The omnipotent Zeus, who had once endangered all of humanity, could now only scream his last, hysterical curses.
Everything he had done—everything he had built—had turned to nothing.
His dream of becoming a "God," worshipped by billions of humans, his final trump card — to forge an obedient Grand-class Servant as his ultimate weapon — had all ended in humiliation, as he watched Mash become a Grand Servant before his eyes.
All of it, in vain.
As his divine core collapsed and his existence scattered into nothingness, his deranged roars echoed one last time.
Across streaming channels, all the audience could see was the last dying wail of an old fool who fancied himself as an omnipotent god.
====
In Chaldea, Dr. Roman stared at the screen, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.
"Mash has… grown so much."
Once upon a time, that pure, awkward girl—so gentle, so eager to protect—was now a Grand Servant.
Even if her ascension was achieved through an unusual path—by merging with Fou, a Beast-class being—her power had skyrocketed beyond recognition.
After all, Fou wasn't just any familiar.
He was a true Beast of Humanity, and his blessing was absurdly overwhelming.
The fusion allowed Mash, once a demi-servant, to transcend completely—becoming a true Grand.
In battle, she could now manifest Camelot's Wall, guarding humanity's last bastion.
While Mash stood as the indestructible fortress, Fou could channel limitless mana to reinforce her—shield and guardian in perfect harmony.
But most terrifying of all—Fou, as Beast IV, held the Authority of "Comparison."
No matter how strong the opponent was, Fou would always be stronger.
That Authority could be bestowed upon Mash's shield, ensuring her defense always surpassed any attack.
A shield that could never be broken—stronger than the concept of the spear itself.
A force that could repel even the assaults of a Beast.
"Yes," Da Vinci said softly, smiling. "It feels like watching a daughter all grown up."
Especially when that moment came—When Nameless asked Mash whether she was willing to become a Grand alongside Fou.
Without hesitation, she answered, "I am."
Da Vinci swore the feeling was like watching a daughter at the altar, standing in a wedding gown, answering the priest's question without fear.
If Nameless truly proposed marriage, she had no doubt Mash would nod just as quickly.
What bound them was far beyond love.
It was devotion—life and death, across time and eternity.
Roman sighed deeply.
"Mash and Fou becoming a Grand Shielder… It's Alaya's blessing upon Nameless. But what kind of enemy would require such divine intervention…?"
Unimaginable.
Nameless's allies now included two Beasts of Humanity—Tiamat, the Mother of Creation, and Fou, the Beast of Comparison.
And now, Mash had ascended to Grand Shielder.
Alongside the Grand Assassin—King Hassan, the Grand Lancer—Romulus-Quirinus, and the Grand Archer—Nameless himself.
Four of the seven Grand classes had gathered.
Could it be that Alaya's true goal was to have Nameless unite the Seven Grand Servants and Seven Beasts of Humanity, forging a team beyond all human history?
If so… what kind of enemy would demand such an army?
Roman could not imagine it—the scale of the battle that awaited them.
The only relief was this: as Alaya's broadcasts continued, he was slowly regaining his lost memories.When the time came, he would fight beside Nameless once more.
If even timid, kind Mash could choose to step forward—then how could he keep hiding in Chaldea, eating cake while others bled?
Da Vinci's ever-cheerful expression had hardened into something grim.
"Unimaginable… The enemy that requires that kind of preparation—it must be something that could erase mankind itself."
Perhaps even destroy the Earth.
Zeus's titanic warship finally plummeted toward the ground.
Before it could crash, however, Shikotei extended his hand, capturing it and sealing it within his mechanical body—ready to dismantle, analyze, and reforge it into a weapon fit for gods.
Mash, still catching her breath, looked at Sanjiro.
"Senpai… the god's final words—about the enemies on Earth, the Moon, and the Sun… what did he mean?"
If a being equal to a Beast had been slain, then the threats he spoke of must be horrors beyond comprehension—powers capable of wiping out humanity itself.
Sanjiro only smiled softly. "Don't worry. I'm here."
Even the villain's dying curse, in its own way, was a gift—a warning, a hint of what lay ahead.
