May the Night Never Darken

A few days later.

Early morning.

Fuyuki City docks.

Uchiha Iori gently embraced Matou Sakura, then stroked her hair tenderly, as if he wished to impart all the warmth he possessed to her.

"Although you once fell into the dark of night, it is over now. You shall have a bright future ahead of you."

Iori spoke softly. Servants and Masters see each other's experiences in their dreams; though their time together was brief, it was enough for him to regard Sakura as his own younger sister.

"Will we ever meet again? Where exactly is the Ninja World?" Matou Sakura looked at Iori and asked, having also dreamt of Iori's past in the Ninja World.

"Then work hard. As long as you can become a Heroic Spirit, we will eventually meet again in the Hall of Heroes."

"When that time comes, do not forget me," Iori said softly.

"Yes, we will definitely meet again." Matou Sakura nodded firmly, her expression filled with resolve. She reached out and used her Command Spells.

"By the Command Spell, I command you: Berserker, you must achieve victory!" *3

With all three Command Spells exhausted, the contract between the two came to an end. Without further words, tears welled up in her eyes, but she still boarded the ship with strength.

[Even in the longest night, as long as you are by my side, I am content.]

Watching Matou Sakura depart, a sense of melancholy welled up in Iori's heart.

But thinking of his abundant magical energy and the opponent he was about to face, he gradually grew cheerful again.

"Then let us end the Holy Grail War tonight. Let the carnival of this one night begin." The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a cruel smile.

Night.

Uchiha Iori headed to the residence of Alexander the Great, releasing his aura to issue a challenge. "Are you interested in a duel with me, King of Conquerors?"

"Oh? You fellow is a Berserker, yet you retain your reason?" The King of Conquerors pushed the door open and stepped out, his tone filled with surprise.

"You do not look like a man who hides in the shadows. Why did you not appear during our previous battles?"

"Due to my Master, it was inconvenient for me to act before. Now that I have severed my contract with my Master, I have naturally begun my move."

Iori answered calmly. Looking at the nearby residential houses, he said, "This place is not suitable for a battle. Let us go to the outskirts."

"Very well," the King of Conquerors replied. "Waver, let us go."

"Yes." Waver Velvet stepped out in response. He summoned the Gordius Wheel and boarded the chariot with his Master.

On the way to the outskirts, the King of Conquerors asked, "Lad, I am the King of Macedon, Alexander. Who are you?"

The King of Conquerors did not beat around the bush, speaking with straightforwardness.

"I suppose I am a fictional Heroic Spirit. I come from another world; there are no legends of me here. As for how to address me, call me Iori," Iori replied truthfully.

"Then, lad, will you join my ranks? The terms are negotiable," the King of Conquerors said heroically. He raised his hand, preparing to pat Iori on the shoulder.

"That will not be necessary. My descent this time is to pursue a battle that satisfies my heart. If you can kill me, I shall be quite satisfied." Iori shook his head, though he did not dodge.

Having arrived at the outskirts, Alexander the Great stopped the chariot opposite Iori, a hearty smile on his face: "Do not be so decisive in your refusal, lad. Let me show you my peerless army."

Before the words had even faded, a whirlwind roared to life. The wind was scorching and dry, as if it would burn everything. This did not feel like a forest at night; the wind felt as though it came from a desert, howling in their ears.

The unknown hot wind eroded the current reality. After the wind died down, Iori found himself standing in the middle of a desert.

A sun scorching the earth, a sky clear for ten thousand miles, and an endless expanse of sand. There was no cover as far as the eye could see.

"So this is your Reality Marble? Truly spectacular," Iori remarked in admiration.

"Hmph, hmph," the King of Conquerors laughed. "This is the land my legion once galloped across. It is the scenery branded into the hearts of the Champions who shared both joy and sorrow with their King."

Following his words, a vast, mighty army of materialized cavalry appeared behind him one after another.

The uniform phalanx of the legion slowly closed in on them. Looking at their sturdy bodies and powerful strides, every detail displayed the ferocity of this army.

"That this world and this landscape can manifest in the present age is precisely because it is the heart's image of us all! Behold, that is my peerless legion."

"Even though their bodies have vanished into smoke and their spirits have been absorbed by the world as Heroic Spirits, they remain the legendary Champions who pledge their loyalty to me!"

"The bonds with them are my greatest treasure! My King's Road! The strongest Noble Phantasm I, Alexander, take pride in: Ionioi Hetairoi!"

"Oh!" The majestic legion let out a thunderous cheer.

"Then let us begin, Berserker!" The King of Conquerors drew the Sword of Alexander, his gaze fixed on the Berserker like a torch, and immediately charged at his enemy.

Responding to him was a massive roar, as the immense legion followed their King with grand momentum to slaughter the enemy.

