Together With You, At the End of the Eternity Known as a Moment

...

What was that!?

Vimana is firing magical energy blasts at us from afar! Evasive maneuvers!

Grrr, damn it aaall!

My, my, it looks like he's finally taking us seriously. Whatever you do, try not to slow down, okay?

Easy for you to say!

Well, what else can we do? Our lives are in your hands, and those hands are driving this vehicle.

Come to think of it, I guess the fate of the whole world is in your hands too, huh?

Stop that! I'm under enough pressure as it is! Grr, doesn't anyone have any good news for me, dammit!? At this point, I don't even care if it's real or not!

My apologies, Commander, but I'm afraid I'm only seeing another abnormality in our nearby environment.

(Although... Did the state of the world just change? Why now of all times?)

Hmm. Well, this is certainly less than optimal...

(It appears that...the entire world is starting to buckle under the strain of all these cycles...)

Never mind that now, Holmes! Can't you see we've got more urgent matters for that big brain of yours to focus on!?

Between the kali, the sacred beasts, and the magical energy blasts, there's just too much for me to keep track of alone!

Boy, it'd suuure be nice if a certain captain with nothing better to do was willing to help us out right about now.

I'm only here to upgrade the ship. I didn't sign up to be part of the crew.

...But, I guess the circumstances are dire enough that I don't have a choice. And this shouldn't be too different from detecting torpedoes.

Really!? Phew, you're a lifesaver! Okay then, you handle the cannon fire!

...But, since we don't have any decoys to lead them away, all I can do is read the incoming projectiles' trajectories.

The steersman piloting this ship will have to handle the rest.

I can still tell you when to take evasive maneuvers, of course, but as for whether we survive, the gods only know.

Isn't surviving against a god exactly what we're trying to do here!?

Please, Director Goredolf! Please do whatever you have to in order to get us there!

Arrrgh! All right, you want to do this thing? Let's do this thing!!!

...Here comes the next one. Stay on course for the next five seconds, and... Swerve!

Wahahaha! At this point, all I can do is laugh! Do try to keep the impossible demands to a minimum, my dear Captain!

I sure hope we make it out of this.

？！

Right. When I first saw it, I never would have thought that this could be what it really was...

...Can I ask a silly question? Why is it shaped like that?

Beats me. All I know is, Ganesha's the one handling that.

She probably based it off the most impenetrable thing she knew about.

I don't know exactly what that could be, and I doubt she does either except maybe in her subconscious.

It is an impenetrable domain made for the sole purpose of ignoring the outside worldan alternate world that physically embodies the very concept of shutting oneself away.

Given all that, it is no wonder we were unable to get a proper read on it.

Furthermore, as it was made by a combination of both Ganesha and Lakshmi's magical energies...

...that made it impossible for either of them to sense what it actually was before they knew the truth.

This is only the second time we're paying it a visit, but it feels completely different now.

Back then, it was nothing more than a large object whose nature and purpose were completely unknown to us.

？！

Right! It's time to go back to God's Skyboulder... To the place where Ganesha and Lakshmi are waiting!

Yes, but not so fast. Remember what happened the last time we were there.

Dammit, that's right! There are tons of kali protecting it!

...Slowing down now would make us sitting ducks. Full speed ahead.

Now I see. Those kali are here because of Lakshmi...or rather, Alakshmi.

Since she has a connection to them, they must have been lured here by the scent of her pure magical energy...

...and it's since become a kali nesting ground of sorts.

If we keep going like this, kali are going to start attacking the Border!

Please open the side hatch, Holmes! I'll go out there and try to fend them off!

Well, guess I'd better head up to the roof then.

Just make sure you don't lose your footing, got it!?

By the way, if you pull that hidden lever there, you'll find a porthole, so make good use of it.

You STILL won't give me a break!?

We're here. Thankfully, the blasts from Vimana are sending the nearby kali scattering! Now's our chance!

？！

Ha, haha, hahaha aaahhh...! A-all of a sudden, my knees won't stop shaking...

