Episode 265: Humanity's Final Hymn; Humanity's Final Master… Fujimaru Ritsuka
『 Even though the path ahead was treacherous and unpredictable, driven by duty and a sense of mission, Mash still bravely stepped forward and firmly gave her answer:
"If… if this can bring us victory… then I will do it!"
With one hand placed over her heart, the resolution within Mash surged forth like a flowing river.
After Mash had made her resolve and prepared to use her Noble Phantasm to buy time for the group, Fujimaru Ritsuka, standing to the side, continued:
"Even if… even if Mash can hold her off, but…"
Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at Merlin with a puzzled gaze; he still couldn't grasp the current situation.
His eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment, as if seeking an answer—an answer that could lead them out of this peril.
Even if Mash could hold her off, it would only be a stalling tactic. The question was, how could they truly make this technique, known as Nega-Genesis, disappear?
Fujimaru Ritsuka's heart was filled with confusion, as if they were tightly trapped in an invisible net. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "This time, it really should be the end, right?" ]
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "This battle has lasted too long, and too many have been sacrificed." ]
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "Keep it up, I'm almost out of strength to cheer." ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "+ 1 + 1" ]
[ .....]
〜Naruto World〜
Konoha Village—
"Looks like this is the final showdown, Naruto.."
Watching this scene, Jiraiya also realized that this was the final strike. This single blow could not miss. Thinking back on everything they had been through, the sacrifices of so many Heroic Spirits, and the desperate strikes made—surely, it was all for this moment.
As long as the plan went smoothly, they would be able to kill the Genesis Goddess Tiamat and repair this Singularity.
Conversely, if this strike failed to kill Tiamat, they would find themselves in a desperate situation. They were already at the end of their rope, concentrating all their power into this one moment.
It seemed the outcome would be decided soon; it all depended on who would claim final victory.
By now, both Fujimaru Ritsuka's group and the Genesis Goddess Tiamat were on the verge of collapse.
Tiamat, having suffered the punishments of the Underworld, must have had a rough time of it.
Naruto, too, realized this.
"Pervy Sage… I hope they achieve final victory. This must be something that will be recorded in human history. My body can't help but feel electrified."
Saying this, Naruto couldn't help but stand up, waiting for the outcome with a serious expression.
In truth… in Jiraiya's heart, regardless of the story's ending, the effort along the way was plain for all to see, even moving the audience watching them.
So… no matter the result, they had given their all in this battle; everyone had put forth their utmost effort, and some had even sacrificed their lives for it.
In that moment, Jiraiya and Naruto silently hoped the balance of final victory would shift in their favor.
—
『 Merlin's grave words echoed once again from above the Underworld.
The air was thick with a stifling atmosphere that weighed heavily on the heart.
"Hmm… Fujimaru Ritsuka, you are right. Mash releasing her Noble Phantasm is ultimately just a stalling tactic, and the true decisive moment…" Merlin's voice carried an unquestionable determination.
"The moment Mash holds her off, someone must deliver the final blow to the Beast…" Merlin's words reached everyone's ears clearly, as if announcing an impending decisive battle.
Merlin slowly turned his head toward Fujimaru Ritsuka, speaking in an admonishing tone:
"But the person capable of doing such a thing…" His gaze seemed to pierce through everything, pointing directly to the heart of the matter.
"Nega-Genesis is a place that rejects old life and strives to create new life, allowing only the living to exist," Merlin explained, each word striking at the hearts of everyone present.
Though everyone there had prepared themselves mentally, hearing the words of the Flower Magician Merlin still left them feeling incredulous.
They seemed stunned by some unknown force, unable to react.
From his words, the only candidate pointed to that one Master, who was also the last savior of humanity.
Everyone understood what this meant—a monumental responsibility had fallen upon Fujimaru Ritsuka's shoulders.
"Then…" With Ishtar's words, everyone's eyes shifted to Fujimaru Ritsuka in an instant.
Their gazes held both anticipation and worry, as if waiting for a decisive moment.
Even Mash, who was usually slow to react, was shocked at this moment.
"Ah… ha…?!" She let out a cry of astonishment, clearly not having expected things to develop this way.
However.
Under everyone's gaze, Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes gradually became very firm.
He stared fixedly at the Genesis Goddess Tiamat before him, his breathing becoming rapid and powerful.
