Chapter 68: The Final Battle
Because Waver's command was too vague, it was difficult for it to take effect without a more specific directive.
However, in Waver's eyes, Rider's magical energy was currently more than sufficient and did not need replenishment.
As for strengthening his power? He was the "King of Conquerors"; his personal martial prowess was already exceptional, and the Servants summoned by his Noble Phantasm, Ionioi Hetairoi, fought as a legion, so strengthening an individual's strength was meaningless.
"I command thee again with a Command Seal—"
What Waver could do now was offer nothing but his sincerest wishes.
"Rider, you must obtain the Holy Grail!"
The crimson light flashed. Beneath the glow, Waver could clearly see that the King of Conquerors was simply looking at him with a calm expression, saying nothing. Perhaps he, too, understood that this was largely symbolic.
Waver thought with a hint of sorrow in his heart.
"Once more, I command thee with a Command Seal—"
Then, that sorrowful emotion transformed into a firmer voice as it reached his lips.
"Rider, you must seize the entire world! Failure is not permitted!"
Along with the final flash of light, the Command Seals on the back of his hand vanished completely, leaving the skin smooth, white, and trackless. Having used all the seals, Waver felt a sense of exhaustion, and that old feeling of dejection surged into his heart once more.
"There. Now I am no longer your Master. We have no connection anymore." Waver took a deep breath and turned away.
"Go. Go wherever you want."
Waver, intending to steel his heart and leave, found his very first step suspended in mid-air.
"Eh? EEEH!?"
He watched the ground gradually pull away and let out a startled cry. Rider had picked Waver up by the collar like a small chick and placed him onto the horse's back.
"I will certainly leave immediately, but since you gave me such long-winded orders, surely you have the mental resolve to witness it all."
All the mental preparation Waver had just made was so easily dismissed by Rider, giving him a feeling of utter shame and indignation. He waved his arms at the air, shouting hysterically.
"I said it! I don't have any Command Seals left! I've given up being a Master! Why are you still taking me with you!?"
However, Rider merely chuckled and patted his shoulder.
"Even if you are no longer my Master, you are still my friend."
Hearing those words, Waver finally broke down. His eyes reddened instantly, and tears flowed uncontrollably; no matter how hard he tried to endure, he couldn't stop them.
"..." Waver's voice became choked with sobs.
"Can someone like me... really have the right to stay by your side?"
Even if he was just a third-rate magus, even if his talent was so mediocre that he was the most unremarkable existence in the world... could someone like him truly walk alongside the great King of Conquerors, Iskandar? This question echoed in Waver's heart.
However, all the complexity and sadness in his soul were swept away by the heroic laughter that followed.
"You've accompanied me to the battlefield several times already, and you're saying this now!?" Rider slapped Waver's shoulder boisterously.
"Up until now, you have faced the same enemies as I have; that makes us friends! You may hold your head high and stand proudly by my side!"
Looking at the red-faced Waver, Rider simply smiled and grabbed the reins.
"Now then, let us go and respond to my friend's first Command Seal!"
"...Yeah. I will definitely watch with these eyes!"
The legendary steed let out a neigh of certain victory and began to gallop, carrying the King and the Magus whose hearts were linked toward their mortal enemy in the final battle.
.
.
.
The place indicated by the beacon of war was the other side of the Mion River—that steel bridge.
In a place Waver could not see, a pitch-black crow spread its wings and began to fly toward the Mion River. It was a "familiar."
Images were presented before a red-haired youth in the form of a movie, as if he were watching it in a theater. At this moment, Shirou quietly projected his vision onto the images, like the most focused spectator.
Shirou was currently situated on a pedestrian bridge near the coast of the Mion River. He was sitting on a horizontal steel support beam of the bridge structure. Leaning against a vertical steel pillar, under the city lights reflecting in the night, he cast his gaze toward the distance of the road.
It was nearly two in the morning. The sleeping city streets were quieter than usual. People were likely afraid of the frequent bizarre events; those used to nighttime activities had followed the authorities' advice not to go out at night these past few days. They stayed home obediently; in the evening, not even the shadow of a car could be seen on the streets. Only the asphalt road, soaked in the chill of a winter night, was illuminated pale by the streetlights.
It was late, yet the bridge remained as bright as day.
"Master, they are coming."
Standing not far ahead by the railing of the bridge road, Saber spoke to Shirou. Because they weren't far apart, she didn't use the special mental link between Master and Servant.
"Yeah, I feel it."
Saber stood straight beside Shirou with her arms crossed, letting the night breeze blow her upright ahoge back and forth. Above the deserted street, in the mid-air shrouded by night, a warhorse charged through the abnormal scenery as if no one were there. Waver Velvet sat on the horse's leaping back, with the King of Conquerors' broad, thick chest behind him.
As they drew closer to the steel bridge bathed in the night, Waver naturally saw Saber's silhouette.
"That's Saber and... Lancer's Master, Orihara Shirou?"
Waver's heart was filled with confusion. Why on earth was Saber now in the same camp as Lancer's Master?
Furthermore, Lancer was nowhere to be seen. Could it be...?
'Did that guy get distracted by her beauty, abandon Lancer, and choose to cooperate with Saber?'
Although Waver had witnessed the world-shaking power of the two EX-rank Noble Phantasms with binoculars last night, that was as far as his knowledge went. He didn't know what happened afterward. Thus, upon seeing this current scene, the meticulous Waver immediately began to mentally construct a brilliant and dramatic plot.
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