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Even Irisviel couldn't hide her curiosity as she studied Alex, wondering just how much truth there was in what he said.If he really wasn't lying… would it be worth forming an alliance?
Alex looked between the two women and said calmly, "If you don't believe me, I can start by lifting the curse on the King of Knights' hand."
The moment Irisviel heard that, she gasped, eyes wide with excitement."You can really remove the curse on Saber's hand?"
"Of course." Alex nodded with quiet confidence.
That was all the assurance Irisviel needed. "Then I believe you!"
Alex smiled faintly and turned to Artoria. "King of Knights, let me see your injured hand."
Artoria didn't fully trust him yet, but she hesitated only a moment before extending her hand.
A deep, jagged wound marred her pale fingers — no blood, just a stubborn gash that refused to heal.
Alex placed his palm gently over it, feeling the malicious energy pulsing beneath the skin.He activated Beiming Divine Art.
The curse's dark power surged, only to be swallowed whole, drawn into his own body where it was slowly refined — converted into pure, potent mana.
He could feel his magical reserves expanding rapidly.
Once he had absorbed every trace of the curse, Alex murmured a healing spell, and light shimmered around her hand.In an instant, the wound vanished completely.
"It's really healed!" Irisviel exclaimed, her face bright with joy.
Artoria flexed her fingers, a faint smile tugging at her lips.At that moment, her doubt disappeared. She truly believed him now.
Across the battlefield, Diarmuid's eyes narrowed. Something felt off.When he noticed Artoria's healed hand, his expression froze in shock.
The wound from Gáe Buidhe… healed?Impossible.
Meanwhile, Morgan and Gilgamesh's duel had reached its peak.The golden king unleashed a storm of Noble Phantasms, each one deadlier than the last — yet none could pierce Morgan's defenses.Her spells layered over one another, absorbing and deflecting every strike.
More baffling was her staff — it shifted form at will: axe, spear, holy sword, shield.Each transformation felt like a new Noble Phantasm altogether.
It was infuriating Gilgamesh.
"Hmph. Many treasures, yet no mastery. Let's end this," Morgan said coldly.
She raised her staff toward the heavens as if summoning something vast and terrible.
"Lance of the End — Rhongomyniad!"
It wasn't a true Noble Phantasm, but it might as well have been.This was the sacred spear of the Lancer-class King Arthur — recreated through Morgan's sorcery.
The dark sky split open as a colossal golden spear descended from above, its tip shining like the sun itself.It looked as though it could pierce the entire world.
For the first time, Gilgamesh's face darkened.His Gate of Babylon overflowed with treasures, but few among them could withstand this.
"Very well. To make me use that is proof you are worthy of my attention," he said, preparing to draw his mightiest weapon.
But before he could—
His body froze mid-motion.
Tokiomi Tohsaka, watching remotely, had used a Command Seal to pull him out — unwilling to expose Gilgamesh's trump card.
Gilgamesh's golden eyes flared with fury."You dare recall me with mere words, Tokiomi? You've grown bold!"
Still, under the Command Seal's compulsion, his form shimmered and dissolved into spirit particles, vanishing completely.
To any onlooker, it looked like he had fled the battle — an insult to his pride.
Morgan didn't stop him, simply lowered her staff, dissipating the golden spear in the clouds.
"Looks like that Master isn't nearly as stubborn as Archer's," Iskandar remarked with a chuckle.
Morgan turned her gaze toward Diarmuid.
In an instant, binding magic burst forth.
"Not good!" Diarmuid's expression twisted as he struggled — but before he could break free, Merlin and Roxy joined in, layering their own binding spells.
Triple restraint.He couldn't move a muscle.
"This can't just be ignored!" Iskandar barked, stepping forward to help.
But Artoria blocked his path.
She wanted nothing more than an honorable duel between knights, yet the Command Seal pulsing on her hand burned with orders she couldn't defy.
Alex noticed the subtle tension and smirked.So Kiritsugu had made his move.He wanted Lancer eliminated — and Artoria's task was to keep Iskandar busy.
Their unspoken understanding was perfect.Lancer had to go.
At the same time, Kiritsugu and Maiya, hidden in the distance, opened fire on Lancer's Master, Kenneth.Two muffled gunshots — bang, bang! — aimed straight for his head.
"Master!" Diarmuid roared, face draining of color.
"Worry about yourself," Morgan sneered. Her staff morphed into a long, cross-shaped spear that she drove straight through his chest.
Pinned and helpless under triple binding, Diarmuid could only watch as the weapon impaled him.
Blood gushed from his lips. His strength faded rapidly.
Iskandar sighed heavily.He knew it was over — there was no saving him now.
Artoria's expression was conflicted.She had longed to face Diarmuid in a fair duel, knight against knight…But with the Command Seal's hold, she was powerless.
Meanwhile, the bullets fired at Kenneth never reached their mark.A silvery liquid barrier rippled in front of him — the Mooncell Fluid, his prized Mystic Code.
"Too bad," Kiritsugu muttered.Even if Kenneth survived, a Master without a Servant was as good as dead.
Back on the field, Diarmuid still clung to life, impaled but breathing. Alex stepped up beside him, placing a hand on his chest.
Beiming Divine Art — Absorb!
At once, a torrent of mana poured into Alex like a raging river.
"AAAHHHHH!" Diarmuid screamed in agony as his life force was drained away.
Alex's expression was one of pure satisfaction.He could feel the mana flooding him, power growing wild and immense within his veins.
Watching, Artoria couldn't help blurting out, "Such a vile technique!"
She had sensed it earlier when he healed her — the way he absorbed power that wasn't his.Now she saw it clearly: theft disguised as mastery.A knight could never condone such a thing.
Iskandar frowned slightly but said nothing.After all, he was a conqueror — a man who seized everything by right of strength.He had no place to judge.
Within seconds, Diarmuid's body withered, the last of his mana devoured.He fell still.
Alex opened his eyes and glanced toward Artoria, a playful grin on his lips."Pleasure working with you."
Artoria's face flushed with anger. She wanted to retort, but words failed her — because, in truth, she had just fought on his side.
"..."
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