What are the emotions stirring within the heart?
Is it anticipation? Or excitement?
Or perhaps—indifference toward what is about to be obtained. Regardless of the emotions, Alaric is stepping onto the final stage.
"It's time for us to make our move—"
Dressed in a gray trench coat, Alaric gazed at the distant garden, as if sensing a prying gaze. He raised his hand and smiled, greeting the unseen observer.
Beside him, Tiamat also smiled gently and said in a soft voice, "Mother will always support you!"
No matter how the eras change or how the world shifts, as a Mother, she will always watch over someone's journey.
Clap.
The fervent palm clasped the delicate small hand tightly, and in those brilliant starry eyes, a certain someone's reflection could be seen: "With this, I must truly give it my all!"
...
Time raced forward as the illusory airborne garden, which had set sail at daylight, cut through Romania like an unimpeded force, advancing toward Trifas.
This act undoubtedly violated the Mage's Association's first rule of secrecy—concealment of the mystic. Yet, no one could stop the garden's advance.
An EX-ranked Noble Phantasm, Hanging Garden of Babylon, had achieved a level of perfection unmatched by any.
As Assassin Semiramis's proud and magnificent creation, this was not merely a Noble Phantasm akin to a bounded field; it was a fortress of colossal proportions.
Even the saint who once saved a nation could only chase after the garden's path, slowly approaching the castle of Yggdmillennia.
As the castle of Yggdmillennia emerged on the horizon, the night descended upon the land.
After decades, the Holy Grail War—no, the Holy Grail Great War—sparked by the Great Holy Grail, finally reached its opening act after several days and nights of preludes!
Hum.
With a low hum reverberating through the air, countless skeletal figures began to emerge across the vast plains before Yggdmillennia Castle—dragon-tooth warriors, numbering no less than three thousand!
Clack, clack, clack.
These dragon-tooth warriors, crafted and deployed ahead of time by Semiramis, were of exceptional quality, capable of exerting significant combat prowess.
With their overwhelming numbers, numbering in the thousands, they formed a massive army ready to assault the enemy!
Around the garden, twelve magic circles were deployed, unleashing EX-ranked magical energy cannons upon their foes!
And that wasn't all—the garden was also protected by eleven defensive mechanisms: towering black monoliths over 20 meters in length, collectively known as Tiamtum Umu: The Elevenfold Black Coffin.
These monoliths could fire extraordinary beams of light, each equaling the destructive force of a falling meteor, capable of devastating entire armies.
With such defenses in place, the airborne garden transformed into an impenetrable fortress.
The grandeur of this construction was such that those within Yggdmillennia Castle, including Darnic and his cohorts, immediately noticed its presence.
Numerous prepared magi and magical constructs were dispatched to confront the vast sea of dragon-tooth warriors.
As Lord El-Melloi II of the Clock Tower once said, Yggdmillennia was a magus family that relied on quantity. While their individual quality could not compare to other prestigious magus lineages, their numbers were sufficient.
Even though their magecraft varied and was considered second-rate, their sheer numbers allowed them to form an army-like force, similar to the dragon-tooth warriors.
Moreover, the addition of Avicebron further strengthened their capabilities, with his magecraft workshop continuously producing golems—a force not to be underestimated.
In terms of armed forces, Yggdmillennia was on par with other magus families.
However—
"Grant us the blessings of Apollo and Artemis, and deliver upon them this calamity!"
From atop the airborne garden, a huntress with her bow fully drawn began chanting the true name of her Noble Phantasm, her sharp gaze exuding a beast-like ferocity.
This was a Noble Phantasm embodying the very concept of drawing and releasing an arrow.
Using the Bow of the Heavens (Tauropolos), bestowed upon her by the goddess Artemis, she loosed an arrow imbued with the blessings of the sun god Apollo and the moon goddess Artemis.
The god of destruction answered this plea, granting the Archer divine favor, manifesting as a calamity upon the enemy. The power of this B+-rank, anti-army Noble Phantasm was devastating.
The huntress, Atalanta, proclaimed the name of her Noble Phantasm:
"Phoibos Catastrophe!"
Whoosh!
Two radiant arrows soared into the sky, reaching the celestial realm, carrying the huntress's will and plea to the gods.
Under the night sky, the dazzling light of the arrows shone brilliantly, akin to the Southern Cross illuminating the heavens.
And then, divine punishment descended.
A torrential rain of light arrows blanketed the battlefield, covering a massive area and piercing through Yggdmillennia's magi and golems alike!
Splat, splat!
