Chapter 60 - ppp

Age of Gods Mage Illyasviel von Einzbern.

—Versus—

Guard Commander, Savior Pharaoh King Ptolemy.

Accompanying siege guards: five hundred, nearly one-fifth reaching third-rate Heroic Spirit Servant attributes, over ten second-rate Heroic Spirit Servants. Part of the right-wing legion near the army's rear, deeply surrounded—one of Conqueror King Iskandar's personal guard units.

Fortunately, because she was severely wounded and seemed too weak in others' eyes, the general assigned to target her was basically only Savior Ptolemy alone. She didn't eat too much of Ionioi Hetairoi's main force and generals.

King of Knights Artoria Pendragon.

—Versus—

Royal Secretary Eumenes, Armenian Satrap Mithridates, Alexander's confidant and close friend Hephaestion.

Accompanying forces: main guard of Ionioi Hetairoi, archers, conquest expeditionary army totaling over five thousand. Nearly three to four first-rate Heroic Spirit Servants, second and third-rate levels totaling over double digits, like a tsunami engulfing and devouring her.

Even with her Mana Burst skill, the invisible sword continuously releasing magical torrents capable of shattering small mountains, killing mere hundreds of Heroic Spirit army members was a drop in the bucket against such numbers. These individually named beings who left legends in history—she couldn't eliminate even one in a short time. That fearless, fierce dominance continuously surged forward, actually leaving traces on her armor.

Radiant Knight Diarmuid Ua Duibhne.

—Versus—

Founder of the Seleucid Empire, Victor Seleucus; Ancient Indian Punjab region king and hegemon Porus; deployer of Ionioi Hetairoi, Conqueror King Iskandar himself.

Accompanying army: over ten thousand, countless powerhouses. Three great world-renowned kings comparable to Savior Ptolemy simultaneously fell upon Diarmuid Ua Duibhne.

Perhaps everyone knew his threat was greatest, or perhaps his luck truly was bad. The enemy quality and quantity he'd face exceeded Miss Illya's and the King of Knights' combined. Nearly half of Ionioi Hetairoi's main force basically came to besiege him. That black mass of humanity raised tremors that shook the atmosphere!

Of course, none of this was the key point. The key point was—in this short time, he'd single-handedly counterattacked and killed over two hundred! One man, one spear sweeping through thousands, superior martial arts sweeping heaven and earth. He laughed heartily, transformed into a swimming dragon, and fought to his heart's content!

As if it wasn't ten thousand Heroic Spirit army members surrounding him, but him alone surrounding the Conqueror's ten thousand-strong army!

Thus the faction distribution was basically complete. The sword-wielding girl and the Lancer held up the banner, Miss Illya directly facing the Pharaoh King while fishing in troubled waters—surprisingly stalemating with the great army for the moment.

"Hmph! Barbaric Reality Marble, to be able to summon so many kingly heroes. If not for those two Command Seals, now would be your death date."

Kayneth snorted disdainfully. He, or rather everyone, could see the stalemate was only surface appearance. Continuing to fight like this, in less than a few dozen minutes, it would be the Lancer's side's defeat and regret.

Not due to magical power, but stamina consumption. Under such high-intensity pressure, physical and mental exhaustion was incalculable. The enemy numbered tens of thousands of Heroic Spirit Servants, among them no shortage of beings with attributes comparable to the three Knight Classes.

Could say, as long as one remained within that Reality Marble, even the strongest solo combat Servant would find victory extremely difficult.

After all, this was Reality Marble—forbidden curse-level magecraft, true miracle closest to True Magic.

The enemies weren't wooden stakes, not pig-heads. They'd dodge, deploy formations, play tactics and psychology. Combined with Heroic Spirit Servants' fearless morale, without magecraft or Noble Phantasms directly targeting the concept of "World" appearing, Iskandar in this Holy Grail War was essentially unbreakable.

"Seems that Age of Gods mage truly is severely wounded. Facing such a deadly situation, she still hasn't used targeted methods to spirit-summon a hero capable of opposing Reality Marble for possession..."

Theoretically, in Kayneth's view, the only variable in this Holy Grail War capable of breaking Ionioi Hetairoi was Miss Illya, because she was quite the producer.

A producer seemingly able to pull out anything—the goddess Hecate's disciple's gold content was maxed out.

Unfortunately, now it seemed she was also helpless. The Berserker battle had caused her too much damage.

"Fervor, mei sanguis (Boil, my blood)."

BOOM!

In the brightly lit Einzbern castle corridors, the wall ahead was instantly sliced open by mercury-like blades, while around the corner ahead, a figure flashed past!

"The ninth-generation head of the Archibald family, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, hereby declares war. Mage of Einzbern, for the Holy Grail War victory we both pursue, I'll give you one more chance. With life and honor as stakes, come and fight me fairly."

However, only silence answered him.

The blond man, hands behind his back, paid no heed to the fleeing figure at the other corridor's end, merely introducing himself and issuing a duel challenge out of great magus family etiquette.

Others could be discourteous, but he couldn't lose elegance—this was the cultivation of a Clock Tower Lord.

Besides, would humans pay attention to mere rats? Obviously not. His disdain for Emiya Kiritsugu was merely treating him as a pitiful rat that could be crushed at will. In Fuyuki City's Holy Grail War, besides his Servant Diarmuid and that noble Age of Gods mage Medea, he'd never regarded any other Heroic Spirit Servant or Master as human—either rats or small fry.

Drip.

After brief silence, faint sounds came. Then the carpet beneath the blond man's feet and the walls beside him suddenly exploded. Mechanism detonation scattered dozens of steel balls capable of piercing human bodies!

BOOM!

"Seems you've refused the opportunity I granted. Very well, then this time isn't a duel where the loser can beg the strong for mercy, but a life-or-death subjugation."

Mercury-like liquid wrapped around Kayneth, blocking the mechanism—as if he'd anticipated this, Kayneth snorted again, waving his hand to release the Mystic Code's defense.

He hadn't wanted to kill Emiya Kiritsugu this quickly, because currently the great enemy was Conqueror King Iskandar. If Emiya Kiritsugu had been sensible and obediently came out to hand over remaining Command Seals, he wasn't unwilling to spare his life.

But now it seemed rats were still rats. Truly shameless despite being given face.

"Ure: sanctio (Track and annihilate)!"

"Emiya Kiritsugu, come out!"

Almost instantly, the mercury sphere exploded, transforming into tentacles spreading in all directions!

Volumen Hydrargyrum (Moon Spirit Marrow Liquid)—this was one of the many Mystic Codes he'd brought, and also his most favored.

A Mystic Code using magically transformed mercury for defense, attack, and search—three functions in one. Attack utilized mercury condensed into whip form to strike targets with blade-like attack power. Defense transformed mercury into thin films to block attacks.

The only flaw was, using fluid dynamics principles, it couldn't defend against drastically changing attacks.

Plus, Moon Spirit Marrow Liquid was ultimately just an automaton. Once its behavioral principles were discerned once, it could be easily countered. Operating it consumed magical power proportional to form complexity; it had to maintain the simplest possible form. If transformed into hydraulically difficult-to-transmit forms, the next action's reaction speed and power would noticeably decline. Round sea-urchin deformation could balance defense and agility, but the magical burden on the user was also quite large.

"I see, automatic enemy search. Consistent with the trap characteristics from the dock battle..."

Mercury seeped through the door frame, currently contracting. Hiding behind the door with a Calico M950A submachine gun, Emiya Kiritsugu's pupils dilated as he quickly retreated two steps!

Next moment, the wall on the room's other side collapsed with a boom. Sensing approaching danger, he immediately aimed his gun muzzle rightward and pulled the trigger without hesitation!

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang! Clang clang clang clang clang!

"These second-rate tricks—you think they can harm me? Filthy rat."

Before bullets arrived, a fluid wall rose.

Submachine gun bullets hitting the wall sparked a few times, not even rippling, completely blocked.

Kayneth arrogantly crossed his arms until Emiya Kiritsugu's submachine gun emptied its magazine—like a turn-based battle trainer, honorably:

"Scalp (Sever). Don't worry, rat. I'll only sever your limbs. Until the battle on the other side reaches conclusion, I won't let you die easily. I'll let you know the despair of angering me, Kayneth, of angering a Clock Tower Lord!"

Liquid gathered into blades capable of severing and breaking steel, instantly slashing toward the trench-coated man's empty magazine limbs. This was speed normal human bodies couldn't react to—almost as soon as words fell, the attack arrived!

Could Emiya Kiritsugu dodge? Could he survive? Could he survive under this attack?

"Time Alter, double accel."

The answer was naturally yes. As Mage Killer, he'd encountered countless desperate situations. This situation he could absolutely easily overcome!

BOOM! The ground where Emiya Kiritsugu originally stood was already slashed into four sections!

Dust rose, gray scattered—seemingly already blasted to dust!

