Someone in the Moon Cell, Starting with Adopting Sakura Chapter 43

"It's fine, Lancer. A few useless Assassins are nothing. How could they possibly harm me, their Lord? It's just..."

"Assassins, you seemed to be enjoying yourselves just now..."

His gaze was filled with killing intent, causing even Fionn, who had just been recalled, to subtly shift his attention.

"The golden Lancer? You're the Master of two Lancers?!"

Seeing Fionn appear, Hundred-Faced Hassan, who had been full of confidence moments before, suddenly froze. An ominous premonition immediately welled up within her.

"But do you think one Servant can protect you from us? Magus!"

She looked at Fionn before her, feeling a moment of hesitation, but she wasn't easily intimidated. After all, she was the leader of the Assassins' Order—one of the successive Hassans.

However, unfortunately, under the compulsion of a Command Seal, she clearly hadn't correctly assessed the strength of both sides, nor understood why Kenneth had suddenly become so confident.

"Hahaha, it seems you truly don't understand... Assassin, I truly pity your foolishness and that of your Master."

Clutching his face, which was somewhat disheveled from his hasty retreat, Kenneth's killing intent was almost palpable as he spoke coldly to the Hassans before him...

"It's time to send you packing, you despicable Assassins!!"

Bluffing?

Looking at Kenneth before her, Hundred-Faced Hassan couldn't help but have this thought.

After all, having already unleashed their Noble Phantasms, if they swarmed him, even the god-slayer Fionn couldn't kill them all in a short time.

As long as they seized this opportunity, killing Kenneth would be a success, and victory was not impossible, but...

The next moment, a terrible premonition struck their hearts.

Almost the instant Kenneth finished speaking.

A deafening horn blast suddenly echoed in their ears, followed by the sounds of a widespread battle.

"—Hahahahahaha!! Come, tell this King, what is conquest?!"

Finally, accompanied by unrestrained laughter, a clear voice, seemingly from nowhere, posed a soul-piercing question.

"What is the way of the king?!"

The next moment, the swirling yellow sand engulfed the entire world.

Chapter 50: Desperate Straits and Reversal (5000+ words)

[—That voice, piercing deep into my heart, felt like a never-ending cheer.]

"—Hahahaha!!"

Under the cover of night, just as Hundred-Faced Hassan activated her Noble Phantasm, preparing to fight Fionn to the death and forcibly eliminate the great threat that was Kenneth, a blue lightning bolt, accompanied by rolling thunder and booming laughter, sounded from the sky.

On his chariot, Iskandar tightly gripped the reins with one hand, while the other raised the Sword of Cyprus, gifted by the King of Cyprus, a symbol of his achievements. He laughed heartily towards the heavens, "My name is Iskandar, the destined King of Conquerors! Now tell this King, what is conquest—!!!"

Accompanied by crashing thunder, a deafening question reverberated through the night sky from above. That clear voice instantly enveloped the entire battlefield, and even the entire city block.

Even with the personnel Tokiomi Tohsaka had arranged for evacuation, and the dispersal spells already set up around the area, they were still rendered useless under this thousand-year-spanning, resounding laughter.

Beneath this echoing voice, pedestrians on the roadside stopped in their tracks. Hearing the impassioned words, they began to look up towards the blue arc light in the sky, their hearts stirred by the powerful voice, feeling a surge of excitement and heroic spirit.

Their minds raced with imagination...

King of Conquerors, what a magnificent name.

The King of Conquerors who once swept across Europe was now announcing his return to the world in such a manner.

"This idiot! To make such a grand display, what is he trying to do?"

On the ruins, Kenneth frowned as he listened to Iskandar's loud pronouncements, clearly displeased with his ostentatious behavior.

After all, this was the Holy Grail War. They, who lived in the past, had long since become history, myth, and mystery—existences that this modern world could neither accept nor understand.

Since they were mysteries, they should obediently adhere to the rules of mystery, not appear before ordinary people, and end everything silently. What was the point of such a grand display other than to cause trouble for himself?

