...? Or am I already in heaven?' XX thought in a daze.
"..."
'This bikini and armor, with that Artoria Face... she's Mysterious Heroine XX no doubt.'
Artorius looked at the injured woman on the ground who kept smiling foolishly at him and thought that way in his heart.
