Decisive Battle, Fuyuki and the Seashore

Under the night sky of Fuyuki City, a great battle was quietly brewing.

After Archer's departure, both Saber and Rider keenly sensed that the time for the final battle was fast approaching.

This was a confrontation concerning honor and destiny. The three Heroic Spirits, two kings, all knew that this battle would determine the ownership of the Holy Grail and rewrite the trajectories of their respective destinies.

Rider, the King of Conquerors Iskandar, in particular, knew that Berserker's first target would inevitably be him.

At this moment, he was piloting the Divine Bull Chariot with Waver, patrolling the night sky of Fuyuki City, selecting the final battlefield.

"Waver, let's go over there."

"Where?"

"Haha, right there! Ha."

Rider let out a laugh, flicked the reins, and the Divine Bull Chariot shot forward like a black lightning bolt, carrying them to a beach.

The beach, close to February, was swept by a biting wind. It was deserted and eerily silent, almost oppressive.

This was undoubtedly the best place for a battle, and at the same time, it held extraordinary significance for Rider. He dismounted the chariot with Waver and walked slowly on the sand.

The sea breeze howled, kicking up waves that crashed against their bodies.

Rider gazed at the turbulent ocean, his eyes deep and distant, as if able to pierce through the endless sea surface and see the distant shore.

"The beach, here..."

Waver murmured to himself, sensing a powerful obsession in Rider's eyes.

Through the contractual link between Master and Servant, Waver gradually came to understand Rider's deepest desires.

And Rider, this King of Conquerors Iskandar, harbored the most persistent dream: to see what lay on the other side of the Sea of Dreams.

"Waver, remember this, a man never gives up on his dreams until he dies, hahaha."

Rider's laughter echoed in the sea breeze, bold and unrestrained.

"Rider..."

A strange sense of emotion welled up in Waver's heart. He looked at the great king before him, his heart filled with respect.

Accompanied by his hearty laughter and the sound of the surging waves, Rider exuded a powerful aura.

This aura, like a tangible force, spread outwards, as if announcing to the hidden opponents in the darkness: he was here, this was the battlefield he had chosen.

This aura was keenly detected by Saber, who was far away at the Emiya Residence.

At this moment, Saber sat quietly, leaning on her holy sword, her gaze as calm as water. She was waiting, waiting for the final battle.

She knew clearly that, given the current situation, Rider would likely be eliminated in this battle.

The young Shiki, Master of Lancelot, had left a deep impression on Saber.

He was different from Kiritsugu, and entirely unlike other Magus.

His calm demeanor when facing her, and his respect for Heroic Spirits, had earned Saber's favor.

Furthermore, his methods were astonishing; he had eliminated the powerful Archer in just over two days. Saber did not believe Rider could win against such an opponent.

Selfishly, Saber did not wish for that young man to come to harm.

The Avalon she had given the young man should offer him some protection.

Thinking about the upcoming battle with Lancelot, the most skilled warrior, an irrepressible excitement surged within Saber, her fighting spirit burning like a raging fire.

She did not have a strong desire for the Holy Grail, and Irisviel had already been saved. Now, her greatest wish was to have a true duel with Lancelot, to display her strength and honor in battle.

The Black Knight Lancelot also sensed Rider's aura.

"Master, Rider's aura has been detected. It's by the sea in the Miyamachi area."

"The seaside? The opponent chose that location as their battlefield? Very well, that saves us some trouble."

Prompted by the Black Knight, Shiki immediately changed his flight path. Instead of passing over the new city, he flew along the coastline towards that battlefield.

When Shiki descended from the sky and appeared before Rider, it was the first time they had truly met.

Seeing Shiki's young face, Rider couldn't help but be surprised, despite having been mentally prepared.

"Such a young Master."

Rider marveled inwardly. The young man before him looked even younger than Waver, undoubtedly the youngest Master in this Holy Grail War.

