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...
"Ah, it seems I have been defeated."
Feeling the sharp pain in his chest, Iskandar conceded with a wry smile. "Indeed, engaging in close combat with a warrior like you was a mistake."
"Your swordsmanship… even the most skilled swordsmen among my army pale in comparison."
"I appreciate your praise, King of Conquerors," Mika replied, accepting Iskandar's compliment with a chuckle.
"Hahaha!"
Letting out a hearty laugh, Iskandar's form began to fade into shimmering particles of light. As he vanished, he exclaimed with a hint of wistful nostalgia, "This expedition was truly exhilarating!"
With that, he dissolved completely into spiritual particles, disappearing into the night.
Mika stood silently for a moment, watching the spot where Iskandar had vanished, before approaching Waver, who was shedding tears.
"Don't blame yourself, Waver. This is the fate of a Servant."
"I know!" Waver replied, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "This was Rider's choice, the path he chose to take."
"As his loyal subject, all I can do is record his heroic deeds."
Looking at Waver's clear gaze, Mika nodded approvingly.
"I'm glad you understand. You've grown significantly during this Holy Grail War. It seems my decision was the right one."
Waver recalled the moment Mika had instructed him to accompany Iskandar and couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude.
He was deeply thankful for Mika's decision.
"Thank you, Mika!"
"You're welcome. After all, you're a member of our Yahweh Familia," Mika replied with a gentle smile.
He then turned his gaze towards the Gordius Wheel, Iskandar's Noble Phantasm, which had been left behind.
Jumping onto the chariot, he stroked the two divine bulls that pulled it, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"This is way cooler than a sports car, wouldn't you say?"
After a moment of admiration, Mika called out to Waver.
"Get on, Waver. We're heading to our final destination."
"Huh? Oh, right!"
Waver quickly scrambled onto the Gordius Wheel.
"Let's go! Our destination is Mount Enzou!"
"Moo!"
Following Mika's command, the divine bulls roared and began to gallop, their hooves pounding the ground before they ascended into the sky, speeding towards Mount Enzou.
...
Mount Enzou.
Artoria, Kiritsugu Emiya, and Maiya Hisau followed the ascending steps, rapidly making their way up the mountain.
"As expected, Caster has transformed this place into a magical stronghold," Kiritsugu observed calmly, analyzing their surroundings. "Stay alert and be prepared for any potential attacks."
"Understood!" Artoria replied, her grip tightening on her sword.
She held an unwavering trust in Merlin's magical abilities.
That was why she was so cautious now that they were enemies.
Suddenly, a gentle voice echoed around them.
"Welcome."
"Who's there?!"
The trio swiftly turned towards the source of the voice, their faces etched with vigilance and a readiness to fight.
"Please, don't be alarmed. I'm not here to fight," Merlin's figure materialized before them amidst a shower of flower petals, his gaze meeting Artoria's furious glare.
"Merlin!"
The moment she saw Merlin, Artoria's hand instinctively reached for her sword, her desire to strike him overwhelming.
She now knew the truth about Irisviel von Einzbern's role as the Holy Grail's vessel.
She knew that Merlin had captured Irisviel to use her as a sacrifice.
Artoria's eyes blazed with fury.
"Wait!" Kiritsugu stopped her.
"Merlin, the great sage from the legends of King Arthur, what is your purpose here?" Kiritsugu questioned, his voice laced with suspicion.
He couldn't comprehend Merlin's actions.
"I have no grand ambitions. I simply wish to live a peaceful life," Merlin replied with a weary sigh, waving his hand dismissively. "I'm merely following my Master's orders. He keeps me quite busy, you see."
"However, I haven't been completely idle."
"The woman Artoria cares for is unharmed. I've extracted the Lesser Grail from her body and healed her injuries."
"You should find her safe and sound when you reach the top."
Kiritsugu's pupils constricted, and a wave of relief washed over him, quickly masked by his usual stoic expression.
