The unparalleled radiance of golden light cascaded down, fully unleashing the majesty of humanity's oldest Hero King without reservation. Blades, spears, clubs, axes, hooks, and halberds—an array of weapons, each a prototype of legendary treasures—extended from the golden gates. Accompanied by a surge of magical energy, they radiated a dazzling brilliance and an overwhelming presence.
Even without being fired, their mere existence created an astonishing sense of oppression.
Everyone present was in awe. Ordinary Servants typically possessed only one Noble Phantasm as their trump card. Even a Rider, known for their class's unique characteristics, might wield multiple Noble Phantasms.
However, no one could possess such a vast number of treasures. For the oldest Hero King of humanity, even a casual attack meant unleashing dozens of Noble Phantasms at once!
Even without invoking their True Names, simply firing them was enough to instill pride among Heroic Spirits!
At that instant—
Alaric felt a piercing pain. His entire body ached as though those swords and spears could pierce his skin, tear apart his flesh, and sever his bones.
It must be noted that in Mesopotamia, Alaric had completed the enhancement and evolution of the Dragon, granting his external defenses a resilience comparable to Siegfried's Armor of Fafnir.
This armor could withstand B-ranked Noble Phantasms and attacks, yet Gilgamesh's opening assault already made him feel a sense of danger.
"Are they all A-rank Noble Phantasms—?"
Realizing that the dozens, even hundreds, of weapons before him were all A-rank, Alaric's smile only deepened. This signifies Gilgamesh's seriousness in battle.
With the Hero King's forceful intervention, the battlefield underwent an immediate transformation.
Alaric became a target for everyone, with nearly all the Servants turning against him.
The ever-observant King of Conquerors watched with shining eyes, eager to see just how far Alaric could go.
As the second second ticked by—
Facing Gilgamesh head-on, Alaric noticed an anomaly behind him. The Lesser Grail, Irisviel von Einzbern, had started moving.
Not only that, but Saber's magical energy was decreasing—she was preparing to leave with Irisviel von Einzbern.
It was clear that Kiritsugu Emiya had realized that this battlefield was no longer one they could remain in. Even hiding in the shadows would not protect them from the collateral damage.
A true battle between Servants far exceeded the expectations of Kiritsugu and the other Masters.
Even melee combat alone could cause massive destruction to the terrain—let alone escalate the battle further. Humans were simply too fragile in such an environment.
Even a mere graze could vaporize half of one's body!
Noticing these movements, Alaric smirked. While keeping his gaze locked onto Gilgamesh, his cold laughter echoed across the battlefield:
"This won't do, everyone. Without my permission, no one is allowed to leave this place—"
Even when facing the Hero King directly, Alaric's momentum did not falter. Instead, it only grew more intense.
His absolute confidence was disregarded by the others.
Meanwhile, Saber, who was shielding Irisviel, kept a firm gaze on Alaric's back. If Alaric ignored Archer and insisted on attacking them—
Then she would have no choice but to fight alongside Archer!
To obtain the Holy Grail, Saber would do whatever it took!
At the next moment—
Saber saw it—the starlight's brilliance.
Buzz!
Accompanied by the eruption of a pitch-black radiance, a set of gates similar to Gilgamesh's golden portals manifested behind Alaric—but in far greater numbers!
"Holy Judgement—Loading!"
From within these portals, the weapons Alaric had refined countless times were instantly charged and ready!
Not only did they target Gilgamesh's golden gates, but every individual on the battlefield was locked onto by Alaric!
"What—?"
At that moment, even breathing seemed to halt. The magical energy radiating from the overwhelming number of black portals—each one equivalent to a Noble Phantasm—
Not a single entity could escape the targeting of the Gates of Judgement. Even the lurking Assassin, trained in the arts of assassination by the Hassan-i-Sabbah, found their stealth completely ineffective.
The Assassin hiding in the shadows felt their hairs stand on end as an impending sense of death loomed over them.
This reaction was not unique—
Even Kiritsugu Emiya, who had been preparing to retreat with his assistant Maiya Hisau, froze in place, drenched in cold sweat.
Without a doubt, he was one of the locked targets. Though he couldn't fully comprehend the mechanism behind Alaric's attack, it was some form of magic.
Regardless, its power was something he could not withstand!
Kiritsugu recalled Alaric's arrogant warning from earlier. He wasn't sure if Alaric could detect his movements.
If this was a magical effect, its scale was simply too large. Was it an autonomous spell, or was it manually controlled by the caster?
Kiritsugu couldn't be sure, but he did know one thing—he couldn't afford to make a wrong move. The cost of failure was too high.
