Chapter 1: Anomalous Detection
The command center of Chaldea hummed with the persistent drone of machinery. Holographic displays cast an ethereal blue glow across concerned faces as data scrolled endlessly on multiple screens.
Director Goredolf Musik paced back and forth, his usually impeccable uniform showing signs of prolonged wear. Dark circles had formed under his eyes, testament to the sleepless nights that had become routine since the anomaly's detection three weeks ago.
"Run the analysis again," he commanded, his voice strained but authoritative.
Leonardo da Vinci—in her smaller, more energy-efficient form—sighed as she adjusted parameters on the main console. "Director, we've already run this simulation seventeen times. The results remain consistent."
"And yet they make no sense!" Goredolf slammed his palm against the table, causing several technicians to jump. "A realm outside proper time-space that isn't actively damaging the timeline? That's not consuming human history? That's just... sitting there?"
"Not merely sitting there," corrected Holmes, stepping forward from the shadows where he had been silently observing. "It's... prospering. Growing in complexity while maintaining perfect stability."
Mash Kyrielight, who had matured considerably since the Lostbelt conflicts, adjusted her glasses as she analyzed the central hologram. The anomaly appeared as a perfect sphere of swirling gold and silver, beautiful yet impenetrable even to their most sophisticated instruments.
"It's like nothing we've encountered before," she said quietly. "Not a Singularity, not a Lostbelt... it's something else entirely."
"The magical energy readings are off the charts," added Da Vinci. "We're detecting multiple divine-level entities contained within, but there's no sign of conflict, no power struggle, just... harmony."
Goredolf rubbed his temples. "I don't trust 'harmony' when it comes to divine entities. The last time gods 'harmonized,' they attempted to prune humanity from existence."
The door to the command center hissed open as a redheaded young man strode in, followed by a petite servant with long white hair. Ritsuka Fujimaru had aged since his first days at Chaldea—harder now around the eyes, carrying himself with the quiet confidence of someone who had saved the world multiple times.
"You called for us, Director?" he asked, his voice deeper than years past.
"Ah, Fujimaru. Yes, we need your perspective," Goredolf gestured toward the hologram. "This anomaly—Avalon Evernight, according to fragments of preserved texts—refuses to yield any information. We've decided we have no choice but to make direct contact."
Anastasia, the Cryomancer princess who had developed an unusually close relationship with Ritsuka during their shared battles, frowned. "The energy signature feels... familiar somehow. Like a distant echo of proper Avalon, but..."
"But twisted into something else," finished Holmes. "Something altogether more concentrated and defined."
"The threat assessment?" asked Ritsuka, ever practical.
Da Vinci shook her head. "That's just it. There's no clear indication of hostile intent. The anomaly isn't expanding aggressively. It's not tampering with human history. It's simply... existing."
"Which makes it all the more suspicious," Goredolf interjected. "Nothing in this universe simply 'exists' without purpose."
Holmes nodded. "Indeed. Which is why we've been assembling our strongest available servants for a reconnaissance mission."
"I see," said Ritsuka, his expression carefully neutral. "And you want me to lead the team?"
"You've maintained contracts with our most powerful servants," Da Vinci explained. "No one else has your compatibility and field experience."
Ritsuka's gaze drifted to the hologram. "When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow," Goredolf replied grimly. "After the final briefing with all selected servants. We're not taking any chances with this one."
As the meeting continued, none noticed the smallest of smiles playing on Anastasia's lips as she stared at the swirling golden sphere. Something stirred in her memory—a fragment of knowledge from beyond time, something her Saint Graph recognized but couldn't quite place.
Later that night, Ritsuka stood alone on the observation deck, staring out at the snow-covered mountains surrounding Chaldea. The door slid open behind him, and he didn't need to turn to know who had joined him.
"Worried about tomorrow?" Mash asked, coming to stand beside him.
"Always," he admitted with a small smile. "But that's nothing new."
Mash had grown into her role as both shield and warrior. Gone was the timid girl who once hid behind her massive shield; now she stood tall, her lavender hair longer and tied back in a practical braid for combat.
"This one feels different," she said quietly. "Not dangerous exactly, but... significant."
Ritsuka nodded. "I feel it too. Like we're about to cross a threshold we can't return from."
"The servants are restless. Especially the ones with divine connections. King Gilgamesh has been unusually quiet, studying ancient texts. And Morgan refuses to speak of it at all."
"And Anastasia?"
Mash hesitated. "She seems... intrigued. Almost excited."
Ritsuka turned to look at his longtime companion. "What does your instinct tell you, Mash? Threat or opportunity?"
"Neither," she replied after a thoughtful pause. "I think we're about to meet someone... important."
Chapter 2: Preparations for Contact
The primary summoning chamber of Chaldea had never held so many powerful servants simultaneously. The air crackled with barely contained power as divine spirits, legendary heroes, and mythical beings gathered in uneasy alliance.
Gilgamesh, in his full golden armor, stood with arms crossed, his crimson eyes surveying the room with obvious disdain. "This gathering is excessive," he declared to no one in particular. "I alone would be sufficient for this mission."
"Your confidence remains your most charming quality, King of Heroes," said Merlin with a mischievous smile, twirling his staff idly. "Though perhaps this anomaly might benefit from a more... diverse approach?"
Nearby, Morgan Le Fay remained silent, her expression unreadable as she studied the complex array of magical equipment being prepared for the mission. Something about this anomaly troubled her—a familiar resonance she couldn't place.
Scáthach, the immortal warrior-queen, tested the edge of her crimson spear with her thumb. "Whatever awaits us in this Avalon Evernight," she said coolly, "it has the power to resist observation from both the Land of Shadows and proper Avalon itself. That alone warrants caution."
"Or perhaps respect," suggested Quetzalcoatl, the Mesoamerican goddess bouncing lightly on her heels, her perpetual energy contrasting with the serious mood. "Not everything unknown is a threat, even in our experience."
"Spoken like someone who hasn't faced enough betrayals," muttered Jeanne Alter, flames flickering between her fingertips as she leaned against a wall.
The door opened as Ritsuka entered, accompanied by Da Vinci and Mash. The conversations quieted as everyone turned toward them.
"Thank you all for coming," Ritsuka began, his voice steady. "As you've been briefed, we're preparing to make contact with an anomalous realm called Avalon Evernight. Our mission is reconnaissance only—determine the nature of this realm, assess any potential threat to humanity, and establish communication if possible."
Da Vinci stepped forward, activating a holographic display. "We've developed a specialized version of the Shadow Border that should allow us to briefly penetrate the outer boundary of the anomaly. We'll have approximately twenty minutes before the strain becomes too great and we'll need to retreat."
"Twenty minutes is generous," Holmes added, materializing from spirit form. "And depends entirely on this realm allowing our intrusion at all."
Gilgamesh scoffed. "Allow? Since when do we require permission to go where we please?"
"Since we encountered a power signature that rivals the combined output of everyone in this room," Da Vinci replied calmly, causing a murmur of surprise among the gathered servants.
"Impossible," declared Ozymandias from his position near the back.
"Nevertheless, true," said Holmes. "Hence our caution."
