The massive firework—the brilliance of an ancient nuclear weapon—illuminated the entire Land of Shadows.
"Hahahaha! Now this is an entrance worthy of a king like me!"
The one responsible for setting off this grand display, the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, laughed wildly in the air while piloting the Vimana, racing toward the very heart and highest point of the Land of Shadows.
There stood a castle with the same architectural style as the walls and gates, but much older.
Its ashen-grey color was darker than the sky, and its heavy, oppressive architecture made one's heart sink. The towering castle spires proclaimed the absolute supremacy of its master.
Without a doubt, the one and only living being in the Land of Shadows, its sole ruler, was here.
The wide-open gates and the overwhelming aura radiating from them made it clear: she was eager and could hardly wait.
This eternal queen had waited far, far too long for a day like this.
Shinji adjusted his clothes, then leaped off the bow of the ship, walking alongside the five great heroes through the gates and into the castle, where they were immediately confronted by Scathach, the only vivid color in this darkened realm.
She looked the same as always, no different from how she had looked fifteen years ago or five years ago when they first met.
Of course, this comparison only applied to her appearance and figure. The aura and magical power she exuded were far stronger than they had been in her Servant form. The difference was as vast as the sea compared to a stream.
Siegfried tightened his grip on his sword.
Achilles' entire body tensed.
Karna's brow furrowed slightly.
Heracles readied himself, fully armed.
Even Gilgamesh put away his arrogance.
Yes, this was the true power and presence of the ruler of the Land of Shadows!
Not the weakened Servant version of her, nor the Heroic Spirit solidified after death!
This was the eternal queen, who had lived from the Age of Gods to the present, unaging and immortal!
"You've become even more outrageous than I remember. It seems I'm not the only one who's grown over the years,"
Shinji sighed softly. He was the only one who remained calm because he knew her better than anyone and had prepared for this more than any other challenger.
The boy from fifteen years ago, the teenager from five years ago, had now grown into a man, stepping forward.
"At last, I see you—your true self, Shishou."
"I'm truly pleased you've made it this far, my final and most outstanding disciple."
Their crimson and azure eyes met, just like before, with him below and her above.
"I've been waiting for you—to fulfill my wish and grant me true death."
"Yes, I'm here for that. But before we proceed, allow me to make up for a disciple's formalities."
With that, Shinji knelt on both knees and respectfully kowtowed three times.
Although he had already done this once fifteen years ago, that had been to her Servant form, not her true self. Back then, he had resolved that if he ever had the chance, he would make up for the proper disciple's rite.
"Thank you, Shishou. Thank you for your patient guidance and for protecting me along the way. Without you, I wouldn't be who I am today."
Scathach accepted the gesture with ease, smiling as she said,
"More than words, I care about actions."
"I know."
Shinji stood up, and the respectful demeanor of a disciple vanished in an instant, replaced by the confidence and presence of a magus, someone standing at the pinnacle of the world.
"So, Shishou, forgive me, but I'm going to commit the ultimate betrayal and rebel against you!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way!"
Scathach laughed, a perfect blend of elegance and boldness.
Around her throne, countless crimson weapons appeared out of thin air—swords, spears, bows, whips, staffs—all the weapons she had used in her lifetime, arranged in formation.
This was the highest level of display, a symbol that she was taking them seriously.
In the nearly two thousand years that the Land of Shadows had been sealed, she had never been this serious.
"Come now, all of you. I hope you will bring me enough surprises."
"All of us?"
Achilles raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, are you underestimating us a bit too much, lady—no, actually, you're way too old for 'lady,' more like an old—ugh!"
Before he could finish, Achilles let out a grunt, his body sent flying backward until he crashed into the castle wall.
"What were you trying to say? Why'd you stop mid-sentence? It's not good to speak so half-heartedly."
Scathach remained seated on her throne, appearing not to have moved a finger.
"You—!"
Achilles pushed himself off the wall, standing steady, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he felt something trickling into it.
He wiped his nose and discovered blood—his blood.
"I'm bleeding? How is that possible? You're not a god, and you don't have divinity."
"I am indeed not a god, nor do I possess divinity, but I have slain gods."
Scathach's meaning was clear: I've killed gods, so what is your Armor, which draws power from divinity, in comparison?
"Like this."
The primordial runes reappeared around Achilles.
This time, it wasn't a sneak attack. Achilles was prepared, and his Comet Form, the symbol of his speed, allowed him to break free from the runes' encirclement in an instant.
Even so, he couldn't escape unscathed. There were multiple frozen patches on his armor, which had even spread to the inside of his golden armor forged by Hephaestus.
Seeing this, Heracles and the others finally realized that Scathach wasn't just a legendary warrior; she was also a top-tier magus.
During the Holy Grail War, her class had limited her ability to use magecraft, but her true self had no such restriction.
Whether it was magecraft or combat techniques, she could use them however she pleased. She could mix them together like a cocktail—blind you with holy light in one hand, while smashing you with a hammer in the other.
After making her powerful entrance and displaying her strength, the queen finally stood up. She casually grabbed the Death Thorn Bow, and the primordial runes automatically gathered, forming an arrow.
"I'll say it again. Come at me together. One-on-one, none of you are a match for me!"
"As much as I hate to admit it, you're probably right."
Achilles clicked his tongue, raising his spear as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Siegfried. He was proud and hot-tempered, but that didn't mean he was stupid.
Siegfried raised his sword defensively.
Behind them, Karna and Heracles both readied their bows. The legendary archers were preparing their signature moves: the Brahmastra on the left and Heracles' Hydra Bow on the right.
Finally, the one everyone worried about the most, Gilgamesh, didn't stubbornly cling to his pride this time.
"If any of you drag me down, I'll kill you first!"
Though his words were harsh, he didn't reject the idea of working together.
The Gate of Babylon opened, and his Noble Phantasms filled the air. In one hand, he held the Tablet of Destiny, and in the other, the Babylonian battle-axe.
This time, he was no longer the reckless tyrant of his youth. Having gone through two transformations—one with Enkidu and one with the elixir of immortality—he had become the wise king who built the glory of Babylon.
Even though the civilization of Mesopotamia had long since perished, the name of the King of Heroes was still praised through the ages.
PS: No matter how much you strengthen a Servant, they can never match the power of their true self. For example, Siegfried's Dragon Heart Furnace, Artoria's Dragon Core, and Gilgamesh's immense magical power (enough to fight seven Servants at once)—these are things that can't be replicated in their Servant forms.