Detective Conan World.
Kudo Shinichi fell silent. Looking at Shuvi's determined expression, he felt a strange tightness in his chest, even though he lived in a world where death was common.
Kudo Shinichi had seen far too many tragedies and the ugly side of humanity. He originally thought that no matter what kind of twist occurred, he could accept it as a matter of course.
But now, looking at Shuvi like this and the relentlessly pressing Jibril.
Kudo Shinichi took a deep breath, only hoping that Shuvi could make it out alive, even though she had said she would bet everything on these 251 seconds.
The outcome was not yet fully revealed; Shuvi had obtained even greater power from her race.
She should still have the ability to resist now. If she could hold on, or if the Ex-machina race sent others to help.
Then there might still be hope for Shuvi's survival.
"You have to survive, Shuvi."
Kudo Shinichi watched the battle between Shuvi and Jibril, thinking this silently in his heart.
Naruto World, Akatsuki Organization.
"This is bad."
Looking at Shuvi, Sasori's voice showed a hint of emotion. He seemed to feel some pity for Shuvi being beaten so miserably. As a puppet master, he naturally felt a connection to a being made entirely of machinery like Shuvi.
"Yeah, it's bad. That Jibril is ridiculously strong," Deidara said, frowning slightly as he looked at Shuvi. "And this Shuvi is also very strong. The attack she just launched could be called extremely powerful."
Indeed, although the attack Shuvi had launched earlier was aimed at Jibril, the shockwaves and the resulting destruction were quite staggering.
Deidara even found himself wondering at this moment: if he were to go there himself, would he even be able to defeat Shuvi?
But he quickly shook the thought away. Was he joking? He was a member of the Akatsuki Organization and the disciple of the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki. How could he possibly lose to a mere Analysis Unit?!
However, looking at the 'transformed' Shuvi in the video, Deidara felt that he might truly be unable to defeat her. He really needed to work harder!
"Yes, it seems we underestimated them a bit too much."
Pain spoke up as well, his brow furrowed slightly. He clearly hadn't expected the battle between Shuvi and Jibril to be so intense. He didn't even think he could intervene in a battle of this level.
Wait, with the power of the Deva Path, he might be able to hold out for a moment.
But the problem was, after holding out for a moment, he'd likely be torn into several pieces within seconds.
Even if his real body went there, the outcome would probably be similar to the Deva Path's—he'd just live a bit longer before being killed by Jibril.
"A battle of this level would probably require Six Paths Madara, Itachi-san's younger brother, that Naruto, or Ōtsutsuki Kaguya to intervene," Kisame remarked.
Kisame was also quite surprised because they had only obtained information about the No Game No Life World through two videos.
One was the video of the Blank Siblings fighting Jibril.
The other was the video currently being broadcast.
However, in those two videos, combat rarely occurred. Even if battle scenes appeared a few times, they were just flashes. A scene like this where both sides were truly fighting could be said to be the first time.
It was also this video that made most of the experts realize how terrifying the top-tier powerhouses of the No Game No Life World were.
Setting Jibril aside—who had appeared at ease from the beginning, showing surprise a few times but only out of unexpectedness.
She had not shown the solemn expression one would have when truly facing a sense of crisis.
The fraction of power Shuvi displayed made most experts in the Naruto World frown, feeling that the strength she showed was enough for her to hold a place in the Ninja World.
Yet a Shuvi like this was being one-sidedly toyed with by Jibril, much like the Fourth Hokage being unable to last a single round against Six Paths Madara.
The strength of the two sides was simply not in the same dimension.
The power Jibril displayed made people feel the meaning of absolute, despairing strength.
Pain also fell silent. Calling himself a 'god', he felt he was completely unable to oppose a god-slaying weapon like Jibril.
"An overwhelming sense of despair."
Kakuzu spoke, his voice very calm: "Just like when I tried to assassinate Senju Hashirama back then. As soon as he made a move, I knew he was an enemy I could never defeat."
"Now this Shuvi is facing an unbeatable enemy. Like me back then, she knew she was no match and chose to flee."
"Unfortunately, she didn't succeed in escaping and was instead forced into a true dead end."
"Even though she has a chance to catch her breath now, only death remains for her."