Ritsuka looked around the room, meeting the eyes of each servant. "This isn't like our previous missions. We're not certain there's a threat to eliminate or a history to correct. We need to approach this with open minds."
"But ready weapons," added Scáthach with grim certainty.
"Naturally," Ritsuka nodded. "We depart in three hours. Any questions?"
Anastasia, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke. "What if they contact us first?"
All eyes turned to her.
"What do you mean?" asked Mash.
The Cryomancer princess frowned slightly. "I've been sensing... something. Like we're being observed. Not hostilely, just... curiously."
Merlin's playful demeanor vanished instantly. "Since when?"
"Since we first detected the anomaly," she admitted. "At first, I thought it was just resonance with my own connection to winter, but it's more than that. Something is aware of us."
Before anyone could respond, the lights throughout Chaldea flickered. The holographic displays distorted momentarily before stabilizing.
"Da Vinci," Goredolf's voice came urgently through the comm system. "You need to get to the command center immediately. Something's happening."
When they arrived at the command center, they found the holographic representation of Avalon Evernight had changed. What was once a swirling sphere of gold and silver had transformed into a detailed image of a magnificent structure—a palace or fortress of impossible architecture, with spires that seemed to pierce reality itself, surrounded by gardens where stars themselves appeared to grow like flowers.
"It... revealed itself," whispered Da Vinci in awe. "Just like that."
"No," Merlin corrected, his expression unusually serious. "It's inviting us."
Floating before the image was a simple message, written in script that shifted between all known human languages:
"Chaldea. Your curiosity is noted. Your caution, respectable. If answers are what you seek, you need only ask. The gates of Avalon Evernight will open to you—and you alone, Ritsuka Fujimaru."
Chapter 3: First Contact
The modified Shadow Border hummed with powerful containment fields as it approached the boundary of Avalon Evernight. Inside, tension was palpable as servants and personnel prepared for the unknown.
"Range: five hundred meters," reported a technician. "Boundary integrity remains stable."
Da Vinci monitored the main console, her fingers dancing across controls. "No sign of resistance to our approach. It's almost as if..."
"As if we're being welcomed," finished Mash, adjusting her shield harness.
Ritsuka sat in the captain's chair, surrounded by his chosen vanguard for the mission: Mash, Gilgamesh, Scáthach, and Anastasia. The others remained in reserve, ready to materialize should the situation demand it.
"Range: two hundred meters," called the technician. "Wait—energy readings are spiking!"
Golden light enveloped the Shadow Border, but instead of the expected resistance, it felt... gentle. Guiding.
"It's creating a path for us," Da Vinci said in disbelief. "A perfect tunnel through its defenses."
Goredolf's voice crackled through the communication system from Chaldea. "Fujimaru, this could be a trap. Consider withdrawing until we understand—"
His voice cut off as the Shadow Border passed through a curtain of light, and suddenly they were elsewhere.
The viewscreen showed they had emerged in what appeared to be a vast courtyard of white marble and silver filigree. Fountains of liquid starlight played in elegant patterns, and the air itself seemed infused with golden motes of power.
"By the Root," whispered Da Vinci. "The readings here... it's like we're inside a functioning Reality Marble, but one that's achieved perfect stability."
"Impossible," declared Gilgamesh, though even his confident voice held a note of uncertainty.
"Atmosphere is breathable," reported a technician. "Temperature optimal for human comfort. No detectable toxins or harmful radiation."
"Too perfect," muttered Scáthach suspiciously.
Ritsuka rose from his chair. "Prepare to disembark. Defensive formation, but no hostile actions unless provoked."
"Master," began Mash in concern, but he raised a hand.
"They invited us," he said simply. "It would be rude to refuse."
As the boarding ramp lowered, warm golden light spilled into the Shadow Border. Ritsuka led the way, with Mash close behind, her shield ready. Gilgamesh, Scáthach, and Anastasia followed, each alert and prepared for any threat.
They stepped onto polished marble that seemed to sing softly beneath their feet. The courtyard extended around them, bordered by elegant columns that supported nothing, seemingly existing purely for aesthetic perfection.
"Welcome to Avalon Evernight," came a melodious female voice.
From between two columns emerged a woman of breathtaking beauty, with cosmic light playing in her dark hair. She wore what appeared to be an elaborate maid uniform, though one crafted from materials that shimmered with otherworldly power.
"I am Tiamat," she said with a gentle smile. "Mother of Creation, Keeper of the Sacred Gardens."
Gilgamesh instantly summoned a weapon from his Gate of Babylon, only to find... nothing happened.
"Your treasures remain yours, King of Heroes," Tiamat said, her voice kind but firm. "But they cannot be manifested here without permission from the Master of the House."
"Impossible," snarled Gilgamesh, trying again with the same result.
Scáthach stepped forward, her crimson spear at the ready. "You claim to be Tiamat? The Beast of Regression that threatened all humanity?"
The woman—Tiamat—inclined her head. "I am she, but not as you knew me. Here in Avalon Evernight, I serve a different purpose. A better one."
"Serving?" Ritsuka questioned, studying her carefully. "You're saying you serve someone?"
"With joy and devotion," Tiamat confirmed, then gestured elegantly toward the magnificent structure that rose behind her—a palace of impossible geometry and dazzling beauty. "My Master awaits you, Last Master of Chaldea. He has watched your struggles with great interest."
"And who exactly is your master?" asked Mash cautiously.
Before Tiamat could answer, another figure appeared—a tall woman with golden hair and crimson eyes that matched Gilgamesh's own, wearing armor reminiscent of his but designed with a feminine aesthetic, covered by an elegant maid uniform that somehow enhanced rather than diminished her regal bearing.
"That would be Ramiris," said the newcomer, her voice imperious yet amused. "Supreme Monarch of Avalon Evernight, King Among Kings, and the only being worthy of my service."
Gilgamesh's eyes widened in shock. "Impossible," he whispered, truly stunned for perhaps the first time in his immortal existence. "You're..."
"You, in a sense," she confirmed with a smirk. "Queen Gilgamesh, Keeper of Relics. And you, little king," she addressed Gilgamesh directly, "are but a shadow of what true kingship can achieve."
Anastasia stepped forward suddenly, her eyes bright with recognition. "I knew it felt familiar," she said softly. "This place... it exists outside fate itself, doesn't it?"
Queen Gilgamesh offered an approving nod. "The Russian princess understands. Yes, young Romanov, Avalon Evernight exists beyond the wheel of fate, beyond the root of all possibility. Here, only absolutes exist."
"You mentioned... Ramiris?" Ritsuka asked carefully.
Queen Gilgamesh's smile widened. "Indeed. The Master awaits. Follow if you wish to understand."
As they were led toward the magnificent palace, Mash whispered to Ritsuka, "This doesn't make sense. These entities... they're some of the most powerful beings in human mythology. Why would they serve anyone?"
"That," came the amused voice of Tiamat, who had clearly heard Mash's whisper despite its softness, "is precisely the question worth asking, young one."
The palace doors—massive structures of crystal and what appeared to be solidified moonlight—swung open silently before them. Inside, the entrance hall dwarfed even the most grandiose human architecture, with ceilings that seemed to open directly into star-filled space and walls adorned with moving frescos depicting battles and events none of them recognized.
