A draw?
No, this was a loss.
As long as you haven't won in the end, then you've lost. No matter how magnificent your combat record, no matter how many enemies you fought to a standstill, as long as the enemy hasn't completely died, then as a Holy Grail War participant, I've already lost.
Already at the limit, already unable to stand. Even a Heroic Spirit Servant's neural brain had been burned out.
Noble Phantasm rank restrictions, already heavily injured by Lancelot, the pain of each death—so what if using madness and foolishness relieved the pressure? What should hurt still hurts terribly. Things that can't be done still can't be done. To have fought this far with an Assassin-class designation, with such inferior attributes consecutively killing three Heroic Spirit Servants, fighting two top-tier Knight-class Heroic Spirit Servants to a standstill—
Which Assassin recorded in Fuyuki City's historical Holy Grail Wars could accomplish this level? What more could there be to be dissatisfied with?
Ending things this way wouldn't be so bad. After all, rest was truly needed...
Since this Holy Grail War began, except for resting briefly at Shirou's place, every day had been high-intensity life-or-death combat. Your spirit and body were already very tired, weren't they...
"Crack."
That was the sound of the Noble Phantasm card shattering—the summoning transformation released after the user fell unconscious.
Blood flowed ceaselessly from her body. The cracks of overloaded, burned Magic Circuits covered her small face, arms, thighs, waist, abdomen, forehead. The spirit dress on her body was also gradually turning into particles of magical light. In this still-scorching massive crater, it was beautiful yet tragic.
The Crimson Rose took one life, the invisible sword one life, the incomplete Anti-Army level holy sword light wave three lives, the magical furnace-boosted crimson demon cannon combining demon sword and spear six lives. Two top-tier Heroic Spirit Servants played all their trump cards, taking away all eleven lives of Miss Illya's God Hand.
Everyone had no strength left, becoming lambs awaiting slaughter. They had bet everything they could use. Now, whoever could still move would be the victor.
However, quite unfortunately, the only person currently capable of moving seemed to be Iskandar, who had been critically injured at the start and watched until now without any magical energy.
"You've reached your limit. The Magic Circuits in your body have been completely burned out by overloaded combat. Even a Heroic Spirit Servant's spirit body would have difficulty recovering. In this situation, you're already safe. There's no need to continue."
Whether the summoning device or the summoner herself—
Both had shattered. The B+ rank summoning device's stored power had been emptied of eleven lives.
The already heavily injured summoner's Magic Circuits and neural brain had been burned out by the burden.
Illyasviel had been fighting while injured from the very beginning. Being able to forcibly withstand Anti-Army and Anti-Fortress level Noble Phantasms, forcing a draw with two powerful Knight-class heroic champions, was already a miracle that would make the world find hard to believe.
That she could remain unconscious and alive now was thanks to the Class Card's protective mechanism immunizing the user against fatal injuries. Otherwise, with her neural brain completely burned out, Illyasviel would be equivalent to a doll that could be manipulated at will.
A certain beast's hoarse, frenzied voice partially recovering consciousness echoed beside Miss Illya's ear as the spirit dress dissipated. It might have been an auditory hallucination.
Or perhaps it was the Class Card's mercy to the user before death, like a life flashing before one's eyes.
Essentially, it was still the Class's restriction. The Noble Phantasm rank was limited too greatly by the Class designation. Combined with being bitten randomly by that mad dog Lancelot, the hoarse voice didn't think Illyasviel had done anything wrong. Rather, it felt she had exceeded imagination. Others relied on their Masters, Command Seals, or backgrounds, while Illyasviel could only rely on herself.
The entire time, like an unloved orphan player, she could only continuously rely on information gaps and various schemes, fighting these Heroic Spirit Servants—who each seemed to be cheating—to this extent.
It could be said that if Illyasviel Master had been Kayneth, she wouldn't have fought so arduously.
"Don't..."
"?"
The spirit dress, halfway through shattering, suddenly stopped at the little girl's unconscious murmur.
"Prayer, beginning, simulation, error..."
The cracked body began seeping blood. The buried silver-haired little girl could chant deadly magecraft whose effects even she might not understand. The Berserker card's dissipation stopped. That was the Magic Circuits reactivating. Despite all her Magic Circuits being burned out by overload, she still had Magic Circuits.
She had already reached her limit. Even consciousness was lost. But her instincts remained. Just like Diarmuid and the swordswoman—even at their limits, their instincts wouldn't disappear. Because heroes are those who break through desperate situations.
Whether noble or base, for the sake of one's obsession—break through the threshold called limits!
Surpass your own limits, surpass your own limiters. Bodily collapse no longer mattered!
Death was never a hero's proper ending. If you cannot match a hero... then become part of the hero, become the existence you once longed for in your solitude!
"Muscular system, vascular system, lymphatic system, nervous system, simulate..."
"?!"
Stop it, Illyasviel! Have you gone mad? Deliberately misrecognizing all these systems as simulated Magic Circuits—this kind of self-damage affects the user directly. Even your Noble Phantasm card's death immunity can't save you!
A Heroic Spirit Servant's essential composition was shell and magical energy. The Holy Grail ritual's Master-Servant contract was equivalent to granting a visa. Miss Illya directly connected to Fuyuki City's Holy Grail system, thus never lacking magical energy. But that was only "not lacking." Magic Circuits and Spirit Origin were the channels for magical energy transmission. What she was doing now was equivalent to simulating all her bodily systems as Magic Circuits, directly expanding this transmission channel to unobstructed levels.
Burning out one system could be repaired over long periods using magical energy, but burning them all out was like burning her Spirit Origin, making her existence disappear.
Simply put, while others burned magical energy and stamina, Miss Illya was about to burn her Spirit Origin as fuel too.
"Hurry and stop. You've done well enough. Those two Knight-class heroes don't dare touch you now. There's absolutely no need for you to fight so desperately..."
However, unfortunately, the silver-haired little girl currently had no consciousness—only instincts, pursuits, and obsessions engraved into her bones that had never changed. Only in this Holy Grail War had she gradually embarked on the path of happiness called the hero's road.
This was nearly impossible in modern science. How could a person without consciousness still have thoughts? Wasn't this a paradox scientifically?
If there's no consciousness, how can there be instinct? If unable to think, how can the brain drive bodily organs to move? Wasn't this preposterous?
But in this world filled with magecraft and mystery, there seemed to never be any absolute impossibilities. Someone would always become the miraculous exception.
And Illyasviel von Einzbern, this girl, would turn this impossibility into possibility.
"Ber... ser... ker..."
"Just a little longer, stay with me just a little longer..."
The silver-haired little girl's lips moved soundlessly. No one could hear what she was saying. Perhaps even she herself couldn't hear. But just after she finished speaking, the shattered light particles began gathering. The massive battle-axe sword that had already vanished reappeared at her side.
She trembled slightly, as if afraid, as if feeling cold.
But it didn't matter. Her blood-stained small hand stopped trembling the moment it touched the battle-axe sword.
Though very afraid, as long as friends remained by her side, everything would be fine.
Jack the Ripper, Heroic Spirit Emiya, Berserker—though only one good friend remained now, as long as a friend stayed by her side, she could feel at ease.
Even if just for a while, even if deceiving herself...
At least, at the very least, she could deceive herself into believing she hadn't been abandoned by everyone...
"This power—is it over? The battle? Then it seems I no longer need to hold back against these people."
Sensing the distant magical energy torrent explosion, the terrifying mushroom cloud rising in the Magic Mirror Forest—
The homunculus girl also sensed the subsiding combat reactions of other Heroic Spirit Servants at the castle's peak. Her crimson vertical pupils flickered twice. The oddly-shaped key in her hand slowly rotated, opening her maximum sustainable output magnitude.
"Not good!"
Kayneth sensed something wrong. Through the Volumen Hydrargyrum, he discovered the sky above was now completely covered by golden ripples. Dozens, nearly a hundred Noble Phantasms were opening and forming, and the magnitude of magical energy they radiated was completely different from before—all reaching at least B-rank sword, spear, blade, and halberd Noble Phantasms!
He had consumed most of his Mystic Codes. This level of coverage bombardment absolutely couldn't be blocked. Besides recalling his Heroic Spirit Servant, he had only a dead end!
"Kiritsugu Emiya, are you ready yet? Hm?"
"Clatter!"
Just as Kayneth wanted to tell Kiritsugu not to delay, he looked back, only to see no trace of Kiritsugu Emiya in the hall. There was only—damn it—a fleeting, carefree silhouette that, the moment the Noble Phantasm torrent formed, had unhesitatingly smashed through the ruined hall's outer window and fled toward the Magic Mirror Forest.
Kayneth's pupils widened slightly. He had guarded against Kiritsugu Emiya's possible backstabbing ambush, preventing this guy from shooting him first then recalling his Heroic Spirit Servant to duel the homunculus girl.
But how could Kiritsugu Emiya, this Magus Killer, not have anticipated that he was guarding against him? His purpose from the start wasn't to fight alongside him.
Nor was it to backstab him under the pretext of cooperation. Rather, it was to have him attract the homunculus girl's attention, thereby finding an opportunity to break through.
"You think you can escape?"
