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...
A furious tempest raged within the Reality Marble, reaping the lives of countless soldiers.
Even though they were seasoned veterans in life, having faced countless trials and tribulations, they were powerless against the mythical, towering steel giant.
Death and despair filled the bounded field.
Amidst this devastating onslaught, no living soul remained near Mika.
"Damn it! I never expected such a power," Iskandar muttered, his expression grim as he gazed upon the colossal steel giant that stood defiantly, radiating divine might.
He knew that his Reality Marble was utterly defenseless against such a being.
It was an existence that defied all conventional standards, a power beyond his comprehension.
"However, only by overcoming such formidable opponents can I truly savor the thrill of conquest!"
"Hahaha!"
Iskandar roared with excitement as he urged his chariot forward, charging towards the steel giant's head, enveloped in a surge of lightning.
He aimed for the most vulnerable point.
But the steel giant under Mika's control was no sluggish puppet.
Seeing the approaching chariot, Mika swung his massive shield towards Iskandar.
However, Iskandar was not an opponent to be easily dispatched.
With masterful control over his chariot, he narrowly evaded Mika's shield at the last possible moment.
But the resulting gust of wind from the shield's swing sent the soldiers who had finally managed to approach Mika's feet scattering once more.
However, neither Mika nor Iskandar paid any attention to the ground troops.
Their focus was solely on each other.
"It's been years since I've experienced such exhilarating chariot maneuvering," Iskandar exclaimed, pouring all his concentration into controlling the Gordius Wheel's speed and movements as he dodged Mika's relentless attacks.
"Ah! Watch out!" Waver cried, clinging to Iskandar's waist for dear life.
While Iskandar had initially managed to evade Mika's attacks with the Gordius Wheel's lightning-fast speed, time was running out.
Not even three minutes had passed, and the chariot had narrowly escaped destruction multiple times.
"Has he already deciphered my movement patterns?"
After barely dodging another spear thrust, Iskandar swiftly retreated beyond Mika's attack range.
"It's no use. We can't break through from the air."
"I never imagined he could maintain his prowess in such a state. This is incredibly dangerous."
Iskandar knew that if this continued, he would inevitably be struck down.
And with the steel giant's immense strength, a single blow would likely send him back to the Throne of Heroes.
"Now, our only hope lies with those below!"
Iskandar muttered, his gaze shifting towards the ground beneath Mika's feet.
While Mika and Iskandar had been locked in their aerial duel, a group of exceptionally skilled warriors had managed to breach the tempestuous winds surrounding Mika and reach the base of the steel giant.
Within Iskandar's Reality Marble, alongside his veteran soldiers, were numerous heroes from his era.
Some of them even surpassed Iskandar in fame and renown.
And there were quite a few who rivaled his martial prowess.
After all, while Iskandar was a renowned military strategist and a king, he wasn't solely a warrior.
His army consisted of diverse heroes, and these individuals had now bypassed the raging winds, reaching Mika's feet. They brandished their weapons, aiming for the steel giant's legs.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing against metal reached Mika's ears.
Having observed their movements from the beginning, he muttered to himself, "Not a scratch. It seems my efforts in enveloping the entire armor with a powerful aura weren't in vain."
"The armor's inherent material strength, the 'Indestructible' skill, and the added protection of my aura..."
"The combined defensive capabilities of the steel giant are unparalleled. Unless it's an attack on par with Artoria's holy sword, nothing can breach my defenses."
A confident smirk played on Mika's lips.
This ultimate technique, "Steel Giant Standing Upon the Earth," had long been a concept due to his limited aura capacity.
Therefore, Mika was eager to test its various capabilities and gather data for future improvements.
That's why he allowed those warriors to approach.
It's important to note that Mika wasn't relying on his eyes to observe them. He was utilizing "En," an advanced application of his aura.
Through rigorous training, Mika had expanded his perception range to encompass a two-hundred-meter radius.
