[—A voice that pierces my heart, like an unending cheer.]
...
...
"—Hahaha!!"
Under the night sky, as Hassan of the Hundred Faces unleashed their Noble Phantasm, preparing to face Fionn in a desperate bid to eliminate Kayneth, a blue thunderbolt roared with laughter, echoing like rolling thunder.
On his chariot, Iskandar gripped the reins with one hand, the other raising the Sword of the Cyprians—tributed by the Cypriot kings—his face alight with exhilaration as he bellowed, "I am Iskandar, the destined King of Conquerors! Now tell me, what is conquest?!"
Amid the booming thunder, his deafening question reverberated across the night sky, enveloping the battlefield and the entire district.
Despite Tokiomi's prior arrangements to evacuate civilians and set up wards to repel onlookers, the resounding laughter of a king transcending millennia rendered them ineffective.
Under this echoing voice, passersby stopped, drawn to the impassioned cry. They looked up at the blue arc in the sky, their hearts stirred, filled with fervor and inspiration.
Their minds wandered...
The King of Conquerors—what a majestic title.
The king who once swept through Europe now proclaimed his return in this grand manner.
"This fool! Making such a spectacle—what is he trying to do?"
On the ruins, Kayneth frowned, clearly displeased with Iskandar's flamboyance.
This was the Holy Grail War. They were relics of the past, myths, mysteries—entities the modern world couldn't accept or comprehend.
As such, they should adhere to the secrecy of the mysteries, resolving matters discreetly. Such a grand display only invited trouble.
As a Lord of the Clock Tower and head of the El-Melloi faction, Kayneth couldn't tolerate such a breach of secrecy in a magical ritual. Iskandar's outrageous behavior gave him a headache.
After witnessing this red-haired gorilla's antics, even Waver's theft of his relic paled in comparison.
The King of Conquerors was powerful but utterly unsuitable as his Servant. If paired with this brute, they'd likely strangle each other before enemies struck.
"Rider! What are you doing? Shouting like that will drag civilians into this! We're done for—Professor Kayneth must be furious!"
Not just Kayneth below, but Waver, clutching the chariot's rail in the sky, was frantic.
"And who are you even asking? Who here could answer you..."
He couldn't fathom who Iskandar was addressing. Beyond the sky, the earth, the enemies below, and himself, who could respond?
The sky? The earth?
Or... him?
Suddenly, Waver realized something, turning to see Iskandar smiling back at him.
"Hold tight, kid. Feel the vastness!!"
Before he could say more, a gust of wind roared, and sand swirled—
In an instant, the chariot dove from the sky like a thunderbolt, carrying a world's illusion, crashing into the chaotic battlefield below.
"What is this?!"
Hearing the sky's roar and feeling the immense mana approaching, the hundreds of Assassins below sensed danger. They looked up, terror in their eyes, their advance halting.
A powerful sense of threat loomed, making them uneasy.
In a fleeting moment, death beckoned, the evening bell tolling from the valley's depths!!
"Lemonhead, sorry to keep you waiting. Now let this king show these despicable fools what conquest is, what dominance is, what the power of the King of Conquerors is!!"
With a final roar, Iskandar raised his arm, his terrifying mana sealing the battlefield. The next moment, the world changed. The ruins ravaged by Kiritsugu's bombardment vanished, replaced by a world cloaked in yellow sand.
Whirling winds howled around them. Looking up, endless elite soldiers stretched to the horizon, the ruins' shadow gone.
This was a Noble Phantasm, a magecraft—Reality Marble.
A Reality Marble materialized one's inner landscape, a powerful technique achievable only by mages at their peak. Once activated, it transformed the surrounding space into a different world. This inner landscape replaced the world without altering its boundaries, enclosing it in a small container—the world egg, the theoretical name.
Records state that Reality Marbles were originally wielded by spirits and demons, but through centuries, some elite mages made crafting them possible. Yet, globally, few could wield this world-altering magecraft.
