The explosion ripped through the street with a deafening crack, its shockwaves tearing apart the stone facades of nearby buildings and sending shards of debris into the air like a storm of blades. The ground quaked under the impact, fissures spiderwebbing outward as the force rolled through.

Amid the chaos, Merlin simply exhaled a long, almost theatrical sigh. He lifted his staff lazily, the ornate shaft gleaming briefly before a flurry of flower petals materialized in the air around him.

With a single languid gesture, they swirled together into a shimmering barrier, each petal infused with a faint magical hum. The wall of blossoms absorbed the blast without so much as a ripple, sheltering both him and Ritsuka from the devastation.

Ritsuka, wide-eyed, stared through the shield at the titanic battle unfolding in the distance. The raw force behind each clash made her chest tighten.

She snapped herself out of her daze and turned to the Magus beside her."Merlin-san, aren't you going to help them? It's a Beast we're talking about!" Her voice carried urgency, edged with frustration.

Merlin's lips curved into an amused smile. "Now now, Ritsuka-chan," he said with his usual airy tone, "I'm just a poor, harmless Magus of Flowers. If I stepped between that mess, I'd be flattened before I could even say 'Magecraft.'"

He tilted his head toward the battlefield, his tone shifting into mock curiosity. "Besides, isn't it fascinating? A Celtic goddess crossing weapons with the mightiest of Greek heroes…

And over there, the First of Humanity himself, matching blows with the very concept of mankind's demise. Conviction versus inevitability. Which will break first, I wonder? Personally, I'm rooting for Beast-kun winning, at least in this round."

Ritsuka's glare could have pierced through armor. "This isn't the time for jokes. If Ruler loses...."

"Really?" Merlin cut in smoothly, his staff twirling idly in one hand. "That's your biggest concern? I'd be more worried about Lancer. Heracles right now… well, thanks to Manaka's little root connection, he's operating beyond his usual limits. He's likely a shade stronger than Scathach-san in pure force."

Ritsuka's brow furrowed. "…Then Adam-san...?"

Merlin sighed with exaggerated patience, as though explaining something obvious. "Adam could crush both Beast VI and Heracles without breaking a sweat if he wanted. Beast VI isn't even at half capacity yet.

The only reason Adam hasn't finished this already is because he's holding back to avoid erasing half the city or unraveling the timeline. That's the curse of ridiculous strength."

He chuckled under his breath. "Honestly, does he even have a Noble Phantasm under A rank? No wonder he walks around flashing that 'Grand Ruler' title in everyone's faces. Someone should knock him down a peg."

Her suspicion deepened. "Which side are you actually on?"

"I'm on your side, naturally," Merlin replied without hesitation, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "If the world ends, where would I go to find all the interesting little spectacles it provides?"

He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Speaking of spectacles… that reminds me of when Arthur met the Lady of the Lake. Now there was a scene....." Without waiting for permission, he began weaving a long-winded tale, voice shifting into a storyteller's cadence, hands painting vivid shapes in the air as though they were sitting by a campfire instead of in a crumbling battlefield.

Ritsuka ignored him and turned her attention back to the fighting, letting Merlin's chatter fade into background noise.

The sound of metals clashing cut through the night. was stone against steel, a brutal rhythm of clang, clank, and crash. Sparks erupted in showers as Scathach's crimson spear met the immense weight of Heracles' Stone blade. The sheer force behind each collision sent shockwaves that shattered glass and cracked the stones.

Heracles pressed forward relentlessly, his colossal frame rippling with power. His strikes were heavy enough to buckle the ground beneath him, each swing of his massive weapon threatening to tear through even Scathach's formidable defenses.

Scathach moved with precision born from centuries of combat. Gae Bolg Proto spun in her grasp, creating a blur of red arcs as she deflected and redirected the Berserker's furious onslaught. Her footwork was flawless, each step calculated to evade the killing edge while setting up her next counter.

Yet even with her mastery, Heracles' raw physical advantage was undeniable. One particularly vicious downswing connected against her guard with bone-rattling force, the impact hurling her through the air.

