Chapter 1263

Su Han's brows instantly knotted tightly, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes—his Observation Haki had sensed something unusual.

In the void at this moment, two vast and overwhelming forces were colliding.

The second force that descended was different from the first.

But equally powerful and terrifying.

After a brief stalemate.

The first force yielded under the overwhelming pressure of the second.

Servant Kiritsugu seemed to realize something, his body freezing as cold sweat poured down his forehead; he muttered, "Even you've withdrawn? What enemy have you thrown me against this time… If even you're retreating, are you just sending me to die?"

Though muttering curses, Servant Kiritsugu rose to his feet, his face tense and disbelieving; he summoned Kanshou and Bakuya again, gripping them tightly as he stared toward Su Han.

Su Han gazed expressionlessly at the empty air before him.

Before him, the second vast force suddenly coalesced into a massive, blazing sphere of light.

From within the sphere, a terrifying will surged forth.

Uttering a single phrase, utterly devoid of emotion.

"……I am Gaia."

Su Han was not surprised, but Servant Kiritsugu, standing beside him, looked utterly bewildered.

He nearly doubted his ears—Gaia? The Earth's will? Gaia? What kind of joke is this? Servant Kiritsugu wanted to protest, but then he remembered how his former boss, Alaya, had retreated—and he found himself speechless.

Even if Servant Kiritsugu refused to believe it, this was very likely the truth.

Tachibana Hime: ""

Fallen Angel Twelve-Winged Black Cat Clan: ""

Fourth Hokage: "……Who is Gaia? Is she some kind of deity?"

I am the Hou Jue: "If I recall correctly! That name should be the Earth Mother from Greek mythology—looks like a formidable entity has appeared."

Wei Bo: "……No! Old Hou Jue, the Gaia of our world is not merely the Greek Earth Mother… More accurately, She is the will of the Earth itself."

Kill Teacher: "!!!"

Bai Hu Zi: "The will of a planet? Such a peculiar thing can still exist?"

Yagami Taichi: "……All I care about right now is the President—how do we handle this terrifying presence?"

Ainz Ooal Gown: "Relax, little Taichi! That's the President—our President, who can destroy entire planets."

"A mere planetary will is nothing!"

Accelerator: "Sounds reasonable."

Monster Sage: "But it only sounds reasonable! You can't be certain whether the one before us is the will of this planet—or the combined will of an infinite number of Type-Moon parallel worlds!"

Monster Sage: "If it's the combined will of infinite parallel worlds… then the trouble is immense."

Aizen Sousuke: "Yes, if that's the case, the trouble is immense.

Even the President would find this situation extremely troublesome."

Ba Yunzi and Aizen now fell silent, their eyes locked tightly on the live-screen image of Gaia.

Calculating something in their minds—the more they calculated, the tighter their brows furrowed.

Not just Ba Yunzi and Aizen—many other highly intelligent members of the Yiyangong Society also joined the contemplation.

"More importantly! If it's the will of Earth across infinite parallel worlds… then even if the President could destroy it, he could not destroy it."

Kudo Shinichi: "Yes—who knows if destroying Gaia might affect Illya or Wei Bo?"

Ze Tian Gang Ji: "……Now that you mention it, isn't this incredibly terrible?"

Fallen Angel Twelve-Winged Black Cat Clan: "Don't worry too much! Trust the Demon Lord—he'll surely find a solution!"

Su Han glanced at the guild chatroom's content, his expression utterly calm, unruffled; he raised his head to face Gaia before him.

His voice was calm, tinged with curiosity.

"Why have you appeared?"

"If I recall correctly, you only intervene to stop crises capable of destroying the world… does saving Joan of Arc really trigger a world-ending crisis?"

Su Han's gaze sharpened; he too felt doubt.

You only prevent crises capable of destroying the world... would saving a Joan of Arc trigger a world-level crisis?

Alaya protects human civilization.

So when he saved Joan of Arc, Alaya sent its top enforcer, Servant Kiritsugu—Su Han felt no surprise.

But why, out of nowhere, are you showing up?

"This is not our first meeting! The last time you descended into this world, both I and the other one had already turned our attention toward you, observing you."

But why are you, Gaia, sticking your nose in? This is not our first meeting! Long ago, when you first descended upon this world, we and another had already turned our gaze upon you, observing you.

The last time… must have been the Holy Grail War. Su Han exhaled, then asked, "So, what is your purpose? Speak plainly."

"I have descended to meet you—not to oppose you.

Your actions today, disrupting human civilization, I and the other one shall pretend not to have seen."

"But I ask you to remember this day! When, in the future, I and the other one require your aid, I hope you will lend your strength."

Su Han's expression froze—he had just guessed something.

Only one thing could make Gaia despair so completely, and place its hope on an outsider from beyond the universe… it must be the Steel Earth.

"……You have so much faith in me?"

"Your power, compared to your last appearance in this world, has increased immeasurably.

At this rate of growth, you will surely resolve that catastrophe."

Gaia seemed more confident than Su Han himself—or rather, He had no choice but to be so confident.

Gaia appeared even more confident than Su Han himself, or rather, She had to make herself that confident.

Su Han is now the only hope for Him to escape the Steel Earth.

Because the Steel Earth is a fate destined to be, only someone originating from beyond this world has any chance of breaking this tragic destiny.

"...... Alright!"

After a moment of silence, Su Han nodded.

He wasn't bowing to Gaia per se; the main reason was that the Guild's very duty was to save the world.

Even if Gaia hadn't mentioned it, should the Steel Earth truly occur in the future, he would have had to step up anyway—so it was better to accept it verbally and still earn Gaia a favor.

Gaia hung suspended in midair, radiant with light, as if engaged in communication.

Soon, the Spirit Servant Kiritsugu's expression froze—he received a message from his boss, Zi Lai Ye, and his lips twitched, showing signs of distress.

"...... Alright! You're the boss, you decide."

The Spirit Servant Kiritsugu stood up, gazing deeply at Su Han, a flicker of sorrow passing through his eyes.

What sin had he committed, to watch helplessly as others disrupted the course of civilization?

To watch helplessly as the criminal who disrupted civilization, a peer of his boss, completed a transfer... and then... the criminal walked free.

And he, the enforcer, must clean up the mess Su Han left behind, to restore human civilization's history to its proper trajectory... regardless of...

From any angle he considered it, the Spirit Servant Kiritsugu felt he was utterly miserable.

Shaking his head, the Spirit Servant Kiritsugu's gaze hardened once more, and he swiftly raced toward the distant pyre.

Although Su Han had used illusionary hypnosis, he left behind many lingering issues.

These issues all require him to work overtime to resolve.