Act Five: The Bottom of the Sea Blooming and Yielding (2/2)

I've certainly never seen the inside of an evil flower god before. I'll say this for Yang Guifei: she's got excellent taste in illusions!

How's the reception up on the bridge, Fujimaru?

？！

Good. All right, Fran, get going! Be careful with that camera! And watch the coordinates too, since they're updated constantly!

Okay, Mama.

No. Never call me that.

Here goooes. Hraaah.

Now this one. Yaaah.

Haaa.

？！

Fran...?

Agh!

Leave now. All your efforts have been for naught.

The Noble Phantasm release may have failed, but now that "I" have grown, I cannot be eliminated by conventional means.

Have no fear. Even after the conclusion of this plan, the invasion of your realm will not begin for another thousand years.

When that time comes, you have my word that the invasion will be executed by a painless, or even pleasurable means of coexistence with intelligent life.

？！

Van Gogh! Fran! Don't listen to that voice! It's a divinity from another world!

It's just saying random words to try and get us to back off!

Not at all. The fact is, accepting me is the next best outcome all of you could hope for.

Uhh. Nope.

Why not?

'Cause you're hurting Van Gogh.

Van Gogh! We're patchwork beings, but we can still have fun together!

Th...ank...you...F...ran!

Initial negotiations have failed. A pity. Perhaps you'll be more receptive after I've captured and tortured you.

Well, this was unexpected.

Your combat capability, engineering prowess, control over your state of mind...

...and your vicious tenacity to make the most of those traits in this abnormal space is impressive.

However, my true body is still alive and well. Do you actually believe you will be walking out of here alive?

？！

Aye, aye. Can you get out? No, huh. Don't move, okay?

I'm...sorr

No apology. Just smile.

...Ehehe.

Okay, let's go. I'll carry you. Close your mouth. I'm gonna run fast.

Hraaah.

It's no use.

I told you, it's no use.

Uh! I need backup!

Hold on! I'll have Lambdaryllis get you more resources!

No, you won't.

I've cut off your communications, and your escape routes. None of you are leaving here alive.

Are we done for?

Fran...

I'll use...my Noble Phantasm...

Huh? Isn't that bad?

Ehehe, don't worry. This is a different one.

A whole other Noble Phantasm... I think I can use in this Spirit Origin...

But I'll need a whole minute to paint it! Please buy me some time, Fran!

Uh! Got it!

Stop that!

Nuh-uh.

...Ehehe, ehehe...

Van Gogh's entrance of hope and despair... The shattered, abandoned remnants of dreams...

But...I'm still going to paint this... Or my name isn't...Clytie van Gogh!

Here, in this sunlit room, its exterior yellow and interior white, I must paint a picture of hope, both for myself and my friends.

Within these warm walls which keep the mistral's gusts at bay, in this land devoid of shadows, I will shake your hand with the best of wishes for our delicate friendship.

Let there be a street towards The Yellow House where my friends and I can live in peace! Het Gele Huis!!!

Oh?

Van Gogh once managed to reach another power from beyond. This is it!

Protection and blessings for my friends! Destruction and disaster for my enemies! This will help you break us out of here!

Okay! I can do this now!

Charging complete! Big, electric, sure-hit, shocking ka-boom!

Skewered Plasma Blade!!!

This can't be

It's about time you showed up! First comms go dead, then the aftereffects from your absurd Noble Phantasm make my legs tingle... What were you doing in there!?

Sorry. We managed.

...You two do know you've been cursed, right? Like, a lot.

I'm sorry... Ehehe, it's a side effect of my Noble Phantasm...

Let's go back. Before we die.

Ugh, if it's not one thing with you two, it's another! Bridge, I've got Van Gogh and Fran! We're getting out of here!

Raikou! You're up!

...Oh yes, it's been a very long time since I've had this much energy at my disposal, both magical and otherwise...

And now, at long last, I no longer have to worry about keeping silent.

So I will gladly channel every last drop of my devotion to ridding the world of evil into this attack, and shout it loud and proud with every fiber of my being!

The Vajra of Gozu-Tenno, reincarnation of the goddess Indra! The lance of divinity made from sacred bones!

Come forth and annihilate all evil! Vajra of Indra!!!

？！

This is Yang Guifei! I just heard some huge rending sound! The enemy structure is collapsing from the inside!

I see it too! We did it! Poggers!

By the way, Lambda? Could you maybe get me the heck outta here, hayaquick!? I'm about to lose my footing here, and it's triggering my PTSD!

Don't you know that escorting princesses is one of my highest priorities? I've already sent a collection team your way, so just sit tight.

Oh, and bridge? Just for the record, both Van Gogh and Fran are safe and sound.

Thank goodness!

This is Mash! We did it, Senpai! We really did it!

？！

Mission complete, everyone! Great work! Nemo Series, prepare to withdra

Earthlings!

？！

I appear to have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with my lack of foresight.

And you, in turn, have refused your chance at the second best outcome you could have hoped for: a peaceful, even gentle annihilation.

A pity. Goodbye.

？！

...Gods always resort to threats when things don't go their way. That's why humans are forced to worship them, whether they actually like them or not.

But it doesn't matter what they say. It's up to humanity to sail the seas of hope, and guide our ships toward it.

Don't you agree, Xiang Yu?

...

Affirmative.

I knew you would! All right, let's get ready to welcome everyone back on board!