"Oh? Transforming one's body interior into a Reality Marble, manipulating a certain time for acceleration magecraft..." Seeing this somewhat familiar scene, Kayneth thoughtfully stroked his chin, because during that night when the Age of Gods mage fought the Black Knight, he'd indeed witnessed similar magecraft through Diarmuid's perspective.

However, that Age of Gods mage was far more terrifying. Compared to her, Emiya Kiritsugu's acceleration magecraft was like a child's.

The actual performance gap between the two was too large, making Kayneth subconsciously feel they were merely the same type.

"Seems you've learned some magecraft after all, at least received magical cultivation. Unfortunately, you became a despicable villain relying on base tricks. Only death can make you recognize yourself."

"Clearly possessing the same type of time magecraft, that Age of Gods mage dared challenge the high-attribute Berserker with her weak body, yet you, this rat, don't even possess a shred of courage to face me in direct battle. No wonder modern magi have almost no one who can become Heroic Spirit Servants remembered by history—not only mystery's decline, but the gap and quality between people."

Looking at the open door in the distance from which he'd disappeared and escaped, he sneered mockingly, unhurriedly walking out of the room. Emiya Kiritsugu had escaped from there.

However, manipulating time within one's body placed considerable burden on the magecraft user's flesh.

Emiya Kiritsugu couldn't run far—at least could never slip from his grasp.

In magecraft battles between magi, he was this Holy Grail War's undisputed strongest. Even that Age of Gods mage's magecraft, he'd basically grasped the principles after seeing once or twice. Let alone a mere second-rate Mage Killer.

"Huff... huff..."

Within a brief dozen-plus seconds, Emiya Kiritsugu, bearing his body's burden, traversed through Einzbern Castle, pulling about a hundred meters distance.

Finally stopping at a corner, back against the wall, gasping for breath. Cold sweat from using magecraft already covered his forehead.

Kayneth was underestimating him—this suited his wishes perfectly. For Mage Killers like him, they didn't fear powerful enough enemies, only cautious, meticulous ones.

Touching the magecraft Mystic Code modified gun hidden under his trench coat at his waist—this was his confidence in daring to solo face Kayneth.

"Maiya, protect Iri and leave the castle immediately. Kayneth's attention is entirely on me. Guard against Illya's Master hidden in the shadows."

"If the situation looks bad, I'll immediately recall Saber and detonate the industrial explosives buried inside the castle. Wait until daybreak, and we'll rendezvous at that property in the residential district."

Arranging the aftermath through the tiny communicator at his trench coat collar, the gasping Emiya Kiritsugu quickly hung up. Kayneth had to die here. Only with his death would Diarmuid Ua Duibhne dissipate, the Gáe Buidhe curse vanish—then they'd have partial trump cards and confidence to contend with the Conqueror.

Irisviel was no longer a concern. From the fatigue revealed within the Reality Marble, one could tell—

She could even slack off fishing in the sky, only to be shot down and forced to participate in battle.

"Like that Witch of Betrayal Medea, he too had been forced into a corner. Spear Knight and Sword Knight, these two overpowered monsters—whichever remained wasn't something the cards in their hands could contend with."

Currently, only the Conqueror and Diarmuid had the possibility of claiming the omnipotent wish-granter. Even the sword-wielding girl had to rank lower. But as long as Diarmuid died and the sword-wielding girl's Noble Phantasm unlocked, in long-range combat with multiple Command Seals, the sword-wielding girl would definitely surpass the Command Seal-less Iskandar.

"This thing doesn't operate by sight. As long as I slow my internal time to one-third original, reducing heartbeat and breathing sounds to the limit, it can't sense the target."

Mercury slowly flowed down the wall behind, probing. Emiya Kiritsugu gritted his teeth.

Activating Time Alter - Triple Accel, forcibly enduring discomfort to drastically lower his heartbeat frequency and various bodily organ frequencies, reducing his presence to imperceptible levels.

He needed an opportunity—an opportunity for Kayneth to fully mobilize his Magic Circuits rather than using Mystic Code defense...

Normal methods to kill this Clock Tower genius Lord were nearly impossible, but that trump card of his was his comeback point, capable of making any mage's heart tremble with fear—destroying all Magic Circuits on his body...

"Einzbern Castle's reconnaissance magecraft has all been destroyed. Even basic surveillance magecraft no longer exists. Seems that Clock Tower Lord is quite furious about that damned Mage Killer bombing his magecraft workshop."

"Also saves me from hiding my tracks, slowly breaking through the magecraft barriers here."

Outside Einzbern Castle, in the Mirror Forest, an elegant, composed new guest arrived.

He leaned on his ruby-topped staff, wearing red refined collar attire, gazing from afar at the distant magnificent, brightly lit castle that exploded every so often, understanding that not only were Heroic Spirit Servants battling—exchanges and clashes between Masters had also begun.

However, strangely, logically the magical fluctuations from four Heroic Spirit Servants' battle shouldn't be this small. Could the gap be so large that right from the start, that Age of Gods mage and Conqueror King Iskandar were killed by the two Knights?

Afterward, King of Knights and Diarmuid engaged in close combat, a one-on-one duel?

This puzzled Tohsaka Tokiomi slightly, but this confusion quickly washed away with his thirst for reaching the Root. Because regardless of specifics—

This was his life's only remaining opportunity. Tonight, if he didn't eliminate all other faction Heroic Spirit Servants, tomorrow when others discovered something wrong—especially that Emiya Kiritsugu guy—they'd dare directly go one by one finding which Masters still lived and kill his whole family.

Like that Witch of Betrayal Medea, he too had been forced into a corner. Spear Knight and Sword Knight, these two overpowered monsters—whichever remained wasn't something the cards in their hands could contend with.

"My King, please drink this wine offered by your subject, and display your kingly majesty tonight..."

Tohsaka Tokiomi helplessly shook his head, turned, and knelt on one knee, humbly lowering his head in subject's etiquette, hands offering a tube of crimson liquid—

To the half-golden, half-white-haired red-eyed girl beside him.

"...Dirty."

"What?"

"I don't want to drink this wine. Very dirty."

"?"

The stiffly blank-eyed red-eyed girl didn't accept the blood Tohsaka Tokiomi offered, merely like a consciousness-less robot instinctively uttering a few words.

This tube of blood was very dirty, extremely dirty—filthier than the world's most disgusting things.

She didn't know why she'd have such instinct, because this wasn't Gilgamesh King's consciousness but the instinct of a discarded Lesser Grail from previous Holy Grail Wars. Even though she was no longer a Lesser Grail now, merely a humble Servant Spirit Origin vessel, she still subconsciously refused to drink this tube of blood.

"My King, if you don't drink this wine, your subject's magical power cannot support you for many attacks."

Tohsaka Tokiomi was quite surprised and puzzled. This homunculus body itself had no consciousness. Only after successfully transplanting Gilgamesh King's Spirit Origin did it derive some consciousness based on magical power—like a naivety born from Gilgamesh King and Lesser Grail vessel fusion.

Though possessing some naivety, she'd always been quite protective of him, seemingly inheriting some of Gilgamesh King's instincts to protect and acknowledge subjects.

Therefore, whether staying in the magecraft workshop or attacking the Matou family to sign unequal treaties, she'd been very obedient. Why this time refuse over a bit of blood?

Dirty?

Where was this tube of blood dirty?

Could it be because Gilgamesh King detested that Witch of Betrayal Medea, this vile hero?

"But I don't want to drink this wine. Poisonous. The filthiest severe poison."

"...Will drinking this wine kill you?"

"Probably not."

The homunculus girl stiffly shook her head. Her consciousness, born briefly from Gilgamesh King and former Lesser Grail, couldn't describe that feeling in words.

Just instinctively detested this tube of blood—like many spiders being harmless yet people disliked spiders.

"If you don't drink, I'll die. You'll die too." Tohsaka Tokiomi sighed deeply, still not raising his head, merely a subject's sigh.

Clearly he'd drawn the strongest card—humanity's most ancient, peerless King of Heroes. If on the first night he hadn't been so impulsive but violated Gilgamesh King's will and directly recalled him, perhaps there wouldn't be tonight's life-or-death situation.

"You'll also die? Tokiomi."

"Mm. Emiya Kiritsugu won't spare a cheating me, nor spare one who barely escaped death..."

"Give it to me. I'll drink."

Words unfinished, Tohsaka Tokiomi felt his hand lighten. Looking up—

The homunculus girl who'd been quite disgusted by this tube of blood, upon hearing he might die, unhesitatingly poured that entire tube into her mouth. Her decisive speed, compared to the girl still frowning slightly moments ago, was like two different people.

Gulping down the blood, suddenly the silver-gold twin-colored long-haired girl's aura surged a large notch. Her entire stiff gaze also gained a trace of coldness.

"My King, you...?"

Tohsaka Tokiomi frowned somewhat incomprehensibly, though more surprised.

"You've already done very well, Tokiomi. Initially, it wasn't entirely your responsibility."

The homunculus girl wiped her mouth corner with her small hand. Sensing with this magical power infusion her Spirit Origin also reached some peak, she directly passed Tohsaka Tokiomi.