"The defensive capabilities are flawless."
"After this period of adaptation and experimentation, the steel giant's maneuverability and responsiveness have reached the minimum acceptable standards."
"Now, the only remaining test is... that."
"The degree of fusion between different abilities."
With that thought, a sly grin spread across Mika's face.
In the next moment, under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the steel giant raised its spear horizontally.
Then, Mika's voice resonated through the Reality Marble.
"Ignite! Become my chariot of flames!"
This was the incantation for Mika's magic, "Heavenly Fire: Annihilation."
Unlike the third stage, which required no incantation, the first two stages of "Heavenly Fire: Annihilation" necessitated a verbal chant.
As he chanted, flames erupted from the steel giant's exterior, engulfing it in a fiery embrace.
The steel giant, now enveloped in flames, transformed into a blazing inferno, radiating intense heat.
It resembled a miniature sun in the heart of the desert, unleashing both light and heat.
"This is bad! Retreat!" Waver shouted from behind Iskandar.
"This is Mika's magic."
After joining the Yahweh Familia, Waver had learned about the intricacies of the Falna system through Mika's explanations.
Therefore, he understood the true meaning behind Mika's chant.
"Magic? Is he about to unleash his ultimate attack?"
Although Iskandar was puzzled by Waver's mention of "magic," he knew what he had to do.
"Retreat immediately! Evade the attack!"
Upon hearing Iskandar's command, the soldiers surrounding Mika began to withdraw hastily.
But it was too late.
"The fierce battle has begun, the mournful horns blare."
"Dim is the path ahead, bright is the firelight, hope burns fiercely."
"The flames shall never be extinguished, the blade shall never dull."
Fierce flames enveloped the spear in Mika's hand, transforming it from its usual appearance into a spear of pure fire.
"Triumphant Return of the Blazing King's Sword!"
The spear of flames, christened the Blazing King's Sword, plunged into the ground before Mika.
In the next instant, a sea of fire erupted in the desert, spreading rapidly across the sand.
It threatened to engulf the entire sandy landscape, transforming it into a realm of flames.
---
Flames, flames, everywhere flames.
That was all Waver could see as he looked down from the Gordius Wheel.
The once vast expanse of sand had vanished.
All that remained was a raging inferno.
And the endless cries of agony.
Not a single living being could be seen on the ground, consumed by the flames. Only Iskandar and Waver, circling in the sky on the Gordius Wheel, remained unscathed.
"Is this the Captain's true strength?"
Since joining the Yahweh Familia, Waver had never doubted Mika's power.
After all, he was the Captain of a Familia capable of traversing worlds.
The sheer thought of his strength was terrifying.
So, when Mika had assured him of victory in this battle, Waver had accepted it as an absolute certainty.
Without hesitation, he had used all of his Command Spells, leaving himself no room for retreat.
He had placed his complete trust in Mika and his abilities.
But it was only now that Waver truly grasped the extent of Mika's power.
Iskandar had summoned an army of Servants.
Tens of thousands of them, a force that was unimaginable in its scale.
Yet, this invincible army had been annihilated in a single strike.
"This is truly an eye-opening experience," Iskandar muttered, his voice heavy with awe as he observed the devastation below from beyond Mika's attack range.
"My prized 'Ionioi Hetairoi' has been utterly destroyed."
Waver's gaze shot upwards at Iskandar's words.
The sky within the Reality Marble had begun to crack and shatter, as if symbolizing the imminent collapse of this world.
"How can this be?" Waver exclaimed in disbelief.
"Didn't I tell you? This landscape is a manifestation of the shared memories of my soldiers and me, a world created by our collective will."
"Now that they have returned to the Throne of Heroes, this place can no longer be sustained."
Iskandar's gaze was fixed on the distant steel giant as he spoke with a newfound resolve.
"Hold on tight, we're returning to the real world."
In the next moment, the surrounding landscape began to crumble.