"It seems I cannot hold back either. Please, witness my Reality Marble as well," Iori said calmly, beginning to chant the incantation.

"I am the bone of my sword."

"Steel is my body, and fire is my blood."

A massive magical reaction eroded the Ionioi Hetairoi, cutting off the raging winds.

"I have created over a thousand blades."

"Unknown to Death, nor known to Life."

The King of Conquerors frowned slightly, saying in surprise, "What, another Reality Marble? Is he truly a Berserker?" Despite this, he did not abandon his charge.

"Have withstood pain to create many weapons."

"Yet, those hands will never hold anything."

Flames spread across the surroundings, massive gears appeared in the sky, and various weapons slowly emerged from the ground.

"So as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works."

As the incantation concluded, the world was split in two, with the desert and the hill of swords each occupying half the space.

The King of Conquerors was forced to halt his charge. "It seems this will be a heart-stirring expedition, Berserker."

Looking at the hill of swords opposite him, the King of Conquerors remarked with emotion; this was an opponent worthy of a battle.

"King of Conquerors, now, face the infinite blades." Iori waved his hand, and countless weapons appeared in the air behind him—swords, spears, halberds, and blades of every kind, as if a storm were about to descend.

Watching the weapons in the air, the King of Conquerors' eyes lit up. "Young man, will you not reconsider my proposal? My peerless army combined with your peerless arsenal—would that not be invincible?"

"Save your breath. I have only one goal today: to kill you all, or be killed by you!" Iori laughed, waving his hand, and the swords fell like rain.

Facing the rain of blades, Alexander's legion advanced in a Macedonian Phalanx, while the Companion Cavalry flanked from both sides to charge.

Seeing this, Iori immediately used Broken Phantasm on his Noble Phantasms, turning all the launched weapons into bombs.

The greatest advantage of being a Servant is the ability to squander weapons recklessly; it does not affect the original body anyway.

"They can even explode? My Champions, it seems the enemy cannot be defeated by numbers alone. Abandon defense and charge with me!" Alexander shouted aloud.

Within the Ionioi Hetairoi, there was no shortage of kings and heroes. Although they could not bring their own Noble Phantasms in this situation, their base strength remained at the Servant level.

The powerhouses broke away from the army one by one, charging toward Iori individually, with Alexander riding his beloved horse, Bucephalus, at the very front.

Facing the enemy's desperate charge, Iori's expression turned serious.

"You are all heroes of human history; I should not treat you with such disrespect." Iori's demeanor became solemn.

"Next, let me grant you the respect you deserve. Susanoo."

A giant rose from the earth, and Iori looked down at everyone from the air.

"This is terrible. An enemy just like the Sea Monster," Alexander said with a wry smile. The compatibility was too poor; his chances of victory plummeted in his heart.

Iori's thoughts stirred, and the hands of Susanoo seemed to grasp something.

As the wind swirling around the Noble Phantasm dissipated, a massive holy sword appeared before everyone's eyes.

"That is the holy sword in the hands of King Arthur. Why is it in your possession?" Alexander said in astonishment.

"I am the Weapon Master; all weapons are forged by me." Iori figured that since no one knew him anyway, he might as well brag.

"Your expedition ends here, King of Conquerors." He declared loudly.

"Excalibur!" Shouting the true name of the Noble Phantasm, Iori converted his magical energy into light. He swung the long sword downward, and a massive beam of light erupted from the tip of the blade.

The violent beam destroyed almost everything in its path; the entire world seemed to collapse at that moment.

Protected by his subordinates, the King of Conquerors barely managed to hold onto his final breath.

"How did this expedition feel?" Iori asked.

"This expedition, too... has made my heart stir once more..." He squinted his eyes, which were becoming increasingly blurred amidst the blood mist, and whispered with satisfaction.

As his voice faded, the King of Conquerors dissolved into particles of light and vanished.

"Leave this place, Waver. As his subject, go and build a legacy that would make him proud, and then we shall meet again." Iori nodded toward Waver.

"Yes... thank you for your mercy." Waver lowered his head, tears streaming down his face.

"No need. It was merely out of respect for him. We are not enemies, just opponents."

Having said this, Iori turned and left to attend the next banquet.

Excalibur

Rank: A++

Description: The symbol of King Arthur, the most powerful and noble holy sword, standing at the pinnacle of all holy swords.

It was not forged by humans. Created from the crystallization of human wishes within the planet, it is one of the ultimate god-forged armaments known as the "Last Phantasm."

Originally managed by the spirits of the planet, it was overseen by the Lady of the Lake and delivered to King Arthur through the intermediary of the mage Merlin.

It converts the wielder's magical energy into light, releasing it from the tip of the downward-swinging blade like a laser beam to destroy all things.