The homunculus girl expressionlessly aimed twenty-four B-rank Noble Phantasms at the fleeing Kiritsugu Emiya!
Her Spirit Origin and Magic Circuits fully activated. A total of seventy-two Noble Phantasm gates opened wide, reversing in the air, then suddenly falling from the sky with roaring explosions!
Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom—the endless bombardment truly began!
The Einzbern Castle collapsed like building blocks instantly—the hall and stairs submerged and vaporized by the impact. Half the castle began melting as if encountering high temperatures. Load-bearing pillars collapsed one by one. The entire castle began collapsing as if experiencing a magnitude-10 earthquake, creating new job positions for civil engineering professionals.
The impact spread to the Magic Mirror Forest's edge. The terrifying atmospheric pressure directly blew Kiritsugu Emiya away and buried him. The tremendous pressure prevented this Magus Killer from even catching his breath. The blazing magical flames ignited his coat. His entire body endured the severe pain brought by high temperature and impact.
There was no opportunity. Perhaps there had been one initially, but once the homunculus girl stopped holding back, neither he nor Kayneth could possibly break through that defensive line composed of countless Noble Phantasms.
He didn't know why she suddenly became serious, but he knew that if he didn't recall his Heroic Spirit Servant, he would definitely die—and die very miserably at that.
But thinking about the swordswoman's high-rank Magic Resistance, without two Command Seals he couldn't truly control her...
"Lancer!"
He was still hesitating, but Kayneth could hesitate no longer. Because the homunculus girl's main force was attacking him. In just a few seconds, he was blasted bloody. Moreover, that crimson radiance demon cannon earlier was the Noble Phantasm released by his Heroic Spirit Servant. No intense magical energy fluctuations were coming from the rooftop now, already indicating that Age of Gods magus Medea had been dealt with!
After all, if that Age of Gods magus still hadn't died, Diarmuid, who had revealed even this trump card, would die. Based on still being able to sense his contract with Diarmuid, he could deduce the final victor wasn't Medea!
Since that snowballing super-broken Medea was gone, the already heavily injured, unable-to-escape Conqueror King didn't matter. First, deal with this strange puppet Servant!
As for why Medea died but the homunculus girl still hadn't disappeared?
This question only proved the homunculus girl was corporeal, constructed from real-world materials. Even without a controller, she could act autonomously. Look at her now, suddenly firing at full power—didn't she look like a familiar going berserk after losing its controller?
It all matched up, everything matched! The Age of Gods magus Medea was just a super-broken Heroic Spirit Servant who had been caught off-guard by his Diarmuid's trump card and exited the stage!
Of course, whether he could still restrain Diarmuid after using his last Command Seal—damn it, he was about to die, what was there to consider? Previously he hadn't been pushed to the edge. Now truly desperate, at worst he'd give the Holy Grail to Diarmuid. With his family wealth, he didn't lack for a mere magical energy battery. If Diarmuid still backstabbed him despite this, it would only mean he misjudged the man—that his eyes were blind...
"Clang!"
"Boom!"
The final crimson inscription beneath his glove vanished. Before the battered and bloodied Kayneth, magical energy currents surged. In an instant, a demon spear thrust out, deflecting the incoming Noble Phantasm!
"Lancer, you?" However, mid-fierce battle, noticing that half of Diarmuid's body had been burned to charcoal, looking like a swaying corpse about to die at any moment, Kayneth's eyes widened before he could resume his arrogance.
"My lord, I cannot hold out much longer. Please flee. I apologize—I may be unable to fulfill my oath to present you with the omnipotent wish-granter."
Diarmuid swung his weapon, emitting a hoarse, weak voice. His current state was considerably better than the swordswoman's, because she couldn't move at all.
While he still had a magical furnace inside him, so with powerful willpower bolstering him, he could still move somewhat.
Or rather, it was that obsession to protect his lord, the humble wish to use all his strength and ability to keep his lord alive, that drove his already broken body to move. He couldn't faint, couldn't die here, because behind him stood his lord. Only fighting to the death could complete his proof of loyalty.
Clang!
The demon spear, in a moment of carelessness, was knocked away by a rushing Noble Phantasm. His current speed was too slow.
Compared to the hero who in his peak fought tens of thousands of troops, he was now like a fragile maiden.
"What nonsense! You are my Heroic Spirit Servant, Kayneth's! Both you and I represent the Archibald family's honor! I haven't admitted defeat yet—how can you admit it first! Have you forgotten your oath to me before coming here?!"
Kayneth's brain was instantly filled with rage. He even seemed to forget the pain from being bombarded by Noble Phantasms. He had already done everything to the best of his ability. Diarmuid had also performed at a top-tier level exceeding his myth and epic. Why should they lose? Why should they admit defeat to a bunch of provincial magi?!
When facing the homunculus girl, he hadn't immediately recalled him due to death's threat. Instead, he considered that the Age of Gods magus Medea had already exited, and only after being unable to harvest the Conqueror King did he pull Diarmuid back to his side!
He hadn't feared death, yet Diarmuid's first words upon being recalled were to tell him to flee in embarrassment like Kiritsugu Emiya. This was simply insulting his pride!
"My lord..."
"Fight freely, don't worry about me. Regardless of how much strength you have left, go bring me that glittering bastard's head. This isn't a request or negotiation, but an order from your lord to you, his knight, after you called me lord!"
The Volumen Hydrargyrum gathered, gradually forming a sphere. Kayneth fully used his Magic Circuits to maintain and reinforce it, nearly roaring his order at Diarmuid.
Perhaps he truly had gone red-eyed with killing, or perhaps, proud as he was, he wouldn't accept failure.
Using the magical energy remaining beyond maintaining the Volumen Hydrargyrum, he cast basic healing magecraft for Diarmuid.
Fight! As long as he wasn't dead! Both he and his Heroic Spirit Servant would fight on!
A mere provincial magecraft ritual in the Far East—how could the Clock Tower's genius Lord and the glorious knight who surpassed his own mythology admit defeat? How could they disgrace the honor and pride carried on their shoulders?!
"I need no apologies. In my eyes, only victory can wash away your disrespect!"
Hearing this, Diarmuid's handsome face, one-third burned to charcoal, showed stunned surprise, which gradually turned to ferocity. Though this basic healing magecraft hadn't restored him much, his lord's furious words also completely awakened him.
His primary goal shouldn't be keeping his lord alive, but achieving victory in this Holy Grail War—because that was what his lord truly wanted.
Go all out, don't worry about anything else. Fight—a desperate battle for life, a desperate battle solely for victory.
"...Your will is my will!"
Deflecting the final incoming rushing Noble Phantasm, Diarmuid's eyes fierce with battle roar, he then unhesitatingly pointed the demon sword in his hand at his own chest and thrust down.
"Riiip."
The charred flesh tore open. Blood flowed unstoppably. In an instant—
Diarmuid forcibly extracted the object within his body with his hand. All attribute values comprehensively decreased.
This was his confidence in preparing to cover Kayneth's retreat, his final defensive measure. But now it seemed unnecessary, because loyalty to this lord meant only victory through desperate battle. Any other concerns were merely disloyalty.
"One down. It seems I was still a bit slow. I only succeeded in killing Saber's Master, Kiritsugu Emiya."
The homunculus girl at the tower platform casually glanced at the Magic Mirror Forest, now scorched earth with no more magical energy reactions. Seemingly targeting Kayneth's side—
Actually, for her, Kiritsugu Emiya was the greatest threat, because only that guy was a bastard Magus Killer.
Therefore, the large-scale bombardment of Kayneth was just a feint. She was truly wholeheartedly aiming only at Kiritsugu Emiya. After all, she didn't want Tokiomi Tohsaka's magecraft workshop blown up by industrial explosives. That guy's danger level to Tokiomi was too high.
"Now it's your turn, Kayneth. It seems my and Tokiomi's judgment wasn't wrong. That traitorous witch truly dealt tremendous damage to the two Knight-classes and Cavalry. Saber may have even already exited, causing Kiritsugu Emiya to die without ever recalling her."
Extending her small hand—
The homunculus girl's crisp finger snap echoed in the night sky.
Noble Phantasms surged again from the seventy-two golden ripples. This time, all aimed at Diarmuid and Kayneth. Battling Diarmuid wasn't within the plan.
But with the magical energy magnitude his opponent currently radiated, plus the visible weakness—
To put it bluntly, he probably couldn't even match a proper third-rate Heroic Spirit Servant.
Therefore, the homunculus girl didn't mind sending him off here. After all, she was a standard second-rate to first-rate Heroic Spirit Servant. Beating a mere third-rate was simply too easy.
"The Holy Grail War ends tonight."
The homunculus girl proclaimed victory:
"There's no need for further words. Tonight, I ascend. Victory will belong to me, because I have already decided this... hm?"
Suddenly, an inexplicable sense of panic entered her mind. Her voice paused.
She looked toward that distant massive crater.
What is this... why would even I feel oppressed?
What is a prayer?
Wishing for one's desires to be realized.
Then what is the Lesser Grail's heart's prayer within the Holy Grail War system?
Similar to most non-Fuyuki City Holy Grail War ritual Grail principles, it manifests something based on magical energy. However, due to transmission circuit issues—similar to Heroic Spirit Servants whose transmission circuits themselves are too low—Miss Illya could from start to finish only realize rather small prayers.
