You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

The "invitation" from the Reality Marble is mandatory; Iori will be absorbed into it without any resistance.

As expected, the moment the Reality Barrier unfolded, Circe and Iori entered simultaneously, and the surrounding space was transformed into a lavish banquet scene, with all kinds of delicacies and meads everywhere, truly a veritable feast of wine and meat.

Won!

Just as Circe curled her lips into a smile, cheering for the impending victory—

"liberation!"

Iori's eyes suddenly flashed with golden divine light, and the phantom of waves condensed behind him. A giant serpent with eight heads and eight tails slowly stretched out its body, its enormous size almost breaking through the inherent barrier.

"Boundary Sword: Heavenly Cloud, its calamity manifests!"

An immense divine aura enveloped everything, freezing the entire space in place. Even its master, Circe, was locked in place by the aura, his body seemingly trapped within steel.

"Could that be the boundary...? Impossible!" Circe's pupils constricted sharply. "How could you—having already burned your spirit core in the battle against Orochi—"

"Disappear!"

Iori swung her arm down, and the divine sword lost its original color and shape, transforming into a silver-white blade of light. Lightning and the force of waves merged together, and as the sword fell, it extended infinite silver light, severing everything, including matter, space, and even the basic framework that constitutes this "realm"!

As the aura of destruction continued to expand, Circe's inherent barrier shattered into countless pieces, which then dissipated like sand.

The Eagle Witch activated a teleportation spell, escaping the all-consuming spatial storm at the last moment, but even so, she lost her staff and an arm.

"Damn it, Berserker, you—"

call!

A lithe figure swept past the witch, and Circe turned her head in shock, catching a glimpse of a hem of clothing out of the corner of her eye—Iori could have easily killed her, but she chose to ignore it.

She naturally didn't know that it was Sera in Iori's arms who couldn't bear any more Servant souls. She only thought that she had been slighted, and a strong sense of shame welled up in her heart. However, she was probably powerless to pursue her now.

"How could it be like this..."

Medea was quite surprised to realize that Circe had been defeated.

In her mind, a protective barrier like this couldn't be broken out of in a short time without special means, and she had plenty of time to complete everything, but now...

How to do?

Shall we fight? Berserker is clearly holding back his true strength!

You want me to fight Susanoo?

In short, prepare the Command Seals in advance so that you can activate multiple "miracles" at any time. Whether it's spatial teleportation or god-level magic, it can at least stall for time.

However, to everyone's surprise, the Greater Grail that she had been connected to and controlling suddenly "revolted"!

A large amount of magic broke away from its original circuits and began to flow along the lines that Medea had long since sealed off. Some tiny circuits that had never appeared before began to form, connecting and merging with each other, causing them to cycle repeatedly, and in an instant forming an extremely complex core array, like a "magic mark" magnified a thousand times.

"This is?!"

As a magician of the Age of Gods, Medea could have observed and understood the new magic circuits and brought them under her control. However, she never expected that when she tried to do so, she would sense another consciousness!

Their control over the Greater Grail is even higher than hers!

The betraying witch was suddenly startled, and then she realized something:

She underestimated magicians of later generations!

Although this Greater Grail is not very sophisticated, it has an ultimate firewall at its deepest level, which is an incredibly stubborn imprint of thought, and this cannot be overcome by "technology"!

"Did it awaken the founder's consciousness?"

Normally, Medea would only need a short time to restructure the core array and remove the stubborn Founder's consciousness, but clearly she wouldn't have that opportunity.

Because of that brief interruption, Iori seized the opportunity to swing her divine sword at the witch—

"what!!!"

Medea's cloak was ripped in half, and she fell off the platform like a bird with broken wings. Iori precisely controlled her strength, just enough to severely injure her without killing her.

"Alright... now there's only one last step left."

Iori placed Sera on the ground. The silver-haired girl almost lost her balance and weakly supported Iori's arm. Her beautiful red eyes looked at the sacred golden container, and she couldn't help but purse her lips.

We've finally arrived here...

Sera deceived Ritsuka. She risked her life not only to stop Medea, but also to seize control of the Holy Grail and use it to fulfill the long-cherished wish of the Einzbern family.

With the help of Chaldea and the Red Faction Servants, she came to the Greater Grail and successfully awakened the consciousness of the "Winter Saintess" inside. Now, as long as she enters its interior and sacrifices herself to become the Lesser Grail, she can open the hole to the Root.

With infinite magical power as its foundation, the core circuit left behind by the "Winter Saintess" can activate the true Third Magic - the Heaven's Cup, and endlessly expand its scale until the salvation of all mankind is achieved!

To create a world where everyone can have eternal life, and in the process no one will be harmed; the only thing to be sacrificed is a "tool," and mere androids don't even have the right to call themselves "lambs."

No one will feel sad or upset about this, because it is the best option.

"cough!"

Blood gushed from her mouth. Sera had lost all feeling of pain and was only finding it increasingly difficult to breathe... Perhaps her lungs were starting to break down.

No, time's up...

"Thank you, Berserker... And, I'm sorry... I guess this is the best I can do. The Holy Grail War will be over forever, and I can't let you win."

Despite being stained with blood, the pale-faced girl still spoke softly, "However, I still have some authority, so whatever your wish is... speak up, and all my power will be yours."

“…Not interested.” Iori stared blankly at Sera, her expression unreadable, neither sad nor indifferent.

"I am a follower, merely obeying your orders to bring you here."