Moreover, he had the courage to take the battlefield with his Servant; this spirit earned Rider's favor.

Rider let out a few loud laughs, breaking the brief silence: "Hahaha, Master of Berserker, would you like a drink before the battle begins?"

He gestured to a bottle of wine beside him, which he had prepared beforehand, seemingly wanting to ease the pre-battle tension with this unique gesture.

However, Shiki could only apologize for his inability to accept the kind offer.

On one hand, there was the issue of language communication. On the other hand, in this country, one had to be 20 years old to be permitted to drink alcohol.

Although this rule was often a mere formality, Shiki had no intention of breaking it.

The Black Knight immediately acted as a translator, ensuring smooth communication between the two parties.

"That is truly regrettable, but, Berserker, or rather Lancelot, such a loyal and valiant knight, would you care for a drink with this King?"

Rider turned his gaze to the Black Knight, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

"The honor is all mine, King of Conquerors."

The Black Knight did not refuse. After all, his opponent was a king, and it was appropriate to show him due respect.

Having received a response, Rider laughed heartily, feeling incredibly pleased. "Come, though our objectives and wishes differ, we are both Heroic Spirits drawn by the Holy Grail. We should share a drink."

"King of Conquerors, please."

The Black Knight raised his goblet, and he and Rider drank it down in one go.

After their vigorous drinking, the two Heroic Spirits exchanged a smile and returned to their respective Masters.

This drink before the battle seemed like a gesture of mutual respect, and also a peculiar farewell to the brutal combat that was about to commence.

No one knew whose blood would stain this beach after the battle.

From his chariot, Rider was filled with heroic spirit. He raised the sword in his hand high and shouted, "Comrades, tonight, let us all drink to the blood of battle! Come forth, Army of the King!!"

Following his cry, the sword erupted in dazzling light. The light spread rapidly like a tide, instantly engulfing the entire beach.

His Noble Phantasm, his ultimate trump card, displayed its astonishing power for the second time in the Holy Grail War.

Shiki felt a flash of white light before his eyes. Immediately after, the damp, oceanic scent vanished, replaced by dry air, his nostrils filled with a faint warmth and grit.

When his vision cleared, he was greeted by the sight of a vast, boundless desert.

He had been transported from the beach to this unfamiliar land by Rider's Reality Marble.

"Reality Marble!"

Shiki marveled inwardly. This was a powerful magecraft that eroded the world and manifested one's inner landscape. It was typically only wielded by powerful Magus.

Yet, here, Rider, a Heroic Spirit, had unleashed it so effortlessly, demonstrating his immense strength.

Shiki gazed into the distance, several kilometers away, where he saw densely packed formations of troops. He roughly estimated their numbers to be close to fifty thousand.

Eighty percent of them were infantry, with the remainder being cavalry.

These soldiers formed the historically renowned Macedonian Phalanx.

Shiki turned to the Black Knight and chuckled, "Mr. Lancelot, would you like to warm up first, or should we finish this now?"

"Master, for your health, allow me to weaken Rider's forces first before dealing with him."

The Black Knight knelt on one knee, speaking respectfully. He understood the danger of this battle and did not want his Master to bear too much pressure.

"You think so? Very well, then show me your full strength, let me witness your power, Mr. Lancelot."

Shiki did not object, understanding the Black Knight's concern for him.

In such a vast battlefield environment, it was indeed not easy to eliminate Rider and his army in one fell swoop.

"Master, please take good care of yourself."

After speaking, the Black Knight slowly drew his Demon Sword from the void.

Instantly, his entire aura surged, and a berserk power, like a surging tide, trampled the desert underfoot, kicking up sand waves tens of meters high.

He shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, charging towards the enemy army at extreme speed.

Shiki, flying in the sky, quietly watched the Black Knight's receding figure.

A thrilling battle was about to begin, and he would witness the Black Knight's valiant performance on this battlefield.