Chapter 114: The night of farewell, the root is revealed!
The night was as dark as ink, swallowing the last sliver of twilight.
The land, piled with endless ruins, sank into shadow; shrill cries and screams of terror tore through the silence, fitting for this apocalyptic scene.
Fuyuki City citizens, whose memories still lingered on the early morning, looked at each other, discussing in panic what had happened to the city.
In just one day, Fuyuki City, from west to east, had been reduced to scorched earth, as if plowed by doomsday fire!
Who would believe the nonsense about a gas explosion!
What kind of gas leak could flatten an entire city, yet not injure a single person?
Unlike the panicked ordinary citizens, in the Fujimura old residence, which had miraculously escaped harm, Arthur was bidding farewell to Oogawa and her grandfather, Fujimura Raiga.
"I am about to conclude this short journey, and I have been indebted to your care. Now, I have an impolite request that I hope you will grant."
He gently stroked Sakura's short purple hair, his gaze subtly sweeping over Fujimura Raiga, hinting at something.
"This child has had a hard life. Although I helped her frail body recover, I also deprived her of the ability to be self-reliant."
"I hope you can adopt this child. Once she comes of age, whether she stays or leaves will be entirely up to her personal wishes."
Fujimura Raiga nodded steadily: "No problem, I will definitely treat this child as my own flesh and blood."
Oogawa, who was accompanying them, looked dejected: "Will you still come to travel in the future? Or should I go to Europe to find you?"
Arthur perceived Fujimura Raiga's hidden delight and smiled lightly at the cheerful, carefree Oogawa.
"If I have free time in the future, I will come back to play with you."
Oogawa's eyes lit up: "It's a promise! Don't lie to me!"
Arthur chuckled: "Yes, it's a promise."
…
As night deepened, Arthur and Merlin, with their backs to the brightly lit Fuyuki streetscape, went straight into the hollow belly of Enzou Mountain.
This place is the central trunk of Fuyuki City's underground leyline, so the Great Holy Grail Formation is set up here.
Under Merlin's familiar guidance, Arthur passed through a long tunnel and stepped into the vast, empty cavern.
The first thing that caught his eye was a massive, solid, heavy rock slab emitting a mysterious magical glow.
Instantly, a familiar foul odor of evil assailed him. Arthur frowned slightly, while Merlin stopped in his tracks, a pained expression on his face.
"Master, I can only accompany you this far. Although there isn't much of the black mud of evil remaining here, I am, after all, a Servant."
Arthur turned back to look at the Incubus. Although he always found various excuses to shirk work, he was never absent when it was time to act.
"Once I dismantle the foundation of the greater grail, you, as a Servant, will directly withdraw. So—should I say goodbye to you now?"
Merlin chuckled and shook his head: "Spare me, waving goodbye doesn't suit my character. It's more fitting for me to watch my Master continue to forge ahead with a smile."
Arthur's lips curled into a helpless smile. He waved his hand and turned to walk towards the rock slab.
Behind him, the Incubus, who had come for the Red Dragon, still smiled, bowed, and mouthed silently.
"See you next time, Child of the Stars."
…
Arthur ascended the rock slab on a storm, only to see magical patterns as thick as mud carved upon it, with a pit filled with overflowing black mud in the center of the formation.
Gurgle!
The previously silent black mud of evil suddenly boiled, and countless tentacle-like forms ripped through the air, shooting out violently!
Bang!
The golden barrier enveloping Arthur's entire body glowed, and all the black mud tentacles shattered, returning in vain.
He sensed the rolling malice of the black mud within the pit and secretly clicked his tongue.
Although the black mud remaining here was less than a tenth of that in the New Metropolitan Hall, if it wasn't purified soon, it would curse the entire Fuyuki City in an instant.
He extended his right hand, and the Holy Sword answered his call, ready to begin a new round of cleaning.
Just then, the Great Holy Grail Formation inexplicably trembled. On the magical patterns, which should have been full of filth, streaks of ethereal blue light rapidly swept across, subtly changing their nature.
Arthur lightly tapped his foot, quickly retreating a few meters, and gazed at the Great Holy Grail Formation, which was still undergoing changes.
In just a moment, the black mud in the pit compressed to its extreme, coiling back towards the sky, and a desolate, mysterious hole suddenly appeared.
Arthur's eyes flickered, and he hesitated: "This is… the Root?"
"Quick! Come here!"
A strange voice suddenly echoed in Arthur's mind, urging him to quickly step into the Root.
"Fou!"
The pure white young beast also gently nudged his chest, signaling him to make a choice quickly.
Arthur's eyes flickered. He looked up at the slowly contracting Root and let out a long, deep breath.
Wind gathered at his feet. With a flash, his figure transformed into an afterimage and rushed into it.
…
This place gathered the ultimate colors of the world, a realm difficult to describe in words.
At first glance, it seemed like nothing was there, but if one extended their magical power outwards, they would perceive that everything existed here.
Knowledge that humanity had already mastered, and secrets that humanity could not comprehend, were all here!
Arthur, holding Fou, floated in mid-air. Pale white ribbons brushed past him, as gently as if caressing the most precious treasure.
This inexplicable sense of security did not make him relax his guard; instead, he more cautiously surveyed the dreamlike, magnificent scenery around him.
Just as Arthur was wondering whether he had truly reached the Root, two petite figures arrived together, riding on a brilliant light.
The girl on the left had short black hair and wore a sea-blue long dress. Her gaze towards Arthur held undisguised joy and excitement.
The girl on the right had silver hair like a waterfall, a simple and plain dress, and a delicate face that lacked expression, yet a hint of intimacy inadvertently showed in her eyes.
Arthur, usually calm in temperament, involuntarily retreated several steps. This inexplicable sense of intimacy that welled up in his heart left him at a loss.
"You are…?"
The black-haired girl smiled gently: "Gaia~"
The silver-haired girl nodded calmly: "Alaya."
Upon hearing this, Arthur's expression instantly became complex, his deep eyes filled with an unspeakable self-mockery.
He had already calmly accepted his bizarre origins, but from the current situation, perhaps his survival—
Was not accidental.
Gaia, who had been smiling, now had guilt in her eyes and said softly.
"I'm sorry. Because of His decision, you experienced unimaginable suffering."
The expressionless Alaya nodded slightly, adding a sentence.
"I'm sorry. We were unable to help you before, and it was even extremely difficult to meet you."
"…What do you mean?"
Arthur only felt his thoughts in his mind become a jumbled mess, his eyes blank as he stared at Gaia and Alaya.
"Who is He? The mysterious voice? What is your relationship with me? What do you mean by helping me?"
The two Counter Forces understood that Arthur would have difficulty processing the current situation at once, so they decided to start with the most important matter.
Gaia took two steps forward and gently embraced Arthur.
"Listen to me, your sister, she is still alive."