Episode II: Rise from the Ashes

Sigh... Talk about a disappointment.

If this isn't a letdown, then what is? Yes, this is the prime place for a battle, yet still!

I'd also love to go find a nice lady, but with things in this state there aren't any around! No men, either.

Hah, lust is what makes a hero but you, you are on a completely different level.

Those bestial urges of yours might be the source of the power that makes you a hero.

Mash, did you know? This guy...

H-Huh? What? Why are you involving me in this conversation, Scáthach?

His lust is so strong that no human woman can be his wife.

They all gave up after a few days, and in the end he married a forest goddess.

That's right, a Divine Spirit. Gods' appearances were rare to begin with in the Ulster Cycle...

...and one of those very rare appearances was made by his wife. He was too much to handle a goddess had to show up.

Y-Yeah... Um...

I don't...know...what to say... Um... S-Senpai...

Hahaha! You've got that right, if I do say so myself!

Foufou. Fou.

？！

Whew... At this point I'll just have to risk my life and ask Ms. Scáthach.

Huh?

To tell you the truth, Mash, Fujimaru, I thought about asking you two...

...but you're being guided by the Ms. Scáthach right now. You're basically kids, in a sense.

I can't be going after kids. Which means, well, I've got just one option. No, it's not one I was avoiding.

As an Ulster man, it's my destiny to someday make the Lady of Shadows my own...

I'm ready whenever.

Oooh! How lucky am I!?

Foufoufou!

If you want to receive a blow from my spear that can kill a god, then feel free. Come closer. Don't worry, I will treat you well.

Oh... Um... So... Well...

I-I guess there's no hurry on that one. First, we've gotta get these kids to safety!

And when that's done! I'll take you up on your offer!

First, we fight! If I win, of course, you keep your promise. But if I lose, we'll talk then!

？！

R-Right, Senpai. I think he's 100% serious. I don't know whether to be amazed or frightened...

Hehe. Dauntlessness, desire, vigor and lack of avarice. A hero must have all these things.

They are what makes a hero an object of admiration. They are a symbol of glory and victory.

That's what makes a hero?

Mash Kyrielight, don't look so confused. There's no need to force yourselves to mimic him.

It is a virtue to reflect on oneself in the presence of the strong. There, there.

Oh... You're patting my head... R-Right...

Yes. Now it's your turn, Fujimaru.

...Yes, good child. There, there.

...What? Why are you so embarrassed?

？！

Men can only become what they become. You cannot be anyone but yourself. Ever.

...Now, that's enough talking.

!! !!

T-This is an incredible amount of magical energy! It's absorbing all the mana in the surrounding area automatically?

It's clearly viewing us as enemies! It's looking at us...

!! !!

This... This can't be...

？！

...Right, Senpai. I was panicking for a second. Now I'm okay. I can fight!

Oh, I see. So that's your response? Do you fear it so much, Mash?

...Yes. It scares me a lot.

I'm sure I'm scared of any fighting... But I'll fight anyway. Because I need to.

Humph. Even if someday, the fight may take your life?

Of course. My fear and my life are two different things.

And... I know something even scarier.

I already know how sad it is to do nothing, the desolation of leaving nothing behind.

...I see. So you've already reached the deepest truth of life.

Then I've nothing more to say.

If you die here, you'll be ripped apart from the inside, and Chaldea will be filled with the remnants of death.

Humanity, civilization, everything you've done, everything that exists will lose their last hope forever.

？！

Right, Senpai. I feel the same way!

Fou, faau! Kyau!

Excellent! Glad to see you're ready to fight! Let's tear this thing apart then!

We defeated it! Good work, Senpai.

Fou, fou! Kyau, kyauu!

It wasn't a dragon, or a boar, or a giant snake... Humph. I've never seen a monster pillar like that.

Hmm...

It was beautiful in its own otherworldly way. It would serve as a support pillar for my castle in the Land of Shadows.

But it's not something that should be praised too much. Besides, that's a really twisted way of naming something.

Scáthach, perhaps you already knew what that thing really was?

Once you become part of the shadow and abyss you can see the future to a certain degree, But no, I didn't know about it beforehand...

I simply saw a fragment of the future related to it. The Incineration of Humanity.

I'm not that different than you. Though...

I can see things like...this!

...You dodged it, huh? I see why they call you the Great King of Destruction.

...That was what I was going to say. What is that spear made of that my blade cannot destroy?

I am a destroyer. Of both old and new civilization.

I will remove all traces of sentient beings from this planet. I will destroy all that stand in my way.

...You're!?

Fou! Kyuu, kyaau!

Is this another remnant of death?

This is quite the creature we've run into. Is the incineration of humanity capable of twisting things this far?

You know who she is, don't you? This Heroic spirit, whose magical energy rivals a dragon...

More than you do. As the slayer of many gods, and bearer of the knowledge of the Land of Shadows...

...and as a being who's achieved eternity on the outside of the world, I know one thing...

This would-be war machine is a little too dangerous to appear as a remnant of death!

That's right. Indeed, Ms. Scáthach is just right! But, I do like slender bodies, though...

I can feel the core of my groin tighten when I look at her! She might be even a better woman than Ms. Scáthach!

Hahaha, but my intuition says what's inside her ain't quite what it looks like!

Go on ahead, Fujimaru, Mash!

My Caladbolg is enough to delay the incarnated form of the King of Destruction!

？！

Don't worry. It's a question of compatibility.

My guess is that if I break her first, she won't be able to use her full power!

Ms. Scáthach has the job of guiding you! So go!

Sorry, Fergus. I'll leave the rest to you.

It's an honor! Until we meet again, friends! Now that fate's brought us together, I'm sure we will!

...Right!

Fou, foouuu!

Good, they're gone. ...Well, next time we meet, they might be enemies.

I'm always on the side with the best girls, so I can't guarantee anything there.

...

Now, let's do this. Let's fight fair, square, and hard, so we've got no regrets.

For as stubborn as you are, though, you're awfully polite. I can't believe you let Fujimaru go.

It's all the same. After I crush you, I'll destroy them too.

I destroy all that I see. That's what I was made for.

You know, it'll be a hassle to break your body in that state.

But you know! I'm ready for it!

Whether it's coincidence, or inevitability I have no idea. It's probably a curse of the ancient gods...

But the true identity of my spiral sword, being a fragment of the distant, ancient gods is more than enough reason to kill you!

...Target, one. Initiate destruction.