For example: During the first night's battle, cooperating with the pure little girl disguise to influence Tokiomi Tohsaka's judgment; after encountering King Gilgamesh, desperately dodging his bombardment with all her might; being able to temporarily elevate her Luck or a single attribute stat through massive magical energy in short periods...
These were Miss Illya's limits so far, also the Assassin Spirit Origin's and Heroic Spirit Servant body's endurance limits. Could be said that for major matters she basically couldn't rely on it—combat-wise she mostly depended on All the World's Evil's gaze for improvement. Two great skills: one guaranteed daily life's lower limit, the other was combat's upper limit. After all, the amplification from extremified thinking was all-attribute, while the prayer's amplification could only target one item.
But was the Lesser Grail's heart's prayer only this much?
Obviously not.
Because just like internet connection speeds—if the speed isn't enough, just upgrade to better, right?
Magic circuits and Spirit Origin limited output. Burning her entire body to replace with new magic circuits would work.
Of course, this definitely wasn't enough. After all, the Lesser Grail's heart's prayer gave too little combat power boost. Simply using it this way was just trading her last life for a humble stat increase. Because Miss Illya didn't have a magic wand-type Noble Phantasm. What use was purely increasing her magnitude?
If she had a magic wand or magic cannon, she could utilize it. But without such things, it was just burning life. Basically no different from seeking death while accomplishing nothing.
Praying for herself, letting the fabricated muscular system, vascular system, lymphatic system, nervous system, etc.—everything be misjudged and simulated as magic circuits.
This indeed could achieve bug-exploiting with life, temporarily opening tunnels to gather massive magical energy in short time.
But how could she use this magical energy? The Noble Phantasm card's rank was fixed—no matter how much infused, B+ was still B+. At most making her blood more valuable, where even just a dozen drops could match Command Seal mana supply.
"Just a while longer... muscles, blood vessels, nerves... I only need one last moment..."
"Die here, die on the road pursuing ideals, die in the process..."
Gray-black magical energy like thin fog emanated from the crater. Trees closer in the magic mirror forest began withering—decaying and dying as if inhaling toxic gas.
Branches' green leaves bent down. Tree trunks decayed. Black water droplets condensed into substance, eroding the earth.
This wasn't some trump card, but rather a certain whimsical idea from an afternoon dessert. When in dreams the white Lesser Grail and black All the World's Evil made Miss Illya choose, though Miss Illya chose neither, she also didn't treat that dream as mere fantasy.
She was thinking—surviving at Lancelot's was because old and new friends from dreams saved her. Then what about next time falling into near-death? Next time facing desperate straits again? Could she truly entrust her life and death, her fate to others?
No. Being unable to control her own life and death, unable to control fate's choices—once was enough!
Just as she said in the dream, she fearlessly faced death in repeated life-gambling only to live better, not purely being unafraid of death. Dying while advancing toward death, falling on the road resisting unfair fate pursuing ideals—she never minded.
If next time she still had to choose one side, even if just forced possibly.
She also didn't fear blooming her final humble remaining light before choosing, exhausting everything.
So she had this certain self-destructive whimsical idea, an extreme notion...
If using the Lesser Grail's heart's prayer at full output on her other skill All the World's Evil's gaze, what would the final result be?
Two skills with completely different standings. Two utterly different paths of saving the world and destroying the world. If they interacted, what sparks would they produce?
Using "good's" power to pray for "evil's" help.
Would good reform evil, or would evil devour good?
"With good, I pray."
"Enact evil of happiness."
Soundless chanting raised terrifying magical energy flood. The unconscious silver-thread small girl slowly climbed up—or rather, was slowly lifted by the enormous magical energy field.
Demigod power as bond. Holy Grail power as foundation. Malicious power breaking through the extreme border.
Einzbern magecraft learning connected contexts, building impossibility into possibility.
Flowers blooming and falling penetrating life and death. Transcending limits reaching absolute pinnacle. This body's journey only ended by death.
Perhaps Miss Illya also had considerable magecraft talent. Clearly just an Assassin, yet after burning Spirit Origin and everything, she actually like Diarmuid Ua Duibhne transcended the Holy Grail War class container's limits. Using her own skills, thinking, and magecraft to create some kind of forbidden-level great magecraft clearly not recorded on her status sheet.
Aside from dying, there didn't seem to be too great a price. Trading discarded Spirit Origin for breakthrough magecraft beyond Holy Grail War rule restrictions. Using the Lesser Grail's heart's prayer as foundation, creating great magecraft that would surprise even her if she could survive and awaken.
"Ara ara? What exactly is that thing? This magical energy reaction is excessive, right? Could that Age of Gods mage little girl still have fighting capability?"
Iskandar hugged his half-broken wine barrel with one arm, leisurely sitting on the castle rooftop almost gone, gazing at that unconscious small girl who'd stood back up in the distance, surrounded by substantialized malice, scratching his head—seeming somewhat troubled yet also somewhat surprised.
Such terrifying magical energy. This magical energy—even compared to Diarmuid's anti-fortress level Noble Phantasm energy, didn't differ much...
Moreover, what were those black things transforming into black muddy water covering that Age of Gods mage's body? Were there cases of magical energy so concentrated it could substantialize...
"Caster, still alive?"
"If just now Knight King little girl or that Glorious Knight still had strength to pursue, then she probably wouldn't be. But now I can't say for sure. After all, this king is also seeing such a strange existence for the first time—clearly already unconscious, yet still able to stand back up."
"You still won't leave?"
Still without much strength, blood already congealing, the Saber girl with empty eye socket lying against the wall lowered her head, asking with hoarse, powerless, fragile voice.
Diarmuid had been summoned back and left. She didn't know why Kiritsugu Emiya still hadn't summoned her back, also hadn't used Command Seals to assist her. Though her current state meant one Command Seal was a drop in the bucket. Forget the curse on her flank and twisted arm—just restoring one-third combat capability was impossible. Even her eyes couldn't be repaired. But it could at least restore ten or twenty percent mobility.
Her will never fell short of others'. As long as she still had strength to crawl up, she could fight again until she completely died.
"Hahahaha! Wolves ahead, tigers behind—where do you think this king can go?"
Directly ahead was the crater left by the magic cannon, the Age of Gods pinnacle mage Medea standing back up.
Behind was King Gilgamesh who'd abandoned kingly honor to ambush various Masters, seemingly intensely battling Diarmuid.
One—no Noble Phantasms. Two—no magical energy. Going sideways would probably get stared down by both sides. Under these circumstances, Iskandar knew he couldn't go anywhere and laughed heartily. Moreover, since he'd already admitted defeat, he wasn't some petty king who couldn't lose. If breaking through, it should be openly in conquest's name—a frontal battle.
Glug glug glug.
"Regrettable. That little girl still doesn't understand how lonely her path is. Just like Knight King you—seemingly no one around corrected your thought and behavior, letting you walk some path of absolute persistence."
Splash! After draining the remaining wine in the wooden barrel, one-armed Iskandar drew the broken cavalry sword at his waist, walking to the ruins' front edge while tipsy and shaking his head.
But precisely because of this unshakable persistence, they were summoned by the Grail, right?
Rip, rip, rip.
Black-red muddy water mixed with blood and magical energy burst forth from that hunched silver-thread small girl's bare cracked back, like demon wings—eerie yet beautiful.
The not-yet-faded spirit dress's black skirt transformed, fusing with black long skirt gathering on the other side into one whole. Looking both discordant yet inexplicably carrying strange attraction, unconsciously drawing out ordinary people's inner depths' desires—lust, greed, avarice, and destructive urges to ravage, etc.
Black muddy water blindfolding covered the silver-thread small girl's pupils. Her small body stiffly placed small hands on the huge axe-sword beside her that didn't match her size.
That inexplicable oppressive feeling arose in Iskandar's heart—or rather, in all Heroic Spirit Servants' hearts who could sense this power. That was true anti-hero, chaotic evil. Moreover, absolutely not that kind of ordinary anti-hero.
"Rested this long—you should get up too, right? Don't let this king look down on you, Knight King of Great Britain." As if also acknowledging the Saber girl's firm will, Iskandar laughed heartily, no longer calling the girl lying corpse-like behind him "little girl." After all, what he looked down on most were only wavering people. Even if he disliked her saint-like pure kingly way, he had to admit she was truly a genuine hero.
Of course, this was just teasing. Because he also knew clearly the opponent had only rested a few minutes. In this time, forget recovering—the opponent even had difficulty speaking cleanly and decisively.
"...Go, Rider. No need to persist here. You can't defeat her."
The Saber girl sighed, barely raising her head. Empty eye socket and jade-green pupil gazing distantly.
She already couldn't see distant things clearly, but Instinct still constantly warned her—the one emanating this magical energy and oppression was absolutely not an existence any present person could contend with now. Peak condition unhurt with abundant magical energy perhaps still had winning chances.
But now, everyone present without exception was in near-death state. Staying would just add one more exit. Her and Kiritsugu Emiya's contract also hadn't failed.
