Shadows emerged one after another from around the mansion, positioning themselves across the courtyard and encircling everyone within.
The King of Conquerors raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting toward the golden figure before him. "Why? King of Heroes, are these your allies?"
The timing of the assassins' sudden appearance was far too convenient. To Iskandar, however, the most pressing question wasn't the sheer number of assassins—it was whether they had aligned themselves with Gilgamesh.
"Hmph. That fool Tokiomi… always making unnecessary arrangements."
In the basement below, Tokiomi nearly spat out his tea at the sight of Assassin's blunder. He had indeed ordered them to provide support—but this?
An assassin's purpose was assassination: to strike unseen, to kill when the target least expected it.
But was this secretive? Was this subtle? Leaping out in plain view before the fighting even began—was this supposed to be a stealth attack? Did they truly believe mowing down everyone in sight counted as assassination? Were all these Hassans united in the belief that slaughter in broad daylight was their craft?
Ridiculous!
Tokiomi groaned. He ought to give them a lecture himself—teach Hassan what "assassination" actually meant. In his eyes, even the legendary creed of the Old Man of the Mountain sounded laughably misguided.
For a modern man like Tokiomi, this so-called assassination was beyond comprehension. It was simply stupid.
"Haha! When you find yourself surrounded, it's already too late. We are shadows, we are legion. We are Hassan!"
At that, Tokiomi smashed his teacup into shards and buried his face in his hands. He had been a fool. He never should have allowed his apprentice to summon this idiotic Hassan, nor should he have called upon them for aid. Withdrawal from the Grail War would have been far wiser.
Ah, ancestors in heaven, what crime has Tohsaka Tokiomi committed? One servant a self-righteous egotist, the other a band of incompetent buffoons. Has fate decreed that the Tohsaka family's dream must never be realized?
Meanwhile, the King of Conquerors regarded the assassins with a sigh. Whether they were tied to the King of Heroes or not, they had appeared here as enemies. And enemies required no mercy.
"Well then, glittering Hero King. I would have liked to continue our banquet, but it seems the time has come to end it."
With that, Iskandar's modern attire dissolved under a surge of prana, replaced by his battle garb.
"Assassins, is it? Since you've revealed yourselves, it seems you're prepared for war."
He rested a reassuring hand on his nervous Master's shoulder, preparing to unleash his Noble Phantasm. Naturally, he would not draw Waver into that realm—it was far too dangerous—but he could always send one of his soldiers back to protect the boy in the real world.
"Now—forward! Toward distant horizons! Raise your voices in the song of victory!!"
Sword raised high, his eyes blazing with determination, the King of Conquerors exuded the aura of a man who could trample thunder beneath his chariot wheels and crush any foe before him. The present battlefield vanished from his mind. He was once more upon the glorious marches of old, and his great expedition began anew!
Gilgamesh calmly set aside his wine glass and rose with an expression of unshakable confidence. The assassins around him, eager to cooperate, braced for the assault.
Yet Iskandar only laughed, a booming, triumphant sound. "Hahahaha! Then let us make this conquest truly glorious!!"
He leveled his blade, casting a glance at the others as if to say, I'll lead the charge. You handle the rest.
"As long as my ambition for distant lands remains, the expedition will never end! Assemble once more, comrades who share my dream! These tracks carved into the earth shall be our eternal glory! Hahahahaha!! Hero King, bear witness to my deeds—witness my kingly way!!"
A storm of prana burst forth, surging outward from Iskandar. A hot, sand-laden wind howled through the courtyard, utterly unnatural for the season.
As the storm swelled, the winds thickened with more and more sand, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. When they opened them again, the world had transformed into a boundless desert.
From the far horizon came the steady thunder of boots, an army marching in perfect unison toward their king.
The sight drew every gaze. Such a Noble Phantasm inspired awe—it spoke of soldiers who had cherished their king's dream so deeply that even death could not erase the memory of their campaigns. Their loyalty had become legend, and legend had become reality.
"My comrades! Crush these assassins before you—but take heed! Beyond them stands the First King, the Hero King himself. He is worthy of respect. Show him our might, and let him bow before our dominion!"
Back in the real world, Kiritsugu watched the inherent barrier expand and gave Maiya a curt nod. Together, they raised the rocket launchers they had prepared, aimed at the mansion, and pulled the triggers.
The telltale roar split the night.
"Waver!!" the boy gasped, spinning toward the sound. "That's—rockets?!"
In an instant, one of Iskandar's soldiers—left behind to guard—tackled Waver to the ground, shielding him from harm. Nearby, Artoria stepped protectively in front of Irisviel.
Then the rockets struck the house in a violent eruption.
Poor Rin Tohsaka. If her father did not survive this Grail War, one had to wonder: would the remaining family fortune even be enough to rebuild their home?
-End Chapter-
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