Oopsies. Looks like the adrenaline finally wore off.

I guess the rest of us'll just have to take it from here...

But in the meantime, great job, Director Goredolf! You really saved our asses!

Tch. We can't target the Border directly now that it's hiding in that thing's shadow... But no matter!

We may not know what it is they're after, but whatever it is clearly has something to do with the Skyboulder!

Therefore, the answer is obvious! All you need do is focus your godly power on breaking it apart!

Even if the Skyboulder has endured your cataclysms up to this point, a being of your abilities should still be able to destroy it if you focus solely on

...

...The Skyboulder...? What is that...?

!

Does this mean...you couldn't see it all this time!? All because it's been here from the beginning!?

Mmm... Now what to do...

(Huff, huff) At last... We can finally relieve them of their long duty...

That cube shuts out everything from the outside world... But there should be one key that can unlock it.

...Go ahead, Master.

Easy there.

...Ngh...

How many centuries...millennia...has it been...?

I can't say. None of us have any idea how long you spent like that.

But I do know your long, painful journey was a success. You should feel proud about that.

You're... Rama... That's right. I remember now.

...Forgive me. It's been so long since I took human form, I can't seem to stand up straight...

That's all right. You can lean on my shoulder as long as you need.

But...as I recall, the problem...is that, you're married...

What's wrong with helping a woman who can barely stand? Sita would never have a problem with that.

Besides, Alakshmi is Lakshmi's sister, which also makes you Sita's sister.

Surely there can't be anything wrong with a man caring for his sister-in-law.

(...Welcome back, Lakshmi Bai. It's good to see you again like this.)

(This time, at least... But, I still...)

Lakshmi's okay!

But of course, her job was to be the outer shell, and to use her Divine Core as a source of pure energy.

The mental strain on her should have been relatively light, since she spent all that time as an inanimate object.

...What about Ganesha?

She had to stay conscious the entire time to keep their combined Noble Phantasm domain going! What about her!?

She might be a god, but she was still in there alone for what must have felt like an eternity. She could easily have had a mental breakdown!

？！

...Nn. Nnn...

You're...um... Oh, right. I wrote it down in the notes in my save data file so I wouldn't forget...

...Fujimaru. That's right. You're Fujimaru.

Now, I just use that as the key to use my godly wisdom power and reload my memories, and...

...

Ah! I remember! I remember now. Oh man, what took you guys so loooong?

I-I'm so sorry... Are you okay? Is your mind still intact?

Hehe. Well, more or less. Trust me, if anyone can handle being in a tiny room alone for a long time, it's a top-tier NEET like me!

'Course, my body's pretty much useless right now.

I'm sorry your Master's been saddled with holding me and all my excess padding up.

Oh, but... I knew it.

(Huh? Is she looking past us...?)

(Is there something... No...)

(Someone there...?)

...Yeah. That's right.

Maybe the only reason I was able to hang in there...was because of what he asked me back then.

...Hehe.

After all...I couldn't break my promise, could I?

Now that Ganesha and Lakshmi's existences have been confirmed here...

...we have proven beyond all doubt that Arjuna is not a perfect god.

And because they have proven his flawed nature by enduring his massive world-undoing cataclysms...

...the resulting drop in his divine power must be severe indeed.

Good. It worked so damn well I skipped being happy and went right back to unyielding rage!

What's more, Arjuna's basically cursed now. Since I sent them back to the past...

...all that time they spent here only reinforces the concept that any god who could miss something like this for so long MUST be defective.

I see. To put it another way, it's as though a loan someone forgot to put on the books has finally come due.

And now that we've proven that loan exists, we have the right to charge an exorbitant amount in interest...

Hehe, this should make for a spectacular show. There's nothing more exciting than a rival company on the verge of bankruptcy.

Fou, biffooou!

Now we should be able to actually hurt him, huh. Though that's not to say he's going to be an easy opponent.