What a pity — the "intel" that the other side boasted about was something he already knew long ago.
He hadn't made it public purely for the sake of human social stability.
The so-called "Council of Gods" of the United States once attacked Central Asia for one reason — to seize the "Vanguard of the Umbral Star," the god-destroying weapon that annihilated the Age of Gods…
—the corpse of the Giant White Titan.
Unfortunately for them, from that corpse was born a powerful Heroic Spirit, and that same event awakened the true body of Attila slumbering on the Moon.
Just thinking about it made him feel helpless.
He only wanted a peaceful life, a chance to lie flat and be an ordinary high-schooler — why was that so hard?
But since they dared to disturb his peace…
Then all of them — every last one — would die.
He would defeat these terrifying enemies, one by one, until no one dared challenge him again.
After bidding farewell to the Beasts of Humanity and the other Heroic Spirits, Sanjiro finally started heading home.
It was time to cook dinner.
No matter how great the disaster, he still had to go home and make food — otherwise, that little gremlin of a child would turn the house upside down.
And thus, the curtain fell on this battle.
====
At Academy City
Merry and Tamamo-no-Mae stood frozen in place, utterly dumbfounded.
They never imagined that the adorable little shield maiden could actually become a Grand Servant!
Merry gnashed her teeth.
"That damn Fou! I fed you all this time, and you betrayed me without hesitation!"
Back in the fading years of the Age of Britain, it had been Merry who took care of the little creature.
"But Fou was thrown off the Tower of the End by you yourself," Tamamo-no-Mae said with open disgust.
Now that the white creature's true identity had been exposed, Tamamo's contempt for that "scummy dream demon" only deepened.
To abandon even the infant form of a Beast of Humanity —
—and let it free-fall for one thousand five hundred years!?
No wonder that every time Fou saw Merry, it screamed "Merlin must die!" before launching a flying kick.
What's that phrase again? Oh right —
"You reap what you sow."
"…"
Merry fell silent, utterly speechless.
She quickly changed the subject.
"So… you, as the Academy's principal, don't plan on showing your face? Aren't you afraid Shikotei will punish you?"
"Uh… you have a point."
Tamamo nodded.
As the academy's head, hiding while disaster struck would only solidify her title as 'the most useless Beast of Humanity.'
So she decided to step out and put on a show of protecting the school, basking in the spotlight for once.
But as soon as she walked into the streets of Fuyuki, she ran into a tall woman with long blue hair — smiling gently at every passerby.
In her eyes, every human seemed like a beloved child, without distinction or malice.
When the woman's gaze met hers, Tamamo's fur stood on end. She instinctively stepped back several times, blurting out in panic—
"M-Mother!?"
Her nine tails popped out in shock, drawing every pedestrian's attention.
The bystanders stared and whispered, not understanding why the mighty Nine-Tailed Fox looked so terrified.
Tamamo-no-Mae nearly cried.
She only wanted to show up heroically, stand proud as the Academy's guardian spirit…
But why, why did she have to run into Tiamat, the Primordial Mother Goddess herself!?
You're the complete Beast of Humanity — how could you just stroll around the mortal world like this!?
Tiamat merely looked at her calmly.
She should have returned to the Imaginary Number Space, yet unexpectedly, she was able to remain a little longer.
After appearing to assist Sanjiro in slaying Zeus, countless humans had come to like her, their affection and blessings flowing in waves.
Those emotions allowed her to stay in the human world longer — and wield even greater power.
After all, Alaya was the collective consciousness of humanity's self-preservation.
And when humanity as a whole realized she meant no harm, the rejection and hostility weakened drastically.
Instead, with every song, every praise, and every prayer, she was slowly transforming — from a Beast of Humanity into a guardian Heroic Spirit.
Someday, perhaps, she would become a Heroic Spirit who could stay among humans forever…
No longer forced back into that lifeless, silent void of the Imaginary Number Space.
Tamamo watched her cautiously.
"And… what exactly are you planning to do?"
A Beast walking around freely — the news alone would cause a global uproar.
Could she, too, descend as a Heroic Spirit now?
