"…But that signal is coming from the exact opposite direction of the Church… It couldn't have been the Church that lit it, could it?" Waver frowned, unable to make sense of what was happening.
"Whatever the case, someone's grown impatient and wants to bring this war to an early end. They're already sounding the victory hymn in advance." Iskandar grinned. "It's probably their way of saying, 'If you've got a problem with it, come and face me.'"
"Heh... then there's no way I can just ignore that!"
With an excited chuckle, Iskandar's body was engulfed in a flash of lightning. In the blink of an eye, he donned his Servant's spiritual attire, laughing with anticipation.
"I knew it. Tonight is the night of the final battle!"
"So... this is the last stop, huh..."
An indescribable sense of unreality washed over Waver as he stared toward the distant signal. For no reason he could explain, a pang of reluctance welled up inside him, tightening painfully around his heart.
"That's right!"
Raising the Sword of Cypriot, Iskandar declared,
"Come! Now that the battlefield has been decided, I must answer its call in a manner worthy of the Rider Class!"
"Come forth, my beloved steed—Bucephalus!"
The Sword of Cypriot drew down a bolt of azure lightning from the heavens. As Iskandar swung the blade forward, a magnificent black stallion emerged amidst the crackling thunder, rearing up with a proud, resounding neigh.
With practiced ease, Iskandar stepped into the stirrups and mounted Bucephalus in one smooth motion. Then he looked back at Waver, who remained rooted to the spot.
"Well then, boy. It may be a rougher ride than my chariot... Hmm? What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get on."
"..."
Waver stood frozen.
All the bold words he had once spoken now cut into his heart like blades.
He had lost his nerve.
The battle to come belonged only to true heroes.
For the Heroic Spirits, death merely meant returning to the Throne of Heroes.
If he died...
He would simply be dead.
The memory of Archer and Saber (Leon)'s earth-shattering clash resurfaced in his mind. Compared to monsters of that caliber, he wasn't even the equivalent of a particularly large ant.
Even if he forced himself onto the battlefield, he would only become Rider's burden.
Not only would Rider have to fight overwhelming enemies, but he would also have to protect him at the same time.
With that realization...
Waver finally let go of his obsession with proving himself through bloodshed.
Silently, he raised his right hand, covered in Command Seals, and solemnly declared,
"My Servant, by the authority of my Command Seals, I, Waver Velvet, order you—Rider, you will claim final victory!"
As his words fell, one Command Seal dissolved into pure magical energy and flowed into Iskandar's body.
On the back of Waver's hand, only a crimson scar remained where the seal had once been.
It was the mark of a Master. Even after the Command Seals disappeared, that lingering scar would normally remain until—
"Boy... you..." Iskandar's expression trembled with emotion.
But Waver wasn't finished.
"By my Command Seals, I order you again—Rider, you will obtain the Holy Grail!"
A second Command Seal vanished.
The magical power surging through Iskandar reached the greatest height it had ever attained.
Still, Waver continued.
"By my final Command Seal, I order you—Rider, conquer the entire world. Failure is not permitted!"
The last of Waver's original Command Seals disappeared from the back of his hand.
"Until every one of those wishes has come true... you are forbidden to die! You are forbidden to die! You are forbidden to die!"
Again and again, Waver repeated the absolute command:
"You are forbidden to die!"
He continued until every additional Command Seal inherited from Kayneth had also been exhausted.
At that moment, the crimson mark symbolizing his identity as a Master faded away along with the last of the Command Seals.
Thus...
The contract between Waver Velvet and Rider, Iskandar, came to an end.
Letting out a long breath of relief, Waver lowered his hand.
"There. Now I'm no longer your Master. We have no contractual ties anymore."
"The magical energy I gave you should be enough for you to fight to your heart's content until the very end."
"Go."
"I'm not stupid enough to go throw my life away alongside you."
With his head lowered, Waver forced those merciless words from his lips.
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