"Hmph..."
Gilgamesh drained his goblet in a single swallow.
"The fact that I cannot defeat you while you're at your best... gives me yet another reason to kill Saber (Leon)."
"Well..."
Iskandar likewise emptied his cup in one gulp, completely unconcerned.
"My armaments may have been diminished."
"But precisely because tonight's Iskandar is no longer perfect..."
"I have surpassed perfection."
"Don't you think so, Archer?"
"I see."
The corners of Gilgamesh's lips curled upward as his crimson eyes narrowed at the overwhelming magical energy radiating from Iskandar.
"The aura of kingship surrounding you is stronger than ever before."
"So... you didn't come before me without at least some hope of victory."
Clink.
Iskandar refilled both goblets with the remaining wine.
The two kings clinked their cups together before draining them in unison.
"Hahahahaha!" ×2
"King of Babylonia," Iskandar said after his laughter subsided, raising his now-empty goblet, "I have one final question."
"Let it be the closing toast of this banquet."
"Granted."
"Speak."
Gilgamesh remained as imperious as ever.
"Suppose," Iskandar began with a grin, "I could equip my Ionioi Hetairoi with the treasures from your Gate of Babylon."
"Wouldn't that create the strongest army in the world?"
"So?"
Gilgamesh replied indifferently.
"So..."
Leaning closer, Iskandar spoke earnestly.
"One last time, I'll ask you."
"Will you join forces with me?"
"With the two of us together... even the sea of stars would be unable to halt our conquest!"
"Hahahahahaha!"
Gilgamesh burst into hearty laughter.
"You become more amusing by the moment."
"To think you'd propose an alliance with your enemy immediately before our final battle."
"How entertaining."
"It has been a long time since anyone other than a clown has amused me with such foolish words."
His laughter gradually faded.
The smile remained, but his expression grew noticeably more solemn.
Though he genuinely respected the King of Conquerors standing before him...
"Unfortunately..."
"From the beginning of history until the end of time..."
"I have only ever acknowledged a single friend."
"And this world has no need for two kings."
"I see."
Iskandar nodded with genuine regret.
"So this is the path of the solitary king."
"You truly can endure loneliness, King of Heroes."
"In that case..."
"I shall challenge your unshakable conviction with all the respect it deserves."
"Very well."
Gilgamesh's lofty demeanor never changed.
"Show me everything you are, King of Conquerors."
"You are worthy of being judged by my own hand..."
"...thief of the Holy Grail."
As his words fell, the two kings turned away from one another simultaneously.
Walking in opposite directions, each casually tossed his emptied golden goblet high into the air.
Clang.
The goblets struck the ground.
Along with the golden wine jug, they dissolved into countless motes of golden light.
Now...
The real war would begin.
The same thought crossed both kings' minds.
Excitement spread across their faces.
"You two... actually get along pretty well, don't you?"
Watching Iskandar return to Bucephalus and take hold of the reins again, Waver couldn't help asking.
"Of course I'm being more cordial now."
Without looking away from Gilgamesh—who had likewise stopped walking, turned around, and folded his arms across his chest—Iskandar answered calmly,
"After all..."
"He may very well be the last enemy I'll ever face."
"..."
Waver's heart clenched.
After a long silence, he spoke in a low voice.
"Don't say things like that."
"There's no way you'll be killed."
"I won't allow it!"
"Did you forget my Command Seals?"
His voice gradually became choked with emotion.
Even though he already knew how stories like these were supposed to end...
He still couldn't accept it.
Deep down, he wished this journey would never end.
"That's right..."
"You're right."
Iskandar smiled with complete serenity.
The fighting spirit within him surged once more.
Leaping back onto Bucephalus, he drew the Sword of Cypriot and raised it toward the heavens.
"Gather, my comrades!"
"Tonight..."
"Upon the mightiest legend of all..."
"We shall carve our own glory!"
An immense torrent of magical energy gathered at the tip of his sword.
In an instant, his Reality Marble unfolded.
