Chapter 73: Where the Endless Sea Resides
"Rider... that is..."
Waver's gaze was involuntarily drawn to that golden brilliance, but what followed immediately was a primal fear of the massive magical energy being accumulated. Even Rider likely had no means to frontally block an attack of this caliber.
"I see... so that is 'King Arthur'... That light is the proof of how much she was loved by her people..." Rider looked toward the distance with a profound gaze.
"Not just Saber, I cannot even fathom the goal of the youth beside her in coming to this battlefield. I am curious... what kind of wish would he make upon obtaining the Grail?"
Hearing Rider's voice, Waver's expression turned pale. He could hear in Rider's words that even the "King of Conquerors" was helpless at this moment.
Waver, being watched by Rider, looked back with hesitant and nervous eyes.
"Rider..."
One could feel that although he was afraid, he was forcing himself to stay calm. He had been weak at the start, but under Rider's influence, he had become somewhat resilient.
Rider looked at Waver with a serious expression.
"Cough... speaking of which, there is one more thing I haven't asked you."
"...?" Waver blinked, racking his brain but unable to guess what Rider wanted to say.
Was he going to buy a conquest-themed game? Or perhaps new clothes? Thinking only of such things, Waver fell into a total daze upon hearing Rider's next words.
"Waver Velvet, are you willing to become my subject and serve me?"
When he heard this, the initial confusion and shock were followed by a whirlwind of complex emotions, until a fulfilling sense of being acknowledged filled his chest. It was a feeling of validation he had never received since childhood—and it came from the illustrious "King of Conquerors" Iskandar himself.
The massive wave of happiness felt like a dream, making his body feel light as air. Waver trembled all over with excitement, and then, tears poured out like a flood through a broken dam.
His voice was hoarse from sobbing.
"Yes. You are... you are my King! I swear to serve you, and to die for you. Please, you must guide me forward, and let me see the same dream."
"Mmm, very well."
Hearing Waver take such an oath, the King of Conquerors smiled. To a subject, this smile was the ultimate reward. All subjects strive with all their might at every moment just to make their King smile like that.
As Waver was overcome with joy, through his tear-blurred vision, he could only see the silhouette of the King moving forward.
"...!"
Waver instinctively wanted to chase after him, but he heard the King's voice.
"Live, Waver. Witness it all. Relay my way of life, and the gallant figure of Iskandar's gallop, to the world!"
With the King's voice, his warhorse let out a high-pitched neigh.
"Come, we set out!!"
The King of Conquerors spurred his horse's flanks and began his final charge.
Iskandar galloped forward, heading straight toward the "Sword of Promised Victory" held high by the "King of Knights," which was emitting a blinding light.
"Yes, exactly like that! Use all of your power! Only then can you be called a 'King,' and only then is it a true war!"
Responding to Iskandar's shout, the holy sword trembled slightly. The golden light seemed to compress an almost terrifying power, impatient to break through its restraints.
"EX—calibur!!!"
The holy sword was swung down violently. The blade was already consumed by light, and a terrifying pillar of radiance broke through all barriers at this moment, rushing toward the army of thousands!
The grand army of Heroic Spirits, tens of thousands strong, was utterly annihilated beneath this pillar of light.
Watching the dazzling light about to reach him, the King of Conquerors smiled and nodded.
"Not bad, Saber. I recognize you as a 'King'!"
The terrifying energy vented wildly. Looking at the pillar of light rushing toward him, in the instant his skin was scorched away, the King of Conquerors recalled the starry sky he had gazed upon in the past.
"HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Iskandar trembled with joy and roared. The men beside him heard the King's voice and, inspired, charged with him. The golden light constantly eroded his body, ravaging every inch of skin. But this pain was worth nothing compared to the thrill of the gallop.
It's impossible to reach the 'End.' He had once felt dejected in his heart. Only after knowing the truth did he realize how foolish and undignified he had been back then.
Crossing so many mountains, traversing so many rivers—it was now right before his eyes. As long as he crossed it, as long as he stepped over the bodies of his enemies, the 'End' he wanted to see would finally appear in his sight.
Moving forward—his consciousness was so blurred that only this instinct remained. The surrounding soldiers perished in that terrifying outpouring of energy, letting out agonizing screams as if falling into lava, but the King of Conquerors could no longer hear them.
All he could hear were... the sounds of waves.
Then, he saw an ocean reflecting the brilliant stars under the night sky. The King's eyes lit up slightly, and he revealed a satisfied smile as if witnessing a peerless view.
"Hahaha... that's right... the place I was looking for is right here...!"
At the edge of the world, beating against a barren shore, the sound of the waves from the end of the world echoed in his ears. This uncontrollable throb in his heart was, without a doubt, the sound of the Endless Sea.
"Haha... ah hahahahaha!"
He ran through the sea with total abandon. The crashing waves felt incredibly cool against him. Splashes of blood stained the surroundings red, but to him, it no longer mattered.
Now, he had found the Endless Sea he desired. It was right before him, within the mental landscape he had constructed.
The sword in his hand fell. His body gradually tilted backward, and Iskandar's vision was suddenly submerged by a vast amount of seawater and foam. His consciousness sank into the deep sea. In this boundless darkness, it seemed only the twinkling starlight on the surface was the final mercy.
It was only then that Iskandar finally understood one thing.
"Ah... I see. As long as the heart throbs with excitement, anywhere can be the Endless Sea..."
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