["Waver sighed: 'Tonight is the last battle.'"]
["Alright, in that case, let's head to the battlefield."]
[Iskandar laughed heartily and said, "You can't discredit Rider."]
[Then, Iskandar summoned his beloved horse, Bucephalus.]
[Strangely, Iskandar did not summon his Gordius Wheel.]
[Iskandar climbed atop the horse and gestured for Waver to sit on the horse's neck, but Waver refused.]
[It turned out that Waver believed himself to be a burden and thought he would serve no purpose in this final battle. Therefore, he did not plan to join.]
["The first Command Seal: Rider, you must achieve the final victory."]
["The second Command Seal: Rider, you must obtain the Holy Grail."]
["The third Command Seal: Rider, you must conquer the world."]
["Alright, go now. I am no longer your Master."]
[Waver used up all three of his Command Spells in one breath, turning his back on Iskandar.]
Iskandar: "Hahaha, kid, this isn't like you. Why shrink back at the last moment?"
Waver: "What? I'll be useless even if I go."
Kayneth: "Indeed, with your current level of magic, you can't even qualify as a supporting role if you're there."
Tohsaka Rin: "You're worried about being a burden to Rider, aren't you? You're just being dishonest."
Iskandar: "Exactly, I think so too. This kid just can't bring himself to admit it."
Waver: "Mind your own business!"
[As Waver was about to leave, Iskandar picked him up like a child.]
["Since you've given me such long-winded orders, you should be mentally prepared."]
[Without any room for argument, Iskandar placed Waver firmly on the horse's neck.]
["I'm useless now. Why would you still keep me with you?"]
[Waver turned and asked in irritation.]
["Because we're friends, of course."]
[Iskandar gave Waver a radiant smile.]
[These words left Waver in tears.]
["For someone like me, can that really…"]
[He blushed as he twisted his fingers nervously, unable to finish the sentence.]
["We've already fought together so many times, and you're still saying this now?"]
[Iskandar slapped Waver on the head, just as he always did, and said with conviction: "Don't forget, we've faced our enemies side by side all this time. So, stand tall and stay by my side with dignity."]
["Waaaah…"]
[Waver couldn't hold back his tears anymore. He grabbed Iskandar's robe to wipe his face, even blowing his nose into it.]
[Iskandar: "Alright, go fulfill your first order now."]
["Alright, I'll do it."]
[And so, the Rider team set off for the final battlefield.]
Tohsaka Rin: "Wow, you two really do have an amazing relationship. I think you're the most harmonious team in this Holy Grail War."
Sola-ui: "Yes, and Waver is the only one who would dare use the King of Conquerors' robe as a handkerchief."
Iskandar: "Hahaha, you're absolutely right."
Iskandar: "Waver, don't be so stubborn next time."
Waver: "Alright, alright. Just don't drag me into anything embarrassing."
El-Melloi II: "( laughs)"
["In order to seize control over the battle, I deliberately chose a place that was far from ideal for holding a ritual."]
[On a quiet street, Artoria rode her motorcycle towards the location indicated by the message.]
["So, his goal isn't the Holy Grail itself; it's to use the Holy Grail as bait."]
[In a filthy alley, Kariya staggered forward like a walking corpse.]
["It's simple. They're just enemies of this caliber."]
[Kiritsugu extinguished his cigarette, picked up his firearm, and began his descent from the mountain temple.]
["Let's end this quickly, Kotomine Kirei."]
Kayneth: "This is the final battle. None of us can afford to sit on the sidelines."
Waver: "But Kotomine Kirei still hasn't shown himself."
El-Melloi II: "He must already have something planned."
[At the familiar Fuyuki Bridge, Iskandar and Gilgamesh finally confronted each other.]
Waver: "The Fuyuki Bridge again. Is that even possible?"
Kayneth: "It seems this question already has an answer."
Iskandar: "Why does everyone act like my loss is inevitable? Does this king have no chance of victory?"
Kayneth: "Of course not. Don't you remember how the video a few days ago showed your defeat at Gilgamesh's hands?"
Iskandar: "Sigh, it seems I'm destined to lose in the end."
Gilgamesh: "That's obvious."