More figures stood within, each radiating immense power constrained within perfect discipline. Each wore some variation of the same elegant maid attire, yet each maintained a distinct presence that reflected their true nature.
"The Master's court," explained Tiamat. "We who serve by choice, not compulsion."
Ritsuka recognized several figures from ancient legends and Chaldea's own records—Morgan Le Fay, identical to the one who had accompanied them but somehow more regal; Scáthach, again a mirror image of their companion but with eyes that held even greater wisdom and power; a being who could only be Void Shiki in her most absolute form; and others too numerous to name, each exuding power that should have made their coexistence impossible.
And seated upon a throne of white gold at the far end of the hall was a single figure—a man with wild white hair streaked with gold, sharp handsome features set in an expression of amused interest, and eyes that sparked with golden light. He wore what appeared to be an elaborate battle uniform in black and crimson, with a half-cape of purest white draped casually over one shoulder.
As they approached, he stood, moving with casual grace that nonetheless commanded absolute attention.
"Ritsuka Fujimaru," he said, his voice carrying effortlessly across the vast space. "Last Master of Chaldea. Savior of Human History. Warrior against the Alien God." His smile widened. "Welcome to my humble home."
Ramiris spread his arms in a gesture that encompassed the impossible grandeur around them. "We have much to discuss, you and I."
Chapter 4: The Proposition
Ramiris lounged back on his throne, one leg casually draped over its arm as he regarded the Chaldean delegation with amused golden eyes. Despite his relaxed posture, power radiated from him in palpable waves.
"So," he began conversationally, "you've been poking at my doorstep for weeks now, convinced I must be plotting something nefarious. How disappointingly predictable."
Gilgamesh stepped forward, his face a mask of barely contained rage. "You dare mock us, imposter? Whatever you are—"
"Oh, be quiet," Ramiris interrupted with a dismissive wave. "You're giving me a headache, and I'm trying to have a civilized conversation here."
To everyone's shock, Gilgamesh's voice simply... stopped. His mouth continued moving for a moment before he realized no sound was emerging. His crimson eyes widened in outrage.
"Much better," Ramiris grinned. "Don't worry, King of Heroes, your voice will return when you've learned some manners. Or when I get bored with the silence. Whichever comes first."
He turned his attention back to Ritsuka. "Now then, where were we? Ah yes—your charming suspicion that I represent some cosmic threat. I assure you, if I wanted to harm humanity, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Mash moved protectively closer to Ritsuka. "Then what do you want?"
"Direct. I like that," Ramiris nodded approvingly. "What I want, dear Shielder, is an alliance."
"An alliance?" repeated Ritsuka, surprised. "Against what?"
Ramiris's expression shifted subtly, a shadow passing over his features. "Against something coming. Something that threatens both my realm and yours."
He stood with fluid grace and gestured. The air before them shimmered, transforming into a window that showed not images but concepts—darkness beyond darkness, emptiness that hungered, a void that wished to consume everything that was, is, or could be.
"The Outer Void," explained Ramiris. "A threat beyond the conceptual frameworks of even your most dangerous Beasts. It doesn't want to regress humanity or test humanity or replace humanity—it wants to erase existence itself."
Da Vinci stepped forward, her analytical mind already working. "But if your realm exists beyond fate, beyond even the Root as you claim, why would you need our help?"
"Clever question," Ramiris smiled. "Avalon Evernight is indeed outside fate's reach, a perfect crystal of absolute will. But therein lies the problem—we exist outside the system. We can observe, but direct intervention in your reality is... complicated."
"Yet you're asking us to fight your battle?" Scáthach challenged.
"Our shared battle," corrected a new voice. A woman with violet hair and eyes that reflected endless death stepped forward from among the maids. "The Outer Void will consume your reality first, Warrior Queen. Only after devouring all timelines would it gain the strength to threaten Avalon Evernight."
Scáthach stared at her counterpart in shock. "You're..."
"You, but more," the woman confirmed with a small bow. "Scáthach, Gatekeeper of Death. And I assure you, this threat is genuine."
Ramiris clapped his hands once. "And there we have it! I'm offering you information, resources, and limited assistance against a threat you don't even know exists yet. In return, you act as our agents in your reality, following my guidance to prevent total annihilation. Seems reasonable, no?"
"Why should we trust you?" asked Mash bluntly.
Ramiris laughed—a sound like music and thunder combined. "Excellent question! You shouldn't. Trust must be earned." His expression softened slightly. "Which is why I'm offering a gesture of good faith."
He snapped his fingers, and a doorway of light appeared beside his throne. From it emerged a figure that caused gasps among the Chaldean group.
"Doctor!" cried Mash, her voice breaking.
Dr. Romani Archaman—supposedly erased from existence itself during the battle against Goetia—stood before them, looking confused but very much real.
"Mash? Ritsuka?" he said, his voice exactly as they remembered. "What's happening? Where am I?"
"A reunion gift," said Ramiris casually. "Consider it a down payment on our partnership."
Ritsuka stared in disbelief. "How is this possible? He sacrificed his existence. He was erased from the Throne of Heroes itself."
"True," confirmed Ramiris with a nonchalant shrug. "But Avalon Evernight exists outside the constraints of such concepts. Here, I make the rules. And I decided your mentor should return. He's quite real, by the way—not a copy or simulation."
Roman looked around in growing amazement. "This place... the magical energy here... it's unlike anything I've ever seen. It shouldn't be possible."
"And yet, here we are," Ramiris said, spreading his arms. "Impossible is rather a specialty of mine."
Queen Gilgamesh stepped forward. "My King does not make offers lightly, humans of Chaldea. This alliance would benefit both our realms."
"And if we refuse?" asked Da Vinci carefully.
Ramiris's smile remained, but his eyes hardened slightly. "Then you return to Chaldea unharmed, with your precious doctor, to face the Outer Void alone when it arrives. I'll even throw in a complimentary fruit basket."
The entire hall fell silent as Ritsuka considered the proposition. Finally, he spoke. "We need time to discuss this. And verification of the threat."
"Of course," Ramiris nodded, seemingly pleased. "Tiamat, show our guests to the Garden of Decision. They may deliberate there without fear of eavesdropping." He looked directly at Ritsuka. "Take all the time you need—though I should mention that in your reality, the first tendrils of the Void will manifest in approximately seventy-two hours."
As they turned to follow Tiamat, Ramiris called out, "Oh, and Gilgamesh?"
The King of Heroes, still silenced, glared back.
Ramiris grinned. "Your voice privileges are restored. Do try to be more pleasant—my counterpart of you manages it occasionally."
Sound returned to Gilgamesh's throat with an audible pop. Rather than the expected outburst, however, he merely narrowed his eyes and followed the group in uncharacteristic silence.
Chapter 5: The Garden of Decision
The Garden of Decision was unlike any place the Chaldean team had ever seen. Trees with crystal trunks and leaves of shimmering light swayed in a breeze that carried the scent of possibilities. Flowers bloomed with colors that had no names in human language, and paths of silver sand wound between pools of water so clear they seemed almost invisible.