The rain of light arrows erupted into fountains of blood. Against this Servant's Noble Phantasm, Yggdmillennia's magi were far too fragile, and even Avicebron's golems could not compensate for their shortcomings.
This was no battle between mages—it was a one-sided massacre!
Step, step.
The advancing girl showed no fear. Her pure white dress seemed to transform into battle armor, shielding her heart.
"Grrr!"
Swinging her massive hammer, the monster girl known as Frankenstein slammed it into the ground, unleashing a burst of green lightning!
A homunculus born from literary fiction, Frankenstein herself was not particularly strong, with all her attributes being subpar. However, she adapted well to her Berserker class, a class designed to strengthen weaker Servants.
The most remarkable aspect of the girl was her Electromagnetic Field skill, which allowed her to freely convert and store biological electricity and magical energy.
In an instant, she could transform incorporeal attacks, such as magic beams, winds, or projectiles, into electricity, discharging it around her to nullify them.
The concept of the electromagnetic field, interpreting life activities as electric currents, was akin to phlogiston or ether in alchemy.
Frankenstein's Noble Phantasm, Bridal Chest, was a war hammer wreathed in branching electrical currents, primarily used for smashing attacks.
The sphere at the hammer's tip was her heart, which she carried with her at all times, even outside of battle.
Structurally, it supplied electricity via the hammer's fin-like appendages, efficiently recycling and storing magical energy. In a combat scenario, where excess magic was constantly generated, it could function as a Type II Perpetual Motion Machine.
The lightning surging upward from below completely evaporated the rain of light arrows, halting the huntress's assault!
The hunter, Atalanta, gazing down from above, was not surprised. She immediately shouted, "It's your turn, Rider!"
"Understood!"
From her rear, Achilles, who had been standing by, leaped forward. Summoning his Troias Tragoidia, he charged forward aboard the divine chariot that could traverse the skies!
Achilles, the Greek hero of the Trojan War, was one of the greatest warriors in Greek mythology.
Renowned for his invincibility and immortal body, Achilles was a hero of unparalleled strength.
Even among the many legendary figures in the Red faction, only one could match him—
The Indian hero Karna, from the ancient epic Mahabharata, a peerless warrior whose strength rivaled that of Achilles.
Watching the green chariot galloping across the skies, Alaric understood clearly the power of Achilles, this Greek hero.
As one of the rare obstacles in this war, Achilles was known for his unmatched speed and resilience, possessing divine-level spear techniques and numerous Noble Phantasms granted by the gods.
He was also endowed with the ultimate defensive Noble Phantasm, Andreias Amarantos.
Except for his heel, his entire body was blessed with immortality by his mother, the goddess Thetis. All attacks were nullified.
However, this blessing came with two weaknesses.
First, for individuals with a certain level or higher of the Divinity skill, this effect will be nullified.
Second, if it is not an attack—for example, actions that demonstrate affection, such as a vampire's assimilation—it will not apply. Additionally, the effect will be lost if the Achilles' heel, the weak point, is struck.
Even so, it only seems troublesome.
As Achilles entered the scene, Alaric also noticed that Karna and Vlad III had come into contact.
Although Vlad III had one arm severed by Alaric, he remained the undisputed pinnacle of the Black Faction and was destined to confront Karna, one of the Red Faction's strongest.
Even with the Guardian of the Nation enhancement, Vlad III could match Karna, but only in perfect condition—
The loss of an arm has a tremendous impact on martial skills.
After silently offering a sigh of lament for Vlad III, Alaric slowly raised his head and gazed at the garden floating in the sky.
To wait for an opportunity and attempt to seize the Sky Garden?
When would the opportunity arise?
"Opportunities are created by oneself."
[Projection, start.]
Spirit particle composition, physical engine construction, and basic modules were connected and completed.
This was a story from not too long ago.
As the great hero Karna and Vlad III officially clashed and began a battle of overwhelming dominance, Shirou stood in the Sky Garden, silently overlooking the battlefield.
"Ara~, even a man like you, if the Holy Grail were right in front of you, wouldn't you be unable to suppress your excitement?"
From behind, Semiramis, the Empress of Assyria, approached with a faint smile and said, "But remember, if you die, I will die too. And if I am not here, everything we've planned will be for nothing. You understand that, don't you?"
As the sole master of the Hanging Garden, Semiramis was a critical element of Shirou's grand wish.
It could be said that without Semiramis and her Hanging Garden, Shirou's wish could not be realized.
Hearing this, Shirou continued to look down at the battlefield and said, "Of course."