Artoria, however, couldn't contain her joy.
She was overjoyed that Irisviel had escaped her tragic fate.
At the same time, her animosity towards Merlin diminished significantly.
As expected, Merlin was still the Merlin she knew.
"What are you planning?" Kiritsugu pressed further.
"What are we planning? You'll witness it firsthand."
With that, Merlin turned and walked towards the Ryuudou Temple at the summit.
"Follow me."
Without hesitation, Artoria and Kiritsugu followed Merlin towards the mountaintop.
As they neared the summit, a figure clad in white appeared before them.
"Irisviel!"
"Kiritsugu! Saber!"
Overjoyed to see them again, Irisviel, who had feared for her life when she was captured, rushed into Kiritsugu's arms.
Standing at the entrance of the Ryuudou Temple, Merlin observed the joyous reunion with a melancholic expression before revealing the truth about the Holy Grail.
"In the previous Holy Grail War, the Einzbern family, desperate for victory, cheated by summoning a Servant of the eighth class, the Avenger."
Merlin then explained how the Holy Grail had been corrupted.
As for why he chose to reveal this information now, Mika had a simple explanation: These individuals, consumed by their obsession with the Holy Grail, wouldn't give up until they witnessed its corruption firsthand.
Otherwise, Kiritsugu Emiya wouldn't be Kiritsugu Emiya.
As expected, upon hearing Merlin's words, Artoria and Kiritsugu's faces were etched with doubt, but they didn't fully believe him.
"Impossible," Artoria muttered, unable to accept such a devastating truth.
"That's why I told you before that your wish cannot be granted. Not only is your wish foolish, but the Holy Grail itself is no longer capable of fulfilling wishes as intended."
"I know you won't believe me, but I can show you proof!"
"But before that..." Merlin chuckled, gesturing upwards. "Artoria, an old comrade awaits you."
"Ah!"
"Yaaaa...se!"
With an enraged roar, Berserker, shrouded in black mist, emerged from the Ryuudou Temple. It was Lancelot.
---
"Yaaaa...se!"
Enveloped in a dark mist, radiating an aura of pure malice, Berserker stood atop Ryuudou Temple, his gaze fixed on Artoria below.
Due to Mika's promise and the strong restraints placed upon him, Lancelot had refrained from entering a full-blown rampage despite encountering Artoria on several occasions.
Furthermore, his Noble Phantasm, "For Someone's Glory," possessed the ability to conceal his identity, preventing even Artoria, his former comrade, from recognizing him.
Now, after a long and agonizing wait, Lancelot finally received the fulfillment of Mika's promise:
A one-on-one duel with Artoria.
And the chance to die by her hand.
"Yaaaa...se!"
Lancelot's enraged roar intensified the shock on Artoria's face.
"Merlin, you said this was our comrade?!"
Artoria's voice was filled with disbelief, but deep down, she already had a strong suspicion about Berserker's true identity.
Although his madness had initially clouded her judgment, upon learning that he was a former ally, the image of Berserker's ferocious fighting style began to overlap with a specific person in her memory.
"Indeed. Although I'm also shocked by his current state, the fact remains that he was once our comrade," Merlin replied, his voice heavy with sorrow.
He, too, wished he could avoid witnessing this tragic scene.
"Ah...?"
Artoria bit her lip, her gaze fixed on the rampaging figure.
"Is that you, Sir Lancelot?" she asked, her voice filled with anguish.
Lancelot's only response was a mournful, enraged roar.
"Yaaaa...se!"
"Aaaaaaaaah!"
"How could this happen?!" Irisviel exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock.
As far as she knew, Lancelot was hailed as the "Knight of the Flower," the strongest Knight of the Round Table.
Although he had ultimately caused the downfall of Camelot, his valor and strength were undeniable.
Yet, here he was, reduced to a mindless beast, a stark contrast to his former glory.
Irisviel glanced at Artoria with concern.
She worried about the impact this encounter would have on Artoria, already burdened by guilt and sorrow.
