Chapter 168: So this is… cleared already???
This sudden twist threw all the viewers in the livestream room into chaos.
[Huh?… bro just gender bender on the spot, what the hell?]
[LOL! I thought Molay would fight honorably for his ideals until the end, but turns out in the end he couldn't even keep his cock. Hahaha.]
[After transitioning, the lewd aura definitely increased, even though she's all wrapped up like that.]
[Silver-haired, mature, wearing glasses… surprisingly, the post-transition look isn't bad at all?]
[Host, give me the formula to transition like Molay! I want to use it on my best buddy!]
...
The silver-haired Templar Knight standing before them was suddenly engulfed by a pitch-black magical aura.
Moments later, the darkness dispersed, and a silver-haired woman wearing glasses emerged with a smile.
"First of all, thank you, everyone, for freeing me from that Demon God Pillar."
Her voice gradually turned faint and ambiguous, with an undercurrent of strange magical power capable of enchanting hearts.
"Everyone, be careful! The Saint Graph of the Servant in front has begun transforming!!!"
Doctor Romani's warning rang out from the bracelet.
"According to Chaldea's stored information, the power of a Foreigner typically originates from beyond Earth — an extremely dangerous type of Saint Graph."
"Moreover, traces of Holy Grail magic can be detected on her, which confirms that she's the culprit who distorted this era!!!"
"The culprit behind this era…?"
Hearing Doctor Romani describe her that way, female Molay gave a small smile.
"You're not wrong to say that, but it's all the fault of that witch who always wanted to destroy this world."
"Medea? What did she do???"
Doctor Romani pressed on.
"Because she didn't trust Jason, she tried to sacrifice the goddess Stheno to Ark, scheming to destroy this world."
"...That Medea, she dared to sacrifice the goddess to Ark?!"
Even more earth-shattering words came from Moreau's mouth.
"That's Ark! The Ark from legend — the one that just touching it would make the gods punish you instantly without reason!!!"
Ethan kept a calm expression, but inside he was already cursing.
What the hell?!
Stheno was sacrificed to Ark?!
"This world was originally supposed to be burned by the wrath of God, but it seems the legend wasn't true. Even when the goddess was sacrificed to Ark, no divine punishment fell. Instead…"
A dark violet light flickered in the eyes of silver-haired Molay.
"The Holy Grail accepted Medea's wish to destroy the world, and that's why I stand before you."
"Shuaa————————!!!"
Mordred immediately dashed toward Moreau.
"Who cares about your nonsense, bottom line is, if we take you down, this all ends, right?!!!"
She swung Clarent sharply, slashing directly at the opponent!
"Kang——————!!"
Unexpectedly, a fully armored Templar Knight appeared beside Molay, using a cross-shaped shield to block Mordred's attack.
"Out of my way!!!"
Mordred immediately released magical energy from Clarent!
The Templar Knight was blasted back, crashing to the ground, and their body instantly turned into a mass of black sludge, flying directly toward Mordred!!!
"Tch..."
Mordred quickly retreated to avoid the black sludge.
"Not here, not here, ya-ho coucou~~~"
Molay suddenly burst into laughter, humming a strange tune.
"What are you scheming now?"
Mordred pointed her sword at her.
"Who knows~~~"
Molay shrugged, looking as if she had nothing more to say.
"Kakaka!!!"
Suddenly, the Templar Knights who had fallen to the ground began shakily rising again.
Their previously broken bodies instantly restored, and shockingly, all had transformed into female forms.
Their entire bodies were enveloped by pitch-black magical energy, exuding an ominous aura.
Abruptly, Ethan noticed a strange light appearing beneath his feet.
He immediately looked down, only to see a massive magic circle faintly glowing with dark light?!
"——————————?!"
Seeing this, Mash instantly raised her shield, preparing to activate her Noble Phantasm, while Johanna brandished her silver holy staff, ready to expand her Territory!!!
"Useless, useless."
Molay covered her mouth and giggled.
"The barrier formed by divine grand magic is something that witch used specifically to hunt troublesome opponents. In other words, this whole little island has long been sealed by her barrier."
"Why didn't I notice this? I clearly checked the island thoroughly!"
As Johanna struggled to expand the Territory, she muttered in frustration:
"That witch is far more dangerous than you imagine. She long ago left 'backup plans' on all the surrounding islands, just in case, for her beloved Lord Jason."
Molay drew the cross-shaped holy sword at her waist, now tainted with a black aura, gripped it tightly, and raised it high.
