The fairy-like spheres increased in number across the singularity. Had the world not been shaking, one may have marveled at the beauty they introduced. They rose gently into the starry sky as the lightbands screeched with distorting energy in the distance. They gradually broke apart into a grainy mist that shimmered and faded away. The rocky ground shook again, and the slithering tendrils that threaded the land together shrieked with their coming end.

Far below the throne's ascent, Quetzalcoatl was rallying her mounts to serve as rides for some servants. Destabilization was growing erratic, and there was no more time to be wasted hanging around. Da Vinci had made it very clear that if the Beachhead collapsed, there would be no way to bring them home. They had to get back as soon as possible.

Enkidu helped the once-more downhearted Gudao onto the rematerialized Vimana. He wobbled into his seat, but took a saddened glance at Gilgamesh. The King of Heroes stared back with a scrutinizing eye, and his tone failed to hide his frustration. "That was reckless and pitiful, master… It reminded me of myself when Enkidu died."

Gudao barely nodded, and Enkidu tossed a sad look to his greatest friend. Gilgamesh merely sighed, and looked towards the top of the throne as Ozymandias barked orders for certain servants to board his barge. "I can't stand this place any longer."

Far up the stairs, Arturia finished her run to one of the landings, and stopped before the implanted shield. Lost in thought, she allowed her stoic façade to fracture and reveal the sadness in her eyes as she laid her hand on Mashu's shield. Dun Stallion neighed loudly behind her as it trotted up, clearly spooked at the developing situation. Emiya walked up at its side, holding its reigns lightly.

If not several times before, Mashu had truly earned her place among the roundtable with her sacrifice. In her honor, the least they could do was place the shield as her memorial in the Camelot Room… but the saber's solemn thoughts and mourning could be given attention later. Excalibur dematerialized in her hand, and she grabbed the shield for the grieving Gudao.

There was no way any of them would be leaving this behind. "Let's go, Shirou."

She mounted the horse first, and he saddled up right behind her. He placed a comforting arm around her as she signaled her steed with a gentle squeeze of her legs. Dun Stallion neighed and took to the air, before it circled back to head towards the consolidating servants. She glanced down briefly at a glint on the throne, but she didn't have time for a proper look.

As they rode away, they missed the ten glinting rings that sat abandoned.

-•===ЯΞΞΞ[ Ω ]ΞΞΞR===•-

Epilogue

-•===ЯΞΞΞ[ Ω ]ΞΞΞR===•-

The starry void was endless. No matter where she turned, all she could see was the distant twinkle of stars. Some shined brightly for the briefest of moments before they disappeared the next. Others merely faded away into the darkness. It was disorienting and confusing, yet she felt calm.

Her thoughts felt fuzzy and harder to grasp as time went on. She didn't even know how long she'd floated weightlessly in this void, but that's all she experienced after the painful heat that consumed her. She floated without pain, but seemingly deprived of purpose. The stars twinkled dimly like her pained heart.

So this was what the afterlife was like? Or was she in a purgatory as her mind slipped away?

With no body to move, she floated there as her thoughts raced around her. Though she had been satisfied, that didn't mean she held no regrets. Gudao's heartbroken expression still flashed before her, and though she held many others, leaving him alone was her biggest. She'd made a promise that she'd do everything in her power to conserve her energy, so that she'd be healthy for the possible surgery Da Vinci had theorized with the help of the grails.

Instead, she'd expended it all for the sole satisfaction that so many of those she came to love would live on to see the world she desperately wished to see… Her true world, and not a singularity. Her dreams of seeing the Grand Canyon without any care in the world, or learning to scuba dive somewhere in the coral triangle… All of her dreams of wanderlust and a happy, enriched life were now gone. She sadly wondered if she'd be adrift forever with nothing but her memories and regrets.

If she had a body, she would cry for her loss, but her moments of growing despair disappeared. A bright light flashed from the void and blinded her, yet she had no eyes to close, and no pain to feel. She merely stared into the bright light as it took on color. From what looked like a heavenly gate, it faded into a violet hue. It was like a miniature star before her. It shined with power and grace that made her forget the unfeeling coldness of the starry void.

She stared forward as a silhouette came into view within. Backlit by the light, the blurry figure condensed and formed into a familiar shape. The outline of its fur waved with a sudden gale as a small, fluffy tail wagged gently behind it. Its ears twitched happily as it seemingly stared at her, but she couldn't tell because it remained a darkened shadow. Regardless, the sheer sight of it brought warmth into her heart that mixed with confusion.

"…Fou?" So she still had a voice to speak after all.

"Thank goodness… You still remained, Mashu."

-•===ЯΞΞΞ[ III ]ΞΞΞR===•-

Blinding bluish light flared through the broken windows of the control room as the Leyshift system fired. The monitors depicting the Deployment Room showed yet another cluster of servants had arrived safely, yet Anton was already preparing the system for the next transit. Frankenstein looked between the many monitors, then to the tense faces of Da Vinci and Tesla. He swallowed his nervousness, but kept working diligently as several caution signs appeared on his monitor.

A loud bang echoed from outside, and the room shook slightly. Ruby-colored light flashed from small warning sensors overhead, and Tesla let out a small growl. Another, much more glaring caution window popped onto Anton's screen, but he didn't need to read it. They knew what they were doing was risky, but they had no choice. The computerized voice echoed through their room and the larger adjacent chamber.

- Warning -

- Leyshift System Critical -

- Immediate Shutdown is Advised -

"Singularity collapse imminent. Average estimate… five minutes," the lone robot beeped as it too worked frantically. "Leyshift system integrity at fifty-four percent. The system has never operated in a poor condition. Consequences are unknown."

Da Vinci let out a small curse, yet it didn't faze Anton any longer. His boss was not the composed, prideful inventor and artist right now. He just hoped she would be again once the worst was over. She practically hissed. "I'm not losing anyone else on my watch! We're bringing them home!"

Outside, Anton could hear hissing steam as Babbage tried to stabilize what he could; Edison likely did the same, but there was a lack of his usual booming voice as he worked. They worked quickly to control any visible damage to the system's underfloor circuitry, and some of the engineering robots had been reactivated to assist. They could only do so much.

