Watching Artoria gaze at Ludwig's struggle against the army, the hand resting on her sword hilt tightened slightly.
On one hand, she deeply envied Iskandar. This was a bond she had failed to achieve with her Knights of the Round Table, a form of Noble Phantasm she had never obtained.
On the other hand, she was stunned by the youth's bravery.
He had intentionally refrained from drawing his Demonic Sword, instead cutting through the army with his bare hands. Such an act, which would be suicidal even for a Servant, had steered the battlefield in a completely different direction.
The army that was the pride of the King of Conquerors could not take down the solitary Ludwig. They were forced into a stalemate against a single boy.
This filled Artoria with regret. If she had met him during her life and had his support, perhaps her battles could have ended with fewer casualties and at a lower cost. Then, she wouldn't have had to sacrifice civilians for the greater good, leaving them unable to live in peace.
King Arthur had fought for ten years, undefeated. But conversely, Britain had never truly known lasting peace during those ten years. This was one of her regrets.
Artoria shook her head, casting aside her distractions, and focused on the battlefield, waiting for Ludwig's command.
Currently, the entire army's attention was fixed on the youth. Only a few soldiers remained on the periphery to watch her. The soldiers, who were originally spread out, had been forced to group together, pouring all their efforts into suppressing this single enemy.
Though not a legendary sharpshooter, Artoria's vision was sufficient to see the situation across the battlefield. She could feel the army's morale becoming unstable. An overly powerful opponent was grinding away the lives of every soldier like a meat grinder.
When Iskandar realized the state of the battle and turned his gaze toward her, Artoria saw his reaction. The soldiers at the outermost edge of the formation quickly assembled into a charge, preparing to rush the King of Knights.
"By Command Seal, I order you: Saber, release your Noble Phantasm toward the densest part of the enemy."
The distance between the army and Artoria was exactly within the reach of her Noble Phantasm. As the words carried by the mana of the Command Seal reached her, the Invisible Air concealing the Holy Sword dissolved, revealing its radiant true form.
The King of Knights gathered all her strength and raised the Holy Sword high.
Light gathered continuously, an incandescent brilliance that remained dazzling even under the desert sun. The intense, pure light tore through the cacophony of battle cries on this land.
This heroic figure had once illuminated a chaotic and dark world more turbulent than night. Ten years of perseverance, undefeated through twelve battles. The achievements of the King of Knights were peerless, her noble honor eternal.
That radiant Holy Sword was the crystal of the sorrowful, noble dreams held in the final moments by all warriors who had perished on the battlefield throughout the past, present, and future—a prayer called "Glory."
Manifesting that will as glory, she reminded herself to uphold her faith. In this moment, the King of Eternal Victory loudly chanted the true name of the miracle in her hands.
"Gathered breath of the stars, a shining surge of life—! Take this, Excalibur!"
"Scatter!"
Sensing the gathering of massive magical energy, Iskandar immediately gave the order. He told his men to stop focusing on the youth and spread out, not to cluster in one spot.
Even though his voice was booming and pierced through the din of battle, he couldn't control the blood-crazed soldiers like machines. The adrenaline-fueled men were a step too slow in dispersing.
When the golden torrent split the desert and surged toward the army, the majority of the soldiers were completely swallowed by the light.
The surge of light reached its maximum distance and exploded, its radiance reaching the heavens.
From the far rear, Waver watched the light of the Holy Sword in utter shock.
"That's... King Arthur's Holy Sword..." he muttered, then screamed, "Rider!"
The Reality Marble hadn't vanished. The horse hadn't vanished. Iskandar was still alive.
"That was quite the move, acting as bait yourself. You made me forget you were the Master." Iskandar's chariot flew into the sky, galloping on lightning.
His murderous gaze fixed on the youth who had also taken to the air.
Despite the fierce melee, the boy was barely stained with blood, looking like a bystander unrelated to the battlefield.
"You said you wanted to settle the score for that arm," Ludwig said, his hands in his pockets. "I have a good memory; I wouldn't forget something so important."
"Hahaha—! Exactly! I, Iskandar, never encountered a foe like you in my life!" Iskandar laughed. "It didn't matter how much I took you seriously."
"How much longer can your Noble Phantasm last?" Ludwig asked.
"I'm not the only one bearing the mana for the Reality Marble; all the soldiers under my command are as well," Iskandar said, his eyes wide with fury. "It's not over yet."
Ludwig raised his hand and gripped the Demonic Sword, pointing it at Iskandar. "Then it seems the only way to end this battle is to take you down."
"Well said!" Iskandar snapped the reins. "To fight to the last moment and never give up on conquest—that is the true nature of Iskandar, the King of Conquerors! Come at me!"
Iskandar snapped the reins of the chariot, and the Noble Phantasm Gordius Wheel, wreathed in thunder, launched its charge.
Via Expugnatio—the attack method of this Noble Phantasm, capable of summoning lightning symbolizing the power of Zeus to strike the target.
The King of Conquerors turned into a bolt of lightning, rushing straight toward Ludwig, who was also in the sky. He collided with the youth, whose form merged with the blue glow of the Demonic Sword.
The massive impact directly affected the earth. Artoria, who had been preparing to face the remaining soldiers, had to raise her arm to shield herself from the shockwave coming from above.
Dazzling light once again covered the desert. When the light faded, the surroundings returned to the scene outside the church.
Having lost its anchor, the Reality Marble was forced to dissolve. Waver tumbled from his vanishing horse, sprawling on the grass, looking at Iskandar not far away.
The King of Conquerors sat cross-legged on the ground, his previous aura completely gone. Blood surged from his body, staining his armor and the earth beneath him.
Ludwig stood beside him.
"What a shame..."
"A shame about what? That you couldn't defeat me?" Ludwig asked.
"A shame I didn't meet a warrior like you in my life. If I had, I would have done everything in my power to recruit you," Iskandar said. In his final moments, he didn't lament his failure but was instead fascinated by his enemy's strength. "If I had... I'm sure my hegemony would have been even grander."
"Unluckily for you, if someone like me were truly born back then, it wouldn't be a nation falling—the world would have already been destroyed."
Ludwig spoke flatly, then turned to walk toward Artoria, intending to ignore Rider's Master.
"That's why... it's a shame..."
Iskandar lowered his head and stopped breathing. His body slowly turned into particles and dissipated.
Before Ludwig and Artoria could exchange words of celebration, the church suddenly lit up with a brilliant glow, illuminating the surroundings as if it were midday.
The Holy Grail had manifested.
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Type-Moon: The A-Ray Knight's Holy Grail Journey(98 Chapter - Ongoing)
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