On the screen, the verbal exchange ceased, replaced by a torrent of reckless, even more frenzied spells.
After Lev's fierce denunciation, Fujimaru Ritsuka finally realized that the "king" in his current human-machine form was no longer the familiar doctor he once knew: he was now a cold, high wall of "rationality" impervious to words.
If that was the case, then the only way to break through this wall was with pure power!
"Lev-san, I understand now!"
Ritsuka's gaze sharpened.
Without hesitation, he poured all his spirit power into the silver briefcase in his hands.
He resolved to raise the stakes, instantly pushing the pace of battle to its limit.
"—Come, Vlad III!"
At his call, two contrasting images of the Impaler King appeared simultaneously before him.
One, a warrior in sinister silver armor covered in red cape and carved thorns, eyes brimming with dignity—the Lancer, symbol of the guardian spirit who defended his nation through war, though his image had been distorted by later generations.
The other, a warrior in black royal robes, exuding an ominous aura from his pale skin—the Berserker, the embodiment of the vampire legend twisted by posterity.
Warrior and monster, protector and terror—these two opposite legends now intersected!
"Kazikli Bey: The Lord of Execution!"
"Kazikli Bey: Bloodstained King Demon!"
In an instant, the floor of the throne hall transformed into a hellish forest of wooden stakes, countless sharp spikes rising from below, impaling Solomon.
Simultaneously, a crimson domain expanded, within which the nefarious legend of Dracula, Vlad III, took shape.
Terror and curses formed from bone, flesh, shadow, and hair fused into dark-red "stakes," piercing straight from enemy body to target, rapidly corroding Solomon's defensive barrier.
And that was only the beginning!
"-Saber!"
With another fierce roar, two knightly shadows, sword in hand, lined up side by side.
One was a noble-looking young woman in blue skirt armor (Artoria), the other a valiant young man in silver armor (Arthur Pendragon).
Both raised nearly identical, yet subtly different, swords of salvation.
"Excalibur x2!!"
Blinding golden beams, so bright they seemed to scorch the retinas, shot out together. They traced parallel paths in the air before converging at a single point—a locus of despair that made the surrounding space itself cry out in agony.
Particles of light boiled violently, forming a greater stream of pure destruction, determined to thoroughly cleanse all before the throne!
Faced with this relentless bombardment, even King Solomon—who'd always seemed fully in control—finally showed a hint of stiffness.
The smile on his face vanished for the first time.
No longer fighting single-handed, he moved all ten fingers at once, sending forth radiant light from each of the ten rings.
Layer upon layer of defensive walls inscribed with runes from different divine eras bloomed before him, like a lotus with a thousand petals, precisely intercepting the double-barreled barrage of Noble Phantasms.
He managed to block every assault, but the throne beneath him trembled ever so slightly from the force.
"Oh? Maybe this will get interesting,"
commented Baal, unexpectedly.
"That kid actually forced the King to defend himself with both hands… that's impressive."
Demon Pillar Vassago echoed the sentiment.
But Ritsuka's attack was not yet finished!
He was prepared to throw down every card, right in this moment!
"—Meltryllis! Passionlip!"
Two illusions—Alter Egos born from the Holy Grail of the Moon created by BB—appeared.
One was as light and supple as water; the other was weighty and full like a mountain.
They intertwined in midair, dancing a mournful yet magnificent duet that seemed almost not of this world.
In the end, they combined their powers: Passionlip's gold claws drew taut as a "bow," power gathering, while Meltryllis was transformed into the sharp, crucial "arrow."
They thus recreated the miracle combination Noble Phantasm that once defeated the Beast at the unique singularity—a force neither magical nor physical, but a pure light symbolizing "wisdom" and "protection"—Virgin Laser Palladion!
This was the last defensive line for a city-state, the light-lance bestowed by Athena upon heroes!
This triple combo struck almost simultaneously, enveloping the entire throne hall in overwhelming might!
At this moment, even King Solomon could not maintain complete calm.
To fully nullify these three perfectly coordinated, yet entirely different, attacks required all his strength.
At that time, Marisbury Animusphere, who had been silently sitting like a detached observer, finally rose slowly from the throne.
For the first time, an expression of "appreciation" appeared on his face—though his gaze remained cold, like someone evaluating a fine tool.
"…That was truly impressive."
His voice rang out quietly, but could be heard clearly throughout the battlefield.
"Fujimaru Ritsuka, the candidate chosen as the 'Backup,' has produced results beyond expectations.
To be able to connect with so many heroic spirits… This special 'bond' far surpasses what I anticipated."
He looked at Ritsuka, as if finally seeing the true value of a collector's item.
"It seems I cannot allow you to grow any further.
As a master, I shall take the field myself!"
As he raised his hand, an ancient, powerful spell of the Animusphere family was about to activate.
The magic of the entire Temple of Time converged upon him, shaking the air with its immense energy.
He slowly opened his mouth, reciting the incantation that best encapsulated the power of an astrophysicist's magecraft.
"—Star..."
But at the very instant he uttered the first syllable—
"—star!!"
From the entrance of the throne hall came a clear, trembling voice, suffused with indomitable spirit, overlapping perfectly with Marisbury's own!
Everyone present was astonished by this sudden occurrence.
Ritsuka turned in shock to see, through coiling smoke at the entrance, a familiar figure leaning against the wall, gasping for breath.
Her white uniform was covered in dust, her long silver hair now somewhat disheveled, but the usually timid look in her eyes had been replaced by an unprecedented, burning fire.
It was her! The Director!
By sheer willpower, Olga Marie Animusphere—whom Solomon's spatial magic had teleported to some unknown corner of the Temple—had managed to run all the way back!
She raised her head, eyes filled with anger, resentment, and the pride of being the successor, and glared with all her might at the man on the throne—her so-called "father."
Father and daughter locked eyes.
Invisible magic and willpower collided furiously in the air.
"What's happening?"
In the reality outside, the demon pillars' collective consciousness network was on the verge of collapse.
"She's… that little girl too…?"
Steve, looking at the dramatic scene on the screen, couldn't help but burst out laughing from the depths of his heart.
Ah, truly, as the story embraces a new climax—what a perfect surprise!