Back to him, the silver threads atop her head nearly two-thirds dyed brilliant, dazzling gold.

"The moment I was born, a voice actually remained in my heart."

"I am king, and you are my acknowledged subject."

"—And subjects acknowledged by this king aren't for mere trash to claim lives!"

Compared to the spear, in myths and legends, your magic sword and swordsmanship are more renowned, and the enhancements and power you'd receive would be even stronger. Am I wrong?"

Not long ago, on the second floor of an uninhabited building, after clinking glasses and drinking red wine heartily with his lord Kayneth, Kayneth had asked him this question.

Regarding mythological history, Kayneth, as the genius Lord of the Clock Tower, possessed extremely profound knowledge. He was naturally well-versed in Diarmuid's legends, and after deciding to take the Holy Grail War somewhat seriously, he supported him according to the various rules of the war.

Three magical furnaces comparable to the Holy Grail's magical power—he unhesitatingly used them to supply mana, utilizing the terrifying magical supply to break through attribute limits. Almost all attributes except Luck were raised by one rank, with Agility reaching an astounding A++. Even Medea, the fastest Age of Gods magician thus far, couldn't compare to him in normal conditions.

Combined with his superior martial skills, inexhaustible magical power, and attributes comparable to high-rank Mad Enhancement, his comprehensive strength had already qualified him to join the ranks of the strongest in this Holy Grail War—at the pinnacle of first-rate Heroic Spirit Servants, or even surpassing first-rate Heroic Spirits.

In individual close combat, even against Caster Medea, who was publicly recognized as the strongest in melee during her confrontation with Berserker, Diarmuid had confidence he could fight her to a fifty-fifty draw.

He felt this was enough. After all, from the perspective at that time, only that Knight King girl could still fight him, and even that would require Command Seals. The Saber girl's martial skills were slightly inferior to his, and with both not lacking magical power, his chances of victory were clearly greater.

But Kayneth—his lord—didn't think so. His lord was extremely proud but not reckless, and his analysis of the current war situation was far more farsighted.

Even though he was the strongest on the surface at that time, Kayneth mercilessly pointed out his shortcomings.

"In close combat and wars of attrition, no one can compare to you, but you lack a means of decisive victory."

"Gáe Buidhe and Gáe Dearg make you invincible in close combat, but if you face multiple enemies—for example, if Saber and Caster team up later, with one entangling you while the other releases a familiar army to attack, if you can't quickly break through the numerical blockade and Saber's obstruction, your chances of victory might drop to fifty percent in the long run."

At that time, Kayneth put down his wine glass, then like an ancient monarch about to march to war, both raising Diarmuid's morale and analyzing the pros and cons for him.

Without a doubt, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne was very strong now. He believed that in a one-on-one situation, none of the surviving Heroic Spirit Servants in this Holy Grail War would be his opponent. That Age of Gods magician at her peak might have some room to operate, but whether the seriously injured woman could even use her spirit summoning technique was questionable.

However, strength aside, if it were one against two, one against three, or even one against an entire army group, that would be a different story. The reason was simple—that Age of Gods magician was too much of an all-rounder, terrifying in close combat and unbeatable in group battles.

Summon someone better at close combat than her, you can't beat her in close combat; better at close combat than her, you can't beat her magic and group battles. Even with victory in hand, one must be on guard.

Hypothesis: The Saber girl confronts the Lancer head-on while Iskandar rides through the air with that Age of Gods magician spawning armies. Even if Lancer's magical power doesn't run out killing them one by one, his energy and stamina alone would exhaust him half to death.

The Lancer needed a wide-range breakthrough method—even just a preventive measure would do.

He must have a solution to counter that Age of Gods magician's human wave tactics.

"If it were the Saber class, the me with the magic sword would indeed be stronger in spirit origin performance than me as the Lancer class, but correspondingly, the summoning difficulty would increase, requiring specific conditions to be met or else the spirit origin couldn't be established."

Diarmuid also put down his wine glass, hesitating for a few seconds before candidly answering his lord's question. How he wished he could assist him as a Sword Knight!

But this was already the fifth day of the Holy Grail War—saying such things was pointless now.

"My lord, if there's another Holy Grail War, if you or your descendants summon me as Saber, I will surely respond with all my might to your..."

"Twin spears and twin swords have no meaning. If I'm not mistaken, according to mythological records, your strongest form is one spear and one sword, correct?"

"?"

That was correct, but the Holy Grail War requires class distinctions—you can't have both twin swords and twin spears.

And as for the Rider class that can use all Noble Phantasms, he didn't have any mount-related legends.

You can't have your cake and eat it too. The twin sword form was already the limit he could achieve within the Holy Grail War's rules. One spear and one sword? He didn't even dare dream of it himself.

"My lord, are you trying to make me change my class to obtain the sword?" Diarmuid wasn't some inflexible fool—he quickly understood Kayneth's implication, though his expression was puzzled. Classes were established under the Holy Grail War system.

Theoretically, if his class changed, he could indeed wield two magic swords, but even though he didn't understand magic well, he knew that changing a Servant's class was almost as difficult as fabricating a Holy Grail itself.

"Originally, I planned to use a Command Seal to rewrite your spirit origin, restoring you to the peak state in myth and legend."

"My lord, this is..."

"But later, I spent half a day carefully studying the rules of Heroic Spirit Servants and the Holy Grail War, and discovered that Command Seals essentially don't possess such ability. After all, if Command Seals could rewrite classes, every Holy Grail War would be a free-for-all of seven Sabers."

Patting his white gloves, Kayneth unhurriedly walked to a bag placed before the sickbed on the second floor and opened it, taking out some magical implements:

"So I had another sudden inspiration—what if I could find the weapon that my summoned Heroic Spirit Servant wielded during their lifetime and return it to them? Could it become their new Noble Phantasm in that Heroic Spirit Servant's hands?"

"After the port battle, I reviewed the Clock Tower's rough records of Fuyuki City's previous Holy Grail Wars. I discovered that following my line of thinking and talent, this plan was feasible, though it required certain modifications. For example, having the Heroic Spirit Servant and that weapon achieve some kind of contract, performing a magical reaction fusion. Then, within the Holy Grail War system's territory in Fuyuki City, that weapon would be classified to that Heroic Spirit Servant, similar to deceiving the Holy Grail system to create a 'Pseudo-Noble Phantasm.'"

Simply put, deceive the Holy Grail's judgment and bind the weapon to the Heroic Spirit Servant.

Originally, Heroic Spirit Servants were independent magical entities, and what Kayneth wanted to do was fuse different things into this magical entity, making the Holy Grail system judge that thing as an indispensable part of that entity.

Classes couldn't be changed—that was correct. But he wasn't rewriting the class, merely strengthening the Heroic Spirit Servant framed within the class, similar to enhancement within the Holy Grail system like Command Seals. Then he could exploit a bug in the Holy Grail system.

Twin spears or twin swords? How laughable!

Kayneth pursued perfection. If one spear and one sword was most perfect, then he would have one spear and one sword!

"My lord..." Hearing this, Diarmuid's pupils dilated slightly. He immediately understood what his lord wanted to do—this was an innovation never before seen in the Holy Grail War:

"Could it be that the cargo Lady Sola went to the airport to receive with such ceremony is my..."

"Heh, ancient holy relics are priceless, but most have lost their original power by now. With the dignity and prestige of a Clock Tower Lord, what's wrong with borrowing some from collectors? Otherwise, why do you think I could quickly summon you after Waver Velvet stole Iskandar's relic?"

The borrowing price was just a bit high. When he returned to the Clock Tower, he'd have to spend some time creating small items to sell and repay the debt.

For a genius like him, currency was just a number. Casually selling some experimental papers would bring astronomical sums, so debt really didn't matter.

"Also, this is somewhat of an experiment. Since I came to participate in this countryside magic exchange meeting, not winning beautifully would damage my honor as Kayneth."

"I don't know which magic sword you've collected, my lord. And if it's just a magic sword without corresponding class skills, I personally feel you've spent too much—I'm afraid of disappointing your expectations." Diarmuid knelt on one knee and lowered his head, his heart very conflicted.

Both surprised and pleased at his lord's full support, and pained and guilty that he couldn't overwhelm all opponents, requiring such expense from Kayneth.

"Do you think I wouldn't have considered this?"

Seeing Diarmuid becoming indecisive again, Kayneth snorted in dissatisfaction.

After integrating into the Holy Grail War system, that magic sword would unsurprisingly bloom with its former glory, but it was just a drop in the bucket. Without matching skills, a Heroic Spirit Servant having only a Noble Phantasm wasn't very useful—such enhancement might not even compare to some powerful Mystic Codes.

"When I saw that Age of Gods magician, I wondered if she'd also found a loophole in the Holy Grail War, since her close combat level was too abnormal."

"But she also gave me a kind of inspiration and new thinking—that stereotypical class impressions are undesirable. For powerful magicians, many rules of the Holy Grail War are mere formalities. Inability to change doesn't mean inability to circumvent."