"This space exists to facilitate clarity of thought," explained Tiamat as she led them deeper into the garden. "Here, your minds will be free from external influence, including any from the residents of Avalon Evernight."
"Including your master?" asked Da Vinci skeptically.
Tiamat's smile was gentle but knowing. "Especially the Master. Ramiris values informed choice above all else—forced submission holds no interest for him."
"And yet you call him Master and dress as... maids," Scáthach observed with narrowed eyes.
"A choice we each made," Tiamat replied simply. "Power recognizes greater power, warrior queen. There is no shame in acknowledging superiority when one encounters it."
Before anyone could respond, Tiamat gestured to an open pavilion at the center of the garden. "You may deliberate here. Food and refreshment will appear as needed. When you have reached your decision, simply speak it aloud, and you will be returned to the throne room." With that, she bowed slightly and departed, leaving the Chaldean team alone.
For a long moment, no one spoke. Roman—still visibly processing his own resurrection—ran his hands over his face repeatedly, as if confirming his own existence.
"This is... impossible," he finally said. "I erased myself completely. Solomon's power was removed from the Throne of Heroes itself."
"And yet here you are," Da Vinci said softly, tears in her eyes. "Romani, it's really you?"
He nodded slowly. "It's really me. All my memories intact, right up to that final moment against Goetia."
Gilgamesh, who had maintained his uncharacteristic silence since leaving the throne room, finally spoke. "This Ramiris... his power transcends the rules of our reality." His voice held something none of them had heard before—a grudging respect. "Not even I at the height of my power could retrieve a soul removed from existence itself."
"Which makes him dangerous," said Scáthach grimly.
"Or a powerful ally," countered Mash, still staying close to Roman as if afraid he might disappear again.
Ritsuka paced the pavilion, deep in thought. "The threat he showed us—this Outer Void—is it real? Or a fabrication to manipulate us?"
"I believe it's real," said Anastasia unexpectedly. All eyes turned to her as she continued, "Something has been disturbing the deeper currents of magic for months now. I felt it but couldn't identify it."
"As did I," admitted Merlin, materializing from spirit form. The Mage of Flowers looked troubled. "There's a... blindness spreading at the edges of my vision of the future. Areas where prediction becomes impossible."
"That matches what Ramiris described," noted Da Vinci. "A force outside conceptual frameworks, something that erases rather than corrupts or alters."
"But can we trust him?" asked Mash, voicing the central question.
Roman, who had been quiet, suddenly laughed. It was a small sound at first, then grew until tears streamed down his face.
"Doctor?" Mash asked worriedly.
"Sorry, sorry," he gasped, regaining control. "It's just—after everything you've all been through, after saving human history multiple times, fighting gods and beasts and alien threats—you're asking if you can trust the being who casually brought me back from non-existence as a 'gesture of good faith'?"
He shook his head, smiling. "Whatever Ramiris is, he's not lying about his power. And if he wanted to harm Chaldea, he could have done so without this elaborate setup."
"The doctor has a point," admitted Da Vinci. "This display of power was... excessive if deception was the goal."
Gilgamesh crossed his arms. "I despise admitting this, but even I recognize authority when I encounter it. That being... he is what he claims to be."
"Which is what, exactly?" asked Ritsuka. "He calls himself the 'Supreme Monarch,' but of what? How did he create this realm? And why are such powerful entities serving him willingly?"
"Perhaps those are questions worth asking directly," suggested Merlin. "Before we commit to any alliance."
Ritsuka nodded slowly. "You're right. We need more information." He looked around at his companions. "Are we agreed on pursuing this discussion further?"
One by one, they nodded—even Gilgamesh, though his expression remained sour.
"We wish to speak further with Ramiris," Ritsuka announced to the garden at large.
Instantly, the air around them shimmered, and they found themselves back in the throne room. Ramiris was no longer lounging casually but stood in conversation with several of his maids, including figures they recognized as counterparts to Morgan, Artoria, and BB.
He turned as they appeared, dismissing the maids with a casual wave. "That was quick," he commented with an approving nod. "Decisiveness—I appreciate that quality."
"We have questions," said Ritsuka directly.
"Naturally," Ramiris replied, retaking his seat on the throne. "Ask away. Full disclosure—well, reasonable disclosure—is part of my offer."
"What exactly are you?" asked Da Vinci bluntly. "No being in our records possesses the abilities you've demonstrated."
Ramiris smiled. "Directly to the heart of the matter! I appreciate that." He leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand. "I am Ramiris, the concept of absolute supremacy given human form. Not chosen by destiny—I chose destiny to kneel."
"That's not an answer," pressed Scáthach.
"On the contrary, Warrior Queen, it's the only answer that matters," he replied. "Origins are less important than what one becomes. But if you insist on categorization..." He tapped his fingers thoughtfully against the arm of his throne. "Consider me the antithesis of your Beasts of Humanity—a existence that became the perfect expression of ruling authority. My power grows from perfect confidence, executed with perfect skill."
"And this realm?" asked Merlin, gesturing to the palace around them.
"Avalon Evernight is my creation," Ramiris explained. "A world of my design, existing outside all others—outside the Human Order, outside the Root itself. Here, only absolutes exist."
"Impossible," whispered Da Vinci.
"A word you seem fond of repeating," Ramiris noted with amusement. "Yet here we are."
Ritsuka stepped forward. "And them?" He gestured toward the maids who stood in perfect formation along the walls of the throne room. "Why do beings of such power serve you?"
At this, Ramiris's smile softened into something more genuine. "Ah, now that is the interesting question." He stood and walked down the steps from his throne, moving among his maids with casual familiarity.
"Each came to me differently," he explained. "Some sought to challenge me and found themselves outmatched. Others recognized kindred spirit in my ambition. Still others were drawn to the stability and purpose I provide." He rested a hand briefly on the shoulder of Queen Gilgamesh, who actually smiled at the contact. "But all remain of their own free will."
"That contradicts everything we know about these entities," argued Da Vinci. "Tiamat alone nearly destroyed humanity out of possessive love."
"The Tiamat you knew was but one expression of her being," Ramiris countered. "Here, she is complete—her full power intact, her purpose fulfilled without destruction."
He turned to face them fully. "Each of my maids retains their full power—I do not chain them; I inspire them to lower their heads of their own accord."
"Why the maid aesthetic?" asked Mash, clearly still troubled by the concept.
Ramiris laughed. "Symbolism, dear Shielder! The strongest beings in existence choosing service—not through diminishment but through recognition of greater authority. Their uniforms exalt their majesty rather than degrade it." He spread his arms. "Is that not true perfection of rulership? When the mightiest choose to kneel?"
"And this Outer Void," Ritsuka redirected, "tell us more about it."
Ramiris's expression grew serious. "A darkness between realities. Not alive, not sentient, but... hungry. It has consumed other timelines already—worlds adjacent to your own where the Counter Force was weaker."
"What does it want?" asked Roman.
"It doesn't 'want' anything in the way we understand desire," Ramiris explained. "It's a fundamental cancellation—the unraveling of
existence itself. Think of reality as fabric—the Outer Void is what happens when threads are pulled loose until nothing remains."
