The Star of Creation That Split Heaven and Earth

And so, everything began from there.

"... Aaaaaaaahhhhhh."

Perhaps it was a final burst of energy before death, but in his final moments, Matou Zouken once again saw glimpses of the past.

He suddenly remembered what his initial wish was, and what the original purpose of the Holy Grail War was...

... Ahhh, Nagato Tohsaka, and Justeaze...

Without realizing it, I have already gone against the vows I made in the past.

In these final moments of my life, the last people I could think of were you all...

With a final sigh, the decaying soul perished along with the fleshy worm's shell, vanishing completely from this world.

Thus, Matou Zouken, the Master of the Holy Grail War Berserker Lancelot, and Marich Zolgen Makiri, Hero of Justice, are confirmed to have passed away.

He lived to the age of 500.

"So he really went ahead and did it anyway? What a touching scene of fatherly love and filial piety..."

Sitting on the roof of the Matou Family's house, watching the grand spectacle unfold below, Rovey witnessed the insects turn to ashes, signifying the complete disappearance of the last trace of the man named Marich Zolgen Makiri from this world.

Twenty years of pent-up resentment finally erupted today, culminating in a final axe blow that ended the life of his adoptive father, Matou Zouken, and also brought a relatively satisfactory conclusion to his own life.

It's likely that Matou Zouken couldn't understand, let alone imagine, that after living for five hundred years, he would one day die at the hands of his own descendants, and by Matou Kariya, whom he had never even given a second glance.

Even Rovey couldn't help but applaud this excellent performance.

But after a brief moment of mockery, Rovey opened a bottle of fine wine that he had just taken from the Matou Family's wine cellar, poured it into a pre-prepared wine glass, offered a slight toast in the direction where Matou Zouken had died, and then poured it into the soil at his feet.

"Good riddance, Matou Zouken... Goodnight, Machiri Zolgen Makiri."

Rovey murmured to himself, bidding farewell to that once great soul. Scáthach, meanwhile, took the wine glass Rovey had just used, poured herself a drink, and then took a small sip, pointing it at the full moon in the sky.

Afterwards, she waited until Rovey finished his musings, swung her legs, and then spoke.

"Master, you've taken down another opponent. Now that Matou Zouken is completely dead, Berserker, without Master to supply him with magic, should be disappearing soon, right?"

Scáthach could already foresee that Lancelot, now weakened by the loss of magical energy due to his Master's sudden death, was now completely deprived of his magical supply.

But at this moment, a question couldn't help but linger in her mind.

"Why not let Matou Kariya replace Matou Zouken to control Lancelot? Although he doesn't have much magical power, he should be able to support Lancelot through this final battle with his life force and Command Seal, right? With your Command Seal supporting him, doing this would only consume a few years of his lifespan at most..."

Before Scáthach could finish speaking, Rovey stood up beside her.

He raised his head to look at the bright moon in the sky, then slowly raised his wine glass, drank the wine in one gulp, shook his head, and continued, "There's no need for that."

"No matter how the battle goes, as long as Gilgamesh doesn't do anything stupid, Iskandar, Fionn mac Cumhaill, and Lancelot are bound to lose, even if they use Command Seal ... It's not my style to waste my life force on meaningless things, and it's the same if I'm wasting other people's life force."

"My plot against the Old Worm was simply because I was disgusted by his actions and felt sorry for his depravity, so I sent him on his way in this way. As for Matou Kariya..."

Rovey sat on the rooftop, looking down at Matou Kariya was overjoyed at having personally killed his enemy, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"He was just a pitiful man controlled by fate, living a life of confusion. For him, this was the best ending. To be honest, my opinion of him changed somewhat from the moment he agreed to save Tokiomi Tohsaka. I was originally thinking of comforting him and arranging a job for him. But now it seems that I was being a bit redundant..."

"Having gone through so much, he is no longer a pitiful creature toyed with by fate. He deserves to have his own life and choose his own way of living, so let's leave it at that."

"Matou Kariya, I wish you all the best in the future."

Looking down at Matou Kariya, who was searching for gasoline and preparing to burn down the Matou Family along with the insect nest below, Rovey couldn't help but smile helplessly. After silently wishing him well, his figure disappeared from the rooftop.

After listening to his story, Scáthach, who was standing to the side, also smiled thoughtfully.

She looked at Rovey with a strange expression, which made Rovey ask in confusion, "What's wrong with my face?"

"No, no, it was just a bit of a surprise."

Scáthach put her hands behind her back, then looked at Rovey seriously and said, "I really didn't expect you to be such a gentle person, Master."

"Gentle, isn't she..."

Upon hearing this address, Rovey couldn't help but smile slightly, inwardly neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Then he gently shook his head, his expression returning to calm.

"I wouldn't call it gentleness, it's just that there's kindness in it, after all, I'm human too..."

"So, are you ready for the next battle, Scáthach? We're going to wrap this up."

