In this Holy Grail War, Rider had only managed to display one Noble Phantasm—"Gordius Wheel."
It wasn't until a few hours ago, during the strategy meeting, that he revealed his second Noble Phantasm out of necessity: "Ionioi Hetairoi."
The fact that this Noble Phantasm—normally a powerful Bounded Field-type spell wielded by Magi—was possessed by a Rider-class Servant left everyone surprised. But now, having witnessed it with their own eyes, they finally understood.
These radiant elite cavalrymen, bound by their loyalty to the King of Conquerors, Iskandar, had transcended the boundaries of life and death, becoming eternal warriors. Wherever the battlefield lay, if their king once more sought to assert his ancient might, his vassals would rush to his side without hesitation, no matter the distance.
Watching the grand, surging charge of the army advancing toward them, Artoria furrowed her brow deeply. Then, with a trace of frustration, she closed her eyes, unwilling to watch any longer.
"Don't let it get to you, King of Knights," Shiomi said, his back to the King of Conquerors and his army. "There is more than one way for a king to stand. I once served beside the queen who watched over the dead and ruled the land of spirits. She bore an eternal burden alone. Isn't it the same for you? The Holy Sword you carry is the very proof of your kingship, isn't it?"
Artoria turned to look at Tenkei Shiomi, the one who had offered her those encouraging words.
He met her gaze with a smile. "Or has your sister already surpassed you in kingly presence and grace?"
"Absolutely not." Artoria's hesitation lasted only a moment.
True, she had not forged bonds with the Knights of the Round Table that transcended life and death like the King of Conquerors had with his men. But the Holy Sword entrusted to her was the source of her radiance as king.
Watching their exchange, Iskandar couldn't help but grin. He reached out, lifted Waver off the ground, and placed him in the chariot alongside him.
"But I only have one horse. Shiomi, Saber—do the two of you want to ride together?"
Even with battle looming, the King of Conquerors couldn't resist teasing his companions to ease the tension.
"No need." Shiomi gave a casual wave, gently lifting off the ground. "I have flight magic. I don't need a mount."
Artoria nodded firmly in agreement. As the King of Conquerors' black steed galloped toward her, not even fully stopped, she deftly mounted it in a single motion.
"A fine horse, King of Conquerors," she complimented.
Iskandar wiped the underside of his nose with a smug grin. "Heh. If it weren't for the situation, I'd be riding Bucephalus into battle myself."
With the jest made, Iskandar drew the sword from his waist and raised it high.
"Our foe is the invincible King of Heroes! The perfect adversary!" he roared, leading his vast army. "But there's no need to fear! Warriors! We have the famed King of Knights and mighty heroes of the age on our side! Now—let's show the ancient Heroic Spirits our might!"
"OOOOOOOOHHHHH!!"
The assembled troops thundered in unison at their king's battle cry, their voices shaking the battlefield.
Yet Gilgamesh, standing alone, remained unmoved by the clamor. He stared calmly at the formidable army before him.
With a cold smile, he raised his chin slightly, gazing out toward the oncoming forces.
As if answering that defiance, Shiomi hurled his spear forward with all his strength, launching it like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.
"I'll go first!"
Unlike the levitation or light-body spells used by ordinary Magi, this was true flight.
Faster than a falcon, more agile than a hummingbird.
In an instant, the distance created by the Reality Marble shrank from dozens of meters to just a few breaths.
In response to this fearless assault, the space behind Gilgamesh erupted open—dozens, perhaps hundreds of vault doors swinging wide as an avalanche of strange and varied Noble Phantasms poured forth like a storm, all aimed at Shiomi.
But Shiomi was faster than ever today. He had already memorized the firing speed of those Noble Phantasms. As long as he moved faster than them, he could break through the deadly barrage.
Like a swift swallow, Shiomi twirled his spear, deflecting the weapons that came dangerously close to his body. He slipped through the dense rain of projectiles at a speed beyond comprehension, cloaked in the dust stirred up by countless explosions.
"Hmph..."
With a cold sneer from Gilgamesh, the unscathed Shiomi had already closed the distance, his crimson spear thrusting straight at the King of Heroes' throat.
But a sudden surge of danger forced Shiomi to backflip away.
More Noble Phantasms abruptly rained down at high speed, flooding the area and leaving him with almost no space to maneuver.
What shocked Shiomi even more was that Gilgamesh, also within the blast radius, began slowly rising off the ground, floating into the sky.
Unlike the battle at the Mion River, Gilgamesh wasn't seated on the golden and emerald flying ship. He simply levitated, rising dozens of meters into the air—clearly another ability granted by one of his countless Noble Phantasms.
"Well done. Seems it wasn't a waste of my time spending this era alongside that Kirei." Though Gilgamesh's figure drifted higher, his voice still rang out clearly. "If you seek to save the world, then surpass this battlefield. Endure the greatest trial I will bestow upon you!"
Artoria and Iskandar, who had followed close behind on horseback, were also stunned by the sudden development. As they charged forward, they swung their weapons to deflect the incoming barrage of Noble Phantasms, unable to spare a glance skyward.
Countless golden motes spread out against the azure backdrop, unfolding into a Reality Marble that spanned the heavens. No stars should ever shine during daylight—yet here, they did.
It was the Gate of Babylon.
There was no point counting anymore. A single glance revealed there were already hundreds—perhaps thousands.
This was the "trial" Gilgamesh had spoken of.
Shiomi furrowed his brow. Gilgamesh wasn't underestimating them as he'd hoped—on the contrary, he was taking this encounter seriously, treating it as a true contest.
He didn't understand Gilgamesh's cryptic words, but there was no time to dwell on them. In battle, hesitation only leads to death.
Lowering his stance, Shiomi pushed his Magic Circuits to their limit.
It was impossible to say how long Iskandar's army could hold out. That army, once victorious across all lands, was now focused solely on fending off the relentless downpour of Noble Phantasms.
"King of Knights! Be ready to unleash your Noble Phantasm at any moment. I'll keep Gilgamesh occupied!"
Shouting his tactical directive, Shiomi vanished with a sharp gust, leaving behind only a swirling vortex that scattered the dust and debris, revealing a barren patch of sand.