You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

She placed the submachine gun on her shoulder like a violin, and the military knife became the bow; after they touched, she gently pulled—

"Zheng!"

The spiral energy shield expanded rapidly from her center, easily disintegrating the marble floor and glass windows the moment it came into contact with them, creating a smooth cross-section as if laser-cut.

This powerful energy surge enveloped the Sorrow King without any hindrance, and in an instant, the blue-robed hooded boy's body disintegrated into countless rose petals and disappeared into the void.

"【The Third Movement of the Symphony of All Things: The Manifestation】"

Only after everything was completed did the military princess's voice finally ring out.

"This is one of my true abilities: to transform matter into flower petals and let them fall helplessly, even if they are imaginary objects."

The power of all things can not only reverse cause and effect and construct the illusory into reality, but it can also affect the 'setting' itself, which is one manifestation of this.

It's a pity, you can't beat me no matter what... not even with this little trick.

She turned around, and the figure of the Sorrowful King appeared by the window—the one who had just been killed was a familiar in his hands that could take his life.

"..."

The sorrowful king remained silent.

The princess in military uniform frowned slightly, as if she felt something was amiss.

"What's going on? That bland reaction..."

"Do you think I was unprepared? That man made deals with more than just you."

"What are you talking about... huh?"

Altair suddenly looked up, his face showing disbelief.

"How is this possible? Such a massive [Acknowledgment power] actually... no, was it already written into a targeted spell beforehand?!"

As she shouted, the spatial fluctuations became more and more obvious, with ripples spreading out in layers. The entire space began to distort and change, and a strange light source, the "core" inside the Golden Star Cup, which resembled a star, gradually brightened.

"Altair, this space is now filled with so-called 'Recognition Force.' In such a chaotic and disordered state, your abilities will be difficult to use, right? What follows is a real battle."

The light from the Golden Star Cup cast a long, eerie shadow of the King of Sorrow on the ground, which then split into countless frenzied demonic claws.

"That man said that anyone could be his final enemy... but if I want to avenge myself, I must possess the power of the Star Cup."

I don't want to fall out with you, but could you give me the Star Cup?

"ridiculous!"

Altair's eyes widened: "That man actually tried to pull this on me... No need for negotiation, just die, Sorrowful King!"

If you think that this level of turbulence can suppress my abilities, you're being incredibly naive!

……

After a fierce battle, the Sorrowful King, who could command numerous familiars, was ultimately defeated by Altair.

Iori wasn't lying to him; Altair was indeed currently restricted. However, even so, she remained invincible to the [characters]. This was a fundamental difference between them. Unless one possessed Iori's ability to sever causality, they would ultimately be no match for Altair's [All Things in the Universe].

"Ugh... What a shameful defeat... They broke their promise and abandoned their dignity... In the end, they still couldn't do anything?"

This is truly... tragic.

The boy in blue knelt down and gradually turned into a pile of small crystals that dissipated into the void.

“But Altair… have you noticed? That man has been interested in you for a long time…”

The Sorrowful King has vanished, and Altair sighed softly.

She knew perfectly well that she was also being manipulated by Iori, but she had no choice but to go along with Iori's wishes.

“I know what you mean, King of Sorrow… Indeed, it’s too late now.”

Altair looked up at the radiant golden star cup, as if gazing at the sun, and its brilliant light enveloped the entire city, penetrating all objects and obscuring even shadows, leaving all the characters utterly astonished.

"Star Cup... Did my ability trigger a pre-set spell?"

That guy had already planned it all out; he originally intended to use my battle with the King of Sorrow to liberate the final stage...

"Meteora, when did you arrive?"

call!

A six-pointed star magic circle appeared, and Meteora teleported over. She calmly looked at the Military Princess, then looked with a sigh at the Star Cup, which had completely changed.

"Originally, the system would indeed display the Star Cup after the winner was determined and then reward the winning faction. However, Iori planted a wedge in this system."

When certain conditions are met, the relationship between appearance and reality will be reversed, and that condition is the ability to break through the boundaries between fiction and reality, and even reverse cause and effect!

As you use [All Things in the World] to destroy the King of Sorrow, the immense [Power of Recognition] begins to operate according to a certain trajectory, as if it has found an outlet... At this moment, you have already taken on the role of initiating the final battle in this 'story'.

Using your ability to freely switch between 'illusion' and 'reality,' and backed by the [Power of Recognition], which is almost like cheating, you've materialized the virtual world that was originally hidden within the Star Grail.

As soon as he finished speaking, the halo of light shining at the star cup suddenly began to expand.

The expanding sun devoured Altair with unstoppable force!

At the same time, a bright halo appeared around Iori, Alice, Ernesti, Mamika, and all the other participants in the battle.

That was an irresistible force:

Reality and fantasy can be overturned in an instant!

……

"..."

Iori calmly opened her eyes and cautiously and carefully surveyed her surroundings.

This is a dreamlike place without a horizon, with no undulations or boundaries on the ground, and an endless sea of ​​white flowers. The nameless flowers are lovely, and the blue sky above is filled with starlight and a crescent moon, as if a goddess is casting a cool veil, calmly watching over everything.

A gentle breeze, seemingly from nowhere, ruffled his hair, slowly cooling the blood that had been boiling from the battle.