With his multitasking skills, he carefully switched the system's energy flows through backup channels, and occasionally glanced out the window at the many, unusual panels that covered the walls. Occasional arcs of rampant electricity flew from the battered surfaces where the invaders had managed to damage the system. They grew worse with every leyshift, but the biggest bit of paranoia had been the blue smoke Tesla spotted on two occasions; They still sat terribly in the back of his mind.

Yet, Anton kept working to squash his lingering anxiety and rampant feelings. The servants and masters had to get home… but the question was if the system would hold out long enough to do it. Anton's lightning fingers finished up his task, and he swallowed yet another gulp of stress. "System primed!"

Da Vinci nodded firmly, with eyes locked on her console. She flipped a switch. "Anishka! Is the next group ready?"

-•===ЯΞΞΞ[ IV ]ΞΞΞR===•-

With every moment that passed, the tremors grew worse. The groans of churning earth mixed with the lingering cries of the tendrils that weaved it all together. Across the singularity, the allied servants, with nothing else to fight, had begun disappearing into the starry skies they came. The demon pillars were long gone, and Goetia had fallen. The singularity was soon to follow, and they sought to escape a similar demise.

Anishka wished leyshifting home was as easy as dematerializing into the sky.

She gazed at the distant figures of the allied Jeanne d'Arc and King Gil as they held one last conversation. Slowly, they turned their way, and though the golden archer merely nodded, the saint presented one last smile. They were the last allies to disappear into golden dust, and her attention shifted to their little beachhead as the blinding column of light consumed one of the last groups.

"Final group! Please get ready to return!" Anishka called out from her spot atop the raised earth she favored at the beginning of the singularity. She glanced down at the Camelot knights, who had volunteered to be one of the last to return in case anything happened. Led by Arthur, their weariness and exhaustion was hidden well as they walked like the proud knights they were. She stared at the only exception, who Brynhildr and Arash also stared at with concern.

Lancelot held himself together well, but the despair flew from his eyes like a beacon. His fists were clenched at his side, and he stared towards the ground rather than promptly forward. Gawain placed his armored hand on his shoulder, but no words were exchanged. They merely glanced to each other, as Gawain only offered a sympathetic look. They walked over to join David, Blackbeard, and several others who were slated to return.

Only the four Indian legends would remain with Anishka as the final sentinels who'd wait for the returning group.

Anishka glanced into the air where Ishtar hovered with her elegant boat. The archer was slated to leave, but she still stared out towards the central isle. The master glanced back and saw the approaching cluster of various mounts and vessels as they soared towards them. They'd make it back in a minute or two minutes at their speed, yet her heart beat painfully against her chest.

Da Vinci said their window of escape was closing rapidly. At the worst case, that meant only her team would get pulled back. No… After everything they've been through, she wanted to make sure all of them returned. She wanted to do more, yet all she could do was hope and pray nothing more would jeopardize the brightness of their futur- "We'll be alright, Annie! There's no need to worry yourself to death."

She turned to Rama, who offered her a confident smile by Sita's side. She couldn't help but smile back at them. "…You know I can't help it, Shri Rama."

It was natural for her to worry; It only doubled after her medical education. That's what made her turn yet again towards the departing group, where a crushed Lancelot held himself strong beside Arthur and Gawain. Her gaze then drifted towards David, who looked surprisingly calm, though the despair in his eyes had grown again; As time slipped by, his belief seemed to sink further.

"We're ready on this side, Annie!" Da Vinci's voice echoed over her comms device.

"We'll be set in just a few seconds," she replied quickly, then waved towards Ishtar. "Ishtar! Please come down so we-"

A burst of violet light erupted from the ground between Anishka's rocky post and the leyshifting group. Arjuna swiftly dove right in front of Anishka and primed his bow. Sita quickly drew her own as Rama and Karna, with blinding speed, slid onto the flanks of the unknown column. Drake and Blackbeard drew their flintlocks, and Tristan's fingers itched to pluck his weapon's strings. Without any doubt, the swirling tornado of energy was powerful…

…Yet it felt warm. There was an unnerving chill that ran like an undercurrent to that feeling, but it could have been just her own paranoia and uncertainty. The servants around her stood ready as the swirling, wind-like light grew rapidly into the sky. Da Vinci's voice echoed over her receiver. "Annie!? What's happening!?"

"We don't know…!" She grit her teeth with frustration. "Does Chaldea have any reading?"

The wind howled around them, but the light quickly died as Da Vinci answered; She didn't hear it. Anishka stared at the fading winds as two outlines appeared on the ground within the fading light. Karna's eyes opened with shock, quickly followed by Arjuna's as the last bits of violet dispersed into the sky. Before a second passed entirely, there wasn't a single person at the Beachhead whose mouth wasn't agape.

"…Kyuuuu…" Fou, with eyes filled with exhaustion, collapsed to the ground beside a familiar, prone figure. Its eyes slowly closed shut, but the shielder's beside him fluttered open with a moan. Anishka could hardly believe her eyes as she stared at Mashu. Her armor was nowhere in sight, but the skin-tight bodysuit that covered her was nearly pristine... Even she looked pristine after what she'd been through, or so she'd heard.

Lancelot was the first to take a step forward in total shock and bewilderment. His eyes were thoroughly welded to the shielder as she slowly sat up with lingering exhaustion filling her pupils… yet she lived and breathed. Without a doubt, it was definitely her before them. "…Mashu…!?"

Da Vinci's holographic, blue-tinted window appeared beside Anishka. The emotional enervation in her eyes was palpable, and it nearly made the master flinch in surprise. Still, she was far more surprised at the moment than anything else. "That's…! How is that possible!? We watched her…!"

But something was off… Her presence felt considerably weaker. The warm aura, that made one feel like they were perfectly safe whenever her saint graph was active, had vanished. In fact, Anishka could barely sense her at all. It was like she was just a normal person rather than a demi-servant. Nevertheless, it didn't replace the growing relief and excitement that bulldozed her anxiety and despair further away from her heart.

