C72

By the riverbank in the Miyama district, Shirou had escaped and everyone slowly dispersed from the scene. Kiritsugu had intended to target Waver, but Iriviel's presence on Iskandar's side made it risky. Despite Iskandar's righteous demeanor, Kiritsugu couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't harm Iriviel. Kiritsugu, always prepared for the worst, chose to abandon his plan temporarily.

Waver and Iskandar returned to their base, with Waver feeling like a failure as a Master. The sixth day of the Holy Grail War was approaching its climax and Waver needed to catch up. He went to the place where he summoned Iskandar and absorbed the power of the leyline to compensate for his lack of magical energy.

Swish--

Suddenly, a strange sound echoed from the forest.

"Rider, what are you doing--" Waver turned around, ready to ask Rider what he was doing there, but the words got stuck in his throat as he saw the person before him. The golden hair, blue clothes, and proud face confirmed the identity of the person who had arrived.

His professor, the Lord of the El-Melloi faction, a first-class lecturer in Spiritual Evocation, heavily honored and named 'Child Prodigy,' Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald!

Waver was shocked to see Kayneth appear before him. "You--, you--!"

Kayneth chuckled, "My foolish disciple, as your professor, I will give you a good lesson in our last class." He wore white gloves and took out a vial, pouring it on the ground.

In an instant, a ball of mercury expanded around Kayneth. Waver, being a student of the El-Melloi, recognized the ball of mercury as Volumen Hydrargyrum, the most prized possession of the Lord El-Melloi and the supreme possession of the El-Melloi faction. A unique Mystic Code that uses magical mercury for defense, attack, and reconnaissance.

Waver fell to the ground in fear and screamed, "Rider! ... Rider--!"

"Don't waste your energy. My Lancer is keeping your King of Conquest." Kayneth laughed, "Without the Gordius Wheel, Diarmuid won't give him the chance to summon his Noble Phantasm."

Waver raised his palm, "With this Command Seals——"

But before he could finish his sentence, the Volumen Hydrargyrum transformed into a silver whip and struck toward him. Waver was forced to roll out of the way to avoid being hit.

Kayneth approached him gracefully, "As your professor, I'll give you one last lesson. But as Kayneth, I'll make you feel the full force of my rage! You see, what I hate the most are fools like you!"

"Writing a thesis refuting the bloodline superiority theory thinking you're clever. Do you have any idea what will happen if it's published? Other nobles and Lords may tear it apart, but the filth it will bring upon me is irreparable!" Kayneth was furious, filled with rage.

"I...I don't know," Waver stammered, "but I know my thesis is correct!" His voice was firm, revealing his unwavering determination.

Kayneth let out a sigh, "Correct? Alright...my foolish disciple, it's my mistake."

Waver's insides tightened at his words.

"You're not even qualified to be a magus," Kayneth said coldly. "Having a disciple like you is a permanent stain on my reputation that can never be washed away, only purged." The Volumen Hydrargyrum started attacking on its own.

Waver dodged the attacks, using the surrounding trees as cover. "Whether I'm qualified to be a magus or not is not for you to decide."

"Then who does get to decide?" Kayneth asked.

"Me," Waver declared proudly, "Waver Velvet himself."

"Foolish words!" Kayneth sneered. "Idiotic and inadequate! You have poor talent in magecraft and come from a dishonorable family. What could someone like you possibly achieve? Decide? You can't decide anything. You're only fit to wander in the lowest level of magecraft, like a mouse in the sewers, never having the chance to rise up."

"That's not true!" Waver yelled back. "I have seen the ultimate state of the world, and I've seen a hero who is younger than me but already moving forward. I don't know what the future holds, but I'll go forward anyway. I have a dream!"

"Fool!" Kayneth exclaimed. "A commoner trying to resist the nobility system? That's your dream? You're too foolish. How could I have produced such an ignorant and foolish disciple? Very well, I'll make it clear for you. Your future is hell. Death. Do you understand now, Waver Velvet? Why do I have to spell it out for you, you foolish and incompetent child!"

"I won't back down," Waver declared, "I've seen heroes with dreams and aspirations, and I will not be left behind. I will challenge reality to achieve my own dream, that's the greatest lesson I've learned in this war."

"You dare challenge me?" Kayneth seethed.

Waver deftly navigated the forest, using its terrain to shield himself from the Volumen Hydrargyrum. He pulled out a yellow powder from his pocket and scattered it over the entity, dodging its attacks once more.

"Why don't you attack, Waver?" Kayneth sneered. "You talk big, but your actions are lacking."

