"You, kid..."

Iskandar shook his head, knowing Waver hadn't grasped his true intentions.

He wasn't lamenting.

A true king never regrets.

Or rather, if he had reached the world's end before his death, Iskandar would have been left with endless regret.

Because that would mean his journey had reached its end.

Not because he didn't want to go forward, but because he couldn't.

For a conqueror, an explorer, a life without further adventure is dull.

Reaching the world's end, returning home, and watching himself grow old... such an ending was the sorrow Iskandar could not accept.

A great man should die on the battlefield, not in a bed!

The moment Damien declared war on him, Iskandar knew he had met a kindred spirit.

One conqueror had encountered another.

Regardless of victory or defeat, their adventure would reach a fulfilling conclusion.

The loser would become a trophy of the victor.

And the victor would carry the loser's ambitions, witnessing broader horizons.

"Rider?"

"Hm?"

"Will you win?"

Waver vaguely understood Iskandar, grasping the true desire behind his summoning as a Heroic Spirit.

"Nah."

Iskandar flicked the reins, charging forward with thundering might. "I'd win!"

Leaving the confident Iskandar aside, Damien had returned to Ryudou Temple.

He first checked on Sakura's condition and, learning from Shuna that the girl was recovering well, felt reassured.

"Lord Damien."

In the Cardinal World, within the village, Damien withdrew his consciousness from the Heroic Spirit.

He gathered the participating goblins, wolves, and kijin, selecting the pre-positioned team leaders to discuss tomorrow's war.

"This war will be led by Violet as the overall commander."

"Snow Empress, Ogerpon."

Damien instructed, "You two may participate, but don't display excessive strength."

"Bo-ne!"

"I know my limits."

The two women were Damien's strongest trump cards, too valuable to use against Iskandar.

In terms of combat power, Snow Empress alone could, like Gilgamesh in the anime, shatter Iskandar's Reality Marble with a single world-breaking Noble Phantasm.

But such an act would be meaningless to Damien.

He sought not just victory but to analyze Iskandar's Ionioi Hetairoi as thoroughly as possible.

That was why he had assembled a massive army of Majins.

This battle was critical.

"This battle is of utmost importance."

Damien said, "I expect you to deliver a performance that truly shines."

His words ignited a surge of passion among the Majins.

They weren't here to make up numbers.

They were vital forces!

"We will do our utmost to create analysis opportunities for Lady Violet!"

Seeing their determined expressions, Damien was satisfied. "Then it's up to you. Let the Heroic Spirits of this world feel the power of our Majins."

Time passed quickly, from sunrise to sunset, and soon it was the next night.

The crimson steel bridge spanned the riverbanks.

Under the lights, Artoria, who arrived early, and Irisviel, disguised as her Master, watched Damien, who was meditating with closed eyes, with tension.

"Lancer!"

"Please don't worry, Master."

The battle was known not only to Saber and Gilgamesh but also to Lancer.

"You came too, Lancer."

"Ah, I hope my uninvited presence isn't rude."

"But such a grand event... I couldn't resist coming to witness it myself."

"May I have the honor of observing?"

"You may."

Damien opened his eyes, casually granting Diarmuid's request.

"Thank you."

Diarmuid nodded slightly, then stood beside Artoria.

This scene made Sola-Ui, Diarmuid's new Master and Kayneth's fiancée, feel a pang of jealousy.

Enchanted by Diarmuid's charm curse, she felt a sense of crisis toward any woman near her Servant.

The reason Sola-Ui wasn't left at the hotel was simple.

No place was safer than by Diarmuid's side.

Rather than hiding her somewhere, it was better to keep her close.

Having made one mistake before, Diarmuid wouldn't make it again!

"Lancer..."

"Sorry."

Diarmuid was helpless; this was the curse that plagued him.

He truly had no intention of pursuing his lord's woman.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Suddenly, approaching footsteps interrupted their conversation.

They turned to see Gilgamesh, clad in golden armor, striding slowly toward them.

"What?"

"He hasn't shown up yet?"

"Tch!"

Gilgamesh grumbled, "Making this king wait... such a crime deserves death!"

"He's here."

Soon, Iskandar descended from the sky on his Gordius Wheel, like a bolt of lightning crashing onto the bridge.

"You're already here?"

"I was delayed slightly by some matters."

"No matter."

Damien looked up, meeting the eyes of Iskandar and a noticeably changed Waver.

Clearly, they had undergone some personal journey of their own.

"So, have you said all your last words?"

"If not, I don't mind giving you more time to settle your affairs."

"Pretty sharp, aren't you?"

"You're actually upset, aren't you?"

"Come on, don't be so petty. Even kings have their inconvenient moments."

Iskandar's goofy demeanor was, in truth, a tactic to provoke Damien's emotions.

Unfortunately, he miscalculated.

Not to mention Damien had Violet's support.

Even on his own, he wouldn't lose his temper over something so trivial, unlike Gilgamesh.

"Enough, King of Conqueror."

Damien said calmly, "Let's begin our war."

"..."

Seeing his little trick noticed, Iskandar dropped the act.

"Phew~~~"

Suddenly, those standing on the bridge felt a whirlwind rushing toward them.

It was a scorching, dry gust of heat.

Gradually, whether it was an illusion or not, they seemed to hear the roaring wind sweeping through a blazing desert.

"Hm?"

Waver felt gritty sand on his tongue and spat a few times.

"Sand?"

"Why?"

Diarmuid, puzzled, instinctively shielded his Master, as did Artoria.

The strange wind carried hot sand that shouldn't exist here.

All eyes turned to Iskandar.

The mana emanating from him was surging.

Clearly, this phenomenon was his doing.

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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