On the screen, everything suddenly turned gray.
The familiar voice of Jinako echoed—
"Completely fine, absolutely nothing wrong. Just as promised, there are plenty of games anyway."
"No need to think about anything, no need to do anything. Just focus on playing games."
"For a hardcore gamer like me, isn't this a good thing?"
"It's easy, super easy! I can handle it alone!"
The gray screen slowly darkened.
Bit by bit, it faded into black.
"It's a little boring... but still no problem. I'm totally fine!"
"With the power of a god, I can create endless games."
"Western fantasy, sci-fi... anything!"
"Yeah, I'm happy. Whether it's monotonous grinding or hunting for hidden items..."
"I can even make games way more punishing than Sekiro or Elden Ring."
"Huh? Why am I crying?"
The screen
turned completely dark.
Pitch black, without a single glimmer of light.
"Eh? No way... why do I feel uneasy?"
"How long has it been? How much longer?"
"Why can't I even remember time anymore..."
"I am a god now, an omnipotent god. How could I possibly be afraid?"
"No... a bug is about to appear... I can't break down... If that happens, everything will be over... The promise!"
"I made a promise with that person... They promised to come find me."
The voice grew increasingly panicked, increasingly terrified.
Filled with an indescribable sense of chaos.
"Why is no one here? Why hasn't anyone come for me? Have I been abandoned?"
"Save me..."
"Someone, please save me!"
"Please... come save me!"
The initial panic could no longer be concealed.
It had turned into desperate cries for help.
"I have to stay conscious... I made a promise, I have to see them!"
"The promise..."
The voice paused for a moment.
Then, with mechanical numbness, it asked a question—
"What was it?"
And then.
Everything dissolved into hysterical screams—
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!"
The scene plunged into complete darkness.
No—it became an empty void.
Not a single glimmer of light remained.
Even sound had vanished!
But then.
Light appeared.
In the pitch-black darkness, it was as if a door to brightness had opened.
A warm hand reached out from the light, and a gentle voice spoke:
"Even a shut-in has the right to look up at the sky!"
The once-mechanical, numb figure.
Eyes long drained of tears stared blankly at the other.
And then.
She lunged forward, clinging tightly to them, and spoke word by word:
"Gu... da... I... kept... the promise... didn't... lose... myself..."
"Mhm, welcome back, Jinako."
Nameless gently ruffled her hair, his voice full of heartache and affection. "You're amazing. You didn't lose yourself even after ten thousand years. You're truly incredible!"
Countless viewers burst into tears—
[AAAAH, watching Jinako slowly descend into despair was heartbreaking!]
[Even a shut-in has the right to look up at the sky! Jinako, you did it!]
[God, this is too cruel—leaving her alone in the Divine Void for ten thousand years!]
[Even with the internet, staying alone at home for years would make anyone lose touch with reality... but she didn't even have that! My heart aches for her!]
[Ten thousand years! People joke about such lengths, but she actually endured it!]
...
In the living room.
Roya stared blankly at the screen. "How did she manage to hold on?"
It was unbelievable.
She had always been a socially anxious shut-in, content to stay holed up at home.
Even after joining the Holy Grail War, she dragged her own Servant into gaming marathons indoors.
But now.
This timid, weak, reclusive shut-in had endured ten thousand years alone in the Divine Void.
From beginning to end, she had remained lucid.
How had she not gone completely insane?
Even a god would lose their mind over such an unimaginable stretch of time.
Back in Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia.
The underworld goddess Ereshkigal had grown increasingly erratic from loneliness in the underworld.
And that was with countless souls for company, the ability to observe the outside world, and even the goddess Ishtar to interact with.
If she had been truly isolated, cut off from everything, she would have gone mad without a doubt!
Roya had once thought that for a game otaku like her, staying at home every day would never get boring.
As long as she had the internet, food and drinks, and money to spend on gacha.
The problem was...
Jinako could also play games, but she was completely alone, with no internet at all.
There wasn't even a second person to talk to!
For an internet addict like her, going without connection for a few days was unbearable, let alone several years!
"Truly a miracle," Qin Shi Huang nodded.
Back in the Lostbelt, he had transformed into a machine, gradually losing all human emotions and desires.
He would have ceased to be human entirely.
Only then could he coldly sever cultural heritage and keep the people of Qin under his control.
Having shouldered the burden of Qin for 2,200 years alone, he had grown utterly exhausted.
That was why he had heeded Souma's advice, letting go of everything and entrusting it all to him once more.
Souma sighed in admiration. "She really is incredible."
Back then, even he hadn't been sure if she could endure it.
Ten thousand years was far too long—longer than all of human history.
Enduring loneliness for ten thousand years was something even a god would struggle with.
But this shut-in girl had done it.
Yes, Jinako remained herself at her core, merely borrowing divine power.
This was quite different from Ishtar.
Come to think of it, that brat had also endured for three thousand years back then.
Souma looked at the brat with mixed emotions.
The 72 Demon God Pillars had transformed into 72 seeds, taking root and sprouting throughout human history.
For this, they had prepared for three thousand years.
