Her entire body was overcome with mana. The sudden surge of power, although incomparable to her still vast reserves, was tingling her insides knowing who was giving it to her. She'd never had issues with Lulu's mana supplies before, something neither of them understood completely, but those Command Seals… it was something else.
She might even say she got a bit wet from this, not that she'd share such info to her foe.
Her rifles didn't withdraw, instead, she summoned more. Ten thousand more. As Avenger's body released a jet-black aura burning in crimson hellfire, her blade was drawn from thin air. Wicked sharp and burning vermillion against the desert sun, it promised death and suffering to anyone close enough to see it. Not one would be safe to its edge. Not even a god.
"HAAAAAAAAH!" "HEEEEEEH!"
Two Servants empowered by their respective Masters clashed, blades in hand. One drew power from his Reality Marble, summoning more and more soldiers in an attempt to overwhelm his foe's firepower. The other drew her strength from the land outside the false reality, the ley lines of Japan reaching out, providing her with ancient power, namely the magic and myth that held her legend strong in this day and age.
"Oda Nobunaga, I must confess having been had! Just like that naïve girl, history failed to depict you, the bloodthirsty demon of the orient, as a simple maiden!"
Despite the situation, Iskandar found the moment to lighten the situation. But even with her blade screeching against his spatha, she offered a rebuttal to his comment.
"You underestimate this maiden, Iskandar! Not only will your men and Master fall, for attempting to take my and my beloved's birthright to conquest, but I will also take away all you hold dear!"
Although he still held the advantage in numbers, being mounted, and the terrain, the King of Conquerors wasn't able to push her back. No matter how much he tried, her evil smile never wavered. After all, she'd yet to deploy her final card, unlike the king of Macedon who'd already thrown all he had at her.
So then did she enjoy the pause in his expression when she chanted the aria reserved for her and her alone. The Noble Phantasm only her aspect of Vengeance could call upon at a whim.
"Spread the new over the old. That is my Tenka Fubu! Every me from the past, present and future shall gather. Unfold,『The Hajun Reborn・Demon King of the Three Thousand Great Thousand Heavens』!"
The false reality started to burn.
The heat of the sands changed from dry winds to molten hellfire. The sun darkened and vanished as an endless ceiling of red took over. The land itself seemed to quake as the dunes vanished to be replaced by a lone temple with Nobunaga stood at its base.
A Reality Marble being summoned within an already active one tore the latter apart to make space for the new. As her personal hell was not an anti-world Noble Phantasm, it couldn't break Ionian Hetairoi, but it managed to deform the landscape enough to bring shock to Rider's face.
"What is this?!" he exclaimed. However, the only answer he got was geysers of flame that started to burst and douse his armies behind him.
The sudden switch from their home field advantage of open fields to a mysterious yet hazardous wasteland had his loyal soldiers in a panic. Though, it wasn't only the area that had them under ropes.
GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!
"Ngh!" From out of the depths, a bony creature the size of a mountain raised its six arms, bashed two into the earth for support, and swept the remaining four into his horde, earning a second gasp from the demigod Servant. "This is—!"
"MY PERSONAL HELL!"
The woman before him swept her blade to the side. The fire burned the section of the stairs it scraped against as she took slow steps up to the temple. Stopping midway, she turned to face him and brandished the katana that was now seeped with hell's god-killing flame.
"I commend you for pushing me this far, or I would, had I not been in a rush to end our little play." Avenger's devilish smile grew just as fast as Rider's scowl had. "Your end is nigh, King of Barbarians."
"Not until the last of my breath, devil woman! RAAAAGH!"
A slash to her throat was parried deftly. A stab towards his neck singed his hair, but he ignored the sparks that earnestly feasted on the tips of his red locks. All his attention was on his foe, that which summoned this hell on earth. Believing that her immediate demise would put an end to the madness occurring behind him, he whipped the reins of his steed.
"Charge, Bucephalus!"
The horse neighed as he continued to press her up the temple steps. Further, she retreated, and further he gave chase. Through it all, the demoness continued to smile. As if all his attempts at attack were within her calculations.
"Oh my, Iskandar. It seems my little pet's found someone interesting to play with." It was at the top of the stairs that he stopped at her words. Forcing her back with a kick of his horse's legs, he sent a quick glance to his rear. There, in the distance, the skeleton monster seemed to focus its hollow gaze on a section of the army that formed ranks before one person. "Your master has balls, following you this far, Rider!"
