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MP : 43 Honorable Death
🕑 Added 2024-10-26 22:00:23 +0000 UTCCrack
A crisp sound echoed... it was the sound of bones breaking.
"This makes eight now..." Iskandar had just snapped the neck of another of the Hundred-Faced Hassan's clones.
"I've killed ten Assassins as well..." Fionn twirled his long spear and, with a quick thrust, pierced through another of the Hassan clones.
Waver and Kayneth, who were within the protective circle, felt a bit uneasy as they saw more shadows emerging from the streetlights ahead.
Waver couldn't hold back and asked Kayneth first, "Professor, just how many Assassins are there?"
"I don't know either. The only thing we can be sure of is that Assassin is one of the generations of Hassan-i-Sabbah."
"But we know very little about this mysterious assassin organization. We only know he's a Hassan, but we don't know which generation or much about the previous Hassans. So, there's no way to deduce his true name or analyze his abilities."
"What we can confirm is that this Hassan possesses some strange ability to split or create clones. The Assassins we've killed so far all dissolved into spirit particles, meaning they were all Servants." Kayneth analyzed the enemy's abilities carefully, and as a mentor, he also took the time to explain to Waver.
"However, a guess is just a guess. Until we verify it, we might be wrong. So, Lancer and Rider, remain on high alert and be cautious of any special tricks from the enemy!"
"Yes, Master." Fionn stayed vigilant.
"No, something's not right. Something feels very off. Lemon-head, your guess is probably right... they are some kind of clones. But still, something feels wrong…"
"Lemon-head?! You idiot, this is a noble and elegant hairstyle full of class! What could a relic like you possibly understand?"
"What? Even something as absurd as Lemon-head can be called elegant now? It seems modern aesthetic standards have truly declined..."
"You!!"
Seeing the two of them bickering in the middle of a battlefield, Waver was speechless. Noticing more Assassins rushing towards them, he quickly shouted, "Fight! Focus on the battle! We're in the middle of a fight here!"
"Of course, this King knows that." Iskandar drew his sword, the Sword of the Kupriotes, and sliced another shadowy figure in half, but the uneasy feeling still lingered.
Iskandar stroked his chin in thought. "Something still feels off. Lancer, you've noticed the strange behavior of these Assassins, haven't you?"
"Yes, King of Conquerors, I have indeed."
"Hmm... Explain in detail, Lancer." Kayneth's expression grew serious.
If it had only been Iskandar saying this, Kayneth might have brushed it off as a mere illusion. But since even Fionn noticed, it meant something was truly wrong with Assassin.
Kayne trusted his Servant's abilities.
"No, Master, this isn't a bad thing. Although it's hard to believe, it feels as if these Assassins are seeking death. They have no intent to fight."
"For an Assassin to charge at Rider and me head-on is already absurd. But what's even stranger is that they haven't used the essential Assassin abilities, like Presence Concealment or assassination techniques." Fionn shared his findings.
Iskandar shared a similar thought. He couldn't sense any fighting spirit in these Assassins' daggers, as if they were marching to their deaths en masse.
Although there seemed to be many Assassins left, their Master's mana was surely limited. So, the number of clones couldn't be infinite. At this rate, they would soon run out.
But Iskandar couldn't understand what these Assassins were trying to accomplish. Were they simply marching to their deaths? Or was there some hidden scheme?
"No matter what they're planning, it ends now... Gordius Wheel!!"
After pondering for a moment, Iskandar raised his sword high and roared. The Gordius Wheel suddenly burst with lightning, scattering the approaching Assassins.
He raised his arm and shouted, "Cease this pointless battle! I don't know what your goal is, but continuing this fight is meaningless!!"
Iskandar's thundering voice caused the Assassins to halt, and they all turned to look at him. The battlefield fell silent.
Finally, one of the remaining Hundred-Faced Hassan stepped forward as the leader.
"Are you their true body?"
"No, I'm not the true body. Or rather, each of us is the true body, as we were all born from separate personalities."
"Then what is your purpose? This ridiculous suicide assault, devoid of any fighting spirit... what is your goal?"
"To withdraw from the Holy Grail War... and to seek an honorable death."
The leader spoke in a hoarse voice.
"What?"
Kayneth and Waver were stunned by this response, both finding it unbelievable.
But Iskandar and Fionn understood more, and with this explanation, the Assassins' suicidal behavior now made sense.
"You seek death…"
"Then explain yourself, Assassin. Have you betrayed your Master?!"
Iskandar's gaze sharpened as he glared at the Hassans, his deep voice filled with an undeniable authority. Fionn, gripping his spear tightly, also awaited their answer.
As former kings and now Heroic Spirits, both despised treachery and betrayal. Assassin's next words would determine his fate.
"No, our Master has already dissolved our contract."
Recalling Kotomine Kirei's transformation, the Hassans felt a sense of relief.