Tiamat didn't answer. She merely passed by gently, moving deeper into the city.
Within the vibrant Fuyuki City, she could feel faint traces of Sanjiro's lingering presence — the scent of where he had once lived for over a decade.
She only wanted to understand him a little more.
"…She's ignoring me?" Tamamo's emotions were a mess.
She'd been ready to get beaten up — and instead, she was ignored.
The goddess simply walked the campus like a parent visiting her child's school.
Ah — so she wanted to see where "Nameless" had lived.
After a while, the overwhelming divine pressure faded completely.
Tamamo rushed straight back to her office and swore she'd never leave again.
====
At the marketplace.
Cu Chulainn glanced at the brawny man beside him. "Didn't expect that bastard Nameless to beat Zeus himself — guy's absurdly strong!"
Even his teacher, whose spear "could slay gods if perfected," couldn't have scratched that opponent.
After all, his teacher had only ever killed some nameless, second-rate deities — the kind history didn't even bother recording.
No doubt, humanity's sole Master and the protector of mankind was on a whole different level.
"Indeed… terrifyingly strong."
Heracles wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel.
He'd just finished another day of construction work — enough to make him sweat a little.
He looked up at the slowly calming sky.
Anyone could tell from the dying god's curse that more calamities were yet to come.
Terrifying foes capable of annihilating humanity would soon appear, forcing Nameless into brutal battles.
Only Grand-class Heroic Spirits and Beasts of Humanity could stand beside him.
Heracles hesitated.
He only wanted to be an ordinary dad, working hard to support Illya.
But if he refused to fight, then everything would rest on Sanjiro's shoulders alone — and that felt wrong.
"Grand-class, huh…"
He sighed softly.
He did have the qualifications — to become Grand Berserker:
"Without reason, without fear, without restraint — the purest madness of the origin."
But if he fought at that level, his peaceful daily life would vanish completely.
Cu Chulainn patted his shoulder and grinned.
"Come on, don't overthink it. There are tons of Heroic Spirits out there. Anyway, wanna crash at Sanjiro's place tonight for dinner?"
"Uh…"
Heracles was speechless.
They were just talking about saving the world — how did it suddenly turn into mooching dinner?
And come to think of it — this guy freeloaded so often, how did he never realize that Sanjiro was Emiya himself?
Must be… the side effects of chronic freeloading.
"Hehe, the city just survived a catastrophe, right? Gotta celebrate somehow! Besides, that guy's cooking could probably charm even the Beasts of Humanity!"
Cu's mouth watered uncontrollably, eyes gleaming.
Just imagining it made his stomach rumble.
"…"
Heracles had to admit — he wasn't wrong.
That man wasn't just a Grand Archer; he might as well be the Grand Househusband.
His cooking and homemaking were top-tier, completely winning over Illya's stomach — and her heart.
As a father, that left Heracles feeling… a little melancholic.
Just then, a tall woman with blue hair entered the marketplace, smiling softly at them.
At the mere sight of her, both Heracles and Cu Chulainn went rigid — every hair standing on end, goosebumps surging, their very souls trembling.
An invincible presence.
There was no mistaking it — Tiamat, the Beast of Humanity.
The two men exchanged stunned looks.
How was she still walking freely through the mortal world after the battle — even without Alaya's intervention?
Fortunately, she didn't pay them any attention and simply passed by.
Cu let out a shaky breath. "Fuyuki's getting scarier by the day. Even the Beasts of Humanity are taking casual strolls now…"
"So… you still planning to go for dinner?" Heracles asked.
"Uh, maybe not tonight."
Cu Chulainn coughed awkwardly.
That terrifying Beast of Humanity had just walked right past him—and it nearly scared the life out of him.
He needed time to calm down.
That pressure… it was too much.
But seriously, what was she doing in an ordinary marketplace?
====
At the supermarket.
Rin Tohsaka stood frozen in front of the meat section, torn between a pack of beef and a discount coupon in her hand.
She really wanted to eat meat tonight.
Yet despite being a famous genius magus—and in a past life, a powerful goddess—her financial luck was absolutely zero.
