Gilgamesh vanished with a roar of fury, golden particles scattering like ashes across the night sky.
Izumi watched him go, and a satisfied grin crept onto his face.
That was profitable.
Ridiculously profitable.
Not only had he stolen dozens of Noble Phantasms from the King of Heroes,
he'd even managed to swipe Ea, the Sword of Rupture.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
This was the second time he had robbed the golden idiot.
The hatred score between them?
Definitely maxed out.
After finishing Gilgamesh, Izumi returned to the Tohsaka residence with a sulking, younger Gilgamesh in tow.
They settled in to wait for the next act to begin.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Elsewhere, Le Fay had reached the Ryuudou Temple.
Standing at the base of the stone steps, she lifted her gaze toward the familiar grounds — and blinked, stunned.
From her perspective, the temple was wrapped in an oppressive lattice of curses and sigils, layer upon layer, covering the entire structure.
Magic circles floated not only across the earth, but hung invisible overhead, carved into the sky itself.
And the moment she arrived, Le Fay felt eyes on her.
Someone inside had already discovered her presence.
"…Ano, ancestor," Le Fay whispered, troubled.
"What should we do? Should we… attack head-on?"
Artoria — the Lancer variant — let out a small, resigned sigh.
This girl kept calling her "ancestor."
She really couldn't get used to it.
But she understood now:
Le Fay came from another world, a descendant of a different Arthur.
Which is why Artoria felt so strangely fond of her.
This girl was simply too adorable.
Artoria studied the temple for a moment, then spoke calmly:
"Worry not. It is merely a mage's fortress."
"If that is all, then brute force shall suffice."
Izumi had not demanded survivors.
And in a Holy Grail War, casualties were expected.
So—
Before Le Fay could even process anything, a radiant, divine lance materialized in Artoria's grasp.
Rhongomyniad.
The Knight of the Lance did not waste words.
She raised her weapon high, and the voice that spilled from her lips was like holy scripture, echoing through the night.
"Thirteen restraints, release—
Round Table consensus, commence."
With that proclamation, the spear split the heavens with pure light.
The entire city of Fuyuki was bathed in its brilliance.
Then, the voices came.
Ancient, noble, terrifying.
One after another, across time itself.
"This battle, fought for survival—Acknowledged, Kay."
"This battle, against those stronger than oneself—Acknowledged, Bedivere."
"This battle, not one that forsakes humanity—Acknowledged, Gaheris."
"This battle, fought for truth—Acknowledged, Agravain."
"This battle, not to oppose the fae—Acknowledged, Lancelot."
—
The Knights of the Round Table.
Their mythic voices thundered in Le Fay's ears.
And with each acknowledgment, the spear's radiance surged.
Le Fay felt her own blood boil in response.
Even if this woman wasn't her direct ancestor, the bond of Arthurian lineage resonated deep within her.
Her eyes shone with feverish admiration.
She watched, breathless, as restraint after restraint shattered.
The spear sang with divine music, as if its own BGM had begun.
Artoria raised Rhongomyniad, her expression solemn.
"Sacred spear, anchor removed."
The words were a trigger.
The moment they fell, the weapon bloomed into a tower of golden light, and Artoria thrust it without hesitation toward the temple.
"Rhongomyniad!"
BOOM.
The golden pillar crashed into the Ryuudou Temple.
Inside, defensive formations flared frantically.
The site had been transformed into a mystical fortress by Medea, the witch of betrayal.
And its power source—was the spiritual leyline of the entire city.
Magic was consumed in torrents, defense circles lighting the night—
Only to be obliterated instantly.
The holy spear tore through Medea's masterpiece, ripping the entire barrier apart, and continued—straight toward its caster.
Medea stared wide-eyed at the oncoming incandescent wall.
There was no time to scream.
She and her Master were swallowed whole.
Medea—
eliminated from the war.
Le Fay's throat went dry.
She swallowed hard.
Was this truly the power of her ancestor?
Terrifying.
Utterly overwhelming.
Even she… probably couldn't stop that.
In truth, Artoria had held back.
If she wished, she didn't need to convene the Round Table.
She could have simply thrust the spear and vaporized the temple.
But she knew Le Fay adored her.
Adored the legends.
So she gave the girl a show.
The Lion King, after all, could have ruled alone.
She glanced back to find Le Fay practically sparkling, stars bursting in her eyes.
Artoria's lips twitched upward.
Le Fay let out an incoherent squeal:
"hhhhHHHHHH— ancestor so cool—!!!"
She was one autograph request away from fainting.
Artoria looked over the ruins of the temple, then spoke lightly:
"Come. We are returning."
"The Grail vanished at the moment of impact."
Without waiting, she turned.
Le Fay blinked, then rapidly chased after her, chattering nonstop.
As for the problem of the missing Grail?
Let Izumi deal with it.
The devoted fangirl had priorities.
Izumi had, of course, felt the Holy Spear's release.
He knew Artoria had acted, but he hadn't expected that much noise.
This world's secrecy toward the supernatural…
might be dead after tonight.
And if Kirei was eliminated, who would cover it up tomorrow?
Tohsaka Rin?
Izumi grinned wickedly.
Well, then tomorrow, he'd just take Rin away.
Let others handle the mess.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
At the church, Rin and Sakura had seen the pillar of light.
Scathach raised her chin toward the destroyed temple.
"Master. The girl has resolved the matter."
"We must also make haste."
Sakura nodded, hurrying alongside Rin toward the church.
At the entrance, Scathach smiled faintly.
She felt that familiar presence.
"As expected, he is here."
"In that case, allow this teacher to give a proper greeting."
A crimson spear appeared in her hand.
Without hesitation, she hurled it toward the building.
Beside her, Emiya Shirou sighed.
"She's troublesome as ever."
"Well, in that case…"
"Leave the others to me."
And with that, he charged forward.