"MASHU!" Lancelot yelled as he practically scrambled towards her. Long gone was the rattled, disheartened knight. He was replaced by a frantic, relieved man who slid across the ground on his knees to wrap the newly revealed young woman in his arms. She gasped in surprise as Lancelot clutched her tightly out of fear she'd vanish once more. "It's you! You're alive! Thank…! Thank goodness!"

Yet another who should have been dead had somehow circumvented her fate. Anishka's optimism was rekindled, and it doubled as she looked over the growing relief and happy expressions shared among the others. Her eyes landed on David, who own optimism was rejuvenated. She joined him in his regrown hopes; Maybe it was the case for Roman too! Maybe after all this… Maybe he did somehow avoid his own death!

Mashu's shocked expression quickly turned to panic. "…How did…!? S-Senpai! Where's Gudao!? Papa! Why am I at the Beachhead!?"

The knight pulled away briefly, and his relieved expression made room for some confusion to slip within his expression. "I… I'm not sure. We thought you…!"

"We were told of your sacrifice to stop the lightbands," Karna informed, though his eyes remained blank and curious. "Then you appeared here with Fou."

"With Fou…?" she murmured, then glanced towards the small critter at her side. Her eyes grew worried as she saw its limp form, and she quickly scooped it up into her arms. A moment passed, and though her eyes remained confused, she breathed with relief as its body gently rose and fell with its breathing. "…I don't understand… I remember holding the shield as I… But Gudao! Is Gudao okay!?"

"He is, thanks to you," Da Vinci smiled lightly. "We can theorize on how you're alive later… but we're just happy you are."

The groans of the singularity grew louder, and it started to feel less like terrible vibrations and more like a true earthquake. Da Vinci glanced off screen, and her eyes narrowed. She grit her teeth and turned to Anishka. "Annie. We need to warp them out. Now. We have three minutes at most."

"But Gudao!" Mashu cried out as she clutched Fou close to her, while she remained within Lancelot's own loose grasp. "Where is he!? I want to-"

Da Vinci's eyes were firm, yet apologetic. "You can wait for him on this end, Mashu. He's fine. He and Gabby are on their way back."

Confusion reigned supreme in the shielder's eyes. "…Gabby…!? But I…! Da Vinci! Please let me wait for him! For them!"

Mashu still didn't sound convinced in the least, but it didn't look like Da Vinci was going to back down on this. Anishka wanted to support Mashu in waiting for Gudao, but it was a difficult decision. The more people they had to leyshift at the end, the riskier things got with the system. It was already falling apart, and adding any more variables meant… It was a call her heart couldn't make. Anishka was just glad Da Vinci appeared to be adamant on this.

As the inventor took a firmer stance with Mashu, she glanced back towards the last approaching Chaldeans, and prayed no more tragedies would come this day.

-•===ЯΞΞΞ[ V ]ΞΞΞR===•-

Gudao sat silently in his seat as Enkidu held him carefully in place. He gazed forward towards the Beachhead as it grew closer in the distance. A flash of bright blue light in the distance barely registered in his hazy, exhausted mind; Yet another group had returned to Chaldea, and it would be their turn soon.

Regardless, his thoughts were a jumbled mess. They drifted from grief, to the small slithers of lingering anger. Afterwards, they may have shifted back to acknowledging the throbbing, terrible pains of his own body. He'd get worried over his own state, then feel the tugs of depression again. Sometimes the emotions went in a circle, other times they didn't play by any sort of rules. Gabrielle being alive had done wonders for his heartaches, but a flood was still a flood even if the waters dropped by a few meters.

The wind rushed past his face, but with squinted eyes, he glanced towards Gabrielle in the adjacent chariot. Her eyes were glued on him in worry, and if she had a choice, she'd have likely tried to forcefully board the Vimana to keep him company. For their precautionary protection, they were placed on different mounts in case something else happened. The last thing anyone wanted was for another event to catch them all off guard again.

Gudao looked around at the growling singularity. The shower of golden light was overcoming every bit of earth within sight. Chunks of ruined ground, both large and small, rose into the sky and tumbled like asteroids. They forged a small obstacle course in their way, yet maneuvering around them was a basic chore to the servants at best. A rather large piece of earth rose right between the Vimana and Ozymandias' barge, momentarily blocking part of their force from sight.

They were brief distractions for Gudao, whose only recurring train of thought among the fragmented brambles was how Chaldea was going to feel now. It was one thing to mourn the dead, but the absence of two people so close to him threatened to throw him into the pits of anguish again. In the past, the only person he'd ever lost that was so close to him was his kind and spoiling grandmother. These deaths felt far worse, if only because he felt he could have done something to stop it.

Could all this have been circumvented if they planned better? The strategies had been determined by a collective of Chaldea's best, but improvement could have been done, right? What did they miss that allowed all this to happen? Had he really grown as overconfident, and maybe arrogant, as Goetia inferred?

Guilt was heavy, yet it powered his dull heartbeats right now. With a numb expression, he stared forward towards the Beachhead and sighed. These next few days were going to be hell, and he wondered just how many nightmares would plague him for the rest of his life by this singularity alone. He'd had his fair share before, but none anywhere near as traumatic as this experience. Somehow he'd manage, though. He had to in order to keep their memories alive in the gloomy days to come.

He released a slow breath, and Enkidu shot him a sympathetic expr-

The lancer's eyes widened swiftly and shot towards the ground… Towards the island among the crumbling circle where the Beachhead was attached. Gudao, with new anxiety rising, hoped it wasn't the Beachhead breaking apart. Part of him cynically said that would be par for the course at this point, but he still tried to deny it. Instead, he watched with growing frustration as Enkidu stood up calmly and glared towards the island.

"What do you feel, my friend?" Gilgamesh asked, but his tone was laced with its own anger.

"This presence is different yet…" Enkidu informed promptly. Compared to everyone else, no one had Enkidu's capable detection skills. That's why Gudao's worry, and anger, grew as Enkidu's glare intensified, and he called telepathically, "Everyone. Get ready. That beast doesn't know when to quit."

"Are you kidding fucking me right now!?" Gabrielle roared into the air, and it underlined the song of his growing rage.

