"Before you came, the King had already sent someone to deal with the Creation Mother Goddess."
"Someone can deal with that 'Mother'?" Mashu seemed rather incredulous.
Fujimaru Ritsuka, with her orange-red hair, was equally astonished.
Though they wanted to question Merlin, the white-haired mage merely smiled faintly, wearing an expression that said, "Those who understand, understand." He had no intention of explaining.
He felt that the two of them would not believe him even if he told them, so he might as well say nothing.
Meanwhile, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mashu could not help falling into endless speculation.
What kind of person could possibly stop that "Creation Mother Goddess"?
...How had he even done it?
Lan Ze lay lifelessly across Tiamat's lap, his face equally devoid of life.
Tiamat had just said that his scent had been contaminated by something else again, so she licked him while changing his scent into hers.
That itself was not a problem, but this "Creation Mother Goddess" apparently did not understand the meaning of restraint. Her overly passionate affection had left him slightly oxygen-deprived.
"Aaaa," Tiamat said apologetically.
"It's fine... I don't blame you. You were just expressing your affection." Lan Ze did not mind and merely smiled.
Tiamat rubbed her cheek affectionately against Lan Ze's face, singing an "Aaa" tune.
"Mother, don't be so enthusiastic. I can barely breathe..." Lan Ze called out tactfully while enjoying the warmth of Tiamat's embrace.
However, Tiamat seemed to recall how she had just suffocated Lan Ze until his face turned red. She actually loosened her arms and gave an apologetic "Aaa."
Only after the warm embrace left him did Lan Ze come back to his senses.
Looking at Tiamat's apologetic expression, Lan Ze sighed inwardly.
I only said it casually. Why did she really let go?
Breathing had been a little difficult... but he had still enjoyed it.
Even if this game had no plot at all, Lan Ze would have been satisfied just spending every day beside Mother of All, chatting and getting affectionate with her.
But to reach that point, he had to resolve the League of the Three Goddesses first...
Thinking this, Lan Ze looked at the woman who was still watching anime with complete focus. He withdrew his gaze, walked some distance away, and began concentrating on imagining something in his mind.
He wanted to see whether, at the limit of his ability, he could manifest weapons such as Excalibur into physical form.
It might prove useful in the future.
Lan Ze slowly pictured the sword in Artoria's hand, the holy sword praised as the "King's Sword."
It was an extremely time-consuming process. His mental energy needed to remain highly focused throughout, while the mana in his body rapidly drained under the effects of Illusion Manifestation.
However, this attempt was easier than when he had tried to manifest EA last time. After all, he had already manifested other things before attempting EA then, whereas this time, his mana had already been fully replenished.
Just a little more...
Lan Ze sensed that something was about to take shape and manifest from his imagination. His mana was draining at a terrifying rate, but this time, he gritted his teeth and did not end the "ritual."
Soon, Lan Ze felt a nauseating discomfort. His lips turned pale as he fought the urge to vomit, and even his heartbeat became somewhat irregular.
It felt like masturbating three or four times a day for an entire week straight.
Just then, a notification window popped up before his eyes.
[Weapon acquired: Excalibur (the radiant holy sword that saved the planet; a golden blade created to defeat beings capable of destroying planets, able to destroy all evil). Legend says it possesses thirteen seals. Each seal released increases its power; when seven seals are released, it can unleash its greatest power and shake the stars.]
Suppressing his wildly pounding heart, Lan Ze stared at the words above, then looked at the magnificent holy sword in his hand, feeling an indescribable sense of subtlety.
Thirteen seals... As far as he remembered, Artoria had never released anything like the thirteen seals on her holy sword, had she?
But he had no mind to consider such matters. He hurriedly tossed the holy sword into the Gate of Babylon, then collapsed onto the ground as weakness washed over him.
"Right... the Holy Grail."
Lan Ze suddenly remembered it.
Previously, he had obtained a "Holy Grail," one that could replenish his mana.
He had been so absorbed in Mother of All that he had nearly forgotten about it.
Just as Lan Ze opened his inventory, he suddenly heard Tiamat, who had just finished watching anime, cry out anxiously from nearby:
"Aaaa? (How did you become so weak?)"
Lan Ze's fingers paused slightly. When he turned his head, he saw Tiamat raise a finger lightly, causing his entire body to float into the air before flying toward her.
"You need to replenish your mana quickly," she said urgently, concern evident in her eyes.
"Replenish mana...?"
Lan Ze froze, then silently closed his inventory.
What Holy Grail? He had no idea what that was.
"How do we do that?" Lan Ze asked in confusion.
"Like last time," Tiamat said softly.
She controlled Lan Ze and gently lowered him before her. Then, her exquisitely beautiful face moved closer as she lowered her head and pressed her cherry lips against his.
Lan Ze's eyes slowly widened as he stared blankly at Tiamat.
So this can replenish mana?
He had watched the first version of the Holy Grail War and roughly knew what mana replenishment was, but he had not known that men could replenish mana too.
He had even wondered before: luckily, that version had one man and one woman, but what if a male Heroic Spirit had been summoned? Would they just go for it because he was male?
If this could restore mana, did blood-drinking count too?
While immersed in the kiss, Lan Ze was thinking about such things.
