IBHJ 1074

Manaka's reaction was fast, her brutal survival instinct overriding any hesitation. She projected a black hand, shaping it into a sharp blade, and in one savage motion, sliced through her own arm just above where the tentacle had entered. Her severed limb dropped to the ground with a wet thud, dark blood spattering across the concrete as she clutched the stump with her remaining hand.

Her face was pale. She looked at the tentacle-infested control room and forced a smile. "You smelled my scent and couldn't resist, could you, Father? Such impatience. Girls really don't appreciate that kind of persistence."

Countless tentacles surged towards her, like spirits seeking to reclaim their bodies.

She glanced at Altera, who was buried deep within the mass of tentacles. There was nothing she could do to save her now. Scooping up Ayaka, Manaka turned and fled.

Once outside the control room, she gently placed Ayaka down and looked back. The starship had become unrecognizable - black tentacles had consumed every surface, transforming the vessel into a massive, pulsing spore that leaked darkness from every pore. The tentacles shot out like striking serpents, wrapping around Koyanskaya's white fox form before she could dodge. More tendrils seized the towering form of the Titan God King, and despite their desperate struggles, both were dragged screaming into the dark mass within seconds.

"Revenge... Revenge...!" the dragon's roar shook the air as it charged at full speed towards the black spore, its claws tearing deep gouges in the corrupted surface. Its maw opened wide, unleashing a torrent of white-hot flame that burned with such intensity it distorted the air itself. The spore's surface bubbled and charred under the assault.

But the blackness fought back, racing up the dragon's limbs like living oil. The corruption spread rapidly across its scales despite its thrashing resistance. Within moments, even the mighty dragon was enveloped completely and pulled steadily into the pulsing black spore, its roar cutting off as it vanished into the darkness.

The black spore shuddered and split open with sounds like breaking bones. From its ruptured shell, a colossal tree erupted upward, its trunk twisted and black as tar. Its branches unfurled against the starlit sky, each limb dripping with darkness, until it towered over the moon's surface.

Everyone stared in stunned silence.

Shirou was the first to break from the shock. Seizing the opportunity while Tiamat was momentarily distracted, he broke away from their fight. He became a blur, rushing to Arcueid's side. Grabbing her shoulders, he pulled her back to safety.

Tiamat seemed unconcerned by their escape.

"Is this happening again..." she whispered, gazing at the black tree with heavy, sorrowful eyes.

"Shirou, that thing... that thing..." Arcueid stammered, pointing at the black tree, her hands gesturing wildly, trying to express something but finding herself unable to describe what she wanted to say.

Shirou frowned at the swaying black tree. Its branches were vast, and the enormous black trunk pulsed with a glittering light, like stardust shooting skyward. In moments, it had enveloped the moon, forming a barrier that sealed them off.

"A Reality Marble..." he muttered.

He raised the demonic sword and swung it at the barrier surrounding the moon. The crimson blade flashed—a power that felt capable of splitting the earth itself—but when it struck the barrier, it simply vanished with a gentle hum.

"It was assimilated." His brow furrowed. He sensed that his strike hadn't been deflected. It had been absorbed. Consumed.

He considered the nature of the barrier. Across the universe, different planets had different rules, different logic. But the laws of physics were constant. UOs weren't bound by the laws of Earth; that's why humans couldn't kill them, even with the most powerful Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. But pure physical attacks... those could still work.

The laws of physics were supposed to be universal, yet this Reality Marble defied them. It was like materialized nothingness, able to isolate everything inside while absorbing any attack.

"Like a better version of Forest of Einnashe's Reality Marble," he muttered, frowning at it.

Tiamat descended beside Manaka and reached over. A faint glow shimmered around Manaka's missing arm. In seconds, it was whole again.

Manaka flexed her new hand and looked up at the growing black tree. "I never thought it would come to this..."

"You didn't see it coming?" Tiamat asked.