Feeling slightly exasperated, Semiramis sighed, "Honestly, you are a Master, one who commands Servants. Normally, you aren't supposed to step onto the battlefield yourself.
Even so, why are you willing to risk your life on the battlefield?"
"If my plan goes against the will of the Lord, then I will undoubtedly be judged on this battlefield, won't I?"
Shirou's expression remained calm as if he were speaking of something trivial. "If that happens, I will quietly accept death, for if the Lord does not forgive me, then it is something that cannot be helped.
But if—if everything proceeds smoothly, it will mean the Lord has forgiven my actions. It will mean that my wish to deliver love to all of humanity, and to heal all of humanity with the power of the Holy Grail, is correct—and I will have no doubts!"
Scarlet flames erupted behind Shirou as if responding to his astonishing wish.
Witnessing this scene, even the Empress of Assyria, the world-renowned Semiramis, could not help but feel awe.
"So you're willing to face death so boldly, just to determine whether this is right?"
Before Semiramis could finish her sentence, the sky suddenly brightened.
Both Semiramis and Shirou turned their heads toward the horizon simultaneously. With their exceptional senses, they both showed expressions of surprise, especially Shirou, who even smiled faintly.
"So it's you—"
Gazing at the pitch-black aurora cutting through the night sky, though it was entirely black, Kirei Kotomine seemed to glimpse a dazzling brilliance within its depths.
It was neither the effect of a Noble Phantasm nor the manifestation of an attack, but merely the trajectory left behind by someone soaring through the sky.
If it were only a trajectory, it could still be explained, but—
"That magical energy?!"
Semiramis' expression changed slightly. She immediately mobilized the Hanging Garden's defensive aerial beasts and activated the twelve EX-class magic cannon arrays.
Under the influence of the autonomous and targeting mechanisms, everything was ready before the black aurora could approach the Hanging Garden!
The anti-invasion spell of the Tiamtum Umu) was also activated, all aiming at the approaching aurora!
Each black coffin could release a beam of light comparable to a meteor's impact, possessing immense destructive power that even Alaric could not underestimate!
Sensing Semiramis' reaction, Shirou had no time to question further.
As a Ruler, the moment he saw the black aurora, he also sensed the presence of the Saint and the arrival of the Red Saber.
In that brief moment, too many changes occurred, but the only thing that could affect him was the approaching aurora.
It was neither a Servant of the Black Faction nor one of the Red Faction.
The Red Faction was already under Shirou's control, with only the Red Saber and her Master, Shishigou Kairi, having broken away at the start.
And that black aurora seemed to exist independently, detached from both factions—
"I know... it's you."
Gazing at the rapidly approaching aurora, with Achilles and Karna gone, only Semiramis, Atalanta, and William Shakespeare remained in the Hanging Garden.
But with an EX-class anti-world Noble Phantasm at her disposal, Semiramis was confident she would not lose to anyone.
The dazzling magic bullets erupted, rushing toward the aurora with unbelievable speed.
Under the Hanging Garden's targeting system, even the Black Rider would be shot down!
However, the aurora displayed mobility that even Heroic Spirits found astonishing. It wasn't just the speed—though it wasn't as fast as Achilles' chariot—but its bizarre maneuverability.
Though Heroic Spirits defied the laws of physics, the aurora's movements seemed strange even to them.
It wasn't caused by some mysterious distortion, nor the result of a Noble Phantasm's phase-shifting. It was pure and simple—propulsion without mass.
After experimenting with converting magical energy into heat for propulsion early on, Alaric had attempted various flight methods countless times without finding the most efficient and powerful one. That was until his studies on the magicalization of Noble Phantasms progressed, and he finally discovered exactly what he needed.
By converting magical energy into light, he used it as the primary source of propulsion.
Although Alaric had previously experienced magical energy turning into light while wielding the Holy Spear Rhongomyniad, back then, even the internal magic circuits of Rhongomyniad hadn't been activated. It was purely driven by Alaric's vision.
As his research advanced, Alaric successfully trained himself to construct the necessary magical circuits in seconds, creating steel wings with engraved spells, which resulted in the current scene.
Furthermore, by ignoring all safety precautions and focusing entirely on maximizing thrust, Alaric achieved the steel wings that allowed him to soar through the skies.
The trails of light left in the atmosphere painted the night sky as if it were a canvas, with the aurora as the brush, crafting a scene of extraordinary beauty.
It was as if he had truly reached the apex of the heavens, as though the celestial world was within reach, almost tangible.
"Synchronization acceleration even surpasses light itself!"
