This is a story that takes place in an instant—if the advancing spearhead is like lightning, then the sword light that follows is an abyss capable of devouring everything.
Clang!
With the sound of blades clashing, the cold sparks illuminated Lancer's slightly astonished expression, as well as Alaric's ever-present smile.
Alaric, wielding his sword with one hand, pressed down on Lancer's spear, preventing it from advancing any further.
As if this action was the most natural thing in the world.
"You—"
Lancer seemed to sense a familiar presence—the aura of a warrior who had survived countless battles, someone who had transcended life and death.
Without a single word exchanged, Alaric's sword slashed through the air once more, forcing Lancer to use his crimson spear of anti-magic to block.
Boom!
The sheer force of the descending sword was overwhelming, making it difficult for Lancer to withstand as if a dragon were wielding a human weapon to attack!
Starting from Lancer's position, the surrounding concrete ground shattered on impact, with spiderweb-like cracks radiating outward in all directions!
Thus began their brief exchange, which, at first glance, seemed no different from Lancer's previous battle with Saber.
But only Lancer, who was facing Alaric, could perceive the sheer mastery behind every move—swordsmanship that could only be attained through countless battles and brushes with death!
Every swing of Alaric's sword carried absolute conviction, with the confidence to cut through anything!
Lancer had no wish for the Holy Grail.
For him, simply being granted another battlefield to uphold a knight's honor was the greatest blessing—and his greatest sorrow.
He sought nothing but a pure battle of valor, untainted by personal conflicts.
That was how his battle with Saber had been. But Lancer never expected Alaric to be the same kind of warrior!
In that instant, the two warriors engaged in a supersonic battle, their sword and spear clashing, creating sparks of iron and fire. Even the mere aftershocks of their strikes left terrifying scars on the ground!
Within a hundred meters, the air itself roared, stirring the wind and forming shockwaves!
As the first second passed, with one figure retreating, the brief battle came to an end.
Following his Master's orders, Lancer withdrew.
Even the approaching Saber was avoided, and only after reaching a safe distance did he finally stop.
Alaric did not pursue it. He sheathed Gram, his golden holy sword, and turned his gaze to the approaching Saber. With a smile, he said:
"Though the reasons are a bit complicated, I suppose I should address you as 'King' as well.
So, my King… how was my swordsmanship?"
Saber halted, her expression heavy.
Her gaze swept over the golden holy sword in Alaric's hand—so familiar—and the elegance of his combat prowess just moments ago.
This sudden turn of events shattered everyone's thoughts.
Those who became Heroic Spirits were all legendary figures, warriors whose deeds had been immortalized in history. They were the dazzling stars of humanity's past.
As time progressed into the 20th century and beyond, with the decline of the Age of Gods, even the Fifth Imaginary Element that sustained mystery was gradually diminishing due to human advancement.
The fading of mystery was inevitable, and in modern times, earning a place in history and ascending to the Throne of Heroes had become nearly impossible.
Modern society no longer had an environment that could forge warriors of such caliber. Even the Executors of the Holy Church's Burial Agency, who possessed the power to stand against Heroic Spirits, were miracles in their own right.
While magi could, through powerful mystic codes, briefly engage with Heroic Spirits, gaining an advantage—let alone fighting on equal footing—was nearly impossible in direct combat.
A few exceptions did not change the common understanding:
"Few can stand against Heroic Spirits. The modern era has no warriors."
That was how it should have been.
And yet, this understanding was now completely shattered.
A magus—who should have been fragile—had just fought against Lancer!!
"What just happened?!"
Waver Velvet, unable to comprehend the battle, had only seen flashes of firelight and Lancer's retreat.
But judging from the outcome… was Alaric unharmed?
Yet, unlike Waver, who sighed in relief, everyone else felt an overwhelming sense of alarm.
Because a Master capable of clashing with Heroic Spirits was an immense threat!
"You didn't see it?"
Iskandar, who had been shielding Waver, spoke with excitement in his eyes.
"It's quite simple—your classmate blocked Lancer's attack with a single sword strike… and even forced him to retreat."
"...Huh?"
Waver Velvet's jaw dropped as if he had just heard something absurd.
But before he could ask further, Iskandar continued:
"Your classmate, without a doubt—
is a hero capable of fighting Heroic Spirits!!"
Meanwhile—
Alaric, twirling the golden holy sword in front of Saber, seemed to notice something strange in her gaze.
"This is just a projected replica."
With that, he dismissed the projection.
Now empty-handed, Alaric continued toward Saber.
None of the Heroic Spirits present seemed inclined to stop him.
Lancer and his Master, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, appeared to be discussing their next move.
But none of that mattered to Alaric.
Even if Gilgamesh were to suddenly attack, he was confident in handling it.
At this moment, only one figure filled Alaric's eyes.
As the last knight of the Round Table, his king was none other than Artoria Pendragon, the Knight King.
And for that reason, Alaric felt he could not afford to show any disrespect to Artoria.
Though he had his motives for being here, having a conversation with Artoria didn't seem like a bad idea either.
This was also the first time he had spoken to this version of Artoria.