This was why Kayneth and Waver were so shocked that this red-haired gorilla, far from a Caster, possessed such a skill.
He didn't seem remotely like a mage of unparalleled mastery! Waver thought Iskandar's Noble Phantasm was his Gordius Wheel, not this mismatched trump card.
But having stayed by his side, Waver noticed a clue.
Unlike mages, Iskandar didn't chant spells to unleash his Reality Marble; he simply raised his arm and shouted. It was less magecraft, more an innate ability.
As for its mechanics, even Iskandar, its master, couldn't explain.
He only knew it recreated his conquests, and that was enough.
Sand swirled, the ancient battlefield reappearing.
The Reality Marble—his inner world—recreated the battlefield of his sweeping conquests.
The Assassins trapped within were deemed enemies, and he would lead his invincible army in a new conquest.
Its name...
"—Ionioi Hetairoi!! Hahaha, let the new conquest begin!!"
Iskandar leapt from the chariot, mounting his warhorse, laughing heartily.
He was a king, a conqueror, a ravager. Only conquest brought him pure joy.
For this, he'd sacrifice life and blood, advancing, conquering—for his essence was...
Conqueror!!
In the sand-swept world, a vast, majestic army stood ready behind Iskandar, their overwhelming presence making the Assassins, dragged from shadows into the blazing sun, bristle with fear.
Not one more, not one less.
Due to Kirei's Command Seal, all of Hassan's clones were ensnared by Iskandar's Noble Phantasm, trapped in this sealed battlefield.
This was Roy's premeditated plan. Though Hassan wasn't strong, their unkillable nature was troublesome. Left unchecked, they could ruin the strategy. Thus, Assassin had to be eliminated today. While Scáthach held Artoria, Iskandar, with his Reality Marble, was the ideal executioner.
Tokiomi was too hasty, allying with Kiritsugu without fully investigating.
He hadn't realized the forces gathered here formed the Holy Grail War's most formidable group.
Forget Assassin and Saber—even if Gilgamesh came unprepared, he'd likely fall.
Two god-slayers, a King of Conquerors at full power via a mana furnace—equivalent to three exceptional Servants.
Plus, Lancelot was en route.
This was a certain-kill setup. Any hesitation meant death.
—Boom!!
"Kill!!!"
War drums and battle cries thundered.
Under Iskandar's command, his endless soldiers charged, cavalry and spear phalanxes shifting, encircling the central Assassins from all sides, unleashing devastation.
No suspense remained. Under Iskandar's terrifying might, within minutes, all but one female Hassan lay impaled on spears, hanging in the sky, utterly powerless.
A warhorse charged through the sand, its blade aimed at the last combatant. Iskandar, astride his steed, swung at the final foe...
Now, only she remained.
Countless soldiers cheered behind, their king's might resounding.
"Farewell, Assassin."
The crimson-clad king arrived, the Sword of the Cyprians slashing down, a cold glint severing the last enemy's head.
Thus, Assassin—Hassan of the Hundred Faces—was the first to exit.
"King!!!"
"King, King!!!"
"King of Conquerors!!!!"
The army's cheers grew fiercer.
Having vanquished his foes, Iskandar turned to his soldiers, generals, comrades, and...
His Master, a radiant smile on his face.
He waved to Waver, galloping to his side.
"Well, kid? This is my way, my conquest, my power!"
Lowering his head, he gazed into Waver's awestruck eyes, asking earnestly, "Do you feel my heart's pursuit?"
"I..."
Seeing Iskandar's figure and this vast world, Waver's heart stirred.
"I saw... I felt the world's limit here... I saw a vaster horizon."
He murmured, a shackle in his heart silently breaking under this grand spectacle.
He felt an unprecedented lightness.
"A vaster horizon? Hahaha, well done, Master. Your wish is no longer about proving yourself or pleasing others!"
Hearing Waver's reply, Iskandar laughed joyously.
"Right, people need ambition, ideals, selfishness! Live for yourself, without regrets! See the broader world... a fine wish."