The black aurora collided directly with the airborne Hanging Garden, which was moving toward Yggdmillennia's castle. Amid the roar of destruction, it stopped directly before the Master and Servant.
Step, step.
From the smoke and chaos, a knight emerged, holding a golden holy sword, charging toward Shirou and Semiramis.
His speed was so great that it left Semiramis no time to react!
But where was this?
This was the Hanging Garden personally constructed by Semiramis, her symbol of vanity, an EX-class anti-world Noble Phantasm, and her proudest fortress!
High-speed divine words and spell invocation? Not a problem at all!
Purple smoke emanated from Semiramis, symbolizing poison, as deep purple chains danced wildly within the mist.
But this did not stop Alaric's advance. Instead, he stepped forward heavily!
Semiramis' ability was no mystery to Alaric. It was her second Noble Phantasm—
Sikera Usum.
Grants the environment or magic the attribute of Poison.
When this Noble Phantasm is activated, all magic used by Semiramis is imbued with the Poison attribute.
For Heroic Spirits with anecdotes such as Immunity to Poison, the effects of the poison are weakened. Conversely, those associated with legends of death by poisoning take increased damage—for example, Heroic Spirits like Tristan.
The type of poison can be freely chosen, and its manifestation takes the form of vividly colored, venomous chains.
Once activated, Semiramis gains complete immunity to any poison within the Hanging Gardens, and she can generate any type of poison in the atmosphere. Anything she creates with magic, even a spark of flame, is infused with poison. She can even poison familiars, indirectly affecting their masters, and corrupting causal connections themselves with toxicity.
As a master poisoner, surpassing even the Hydra, she can produce venom so lethal that neither the great hero Heracles nor the wise Chiron can endure it.
In addition, she can summon a colossal poisonous serpent, Bašmu, from Sumerian mythology—a divine beast, a child of the primordial goddess Tiamat, whose venom surpasses even that of the Hydra.
As Alaric had anticipated, amidst the purple mist, the roar of the divine beast echoed ahead. The giant serpent Bašmu, revealing only its upper half, opened its blood-red maw toward Alaric!
All of this is reflected in those gem-like eyes.
This, however, was—no problem at all!
Buzz!
As the toxic gas churned around him in response to his heavy steps, Alaric swung his sword, cutting through the poison. Having already crossed blades with the Serenity back in the Sixth Singularity, Alaric was intimately familiar with the nature of Poison.
Even though Semiramis' poison far surpassed that of the Serenity, making even Alaric hesitant to directly confront it, one misstep could result in disaster.
But as long as it didn't land, there was no problem at all.
With this thought in mind, the moment he cut through the poison, Alaric shouted:
"Tiamat, it's your turn!"
Finally, Alaric called out the true name of his Servant, and it seemed as though he could see the expressions of the Assyrian Empress and Kotomine Shirou shift.
"Mommy's here!"
And in response to Alaric's call—there it was: the crimson radiance of her star-like eyes and the rising tide of the Sea of Life.
As the goddess in her infant form manifested beside Alaric, a black tide began surging from her feet, spreading across the entirety of the Hanging Gardens.
This was absolute authority—a chaotic wave capable of corrupting even the Underworld, a power that even the Empress could not deny.
Gurgle, gurgle.
Even though she had devolved into her infant form and could no longer maintain the scale of her draconic body, the Authority of the Sea of Life remained intact. This was the fundamental power of Tiamat herself!
And those gleaming crimson eyes marked both Semiramis and Kotomine Shirou as targets, with a powerful curse reaching the two through sight.
The passive defensive wards surrounding Semiramis attempted to dispel the curse but could only hold for so long.
Her attempts to resist the curse led to her losing control of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon entirely!
It took Semiramis only a second to realize the consequences of her actions.
Even though she comprehended the advantages and disadvantages, she couldn't afford to stop resisting the curse—not with Kotomine Shirou standing right beside her!
Whoosh.
A steel dragon roared past her, the turbulence scattering the haze before her eyes and ushering in a conclusion named Defeat.
The man who appeared beside Kotomine Shirou hooked an arm around his shoulder, looking at Semiramis with a puzzled expression:
"What were you thinking?"
With the Master taken hostage, this hidden battle came to an unpublicized end.
Kotomine Shirou, who had remained motionless throughout, stared blankly at the primordial goddess, his disbelief evident:
"The Supreme God descended into a fragment?"
"Now's not the time for that conversation. You want the Grail, and so do I."
As his holy sword transformed into a butterfly knife, Shirou glanced at Kotomine Shirou and said:
"Go. Bring me the Grail."