After separating from Roy, Kirei did not return to the church. Instead, he summoned them back using a Command Seal and apologized to them…
"I'm sorry, Assassin. I may no longer be able to fight. It seems I've found my wish…"
"Though it's still vague, it's there. My wish has been fulfilled, so I want to dissolve our contract and withdraw from the Holy Grail War. If you still have wishes, I can…"
Upon hearing these words, the Hundred-Faced Hassan remained silent for a moment. Then, a smile emerged beneath the pale skull mask, "It's fine, Master. If this is your choice, then let's dissolve the contract…"
"You don't resent me, do you?"
"No, we don't. After all, isn't that the purpose of our existence as Servants? It's the same for Assassins. Now that our objective has been fulfilled, there's no harm in letting go."
"As long as the employer needs us, we act as their swords. When they no longer do, we naturally step aside..."
With a hundred personalities and a hundred duplicates, mastering every assassination technique, they are called Hundred-Faced Hassan.
Though they had lost nearly half of their bodies, seeing the change in their Master, they were already satisfied.
As assassins, they couldn't have desires; their eyes were only fixed on their target.
Their lives were merely the employer's blade, their value determined by their leader. Their duty was to eliminate all obstacles without hesitation, whether in life or death... their fate remained unchanged.
But now... to have the freedom to choose...
That alone was happiness.
For an assassin to possess the right to choose freely, what could be more luxurious than that?
"Forgive me, Assassin, for my previous orders that led to the deaths of your comrades..." Kotomine Kirei bent over in apology.
"Master..."
The remaining duplicates all kneeled on the ground, bowed their heads, and offered their final farewell to the Master who had realized his wish.
"It's all right now because they have already forgiven you..."
As assassins, they never saw the light in life or death, so there was still regret in their hearts.
To die with purpose was the greatest blessing, and they left this world content.
She remembered what that man had said to her, "An assassin who fears death so much... no wonder the Hassan King beheaded you... " his words had awakened her.
Indeed, they remembered, recalling why they died in life...
Possessing the wisdom of a hundred souls, splitting into countless personalities, helping him accomplish one assassination after another, and successfully succeeding as the nineteenth Hassan-i-Sabbah.
But as time passed, the more wisdom they gained, the more they feared death. Eventually, they forgot the tenets they once upheld and lost themselves, until...
The evening bell tolled indifferently.
"Hundred-Faced, what have you accumulated with that wisdom? A covenant of desires born from a hundred souls, all for one? Foolish... Hand over your head!"
'Apologies, my lord, I realized it too late...'
'But please, forgive me, for even a Hassan like me once longed to bask in the sunlight, even if only for a moment.'
So then...
"Come, King of Conquerors, utterly crush us."
In these final moments, using the last of their magical energy, the Hassans charged toward the imposing man ahead, praying to be sent off honorably as Servants.
At that moment, they silently prayed in their hearts for the Master who had found himself, wishing he could live out the rest of his life in peace and find his own happiness.
That alone would be enough.
"So that's how it is... I see now, I understand!"
There was no need for words. From the eyes of the many Hassans, Iskandar saw their will and desires. And as the King of Conquerors, of course, he would respond to their expectations with action!
"Warriors should leave the battlefield with honor, and a king should display the dignity of a king! Come, then! I will give my all to show you my respect!"
He laughed heartily, turning to glance at the small Master beside him, ruffling his hair, "Little Master, are you ready?"
Waver was startled. "Huh? What?"
"Hahahaha... "
Iskandar let out a few long, hearty laughs, then raised the sword he had wielded in countless battles, the Sword of the Kupriotes, and loudly proclaimed, "I am the King of Conquerors, Iskandar!! Brave warriors, state your name, and I will show you the glory of the King of Conquerors!!!"
"Rider, what are you planning to do..."
As Waver and Kayneth looked on in astonishment, the ground beneath their feet erupted with a burst of yellow sand...
A terrifying surge of magical energy swept across the area, and in the next moment, the surroundings changed. The asphalt road they had been fighting on had disappeared, replaced by a world of endless yellow sand. From the sands behind them, countless soldiers emerged, stepping forward.
Reality Marble: Ionioi Hetairoi
"What's going on? The environment has completely changed..."
"No, could this be... a Reality Marble?!"
Kayneth's face was filled with disbelief as he immediately recognized the situation.
A Reality Marble is a form of magecraft that rewrites reality based on the caster's inner landscape. It is one of the closest forms of magecraft to true magic, considered forbidden by the Mage's Association.
For Rider to use such a legendary form of magecraft, Kayneth found it hard to accept.
Yet the sight of this sand-filled world, along with the thunderous roar of countless soldiers, made everything clear, this was indeed the mental landscape of the King of Conquerors, Iskandar... his Reality Marble!
"You're supposed to be a Rider, yet you can still manifest a Reality Marble?!"
