The other side of the city was chaos incarnate. The horizon bled with fire and steel, and the distant crash of Noble Phantasms echoed like thunder rolling endlessly. Edward streaked through the skies above it all, his eyes keenly tracing the remnants of battles fought only moments before. The sharp tang of mana dispersing in the air told him more than sight could. One servant had just been extinguished — their spiritual core erased from this war.
Edward's lips curved into a humorless chuckle. "Nice work, Bruce," he muttered under his breath, his voice carrying over the wind. "Seems tomorrow will be the last day of this war. So far, the continent is still standing, so I'll count that as a net positive." His words were half amusement, half grim acknowledgement of the devastation already wrought.
The closer he came to the source, the heavier the pressure felt. Mana clashed in waves, distorting the air, rattling debris across empty avenues. Edward descended swiftly, landing on the fractured rooftop of a half-collapsed tower. From there, he saw the confrontation unfolding below.
Achilles stood squarely in front of Cassie, his broad frame planted with the ease of a warrior who had faced down countless legends. His presence radiated confidence, yet there was tension in his stance — a readiness to intercept death itself if it came for his Master. Across from him, Arjuna stood with his bow already drawn, the curve of the Gandiva glowing faintly, strands of fire licking along its form as if eager to be unleashed.
Edward folded his arms, watching with interest as the battle reached its peak.
"The Grail War doesn't allow the interference from the divine." Arjuna's voice was sharp as steel, his eyes narrowing when he caught sight of Cassie's cracked bracelets, the faint divine aura seeping from beneath them. His tone carried both disdain and resolve. "I shall defeat both of you right here."
Cassie said nothing, but the ground around her spoke for her. Jagged fissures cracked outward from where she stood, stone splintering and dust lifting in swirls around her boots. The divine power she was restraining pressed against the world itself, threatening to tear it apart.
Constantine raised his hand in a placating gesture, his eyes flicking nervously between the Servants. His voice dripped with the familiar mix of sarcasm and desperation. "Wait, Archer, if you harm a Master directly without provocation, we'll be disqualified! And she probably has a family. They'll hunt me down!"
Arjuna's jaw tightened. His eyes, focused and unforgiving, didn't even shift toward Constantine. "That's not my concern. If she unleashes her powers, this place might not exist."
Achilles glanced back toward Cassie, his expression firm yet tinged with worry. His voice softened slightly, trying to reach her. "Come on, Master, we've lost. It's better to accept it and move on." He paused suddenly, his eyes widening as he felt mana surge into him, knitting wounds and burning away fatigue. The light of vitality returned to his frame, and he flexed his hand in wonder. "Whoa… is this a power-up? I feel I can continue fighting again."
Cassie's expression shifted as her eyes dimmed back to normal, the dangerous golden glow receding. She smirked, her divine aura calming but her spirit anything but subdued. "What? You thought I lost control and was about to go berserk? Please. I hate losing, but I'd hate it more if I destroyed this place and earned myself a beating from my dad."
Achilles let out a bark of laughter at that, shaking his head in disbelief. "Round two then?"
Her smirk widened. "Round two."
The banter between master and servant only served to grate at Arjuna's composure. His patience, already strained, snapped. With a sharp, fluid motion, he nocked his bow, his voice like a razor. "Master, use your Command Seal to recover my mana. I'll use my Noble Phantasm."
Constantine stared for a long moment, shoulders slumping. A weary sigh escaped him. "Bloody hell, I'm not getting paid enough for this shit."
Resigned, he lifted his arm. The crimson glow of a Command Seal ignited across his hand, burning with finality. "With my Command Seal, I order you, Archer. Recover your strength and unleash your Noble Phantasm to grant us victory."
Arjuna closed his eyes for a heartbeat, letting the rush of mana flood into his spiritual core. The Gandiva blazed with renewed brilliance, its wood and flame harmonizing in a terrible hymn. He leveled the bow, his words spoken with solemn weight. "My bow is my will, and my aim shall be true. I shall incinerate you with this strike. Overflow… Agni Gandiva!!"
The bow erupted with fire, so bright that the night sky itself seemed to recoil. A colossal arrow of flame manifested, not ordinary fire but divine conflagration—fire gifted from Agni, the Flame God. The heat blasted outward, scorching the cracked earth at Arjuna's feet and warping the air into a shimmering haze.