Waver didn't respond, instead letting his thoughts wander to the dreams and ambitions of the heroes he had met in this war. He thought of Iskandar's pursuit of the world's extremity with the soldiers of Ionioi Hetairoi, and of Shirou's calm command of the Servants as he faced the Giant. He longed for their strength and resolve.

Waver made a decision. He would step beyond himself and strive towards that world's extremity. "I won't back down," he repeated, more determined than ever.

There's no need to hide his humble nature behind a facade of excessive pride anymore. Waver already held a magnificent vision in his mind.

Waver skillfully dodged, flinging handfuls of yellow powder toward the Volumen Hydrargyrum.

A sharp "Ka-" echoed as the Volumen Hydrargyrum let out a faint sound, signaling that it was ready.

With a somersault, Waver emerged from the forest, crouching halfway in front of Kayneth.

"Not running away, Mr. Waver Velvet?" Kayneth sneered. "What, don't tell me you're not afraid?"

Waver replied confidently, "I have no reason to be. I've already won. Lord El-Melloi, allow me to demonstrate my ultimate magecraft!" With that, he pulled out a gun from his pocket and aimed it at Kayneth's head.

Kayneth laughed mockingly, "This is your so-called ultimate magecraft? A gun? How absurd! You must think I'm a fool! Are you trying to make me laugh?"

"No, I'm not joking. You've lost, Lord El-Melloi," Waver declared.

"Hahaha! Stop with the nonsense," Kayneth said, with a hint of arrogance in his voice. "My Volumen Hydrargyrum can easily withstand your bullets..."

But Kayneth's words trailed off as he heard the sharp "pop pop pop" of the gun. To his shock, the Volumen Hydrargyrum surrounding him shattered like glass, falling to the ground in pieces.

"What? No... No way! How did this happen? Why did my Volumen Hydrargyrum...?" Kayneth's eyes widened in disbelief. "You... What did you do?"

Kayneth was at a loss for an explanation. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure out what Waver had done to make the Volumen Hydrargyrum fall apart.

"I infused copper-zinc powder with a bit of magecraft," Waver explained.

Kayneth's eyes bulged with veins as he exclaimed, "What?! Copper-zinc powder?! How could a mere copper-zinc powder break my Volumen Hydrargyrum... No... No, I can't believe I'm actually asking you... I, the prodigy, the Lord, am actually asking you... What a joke!"

He had lost.

From the moment he asked the question, his defeat was sealed.

Kayneth had lived a highly successful life, rising to become one of the members of the Aristocratic Faction and reaching the peak of his power. But now, he was reduced to asking his own disciple, someone he considered a fool.

"I have thoroughly researched the methods of creating the Volumen Hydrargyrum and have a deep understanding of its techniques," Waver continued. "I applied my knowledge to the copper-zinc powder, allowing it to disrupt the preservation of the Volumen Hydrargyrum and react with the mercury at its core. Mercury is the essence of the Volumen Hydrargyrum, and when it comes into contact with copper, it transforms into Copper Amalgam, rendering your Volumen Hydrargyrum useless."

"What is this? What's happening? Is this still magecraft?" Kenneth questioned, his voice filled with confusion and uncertainty.

"Times have changed, Professor!" Waver declared, his voice filled with conviction. "So magecraft must change as well."

Kayneth's eyes widened as he stared at the black gun barrel in Waver's hand. He took a few steps back, clearly in a state of shock. "I, the Lord of Clock Tower, one of the members of the aristocratic faction, being taught by such a heretic... I lost... I lost..."

He had always been the epitome of confidence. As the son of a famous family, he was intelligent, talented, and had inherited the Magic Crest achievements passed down from generation to generation. With his rare talent to match, it was no surprise that everyone called him the "Child Prodigy". This title was taken for granted, as he never faced any challenges or obstacles to his success.

However, his greatest trial finally arrived when he was defeated by his own disciple, whom he had always looked down upon as foolish. The world he once ruled began to crumble and his title of "Child Prodigy" was no more.

"Kill me," Kayneth whispered, his voice filled with despair.

"Why do I have to kill you?" Waver asked, lowering his gun. "You're my professor. You're supposed to help me achieve my dream."

Kayneth scowled. "You have no value as a magus," he spat out. "Allow me to give you one final lesson. Kindness is a weakness in the war of magi. Watch closely, I won't let Lancer go easy on you."

"Rider will not be defeated," Waver declared.

Kayneth let out a sarcastic laugh.

Just then, a woman's scream shattered the silence.

