Chapter 142: This is Over… I Win.
~Mash B. POV~
[Ryuudou Temple]
After waking up in the morning we all headed towards Ryuudou Temple to activate the Holy Grail so we can end this damn war already. I talked to everyone about what happened leaving out the key important details of me against Gilgamesh.
I merely mentioned I used my Authorities on him which left an interesting result buying my words since they have no way to prove me wrong. The Servants primarily Saber were eyeing me no rather my bracelet of Add holding her spear.
While walking our way there, I reviewed the skills I gained from Solomon. And I have to say I was very impressed and scared of what this guy could do.
Skill List.
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<Ars Almadel Salomonis> (Active) Lv. MAX
MP Cost: 1000 MP/Per Shot.
Description: [Ars Almadel Salomonis: The Time of Birth Has Come, He Is the One Who Masters All] is the third Noble Phantasm of King Solomon. The "|" of original sin. At a first glance, it looks like a ring of light that encircles the Earth. It is an aggregation of hundreds of millions of beams of light, cast over the satellite orbit and with a size close if not equal to that of North America. Each one of these lines carries extreme damage values comparable to Excalibur, A Rank Noble Phantasm. When charged and focused its energy into an attack, the beam is described as "a torrent of heat sufficient to penetrate through the planet."
The band of light is made up of all the Magical Energy gathered from Earth and the entire era where it manifests or from the User's reserves. Thus, there is nothing on the surface of the Earth that surpasses the heat value of this Noble Phantasm. It is for this reason that it is ranked as an Anti-Humanity Noble Phantasm, Anti-Unit only if the user uses it for a target. According to Corrupted Ushiwakamaru, this Noble Phantasm has enough power to destroy the Sea of Life and rival Tiamat.
<Ars Paulina> (Passsive/Active) Lv. MAX
MP Cost: 1000 MP
Description: [Ars Paulina: The Time of Crowning Has Come, He Is the One Who Begins All] is the second Noble Phantasm of Solomon. It is Solomon's Reality Marble workshop that exists outside of the universe and outside of time, located in the space of imaginary numbers. It is powered by the user's MP. Death in this space does not "count" in reality, so it is possible to revive those who die in this space with enough magical energy. (Each death within can be revived at the cost of 1000 MP). Due to eating at Solomon's memories this skill has been created separate from Solomon's and Goetia's versions.
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Yikes… makes me kind of glad he never intended to use it unless said so by his Master. At least they wanted me alive for that and there would be too many dead bodies to hide for that one…
But the part about this would be I obtained the knowledge of [Denial of Nothingness]. The [Denial of Nothingness] is a phenomenon actualized through Magic. The associated Magic is unknown.
Through the usage of the Denial of Nothingness, it is possible to resurrect deceased humans. The existence of this phenomenon is known to magi associated with the Clock Tower.
I smirked as we finally arrived at Ryuudou Temple with Medea and Illya with her guards as the [Magus from the Age of Gods] greeted us happily with a knowing grin, "I see you managed to live and heard you took out Assassin, Caster, and Archer. You exceeded my expectations again Mash."
I smiled seeing her as her eyes widened sensing my new form with a bewildered expression on her face as I explained scratching the back of my head, "Yeah, I do intend to be unpredictable. However, my last fight with Gilgamesh had unexpected results going all out but otherwise, I have managed to get Solomon's memories. All of them."
Her eyes froze as she processed what I said before widening them slowly in shock, "Wait then…"
Before she could continue, I clicked my tongue signaling my annoyance at the machine king being scammed, "No. Bloody [King of Magic] my ass that faker. No True Magic I'm afraid but if you're interested in all known and will-be forms of Magecraft then yes but otherwise I'm just as disappointed as you are with Solomon being a scammer."
She froze at my words before agreeing to offer my knowledge of what Solomon knew about Magecraft as acceptance in a grateful tone, "… I wasn't expecting that. But if it means I get to learn more about or if not all Magecraft I'm not gonna turn that down. Besides, I think your words seemed to freeze your cohorts by the news."
Turning around I see the shell-shocked expressions of everyone. Huh? Didn't I mention it beforehand?
Ah… well whatever. Shrugging it off Medea soon spoke clearing her voice in an interested tone, "Well with that out the way how about we manifest the Grail? We do need your participation you 3."
They all nodded having been informed of the news. We soon gathered everyone heading towards the underground complex with Illya giving me a weird look. No on second thought everyone was giving me the weird looks.