As a Lord of the Clock Tower and the leader of the El-Melloi Faction, he could not tolerate such a severe leak of mystery in the magical ritual he was participating in. Therefore, Kenneth felt his blood pressure rising again at Iskandar's outrageous behavior.

After witnessing the actions of that red-haired ape, even the anger he felt over Weber stealing his catalyst had vanished.

While the King of Conquerors was powerful, he was by no means a suitable Servant for him. If he were to cooperate with that red-haired ape, they would end up fighting each other before anyone else could lay a hand on them.

"Rider! What are you doing? Shouting like that will involve civilians! It's over, it's over! Kenneth-sensei must be furious with this recklessness!"

Not only Kenneth below, but even Weber, gripping the chariot's handrail in the sky, was filled with anxiety.

"Also, who are you even asking? Who here would possibly answer you..."

He couldn't understand who Iskandar was addressing. Besides the sky and the earth, there were the enemies below and himself beside him. Who else would answer his question?

The sky? The earth?

Or perhaps... himself?

Suddenly, Weber seemed to realize something. He looked back at Iskandar, only to see the latter turning his head and smiling at him.

"Hold on tight, kid, and feel what vastness is!!"

Before he could say anything more, the next moment, a fierce wind kicked up and sand began to fly—

In the blink of an eye, the war chariot transformed into a bolt of lightning, diving down from above with the phantom of an entire world, crashing heavily onto the battered battlefield below.

"What is this?!"

Hearing the roar from the sky and feeling the immense magical energy approaching, the hundreds of Assassins on the battlefield below seemed to realize something. They all raised their heads, their eyes filled with terror, and even their offensive momentum halted at that moment.

A powerful, threatening aura of danger made them feel anxious and uneasy.

In just a fleeting moment, death was already beckoning them, and the silent tolling of a distant bell in the valley was now sounding for them!!

"Lemon-head, thank you for waiting. Now, I shall show these despicable wretches what conquest is, what dominance is, and the power of the King of Conquerors!!"

Following his final roar, Iskandar raised his arms and shouted, his terrifying magical power immediately sealing off the entire battlefield. The next moment, the world changed. The ruins of buildings, battered by Emiya Kiritsugu's artillery fire, vanished, replaced by a world shrouded in yellow sand.

Countless gusts of wind suddenly swirled around him. Looking up, he saw an endless army of elite soldiers at the horizon, with no trace of the recent ruins remaining.

This was a Noble Phantasm, and also Magecraft, named—Reality Marble.

This was a type of Magecraft that could materialize one's inner landscape. It was a powerful means that a Magus could obtain only when they reached their absolute limit. Once activated, it would transform the surrounding space into a completely different landscape. The materialization of one's inner landscape meant that the Reality Marble replaced oneself and the world within an unchanging boundary. At this time, the size of oneself and the world would be swapped, with the world being completely contained within a small vessel. This small world was the world-egg, which also became its theoretical name.

According to records, Reality Marble was originally an ability that only elves and demons could wield. However, after countless years, Mages who could create their personal inner worlds completed this Magecraft, making the creation of "Reality Marbles" possible for some high-level users. But overall, there were very few Maguses in the entire world who could perform this great Magecraft that altered the world.

This was why Kenneth and Weber were so shocked to see that even Caster, that red-haired ape, possessed the skill of Reality Marble.

He... no matter how you looked at it, he didn't fit the description of having reached the pinnacle of magical attainment. Weber had initially thought Iskandar's Noble Phantasm was likely the Gordius Wheel, but he hadn't expected such a completely mismatched trump card.

However, Weber, who had been by his side, noticed a few clues.

When Iskandar released his Reality Marble, unlike other Maguses, he did not chant any incantations. Instead, he simply raised his arms and shouted to complete the release. Therefore, rather than calling it his Magecraft, it was more like an ability.

However, even Iskandar, the master, couldn't clearly explain the principle behind this move.

He only needed to know that by using this move, he could recreate his conquests of the past. That was enough.

Yellow sand flew everywhere, and the ancient battlefield reappeared in this world.

The Reality Marble, in other words, the King of Conquerors' own inner world, had recreated the world-conquering battlefield he had swept across in his lifetime.

