"Cero!"
A blackish-red beam shot from Ailin's fingertip and met the oncoming Gordius Wheel head-on.
BOOM!
The torrent of blackish-red spiritual pressure collided with Iskandar, the King of Conqueror's, Gordius Wheel, creating a tremendous roar.
In the sky, an explosion bloomed dozens of meters wide, forming a fiery inferno.
"Oraaaah!"
Amidst Iskandar's roar, lightning ripped through the torrent of spiritual pressure, emerging from the explosion.
Ailin's Cero was powerful, but it was still weaker than the A+ ranked Noble Phantasm, "Via Expugnatio."
Of course, if he'd used "Gran Rey Cero," he might have shattered Iskandar's "Via Expugnatio."
After all, in terms of rank, the power of "Gran Rey Cero" was in no way inferior to the ultimate techniques of a Zanpakutō's Bankai.
Facing Iskandar, charging towards him in the Gordius Wheel, a spatial ripple appeared beside Ailin. He reached out and grasped the hilt of a Zanpakutō that was now visible.
"Dance wildly - Raikū!"
At Ailin's call, the Zanpakutō instantly revealed its true form in his hand.
It had a green hilt, and at each end of the hilt were long, pheasant-like blades.
Raikū was the Zanpakutō of Kageroza Inaba in the world of Bleach, a part of Ōko Yushima's "Sumitsukigasa."
With the Hollowfied Lin merging into Ailin's body, the Zanpakutō that the Hollowfied Lin had seen from Kageroza Inaba had naturally been identified by Ailin from within Unlimited Blade Works.
Although this Zanpakutō was currently only at the lieutenant level, its abilities, when used well, were in no way inferior to those of the more powerful captain-level Zanpakutō.
Raikū's abilities were twofold.
Spatial copying, and spatial reading.
First, Ailin spun Raikū clockwise, recording and copying the current space.
Then, he spun Raikū counter-clockwise, reading and manipulating the previously copied space.
The next moment, a fainter version of the space appeared before Ailin, and another Iskandar, driving the Gordius Wheel, charged out of this space, racing towards Iskandar amidst the crackling of thunder.
BOOM!
RUMBLE!
Lightning flashed. The two Gordius Wheels, of equal power, collided, creating a violent roar.
Ultimately, Iskandar, with his superior control over the Gordius Wheel, allowed his own chariot to swerve past the one copied by Ailin.
BOOM!
RUMBLE!
"Via Expugnatio" was a Noble Phantasm that combined the speed of the Divine Bull Bucephalus with the immense force of the chariot's wheels, amplifying the lightning of the Divine Bull to damage enemies within range.
Now, with Iskandar diverting his Gordius Wheel, he had lost his maximum attack power, and naturally lost the threat to Ailin.
After circling in the air, Iskandar brought the Gordius Wheel to a halt in front of Ailin.
"Hahaha, Berserker, it seems I'm not the only one waiting in vain tonight. So, how about we make a bet? If I win, how about you give me the swords in your Reality Marble?"
"Oh?"
Ailin raised an eyebrow.
Iskandar's words clearly indicated that Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, had also failed to keep his appointment tonight.
Connecting this to Artoria's absence as well, Ailin guessed that Kirei Kotomine and Kiritsugu Emiya had likely begun their fated battle.
Ailin wondered why, if Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, had sought out Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, the King of Conquerors would have little hope of victory.
Even if Iskandar had received the enhancement of three Command Spells, he wouldn't be a match for Gilgamesh.
The disparity in their strength was simply too great.
"So, King of Conquerors, From your words, it seems you want to use me to replace the King of Heroes?"
Iskandar and Gilgamesh's duel had been decided, on the one hand, because Gilgamesh had declared at the feast that the Grail was his property.
Thus, if Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, wanted to obtain the Grail, he would naturally have to seize it from Gilgamesh's treasury.
This was a clash between two kings, a clash of their ideals.
On the other hand, it was also because Iskandar coveted the countless Noble Phantasms within Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon.
As the king of the Macedonian kingdom, Iskandar had countless soldiers who had followed him throughout his life.
Even after his death, a considerable number of these soldiers had become Heroic Spirits, joining Iskandar in constructing the great magic Reality Marble "Ionioi Hetairoi," which was second only to "magic," a true miracle.
However, although they were also Heroic Spirits, because they were not registered in the Throne of Heroes, they didn't possess the "spiritual foundation" of Heroic Spirits, and naturally didn't have the "Noble Phantasms" that represented the sublimation of Heroic Spirits.
If Iskandar obtained the Noble Phantasms within Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon, the strength of his tens of thousands of soldiers within his Reality Marble would be greatly enhanced.
At that point, Iskandar's power would be enhanced beyond imagination.
Of course, after seeing Ailin's Reality Marble, Unlimited Blade Works, the night before, Ailin had also become a potential armory for Iskandar.
However, compared to Gilgamesh, who possessed countless Noble Phantasms within his Gate of Babylon, Ailin's Reality Marble contained only "swords."
Moreover, those "swords" weren't the knightly swords used by knights.
The weapons most favored by Iskandar's soldiers were spears and knightly swords, or other long weapons. Ailin's "swords" within Unlimited Blade Works seemed too small, and the soldiers might not be accustomed to using them.
However, Iskandar had also seen that the same "swords," after being called by their true names by Berserker, would transform into various weapons.
This meant that if the true names of the weapons were mastered, these "swords" might be very suitable for his subordinates.
This was also why Iskandar, when Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, failed to keep his appointment and he sensed Berserker releasing his aura, came here.
In Iskandar's view, if he could obtain sufficiently powerful Noble Phantasms from Berserker, the next battle with Archer would be much easier.