She flew in a blur toward the other side of the battlefield, straight toward the duel between Beast VI and Edward that was unfolding.

Edward had just batted aside another of Beast VI's writhing, sludge-like appendages, the inky tendril exploding into foul-smelling mist as it recoiled. He sensed the incoming presence without turning his head.

With a sigh, he pushed off the ground, intercepting the trajectory. His hands caught Scathach mid-flight, his movement controlled enough to absorb the force without harm.

Landing smoothly, he set her down with care.

Scathach's cheeks flushed faintly before she quickly stepped away from his hold, forcing her composure back into place. "You're holding back, Ruler." she said flatly.

Edward exhaled. "We're in the middle of the city. If I cut loose here, the casualties would be catastrophic. Your Noble Phantasm is better suited to this kind of situation. That's why I left the big one to you."

"That 'big one' is stronger than he should be," she countered sharply. "Why don't you handle these two monsters, hold them off for a while and I'll deal with their master?"

Edward's gaze shifted to Manaka, standing atop a roof, watching them like a spectator at an arena match. "You can't take her alone," he said evenly. "She's stronger than any usual Servant on this field. But there's something we can do to ensure it doesn't get out of hand."

The conversation ended abruptly as both Heracles and Beast VI lunged at them simultaneously. Without hesitation, Edward wrapped an arm around Scathach's waist and vaulted backward, the ground beneath their attackers erupting as their strikes met only stone.

Scathach pushed him away and spoke, " Stop grabbing me like that without warning." If anyone else did that without her consent, they would probably get stabbed. But with him, she didn't even get angry for some reasom.

Edward chuckled and stepped away. "It's time to get serious. Activate first Noble Phantasm," he spoke softly.

A warm, golden light began to radiate from him, washing over the battlefield. The glow coalesced into the faint image of an etheral figure of a beautiful woman standing behind him, her expression serene, her arms wrapping around his neck in a tender embrace. Edward's lips curved into a faint smile. "Thank you, Eve."

Then his features hardened, his voice taking on a solemn resonance."She was my first breath, my first sight, my first love.From her hands, I learned kindness."

The light flared, casting long shadows across the ground.

Heracles charged, his roar echoing like a beast's call to war. Scathach stepped forward, intercepting his swing with a deft parry, the impact shaking the air.

"Forgive me, dear Eve," Edward continued, his voice unwavering despite the chaos around him. "For I need your strength to protect the future." he finished the chant.

"From her fall, I learned choice.From her sacrifice… I learned why I must fight.Eve… guide my hands once more!"

The light reached its peak, enveloping him entirely."Noble Phantasm: Eve's Blessing—The Reason I Fight!"

The ethereal woman pressed a gentle kiss against his cheek before dissolving into golden particles with a smile. Power surged through Edward's body, his aura now an overwhelming presence that seemed to weigh on the battlefield itself. Every motion radiated authority and purpose.

His eyes locked on Heracles and Beast VI. "Scathach, on my signal, use your second Noble Phantasm. Pull Manaka into the Land of Shadows and hold her there for a few seconds. That's all I'll need."

Scathach held his gaze for a moment, then gave a single sharp nod. "Understood. I'll follow your lead. Just don't get yourself killed."

****

Edward allowed a faint smile to form as his eyes met Scathach's."It's nice to feel the concern from the Queen of the Shadowlands," he said with a teasing tone.

Scathach huffed softly, turning her head to the side as though dismissing the comment, though the faint twitch at the corner of her lips suggested otherwise.

Without lingering, Edward surged forward, voice firm and resonant."Activate Skill: Divine Forge."

Mana condensed around him, the air vibrating as countless motes of golden light appeared and began to shape themselves into solid form.

One after another, weapons emerged from the air, each humming with the restrained power of a legend. The atmosphere thickened with their combined presence, the weight of their histories pressing down on the battlefield.

First came Durandal, the unbreakable sword of Roland, its blade gleaming with a brilliance that could pierce through any defense.

Then Merodach, the ancient blade once plunged into the heart of a sacred tree, radiating an aura of age-old divinity.

Gandiva, the perfect bow of Arjuna, strung with divine thread and crackling faintly with the energy of celestial arrows.