Three thousand years of grand ambition—yet he had personally destroyed it all.
If that brat were to awaken now, who knew whether it would be for better or worse...
...
The video continued.
The Rani of Jhansi had merely served as a mana provider and a hollow shell.
In other words, she had been in a deep slumber throughout those ten thousand years, never experiencing loneliness.
Naturally, she was unaffected.
"Proof complete! Jinako has endured through the entirety of White History, proving the imperfection of Arjuna!"
Da Vinci exclaimed excitedly, "This will fundamentally shake His authority as the Supreme and Only God!"
The plan had succeeded.
In an unbelievable, purely miraculous way, it had been achieved.
Just then—
Ashwatthama suddenly spoke up. "Sorry, but I might not be able to fight alongside you in the final battle."
Using a Noble Phantasm powerful enough to reverse time came at a cost.
And that cost was sacrificing himself!
Despite facing complete annihilation, Ashwatthama grinned. "Hey, Gudako, I heard that as long as you form a bond with someone, you can summon them."
"Yes. Thank you for everything this time," Nameless nodded in gratitude.
"Hah! Next time, don't forget to summon me. For now, I'll take my leave early."
Ashwatthama laughed heartily. "Oh, and with the last of my power, I did one more little thing."
"Let that stubborn, uptight guy take my place and protect you against Arjuna!"
His form dissolved into countless motes of light, vanishing completely.
And in his place—
A familiar figure descended with overwhelming presence, radiant in golden brilliance.
It was Karna!
A trace of him, left behind from his clash against the world-ending light pillar.
Through Jinako's proof across history, his spirit core had manifested within the void of time.
In that instant, spanning countless long years, he was summoned back by the sound of horse neighs.
And now, far more powerful than before, he could be called a Super Karna.
Karna extended his hand: "Master, I have returned. Please do not disdain this weak servant."
"Welcome back, Karna. Let us join forces and defeat him!"
Nameless reached out and clasped his hand.
The final battle had begun.
The perfection of the One Supreme God had already been shattered.
Which meant—
God Arjuna—
Had revealed his health bar!
Upon the vast and magnificent castle.
"You imperfect, wicked lives shall not be permitted to exist!"
God Arjuna unleashed his strongest Noble Phantasm once more. "This is the light that purges the world—perish!"
[Judgment of the Annihilating Cycle (MahaPralaya)]!
The world-cleansing, all-destroying light of annihilation descended once more.
It possessed terrifying power akin to that of Ea.
With a single strike, it would utterly annihilate all the gods of the Lostbelt.
Hum~
The pure white, resplendent walls of Camelot manifested, enveloping everyone within.
Once again, Mash stood at the city gates, defending it alone.
At the same time.
"My foolish little brother, allow me to teach you a lesson!"
Karna soared into the sky. "Witness the mercy of the King of Gods."
"Indra, behold this."
"Annihilation lies within this thrust."
"Burn utterly—"
[Vasavi Shakti!]
Behind him, an immense solar radiance took form.
Karna, his power violently amplified, could now directly oppose the attacks of Arjuna Alter.
This was a spear of lightning, capable of felling gods in a single strike.
The spear erupted forth, colliding head-on with the world-ending sword.
A cataclysmic shockwave exploded outward.
The entire Lostbelt trembled violently, as if on the verge of total destruction.
Amidst the clash of the two adversaries—
Nameless had quietly appeared before the colossal Fantasy Tree.
The sword in his hand likewise blazed with a dazzling golden radiance.
[Excalibur!]
A brilliant pillar of light slashed mercilessly toward the Fantasy Tree.
Cutting it cleanly in half!
The tree fell.
Arjuna Alter, already weakened, suffered yet another crippling blow.
Clatter~
Countless golden chains surged forth.
This time, Arjuna was utterly powerless to resist, bound layer upon layer by the Chains of Heaven.
Nameless gazed coldly at his foe. "Arjuna, you've lost."
After so many sacrifices, after so much preparation, they had finally dragged this self-proclaimed Supreme One God down from his divine throne!
"No! Such filth! Such disgrace! I will not allow it!" Arjuna roared in fury.
But it was futile.
Without hesitation, Nameless drove his sword through the god's heart.
Defeating him completely.
"Ahhh—regret? Despair? I am the perfect god! How could I possibly harbor such emotions?"
For the first time, human emotion flickered across Arjuna Alter's face.
His entire body crumbled and dispersed. "So... that darkness within me... has always been there..."
Boom~
His form exploded violently, vanishing without a trace!
The Supreme One God had been defeated!
The audience erupted in cheers—
[We won! We won! Another god-slaying feat accomplished!]
[Why not stab him a few more times? This bastard destroyed countless Lostbelts—his sins are beyond redemption!]
[Well done! Weren't you the almighty Supreme One God? Where's your arrogance now?]
[Damn it, this is all the Alien God's fault! That bastard's definitely watching from somewhere!]
[Sigh... after this battle, this world will be destroyed again... Poor little Asha...]
...
The most fearsome battle had ended.
The Supreme One God was defeated, and the Fantasy Tree had been felled.
