King of Magecraft, Solomon.
The third king of ancient Israel, the Wise King who was granted ten decrees of omniscience and omnipotence by Heaven.
Ten years ago, during the Holy Grail War, he was summoned by Marisbury as a Caster-class Servant and participated in the war.
At that time, at the end of the Holy Grail War, Rei had fought him directly alongside Naoki.
Seeing Solomon atop the platform—unchanged from ten years ago, though his expression was now far more terrifying—Rei stepped forward and positioned herself in front of the three of them. "This is truly an unexpected reunion, King Solomon. I never expected you'd appear here."
"As the final Demon God Pillar, you've come far too soon."
Hearing Rei's words, Solomon looked down at the four people below. After briefly glancing at Hinako and the others, his focus settled on Rei.
He recognized this person. Professor Lev—Demon God Pillar Flauros—had mentioned her when reporting to him.
Rei, a staff member at Chaldea, referred to herself as Naoki's personal maid and lover.
"You know my identity. Although I came to this Singularity after repeated requests from Flauros, I thought it was an overreaction, but…"
Personal maid?
Lover?
Solomon wanted to burst into laughter. His subordinate Demon God Pillar was so blind he couldn't see this woman, whose existence Solomon hadn't even tried to hide. How utterly foolish!
*"[There's a great threat in this Singularity that might destroy us. Please come and eliminate it!]*"—Flauros had reported to him like that. Though their goals differed, if it was *you*, then yes, I *must* come here personally. This could be called coincidence."
"A magus connected to the Root."
"I never expected to encounter an anomaly among anomalies like you here—one who hasn't appeared for years."
Solomon's words sent shockwaves through Hinako and Mash's hearts.
Rei connected to the Root?
If not for the crushing mana pressure making it nearly impossible to speak, both of them would have instantly asked questions. What did it mean to be connected to the Root? Was it even true?
"Worthy of the title King of Magecraft. You saw through it immediately." Rei said with a smile. "But now that you know, are you still certain you can eliminate me here? You might end up being destroyed by me instead."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Solomon suddenly burst into uproarious laughter!
"Destroyed?! A joke! Ridiculous! Foolish! Is bluffing the only thing you can do now? Do you truly think I can't see it? What you call 'connected to the Root' was severed once!"
"No, more accurately, forcibly severed. Though it has recovered significantly, it can never be fully reconnected again. If you were your complete self, I might have hesitated. But you're merely a broken, defective piece…"
"Four Pillars should be enough, right?"
Solomon suddenly uttered strange words at the end. And immediately, in the next second, Mash and the others understood their meaning.
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*
Behind Solomon, accompanied by four loud impacts, four pillars suddenly burst through the ground and rose from below. Like wild trees growing uncontrollably, they stretched straight up to the cave's ceiling and easily pierced and shattered it!
They were four pillars of deep black. At a glance, they resembled the tails of some monstrous fantasy beast. Their surfaces were covered with large, circular red eyes that emitted a heart-pounding crimson light.
Demon God Pillars.
Not the demons Naoki and Rei had seen ten years ago, who appeared in their legendary forms, but their most basic forms: pure masses of flesh, individuals entirely filled with evil.
The four Demon God Pillars completely destroyed the cave's ceiling, allowing the burning sky outside to become visible to the four once more.
Unbeatable.
Invincible.
Just seeing the four Demon God Pillars towering like pillars of heaven before them, Mash had no desire whatsoever to raise her shield. Their presence was so overwhelming, making one feel powerless like a dragonfly trying to shake a tree.
"Is this… the King of Magecraft, the enemy we must face…?"
How could such an enemy ever be defeated?
Seeing Mash so shaken, Rei placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't be afraid, Mash. I'm here."
"Miss Rei… No, even Miss Rei can't possibly stand against King Solomon. His mana level is too—"
"Is that so? But ten years ago, I and my Master defeated him once."
Mash, cut off mid-sentence, was slightly shocked by Rei's words.
Defeated him?
Defeated Solomon once, ten years ago?
Rei and her older brother together?
"But even though we defeated him together, I was only assisting from the side. The main battle was my Master's responsibility. In truth, he defeated him alone. So you don't need to be too afraid. Whatever happens, there's me and my Master."
"But—"
"Besides, Solomon, I know why you've come here—because you're afraid, aren't you?"
Rei smiled at Solomon. "Perhaps you yourself aren't afraid, but your Demon God Pillars are. Flauros, who has worked under my Master for years, deeply understands his power. So he conveyed his fear to you."
"To eliminate my Master, who is a threat to you, right from the start, you've come to this Singularity. That's truly cautious of you. Are you really that afraid?"
"Afraid of losing to my Master a second time."
An insult.
A provocation.
While others feared Solomon, Rei was provoking him.
A dirty tactic—Solomon could clearly assess that. But if he didn't respond to such mockery and provocation, it would mean he admitted fear of the existence named Natsukawa Naoki.
"Utterly ridiculous… you say I'm afraid?"
Solomon raised both hands.
"I came here personally only because of my subordinate's loyal request. In your eyes, that's called fear? Very well, then witness with your own eyes how the 'Master' you speak of will be reduced to dust by me."
"But you may not live to see it—vanish, you weaklings."
The eyes on the four Demon God Pillars suddenly exploded into blinding, cross-shaped flashes! An intensely hot, white light of destruction instantly filled everyone's vision!
—We're going to die!
This thought arose simultaneously in Mash and Ritsuka's minds. Though they didn't know the core of this white light, there was no doubt—it was light that would erase them completely from this world!
(No, I can't withstand it either!)
Hinako instinctively wanted to use her suicide attack to resist, but she immediately realized it was futile. The power generated by her self-destruction would be erased before it could even block this light.
"Hey! Rei! Do something! If this continues, we'll all be annihilated!" Hinako shouted at Rei. "Since you're an all-knowing, all-powerful magus connected to the Root, there must be a way to handle this!"
"There isn't."
Rei said with a smile. "Fighting is possible, but because you talked too much, it's already too late."
"You—what did you—"
"It's fine."
Interrupting Hinako's shout, Rei looked behind her. "I don't need to act. Someone more reliable than me has already arrived."
*WHOOSH!*
Almost the instant Rei's voice ended, a golden flash suddenly shot out from the cave entrance behind them and arrived directly in front of them.
Under Rei's affectionate gaze and the shocked stares of Hinako and the others—
Facing the overwhelming light of destruction, Naoki swung the shining Star Holy Sword in his hand!
Two powerful mana forces collided with full force in an instant, and in the next second, without hesitation or resistance, the outcome was decisively determined!
"HAAAAAAARRRRRGHHHHH—!"
Accompanied by Naoki's furious roar, the white light engulfing them was instantly split and shattered into pieces by the towering sacred light!
Golden rain fell inside the cave.
Turning to face the four people behind him, Naoki showed a gentle smile that made all four feel safe.
"It seems I arrived just in time."
"From here on, leave it to me."