IBHJ 1302

A black lotus slowly bloomed from the Black Tree.

Seeing this, Sixth Seat's expression filled with delight. "The Demon King is about to be born!" it exclaimed.

"Not so fast!" Manaka shouted, focusing billions of Goetia's beam rays into a single devastating blast aimed directly at the dragon's face.

"BOOM—"

Smoke billowed everywhere.

Manaka didn't waste time checking if her attack had done any damage. Her vortex released endless waves of black mist that flowed toward Kiara, condensing into a physical form—creating Manaka's phantom. While Manaka was still coordinating with Skadi to bombard the dragon, her phantom turned to Kiara with a serious expression.

"We'll handle things here. Kiara, you need to go finish what you started," she said firmly. "I thought it was better not to bring this up before because it might hurt you. But I was wrong. Avoiding the truth might feel safer, but it's honestly just cowardly and keeps you from moving forward." She paused. "Do you remember what I said when we first met?"

"When we first met?" Kiara pointed to herself, completely confused. The first time she'd met Manaka was when Manaka had been resurrected from the past plane and confronted Shirou. But Manaka hadn't said anything to her then.

"Someone who understands loneliness can also recognize the loneliness in others."

Kiara's eyes widened in shock. "That blonde Ayaka... was YOU?!"

"It was," Manaka confirmed, gently tapping the black rifle in Kiara's hand. "Now go. I can feel that person is waiting for you."

When she finished speaking, Manaka's phantom dissolved back into black mist and returned to the vortex.

Kiara's eyes hardened with determination. She clutched the black rifle tightly and sprinted toward the pitch-black Tree.

"How foolish," Sixth Seat sneered. "Not all beings are like me. You're sending her to her death, Manaka."

"You really don't give humans enough credit, Beast," Manaka replied calmly.

"It's not about giving credit. Humans are just insignificant creatures. And that insignificance is their greatest sin—one that deserves suffering and destruction."

Skadi let out a mocking laugh. "That kind of talk is the reason why the Holy Spirit cut you apart—both flesh and spirit—and trapped you on this 'insignificant' planet, Holy Grail."

At these words, the dragon's eyes suddenly contracted. The taunt had struck a nerve, hitting exactly where it hurt the most.

"You will all die," it hissed coldly, "and even your records won't be preserved in the Throne of Heroes!"

…

The battlefield of Camelot had descended into complete chaos. Destruction was everywhere as Zeus and Adam fought together against the Machine God-Camelot. On paper, the two-against-one advantage should have put Zeus and Adam in control, but Machine God-Camelot was just too overpowered. Its body was constructed from Orichalcum and other super metals, and it had been enhanced with both reflective ability and the Crown of Thorns.

The only lucky break they had was that the battle had erupted so suddenly that Agravain hadn't had time to fine-tune Machine God-Camelot to its full potential. Even with that advantage, though, Machine God-Camelot was still dominating the fight.

"Damn it all!" Zeus growled in frustration. "If I were in my true form, I wouldn't be struggling against this pathetic Machine God!"

He was only here because of his contract with Ritsuka, which meant he was fighting in a Servant's body rather than his true form. His actual Machine God body—also made of Orichalcum super metal—remained at the Greece connection point. But Zeus knew he was just venting; even if he somehow brought his true Machine God form here, it probably wouldn't change much. The problem wasn't his current form—it was that Machine God-Camelot's reflective ability was simply too broken!

It could reflect literally any attack thrown at it. When Galahad had used it, the shield even managed to bounce back the Infinite Halo that the Ideal King had unleashed in pure rage—that's the only reason Shirou and the others hadn't died on the spot. That's how ridiculously powerful this ability was. And now, with the added sealing effect from the Crown of Thorns, the Machine God-Camelot was basically just an upgraded, supersized version of Galahad.

Adam and Zeus were getting absolutely crushed by Machine God-Camelot. Their defeat was inevitable at this point. Agravain grabbed both Adam and Zeus by their heads, slammed them into the ground, grinding their faces into the dirt before tossing their weakened bodies aside. He turned, ready to deal with the other invaders who had breached the Imperial City.

But unexpectedly, Adam rushed him from behind, using his one remaining arm to lock around Agravain's chest and drag him down.

"You're wasting your time," Agravain said coldly, commanding Machine God-Camelot to repeatedly hammer Adam's spine.

"CRACK-CRACK-CRACK—"

The horrifying sound of breaking bone filled the air, but Adam just clenched his teeth and held onto Machine God-Camelot, refusing to let go.

This Pan-History wasn't even his timeline. It wasn't his home. Yet here he was, willing to die to protect it.

Why? There was no complicated reason.

He was just an artificial intelligence, originally created by Avicebron during the Holy Grail War. But he was the first to develop true intelligence, to gain consciousness, to form bonds with friends and companions.

He had no real home. How could an artificial intelligence have a home?

But he had brothers and sisters—other artificial intelligences who had awakened to consciousness alongside him. Those artificial intelligence siblings who served together at Chaldea.

No, he had no home in the way humans understood it. The place where his brothers and sisters were—that was home. Where his friends and companions fought—that was home.

So—

"How can I just let you take away my home?" Adam shouted through gritted teeth.

"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—foolish giant," Agravain said coldly. He raised the Machine God's massive hand to snap Adam's spine in half, but Zeus came rushing in, blocking the attack.

Zeus looked at Adam with genuine respect. "You fought well. Humans really are brave."

"Haven't you figured it out yet? I've completely analyzed your behavioral patterns," Agravain taunted. "How pathetic. I'll have to eliminate you two first, then deal with those rebels who dared to intrude into the Imperial Palace and disrespect His Imperial Majesty." He commanded Machine God-Camelot to raise its gigantic arm once more.

The overwhelming power of a Machine God built for cosmic warfare was too much even for Adam and Zeus to handle. They were constantly forced backward. But suddenly, there was a loud "CLANG" from inside Machine God-Camelot's body. Zeus and Adam immediately felt Agravain's overwhelming force falter, and they seized their chance, pushing it away together.

The Machine God-Camelot went flying backward, crashing into Camelot's wall with a thunderous "BOOM!" The wall crumbled from the impact.

But Agravain, positioned in the Machine God's head as its core, couldn't care less about the wall. His attention was completely fixed on the intruder who had somehow gotten inside the Machine God's body.

—Bedivere!

He was the one who had just cut one of the crucial lines connecting Agravain to the Machine God, creating this sudden vulnerability!