Then he loosed.
The flaming missile streaked forward, a streak of molten death tearing through the sky with terrifying precision. The world seemed to tilt with its passage, its roar like a screaming inferno.
Cassie's grin only widened at the sight of it. She raised her hand, pointing toward her servant. "Go, Achilles!"
Achilles exhaled slowly, a sigh caught somewhere between weariness and exhilaration. He stepped forward, meeting fire with defiance. "Hahaha, It's time to show you my will… the will of Achilles!"
The air split with a roar of thunder. From nothingness, a majestic chariot manifested—bronze, gold, and iron bound together in divine craftsmanship, its wheels gleaming as though freshly polished by the gods themselves. Two divine steeds appeared with it: Xanthos and Balius, immortal gifts of Poseidon, their coats shining with unearthly light; and Pedasos, the mortal but mighty horse taken in war, no less determined than its brethren.
The divine horses reared, their neighs echoing like war drums. Sparks burst beneath their hooves though they stood upon no road. Achilles placed a hand on their manes, a smile tugging at his lips, even as the inferno bore down.
He vaulted onto the driver's stand with the ease of a man who had lived and died with this chariot. His voice, low and sharp, carried across the field. "Come on, try to stop me! My chariot will run you down like a shooting star! Too late now! Troias Tragōidia!!"
The chariot surged forward, pulled by the three steeds with impossible speed. The very sky split as it raced upward, meeting the oncoming arrow head-on.
Boom!
The collision shook the heavens. Fire and bronze clashed, divine will against divine weapon. The resulting shockwave blasted outward in every direction.
Constantine stumbled back, shielding his face with his coat. Cassie raised her arms to guard her eyes as debris and heat whipped around her. The ground shuddered violently, as if the world itself feared to be caught between the two Noble Phantasms.
The arrow struck with unrelenting force, but the chariot refused to yield. Achilles gritted his teeth as the strain reached him; his divine steeds screamed in pain as fire scorched their hides, their immortal resilience the only thing keeping them from being obliterated instantly.
Arjuna's eyes widened. The arrow, meant to annihilate, had been halted in its deadly course. For the first time, doubt flickered across his face.
Yet Achilles' triumph was not without cost. The chariot's wheels caught flame, bronze cracking under the pressure. The frame splintered, and divine horses howled as the fire burned deeper into their forms. The air was alive with their agony and the groan of breaking wood.
Achilles' decision came instantly. He leapt from the chariot as both constructs reached their limits. A moment later, both arrow and chariot exploded in the heavens above, vanishing into motes of light that rained down like dying stars.
Achilles landed heavily, rolling to his feet with an effortless grace. His eyes locked onto Arjuna, filled with unbroken resolve. He jabbed a finger toward him, his voice harsh and cutting. "You killed my horses. That will cost you, demigod."
Arjuna exhaled slowly, his composure returning with deliberate calm. His fingers tightened around the Gandiva as he drew another arrow, his tone flat, unyielding. "The next strike shall bring absolute ruin."
Edward stopped mid-sip and splurted the wine he just drank. "Wait, is he about to use that?!"
*****
Arjuna's hands trembled with neither fear nor hesitation, but with the sheer weight of the divine weapon he was preparing to unleash. Gandiva was still burning with residual flames from his last Noble Phantasm, but this time it was different .
The weapon thrummed with a different energy, a resonance that felt heavier than fire — colder, more inevitable, like a judgment that had already been passed and was merely awaiting execution.
His voice was steady when he addressed Constantine. "Master, you better move far away. I am not certain if I can limit the destruction of my next attack."
Constantine stared at him as if Arjuna had lost his mind. "Then you should not be using such an attack!" His words snapped out, sharp and irritated, but beneath them was a note of genuine concern. He knew full well how little influence he had over his Servant in this state. Arjuna was as headstrong as he was relentless.
Resigned, Constantine cursed under his breath, then clicked his tongue and drifted back, the wards he hastily sketched into the air glowing faintly as he widened the distance between himself and the battlefield.