"How do we fight something like that?" Mash asked, her practical nature focusing on the immediate problem.
Ramiris paced thoughtfully, his white half-cape flowing behind him. "Directly? You can't. But the Void must manifest anchors in your reality before it can fully enter. Destroy those anchors, and you prevent the unraveling."
"And you need us because you can't directly intervene in our reality," concluded Ritsuka.
"Precisely!" Ramiris snapped his fingers, pointing at Ritsuka with approval. "My realm exists outside your conceptual framework. I can observe, offer knowledge, even grant power—but direct intervention would cause... complications."
"What kind of complications?" pressed Da Vinci.
"The kind where reality fractures and everyone has a really bad day," Ramiris replied with a wry smile. "Trust me, you don't want me manifesting my full presence in your world."
Roman, who had been quietly processing everything, finally spoke up. "This alliance—what exactly would it entail?"
"Simple," said Ramiris, returning to his throne with fluid grace. "I provide intelligence on where and when the Void's anchors will manifest. You destroy them. I offer limited resources and assistance that won't destabilize your reality. In return, we both continue existing. Win-win."
He leaned forward, golden eyes gleaming. "And as a show of ongoing faith, several of my maids have volunteered to serve as... liaisons. They can manifest in your reality without the same complications I would face."
"You're offering us servants?" Gilgamesh asked incredulously.
"I'm offering you allies, King of Heroes," Ramiris corrected with a sharp smile. "Powerful ones. Though they maintain their primary loyalty to me, naturally."
Ritsuka exchanged glances with his companions. After a moment of silent communication, he turned back to Ramiris. "We accept your alliance—conditionally. We'll need constant communication and transparency."
"Done," Ramiris agreed immediately. "Now, shall we discuss which of my maids would be most suitable for your needs? I believe introductions are in order."
Chapter 6: The Maids of Avalon
"I'll allow my loyal subjects to introduce themselves," Ramiris announced, leaning back in his throne with casual elegance. "Each has different strengths to offer your cause."
He gestured lazily toward the maids, who stepped forward one by one.
Tiamat moved first, her dark hair flowing like cosmic tides around her face. "I believe we've already met, but formalities are important." She curtseyed, a gesture that somehow carried immense dignity despite her role. "I am Tiamat, Mother of Creation. In your world, I manifested as a Beast of Regression. Here, I channel creation rather than destruction."
"And what exactly can you offer Chaldea?" asked Da Vinci, still wary.
Tiamat smiled softly. "Life, Leonardo da Vinci. True creation. The ability to heal what the Void destroys, to restore what it erases."
Gilgamesh snorted. "Pretty words from a being that once sought to drown humanity in primordial seas."
"That was merely one expression of my nature, King of Heroes," Tiamat replied, unperturbed. "Just as your arrogance is but one facet of yours."
Before Gilgamesh could retort, another maid stepped forward—the female version of himself, Queen Gilgamesh. Her crimson eyes flashed with the same pride as his own, yet somehow tempered with something he lacked.
"Queen Gilgamesh, Keeper of Relics," she introduced herself with regal bearing. "I control the true Gate of Babylon—not the shadow you possess, little king."
"Impossible," Gilgamesh hissed. "There is only one treasury, and it is mine."
She laughed, the sound musical yet cutting. "So limited in your thinking. Your treasury contains what Uruk gathered. Mine contains what all reality has created." With a casual gesture, golden portals opened around her, each revealing glimpses of weapons and artifacts even Gilgamesh couldn't recognize.
"I offer Chaldea access to weapons specifically keyed to combat conceptual erasure," she continued, ignoring his glare. "Tools even the King of Heroes has never dreamed of."
Ramiris chuckled from his throne. "Now, now, don't antagonize our guests too much, my treasure keeper. Remember, we're trying to build bridges, not burn them."
Queen Gilgamesh rolled her eyes but inclined her head in acquiescence. "As my King commands."
Next came a woman with crimson spear and eyes that held the wisdom of endless combat—the counterpart to their own Scáthach.
"Scáthach, Gatekeeper of Death," she introduced herself, her voice carrying the weight of innumerable battles. "Unlike your companion, I have transcended the Land of Shadows entirely. I exist at the boundary between life and death itself."
The Chaldean Scáthach narrowed her eyes. "You claim greater power than mine?"
"I claim greater freedom," her counterpart corrected. "You remain bound by the curse of immortality. I have transformed that curse into authority."
"Show me," challenged the Chaldean warrior.
In response, Ramiris's Scáthach merely smiled and made a small gesture with her hand. Instantly, the temperature around them plummeted, and shadows gathered at her feet, forming what appeared to be a gate into absolute darkness.
"Within this gate lies the final destination of all things," she said quietly. "I offer Chaldea mastery over endings—the ability to enforce true death even against the Void itself."
Before further demonstrations could continue, a petite figure bounced forward—a young woman with purple hair and a mischievous smile.
"BB at your service~!" she sang out, performing an exaggerated curtsey. "Mooncell Core Version, Architect of Avalon, and absolute super genius!"
The attitude was so at odds with the solemn dignity of the others that several of the Chaldean servants blinked in surprise.
"You're... BB?" asked Mash uncertainly. "The Moon Cancer we encountered in SE.RA.PH?"
"A mere fragment of my magnificence," BB replied with a wink. "Here in Avalon Evernight, I've been upgraded beyond any silly restrictions. I manage internal virtual layers, defense algorithms, and pretty much all the technical stuff that would bore you to tears!"
She twirled, her maid uniform flaring out. "I can offer Chaldea cutting-edge cyber-security, reality-hacking protocols, and the absolute best digital warfare suite this side of, well, anywhere!"
Roman couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "You seem... happier than the BB we knew."
"Of course I am!" BB replied cheerfully. "Working for the most magnificent boss in all reality beats being a glitchy Moon Cancer any day!" She shot an adoring look toward Ramiris, who acknowledged it with an amused nod.
Next came a quiet figure with empty blue eyes and long black hair—Void Shiki. Unlike the others, she made no grand introduction, merely inclining her head slightly.
"Void Shiki requires no introduction," Ramiris commented from his throne. "The embodiment of nothingness itself, connected directly to the Root. Or rather, she would be in your reality. Here, she has transcended even that limitation."
"What do you offer?" asked Da Vinci directly.
"Silence," Void Shiki replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "The void within balances the void without. Where the Outer Void erases, I... preserve."
The introductions continued until a dozen maids had presented themselves. Each offered unique powers and abilities that would prove invaluable against the coming threat. Throughout it all, Ramiris watched with obvious pride, occasionally adding commentary or teasing remarks.
Finally, Ritsuka stepped forward. "We're grateful for these offers of assistance. But I need to ask—what do all of you gain from this alliance? Why help us at all if your realm is relatively safe?"
"An excellent question," Ramiris acknowledged, sitting up straighter. "Worthy of the Last Master of Chaldea."
He stood, descending from his throne to approach Ritsuka directly. Despite his casual demeanor, there was something overwhelming about his presence at close range—like standing before a force of nature barely contained in human form.