His only way to break free was to use a Command Seal to summon Saber—
But that would play right into Alaric's hands, allowing him to capture Irisviel.
A deeply conflicted expression appeared on Kiritsugu's face as he slowly reached into his coat, gripping his beloved firearm—the Thompson Contender.
And along with it, the Origin Bullet crafted from his rib.
Infused with his Origin of Severing and Binding, the bullet caused irreversible qualitative transformation upon impact.
If it hit a living target, there would be no visible wound or bleeding, but the affected area would become like a necrotic old injury. On the surface, it would appear healed, but the nerves and capillaries would not regenerate properly, resulting in permanent dysfunction.
If it struck a mage, it would shatter their Magic Circuits, chaotically reconnecting them and rendering them unusable. The destructive power depended on how many Magic Circuits the target had activated at the moment of impact.
With Alaric executing such a grand-scale spell, he had undoubtedly activated a vast number of Magic Circuits—
Kiritsugu knew the odds of hitting him were incredibly low, so he had to strike at the perfect moment.
Just as he was preparing to find his opportunity to ambush Alaric, elsewhere on the battlefield—
Saber, standing protectively in front of Irisviel von Einzbern, stared in astonishment at the overwhelming Gates of Judgement, her face filled with disbelief.
"Is he planning to fight every single Servant at once?!"
Alaric's actions were tantamount to declaring war on everyone. Even though he had previously sent Berserker flying with overwhelming force, could he truly take on five Servants alone?!
It was simply unbelievable!
Regardless of Alaric's intentions behind unleashing this magic, nothing would stop Saber from ensuring Irisviel's escape!
Saber glanced at the sky, where thirty to forty black portals were locking onto her and Irisviel. The sheer magical energy flowing through them was enough to make even her wary.
Meanwhile, Lancer had already withdrawn to aid his Master, Lord El-Melloi. All of these developments unfolded within mere seconds.
And then—
The Hero King burst into laughter.
"Hahahahaha! What is this petty trick? Let me see the strength you claim to possess!"
The oldest Hero King of mankind had already recognized the truth within Alaric's words—a reality yet to manifest.
One who had achieved great feats, one who could prove their worth and realize their desires—such a person was worthy of the King's recognition!
"Since this is your choice, then I won't hold back either, Hero King!!"
Brimming with battle fervor, Alaric grinned.
"Come!"
Realizing what was about to unfold, Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, pulled on his reins.
"Kid, we should withdraw—"
Before his words could finish, an unparalleled golden light erupted.
Buzz!
Blades and swords intertwined in a dazzling golden dance, illuminating this new era.
Opposing them was humanity's judgment, a resolve shining at its pinnacle—an absolute will to carve out the future!
In that instant, hundreds of Noble Phantasms burst forth from Gilgamesh's golden gates, clashing against the black Gates of Judgment, unleashing a thunderous roar!
The night sky was torn apart. Brilliant light surged from the battlefield, followed by an unstoppable tsunami.
The shattered atmosphere transformed into a white tidal wave, sweeping across the land—engulfing both the sea and the city.
A cataclysmic wave, devastating everything in its path.
Everyone caught within it paled in horror.
The sheer difference in scale between this battle and the previous ones was immeasurable.
This was a war beyond the comprehension of mere Masters—
A mythological battle.
The Hero King, Gilgamesh—among all the Servants summonable in a standard Holy Grail War, stood at the absolute pinnacle.
Only those who represented the strongest in human history could rival him.
For he was the eternal brilliance of humanity's millennia-long legacy!
"Hahahahaha!! Entertain me, Knight!"
The king, clad in golden armor, laughed heartily as the number of golden portals behind him increased dramatically, expanding to hundreds in mere moments!
The sudden surge of golden portals brought an overwhelming pressure that seemed to break the balance constructed by Alaric's Holy Judgment in an instant. However, at the same time, the Holy Judgment portals also increased in number to match Gilgamesh's golden portals exactly.
The continuously fired Holy Judgment projectiles skillfully intercepted the incoming swords and blades! Meanwhile, Alaric, who was facing off against Gilgamesh, also noticed Saber and Irisviel von Einzbern attempting to leave.
With a swift change of thought, the Holy Judgment portals that had already locked onto Saber and Irisviel fired dozens of Holy Judgment projectiles!
The piercing light streaked across the sky, forcing Saber to draw her sword in response.
If it were just Saber alone, she would have been fine—but now, behind her, stood Irisviel!
"Irisviel!! Move!"
To prevent the Holy Judgment from striking or even harming Irisviel, Saber exerted all her strength to cut down the incoming projectiles.
Boom!