But Kiritsugu Emiya still hadn't supplied her mana. Even if she wanted to run, she was willing but unable. Even if able to run, any Heroic Spirit Servant casually emerging mid-escape could make her die in hatred. Rather than dying so humiliatingly, better to just wait like this for Kiritsugu Emiya's complete death—or for Illyasviel to kill her. At least that way she'd die with some dignity.
"Hahahaha! This isn't persistence—just a process rushing toward the endless sea! This king and this king's subjects no longer need the omnipotent wish-granter. We won't be restrained like Knight King you!"
Having recovered a trace of magical energy, Iskandar laughed heartily again. Even with broken sword edge, he pointed at that distant invincible enemy. This was the kingly way he'd upheld all his life. Had he not died prematurely at merely age thirty-three in life, surely his fame bonus wouldn't stop just here.
I witness!
I conquer!
"If you still care for your kingdom, then stand up here. Like that Glorious Knight who transcended myth for loyalty. Like that lonely little girl pursuing happiness even when enemies with everyone. This Holy Grail War spanning ancient and modern has never had so-called losers—only persistent heroes killing other persistent heroes. They've all transcended their pasts. The Holy Grail War is never our ending, but rather our epic's new beginning!"
Diarmuid didn't have this intensity the first night. Medea the first night even less so.
Even dead King Gilgamesh could return to the battlefield.
Knight King, don't you understand yet? This Holy Grail War isn't just competing in Masters and past great achievements—it's racing against the clock competing to transcend the past!
This isn't looking at the past, but who can grasp the future first!
Knight King you watch over the past. They look toward the future. This is precisely Knight King's greatest gap from other heroes. The past is already fleeting. Only the future is higher transcendence. Only setting sights on the future can break through past legend!
Past glory and splendor aren't what those already standing at this Holy Grail War's peak need. What they need is only the future—composing new epics in new eras, new futures!
Especially Medea—every Heroic Spirit Servant, she dared engage and challenge new limits. This Holy Grail War, she'd almost played through the full game creating new legend!
BOOM—!!!
Black flowing light instantly penetrated the castle in the blink of an eye.
That was the axe-sword dyed with black muddy water. That was a strike casually thrown by the unconscious stiff small girl.
The castle garden at the top directly collapsed under this enormous force. That strike comparable to King Gilgamesh's high-rank Noble Phantasm rush narrowly brushed past Iskandar, directly knocking away the broken sword he'd just drawn.
Rubble collapsed. Along with the Saber girl falling together. Mid-fall, Iskandar wasn't surprised—instead quite delighted, leaping upward to pull the broken sword embedded in the wall.
"Come!"
Iskandar issued a war cry without minding.
"Ber... ser... ker."
However, before the black mud small girl's next attack arrived, she—already mostly covered in black on her cute small face—soundlessly moved her lips again.
Then under the Conqueror King's ghost-seeing expression, she slowly stiffly raised one small hand floating toward the sky. The black mud axe-sword still rushing through Einzbern Castle suddenly vanished. A black sphere gathered in her palm. The next moment, the originally thrown huge axe-sword actually emerged again from the magical energy sphere.
Flight?
How was that possible?
Without Noble Phantasms or magecraft formulas, not displayed during previous battles—how could she suddenly fly now?
"Two hundred fifty... one seconds. Kill all."
"!"
Again accompanying the small girl's soundless lip movement, pale bloodless even stained with muddy water bare jade feet lightly tapped backward in the void with her heel.
Then Iskandar only saw her back-split blood and black mud mixed wings move. The air seemed to ripple with magical energy recoil.
RIP!
The next moment, flesh-tearing sound rang out. Iskandar reacted swiftly trying to dodge. However, already severely injured, even his weapon broken—how could he possibly dodge this attack almost imperceptible to naked eyes?
One burly arm gripping the broken sword—blood spattering, flying through the night sky!
Having estimated his stats persisting under Divinity meant even in poor condition he could last dozens of moves against third-rate Heroic Spirit Servants, Iskandar felt incredible disbelief. Because the silver-thread small girl's state didn't look like she was also severely injured near death like him and others. You must know he was relatively the lightest-injured Heroic Spirit Servant in this banquet melee. How did it now seem the opponent was like nothing happened, even stronger than before!
But what made him even more incredulous came after. After his burly arm was severed, that fog-like magical energy instantly dissolved that arm—as if eating some snack, not even leaving light particles!
"Decomposition? Sacrifice? How could it vanish so fast?" The instant his arm was devoured, Iskandar's mind thought not of losing both arms.
But at the moment blown away by impact—doubting and contradicting, quite puzzled about the black angel small girl who'd somehow already reached his side and raised the huge axe-sword again.
"Wrong! You're absolutely not Medea! Even Caster shouldn't possess this level of magical energy!"
Melee combat—your unreasonable melee level was covered by your magical energy. Who exactly are you? Could you be Berserker? Rational Berserker?
Iskandar wasn't some stubborn fool. After close-range sensing this terrifying magical energy, he instantly understood—this absolutely shouldn't be magical energy Heroic Spirit Servants could possess. Medea also shouldn't possess this level malicious oppression. Not that he looked down on Medea.
But Medea in mythological legend taking maximum value was only a demigod hero. Yet now this small girl before him gave him a feeling of facing an existence infinitely approaching Divine Spirits—a strange inexplicability. Though not truly Divine Spirit descending, just inexplicably had that bizarre discordant gap feeling of the Holy Grail personally entering the field.
"This is super-effective damage. Restraint against Heroic Spirit Servants. Being a Heroic Spirit Servant yet having restraint against oneself..."
"As... sas... sin."
Slash! Horizontal cut. Body in two halves.
The huge axe-sword instantly swept across Iskandar's body—shocked, bewildered, finally settling into acceptance. This strike severed both Spirit Origin heart and body entirely.
"I see... so that's how it is..." His half-body falling to the ground, Iskandar had already died. The moment before death, he didn't question anything.
Though that soundless answer was even harder to accept than the small girl being Caster.
An Assassin openly manipulated everything, becoming this Holy Grail War's strongest existence capable of fighting across version updates without falling behind.
But this was also the opponent's skill, wasn't it? Just regrettable—such an Assassin whose true name remained elusive, incomprehensible, didn't join his conquering army.
Anyway, after his subjects' safety, he'd long prepared to die on the road pursuing dreams.
"But if she can hide until the end, next Holy Grail War when hearing Medea's name, how many powerful mages will summon this legendary Age of Gods mage capable of frontal offense and defense with Three Knights..."
Iskandar couldn't help feeling somewhat helpless. If this mysterious Assassin's true identity wasn't exposed, he could already foresee sixty years later—
The true Age of Gods mage Medea's holy relics would be incredibly sought after.
"Medea, go use melee combat to take down the Three Knights!"
He smiled wryly.
But it also seemed quite interesting.
If the next Holy Grail War—if his subjects still wanted to summon him this king to watch.
"One."
Black magical energy devoured already-dead Iskandar's body. This king who'd upheld his kingly way from start to finish—even until death when bisected, never knelt to anyone—completed his Holy Grail conquest.
Fighting one against three, exhausting two Three Knights' magical energy by more than half, frontally receiving anti-fortress Noble Phantasm with conquest's kingly way—could almost be called this Holy Grail War's top three winner.
Because at least he was satisfied. Weber Velvet also survived.
No one would bother finding trouble with the opponent again.
Hiss hiss hiss.
A fragment of destroyed Rider Spirit Origin was intercepted. In black fog, it slowly gathered until condensing into substance. This was a brand new golden card engraved with chariot-riding hero patterns. Spoils of war after personally killing Iskandar.
—Undoubtedly, this was Rider's card. Just like killing the Black Mage and Lancelot, the moment Heroic Spirit Servants' souls and magical energy returned to the Grail, a trace of data would be intercepted and copied to become the silver-thread small girl's new Noble Phantasm.
Unrelated to Heroic Spirit Servant soul collection. Purely Noble Phantasm and skill characteristics.
Just this time, the silver-thread small girl didn't even glance at that gathered golden card. Just let it be devoured and buried by black haze, also having no intention of using that card. Because no longer needed. Her Spirit Origin and all internal operating circuits had already burned out. More cards had no meaning to her.
Or rather—B+ rank Noble Phantasms, the card her instinct and persistence drove to truly use was already the strongest existence. She needed no other friends' help.
After all, she was the strongest. Berserker was also the strongest friend she believed in.
They were already this Holy Grail War's champions.
"Two hundred twenty-five seconds. Kill all."
The axe-sword was deftly lifted by her small hand. The black angel-like malicious small girl soundlessly tilted her head.
Even unable to see, she could sense magical energy fluctuations on the castle's collapsed other side. Those were Heroic Spirit Servant battle fluctuations. Just now more like one-sided crushing. After all, Diarmuid's fighting spirit was barely detectable.
Skin continuously cracking, seeping black-red blood. The small girl in half-short half-long dress covered in ceramic crack patterns currently had no plans in mind.
Asked questions, answered.
Saw anyone, must kill.
Kill!
Kill!
Kill!
This was purest instinct. Killing's malice. Clearly yearning for happiness yet destroying others' happiness—that malice.
Whether human or Heroic Spirit Servant, as long as she saw them, she must kill them all.
