The mental landscape was a plain with no shelter, scorched by the sun as hot sand whipped across it.
Because it was the land across which Iskandar's army had once thundered, it had been engraved in the hearts of every soldier, allowing the barrier to unfold.
With the army that had trampled half the world, combined with Iskandar's strategic skill, there was no opponent they could not defeat in a charge.
In a Holy Grail War centered on one-on-one battles, it could be called the strongest cheat ability.
Even so, Rider had lost.
In Archer's hand was a bizarre sword formed from three rotating cylinders, along with the Golden Chains that had blocked the King of Conquerors' final charge.
After Rider vanished, Shirou had assumed his Master would inevitably die at Archer's hands as well, but it seemed he had been spared.
He had probably won the favor of the King of Heroes.
You've grown up, Waver.
Having witnessed the entire decisive battle from the end of Fuyuki Bridge, Shirou temporarily set Waver aside and began pondering with a finger against his chin.
Rider's Army of the King had been forcibly dispelled halfway through. That had been the greatest cause of his defeat.
But how had it been done? Could an Inherent Barrier be dispelled midway?
Shirou asked Lady Avalon, who explained.
"There are two ways to destroy an Inherent Barrier: deploy a superior Inherent Barrier through skill that surpasses the caster's strength, or directly destroy the Inherent Barrier itself."
"Then that Noble Phantasm of the King of Heroes... The Heaven-Opening Sword has firepower greater than Excalibur?"
Shirou had once tried to analyze that sword—but had failed.
This was not the first time he had encountered such a thing. The previous time had been long, long ago, when he had