Gungnir, the flawless spear of Odin, its trajectory guided by inevitability itself.

Vajra, Indra's thunderous weapon, a crystalline construct of both lightning and divine authority.

And finally, Rhongomyniad, the golden lance that shone as though holding within it the axis of the world, the pillar at the very end of time. Its light cut through the air, an unyielding beacon against the encroaching darkness.

From a safe vantage, Merlin's composure faltered, and he coughed in genuine surprise."Oi, oi, that's an overkill if I've ever seen it! Even the lance of that goddess? This is where things get dangerous. I should take Ritsuka-chan somewhere safe before it all truly begins."

He raised his staff, beginning a soft chant.

"From the stars of the inner sea, and the tower of insight…From the four corners of paradise,

let them know, Their story is filled with blessings.

Only those free of sin may pass…"

Petals of soft pink began to swirl around them, carried by an unseen wind. The petals grew denser until they blanketed the world in a storm of gentle color, obscuring the devastation outside.

When the petals cleared, the harsh ruin of the city was gone, replaced by a vast expanse of rolling green and flowers swaying under an eternal spring sky.

Merlin lowered his staff with a flourish. "Garden of Avalon," he declared with quiet satisfaction.

Turning to Ritsuka, whose eyes widened in awe, he smiled knowingly."Welcome to the Garden of Avalon, Ritsuka-chan. The forever-distant utopia that lies deep within our hearts."

Ritsuka shouted at him, " Take us back! I need to be there and help them!"

Merlin shook his head gently," We can't interefere in what's about to happen, let us watch their fate unfold from here." He waved and a mirror appreared , showing the city of Fuyuki. Ritsuka gritted her teeth, feeling she was too weak to help. Yet she watched with determination.

On the battlefield, Edward caught sight of them vanishing, and let out a short laugh."At least he's made himself useful for once," he muttered.

With a sweep of his arm, the array of legendary weapons surrounding him launched forward simultaneously, each tracing a different arc through the air toward Heracles and Beast VI. The air split under their combined velocity, the strike of each weapon unleashing its own contained divinity.

Rhongomyniad's presence rippled outward, subtly repairing the torn earth and structures in their path as it moved.

The impact landed in unison.

Boom!

The ground erupted into a wave of blinding fire and sound. The explosion swallowed both enemies, the resulting shockwave bending the very air around it.

Within the flames, Heracles' roar echoed in pain, his immortal resilience being tested beyond its limit. Lives were stripped away in rapid succession under the divine onslaught.

Through the inferno, the Berserker's features softened for the briefest moment, his sanity returning in those final seconds. He spoke softly, "Thank you," before his body began to dissolve into light.

Manaka's eyes widened in sharp surprise before narrowing into a cold, calculating glare. Her voice was as crisp as glass breaking."By the order of my Command Seals: Beast VI, restore yourself to full strength and activate your ultimate Noble Phantasm."

Two Crimson Command Seals on her hand flared and vanished.

The massive form of Beast VI let out a guttural roar, mana surging around him in a torrent as he began to gather energy for the attack. The ground cracked, the air thick with the oppressive force of his presence.

Edward's voice cut through the chaos."Now, Scathach!"

The Lancer exhaled through her nose in mild irritation, already moving."Where does he get off ordering me around like that…" she muttered under her breath. Yet the small curve of her lips betrayed the truth, there was no malice behind the words. " I hope he knows what he's doing."

She leapt high, clearing debris and battlefield in a single bound, closing the distance to Manaka who prepared a few spells to defend herself and counter attack . The air grew colder as she began her chant.

"I will show you what lies beyond the world. I will lock you away in the darkness from the Age of the Gods.

Tremble, freeze, and shatter into pieces—Gate of Skye!"

Above, the sky split open as a monumental gate of ancient stone and shadow manifested. A breath of frost poured from it, chilling the air instantly. The gate opened wide, and its pull consumed Manaka entirely, dragging her into the Land of Shadows.

For most, it was a death sentence; but for a magus of her caliber, it would restrain her for a minute at best, but it was time nonetheless.