The situation on the opposite side could not have been more different. Achilles remained firmly planted between Cassie and Arjuna, his body battered and his aura fraying, yet his stance unyielding. He turned his head just slightly, enough to speak to his Master without letting his gaze leave his opponent.
His voice carried a quiet gravity, absent of his usual bravado. "Master, I have no more tricks left. I can only block his next strike. Stand behind me. I gave your father word that I shall protect you with my life."
Cassie's eyes hardened, her fists tightening at her sides. She shook her head, her voice low but steady. "That guy can't harm me. I am a goddess despite my actions. I am stronger than I look." Then she added, with a flicker of defiance, "My father is surely watching. He won't allow any harm to me."
Achilles' lips tugged into a small, amused smile at her stubbornness. "Be that as it may, I believe it's time to write the final chapter of my epic journey."
Slowly, deliberately, he drew from his side an ancient shield. Its surface gleaming faintly with divine craftsmanship, runes and engravings etched into its circumference that pulsed with otherworldly light. The faint glow intensified, filling the ruined avenue with emerald radiance. He lifted it reverently, the weight of destiny tangible in his grip. "Allow me to show you my world."
On the far side, Arjuna's preparations reached their peak. His voice dropped into a low chant, each syllable carrying divine authority. "My karma shall be unleashed here. As the child of a god and a human, I will dole out punishment!"
The weapon flared with power, and the air around the arrow he nocked twisted and warped as if reality itself was being bent. The divine energy of destruction leaked outward in pulses, the atmosphere thick with the promise of annihilation.
Achilles inhaled deeply, his eyes soft for a fleeting instant as he stared at his shield. "Let me show you the world I lived in, what I held the dearest to my heart." The green glow around the construct grew brighter, swirling outward until Cassie had to shield her eyes. She recognized it for what it was — his final Noble Phantasm. Her chest tightened with unwillingness. She knew the outcome of this clash would be absolute.
Arjuna's gaze sharpened, and his chant escalated into solemn declaration. "Expanding sacred domain. Domain secured. Divine punishment enforcement limits… All approved. By the wrath of Shiva, here ends thy life."
He raised the bow high, the destructive aura condensing around the arrow until it hummed with impossible pressure. His voice carried like a tolling bell. "Behold… This is destruction! Pashupata!"
The arrow loosed, and the world itself seemed to recoil. It streaked across the battlefield like a bolt of death, tearing a path through the air. Every structure in its wake cracked and crumbled, its presence eroding matter and soul alike. The sheer force warped the sky, burning a scar across the night.
Achilles did not flinch. He raised his shield, his voice calm, resolute. "Bear witness to my glory, the life of me, Achilles! Akhilleus Kosmos!"
The shield erupted, its light enveloping them all. The space around Achilles unfolded into something greater, something impossible — a miniature world given form. Ancient Greek architecture rose from the fractured streets, stone pillars and marble walls gleaming as if fresh from Hephaestus' forge.
Waves of the ocean circled the outer edge, endlessly swirling as Poseidon's currents encased it. Within, scenes from Achilles' life came to life with breathtaking clarity: children laughing and playing in sunlit courtyards, warriors clashing in honorable combat within an arena, a mother's gentle smile as she sang a lullaby, her voice echoing faintly across the illusion.
Cassie's breath caught in her throat as she took in the vision. This was not just a shield — it was Achilles' very soul, the world he cherished, preserved in eternity by divine hands.
Arjuna's eyes widened despite himself, the fiery arrow bearing down but his composure faltering at the sight. "That… is a whole separate world…" His lips curved into something rare, a smile tinged with genuine respect. "I recognize your will, Achilles. You are indeed a great hero, someone worthy of being my equal. Let's see which is stronger, my destruction or your memories!"
Achilles grinned back, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth but his spirit unbroken. "I won't fall like this! Shine brightly, my shield!"
The two Noble Phantasms collided.
Crack!
Reality shattered like glass, a shockwave ripping outward with apocalyptic force. Light flooded the skies, blinding, all-consuming. The ground convulsed beneath them, splitting open in jagged fractures. Across the continent, people woke screaming as their homes shook violently, convinced an earthquake had struck. But those who stumbled outside were greeted by a horror stranger still — the night sky blazing brighter than day, as though a second sun had ignited overhead.