Their mission to prune the Lostbelt was complete.
Pepe spread his hands helplessly. "My dear Gudao, if we had a choice, we truly wouldn't want to fight you."
Once allies against a common enemy, now they stood on opposing sides once more.
"Those who walk different paths cannot work together. We were destined to be enemies," Nameless replied.
The very existence and perpetuation of the Lostbelt was the greatest sin of all.
His sole mission was to eradicate all Lostbelts to safeguard Proper Human History.
The traitors of Team A sought only to develop the Lostbelts, making them inherently hostile.
The battle began.
And ended in an instant.
Nameless moved like a blur, his sword already resting against the other's neck.
No matter how Peperoncino dodged, escape was impossible.
Yet Nameless released him with a smile. "Alright, you've lost."
From start to finish, the two had never truly been enemies, so there was no question of killing him out of vengeance.
"Lost, huh…"
Peperoncino sighed in resignation.
He was straightforward about it, decisively taking his leave.
Once he reached a secluded spot,
the one who wandered the Lostbelts, Koyanskaya, quietly appeared.
With a playful grin, she said, "So, need a ride? For a fee, of course."
"Thanks, then. Take me to the Captain's Fifth Lostbelt," Peperoncino replied.
With the Fourth Lostbelt already eradicated, there was no reason to stay.
The Lostbelt was utterly collapsing.
Nameless gently patted the little girl's head. "Asha, there are no more cycles. No more gods."
"Hey, big brother, if this was the wrong cycle, is there a right one?"
Asha's adorable face was full of curiosity.
"Maybe," Nameless answered uncertainly.
"If Daddy wasn't in the wrong cycle, will I see him in the right one?"
Asha blinked, eyes brimming with hope. "I really, really want to see Daddy…"
"Yes, you'll definitely see him. But we have to go now." Mash's eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
She couldn't hold on any longer.
Faced with the innocent little girl, guilt and sorrow devoured her soul.
"Big brother, big sister, you're welcome to visit again!"
Asha waved at them, her sweet smile radiant.
Yet that smile plunged all of Chaldea into silence.
They fled, as if escaping…
Asha returned home.
Her blankets were warm, carrying the comforting scent of sunshine.
The delicious meal her aunt had made left her full and content.
When she opened her eyes, the beautiful earrings she'd received as a birthday gift lay beside her.
"I'm the happiest girl in the world."
Curled up in bed, Asha murmured, "There are no gods left… who can I pray to now?"
"Maybe in the right cycle, I'll see them again."
"Daddy…"
Tears slipped from the little girl's eyes as she cried herself to sleep.
She dreamed.
A dream of her family reunited, happy and whole.
And then—
The world crumbled into ruin.
Everything ceased to exist.
The audience was instantly shattered—
[Damn it! I knew this would happen! The little girl was just here to stab us in the heart!]
[You monsters! Little girls are meant to be cherished, not used as emotional knives!]
[If the knife's sharp enough, it won't hurt! It didn't hurt me at all—I'm not crying, waaah!]
[Sigh… Nameless plays the villain yet again. Three more Lostbelts await him…]
[Destroying world after world with his own hands… Just how much weight is he carrying? It hurts just watching.]
Outside the video.
Rin Tohsaka wiped her teary eyes. "Honestly, these Lostbelts are just pain belts!"
How cruel—every moment was a stab to the heart.
The first Lostbelt: The werewolf boy who lived for your hopeful world, yet abandoned his own.
The second Lostbelt: Gerda, who leaped up but never landed.
The third Lostbelt: Reciting poetry together under the moonlight, watching the world crumble.
And now, the fourth Lostbelt: Falling asleep with tears, only to vanish completely in dreams.
How many tragedies must each Lostbelt deliver? Truly a belt of sorrows!
"Sister, it's so good that we can be together again," Matou Sakura said, wrapping her arms around the other.
At the end of the Lostbelt...
Little Asha had already parted with her parents forever.
Alone, she walked toward destruction in her dreams.
And yet, she and Tohsaka Rin had also been separated for a long time in their childhood.
But now, the two could live together once more.
Rin Tohsaka wiped her tears and nodded. "Yes, we owe this life of ours to that guy."
If not for Nameless, who silently walked the timelines and fought like mad to protect Pan-Human History...
They would never have been able to live this peaceful, happy life.
If things had gone differently, there might not even have been her or her sister left.
"Yeah, so we should thank our senior," Sakura Matou murmured, resting her chin on her sister's shoulder.
The elder sister she had followed since childhood had fallen for the same person as her.
Truly, they were sisters through and through.
She didn't mind sharing him, honestly.
The problem was...
The competition was just too overwhelming.
Who even knew how many people adored their senior?
Including more than one Beast of Humanity!
What a calamitous, crown-ranked beauty he was!
Rin turned her gaze to the screen. "The next Lostbelt is here."
Without any delay.
After the conclusion of the fourth Lostbelt...
The fifth Lostbelt began, its name—
"The Ocean of the Age of Gods: Atlantis · The Day the Gods Were Shot Down"