But before she was dragged away, Manaka fired a few spells at Scathach which broke her defenses and hit her, and made her cough up some blood. She almost fell, But she stabbed Gae Bolg into the ground and stood with determination.

Edward exhaled as Manaka vanished. "Now that that's been taken care of...." His eyes darted to the site of the explosion. "Oh, shit! It's too late."

From the scorched crater, the remnants of Beast VI writhed—black sludge gathering and twisting upon itself. The mass grew, solidifying into the towering silhouette of a dragon devoid of light. Its surface seemed to devour illumination entirely, and the world around it began to lose all color, fading into a dull, lifeless gray. Even The Divine Shroud of Heaven lost it's radiance and dulled.

Edward's voice was low, edged with grim recognition."I've experienced this end before. This is something humanity will bring upon itself one day. Perhaps ... It is indeed inevitable. "

His fingers loosened around his weapon's grip as he let it go. "But not today. Not while I stand here."

Drawing in a slow breath, his expression shifted to something almost nostalgic."It's been a while… Let us turn back the clock of destiny."

He drove Rhongomyniad into the ground. Light spread from the point of impact, anchoring the space around them, holding it against the encroaching transformation.

As Beast VI began twisting the world into his Noble Phantasm—Land of Steel, the bleak inevitability of mankind's demise, Edward began to chant softly.

"Before there was sorrow, before there was death, there was a garden bathed in dawn's eternal light."

The words carried weight, resonating with something older than the battle itself. Even the air seemed to still. Scathach's eyes widened faintly, sensing the deep, unshakable emotion bound within the invocation. Even as the toxic fumes, corrosion, and rancid air burned at Edward's body, he didn't stop.

Beast VI growled in frustration, the advance of his Land of Steel halting slowly as though caught in unseen restraints. It extended it's tendrils towards Edward. Most of it vanished into nothing, but a few struck him. Piercing his skin and drawing blood. But he continued to chant.

"I walked away to share her fate, but I have never forgotten the scent of that first morning."

The colorless world shuddered. Then, in a single breath, color burst forth again—vivid and purer than before. The poisoned air dissipated, and the acrid scent of corrosion faded into clean, untouched wind. The oppressive mana thinned, replaced by something warmer, lighter.

"Return to us now… the Eden we lost!

Noble Phantasm—The Sealed Garden of Eden!"

A wave of light erupted from Edward's form, washing over the battlefield and beyond. The ground itself responded, sprouting strange, ancient trees whose leaves shimmered with an otherworldly hue.

Flowers bloomed in moments, unfurling under the golden glow. Grass spread in every direction, pushing aside the dead, gray land of steel. As if the world was reborn anew.

In the span of seconds, the world felt as though it had been wound backward to its first dawn. The sky glowed with a clarity unknown to the modern age. Across the globe, humanity felt it, an overwhelming peace that reached deep into their hearts. It touched the deep down their core, to their very soul.

Some wept openly, their grief and pain stripped away, replaced with a joy they had long forgotten. Others simply stood still, breathing in the serenity, as though they had regained something precious they had never realized was missing.

The White haired servant observing from far smiled as if he felt a sense of joy,"This is it ! This is the salvation humanity needs. I have been thinking about it all wrong.... "

In a dark church, A priest looked above at the moon and whispered, " Was I.... wrong to walk this path? What is this pain I feel? "

The Golden King watched it from above, sitting on his flying ship. He felt nostalgic as a wave of calmness washed over him, reminding him of some distant memories. But he hid it soon.

" Fuhahaha. You Mongrel....no, you human, have picked my curiousity , the father of humanity. Go on, show me more magnificent sights! This King acknowledges your existence and your resolve.

Let us have a hearty drink before we battle, and I send you off on your way."

An emotionless man stood above a high rise building, observing it with a calm look. His eyes moistened slightly as he spoke," Although it was not your intention, but thank you , Ruler, for this brief moment of happiness." He felt he had gone back to a time when he used to be happy.

Saber beside him narrowed her eyes, remaining unaffected. yet she could feel the warmth of the light.

The battlefield was no longer a ruin, it was Eden reborn.