As Sakatsuki spoke, a Command Spell on his chest blazed with radiance—its dense magical energy corroded the hero's thoughts, affecting both bystanders and the subject herself.
Impossible.
The spectators were horrified by Sakatsuki's decisiveness and ruthlessness. He had disregarded his bond with the King of Knights and callously trampled upon the dignity of the heroic spirit with a Command Spell, subjecting her to unbearable agony.
The subject, however, was plunged into even deeper suffering. The restraint from the Command Spell was merely temporary—with her Magic Resistance, a single binding could easily be shaken off. Even if all three Command Spells were used to command her to commit suicide, it would be difficult to achieve.
Yet, though transmitted through the Command Spell, the young man's [something] began violently shaking her will, leaving Artoria teetering on the brink. This was not something Magic Resistance could block—it pierced through from a far more conceptual place, like a curse from the abyss.
"Sakatsuki... what have you done...?"
"There's no need to hide your confusion or regret. What I require is not your strength as a hero, but the ferocity to stop at nothing to achieve your goals. Even if the final destination is an ideal, you must unhesitatingly choose ruthless means. What I need is the tenacity of a human being."
Sakatsuki whispered these words to the kneeling Artoria before touching his chest once more:
"I command you once more with a Command Spell—recall your anger toward yourself and your lament for those around you."
The toxin refined from the second Command Spell dissolved her Magic Resistance, seeping into Artoria's body. As her vision flickered between light and darkness, the girl recalled the faces of countless people she had encountered in life.
A typical greedy lord, legs trembling as he wailed:
[I understand! Let me pledge allegiance to you—let me praise you as your vassal!]
[S-so, please... don't kill me, my King (monster)!]
A handsome, red-haired man turned away from the Round Table, walking further and further into the distance.
[The King does not understand the hearts of men.]
A child who bore her likeness yet rebelled against her roared:
[Why won't you look at me?! Answer me, answer me, King Arthur!]
The Holy Lance flashed, piercing the knight's chest. A crimson blade shattered her skull, blood flooding her vision. That hatred, burning like fire, transcended time and space—like a venomous black widow, it crawled onto the body of the sacred King.
"Gaaaaah—!"
The King let out an unbearable scream. Witnessing this torment, the stunned bystanders—particularly a fellow Round Table knight—were overcome with fury. The girl drew her sword, magical energy exploding behind her as she shot forward like a bullet.
"You bastard—stop this right now!"
Had she been summoned as a Saber, this knight could surely have halted the Assassin's brutality.
This common-sense assumption eased the tension among the Servants and Masters. No matter how powerful Sakatsuki might be, he was currently immobilized from using the Command Spell. To resist Mordred's assault, he would have to cease his actions as a Master and engage as a Servant—giving the rapidly deteriorating King of Knights a chance to recover.
However, this sense of security shattered within seconds.
Clang!
"What?!"
The clash of weapons and a cry of astonishment rang out simultaneously. Though the radiant holy sword had already fallen into a darkened form, the one blocking Mordred's charge was none other than the suffering King of Knights. Unbelievable as it was, Mordred roared with concern:
"Even at this point, you still think of protecting your Master? How foolish you are, my foolish father!"
Artoria did not respond. She clenched her teeth, yet the blade in her hand did not retreat an inch. Instead, she pushed forward with even greater force, repelling Mordred. Behind her, Sakatsuki wore a stiff expression, his fingers clenched tightly, blood trickling from his chest.
"I command you once more with a Command Spell—"
These words left all participants of the Holy Grail War frozen in shock. To expend three Command Spells in an instant—unlike the already dying Caster—facing a reversed King of Knights who would only become more unreasonable, using the last Command Spell was undoubtedly a foolish act.
—Ah, is it because of guilt? Are you abandoning yourself and handing the right of punishment to me?
Artoria did not consider Sakatsuki's expenditure of the final Command Spell to be foolish. The first Command Spell shattered her spirit, the second dismantled her defenses, and this third Command Spell, unconsciously accelerating, was the catalyst for her Alter transformation. Surrounded by enemies, this would undoubtedly greatly increase the chances of success.
By now, she had already grasped the true nature of the power eroding her. Such elements and curses could indeed reverse her 'principles,' dragging her down from the pristine heights.
This was an act that should have incited rage, an enemy deserving of vengeance. Yet even so, Artoria could not stop her actions, as if her earlier words had been nothing but lies. No matter what form Sakatsuki took, the sword in her hand would still swing to protect this young man.
Because he was ▉▉▉▉▉—the one this king, who had lost everything, wished to protect no matter what.
I see. What binds me is not the Command Spell, but the emotions hidden deep within my heart—
Just as this belated realization dawned, Sakatsuki expended the final Command Spell.
"Go forth... and accept the raiment of the earth (your true nature)."
A frenzied storm blew from the ends of the world, destroying the garden's plants, drying the streams that flowed toward the sky, forcing the onlookers to shield their faces in discomfort, nearly bringing them to tears. And as everyone's vision was obscured, a flash of golden light appeared, vanishing in an instant.
The fallen Lucifer plucked a wing, gifting the equally heartless king with cold black feathers. The silver armor was stained black, red and black tattoos surging like tides, spreading across the maiden's entire body. Even the holy sword took on a pitch-black hue.
Her heart pounded violently, as if on the verge of death, yet also as if reborn. Mixed with the 'filth' transformed from the Command Spells, it seared a radial pattern resembling the scars of a heart.
At the same time, the hero's pained groan abruptly ceased. Amid the clanging of iron armor, the newly born Black King rose to her feet.