"King of Conquerors, I'm very interested in your bet. However, if I lose, I have to give you the swords in my Reality Marble. What about you? What can you give me if you lose?"
Inserting Raikū into the ground, Ailin looked at Iskandar, the King of Conquerors.
"Oh? Berserker, are you saying you think you have a chance of winning against me? You are worthy of being someone who aims to become a god."
Iskandar stroked his chin. "However, you're right. Since it's a bet, there must be wins and losses."
"Well then…"
Iskandar patted the Gordius Wheel beneath him.
"If you win, this treasured possession of mine, I'll give it to you!"
"Hahaha, King of Conquerors, are you joking?"
Hearing Iskandar's words, Ailin scoffed. "There are no fewer than a hundred A-ranked Noble Phantasms among the swords in my Reality Marble, and many that exceed A-rank."
"You actually want to use an A-ranked Noble Phantasm to bet against me? King of Conquerors, are you that afraid of losing to me?"
"Berserker, you have a point. Then tell me, I've taken a liking to the weapons in your Reality Marble. You're willing to bet with me, so you must have taken a liking to something of mine, right? Tell me, and I'll make a contract with you."
"Pah, pah, pah…"
Ailin clapped. "Good, that's the spirit of a king."
"King of Conquerors, since you know I aim to become a 'god,' you should know that there's probably only one thing on you that I would want."
"I want your 'divinity'!"
"If you want the Zanpakutō in my Reality Marble, then put your divinity on the scales and bet with me!"
According to myth, Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, was like Gilgamesh, a half-human, half-god.
However, Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, possessed two-thirds divinity, which was the highest level among Heroic Spirits.
As for Iskandar, according to myth, he was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods in Greek mythology, and possessed half divinity.
Although the "gods" of the Type-Moon world were far inferior to the "God" who could create worlds in Ailin's understanding, if he could obtain the "divinity," "divine authority," and other powers of the gods of the Type-Moon world, it would be a considerable boost to Ailin's strength.
Of course, more importantly, Ailin felt that even if the "gods" of the Type-Moon world were inferior to the "God" who created worlds, since they were called "gods," they might have some connection.
"Oh?"
Iskandar's eyes narrowed, staring intently at Ailin.
To be honest, before Berserker spoke, Iskandar didn't even know what Berserker had taken a liking to.
The reason he had offered the Gordius Wheel and the Divine Bull as stakes was because, as a Servant who had descended into this world, Iskandar had nothing else to offer Ailin.
However, Iskandar never expected that what Berserker had his eye on was his "divinity."
"Alright, Berserker, I accept your bet! Let us make a contract in the name of the Grail! If I lose, I will strip the divinity from this body and give it to you. If you lose, your Reality Marble will be mine!"
"Heh…"
Hearing the contract terms Iskandar proposed, Ailin smiled.
Indeed, Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, was essentially a "plunderer" who only liked to "rob."
Even though Iskandar didn't believe he would lose, he instinctively set the contract terms very much in his favor.
If he lost, he would only lose the divinity of this Servant body that had descended upon Fuyuki City. His true self wouldn't be affected.
However, if he won, he would exchange the Zanpakutō in Ailin's Reality Marble that he had wanted before for Ailin's Reality Marble, showcasing his cunning.
"Alright, I accept this bet!"
Although this bet seemed unfair to Ailin, he had absolute confidence in his own strength.
Therefore, he didn't quibble over Iskandar's little tricks and directly agreed to the bet.
"Very well, then let's begin!"
"Oraaaaaah!"
Drawing the Cypriot sword at his waist, he charged towards Ailin, driving the Gordius Wheel.
The powerful magical energy bursting from Iskandar's body formed a gale, spreading out like a storm.
White light flashed. The next moment, the dark night was instantly replaced.
The sky was cloudless, and the ground was covered in yellow sand.
As far as the eye could see, it was a desert.
Countless soldiers in armor, wielding weapons, emerged from the sand, gathering behind Iskandar, the King of Conquerors.
"Hahahaha, have you seen it, Berserker! This is my greatest trump card, and also my greatest glory."
"The countless warriors who were recognized by the Throne of Heroes and followed me even after becoming Heroic Spirits, using our collective power to construct the mental landscape, Ionioi Hetairoi!"
"Even if you are a god, in the face of my unparalleled army, you have no chance of victory!"
Standing at the forefront of the tens of thousands of soldiers, Iskandar, sitting in the Gordius Wheel, spoke loudly to Ailin in front of him.
"Berserker, if you surrender now and offer your Reality Marble to me, I will still consider you a friend, and let you join my army, becoming a presence second only to me!"
"Heh, King of Conquerors, you should save those words for when you survive."
Ailin shook his head. "Did you forget that those who possess Reality Marbles are not limited to you?"
"Haha, Berserker, my Ionioi Hetairoi is the strongest of all Reality Marbles. It's not something your Reality Marble, which can only store swords, can compare to."
"However, I welcome you to integrate your Reality Marble into mine. That way, the soldiers under my command will finally have their own Noble Phantasms!"
"Truly naive. Who told you that my Reality Marble is a world that only stores swords?"
"Hmm?"
In Iskandar's puzzled gaze, Ailin began to chant the incantation for his Bankai.
Of course, in reality, Ailin could complete his Bankai in an instant and unleash Unlimited Blade Works.
However, since his opponent was Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, Ailin didn't mind revealing his trump cards one by one, letting Iskandar know how pathetic and laughable a clown he was in front of him.
"This body is made out of swords."
"My blood is like iron, and my heart of glass."
"I have fought in countless battlefields, and although I have never been defeated, I am still not understood."
"So I;m always alone on a hill of swords, intoxicated with victory."
"Thus, this life has no meaning."
"This is… Unlimited Blade Works!"