From their height as they drew near, a tiny whirlpool of energy swirled on the island. Light of purest gold mixed with ebony darkness. They churned and rang with a growing intensity that hummed through the air like the sound of a jet engine starting up. They pooled together, and in its center, a new shape was forming. Gudao couldn't see it clearly with his eyes, nor could he feel that ominous, foreboding feeling of the beast's pressure.

What he could feel was the overflowing rage that they weren't finished here yet.

-•===ЯΞΞΞ[ VI ]ΞΞΞR===•-

Amid the swirling energy, Goetia opened its eyes once more.

It was taken back, and it took a moment to understand it was still here. The singularity broke apart and groaned around him, yet it was a passing triviality at the moment. Its body was incomplete, and felt far different than before as it gazed forward in confusion. It had experienced death, yet why was it now…

Why was it now feeling the sensation of cold chill against its hardened skin? There was a pounding in its chest it did not understand, and the revitalizing touch of air as it drew in a breath. Sensations it never knew began to register like lightbulbs, and only confused the beast further. It did not understand any of this, yet it felt… relieving. All of it felt comfortable after that terrible experience of mounting pain, weakness, and fear.

It levitated silently, but finally gazed to its hand. Its eyes opened in shock as it stared at the clearly human appendage. A tanned hand, similar to Solomon's, yet with golden markings, greeted it. It flexed the fingers, then stared towards its other side where only a void greeted it. A mist of darkness surrounded the spot where its other arm should be, yet it didn't feel pain. It was only further confused as it felt the welling of power within, but nowhere near the heights it once stood.

Parts of its body were missing, yet what it did feel felt… alive? Was that the proper way to describe it, if not intact? It placed its hand against the well-toned muscles of its torso, and relished the sensation of its own touch. It felt the gentle, wild strands of golden hair blow around him and brush against its bare back. With the hand now raised to its face, it felt the definitive features of a sharp jawline as it finally blinked with its… his own eyes.

Goetia didn't understand how, but… he had been given another form. Was this a consequence of his last wish, in a space that allowed their kind to ignore the consequences of death? Had he been granted the final, rage-filled wish that he felt thundering through that former, invincible body? It had been given a second chance, and while it felt relieving, he also felt… vulnerable again.

He was human now, or at least held a human-like appearance. That meant immortality was nowhere in his grasp, and the familiar fear of death grew within. With the singularity still collapsing around him, he had been granted another life just to die… only to perish worthlessly like yet another human life. Had he received this chance out of irony? Was this the punishment for his several millennia long plan… just to die like the confusing humans their former collective tried to grant salvation?

Goetia wondered where the pillars were now… if they truly died and dispersed, or made use of their own, free and emphasized individual natures. Since he no longer suppressed and coordinated them to their end goal, maybe some escaped for one reason or another. Could he do the same to escape the hand he was dealt?

Though the fear of death sounded from within, it was joined by another feeling. It was like a voice, or an instinct… maybe an instruction. It urged him to act. To do something besides simply levitating there and accepting what was to come. Maybe there was a way out? Maybe its fate could still be averted?

…But why? Just to live a little longer and delay the inevitable? What was the point in it all if it only had a finite amount of time to accomplish anything. It was a confusing feeling, yet persuasive beyond all measure. It rivalled the dread and anxiety that welled within, and it was what compelled him to finally looks around with greater scrutiny. With its current energy, there was the chance he could maybe manage something to…

Goetia stared up by the disintegrating lightbands, which appeared to frame the approaching Chaldeans. He saw the golden Vimana at the front, surrounded by several servants that he had fought but moments before everything went dark. His eyes narrowed slightly as he spotted the two masters glaring daggers at him alongside their ever-vigilant guardians.

So… Chaldea had yet to escape the singularity.

In his sight, the first golden portals were forming in mass. They were joined by other conjured spells and preparing servants as they shifted into a flying battle formation. Behind him, the former beast could feel the gaze of others upon his back, along with their own prepared attacks. He stood between many Chaldeans and their way home, yet he didn't have anywhere near the ability or power he needed to prevent them from leaving.

The former beast was now weak, and still couldn't wage a proper fight against the exhausted Chaldean forces. There were no allies to aid him, and he hovered at a very disadvantageous position between the two forces. The fear of death ran rampant, and the acknowledgement that it stood no chance needed no evidence. Yet still, its mind offered unusual answers as another emotion rivaled the anxiety of another death.

Anger filled his body, and it urged him to attack. The persuasiveness of the emotion was a reminder to the battle but moments ago, where he let it push him into impulsive and often blind action. Yet, even his mind felt like it was the right decision. Death was very likely, and the chance of any success on his part was derisorily small; It was far more likely no action would yield the same result as doing anything…

…Nevertheless, he desired to act.

Goetia wanted to get back at the Chaldeans. He wanted to stop them, and possibly take as many of them as he could with him. It was a decision surrounded by pure clarity, granted not by the fear of death, but the purposeful resolve that welled within. Even if the odds were against him, Goetia wanted to do something and make every moment worth it. He wanted to go down trying, rather than simply accepting fate with frustration and helplessness.

Though his actions would very likely mean nothing… Goetia found himself chuckling. He raised his hand, and fired his first 'meaningless' spell. It wasn't something he knew before, the channeled attack activated swiftly. A bright ball of light appeared before the Chaldeans, and forced the Vimana to evade. It detonated in a spectacular ball of contrasting light and darkness. The attack failed to do anything but destroy some shattered earth, yet he was compelled to try again.

Surprised, he stared at his own hand, and the chuckling grew. It felt indescribable as it blossomed into a bellowing laughter fueled not by hysteria or disbelief, but of newfound wisdom. He laughed as he channeled its first 'meaningless' shield, just as the swarms of projectiles soared towards him. After so long of wondering and pondering, the former beast laughed, because at the end of it all, he finally understood.

'How uselessly, terribly short… How surprisingly interesting… So this is a human's life!'

Goetia laughed as the first attacks threatened to overwhelm him.

-•===ЯΞΞΞ[ VII ]ΞΞΞR===•-

"We've never leyshifted this many at once!"

"We don't have a choice about this!" Da Vinci yelled back, but her focus remained on the screens. Goetia had reappeared, but the beast had been quickly felled by the remaining Chaldeans. It was hardly a battle, and more akin to a landslide than anything else. Even Goetia's new, strange attacks were mostly a nuisance, yet it costed them dearly: An entire minute had been wasted fighting Goetia, which was time they didn't have to spare.