"Are you going to make your move? Great! You've been fighting all night, and I've been itching to get started."

Upon hearing Rovey's words, Scáthach, who had been the cameraman all night, couldn't help but reveal a hint of excitement in her voice.

As a queen who is a warrior, the fact that she has no chance to join the battle is a torment for her.

Now that she heard it was finally her turn to perform, she naturally became excited.

"Sigh, I'm sorry to trouble you, Scáthach. But don't be careless. This is probably the last Servant battle. The King of Heroes' strength is far beyond your imagination. Take this with you. I will provide reinforcements if necessary."

As he spoke, Rovey reached into his own body and handed the scabbard of the legendary sword that was embedded within him to Scáthach.

Feeling the heavy weight in her hand, Scáthach put away her playful expression and nodded solemnly at him.

"Don't worry, Master, I will fulfill my mission."

Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Enuma Elish

Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, is an Archer.

He was both human and god, possessing two-thirds divine blood and one-third human blood. His birth embodied the expectations of the gods; as king, he also served as a wedge placed upon humanity by the Sumerian gods, ensuring the separation of man and god—the so-called "Man's Wedge."

The epic poem about Gilgamesh, which contains his legends, is the oldest extant heroic epic in the world.

The Epic of Gilgamesh revolves around the friendship between Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, and his friend Enkidu. It can be roughly divided into four parts, which also represent four important stages in his life.

From the tyrannical ruler of Uruk to his close friend Enkidu; then together they vanquished the monster Humbaba, who ravaged the land, and became true King of Heroes; then, angering Ishtar and killing Gugalanna angered the gods and cost his friend his life, witnessing the separation of life; finally, after traversing the underworld and the entire continent in search of the Elixir of Immortality, only to find it all in vain, he gained profound enlightenment and became the Wise King Gilgamesh who ruled Uruk in later generations.

His legends are ancient and long-standing, his era was turbulent and magnificent, and his life was absurd yet great.

Furthermore, Gilgamesh's power has already been fully demonstrated in his own epic saga.

Soon, the many heroes who had joined forces to defeat this king would personally experience the great miracle that existed within Gilgamesh's body, the absolute power displayed by the King of Heroes, the King of Heroes.

"Is this what it means to go all out? Hmm... Although it's far from being as good as Enzidu, it's certainly a stage worthy of my full effort."

After a brief assessment, Gilgamesh gently twisted his hand, and the shape of the complex golden key he held in his hand suddenly changed.

The next moment, a pillar of light shot up from his hand, and countless bright red lines spread across the sky, its dazzling light illuminating the entire battlefield covered in yellow sand.

"King of Conquerors... you idealist who only knows how to move forward, only by shattering your dreams can you see reality."

Gazing at the massive army that surged towards him, marching solely for conquest, Gilgamesh's crimson eyes remained expressionless, devoid of joy or sorrow. He simply spoke calmly.

"Then, I will let you witness the end of this dream with your own eyes, and I will let you experience this truth firsthand."

The words were spoken softly, and then the crimson light receded, and a terrifying gale expanded completely around Gilgamesh. At this moment, the complex golden key in his hand also revealed its true form.

It was a golden hilt adorned with blue decorations, while the blade consisted of three cylindrical blades with scarlet patterns, tightly joined together, displaying its unique appearance to the world.

Buzzing—!!!

The moment it appeared, the red sword energy surrounding it began to tremble wildly, as if it could cleave the heavens and earth at any moment, looking both terrifying and solemn.

[Enuma Ea: A++ → Ex.]

"This is...? Such terrifying magical energy! It seems the King of Heroes is about to unleash his Noble Phantasm?"

"Everything is ready, gentlemen, the big one is coming."

Having witnessed firsthand the strangely shaped cylindrical blade contained in Gilgamesh's hand, Iskandar felt an unprecedented sense of crisis. His intuition was frantically warning him of the danger contained within that power, and that something unpredictable seemed to be about to arrive.

Not only him, but Lancelot, riding his warhorse beside him, also trembled slightly when he witnessed the pillar of light shooting into the sky, and then let out an uneasy roar.

"Arrrrrrrr..."

Iskandar also keenly noticed this scene.

"As expected, it's not just me, Berserker. It seems you've also noticed something extraordinary gathered in the hands of the heroes."

He sighed, but his movements did not falter in the slightest. He continued to steer his warhorse, calling upon his thousands of troops to conquer the direction where Gilgamesh was.

For the King of Conquerors, the unknown and challenges are equally essential parts of his path to conquest. Therefore, even after witnessing firsthand the terrifying power emanating from Gilgamesh, and knowing that the outcome of this conquest remained uncertain, Iskandar showed no hesitation or fear, continuing to lead his vast army relentlessly towards his goal.

For him, no matter what lies ahead, whether it be stars or an abyss, he will never stop.

As long as his soldiers are still alive, his ambition for hegemony will never cease; only conquest is what his heart desires.

