[T/N: Some readers might be confused about why Tiamat's defeat was suddenly skipped; I'm puzzled too. This isn't the translator's doing, but the original author indeed did not write the complete process of defeating Tiamat. I've checked several raw versions on various sites, and the result is the same. Tiamat was suddenly defeated, and it moves to this chapter.]
Chaldea, Main Control Room.
The time is three hours after Naoki returned from the Seventh Singularity.
*BEEP!* *BEEP!* *BEEP!*
The entire control room was now filled with deafening alarm sounds. A large number of screens in the control room continuously flashed red lights symbolizing danger. Meanwhile, at the other end of the Sheba Lens, CHALDEAS, which over the past six months had gradually returned to normal, symbolizing the light of Earth's civilization, reverted to a blazing red state.
"Outside Chaldea, the Seventh to Third Attack Theories have been annihilated! Existence verification failed!"
"The intensity of the pseudo-spiritrons formed within Chaldea is experiencing fluctuations! Pulled by the Knot-Fixation Quantum Recording Band!"
"Time remaining until external Chaldea confirms reaching the year 2016 is minus 4,368 hours!"
"..."
One by one, reports were delivered by the frantic staff. In the six months since the Human Order Incineration began, the situation unfolding now was the most serious crisis Chaldea had ever faced!
Right after analyzing all the Holy Grails collected, and unexpectedly discovering the coordinates of an unobserved Singularity, Chaldea received interference from the outside that should have been impossible!
Standing in front of the main commander's chair with both hands supporting the table, Roman stared intently at the rapidly passing analysis data on the screen.
"Finally... it's here. This day."
Yes, that day had arrived.
For others in Chaldea, the current situation was an unprecedented emergency. But for Roman, this was supposed to be the day it finally arrived.
Since the Holy Grail War ended ten years ago, being informed about the Human Order Incineration by Naoki, and witnessing it all with his final Clairvoyance, Roman had been waiting for this day.
*CLICK!*
The control room door behind him opened.
Naoki, Ritsuka, Mash, Hinako, and Xiang Yu.
Chaldea's five direct combat personnel entered in succession. After approaching Roman and glancing at the situation on the screen, Naoki's eyes gleamed: "Found it?"
"Yes, found it."
Roman nodded.
"After analyzing the seventh Holy Grail you brought back, and combining it with the analysis data from several Holy Grails collected previously, three minutes ago we obtained the coordinates of a hidden Singularity never observed before."
While saying that, Roman displayed all the observed information on the holographic screen in front of everyone.
"Based on current observations, there, we observed an independent Singularity. The entire structure of that Singularity resembles a living creature, and even more so a temple. That temple gathers unimaginable Mana from various eras of human history, forming an extraordinary Mana vortex at the temple's center."
"No doubt, that's our final destination."
The final destination.
The Seventh Singularity was not the ultimate goal of Chaldea's journey so far. After all, the mastermind behind the Human Order Incineration had appeared once in the Fourth Singularity. Her name was Solomon, one of the Grand Servants chosen by the Root. If she wasn't defeated, the Human Order Incineration would not end.
Until now, aside from the Fourth Singularity and the earliest Fuyuki Singularity, the other party had never appeared again, even in the Seventh Singularity.
Therefore, even though all seven Singularities had been completely resolved, the Human Order Incineration had not ended. There was still a final enemy to face.
That enemy was now in the new Singularity observed by Chaldea.
"Really gives no time to rest." Hinako scoffed. "The Seventh Singularity battle ended just three hours ago, and a new battle already has to start."
"Time waits for no one." Naoki shrugged. "If possible, I'm sure Roman would want to fully prepare before heading to that Singularity, but circumstances don't allow it."
"Yes."
Roman explained: "We did observe the coordinates of the Singularity where the other party exists, but it works both ways. The moment we learned of it, King Solomon also learned Chaldea's coordinates and is pulling us in."
"In fact, right now, Chaldea is merging with that Singularity, and it's beyond our control."
Merging?
Ritsuka frowned: "Merging means... becoming one?"
"No, we will be annihilated." Roman shook his head. "Just as light is assimilated by stronger light, the same applies to spatial intensity. The Singularity's spatial intensity is far stronger than Chaldea's. At the moment of contact, Chaldea will be assimilated by it, and we will be completely annihilated too."
"There's only one way to avoid such an end: before both sides make contact, perform a Rayshift to that Singularity, defeat King Solomon, destroy the Singularity, and end the Human Order Incineration."
"This is the only way."
This was overly sudden information. After all, they had just finished the Seventh Singularity battle, and the fight against Tiamat was only three hours ago. Until now, let alone preparation, they hadn't even had enough rest time. As Naoki said, emotionally, Roman surely hoped to give a few more days for everyone to rest well, adjust their condition, and then face the final battle. But time didn't wait. Based on current estimates, in two days, Chaldea would collide with the Magecraft King's Singularity.
At that moment, defeat would be instantaneous. And if Chaldea, the last remnant of human civilization, was defeated, it would mean the Human Order Incineration could no longer be stopped.
In other words—Total Human Extinction.
The final five hours before contact was the time for the decisive battle.
"Roman, how's the Rayshift preparation?" Naoki suddenly asked.
"Rayshift can be performed anytime."
"Good."
Turning around, Naoki looked at the four behind him: "As the Head of Chaldea's Operations Department, I'm giving you instructions—disperse now. Regroup here in twenty-four hours. During that time, ensure your mental and physical conditions are at their best."
"When you return to this control room, that's when the final battle begins. Magecraft King Solomon. The mastermind behind the Human Order Incineration, our greatest enemy. This final battle must be won, no matter what."
"The Singularity we're heading to is called Solomon—the Final Singularity, Grand Temple of Time: Solomon."