Sparks danced across some of the exposed floorboards in the room outside, and the hisses of the machinery gave voice to its agony. Babbage and Edison could do little else to keep the machine stable, and the singularity was falling apart at a greater rate than anyone could have predicted. Outside the control room doors, Amakusa was stopping several servants from trying to enter the room to watch the situation; She appreciated the gesture. They didn't need an audience in this stressful environment.

With the system primed, her focus remained divided between the singularity's primary monitor and the status of the machinery. With the time they had, and the system's condition, they only had one more shot at this. She watched with mounting tension as the remaining forces landed at the Beachhead, and swiftly scrambled to the marker point. Arturia rushed over with Mashu's shield, their last leyshift beacon.

As the singularity deteriorated further, communications grew frazzled. It did little for her stress, but they had no room for failure. She was going to get them all out of there. Roman's sacrifice would not be joined by further deaths! There was a future they all had to experience together! They were going to bring them home even if the system was destroyed to do it!

There was a small pop, followed by a spark of electricity from the Deployment Room. It rattled her nerves further, and did the same for others outside the door. Her eyes didn't shift away from the screens as the door swung open. Amakusa called out, "Hey! Mashu! Wait!"

The shielder didn't listen as she quickly slipped in with Fou cradled in her arms, but she stopped in surprise and despair upon seeing the damage of the room. Lancelot followed her in, and also took the scene in. He followed Mashu's gaze towards the monitors, and placed a reassuring arm around his adopted daughter. Other servants quietly filed in, and they watched anxiously as the cluster of servants and masters gathered tightly on the rupturing plot of land.

All around them, the Beachhead rocked violently like a sinking ship. Chunks of ruined earth rose into the sky with the ever-growing clouds of golden dust; It was going to come down to seconds. Her heart hitched when the land beneath Gudao crumbled, but Gabrielle, Enkidu, and Ereshkigal quickly caught him as the final few servants joined the cluster.

Anishka's distorted voice shot through her mind like whisper. "… Vinci! We-… ead…! -… us-… of here!"

-•===ЯΞΞΞ[ VIII ]ΞΞΞR===•-

Groans of the rupturing earth were loud and cataclysmic. Gabrielle couldn't help but hug Gudao tighter as more of the island came apart around them. They stood amongst a miniature asteroid field, as the last shrieking tentacles died out far beneath their feet. She hugged Gudao tighter, and he hugged back as the gathered group waited impatiently for the leyshift.

The land began to give way beneath them, and Anishka let out a gasp as she nearly fell through a growing fissure. Rama and Sita quickly grabbed her, but she hung with wide eyes until they pulled her up. There was no more land beneath her feet, but only the endless abyss of the surrounding starscape. With ever passing second, the earthquake grew worse, but as their worries grew rampant, Mashu's shield finally flashed brightly with a vibrant blue pulse.

In a flash, the remaining Chaldeans disappeared with the shield.

Empty and void of any life, the singularity roared with its death throes. Golden dust rose and drifted away like pollen in a springtime field. The pained cries of the ruined earth were joined by an unnatural hum that reverberated from all around. Violently, the last of the ruined land across the reality marble broke apart and rose into the sky. They danced and mingled with the shower of lit spheres.

Then the last of the earthquakes abruptly stopped. The ruined land tumbled in the air, broken and shattered like their former residents. The debris field among the starry skies was unrecognizable from its former, ominous formation. Yet, even after the world shook itself apart, one spot of land remained untouched.

Solomon's throne floated among the rocky field, nearly perfectly intact with small traces of land clinging to its ascent. Upright and shining like a beacon in the darkness, it remained among the now silent void as the cries of the singularity came to a halt. Somehow, the Ars Salomis stabilized in the sea of imaginary numbers, yet it held nothing…

Nothing except the ten rings of Solomon that rested atop the throne's seat like a memento of what once had been.

-•===ЯΞΞΞ[ IX ]ΞΞΞR===•-

"Get away! RUN!"

Gudao didn't know who yelled the panicked statement just moments after they materialized within Chaldea. He only registered Enkidu quickly wrapping his arms around him and Gabrielle, then swiftly jumping away. They were joined in the air by several servants, while even more rushed across the walkway towards the only exit in the massive. It was only when Enkidu landed roughly at the far end of the walkway did Gudao finally turn back and understand.

Chaldeas spun gently in its unique cradle, but all around the room, sparks and arcs of unstable electric current ran rampant.

Tesla and Babbage were the last ones bolting down the walkway as a small explosion erupted from one of the walls. A metal panel was sent spiraling into one of the leyshift spaces on the ground, and broke the sparkling pad on impact. Another pad flared with a burst of lightning before tiny flames tried to burst from its outline. Yet another panel by Chaldeas burst into the air as a pipe broke at the seam to release a torrent of hot gas.

Before he could think how much worse things could get, the lighting slowly dimmed to a reddish hue as the computerized voice boomed through the room.

- Warning -

- Leyshift System Critical -

- Forced Shutdown Initiated –

The dying hums of the system quickly disappeared with the crackles of electricity. Only the sporadic fires crackled with the hissing, broken steam vent. One last, small explosion tore up another section of leyshift pads, but only the sound of the warning klaxons gave his heart any reason to beat hard.

As Enkidu released his hold, Gudao fell onto the cold ground as Gabrielle did the same beside him. She let out a tremendous breath of relief, but his heartbeat still ran rampant. With deep breaths, Gudao tried to calm himself as the servants around them let out their own relief. Some chuckled, and a few others finally cheered.

They made it. They were home, even if the welcome wasn't what any of them would have hoped. He stared at his worn, pained hands as he controlled his breaths. He managed a small smile, especially when Gabrielle let out a relieved laugh and threw her arms around him. "We made it! WE MADE IT!"

"Yeah… We're alive..." he breathed out, though he wished his smile could be bigger. All around them, some servants talked amongst each other, while others crowded around the pair to check their condition. In his peripherals, he saw Arturia holding Mashu's shield, but he didn't want to stare at it… not right now. Instead, his gaze shifted to Anishka as she swiftly, yet politely, pushed past some servants to check on her fellow masters' condition.

