IBHJ 1406

“He actually became a Transcendent…?”

At the edge between the Past and Present, Moromaya raised an eyebrow.

“…Still clinging, are you, Gaia?” she murmured. “Even after defeat, you insist on being a thorn in my side.”

Her gaze shifted, annoyed. “And you, Shirou. Still refusing to surrender.”

She scoffed. “But it doesn’t matter. Once the Fusang Tree reaches full maturity—my true body will descend. And all things shall return to one.”

…

The Present.

“They planted the seed in the Spiritual Tomb… then started siphoning the Inner Sea of the Planet through Avalon.”

Manaka watched the rapidly growing Fusang Tree, arms crossed. It didn’t take her long to understand the method.

“…So they’re recreating the Eastern legend of the Ten Suns.”

That meant only one thing.

If the Fusang Tree had sprouted from the Spiritual Tomb—

—the Clock Tower had already fallen.

But it was to be expected. Modern magi looked impressive to regular folks, but to the Root Princess—now a vessel of the Evil of the Root—they were just meat in fancy robes.

Mash raised her shield. “Miss Manaka, everyone else is engaged with their targets. We’ve confirmed the enemy—black, three-legged sun crow.”

Manaka nodded. “Just as the First Emperor said. Time for our part. Mash, I’ll need your strength.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Mash nodded with determined eyes.

Together, they sprinted toward the base of the Fusang Tree.

While the rest of their friends and the First Emperor focused on taking down the Ten Suns, Manaka and Mash had a different job—to head straight into the tree’s root system and confront the Root Princess.

As they neared the Spiritual Tomb, they passed what was left of the Clock Tower. A ruin now, half-swallowed by roots, the branches stabbing clean through its halls. Corpses clung to the trunk like grotesque ornaments—magi, still in their robes, shriveled to husks.

Mash bit her lip, but Manaka didn’t flinch. She walked straight into the passage beneath the tree. Vines lashed out, but even without Mash’s shield, Manaka sliced through them like weeds.

They pushed deeper, chasing the roots toward the Planet’s Inner Sea—the mythical Avalon.

“Manaka Sajyou—!”

The Root Princess stood beneath the glowing canopy of roots. Beside her, Vivian clung to the Eternal Coffin.

“I won’t let you take it!” she shouted.

Then she noticed Mash and Manaka. “Another one?!” Her eyes darted between Manaka and the Root Princess, flickering with disbelief.

The Root Princess tilted her head, amused. “You again?”

Manaka didn’t blink. “I’m here to finish this.”

“With me?” The Root Princess laughed. “How precious. The puppet thinks she can challenge the real deal?”

Manaka said nothing. Just stared.

The Root Princess’s smile faded. Her voice dropped to a hiss. “Then die.”

She didn’t target Manaka.

Instead, she blasted a beam straight at Vivian.

In that same breath, Manaka swapped Mash in front of the blast.

Mash raised her shield—and pop—the beam rebounded straight back toward its sender.

Vivian blinked. “You saved me…”

“Go,” Mash said, never breaking eye contact with the enemy. “Now.”

Vivian nodded and ran, coffin in hand.

“You can flee,” the Root Princess snapped, “but leave the coffin!”

She caught the rebound, crushed it in one hand, then hurled a collapsing space-time burst at Vivian’s back.

Mash’s shield moved again—just a slight twitch of her wrist this time.

Another perfect rebound.

The Root Princess caught it—but frowned this time, her eyes narrowing on Mash’s shield.

“That’s right, it’s what’s going to beat you!” Manaka yelled.

In a blink, another switch—Mash lunged forward.

The Root Princess tried to dodge—but the space around her distorted, locking her in place.

She blocked on instinct—

BOOM.

She flew backward, arms shattering into black mist.

“…Even Father’s power can’t assimilate it?” Her eyes locked on the shield. “So that’s your ace.”

“Glad you caught on.” Manaka stepped forward. “None of us can beat you. But the one with that shield—Mash—can.”

“…Shame.” The Root Princess’s voice sharpened. “Arthur’s waiting for me. I’m not dying here.”

She snapped her fingers. The space under Mash’s feet gave way—into a spiraling black hole.

Manaka reacted instantly—swapped her out.

Even now, they weren’t winning.

The Root Princess had consumed all Seven Beasts. She was unstoppable.

Not even Mash’s shield tipped the scales fully.

“Manaka—!”

A shout from above.

The Root Princess looked up—

—and there he was. Arthur, sword drawn, descending like a meteor.

A Grand-class Servant. One of the six granted by the First Emperor.

His blade struck like divine wrath. The Root Princess had to retreat.

“Arthur!” she gasped.

Manaka squinted. “Weren’t you supposed to be fighting the Black Sun?”

“Gilgamesh has it covered,” Arthur said grimly. “I’m here for her. Support me, Master!”

Manaka blinked, then nodded. “…Got it.”

“…Master?” The Root Princess’s voice cracked.

She faltered—like a lover watching her partner walk away. “I am your Master, Arthur!”

“Sorry.” Arthur’s eyes hardened. “I’m here to kill you.”

“You killed me twice already! And now—again?! Arthur—!” she screamed.

“That’s right!” he stepped forward without hesitation.

“I’ll destroy all of you!” the Root Princess shrieked, wild with grief. Her body lost all semblance of humanity, spiraling into a howling vortex of raw malice.

“Focus up!” Manaka barked. “We can’t kill her unless we pierce the vortex—I can see her core! Mash can deflect her attacks, but she can’t get through. Arthur, that’s your job. I’ll cover you. Hit her where it counts!”

“Got it!”

With no time to waste, the three—Arthur, Manaka, and Mash—launched into battle beneath the earth.

Above, at the very top of the Fusang Tree—

The First Emperor clashed with the greatest of the black suns—the strongest of the Golden Crows.

Even for him, it was no easy fight.

What made it worse—

“I’ve already won, oh man of extremes,” said the creature of flesh and flame. “Give in. Be absorbed. Become one with me.”

“Not a chance.”

“Why struggle? Isn’t your culture all about accepting fate? Harmony between Heaven and Man? Merging with the Great Dao?”

“You know nothing,” the Emperor snapped. “I’m the tyrant who burned books and buried scholars. I bow to no Confucian doctrine. I am the doctrine. Fate bends to me. And what I deem useless—I erase.”