So--

However, compared to Iskandar, who was known for his domineering ways, and Lancelot, who was preparing to fight to the death before leaving the battlefield, the golden knight, who was also riding a white horse and charging on the battlefield, made a completely different decision.

Fionn mac Cumhaill, who had been leading the charge, watched as the red light continuously gathered in Gilgamesh's hand, and the ominous premonition he had been suppressing erupted once more.

He gently bit his finger, then his expression suddenly changed, as if he had realized something.

"Could this thing be...?!"

Fionn mac Cumhaill looked surprised, then realized something was wrong and quickly steered his horse toward the other side of the Gordius Wheel driven by Ptolemy.

"Ptolemy I, entrust the chariot to me! I will protect my lord!!"

Fionn mac Cumhaill dismounted from his horse, leaped onto his chariot, and shouted anxiously at Ptolemy.

"... What happened, Warrior?"

Ptolemy wasn't stupid. Seeing Fionn mac Cumhaill, who had been fighting bravely, suddenly become so disoriented, he clearly realized that something was wrong.

"There's no time to explain. We've already lost this battle, and we must retreat quickly!!"

Fionn mac Cumhaill looked nervously at the destructive storm Gilgamesh was brewing in his hand, then turned to look at Kenneth and Weber behind him, who were equally bewildered, and sighed helplessly.

If he could, he would certainly like to continue charging alongside Iskandar and Lancelot, to fight as a warrior until the very end. But reason and loyalty are more important than that warrior's resolve.

He valued his lord's safety more than a glorious death in accordance with his own will. A knight's honor was more precious than life itself, but it was worthless compared to the life of the lord he was meant to protect. A knight's purpose is to protect; if one cannot even protect the one they wish to protect, what kind of knight is that?

So even if it earned him a reputation for desertion and injustice, and even if the King of Conquerors would hold a grudge afterward, Fionn mac Cumhaill still chose to prioritize Kenneth's life in this final moment of crisis, sparing no effort to protect his lord's safety.

"What exactly is this...?"

Seeing Fionn mac Cumhaill's solemn expression, Ptolemy couldn't help but look puzzled, feeling confused about the current situation.

However, Fionn mac Cumhaill had no time to explain to him at this moment. He leaped to Ptolemy's side, seized control of the Gordius Wheel from him, and then rapidly lifted the chariot into the air, leading them away from the battlefield at top speed.

"Desertification was not my intention, I apologize. But I have to do this now to protect my lord and the King of Conquerors Master," Fionn mac Cumhaill said with a heavy heart.

"... I see. Then I entrust the King's Master to your protection, warrior."

Although puzzled, Ptolemy was not angry or mocked by Fionn mac Cumhaill's desertion. He looked at Fionn mac Cumhaill's earnest and anxious eyes, and then glanced at the rapidly changing formation below.

Under Iskandar's leadership, the legendary invincible Macedonian phalanx was once again recreated, with the magnificent scene of the King of Heroes in the center being surrounded from all sides.

Ptolemy then smiled slightly, and solemnly nodded, entrusting the arduous task of protecting the King of Conquerors, Master, to Fionn mac Cumhaill. Immediately afterward, the white-haired youth, spear in hand, leaped directly from the Gordius Wheel, joining the invincible army in this conquest alongside his reckless yet undefeated king.

Although it was only a brief encounter, Ptolemy was able to realize that Fionn mac Cumhaill had clearly seen through something, and since this hero, who ranked at the pinnacle of Celtic Mythology, could conclude that the battle was lost before it even began, he could also sense how bad things were going to get.

Although we don't know what exactly the King of Heroes used to make Fionn mac Cumhaill, despite having such a powerful army behind him, choose to retreat, this battle might really end in defeat, just as he said...

But so what?

These so-called heroic Heroic Spirit are nothing more than a group of dead souls who no longer belong to this era. Now, they have awakened from their slumber by hearing that resounding call once again, and are able to once again step onto this yellow sand battlefield filled with countless blood and memories, and reunite with their comrades who fought alongside them in the past...

This was already the greatest fortune of their lives. So what did it matter if death awaited them? As long as they could continue to follow that king and personally embark on the road to the endless sea, even death was their own choice.

He had been troubled by being entrusted with an important task by the king, which prevented him from joining this grand expedition. Now, Fionn mac Cumhaill's timely intervention undoubtedly gave him the opportunity to fulfill his dream.

Thus, at this moment, facing the crimson gale powerful enough to tear the heavens and earth apart, the countless Heroic Spirit spirits around them showed no fear. They continued to stride forward toward their target and their enemy.

March on, march on, keep marching until we conquer them!

Even if their bodies were buried by the yellow sand, even if they died on this battlefield, they would still have no regrets.

Because this is what they have been pursuing their entire lives, that is—

The true essence of the path to conquest!

"Kill--!!"

"Kill--!!!"

As the army drew closer, the sounds of battle intensified.