Before she could ask anything, Gabrielle released her hold of Gudao and wrapped her arms around the other master. "WE DID IT, ANNIE! WE'RE BACK!"

Anishka blushed lightly, but giggled and returned the embrace. Gabrielle rocked them gently as Gudao smiled at the two. He was glad Gabrielle's emotions could swing so wildly at times like this, but he wished the same could be said for him. He wanted to be happy… but not everyone was here.

Many employees had died, including ones he befriended… Roman had sacrificed himself for all of them to return… The beautiful girl who'd been by his side as his protector for so long was-

"Wait, Mashu!?" "Senpai!?" "Hey! That's definitely Mashu!" "What!? HOW!?" "Make room for Mashu!" "SENPAI!"

Crippled by shock and growing hope, Gudao turned around very slowly with impossibly wide eyes. The last thing he saw was Ereshkigal moving out of the way between him and the rest of the dispersing crowd. His vision seemed to darken at that point, if only to highlight the only one his mind desired to see as she ran towards him. With quivering eyes, and a swelling heart, his gaze met the teary eyed Mashu as she bolted towards him.

He didn't know how she… With his own eyes, he saw her die trying to protect her. She was consumed by the might of the lightbands, yet she protected him and the main Chaldean force. Mashu was supposed to be dead, and yet his heart threw that truth away hastily. It didn't care about rhyme or reason. All he cared about was the sight of that beloved face rushing towards him as her first tear slipped down her cheek.

"MASHU!" Gudao practically yelled as he shot to his feet. His exhausted body reacted immediately, and more muscles than he could count joined the ones he recently cramped in his calves. He stumbled forward, and though he was in pain, he forced his legs to move towards her. He was an awkward mess, and yet he managed to crash ungracefully into Mashu's arms as they collided together. The collapsed to their knees, but he refused to let go. "Mashu! You're…! It's you!"

"It's me, Gudao…!" she cried as they held each other closely. He didn't care who was watching as he smiled and cried like a total idiot. He felt her warm tears on his shoulder, and the familiar comfort of her in his arms. He sniffled at the same time she did as a loud cheers erupted all around them. "Y-You're...! I mean… both… We're b-both home!"

He reacted on instinct, and pulled away quickly to glue his lips onto hers. They clung to each other desperately, and he savored every second of this wonderful kiss. The warmth of her gentle lips on his and her gentle arms holding him tightly was yet another dose of medicine for his pained heart. That warm, loving smile he thought he'd never wake up to ever again was back. To say he was relieved was an understatement as their eyes wept and their hearts intertwined once more.

"Woah now! Get some air you two!" Cu joked, and laughter ran through many of those watching. Gudao and Mashu chuckled against each other's lips before they broke apart… only for Gabrielle to jump on them with her own, teary-eyed hug.

"THANK ALL THE GODS YOU'RE OKAY! ALL OF THEM!" she cried out, and sent yet another round of chuckles through the gathered servants. The sounds of the relieved people around him made Gudao smile brighter. This was starting to feel more like the welcome he wanted.

Anishka walked over with Rama and Sita, then gently took a seat beside them. She smiled at them, but didn't anticipate Rama would quickly push her into the group. She yelped in surprise, then giggled as Gabrielle swiftly pulled her into the hug as best as she could. Mashu giggled, and Gudao found himself chuckling as well… It felt amazing. He wanted to relish this moment as long as he could.

"I'm glad everyone made it out okay!" Gudao recognized David's voice, but it took him a few seconds before his mind made the connection.

'That's right… David is Solomon's…' The four broke apart from their little group hug and glanced towards the green-haired archer, who smiled at them gently. He stood among the giant crowd of gathered servants, which was a good majority of Chaldea's Heroic Spirits by the looks of it; Some, like Helena, were lending Edison some help with putting out the lingering fires in the room. The ones that were here, slowly fell silent as David merely looked around with that small smile.

Anishka looked to Gudao with worry, but he couldn't hide the truth. Pain shined quickly in his and Gabrielle's eyes as they tried to hide it desperately. David turned back to smile at them, even as a voice called out from behind him in the crowd. "…David…"

The crowd parted quickly, and revealed Da Vinci standing with a blank, terribly composed expression. Tesla and Shakespeare stood to one side of her, and on the other was Frankenstein and Anton. The unconscious Fou was in Lancelot's arms, who stood behind them silently.

David didn't turn around, and Gudao felt his heartache grow as David's smile faded a bit. The sadness in the man's eyes became apparent, yet the archer did not cry or move. He merely breathed deeply in the unnerving silence as the last fires were smothered in the background slower than the hope in his eyes.

"David…" Da Vinci began again, and even her voice was unnaturally unsteady. It thundered through Gudao's nerves again as Mashu looked between all of them in confusion. She stared at Da Vinci as she steeled herself. "…When Roman left for the singularity… He knew he wasn't coming home."

David remained silent, but Mashu quickly turned to him in shock. "Roman…!? Roman went to…!?"

Gudao slowly nodded, then gazed at her with his own, reigniting anguish. She turned to him expectedly, but it pained him just to recall that terrible moment. As evenly as he could, he spoke. "…Roman was secretly King Solomon. He… he… sacrificed himself to make Goetia vulnerable."

There were tiny whimpers from a child, and it tugged at Gudao's heartstrings. He turned towards the source, where Atalanta was now worriedly gazing at Jack beside her. The little assassin stared at him with disbelief and growing despair. "…No! No he's not! No! Roman's not gone!"

"But he can be resummoned right!?" a fatigued Nero called out from somewhere in the crowd. "Umu~! He was a servant, no? So then we just need to call him back!"

Da Vinci shook her head, and the silence grew more painful. David still didn't turn to look. "Ars Nova. His noble phantasm wasn't just a sacrifice… It erased his existence from the Throne of Heroes. Even if we had a catalyst, it wouldn't work… David… I'm sorry, I-"

David let out a small chuckle, and shook his head. The small pause that followed was painfully silent, yet the archer looked unnaturally composed. The anguish wasn't getting to him, but Gudao had to wonder if it was the same case within. "I know, Da Vinci… I saw it in his eyes. That bastard was always terrible at hiding his feelings."

