Across the battlefield, the Heroic Spirits' cheers gradually subsided. Iskandar swung the sword in his hand sharply at his side, and a rift into the void slowly opened.
Furious thunder surged out of it. Two Divine Bulls drew an Ancient Chariot forth-Iskandar's other Noble Phantasm, the Gordius Wheel.
"Sorry, my friend. This enemy is a little tricky."
Iskandar's broad palm gently stroked the mane of the great horse beneath him. The horse neighed twice in understanding. It, too, had sensed that the presence of the distant enemy was far beyond anything it could withstand.
The chariot welcomed its driver once more, while the great horse returned to the Throne of Heroes to await news of victory.
But this time, that news might only come in a dream. Because-
The wind rose.
It swept up the yellow sand, forming a dust storm around the battlefield like the towering walls of an arena.
Artoria and the other three had already boarded Vimana, piloted by Gilgamesh. With its observation equipment, they could clearly see the battle from outside the dust storm.
Sovell finally stopped, standing three hundred meters from the battle formation.
An immense volume of magic power swirled around him, even forming a circulation visible to the naked eye outside his body!
To Iskandar, this was a sign that Sovell was about to unleash his Grand Magecraft.
And so he chose to seize the initiative.
His scarlet battle cloak billowed in the wind. Iskandar tugged the chariot's reins and shouted:
"Warriors! March with me! Glory lies beyond-Ionioi Hetairoi!!!"
Aboard Vimana, the magic power in Waver's body drained rapidly. For some reason, at that moment, the boy who had always seemed so timid displayed astonishing resolve.
He raised his right hand, and the blood-red markings upon it began to glow:
**"By