Until final melting burned away her everything. Until that death countdown ended.
"This palpitating feeling—what is it? Everyone's either severely injured or exited. Only surviving Lancer is powerless to duel me. Why do I feel somewhat breathless..." Clutching her full chest, the homunculus girl frowned.
The Noble Phantasm flood continuously attacking Diarmuid and Kayneth also intensified. Almost flattening most of the snow castle. Blasting Kayneth half-dead barely clinging to life. Completely suppressing Diarmuid immobile.
The plan proceeded correctly. She and Tokiomi Tohsaka schemed against that Age of Gods mage Medea.
Just earlier, deliberately dragging without finishing off Kayneth and Kiritsugu Emiya.
They schemed against all Masters and Heroic Spirit Servants, resulting in current great advantage situation.
But—the more so, the more her heart palpitated. As if someone was about to flip the table knowing they couldn't win, wanting mutual destruction. Making her increasingly feel unease from her Spirit Origin.
"Two hundred fifteen seconds."
"?"
As if suddenly sensing something, wholeheartedly having already destroyed Kayneth's Mystic Codes.
Blasted off one of his legs making him fall into bleeding unconsciousness, the homunculus girl suddenly turned.
Looking toward distant sky threat. The next moment, the stiff small girl with upper half of small face completely obscured locked gazes with her crimson vertical snake demonic pupils.
"Demigod — Medea, you're still alive?!"
Everyone would hurt, clearly...
Facing Conqueror King's double Command Seal Army of the King deployment moment, didn't they also hold mortal determination? If Conqueror King hid behind his army and stopped charging, using the Gordius Wheel for attrition warfare, even Diarmuid couldn't defeat him...
Every hero had once faced despair against absolutely undefeatable enemies alone. Why? Why not flee? Because this was heroes.
Breaking through one's own limits. Transcending all impossibilities. Whether for others or purely for one's own obsession, myriad things must be crossed.
Black-red from muddy water spurting from back split wound composed virtual magical energy wings lifted the silver-thread small girl flying. She tightly gripped that only friend-given bond axe-sword. Divinity and malice-covered small face directly faced that homunculus Heroic Spirit Servant also standing high. As if in her current magical energy perception field, only the opponent remained. Also only considered her and already oil-lamp-exhausted Diarmuid below as final enemies.
That was distant bright night sky above—certain inexplicable threat seemingly arising.
That was malice. That was faint yet visible magical energy. That was an existence also gambling everything.
"? Medea still alive?"
The homunculus girl's attacks no longer continued. Finally having brief breathing room, Diarmuid covered in bruises, as if about to faint and lose consciousness dispersing any moment, looked dazedly at that faint seemingly continuously walking toward self-destructive extreme existence.
Behind him was Kayneth whose thigh had already been blasted off, no defensive magecraft left throughout his body, fallen unconscious—but still had one breath left.
The magic sword in hand carried the final magical furnace forcibly dug from his body. Crimson radiance surged. Only thereby barely blocking Noble Phantasm floods trying to kill his lord behind. But also ending here. Stamina and spirit exhausted, he only relied on that loyalty to his lord transcending myth—that will forcibly sustaining this body. Same as Miss Illya, they both relied on obsession to transcend so-called limits.
Just the only difference—even if Miss Illya fainted, her instinct still fought desperately. While his obsession source was his lord Kayneth. If Kaynesh died, even if he wouldn't immediately disperse, this breath would also be severed.
"Still... lost..."
Though just the difference between dying earlier or later. But ultimately still failed his lord.
No wonder this puppet Gilgamesh hadn't vanished. Turned out the controller wasn't dead.
Diarmuid revealed a poignant bitter smile. If back then at Medea's powerless moment, he'd desperately completed finishing her off.
If his lord hadn't summoned back, he'd dug out his magical furnace in that brief gap to trade life for life with Medea.
Would the final result have differed? Though he'd die here, the remaining low-health Saber girl also couldn't pursue and kill his lord. At least his lord Kayneth could survive to the end in this Holy Grail War.
Regrettably, nothing had ifs. Not timely trading life to finish off Medea, resulting in barely recovering a tiny bit of strength before being summoned back by his lord. This was already decided. He had no way to regret.
"Saber and Lancer actually didn't finish her off..."
The homunculus girl slightly frowned. As power mobilized, her thinking also increasingly cleared.
Thus earlier controlled power to not let Kiritsugu Emiya and Kayneth die prematurely here. Letting their Heroic Spirit Servants have ample time hunting that Age of Gods mage Medea, consuming more condition.
Facts proved her and Tokiomi Tohsaka's scheme succeeded. Medea indeed couldn't beat two super first-rate Three Knights plus that damaged Noble Phantasm Conqueror King.
But—clearly lost yet didn't die. This made her somewhat unexpected.
She didn't know whether Saber girl or Lancer man, both had already been beaten by Miss Illya to lacking strength to finish off. If she knew this intelligence, definitely wouldn't force Kayneth to necessarily summon back his Heroic Spirit Servant. Instead would slow pace letting other enemies finish off Medea first.
This was intelligence deviation, also subtle wrong judgment. Subconsciously thinking that battle ended meant Miss Illya was already successfully killed.
Overestimated Three Knights class strength. Also underestimated Miss Illya's strength.
At the end of the day, Tokiomi Tohsaka and she still overlooked—heavily injured Miss Illya truly couldn't defeat two Three Knights. But those two Three Knights defeating her—
Also needed one person not caring about life, fighting with Spirit Origin and flesh collapsing to follow up finishing her off.
Diarmuid had this resolve and ability. But just happened to be forced to summon back.
Resulting in finishing time passed. Originally Tokiomi Tohsaka and homunculus girl's perfect victory throne welcomed a new life-gambling challenger.
"Leave here, Medea. Did you forget our agreement? Tonight after is our duel. If you want to advance our final battle, then best consider your current post-battle condition."
The homunculus girl stared intently at the distant sky girl, using magical energy to amplify her voice ensuring the opponent could hear. Killing intent thick.
Her current magical energy still remained over half. Normal circumstances could reach second-rate Heroic Spirit Servant peak. Desperate could even match first-rate. After deducing Medea even if not dead couldn't have much combat power left, she should unhesitatingly attack the opponent. According to original plan, annihilate her along with other extremely poor condition Heroic Spirit Servants here.
But... wrong. The oppression Medea gave her was really too wrong.
That innate restraining threatening feeling.
The opponent's current black-red wings form she'd never seen. Though based on past intelligence could deduce proficiency in spirit descent, she completely couldn't think which non-Divine Greek mythology Heroic Spirit Servant had this appearance.
Holy Grail War basically defaulted Divine Spirits couldn't enter. So Medea's spirit descent limit could at most be demigod. Could deduce from her emanated Divinity. But even just demigod, without mutual destruction condition, homunculus girl knew she'd also have great difficulty resolving the opponent.
"Two hundred eleven seconds."
"Not timely resolving Kiritsugu Emiya and Kayneth indeed had problems on my end. On this point, I and my Master express apologies to you. But you must know—a Magus Killer and Clock Tower lord's trump cards are also endless. I also worried forcing them desperately would summon back Heroic Spirit Servants. So needed to slowly find one-strike opportunities..."
BOOM!!!
Fuck your bullshit, damn thing! Having magical energy, having combat power—fighting most of the night you can't kill two mages!
This wasn't Miss Illya's thought. Because unconscious, she fundamentally couldn't think anything. Seeing who radiated high threat level and magical energy reaction, kill them. Just happened current sight was the homunculus girl.
Of course, even with trace consciousness, she'd probably still choose attacking Gilgamesh.
Because Tokiomi Tohsaka and the opponent were simply more damned than that mad dog Kariya Matou.
The opponent indeed played certain restraining role, making Diarmuid and Saber girl flustered, caught with opportunities. But compared to this thing's scheming and negative effects—
That so-called restraining positive effect was dogshit.
"You!"
Black magical energy burst. Muddy water-wrapped huge axe-sword instantly broke through air, shattering everything en route!
The tower where homunculus girl stood instantly exploded. That was extremely concentrated magical energy eruption. Its power even blasted away the entire tower including her!
So fast. Such terrifying magical energy manipulation...
Worthy of being Age of Gods pinnacle mage.
"Tokiomi, go. Medea's gone mad. Immediately go to the Church seeking protection and sanctuary."
Falling wretchedly from the tower to magic mirror forest earth, the homunculus girl murmured in low self-talking whisper.
Then waved her small hand again. Seventy-two Noble Phantasm gates all aimed at that incoming black-red flowing light.
Her face cracked from this excessive burden. But eyes increasingly violent.
Standing on soil, ninety percent of her silver hair dyed gold.
Then she covered blood seeping from pupils, also beginning to no longer restrain internal magical energy's rampage. Slightly curving lips like a beautiful tyrant:
"Hehehahaha! Hahahaha! Good! Honestly, this king was still a bit worried. Worried tonight no one could frontally engage this king. Worried the Holy Grail War would just end like this. One-sided slaughter is meaningless and boring!"
"But since you want to advance our final battle—then let this king experience what Age of Gods pinnacle mage means, what true contention warfare is!"
Aim. Reverse. Rush. Noble Phantasm bombardment began.