That thought made Rin grind her teeth in frustration.
Ever since the twin goddesses, Ishtar and Ereshkigal, had merged with her to form the "Three-in-One Rin," sharing the same body… she had yet to see any real benefit from it.
When Zeus descended earlier, the only thing those two sisters did for her was — run away together.
But seriously — of all places to run to, why the Underworld!?
She was a living human, not a ghost looking to move in with the dead!
No, calm down. Don't get mad. Stay elegant. The noble etiquette of the Tohsaka family must be upheld!
Rin put on a refined, polite smile.
A renowned young lady, and yet she couldn't even afford to buy whatever food she wanted—how humiliating.
But there was nothing she could do.
Her family's signature, Jewel Magecraft, consumed gemstones like candy.
The rarer the gem, the stronger the spell.
Thanks to the Tohsaka family's lineage, she could at least use ordinary gems, which made her spellwork cheaper than others—but it still wasn't enough!
"Tch! If that bastard Nameless hadn't stolen my divine treasures, I'd still have jewels to spare!" Ishtar snapped.
Back during the Singularity "Absolute Demonic Front", that scoundrel had tricked her into signing a ridiculous, one-sided contract.
He offered a measly handful of gems, and in return, she had to go work under him—while he kept thirty percent of Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon's treasures for himself!
"Please, you're just useless," Rin rolled her eyes.
She was utterly done with her so-called "past self."
That infamous photo of her holding up a sign that read 'The Most Useless Goddess' had gone viral across the entire internet.
And of course, Rin herself had to suffer the collateral damage.
Just then, she spotted a woman—strangely unfamiliar yet deeply familiar—standing a few meters away, smiling gently at her.
Before Rin could react, Ereshkigal gasped in her mind.
"It's Mama Tiamat!!!"
"Wait—what!? She's here!? She's not coming to kill us, is she!?" Ishtar's voice cracked with panic.
After all, she and Eresh had betrayed their mother and even attacked her once.
Such an unfilial act could easily earn them a divine slap in a cosmic scale!
"She probably won't…" Rin said quickly, trying to calm them down. "Remember, she helped Nameless during the battle!"
Good grief—she was the human one here, yet she had to be the one comforting two literal goddesses.
"True…" Ereshkigal agreed hesitantly.
When Nameless faced Zeus, it was Tiamat who had descended to help—lending him unimaginable amounts of mana and life force.
Without her, Nameless would've been turned into fireworks by Chin Kyu long ago.
The three Rins watched cautiously as the woman smiled and said softly:
"You have many friends, don't you? Be kind to one another. Cherish what you have. May your days always be filled with joy~"
"Eh?"
The twin goddesses were stunned.
Was… was Mama forgiving them?
Tears nearly welled in their eyes.
Ah, as expected of Tiamat—so kind, so loving, always forgiving her children's foolishness.
Rin herself felt her heart tighten.
Looking at Tiamat made her think of her own gentle mother.
The one who'd carry her new schoolbag on the first day.
The one who'd hold an umbrella for her when it rained.
The one who'd wipe away her tears when she cried—
Ah… that person was Mom.
How touching.
…Wait a second.
What was Tiamat even doing in a supermarket?
Rin blinked, thoughtful.
"Why do I get the feeling she's just… grocery shopping? Like she's going home to cook dinner?"
"Uh, maybe she's looking for Sanjiro?" Eresh guessed uncertainly.
"Definitely," Ishtar said firmly.
That bastard—he'd acted like he'd lost all his memories, living as a normal high-schooler.
Even when they'd met, he hadn't recognized them. Everything seemed normal.
But then, when Zeus attacked… Nameless immediately transformed and faced him head-on!
"Damn it, Sanjiro—you said you didn't know how to fight! Why'd I see you on TV punching the Omnipotent Zeus!?"
Rin sighed as she watched Tiamat's silhouette fade into the crowd.
"So… should we go see him?"
"NO!"
Both Ishtar and Eresh shouted at once.
Go to Sanjiro's house now—while Tiamat was around?
They weren't suicidal!