Kakuzu shook his head, a trace of pity flashing in his eyes. Even he felt a bit of compassion for Shuvi.
It wasn't that he felt compassion because of the feelings between Shuvi and Riku; after all, his current values in life were centered solely on money.
Money, and more money, was Kakuzu's current goal.
The reason he felt compassion for Shuvi was simple: Kakuzu seemed to see a version of himself from another timeline in her.
If the Village Higher-Ups had ordered him to assassinate Uchiha Madara instead of Senju Hashirama, it would have been a literal death sentence.
There was no need to elaborate on Uchiha Madara's personality; he didn't have a good temper like Senju Hashirama. If one dared to try and kill him, they had to be prepared for death.
The others remained silent as well; after all, they could all see that Shuvi currently had no possibility of winning.
She was doomed.
Unless a miracle occurred.
Magical Girl Illya World.
"Don't lose!!!!"
Illya shouted, her face filled with anxiety as if she were the one fighting. She cried out, "251 seconds isn't your whole life! You still have 892 years to live!! Riku is waiting for you!"
"Yeah! That's right! 251 seconds isn't your limit! Go for it!!!"
magical ruby was also cheering from the side; she didn't want Shuvi to pass away like this either.
After all, the love between her and Riku had moved both Illya and her.
"Go for it." Magical Sapphire felt the same way. She floated next to Miyu; though she wasn't as emotional as her sister, she didn't want Shuvi to lose either.
Because if Shuvi lost, it would mean certain death.
"Don't lose to her, Shuvi." Miyu also quietly clenched her fists, staring at Shuvi and Jibril in the video.
Although Miyu had long expected a twist, she hadn't anticipated that the 'reversal' would come so quickly just as the plan was about to succeed.
Illya continued to shout loudly from the side.
For a moment, Illya even wanted to rush into the screen to help Shuvi fight Jibril.
Even though she was just an ordinary Magical Girl and likely couldn't defeat Jibril even if she were there, Illya felt that Shuvi was too pitiful.
She had finally gained a heart and her own emotions, only to be discovered by Jibril just as Riku's plan was nearing completion.
So, don't lose!!!
The video continued to play.
"I will bet everything on these 251 seconds!"
Shuvi spread her steel wings, and directly below her was Jibril, who had also spread her pitch-black wings.
The two stared at each other. Jibril stopped her attacks and looked at Shuvi with an unfriendly expression. "Those massive wings... are you mocking me?"
Jibril flapped her wings and flew upward, looking at Shuvi coldly. "Just a mere doll, you've got quite some nerve."
Clearly, Jibril was very displeased by Shuvi spreading her steel wings, as it was, in a sense, a provocation and a mockery of her.
Facing Jibril's hostility, Shuvi said very seriously, "Shuvi."
"What?" Jibril was confused, not understanding why she was saying that name now.
"I haven't told you my name yet," Shuvi said calmly. By now, her body had already begun to show signs of melting.
Ultimately, she was just an Analysis Unit; her hardware performance was insufficient. After using such immense power, her body couldn't handle the load, causing parts of her frame to melt.
In this state, even if Jibril didn't attack and just watched, Shuvi would certainly die.
However, if Jibril were to do that, Shuvi might actually be happy.
As long as she held out for 251 seconds, she would succeed.
"This is me." Even as parts of her body melted, Shuvi continued to smile. She looked at Jibril and said earnestly, "The precious self that Riku gave me."
"I see."
Jibril looked at Shuvi, who had stated her name. She seemed to understand something and performed a polite gesture like a noble lady. "I am Jibril. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"And then..."
Within Jibril's cross-marked pupils, killing intent flared. She said emotionlessly, "It's time to say farewell!"
Boom—!!!!
A terrifying explosion rang out as Jibril launched her attack. She charged toward Shuvi at an unimaginable speed, striking at her massive mechanical wings.
On the earth ravaged by world-altering changes, Jibril unleashed an onslaught upon Shuvi like a violent storm, with countless attacks raining down upon her.
Shuvi's movements surpassed her limits. She controlled her steel wings to block every single attack.
However, as a cost, Shuvi's joints turned to plasma, melting away in a flash of white light.