"Sola!" Kayneth cried out.

He sprang into action, running towards the source of the scream. Waver followed close behind.

When they arrived, they were stunned by the sight before them. Diarmuid, dressed entirely in black, had Sola by the neck, lifting her off the ground.

"Lancer, what are you doing? Are you trying to betray us?" Kayneth yelled, trying to charge forward.

"Don't move! He's been infected by the black mud," a deep voice warned.

Both men turned to see Iskander lying on the ground, half of his body submerged in the black mud.

"Rider!" Waver cried out, wanting to go to him.

"Don't come closer! Run away!" Iskander summoned his horse and told Waver. "Friend, ride quickly and find Caster, find the King of Knights. Then come back to fight me."

"I still have a Command Seal! By the power of Command Seals, Rider, get rid of the black mud!" Waver frantically raised his arm.

"..."

But to no avail. The command seals were ineffective.

Iskander smiled sadly. "It appears the mud truly is the Grail. The Command Seals are now useless. Run, kid or you will meet your end by my blade."

The harsh reality hit Waver like a ton of bricks.

"Why? Why is this happening?" he muttered, unable to grasp what was happening.

"Kayneth, save me! Kayneth, save me!" Sola cried out in desperation.

Diarmuid tightened his grip on her throat and used the Yellow Rose of Mortality to slice across her face, destroying her delicate beauty in an instant.

"My face! My face! My face!" Sola wailed in agony.

"Sola!" Kayneth was beside himself with fear and reached for his Mystic Code, but then he realized it was destroyed. He was helpless.

Diarmuid disfigured Sola and cast her aside. He raised his dual spears and fixed a cold, deadly gaze on Kayneth.

Without a word, he began to advance toward Kayneth.

Lying on the ground, Iskandar grabbed his short sword and threw it at Diarmuid.

Diarmuid spun around, brandishing a spear. The clash of metal echoed as Iskandar's sword was deflected.

Iskandar lunged forward, grappling with Diarmuid, but the black mud that coated his foe was hastening his own erosion.

"Hurry! Get away, Master! Don't just stand there!" Iskandar yelled.

"Yes, I am the Master!" Waver wiped away his tears, mounted Bucephalus, took Kayneth and Sola with him, and galloped away.

"Go! Hurry! Run, little Master! I have faith in you and your potential. Preserve your strength, focus on the future, and return to face me, to defeat me. I, Iskandar, will be the greatest obstacle standing in the way of your path to the ultimate world!" Iskandar cried out.

Slowly but surely, the black mud consumed Iskandar.

In the end, Iskandar's gaze fell on the golden king, Gilgamesh.

"Why? Why would you do this to yourself?" he asked.

"One who can break fate can rule the future," Gilgamesh replied.

"Is this why you did not act against my Master?" Iskandar questioned.

"He is already on the path of enlightenment and beyond my punishment," Gilgamesh declared.

"Ha ha ha ha ha... Is that so? Do you wish to purify it? Do you wish to enlighten it? Do you wish to make the earth devoid of those who sing praises of heroes, devoid of those who worship the gods, and devoid of the foolish?... O hero king of Uruk, your sin is wrath! You are too full of anger, you were not consumed by this filth, but by your own karma fire! " Iskandar spoke before he was completely consumed.

"Clench your fists and your hands are empty. Open your fists and your hands are full... Gods, rulers, heroes, mortals... They are all merely demons in the fiery pits, struggling to survive and unable to die. Hmph. Such hubris cannot be compared... But he, the conquering king, can see more than anyone else. Perhaps, this is the transcendent perspective after grasping the truth of the world... "

The words of the conqueror king, with the name of conquest as his crown, took the King of Heroes back to the distant past.

Once upon a time, there was a man...

He was a foolish and comical man who, despite his body being made of clay, had the ambition to rival the gods.

Of course, his arrogance irked the gods in heaven, and he was punished with death.

The hero king never forgot the look on the man's face as he perished, tears streaming down his face.

"Why are you crying?" the hero king asked. "Do you regret standing by my side?"

"No," the man replied. "Who will understand you after I'm gone? Who will be by your side on your journey? My friend, the thought of you facing everything alone in the future brings me to tears."

Thus, as he watched the man take his last breath, the king who rebelled against the gods understood that the life of this man, who sought to surpass humanity as a human, was more valuable and radiant than all the treasures he had amassed.

Gilgamesh turned away quietly, his silhouette merging with the darkness as he became a solitary figure once again.

But at least he still had him. Isn't that right?

...

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