Arknights' Lock of Heaven

-

“Senior,” Mashu climbed up the big tree and saw Fujimaru Ritsuka holding a bowl of meat soup, eating it with relish.

I don't know how many times they've come, but we've become so familiar with each other.

“Ah, Mashu, you’re here,” she glanced at Mashu, then turned to Xia Yu. “I told you, Da Vinci’s kiss is the best in the world! To be able to improve such magic is truly amazing!”

“While it’s true,” a light screen flashed on Mashu’s face, showing Da Vinci’s helpless expression, “it’s just a little trick for keeping things fresh. As for being great… any competent magician could figure that out.”

"Haha, food is the most important thing for people! In the days before refrigerators, this was great!" Fujimaru Ritsuka said seriously, "Da Vinci, I won't allow you to belittle yourself like this."

“Never mind,” Leonardo da Vinci shook his head, looking at her like this.

“By the way, Kingo,” Fujimaru Ritsuka said, putting her arm around Natsumi’s shoulder, “you know, if I’m eating and drinking like this while you’re here… won’t the three goddesses be angry?”

“Heh,” Xia Yu glanced at her, holding a special Da Vinci magic textbook in her hand.

angry?

Gorgon was busy breeding the second generation of magical beasts and stayed in the temple. How could she know what was happening outside?

I am her eyes and ears; as long as I don't say anything, she won't know anything.

Needless to say, neither the feathered serpent god from the forest nor Ereshkigal from the underground truly wanted to destroy humanity.

Including myself, this Seventh Singularity is full of traitors. Two of the three goddesses have ulterior motives, while only Gorgon is foolishly hardworking and dutiful.

Xia Yu couldn't bear to watch any longer.

Tiamat, who is still asleep in the Persian Gulf, is even more so; she is fast asleep and will not wake up as long as Gorgon is alive.

So, who can take care of themselves?

There's nobody here!

If the other two pillars of the Three Goddesses knew their stance, they would probably celebrate wildly.

"Senpai!" Upon seeing this, Mashu bristled and rushed to the two of them, pulling away Fujimaru Ritsuka's hand.

"You're a girl, at least have some self-respect, senior!"

"Reserved?" Upon hearing this, Fujimaru Ritsuka touched her face in confusion, then looked at Xia Yu's face.

"No, Mashu, are you worried that I'll be taken advantage of?"

"But look at this, who's really taking advantage of whom?" she said smugly. "It's me..."

boom!

That was the sound of Xia Yu's iron fist landing on her head.

The reason is that she actually tried to lift her own chin while talking!

Can we tolerate this? We absolutely cannot!

"Drag her out!" Xia Yu looked at Mashu coldly. "From today onwards, you don't need to come here."

"The second generation of magical beasts is almost ready. The end of Babylon has come. Go back and prepare to face destruction!"

338

"senior……"

Mashu followed behind Fujimaru Ritsuka with a worried expression. "The second-generation magical beast... its current offensive has already put Uruk on such a tense state. What will happen when the second-generation magical beast appears..."

"Don't worry, Mashu," Fujimaru Ritsuka waved her hand dismissively, "It's alright, everything is under control!"

“But even if Uruk can handle the monsters, there are still two other goddesses…” Mash hesitated.

"Do you think I come to him every day just to court death?" Fujimaru Ritsuka chuckled. "The so-called Three Goddess Alliance, heh heh."

"Senior?" The naive Mash didn't understand.

“Indeed,” a weary voice rang out just then, “it seems that these three goddesses are not a united front after all.”

“Doctor,” Mashu turned to look at the gentle man in the light screen, “why do you say that?”

“Just look at his reaction,” Da Vinci squeezed into the screen, holding a cup of hot coffee. “This person, this supposedly Kingu being, seems to have never taken the so-called Three Goddesses to heart.”

"You can tell from the fact that he can even get along peacefully with you that he has his own agenda."

"If the so-called three goddesses were truly united, he wouldn't have reacted this way."