Unable to react or even perceive it, Shuvi barely remained standing amidst Jibril's tempestuous assault.
She utilized all the armaments of the Ex-machina race and everything she had learned from humans, struggling desperately for survival.
This scene made countless viewers feel heartache, and at the same time, they were astonished that Shuvi could hold out for so long.
Just what kind of obsession, and what kind of calculation method, could withstand such a fierce onslaught from Jibril?
It was at this moment that Shuvi's inner thoughts surfaced.
'Don't follow her pace. Never give up the initiative.'
'Let her underestimate me. Let her think I'm no threat.'
'Make her cautious. Create the illusion that she can't attack me recklessly.'
'Even if I can't do it now, I'll entrust it to the next you.'
Relying on the knowledge gained from humans, Shuvi, with her broken and battered body, managed to endure Jibril's attacks.
Shuvi even counterattacked. As she dodged, parried, and neutralized attacks in the nick of time, Jibril gasped in amazement, her body trembling with rage.
To think that the being before her, this creature, was merely an Analysis Unit of the Ex-machina race—how could she possibly withstand her attacks?
Jibril had her own pride; even among the Flügel, she was one of the strongest.
Logically, she should have been able to defeat a lone Ex-machina Analysis Unit quickly, yet after'so much' time, she still hadn't succeeded.
This was truly unacceptable to Jibril. She launched another fierce attack, only to be blasted back by Shuvi's intense artillery fire.
Compared to Jibril, who couldn't accept her failure to finish Shuvi in a'short time'...
Shuvi was already putting everything into resisting Jibril. Looking at the numbers displayed in her field of vision, she knew she was at her limit.
Whether she could block Jibril's next attack, even Shuvi didn't know. She cried out with a sob in her voice, "I can't die!!! I can't die yet!!!!"
Bang—!!!
Countless blue lasers descended from the sky. Jibril, who was about to attack again, was shot down and crashed heavily onto the ground.
However, even after taking a direct hit, Jibril remained unscathed. With a grim expression, she flew back up.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—!!!
Countless shells fell below. Jibril's figure weaved through the barrage without being hit once.
Rumble—!!!
A terrifying explosion rang out again, the blast radius nearly engulfing the land below.
Jibril fired another beam of light, and this time, it looked like it would hit the left hand.
No, not just the left hand, but the ring on it!
"Release! Passage Control!"
With unbelievable reaction speed, Shuvi activated Passage Control, diverting the beam fired by Jibril.
However, the diverted beam missed the left hand but pierced through her chest!
It was only a tiny distance away from her core, but even that small distance was enough to declare victory for Jibril.
Bang, bang, bang, bang!!!
After Shuvi was hit, countless beams of light flew up from below, pouring onto her massive steel wings.
At that moment, the previously omnipotent steel wings ceased to function.
And Shuvi's small, fragile figure fell heavily from the sky, a sight that once again brought pain to countless hearts.
Jibril appeared, looking at Shuvi as she fell from the sky. Her voice was very calm. "Finally, you made a classic mistake. You certainly made me work for it."
"Mistake?"
Shuvi looked at the ring in her hand and replied absently, "What are you talking about?"
At this moment, Shuvi indeed could not move, but shifting her gaze, she smiled.
On the ring finger of her left hand...
...she had protected that faintly glowing ring.
Bzzzt, bzzzt, bzzzt!!!!
Static noise rang out; because Shuvi could no longer hold out, the data upload was being affected.
"As I thought." A terrifying surge of energy erupted from Jibril. She looked at Shuvi and said seriously, "I apologize for calling you scrap metal earlier. I hereby acknowledge that you are a threat that must be eliminated."
"You are an enemy worthy of my full strength!"
In Jibril's hands, a flickering, amorphous spear appeared.
Without a doubt, the Flügel had transformed her entire internal structure into spirit corridor-connected nerves, drawing power from the source current of the spirit corridor to strike—literally, this was the Flügel's greatest and strongest blow.
The Ex-machina race also had imitation weapons of the Heavenly Strike, and this wasn't the first time Shuvi had witnessed one.
However, Jibril's Heavenly Strike, with its swirling, vortex-like power...
...was on a completely different level compared to the Heavenly Strike in her data and knowledge.