Da Vinci looked like she wanted to say something, but she slowly closed her mouth in the growing pause. The surrounding crowd, with occasional sniffles, was silent as David let out a breath and closed his eyes, yet his smile had only barely faded. "I… I just wanted to believe when Gabby and Mashu came back… That's all. I just wanted to believe we were both wrong, and he'd be home… celebrating with us… That good-for-nothing son of mine… You really did it didn't you…?"

Jack burst into tears, and Nursery Rhyme looked to be close to doing the same. Atalanta quickly knelt down to try and soothe her daughters, but the little assassin was bawling a storm already. "Mommy! H-He c-can't be g-g-gone! I w-want Roman-! I W-WANT R-ROMAN BACK!"

The cries of a child were heart wrenching, but with everything he'd gone through already, it was deafening. Sniffles ran rampant among the crowed. Some, like Altera, wiped their eyes as tears grew. Others held strong, much like David did. Gudao felt another tear roll down his cheek as Mashu turned back to him with a fresh batch of tears. Gabrielle sniffled as the shielder gently put her hand on his. "He… Roman…!"

"ROMAN IS A HERO THAT WILL NE'ER BE FORGOT!"

Shakespeare's voice had been so loud, even the servants putting out the final flames turned to look at him from across the large room. Atalanta glared at him at first, but then her eyes fell bewildered at his expression. Through his blurry vision, Gudao couldn't help but stare at Shakespeare's firm, unyielding gaze. It wasn't the ecstatic expression they were so often used to seeing the caster wearing, but one of undying promise and resolve.

"He was a servant with a wish, like any of us! One who had his wish fulfilled, yet so readily threw it away for the sake of humanity!" Shakespeare cried out as he swept his arm out dramatically; His other clutched the closed notebook tightly in his grasp. "Such selflessness from a crazy coward! Such an act from a man who hid his identity from all but one! It is a tale for the ages, and one that must never be forgotten! It's an inspiring tale… a story of love and hope that the world shall cherish until the end of time itself if I have any say in it!"

Shakespeare thrust the clutched book in his hands skyward, as if it were a holy grail. "Roman's sacrifice didn't kill him! It made him eternal! The Hero of Humanity!"

The sniffling in the crowd seemed to diminish, and even Jack's crying had subsided enough for her to stare. Gudao eyed the caster in shock and sniffled, but Fionn quickly and resolutely thrust his hand into the air behind the master. "To Roman 'Solomon' Archaman! A man of true beauty and greatness!"

He had barely any time to glance at Fionn before David raised his hand with a pained, but firm smile. "A friend who will live on in our hearts!"

Jack's sniffling calmed down enough for her to raise her own arm into the air. "One of the b-best playmates!"

One by one, more chimed in, and Gudao couldn't hide the smile that formed on his lips. Mashu wiped her eyes, and her expression also lightened as the cheers grew in strength. He spied Da Vinci's tiny, grateful, yet sad smile she gave to Shakespeare, who merely bowed to her honestly and clutched the precious book close. David perhaps cheered the loudest, even as a tear threatened to roll its way down his smiling face.

This wasn't the welcome home he wanted, but it was nonetheless an inspiring one. They were helping each other bury grief and despair beneath the cries of celebration. Soon enough, he was among the cheering voices. Gabrielle and Mashu's own praises joined soon after as the room filled with the cries of victory. They would feel his loss, without any doubt, but not now. For now, they cheered for the man who saved them all, and allowed them the victory they needed.

Chaldea won... Humanity would see the dawn of the following morning.

-•===ЯΞΞΞ[ X ]ΞΞΞR===•-

Lit like a warm fireplace on a cold night, Fantasia Resort was blanketed by the golden hues of its pseudo-sun as it hovered just above the horizon. The smell of grilled meat and vegetables wafted in the air as they cooked nearby on the boardwalk. A pair of automaton seagulls walked curiously through the maze of beach blankets and lounging chairs. Many servants and staff alike sat among them, but others loitered and mingled by the barbeque grills on the boardwalk nearby.

"Can we get a cheer for Chaldea's fighting star!?" Leonidas asked loudly as he hoisted a laughing Delaqua onto his shoulder.

The surrounding blankets were the first to let out a hearty cheer as the supervisor let out a laugh, and Da Vinci smiled at the sight. The mirth and relief of some wasn't as apparent as others, but many of the outgoing servants were doing their best to keep spirits high. In particular, the Celtic legends were doing a great job keeping many of the present staff distracted and celebrating. She could safely say the party itself was working as intended.

It had been so hasty that no one had time to change, but Da Vinci wanted it done without delay. The facility straddled a fine line between grieving and jubilation, and she wanted to do everything in her power to ensure the mood swung upward… at least for as long as it could. The terrible scars inflicted upon Chaldea would be hard to heal when they inevitably resurfaced, and the facility's damage would take time. Those were tasks best left to the future; For now, there was a hard-earned victory that deserved to be celebrated in good spirits.

As she glanced around at the boardwalk railing, she gently swirled her glass of wine and took in the sights with a small smile. Fantasia Resort had been spared from any serious collateral damage compared to the rest of Chaldea. It made it the obvious choice for the hastily prepared barbeque that the robots were handling. The cuisine wasn't the usual Chaldean high standard for dinner, but any food tasted delicious after the trauma they've been through.

The facility shook again for the second time that hour, but Da Vinci was not worried; Several looked around in worry, but most had grown complacent after her explanation. It did not herald an incoming attack from outside, nor did it signal the death throe of their own singularity. If anything, it was only a tiny nuisance, and a much more powerful reminder that their triumph had not been a hollow victory. With every shake of the facility, the world grew closer to its correction.

Only twenty-two more hours and Chaldea would be seated in its proper home once more.

A servant approached from behind, and though his presence was palpable, she could tell the exhaustion in his weary steps. She glanced over to David as he took a spot at the railing beside her with a tiny smile. He took a swig of his water, and she sipped her wine while they stared towards the masters' blanket in silence. Gabrielle was currently gushing about something to Anishka and Mashu, and the shielder giggled as she gently cradled Gudao's sleeping head on her lap. Lancelot sat happily nearby on the adjacent Camelot blanket, and tossed an occasional, thankful glance to his adopted daughter.

