At the moment the mutually grinding storms subsided, Gilgamesh swung Ea to his side without hesitation, striking Caelus, who had appeared beside him at some point.
At the other end of the subsided storm, a figure in white armor holding a longsword charged toward Gilgamesh.
"Swapping positions with your own puppet? A clever idea. A replacement based on the conversion of existence is far more sophisticated than spatial replacement."
In an instant, Gilgamesh saw how Caelus had swapped positions with the Lancelot puppet. At the same time, the treasury opened again, continuously pouring out Noble Phantasms at Lancelot charging toward him.
"Though, if you had sent him to assassinate Tokiomi directly, it might have been easier to bring yourself the possibility of victory."
"I want to fight you using every means at my disposal."
"Good. This King likes your answer."
Then, an Archer, a ranged class, and an Assassin suited for assassination actually engaged in an open, face to face melee brawl.
The longsword in Caelus's hand came from those Noble Phantasms previously infected by Nihility. In this regard, he had to thank the summoned Lancelot. It was the Noble Phantasm ability "Knight of Owner" that he had learned after devouring Lancelot's existence.
He used the Knight of Owner Noble Phantasm with even greater ease by relying on the power of Nihility.
The two, who clearly should not have been fighting head on, were now engaged in a fierce struggle. The cylindrical longsword was surrounded by a crimson whirlwind capable of tearing everything apart. Meanwhile, the other's weapon, though shredded by those destructive crimson winds, would piece itself back together in a mere moment.
Although Gilgamesh's combat techniques were superior to Caelus's, he had to divide his attention to control the Gate of Babylon. Coupled with the difference in their attributes, he did not achieve the crushing victory his superior skill should have brought, and could only remain in a head on stalemate with Caelus.
Meanwhile, at the Tohsaka household, Tokiomi watched this stalemate through observation magecraft, his expression growing anxious. To ensure final victory, some of the Command Spells in the Masters' hands were meant to be used against their own Servants.
After all, there was only one Holy Grail, and only one person could use it. To achieve their goals, Masters naturally would not give that chance to their Servants, so they needed Command Spells to order them to commit suicide.
The problem now was that the Assassin had to die in this battle. Otherwise, given that the opponent could not be remembered and was unaffected by Command Spells, Tokiomi could not imagine any way he could win.
"Even with only two Command Spells left, it should still be effective on that King."
Having made up his mind, Tokiomi raised his hand marked with Command Spells and shouted.
"In the name of a Command Spell, King, please obtain victory in this battle."
One Command Seal faded. Then Gilgamesh, in the middle of his fierce battle with Caelus, suddenly felt the magical energy in his body surge, and his physical attributes improved for a short time.
He also understood the words transmitted when the Command Spell was used.
Leveraging the boost in his physical attributes, Gilgamesh used his combat techniques to quickly suppress Caelus, instantly changing the stalemated situation.
Caelus, however, had no intention of continuing to hide. After a clash with Gilgamesh, as they pulled apart, something suddenly appeared in Caelus's hand.
It was a grey, old quill.
Using this as a pen, Nihility as ink, and memory to form the skeleton.
Engrave here.
The power of Nihility continuously condensed and constructed, and one figure after another emerged from the void.
Lancer, Diarmuid.
Saber, Artoria Pendragon.
Rider, Iskandar.
Caster, Gilles de Rais.
Four figures that looked as if all color had faded from them appeared. Diarmuid and Artoria charged forward without hesitation to engage Gilgamesh in close combat.
Iskandar drove his chariot pulled by divine bulls, circling Gilgamesh continuously. If the opponent showed even a slight opening, the bull drawn chariot would charge and strike without hesitation.
Gilles de Rais opened a book that looked like it was sewn from human skin but was empty inside, chanting tones no one could understand, summoning colorless tentacle monsters one after another to charge at Gilgamesh.
In an instant, the addition of four Servants to the battle diverted most of Gilgamesh's attention. This allowed Lancelot, who had been hindered by the Gate of Babylon, to close in rapidly.
"Shadow Servants constructed from your own impressions? They have no Noble Phantasms or innate skills, just pure attributes and the combat techniques you have learned... Haha. A very impressive trick."
Gilgamesh did not show any anger at being ganged up on. Instead, he laughed heartily. He then summoned several shields through the Gate of Babylon to block the attacks from all directions for a short time, while the Ea in his hand surged again with a crimson storm.
But this time, he did not have time to fully unleash Ea, because a figure had already fallen from above.
Gilgamesh looked up and met Caelus's gaze.
Caelus saw himself reflected in those crimson eyes.
Gilgamesh saw the slight curl of the other's lips.
It was a smile born of victory, a smile from being about to defeat a powerful opponent.
The longsword plunged from above, piercing through Gilgamesh's neck and exiting straight through the back.
The shadow Servants and the Lancelot puppet did not hesitate either. Spears, swords, tentacles, and other attacks pierced Gilgamesh's body at that moment.
"Cough, cough. You win, Caelus."
After declaring the winner's victory at the end, Gilgamesh, with a hearty smile, saw his figure slowly crumble. He turned into golden particles and dispersed into the world.
Tokiomi looked at the Command Spell that had faded and disappeared from his hand. Just now, he had realized something was wrong and actually wanted to use a Command Spell to summon Gilgamesh back.
But because Caelus had appeared too quickly, this middle aged man, whose physical and visual abilities could not keep up, did not have time to act before Gilgamesh was defeated.
Caelus landed on the ground. The four fake Servants he had summoned turned into greyish white liquid, collapsed onto the ground, and then vanished.
Lancelot also let out a long breath, and after gradually losing all color, he disappeared from this world.
The Holy Grail War had come to an end.
And the final winner was a Traveler from another world.
Caelus looked up at where the Holy Grail was manifesting in the distance. He glanced at the spot where Gilgamesh had died, found an unknown wildflower nearby, placed it there, and then departed.
The wind blew, and the unknown wildflower trembled slightly, as if someone had lightly brushed against it.
(To be continued.)