The Assassins enveloped within would be regarded as enemies, and he, leading his invincible army, would once again commence a new conquest here.

Its name was...

"——Ionian Hetairoi!! Hahaha, come, let the new conquest begin!!"

Iskandar leaped from his war chariot, mounted his warhorse, and let out a hearty laugh.

He was a king, a conqueror, and a ravager. Only conquest could bring him the purest joy.

For that, even if it cost him his life, even if blood flowed, he would always advance, always conquer, because his essence was...

Conqueror!!

In the world of swirling yellow sand, the boundless, majestic army behind Iskandar was now fully prepared. The immense might caused the Assassins, completely dragged out from the shadows and exposed to the scorching sun and yellow sand, to have their hair stand on end.

Not one more, not one less.

Because of Kirei Kotomine's Command Seals, all of Hundred-Faced Hassan's clones were captured by Iskandar's Noble Phantasm and trapped on this enclosed battlefield.

This was an arrangement made in advance by Rovey. Although Hundred-Faced Hassan's strength was not great, its unkillable characteristic was too troublesome. If left unchecked, it could very well ruin the plan, so this Assassin had to be eliminated today. While Scáthach was holding Artoria back, Iskandar with his Reality Marble was undoubtedly the best executioner.

Tokiomi Tohsaka was too hasty, daring to cooperate with Emiya Kiritsugu.

And without fully investigating the situation, he dared to join forces with others to attack Kenneth's stronghold.

He had completely underestimated that the power gathered here had long become the most formidable group in the Holy Grail War.

Let alone Assassin and Saber, even if Gilgamesh had come today without prior preparation, he might have met his end here.

Two god-slayers, and the King of Conquerors who had just gained full power by connecting to the magical core, were equivalent to three exceptional Servants.

Not to mention Lancelot, who was currently on his way.

This was a guaranteed kill situation. As long as they harbored any reservations, whoever came would die.

—RUMBLE!!

"KILL!!!"

The sound of war drums and the clamor of battle were incessant.

Under Iskandar's command, the endless soldiers of the Ionian Hetairoi launched a fierce charge at the enemy.

Countless cavalry and phalanx formations shifted continuously, encircling the Assassins in the center from all directions and then unleashing their devastation.

There was no suspense. Under Iskandar's terrifying power.

In just a few minutes, beside the sole female Assassin who stood frozen in place, all the clones of Hassan had been impaled by spears and hung in the air. At this moment, all Hundred-Faced Hassans except her had been killed without being able to retaliate.

A warhorse charged through the yellow sand, its blade aimed in her direction. Iskandar, having remounted his beloved horse, swung his blade at any remaining combatant...

At this moment, only she remained in the world.

Innumerable soldiers halted behind, cheering for their king, unleashing immense power.

"Farewell, Assassin."

The King, clad in crimson, arrived in an instant. The Sword of Cyprus in his hand struck down fiercely, a cold glint swiftly cutting through the air, effortlessly severing the last enemy's head.

With that, Assassin, Hundred-Faced Hassan, made their first exit.

"King!!!"

"King, King!!!"

"King of Conquerors!!!!"

For a time, the cheers of the army behind him grew even more fervent.

Having dealt with his opponent, Iskandar turned to look at his soldiers, his generals, his kin, and...

His own young Master, a brilliant smile gracing his face.

He beckoned to Weber and then rode quickly to his side.

"Boy, how was that? This is my kingship, my conquest, and my power!"

He lowered his head, calmly gazing into Weber's eyes, who was still stunned by the recent charge, and earnestly asked, "Did you feel my inner pursuit?"

"I..."

Looking at Iskandar's figure, and then at this vast world.

Even Weber's heart was deeply moved at this very moment.

"I saw... I felt the limits of the world here... I saw... a broader heaven and earth."

He responded with a murmur, as if some shackles within his heart had been silently broken upon witnessing such a magnificent scene.

At this moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of ease.

"See a broader heaven and earth? Hahahaha, well done, little Master. Your wish is finally no longer something as small and humble as proving yourself or pleasing others!"

Hearing Weber's answer, Iskandar, already in high spirits, burst into hearty laughter once more.