In one small town, an old man in his eighties stumbled to his porch, muttering curses. His weary eyes widened at the sight of the inferno above, his weathered face paling. "Oh hell," he grumbled, voice shaking. "Don't tell me someone launched another nuke."
The blast was felt far beyond mortal senses. Magi across the globe stopped mid-incantation, heads snapping toward the surge. Ancient wards trembled, ley lines buckled, and even the oldest among them went pale at the magnitude of mana released. The clash was a cataclysm, echoing through the hidden world with undeniable clarity.
The explosion did not end quickly. For minutes the light persisted, devouring the skyline, drowning sound in its roar. Then, at last, the radiance waned. Smoke and dust drifted lazily, curling around shattered remnants of buildings.
When the battlefield was revealed once more, the outcome stood clear. Arjuna remained upright, Gandiva in hand, his expression as composed as ever though his breathing was labored. Before him, the remnants of Achilles' shield cracked, its illusions fading piece by piece — children's laughter fading into silence, marble halls crumbling into nothingness.
Achilles himself stood tall despite the blood soaking his chest. He gave a weary, almost helpless smile. "I lost, huh?"
Arjuna lowered his bow slightly, then inclined his head in rare respect. "No, I lost. You stopped my ultimate attack. No hero has ever done that except one. Be proud, Achilles. May we meet again and battle to our hearts' content."
Achilles' laughter was soft, almost fond. He turned to Cassie, his expression warming. "Cheer up, Master. You don't look pretty when you frown. Honestly, why is a beauty like you so focused on fighting all the time? Nobody will marry you if you keep this up."
Cassie chuckled despite the bitterness weighing on her. "I'm not interested in those things. Fighting is my only passion for now. Man, I really wanted to win this war and summon a strong creature to fight."
Achilles smiled wryly, shaking his head as his body began to disintegrate into motes of golden light. "If only you were born during my era. I'd give up my chase for glory and settle down. Farewell, Master. May we meet again."
Cassie's shoulders slumped, but her voice was steady. "Farewell, Achilles. It was fun to meet you and fight beside you."
Within moments, he was gone. Only silence lingered where the great hero had stood.
Arjuna turned to Constantine, his voice calm once more. "Our battle is done for tonight. Let us rest."
Constantine, his coat singed and his face drawn, fished a cigarette from his pocket and lit it with trembling fingers. He exhaled a plume of smoke, muttering, "I could use some rest, mate." He lifted his hand lazily in Cassie's direction. "No hard feelings, eh?"
Cassie cracked her knuckles, her tone sharp. "Don't push it, hobo."
Arjuna chuckled faintly as Constantine deflated, the mage grumbling as he trudged back toward his Servant. "Bloody kids don't have no respect these days."
The two vanished into the night, leaving Cassie alone with her thoughts beneath the still-glowing sky.
***
Cassie exhaled slowly, the dust of the battlefield clinging to her hair and clothes, and spoke softly to the empty sky above. "Come down, Dad. I know you're watching."
A familiar, amused chuckle floated down to her, gentle but unmistakably full of warmth. "Oh? Looks like my little girl has grown up. You are more observing these days."
Cassie's lips curved into a wry smile. "You just suck at hiding. Remember how I always found you during hide and seek?"
From the corner of her vision, Edward materialized as if stepping through the sunlight itself, the battle's devastation fading behind him. He lowered his hand to pat her head lightly, his presence reassuring. "And did you forget how you won? You'd cry and yell, 'I want my daddy!' until I appeared, and then jumped on me, saying you won."
Cassie's blush spread instantly, a mix of embarrassment and nostalgia. "I was five!" she protested, even as the corners of her lips betrayed her amusement.
Edward knelt slightly and hugged her with a gentleness that seemed impossible given the destruction surrounding them. "Are you alright, sweetie?"
Cassie returned the embrace, pressing herself against him with a sigh that carried both exhaustion and relief. "Yeah… I just… I wanted to win on my own. I wanted to make you proud, Dad."
Edward chuckled softly, the sound deep and comforting amidst the rubble-strewn city. "Silly girl. You and your siblings are all my pride and joy. No matter what you do, you will always be loved and cherished by me. You never need to prove anything to me."