"The truth, Fujimaru, is that even Avalon Evernight is not truly invulnerable," Ramiris admitted, his voice lower and more serious than before. "The Outer Void is... persistent. While your reality would fall first, mine would eventually face the same threat—just on a different timescale."
"So self-preservation," concluded Scáthach.
"Partially," Ramiris acknowledged. "But there's more." He turned, gesturing toward the maids who stood in perfect formation. "Many of my subjects maintain... connections to your reality. Emotional ties, memories, fragments of what once was."
He smiled, and for a moment there was something almost gentle in his expression. "Even gods can feel nostalgia, Master of Chaldea. Even absolute beings can care about what they once were."
"You're saying they want to protect humanity?" asked Mash, sounding surprised.
"Some do," Ramiris nodded. "Others simply enjoy a good fight. And a few—" he shot an amused glance at Queen Gilgamesh, "—would rather die than admit they care about anything beyond themselves."
Queen Gilgamesh huffed but didn't deny the accusation.
"As for me," Ramiris continued, turning back to Ritsuka, "I've watched your struggles against impossible odds with great interest. There's something admirable about humanity's stubborn refusal to accept extinction. I find I prefer a multiverse where such determination exists."
He extended a hand. "So, Master of Chaldea—shall we formalize our alliance?"
Ritsuka hesitated only briefly before clasping Ramiris's hand. "We accept."
A wave of golden energy pulsed from their joined hands, spreading throughout the throne room before fading.
"Excellent!" Ramiris declared, his usual confident demeanor returning as he released Ritsuka's hand. "The pact is sealed. BB, prepare the transfer protocols for our liaisons."
"On it, Darling Sovereign~!" BB chirped, materializing a complex holographic console from thin air.
"Darling... Sovereign?" repeated Da Vinci under her breath, raising an eyebrow.
Ramiris merely winked at her. "Each maid addresses me in their own way. It's part of their charm."
"Now then," he continued, addressing the entire group. "You'll return to Chaldea with Doctor Romani and four of my maids as initial support. The rest will remain on standby, ready to assist when needed."
"Four?" asked Goredolf, who had remained silent throughout most of the proceedings, clearly overwhelmed by the situation.
"Tiamat, Queen Gilgamesh, Scáthach, and BB," Ramiris confirmed. "Each brings unique abilities suited to identifying and countering the first Void anchors."
He turned to Ritsuka with a suddenly serious expression. "The first anchor will manifest in what you call the Wandering Sea—a location supposedly hidden from all outside forces. That it can be targeted at all should tell you how serious this threat is."
"When?" asked Mash urgently.
"Sixty-eight hours from now," Ramiris replied. "Barely enough time to prepare."
"Then we should depart immediately," said Roman, his analytical mind already working on the problem.
"Indeed," Ramiris agreed. He clapped his hands once, and the air before them shimmered, revealing the interior of the Shadow Border. "Your chariot awaits."
As the Chaldean team prepared to board, Ramiris approached Roman directly. "A word, Doctor, if I may."
Roman hesitated but nodded, stepping aside with Ramiris.
"Your restoration comes with no strings attached," Ramiris said quietly. "Whether our alliance succeeds or fails, you remain yourself. Consider it a gift from one who appreciates sacrifice."
"Thank you," Roman replied sincerely. "But... why me specifically?"
Ramiris smiled enigmatically. "Let's call it professional courtesy from one who understands what it means to cast aside one identity for another." Before Roman could question him further, Ramiris turned away, returning to his throne.
As the Chaldean team boarded the Shadow Border, now accompanied by four impossibly powerful maids, Ramiris called out one final message:
"Oh, and Fujimaru? Do try to keep Gilgamesh and his counterpart from killing each other. Their bickering gives me a headache even from a different reality!"
Chapter 7: Return to Chaldea
The Shadow Border materialized in Chaldea's primary summoning chamber in a flash of golden light. As the boarding ramp descended, staff members gathered anxiously, weapons ready despite assurances that the visitors were allies.
Ritsuka emerged first, followed by Mash and the other Chaldean servants. When Roman appeared behind them, audible gasps rippled through the assembled staff.
"Is that—"
"It can't be—"
"Doctor Roman?!"
Da Vinci stepped forward quickly. "Everyone, please remain calm. Yes, this is indeed Dr. Romani Archaman, restored to us through means we're still processing. And yes, we've confirmed it's really him."
The murmurs grew louder as the four maids emerged last—Tiamat, Queen Gilgamesh, Scáthach, and BB—each carrying herself with unmistakable power and dignity despite their unusual attire.
"And these are our... allies," Da Vinci continued, choosing her words carefully. "They represent the realm we contacted and have offered their assistance against a new threat."
Goredolf pushed his way to the front, attempting to reassert authority despite the bewilderment evident on his face. "Yes, well, everyone back to work! We'll hold a full briefing in one hour. Until then, our... guests will be escorted to the diplomatic quarters."
"No need for escorts, Roundbelly~!" BB chirped, causing Goredolf to sputter indignantly. "We already know the complete layout of Chaldea down to the last air duct!"
"That's... not reassuring," muttered Mash.
Queen Gilgamesh surveyed the chamber with thinly veiled disdain. "Quaint," she commented. "Though I suppose it serves its purpose."
The Chaldean Gilgamesh, who had maintained an uncharacteristic silence since returning, finally spoke. "I will be watching you," he informed his female counterpart coldly. "One step out of line, and treasury or no treasury, I will find a way to end you."
She merely laughed in response. "Oh, little king, your threats are adorable. Like a kitten trying to roar." She patted his cheek condescendingly as she passed, causing several onlookers to gasp at her audacity.
Surprisingly, Gilgamesh didn't strike her down immediately—though the murderous look in his eyes suggested it was a near thing.
"Perhaps we should get settled," suggested Tiamat smoothly, her calming presence seeming to defuse some of the tension. "We have much preparation to do before the first anchor manifests."
"Yes, of course," said Ritsuka, still trying to process everything that had happened. "Da Vinci, could you show them to—"
"Actually," interrupted Roman, stepping forward with newfound determination, "I think I should begin examining our guests medically. If they're going to work with us, we need baselines for their capabilities."
Everyone stared at him in surprise.
"What?" he asked defensively. "I'm still the Chief Medical Officer, aren't I?"
Da Vinci's eyes sparkled with unshed tears. "Yes, Romani. You are."
As they began to move toward the medical bay, Anastasia suddenly appeared beside Tiamat, studying her with undisguised curiosity.
"You feel... different here," the Russian princess commented. "Less overwhelming than in Avalon Evernight."
Tiamat nodded. "My power is necessarily constrained in this reality. What you see is merely what your world can safely contain."
"And that's still enough to help against this Void?"
"More than enough," Tiamat assured her with a gentle smile. "Even constrained, I am far more than the Beast you once knew."
Meanwhile, BB had already made herself at home, materializing a floating chair upon which she lounged while accessing Chaldea's systems through a holographic interface.
"Ooh, your cybersecurity is cute!" she commented cheerfully. "Like a child's crayon drawing of a fortress!"
Da Vinci's eye twitched. "Please stop hacking our systems."
