Chapter Nineteen: ZERO Countdown - Part 1

Splash.

Splash.

In a vast, dark sea, a black silhouette floated silently.

Pale skin, vacant eyes, and a body that already reeked of decay...

"Where am I?"

"—This is the Frozen North—"

"Am I dead?"

"You are."

His pupils contracted slightly. Even though he had resigned himself to it, upon hearing that affirmative answer, his decaying body involuntarily trembled.

The sound of waves repeatedly crashing against his body was incredibly irritating.

"Question...!"

An ancient voice suddenly echoed across the sea.

"Question... what?"

"Question: What is love?"

A brief silence followed.

"Answer: To laugh for the happiness of the one you love is love."

"Question: What is true love?"

"Answer: To willingly endure nine lifetimes of misfortune for a single smile from your beloved in this life."

"Question: What is Artoria to you?"

"Answer: My soul."

"Question: What is Artoria's existence to you?"

"Answer: My sole reason for existence."

"Question: Do you love her?"

"Answer: I am already mad for her."

"Final question: How can you, who are already dead, fulfill your oath once more?"

"Final Answer: Driven mad by love, roaring for love, weeping for love, fighting for love. From the distant shores of the underworld, I will tear myself asunder, using my soul as a guide and my blood as a path."

"Then. The contract is established. From this moment on, the existence known as Drake D. Xia will completely vanish from this world. And in his stead, fulfilling the oath, will be a 'thought-form' born from the division of his soul."

--- I ---

The true return! "Drake D. Xia"!

"Finishing Move! First of the Two High Origin Sources! Pangu!"

In the sky, obscured by dark clouds, a voice like a thunderclap rang out! A brilliant golden light erupted in the sky, like a straight, long sword, instantly cleaving the sun-blocking dark clouds in two!

"Don't get cocky, you mongrel!!! Gates of Babylon!"

Above the split dark clouds, a man with golden armor and a single eye stood on a magnificent golden warship. Roaring "mongrel," he waved his hand! A rain of treasures descended!

"Hmph!" A cold snort.

From the ruined castle ruins on the ground, a blue light suddenly burst forth! The azure light, capable of completely obscuring the golden light, surged upwards! It then transformed into streaks of blue light in the air, rushing to meet the golden rain of treasures!

With a thunderous roar that shook the heavens and earth! The blue rain and the golden treasure rain engaged in a glorious battle in the sky!

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The continuous sounds of impact transformed into a passionate and fierce battle drum!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! they resounded between heaven and earth.

"Don't look down on me, mongrel!! Gates of Babylon! Maximum!"

"Get lost, you half-human, half-god mongrel! Blue Sky Storm!"

The originally gloomy sky was now obscured by two extreme lights!

With two more enraged roars, the fierce collision in the sky rapidly escalated! The magnitude of the impact was such that the entire Fuyuki City could hear it! And on another side of this battle.

Swish! Swish!

Two figures, passing each other by, stood on the eaves of the other side of the ruined castle.

Saber, wielding the Holy Sword, watched the burly man before her with a wary expression. Although facing a rider should have been advantageous for her, the man's completely unconventional fighting style, and the two green bulls breathing lightning beneath his chariot, were cause for concern.

{A rather tricky opponent...} A drop of sweat slid down Saber's cheek. Her emerald eyes were fixed on the powerful enemy before her.

"But! The glory of a king absolutely does not permit the slightest desecration! This is a battle of honor, as the King of England!" Thinking this, the body that had been feeling slightly fatigued seemed to regain strength. The body that stood up again was straighter and more resolute than before.

"Heh, as expected of Saber, the Knight of Swords, to actually alter the trajectory of my Thunder Wheel with such wild swordplay. Magnificent!" The hearty Conqueror King generously bestowed his praise upon Saber.

"However, if this is all you have, you are far from enough to defeat me! Conqueror King Alexander the Great!" With that, the chariot beneath the Conqueror King once again flashed with countless arcs of electricity, and the two blue oxen snorted again, preparing to charge once more.