Honestly, he really had to thank that Age of Gods magician who had stolen all the glory of the Holy Grail War these past few days. It could be said that without her, even he probably wouldn't have had this epiphany—realizing that besides weapons, he could also work on the class aspect.

If magicians can fight in close combat, then the Three Knight classes can substitute for each other too—that's quite reasonable.

Classes can't be changed, but nothing says you can't add ingredients or make it dual.

Based on the bug that magic sword might exploit, couldn't he exploit another bug on top of that foundation?

That Age of Gods magician knew some kind of advanced spirit summoning technique—damn it, he was also an expert in spirit summoning! How could he know little about familiar-type existences like Heroic Spirit Servants?

"I'll teach you a method for wide-range attacks. Even first-rate Heroic Spirit Servants or even that Golden King from the port battle, if they don't defend, will have no choice but to die and disappear under this method."

"The decisive victory means will be filled in with the magic sword I borrowed. With spear and sword combined, even one against three, you can comprehensively suppress your enemies."

As for the details...

Like class skills and such...

Using eye contact to signal Diarmuid to lie on the sickbed, the Volumen Hydrargyrum poured from Kayneth's hand, transforming into the state of a sharp blade. He snorted coldly again and smirked.

As soon as Sola returned, they could begin the attempt.

He might really be competing with that nearly all-around Age of Gods magician.

Modern magicians were never inferior to the so-called Age of Gods. If she could create nearly all-around combat power, there was no reason he, the genius Lord of the Clock Tower, couldn't do the same.

She was magician + suspected Assassin or one of the Three Knights' diverse abilities.

Then he would create a complementary Three Knight class, Lancer + Saber's... dual class.

"Although I wanted to continue hiding this, it seems if I don't go all out now, I won't be able to hold on until my lord completes his magical duel."

In the midst of the ten-thousand-strong encircling army, Diarmuid, who had already killed over seven hundred Heroic Spirit Servants, stood with his long spear planted in the ground, his body drenched in blood—not his own, but his enemies'. Compared to his initial roaming dragon posture, he had clearly slowed down.

Scouts appearing from time to time and arrows raining from the sky forced him to maintain a state of high mental concentration at all times. The enemies weren't training dummies.

Perhaps the King's soldiers weren't initially familiar with his power and were caught off guard, but after he killed over three hundred, the enemy's formation and composition adapted to his combat. The relentless attacks from all sides without respite caused his energy and stamina to deplete very rapidly. He was already at the edge where the scales of victory would tip.

Too many—there were too many enemies. Even if they were ten thousand ordinary people, they could drown him in their numbers.

Let alone ten thousand Heroic Spirit Servants, an elite army not lacking in second-rate and first-rate Heroic Spirits.

"Clang!"

"Hahaha! It seems you're already tired, peerless Radiant Knight!"

The black warhorse carried its burly rider charging through at high speed, brushing past the already fatigued Lancer!

Iskandar, who had never before displayed close combat skills, laughed heartily as he clashed with the Lancer once more. His cavalry sword and the magic spear collided violently, sparking friction. With divine blessing, he could actually avoid being knocked back by the Lancer's superior attributes in a single strike, instead fighting more courageously and domineeringly!

Divinity—in the intelligence gathered by various Masters, Iskandar's possession of divinity in legend was naturally included, but because he had always displayed the strength of his mount, and divinity enhanced Iskandar himself, the Heroic Spirit Servants and Masters basically hadn't prepared for this possibly existing legend upgrade skill!

And now it seemed everyone had truly underestimated Iskandar's strength!

His Strength attribute was as high as B-rank, his Endurance also reached A-rank. With divine blessing, his close combat skills might not compare to this Holy Grail War's top tier—Miss Illya and Diarmuid—but it was enough to support him in barely trading a few blows with these people!

"Hahaha, Conqueror King, honestly, you and that Age of Gods magician's existence truly delight me. This Holy Grail War is the most exhilarating battle of my life!"

Magical sparks flew as Diarmuid also laughed heartily, letting Iskandar gallop past him, then suddenly turned and swept his long spear backward!

"Ahh...!"

Two high-agility scouts hiding in the sand and dust, trying to pierce his body, were instantly killed by the magic spear!

It wasn't that he hadn't thought of the tactic of capturing the king first, but trying to catch and kill one person amidst ten thousand was asking for a fatal strike from behind!

After all, he'd already suffered such a loss. If not for his Eye of the Mind skill making him aware something was wrong, Iskandar would at most have lost a warhorse, while he would have been seriously injured by elite scouts or the other two kings, Seleucus and Porus, in the army's surprise attack!

"My army remains undiminished, yet your stamina and magical power are constantly draining. The defeat is settled, Lancer. Why not submit to my command here?"

"Using tactics and strategies to deploy troops instead of fighting recklessly—is this your Way of Conquest, King?"

"Well, when dealing with heroes and brave warriors, one must naturally go all out. Since I've already secured the terrain and numerical advantage, why should I be constrained by other details?"

Charging into the army formation and surrounded by shield and spear soldiers, Iskandar looked through the tightly sealed defensive line at the ceaselessly fighting Diarmuid, not feeling the slightest shame about commanding his army to use strategy. Instead, he laughed heartily again.

Knights had knights' fighting methods; kings had kings' strategies. How many kings in the world would personally lead the charge like him? Not hiding in the rear quietly waiting for results was already him practicing his Way of Conquest.

"Then it seems Caster and Saber also truly have no trump cards to break the current situation." The magic spear thrust through, piercing a shield and claiming the life of another fearless soldier.

Diarmuid's spear whirled like a propeller, knocking back all attackers within five meters, gaining a brief one or two seconds of respite as he sighed.

If Caster and Saber had used trump cards to break through, Iskandar definitely wouldn't be so relaxed in targeting him.

And the battle had already lasted over ten minutes. If those two had trump cards, with stamina depleting like this, they shouldn't possibly hold back.

"Is it coming? Looks like I don't need to play my card first after all."

Miss Illya, who was being completely suppressed by Ptolemy and dodging around, using familiars for aerial double-jumps, sensed the oppressive feeling suddenly rising from the distant army formation and decisively put away the Berserker card she'd been about to use to break through.

Her stamina depletion wasn't particularly severe. After all, Ptolemy's agility wasn't as high as hers, and the army surrounding her was honestly quite scattered, not a dense black mass, so despite her injuries causing hidden pain, she could still move freely.

The wishing operation of the Lesser Grail's heart and the throwing of other second-rate Heroic Spirit spears would take over ten seconds to successfully knock her down from the sky, unable to threaten her in the short term.

If Diarmuid played his card first, that would naturally be best, and it would let her see exactly what Kayneth had been up to.

But Diarmuid playing his card also proved from the side that the pressure on his end had reached a level she could hardly imagine.

"Radiant Knight, I shall meet you!"

A blonde, brown-skinned man wielding a black greatsword leaped high from the Heroic Spirit army, stepping on shields raised by soldiers and crossing dozens of meters in the blink of an eye, laughing boldly as he heavily struck down at Diarmuid, who had barely caught his breath for less than a second!

He was Seleucus the Victor, founder of the Seleucid Dynasty, bearing an anchor symbol on his chest, possibly the offspring of Apollo, the god of light, in legend!

Within the King's Army, even without Noble Phantasms and skills, he was still undisputedly a powerful first-rate Heroic Spirit Servant, one of the three main generals fighting Diarmuid!

"Well come."

His left hand lightly rested on the shroud at his waist as Diarmuid smiled confidently.

Facing that fierce heavy strike head-on without dodging or evading, not even showing any sign of using the magic spear in his right hand.

And then...

"BOOM! SLASH!"

Powerful magical sword energy erupted violently. The terrifying red magical torrent instantly washed away and destroyed the shroud, revealing its true form. Like the Wind King's Hammer, in the blink of an eye, red light flashed and the sound of tearing flesh and atmosphere resounded through the clouds!

Seleucus's eyes widened as he tried to block with his greatsword, but the next moment he felt his perspective seemed to be rotating, his consciousness and attention unable to focus!

"Wha... what?"

His body and greatsword were annihilated, his disbelieving head falling into the dense black army.

What kind of power was this? Just moments ago, he could trade blows evenly with that magic spear—why couldn't he even withstand a single attack now?

His heart was full of doubt and surprise, but seeing the true appearance beneath the red magical light through the gaps between soldiers' feet, before dissolving into particles of light, he seemed to understand...

"Divine Construct..."

A Divine Construct Noble Phantasm.

The shroud carved with incantations was burned away by magical power, revealing a red magic sword.

According to legend in Celtic mythology, this was the magic sword bestowed by Manannán mac Lir, god of the sea and otherworld. In myth, it was even rumored to manipulate fate—a greatsword with a demon-tentacle-like hilt.

Most of the Heroic Spirit army besieging Diarmuid were stunned by this sudden outburst, even Iskandar the Conqueror included.

How was this possible?

One strike?

Killing Seleucus?

"Moralltach (Great Fury)."