"Do you hate me that much, Sir Lancelot?"
Artoria was filled with confusion. Why had this knight, once a symbol of honor and loyalty, fallen into such a state?
Was it her fault?
She suddenly recalled the words of Sir Tristan, another Knight of the Round Table:
"The King does not understand the human heart."
"Is all of this my fault?"
Artoria gripped her sword tighter, her mind flooded with memories, including Iskandar's harsh criticism of her leadership.
She was lost in a sea of doubt and confusion.
Her gaze fell upon Merlin, seeking guidance.
"No matter what happened in the past, it cannot be undone."
"You must face this challenge alone."
"Even if it causes you pain, this is your responsibility, the burden you bear as the King who carries the hopes of many."
With those words, Merlin fell silent. He turned to Kiritsugu, Irisviel, and Maiya.
"Leave them be. Come with me."
"..."
Kiritsugu hesitated for a moment before following Merlin.
He had no choice but to comply.
Although leaving Saber's side was dangerous, the current situation was dire.
They were outnumbered, two Servants against Artoria alone.
Moreover, these two Servants were Artoria's former mentor and comrade, making it difficult for her to fight at her full potential.
They knew each other far too well.
Furthermore, they were within Merlin's magical territory. If Artoria became preoccupied with Lancelot, Merlin could easily eliminate them.
Although Merlin was a mage, Kiritsugu was unsure if his Origin Bullets would be effective against him.
After all, this was Merlin, the legendary magus.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Kiritsugu led Irisviel and Maiya, following Merlin deeper into the temple.
They soon arrived at the central altar of Ryuudou Temple.
There, the once-illusory Lesser Grail had solidified, seemingly on the verge of manifesting fully.
"Let us wait here," Merlin said, a cryptic smile playing on his lips as he met Kiritsugu's questioning gaze. "I told you, the Holy Grail has been corrupted. If you don't believe me, then witness it with your own eyes."
"At this moment, the only Servants remaining in this Holy Grail War are myself, Artoria, and Lancelot."
Looking at the state of the Lesser Grail, Merlin knew that Iskandar had already been eliminated.
"Furthermore, the battle outside will soon conclude."
"After all, Lancelot's wish is to receive the King's judgment and die by her hand."
"Therefore, the Holy Grail's descent is imminent. We simply need to wait."
"Is that so?" Irisviel gasped, covering her mouth with her hand once more.
She couldn't believe that the rampaging knight harbored such a tragic wish.
Her concern for Artoria grew.
She worried about the devastating impact this revelation would have on her.
"While we wait, Mr. Emiya, and you two ladies, why don't you ponder something?" Merlin's words snapped Irisviel out of her worried thoughts.
"Ponder what?"
"What you should do if what I've said is true."
Kiritsugu's face hardened with worry.
Honestly, he was inclined to believe Merlin, given his demeanor and the current situation.
However, his unwavering commitment to his ideals as a "Magus Killer" prevented him from accepting defeat.
"If this is true, what should I do?" Kiritsugu pondered, his heart filled with uncertainty.
...
"Hahaha! This is way more exhilarating than a fighter jet!"
Mika roared with laughter as he steered the Gordius Wheel, reveling in the thrill of the ride.
Although the fighter jets he and Gilgamesh had raced through the sky were faster, Mika preferred the raw power and majesty of the chariot.
"Hey, Mika, slow down!" Waver shouted, struggling against the wind as it whipped through his hair. Despite experiencing this several times before, he still hadn't gotten used to it.
"Hah! If we slow down, we'll miss the Holy Grail's descent."
With Mount Enzou in sight, Mika urged the Gordius Wheel forward, charging up the mountain path at breakneck speed.
Thanks to the chariot's lightning-fast speed, Mika and Waver quickly reached the summit.
They were greeted by the sight of a fierce battle between two Servants.
Artoria and Lancelot.
The former King and her strongest knight were locked in a deadly duel.
...
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