Credits: Cinder Kitsune
The atmosphere howled.
A biting cold wind descended from the sky, mercilessly slapping against Fujimaru Ritsuka's face and causing her orange hair to whip wildly in the gale.
The special Mystic Code inscribed with magical patterns clung tightly to her slender frame in the fierce wind, outlining the youthful curves of her body.
It was thanks to this Mystic Code that Fujimaru Ritsuka could survive in the divine era with her ordinary human body.
The adaptive temperature regulation of the outfit ensured that even in the high heavens, Fujimaru Ritsuka wouldn't succumb to hypothermia.
"Oh my god!"
The last Master of humanity, Fujimaru Ritsuka, never expected that after surviving six Singularities, she would experience a nerve-wracking free fall from the troposphere.
"We're falling, Mash!"
Mash Kyrielight, her hair whipping in the wind, responded seriously: "Yes, Senpai, this is… bungee jumping!"
"Mash, I'm counting on you!"
Recovering from the shock of the bungee jump, Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at Mash with determination, and Mash immediately understood her intent.
"Leave it to me!"
Mash, gripping her round shield, stuffed Fou into the shield's compartment before reaching out to Fujimaru Ritsuka, trying to pull her closer.
If they continued to fall like this, both of them would end up as unrecognizable splatters on the ground!
Dead—without a trace!
Realizing the peril they were in, Mash's expression turned grim as she repeatedly stretched out her hand toward Fujimaru Ritsuka. Just as their fingertips were about to touch—
["There's a massive magical energy signature approaching you. This magical reaction is—"]
Dr. Roman's startled cry suddenly echoed in their ears, but for some unknown reason, it abruptly stopped.
In the Chaldea command room, which the two couldn't see—
Dr. Roman stared at the screen in disbelief, his expression grave. The name displayed on the monitor should not have appeared at this time.
The name of a man who should have long since disappeared.
"Romani—"
Leonardo da Vinci, holding a coffee cup as she approached, also glimpsed the name on the monitor. She fell silent instantly.
A storm of thoughts churned in the mind of the so-called Universal Genius.
Even someone as brilliant as Da Vinci couldn't maintain her composure upon seeing that name.
Meanwhile, in the skies over Mesopotamia—
A pitch-black star streaked across the heavens, hurtling toward Mash and Fujimaru Ritsuka!
"Fou!!"
As a sharp cry came from within the shield, Mash's face changed drastically.
"Senpai, an enemy is approaching!"
"Prepare to summon—"
Fujimaru Ritsuka decisively withdrew her hand. As soon as she opened her mouth, the icy wind poured in, filling her lungs and cutting off her words.
But even though Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't finish her sentence, the deep bond she shared with Mash meant that Mash understood her intent perfectly.
Before Fujimaru Ritsuka could summon a Servant, the black star rushing toward them suddenly lost its brilliance.
What was revealed was the figure of a young man standing beside a heavenly vessel.
The fierce wind of the heavens seemed to halt with his arrival, but Mash and Fujimaru Ritsuka didn't notice. Their attention was entirely captured by his visage.
His long, pure white hair fluttered in the wind, and his handsome, striking face carried a hint of mischief. But what etched itself most deeply into their minds were his pale golden eyes.
In those pale golden slit pupils, a speck of black sat at the center, like a radiant starry sky against the void.
"Hello! Do you need any help?"
At that moment, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash saw—
The wandering knight they had once consigned to dead.
Now standing before them in Mesopotamia, in the year 2655 BCE.
"Ehhh! It's Sir Alaric!!"
"Wha-wha—Sir Alaric!!"
"Fou!!" Fou's cry echoed as the two girls screamed in unison, their shrieks of disbelief leaving an eternal mark on the Mesopotamian skies.
Watching their identical reactions, Alaric couldn't help but laugh.
From what little memory of FGO he retained, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash weren't supposed to arrive in this era so quickly.
Alaric had never expected to encounter Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash here, now, as he had once encountered them in Ozymandias's domain.
What a strange twist of fate.
With joy at the reunion, Alaric extended his hand toward Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash.
The two girls didn't hesitate. They decisively grabbed Alaric's outstretched hand. As the crisp sound of their hands meeting faded into the wind—
Alaric forcefully pulled Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash onto the heavenly vessel. The agile Mash quickly steadied herself on the vessel, while Fujimaru Ritsuka clung to Alaric to keep from falling.
"Hold on tight!"
Alaric wrapped an arm around Fujimaru Ritsuka's slender waist and smiled. "It might get a bit fast—"
Before he could finish, he dove, the vessel hurtling toward the ground.
"Woohoo!!"
Overcome with excitement after seeing Alaric again, Fujimaru Ritsuka laughed uncontrollably as the exhilarating sensation of acceleration rushed through her.
The pitch-black star carried humanity's final Master as it descended to the earth.
With a resounding crash, the black light dissipated, and the swirling air currents kicked up clouds of dust.
Once on solid ground, Fujimaru Ritsuka freed herself from Alaric's embrace and took a few steps back. The hard soles of her boots crunched against the fine sand, the sound echoing in the still plains.
Tap. Tap!
Mash leaped from the vessel, running to Fujimaru Ritsuka's side. Retracting her shield, Fou leaped from its compartment and perched on Mash's shoulder.
Fujimaru Ritsuka pushed her orange hair back into place, her bright eyes never leaving Alaric. The smile on her face was radiant, like the warmth of the sun.
"It's been a while, Sir Alaric!"
Mash also smiled. "It's been a while, Sir Alaric. How have you been?"
["So it is him…"]
Not just Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash, but even Dr. Roman's voice came through the virtual display that materialized before them.
As expected, his tone was heavy.
Seeing Dr. Roman's somewhat serious expression and Leonardo da Vinci standing behind him, Alaric's smile didn't falter.
A reunion with Chaldea was something Alaric had anticipated. As for their reactions, he had his expectations.
After all, to Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others, he was supposed to be dead—a person they would never meet again.
What kind of responses would this sudden reunion elicit?
Alaric was looking forward to it.
Facing the greetings of the two girls, Alaric responded cheerfully.
"Super great! I feel amazing!
Have you two been resting well? Make sure you don't overwork yourselves!"
Hearing Alaric's voice again, both Mash and Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled warmly, nostalgia evident on their faces.
The regret and sorrow tied to the memory of Alaric melted away like snow in spring, transforming into a gentle stream that flowed through their hearts.
Even though their separation hadn't been long, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash felt as if they had crossed the boundary of life and death, traversed the valley of forgetfulness, and reunited with a dear friend.
Ah, how wonderful it felt.
Fujimaru Ritsuka sighed with heartfelt emotion.
Next to her, Mash smiled softly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Compared to Fujimaru Ritsuka, who had experienced more than a decade of life, Mash, born and raised in Chaldea, had a deeper appreciation for life.
Like Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mash cherished every experience and every friend she had made.
But Mash also understood that these were people of history, individuals who had already reached their endings. Even so, Mash gave her heart sincerely.
Among all their adventures, the one etched most deeply in her memory was the lone figure walking toward the tower at the end of the world.