Diarmuid smiled confidently and took a long breath full of fighting spirit, his magic spear and magic sword pointing in all directions:

"I wanted to save this for dueling Saber and Caster, but it seems I can't surprise them now."

"Come, Conqueror King! Didn't you want to witness my full power?"

The magic sword, Móralltach.

A Divine Construct Noble Phantasm, rank A.

According to myth and legend, when Diarmuid believed the upcoming adventure reached a truly life-or-death situation, he would bring this red magic sword Moralltach (Great Fury) and the magic spear Gae Dearg (Red Javelin).

When he believed the adventure's danger was minor, he would bring the magic sword Beagalltach (Little Fury) and the magic spear Gae Buidhe (Yellow Rose of Mortality).

In the records, when Diarmuid died, he was wearing the latter equipment.

If he had carried the former equipment into the forest, he might have defeated the demon boar in the records, and this strongest knight of the Fianna might have survived.

This was the divine weapon Kayneth had found for Diarmuid—or rather, just a collectible that had lost its power and was useless to modern magicians.

Through spirit summoning, his own knowledge, analysis of the Holy Grail War system over three or four full days, and the inspiration given by Miss Illya, Kayneth made the Holy Grail system misjudge the powerless sword remnant as a manifested Noble Phantasm integrated with Diarmuid, achieving a kind of program error in the Holy Grail War. It was equivalent to: as long as within Fuyuki City's Holy Grail War system, Diarmuid and the magic sword were one entity.

This wasn't a true Noble Phantasm. In anyone else's hands, it wouldn't even compare to modern ironwork.

But as long as it was in Diarmuid's hands, under the Holy Grail War magical ritual system, for the seven days within the ritual, it was Diarmuid's exclusive weapon, allowing him to recreate the glory of his historical life with the magic sword.

"Victory has been determined."

"I once foolishly believed that accepting the Holy Grail's summons was to make up for regrets regarding my lord in life, but that wasn't the case. He gave me a new beginning. He never wronged me, never forced me. Though proud, his heart always considered me one of his own."

The magic sword and magic spear both burst with red light, breaking through the encirclement. The scorching sand and thousand-strong army didn't make this man retreat. No one would doubt his loyalty, but everyone underestimated his genuine remorse toward Kayneth:

"Lord Fionn, I apologize to you here. I will make up for my regrets toward you. A lord who doesn't fail his retainer, a retainer who doesn't fail his lord—he is not your replacement."

"He will be a lord worthy of me, as a Heroic Spirit Servant, devoting my life to. Regret has passed. I shall open a new path of light for him."

In this moment, Diarmuid seemed no longer the Radiant Knight, but merely a practitioner. Actually, he should have realized long ago that his wish was no longer to make up for regrets in life, but to genuinely look toward the future and pave the way for Kayneth.

BOOM!

He charged forward! He slashed! He transformed into a dragon again, like a roaring red dragon claiming the lives of Heroic Spirits!

Even though already weary, even knowing he couldn't possibly defeat this seemingly endless ten-thousand-strong army, he still rampaged like a fool who knew no better. No one could defeat an army composed of Heroic Spirits. He could kill one, ten, hundreds, thousands—but he couldn't kill over ten thousand, because the enemy was also heroes and brave warriors remembered by history, also Heroic Spirit Servants like himself!

In such a situation, any hero or brave warrior was just a drop of pure water falling into the ocean. This was the world-renowned Conqueror King, who would conquest all that he saw. On this battlefield dominated by him, he was the only protagonist!

But so what? What of it? Knowing defeat, still fighting to the death!

This was the foolishness called hot-bloodedness. Even if he won, it was just fate's favor!

But against the Hero King Gilgamesh, against the dark magician Gilles de Rais, against the Knight King girl—did Diarmuid ever think he would certainly win?

Heroes were a group of weaklings who still charged forward in desperate situations to create miracles. No need to worry about what would come after. He only knew his lord behind him needed him to win, and he would absolutely never again disappoint this lord who had granted him everything and allowed him to fulfill his life's wish—that was enough!

"This kind of magical reaction and fighting spirit—how is this possible? How could Lancer have gotten this much stronger?"

The Knight King girl, maintaining Mana Burst, was shocked. Sensing that distant red light like a red magic dragon, she almost forgot her magical power had already dropped to less than one-fifth, because that fighting spirit was too astonishing.

Not combat power, but will—Diarmuid's will as a Heroic Spirit Servant seemed to have undergone some special sublimation.

If the initial Diarmuid was like an honorable knight wanting to make up for regrets, then the current Diarmuid was one who had fulfilled his wish and was completing himself, surpassing his mythological history.

Martial arts mastery, will's direction, perfect state of mind, great achievement in skill, writing myth.

No! It should be said continuation, creation of new myth! This was no longer the historical Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, but a brand new hero and brave warrior continuing to break through himself! His inner fulfillment allowed him to surpass his historical self!

Achieving the pinnacle of the era's martial arts like Lancelot, no longer limited to the past but looking toward a new future—this was a new epic and miracle!

"How can a Heroic Spirit Servant surpass their own myth? Isn't everything from their life already fixed? How could his martial arts and state of mind break through during battle?"

The Saber girl gritted her teeth and swept away several enemies before her, the Invisible Sword clashing with the Armenian Governor Mithridates. This Holy Grail War really had a new version every day. On the first day, first-rate level Heroic Spirits were already pillars. Now first-rate Heroic Spirits weren't enough.

Each one was like they'd been secretly grinding levels while he was eating. All of them hiding something big.

What about her? When would she get a power-up? Did Emiya Kiritsugu have any new trump cards or killing moves hidden?

At least she was the strongest of the first night's version. With powerful stats and plain skills, even unable to release her Noble Phantasm, she stood in the first tier of the strength rankings. But now, besides Illyasviel, which Heroic Spirit Servant could she still beat?

Really, after the first night, her status was completely bound with Illyasviel's—last and second-to-last, obediently huddling together for warmth?

She didn't know if Diarmuid could defeat Iskandar, but she knew that if Diarmuid really beat Iskandar, even if she and Illyasviel teamed up, they probably couldn't reach Diarmuid's realm of surpassing his own myth...

"Hahahaha! To actually surpass your own myth? First Knight of the Fianna, if this king doesn't go all out, it would seem petty!"

The red magical torrent burst with brilliant radiance. The Conqueror King laughed heartily, slashing toward the sky with his cavalry sword. Then, with deafening thunder, the divine bull pulled the majestic chariot swooping down from above—that was his mount, his Noble Phantasm!

Even though the chariot had only one bull left, with the terrifying speed under two magical enhancements, it was still no slower than the night of the port battle!

This was one of his Noble Phantasms, the chariot that appeared in his famous legend of the Gordian Knot, a sacrificial vessel to Zeus, an A+ rank anti-army Noble Phantasm on par with the King's Army!

"You're wrong, Conqueror King. Standing here is not that First Knight of the Fianna who wanted to make up for regrets in life, but Diarmuid Ua Duibhne who dedicates everything to a worthy lord in a new world. I need no past honors. My mortal frame shall be dedicated to Lord Kayneth's will!"

Flowing light—over a hundred Heroic Spirit soldiers behind him dissolved into particles of light. Hundreds and thousands of arrows and spears fell from the sky. Diarmuid didn't dodge or evade, laughing confidently and shaking his head. The next moment, those thrown weapons missed his body entirely!

As if pulled by something, they fell elsewhere. This was his luck. This was his fate. When he drew Móralltach, he would inevitably return victorious.

No matter how powerful the enemy, the scales of victory would tip toward this man.

His magic sword was a Divine Construct Noble Phantasm that could manipulate fate. One-hit kill, inevitable victory in the first battle—that was his moniker.

However, this wasn't absolute. Because victory might be victory in battle or victory in his heart. He merely did his utmost to bring it toward the victory he wanted. No one could say what the final result would be.

"For this new lord, I have no regrets. If I cannot lead him to victory, that will be a regret I cannot release even upon returning to the Throne of Heroes."

"Well, it seems you and your Master have a good relationship?"

"Hahaha, Conqueror King, your Master was willing to use all his Command Seals. I don't think he only treated you as a disposable Heroic Spirit Servant, nor do you only treat him as a briefly met strange Master."

"Haha, yes, we're the same. But he's a retainer this king has acknowledged."

"..."

Both heroes seemed to understand each other, laughing heartily. Only the Saber girl listening couldn't help but frown.

She seemed to understand why she couldn't keep up with the current Holy Grail War version.

Miss Illya didn't care, because to her, Kotomine Kirei's role was meal ticket and accessory. For her, it was the same no matter who her Master was. She was the type who didn't rely much on her Master's ability. As long as her Master didn't inexplicably die, even if her Master was a vegetable, it was fine.

"SLASH!"

As Porus, the Overlord and King of the ancient Indian Punjab region, also lost his life to the magic sword and magic spear, the surrounding Heroic Spirit army automatically withdrew twenty meters and raised shields and spears.

Not fearing the enemy, but their king would unleash his strongest strike.