"Let's strive for our goals together! The Holy Grail War won't be child's play anymore."
"Archer, Saber, Lancer, Berserker, Caster—all will be our foes. Are you ready, my Master?"
Iskandar gazed into Waver's eyes, posing his final question.
"Do you even need to ask?"
Waver didn't answer directly, grasping Iskandar's broad hand, wiping tears from his eyes, and grumbling, "Stupid Rider, don't forget I'm your Master. You follow me! In this Holy Grail War, don't hold me back!"
"Hahaha! Of course, I won't disappoint you!"
The two shared a smile, their fists bumping in the sandy world, their hearts truly aligned.
[—A voice that pierces my heart, like an unending cheer.]
...
...
Tohsaka Residence
Watching the battlefield, Tokiomi's face paled, his prized gem staff falling to the ground with a crisp clatter.
Even the ever-elegant Tokiomi swallowed hard, realizing he'd been played—no, he was played.
Kayneth wasn't a lone Master, nor isolated. His Servant wasn't Scáthach, but Fionn...
And they'd anticipated an ambush, allying with other Masters, waiting for the fish to bite. Tokiomi was that fish.
As Artoria held Scáthach, and victory seemed near, using a Command Seal for a final push, they signaled, summoning two more Servants, encircling them.
In an instant, all his Assassins were wiped out, hope extinguished.
Tokiomi, once elated, sank into deep guilt and worry.
His premonition was right...
The two god-slayers had allied, and the war's tide was beyond his control.
Would he fail again...?
Tokiomi slumped on the sofa, murmuring, his eyes devoid of their usual grace.
"professor..."
Seeing Tokiomi's lost state, Kirei wanted to speak but stopped.
Though he nominally saw Tokiomi as his professor, Tokiomi's self-interest clashed with Kirei's Church upbringing.
One thing gnawed at Kirei.
His heart was always adrift, his life joyless. He vaguely felt something was wrong, confirmed by his wife's death.
Honing his skills, devoutly following doctrine, only to discard it at critical moments...
Even breaking doctrine stirred no ripples in his heart.
This deepened his confusion. What was he thinking when his wife died? What did he seek?
The answer eluded him.
Logically, Tokiomi should guide him, but...
Seeing Tokiomi's despondent state, Kirei knew he wouldn't have the answer.
False, self-deceiving, suppressing one's nature...
Kirei wanted to question, but couldn't grasp it.
If human nature could twist, and even Tokiomi, with his elegance, turned irritable from failure, then...
Suddenly, Kirei's eyes widened, a primal fear mixed with inexplicable excitement...
If his own nature twisted, what would happen? Could it reveal the answer he'd long sought?
...
"...All Assassins are dead."
Not just Tokiomi, Kiritsugu received the grim news first.
"So soon? Did they take out the target? Lancer's Master..."
Maiya wanted to ask more but, seeing Kiritsugu's weary eyes, swallowed her words.
The answer was clear.
Reluctantly, they had to plan the next step.
"Have Saber retreat to preserve strength. If the other two Servants close in, she'll end up like Assassin."
Kiritsugu knew the dire situation.
Though unwilling, seeing no hope, he wouldn't sacrifice needlessly. He used the communicator given to Saber, urging her to retreat.
But Artoria's escape wasn't as simple as Kiritsugu thought.
After Iskandar eliminated Assassin, Roy, showing no mercy, ordered Scáthach to use her Noble Phantasm to finish Artoria.
"Over so soon? I wasn't done..."
Receiving Roy's order, Scáthach shook her head, sighing, then addressed Artoria, "It's time to end this, Saber."
"If you don't use your Noble Phantasm, this will be the final strike."
"What...?"
Before Artoria could question, Scáthach acted.
Her right foot stomped, both crimson spears materializing, red mana coiling around her graceful form, her power surging. She softly intoned,
"Gáe Bolg Alternative."
In an instant, a crimson light, with unmatched momentum, pierced Artoria's vision.
***
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