In Greek mythology, there exists a legendary treasure:
The Golden Apple.
It symbolizes wealth, power, fortune, and beauty.
Because of its significance, the Golden Apple has appeared in countless stories, games, and works of art—like Fate/Grand Order.
The Golden Apple first appeared during the wedding of Zeus and Hera, where Gaia, the Earth Mother, gifted them a tree laden with Golden Apples. Zeus tasked the three daughters of Nyx, the Hesperides, and the hundred-headed dragon Ladon with guarding the tree.
But its most famous appearance came during the wedding of the mortal hero Peleus and the sea goddess Thetis. All gods were invited, save for Eris, the Goddess of Discord. Enraged, Eris threw a Golden Apple inscribed with the words "To the Fairest" into the ceremony, sparking a rivalry between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. This feud indirectly led to the Trojan War.
As for Heracles, his eleventh labor was to retrieve the Golden Apples guarded by the Hesperides and Ladon.
Guided by the nymphs of the forest and marshes, Heracles subdued the ancient sea god Nereus and learned the location of the Golden Apples.
On his journey, Heracles also rescued the fire thief, Prometheus, from Mount Caucasus. In return, Prometheus advised him to seek the help of Atlas, the giant who held the heavens upon his shoulders.
When Heracles found Atlas, he agreed to temporarily bear the heavens in Atlas' stead. Atlas, in turn, killed the dragon and tricked the Hesperides into surrendering the apples.
But Atlas, unwilling to resume his burden, attempted to leave Heracles carrying the heavens. Heracles, feigning agreement, asked Atlas to briefly take over while he adjusted his load. The moment Atlas accepted, Heracles seized the apples and made his escape.
Among Heracles' twelve Authorities, each derived from his mythological labors, his eleventh Authority is not the Golden Apple that incited discord among the gods but rather the power to hold up the heavens itself.
"Olympian gods! Lords of the earth, sea, and sky! Witness this power! Tremble before it! Behold and despair!"
"Mighty hero! I dedicate this blow to you!"
This Authority unleashes its full might only against massive structures or entities.
But using it requires significant preparation time, even in ideal conditions.
More crucially, even at his peak, activating this Authority would leave Heracles entirely incapacitated. In his current weakened state, the consequences were clear.
"For this strike, which will shatter my entire being, my once-unyielding body will crumble into nothingness!"
The moment this blow is unleashed, he would die.
His body would disintegrate, his divinity returning to myth.
But to honor this warrior before him, no attack could be more fitting.
Through the roaring storm surrounding him, Heracles' gaze locked onto Artoria, who was also gathering power for an incredible attack of her own.
He couldn't help but smile.
"Don't you dare die on me!"
In stark contrast, Alexander—hiding in the shadows and observing the escalating confrontation—was rooting for Artoria to be obliterated.
Anyone with half a brain could see how terrifying Heracles' next strike was shaping up to be.
Even a Godslayer, if struck head-on, would likely survive only by relying on an Authority of resurrection.
After all, this was a blow from a supreme [Steel] Hero-God, who was sacrificing his life to unleash it. Anything less would be an insult.
Artoria quickly assessed the incoming attack with her instincts. Even if she were to unleash her Noble Phantasm at full power, the holy sword's radiance would likely be swallowed by the sheer force of Heracles' strike.
She needed another plan.
Even the sword forged in the Sea of Stars had its limitations before being fully unsealed.
Acknowledging this, Artoria lowered the blade.
But surrender? That was never an option.
Raising her hand, she began to chant—not a command spell, but an incantation:
"Flesh to dust, steel to ash,"
"Bow your head and tread the coiled stairway."
"Crown thyself, O bearer of flame,"
"Thirty-three wolves of avarice,"
"Sixty-six dragons of ruin—"
"Lightning, light afar, water curved, wheel shattered, crimson band—"
"Pray to destruction with utmost piety!"
In an instant, nearly a dozen massive, crimson magic circles appeared in the sky, each etched with intricate, arcane runes. Every stroke of the pattern radiated overwhelming magical energy.
This was the pinnacle of human magic—[Explosion Magic].
A power said to slay gods and demons alike.
The chant itself? Improvised. Artoria couldn't remember the exact incantation from when Megumin used it, as the words varied each time. However, casting the spell without chanting would significantly weaken its strength—similar to the difference between the incantations in Bleach's [Kido]. So, she had simply made something up on the spot.
Now, as a God of [Steel], Artoria's invocation pushed the spell's power far beyond its original limits, transforming it into a true god-slaying magic.
Even the smallest of these magic circles spanned nearly a kilometer in diameter.
Layer upon layer of enormous, rotating circles overlapped, their devastating magical energy compressing and intensifying, threatening to annihilate everything in their path.
Alexander stared at the glowing circles in disbelief, the fiery light illuminating his face and sending chills down his spine.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
Without hesitation, Alexander activated his Authority, [Lightning Flash], and fled at divine speed.
If he stayed within the blast zone, death was certain.
Unlike Voban, he didn't have the luxury of a resurrection Authority. Death would be final.
He couldn't even spare a thought for whether the spell's detonation would destroy the labyrinth, the surrounding seawater, or even the seafloor.
All he could do was run for his life.
Meanwhile, Heracles gazed up at the massive magic circles and burst into laughter.
"So you've been holding back this whole time too, King Arthur! Hahaha!"
Heracles was thrilled.
As a farewell gift, as the blow that would return him to myth, this was perfect.
With Alexander fleeing, the labyrinth was now without a master.
Either Heracles or Artoria could easily escape the labyrinth if they so desired.
But at this moment, neither was focused on escape.
Their eyes were locked on one another, their gazes cutting through the flames and the storm.
In perfect unison, they unleashed their ultimate strikes, filled with gratitude and respect.
"[The Arm That Held Up the Heavens—]!!"
"[Explosion—]!!"
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T/N: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH but frig that dude!
...
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