The Invisible Air was unleashed once again, instantly blowing away all the Holy Judgment projectiles in front of her!
However, the powerful wind pressure generated by Alaric and Gilgamesh's confrontation caused Irisviel to stumble unsteadily as if she could be blown away at any moment!
Noticing this, Saber's gaze locked onto the battlefield's center, where the fierce battle raged on...
The howling wind suppressed not only Irisviel's movements but also forced Kiritsugu Emiya, who had been waiting for an opportunity to act, to remain pinned against a shipping container.
He gripped his gun tightly, preventing both himself and his weapon from being lifted by the terrifying wind pressure.
Since Kiritsugu's equipment was purely technological—without any magical enhancements to avoid magic-based detection—he had to rely solely on his body to withstand the force.
Amidst the raging storm, a cold voice rang out:
"By command seal, I order—Lancer, cooperate with Archer to kill Alaric!"
The command seal system, powered by an immense reservoir of magical energy, allowed three absolute commands to be issued. These commands could utilize abundant magical energy to achieve miracles, such as instantaneous teleportation and physical enhancements.
However, the precision and scope of the command were crucial—if too vague or broad, the command would likely fail.
In addition, command seals could forcibly compel a Servant to obey their Master's orders. However, the same rule applied—vague commands would be ignored, and overly unreasonable orders could even be resisted or outright rejected by Servants with high magical resistance.
But in this case, the target of the command could not refuse.
Even if unwilling, Lancer was forced to turn into a shadowy blur, charging into the chaotic battlefield!
As the approaching figure rushed forward, neither a single Holy Judgment portal nor any golden portal targeted him.
He was allowed to close in on Alaric—
Buzz!
The turbulent air was pierced as a crimson spear lunged straight for Alaric's face.
This strike was meant to kill!
Lancer's expression was solemn, his eyes locked onto Alaric, seemingly anticipating his reaction.
And Alaric did not disappoint.
Raising his hand in a loose grip, a faint glow of magical energy gathered and solidified into form.
Clink!
A cold spear landed in his palm, its spiraling shaft seeming to connect the heavens and earth—the Tower at the End of the Stars!
"Holy Spear—Rhongomyniad—"
Upon seeing the weapon in Alaric's hand, Saber's pupils contracted sharply.
As the King of Knights, she had wielded many weapons, including divine constructs.
Among them, the most outstanding was, of course, the Excalibur. Very few weapons could match the Sword of Promised Victory, but one of them was the Tower at the End of the Stars, the Holy Spear Rhongomyniad.
Forged into a weapon by the Thirteen Restraints of the Round Table, this shining tower at the edge of Britain was an armament equal to the Sword of Promised Victory.
Saber—Artoria Pendragon—could confirm that the Holy Spear in Alaric's hands was the real thing, the very one she had once wielded!
Why was it in Alaric's possession?
Artoria immediately recalled Alaric's earlier, overwhelmingly proud declaration. The meaning behind his words—
Clang!
Even as he fought off multiple enemies, Alaric had the focus to engage Lancer in combat!
His spear movements were as swift as lightning, devoid of any magical enhancements—just pure, raw technique. The metallic clashes rang out, sharp enough to cut through the howling wind.
The symphony of colliding metal echoed under the night sky, accompanied by the roaring tempest.
Spears clashed, and the sheer force of their strikes threatened to pierce the very earth!
But the battle did not last long.
With a casual flick, Alaric activated a Holy Judgment portal that had been locked onto Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald—
The moment the Holy Judgment fired, Lancer immediately disengaged, retreating to protect Kayneth!
With Lancer gone, the battlefield once again belonged solely to Alaric and Gilgamesh.
At the same time—
Even from the Tohsaka Mansion, the overwhelming magical energy and raging mana waves could be felt. The Assassin Servant, controlled by Kotomine Kirei, relayed intelligence—
Causing Tokiomi Tōsaka to furrow his brows.
If this continued, Archer's advantage would soon be exposed. Now was not the time for an all-out battle.
If the Holy Grail War could be settled in a single night, that would be one thing, but Alaric's unpredictability made it impossible for Tokiomi to judge the situation.
Thus...
The best course of action was to withdraw for now and observe the battlefield.
Additionally, it was unwise for Archer to reveal his most powerful Noble Phantasms so early.
"By command seal, I order you—withdraw, for now, King of Heroes."
Like Kayneth earlier, Tokiomi used a command seal to enforce his order.
The crimson glow of the command seal radiated from Tokiomi's hand—
At the harbor, the golden king who had been laughing heartily suddenly furrowed his brows.
"You've got some nerve, Tokiomi. Do you think I will withdraw just because you say so?"