It didn't bother me as we all focused on the pedestals as Medea explained to the group in a clear tone, "Okay everyone all of you have to do is pour your Mana into the pedestals before you, and we can call out the Grail early without any more killing."
The Servants compiled and soon the pedestals summoned shadow versions of the Servants that were fed to the Grail. The trick is simple but hard, to fill the Grail rather than sacrifice the Servants, substitute them with shadows of themselves which can fool the Grail into manifesting. Medea and I used the same trick in the first war so I would not have to order her to commit suicide to make full use of the Grail.
With the use of an Einzbern homunculus, Irisveil provided that was nothing more than a breathing but unfeeling doll. The Holy Grail was formed, and I then told all of the Servants in a curious tone, "If any of you have any desire for the Grail for whatever reason, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Unsurprisingly, Artoria walked up and said in a determined tone holding her weapon, "I apologize, Illya, Rin, Sakura, and Medea, but I can't give up on saving Britain and Mash; I will not yield to you."
I expected as much. Turning my eyes towards Medusa she shook her head as she replied in a neutral tone, "I'm at peace with this outcome. So long as my Master is happy then I'm happy."
Sakura smiled kindly for her response which warms my heart. Foreseeing the future with [TOOS] she becomes familiar with her that's nice.
Seeing this I sighed and asked Lancer if he wanted to fight Artoria in a curious tone, "In that case before I ask Saber Lancer you want to fight her?"
He hummed in a neutral tone before replying with a smile shaking his head at the thought of facing her, "Hmm… no not really. Might as well finish what you started Master. I trust in your skills."
A very subtle way you can handle it but want to see me suffer. Meh. If he fought against Artoria it wouldn't be any challenge to him.
But it seems like his words seemed to offend Saber but no matter. We took this to the outside again beginning our fight as I spoke out in a calm tone, "Let's hope to make this a bit exciting Artoria. I happen to need a testing match against you but let's say hello to an old friend…"
*Swf*
Taking out from my [GoB] out from a portal was a familiar sword that made Artoria's eyes widen as I pulled out Caliburn for the disrespect she yelled out loud in a shocked tone glaring at me, "No!! How could you of all people have obtained Caliburn!"
That seemed to surprise everyone as I readied my blade the magical energy radiated light as I replied in an innocent tone, "If it bothers you this much, I can happily return your sword heck even your lance after the fight but under one condition."
Artoria eyed me carefully seeing Add around my wrist and Caliburn before finally responding in a cautious tone, "… Then what is it you want?"
Time to do a little trolling and join that Baeber love that Abridged did. Artoria was a bit curious about what I wanted from her and looked at me with rapt attention as I said with an innocent expression, "I want to exchange a kiss with you."
I said it with a sincere smile and waited for the info to process in her little head. And just as I imagined a bomb went off in her head as she probably never expected such a request and was stunned silent for a few moments before exclaiming, "What?!!"
Huh? I heard the others yell as Enkidu smiled but that cheeky fucker was laughing his ass off through our mental link as I repeated in a sincere tone, "I want to kiss you and for you to kiss me back in turn."
It was so worth it seeing her expression. Artoria soon asked with a self-defeating smile, then declared in a firm tone, "Wouldn't you prefer to kiss someone beautiful? And I am a king first and foremost."
I know in the original Saber initially saw herself before Shirou Emiya caused her to change and to see herself as a woman more than a King as I spoke plainly in a sincere tone, "Artoria Pendragon, you are both beautiful in body and spirit, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise, not even yourself. To deny yourself is to deny all that you could be, the good and the bad Baeber."
Medea, Rin, Illya, Sakura, Enkidu, and Medusa are watching the whole interaction for the winner to grant their wish. To them, it must feel like watching a drama, or bad sitcom, and I can tell they were excited about this development.
My Authority of Wrath, [Soulwashing] can tell me that much. It tells me how unsure Saber is right now with no way to reply since no one approached her like this before. Ahh… okay trolling done.
Feeling satisfied with my trolling the poor Queen of Knights I rushed forward snapping herself back to reality, "Fight me!"
*VOOOM*
Dashing fully speed Saber snapped out of her stupor as we crossed blades. I closed the distance using [Sprint] and swung Caliburn, which was met with Artoria's Excalibur as she blocked the strike.
*Clang*
Using my skill [Divine Protection of Wind Reading] her hidden blade using the wind of [Invisible Air] means nothing to me. Her eyes widened as she felt the new strength of my attack and realized that she couldn't look down on me.
