The desert trembled.
Golden light surged like a rising sun, tearing through the skies of the Inherent Reality. The sandstorm itself seemed to recoil, as if even this world—born from the will of the King of Conquerors—recognized the overwhelming brilliance gathering in King Arthur's hands.
"EXCALIBUR!!!"
A beam of radiant light erupted forward.
It was not merely a strike—it was a declaration. The crystallization of countless hopes, the embodiment of a king who had finally understood the hearts of those who followed her.
The army of tens of thousands surged in response.
"FOR THE KING!!!"
The Servants charged fearlessly into the light.
And they were erased.
Like moths to a blazing sun, the soldiers of the King of Conquerors did not retreat. Their bodies shattered, their forms dissolving into particles of magical energy—but their charge did not falter for even a moment.
At the center of it all, the King of Conquerors laughed.
"Hahahahaha! Excellent! This is how it should be!"
Thunder roared.
His chariot, Gordius Wheel, surged forward, lightning wrapping around its wheels like divine serpents. Beside him stood Lancer, his twin spears gleaming—his body already pushed far beyond its limits.
"Rider," Lancer spoke calmly, "leave the rest to me."
Without waiting for a reply, he stepped forward.
His figure blurred.
In an instant, Lancer appeared directly before the advancing beam of light.
He crossed his twin spears.
Gáe Dearg and Gáe Buidhe.
"Even if it is impossible… I will still try."
The cursed spears trembled as they met the golden torrent.
For a brief moment—
The light slowed.
Then—
BOOM!!!
The explosion swallowed everything.
Lancer's figure vanished within the radiance, his resistance lasting only a fleeting instant—but that instant was enough.
Because behind him—
The King of Conquerors had already arrived.
"King Arthur!!!"
With a roar that shook the heavens, Iskandar raised his sword high, his entire existence blazing with magical energy.
The remnants of his army gathered behind him—not as individuals, but as one united will.
The Way of Kings.
Against him stood King Arthur, her golden beam still raging forward, her body trembling as the last of her magical energy burned away.
Two kings.
Two ideals.
Two paths.
They collided.
The golden beam clashed against the thunder-charged charge of the King of Conquerors.
For a moment, the world froze.
Then—
CRACK.
The sky shattered.
The desert split apart.
The Inherent Reality began to collapse under the sheer force of their confrontation.
Outside the battlefield, Rin narrowed her eyes, her expression turning serious for the first time.
"…It's ending."
Beside her, Sakura instinctively grabbed her sleeve.
"Sister… who will win?"
Rin did not answer immediately.
Instead, she watched—carefully, calculatingly.
Then, she spoke.
"Neither of them… will come out unscathed."
Back within the collapsing Reality—
The golden light began to fade.
The thunder dimmed.
The two figures passed each other.
Silence fell.
Then—
A deep wound split across the King of Conqueror's chest.
At the same time, cracks spread across King Arthur's armor, her body unable to sustain the strain any longer.
The desert froze.
The army vanished.
The Inherent Reality collapsed completely.
—
The Zenjou Residence returned.
The night air was heavy with silence.
Standing in the ruins of the battlefield, King Arthur slowly lowered her sword.
Opposite her, the King of Conquerors stood tall—then let out a long breath.
"Hah… magnificent."
He looked at his chest, where the wound glowed faintly with residual magical energy.
Then he laughed.
"I see… so this is the conclusion."
His body began to dissolve into particles of light.
Not in defeat—
But in acceptance.
"Waver!" he called out suddenly.
The young boy trembled as he looked up.
"Did you see it?"
Waver clenched his fists, tears streaming down his face.
"I did… I saw everything!"
"Good!" Iskandar grinned. "Then remember it well! This is what it means to be a king!"
His form faded further.
"But next time…"
He turned his gaze toward Rin, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"Little Miss… I look forward to seeing what kind of king—or demon—you will become."
With that—
The King of Conquerors disappeared.
Silence.
Then—
A soft sound.
King Arthur's sword slipped slightly from her grasp.
Her body swayed.
Kiritsugu's eyes widened.
"Saber—!"
But before she could fall—
She steadied herself.
Barely.
Her form flickered, her existence already beginning to fade.
Yet—
She smiled.
Not the distant, idealized smile of a king—
But a gentle, human one.
"Sir Lancelot… it seems… I was able to walk the right path… in the end."
Her gaze shifted.
Toward Rin.
"Tohsaka Rin…"
Rin met her eyes calmly.
"You've changed."
King Arthur gave a faint chuckle.
"And you… have not."
Rin smirked slightly.
"Of course not."
A pause.
Then King Arthur spoke one final time.
"Then… I will entrust the rest… to you."
Her body dissolved into golden particles.
The King of Knights—
Gone.
—
The battlefield fell completely silent.
Only the faint night wind remained.
After a long moment, Rin turned around.
"Well then…"
Her voice was light.
Almost casual.
"As expected… things turned out exactly as planned."
But her eyes—
Cold.
Calculating.
And far, far deeper than before.
"The real Holy Grail War… begins now."
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