All B+ rank level powerful Noble Phantasms. Third-rate Heroic Spirit Servants without dodging—grazed meant injury, hit meant death. However, these Noble Phantasms in flight-capable black angel small girl's eyes just had slightly higher dodging difficulty. Merely magical energy propulsion burst—that black flowing light far exceeded rushing Noble Phantasms. One round Noble Phantasm bombardment didn't even graze once.
Her Agility was A+ rank. Moreover, open terrain small Noble Phantasms could be almost directly ignored.
The homunculus girl easily judged this. Then waved her small hand again.
One round dozens of Noble Phantasms you could dodge. Then what about two rounds? Three rounds? Five, six rounds? Hundreds of Noble Phantasms, thousands total—surely chances to hit you. You had many dodge chances. But one mistake meant death!
"One hundred ninety-five seconds."
Clang! Clang!
Casually raising her small hand, viscous magical energy in hand instantly recalled originally thrown axe-sword. Then black angel small girl indifferently slashed horizontally.
Instantly, magical energy burst again. Tangible ripples expanded. Over half the second round's seventy-two approaching Noble Phantasms had directions twisted by this magical energy burst. Forget approaching—couldn't even obstruct her vision!
Boom, boom, boom! Black ash-fog magical energy dyed black and eroded falling Noble Phantasms!
Finally transforming into most basic, most primordial magical energy. Noticing this, the homunculus girl's expression unchanged. Because she'd long prepared mentally—mere several rounds attacking Medea ineffectively. After all, that was Age of Gods pinnacle mage!
Proficient in spirit descent, close melee combat, various schemes and tricks. Witch capable of overturning past Holy Grail War historical records!
"Mountain Severing."
As two words fell, an enormous tens of meters sword edge fiercely emerged from golden ripples. In horizontal slash posture, it directly shattered that ash-fog magical energy impact, slashing toward that rampaging black angel small girl.
This was the Mountain-Severing Sword. Even just thrown, it could briefly suppress super stat monster Lancelot in the dock battle.
The homunculus girl couldn't precisely manipulate Gate of Babylon's power. But Tokiomi Tohsaka had seen what King Gilgamesh used. Tokiomi Tohsaka described these Noble Phantasms to her. And her mind also had memories of King Gilgamesh fighting in this Holy Grail War. In other words, she just couldn't precisely use other Noble Phantasms. But as long as King Gilgamesh used and Tokiomi Tohsaka saw Noble Phantasms, she could mobilize them through massive magical energy.
And this fact only Tokiomi Tohsaka and she knew was the trump card preventing Medea's betrayal.
The opponent could deduce she lacked corresponding skills, unable to precisely extract Noble Phantasms.
But Noble Phantasms used in this Holy Grail War equaled having data.
She couldn't use those unknowns—like elixir of immortality, various Divine Construct Noble Phantasms. But she could use Spirit Origin-recorded already-used Noble Phantasms. Like this Mountain-Severing Sword.
Moreover, increasingly approaching self-destruction, in near-death situations she could even pull out trump card killing moves her body couldn't withstand—but others also couldn't withstand.
"Dangerous, Caster! Horizontal sweep incoming—what are you doing!"
"You alone is fine—quickly fly upward to dodge!"
Infighting?
Puppet going berserk?
That replica Gilgamesh and that Age of Gods mage Medea actually weren't allies from the start?
Diarmuid unclear, also didn't understand. Seeing attacks stop, hugging Kayneth about to flee desperately, seeing this scene immediately shouted loudly warning. If the opponent died, Gilgamesh's first target was him and his lord. From this point, their current interests aligned.
Moreover, even if that Age of Gods mage won, perhaps from multiple battles' mutual respect, perhaps sensing the opponent's firm unyielding will—in his view, rather than letting Gilgamesh who specifically caught other Masters to kill win, better let Medea win.
After all, at minimum, aside from protecting her Master in the dock battle attacking Kiritsugu Emiya once, Medea never had cases targeting Masters.
Conversely, Gilgamesh—in the dock battle attacked Heroic Spirit Servants and Masters together. This dishonorable arrogance and baseness—who could have good feelings?
"One hundred eighty-one seconds."
Couldn't escape.
How could she escape?
Every time having to flee and evade. Even internal systems and Spirit Origin about to burn out dying—still like this. That was too cowardly, also too time-wasting.
"Ber, Ser, Ker."
Divinity and malice converged into power blessing the axe-sword. Facing that tens approaching hundred meters Mountain-Severing Sword capable of severing peaks, the black angel small girl didn't dodge or avoid. Back's black-red wings condensed, spurting more magical energy. Using even faster speed than before, directly colliding with that unmatched giant sword!
BOOM!!!
Crack, SNAP!!!
So what about Divine Construct Noble Phantasms? All the same in this Holy Grail War!
As long as you're Heroic Spirit Servants! As long as you're still in this Holy Grail magical ritual!
Then no matter what impregnable defense you use—for this unconscious malicious small girl, all the same!
"Broke... broke?!"
"Age of Gods mage Medea—one close strike directly severed a Divine Construct Noble Phantasm?!"
Being carried on Diarmuid's back fleeing, barely recovering a bit of consciousness with confused thoughts, Kayneth just opened his eyes to see this scene—whether mage or Heroic Spirit Servant seeing would find incredible.
Divine Construct Noble Phantasm. Mountain-Severing Sword's aura was Divine Construct. But damn, Divine Construct got frontally severed by a mage. Frontally by a mage...
Well, compared to Gilgamesh being made into a puppet, current scene obviously more absurd.
Being able to close-combat sever Mountain-Severing Sword Divine Construct—who else dared compete with Medea for melee number one?
Age of Gods mage Medea's gold content still rising, still continuously elevating!
Sixty years later's next Holy Grail War without Medea could only mean other participating mages were all blind. Remote thousands and myriad familiar armies. Close combat severing Divine Construct Noble Phantasms. This damn gold content in regular Holy Grail Wars directly maxed!
"Run!"
"Immediately flee! If I don't return tomorrow, Tokiomi—buy overnight tickets leaving Fuyuki City!"
Mountain-Severing Sword destroyed with one strike. Half sword body fell to magic mirror forest, raising huge commotion.
Forget Kayneth's surprise—even the homunculus girl herself hadn't anticipated current Miss Illya being this fierce. Even Lancelot could only forcibly endure without dying Mountain-Severing Sword. The opponent casually one-struck it into two pieces.
"Age of Gods mage Medea—no wonder you're qualified to have true 'me' remember your name from the first night..."
The homunculus girl gritted teeth. Dozens of golden ripples surrounded her, tightly enclosing her within. Now her first goal was no longer defeating Medea—but how to drag until Medea's power exhausted without dying herself.
Because anyone with eyes could see—Medea's current state absolutely couldn't maintain long. Otherwise in the dock battle and other series of battles—
She'd have long opened this seemingly unsolvable form, annihilating all Heroic Spirit Servants.
BOOM!
"One hundred sixty-three seconds."
Gate of Babylon bombardment lockdown completely breached. Black radiance merely in an instant broke through, arriving before the homunculus girl in that breakthrough moment, slashing out. Black magical energy burst impact sliced apart trees within ten-plus meters along with those ripples. Only leaving wretchedness and ruin.
Axe-sword stopped. Ripples receded. Broken Mountain-Severing Sword hilt part fell behind the black small girl like backdrop.
Then slowly dissolved and devoured by ash-fog almost substantialized into muddy water.
This wasn't purely super-effective against Heroic Spirit Servants. But restraint established under Holy Grail War system foundations.
The black small girl in this state—stats aside from Agility actually weren't high. But if battle enemies were Heroic Spirit Servants, then she was overwhelmingly powerful. Breaking through Spirit Origin limits. Outside rules suppressing within rules.
—Relying on Lesser Grail's heart as foundation. Built and created forbidden magecraft.
—Demigod Degradation.
Of course, Miss Illya hadn't named it yet. Just her current form possessed both Divinity and malice. Like some already fallen demigod.
"Who exactly is the demigod you spirit-descended? This absolutely isn't human-elevated demigod."
"Her... a... cles."
"...Fellow Argonaut companion? Greece's great hero actually has this aspect. Seems Age of Gods history truly hid many details."
Relying on golden ripples obstructing enemy vision perception, dodging this killing strike yet still blown away wretchedly, bombarded not far to ground, clothes all over burned tattered by magical energy flames—the homunculus girl wiped blood from lips.
Heracles, the great hero of strength.
Jason's close friend. Had extremely good connections with Age of Gods mage Medea.
Just logically, these two's relationship should be very poor. Heracles shouldn't respond to Medea's spirit descent. This made her puzzled.
Most critically, she didn't remember Heracles having this eerie form in mythology.
What could spirit-descend, what could summon in Holy Grail War was necessarily un-deified Heracles. Un-deified Heracles was demigod period.
Aside from having lost control berserk corresponding legends, truly never heard this great hero had fallen experiences.
"One hundred fifty-five seconds."
However, the unconscious small girl's instinctive answer didn't mean she'd stop her hand movements.
Black small boots stomped ground. Axe-sword gripped—instantly crossing dozens of meters distance.
Fiercely slashing one strike toward the homunculus girl's heart!
