It must be admitted that Avicebron was indeed a genius. The Primordial Giant Adam he forged using the Kabbalah framework could truly rival the myths of old in terms of completion.
However, constrained by the environment of declining Mystery, even though his creation could theoretically be recreated, the actual resources available did not allow Adam to be completed in one go. Thus, Avicebron settled for the next best option, modifying the golem from a completed form to a growing one. By eroding the surrounding land into a "Paradise," it could gradually absorb power, achieving leaps in growth as the Paradise expanded.
Once the golem was completed, its size would reach a thousand meters. At that point, without an army of top-tier Servants to besiege it, there would be no way to oppose it—and incidentally, the person responsible for concealment would die from a stomachache.
When the giant first appeared, it was only fifteen meters tall—a mere newborn figure. But with the boost of a Command Spell and the sacrifice of its creator, the Primordial Giant Adam had already reached its second stage. Compared to its initial, babbling first stage, the most obvious characteristic of this phase was—
"It's still growing! This thing... is growing at a visible rate!!!"
There was no need for Chiron or Atalanta, the two archers, to point it out. Everyone could observe Adam visibly increasing in size. In just thirty seconds, its height had already jumped to thirty-five meters. Even more terrifying was that the golem's growth curve wasn't fixed—it was exponentially accelerating!
This was the second-stage golem: it abandoned improvements in performance, replacing them with unparalleled growth potential!
"At this rate, in less than ten minutes, the Primordial Giant will reach a height of a thousand meters!" The sage's wisdom issued a warning. Chiron immediately abandoned his wariness of Sakatsuki and aimed his bow at the golem, an arrow streaking through the air like a comet.
"The mighty hammer of the gods!"
He fired three arrows in succession, each infused with immense magical energy. Their destructive power was enough to shatter city walls and tear apart the earth. As the arrows shot forth, the stone-paved ground exploded, instantly forming massive, crater-like depressions. Faced with such a ferocious attack, the golem didn't even bother to block—it simply swung its greatsword, sending Jeanne d'Arc flying with a brutal strike.
The arrows struck, but in the next moment, a blinding golden light shimmered across the giant's body. One arrow ricocheted away, another snapped in half, and the third lost all power, falling like dust.
"ROOOAR—!" The giant let out a mournful roar. It could feel it—this was the final protection its creator had left for it.
[Tranquil Fig EX]
According to legend, Avicebron was killed by a man jealous of his talents, and his body was buried beneath a fig tree. Later, because the fruit from this tree was unusually sweet, people grew suspicious and dug up the tree, exposing the murderer's crime.
This was a rare skill that could only be activated in dire situations, such as retreat or annihilation. It granted Adam a brief period of invincibility and an immense amount of life regeneration.
For a second-stage golem, such an enhancement would undoubtedly plunge the besieging heroes into despair. Moreover, its sheer power was already absurdly overwhelming. With just a single, unadorned strike relying on pure mass, it sent the saint crashing into a wall, coughing up a mouthful of blood violently.
It was like a heavy tank rampaging across a 15th-century battlefield—except this tank wasn't mechanically controlled. Under the compulsion of the Command Spells, Adam's control had already fallen into Sakatsuki's hands.
At this thought, the others couldn't help but glance at Sakatsuki. The young man was leisurely draping his clothes back on, his chest revealing six wings—eighteen Command Spells unfurled, making him appear as eerie and terrifying as a fallen angel.
First Wing: Sakatsuki.
Second Wing: Artoria.
Third Wing: Shakespeare.
Fourth Wing: Avicebron (consumed).
Fifth Wing: Jack the Ripper (transferred from Reika after her magical energy depletion).
Sixth Wing: Siegfried.
Neither the Black nor Red factions could discern which Servant each wing corresponded to. But regardless, the fact that the Blue faction possessed six Servants weighed heavily on their minds—especially since nearly half of them hadn't appeared out of thin air but had been taken from the Black and Red factions. This was a double loss.
The Akatsuki had truly organized themselves.
What baffled them even more was how Sakatsuki, a mere Servant, could possess so many Command Spells. How was this possible? A Noble Phantasm? An inherent skill? Or did his very existence signify something extraordinary?
