Ereshkigal couldn't help but cry out: "We can't block it!"
This pillar of light clearly possessed the power to annihilate the world.
Once it consumed civilization, it would gain the terrifying ability to destroy the planet itself!
It could pierce straight through the Earth and detonate the power within its core.
She realized with stark clarity that even as the mistress of the underworld, she stood no chance of stopping it.
Mash's face paled, and she whispered apologetically, "Fou, I'm sorry… This time, I have to shield my senpai. You can retreat if you want."
The shield in her hand was the [Shield of the Heart].
As long as her will remained unbroken, she could defend against anything!
With her here, her senpai would never be harmed!
Yet—
The small white beast gently nuzzled her cheek—
"Fou… Fou! (I am the Beast of [Comparison]—together, we shall never be defeated!)"
In the face of this deadly assault, the immature infant Beast of Humanity refused to retreat!
Gilgamesh gazed up at the oncoming pillar of light and murmured, "Truly the enemy of civilization's destruction. Even I cannot oppose such radiance!"
If Ea were fully unsealed, it too could wield the power to cleave heaven and earth.
But alas, no one could unleash that power.
Not even the Beasts of Humanity.
It was a suicidal attack—one that would provoke the combined suppression of the two Counter Forces!
Yet even if they couldn't stop it, they had to try.
If Souma were struck down, humanity's hope would be extinguished.
The enemy would then devour human civilization unchecked and annihilate the planet!
At this critical moment—
A black-and-white bounded field abruptly formed above them.
Everything was rendered into an ink-wash painting of monochrome.
More lifeless than the underworld—as if it sought to overturn the world itself.
This was the ultimate ability of the Beast of Humanity, Tiamat—
[Nega-Genesis!]
A conceptual barrier capable of overturning existing theories of evolution, defying all prophecies of Earth's creation—and beyond.
It could expand infinitely, until it swallowed the entire planet!
Of course.
This time, Tiamat herself took control, manifesting it fully above everyone's heads, transforming it into the strongest shield to protect them all.
The light of the Star-Spangled Banner, capable of annihilating planets, collided head-on with the Human Evil's world-defying barrier.
The apocalyptic beam, upon touching the barrier, was instantly dyed in monochrome ink-wash hues.
Then, it began eroding the Nega-Genesis barrier.
A collision beyond ordinary comprehension erupted in utter silence.
As if before the dawn of creation—no sound, no space, no time.
No concepts existed.
Only genesis and destruction!
The audience, who had been holding their breaths, finally relaxed—
-[Praise Mama Tia! Tiamat is eternal!]
-[That was way too close! Thank goodness Mama Tia was here to block it!]
-[Ah, our adorable kouhai locked herself outside again… Clearly ready to sacrifice herself.]
-[Mama Tia is the most reliable, truly worthy of our trust!]
...
The annihilating beam was thus directly countered by the Human Evil.
Everyone collectively exhaled in relief.
At last, they wouldn't have to witness a tragic farewell.
The Giant Altera frowned slightly at her opponent. "As the abandoned Mother Goddess of Genesis, why do you aid these humans who betrayed you?"
"Aaaaa (Because… they are my children.)"
Tiamat answered just as she had when facing the Star-Spangled Banner for the first time.
After 4,600 years, her answer remained unchanged!
Such simple words moved countless people to tears, making them willingly call her "Mother."
Only a true mother would protect you without hesitation!
Meanwhile.
Souma, shielded by her, finally completed the ultimate forging.
The conceptual essence of countless Noble Phantasms converged upon the holy sword in his grasp.
Holding the sword, Souma whispered, "I take the concepts of thousands of Noble Phantasms as the core, and the flame of human civilization as fuel."
"Here gathers all that is."
"Here manifests all that is wished for."
"Here converges all that is unjust—"
"This is… the Star Sword of Humanity!"
If this planet would not bless mankind, then mankind would carve a path from despair with its own hands.
Let the light of human civilization itself become humanity's blessing.
By calling upon the strength of an entire civilization, pouring it into this blade—
He forged it into the Star Sword of Humanity!