Sera was somewhat disappointed. She seemed to have hoped to get some information from Iori, and even wanted to ask her, but ultimately hesitated and chose to give up.

"Berserker, you are the best Servant in the world."

The silver-haired girl smiled and said, "Being with you... was the happiest time of my life. Even if my consciousness fades into nothingness, I will never forget you... So be it."

Farewell, Ber... Aizen Iori-kun.

Sera had no more regrets and turned to walk towards the Greater Grail.

Rumble!

A crack appeared in the main body of the Greater Grail, expanding into a portal filled with golden light. The girl took a deep breath and walked in calmly and with a sense of relief.

A blinding golden light flashed, and Sera slowly opened her eyes. Inside the Greater Grail was an extremely vast space, a boundless world covered by a beautiful sea of ​​flowers. A silver-haired woman, who looked remarkably like Sera and wore a magnificent robe, stood in the sea of ​​flowers, quietly watching her.

—The Saintess of Winter!

The technological marvel of the Einzbern family, who inscribed the Heaven's Cup on their magic circuits, created a unique homunculus.

Because of its inherent constitution, it can only use a limited number of third shots, which are expensive and delicate, making widespread use impossible. Therefore, even though it has reached the realm of "magic," it is considered a failure.

In order to overcome her limitations, the Winter Saintess sacrificed herself, using her magic circuits as the core of the Greater Grail to construct everything in the Holy Grail War...

This happened two hundred years ago, and the consciousness of the Winter Saintess, or rather, the obsession condensed by the Einzbern family through the ages, by generations of homunculi who sacrificed themselves, and by countless "failures"—

It has stubbornly survived to this day!

"You came."

The Winter Saintess's voice was completely flat, like an artificial intelligence that had been programmed beforehand, but Sera knew that was not the case.

"Begin, descendants of Einzbern, the Third Circuit has been activated, and I will wield the Holy Grail to complete the salvation of all mankind."

"Yes...that's right."

The saintess had been waiting for this moment, as had Sera; the long-cherished wish passed down for hundreds of years was finally about to come...

boom! ! !

A tremor shook the entire Greater Grail, a strong gust of wind blew from behind, ruffling Sera's silver hair, and the red-eyed girl turned around in astonishment—

"Berserker?!"

Don't call me a berserker!

With the Ama-no-Murakumo sword slung over her shoulder, Iori strode into the Holy Grail: "As your Servant, my mission is complete. I now stand here with the will of 'Aizen Iori'."

"why?"

Sera murmured, "What exactly are you..."

"I've come to save you, isn't that obvious at a glance?" Iori smiled sassily. "Come back with me, Sera."

"Iori...no!"

The boy's smiling face was reflected in the girl's eyes. Her vision blurred with tears, and a joyful smile appeared on her face.

"Thank you, Iori, but this is not allowed... and it makes no sense."

Now we are just one step away from saving all of humanity. All the pain and sorrow from ancient times to the present will disappear, and no one will be harmed anymore.

In comparison, the so-called 'cost' is negligible; no one will remember an artificial human, and therefore no one will be sad.

Even if I survived, it would be meaningless, and no one would expect such an ending... This is enough. To see you at the end of my life, that is enough for me—"

"I didn't discuss this nonsense with you!"

Sera's hand was forcibly grabbed by Iori, in a forceful and unyielding manner.

"Insignificant? Who said that? Who agreed with that?"

I remember her clearly; that woman named Sera von Einzbern was once my Master's woman!

I'm also hoping for a different ending!

Listen, no one in this world can decide the value of life. Stop making such ridiculous statements!

Sera, I didn't ask who you are, but what kind of future you choose!

"The future...can I have a future too?" Sera's lips trembled, and she bit her lip lightly.

"Give me your orders, Iori!"

You have the right to give me orders. Just tell me, and I'll have the courage to accept whatever the future holds!

"no!"

Iori coldly refused: "You have to say it yourself; no one can make the decision for you!"

"I……"

"Choose: submit to your destined death, or betray the world?"

"betray……"

Sera murmured, "To betray the desire to save all of humanity for personal desires?"

"Ha, that's it!" Iori laughed happily.

Her red eyes reflected the boy's familiar face, and she felt his body temperature in her hands. Suddenly, she felt that nothing else mattered.

As long as that hand doesn't let go... no, even so, she can survive on this momentary bond.

It's not just for personal desires, but also for another person's expectations, so—

"it is good!"

A glistening tear rolled down Sera's cheek, and a relaxed and cheerful smile, unlike anything she had ever seen before, appeared on her face.

"I will... betray all of humanity!"

——Buzz!!!

Inside the witch's temple, a thick golden beam of light rose from the Greater Grail, and an intricate array of magic spread out in mid-air, quickly covering the entire temple.

"That is?!"

Inside the temple, everyone, from Fujimaru Ritsuka, the Master, to the many Heroic Spirits who were fighting hard, looked up at this magnificent and grand scene. Even the evil dragon Ladon slowed down, as if it had been affected by something.

Medea, who was originally expelling the divine lightning from her wounds, was also intently observing the pillar of light and the magic circle, but her brows furrowed slightly, as if she had discovered something unexpected.

"The Greater Grail... Why is this happening?" Mash asked in disbelief. "Could it be that Miss Sera and Berserker lied to us?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka remained silent, her face grim as she clenched her fists.

This is the end of the Holy Grail War—

The Third Law - Heaven's Grip, activated!