Da Vinci glanced to David as he stared at their group silently. "…How are you feeling?"

It wasn't the sincerest way to ask, but she always did prefer getting to the point on terribly serious matters. He looked to her, and his smile grew a touch sadder. "I'm… managing. Though I should be asking you that too. You've got too much on your plate now."

She glanced at her empty plate on the railing, but nodded her head slowly. Though she didn't mind a bigger workload, she honestly loathed the idea of doing all of it alone. She was Chaldea's Director now, which came with all the stressful decisions and terrible hardship that was going to begin once the party ended. Managing Chaldea's well-being, reconstructing the facility… coping with the loss of Roman… A full plate was an understatement.

"I'll manage… I am the universal Leonardo da Vinci, after all," she giggled lightly with a tiny smirk, but David smiled sadly; It had sounded so forced and pained. She sighed. "…There's a lot to get done, but we're not deploying anyone or seeing new faces for… maybe a week at best."

David nodded slowly. "Then those blips on Chaldeas...?"

"Same thing we've always dealt with," she mused lightly. "Goetia was stopped, but there are still many benign and malignant singularities coming and going."

"Then the servants are still needed," he concluded, and she nodded her head. He smiled a bit brighter. "Looks like no one's going anywhere just yet."

There was always the occasional, worried gossip among the staff that the servants may return to the throne after everything was completed. Truth be told, maybe some might consider it for various reasons, but she didn't see it happening for many. If it wasn't forced, then she had no doubt the majority, if not all, would stay… especially if there were singularities to fix to ensure humanity's prosperity. She would even laugh and say many would use them as an excuse to stay, if she was in a better mood.

"Thankfully. I'll need all the help getting Chaldea back on its feet," she stated before taking another quick sip of her wine. In truth, many were already doing just that. Edison, Helena, and Tesla nearly had the primary generator repaired; The grail they installed would supply enough energy until then. Nightingale was assisted by several other servants to ensure the injured staff were in stable condition. Babbage was directing the workforce of robots to ascertain the facility's condition for proper damage reports.

They, along with others, could have been hearing celebrating the victory, but they put Chaldea's situation first. Da Vinci was just satisfied many here were relishing in the afterglow of mankind's triumph, but her concerns for the future remained plentiful. Her main worry presided over any emotional and mental trauma inflicted on the staff and masters would likely resurface in force. There were also unknown potential issues when Chaldea resurfaced in the world… but she hoped they'd be manageable.

…A full plate indeed. David quickly sensed her inner conflict. "Ah… look at us. Talking about things you wanted to avoid at this party. Change of subject?"

She tried to think of something else off the top of her head, but it was so clouded with concerns and future management that she couldn't. She hummed to herself inquisitively to think, but then another cry originated from the Roman servants. "Another toast for Roman Archaman!"

That was probably the third requested toast since the party started, but no one grew tired of it. David chuckled, and Da Vinci turned to him to find a sad, but proud, smile. His voice didn't waver. "If only he were here to relish in all this praise."

Da Vinci found herself smiling too. "He'd be trying to play it down... He'd scratch the back of his head with his big, embarrassed smile."

"Then he'd gladly soak it all in while playing bashful," David chuckled, and Da Vinci smirked with a giggle. "You'd probably give a tease or two. He'd whine childishly."

"You'd come support him, and then wind up teasing him too when he thinks you have his back."

"He'd get all mopey, and try to look at Magi*Mari for support. We'd apologize… Or at least I would. You'd just tease him again."

She smiled brightly, and wiped a forming tear from her eye. "...He secretly loved when I did that."

Though every mention of him and who he was pained her heart, she still enjoyed this moment, as did David it seemed. It was like an Irish wake, which was fitting since the funerals would be held in two days. The Furniture Department needed to build proper coffins, but some of Delaqua's staff had also perished; Thankfully she had servant support in the form of her friends. It'd be a difficult few days, but they'd make it through them... together, just like so many times before.

Day by day, they'd manage the hardships, just like humanity always had.

It was just the cycle of life. As Roman so eloquently put it, when humans were pushed into a corner, it is then when they'd truly shine. Every word he declared to Goetia rung soundly in her mind, and she couldn't have thought of a more honest and hardworking individual to say it than him. For all their faults, humans could still come together and make something beautiful that did more than just redeem them. They built a brighter future for the next generations to carry the torch of progress further into the night.

Roman passed that torch to them. That's why she owed him... they all owed him, but his debt was easy to repay.

All they needed to do was live. Through all the troubles and turmoil that came their way, she'd ensure Chaldea would remain the place he loved so much; If anything, it would grow more beautiful. It was a promise... one without words that she'd etch onto her heart as a last request he never voiced.

David presented his glass of iced water to her. She smiled, and raised her wine glass as he spoke proudly. "Another one for Roman?"

Even if he was no longer in the throne, he'd live on in their hearts. That didn't stop her from yearning to see him again, but she understood what was and what is. He sacrificed himself for all of them, and she would do everything in her power to ensure it wasn't in vain. Humanity would continue to roll down the unexplored road ahead, yet Chaldea would remain its guardians into the unknown.

Their glasses clinked, and they sipped down their happiness, pride, and anguish together. Her smile shined brighter than the lingering tears in her eyes. "To Roman."

On the horizon, the sun kissed the ocean's edge, and heralded the night that preceded mankind's new dawn.

.

-•===ЯΞΞΞ[ Ω ]ΞΞΞR===•-

The End

-•===ЯΞΞΞ[ Ω ]ΞΞΞR===•-

.

Final Words

You've completed the third supplement of the Fragments Series!
But it's not time to return to the core series just yet.

Supplement Story Equilibrium is next in the chronological reading order.
The next supplement will also be short, but it's the prologue to the next canon FGO arc.

To the readers who took the time and gave it a shot, thanks for sticking with it!
I'm going to give a special thanks to SKYS for all the help you've given! Thanks much!

I hope you've left this feeling content!
Thanks for reading!

~GhostXavier