"I'll return those words to you, Conqueror King! The Knight King of Britannia cannot be defeated by mere oxen that plow fields!"

Facing the Conqueror King's verbal provocation, Saber retorted with a playful jab.

"Eh?! Wahahahaha!!! If that's the case, it'll be quite troublesome for me! You know, I was planning to save my other move for that troublesome 'Eternal King'!" Hearing Saber's malicious taunt, the Conqueror King, holding his forehead, burst into laughter.

"Hmph! Then I'll force out your other move! Take this, Conqueror King!"

As soon as the words fell, Saber, holding the Holy Sword, transformed into a gale and instantly attacked the Conqueror King standing on the chariot!

"Come on! Let me, Conqueror King Alexander the Great! Conquer you, proud Knight King! Wahahahaha!"

With that, the Conqueror King's Thunder Wheel instantly activated! It transformed into an aurora far swifter than Saber's blue gale and charged towards Saber!

Clang!!

The two auroras, colliding once more, let out a clear metallic clang! They immediately separated, adjusted slightly, and then slammed into each other again!

As the two entwined auroras fought and fled, the shockwaves inadvertently emitted during their fierce battle ravaged the already ruined castle even more tragically and pitifully!

A powerful hurricane swept up the scattered wood chips and stones, blowing them all towards the sky!

"Excalibur!! Excalibur!!!!!"

Suddenly, a roar erupted, and a brilliant, blinding white light instantly cleaved the hurricane in two. The residual force continued to surge into the higher sky.

"Ridiculous!!"

The Hero King, standing on the Golden Ship, looked at the white aurora charging towards him and sneered, casually drawing a magnificent jeweled shield from his treasury. He then tossed it directly into the air!

Tossed into mid-air, the jeweled shield instantly grew from the size of an arm to a colossal shield.

It firmly protected the Golden Ship behind it.

Whoosh... Boom!!

The white light exploded upon impact with the jeweled shield! However, the violent explosion still failed to penetrate the shield's defense. As the dense fog of the explosion dissipated, the intact Golden Ship appeared in mid-air.

"Hmph! Did you see that?! This is the vast difference in power between you and the King of Heroes! You foolish king who dares to challenge the 'Oldest' with merely the name 'Eternal'! Disappear like the sunset, forever! Hahahahahaha!!!"

The Hero King, standing on the Golden Ship, mocked with a laugh towards the sky.

Crack...

A blade suddenly appeared at his neck.

"Is that so? Foolish, arrogant king?" A whisper, like that of death.

"Mongrel...?! When...?!"

Squelch~~~!! A flash of cold light!

Blood splattered everywhere!

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield.

Saber, the Holy Sword inserted into the ground vertically, was barely managing to stand upright.

"Hah... Hah...!" Anxious gasps indicated the immense exhaustion of the master's stamina.

Blood slowly trickled down from her forehead.

Wiping it away with her hand, her resolute green eyes still stared directly at the powerful enemy before her.

The Hero King, lowering his head, silently glanced at the two blood-covered blue oxen lying on the ground.

Then, he turned his head again, looking at the Knight King before him who, despite being covered in wounds, stubbornly stood up, chest held high.

"Aren't you... aren't you going to use your ultimate move yet, Conqueror King?! Is this how it ends...?!" Despite being heavily wounded, the Knight King, maintaining his kingly pride, smiled with a slight curl of his lips, which were still oozing blood.

"...I sincerely apologize for my earlier boast, Knight King." The Conqueror King's deep voice had lost its previous casual tone. He looked seriously at the petite figure before him.

"You are the third person in this Holy Grail War worthy of me unleashing this final killing blow."

With that, the Conqueror King's expression suddenly turned solemn. He slowly opened his mouth.

"Let you witness it before that King of Heroes and the Eternal King! My final move! Ionian Hetairoi!"