Sensing the shift, Mika immediately initiated the process of deactivating his current state.
Before entering Iskandar's Reality Marble, they had been standing on the Fuyuki Bridge.
If he returned in his current form, the bridge would undoubtedly collapse under his immense weight.
As Mika had stated, the steel giant was not an illusion.
It was a tangible, physical entity.
"It seems the final battle will be waged in the real world," Mika said calmly, observing the crumbling world around him.
With a sudden surge of magical energy, Mika, Iskandar, Waver, and Gabriel reappeared on the Fuyuki Bridge.
"Amazing, Mika!"
"Is this your ultimate technique? It's incredible!"
Freed from the burden of supplying Mika with magical energy, Gabriel's voice was filled with excitement as she spoke, her previous silence replaced with unrestrained enthusiasm.
"Of course! After all, I'm a genius!"
"Yes, yes, yes, a great genius!" Gabriel agreed readily.
While Mika and Gabriel celebrated their victory, Iskandar and Waver stood in silence.
"Rider..."
Waver softly called out to the contemplative Iskandar.
Iskandar turned to Waver and asked earnestly, "There's something I haven't asked you yet."
"What is it?"
"Waver Velvet, are you willing to follow me as my loyal subject?"
"..."
Waver stared at Iskandar, tears welling up in his eyes.
Iskandar's offer was the greatest recognition he could have hoped for.
"Only Y..."
"Only you are my king. I'm willing to sacrifice everything for you. Please, guide me and let me see the same dream you see."
Waver's voice trembled with emotion as he responded to Iskandar's question.
"Very well!"
Iskandar gently lifted Waver and placed him on the ground.
"It is my duty as a king to reveal my dreams, and as my subject, your duty is to witness those dreams and pass them down to future generations," Iskandar declared with a hearty laugh.
After his passionate proclamation, Iskandar ruffled Waver's hair affectionately.
"Waver, bear witness to all of this!"
"And then, carry my story forward, tell the world how your king lived a life filled with joy and adventure, tell them of the unparalleled speed and ferocity of Iskandar's conquests."
"Yes!"
Waver stood tall, his gaze fixed on Iskandar.
He etched this moment, this memory, deep within his heart.
Seeing Waver's unwavering determination, Iskandar smiled warmly. He then turned to face Mika, who had been patiently waiting.
"I apologize for the wait, Mika."
"It's alright. Take as long as you need."
"No, all that needs to be said has been said. Now is the time for action to speak louder than words."
"If that is your will, then come!"
"Here I come!"
Iskandar roared as he urged his chariot forward, unleashing a torrent of lightning.
"Crush him, Gordius Wheel!"
"Moo! Moo!"
At Iskandar's command, the two divine bulls charged towards Mika, propelled by bolts of lightning.
Iskandar had abandoned all pretense of a prolonged battle.
Now, he sought a decisive confrontation.
"Is this it?"
Mika watched the approaching chariot with a focused gaze. With a flick of his wrist, four gauntlets shot out at a speed that defied Iskandar's reflexes, closing in on him in an instant.
Clang!
Clang!
"Moo!"
The four gauntlets, adjusting their size mid-air, seized the necks of the two divine bulls and the chariot beside Iskandar.
This was another application of "Wings of Calamity": forcibly seizing an opponent's Noble Phantasm mid-battle.
"Damn it!"
The sudden halt of the chariot threw Iskandar off balance, but with his exceptional martial arts skills, he adjusted his body mid-air and landed gracefully on the bridge.
He continued his charge towards Mika, undeterred.
Mika tightened his grip on the two swords in his hands, his gaze locked on the charging Iskandar.
"Haaa!"
Clang!
Their swords clashed violently.
But within moments, Iskandar's swordsmanship faltered, his blade deflected to the side.
Utilizing his Transparent World ability to perceive Iskandar's every move, Mika effortlessly plunged his other sword into Iskandar's chest.
"I am victorious, King of Conquerors."
...
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