Diarmuid wiped the blood splattered on his handsome face, staring directly at that king in the sky above the army, riding the Wheel of Divine Might, his momentum and magical power building, about to reach their peak. He was somewhat surprised the Conqueror King was preparing to strike with full force, and personally engage him in direct combat.

Because his stamina and energy honestly weren't much now. Even after drawing the magic sword, he had only slain over a thousand—compared to the flood-like army, just a drop in the bucket. It could be said he wasn't far from his own limit.

Even if the Conqueror King wanted to duel him, he shouldn't do it while he still had strength. At the very least, he should wait until he was overexerted.

"Conqueror King, king against king, general against general—you don't actually need to do this. After all, though I'm confident, realistically I can't break through ten thousand troops before my stamina and energy are exhausted."

Diarmuid took a long breath, trying his best to adjust his depleted condition.

The magic sword and magic spear positioned at both sides, surging magical power attached to them, making them seem no different from the Saber girl's ranged attacks—both possessing terrifying killing power in a small range.

"You've already shown weakness, Lancer. The moment you uncovered that shroud, you were drawing this king closer. The magic sword is just your feigned desperation. If I'm not mistaken, you're trying to make most of the strong warriors in the army think you've nearly reached your limit, then use your true trump card for a one-hit kill, right?"

Iskandar stood in the air laughing heartily. Others thought Diarmuid using the magic sword was revealing his trump card, but as a strategist, a king who exhausted all schemes, he could keenly capture where Diarmuid's chance of victory lay.

With the magic sword's unsheathing, Diarmuid had been constantly bursting with magical power, maintaining high-intensity combat. Previously this would be fine, since he was such an upright knight.

But now, having shown extraordinary will, still using such an all-out method to fight seemed a bit deliberately enticing.

On this battlefield, whoever revealed their trump card first proved they'd been pushed to the brink. Diarmuid couldn't not understand this principle. His one-sword surprise kill of Seleucus wasn't proving how strong he was, but rather stimulating others' fighting spirit, revealing he'd reached a desperate point, luring others to display even fiercer fighting spirit.

There was more than just Seleucus as a first-rate Heroic Spirit within the King's Army. They feared nothing, not even death. The stronger Diarmuid resisted, the more he'd stimulate their desire to conquer him.

"What exactly are you trying to say, Conqueror King?" Diarmuid neither confirmed nor denied.

He just restrained his smile, resting the magic spear on his shoulder, while sensing several relatively powerful auras in the army that had originally wanted to approach him now moving away.

"Your will tells this king you want victory, but actually, surrounded as you are, you cannot achieve victory, no matter how strong your close combat skills."

"Not long ago, you desired exhilarating battle. Now you only want to win. That makes this king very puzzled—while intensifying conflict and deliberately showing poor condition, where exactly does your chance of victory lie? Beheading this king? Personally slaying all ten thousand troops? Or are you trying to create an opportunity?"

An opportunity to annihilate most of the King's Army's elite warriors... in an instant.

Purple lightning roared in the sky. In this moment, Iskandar seemed no longer the simple-minded brute of his appearance, but a great general with courage and wisdom who understood everyone's inner thoughts. Diarmuid's trump cards absolutely weren't limited to one.

All his maneuvers were just laying groundwork. He never only wanted to hold on, but prepared to win beautifully within his Reality Marble.

"So you're going to have the elites withdraw? Use ordinary soldiers to exhaust my stamina until I can't fight anymore?"

"Hahahaha, no no no. This king is merely curious—what kind of trump card could make a knight who surpassed his own myth so confident, even willing to use the strategy of appearing weak to the enemy? This king would quite like to personally witness and appreciate it."

Even if it meant failure, even if it meant tragic death, as the Conqueror King, he enjoyed the process of conquest, not the brilliance of wishes.

Retainers fight bloody battles for their king. If the king, upon detecting danger, still hid behind his retainers, what face would he have to call himself the Conqueror King? Retainers without a king slaughtering each other.

And a king without the trust and aspiration of retainers was just a lonely idealist.

"Lancer, do you hear it? The waves of the oceanos (endless sea) have already sounded."

Iskandar raised his greatsword and laughed domineeringly. The Wheel of Divine Might beneath him burst with unprecedented thunder. This was the true liberation of an anti-army rank Noble Phantasm!

Thunder resounded through the entire King's Army battlefield. Glory and wealth should be enjoyed by the king first; naturally, difficulties and dangers should also be faced by the king first!

"Indeed!"

"Indeed!"

"Indeed!"

Thousands upon thousands of Heroic Spirit soldiers shouted in unison for their king, for that thunder-wielding Conqueror King!

This was the king they followed in life, the king they willingly fought for even in death. Just as he had marched forward toward his dreams in life, now he also declared war on the enemy obstructing his continued dreaming, domineeringly conquering them!

"Dreams will eventually wake, but a man's dreams will never end, not even in old age."

Magical flames burned fiercely.

Diarmuid withdrew the magic sword and smiled in understanding, embedding something hidden at his waist into the magic sword's hilt. Instantly, the magic sword's ethereal red light extended for several meters—a breakthrough device perfectly fused with his Noble Phantasm.

It was something emitting a magical reaction second only to that Age of Gods magician Medea's on the entire field—some kind of "reactor."

His lord Kayneth had granted three magical furnaces, one of which fused into his body.

The remaining two served as his trump cards, compensating for his lack of wide-range killing methods, just as Iskandar had guessed.

He was indeed appearing weak to the enemy. The magic sword wasn't the trump card, merely a Noble Phantasm for decisive victory, while the magical furnaces were his true confidence for annihilating most of the King's Army's elites.

"Exactly so. But this king doesn't want to wake yet, and my dreams will never end."

Iskandar, wielding ten thousand thunders, launched his charge. He didn't hesitate, as if having made some determination—or rather, he had always been this foolish!

As a king, as a man, he had never abandoned his dreams!

Precisely so, as it should be. Conqueror King, your life is indeed worth me betting my all.

The magic sword and magic spear converged. Violent magical torrents filled the air—that crimson magical cylinder, a light pillar piercing the clouds. This was a mythological record Diarmuid had never possessed even in life, like a light cannon illuminating the entire sky with radiant brilliance!

The Saber girl noticed that light, whose magical power alone surpassed an A-rank Noble Phantasm's liberation. She was nearly dumbfounded. This was a surpassing achieved through sheer quantity, a magical artillery platform nearly exceeding anti-army rank Noble Phantasms.

On the other side was momentum hardly inferior, thunder and lightning receiving maximum enhancement within the Reality Marble, the divine chariot also nearly breaking through anti-army rank Noble Phantasms.

The purple light like a falling meteor, the red magic sword like a red dragon opening its bloody maw.

"Via Expugnatio (Distant Ravaging Domination)!"

"Móralltach (Great Fury)!"

Light.

Collision.

No one knew what level Iskandar's strike reached with two Command Seals, divinity, and Reality Marble's multiple enhancements!

Nor did anyone know clearly whether Diarmuid's strike, sacrificing the magical furnace and making the magic sword and magic spear surpass mythological epic records, had reached the terrifying level of anti-fortress Noble Phantasms!

BOOM BOOM BOOM! But under both sides' maximum Noble Phantasm collision, myth and fantasy were recreated. The terrifying magical flames even burned to death thousands of Heroic Spirit soldiers with raised shields. The roaring tremors even made the entire Reality Marble's ground begin to earthquake. Epic and myth were no longer just human fantasy—at this moment, they were truly and genuinely displayed before the world's eyes!

The energy clash's gale blew away Miss Illya, who happened to be in mid-air. She tugged her hood and blinked, somewhat bewildered watching those two energy torrents colliding in the distance, her heart not as shocked as the Saber girl's.

Magical furnace-enhanced light cannon?

Anti-army rank thunder divine chariot charge?

Not bad...

After all, it wasn't hitting her...

"Knowing such attacks are useless, yet still refusing to give up—filthy rat."

Meanwhile, in the Einzbern Castle corridor, the blonde man crossed his arms disdainfully, opening the Volumen Hydrargyrum's defense to block bullets attempting to ambush him.

Directly opposite him, Emiya Kiritsugu expressionlessly pulled the trigger and fired.

Kayneth's arrogance made Emiya Kiritsugu sigh inwardly, then his other hand reached for the large-caliber bullet handgun at his waist. He'd already figured out the Volumen Hydrargyrum's attack patterns. Next, he just needed to make Kayneth fully activate his Magic Circuits to defend against his Mystic Code, then this battle...

"Stop playing these little tricks, rat." Kayneth's mocking laughter slowly came, as if ridiculing a clown. His next words stunned Emiya Kiritsugu:

"Aren't you going to use that little toy of yours that makes magicians' Magic Circuits go berserk?"

"Did you really think you could continue hiding it? Underestimating my Archibald intelligence network?"

What the hell? How could Kayneth know information about that Mystic Code of mine?

Every magus I've killed has been completely destroyed without a trace. All these years, aside from the already deceased Natalia, not even the Einzbern family should know the truth about my Mystic Code, right?