Between heaven and earth, the only reference point is the stained glass mural suspended in mid-air, layer upon layer seemingly rotating, yet changing into endless combinations like a kaleidoscope.

Iori calls it "fantasy".

The man's lips curled up slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. He turned around, looked at the group of people who had been teleported over, and spread his arms wide.

"Gentlemen, welcome to the interior of the Golden Star Cup—"

"The moon defies the heavens!"

At that very moment, fans around the world watching this collaborative event had their screens completely transformed into incredibly realistic images of this sea of ​​flowers.

Interestingly, this newly created world did not have any surveillance equipment installed beforehand.

This is because, under the influence of the "power of recognition," everyone believes that they "will see the scene inside," thus affecting all the screens!

—Fantasy has begun to completely erode this world, right there in humanity's beautiful dreams!

"..."

"Well!"

"here it is……"

"Aizen Iori?"

“Are you a magician?”

"Gentlemen, do not be surprised, this is exactly what you have been dreaming of."

Thanks to the power of recognition, a small world existing out of thin air in the cracks of time and space could be created... Outer and inner, surface and essence, illusion and reality, were so easily overturned.

With a smile, Iori addressed the shocked and bewildered crowd, saying, "This is the true 'final stage' of this story; you can call it [Heaven's Reversed Moon]."

This is the place where miracles happen!

Iori left behind her two former rivals, Mami and the beastman Bashu, and strolled leisurely through the sea of ​​flowers.

"You mean making a wish... but where is the Star Cup?"

The wounded female knight asked urgently, her tone rather unfriendly.

"Don't be impatient."

As he walked, he smiled faintly and said, "Contrary to what you think, the Golden Star Cup is not an actual object that you can touch, but rather this space itself. As for the one hanging in the sky, it is just an external manifestation."

"Hmm, what are you talking about? Isn't the Golden Star Cup a magical crystal that can grant any wish? This battle is precisely about the two factions vying for the right to make a wish."

Alice Tria pursed her lips, her expression turning dangerous.

A white light flashed across Blitz's glasses: "Could it be... that you deceived me and everyone else?"

Upon hearing this, almost everyone's expression changed, except for Meteora.

Leaving aside the faction of the Military Princesses, even Ceresia and the others were unaware of it beforehand!

No, I wasn't lying.

Iori chuckled softly and explained calmly.

"In fact, this is the only way forward."

"Ok?"

Everyone was puzzled.

Iori pondered for a moment, then continued, "Originally, something like an omnipotent wish-granting machine would never have existed. After all, a concept like 'granting all wishes' could never be recognized by the laws of the world."

The cycle of matter, the conservation of energy... these are the laws of 'reality'. The existence of people like us actually violates these laws of reality and shakes the foundation of this world.

The concept of the Golden Star Cup is even more outrageous. The ability to 'grant wishes' encompasses almost all causes and effects and fantasies, a concept that the real world simply cannot bear.

However, if we think about it another way, if it's impossible in 'this' world, then is it possible in 'other' worlds?

In another world, there can be unscientific magic, people who can come back to life, short skirts that defy gravity, and protagonists with unreasonable halo effects—yes, because it's another world, anything is possible.

So, why not simply turn the [Golden Star Cup] into a 'world that allows people to fulfill their wishes'? Wouldn't that allow it to be separated from reality?

In this way, even if a wish-granting machine is created, it will only be a 'wishing machine in a legendary place,' not a 'wishing machine in reality'—and its impact on the world will be minimized.

"This……"

"That sounds reasonable."

"Although I don't understand, you seem very smart."

"Unexpected..."

"I'm surprised that you care so much about humanity and the world itself, Aizen Iori."

The military princess was the only one who was even more dissatisfied: "I don't care what you've done, I just want the Star Grail!"

Now, hand over to me the vessel that controls all [Recognition Power]!

"It's not that simple. We've only set up the stage; there's still one last step to go."

'Everyone discovered a way to achieve their wishes without fighting and made up happily'—do you think anyone would accept this ending?

Ultimately, only the victor's wishes can be fulfilled here. The story's development is acceptable to the public, which is why it gains "recognition."

If it ends with a happy ending without even a climax, it will definitely be considered a 'bad work,' and all the pent-up positive reception will vanish without a trace, right?

Iori said calmly, "This is a brutal war of mutual slaughter for the all-powerful wish-granting machine—I made that clear from the beginning."

Ultimately, only one camp will likely achieve its goal; a win-win situation will not be accepted.

"Hmm, so it seems we still have to rely on our weapons to decide the outcome?"

Alice gripped her lance tightly. "I won't give up. Now, a chance to change everything is right in front of me!"

"Not just Her Highness Alice, but all of you as well."

Iori looked around, her gaze sweeping over each character.

"If there are any regrets that cannot be made up for, then you can seize this Holy Grail."

Blitz's gaze sharpened: "Unfortunately..."

Mami's eyes flickered, the Demon King remained silent, and Ceresia and Mink's mechs entered standby mode, clearly hesitant as well.

Does Iori mean that from now on, even people in the same camp will have to compete with each other?

After all, no one can guarantee that the [Golden Star Cup] can be used an unlimited number of times.

Admittedly, Ceresia and the others don't really care about "making a wish," because they don't want the real world to be destroyed, even more than their own happiness.

However, Iori has now created a wishing place with "no side effects"... Shouldn't they compete with her?