"Waver!"
Finally, seeing his Master in crisis—suffering and nearly turning into a non-human—Even the brave and mighty Iskandar could endure no longer. He almost roared like a wild beast, as if trying to awaken Waver through sheer force of will.
Though they had only been together for a few days, he had come to recognize his Master—cowardly in speech, yet truly courageous and talented at heart.
The Master with sweet words, the Master who constantly scolded him.
"Waver, are you willing to share with me the joy of conquering the world?"
Iskandar's eyes glared coldly at Angra Mainyu, standing motionless like a statue.
Even as pain wracked his body—as if his flesh were being stripped away—In these final moments, Waver summoned his last strength and shouted:
"I am willing! It's just... such a pity, Rider. I won't be able to conquer the world alongside you."
"Good. It seems this Holy Grail War wasn't meaningless after all."
Iskandar nodded in satisfaction. Then he tugged the reins, causing the resting sacred bull to rise. He drew the short sword at his waist and pointed it toward All the World's Evils, Angra Mainyu.
"Then let us defeat the Demon God who destroys the world!"
With a roar, Iskandar launched his Charge.
"A la la~"
In an instant, the scenery before his eyes transformed.
Golden sand swirled across the sky.
A giant crimson warrior wielding a short sword rode a sacred bull that trod upon lightning, leading thousands of Heroic Spirits in a Death Charge against Angra Mainyu.
Among them were kings, powerful ministers, nobles, common soldiers, and even slaves. But here, they shared one identity:
Ionioi Hetairoi—the companions who once conquered the world with Alexander the Great, striving to reach the ends of the earth.
Yet Angra Mainyu, All the World's Evils, still did not move. She merely crossed her ten fingers in a praying gesture, like a devout nun.
Tens of thousands of troops surged toward the statue-like Angra Mainyu.
An army composed of Heroic Spirits and Servants surrounded All the World's Evils.
But would everything go as smoothly as Iskandar hoped?
Quite the opposite—rather than surrounding Angra Mainyu, it was Iskandar and his army that found themselves encircled.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Outside Ionioi Hetairoi, one and a half million zombies infected by the Blacklight Virus arrived like a tidal wave.
They moved with the agility of Lickers, monstrous forms akin to Blacklight creatures.
Every part of their bodies was corrupted by All the World's Evils and the Blacklight Virus. The moment anyone was touched, even slightly,
They would instantly become one of the horde.
Like undead, they couldn't die, never tired, and felt no pain.
Their only desire was for blood and flesh!
"Rider? I'm okay."
Perhaps this was the only good news—Waver had temporarily escaped danger and become one of Iskandar's followers.
A red cloak, identical to Iskandar's, had somehow appeared on his body, symbolizing that he would now share in the joy of conquest alongside his king.
At this moment, Waver Velvet was no longer the naive boy he once was.
He had become Lord El-Melloi II—the future figure destined to merge with the Spirit Origin of Zhuge Liang.
Perhaps deep down, Waver truly saw himself as Iskandar's follower. By the grace of countless miracles, this boy had brought his future Spirit Origin into Ionioi Hetairoi.
"This is the ultimate formation of the Grand Strategist, Hachi-jin!"
By the power of Ionioi Hetairoi, countless massive stones lifted into the air, forming a grand illusionary array.
Under Waver—or rather, Zhuge Liang's—command, fifty thousand Servant soldiers launched a counter-massacre against the one-and-a-half-million-strong zombie horde.
Iskandar even granted full command to Waver. Himself, riding his chariot, charged headfirst into the ocean of zombies surging like waves.
Yet, this advantage was temporary.
Even if a zombie lost its head, limbs severed, or was burned to ashes—As long as even a single hand remained, it would madly leap toward the nearest flesh and blood.
Soon, as Servant soldiers became infected and assimilated into zombies,
The morale of Ionioi Hetairoi began to crumble.
Faced with such monsters, even the bravest warriors started to fear.
"Monster!"
"King, I want to go home!"
"I don't want to become a monster..."
"..."
Even when the Servants unleashed their Noble Phantasms, they proved utterly ineffective against the zombies.
Noble Phantasm? Super effective? Just wait until I die a few times—when I rise again, I'll have developed resistance.
You? Just wait. Sooner or later, you'll become one of us.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
While Ionioi Hetairoi fought desperately within the Reality Marble,
Outside, Kiritsugu carried a bag.
It was a portable tactical nuclear bomb, alchemically modified from an obsolete Florida nuke.
Though it looked like a small suitcase, its explosion could level all of Fuyuki City.
"Watch out!"
When a zombie leapt from a dark corner and lunged at Kiritsugu,
A flash of silver streaked through the air. A Black Key pierced the zombie's head, pinning it to the wall.
It was Kirei. He was now cooperating with Kiritsugu to resolve the Ryuudou Temple crisis.
After all, he understood how serious the zombie outbreak truly was. And Gilgamesh hadn't had time to guide him.
He was still confused, but the current situation left no room for hesitation.
"Thanks!"
Kiritsugu thanked him and continued toward Ryuudou Temple.
Soon, he arrived.
But Ryuudou Temple was empty. It seemed everyone had already entered another reality.
Aslan, apparently aware of someone approaching from outside the Reality Marble, snapped his fingers and pulled Kiritsugu and Kirei inside.
Kiritsugu gazed upon the endless tide of zombies and the abandoned temple beyond.
"Get every zombie and Angra Mainyu out of here. I've got a nuke."
Kiritsugu had no time for sorrow. Right now, there was something far more important to do:
Destroy Fuyuki City with this nuclear bomb, eradicating the virus before it could spread further.
In the blink of an eye, Iskandar hurled Kiritsugu, along with all the zombies and Angra Mainyu, out of the Reality Marble.
Once the other side detonated the bomb, he'd bring them back.
*BOOOOOOM!*
Today, Fuyuki City remains as peaceful as usual~