"NO!"
Try as his mighty soldiers could, a mere sweep of one of the limbs had them breaking formation. The more foolhardy ones tried clambering up its limbs to hack away at the joints, but they were all turned to cinders as the beast immolated itself. All the while, its reach rapidly closed on Waver Velvet, the Master his army tried so desperately to defend.
"Distractions lead you to mistakes, O, King of Conquerors!" Caught with his attention elsewhere, Iskandar had to grit his teeth when he blocked another sword strike. But unlike those that came from above or the sides, this one that came from below had beheaded his mighty steed. Bucephalus' cleaved neck made way for a slash that nearly gutted him as he levelled with the Demon King. "So much for a Servant of the Steed. Your prized horses and chariots are all butter to my flames!"
Rage threatened to take over as he swung wildly and kicked back at the woman. Gracefully, the redhead took it all in stride while he continued his relentless assault, earning him cuts and gashes here and there but only the minimum cuts to her clothes in return. In the end, he far more resembled a Berserker in his state now than the actual one.
The redhead before him allowed a mocking giggle to escape. "You and that boy are quite close. Always keeping your guard and protecting him that even trying to snipe him was a futile attempt of mine. But the phrase 'divide and conquer' exists for a reason." She paused as if lost in thought before adding. "Although, right now, it's more 'divide and destroy', don't you think so?"
"AVENGER!" Rider screamed as he leapt forward, his sword aimed at the woman before him. However, between the two, she was more agile. Nobunaga had no issues dodging and blocking a majority of the attacks he threw.
"Every moment you fail to kill me, your Master comes ever closer to being burned alive." Nobunaga taunted. "Curse your recklessness for it is what has gotten your Master and friend killed, King of Conquerors!"
"Shut your mouth, devil!" Rider swung his sword but it didn't reach its target. Avenger was practically dancing around him, the mocking smile never leaving her face.
"That boy thinks highly of you. A pity for it is that trust that has killed him!" His spatha and her katana clicked as she blocked another attack. "You whose dream was only that, you who's friends continued to believe until you led them to their deaths, you who promised conquest only to end it with a naïve charge straight to hell! Enjoy my flames for they shall feast on thy flesh as your pointless claim to that title has to your countrymen! History repeats itself, my dear Rider!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAGH!" King Iskandar screamed another battle cry before trying to punch her with his left arm. Avenger was fast enough to raise her leg and wanted to kick the approaching arm. However, Rider's strength forced her to jump back. The doors of the temple opened on their own, allowing her to basically fly through them.
As her hills clicked against the wooden floor, Nobunaga stood among the flames, a mocking smile taunting him as she waited for Iskandar to pursue her.
But he didn't.
Even in his angered state, Rider could still think clearly. The status of King came with the level-headedness to think things through no matter the circumstance. Which was why he continued to stand before the entrance to the temple, the arm that held his spatha trembling.
He could hear the cries of his soldiers and they desperately tried to protect his Master. But the skeleton beast didn't stop for a moment. This couldn't go on. Things were at their worst and he couldn't risk it with a war of attrition.
Without his chariot, he had no means to fly towards his Master and save him. Without his steed, he was helpless on the ground against Avenger, one on one. He was out of options.
He'd lost. Retreat or fight either would end the same.
The only thing he could actually achieve was a gamble that wasn't even in his favour. Die as he might alone, she may spare the boy… But at the same time, she could so easily snuff out his flame. After all, he and Waver were just human. This woman… was not.
'Don't give up, Rider!' As if on cue, responding to his silent wavering, the boy called out to him via their mental link. That once cowardly and weak-willed Master, despite having his life threatened by a monstrosity a million times larger than himself, continued to show valiant support for his Servant. For his friend. 'By my last Command Seal, I order you, Iskandar, King of Conquerors! Fight! Win!'
Iskandar felt the energy flood him. Knowing the boy kept the last one back to keep him materialized after this fight with Avenger, the fact that he was putting all his cards in before it was over meant even Waver Velvet saw the writing on the wall. And yet, even with his life on the line, he still deigned to bet all his cards on the king who faltered just because he thought he'd lose his newest friend.
