In the throne hall of the Temple of Time, the air was abuzz with the enormous magical power unleashed simultaneously by two Animuspheres. The sudden return of Olga Marie was undoubtedly a fresh variable in this final showdown.
However, for Marisbury, already seated on the throne, any emotions stirred by this "unexpected" event did not last even a second. His pupils, shrinking slightly in surprise, quickly returned to their deep, composed state. He even gave his trademark, nonchalant smile, as if to let his daughter know everything was under control.
Without pause, he continued chanting the ancestral spell of his bloodline, his tone calm and emotionless. Not to be outdone, Olga Marie also began reciting, at nearly the same frequency and with all her might, the great magic she had secretly watched, practiced, and mastered in her father's study—the very spell which played a key role during the "Rail Zeppelin" incident.
Father and daughter's voices, one as steady as the starry sky, the other as clear as a meteor streak, created a strange resonance and stark contrast within the otherwise empty temple.
"The cosmos, the gods, Animus. ×2"
"Stars, Cosmos, Gods, Antrum, Unbrith.×2"
"Anima, Animusphere ×2!!"
At the very moment the final syllables fell, the spell "Anima, Animusphere" was activated—simultaneously!
"Don't use that spell!"
"Huh...?"
At that moment, Lev—who had been tightly bound by Solomon's magecraft—roared in anger at Olga Marie. The young director paused in shock.
In that instant, the false canopy of the Temple of Time was torn apart, revealing the profound, simulated universe lurking behind. Like a real meteor shower, countless fragments of stars trailed blue luminescence as they rained down from the sky!
At the same time, dozens of enormous, translucent beam cannons formed purely of starlight condensed into shape—radiating a sacred yet chilling aura of death as they descended. Half the meteor barrage targeted perfectly the place where Ritsuka Fujimaru and Lev stood, while the other half, imbued with all of Olga Marie's anger and resolve, was directed squarely at Marisbury on the throne.
But just as Olga Marie thought that a full assault would at least force her father to respond seriously, something shocking happened—Marisbury did not even glance toward the attacks whizzing at him. Instead, he simply smiled and turned, greeting King Solomon beside him with casual ease.
"Solomon, handle this, would you?"
"Understood, Master."
The King of Magecraft, who was simultaneously dealing with Ritsuka's Shadow Servant's NP onslaught and hurrying to accelerate his attacks, could spare only a split second of attention to glance at Olga Marie.
His right hand, clenched loosely in midair while holding the five rings, performed an unassuming gesture. With only this simple act, Olga Marie instantly felt her connection with the stars ruthlessly severed by an irresistible higher authority.
The "aerial bombs" she had released betrayed her in an instant!
Perhaps, because magical attacks launched through her own pseudo-Servant had often been effective in the past, she had managed to maintain the illusion that all her spells would work here too. But the Grand Magecraft "Anima, Animusphere," which uses the sky itself as a magic circuit, was beyond the scope of pseudo-Servant abilities, giving Solomon the opportunity to take control—a fact that caught her totally off guard.
The beam cannons meant for Marisbury elegantly, yet cruelly, arced in midair, merging with Marisbury's own attack, doubling in power as they surged toward Ritsuka Fujimaru!
"No...!"
Olga Marie screamed in desperation. Her frantic resistance was easily turned against her by her father, her power now a weapon endangering her friends. This blow was more devastating than any spell.
"It is finished."
Marisbury quietly declared, as if he had already foreseen this outcome.
…
Meanwhile, the collective consciousness network of the Demon Pillars fell into chaos.
"Look! That's the king's power of domination! It's simply ridiculous!"
"To even steal his own daughter's magecraft—this human is a demon!"
"It's over, it's over. That brat's going to be blown to pieces by the power of our people."
...
But just as the dual "Anima, Animuspheres" were about to engulf Ritsuka on the ground—another, clear, determined girl's voice rang out across the battlefield!
"――Lord Chaldeas!"
In an instant, like a miracle descending from heaven, a massive circular shield of pure violet light appeared in front of Ritsuka! The intricate patterns across its surface continued without end, emitting an unbreakable aura as if it was meant to guard not just one person, but the very core of human civilization itself.
Boom—!!!
The torrent of destructive meteors and beam cannons crashed against the violet shield, releasing a deafening crash. Both waves of planetary attacks were no less formidable than the magecraft performed by Crypter King in the Olympian Lostbelt of the Age of Gods—perhaps even stronger—yet the pseudo-Servant girl, burning with a will beyond belief, withstood them.
Intense shockwaves rolled outward, lifting layers from the ground. Even as the light faded, the shield still stood. Behind it, a petite figure knelt on the floor, supporting the giant barrier with all her might. Her arms trembled, and her pale purple hair was damp with sweat.
It was Mash Kyrielight!
She had finally returned from the other side of the Temple of Time at the crucial moment!
Looking up at the unharmed Ritsuka behind her, Mash saw a bright and relieved smile upon Ritsuka's face.
"Senpai... I'm sorry I'm late."
"Mash!"
Ritsuka shouted in astonishment.
Thus, at last—the entire Chaldea team had reassembled!
Steve, watching the arrayed Master and Shield Maiden on the screen, smiled even wider. "Now, the prologue is over," he thought. "The real show is about to begin."
…