Shuvi showed an expression of regret and sadness.
She really couldn't compete with Jibril.
In the other part of the screen, because Shuvi was reaching her limit, the progress of the data upload slowed slightly.
But in the next second, light shone again!
The progress of Shuvi's data upload accelerated at an unimaginable speed. This wasn't due to Shuvi's obsession.
Rather, it was because Jibril had finally acknowledged Shuvi. By intending to use her most powerful technique, she caused the surrounding spirits to become active, incidentally pushing the upload progress straight to completion.
"Syn...chro...nization... com...plete."
Perhaps influenced by the massive power swirling overhead, the communication, laced with static, announced.
"Ah..."
Shuvi's expression was somewhat dazed.
「üc207Pr4f5t9 Correction—Prayer Unit Shuvi.」
The cold male voice changed slightly at this moment, becoming more 'vibrant'. He said calmly, "We will take it from here. You are permitted to rest—have a good dream."
The numbers originally displayed in Shuvi's field of vision now showed that synchronization was complete.
She had succeeded.
As the Heavenly Strike descended, Shuvi looked at the ring in her hand and smiled.
"This game... Shuvi wins."
Yes, she had won. Though she lost the battle against Jibril, she had triumphed in another fight.
Thinking this, Shuvi slowly closed her eyes, a 'happy' smile playing on her lips. But there was one last thing she had to do.
"Release: Restricted Entry."
Shuvi used her final strength to protect the ring she shared with Riku.
The terrifying Heavenly Strike fell from the sky, striking Shuvi squarely. The explosion was horrific.
It could be said that most beings could feel it—an attack like this was not something they could defend against or block.
Yet even so, most of the empathetic strong humans watching the video had one thought in mind.
And that was: this Jibril is absolutely detestable!!! Even if they could understand her side's position.
But the story they'd watched first was Shuvi and Riku's—and that couple had already lost so many times. Couldn't they be allowed to win just once?!
The crowd's resentment was almost tangible, yet Shuvi's inner voice kept playing.
'Riku, Riku… Shuvi finally understands. Meeting you was the happiest thing that's ever happened to Shuvi.'
'Next time, I will never let go.'
At that moment Riku woke as well. He looked at his hand; the beloved was no longer there. His pupils contracted—he seemed to sense what had happened.
'I truly, deeply love you.'
Shuvi's voice, thick with regret and love, lingered in the air.
Somewhere else, in an unknown location, the colossal mechanical body seemed to share the sorrow; a single tear rolled down.
That lone tear felt like an omen.
At the center of the battlefield Jibril spoke—yet her voice carried a subtle change.
"I didn't take her head, and her parts are scattered everywhere."
A tiny, loli-shaped Jibril appeared. Pouting at her new form, she tried to act cute: "And I used up all my power and shrank like this—what a terrible deal!"
Because she had unleashed the full Heavenly Strike, Jibril would be unable to act normally for at least five years.
Shuvi, in contrast, had truly passed away.
Outside the video.
Magical Girl Illya World.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah—!!!!!!"
Illya let out a groundhog-like scream, clutching her hair as frightening magical power erupted from her.
Yes, magical power. In that instant Illya seemed to break her own limit and quietly advanced a large step in strength.
Shuvi's death hit her hard.
It left even magical ruby dumbfounded. She knew Illya was gifted, but could a person really burst beyond their limits when emotions ran that high?
Miyu, standing nearby, felt the same. Watching Shuvi die made her chest ache.
Why did it have to be like this? Shuvi and Riku loved each other so much; Shuvi had only wanted to run, not to fight Jibril.
Yet Jibril refused to let her go.
Miyu understood the reason: an Ex-machina who possessed emotions and could fight on instinct was too dangerous.
If a single unit was that troublesome, what if the whole race were like her?
Understanding didn't mean forgiveness—Miyu couldn't pardon Jibril, no matter how cute she later looked.
"Unforgivable! Unforgivable!!"
After her brief 'breakthrough' Illya regained her senses. Pointing at Jibril on the screen she shouted, "Someone like you can never be forgiven!"
Good-tempered Illya had finally exploded; she had never hated anyone this much.
Now she did.