"Father... no, the Lord of Salvation didn't cut my connection to the Root," Manaka said. "But I couldn't see his fate lines. If I had..." She looked down at Ayaka's unconscious face in her arms, brushing her cheek. "I just wanted to help her. Give her something worth living for in this world. I never meant to put her in danger like this again..."

"I see," Tiamat said. "You see a lot, but you're still below the Root. Of course his actions were invisible to you. However..."

She looked up at the black tree. "You and Tethys' successor are both here—two suitable vessels for his manifestation. No wonder the Lord of Salvation's going all out."

"Can we break out?" Manaka asked, eyeing the barrier above them.

Tiamat shook her head. "That Reality Marble is an extension of the Lord of Salvation himself. Unless the moon is destroyed, there's no way to break it."

"Like being trapped in a cage," Manaka muttered. "How did you fight this thing back then?"

"We forced him back into the Root," Tiamat explained. "But that's too difficult for you children. Fortunately, this isn't his true form. He's only projecting a fraction of his power into this world. If you defeat the vessel, you can break the Reality Marble." She pointed at the black tree.

"Just as I thought," Manaka said grimly.

"But remember, you don't have a physical body—you're just a wraith," Tiamat cautioned. "If you get caught, you won't be able to escape, just like what happened to your arm before. You know what that means, right? You're the vessel he wants to use."

Manaka remained silent. Of course she understood. That's why she had been so frustrated and resentful ever since awakening in Ainsworth's territory.

To control my fate like this... 

"Ah, there's no other way." Manaka sighed and carefully placed Ayaka in Tiamat's arms. "Please look after my sister."

Tiamat took Ayaka gently, smiling. "Of course. I love taking care of children. This poor girl must have suffered just like Sakura. But what are you planning to do? That Beast has already been taken by the Lord of Salvation. With only mine and half of Beast III, you can't defeat his vessel."

"I know..." Manaka smiled as she walked toward Shirou.

Shirou and Arcueid instantly tensed.

Arcueid ducked behind him, glaring at Manaka. "What are you planning, witch? Do you want to fight? I, Arcueid, will take you on!"

Shirou: "..."

'Says the one using me as a shield,' he thought with a silent sigh.

He knew Arcueid was no match for Manaka and was actually quite afraid of her. It was understandable. This wasn't the same young princess from Shinjuku; this was the Evil Queen who had stolen her own past to become the Lord of Salvation's vessel.

So it was natural for Arcueid to be this nervous.

However, Shirou remained calm. Facing the composed Shirou and the wary Arcueid, Manaka spoke with a gentle smile. "Shirou, Arcueid, let's work together. How about we face that monster as a team?"

"What?" Arcueid was taken aback.

"If we leave that monster alone, it will be incredibly dangerous for both the Moon and us," Manaka continued. "As the Ultimate One of the Moon, I'm sure you don't want to see it destroyed, and I'm sure you want to keep Shirou safe. So why not work together?" Manaka smiled warmly, like a friendly neighborhood oneesan.

"N-no, you're too dangerous..." Arcueid hesitated.

Before Arcueid could make up her mind, Shirou shook his head. "No. I refuse."

Manaka didn't even flinch. Her smile just grew wider. "Are you worried I might betray you? Don't worry, I'm not like you. I won't resort to such tricks. I'm being sincere."

Shirou glanced at her. "Are you begging me?"

Manaka froze, the smile fading from her face. She pointed at the black tree. "Surely you understand the situation? That's the power of the Lord of Salvation. It has already absorbed Umbral Star ship, Beast V, Titan God King, and Uranus. Surely you understand what that means?"

"Are you begging me?" he repeated.

"He's not just after me!" Manaka's voice sharpened. "He wants you too! Your rank may not be as high as mine, but you're the only blank soul without a record in the Root! If you don't work with me, he'll devour you! Do you think you can escape because your main body isn't here? Don't be naive!"

Shirou folded his arms, looking at her with indifferent eyes. "Are you begging me?"

Manaka gritted her teeth. "Fujimaru Shirou! Do you have to win every argument with me?"