Just a moment. As I see it, part of my job is keeping an eye on things that Fujimaru's group can't.

And right now...that would be you.

Aśvatthāman!? Nooo!

...You're ending your own life here. Why?

Ugh, you guys piss me off. Can't you tell, dammit? There's several reasons.

First, I had to push myself way too hard to use Shiva's power to send those two back in time.

Second, I'm still technically Arjuna's Servant. If worse comes to worst, he could end up making me hurt you guys.

And finally...there's no point keeping anyone around who can't fight worth a damn. 'Course, it pisses me the hell off.

Don't worry. The moment those two were freed... The moment this world's destiny was thrown for a loop...I'd already done what I could.

And by that, I mean my Spirit Core should still be good for something.

Truth be told, I was already pretty much a shadow of myself by the time we got here.

I know there's no point in saying this now...

...but Fujimaru thought he would get to fight beside you right to the end.

I can tell you, he's going to be real disappointed.

Ha. Well, who knows? Maybe he'll end up summoning me himself one day.

That would be most encouraging. You are truly a dependable Servant.

In the future, Fujimaru there is bound to bear witness to any number of scenes where he will be forced to stand back and bite his tongue, no matter how angry he may wish to get.

If you could be there by his side at times like that, I think that would mean a great deal indeed.

Heh. Guess you really do know the only kind of role I'm cut out to play.

As for you, ex-Master... You're the one who originally summoned me, so...sorry I couldn't be of more help to you.

I was supposed to be your Servant, but boy did I ever fail at that. You've still got every right to be angry at me.

Hehe, I'm not angry. I know you couldn't help it. Believe me, I understand that sort of thing all too well.

Maybe, if I could get angry or upset on your behalf...

...it'd help you feel more appreciated as a Servant...

But, I just can't. I don't know how to live my life that way. Sorry.

The way you live your life, huh... While we're on the subject, let me say this: I was still your Servant for a while, so I know this much about you.

You might think you've lost your way, and that you don't deserve to be thought of as human anymore.

...But you're wrong. I think you put your foot right through the path you were headed down...

...to make extra damn sure you wouldn't get lost on it.

Maybe I don't have any right to say this, seeing how I snuck in and massacred all those people in the dead of night, but my comrades were all a bunch of good-for-nothings too.

Especially Duryodhana and the other hundred princes... Though they were still good guys at heart.

Anyway, I think they were fine just the way they were.

They might've been good-for-nothings, but they lived their lives the best they could. I think that's all anyone can do.

Yeah, I know. There's no right or wrong when it comes to living your life.

But still, when you're born on the outside looking in on the world, there's not a whole lot you can do, right?

So, I get it. It's one of those things that just can't be helped.

It's not worth complaining about to anyone, and it's not worth asserting my rights over either.

I just...can't help but think it's a shame that this world sometimes ends up producing outcasts like me.

Man... Your resignation really colors everything in your life, doesn't it?

That's why you feel bad for the world's lack of tolerance instead of for yourself. It's why you're appalled by human society's failure to help people like you.

But you know, it takes a big person to think like that, too. I don't have a problem with it. Hell, I wouldn't have a job without it.

Who knows? Maybe I'll end up running into you again someday as well.

I'm sure you already know this, but as a Servant, I'm not good for much except being a fiery ball of endless fury.

But...if you still haven't learned your lesson, and end up as my Master again someday...

...I'll make sure to make up for your lack of fire by getting good and angry on your behalf.

Even if you aren't able to muster up any anger on your own about the world's injustices, I've got rage enough for both of us.

...I think that's what I'm meant to do.

Hehe. Well thank you, Aśvatthāman. That'll give me something to look forward to.

Ha... Well, glad I got all that off my chest. I'm counting on all of you to take care of the rest.

And by the rest, I mean the guy taking my place.

I'm pretty sure you already know this, but he's not exactly the most graceful guy around.

I knew it. I figured I'd find you here. Really pisses me off that you've been slacking.

...I have not been slacking off.