Type-Moon/Fate World, Sixth Singularity, Sacred Round Table Domain.
"How could this happen…"
Mash clenched her fists, stunned. The ever-resolute Miss Shuvi had actually died—killed by Jibril.
"War really is a terrible thing," Fujimaru Ritsuka said, seeing the heart of it: the war of that world had caused Shuvi's death.
In that world's future, the Blank Siblings would defeat Jibril through games, with no one dying.
But Shuvi's era was the past—a time drenched in blood and violence.
"War has never been a pretty word."
Da Vinci sighed. She had watched countless deaths and seen beings spend lifetimes chasing "truth."
She pitied Riku and Shuvi, yet remained rational—there was still hope.
Watching the video, Da Vinci said firmly, "Riku is still alive; the Ex-machina will surely help. His plan will continue, and with the data Shuvi uploaded, maybe they can even—"
She didn't finish, but Mash and Fujimaru caught her meaning.
"!!!!!!"
Their eyes lit up. Right—Shuvi wasn't human; she was Ex-machina.
Though she had died, resurrection might be possible—spare bodies, backups; didn't movies always do that?
Besides, that unknown male voice had said, "Let Shuvi rest; leave the rest to us."
And—there was still the star cup! The star cup!
The conceptual device that could make its holder the One True God, contested even by the Phantasma Race.
If Riku or another Ex-machina obtained the star cup, Riku could live—and Shuvi might return.
Neither Mash nor Fujimaru knew the cup's exact power, but if it could turn someone into the One True God, resurrecting someone should be trivial.
Much like the real Holy Grail—not the ones forged by the King of Mages.
"Exactly, Senpai!!!"
Excited, Mash remembered: the star cup still existed; despair hadn't fully arrived.
Riku was alive; he would carry out the plan, seize the star cup and usher in a world of games.
"Yeah—there's still the star cup!"
Fujimaru quietly exhaled, renewed reason to keep watching. The scene had been agonizing; she'd almost stopped.
But now her eyes held light. As long as hope remained, Riku could rise again and keep fighting for Shuvi.
One-Punch Man World.
"…"
Genos tightened his fists, expression grave; he couldn't accept this ending.
At last Shuvi and Riku had become everything to each other; the robot Shuvi had gained a heart and a beloved.
Riku was no longer shutting himself away; he no longer lived like a cold, heartless machine.
During the years he spent with Shuvi, Riku learned to smile, and his personality became almost identical to Sora's in the previous clip.
But now, knowing Shuvi was dead, would Riku still be able to smile? Genos didn't think so.
"You—!"
Tornado bristled with anger, snatching up her phone and dialing the Hero Association. "Get me a chicken! I'm having chicken tonight!"
"Why chicken?" Saitama's head filled with question marks; he couldn't grasp why Tornado wanted poultry.
"Because chickens have wings, and to me the Flügel are basically chickens anyway!"
Tornado spat the words viciously. She knew she couldn't beat Jibril—after all, that final Heavenly Strike had felt like death itself—but the other woman was unlikely to appear in this world. And if she did, the man beside her would never stand by and do nothing.
So Tornado had nothing to fear from Jibril.
"Then I'll make chicken stew with mushrooms," Genos said, equally furious; he'd grown fond of Shuvi and Riku.
"I don't get the details, but I'll handle the eating," Saitama added, a bit annoyed though more wistful than angry.
Shuvi and Riku were such a waste; if he could, Saitama would leap into their world, save Shuvi, and reunite her with Riku.
Therefore, no matter who stood in his way, Saitama would move forward without hesitation.
Sadly, it was impossible; he couldn't travel through time to avert the tragedy.
No Game No Life World, Great Library.
"..."
Jibril fell silent, a pang of regret stirring inside. Now she understood why the Ex-machina race had entered the war.
It was because she had attacked the being called Shuvi.
She had driven her to the brink, forcing Shuvi to upload everything—heart included—back to her people.
Perhaps that was why every Ex-machina had joined the war, slaughtered half the Flügel, challenged Artosh himself, and torn the god's essence from him.
"The sinner… is me?"
In that instant Jibril realized: her killing Shuvi had brought the Ex-machina into the fight and caused everything that followed.