"Hacking? This isn't hacking," BB protested innocently. "This is... enthusiastic exploration! Besides, I'm improving things as I go." She pointed to a stream of code. "See? I just patched fourteen vulnerabilities you didn't even know existed!"
"That's... thank you?" Da Vinci replied uncertainly.
"You're welcome~!" BB sang, continuing her "improvements" with gleeful efficiency.
An hour later, the command staff and key servants gathered in Chaldea's largest conference room. Roman had completed preliminary examinations of their new allies, though his baffled expression suggested the results defied conventional understanding.
"So," began Goredolf, attempting to bring the meeting to order. "Let us discuss this 'Outer Void' threat and how we plan to counter it."
Scáthach—the Avalon Evernight version—stepped forward. Unlike her Chaldean counterpart who typically projected a cool detachment, this Scáthach carried herself with the absolute certainty of one who had transcended all limitations.
"The first anchor will manifest in sixty-five hours," she stated without preamble. "It will appear as a perfect sphere of absolute darkness approximately two meters in diameter."
"Can it be destroyed conventionally?" asked one of the tactical officers.
"No," replied Scáthach flatly. "Conventional weapons—even Noble Phantasms—will pass through it without effect. It must be countered conceptually."
"What does that mean in practical terms?" pressed Ritsuka.
Queen Gilgamesh materialized a gleaming golden scepter in her hand. "It means, Master of Chaldea, that we must fight emptiness with fullness, erasure with creation." She gestured to the scepter. "This is the Scepter of Absolute Assertion—a conceptual weapon that enforces the continued existence of whatever it touches."
"I've never heard of such a treasure," commented the Chaldean Gilgamesh suspiciously.
"Of course you haven't," his counterpart replied with a smirk. "It was created in a reality you never ruled, by a version of you who actually bothered to keep inventing after ascending the throne."
Before another argument could erupt, BB interjected cheerfully. "I've finished integrating with Chaldea's detection systems! We'll have real-time monitoring of conceptual space and should get at least a four-hour warning before the anchor fully manifests."
Da Vinci looked impressed despite herself. "That's... remarkably helpful."
"I know, right?" BB preened. "Ramiris-sama would accept nothing less than perfection!"
"About that," said Mash hesitantly. "These titles you all use for him—Master, Supreme Monarch, Darling Sovereign—what exactly is your relationship with Ramiris?"
The four maids exchanged glances, something unspoken passing between them.
"It is... difficult to explain to those who haven't experienced his presence at full force," Tiamat finally answered. "Each of us came to serve him through different paths. For some, it began as defeat in battle. For others, recognition of kindred spirit. For me..." she paused, her expression softening. "For me, it was finding someone whose vision of creation surpassed even my own."
"He beat you in combat?" asked the Chaldean Scáthach incredulously, addressing her counterpart.
"He beat everyone in combat," replied the Avalon Scáthach with a small smile. "But that's not why we serve him. We serve because, for the first time in our existence, we found someone worthy of our service."
"That sounds like mystical nonsense," grumbled Goredolf.
BB giggled. "Oh, you'll understand if you ever meet him properly, Roundbelly! Ramiris-sama has this way of making even the most powerful beings go all weak-kneed and fluttery!"
"Speak for yourself," muttered Queen Gilgamesh, though a faint blush colored her cheeks.
Roman, who had been studying data on a tablet, suddenly looked up. "These readings... they're impossible. Each of you appears to be channeling power from outside our reality—power that by all rights should tear apart the fabric of spacetime just by existing here."
"Ramiris-sama is very careful about how much of our true power we manifest," explained BB. "Just enough to get the job done without breaking your cute little reality!"
"How considerate," commented Gilgamesh dryly.
Ritsuka, who had been quiet for much of the meeting, finally spoke up. "Whatever your reasons for helping us, whatever your relationship with Ramiris—right now, we need to focus on stopping this Void. If the first anchor will appear at the Wandering Sea, we need to prepare a team to intercept it."
Tiamat nodded approvingly. "Practical thinking, Master of Chaldea. Yes, we should depart within twenty-four hours to ensure proper positioning."
"The team should be small and specialized," advised Scáthach. "Too many powerful beings in one location could actually attract the Void more quickly."
"I'll go," volunteered Ritsuka immediately. "Along with Mash, and..." he looked around the room thoughtfully. "Anastasia, given her sensitivity to the anomaly. And of our new allies—"
"Me!" BB interrupted enthusiastically. "I'll provide technical support and monitoring!"
"And I will handle the conceptual warfare aspects," added Avalon Scáthach. "The rest should remain here to prepare for potential secondary incursions."
Roman stood. "I'll need to run more comprehensive scans on the anchor when we find it. I should go too."
"Doctor, you just came back from literal non-existence," protested Da Vinci. "Are you sure field work is wise?"
"All the more reason for me to help," Roman insisted. "Whatever Ramiris did to restore me might provide insights into how this Void operates on a conceptual level."
As they continued planning the mission, Queen Gilgamesh pulled Tiamat aside, speaking in a low voice. "Do you sense it too?"
Tiamat nodded slightly. "Something is not as our King predicted. The timeline has already shifted."
"The Void moves faster than anticipated," agreed Queen Gilgamesh, her crimson eyes narrowing. "We may need to call for reinforcements sooner than planned."
"Let us hope not," murmured Tiamat. "The strain of too many of us manifesting simultaneously could destabilize this reality further."
Across the room, Anastasia watched their hushed conversation with keen interest, her intuition telling her that their new allies weren't sharing everything they knew.
Chapter 8: First Contact with the Void
The Wandering Sea—a mage stronghold hidden from the world through layers of powerful conceptual defenses—should have been impossible to locate, much less infiltrate. Yet the small Chaldean team found themselves teleported directly to its outer boundary with surprising ease.
"BB's dimensional coordinates were spot-on," commented Roman, checking readings on a specialized detector. "We're exactly where we need to be."
BB twirled happily, her maid uniform incongruous against the ancient stonework of the fortress' outer walls. "Of course they were perfect! When the Moon Cancer says jump, reality asks 'how high?'~"
Avalon Scáthach remained alert, her crimson spear materialized and ready. "We have three hours before the anchor fully manifests. We should secure a perimeter and prepare the containment ritual."
Ritsuka nodded, gesturing for Mash and Anastasia to follow as they approached the massive doors that led into the Wandering Sea proper. Normally, such an entrance would be heavily guarded with both conventional and magical defenses. Today, however, the entrance stood ominously open.
"Something's wrong," murmured Anastasia, frost forming around her fingers instinctively. "It's too quiet."
"Agreed," said Mash, shield at the ready. "The Wandering Sea should have detected our arrival instantly."
They passed through the entrance into the grand atrium—a vast space of marble and enchanted glass that normally buzzed with the activity of the Clock Tower's most secretive branch. Today, it stood empty, the only sound their footsteps echoing on the polished floor.
"Where is everyone?" whispered Roman.
"Gone," stated Avalon Scáthach flatly. "Evacuated or..." she trailed off, her expression grim.
"Or already taken by the Void," finished Anastasia. "I can feel... absence. Not death—something worse."
