"What?"
As a blood-devouring beast, Vlad III's rationality was low. Because of that, he wasn't fully grasping what Avicebron was saying. He was struggling against his bloodthirsty impulses, and his hatred toward Darnic was what kept his sanity intact, preventing him from attacking Avicebron immediately.
"It's fine if you don't understand, Lancer, but we share the same goal. I don't want that tower to open either."
Looking toward the crystal tower, Avicebron raised his hand. The Eve walking toward the summit was so beautiful she barely seemed human—the very pinnacle of humanity.
Something so majestic should never become a monster. That was why…
"Since my creation is here…"
BROOMMMMMMMMM
If the world was to change, it had to be through the mythological giant—the original human created through Kabbalah, the one who would grow and become comparable to Ain Sof…
With his activation chant, the ground shattered. A giant slowly rose, making the earth tremble and drawing everyone's attention.
Something that massive could never go unnoticed.
"Born from Mother Earth, surrender yourself to the Wind of Wisdom. Drink from the depths of the Water of Life…"
Because the Father of Humanity must not become a monster…
"A mark of Fire shall rest upon your hand, erasing the Devil of disease. Your resentment will bring you low, but your love will cleanse your blood…"
Because the origin of humanity must not be an evil pillar.
"Become a colossus, rising among the highest peaks. Be stone—unyielding and firm. Let your form match your glory… our guardian, our leader, our great foundation…"
Because Adam is the one who protects humanity and guides his children toward the future.
"You are earth, yet not earth—neither man nor non-man. You shall rest in paradise."
Because Adam must be perfect, one who resembles God.
"You shall rule it, for it will be led to you through its Gates. You are the dream. You are hope. You are love.
You are the First Man, bearer of the Holy Spirit Ruwach… your name is Adam."
"Go, Adam, claim your Throne! We shall return to Eden!"
This was how it had to be. If the Original had fallen into disgrace and degenerated into a monster, then this Primordial Golem had to guide humanity, ease its resentment and suffering, and lead it once more to the promised land—the Garden of Eden.
Standing over twenty meters tall, the giant burst through the ground as water began to seep out. That was to be expected—there was only a short distance between the lake where the Golem had been constructed and the crystal tower.
Flowers sprouted and bloomed at its feet. The land was regaining its vitality.
CREAKKKKKK
When the sphere of reality collided with Eggy's barrier, the latter began to crack and was gradually assimilated by the giant's reality sphere.
That was inevitable. With every step, the reality sphere was rewriting the world, while Eggy tried to protect the tower by sealing it inside an "egg."
"How dare that puppet destroy this Queen's real barrier?!"
Eggy was both stunned and furious. Her Asura World Arts were what she took the most pride in, yet having someone use her own powers to feed their own was something her pride could not tolerate.
"Damn puppet, I'll return you to dust!"
The spiritual gate opened, and a massive demonic claw made of black gas formed instantly, surpassing even the Golem in size. It swung down with overwhelming force.
The demonic claw crashed into the Golem's reality sphere. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, scattering Vlad III's mist-like form by sheer force.
BOOMMM
Unfortunately for Avicebron, who was being protected by the Golem, Eggy analyzed the reality sphere and pierced its defense in short order. The demonic claw slammed into the giant, sending both it and its creator flying.
"No! My creation!"
"A mere puppet won't stop this Queen!"
With a snap of her fingers, the real barrier formed again—this time brighter, with what seemed to be an additional layer.
As an Asura world Spirit and an expert in world arts, Eggy had not only analyzed Avicebron's reality sphere but also countered it. This barrier was designed not only to withstand large-scale attacks, but also special ones like the Golem's reality sphere.
Of course, if the Golem continued growing beyond its current twenty meters as designed, Eggy's barrier would not be able to withstand it. But Eggy wasn't here to fight.
"Leave this to us. Focus on opening the Gate."
"Hmph. Do you think I don't know that?"
Snorting coldly, Eggy ignored Kotori and Miku as they flew closer.
"Haaa~ haaa~ That proud, disdainful look—kyaa~ I love cold girls~"
Miku started drooling again. Eggy was completely her type. She was so beautiful that Miku fantasized about being stepped on by those bare white feet while being looked down on with contempt. The thought was far too much for Kotori's tastes, and she moved away from her in disgust.
"Black Caster, are you all right?"
With Kotori and Miku distracted by the giant, Jeanne seized the moment to move, arriving at Avicebron's side as he suffered the aftermath of Eggy's attack.
"My creation… cough, cough… It has to grow. It's not complete yet…"
Although the Golem had taken the brunt of the impact, the aftereffects were enough for a Caster like Avicebron—weak in close combat—to suffer internal injuries.
Even so, he didn't care. His only regret was that his creation had been defeated before reaching completion. When the Golem was sent flying, it lost its "earth," cutting off its reality sphere along with its magical power.
Fortunately, the demonic claw hadn't destroyed the Spirit Core, allowing the reality sphere to resume once the Golem hit the ground. Now it was regenerating.
But with the Evas in the sky, the Golem would have no chance to grow.
"No… Adam has to grow… It's the only way…"
Avicebron had miscalculated. He believed that with Jeanne holding back the other Evas, it would be easy to bring down the crystal tower. Unfortunately, Eggy was far too strong for his twenty-meter Golem.
"What do you mean, Caster? The only way? Can that Golem bring down that tower…?"
"Yes… as long as it keeps growing… My creation can even defeat the Evas…"
He wasn't joking. Once the Golem reached a height of one thousand meters, the entire world would begin to change and be assimilated by the reality sphere. At that point, most of the girls wouldn't be able to do anything. Even if they could pass through the reality sphere thanks to the Authority of God, they wouldn't be able to kill the giant due to its infinite mana and super-speed regeneration.
The only exceptions were the Thrones and Est. For them, it didn't matter how large the Golem grew—they could kill it using the Crown's Domain.
"I understand. I'll help you. It's not too late…"
Jeanne agreed. As long as that tower didn't open, she wasn't defeated yet. Even knowing how dangerous Avicebron's Golem was, it was still better than letting The Monster descend into this world unbound by the Gods' seal.
"In the name of the Command Spells, as the arbiter of this war, I call upon all Servants in this war to lend me your strength and fight the monster…"
A brilliant light shone from Jeanne's body. The Command Spells on her back vanished one by one, activating individually for each Servant and calling them directly.
Jeanne hesitated no longer. This war could not continue—not without resolving this threat first. She set aside her neutrality and forced everyone to come.
Out of the twenty-three Servants present in this war, only seven lights answered.
Jeanne frowned, but it was inevitable.
In this World War, many Servants possessed high magic resistance or special skills that prevented them from being controlled by Command Spells.
Solomon was a prime example. All human magecraft was ineffective against him. Because of that, in this war, Masters couldn't control their Servants the way they could in other wars. Most had to submit to their Heroic Spirits and reach cooperation instead—just like Sakura with Gilgamesh.
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