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
However, the moment before the axe-sword arrived—
From golden ripples, countless chains emerged, binding the enemy before her.
The girl ninety-five percent turned golden hair revealed a trace of realization and incomprehension.
Because she hadn't summoned back these chains. Just wanted to use Noble Phantasms blocking the black small girl.
But these chains appeared. Moreover, certain memories flashing back in her mind also let her know the chains' name. That was familiarity this kind of counterfeit shouldn't have.
"Even as counterfeit... you still protect, Enkidu..."
What kind of Noble Phantasm was that?
No one understood. Victory had been within reach—just one more step and the homunculus girl's body would have been severed.
The massive axe-sword had been a mere ten centimeters from the enemy, an imperceptible distance.
Yet suddenly, golden chains burst forth from the golden ripples, binding space itself like some grand magecraft. They tightly restrained Miss Illyasviel's limbs and body. The chains lifted her arms, twisting them at impossible angles until they snapped. The endless coils tightened around her entire body, the tension threatening to tear apart that slender girl's delicate neck.
Anti-divine special attack. The Divine Construct, Chains of Heaven. The higher an enemy's divinity, the more terrifying the chains' binding power became. This was the true nature of these chains as a Noble Phantasm.
Perhaps against true gods like chief deities, or mortals without divinity, these chains would be no different from ordinary iron shackles. But against beings with divinity or demigod-level existence, these chains were an absolute, nearly insurmountable force.
These were the chains that once bound even the Bull of Heaven. Not even Command Spell spatial transfers could escape them. Once caught by these chains, even lower-ranking true divinities couldn't break free.
"Enkidu..."
Even with Miss Illyasviel so close, able to end this homunculus body's life with a casual gesture, the homunculus girl felt no fear. Instead, the spontaneous protective appearance of these chains filled her with a sense of security that felt like a lifetime ago.
She didn't understand why these chains would protect her when she was merely a counterfeit.
She had only thought in her heart about intercepting the enemy. King Gilgamesh hadn't used the Chains of Heaven before since none of the enemies besides the King of Conquerors Iskandar possessed divinity. Why could she unconsciously manifest such a Noble Phantasm?
"What are you thinking, Enkidu? I'm just a fake with King Gilgamesh's Spirit Origin, a defective product born from his dead body."
"We're not dear friends. I only have fragments of memories remaining on his Spirit Origin. He was the Child of the Gods who belonged to you. Why are you acting like a fool who can't tell us apart? I'm not worth protecting by a fool like you..."
In the silent Einzbern forest beneath the moonlight, the violent collision of scraping chains filled the air.
The unconscious, malevolent little girl kept struggling, trying to break these chains that could suppress even space itself. But as mentioned before, except for her Agility, her attribute values weren't particularly outstanding. The most terrifying aspect of her current state was her extremely high special attack—her suppression of Heroic Spirit Servants within the Holy Grail War system.
At equal rank, she could slaughter Heroic Spirit Servants indiscriminately. Yet humans at equal rank to Heroic Spirits who weren't Heroic Spirits could likewise slaughter her.
Of course, no matter how high her attributes were, breaking these chains was impossible anyway.
The homunculus girl could clearly sense the divinity emanating from her opponent. Though her enemy had a suppression advantage against her, the Chains of Heaven likewise suppressed the enemy. And the chains' suppression priority was absolutely higher than her opponent's unconscious state, because she possessed a homunculus body.
She could only be considered half-human, half-Heroic Spirit Servant. The enemy's special attack was significantly weakened against her, while the Chains of Heaven's special attack against the enemy was maxed out completely.
"Ber, Ser, Ker—!!!"
Black magical energy seeped from the phantom wings on her back. The unconscious little girl silently moved her lips, producing incomprehensible sounds. With her as the epicenter, trees and grass began to decay, spreading rapidly until even the soil started to rot.
Yet as her struggles intensified, the binding force of the Chains of Heaven only grew stronger.
That malice, threatening to drown everything in sight, made the homunculus girl furrow her brow and instinctively retreat several steps. This power was astonishing.
It wasn't about attribute values. Her opponent apparently no longer possessed the normal stats a Holy Grail War Heroic Spirit Servant should have. She'd jumped outside the rules through a purely self-destructive method.
In exchange for an utterly unreasonable special attack. Even if the enemy was only half-Heroic Spirit Servant.
Even after her special attack was weakened, it could still reliably slaughter first-rate Heroic Spirit Servants.
"You've got to be kidding me... that malicious black mud is corroding the Chains of Heaven?"
Noticing parts of the chains turning black, the homunculus girl wasn't worried about her opponent breaking free. After all, she had inexplicable absolute trust in the Chains of Heaven.
Just as the Chains of Heaven inexplicably came to protect this fake like her, she wholeheartedly trusted them in return.
However, this didn't mean she would watch like some villain confident of victory while someone dyed Enkidu a different color.
Clink, clank.
The homunculus girl, who had retreated over ten meters, raised one hand. Twenty-four Gates of Babylon opened wide—all A-rank Noble Phantasms. Even she couldn't open too many gates; this was the maximum output she could release at full power.
Blood began seeping from her pupils, but her expression remained cold and respectful. She had to admit the enemy was indeed a powerful hero. It was just that the true King Gilgamesh possessed only arrogance and disdain, while she felt more respect for such heroic figures. After all, no matter what, that willpower was far too strong.
"Treacherous witch, Medea, you're powerful. But you really shouldn't have manifested as a demigod with extremely high divinity. That's the fundamental reason for your defeat in this battle..."
If she weren't a demigod, she might truly have had no way to deal with her opponent.
There was nothing wrong with admitting this. After all, even at her best, she was merely a first-rate Heroic Spirit Servant. Facing this kind of fellow first-rate Servant who'd maxed out their special attack, insisting the enemy was weak and worthless was just contempt toward one's opponent and a childish insult.
"BOOM!!!"
"RIIIP!!!"
Violent magical explosions erupted from the forest a hundred meters behind.
Sensing that passionate magical energy, Diarmuid—exhausted and carrying the broken-legged Kayneth on sheer willpower alone—seemed to understand something as he glanced back.
That was a withering magical presence, just like him and the swordswoman shortly before—completely depleted.
Without a doubt, those two great Heroic Spirit Servants weren't allies; they were fighting to the death.
The earth trembled slightly. The heat wave from burning magical energy swept from behind, incinerating everything. The victor of this Holy Grail War would emerge from between those two. The others no longer had any resistance left. No—perhaps there was still one chance. If he abandoned Kayneth and returned to battle, he might pick up some opening.
"Medea has lost. Her magical energy signature is about to disappear..."
Using his remaining perception-type Mystic Code, the weakened Kayneth grasped this fact.
Compared to that homunculus girl's magical signature, the Divine Age magus Medea's life was fading even faster.
"Heh, how ridiculous. The first Heroic Spirit Servant to exit ended up being the final victor. Medea slaughtered several heroes, only to have that bastard who appeared out of nowhere clean them all up in one fell swoop."
Kayneth let out a weak, suppressed snort of derision. In his eyes, the homunculus girl was purely a scavenging rat. During Medea's or any other Heroic Spirit Servant's peak condition, that guy never showed their face once.
Only when everyone was in poor condition and at low health did they dare scurry out like a rat to go on a killing spree.
"I'm sorry... Master..."
"No need to apologize to me. I told you—if you still recognize me as your master, then fight alongside me to the bitter end. But you didn't. You were afraid. You cowered. You fled. Therefore I'm not the master of a cowardly Heroic Spirit Servant like you, just a stranger who happened to summon you."
Was Kayneth afraid of death? Of course he was. After all, he was a genius of the Clock Tower with a brilliant future ahead. Dying in this Far Eastern magecraft ritual would be unbearable.
But precisely because of this, he was proud and arrogant, absolutely unable to accept failure appearing in his perfect life. You could tell from how he'd rather go into debt borrowing someone else's collection to strengthen Diarmuid to the extreme—whether himself or his Heroic Spirit Servant, he demanded overwhelming perfection. So for him, he'd never admit defeat until the very last moment. Unless his Heroic Spirit Servant died or he died himself, this magecraft ritual absolutely couldn't make him submit.
Because of fearing death, he wouldn't pursue perfection?
But everything he had achieved was precisely because he did everything perfectly without flaw.
This was putting the cart before the horse, and it was his resolve. If everyone possessed the resolve for certain victory, then Kayneth would be the highest among them.
A proud life never inferior to anyone—this was the ninth head of the Archibald family.
"I am a coward. I am afraid. But Master, more than failure, I fear your passing."
"...I'm not afraid, so what are you afraid of? Have you forgotten my command? You were summoned for battle and loyalty. Dying on the battlefield against Heroic Spirit Servants is your heart's desire, and the command I've given you from the beginning."
"It was before. Not now. Compared to victory and battle, your safety outweighs my honor and my wish. If I die in battle, my wish is fulfilled—but what about you?"
"Nonsense!"
"Then let it be nonsense. You held nothing back for me, granting me the opportunity to fulfill my wish. And my wish now is simply for you to live on."
The Radiant Knight cared only about loyalty and an exhilarating battle, but Diarmuid was different.