I know that. I'm guessing this is the end... The place where Arjuna sends all the so-called failures he erases.

A big old trash heap with no shape or form. Just different concepts floating around every which way.

I figured you must still be drifting around here back when I saw you turn into Surya's light itself.

Of course you knew. You were the one who said that.

Ugh, is there anyone more tightly wound than you? Freakin' infuriating.

...

All right then, let's do this. We've only got a moment to pull it off...even if time is basically meaningless here.

Here's what's gonna happen. I'm gonna use everything I've got to pull you out of here, and you're gonna use everything you've got to climb the hell out.

What do I have to do?

It's easy. All we gotta do is be ourselves. Long as we do that, we should be able to connect.

...All right. Let's do it.

If there is no concept of time here, all the better. I want to keep going until I'm satisfied.

If the time we experience here has no meaning, that means we can use as much of it as we like.

So why just go back as I am now if I could use this time to train and get even stronger?

The hell? At any moment of existing in this space, we could be torn to shreds, and you wanna TRAIN here!? What the hell is WRONG with you!?

I'm just going to do the same thing Arjuna did.

Now that I know how far he pushed himself, I have to do the same to meet him on even ground.

The same thing he did...?

He must have put himself through tremendous hardships before he reached his current state.

It's one thing to say he collected every Indian Divinity into himself, and another altogether to actually do so.

He may rule this land now, but he has not transcended its bonds. His current state is the answer he arrived at after countless hard decisions and tribulations.

In which case, it would be the height of rudeness to challenge him as my ordinary self.

So I will put myself through the same ordeals he did as a sign of respect...and of despair.

I will only challenge him once I have pushed myself as far as I possibly can. As his brother, I owe him no less.

And you are going to help me get there, Aśvatthāman.

Ha... You're too damn good for you own good, you know that? Irritating as hell. But then, I guess that's just how you've always been, isn't it?

All right, fine. I'm the one who came to get you, so I guess I've got a responsibility to see this through to the end. If you want to do this thing, we'll keep at it until you're good and satisfied.

Come to think of it, I guess not caring about time is something you and the guy outside got in common... I can't tell if you're a good match for each other or not.

...All right, here I come, Hero of Benefaction! Get ready for a world of pain!

What's the score up to? I lost count in the high thousands.

Dammit... It pisses me the hell off how strong you are!

You are impressively strong yourself. I truly think you are one of the strongest warriors I have met.

Well? Did you do everything you wanted?

I did.

Then I guess you got nothing to worry about. There's only one thing left to say now.

Let's go fight together again. I'll even let you borrow me.

...Thank you. I accept with gratitude.

Ha. That's what I like to hear. Now hurry up.

Thank you, my friend.

Your anger may be defective and improper...

...but there are still some lost hopes that only it can save...

Wha... What's going on?

No way. Is that...!?

Aśvatthāman's Spirit Origin was at its limit.

Even if his connection to Shiva did let him interfere with time, he still had to sacrifice a lot to pull it off.

So he chose to burn freely so he could leave his Spirit Core behind...

...all so he could take advantage of the moment when Arjuna's fallibility was proven beyond all doubt.

Because he believed that by doing so, a certain someone would come back, using his Spirit Core as an anchor...

What!?

...!

...

That's right. The possibility was always there.

Would Arjuna ever absorb him, and make him a part of himself?

Absolutely not.

Even if he did possess Divinity, he is the one being Arjuna would almost certainly refuse to absorb.

After all...

Oh, my apologies. It would seem that the time is not yet right to speak of that.

Ah... Aah...!

M-Master, look. Behind you...

？！

...Ahaha. Honestly, it was really, really hard waiting for hundreds and thousands of years.

But, you did say we would be sure to meet again. That's a promise in my book.

I mean, after all...

I knew that you of all people would never, ever lie.

...And so we have met again.

You did wonderfully, Jinako Carigiri. Absolutely wonderful.

I can tell you've grown since we last met. Your face is now as full of life as a beautiful spring flower.