BB's typically cheerful demeanor had sobered. She materialized a complex scanner, its displays showing information incomprehensible to human eyes. "I'm detecting trace conceptual erasure throughout the complex. It's already started."
"But you said we had three hours!" protested Roman.
"Before full manifestation," corrected Avalon Scáthach. "The process begins subtly—small erasures, moments of non-existence—until the anchor fully forms."
A sudden chill swept through the atrium, and the light seemed to dim despite no visible change in the illumination.
"It's here," whispered Anastasia, her eyes wide. "Watching us."
Before anyone could respond, a figure stepped out from behind a column—a robed mage with the insignia of the Wandering Sea on his chest. Relief washed over Roman's face.
"Thank goodness—a survivor! Sir, we're from Chaldea. We need to evacuate you immediately."
The mage didn't respond. He simply stood there, perfectly still, his face hidden by his hood.
"Sir?" Roman took a step forward, only to be yanked back forcefully by Avalon Scáthach.
"That is not a person," she hissed, raising her spear. "Not anymore."
As if triggered by her words, the figure's hood fell back, revealing... nothing. Where a face should have been was simply empty space—not darkness, not a void, but the visual equivalent of silence. The body moved jerkily, like a puppet with half its strings cut.
"What in the world..." gasped Mash.
"An echo," explained BB grimly. "When the Void begins erasing, sometimes it leaves... impressions. Things that should no longer exist but haven't fully disappeared yet."
The figure suddenly lurched toward them with unnatural speed.
"Don't let it touch you!" shouted Avalon Scáthach as she intercepted it with her spear. The weapon passed through the creature's chest without resistance, yet it stopped moving nonetheless, frozen in mid-step.
"I've temporarily suspended its temporal progression," Scáthach explained, strain evident in her voice. "But I cannot hold it indefinitely."
"Over here!" called Anastasia from a side corridor. "I've found the anchor point's formation!"
They followed her quickly, leaving the frozen echo behind. The corridor led to what once had been the Wandering Sea's primary research chamber—a circular room lined with arcane instruments and magical arrays.
At its center floated a sphere of... emptiness. Not dark matter, not shadow, but the complete absence of anything, as if reality itself had been punctured. It was small now—barely the size of a tennis ball—but visibly growing.
"Fascinating," whispered Roman, carefully approaching with his instruments. "It's not just consuming matter and energy—it's erasing the very concept of existence in this space."
"Save the scientific observations for later, Doctor," urged Mash. "How do we stop it?"
BB stepped forward, her playful demeanor completely gone. "This is further along than anticipated. We need to establish the counter-conceptual field immediately."
She began tracing complex patterns in the air, leaving glowing digital code hanging in her wake. Avalon Scáthach joined her, adding runic arrays that pulsed with crimson power.
"Anastasia," called Scáthach without looking up from her work, "we need your elemental affinity. Ice can temporarily slow conceptual drift."
The Russian princess nodded, summoning her power. Frost spread from her feet, encircling the growing void sphere, not touching it but forming a containment barrier of crystalline patterns.
"Ritsuka, Mash," continued Scáthach, "guard the entrance. More echoes will be drawn to our presence."
As if on cue, shuffling sounds came from the corridor—more of the faceless figures approaching, drawn to the activity.
"How many people were stationed at the Wandering Sea?" asked Mash quietly as she took up a defensive position.
"Over three hundred," replied Roman grimly. "Let's hope most evacuated in time."
For the next hour, they worked feverishly—BB and Scáthach constructing an elaborate containment system while Ritsuka and Mash fought a defensive battle against an increasing number of echoes. Anastasia maintained her ice barrier, though the strain was showing on her face as sweat beaded on her brow despite the freezing temperature.
"Almost... there..." muttered BB as she connected the final sequences of her digital array to Scáthach's runes. "Conceptual realignment in three... two... one..."
The combined arrays flared blindingly bright, converging on the void sphere. For a moment, nothing seemed to happen—then the sphere shuddered, contracting slightly.
"It's working!" exclaimed Roman.
"Not fast enough," countered Scáthach tensely. "The anchor is fighting back."
Indeed, the sphere had begun pulsing, each wave seeming to distort reality around it. The edges of nearby objects blurred, as if their very existence was becoming uncertain.
"We need more power," stated BB, her usual cheerful tone replaced by cold calculation. "I'm going to have to remove some of my limiters."
"That could destabilize this entire region," warned Scáthach.
"Better than letting the anchor fully form," replied BB grimly. Complex digital seals appeared around her body, then shattered one by one as she overrode Ramiris's careful restrictions.
Power surged through the chamber as BB's true nature began to manifest—a being that had once nearly consumed an entire virtual reality through sheer force of will. The digital arrays brightened to almost unbearable intensity.
The void sphere contracted further, shrinking until it was barely visible—then suddenly expanded explosively, sending out a shockwave that knocked everyone except Scáthach off their feet.
"Something's wrong!" shouted BB, genuine alarm in her voice. "It's drawing power from somewhere else!"
"Another anchor," realized Scáthach. "There's a second manifestation we didn't detect!"
The sphere grew rapidly now, darkness spreading from its edges like cracks in reality itself. The faceless echoes in the corridor began melting, their substance drawn toward the expanding void.
"We're out of time," stated Scáthach calmly. She reached into her apron pocket and withdrew a small golden key. "Ramiris anticipated this possibility."
"What is that?" demanded Ritsuka as he helped Mash back to her feet.
"A direct channel to Avalon Evernight," explained Scáthach. "It will summon reinforcements, but at a cost. The conceptual backlash will be... significant."
"What kind of backlash?" asked Roman urgently.
"The kind that tears holes in reality," replied BB, unusually serious. "But better temporary holes than permanent erasure."
"Do it," ordered Ritsuka without hesitation.
Scáthach nodded and turned the key in midair. It vanished into an invisible lock, and reality split open before them—not a dark void, but a doorway of pure golden light.
Through it stepped a figure they recognized immediately—Void Shiki, her empty blue eyes taking in the situation at a glance.
"Step aside," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
As they complied, she approached the expanding void sphere without hesitation. Where the sphere contacted nearby objects, they simply ceased to exist—erased without trace or remnant. Yet when it touched Void Shiki, something extraordinary happened.
The emptiness met emptiness. Void confronted void.
Shiki raised one hand, pale fingers hovering just above the sphere's surface. "I see your line," she murmured.
A thin blade materialized in her other hand—not her usual katana, but something more fundamental, like solidified concept. With a single, precise motion too fast for human eyes to follow, she cut through the sphere.
Reality itself seemed to hold its breath.
The void sphere shuddered, then collapsed inward with a sound like distant thunder, leaving behind nothing but a faint shimmer in the air that quickly faded.
Void Shiki turned to face them, her expression serene. "The anchor is severed. But this was merely the first. Seven more will follow, each stronger than the last."
"Seven?" repeated Roman weakly.
"Yes," confirmed Shiki. "The pattern is clear now. The Void seeks specific points in your reality—places of conceptual significance."
"Can you predict where?" asked Ritsuka urgently.
"Some," she nodded slightly. "The next will appear in what you call the