"He can't possibly win."
"How could anyone defeat someone like that?"
Waver wasn't the only one with such thoughts.
Irisviel, Artoria, Diarmuid, and even Gilgamesh shared the sentiment.
Only those who had witnessed the kijin's might could grasp just how extraordinary Damien was as a Heroic Spirit.
Clop, clop, clop...
The sound of hooves echoed across the scorched earth as Iskandar, with Waver, approached Damien under the watchful eyes of the kijin.
With each step closer, the pressure from the kijin on either side intensified.
When only ten meters separated them, Iskandar's beloved steed could no longer withstand the magical pressure and collapsed.
"Are you satisfied with this battle, King of Conqueror?"
Damien stepped forward calmly, unconcerned that Iskandar might lash out.
Not only were the kijin glaring intently, but with Snow Empress and Ogerpon's strength, they could strike Iskandar down before he could act.
"Exhilarating!"
Iskandar, despite the pressure, forced himself to stand tall.
He had no regrets about challenging Damien.
He had given his all and still suffered a crushing defeat.
But losing to a stronger foe was no shame for Iskandar... it was another honor in his conquests.
"Rider..."
"Can you give me a moment?"
"No problem."
Damien raised a hand, and the kijin instantly withdrew their pressure.
"Phew~~"
"What a terrifying bunch."
"Haha, looks like this is my end..."
Iskandar set Waver down, gazing at the boy as he began his final instructions.
Waver, as in the original story, swore loyalty to Iskandar, vowing to become his familliar.
Damien didn't interrupt, quietly waiting for Iskandar to finish before issuing his final command.
"Kill!"
The moment Damien spoke, countless blades struck from all directions, piercing Iskandar's body.
"Rider!!!"
Waver tried to rush forward but was held back by Souei, forcing him to choke back tears.
"Your journey ends here."
"Ah..."
Iskandar swallowed the blood in his mouth, smiling. "What a thrilling battle..."
Splatter!
As the blades were withdrawn, blood sprayed, and Iskandar's body began to dissolve into golden particles.
"I feel the same."
Damien had no intention of subduing Iskandar.
"Thank you for your gift."
Though he admired Iskandar's character and demeanor, the King of Conqueror was a true king.
He could die but would never bow to another.
Even if Damien offered the chance to conquer the multiverse together, Iskandar would likely just laugh it off.
He didn't advance to see new sights; he admired new vistas while advancing.
Buzz~~~
Soon, with Iskandar's death, the Reality Marble began to collapse.
The remaining Heroic Spirits, along with Damien's wolves and kijin, vanished like phantoms.
"Your Holy Grail War is over. Return to where you belong."
Damien patted Waver's shoulder before approaching the three remaining Heroic Spirits.
"Demon King..."
Diarmuid was the most nervous as Damien approached.
Artoria and Gilgamesh, however, remained relatively composed.
"King of Heroes."
Damien ignored the other two, focusing on Gilgamesh. "How about we settle this with a duel?"
"Arrogant."
Gilgamesh, never one to shy from battle, accepted. "But you are worthy of challenging me!"
"Prepare well!"
"Tomorrow, I will come to you myself!"
Unlike Iskandar, Gilgamesh wanted to face Damien at his peak.
But today's battle had depleted much of Damien's forces.
Gilgamesh, who never bowed to anyone, couldn't accept fighting a weakened Damien compared to Iskandar.
So, the Ryudou Temple!
Gilgamesh chose Damien's territory as the battlefield to compensate for the losses from the fight with Iskandar.
"Fine."
Damien calmly accepted Gilgamesh's request.
If Gilgamesh had such confidence, Damien would oblige.
"Hey!"
"You challenged them one after another... what about me?"
Ignored repeatedly, Artoria was both furious and frustrated.
She didn't believe her strength was inferior to the other Heroic Spirits.
Iskandar's Ionioi Hetairoi was formidable.
But with Excalibur and Avalon unleashed, she could blast through to Iskandar and defeat him.
Never mind whether Saber had enough mana for that.
Such a strategy did have a chance of victory.
Of course, it wouldn't work against Damien.
His kijin were too powerful.
Excalibur's map-clearing blast couldn't kill them.
The outcome would be the kijin taking her down at some cost... no other possibility.
"Defeat him first, then ask me that question."
Damien didn't answer Artoria, merely glancing lightly at Lancer before turning to leave.
Having just acquired his Reality Marble, Damien needed time to stabilize and shape it.
He had no time to linger and chat with Artoria.
"Hey!"
The Invisible Air around Artoria's sword surged violently. "There's a limit to your arrogance!"
But before she could act, two figures blocked Damien's path.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Bo-nehm!"
Snow Empress and Ogerpon stared at Artoria, exerting immense pressure.
"No, I didn't mean... "
"I just..."
She wasn't planning to attack Damien now.
All Artoria wanted was an acknowledgment.
Just as he had challenged Iskandar and made a duel with Gilgamesh, Saber hoped Damien would show her some respect.
Pick a battlefield.
Even if it became her grave, Saber would have no regrets.
But no!
Damien simply didn't take her seriously!
"Our war ended at the banquet."
Damien, back to Artoria, said gravely, "Someone who can't even see themselves clearly isn't worthy of being defeated by me."
"You..."
Humiliation, unprecedented humiliation.
Yet Artoria couldn't find words to retort.
Without Damien's questioning at the banquet, she wouldn't even know where she went wrong or why she fought.
In this light, she was the one being unreasonable.
***
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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