Watching the two Servants locked in a fierce standoff, Yoru couldn't help but feel a little speechless.
Seriously, what was going on? He had already prepared himself for a life-or-death duel with Rider, yet Artoria suddenly appeared out of nowhere, acting all overbearing and boldly proclaiming her love for him—saying she would protect him.
Was he really that charming? Charming enough to make the legendary King Arthur fall for him?
Yoru rubbed the tip of his nose in confusion. He hadn't done anything special. At most, he'd said a few kind words in Artoria's defense during last night's banquet, hadn't he?
Could just one sentence make her fall for him? Artoria's actions inevitably reminded Yoru of himself—hadn't he once fallen for Riveria at first sight as well?
"But… it's kind of a shame. I had already prepared myself for this… Maybe I won't be able to muster the same resolve next time."
As he murmured to himself, the deep blue in his eyes gradually faded, returning to their usual pitch-black color. It was as if some reluctant voice within him had let out a final roar—then fell completely silent.
Yoru's body wavered slightly, and he barely managed to steady himself before slowly retreating step by step.
Since Artoria had taken his place in battle, there was no longer any need for him to remain on this battlefield. Though it felt a bit cowardly, he was deeply worried about his wife's current condition.
"Sorry..."
He whispered softly as he looked at the girl's resolute back, then slipped away through the gap Artoria had opened in Rider's Reality Marble.
"What a pity… I really thought, after the Knight King confessed her love, that Yoru would stay and fight at your side. Looks like he still doesn't fully trust you, Artoria."
"Fighting side by side doesn't necessarily mean trust. The fact that he left everything to me like this is, in its own way, a great expression of trust."
Artoria smiled and brushed off Rider's intentionally provoking words. Then she raised her holy sword high and taunted her opponent.
"Enough talk. Let's begin our battle. Stop trying to sow discord with meaningless chatter!"
"Hahaha, sowing discord? Never thought I'd be accused of that one day. But you're right—words alone won't shake your resolve anymore. You'll be a truly worthy opponent, Artoria. Warriors! Show the legendary King of Knights your valor today!"
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" The King's army roared a thunderous battle cry. There was no hesitation—they were an army of conquest. Wherever the king's command reached, battle would follow.
"Excellent." Rider raised a hand to quiet his troops, then turned to address Artoria.
"King of Knights, this is an unfair battle. But I will show you no mercy. I won't withdraw any portion of my troops. I am one with my soldiers—this is a battle of many against one. Do you dare accept it?"
The girl didn't reply. She simply raised her Sword of Promised Victory high above her head.
Seeing her response, Rider burst into hearty laughter and swept his arm forward. "Warriors! Unleash your might—conquer everything!"
"Urrrahhh!" The King's army erupted into a deafening cry and charged forward.
It was a battle scene that one could only witness in ancient times, now reenacted once more.
A fierce wind howled, swirling around Artoria's figure. The soldiers at the vanguard didn't even have a chance to get near her before being flung away by the crushing pressure.
Wind King Iron Hammer—like a giant mallet, it smashed a gap into the triangular formation of charging soldiers. Artoria said nothing, her holy sword held high as she plunged straight into the sea of enemies with solemn grandeur.
And so began a brutal slaughter. This wasn't a battle you'd see in the real world—no, not even in the bloodiest wartime history would you witness something so grand and tragic. The King of Conquest and the King of Knights—two monarchs from different eras. One staking everything on his unwavering ideal of kingship, the other betting it all on emotion. No hatred. No holding back. Only the pursuit of victory—to prove themselves.
Rider sat astride his warhorse, his towering figure like a pillar holding up the heavens. He watched coldly as Artoria slaughtered her way through his troops, cutting them down with ease, blood soaking the hot desert sand.
There was no grief, no pity. To die on the battlefield was the soldier's glory—especially by the hands of the famed King of Knights.
Even if they could only stall her for a second, that alone was enough for them to die with pride.
The war gradually neared its end. At Artoria's feet, corpses and blood had formed a mountain.
Rider watched the tragic scene in silence, his gaze fixed on the girl standing tall amid the carnage.
"In the end… it was still an unfair win for me. That sword stroke you used to break my Reality Marble—if you had swung it at my army directly, perhaps even my peerless troops would've been wiped out in an instant."
As Rider spoke, he spurred his horse forward. The remaining soldiers made way, parting to open a path.
The battle had only lasted about ten minutes—but in that short span, Artoria had slain at least one-tenth of Rider's entire army with her blade.
Even Rider found the number horrifying.
But in the end, it was still his victory. His mana was nearly depleted, and his Reality Marble was about to collapse—but Artoria had also reached her limit.
"Save your breath. I haven't lost yet!"
Artoria's roar echoed through the realm, and Rider's Reality Marble began to tremble. The entire world started to shatter like glass, and moments later, the two of them returned to the Einzbern estate courtyard.
Finally, due to his excessive mana consumption, Rider's Reality Marble collapsed.
Even so, as Rider had said, Artoria had already lost.
Because while Rider still had at least thirty percent of his strength left—Artoria likely didn't even have ten.