"You're the naughty children here!"
A cruel smile curled at Abby's lips.
"If Father God descends, your heads will explode. Why won't you just go to sleep quietly?"
"That sounds exactly like something a cult would say," Hakuno remarked.
She tested the weight of the longsword in her hand. Nero's combat memories guided her on how to act. Just as she was about to charge, Gudako stopped her.
"I don't know what they're capable of yet, so let This King... No, wait. Let me test them out first."
The enemy's very presence was bizarre enough to warrant caution. Gudako decided to start with a saturation bombardment to gauge their abilities—if she could take them down outright, all the better.
Noble Phantasms from the Gate of Babylon continuously launched toward the enemy. Gilgamesh and Gudako's compatibility was surprisingly high, allowing her to draw out at least ninety percent of the Spirit Origin's power. An ordinary Heroic Spirit would have been utterly overwhelmed by such an onslaught.
However, tentacles emerged from nowhere, swatting down each projectile. Under normal circumstances, Abby would never have been able to deflect such an attack so effortlessly. But under the gaze of her "Father God" and connected to the dream world, the Abby here was vastly empowered.
Gudako realized this wasn't enough. Another row of ripples opened behind her, doubling the firepower!
"Isn't this a bit... monotonous?"
Abby smiled, tapping the air in front of her with the key in her hand. "But a treasury always needs a 'key' to open a 'gate,' right? Here with Abby, those two concepts are a bit like... 'teaching a fish to swim'? I'm so happy I got to use an idiom I learned!"
The ripples connecting to the Gate of Babylon instantly severed their link with Gudako. This Abby was a super-buffed "Plus" version, while Gilgamesh was a mere "Mini" version. On top of that, being conceptually countered left him utterly helpless.
"Hurry up and run, or you might sleep forever."
Abby waved her hand, and the ripples began to adjust their angles. Half aimed at Gudako, while the other half targeted Hakuno.
"How is this possible?!" Gudako cried out in astonishment, her thoughts somewhat influenced by Goldie's own shock.
"What's so impossible about it?"
As the human embodiment of the Silver Key, Abby naturally held a significant conceptual advantage over anything related to "gates" and "keys." What's more, her "Father God" was drawing ever closer to this world. Abby had even started rummaging through Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon for toys.
The next moment, Noble Phantasms blasted out from the ripples. What should have been Gudako's primary means of attack had now become her death warrant. Hakuno quickly grabbed Gudako by the waist, and the two of them escaped the blast radius of the Noble Phantasm barrage.
"Gudako, cancel it! You're completely countered! There's no way to fight like this!" Ruby warned. Concepts like "gate" and "key" would only backfire against Abby.
"I know!"
Gudako swiftly changed her form. This time, it was Scáthach from the North American Singularity. A black, silk-like bodysuit covered Gudako's body, its extremely form-fitting design accentuating her impressive figure.
"I know it's not right to take other people's things without permission, but she's an enemy, so I can't be too picky," Abby muttered.
Just before Gudako transformed, Abby had hastily snatched several bottles and jars from the Gate of Babylon. She had always been curious about the drink adults called "wine," and the Gate of Babylon happened to have some. As a "bad girl," she naturally wouldn't miss this chance, grabbing them along with the Elixir of Youth and the Elixir of Immortality.
"Such a shame. There were still so many good things inside."
"Stealing is wrong!"
Even if she was at a disadvantage, Gudako wouldn't lose her fighting spirit. She nodded at Hakuno. Now that both were in melee forms, it was the perfect time to coordinate an attack. Covering each other, they charged toward Abby.
"These are dangerous weapons! Of course I have to confiscate them!"
Abby met their charge, wielding her key. The key, made of some unknown material, clashed with the legendary Noble Phantasms without giving an inch. Sparks flew as the slender, seemingly fragile key parried sword and spear.
Ultimately, however, Abby was still just a little girl with poor close-combat skills. Even with her enhancements, her martial prowess was no match for two Magical Girls who had absorbed the combat knowledge of Servants. Growing tired of the game, Abby summoned tentacles and swept them both aside.
"This should be about the end. I've had enough fun."
Abby suddenly tossed away her key-weapon and faced the two in a completely relaxed posture.
Faced with this relaxed posture, the two didn't dare to act rashly. Gudako realized Abby was about to unleash her Noble Phantasm. Without any defensive measures, the best course of action was to counter with their own Noble Phantasms!
"Ygnaiih... Ygnaiih... Thflthkh'ngha... In my hand, I hold the Silver Key. Manifest from the Void, and with Your fingertip, touch me, O Father God. I shall become the earthly vessel for Your divine essence. Transcend the slumber of roses and reach the Ultimate Gate..."
The keyhole on Abby's forehead erupted in a blinding white light that seemed to pierce the very soul, threatening to consume everything in its path.
"Senpai! Let's go together!"
Gudako knew they couldn't just wait for their doom. They had to meet her Noble Phantasm with their own.
"Got it!"
Hakuno raised her longsword, and flames surged as magical power converged at its tip.
Gudako also charged toward Abby, her spear aimed directly at the keyhole on Abby's forehead.
In an instant, the three Noble Phantasms collided.
"Qliphoth Rhizome!"
"Gáe Bolg Alternative!"
"Glorious Empire of Maiden's Song!"
The expected collision never occurred. The moment the attacks met, they simply vanished. Gudako and Hakuno felt as if their senses had been stripped away in an instant, leaving them enveloped in a white void.
For a fleeting moment, it felt as if their souls had been torn from their bodies. Hakuno and Gudako crumpled to the ground, limp as ragdolls.
"I'm sorry for putting you to sleep this way. Some side effects are unavoidable."
Abby walked over to them. With a snap of her fingers, the surroundings transformed into a cozy inn. This place was both dream and reality, a dream she had complete control over.
Just as Abby reached down to help Gudako up, Gudako suddenly moved, thrusting her spear at Abby's body once more.
"Honestly, can't you just sleep peacefully?" Abby complained, easily dodging the attack. Gudako could barely move her body, let alone launch a proper assault.
"Ruby... Dream... Install!" Gudako managed to force out the words.
"It doesn't matter which Heroic Spirit you use. Here, Abby is a very, very bad girl, and very strong, you know?"