Sensing something was wrong, Emiya Kiritsugu's hollow, emotionless pupils widened slightly. Even his speed in changing magazines was slowed by Kayneth's words. As everyone knows, magi have always been beings who coexist in pride and arrogance, looking down on ordinary people.

Most of the thirty-plus magi who had died by his hand over the years had stumbled on these two aspects.

He had always been extremely cautious. Every magus he killed was destroyed without leaving corpses, which was why he earned the notorious title of Magus Killer. After all, many magi didn't care about death itself.

What they cared about were Magic Circuits. His act of destroying corpses was equivalent to severing that magus family's Magic Circuits entirely. Naturally, no magus could possibly give him a friendly face, since Magic Circuits were more valuable than human lives.

But now, how could Kayneth know he possessed a Mystic Code that made magi's Magic Circuits go berserk? Which magus he'd killed had leaked information?

No, that wasn't right. There might be someone else who knew about the Origin Bullets, and that person wasn't close to him—they were his enemy. Illyasviel von Einzbern. If she truly was a Heroic Spirit Servant from the future, then her knowing information about the Origin Bullets and secretly revealing it to Kayneth wouldn't be difficult...

Bang!

Gunpowder roared. Emiya Kiritsugu's brain spun rapidly. While retreating toward a corner, he fired a large-caliber bullet. This was his beloved gun, the Thompson Contender, a weapon that could fire both Origin Bullets and other large-caliber ammunition—a firearm capable of penetrating the Volumen Hydrargyrum's defense!

A 30.06mm caliber sniper rifle bullet—unless riding in an armored vehicle, no magus could avoid injury!

Clang!

"Scalp (Slash). A rat is just a rat. You don't actually think switching to large-caliber bullets could scratch me, do you? Don't make me laugh. How could technology that's only developed over a few hundred years compare to the noble magecraft with thousands upon thousands of years of history?"

The large-caliber bullet penetrated the thin silver liquid. Kayneth didn't even bother dodging, letting the sniper rifle bullet pass by his body.

What should have been a scene of blood splattering—but the moment that bullet touched Kayneth's clothing, it suddenly shattered into fragments as if hitting some impenetrable wall. Even the terrifying impact only made Kayneth's shoulder shift slightly!

A Mystic Code—a Mystic Code that could reduce impact force, plus one that defended against physical attacks!

Kayneth wasn't carrying just the Volumen Hydrargyrum as his Mystic Code—he was fully armed from head to toe!

His arrogance and pride weren't stupidity—he genuinely had the capital to completely crush all the magi in this Holy Grail War. With the Clock Tower and Archibald family backing him, unlike other magi who had at most one or two Mystic Codes, he was like some damn rich second generation who could literally throw money at people to death!

Emiya Kiritsugu was a professional Magus Killer, yes—but he absolutely had never fought a Clock Tower Lord like Kayneth who possessed both extremely high magical attainments and the wealth to equip multiple Mystic Codes!

Boom!

The Volumen Hydrargyrum transformed into a blade-sharp slash that instantly arrived, easily destroying the entire corridor's walls and windows, as if subjected to a bombing attack.

"I can only use that move, then." Realizing Kayneth had automatic defensive Mystic Codes on his body.

Fleeing into the corner and heading toward another area, Emiya Kiritsugu's heart couldn't help but sink. He truly hadn't expected that someone as proud as a Clock Tower Lord would bring a full set of Mystic Codes when dealing with a Magus Killer he looked down upon.

Although this type of automatic defensive Mystic Code was obviously consumable, as long as he didn't encounter too great a crisis, the other party most likely wouldn't use Magic Circuits for defense.

"Rat oh rat, are you thinking about why I know your trump card?"

"Disgrace to magi, despicable scum—even after learning a bit of magecraft, you'll never understand magecraft's mysteries. Since your debut, you've used despicable methods to kill over forty magi, thirty-seven of whom vanished without a trace."

Kayneth unhurriedly, like a cat toying with a mouse, patted the dust on his shoulder and mockingly walked toward where Emiya Kiritsugu had fled:

"But you don't think that just because you disposed of the bodies, the Archibald family would have no way to deal with you, right? Some things aren't that the Clock Tower doesn't want to investigate—they're just too lazy to investigate. The so-called Magus Killer is merely a title given to you by a bunch of incompetent magi. In the eyes of any Clock Tower Lord, your actions are as laughable as your father Emiya Norikata violating the Mage's Association's will."

For Emiya Kiritsugu, the Clock Tower couldn't find information on him—they just felt it wasn't necessary before.

Since he'd decided to take this countryside magical ritual in the Far East somewhat seriously, he naturally would use his authority as a Clock Tower Lord and the intelligence network of the Archibald family's ninth-generation head to collect as much information as possible about his enemies.

Especially Emiya Kiritsugu—this bastard who'd agreed to a magical duel but then blew up his workshop. He had the Archibald family give special attention to investigating him, even digging up information about his father, Emiya Norikata, who was designated for Sealing by the Mage's Association, not to mention his foster mother and mentor, Natalia Kaminski, who negotiated with the Association to vouch for Emiya Kiritsugu and took him away when he was young.

Emiya Norikata—Emiya Kiritsugu's father, a Sealing Designated magus hunted by the Mage's Association. Years ago, he conducted Dead Apostle experiments on a small island village, later shot and killed by an unknown person for unclear reasons.

Natalia Kaminski—Emiya Kiritsugu's foster mother, the mentor who negotiated with the Mage's Association to let Emiya Kiritsugu successfully inherit twenty percent of Emiya Norikata's Magic Crest. She died in a plane crash falling into the Atlantic Ocean while pursuing a zombie virus incident.

These were Emiya Kiritsugu's direct relatives in the past. Following this lead, the Archibald family took only two days to operate and dig up the vast majority of Emiya Kiritsugu's life experiences and trump cards, leaving nothing hidden.

They were too lazy to investigate the Einzbern side—after all, they'd just hired Emiya Kiritsugu as external support.

The key point was during Natalia Kaminski's time and afterward—Emiya Kiritsugu had killed thirty-seven magi, and these magi were basically all destroyed without a trace. This caught the Archibald family's attention, and they quickly investigated.

Because theoretically, everyone knew those magi were killed by Emiya Kiritsugu. There was no need for him to destroy the bodies, and there were no reports of him stealing Magic Circuits either. From a practical perspective, Emiya Kiritsugu's behavior clearly had problems—he was deliberately hiding something.

After all, those people destroyed without a trace were uniformly all magi, not a single ordinary person. If there wasn't some story here, the Archibald family investigators receiving their lord Kayneth's orders could directly resign in disgrace.

"Even the dead can speak. The profundity of necromancy isn't something a filthy rat like you can understand."

Psychological pressure gradually increased. Kayneth's mocking voice approached from far to near. Using Time Alterto accelerate, Emiya Kiritsugu gritted his teeth.

He had to admit he'd greatly underestimated the connections and resources a Clock Tower Lord could mobilize.

In the past when dealing with magi, he always assassinated them by surprise, not giving magi time to prepare and respond. But the current Kayneth was completely different from those magi he'd assassinated before. The other party was proud and arrogant but not stupid.

Failing to kill him at the Hyatt Hotel, plus the competitive psychology formed by Illyasviel's attainments, made this Clock Tower Lord truly take the Holy Grail War seriously. And this seriousness almost made him a monster Master second only to Heroic Spirit Servants in the Holy Grail War.

On a completely different tier from other Masters—like a genius pay-to-win player versus a hardworking free-to-play player.

"The reason you've been able to struggle and survive until today isn't because your strategies or schemes are particularly brilliant—it's merely the irrational coincidence called luck. I'll immediately let you understand the difference between the two, make you clearly recognize the abyssal gap between you and magi who truly stand at the pyramid's peak."

"For your offense against me not long ago, I won't let you die easily. I'll use healing magecraft to preserve your lungs and heart, then slowly flay you alive bit by bit. Carry your regret, pain, and despair as you watch your life slowly fade away."

Boom! With Kayneth's footsteps, the castle's floors and walls were destroyed by the Volumen Hydrargyrum's slashes. He would make Emiya Kiritsugu experience true despair.

Know what the gap was. The other party couldn't possibly win. In his eyes, the other party was just a rat he could crush at any time.

He didn't know what Emiya Kiritsugu's trump card was, but based on intelligence collected by the Archibald family, he could deduce it was a Mystic Code that made Magic Circuits go berserk.

He didn't know the specific principle, but he was clear that if there really was such a Mystic Code targeting magi, it would certainly only be effective when magi used their Magic Circuits.

Then, as long as he didn't stupidly use a large amount of Magic Circuits, Emiya Kiritsugu's trump card would be equivalent to nothing against him.

"Before you die, bear your resentment—resent your employer's cowardice, resent the Einzbern family who insulted the Holy Grail War, resent your father Emiya Norikata and foster mother Natalia's incompetence. Drown here while clinging to your ideal of touching the omnipotent wish-granter!"

Bang!

Bullets poured from behind. The Volumen Hydrargyrum instantly automatically deployed a defensive wall!

