Golden rain descended from the heavens.
Crimson drops of blood bore witness to courage and the path of kings.
The king named Iskandar charged toward the one and only opponent he had ever truly wished to conquer.
His young subject watched his master's battered back with unwilling eyes, until he could follow no farther—bound at last by the chains of fate before the throne of the King of Heroes.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!"
"King of Heroes! Your head... shall be mine!"
His body riddled with swords, spears, and countless other Noble Phantasms, Iskandar raised the battered Sword of Cypriot, its edge chipped and dulled beyond recognition, and swung it toward Gilgamesh's head with a triumphant roar.
But—
All three present already knew the truth.
The battle had ended the instant Ionioi Hetairoi collapsed.
Gilgamesh stood unmoving, Ea, the Sword of Rupture, resting quietly in his hand.
Iskandar's sword stopped just 2.5 centimeters from Gilgamesh's forehead.
No matter how desperately he pushed—
It would not advance another inch.
The pressure of the swing stirred only the proud golden strands of Gilgamesh's hair.
Both Waver, watching from afar, and Iskandar himself widened their eyes.
Silver chains burst from several golden ripples.
In an instant, they bound Iskandar's arms and legs.
The superhuman strength that could cleave steel was rendered utterly meaningless.
An overwhelming sense of weakness flooded his body.
Along with it came a suppressive force aimed specifically at him, robbing him of nearly all ability to resist.
Frozen in the final posture of his attack, he resembled a lifelike statue standing before Gilgamesh—left there for the king's quiet appraisal.
Waver's pupils contracted violently.
"Those are...?!"
Iskandar remained calm in the face of death.
"So that's what it is..."
"Heh... you really are something."
"You're always pulling out the most unbelievable treasures."
"So you were still hiding a trump card like this."
"I told you from the very beginning."
"This Holy Grail War is an utterly unbalanced piece of garbage."
"I've been countered by you from start to finish..."
"King of Heroes."
Even now, though his body was restrained by the chains, Iskandar's spirit remained unbroken.
His sword arm trembled violently.
Though it could not move forward, it had never stopped struggling.
"Chains forged to bind even the gods."
"These are the symbol of my dearest friend."
"Now then..."
"Are you satisfied, King of Conquerors?"
Gilgamesh asked calmly.
Within his crimson eyes appeared the image of the one who had once wielded those chains alongside him.
Clad in white robes.
With emerald-green hair.
A compassionate soul.
A child abandoned by the gods.
Pitiful...
And tragic.
Faced with an enemy who had endured the storm of Noble Phantasms and still required Enkidu – Chains of Heaven to halt his advance and restrain his spirit...
Gilgamesh had already offered him the highest form of respect.
It had nothing to do with strength.
Nothing to do with sides.
Simply that indomitable spirit...
That refusal to ever surrender...
Was enough to earn even the King of Heroes' admiration.
"...Yes."
"I'm satisfied."
Iskandar let out a quiet sigh.
To reach Gilgamesh...
He had already given everything.
He had...
No regrets left.
"Then..."
"It is time to awaken from your dream."
"King of Conquerors."
Gilgamesh spoke with quiet finality.
"Indeed..."
"This expedition..."
"Has truly..."
"Filled my heart with exhilaration..."
Iskandar let out a muffled groan.
Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
His vision darkened instantly.
Looking down, he saw Ea, the Sword of Rupture, already piercing straight through his chest.
Its revolving crimson-black blades protruded from his back.
"I will always accept your challenge..."
"King of Conquerors."
Gilgamesh said quietly.
Then he withdrew Ea.
Blood poured freely from the wound, quickly staining the ground crimson.
"Rider..."
Unable to accept what he was witnessing, Waver collapsed onto the ground.
Supporting himself with trembling hands, he struggled to raise his upper body.
His vacant eyes never left Iskandar.
His shaking lips could no longer form complete words.
The tears overflowing from his eyes had already spoken everything his heart wished to say.
"This world..."
"Until the end of time..."
"Until the edge of space itself..."
"Is all my garden."
"So I give you my word."
Gilgamesh spoke with genuine respect.
"This world..."
"Will never leave you wanting."
"...That..."
"...sounds wonderful..."
A satisfied smile appeared upon Iskandar's lips.
Crash...
The sound of waves suddenly reached his ears.
The salty scent of the sea filled his lungs.
Before his eyes...
An endless azure ocean slowly emerged.
The gray mist faded away.
At long last—
The Oceanus, the Endless Sea he had sought all his life yet never reached...
Finally appeared within his heart.
Beyond that limitless sea...
Lay every dream.
Every obsession.
Every impossible longing he had ever pursued.
At this very moment...
He had finally reached the far shore of glory.
"So..."
"This surge echoing within my heart..."
"These are the waves of Oceanus..."
"The Endless Sea..."
With his final attachment released...
Iskandar's body dissolved into brilliant rainbow-colored particles of light.
Slowly...
He vanished into the air.
His soul was drawn into the Lesser Grail Vessel—the Grail residing within Irisviel—awaiting its return to the Throne of Heroes.
As Iskandar's Servant form faded into light...
What Gilgamesh saw through those scattered rays...
Was Waver's unwilling gaze.
Determination.
Grief.
Fear.
Reluctance.
Countless conflicting emotions shimmered within the young man's tear-filled eyes.
Step. Step. Step.
Holding Ea, the Sword of Rupture, Gilgamesh walked forward one measured step at a time until he stood before him.
"So."
"You're Rider's Master?"
"No."
Without the slightest hint of fear, Waver met Gilgamesh's crimson gaze head-on.
Shaking his head through his tears, he answered,
"I am..."
"His subject."
"Oh?"
Gilgamesh stopped only a single step away.
His eyes shifted to Waver's right hand.
The Command Seals were gone.
Even the faint traces they had once left behind had completely disappeared.
"I see."
The corner of Gilgamesh's mouth lifted into a knowing smile.
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