[Instead of mocking Iskandar as he usually would, Gilgamesh calmly produced a bottle of wine and handed it to the King of Conquerors.]
["Haha, what's this? Are you planning a banquet here?"]
[Without hesitation, Iskandar took the wine and poured a cup for each of them.]
[Gilgamesh glanced at Bucephalus, who stood nearby, and asked, "Where's your Gordius Wheel?"]
["Oh, you mean that?"]
[Iskandar replied with a sigh, "It was destroyed by Artoria's Noble Phantasm yesterday. Annoying, isn't it?"]
Iskandar: "Ah, so that's why it's gone. I was wondering why I haven't been using it."
Waver: "The video from yesterday showed the clash between Rider and Artoria, caused by Lancelot's interference."
Iskandar: "Artoria, you've got quite the destructive power to take out my chariot."
Artoria: "I apologize for that."
Iskandar: "Hahaha, there's no need. We're rivals, after all. That's how it should be."
[Learning about the destruction of Iskandar's Noble Phantasm, Gilgamesh seemed dissatisfied.]
["I had planned to defeat you at your full strength."]
[Iskandar responded with vigor: "It's precisely because of imperfection that we surpass perfection."]
["The aura of a king surrounding you is stronger than ever before."]
[For once, Gilgamesh did not mock him, instead praising him: "Even if you have no chance of winning, your courage to stand before me deserves recognition."]
["Cheers!"]
[The two kings clinked their glasses and drank in one gulp.]
["King of Uruk, allow me to ask you one last thing to conclude this banquet."]
["Speak."]
["If I could use the treasures from your Gate of Babylon to arm my army, we would create the strongest force imaginable."]
["And?"]
[Gilgamesh's tone was calm, almost amused.]
["So, I ask you again: will you form an alliance with me and conquer the world together?"]
Iskandar: "Hahaha, that's a great idea. I had the same thought, but I didn't get the chance to bring it up to Gilgamesh."
Waver: "You actually thought about using his treasures to arm your army?"
Iskandar: "Of course. In war, a great strategy can turn the tides of battle."
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "I must admit, if this plan succeeded, it would indeed make you nearly invincible."
If Iskandar's Ionioi Hetairoi—the King's Army were equipped with the Noble Phantasms from Gilgamesh's treasury, it would essentially be the same as summoning tens of thousands of Servants.
Even if a fraction of these treasures could be used as weapons, such as firing them as projectiles, the sheer firepower would make the army unstoppable.
With this level of combat power, the Holy Grail War would be utterly dominated.
Chihiro: "Unfortunately, this plan is destined to fail."
Chihiro: "Do you think Gilgamesh would ever let someone else use his collection so casually?"
Gilgamesh: "Hmph, I'm glad at least one of you understands me."
Gilgamesh: "King of Conquerors, dismiss this foolish notion of yours. This king will never allow it."
Iskandar: "What a pity. You're such a stingy guy."
["Pfft… Hahahahahahaha!!!"]
[In the video, Gilgamesh laughed heartily, as if Iskandar's proposal was the most absurd thing he'd ever heard.]
["You grow more amusing by the moment. It's been a long time since someone other than a fool has entertained me this much."]
[Gilgamesh then calmed his laughter and spoke seriously: "But I must refuse. Unfortunately there's only one friend that I've had and will ever have. Besides, this world has no need for two kings."]
Iskandar: "Gilgamesh, who was your friend? Could it be Kotomine Kirei?"
Gilgamesh: "Hmph, he isn't even qualified to think of such a thing."
Gilgamesh: "That man is merely a tool for my amusement. He is far beneath the level of a friend."
Iskandar: "Then who is it?"
Ishtar: "It's Enkidu, isn't it? I could tell immediately."
Gilgamesh: "Silence, Ishtar! You are unworthy to even speak his name!"
The moment Enkidu was mentioned, Gilgamesh's irritation with Ishtar skyrocketed.
After all, Ishtar was indirectly responsible for Enkidu's death, an act that still filled Gilgamesh with rage.
Ishtar: "I really don't understand you. You discarded all of Enkidu's teachings, yet you still revere him above all others."
Gilgamesh: "Hmph, it's not your place to question my thoughts."
***
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