Meanwhile—
Sanjiro had just stepped through his front door when the little girl came rushing over.
She crossed her arms, pouting with a scolding look.
"You didn't answer your calls or texts! Where were you!? Don't you know how scary that whole doomsday thing was!?"
"I was on my way home, but there was traffic," Sanjiro lied smoothly, deadpan.
Reporting only good news and hiding the bad—a true government tradition.
Besides, in front of her, he was just an ordinary high-school boy. No way he could admit he'd been out fighting Zeus.
"Oh… well, as long as you're okay." Kirina sighed in relief.
Earlier, when Zeus had devoured the gods and declared himself the one true deity—planning to destroy all nonbelieving nations—she had genuinely thought it was the end of the world.
She was still just a teenage girl—why did her life have to end so soon?
In those final moments, she'd even imagined holding Sanjiro's hand, sharing one last romantic kiss before dying together.
Sanjiro lifted the grocery bag with a smile.
"Well, since we survived the apocalypse, how about I cook a few extra dishes to celebrate?"
"Yay~!" Kirina's eyes sparkled instantly.
When that monstrous god tried to crush them earlier, she'd nearly died of fright.
She was just a weak, adorable, and very hungry little girl—the only way to recover was to eat her fear away!
"I'll just make something simple—tamago-toji soup, teriyaki salmon, and simmered pork kakuni," Sanjiro said casually.
He knew her too well.
After raising this gremlin for years, he could read her like a book.
Tempting her with good food was too easy.
Kirina's mouth was already watering. "You could open a restaurant with that cooking, you know."
"If I can't find a job after graduation, maybe I will," Sanjiro chuckled.
With the collective culinary wisdom of humanity in his hands, opening a restaurant would be effortless.
He'd probably have entire squads of Heroic Spirits lining up for a meal.
As he tied on his panda apron and stepped into the kitchen, Kirina tilted her head.
"Hey, where's Fou? Don't tell me that cat was really the Beast of Humanity Fou?"
It had been right there a moment ago—now it was gone.
Could it have gone to join Mash and become Grand Shielder Fou?
"Uh, it went to stay with a friend," Sanjiro said calmly. "She used to take care of it."
Was this girl's sixth sense getting sharper again?
Could she actually end up breaking her own seals someday—and become a world-ending, god-slaying brat stronger than Zeus himself?
"Oh, whatever." Kirina waved it off.
That cat was annoying anyway—always prancing around and never letting her pet it.
Good riddance. At least the house felt cleaner now.
Ding-dong~
The doorbell rang.
Kirina hopped off the couch, shuffling to the door in her slippers.
"Coming! Uh—can I help you?"
A woman she didn't recognize stood outside, smiling softly as she looked down at her.
"I'm here to see Sanjiro," the woman said warmly.
"Huh? You're looking for him?"
Kirina blinked, confused.
There was such a strong aura of motherhood radiating from this woman…
Just standing there, Kirina nearly blurted out—
"Mom?"
That made Kirina's whole body tremble, and a wild, impossible thought flashed through her mind—
Could it be… this woman was her or Sanjiro's mother?
Feeling a little nervous, Kirina opened the door wider.
"Please, come in. You can sit in the living room first. He's cooking right now."
"Thank you."
The woman replied with a gentle smile, her tone calm and soft—it carried such warmth that Kirina almost wanted to run up and snuggle against her.
She hurried back to the kitchen and whispered, "Someone's here to see you."
"Who?"
Sanjiro didn't even look up, still focused on cooking.
"I don't know her. She's got long blue hair, looks super gentle, like… overflowing with motherly energy!" Kirina said in a low voice.
"…"
Sanjiro nearly dropped the ladle.
Why hadn't she returned to the Imaginary Number Space? Why was she here—at his front door?
Buzz—
Something in his pocket stirred.
The Chains of Heaven, Enkidu, clearly sensed the visitor's presence as well, trembling in nervous recognition.
Kirina leaned closer, anxious. "Who is she? What's her relationship to you… and to me?"
She was torn—half terrified it was connected to her, and half terrified it wasn't.
