"By the power of the Command Seal, by the power of the Command Seal, by the power of the Command Seal! Rider, attain victory!"
An endless, magical gale swept through the surrounding world, and what was revealed before everyone's eyes was the majestic, splendid sight of Castrum Kremnos, set against a sky full of yellow sand.
In the collision of Reality Marbles, Iskandar and Mydei had fought to a standstill.
Waver understood that the Mydei before him was an immensely powerful existence not to be underestimated in the slightest—perhaps even the strongest in this Holy Grail War.
After all, he was a genuine god.
Moreover, even now, Waver couldn't be sure if Mydei had used his full strength. He could no longer afford to think about how Iskandar would deal with Gilgamesh after defeating Mydei.
If they couldn't overcome Mydei here, what future was there to speak of?
So, in this moment, Waver directly used three Command Seals in succession.
Bolstered by the seals, the magical energy surging through Iskandar's body became incredibly torrential. Just standing beside him, one could feel the overwhelming pressure radiating from him.
"Well done, boy! But even without this, I would've won. My soldiers are second to none!"
Iskandar said this, then burst into hearty laughter all on his own.
"And that includes you, Waver."
--+--
As for the touching scene between the so-called King and his Queen on the other side, Mydei felt some emotion, but didn't show any outward reaction.
"Wow, what a touching scene. Mydeimos, you never said such cheesy words to us back in the day..."
Ptolemy, standing nearby, couldn't resist teasing upon seeing this.
Though they were merely manifestations through magecraft, their personalities were no different from the old comrades in Mydei's heart.
"Isn't it a bit strange to be able to say those words so easily?"
Mydei crossed his arms. Just imagine—you're out eating with a good buddy, and suddenly you tell him, 'You're such a great friend, let's be pals in the next life too.' Your buddy wouldn't appreciate it. In fact, not only would he not appreciate it, he'd probably think you'd lost your mind.
However, Iskandar didn't keep Mydei waiting long. Moments later, he rode forth on his warhorse, advancing toward Mydei.
Looking at Mydei and the Kremnoan Detachment, the army standing behind him, Iskandar couldn't help but grin, revealing a bold, hearty smile.
"Warriors! The enemy we face today is a powerful existence unlike any we have encountered before! But I believe the final victory will be ours! Follow me into battle!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
Iskandar wasted no time with further words. Faced with the formidable, soaring momentum of the army behind Mydei, his thirst for victory had long been ignited.
So, immediately, he drew his sword and charged straight at Mydei.
"A king from another city-state dares to challenge our Castrum Kremnos? Then let's give them a show they won't forget!"
Equally succinct, Mydei watched as Iskandar and his army charged forth, trailing clouds of dust and smoke. With a sweep of his hand, he led his own forces forward to meet them.
Amidst the swirling sands and the cacophony of battle cries, two forces of absolute elite soldiers clashed!
In an instant, the two tides collided. Immediately, blood sprayed like blossoms, and the sound of clashing metal filled the air without cease.
The roar of battle cries resounded across the entire battlefield, turning it into a veritable meat grinder.
No sooner had a soldier cut down the enemy before him than he was struck down by another foe from behind.
Yet, neither side fought in disarray. They coordinated with various battle formations, supporting each other in the charge.
Iskandar's cavalry units caused significant trouble for the Kremnoan Detachment, but it wasn't long before an elite squad moved to intercept them.
The Kremnoan Detachment faced similar challenges.
"Truly excellent warriors. A pity. If I had encountered such foes in my lifetime, defeating you would have been immensely satisfying."
Swinging his longsword, empowered by the Command Seals, Iskandar's strength surged dramatically. For a time, he actually managed to fight Mydei to a draw.
But upon closer inspection, one would see that Iskandar was only suppressing Mydei through sheer momentum.
Mydei, though seemingly on the defensive, showed not a trace of panic, as if every move his enemy made was proceeding exactly according to his meticulous design.