As for Riku's plan, Jibril saw it could never succeed; he knew of Heavenly Strike but perhaps not of God Strike.
After all, those weren't toys the other two races had built.
Recalling Artosh's later words, Jibril roughly understood: from the start he might have noticed Riku's group, yet waited for the "weak" to strike, holding back until Riku made his move—then fought, and lost.
With everything clear, Jibril slumped in her chair, eyes vacant, abandoning all thought.
For six thousand years the Flügel had sought the truth; now most of it lay bare, and they could scarcely accept it.
A single analysis unit had changed the fate of an entire race.
Theoretically impossible, yet it had happened, leaving them no choice but to accept.
The video continued.
Riku awoke, pupils trembling at the bird-leg band that told him Shuvi had fallen.
"I really thought we'd win this time—together with Shuvi, with everyone."
He stood once more upon the chessboard, now pitch-black, mirroring the darkness inside him.
Hand shaking, he lifted a piece, voice cracking: "I don't know which god made humans, but please—just once!"
"Can't we win just once?"
Behind him a shadowy figure flickered, listening yet powerless to act.
"Then why—" Riku's composure snapped; he slammed the board. "—give me a heart at all?"
He stretched out his hand, voice breaking: "Shuvi… why?"
At that instant Shuvi seemed alive again, clasping his hand gently: "Riku, live until Shuvi dies."
The memory of her plea became the final straw.
"Right…"
Understanding dawned; he gazed skyward and whispered, "Now Shuvi's gone, I'll follow."
Leaning against the piece, he relaxed as if falling asleep.
The screen dimmed, hinting that if he slept on, he would leave the world forever.
"Designate: Riku."
As his mind—and soul—plunged toward oblivion, a voice caught him at the edge.
Mechanical yet familiar, it roused him; through half-open eyes he saw a shadowy, robed figure.
Where had it come from? How long had it stood there?
Questions flickered, then faded—none of it mattered now.
"Who are you?" he asked out of courtesy alone.
"I have no name, yet they call me Einzige."
The voice was familiar to the viewers; it belonged to the man who had spoken to Shuvi earlier. Step by step he walked toward Rick, calm and steady. "I have come to fulfill the will entrusted to me by the will-entity—Shuvi."
!!!!!
Rick's eyes widened slightly; life sparked again in his previously vacant gaze. "Shuvi?!" he breathed in disbelief.
...
Einzih wasted no words. "Rule two: no one may die. Under Rick's rules, the loss of a tool does not count as defeat."
These were Shuvi's last words, now spoken to Rick through Einzih.
Hearing himself labeled a tool, Rick's pupils shook; he stared ahead at Einzih in stunned disbelief.
Einzih continued, "Therefore Shuvi's loss is excluded. Checkmate, Rick. The rest is up to you."
He produced a ring and placed it in Rick's hand.
Rick's trembling fingers closed around the band; his whole body shook, grief beyond words.
The instant he saw the ring he knew: with her final breath Shuvi had fought to protect it.
While Rick drowned in sorrow,
Einzih stepped aside and spoke evenly, "I will provide supplementary data.
One: at the current Pass-Regulation installation points, other races have already gathered. If we approach, detection probability is 98% and combat is almost certain.
Two: only twenty-four of the installed Pass-Regulation units are functional; directing their energy to pierce the planet is impossible.
However, diversion to the southwest is viable.
!
Rick's head snapped up, understanding flashing across his face.
Einzih went on, "Two: we Ex-machina can analyze and replicate enemy attacks. With that copied weapon, the Will-bearer Rick can pierce the planet, and the star cup will appear in your hand."
Rick turned to him, scarcely believing what he heard.
Einzih pushed back his hood and faced Rick, voice as calm as Shuvi's had once been. "We Ex-machina are heartless machines—mere tools. We obey and execute commands.
Therefore, Will-bearer Rick, revise the plan and issue your order."
Rick drew a shaky breath, clutching the ring. "Shuvi, the loss of a tool isn't counted in the rules.
Shuvi, if that is your wish—if that is what you desire—"
In that instant Rick reverted to his former self, his heart sealed forever for Shuvi's final will.
He would seize true victory in this game.
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