"I activate the Graveyard Spell Card [Lord's Pre-Battle Preparations]! This card can only be activated during the Draw Phase if my hand is empty. By banishing this card, I can add [Borrowed Mana Furnace] from my deck to my hand instead of drawing a card normally."
"[Borrowed Mana Furnace]'s effect: This card's activation cannot be negated. If my hand contains no other cards besides this one, I can activate it to draw three cards. However, during my next Standby Phase, all cards in my hand, field, and Graveyard will be banished." Overdrawing at the cost of the future—this effect was perfectly suited to Kenneth's current situation.
"Hahahaha! Victory is still on my side after all! [Volumen Hydrargyrum]'s third effect: Pay half my Life Points, discard one card, and release myself! Destroy all Attack Position Servants on my opponent's field, and for each Servant destroyed, deal 300 Life Point damage! Now then, Waver, take this 1500 damage in total!"
Kenneth LP 2700 → 1350
"Ah, am I leaving the stage already? I haven't had enough fun yet!"
"Professor, I'll come back to play with you again!"
"What a heartless sworn brother."
"Can I finally return now?"
Volumen Hydrargyrum shattered, scattering silver needles like a torrential storm into Waver's battle zone. A violent impact kicked up a cloud of dust, and within it, Waver's agonized cries could be heard.
Waver LP 4000 → 2800
"What?!" Kenneth's face fell upon realizing Waver hadn't taken the full 1500 LP damage.
A powerful arm pushed aside the dust cloud—Rider stood there, unscathed, though [Gordius Wheel] had disappeared.
[Iskandar] ATK 3300 → 2800
"[Gordius Wheel]'s effect: If the equipped Servant would be destroyed by an effect, this card can be sent to the Graveyard instead! The journey of the King of Conquerors will not be cut short so easily!"
"Well said, Master! Until we reach the endless seas, the King of Conquerors will never halt his march!" Iskandar roared in approval, feeling that his little Master was growing more and more to his liking.
"Damn it!" Kenneth gritted his teeth. If he had successfully destroyed Rider and triggered Volumen Hydrargyrum's final effect—discarding a card to deal 500 direct damage—then following up with a direct attack would have won him the duel. But now, he had no choice but to defend. "I send [Volumen Hydrargyrum: Trimmau] from my hand to the Graveyard to set a [Volumen Hydrargyrum] in my Spell & Trap Zone! Boil once more, my blood!"
"Finally, I switch myself to Defense Position and end my turn." Kenneth retained a single card in his hand—so long as the duel wasn't over, he still had a chance.
[Kenneth] DEF 2000
Waver seemed to sense something, exchanging a glance with Rider. "Shall we activate it?"
Iskandar laughed heartily. "Do you even need to ask? Let the King of Rome and his Master witness the path of the King of Conquerors! Come, let's win this duel!"
"My turn! Draw! I activate the card I just drew—[Army of the King]!"
As the Spell Card activated, Iskandar raised both arms. "This world, this sight exists now because it is the reflection of all our hearts! Behold, my unparalleled army!"
A golden sea of sand. Endless soldiers.
Though the scenery was simple, the overwhelming sense of an impending onslaught was undeniable. Those who once fought alongside the King of Conquerors had all returned at this moment!
"[Army of the King]'s effect: Summon as many [Macedonian] Servants as possible to the field! A king is one who stands as an unwavering landmark, carrying the admiration of countless warriors! All my Attack Position Servants gain ATK equal to the number of my Servants × 200!"
"Indeed! Indeed!" With an earth-shaking cry, the warriors' fighting spirit surged!
[Iskandar] ATK 2800 → 3800[Macedonian Heavy Infantry] LV2 Lancer ATK 1400 → 2400 ×2[Macedonian Light Infantry] LV1 Saber ATK 1200 → 2200
"Charge!" At Iskandar's command, the mere five warriors unleashed a charge that felt like an unrelenting tide.
"Useless! I discard a card to activate [Volumen Hydrargyrum]'s effect! This turn, I cannot be destroyed by battle or effects!" Kenneth's heart turned cold, but he swiftly activated Volumen Hydrargyrum, wrapping himself in its protective embrace.
"My army will not be stopped so easily! Before you stands Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, who rode across Europe, Asia, and Africa! [Army of the King]'s effect: When attacking a Defense Position Servant, any excess ATK is dealt as direct damage! Uwoooooohhh!" With a war cry, Iskandar's cavalry shattered Volumen Hydrargyrum, and his sword came slashing down upon Kenneth!
"Ahhhhh!"
Kenneth LP 1350 → 0
The duel field dissolved. Kenneth, shaken, hurriedly checked himself—unlike Gilgamesh before him, he hadn't suffered any severe injuries.
"Master, do not worry. I told you, Rome will protect you."
Romulus' Spirit Origin flickered weakly. Had Kenneth not repeatedly verified his Spirit Core's scale before, he might not have noticed the slight depletion. Even a Heroic Spirit of Gilgamesh's level had suffered massive damage—yet Romulus hadn't even let out a groan.
"Lancer… you took all the damage for me?" Kenneth immediately understood why he remained unscathed. "…There are some things I'd like to ask you later."
Straightening his coat, Kenneth attempted to maintain an air of nonchalance. "Waver Velvet, I'll reluctantly grant you a passing grade for this pop quiz. However, your magical aptitude is truly abysmal and in need of long-term tutoring. That's it for today's magic duel."
"And my thesis…?" Waver was still obsessing over his dissertation.
Kenneth sighed. Was the genius magus who would be revered in a decade truly the same fool standing before him? Massaging his temples, he groaned, "How exactly did you inherit the name 'El-Melloi'? Looks like you'll need to retake Magic History as well. Why are you standing there? Follow me! My hotel has plenty of vacant rooms. During the Holy Grail War, you can forget about slacking off—I will personally tutor you!"
"Eh?" Waver was glad that Kenneth had acknowledged him in a way, but the word "tutoring" was enough to make any student's blood run cold—even if that student was a magus.
Just as he sighed and prepared to follow Kenneth, he noticed that Rider wasn't moving.
"Rider, what's wrong?"
"Now that my Master and his teacher have reconciled, I can rest assured." Iskandar patted Waver's head before turning to Romulus. "Victory is satisfying, but my opponent hasn't fought at full strength. King of Rome, I have fully demonstrated my path of kingship—yet I haven't seen a single card that represents you."
"Rome's power is not suited for this kind of battle…"
Romulus' response did not satisfy Iskandar. Drawing his weapon, Iskandar declared, "King of Rome, let us have a battle between Heroic Spirits! One day, we must settle this—why not now? Set aside your restraint and fight me with everything you have!"
"Rome has never underestimated any opponent. If the King of Conquerors so insists, then Rome shall give its all!"
That night, the radiance of Rome illuminated all of Fuyuki!