“Otherwise, they would have captured us and fed us to the monsters long ago,” Fujimaru Ritsuka said with a smile. “How could I possibly still get a meal from him?”

"I must say, Da Vinci, your knowledge of magic has been invaluable!"

“Actually, I’m also very curious,” Leonardo da Vinci nodded, then said with great interest, “If he really does what he says, that he wants to destroy humanity and re-incubate civilization, then why would he need these magic tricks?”

“So his purpose was definitely not that simple,” Fujimaru Ritsuka continued, “It’s just a pity that we couldn’t get any more useful information out of him.”

"Since he has clearly refused, let's try to contact the other two goddess pillars."

"The result might be a pleasant surprise."

-

"What's next?" Kal'tsit tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "I'm curious."

“Next,” Xia Yu said, her eyes filled with nostalgia, “there’s not much to say about that.”

"Everything proceeded in an orderly manner. They first bribed Ishtar with the jewels from the Gate of Babylon, then took the opportunity to make contact with Ereshkigal, and reached an agreement with Quetzalcoatl in the forest."

"When we met again, they were well-equipped and powerful, while on my side, well, it was just me and Gorgon."

"And what about you?" Kal'tsit asked intently, "What have you been doing all this time?"

“Me? I didn’t do anything,” Xia Yu shrugged. “I was just reading and studying.”

"Until that day..."

-

"Jingu! I'm back!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka jumped down from the pterosaur with a triumphant air and stood under Xia Yu's treehouse. To her left was Ishtar, to her right was Quetzalcoatl, in front of her was Mash's shield, and behind her was a helpless Merlin.

"Look at my lineup! I'm asking you, are you surrendering or not!"

"..."

Seeing this, Xia Yu sighed.

"You finally came."

Then she cast a death stare at Merlin behind her.

Merlin awkwardly turned his head away.

“Yes,” Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded with a smile, “I’ve brought my army to subdue you.”

“First of all, Quetzalcoatl is one of the Three Goddesses,” Xia Yu said, raising a finger. “Since you’re here, it means the Three Goddesses Alliance is already dead in name only.”

“Of course,” Quetzalcoatl narrowed his eyes, “Kingu, I’ve always felt that you are different from Gorgon.”

"Her purpose is simple and clear, but what... what are you hiding in your heart?"

"Big sister is very curious."

"Who knows?" Xia Yu replied ambiguously.

“Give up, Kingu,” Fujimaru Ritsuka gave him a deep look. “We have two goddesses on our side. Even if the Chains of Heaven possess divinity, you can’t win.”

"Moreover, Quetzalcoatl is a god-level being."

“She is indeed a main god,” Xia Yu shook her head, “but she manifested in the world as a spirit origin, and this is not South America, so it’s already quite good that she can unleash the combat power of an exceptional-level heroic spirit.”

“And Ishtar,” Xia Yu turned to look at the goddess who had messed up, “do you think I’d be afraid of her?”

“Besides, you didn’t bring that little girl with you,” he said, looking at Fujimaru Ritsuka, “that little girl named Anna.”

"You've gotten too cocky, Fujimaru Ritsuka."

"What do you mean?" A bad feeling welled up in Fujimaru Ritsuka's heart.

“It means,” Xia Yu smiled slightly, “that they’ve taken the bait, and you can come out now.”

In the blink of an eye, everything changed.

Dazzling scales are embedded on the snake's body, and its layered body stretches out, blocking out the sky and the sun.

Gorgon lifted the earth's surface and appeared before everyone.

“See? I told you they’d come to us,” Xia Yu smiled at her. “Ishtar is nothing to worry about. Leave her to me.”

"Because of the covenant, Quetzalcoatl is unable to attack you. The Master and Demi-Servants of Chaldea are already in your grasp."

"Just as I promised you, victory is within reach."

“Well done, Jingu,” Gorgon smiled with satisfaction. “You have not disappointed me.”

"Tremble, kneel, you insects!"

"Ah, things went awry," Fujimaru Ritsuka said with mixed feelings. "We were too careless..."

"I thought it was a sure thing."