"A… gentle mother," Sanjiro managed to say after a pause, choosing his words carefully.
They were both beings born of humanity's sins—yet that woman loved humanity, while this child before him… sought to burn its history as a torch.
Kirina's eyes widened. "Wait—are you saying she's my real mom?"
She'd grown up with only Sanjiro, never knowing her parents, not even a photograph.
Even with all his care, she'd always felt something missing—no matter how kind Sanjiro was, he was still a man. There were things she just couldn't talk to him about.
"…"
Sanjiro sighed internally.
Where was she getting these ideas?
The kid didn't have parents—she was the classic orphan-protagonist setup through and through.
But looking at those hopeful, shining eyes… he hesitated.
Maybe… letting her feel a mother's warmth wouldn't be so bad.
After all, he hadn't said a single lie.
Everything she assumed was her own imagination.
And honestly, Tiamat's maternal aura was so strong that even this brat couldn't resist it.
"Mmm…"
Kirina fidgeted, clearly torn.
When they returned to the living room, she couldn't stop glancing at the woman—every look made her feel an uncanny sense of closeness.
Was this what they meant by "blood calling to blood"?
The woman's eyes were endlessly gentle, filled with a soft light that seemed to embrace everything.
Kirina's heart twisted in confusion.
She remembered Sanjiro once asking her which Servant she thought would make the best mom.
She'd eliminated all the others—Artoria, Jalter, all of them—and answered Tiamat.
And now, this woman before her… looked exactly like the Mother Goddess of Creation.
Moments later, Sanjiro came out of the kitchen, smiling lightly. "Cough, I was just finishing dinner. You're welcome to try some of my cooking."
In other words—what the hell kind of surprise visit was this!?
Tiamat showing up unannounced… he could practically feel the pressure crushing him.
Fou was just a juvenile Beast of Humanity—manageable.
But Tiamat? She was the complete form, an apex Beast on par with the ultimate evil of mankind.
If something went wrong here, the world was done for!
Was this some kind of "like calls to like" thing between Beasts?
"Mhm," Tiamat replied softly.
Loved by countless humans, she could now remain in the world far longer.
She wanted to see Sanjiro's daily life—to experience, for once, what it meant to live like a human.
Sanjiro nodded toward the little girl beside him.
"Cough, what do you think of her?"
He'd mentioned the brat before during one of his earlier talks with Tiamat.
Since she'd come in person this time, he figured he'd better make it clear before something happened.
"She's adorable. Every child is," Tiamat said, smiling gently.
That response only deepened Kirina's turmoil.
Wait… did that mean… she really had to call her mom?
The woman was so tender, so radiant with motherly warmth—it made her want to dive into her arms.
No, no! Stay calm! Be dignified!
And then, with that same serene smile, the woman said, "I'm a mother, you know. You can tell me anything~"
"Eh!?"
Kirina froze.
Why was she saying that so naturally, like they'd known each other for years!?
Her mind spinning, Kirina barely tasted the food during dinner.
Meanwhile, she noticed Sanjiro was constantly picking dishes for Tiamat—way too attentive, way too polite.
Hold on… whose mom was this supposed to be again!?
After the meal, Kirina retreated to her room, needing to calm down.
It was all too much.
A random "mom" appearing out of nowhere—who could handle that!?
Once she was gone, Sanjiro glanced at the closed door and leaned closer to Tiamat. "Her situation's… complicated. I hope you'll overlook a few things."
"Complicated" was putting it mildly.
If her true identity ever came out, the world's entire heroic system would go into full alert.
"I understand," Tiamat said softly. "You're such a good child. But… you don't have to bear everything alone. When you can't go on, I'll be there to help."
Sanjiro smiled faintly. "So, how was my cooking? I hope it suited your taste."
The brat always loved his food—so he felt pretty confident about this.
"It was delicious," Tiamat replied, her voice warm. "I could feel your heart in every bite. You've shared your meal with me—so now, it's my turn to feed you."
She gently drew him into her embrace, pressing his head against her chest. "Your body's still weak from battle, child. You need nourishment… won't you eat a little more?"