Facing such a heroic spirit, Sakatsuki maintained his hand-over-heart posture and asked:
"How does it feel to be an Alter? If you still choose a path opposite to mine, you need only point your sword at me."
"You... what's the point of saying all this now!" Mordred glared furiously at Sakatsuki, but as a hurricane struck, she let out a pained grunt and was sent flying once more.
"Sir Mordred, must I teach you the courtesy of not interrupting others?"
The cursed sword descended. Artoria—now altered—paid no heed to the fallen Mordred. Her golden eyes remained fixed on Sakatsuki as she strode toward him, her armored boots echoing with each step. The closer she drew, the heavier the killing intent grew.
Under the suffocating, draconic pressure, every Servant was reminded of one undeniable truth: Sakatsuki had lost the Command Spell that once bound the King of Knights. Should this corrupted monarch choose betrayal now, he could only flee in disgrace or await his execution.
Click. Click. Click.
In the frozen tension, the king—still bearing the guise of a maiden—closed the distance between herself and the young man. A storm laced with lightning raged in the distance as crimson-eyed skeletal steeds trampled the earth behind her. The anchor of the storm, Rhongomyniad, manifested in Artoria Alter's grip.
Her form expanded, her footsteps growing heavier as the expressionless girl transformed into a towering, voluptuous goddess—the cursed King of the Wild Hunt. When she finally stood before Sakatsuki, she reached out with icy fingers, pressing them against his chest. Blood welled beneath her touch as she dragged her fingertips upward, then tilted his chin with an inscrutable air.
The scent of blood, metal, and the king's frigid aura filled the air. Sakatsuki silently observed the girl he had personally twisted into this form, his emotions buried deep—only he knew whether they were sorrow or satisfaction.
If Artoria Alter chose to drive her spear through him now, all his plans would crumble.
"How cunning you are," murmured the blackened king, her golden eyes brimming with predatory amusement. "Tell me—are you my Master?"
The familiar line finally elicited a reaction from Sakatsuki. His voice was low but firm.
"Indeed. So—fight for me, my king."
"Hmph. Then I shall grant your pitiful plea, my Master."
With a sharp flick of her fingers, she shoved him aside. Artoria Alter whistled, and her beloved steed, Llamrei, reared with a thunderous cry. The king, wielding her cursed lance, turned without hesitation toward her Master's enemies.
"Artoria Alter, answering the summons. Just as my steed devours the storm, my spear shall shatter all walls and obliterate every obstacle in your path!"
Only then did the others snap out of their shock at Artoria's transformation. Mordred, seeing the King of Knights restored to her merciless self, roared like a lion, crimson lightning erupting from her body to tear through the tempest.
"ARTHUR—!!!"
But that wasn't all. Jeanne d'Arc's strained voice reached them, pulling the distracted heroes back to reality.
"Help me... ugh... The giant is growing again—I can't hold on much longer!"
The Primordial Giant, Adam.
The corrupted King of Knights.
When the Blue faction ceased all concealment and recklessly played their royal flush, how would the Black and Red factions respond?
"Mordred, engage King Arthur! Atalanta, you're on support duty! Astolfo and I will assist Jeanne d'Arc and the Empress to crush the golems! Achilles, your team must restrain Sakatsuki—don't let him pull off any more dangerous stunts!"
The Sage of the Forest issued commands in the shortest time possible. No one objected, not even Semiramis in her throne room, who merely pursed her lips before moving her hands rhythmically to once again restrict the paradise forged by the giant.
Crimson lightning tore through the storm. Atalanta glanced at Sakatsuki before rushing to the battlefield without hesitation, while Achilles leaped up, summoning his chariot and charging toward his former comrade with murderous intent!
A prismatic space unfolded as Sakatsuki vanished into it, evading the first wave of attacks. He watched Achilles relentlessly pursuing him, then turned his gaze toward the giant-slaying team—now clearly inferior in quality due to Siegfried's interference. A cruel smile flickered in his eyes.
"You think you can trade blows with the giant Adam...? Treating this like a chessboard where pieces are exchanged? Then pay the price."
"No, Sakatsuki. There's another option," Achilles declared as his chariot streaked like a meteor toward him. "That's for me to crush you at top speed, then go assist my teacher!"
"Oh? Then try catching me!" Sakatsuki spread his arms wide as the golden orb on his chest absorbed stray magical energy. Countless magical formulas traced across his palms, expanding his domain freely while the Empress was too preoccupied to intervene.
"Let's see how you, relying solely on brute courage, can possibly keep up with me!"
Siegfried clashed with Karna once more. Chiron, Astolfo, the Empress, and Jeanne d'Arc joined forces to battle the giant Adam. Mordred charged toward her father-king, with Atalanta following close behind. Meanwhile, in the sky, the figures of Achilles and Sakatsuki flickered like phantoms, their paths crossing endlessly.
Thus, the all-out war among Black, Red, and Blue was fully ignited. Yet, in a distant time and space, a figure sat before a live-streaming magical screen, suddenly clutching the red-dressed little girl beside him and trembling uncontrollably.
Draco: ?
"Your Majesty, if my boss comes swinging her sword at me, you absolutely must block her for me!" The man was genuinely panicking now, watching Artoria Alter strike without mercy as if doomsday had arrived.
"That old bastard Merlin better pull his weight! If even he can't revert my king to normal... I don't want to spend my days feeding her junk food! And honestly, I still prefer being on top!"
"Even terrified out of your wits, you're still thinking about such things..." Draco flicked her tail in exasperation.
Besides, hadn't this fool realized?
If that King of Knights remained in her original state, how could three measly Command Spells possibly invert both her body and mind (Alter) entirely?