Soon, he felt his depleted mana gradually beginning to recover, though the speed was not fast. Tiamat possessed an enormous amount of mana, but she had very few ways to transfer it to Lan Ze. She could only replenish him slowly.
Tiamat clearly realized this as well. After their lips parted, she did not hurry to continue replenishing Lan Ze's mana. Instead, she gazed at the boy in her arms, her eyes still filled with tenderness.
Then she leaned close to Lan Ze's ear and softly said, "Aaa."
Lan Ze was slightly stunned, as though he had not understood, or perhaps could not believe it.
Then Tiamat whispered again, "Aaaa."
Lan Ze confirmed once more, "Can I really?"
Tiamat nodded with certainty.
After looking once more into Tiamat's gentle eyes, Lan Ze no longer hesitated. He obediently let Tiamat hold the back of his head while he buried his face in her embrace.
At the same time, the mana within Lan Ze's body began replenishing at a rapid pace.
Lan Ze felt that his previously depleted mana had now fully recovered.
Oh, no, that was not right. His mana was even overflowing a little now.
When he had created the Star Sacred Sword, he had been so exhausted that he did not even want to speak, and his stomach had felt slightly unwell.
But now, Lan Ze felt as though he had received a buff. His entire body was incredibly energized... and his stomach was even a little full.
Of course, his excitement was not solely because his mana had recovered.
More importantly...
"Burp~"
Lan Ze let out a satisfied burp, rubbed his stomach, and felt completely content.
He did not know whether it was just his imagination, but he felt as though his physical condition had become much stronger than before.
"I feel like I could fight even a god now..." Lan Ze lay in Tiamat's arms, looking at the woman's soft, fair face as he felt his entire being ignite.
"Aaa."
Tiamat called softly and covered Lan Ze's eyes, seemingly disliking how directly he was staring at her.
She tapped the space bar on her laptop and resumed watching the screen with bright, focused eyes.
Lan Ze peered at Tiamat through the gaps between her fingers, lingering briefly on her chest. He then rubbed his slightly full stomach, quietly lifted himself off her, and walked to one side.
Lan Ze raised his hand, and several golden rings quietly bloomed behind him. Golden ripples spread within those rings, making them appear dazzling and brilliant.
This was a weakened version of Gate of Babylon, an ability he had received from a previous quest. Though its treasury could not compare to Gilgamesh's outrageous stockpile, it was still quite convenient for storing things.
With a single thought, he could summon anything inside the Gate of Babylon.
Lan Ze took the Star Sacred Sword out from one of the "golden gates."
According to the system's earlier description, the Star Sacred Sword possessed thirteen seals, and every seal released would increase its power.
However, there was one major prerequisite—it needed to pass the Round Table Conference.
Lan Ze raised the sword. As mana flowed into it, the holy sword bloomed with brilliant radiance.
But there was no prompt for the "Round Table Conference."
So that was how it was...
Lan Ze sighed inwardly, though he was not particularly surprised.
After all, he was not King Arthur. How could he possibly have something like a Round Table Conference?
Without passing the Round Table Conference, how much power could this Noble Phantasm unleash?
Lan Ze raised the Star Sacred Sword. The instant mana flowed into it, the holy sword erupted with blinding light.
He swung the sword down toward the sea.
In that instant, the entire sea was cleaved apart. Massive waves surged upward, especially captivating beneath the sunlight.
Though he had not gone through the Round Table Conference and its destructive power was lower, Lan Ze was already quite satisfied with such might.
And it was difficult to imagine just how terrifying the Star Sacred Sword would become if all thirteen seals could truly be released.
The massive waves seemed to disturb Tiamat, who had been intently watching anime. She raised her head and glanced at the boy nearby.
Noticing Tiamat's gaze, Lan Ze immediately said, "Mother, what do you think of this power? It's strong, right?"
"Aaa." Tiamat nodded softly, encouraging her child.
"Unfortunately, I don't know exactly how strong it is." Lan Ze soon shook his head again, unable to avoid feeling somewhat regretful.
He had no real understanding of Noble Phantasms, and the system had not explained the current rank of this Noble Phantasm. He could only test its power by feel.
Tiamat thought for a moment, then softly said, "You can test it."
"Use it to attack me," she continued.
Lan Ze immediately shook his head. "What if I hurt you by accident?"
Tiamat shook her head. "You won't."
Her voice remained gentle, as though she did not care about the Star Sacred Sword in Lan Ze's hand at all.
Lan Ze hesitated, then finally nodded lightly. "Then please be careful, Mother."
After saying that, he raised the Star Sacred Sword.
Golden particles in the surroundings seemed to be drawn in by the Star Sacred Sword, gathering upon it and forming dazzling radiance.
Lan Ze brought the sword down.
A golden beam of light shot violently toward Tiamat, but the woman did not move. She merely placed her hands against her chest and sang softly, "Aaa."
The Tide of Chaos surged around her. Black mud like a swamp descended across the sky and earth, swallowing the beam unleashed by Excalibur.
Then... there was nothing else.
The light released by the Star Sacred Sword was completely devoured by the Tide of Chaos, as though it had never existed at all.
"That corrosive power is terrifying..." Lan Ze watched in alarm.
Before you continue