"Please calm yourself, King of Heroes. This is not yet your true stage."
Through their Servant-Master bond, Tokiomi attempted to persuade Gilgamesh to accept the command.
The moment the command seal activated—
Gilgamesh halted his actions, and the golden portals behind him ceased firing.
As the golden radiance faded, the Holy Judgment portals also stopped moving.
And at that exact moment—
A gunshot rang out!
Bang!
An Origin Bullet streaked through the air, narrowly missing Alaric's cheek before vanishing into the night.
Alaric didn't even glance at Kiritsugu Emiya, who had failed in his ambush. Instead, he looked at the golden king and smiled.
"King of Heroes, leaving so soon?"
The long night stretched ahead. If Gilgamesh left now, Alaric would undoubtedly feel disappointed.
Years of solitude and a thirst for battle had accumulated within him.
Fighting Gilgamesh was an exhilarating opportunity.
But now, barely into the battle, Gilgamesh was about to leave.
That was unacceptable.
As if understanding Alaric's thoughts, Gilgamesh crossed his arms and scoffed.
"Only true heroes are worthy of facing me. You mongrels—continue struggling in this farcical war."
Due to Tokiomi's interference, Gilgamesh lost interest in the fight and turned to leave.
The once-chaotic battlefield fell into silence.
Alaric, holding the holy spear Rhongomyniad, glanced at the position where Kiritsugu Emiya was. The still-dissipating Gate of Judgement instantly fired the projected weapon!
But even faster was that pale blue figure, slicing apart the strike just before it could reach Kiritsugu Emiya!
The invisible holy sword carried a tremendous force of wind pressure, and reflected in Alaric's eyes was the majestic presence of a king—one he would never forget.
Seeing this, Alaric swept his gaze over the other Servants and Masters.
Waver Velvet and the King of Conquerors, Iskandar, still stood within the Gordias Wheel, though Waver appeared somewhat disheveled.
Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald and Lancer also noticed Alaric's gaze. Lancer instinctively stepped in front of Kayneth, shielding him.
This act of protection only made Kayneth's expression grow darker. He clenched his teeth and decisively left.
Alaric took in the scene but did not stop Kayneth's retreat. Instead, he turned his attention to the tense-looking Irisviel von Einzbern ahead.
Tonight's goal was this mature woman, who, despite her appearance, was merely nine years old…
At this thought, Alaric felt something was off about this description, but after reconsidering, he found it quite accurate.
"So, does anyone else want to fight me? If it's about firepower, I won't lose, you know?"
Spinning the holy spear Rhongomyniad, Alaric smiled. "Or do you need me to explain this spear to you all?"
Step. Step.
Landing back on the ground, Saber positioned herself between Alaric and Irisviel. The invisible holy sword was aimed directly at Alaric.
"Knight, I ask that you clarify your earlier introduction and halt your advance. There is no way I will allow you to take Irisviel."
Even after witnessing Alaric's formidable power, Saber did not waver. She held her ground, her gaze locked onto him.
Not just to protect Irisviel von Einzbern, but also because she needed to know—who exactly was Alaric?
Hearing this, Lye expressionlessly called out:
"Merlin."
Before his words even finished, a familiar voice rang out behind him.
"Coming, coming! Big Brother Merlin is here!"
The Magus of Flowers, Merlin, who had been observing the battle, cheerfully ran to Alaric's side. Then, looking at Saber, he grinned.
"Ah, Artoria, you're always like this. Can't we just sit down and have a nice chat?"
"Merlin, don't be glib. Tell me what you know!"
At this moment, Artoria exuded the dignity of a King of Knights—or rather, it was the one way she knew could make Merlin speak honestly.
After decades of knowing him, Artoria knew Merlin's nature all too well.
"Well, it's quite simple," Merlin said with a chuckle. "Alaric is your knight—just from a parallel world's you. Look at this spear, this bloodline, and his very being—you two are deeply connected!"
Merlin introduced Alaric as if showcasing a product.
'…?'
As the King of Knights, Artoria was no stranger to magical theories, including the concept of parallel worlds. That was precisely why she felt confused and uncertain.
Merlin wouldn't lie to her—or at least, not at this moment.
Trusting her old friend and considering Alaric's introduction and traits, it was highly plausible.
And because of that—
"Why do you seek the Holy Grail?"
Artoria gazed at Alaric's face, which bore some resemblance to her own. She couldn't help but ask:
"If you are truly a Knight of the Round Table, then tell me—what is your wish upon the Grail?"
"Because of you."
Retracting his holy spear, Alaric's eyes curved into a crescent as he smiled radiantly.
"My King."