The Radiant Knight wouldn't disobey his lord's command, but Diarmuid would.
His lord's life was above all else—above loyalty and battle. Even if his lord would later angrily order him to commit suicide, he wouldn't hesitate. Because the Radiant Knight of historical myth served Fionn, but the Diarmuid of the Holy Grail War served only Kayneth.
This was his new wish, transcending past myths, a brand-new foundation on this epic battlefield.
"It's not that you lost, only that I lost. I brought shame to your honor, Master..."
If there were a next time, please summon a more powerful lancer. Even wielding magical swords, I couldn't possibly achieve victory among this group of super first-rate Heroic Spirit Servants. Those who can participate in the Holy Grail War are all monsters.
Diarmuid sighed. He'd defeated the King of Conquerors and fought the demigod-state Medea to a draw.
This battle record seemed impressive, but at most placed him in the top three of this Holy Grail War ritual. Both King Gilgamesh who fought one-against-five and the Divine Age magus Medea who killed several Heroic Spirit Servants consecutively had far superior records.
"Tch, you think I can't acknowledge my own defeat? If I lost, then I lost. There's no need for others to bear it. You're just as presumptuous as that useless student of mine."
Kayneth snorted coldly and said no more, seemingly rebuking Diarmuid's senselessness.
"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right, Master..."
Diarmuid didn't argue, only smiling wryly with his pale face.
Perhaps modern magi were all like this—saying one thing while meaning another, not letting others glimpse their hearts.
"My injuries cannot recover in the short term. Afterward, please leave Fuyuki City immediately with Lady Sola. That King Gilgamesh in whatever state is absolute—hm?"
However, before he could finish, from the forest ahead, hundreds upon thousands of birds suddenly took flight as if startled, their rapid movement conspicuous beneath the night sky. These were exquisite, beautiful little birds hidden throughout the Einzbern forest, carrying heavy objects that couldn't be clearly seen.
In the middle of the night, why would so many birds be migrating?
Diarmuid first froze slightly, then looked carefully at those birds' postures and the various shells, detonators, and explosives they were carrying. A chill ran down his spine:
"Wait, those are Caster's familiars?!"
"She still had a trump card?!"
Realizing this, he noticed the trace amounts of magical energy contained within those explosives!
An inexplicable sense of threat arose in his heart. Heroic Spirit Servants normally didn't fear modern technological products, yet he could sense danger from these!
But he had no time to consider this further. Immediately clenching his teeth, he accelerated toward the forest's edge, even though the violent jolting would intensify his master's pain. He couldn't worry about that now, because those familiar legions occupied the sky in encirclement, their coverage area approaching the entire Einzbern forest!
In other words, once those munitions began exploding, the bombardment zone would be the entire Einzbern family territory. Whether human or Heroic Spirit Servant, all would be destroyed!
Good God! Where did the Divine Age magus Medea get so many munitions? With this coverage area plus the magical energy contained within—damn it, did she rob a US military arsenal?!
"It's over..."
After the Noble Phantasm bombardment, dust filled the air. The corrosion of the Chains of Heaven had disappeared.
Bound by the chains, unable to defend while suffering consecutive rounds of lethal A-rank Noble Phantasm bombardment, the black little girl finally hung her head limply and fell silent. This was an attack sufficient to claim several of Heracles' lives, and the black little girl who'd already nearly exhausted her Twelve Labors' count naturally died beyond all death, leaving only the kind of bizarre form you'd see in abstract art. Even the most basic magical energy emission had almost vanished.
Her chest where her heart should be was torn open with three longswords embedded within. Spears and lances pierced her thighs and arms. Even her little head was penetrated starting from the eye.
No need to check for breathing. Even a great hero who'd overcome twelve deaths couldn't stand up again after suffering nearly twenty deaths beyond that limit.
...That's right.
Even if still alive, this Divine Age peak magus probably no longer had the strength to even breathe.
"Hehe, hahahaha, truly magnificent. Even dozens of A-rank Noble Phantasms hitting you directly couldn't make you completely disappear? Divine Age magus Medea—if you'd existed in this king's era, you surely could have been counted as a magus comparable to the gods."
Looking at the little girl who'd stopped struggling and showed no further signs of life, the homunculus girl praised.
Who the victor was had been clear from the start. The demigod Heracles couldn't defeat King Gilgamesh—this was the absolute suppression between their compatibilities.
Her smile grew increasingly arrogant and insolent, completely different from that initial stiff, mechanical demeanor. The magical energy within her body had already faded. She still needed to conserve some strength to hunt down the other Heroic Spirit Servants. Therefore stopping her attack on the little girl already sentenced to death was perhaps due to that kingly arrogance influenced by her Spirit Origin, or perhaps because she didn't enjoy torture.
As a creation born from the combination of King Gilgamesh and an abandoned Einzbern homunculus, she inexplicably felt a trace of familiarity from this little girl—a familiarity different from other Heroic Spirit Servants, as if from the same source.
"Shh~"
"?"
"Listen~"
That drooping little head's lips trembled and moved, making no sound.
Yet the homunculus girl could bizarrely understand what that fundamentally unconscious little girl was saying.
That voice seemed hidden within the magical energy, comprehensible to certain people.
What's going on? Who's speaking? Medea? But she's clearly not making sounds, and her lip movements aren't speech either. Why can I hear her voice?
Listen... listen to what? Listen to her speak? No, that's not right... how can she still...
Sensing something wrong, the homunculus girl drew a longsword from the golden ripples and quickly approached the black little girl, intending to behead her.
"One hundred and three seconds."
But obviously, she was already too late. Not being the true King Gilgamesh and having concentrated all her attention on Miss Illyasviel, how could she notice that above her head, a flock like bomber aircraft had gathered, carrying God-knows-from-where stolen munitions?
And at this moment, those birds spontaneously combusted and dove down, beginning a suicidal determined bombardment.
"Wha—?"
With a tremendous boom, the first small bird to land exploded, detonating the bomb embedded with Miss Illyasviel's hair strands it carried. The terrifying shockwave sent the homunculus girl flying!
Only after barely landing and the impact subsiding did she notice the sky, then widened her eyes looking at those continuously descending birds, immediately reacting to defend!
Unfortunately, homunculus Heroic Spirit Servants didn't possess the basic spirit form ability that proper Heroic Spirit Servants had.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"
Endless.
Infinite gunpowder explosions.
The shockwave from the blasts mixed with magical energy crushed the already severely damaged Einzbern castle, destroyed the tranquility of the Einzbern forest, enveloped everything in the central to outer areas of this forest, covered the thin cold mist, spread terrifying flames visible even from the city district. When the roar resounded through the heavens, large swaths of the Einzbern forest had transformed into a sea of fire.
Tree branches burned fiercely. The winter forest became incredibly warm, like hell on earth.
Whether Kayneth, Diarmuid, the homunculus girl, the swordswoman buried beneath the ruins, Kiritsugu Emiya, or even Miss Illyasviel herself—all were caught in this eruption.
All animals and plants in the Einzbern forest were blown to pieces. Chaotic steam and smoke rose into the sky. This massive forest fire even ignited the mountains, causing the mountain range behind the Einzbern forest to be affected and slowly burn.
Concentrated explosives, detonators, grenades, rocket shells, high-explosive shells, armor-piercing shells, incendiary shells, and more in a dizzying array... making one wonder if this little girl had emptied out some unfortunate military arsenal's entire ammunition stock.
"Ahhhhhhh! Bastard! BASTARD!!!"
Flames scorched the homunculus girl's body. Though her flesh-and-blood body could defend against physical attacks and impact force, that terrifying explosive heat burned her skin raw!
She tried deploying Noble Phantasms to surround herself, but incendiary shells landed on her Noble Phantasms!
Directly turning her safe room into an oven, her skin peeling off as large patches of blood-soaked flesh cooked through!
Bones crackled and burst.
The magecraft defenses Tohsaka Tokiomi had established completely crumbled and shattered beneath this terrifying heat.
Constantly mobilizing magical energy, constantly consuming magical energy, that intense pain tore at her psyche.
"Crack—!"
The sound of chains breaking amid the endless explosions seemed insignificant.
But to the homunculus girl's ears, already driven mad by critical injuries, it was especially prominent.
"The second one."
Or perhaps not just the second.
Impossible—how could she break free from the Chains of Heaven? With a demigod's divinity, the Chains of Heaven couldn't possibly be broken!
Sensing danger, the homunculus girl clenched her teeth in disbelief as her silver hair completely turned golden!
Conserving magical energy to hunt others had been a misjudgment. The Divine Age magus Medea, like that rat of a Magus Killer Kiritsugu Emiya, was actually hiding this trump card of modern technological weapons!
"EA, let loose your full—"
Riiip.
The golden ripples had just opened, and without hesitation the homunculus girl grasped the hilt of that strangely-shaped cylindrical longsword. After this strike, she too would die.
This was the price of her misjudgment. She wanted to make amends, wanted to fight anew.
But unfortunately, a mistake was a mistake. Where were there any pills of regret?
"Splurt... hiss!"
The sound of tearing flesh rang out. Blood gushed from her chest as a cavity penetrated through.
A small hand forcibly dug out the heart of the homunculus King Gilgamesh!