Though the Lion King he had encountered before wasn't much different, her fundamental form was the greatest distinction.
"So, shall we?"
Alaric spread his hands and smiled.
"To fight against me. Though drawing my sword against my King would be an act of rebellion, it is inevitable.
As long as you wish to protect Irisviel von Einzbern, we are enemies."
At his words, Saber, clad in her blue and white armor, fixed a sharp gaze on Alaric.
She had no recollection of him.
And yet, Alaric's presence was unquestionably that of the living—how could they be connected?
And yet—
The Dragon's Blood in her veins reacted to him.
Saber cast a fleeting glance at Merlin, who was watching the scene unfold with amusement as if none of this concerned him.
Ignoring Merlin, Saber refocused on Alaric, who was steadily approaching her.
His intent was clear: he would take Irisviel von Einzbern.
But Saber would never allow that.
With that resolve, Saber spoke firmly:
"If you address me as King, then you must be a knight!
If you are a knight, then state your name!"
Alaric had called her "King" multiple times now.
Though she did not understand why, the most likely culprit was Merlin.
As Saber made her demand, Alaric halted.
Rather than answering immediately, he scanned the surrounding Heroic Spirits.
Every gaze was now focused on him.
"Since you are a King, I suppose I must comply."
Once more, Alaric projected a false holy sword.
Planting it into the ground, he spoke boldly:
"Heroic Spirits from across the ages! It is an honor to fight alongside you in this era.
Among you are legendary warriors—mighty champions, invincible knights.
Among you are my King, the oldest Heroic Spirit, the King of Conquerors, and even my mentor, though now maddened.
Listen well!
I have journeyed through countless adventures, accomplished great deeds, and even slain kings.
I have witnessed the death of the God of Origins, the end and rebirth of humanity's history.
I am the last knight of the Round Table!
The King I serve is the Lord of the World's End, the Storm King—the Pure White Lion King!
The Lion King is none other than Arthur Pendragon, the Red Dragon of Britain!
Her dragon blood is the symbol of our unbreakable bond!"
"Its work is done, but with the king's blessing, I shall forge ahead into the future—"
This was not a journey of pain and despair. To this day, Alaric can proudly speak of his journey and his connection with the king.
The king had not gone far; where his fate lay, there was where the king existed.
The knight's declaration echoed in everyone's ears. The message it carried was so immense that it completely surpassed some people's comprehension.
Before they could even ponder its meaning, a dazzling jet-black radiance erupted.
This was a brilliance from beyond—a light that, for the first time, fully blossomed in this world—
Its power was so overwhelming that it shook the very stars!
Boom!!!
The mere release of magical energy caused the air within hundreds of meters to roar with a deafening sound. Rolling shockwaves surged forward like a tsunami, rushing toward the city like a natural disaster!
And those closest to this calamity struggled to maintain their footing. Kayneth, protected by his magical attire, fared better, but Kiritsugu Emiya and his assistant, Maiya Hisau, who relied purely on technological means for their ambush, were forced to take cover behind machinery to shield themselves from the shockwaves. Even so, they were nearly blown away!
"What—"
Protected by Iskandar, Waver Velvet stared in disbelief at the center of the radiance. The source of this terrifying spectacle was, of course, his classmate.
The sheer magnitude of this magical energy far exceeded what any normal human could possess. Its purity was even comparable to divine essence!
Even among Heroic Spirits, such power was rare!
"..."
Saber, being the closest, bore the full brunt of the initial impact. The sheer intensity of the magic was something she could only compare to in her lifetime!
The moment Alaric unleashed his magical energy, Saber understood.
Unlike them, whose stats were restricted by their Servant framework and Master's mana supply, Alaric had reached the realm of the Age of Gods' heroes with his living body.
A self-sustaining mana cycle, unrestricted magical energy release, a body capable of wielding multiple Noble Phantasms and skills.
Everyone was affected by this sudden unleashing of magic. Though their reactions varied, they all shared one conclusion—
Extreme danger!
They had yet to fully grasp Alaric's words or understand how he had achieved this, but one thing was undeniable—Alaric possessed combat power on par with Heroic Spirits.
Among all the Masters present, he was in a league of his own!
Not just the Masters—even all the Heroic Spirits present were astonished. What kind of miracle could have forged such a warrior in this era?
But Alaric paid no heed to the reactions of the other Servants. At the heart of the countless rays of light, the surging magical energy coalesced into a set of armor—a style Saber was all too familiar with.
It bore a resemblance to the strongest knight of the Round Table—the Knight of the Lake.
Step, step.
The crisp sound of metal clashing accompanied his movements. As Alaric finally stepped before Saber, he swung his holy sword with force!
A chilling arc of light sliced through the air, its visible sword energy seemingly extending dozens of meters, cutting through everything in its path!
Clang!
With her supreme combat instincts, Saber immediately raised her sword to intercept it. At this moment, the false blade met the true one!
Boom!!
With a single clash, the ground beneath Saber began to collapse. The terrifying sword energy had already bypassed her, hurtling toward Irisviel von Einzbern behind her!
