Semiramis's exquisitely beautiful face showed despair, loss, decadence, and a touch of sorrow.
Then...
Semiramis seemed relieved, her expression returning to indifference, even a hint of contentment.
"Perhaps this is my destined end," Semiramis smiled. "Fate, it seems, always arrives unannounced and unexpectedly."
As she spoke, Semiramis spread her hands.
Instantly, a terrifying magical power erupted from Semiramis, and magic imprints appeared once more.
At the same time...
The entire Hanging Gardens of Babylon began to tremble.
From a distance, one could see the Hanging Gardens starting to collapse.
Countless cracks appeared, quickly spreading across the entire structure. Even the twelve stone pillars surrounding the Hanging Gardens began to crumble, and rubble showered downwards.
Within the Hanging Gardens, the magic imprints around Semiramis grew more numerous, filling nearly all the space.
Semiramis instantly drew upon the entirety of the Hanging Gardens' magical energy, preparing to counter!
Whether due to her injuries or the immense expenditure of magic, Semiramis's face became even paler.
"Hey, hey, hey, this is no laughing matter!"
Bai Ye licked his lips and looked up at his surroundings.
"Even the Xuanyuan Sword might not be able to withstand this level of power!"
After all, Bai Ye couldn't fully unleash the Xuanyuan Sword's might in his current state.
However, Gilgamesh seemed to have become excited.
Gilgamesh tilted his head and looked at Semiramis, saying, "Your courage in a desperate struggle is commendable. In that case, this king shall offer a gesture of respect!"
As Gilgamesh spoke, he extended his hand forward!
"Babylon, founded in separation. From the beginning, the world was torn asunder. But through me, the star of this destructive creation shall be revealed! Astaroth, the abyss of the void, the night before creation, the ultimate end. The world shall be cleaved by my sword of separation, Ea!" Gilgamesh took a deep breath and roared, "Enuma Elish, the Star of Departure!"
Instantly, a vast expanse of golden light erupted.
In Gilgamesh's hand, a peculiar sword slowly materialized.
The hilt of the sword was in true Gilgamesh style, crafted entirely of pure gold with black markings. However, the blade was entirely different, appearing as a black cylindrical column.
The cylindrical blade was black, adorned with red stripes, and divided into three segments.
As Gilgamesh grasped the Sword of Rupture, an incredibly terrifying aura exploded forth.
A crimson radiance spread outwards.
The three segments of the Sword of Rupture began to spin, emitting a low hum.
Red currents circled the blade and Gilgamesh's body.
This was the legendary sword capable of cleaving the world!
And now...
Gilgamesh intended to use this sword to destroy the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
The next moment, as Gilgamesh raised the sword, the crimson radiance on the Sword of Rupture reached its zenith.
The radiance seemed to solidify, lashing outwards in all directions, striking the surrounding walls and instantly pulverizing them.
It hit the ground, shattering it completely.
Soon, the light emanating from the Sword of Rupture was so blinding that no one could open their eyes.
The radiance filled the surrounding space.
Bai Ye instinctively raised his arm to shield his eyes.
At that very moment...
Outside the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, reporters in Fuyuki City were still reporting frantically, their excitement escalating with the unusual activity of the Hanging Gardens.
Then...
BOOM!
As a reporter was speaking into the camera, an explosive sound suddenly came from behind, and the camera began to shake violently.
Everyone involuntarily turned their heads towards the direction of the Hanging Gardens!
At this moment...
A colossal beam of crimson light pierced through the Hanging Gardens, and even beyond, shooting straight into the heavens, shattering the clouds in the sky.
Accompanying the appearance of the red beam, the entire Hanging Gardens began to collapse.
The twelve massive stone pillars surrounding the Hanging Gardens were the first to shatter, disintegrating into countless fragments that rained down below.
Following this, the Hanging Gardens themselves began to break apart.
They crumbled from the outer edges first, trees within the gardens toppled, and then the magnificent castle.
Cracks appeared, spreading across every part of the castle, which then began to collapse.
Finally...
Under the terrified gazes of onlookers, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon plummeted from the sky.
Those nearby erupted into panic, scattering and fleeing madly.
Until...
CRASH!
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon landed on the ground.
In that instant, it felt like the end of the world.
Vast areas around the impact zone experienced tremors, and the structures below were instantly crushed by the falling Hanging Gardens.
Explosions echoed continuously.
Buildings in the vicinity that were hit by the Hanging Gardens began to explode.
Flames surged, and black smoke billowed into the sky.
In the blink of an eye, the entire area was reduced to ruins.
It was like the apocalypse had descended.
...
Deep within the Hanging Gardens.
Fuuma Kotaro gazed into the distance, then closed his eyes in resignation. A Servant abandoned by their Master had no reason to live.
Atop a pile of rubble, Semiramis lay on a giant stone slab, her beautiful face pale and weak, a stark contrast to her black dress.
Looking at the collapsing Hanging Gardens, Semiramis showed no distress, instead a smile of contentment.
Vanity represented falsehood, and destruction was merely a matter of time, so perhaps this was her best end.
In the sky, Gilgamesh and Bai Ye stood on the golden chariot.
Gilgamesh gazed into the distance, while Bai Ye held the gleaming golden Holy Grail in his hand.
Then...
Gilgamesh activated the Vimana, transforming into a streak of golden light, and quickly departed.
The Holy Grail was obtained, but the Holy Grail War was not yet over.
According to the rules, the Holy Grail would remain for 24 hours after its appearance, and whoever held it at the end of that period would be the victor.
Approximately one-third of the 24 hours remained.
However, Bai Ye felt it was meaningless.
Currently, only Zack and Astolfo had the combat strength left.
It was not impossible for them to attempt to seize the Holy Grail, but...
Even without the Xuanyuan Sword, Bai Ye hadn't considered Zack a threat, let alone now that he possessed the Xuanyuan Sword.
And in Gilgamesh's eyes...
Well, Gilgamesh didn't consider anyone a threat.
...