"————"
In the primitive cave filled with gold and silver treasures, the atmosphere in the air began to grow heavy.
Rozen and Altera stood on the floor covered with gold and silver, looking up at the giant girl lying on the temple-like stone bed in front of them.
One maintained the posture of lying there, looking down at the human in front of them from a higher position. Their gazes converged, but both fell into silence.
Whether it was out of guilt for not being able to help Rozen or not, Altera looked sorrowful, but she did not compromise.
Obviously, Altera's understanding of her own existence and purpose was deeply ingrained. If she considered herself a destroyer of civilization and believed that her hands could only bring destruction, changing such a deeply rooted mindset would not be easy.
While Rozen was eager to defeat Solomon, seeing Altera's expression, he knew that saying more would be futile. Even though Altera was easy to talk to, showing no hostility in her every move, and expressing maximum goodwill from the beginning, she still had her own will and choices.
Moreover...
"I cannot leave this stone chamber."
Altera explained a situation to Rozen.
"Once upon a time, I invaded and destroyed both the surface and here, to the point that I am now sealed. Before my mission arrives, I cannot leave the stone chamber. So, waking up like this is already quite miraculous."
Originally, she should have continued sleeping until her mission arrived. Now, the sudden awakening was probably related to Rozen's summoning ritual, right?
Even if she could wake up, Altera couldn't easily leave this stone chamber.
Therefore...
"I'm truly sorry."
Altera could only bow her head to Rozen.
Rozen finally chuckled.
"If you say it like this, what else can I say?"
It was not only a situational issue but also because of Altera's attitude.
This giant god possessed astonishing power, something Rozen could somewhat perceive with his Mind's Eye.
Despite being an enemy of civilization, an enemy of humanity, under normal circumstances, anyone who saw Rozen intruding here would have annihilated him directly, not conversed with him as an equal.
Moreover, Altera had not once shown pride in her power. Instead, she apologized to Rozen with humility.
In this situation, what complaint could Rozen have?
"Then I'll go back."
Rozen straightforwardly gave up.
"Sorry for bothering you, Altera."
After saying this, Rozen placed one hand on the Miracle, ready to open a passage and return to the Fifth Singularity.
"Ah..."
Watching Rozen like this, Altera couldn't help but let out a small exclamation.
In that exclamation, there was a mixture of reluctance and unease.
That was perfectly normal.
How many years had it been?
For how many years, had no one spoken to her as an equal?
In the past, every living being that appeared in front of her was afraid, feared her, opposed her, hated her, and only gave her curses, anger, and roars. No one had conversed with her as equals, unlike this small human who appeared now.
Once, when Altera was active on Earth, there was a brief and wonderful experience like that.
However, it was just a vague and elusive dream, not something Altera personally experienced.
Only Rozen, who came before her original form like this and conversed with her as an equal, was the one who treated her as a normal person.
If it were someone else, even if they didn't know her origin, just seeing her figure would invoke fear. Standing in front of her, they would be constantly afraid, and not running away would already be a good thing.
So, when Rozen decided to awaken Altera and prepared to talk to her, it was the first and largest impact on Altera's heart.
Now, the only human who treated her with equality and conversed with her as an equal was about to leave.
Moreover, with this departure, he would never return.
Understanding this, almost involuntarily, Altera called out to Rozen.
"Wait a moment."
Altera spoke up.
"Although I cannot leave the stone chamber and cannot help you deal with that Mage King, if you only need power, I might be able to give it to you."
This statement made Rozen suddenly lift his head and look at Altera.
"Give me power?"
Rozen was surprised and expectant.
"Yes." Altera, as if realizing just now what she had said, bit her lip slightly, but in the end, she couldn't suppress the thoughts in her heart and continued, "Just now, I mentioned that I once operated on Earth, so there are records of me from that time on the Throne of Heroes."
Hearing this, Rozen probably knew what Altera was going to say.
And indeed.
"Although you cannot summon me, you can form a contract with me as a Heroic Spirit."
Altera said so.
This proposal was not much different from what Rozen had in mind. However...
"As a Heroic Spirit, you can't possibly be a match for Solomon, right?"
Rozen pointed out this issue.
Yes.
As a Heroic Spirit, Altera could not possibly be a match for Solomon. Even if the giant god Altera was powerful, as a Heroic Spirit, she would only be an ordinary-grade Servant at best, she would only be at the level of Scathach and Karna, at most strategic class, and impossible to go against the level of Grand Servants.
Having an additional top-tier Servant wouldn't be of much help to the overall battle situation.
Altera seemed to be aware of this fact.
So...
"What you're forming a contract with is not a record on the Throne of Heroes, but an incarnation created by me personally."
Altera spoke with determination.
"In the past, I operated on Earth in this way. This time, I will create a new incarnation with the specifications of a Heroic Spirit in the same manner."
The incarnation would be identical to Altera herself, lacking only her tremendous power.
Even so, as a Heroic Spirit, Altera's incarnation could still wield some of the power of the giant god Altera.
"It's a power that can destroy everything, it's very dangerous."
Altera looked at Rozen with an unprecedented seriousness and asked, "Even so, do you think it's okay?"
Is it okay?
How could it be okay?
If Altera was truly an enemy of civilization, an enemy of the world, bringing her incarnation to the surface might unleash a more terrifying enemy than King Solomon and could potentially cause a disaster more dreadful than the incineration of humanity.
If it turned out that way, Rozen would be the greatest sinner.
Is that what Altera meant?
However...
"Of course, it's okay."
Rozen answered without hesitation.
Because...
"Anyone who forms a contract with me and becomes my familiar is my possession."
Rozen spoke firmly.
"I will never let my possession run wild."
This was the determination of a summoner and, more than that, confidence.
Altera seemed to be shaken and touched by this, looking at Rozen, her expression involuntarily relaxed.
"Well then, I'll give you the power."
Altera stared directly at Rozen and spoke word by word.
"Our connection hasn't been severed yet. Right now, I can create an incarnation according to Heroic Spirit specifications. Let her take my place and form a contract with you, becoming your Servant."
"Take her with you, back to the surface, back to your world."
"As for how you use this power, I will always be watching."
"Like a dream, watching you during the period of slumber."
With that said...
"Zing—!"
Dazzling radiance emanated from Altera.
"—!"
Rozen raised his hand to shield his face, but felt himself being engulfed by an irresistible force. His consciousness, as if dispelled, followed the passage and returned to his body.
During this period, Rozen felt something.
He felt a new "weight" added to his soul.
Then...
"Let's go, Master."
A cold, mechanical voice sounded in Rozen's ear.
"To battle."
With this declaration, Rozen's first Servant under an absolute contract left with him.
Altera watched this scene unfold before her eyes.
Her body was visibly shrinking at an observable speed.
When it reduced to half of its original size, Altera stopped the reduction.
Throughout this process, Altera never once diverted her gaze and watched Rozen's departure.
In the primitive cave filled with gold and silver treasures, everything returned to silence.
"Back to being alone..."
Sitting on the temple-like stone bed, Altera murmured, her voice revealing an uncontrollable loneliness and solitude.
However, the current situation was different from before.
If it were the current Altera...
"I can dream again..."
With such thoughts, Altera lay back on the stone bed, feeling a mixture of anticipation, anxiety, sadness, and nostalgia. She slowly closed her ruby-like eyes and drifted into slumber.
As for Altera's consciousness, like Rozen before, it detached from her body, flying towards another world.
Heading towards the world where her Master, who had formed an eternal contract with her, resided. Joining a new battle, embarking on a new journey, and starting a new life.