Fionn couldn't help but be amazed. "As expected of the King of Conquerors, to exhibit such a grand mental landscape. It's no wonder you achieved such greatness in your life."
Looking upon the vast expanse and the endless army of warriors, even someone as experienced as Fionn couldn't help but feel moved.
Even the glorious Fianna knights he once led couldn't recreate such a terrifying spectacle. The king's ambition and vision were fully revealed in this mental landscape.
Iskandar truly deserved the title of King of Conquerors.
"Hahahaha... The specifics of how this works, I don't fully understand myself. But this desert is the land my empire once traversed, a landscape etched into the hearts of the brave warriors who shared my battles and hardships."
"This world, this scenery is revived because it belongs to all of us!"
Iskandar raised his arm and bellowed. The countless soldiers of his army marched forward in perfect unison. Their voices were deafening, their movements precise. Their terrifying momentum was like a blade tearing through the heavens. Their power could conquer everything...
Gazing upon the seemingly endless army of soldiers, Waver was struck by the grandeur of the scene. His heart was overwhelmed by the sheer spectacle.
So this... this is the path of conquest that Rider spoke of...
Iskandar rode his beloved warhorse from his life, raising his sword, the Sword of the Kupriotes, as he charged into battle.
Ionioi Hetairoi... his peerless legion. Though their bodies had faded to dust, their spirits were absorbed by the world, serving as Heroic Spirits. Yet they still swore loyalty to him. These legendary warriors, their bond with him, that was his true treasure. His kingly path. And it was this bond that was embodied in his greatest Noble Phantasm.
To bid farewell in this way was the highest form of respect for this challenger, which was exactly what Hundred-Faced Hassan had asked for.
"Is that so... You truly are a great king..."
Watching the distant king, the Hundred-Faced Hassan smiled. Then, they all stood up straight and revealed their true name to the king.
"One of the Hassans of the Mountain, the nineteenth successor to the name of Hassan-i-Sabbah, leader of the Hashshashin, Hundred-Faced Hassan! We accept your challenge."
"Hahaha! Excellent, excellent! Then let our battle begin!"
Neither the sand nor the wind could drown out the hero's voice. With a swing of his sword, Iskandar pointed at Hundred-Faced Hassan and shouted, "Charge!"
"Charge!!!!"
The shout echoed to the heavens, and the unified army surged forward with a magnificent, unstoppable momentum. The power and grandeur were overwhelming, shaking the hearts of all who witnessed it and even the very earth itself.
"This is insane!"
Watching from close range, both Kayneth and Waver were utterly shaken by the sight.
This was the fearsome army that Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, had built throughout his life. It was the army that had swept through the three great ancient civilizations, establishing an empire of five million square kilometers for Macedonia.
This achievement was enough to shake even the gods.
Now, after being elevated into a Noble Phantasm, its power was even more awe-inspiring.
Fionn couldn't help but admire, "This is the true achievement of humanity. To not be a part of this army would be a great regret..."
"Hahaha! If you wish to witness my army, that's no difficult matter!" Iskandar laughed heartily and with a wave of his hand, a swift horse galloped out from the ranks.
"Thank you, King of Conquerors."
Mounting the horse, Fionn joined Iskandar as they charged toward the battlefield.
But Assassin did not retreat.
In their final moment, all of the Hassans dispersed, their forms rushing toward the unstoppable army of the King of Conquerors.
This time, she would not retreat. They were Hassan-i-Sabbah, servants of death.
"There's nothing left to fear..."
Noble Phantasm Release: Zabaniya
With the last of their magical energy drained from their saint graph, all their power was unleashed, fueled by the Command Seals Kotomine Kirei had used when dissolving their contract.
The personalities that had died, the lost embodiments, all gathered once more, forming the group of Hundred Faces.
Born in darkness, serving the dark, and finally buried in the dark.
"Charge!!!"
As the luminous particles signifying their departure scattered one by one, the Hundred-Faced Hassans began to disappear under the charge of Ionioi Hetairoi.
When the battle was over, the invincible army of Macedonia had pierced through the last of the Hundred-Faced Hassan's bodies.
Iskandar looked at the disappearing figures of the Hassans and asked, "Assassin, was this send-off to your liking?"
"It... couldn't be more satisfying." The Hundred-Faced Hassan smiled.
Born in darkness, dying in the light, there were no regrets left.
Perhaps this was the best ending for the original Hundred-Faced Hassan, who no longer knew who they truly were.
'First Master, I think I finally understand. The death I feared... wasn't that terrifying after all.
But... I realized it a bit too late...
In the end, I was still an unworthy Hassan. If it had been her who succeeded the title back then, she would have done a far better job...'
Thud Thud Thud
The quiet toll of a bell rang softly.
In the church, Kotomine Kirei raised his head, closed the thick Bible in his hands, and recited his final prayer.
Assassin - Hundred-Faced Hassan had left the stage.
