Chapter 113: Waver and Alexander Drift Apart Once Again

Chapter 113: Waver and Alexander Drift Apart Once Again

[Oh my momy, that guy is flying!]

[What flying? It's probably just transparent cables suspending him.]

Some longtime viewers recognized Professor Lev.

[This professor used to work at the host's company in the beginning, I think. Then he stopped appearing much. In the story, he's probably a villain.]

[Just the way he appeared is already suspicious. But I just wanna know—doesn't hanging like that hurt his back?]

[Even if it does, he has to endure it. Some people actually treat spinal pain by hanging like that.]

[Really? I've got back pain right now—should I try hanging myself from the ceiling?]

[Make sure you only hang YOUR BACK from the ceiling, DON'T HANG YOUR NECK!!!]

[Alright, alright, enough already! This is a serious villain entrance scene, but reading the comments makes it feel like a former coworker is being strung up on a light pole waiting for judgment or something…]

…

Compared to the light-hearted atmosphere in the livestream chat, the air at the actual scene was far more tense and suffocating.

"Lev! What exactly is your objective?!"

From Mash's wristband, a projection of Doctor Romani appeared, loudly questioning Lev, who was floating above.

"Romani, you really haven't changed at all. Always worrying about what's right in front of you."

"You seem more energetic than when you were at Chaldea."

"That's because I'm carrying out the will of the King. Cleaning up insects naturally puts me in a good mood. But…"

The smile on Lev's face gradually disappeared.

"To be honest, your actions have pushed me to my limit. Because of what you did in France, I was kicked out of the temple and even scolded for not being able to handle even a simple errand. And now, I have to come to this era to clean up the mess."

But quickly, a smile returned to Lev's face.

"But your journey ends here. If you can even get past this stage…"

"Then enjoy the gift I've prepared for you."

With that, Lev's body began to move.

"Are you planning to run away?! Lev!!!"

Facing Romani's accusation, Lev sneered:

"Run away? You're not even qualified to say such a thing to me. But if I don't hand out a bit of punishment, I'll never be able to vent the hatred festering in my heart."

Suddenly, in the sky behind Lev, countless glowing red eyes appeared.

"Die, you filthy ants!!!"

The next second, countless beams of light shot out from those eyes!

Mash immediately raised her shield to block in front.

"Everyone, get behind me!"

The shield in Mash's hands glowed, a silver light forming a luminous barrier that blocked all the incoming beams from the front.

"Trimmau!"

"Understood, oujou-sama!"

Trimmau transformed her mercury arms into a shield, forming a larger mercury barrier that enveloped Mash's shield.

Thanks to the enhanced equipment from Volumen Hydrargyrum, Mash's shield just barely managed to hold off Lev's assault.

"Everyone, as soon as the attack ends, counterattack right away——————!!!"

But before Ethan could even finish giving his command, the ground beneath everyone suddenly shook?!

A flash of red light burst forth as a figure shot up unexpectedly from underground!

"OOOOOOOOOO——————!!!"

The enemy dodged past Mordred and Jeanne Alter, charging straight toward Ethan and Waver, who were unguarded!!!

"Senpai!!!"

Mash tried to turn back immediately, but the intense attack in front kept her completely pinned in place.

In the shocked gazes of everyone, the enemy reached Ethan and Waver in a split second!

"To offer up destiny... all of this... is for... Rome!!!"

Then he swung his arm directly at the two of them!!!

"BOOOOM————————!!"

At the critical moment, a black steed charged in and rammed the attacker away!!!

"Our battle is not over yet, Caligula, third emperor of the ancient Roman Empire."

Alexander pulled the reins, riding on Bucephalus, staring intensely at the motionless Berserker enemy.

"Die! In these hellish flames!!!"

Jeanne Alter arrived right after and drove her black spear straight through Caligula, then completely incinerated him with black flames.

"Ah… have you come to take me, Agrippina…"

As his Saint Graph dissolved, the madness in Caligula's eyes finally began to fade away.

"Teacher, are you alright?"

After confirming Caligula had vanished, Alexander finally turned around to check on Waver's condition.

"…King? I'm fine."

Waver weakly shook his head.

"…This level of injury isn't enough to kill me."

"Is that so… If that's the case… then I'm relieved…"

As he finished those words, Alexander staggered and fell from Bucephalus to the ground.

"————————!?"

Ethan rushed over immediately to check on Alexander's condition.

His body was covered in wounds, his cloak completely soaked in blood—clearly, he had sustained heavy injuries in the previous battle against Lev.

"King!!!"

Waver struggled to his feet, moved to Alexander's side, and held him up.

"Teacher… why do you look like that?"

"Because I… couldn't protect you… it was my failure…"

Waver forced the words out, suppressing the pain in his voice.

Alexander's injuries were too severe—his Saint Graph had begun to dissolve, and there was no stopping it now.

"…Please don't say that."

Leaning against Waver, Alexander gently shook his head.

"You're the one who told me to walk my own path. Thanks to that, I was able to break free from that magus's control… and now I've fought the way I wanted to… Even if this is the end… I can accept it peacefully…"

Alexander smiled, but his body had already begun dissolving into glowing particles.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

Waver clutched Alexander's hand tightly, letting the small frame lean against him, but he could no longer say a word.

"Teacher… do you know why I wanted to go to Gaul?"

Alexander looked off into the distance.

"Because there's an ocean there… it's not the Oceanus from my dreams… but still, I wanted to see it… just once…"

The small boy, carrying infinite hopes, reached his hand toward the distant sea.

As he finished speaking, his body turned into countless points of light and disappeared into the air.

Waver reached out into the air, but those lights slipped past his fingertips, leaving him with nothing.

"Damn it… once again… I've lost someone…"

Waver fell to his knees, helplessly watching the drifting lights.

"Tch, such a weak Heroic Spirit… dared to dream of resisting me? Utterly worthless!!!"

Lev sneered with contempt.

Ethan, witnessing Alexander vanish before his eyes, felt a storm of emotions well up inside him.

Even knowing he couldn't possibly win against Lev, Alexander—still in the form of a young boy—had chosen to fight to the end. Truly, a ruler brimming with freedom and valor.

"System, activate Special Summon!"

Ethan immediately reached toward the spot where Alexander had just disappeared.