"Eh?"
Unable to evade, Irisviel could only watch in shock as the invisible sword energy tore through the ground beside her, even carving into the turbulent sea.
It missed her by only three or four centimeters—any closer, and she would have been severed!
"Irisviel!! Get out of here!"
Knowing she could not turn back to protect her, Saber shouted, "From now on, I won't be able to look after you!"
Alaric's strength was beyond anyone's expectations. Even as the most powerful class, Saber could not gain an advantage against him. His swordplay was so sharp that even a false blade could triumph over the true one!
Yet, Irisviel von Einzbern shook her head, crossing her arms. "It's fine, Saber. Trust in your Master."
Kiritsugu, if it's you, I know you'll turn this situation into an opportunity for victory.
So she thought.
And as the battlefield shifted rapidly, soon after Alaric and Saber began their fight—
Step, step.
Lancer, wielding his crimson spear, suddenly joined the fray, attempting to separate Alaric and Saber!
"Knight! Saber and I have an agreement. If you insist on interfering, I will not stand idly by."
Lancer, who valued knightly honor above all, held his duel with Saber in the highest regard. If Alaric forcibly engaged Saber, or worse, harmed her, that was something he could not tolerate.
But even as Lancer entered the battle, Alaric's movements did not falter. He defended against both Saber and Lancer simultaneously!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Then come and try!"
Now fully immersed in battle—especially against his king—Alaric found himself exhilarated. His surging fighting spirit could not be interrupted by anyone!
Even against two opponents, he showed no fear!
With a sharp tearing sound, the jet-black radiance flared once more, merging with sword energy, forming a dark crescent that shot toward Lancer and Saber!
The sword's energy rapidly expanded to dozens of meters wide, as if it intended to cleave the entire harbor apart!
Buzz!
Lancer's crimson spear was a weapon of anti-magic, capable of negating the magical energy of anything it struck.
The magic imbued in the sword energy was instantly neutralized, and the remaining force of the strike was scattered by Saber's released Invisible Air!
The violent wind pressure engulfed Alaric's vision, even tearing apart the very ground beneath him!
Tap, tap.
Alaric, unharmed, took several steps back to dissipate the lingering force of Invisible Air. He glanced at Saber and Lancer, now standing together, before loosening his grip on his false holy sword, allowing it to dissolve into magical energy.
Folding his arms, Alaric cast a glance at Iskandar, who still stood atop Gordias Wheel, as well as his classmate, Waver Velvet.
Suppressing his surging battle lust, Alaric called out loudly, "King of Conquerors, will you join the fight, or will you stand aside?"
Waver Velvet's opinion was irrelevant—better to ask Iskandar directly.
If they were going to fight, they should all come at him together.
Alaric would not kill them at this moment, but he was determined to take Irisviel von Einzbern with him.
Killing Servants too soon would cause the Lesser Grail to begin accumulating their souls, which would place a heavy burden on Irisviel.
Moreover, Alaric still had more to analyze—he couldn't let the Grail start gathering souls just yet.
But before Iskandar could respond, another surge of magical energy arose.
As if answering Alaric's unrestrained power, magic from the shadows coalesced into the form of a knight.
A suit of armor and a helmet Alaric knew all too well, accompanied by a frenzied magical aura that roared at the heavens.
The moment the Servant appeared, Alaric whipped his head around. Despite being forcibly turned into a Berserker by a mad enhancement spell, the knight's figure still reflected in Alaric's eyes.
The Knight of the Lake—Lancelot.
Without hesitation, Berserker lunged at Alaric!
"Is this Matou Zouken's command, or his own will?"
Seeing Berserker charge toward him, Alaric, who was well aware of the Master and the forces behind him, smirked slightly.
To battle Lancelot—what a rare and exhilarating opportunity.
A most wondrous occasion indeed!
In the next moment, a near-bestial roar erupted—
"Arthur!!"
Berserker seized a nearby streetlamp, wielding it as a weapon, and rushed at Alaric!
And in doing so, the king atop the lamp was forced to the ground.
A sight that should have enraged the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh—the one who was meant to be gazed upon from above, now standing among mere mortals.
At this moment, the golden king, Gilgamesh, casually glanced at the departing Berserker before turning his gaze toward the flower magus, Merlin, standing nearby.
"Magus, is your manifestation in this world because of that knight?"
There weren't many whom the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, would take seriously, but the flower magus Merlin was undoubtedly one of them.
"Who knows? If you'd care to take a closer look, I might find things a lot easier," Merlin shrugged with a smile. "The situation is quite complicated, you see."
Hearing this, Gilgamesh let out a cold laugh and said, "It's nothing more than a farce among mongrels. I'll take a look and see what kind of amusement it can bring me."
Earlier, Alaric's self-introduction had already revealed much information. With Gilgamesh's wisdom, it was easy to piece everything together. And precisely because of this, Gilgamesh wanted to see—
What this so-called "last knight of the Round Table" was capable of.
Most importantly, when Alaric mentioned having once slain a king, Gilgamesh felt a faint phantom pain in his chest.
As though a spear had pierced right through him.