Rumble...!
From above the battlefield of the Demonic Beast Front, a jet-black pillar of aurora-like light slashed forth from the sea of fire.
It swept across the entire sky as though cleaving the heavens themselves, making the very world tremble without cease.
From on high descended the King of Knights, clad in a pitch-black dress, brandishing a jet-black holy sword. She landed atop the northern wall, the blade in her hand still pulsing with sinister mana, radiating ominous and terrifying power.
"Kingu!"
Gorgon, witnessing this with her own eyes, let out a scream as if her eyes would burst from rage.
But what answered her was mockery.
"You've gotten that huge already, so quit screaming like that. You're noisy enough to be unbearable."
The one who sneered so was a girl who alighted beside Nobunaga.
Draped in priestess-like black vestments, holding the flag of the Dragon Witch, her long pale hair whipped in the wind. Flames of hatred and malice surged around her.
"You are...?"
Nobunaga stared in a daze.
That daze, however, only earned her scorn.
"Don't just stand there gaping. You're useless here now—get back and rest already!"
With that, the black Saint turned aside.
"Take this girl to the northern wall, Serenity."
The instant she spoke, a figure appeared noiselessly.
"Please come with me, Lady Nobunaga."
With those words, a girl of dusky skin, slender frame, and charming foreign features—yet carrying the pitiful aura of a delicate younger sister—appeared at Nobunaga's side. Without a word of explanation, she scooped her up and sped away toward the rear.
"W-wait! Who even are you people!? Wait—!"
Nobunaga thrashed in panic, but her protests and cries were completely ignored.
Hassan of Serenity silently carried her, heedless of Nobunaga's shouting, darting back toward the northern wall.
"Trying to flee, insects!?"
Seeing this, Gorgon roared in fury, the serpents of her hair writhing madly.
"I told you not to be so loud, didn't I?"
Jeanne [Alter] sneered, whipping the flag of the Dragon Witch. Surging flames ignited at her command, taking the form of fire-dragons that rushed straight at Gorgon.
"Who are you!?"
Consumed by rage, Gorgon could only draw her serpentine hair inward to form a shield, fending off the searing torrents.
Jeanne [Alter] stood there, wreathed in fire, her expression twisted with sardonic cruelty.
"The same as you—a revenger!"
With those words, Jeanne [Alter] swung her flag once more.
But this time, what appeared was not fire—From the far edge of the sky, great dragons came swooping, one after another, in a vast flock.
"Roooar!"
"Roooar!"
The dragons bellowed as they descended upon the battlefield.
"Come. The war begins."
Laughing wildly, Jeanne [Alter] led her dragon host, a sight both overwhelming and terrifying.
And of course, she was not the only fearsome, evil presence here.
"...My King."
On the northern wall, Merlin looked at the black figure who had landed before him. For once, the usually frivolous Magus of Flowers could not keep his face from tightening with complex emotions.
For the one before him was his only apprentice, his greatest masterpiece—and the king he had once served.
To this girl, Merlin owed much. Meeting her again, it was impossible not to be shaken.
And yet—
Shing!
With a chilling whistle, the black holy sword came down for his head.
"Uwoahhh!"
Merlin yelped, ducking into a crouch and covering his head, barely evading the killing stroke. The black blade slashed the air above him.
"You dodged? I suppose running away really is your one superior talent, isn't it, great Magus Merlin?"
Artoria [Alter] gazed down at him from above, her eyes cold, as if regarding a pig.
"T-That just now was seriously meant to kill me, wasn't it, my King!?"
Merlin cried out in fright.
"Did you think you still have any value alive?" Artoria [Alter] said with disdain.
"This is only your Servant shell cobbled together with tricks. Your true body's still locked away in Avalon. So disappear. Go back to your birdcage and keep being the pathetic bystander you are. Isn't that better?"
"My King!" Merlin cried in panic, giving a bitter smile.
"Human history itself has been incinerated. Even I can't just sit by—I want to help, even a little! Spare this humble life of mine!"
"Hmph." Artoria [Alter] snorted. "If you prove useless again this time, you know what fate awaits you."
With that, she turned, leapt from the wall, and rushed toward the battlefield.
"...As expected, she's in her alter state. Far too brutal. Not like before, when she was easier to handle. Best not to provoke her carelessly..."
Merlin exhaled, patting his chest in relief, though helplessly.
Still, after such cold, merciless treatment, the guilt he carried in his heart felt strangely lighter.
"Don't tell me she did that on purpose..."
Merlin muttered, suddenly realizing.
But whatever the truth, he would never know the answer.
Artoria [Alter] landed before a crater, gazing into it as she spoke coolly.
"Come out. That level shouldn't be enough to destroy you, Weapon of the Gods."
At her words, the pit erupted in a blast.
From within, Kingu burst out, body smoking and battered.
"Who are you!?"
Kingu's face twisted with fury.
Artoria [Alter] merely raised her black holy sword.
"A manufactured being, just like you!"
And with that, she crushed the ground underfoot, lunging straight at him.
"...!"
Kingu thrust out his hand, forming a gleaming blade of light.
Clang!!
In midair, black and white silhouettes clashed. Holy Sword met light-blade, throwing sparks in every direction.
Thus, their battle began.
Meanwhile, across the battlefield, Servants one after another charged forward into the fray.
"Haaah!"
Mash swung her shield, blasting through countless demonic beasts.
"Hah!"
Serenity sliced with her daggers, harvesting heads in sprays of blood.
"Take this!"
Ishtar appeared riding her Maanna, loosing beams of light in bombardments across the field.
"Hmph!"
Even Ryougi Shiki plunged into the horde, Mystic Eyes of Death Perception spiraling in her ice-blue gaze. With each swing of her knife, a beast fell dead.
As for Nobunaga, she had already been taken back atop the wall.
"Who even are they...?"
She stood in utter confusion.
Answering her question came a familiar voice.
"They're all my Servants."
With that, a figure in a black haori descended, landing before Merlin and Nobunaga.
"Rozen!"
"Rozen!"
Both Merlin and Nobunaga's faces lit with joy.
"You've done well."
Rozen turned toward them. The dreadful mana surging from him made both tremble to their core.
Yet Rozen only smiled faintly.
"Leave the rest to me."
Saying so, he shifted his gaze toward Gorgon.
"Let's go, Anna."
At his words, a petite figure appeared at his side.
"Yes!"
Anna lifted her head—In her eyes, a demonic light slowly began to shine.