"I'm merely borrowing a bit of her cautious preparation. Sorry, everyone — to bring Mother's descent, I need to use your flesh and blood as sacrifices."
Behind Molay, the small black goat that few had noticed began absorbing the black energy from the Pemplar Knights, gradually growing massive.
"Lord of the Woods! Bearer of the harvest!"
The Templar Knights also simultaneously raised their cross-shaped holy swords, striking a reverent pose.
"Manifested in the cave of night, Where the abyss of the starry sea peaks and is praised!"
"Iä! O Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young! Accept my sacrifices!"
"Vendredi Treize!!!!"
Absorbing vast amounts of black magic, the small black goat transformed into a gigantic form.
"BOOOOM————————!!"
The massive black goat suddenly exploded, spewing black sludge everywhere!!!
"Not good, that's extremely dangerous Black Magic! The magical energy is still intensifying!!!"
Doctor Romani immediately issued a warning.
Mash and Johanna swiftly deployed defenses, shielding everyone inside.
"RUMMMMMMMMMMMMM——————————!!"
The tide of black sludge surged madly toward them!!!
Upon colliding with Mash's shield, the overwhelming magical shockwave immediately forced her back nonstop.
"Oh Lord, please grant Your grace!!!"
As Johanna bowed her head in devout prayer, silver light formed a barrier that gradually enclosed Mash.
"Crack… Crack… Crack…"
The wall of light began showing cracks under the relentless assault of the black sludge.
Mash and Johanna were pushing their limits to maintain the barrier's stability.
This won't work, at this rate something bad will definitely happen…
Ethan immediately extended his Command Spell-marked hand, preparing to use a Spell to boost Johanna's Saint Graph, then consume another Spell to restore Mash's magical energy.
"With my Command Spell—…"
In the instant Ethan chanted, he suddenly felt his footing slip.
Before he could understand what was happening, his body began being involuntarily pulled down into the ground?!
His feet, shins, knees…
His entire body was being swallowed by a sticky, slimy substance…
Ethan wanted to shout, but for some reason, he couldn't make a sound.
His whole body felt gripped by cold, icy hands, and his strength gradually faded.
He was being quickly dragged downward, completely devoured by an unknown force.
"Senpai?!"
When Mash noticed the anomaly, only Ethan's shoulders and above remained exposed.
"..."
The last thing Ethan saw was Mash and Johanna's panicked faces.
And Draco too—she was reaching out, her expression full of panic as she tried to grab him.
'So… she can make that kind of expression too…'
With that thought, Ethan's figure was completely swallowed by the black sludge pit.
…
Flames blazed in the darkness.
Countless armored knights stood watching from the other side, in front of them a pyre.
Two attendants were using torches to ignite the towering pile of wood.
"Jacques de Molay, you defied and denied God, trampled the cross—your crimes are undeniable!"
A cardinal stood before the pyre, facing the Grand Master of the Knights Templar bound to a crucifix.
"But if you're willing to name the other Templar members and write letters making them confess, you will be pardoned."
In response to the cardinal's words, Molay, bound to the cross, only stared intensely at the Pope sitting solemnly ahead and roared:
"Pope Clement! Hear me! You won't need to wait until next year — you'll soon stand before the great God to answer for your sins!!!"
Then, he turned to the man sitting beside the Pope, shouting with bitter hatred:
"And you, King Philip! Do you think offending the Templar Order will go unpunished?! That is a grave sin!!!"
Amidst the blazing fire, his entire body burning, Molay gritted his teeth and angrily screamed:
"I curse you! I curse your bloodline for thirteen generations! You will bear the weight of this curse!!!"
Moments later, the fierce flames engulfed Molay's body entirely.
...
"Senpai! Senpai!"
Suddenly, Ethan heard Mash's voice calling near his ear.
"Who…?!"
"Senpai, open your eyes~ it's me~"
Urged on by that voice, Ethan propped a hand on his forehead and sat up.
In front of him appeared Mash's gentle smile.
"So it's Mash…"
"Ugh…"
The familiar headache, the familiar surroundings, and… the familiar kouhai?!
Ethan shot up, fully alert.
"Mash?! Why are you here??? No, wait, why am I here?! Where's the Third Singularity???"
"Senpai, senpai, calm down!"
Mash hurriedly waved her hands, trying to soothe the flustered Ethan.
"At that time, you were swallowed by the black mud, and we had to work really hard to pull you out. Johanna-san had to use a lot of magical energy to heal you, you know."
"What about Molay?"
"It was Heracles-san, he defeated the enemy Servant and recovered the Holy Grail. Thanks to that, Doctor Romani was able to Rayshift us back safely."
