Chapter 1520

"Indeed, you can't fool me..." Black Swan's face showed a helpless smile.

"A genius's mirror trick, and a 'Knowledge' protection mechanism, right? These layers of safeguards indeed make it hard to act."

Black Swan interrupted: "Too bad, those two unnamed guests are already outside. Your plan... will face some small surprises. Until we meet again, Miss Night Moon."

"..."

"Time returns to the present."

"So, companions, still unwilling to join me? To save the beautiful Galaxy, even without leaving a scar."

Starry shook her head without looking back: "Wengfaluo Si should not be abandoned."

"Don't let sentimentality sway you, dear Star. This world's hero's journey is merely a narrative beautified by 'Memory.' Its essence? Ultimately just a string of cold numbers." Night Moon lightly twirled a strand of pink hair by her cheek.

"For you, and for 'San Yue Qi Yue Yue Yue Yue Yue'—in my view, this choice is quite reasonable. Come, the 'Fushi' Fire Seed is in my hand. Just sleep peacefully, and the Galaxy will be saved."

A Fire Seed floated silently in Night Moon's palm.

"If you truly believe we might agree..." Dan Heng said bluntly, "then you don't understand San Yue Qi Yue Yue Yue Yue Yue at all."

"..."

Night Moon's smile vanished instantly.

"Dealing with people like you, I truly can't... but, to let you still embrace tomorrow, continue this carefree journey..."

"Some 'Memories'—must be burned as a price, ♭"

Night Moon raised the black umbrella; golden rain poured down. The umbrella's shadow left her face half-lit, half-dark— the bright half seeming to smile, the dark half empty.

"What can change a person's essence?"

"Is it 'Memory'?"

She slowly turned, red jellyfish emerging silently from the void, drifting around her. Next second, black Memory Tide surged from behind her, sweeping toward the two!

"How unfortunate... the result is exactly the opposite."

The Memory Tide harmed neither, but next second... a Golden Blood Memory Spirit burst from the tide, crawling along the ground, winding straight to block Night Moon.

—

Assassin Wu Liuqi.

"I noticed since Dan Heng changed form, his verbal attacks seem stronger."

"Ah Qi, not 'seems,' it's just like that." Ji Da Bao corrected Wu Liuqi while lighting a cigar, "but if they two truly nod to Night Moon's proposal, that's real doom."

"Why? If they agree, the Huazuo could be saved?" Wu Liuqi couldn't help asking.

"Bottom line, bottom line!" Ji Da Bao took a deep breath, slowly exhaling a thick smoke ring, "If this time we sacrifice Wengfaluo Si to save Huazuo, then next time? Bottom line either can't be broken, or will be broken countless times. If next time the Train Society faces Jiemie Dajun and needs sacrifice, what then?"

Wu Liuqi swallowed: "But this time is different? Night Moon's proposal might be the only chance..."

"This time different, next time we'll subconsciously find excuses to quit, after all giving up one Wengfaluo Si—this hurdle is easy to clear." Ji Da Bao said lightly, "Alright, Ah Qi, don't overthink, you just need to remember: the Train Society could never make such a choice. And those who could wouldn't be San Yue Qi Yue Yue Yue Yue Yue's companions, nor appear here."

"If the choice were given to the Company, they'd likely abandon without doubt. But this is the Xingzhou Train, they have their own solution."

—

"'If new life is to sprout, its seed must be dead.' Only through discarding, only through 'Oblivion'... can the soul walk toward rebirth in emptiness."

"This Golden Blood Memory Spirit is oddly shaped, a bit troublesome, but now Dan Heng has mastered the 'Da Di' divine authority, it can't harm him at all."

"Soon, Star struck it hard with the ball club, knocking it down, motionless."

"——It's over."

"Return 'San Yue Qi Yue Yue Yue Yue Yue' to us, end this meaningless dispute." Dan Heng held his spear, coldly scanning her.

"How long will you stand by? Unnamed guests always fight themselves." Star stood with hands on hips.

"Don't overthink. I just need a little time to deal with unnecessary trouble..." Night Moon raised her brow, seeing countless red jellyfish floating beside the two, surrounding them.

"The key written by the Geniuses—now invalid, ♭"

"Let's play a game, dear Star? Don't worry, it won't take long. Just a simple choice, A or B." Night Moon slightly turned her head, lips hinting a smile, "I understand, treating Golden Heirs as calculation data is too hard for you. Why not assume they're living people... now, the Galaxy faces an unprecedented catastrophe, your choice decides countless planets' life and death."

"One side is your companions, fighting hard, gaining 1% win rate. But choosing that 1%, no matter the result, will come with great sacrifice."

She paused, voice softening: "The other side, a simple button: 'Oblivion' will burn away their traces, your memories of this journey. But it can halt the brewing disaster, let the universe escape 'Destruction.' For your decision, the sacrificed will know fully, no concealment or deceit..."

"Tell me, how will you choose?"

—

fate/zero.

"The choice is undoubted."

Shirou Emiya stood by the window, gaze withdrawn from the Sky Curtain, looking toward distant Fuyuki City.

"If 'Oblivion' can truly stop the disaster, then 1% means great sacrifice and uncertain results, so no hesitation needed. Sacrifice few, save many, this is the only—"

"Shirou Emiya."

Saber almost without thought interrupted him, angrily: "If you make such a choice, what about Bai E and them? Do you mean abandoning all of Wengfaluo Si?"

"Thought won't change arithmetic." Shirou Emiya turned, meeting the Knight King's angry gaze, "If Star is rational enough and has sound judgment, she could calculate it herself—99% failure and great sacrifice, versus saving Huazuo, called a choice... but actually no choice exists."