His slender frame rose and fell under the dual pressure of tension and determination, and his hands had already slowly clenched under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Realizing that humanity had no way back, Fujimaru Ritsuka had, at this moment, cast his own life to the back of his mind.
The current situation was a path to victory that could only be opened by rushing forward without hesitation.
He was ready; no matter how difficult the obstacles ahead were, he would forge ahead.
So… no unnecessary chatter.
Fujimaru Ritsuka's steely will was once again displayed without reservation.
It was as if no predicament could shake his determination; his eyes were firm and bright, and his whole being radiated a power that commanded respect.
"I'll go!"
These short words were filled with resolution and courage. With a mortal body, he would step forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with gods; this aura shook everything around him.
At this moment, Fujimaru Ritsuka had no distractions in his mind, leaving only how to reach the final victory.
He carefully considered every step and every detail, striving not to leave a single flaw.
After hearing the answer from Fujimaru Ritsuka, known as the last savior of humanity, everyone present could not help but cast admiring glances at him.
Whether ally or foe, they were deeply moved by this bravery at this moment.
Whether it was the cute mascot Fou, the wise and profound grand magus Merlin, or the two beautiful and elegant goddesses, they all nodded in acknowledgement to this young hero.
Their expressions were full of unconditional support and trust in Fujimaru Ritsuka.
Gilgamesh's eyes, which were as dazzling as silver moonlight intertwined with scorching flames, were also fixed tightly on the unyielding youth before him, casting a rare look of affirmation.
How rare it was to hear praise from the mouth of the immensely proud King of Heroes, who had rarely praised another!
He believed that very few people in this world could receive such high praise from Gilgamesh, yet now, Fujimaru Ritsuka, as an ordinary human, had achieved it.
Relying on his indomitable spiritual strength and never-say-die determination, even that legendary king was deeply moved—this was the spirit most worthy of human praise and emulation!
Looking at the young man standing in front, already prepared, a gentle smile could not help but appear on Gilgamesh's face.
"Good child," He thought silently in his heart.
"When that Nega-Genesis is truly activated, even someone as powerful as Tiamat will become helpless." Gilgamesh's voice was calm but serious; he was giving the most critical guidance to the little warrior about to face a life-or-death test.
At the same time, a dazzling golden ring of light gradually condensed in the air, appearing slowly behind the Golden King, accompanied by a trembling, powerful aura that erupted.
Undoubtedly, within that radiant ring, a dagger, tailor-made for Fujimaru Ritsuka and of a moderate size, gradually appeared.
"Take this!" Gilgamesh said softly, then casually tossed the incomparably precious weapon in his hand.
It turned into a stream of light, landing precisely in the other's palm. And the moment this dagger was tightly gripped, its owner immediately noticed its extraordinary nature.
The weight distribution was flawless, possessing both a steady, substantial feel and the ability to be manipulated at will; with just a slight application of force, it could unleash an unimaginable energy impact, yet it was extremely lightweight and would not hinder the wielder's agility.
Even without a special reminder, as intelligent and sharp as he was, he immediately realized the precious value of this tool—it was one of the top-tier divine artifacts from Gilgamesh's treasury.
Although onlookers could not touch it, one could tell this treasure was no small matter from the brilliant, ever-changing colors it emitted.
However, for him, the King of Heroes, gifting such a rare weapon was no small feat.
One must know that although the variety of famous weapons in his treasury was too numerous to count, those qualified to hold his beloved blades were extremely rare.
It was precisely because the person standing before him was Fujimaru Ritsuka, that excellent youth who always held fast to his original intention and constantly broke through his own limits, that he could receive such an honor.
Now, watching his friend, who held the heavy gift he had bestowed and was prepared to set off to face a powerful enemy, Gilgamesh gave one last concise yet powerful piece of advice: "Remember to attack her head; that is Tiamat's strong point and also its fatal weakness."
After hearing this crucial suggestion, Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded firmly once more, indicating he had kept it in mind and would definitely do his utmost to achieve this mission objective.
At this moment, all hope seemed to converge upon him; every previous sacrifice and every effort should see results at this moment.
Just as Fujimaru Ritsuka summoned his courage and prepared to step forward, Ereshkigal, who had been desperately resisting Tiamat's barrier, suddenly seemed to recall something important and shouted out.
"Fujimaru Ritsuka! Listen, my authority has no effect in there." Ereshkigal's warning was like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone watching, and everyone was stunned for a moment.