Hearing Mash seriously recount everything, Ethan finally calmed down a little.
So that's what happened. He couldn't believe they really saved him from the black mud.
He thought he was about to fall into some tentacle nest for sure.
Turns out Heracles dealt with Molay… Seriously, as long as the "Big Boy" makes a move, ordinary Servants are no match.
The Twelve Labors aren't just for show.
Still, he didn't expect this Singularity to end like that. Even though it was a bit rough, in the end, they wrapped things up completely.
"Oh right, senpai, Doctor Romani and Da Vinci-chan said that if you woke up, you should go see them at the control room."
"Haah… got it."
Ethan let out a sigh and jumped down from the bed.
"Let's go."
"Yes, right away!"
Mash smiled happily, following after Ethan.
"Yo, Master, you're up."
Opening the door, they saw Mordred waiting.
"Umu."
"Since you're awake, come train with me. I heard there's something fun at the practice yard."
Mordred immediately grabbed Ethan's arm, intending to drag him off without further talk.
"Ahhh, Mordred-san~~~!"
Mash panicked, hurrying to stop Mordred.
"What now, you little eggplant."
"I'm not an eggplant!!!"
Mash blushed fiercely, vigorously protesting.
"Senpai still has to go to the control room first, otherwise Doctor and Da Vinci-chan will get angry."
"Click your tongue, why didn't you say so earlier."
Mordred reluctantly let go.
"Master, make sure to come find me afterward."
"Umu umu, sure thing."
Ethan smiled and nodded in agreement.
...However, he certainly had no intention of going.
"Senpai, let's keep going."
"Umu."
Ethan continued walking alongside Mash, heading down the hallway toward the control room.
"Yo, Master, you're awake?"
They hadn't gone far when a familiar figure appeared ahead.
Waver was sitting tiredly on a bench in the hallway.
"Lord El-Melloi II!"
Mash immediately called out politely.
"You don't look very well…"
"Phew… don't remind me."
Waver wearily waved his hand.
"Chaldea really has too much work. From big things to little things, Reines and I have to handle them all. We're still severely understaffed."
"T-thank you so much for all your hard work!!!"
Mash bowed deeply to Waver.
"Ahahaha… But it's all for the future of humanity. I just hope no new Singularities show up too soon—I really don't want to pull more overtime."
"Beep beep beep!!!"
The communicator on Waver's hand beeped again.
"Well, I have other matters to handle. I'll go on ahead."
Waver stood up, once again dragging his tired body farther down the hallway.
"Lord El-Melloi really has it rough…"
Mash murmured as she watched Waver's departing figure.
"Ahaha, well, he is Professor Overtime—no matter where he goes, he can't escape that fate."
Ethan chuckled, and just then, a small creature appeared before him.
"Meh meh~~~"
Covered all over in jet-black fluff, it stared intently at Ethan with its round eyes.
"——————?!"
Ethan immediately tensed up.
"Mash! That thing is!!"
"Fou~~~ come here, where did you run off to earlier???"
Mash squatted down, waving her hand to the little black goat, and it promptly hopped over, obediently nestling against Mash, enjoying her strokes.
"Mash, what are you doing!!!"
Ethan demanded, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"???"
Mash turned her head back with a puzzled look at Ethan.
"Senpai, this is Fou, you don't recognize Fou anymore???"
...
...
Note from wikia:
Ark: The Ark of the Covenant (契約の箱アーク, Keiyaku no HakoĀku?) is a wooden box that contains the original engravings of the Ten CommandmentsWP issued to Moses by God. As a Noble Phantasm, its effect is narrow but absolute; besides the Servant that carries them, all those who would attempt to touch the box without authorization are drained of their magical energy unto death. Upon seizure of Jerusalem and the removal of the PhilistinesWP, King David of Israel appointed the city as his capital, and situated within it the Ark of the Covenant. It is summoned into the world independently from Archer, and it cannot be changed into spiritual form. It is powerful enough to overcome even Heracles's stock of lives from God Hand, killing him instantly.
In Fate/Grand Order, it is a powerful artifact sought by Jason to grant him ultimate power in the Okeanos Singularity by sacrificing a god to it, but it is revealed that it is a lie by Medea Lily under the command of another magus. Sacrificing a god, an avatar of the world, to the Ark is considered the same as sacrificing the world, so the Ark will bring calamity to the world in the same way it would to a person who touched it. While it would only normally destroy the surrounding area, the fragility of the Singularity would bring about more destruction