"That's a shame for you, then. Though the Reality Marble recreates them, it ultimately cannot replicate their true strength. And you, Iskandar, your soldiers were all ordinary men in life, weren't they?"
"So, savor this moment. Not everyone has the honor of facing the Kremnoan Detachment."
Mydei grinned, showing no urgency, merely continuing his duel with Iskandar.
He was in no hurry to end the fight.
What he wanted was to conclude his battle with Iskandar only after the clash between their respective armies had been decided.
After all, even with the boost from the Command Seals, overcoming Mydei was no simple feat. Given Mydei's power, he could easily finish off Iskandar before the soldiers' battle was over.
The battle inside the Reality Marble raged intensely, and the fight outside was no less fierce.
--+--
Within the dimly lit streets, sparks of fire flew, and the clang of metal echoed through the night.
The battle between Diarmuid and Artoria had been going on for some time.
After reclaiming Avalon, Artoria's combat power was fully unleashed, leaving Diarmuid at a significant disadvantage.
Summoned as Lancer, he hadn't brought any particularly powerful Noble Phantasms with him. All he had to use were the two spears in his hands.
Moreover, due to the presence of Avalon, the secondary effects of these two Noble Phantasms were nullified, leaving them usable only as conventional weapons.
However, Diarmuid's martial skills were not unearned. Even facing Artoria's overwhelming advantage, his defense was impeccable, without the slightest opening.
Seeing that he couldn't break the stalemate here, Kayneth decided to take the initiative to shift the situation.
But Kiritsugu Emiya was as slippery as an eel, showing no intention of engaging Kayneth directly.
"A rat who only knows how to run."
Even with Volumen Hydrargyrum, Kayneth couldn't catch Kiritsugu immediately.
In truth, Kiritsugu, who had been avoiding combat all along, was also feeling frustrated. He had already discerned the other's magecraft. If not for Mydei's earlier instruction to spare Kayneth's life, Kiritsugu would have already rewarded him with an Origin Round.
After all, for a normal magus, the Origin Bullet was a deadly poison—touch it and you die, with almost no possibility of defense.
However, the next moment, Kiritsugu came to a stop.
"Stand down, Kayneth."
"Stand down? Finally run out of steam? So you stop now to beg for mercy?" Kayneth snorted coldly.
"No. The battle on the other side has ended." Kiritsugu said flatly.
"What?"
Kayneth turned back in stunned surprise, and then saw the two intersecting figures.
Artoria's shoulder was pierced by the long spear, but likewise, Diarmuid's chest was run through by Artoria's longsword. And judging by the sword's position, it was right in Diarmuid's heart.
"You've won, Saber. In the end, I was just one move short."
Rampant magical energy utterly extinguished Diarmuid's vitality. By now, he had completely lost the ability to fight.
"No. If I had not reclaimed my sheath, the outcome would still be uncertain. You are a mighty warrior, Lancer. I am honored to have crossed blades with you."
"But still... my apologies, my lord... for I have failed to bring you victory..."
With some regret, Diarmuid looked toward Kayneth, and then his body dissolved into particles of light, gradually fading away.
Kayneth, now without a Servant, snorted in displeasure. Without a Servant, this Holy Grail War was over for him.
Still, to have capsized in such a backwater place left a bitter taste in Kayneth's mouth.
Of course, no matter how displeased he was, it was far better than losing his life like in the original timeline.
Kayneth was pragmatic. Realizing that he alone stood no chance of defeating Saber, he accepted his fate.
"Rest easy. I won't make a move against you. Now, just wait quietly for the finale of the Holy Grail War."
Leaning against the wall, Kiritsugu lit a cigarette and spoke calmly.
Meanwhile, Irisviel suddenly noticed that her original body was beginning to gradually break down.
It was a precursor to the Holy Grail's manifestation.
At the same time, inside the Reality Marble, the outcome of the war had also become clear.
The Kremnoan Detachment fought to the last. After suffering grievous casualties, Iskandar's soldiers were completely annihilated.