Cassie sniffled, tightening her hold around him. "Thanks, Dad."
Edward patted her head gently again, his eyes scanning the horizon as though he carried the weight of every battle and every life on this scarred world. It was a tender, quiet moment, stark against the jagged ruins of the battlefield.
Flames still licked at collapsed structures, smoke twisted skyward, and shards of stone glittered like dangerous stars in the dim light. Yet, for a brief instant, father and daughter shared warmth in the eye of the storm.
The second day of the Holy Grail War had ended. Only four Servants remained, their exhaustion and injuries etched into their faces and armor. Tomorrow would bring the final clashes, and the victor of this deadly contest would begin to emerge.
Perhaps the end of this war rested not in skill alone, but in cunning, endurance, and the will to survive when every option had been exhausted.
Far from the ruined streets, in the cold silence of his private quarters, Batman sat grimly on the edge of his bed. The Soultaker rested in its sheath beside him, blackened steel reflecting the dim light of a single lamp. He clenched his jaw, his mind already spinning through scenarios and contingencies.
Tomorrow, he would face Lex Luthor — the most dangerous participant in this war. Every strategy had to account for Luthor's brilliance and ruthlessness. Every move had to anticipate betrayal, misdirection, and the lethal ingenuity of his enemy.
Arthur, meanwhile, had recovered from his grueling encounter with Shuten Douji. His room was quiet, yet his thoughts churned. He was deep in contemplation, replaying every decision of the past day. Anxiety and anticipation coiled around him like a living thing.
Victory was within his grasp, yet the weight of what he intended to wish for pressed upon him. His heart raced with the audacity of his plan, and he couldn't shake the tremor of doubt that whispered of consequences yet unseen.
Across another part of the city, Lex Luthor and Gilgamesh sat in tense silence. Their eyes met occasionally, sharp and calculating. Gilgamesh's annoyance was subtle but palpable — his gaze flickering with irritation at Lex's earlier use of a Command Seal.
Lex, however, remained composed, a mask of calm over the storm of calculation inside him. "I cannot risk fallout," he said logically, his voice precise and deliberate. "If we are to secure victory, I must act decisively. I will employ my resources to strike directly at the Master. My agents, armed with advanced weapons, will remove the target in one calculated sweep."
Gilgamesh leaned back, his expression one of detached amusement. He scoffed, though there was no anger in it ,only a regal impatience. "Do as you will, mongrel. The results are yours to bear."
Meanwhile, Connor and Ace recovered in their small base, the tension of battle still lingering in the air. Karna, ever vigilant, stood watch over them, his presence a fortress of calm. Connor's mind raced, planning their next assault against Lex Luthor, the man who represented the oppression of freedom and will.
Ace, still shaken and fragile from her previous encounters, kept herself guarded, her eyes darting to every corner of the room, every shadow. Connor tried patiently to reach her, sharing experiences and soft reassurances, attempting to bridge the gap of mistrust. Yet Ace remained wary, the trauma of past battles etched into her expression and posture.
Not far from them, Constantine had abandoned all pretense of vigilance. He drank from a bottle of Scotch, emptying it with a fatalistic sense of relief, and soon sank into deep, oblivious sleep. Even the war, with all its imminent threats and apocalyptic stakes, could not penetrate his stupor.
Arjuna, in contrast, remained awake. His eyes were bright with a cold clarity, reflecting on the battles fought and the battles yet to come. His mind, ever calculating, measured the strength of his remaining adversaries and contemplated his next move.
One opponent loomed in his thoughts above all others, his own brother. The confrontation awaited, inevitable as the dawn, and Arjuna's resolve hardened with the knowledge that family blood would soon be tested on this battlefield.
All across the war-torn city, the survivors and combatants alike settled into uneasy rest. The air was thick with tension, anticipation, and the remnants of divine power that still lingered in the atmosphere. Every shadow seemed alive, every sound amplified in the silence following devastation.
What would unfold tomorrow, even the Fates themselves could not predict. Every strategy, every loyalty, and every hidden ambition would collide once more, shaping the outcome of the Holy Grail War in ways that even the participants could scarcely imagine. And as the city slept, scarred but still standing, the echoes of past battles whispered promises of blood, honor, and destiny yet unfulfilled.