The light slowly dissipated.
The small hill before them was covered in craters. The stench of asphalt filled their noses, the ground littered with shattered rocks and overflowing mud.
The dust that had obscured their vision gradually cleared, leaving behind only a long, narrow ravine stretching from their feet to the end of the hill.
Nothing else remained.
The figure of the blackened Artoria had completely vanished within the light.
Wherever the Absolute Sword - Endless Three-Thrust passed, everything was utterly purged.
"Amazing…"
Jeanne looked at the deep ravine that had been carved out. Nothing remained inside, not even broken stones or dirt—just an unnaturally smooth surface. She instinctively let out a trembling sigh.
The true nature of the Absolute Sword - Endless Three-Thrust was expulsion, forcibly banishing everything from the current world to obliteration.
Originally, in terms of beam power level, it couldn't quite compare to the blackened Saber's corrupted holy sword. But fortunately, Okita Alter had Roy's mana support—especially those three Command Spells—allowing her to fully charge and unleash a blow far beyond her level. It overwhelmed the corrupted Artoria head-on, finally securing victory.
Roy let out a silent breath of relief.
Good thing he made the split-second decision to have Okita transform immediately—if they'd hesitated even half a second, they could've been vaporized by the blackened Saber's Noble Phantasm.
"Using regular second or third-rate Servants to face such an overpowered Heroic Spirit is just too difficult."
Especially since he himself was merely a magus, with limited ability to support Servants. Winning against the blackened Saber with just a few mid-tier Servants—this was truly an over-performance.
And—
Roy glanced behind him.
The castle that served as the regional headquarters for the Mage's Association, already on the verge of collapse thanks to Roy and Okita's rampage, had been completely reduced to rubble under the blast from the blackened Saber's Noble Phantasm.
That indiscriminate barrage by the blackened Saber—no magus could've survived it. Even Aoko would have had to die once. The elders from the major families of the Association's headquarters didn't even get to see Roy's face before being blasted to death.
Combined, Roy and Okita didn't rack up even half the kills that blackened Saber did.
"All that's left is…"
Roy turned his head to look in another direction.
On the ground over there, an old man wrapped in bandages and armor was struggling to his feet. Upon seeing the scene before him, his expression turned extremely grim.
Uemon had been extremely lucky, barely managing to dodge the blackened Saber's beam and escape with his life.
"You've got cockroach genes or something? Even that didn't kill you?"
Roy stepped forward, arriving in front of Uemon.
Behind them was the burning wreckage of the castle. Sparks crackled within the ruins, casting flickering light onto both of them.
One stood. One knelt.
One wore a face full of malice. The other was brimming with rage.
The scene was almost identical to what had happened three years ago.
"But I guess this works too. I get to kill you with my own hands a second time. This time, don't think about crawling away again!"
Roy stood before Uemon, his contradictory and eerie Spiral Mystic Eyes spinning ceaselessly, the focus of his gaze locking onto Uemon like a laser.
This time, he would watch Uemon with his Mystic Eyes the entire time, giving him no chance to shed his skin and escape.
And no chance to use a Command Spell either.
Jeanne instinctively opened her mouth when she heard him.
She wanted to say something, but considering the grudge between them, she could only lower her eyes in sorrow and watch them move toward their conclusion.
She had no reason to stop Roy, but as a Servant, she also felt guilt toward Uemon. All she could do was silently witness his end.
But—
"What's this? Planning to kill him already?"
At that moment, an unfamiliar voice suddenly rang out around them.
Without any warning. Completely unexpected.
Okita Alter's eyes narrowed as she instantly positioned herself in front of Roy, looking sharply in a certain direction.
A Servant's presence?
No—calling it a Servant didn't feel quite right…
Jeanne looked toward the source of the voice, and her entire body tensed up. A feeling of immense pressure swept over her, as if facing an abyssal ocean.
What appeared before them was a king bathed in golden light.
He stood atop the only intact streetlamp in the area, dressed in luxurious golden armor. His overwhelming arrogance and extravagance were palpable. From high above, his blood-red snake eyes gazed down at the two pairs of Master and Servant below, glinting dangerously.
The moment Jeanne laid eyes on that Servant, a powerful sense of danger surged within her.
The Okita Alter also silently gripped her odachi, the alert in her eyes nearly overflowing.
Both of them could sense immense peril from this golden figure.
Not the half-baked kind of danger—but a crisis of instant death if they made even the slightest mistake. A threat that surpassed even the blackened Artoria!
"…King of Heroes."
Roy turned around, letting out a heavy sigh.
Why did these troublesome enemies keep showing up one after another?
"What business do you have here?"
"Oh? You recognize this king?"
From high above, the King of Heroes slightly lowered his chin, adopting a slightly less lofty posture to look at Roy. His blood-red snake eyes narrowed with interest.
"Then I'll overlook your rudeness just a bit. This king is in a good mood, so I'll tell you—nothing much. I just sensed an amusing battle before the final showdown and came to watch the show. That's right, to watch. From this king's perspective, your battles are like circus animals performing. Though I admit, some parts were unexpectedly entertaining. Even beasts can surprise sometimes. Consider yourselves praised—feel honored!"
Gilgamesh's words dripped with unchecked arrogance.
No—in truth, he didn't even bother trying to restrain himself. He was blatantly and proudly showing off his arrogance, feeling no shame or disgrace in doing so.
To him, arrogance was natural. If not arrogant, how could one be king?
"The final showdown…"
Roy's eyes flickered slightly.
The Lesser Grail had already collected enough Servant souls. The Greater Grail must have been activated by now. The end was near.
"You here to protect him?"
Roy pointed at Uemon with a face full of disgust, not understanding why Gilgamesh would show up for someone lower than a beast.
"How could this king possibly lower himself for a mere magus?"
Gilgamesh sneered and tilted his head slightly, a maniacal smile forming on his face.
"That magus is no different from an insect. But depending on the situation, even insects can be useful—burn a little, emit their last light and heat. That's all."
"Useful? Him?"
Roy looked sideways at Uemon, full of contempt.
Uemon glared back furiously.
"That's right."
Gilgamesh didn't even glance at Uemon. Nor did he pay any attention to Okita Alter and Jeanne, both staring at him with deep wariness. His gaze remained focused solely on Roy, as if he had placed all his interest in him.
"Then let this king ask you—Roy the homunculus—what is your wish for participating in this Holy Grail War?"
***
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