Though less than a tenth of the Kremnoan Detachment remained, a win was still a win.
And the instant the war concluded, Mydei's gauntlet suddenly exerted force, blocking Iskandar's next attack. Then, with a wave of his hand, a spear appeared and pierced through Iskandar's heart in a flash.
The magical energy provided by the Command Seals wasn't infinite. During the intense battle just now, the seal's enhancement had long since dissipated.
"Well fought, Mydei. It seems... my journey ends here... Hahaha..."
Accompanied by a weak yet hearty laugh, Iskandar's body transformed into a golden light and vanished into the air.
Watching Iskandar disappear, Waver finally couldn't hold back his tears.
But Mydei didn't offer him comfort. Instead, he turned his gaze to Gilgamesh nearby.
"So eager to die, mongrel? This king permits you to leave and recover your strength."
Gilgamesh crossed his arms and snorted.
"You're not scared, are you?"
In response to Gilgamesh's 'generosity,' Mydei only offered a light, flippant retort.
It immediately infuriated Gilgamesh to the extreme.
"Since you're so eager to die, I shall grant your wish, mongrel!"
"Big Brother..."
Sakura looked at Mydei with concern, raising her hand as if intending to use a Command Seal to aid him. But Mydei simply waved his hand gently, indicating it wasn't necessary.
The boost from a Command Seal wasn't entirely useless to him, but it was pathetically weak.
On the other side, though Gilgamesh was arrogant in his speech, he understood that Mydei was no ordinary foe.
Coupled with the fact that his opponent possessed attacks rivaling Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasms, ordinary assaults would surely be useless against Mydei. He had to bring out the big guns!
So, the next moment...
A crimson, chart-like pattern unfolded before Gilgamesh. Then, from within the red glow, Gilgamesh's strongest Noble Phantasm appeared in his hand.
Ea!
Mydei was no stranger to this legendary weapon, said to be comparable to the world's most powerful armament.
"Mongrel, this king shall use his ultimate treasure to send you on your final journey!"
Gilgamesh snorted coldly. Upon drawing Ea, a confident smile inevitably spread across his face.
Before the mighty power of Ea, any resistance was futile.
This overwhelmingly formidable force would inevitably tear everything to shreds!
"You alone aren't nearly enough."
Mydei responded with an equally arrogant grin.
As a Demigod of Strife, when had Mydei ever been afraid?
Since his opponent wanted to crush him with absolute power, he would naturally respond in kind with power of equal measure.
As Mydei got serious, boundless magical energy began to swirl in his hand. Instantly, an ornately crafted golden spear appeared in his grasp.
"Behold! The Star of Creation that Split Heaven and Earth!!!"
A crimson pillar of light gradually manifested around Ea's three rotating blade segments. The storm of destruction capable of annihilating the world now fully revealed its true form.
The moment this light appeared, the Reality Marble began to crack and shatter piece by piece.
As an Anti-World Noble Phantasm, it naturally possessed power befitting its title.
Yet, faced with this scene of near-apocalyptic ruin, Mydei merely let out a cold laugh.
An obscure, incomprehensible Titan's roar resounded throughout the world. Simultaneously, a massive phantom gradually materialized behind Mydei, adopting the same stance as him.
Their spears were raised high into the sky, aimed directly at Gilgamesh.
"Now this is interesting! But this alone is far from enough! Witness! This strike that flattens heaven and earth!!!"
As Mydei and the Titan phantom behind him roared, the clouds in the sky began to tear apart layer by layer. Then, a point of golden light pierced through the clouds, projecting down toward the earth.
Only then did Gilgamesh clearly see what it was—an enormous spear, so vast that even the small portion currently visible stretched for kilometers.
BOOM!!!
In an instant, two immensely powerful attacks collided. The resulting shockwaves accelerated the collapse of the Reality Marble.
But by this point, this Reality Marble had served its purpose. After all, if Nikador and Ea were summoned outside, likely the entire city of Fuyuki would be wiped off the map.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.