Excalibur!!!

Gae Bolg.

When used for a thrust, it is a cursed demonic spear that guarantees a one-hit kill against a single target.

When used as a projectile, it becomes an anti-army Noble Phantasm and the greatest, most powerful attack of Gae Bolg.

Unlike Gae Bolg, Gae Bolg: Soaring Spear of Striking Death lacks the conceptual property of "inevitably piercing the opponent's heart."

However, both its power and area of effect are vastly increased!

The attack range covers the entire area surrounding the opponent like a carpet bombing; even with sturdy defenses or nimble evasion, it can blow away a whole group of people in one fell swoop.

How could Rin Tohsaka and Shirou Emiya, who had just walked back to the gates of the Fuyuki Church, have anticipated this?

After all, according to the rules of the Holy Grail War, Heroic Spirits are forbidden from entering, let alone launching a Noble Phantasm from the roof of the church!

Although the actions of Lancer were beyond everyone's expectations.

Rin Tohsaka and Shirou Emiya were not without countermeasures; having realized that no one was following the rules in this Holy Grail War, Rin Tohsaka had long since ordered the spirit-formed Archer to infiltrate the church courtyard.

At this moment, Archer, who had already stepped in front of Rin Tohsaka, stared sharply at Lancer, raised his right hand, opened his palm, and chanted:

"I am the bone of my sword."

"Rho Aias!"

In an instant, a shield shaped like flower petals appeared in front of Archer's palm!

And the moment the first layer of the shield fully unfolded, a dazzling golden light ignited in its center!

Accompanying the flashing light, one circular barrier after another began to emerge atop the first layer!

Including the initial layer, this shield consisted of seven layers in total!

The moment the seven layers of the shield formed, they collided directly with the incoming Gae Bolg: Soaring Spear of Striking Death!

The instant they made contact, a roar erupted, illuminating the entire surroundings of the Fuyuki Church.

The flickering radiance was so intense that Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka could barely keep their eyes open!

Because Saber could not assume spirit form, she had been outside the church before this incident occurred.

However, with this sudden turn of events, her figure flashed to the side of Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka.

Archer, who was currently using Rho Aias to withstand Gae Bolg: Soaring Spear of Striking Death, saw Saber arrive and immediately commanded:

"Take them and go!"

As an anti-army Noble Phantasm, the capture range of Gae Bolg: Soaring Spear of Striking Death was immense.

While a Servant might be able to survive such an attack, Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka, being mere humans, would have no chance of survival if they could not escape the range.

For Saber to carry them out of this range, Shirou Emiya would have to use a Command Spell.

But, if he were to use a Command Spell...

Saber decisively rejected Archer's proposal and released the Barrier of the Wind King from the holy sword in her hand.

As the howling gale dissipated from around the holy sword, the blade, radiating golden light, was revealed to everyone once again.

Saber spoke to Shirou Emiya without the slightest hesitation:

"Shirou, please let me use my Noble Phantasm!"

Shirou Emiya understood that he was not a traditional magus and could not effectively supply Saber with magical energy.

But *Command Spell*s were different.

*Command Spell*s could allow a Servant to perform feats usually impossible, such as spatial displacement or acts nearing the realm of true magic.

Therefore, strengthening the Servant herself and replenishing magical energy was naturally no problem!

This was a moment of extreme peril.

The Rho Aias projected by Archer had already been pierced through five layers of barriers by Gae Bolg: Soaring Spear of Striking Death, accompanied by crisp, shattering sounds.

And it was about to be breached through the sixth layer.

One could tell from Archer's expression that he could not hold on for much longer.

And this was even with the reinforcement of Rin Tohsaka's Command Spell.

When the Rho Aias was first deployed, Rin Tohsaka had sensed that something was off with Archer.

So, since they could not escape, Rin Tohsaka had used a Command Spell to replenish Archer's magical energy.

This was primarily because, the previous night, Archer had fought and fled from Lancer, expending great effort to make Lancer abandon the pursuit.

Because he had snuck out at night, Archer had not informed Rin Tohsaka.

Thus, he was currently somewhat overextended.

At this moment, there was no time for Shirou Emiya to hesitate.

Fortunately, Shirou Emiya and Saber already shared mutual trust.

Shirou Emiya faced the storm, gripped his wrist—which still bore two *Command Spell*s—tightly, and roared in a deep voice:

"Release your Noble Phantasm."

"Saber!"

The moment the command was issued, the Command Spell on Shirou Emiya's hand flared with a crimson light!

In the next instant, the aura surrounding Saber underwent a cataclysmic transformation!

The magical energy surged from the Command Spell into Saber's body, and for a moment, the golden radiance of the holy sword seemed to shine even brighter.

At this moment, Saber held the golden-glowing holy sword high!

The light produced by the clash between Gae Bolg: Soaring Spear of Striking Death and Rho Aias could not compare to even a fraction of the brilliance held within Saber's sword.

The time was ripe.

Saber.

The King of Knights.

Artoria Pendragon!

She poured the entirety of her strength into the wrists gripping the hilt!

Light gathered.

Countless streams of light from the surroundings surged toward Saber's holy sword!

It was as if illuminating this blade was their supreme purpose!

The radiance condensed infinitely, merging into a dazzling beam of light.

Under this clear and holy golden glow, no one could utter a single word.

This was the figure of the hero who once illuminated the darkness of a chaotic era deeper than the night!

This was also the tragic and noble dream that all warriors who perished on the battlefield in the past, present, and future had pursued and yearned for throughout their lives!

This glory had transcended time and space, becoming immortal!

At this moment, the King of Victories would sing the true name of this miracle!

With every step Artoria took while holding the holy sword aloft, golden ripples of light radiated from the ground beneath her!

Every step was filled with a golden storm capable of making any evil shriek in agony!

Artoria stood shoulder to shoulder with Archer, and before the final layer of Rho Aias shattered, she unleashed this strike with all her might!

Its name:

"Excalibur!"

It seemed as if everything had turned into a flash of light, rushing toward Lancer!

Gae Bolg: Soaring Spear of Striking Death, its momentum already significantly dampened by Rho Aias, was blown away entirely by this golden radiance!

The situation reversed in an instant!

With nowhere to run, Lancer was engulfed by the golden glow, along with his Gae Bolg: Soaring Spear of Striking Death.

Facing all of this, Lancer seemed as if he had long since found peace, yet he could not help but remark:

"Truly..."

"It is finally coming to an end."

The violent explosion that followed seemed intent on leveling everything in the vicinity.

Archer braced himself against the not-yet-shattered Rho Aias, resisting the powerful storm generated by the impact.

Once the storm and dust had settled, everything around them fell into silence.

The church building had been reduced to ashes.

Lancer had also been defeated.

As for Kirei Kotomine, who had been inside the church, no one cared whether he lived or died.

Rin Tohsaka looked at the surroundings and gazed toward Enzo Mountain:

"It is time to end all of this."