"Hahah…" he laughed to himself, much to Avenger's curiosity. "For you to have grown so much in just a few weeks, I really am undeserving of a headstrong Master. Sorry, boy. But tyrants don't get the happy ending that we wish for." With regret on his back yet the weight of his friend's expectations on his shoulders, he squeezed his sword's hilt with a daring smile. "But if it's to die a coward's death or die doing all you can, let it be known that I, Iskandar, will not disappoint you who have chosen honour! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAALALALALALALALAAAAA!"
With that final proclamation, Rider charged into the temple, sword in hand, trust in his friend in the other.
Not once did Avenger's smirk falter. Not as her temple's doors closed behind the charging fool. Not when her thousand rifles formed ranks around him. Not when a million shells shredded and tore through the great Iskandar, bathing her in the demigod's blood. Not even as all fell silent and the fallen King's great armies vanished without a trace.
Soon as the doors opened and only the Demon King stepped out of the temple, all had fallen silent as she quietly basked in attaining her new title.
Even her pet, the giant six-armed skeleton warrior, had paused in its attack on Waver Velvet. The bony hand was held just above, almost about to squash the lad before everything had come grinding to a halt.
Then, everything vanished. The temple, the monster. The flames, the burning sands. All of it vanished, shattering into a million lights of a defeated dream laced with a nightmare of flames. All that was left was a cowering boy stood before a smiling woman in the middle of the red bridge.
"D-Do it!" Waver Velvet screamed at her. Tears and a trembling voice were as clear as the moon on the river's surface, but Nobunaga continued to watch. The fool's friend and retainer knew what had occurred. He need not note the absence of his Servant, or his Command Seals for that matter, to ascertain anything. But, seemingly accepting his fate, he still stood tall and firm against her overpowering aura. "Kill me if you must!"
"Is that surrender, boy? Or a challenge?" she asked with a hint of mocking curiosity.
"N-Neither." Nobunaga was actually taken aback by that. "Surrender before death… is a dishonour to those who fought to the end. Yet… I cannot challenge you with my might… not alone…"
"Hahaha! Aren't you quite a loyal retainer? Yet a smart and brave one at that. I, the Demon King, have slain your Servant, yet here you are, unafraid to stand against me! I see why that oaf is so taken with you. You have potential." Nobu smiled but the boy did not take it as praise. Regardless of it offending her or not, she immediately pulled a rifle out of thin air and aimed at the boy. "However, I am not entirely a malevolent ruler. If you miss your liege so much, I can very well send you to him, right here and now."
The boy minorly flinched, but he never faltered. Staring at her down the barrel, he kept his defiant glare.
Nobu had to admit that Waver was to be given credit for his loyalty. Still, it didn't change the fact that a boy must die, all of the participants in this war must die. Only she and Lelouch could be allowed to live. Only they were to be allowed happiness. And so she pressed the trigger.
But nothing happened.
Avenger blinked before pressing again, then again, then again. Not once did the rifle let a bullet loose. The surprise was for a mere second, but when she glanced at Waver, she noted he was frozen stiff, looking about to pass out at any moment.
Thinking that his spinelessness that couldn't even hold out a bit longer saved her the embarrassment of a misfiring rifle, Nobunaga narrowed her gaze, frowned, then tossed away her rifle.
"Hmph. It seems you also have good luck, boy. I've lost interest in killing simpletons for the day." In actuality, she didn't know what else to say, however, when Avenger glanced at him, she noted the brat gawking. As if he wasn't sure what to do. "Are you daft, brat? Your king gave his life in an attempt to ensure you survive. Though I won it fair and square, I am not so petty as to deny my greatest foe one wish. Or are you so willing to squander your friend's last gift?"
Waver clenched his teeth and fists. Closing his eyes, he turned and walked away.
She could see it. He wanted to scream. He wanted to avenge his friend. But he was as smart as he was loyal to Iskandar. He didn't do any of that and chose to preserve the life he was given. Nobunaga had never been one to show mercy to runaways and cowards, however, she was also aware the tears he shed weren't for his life, hence her just watching until he vanished from view entirely.
Only then did the woman let out a scornful, yet sympathetic, sigh. 'Heh, dying for the sake of his Master. Seems like we have something in common, King of Macedonia…'
Not that she liked the comparison, considering how much of a barbaric fool he was to the end. Still, it was the truth after all. She'd give her life for Lelouch's sake. But before it, their enemies will have to come close to killing her first.
After all, his death was something Oda Nobunaga wouldn't ever allow. Not even over her dead body.