Fujimaru Ritsuka originally had no special power to speak of, and now that he had lost even the privilege of flight, what means would he rely on to achieve victory?
Having lost the assistance from the Underworld, Fujimaru Ritsuka had effectively reverted to an ordinary human.
Just thinking about climbing over Tiamat's massive body was an impossible task for an ordinary human, let alone the fact that Fujimaru Ritsuka only knew a little bit of magic application at this point.
Under these circumstances, the atmosphere at the scene seemed to become even more grave and silent.
Everyone present couldn't help but feel more uneasy, as no one could predict what unpredictable situations might arise next.
Relying solely on a Master to attempt these things felt too forced and impractical, no matter how you looked at it.
But since things had progressed to this point, there was no turning back.
'The arrow is on the bowstring and must be fired'—this phrase could not be more appropriate here.
In response, Fujimaru Ritsuka didn't say much, just nodded slightly, indicating he had the determination and preparation to face the difficulties.
At this moment, Ereshkigal, standing at the front and struggling to stop the barrier from continuing to expand, appeared increasingly weak and exhausted; her pale face was covered in traces of struggle, and her rapid, ragged breathing and occasionally trembling body all spoke to how terrible her physical condition was.
However, although everyone around clearly saw all these changes and felt heartache for this strong goddess, no one spoke to point out the reality.
Because at such a critical juncture, showing this fragility to Fujimaru Ritsuka, who was about to step onto the battlefield, was clearly not the best choice.
Realizing that Ereshkigal could barely hold on, and that even her tone of voice showed she was very weak and needed a great deal of effort to speak.
Merlin did not hesitate or waste precious time after seeing all this.
"Fujimaru Ritsuka… Mash and I will release our Noble Phantasms simultaneously," Merlin said earnestly to the youth before him.
"All you need to do is rush forward." Merlin's words attracted everyone's eyes and attention at this moment, and everyone looked at this person who had always been the key figure in the team.
At this very moment, Mash, the girl with short pink hair who had been standing beside Fujimaru Ritsuka, felt an unprecedented sense of tension slowly accumulating in her heart because of the impending mission.
While worried about whether such a strategy could truly be effective, she also felt doubts about her current state, which caused uncertainty and hesitation to appear on her face.
Perhaps because he captured that worry hidden deep in the girl's heart, Fujimaru Ritsuka happened to turn his gaze toward Mash, who was experiencing this inner struggle.
When she felt herself being watched, Mash instantly felt the responsibility on her shoulders become even heavier.
"Master… I…" she tried to express her unease to Fujimaru Ritsuka.
However, before she could finish, a pair of warm, powerful hands were suddenly and gently placed upon Mash's scarred shoulders, which were scarred from countless past battles.
Warmth slowly spread through his palms, giving Mash a sense of security and the strength to keep going in such a cold and crisis-filled environment.
Fujimaru Ritsuka turned his head to look at the girl beside him, his usually serious face now showing a rare gentleness: "Mash… you just need to be responsible for releasing your Noble Phantasm with all your might. You can leave all the other problems to me to solve!"
Upon hearing this, Mash felt a hot flame of battle ignite in her heart; this conviction made her feel that even if she shed more sweat and blood, it was worth a try!
"Yes!" A firm and loud reply escaped Mash's lips.
"I believe in you, my Master! I will support you anytime, anywhere!"
The girl who had been troubled by whether she could overcome the powerful resistance of Nega-Genesis was gone; now, her eyes shone with the determination to win, and the corners of her mouth even raised in a confident and sweet smile.
If this was the final battle leading to the shores of victory, if facing such a severe challenge was necessary to achieve final glory, then Mash was willing to stand up bravely to protect the person she loved.
She would tightly grasp this opportunity, which might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and use the indestructible great shield in her hand as a vanguard to pave a path directly to the pinnacle of hope for her dear Master.
Facing Ereshkigal, who was gradually losing her stamina while suppressing the erosive power of Nega-Genesis and whose face was becoming paler and weaker until she could barely stand, everyone could clearly recognize that this long and arduous struggle had finally reached its end. 』
『 .....』
〜Boardtop World, Disboard〜
"Sora… will they win?"
Stephanie Dola saw the rarely-seen grave expression on Sora's face and was surprised for a moment, asking:
"They will win… never underestimate the power of humanity!"
Sora's grave words made Stephanie Dola feel uncomfortable for a moment, and when she looked at Shiro, the only response she got was a gentle nod.
—