Kayneth arrogantly adjusted his hairstyle, completely ignoring Emiya Kiritsugu's renewed ambush as if it were just some insignificant little interlude.

"How exactly did you find out?"

Emiya Kiritsugu, continuously pulling the trigger and firing bullets, spoke. This was his first real conversation with Kayneth. His face was expressionless, sweat constantly flowing from his forehead due to excessive consumption. Time Alter placed too great a burden on his body.

He didn't believe claims about the dead speaking. After all, the most recent magus he'd killed had been dead for over two years.

Even if the Archibald family could find some remains, how could necromancy track back so far?

"Heh heh, countryside magi are countryside magi after all. As long as I felt something was wrong, the Archibald family and Clock Tower have ways to dig up everything about you. The so-called Magus Killer only has this much insight."

At the end of the day, you rat have never encountered a magus who truly stands at a certain peak.

Kayneth disdainfully patted his white gloves. The other party's insight was truly too limited.

For the magical world, there were no absolute impossibilities or completely secure secrets. While TV dramas often fantasize about the dead speaking, in the magi's world, the dead really could speak—all sorts of traces and clues could talk.

"Fervor, mei sanguis (Boil, my blood)."

Magazine empty!

In the gap between reloading, the Volumen Hydrargyrum changed form again, attacking Emiya Kiritsugu standing in the castle hall. At this moment, there was nowhere for him to escape!

Because this was a targeted attack in a small area. Even if he activated Time Alter, he'd have to leave behind one of his four limbs. Kayneth suddenly felt the other party was hopelessly stupid. Clearly, fighting guerrilla warfare in the corridors would give him a chance to survive a few more minutes, but now jumping out in a wide-open area like the hall after being provoked was purely seeking death!

"My knowledge of magecraft is indeed shallow." Emiya Kiritsugu reached for the remote control in his pocket.

The instant the Volumen Hydrargyrum launched its attack, he pressed one of the buttons.

His bullets were ineffective against Kayneth. Large-caliber sniper rifle bullets would also be blocked by the other party's Mystic Code. But this type of simple defensive Mystic Code—he'd encountered them before and was very clear their damage resistance had an upper limit.

"But similarly, your knowledge of modern industrial explosives' yield is also too shallow."

The next moment—BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

The Volumen Hydrargyrum tried to return to defend but it was already too late. The ground where Kayneth stood, the ceiling, tables, chairs, flowerbeds—everything in the surrounding area erupted with violent impact force. Scorching flames and explosions engulfed most of the castle hall!

Modern industrial explosives instantly swallowed Kayneth including the Volumen Hydrargyrum. Thick smoke and flames like a Noble Phantasm release made the Einzbern family castle shake, seeming like some earthquake had occurred, resounding throughout the castle inside and out!

Emiya Kiritsugu indeed didn't understand magecraft as well as Kayneth, but in this Holy Grail War, no magus understood modern warfare better than him—understood what was more efficient at killing people!

The Mystic Code that made magi's Magic Circuits go berserk was his trump card.

But he'd killed so many people in most of his life that even he probably couldn't remember clearly. How could he possibly have only one high-efficiency method targeting troublesome magi?

Magecraft was already outdated. Now, technology was mainstream. Firepower was the true royal road and truth.

"BOOM!!!"

"This kind of impact force—who won between Lancer and Rider?"

Purple lightning and the roaring red dragon collided. The terrifying magical impact force sent countless soldiers flying and rolling, even erupting into a small mushroom cloud!

The Saber girl was also pushed back several steps by this impact. She could only cover her eyes with one hand while using the Invisible Sword to deeply pierce the sandy earth with the other, barely stabilizing herself to avoid being affected by the aftershocks like the other Heroic Spirit armies!

A Noble Phantasm clash.

Both were Noble Phantasm clashes that almost exceeded anti-army rank.

She couldn't clearly see the specific battle situation. After all, since participating in the Holy Grail War, she'd never had magical power as abundant as Diarmuid and Iskandar's in her entire life.

For her, a zero-spending player, to judge this peak-tier match was really asking too much.

"Ptui ptui ptui! So much sand! Big brother, block it for me, I'm about to get blown away Σ(°△°|||)︴!"

"Haha, clearly an Age of Gods magician skilled in magecraft, yet you haven't mastered basic magecraft to resist wind and rain?"

"...The Age of Gods was very cruel. What I learned were all large-scale magics that required magic circle support. Only close combat-related magecraft didn't require excessive chanting."

"As expected of Goddess Hecate's disciple Medea. The Age of Gods you speak of truly shocks me greatly."

Hiding more than ten meters behind the shield-bearing Ptolemy, Miss Illya also barely watched that explosive battlefield in the distance. What happened to the Holy Grail War being a secret magical ritual? Everyone was hiding this kind of ultimate move—how could it be called secret?

She didn't dare imagine if this magical sword light cannon and lightning meteor charge trampling were released in the outside Fuyuki City's downtown area, how would the Holy Church explain it?

The Holy Grail War really had a new version every day. In the early stages, aside from that cheater Gilgamesh, everyone basically started with close combat or normal magecraft.

But by the fifth day, even magical light cannons appeared. A good martial arts manly duel turned into who could shoot better beams, huh?

"With this kind of magical release, which of us is actually Caster? Who's the Age of Gods magician?"

"The classless Gilgamesh can play indiscriminate hundred-gate Noble Phantasm bombardment, Gilles de Rais can play summoning giant sea demons and small sea demons. Now weapon rack big brother and Conqueror King uncle—one can play light cannons, the other can consecutively deploy two anti-army rank Noble Phantasms. Is everyone's magical power really free?"

Prostrate on the sandy ground with her head covered in a defensive crouch, Miss Illya couldn't help but complain internally.

Everyone had so many trump cards and ultimate moves—what about her?

When would the version update give her an Inherent Barrier or this kind of super light cannon?

She clearly had the highest magical power quantity of everyone present. Without this kind of ultimate move that could rely on magical power to increase output, wasn't she wasting her Lesser Grail Heart preservation skill? She also wanted to experience the joy of this kind of Noble Phantasm clash...

Tsk, no good. Even the least favored Conqueror King uncle could pull out dual anti-army rank Noble Phantasms. Looks like she needed to be more cautious about that Knight King big sister. After so many version updates, who could guarantee Emiya Kiritsugu and she didn't have some power-up? The Einzbern family wasn't simple. Maybe the Knight King big sister was also secretly hiding something big. Otherwise, she couldn't possibly still be the simple stat monster from the night after the port battle, right...

So to be safe, she should just take out that Knight King big sister who, like her, still hadn't shown her hand or revealed her depths...

"Okeanos—is this your dream? Now, it's time for your dream to wake."

"Hahahaha, didn't you also say it? A man's dreams won't end even until death."

The aftershocks dispersed. The battlefield's center left only a giant crater several hundred meters in diameter.

Terrifying magical flames rose up, like a volcano that had just erupted lava.

The Conqueror King's great laughter broke through the tornado, pierced the sky, resounded through the entire world. His robust right arm had already disappeared. What also disappeared was his Wheel of Divine Might. Blood soaked his cloak, making it look even more vivid.

In the end, he was still slightly inferior in the magical clash. That anti-army rank Noble Phantasm enhanced by the magical furnace couldn't be matched by mere two Command Seals.

At least in the moment that magical furnace was destroyed and erupted, the other party's Noble Phantasm had infinitely approached anti-fortress rank—the kind with nearly inexhaustible magical power at that.

"Lancer, I'll ask you one more time—do you hear it?" Iskandar laughed loudly again.

"This is a desert. There is no endless ocean." Diarmuid shook his head.

"No, the waves of Okeanos are right here. The throbbing in this king's chest is the waves rising from Okeanos. I've already heard the sound of those waves crashing."

Iskandar seemed to understand something. At this moment, he almost forgot even the severe pain from his arm.

Standing at the ends of heaven and earth, lapping against empty shores—this was the sound at the world's end.

Even though this king was severely injured and the magical power replenished by the Command Seals in his body was about to be exhausted, he hadn't lost his composure or dominance, still standing proudly on the earth.

His army was rushing toward him, but at this instant, he seemed to feel victory wasn't so important anymore. Because even if he was about to be killed by the equally overextended Diarmuid, he would die on the road pursuing a man's dreams.

"Our King! Our King! Our King!"

After the aftershocks dispersed, hundreds and thousands of Heroic Spirit armies, including numerous second-rate Heroic Spirit Servants and first-rate Heroic Spirit Servants, all rushed over and jumped into the crater.

The Inherent Barrier was shattering, the world was being destroyed. Iskandar had been defeated.

On this battlefield, he had stepped forward for his retainers, blocking that devastating disaster-like Noble Phantasm.

"Unfortunately, she still doesn't understand—just like that Knight King girl, equally extreme."

"Who are you talking about?"

"A girl who pursues the ideal of solitary happiness but never considered how lonely it is without someone who understands her. Clearly a hero, yet denying she's a hero... a little girl."