"You seem quite shocked. But is now really the time for questions?" The Blue faction had already entered the participants' line of sight, so Sakatsuki no longer held back. He spoke openly, "Defeat me, and the Holy Grail War will return to its proper course. Otherwise, the Greater Grail will fall into my hands—as long as you understand this, your next move should already be clear, no?"
The first to respond to these words was none other than Semiramis, the Red Assassin. As magical circuits flared across the Hanging Gardens, the movements of the primordial giant Adam suddenly faltered—the obsidian blade poised to strike Jeanne d'Arc's face froze mid-swing.
"I've suppressed its growth rate, but the cost is immense. Neither my Master nor I can hold out for long. If you intend to stop this giant, act quickly!"
As the mistress of the Hanging Gardens, how could the Empress tolerate the giant encroaching further upon her domain? It was only natural she would be the first to break the truce. Besides, the primordial giant Adam was now far too formidable for any single faction to handle alone.
"O Brahma, cover the earth!"
"Toxótēs Apóllōn!"
A searing beam and a rain of arrows descended together, yet both were blocked by a protective golden light. Amidst the chaos, a streak of green darted through—a warrior riding the storm of his immortal chariot, scaling the giant's leg. The chariot rammed into Adam's body without regard for damage, and at a certain moment, Achilles' expression sharpened. Dragging his spear, its keen tip finally pierced Adam's skin.
The invincibility had ended!
"Xanthus, Balius, Pedasus—charge! Stake your lives on this assault, for my life burns like a shooting star!"
Achilles decisively unleashed his Noble Phantasm, but the golem swiftly turned its blade and slashed toward the chariot. However, a scorching beam shot from afar, piercing its arm like a bullet. Turning to look, Karna's crimson glare slowly faded, dissipating like steam.
A true hero slays with his eyes!
"Ora ora ora!" The chariot plowed forward like a plow, tearing the giant's body apart in a gruesome display. Yet, in the blink of an eye, its wounds healed completely. However, Jeanne d'Arc made an exhilarating discovery.
"The giant's growth has stalled! As long as we maintain this level of destruction, we can defeat it the same way as before!"
"But will I let you succeed?" Sakatsuki's cold voice rang out. "Siegfried, Artoria, stop them!"
Though reluctant, Siegfried still raised his sword and engaged his old rival Karna. Artoria instinctively stepped forward but then lowered her head, suddenly freezing in place. Faced with this version of the "tamamo," Sakatsuki couldn't help but frown.
"Even you would betray my will? You should know that even if the Primordial Giant Adam completes its form, I can still destroy it completely."
"Yes... I know." Artoria closed her eyes. "But Sakatsuki, the current you reminds me of someone... someone I deeply despise."
No further words were needed. The shadow of that person lingered in both their hearts.
Emiya Kiritsugu—Artoria's Master in the Fourth Holy Grail War, a ruthless machine who acted decisively, even abandoning his own family.
When Sakatsuki mercilessly killed Avicebron and activated three Command Spells, Artoria sensed something was wrong, but by then, it was too late to stop him.
It was as if the thawing of the former iceberg had been an illusion. Summoned as an Assassin, Sakatsuki had reverted to his original self—cold, indifferent, and willing to do almost anything for victory.
Even if it was Sakatsuki, Artoria couldn't bring herself to assist such a person.
"So... I'm sorry. At least this time, my sword will not swing for you."
Hearing the girl's farewell declaration, Sakatsuki curled his lips as if to sneer. Yet, despite having anticipated this outcome, an extraordinary pain still pierced him. In the end, the young man merely waved his hand, saying nothing, as if conceding.
Seeing this, Artoria's heart ached as if gripped by an invisible hand. But with the Primordial Giant Adam still rampaging, her duty as the second Ruler and her sense of justice forbade her from stopping to comfort her wounded Master. Thus, she charged forward with her sword.
"I command you with my Command Spell—"
"What?!"
Artoria turned back in shock, only to see the black-robed youth clutching his chest as if enduring pain. His gaze, however, was fixed on no one, as he uttered the forbidden words on his own.
The more intimately two people understand each other, the sharper the dagger becomes when betrayal is chosen.
"—Alter."
Thus, the sacred light began to corrupt. The legendary king let out a cry of agony as a violent wind, howling from the ends of the world—
Tore apart everything in the Hanging Gardens.