The darkness surrounding the foot of Mount Enzō vanished.
In its place stretched an endless sea of golden sand beneath an expansive sky.
Gilgamesh merely stood with his arms folded, silently watching.
If I lacked even the courage to allow my opponent to deploy his army...
Then how would I differ from that cowardly Assassin?
So thought the King of Heroes.
There he stood—
Alone.
Opposite him...
Iskandar rode at the head of his army atop the black stallion Bucephalus, Waver seated behind him.
Behind their king stood tens of thousands of Heroic Spirits manifested as Servants.
Their formations were perfectly ordered.
Spears.
Swords.
Shield walls.
Rank after rank of disciplined soldiers stretched across the desert.
Without uttering a single word, they radiated overwhelming dignity and boundless fighting spirit.
"Our foe is the unparalleled King of Heroes!"
"A worthy opponent against whom we may fight with all our strength!"
"Warriors!"
"Show the First Heroic Spirit the might of our conquest!"
Raising the Sword of Cypriot high overhead, Iskandar's voice thundered across the battlefield.
"ROOOOAAARRRR!!" ×N
The unified roar of tens of thousands of soldiers became an earth-shaking battle cry aimed at one man alone.
"Come!"
Gilgamesh smiled broadly.
It was the signal that truly began the war.
"CHAAAARGE!!"
Iskandar dug his heels into Bucephalus's sides and surged forward.
"ROOOOAAARRRR!!"
Behind him, the army advanced like an endless black tide, following their king as the spearhead of the assault.
Even the mighty King of Heroes would become but another territory to be conquered.
Driven by that absolute conviction...
The army charged.
"Come then..."
"O King Who Commands Mighty Armies."
Witnessing the magnificent spectacle before him, Gilgamesh remained perfectly composed.
He had already stood upon the highest summit.
The perspective of humanity's kings could never compare with his own.
"Still..."
"Your kingly spirit is worthy of praise."
"As a reward for entertaining me..."
"I shall show you what it truly means..."
"To be a king."
His voice remained calm.
With his arms folded, he simply waited for Iskandar and his army to reach him.
"CHAAAARGE!!"
As the charge thundered forward, Waver—clinging tightly to Bucephalus's neck—did his best to imitate Iskandar's battle cry.
Though his youthful voice sounded completely out of place...
That single act of courage became a catalyst.
It brought a knowing smile to Iskandar's face.
And the momentum of the Ionioi Hetairoi surged to even greater heights.
Outside the Reality Marble...
Within the courtyard of Ryūdō Temple, where the Holy Grail summoning ritual had been inscribed...
Kiritsugu Emiya had already departed.
As promised, he had gone to settle things with Kirei Kotomine.
Artoria remained beside Irisviel—who had now become the vessel of the Holy Grail.
She was still dressed in ordinary clothes.
Her expression was calm.
Neither joy nor anger showed upon her face.
Yet sorrow and regret had already filled her heart.
"It has begun..."
Leon gently lifted Artoria's chin.
Her beauty remained as breathtaking as ever, untouched by time.
For a brief instant, an intense possessive impulse welled up within him—a desire to claim her entirely, to see her composure utterly shattered.
He let out a slow breath.
The darkness in his heart eased somewhat.
He had worn the mask of a righteous gentleman for so long...
He had almost forgotten what he truly was.
Selfish.
Hypocritical.
Morally inconsistent.
A villain through and through.
Still holding her chin, Leon leaned in.
Artoria quietly turned her head aside, avoiding his kiss.
"Please... Leon..."
"This isn't the time..."
"And Irisviel is right beside us—mmph!"
Her soft refusal was the final spark that reignited the desire he had only just managed to suppress.
Faced with Leon's forceful advance, Artoria found herself unable to resist.
Before long, her slight frame went limp, leaving her with little choice but to lean against him for support.
Her breathing became uneven as she silently endured his embrace.
Grasping both of her wrists firmly, Leon spoke in a low, commanding voice.
"Lower your waist."
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