Granted I would be in her possession if I was an ordinary [Human] before this, but currently I'm a [Demi-Servant] that has his physical stats increased because of the fusion. So, to have the gull look down on me is a punishment worth defeating her with her weapon.
She even skids back a few inches from our clash alone. This proves she can't take me on like this and changed stances taking the fight seriously as she angled her sword to slide off my attack using the momentum to give her a chance to counterattack.
However, I wasn't done yet. Sure her [Magic Resistance] is Rank A but she doesn't know the kind of Magic I can fire as I pointed my finger and called out, "[Al Goa]!"
*Sheeee*
*BRRRR*
[Al Goa]. Using the highest pinnacle of Fire Magic controlling my Mana within the air condensed to ignite a massive fireball, scorching away everything in its path. The bigger the caster's skill, the fireball hotter and bigger the fireball.
And I have Echidna the Witch of Greed's memories of her elemental skills on all Re: Zero Spells being MAX out. So yeah, I'm more or less overly prepared for this fight.
Artoria saw the giant ball of fire with wide eyes. I checked my MP Bar having a steady [1765/2765 MP… 1865/2765 MP…]. Ah… you gotta love the [Perfect Form] already recovering my Mana reserves.
*Shinng*
*BOOOM*
Artoria responded by attempting to cut the massive fireball with her blade. But it resulted in her getting bombed, but I knew that couldn't take her out because of her ridiculous [Magic Resistance] being Rank A the highest possible level for her.
*Clang*
Hearing the sounds of clanging metal she lived rushing forward with her [Invisible Air] providing defense ensuring no damage as she came after me. Not bad but not good enough either.
*Clang*
*Shinng*
*Clang*
She soon began to immediately thrust her sword forcing me to be on the defensive. Every strike flowed into the next, leaving little room for me to counterattack as it was a few steps too many as I took some damage from her.
But much to her dismay my skills [Divinity] and [Armor of Fafnir: Blood Armor of the Evil Dragon] made her attack damage a moot point. But I gave the kiddo enough time to give her the idea fighting me was a chance...
Pfftt.... No, it wasn't. This was a slaughter giving pretense of victory before I woke them up from their delusional reality. And what better to disrespect Artoria than beat her using her weapon?
*Woooosh*
Activating [Chronos Rose] time seemed to slow down around me. When in reality I was merely going too fast for her to follow. This is goodbye, Saber. But just to be on the safe side… placing all my bonus stats into LUCK I wanted that sword.
And… done. Status.
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Name: Mash Bastion
Class: The Gamer
Race: Demi-Servant
Title: Warlock of Sin
Level: 49 Exp: 15/55%
HP: 2725/2725
MP: 2765/2765
STR: 100 (+40)
AGI: 100 (+40)
VIT: 100 (+25)
INT: 100 (+25)
SEN: 100 (+40)
LUCK: 125+40= 165
Stat Points: 40-> 0
Cash: 18,000
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With a few seconds to spare, I simply beheaded Artoria effortlessly ending the duel between us after giving a show. But upon not seeing the screen I – oh right. Avalon. Using my Authority of Envy, [Overzealous Thief] I took Avalon out of her body.
When I did so I ginned feeling like I made a wise choice seeing the results. Seems like she was intending to stay alive to the bitter end with her healing factor.
But before she dies, I send my [Unseen Hands] to her face as I lick the left palm of my hand my head is immediately flooded with information about licking my lips and enjoying the meal filling my head and stomach.
*SLURP*
[You gain 85 EXP]
[LEVEL UP!]
[You gained the dropped item [Excalibur] into [GoB]!]
[Ding!]
[You have 'eaten' the being known as Artoria Pendragon from this worldline!]
[For using the skill [Gluttony], you have gained the following skills devouring the King of Knight's talents, abilities, and memories!]
[Skill: [Invisible Air: Barrier of the Wind King] is gained!]
[Skill: [Magic Resistance] is gained!]
[Skill: [Mana Burst] is gained!]
[Skill: [Strike Air: Hammer of the Wind King] is gained!]
[Skill: [Sword Mastery] LEVEL UP'S!]
[Skill: [Riding] LEVEL UP'S!]
[Ding!]
[Due to being Artoria Pendragon you gained the title [King of Knights]!]
Yes! Total knockout!
Sorry Saber but, this is over… I win.