Rejoice, for the true King of Noble Phantasms, surpassing Ea, has been born!
The Giant Altera widened her eyes in shock. "What? You forged a Star Sword… rivaling the one blessed by [Gaia]?"
This defied comprehension.
Humans were mere parasites on this planet—they should never have been able to challenge the world itself.
Yet now.
These insignificant beings had, in this moment, created a Star Sword equal to the one once blessed by [Gaia].
This man, unable to draw upon the planet's primal power, had instead harnessed the strength of human civilization.
Denied the planet's blessing, he ignited the flame of human hope, forging a flower that bloomed toward an infinite future.
The Giant Altera stared at the sword in his hand—and for the first time, felt true threat.
A threat in the truest sense!
"Why is it impossible? The Holy Sword of the Stars is, by its very nature, the strongest sword of protection, forged from the planet's distillation of all living beings' desire for survival!"
Souma whispered softly, holding the holy sword, "It is the very hope born to save the world from crisis. Now, as the guardian of human civilization, I bestow upon it hope anew!"
When faced with an apocalyptic crisis,
the will of the Earth, [Gaia], would favor a chosen human, transforming them into a wielder of the holy sword.
To defeat the enemies threatening the planet and protect this world.
Even without [Gaia]'s favor, he could grant the holy sword the authority to safeguard the world with hope.
After all,
before resetting the world, he had truly defeated the fusion of [The Demon King] and [Gaia]!
The ultimate battle commenced.
Tiamat placed her hand atop his head and whispered softly, "Aaaaa (By the name of the Primordial Mother Goddess, I grant you the authority to save the world!)"
Her EX-ranked Noble Phantasm unleashed its power at this moment—
[O My Child, Follow the Laws of Creation—Nammu Duranki!]
As the Primordial Mother Goddess, she could be regarded as the Earth Mother.
Or as the ruler of the world.
To a certain extent, she could be treated as [Gaia].
Under the influence of her Noble Phantasm, Souma felt himself strengthened once more in every aspect.
His power grew, inching ever closer to the peak of his mythical form from the past.
"The long night is hard to illuminate, but there are always those who become torches with their own bodies. Lighting up the sky, igniting hope, illuminating the path home."
Souma raised his sword toward the heavens.
Countless illusions suddenly surged forth from the blade.
They were the phantoms of heroic spirits, ordinary humans, and the myriad lights representing happiness and peace.
This sword embodied the dreams—scarred yet noble—cherished by all soldiers and heroic spirits who fought to protect humanity, past and future, in their final moments.
It represented the hope of all mankind, enough to be etched into the hearts of everyone.
The Giant God Atilla sneered, "How tedious... With this level of power, you cannot defeat me. Humans are nothing more than this!"
Awakened from endless slumber, its sole purpose was the complete annihilation of this planet.
As for the civilizations upon it, they would all become its sustenance!
The colossal god Attila once again swung its Noble Phantasm, and the light of destruction took shape—
[Teardrop Photon Ray!]
This time, it would effortlessly crush its opponent!
Faced with this annihilating radiance capable of erasing civilizations—
"Because we are human! The helplessness, fear, and despair of all people—these are the calamities we must fight against!"
Souma declared loudly: "We are born, we grow, we chase dreams and the future, we create brilliant cultures!"
"These are the flames of our civilization!"
"Even if you are the enemy of civilization's destruction, you cannot take them away, nor can you extinguish them!"
The holy sword in his hand blazed with the dazzling flames of civilization.
Heroic Spirits, ordinary people—all stood with him.
Fighting side by side!
"The hymn of humanity is the hymn of courage!"
Souma raised his sword and slashed toward the enemy: "Even if endless destruction looms before us, we can still draw our swords against you without fear!"
"With this blazing fire, nothing shall remain unsevered!"
The radiant flames of civilization transformed into an unstoppable sword light.
The pillar of destruction was cleaved apart by this single strike, shattered head-on.
Without the slightest hesitation, the sword light soared upward.
The supposedly invincible defenses of the Alien God's vanguard were as fragile as paper before this strike—its towering, thousand-meter-tall body was effortlessly bisected!