**** Just a little explanation. In Edward's modified Grail War, the masters are chosen first via their wish, then the summoning circle appears or it can be manually drawn to further stabilize the magical connection to the Throne of Heroes. Then the chant has to be uttered to establish the ritual.
Grail's criteria for choosing masters was changed when it was altered by mages in the 1100's or so. Thus people with selfish or somewhat evil wishes can also get selected as long as they personally believe they are right. Grail only sees how deep the wish is.
Lex, Bruce , Constantine and Cassie knows in depth about the Grail wars and the ritual process. You can modify servant class if you have their relic and ask specifically which version you seek. Not accurate 100% but gives better odds. Also, this reduces the chance of rogue servants disobeying masters.
The others don't know about this. And in case you don't know them:
Connor - Superboy (Teen Titans version from the new animated stuff)
Ace - another Cadmus experiment. From Justice League Unlimited animated series . RIP Kevin Conroy.😭
Katana- Suicide Squad 1st movie. The girl with white mask and cursed sword.
Btw, Grail wars are always hosted in Australia in DC. Magus society had chosen the wilderness there and built some cities and battle arenas for this purpose. Less casualties and exposure.
So RIP my Aussie mates, you got one more thing to worry about that can kill you, other than the ones you already got.
******
The Holy Grail War had come again after a century.
Seven Masters. Seven Servants. One stage: the DC Universe, where myths and legends were about to bleed into reality.
The sky above Gotham, Metropolis, Tokyo, London, and every corner of Earth seemed unnaturally heavy that night. The stars, normally defiant even in polluted skies, dimmed as if swallowed by a black haze not born of weather.
The clouds pulsed faintly with colors they shouldn't—amber, crimson, green, as if the heavens themselves were a summoning circle.
The air vibrated, heavy with a sound no one could locate. Church bells rang in the distance, tolling mournfully, though not a single tower on Earth moved. It was the Grail.
The system had awoken, answering some call older than nations, older than cities.
Across the world, seven chosen Masters prepared their circles. Some by heritage, others by calculation, and still others by accident.
But all shared one thing—fate.
As the hour was right, the summons began.
Gotham – The Batcave
Beneath Wayne Manor, the cavern was silent except for the hum of machines and the faint drip of underground water. Bruce Wayne stood rigid before the circle etched into stone.
It wasn't chalk, it wasn't sloppily drawn. He had spent weeks refining the design, every line carved by laser precision, every rune reinforced with energy regulators cribbed from occult manuscripts Zatanna had once called "not meant for mortals."
His jaw was set beneath the cowl, his expression as unshakable as the bat carved into his chestplate.
In front of him, resting on the circle, was the relic: a shard of corroded steel, pitted and ancient. The kind of artifact most historians would dismiss as scrap.
But Bruce had traced its origin across borders, piecing together whispers and black-market transactions. If stories were to be believed, this was once part of a sword carried by a king who stood before all kings.
He adjusted his gloves. His tone was calm, deliberate, not the voice of someone begging the Grail for power but of a man stating fact.
"Steel is my will. Justice my oath.
By sword once broken, let the King before kings answer my call.
Come forth, Saber."
The shard trembled. Energy surged through the circle, light flaring in pure, blinding blue.
The Batcave shook violently. Computers flickered, machinery sparked as reality bent. Shadows stretched unnaturally long, crawling like warriors rising from graves.
Bruce didn't flinch. His eyes narrowed. The summoning had begun.
Metropolis – LexCorp Tower
Far above the shining city, Lex Luthor's penthouse glowed with sterile light. The summoning circle stretched across marble floors.
But unlike Batman's painstaking mysticism, this one was supported by machinery—electromagnetic clamps, stabilizers, and energy conduits. No incense, no candles, no superstition. Just science and arrogance in harmony.
A relic hovered above the circle, suspended in a magnetic field: a fossilized snakeskin, its surface glimmering faintly.
Lex stood tall in his immaculate suit, adjusting his cufflinks, his smug grin reflected in the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him.
While Batman summoned with grim resolve, Luthor summoned with anticipation. Where others saw danger, he saw opportunity.
His voice rang out, confident, arrogant, dripping with superiority.
"Power is knowledge, and knowledge is mine.
By the brilliance of man, I summon the conqueror who will obey me.
Show yourself—Caster!"
The relic pulsed violently. The circle erupted in green light, the sound like a thousand voices screaming all at once. The marble floor cracked under the pressure, and the tower windows rattled as emerald energy spilled out across the Metropolis skyline.
Lex's smile widened, thin and sharp. His weapon was coming.
London – The Abandoned Church
The ruined church creaked under its own decay. Mildew stained the walls, broken pews lay scattered, and moonlight shone through the collapsed roof.
At the center crouched John Constantine, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His circle was crude, almost lazy—chalk lines half-smudged, a drop of blood here, a boot scuff there. It looked like the work of a drunk. Yet the air around it buzzed with Grail power, undeniable and potent.
John squinted, dragging smoke deep into his lungs, then muttered with the casual irreverence that defined him.
"Blood on the cross, lies on the tongue.
Archer, come forth—a bastard after my own heart."
He took a swig from his flask, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as the circle ignited, bathing the rotten wood in crimson light.
"Bollocks!" he swore, shielding his eyes. "Forgot my damn sunglasses. Didn't think I'd need them at night."
The glow intensified, filling the church like a second sunrise.
Tokyo – Abandoned House
The old wooden beams groaned as the wind howled outside. Inside, incense burned faintly, the smoke curling upward around a blade laid carefully across a circle drawn on the floor.
Katana knelt in silence, her posture rigid, her hands pressed together. Before her lay the Soultaker, the sword that had claimed countless souls. Its presence pulsed like a heartbeat, merging with the Grail's energy.
Her eyes stayed closed, her breathing steady. Her voice was calm, firm, unwavering as she recited the incantation.
"O wandering soul, bound by steel and silence.
Walk once more as shadow."
The Soultaker vibrated, humming with resonance. The circle erupted in violet light, thick smoke rolling outward. Wind surged through the house, carrying with it faint, chilling screams—echoes of the dead trapped within the blade.
Katana didn't flinch. Her Servant was coming.
Gotham Forest
The night was quiet, but the forest wasn't right. The trees bent slightly inward, shadows twisting unnaturally around a small clearing.
At its center stood Ace, the little girl swaying slightly on her feet, her eyes fixed on the glowing circle before her.
Her small fist clenched. Her voice was soft, but it carried.
"Can my wish be truly granted? Is it possible for me to live normally?"
The Grail had fed her knowledge, whispering what words to say. She didn't understand everything, but she understood enough: she could wish. She could hope.
Her lips moved, reciting the chant that had been carved into her mind.
"Chains and thunder, hunger and guard,
Let a mountain rise, let a storm stand, wake and break the quiet."
The ground shook. The circle flared brighter than the stars above, enveloping her small frame in its glow.
Istanbul – A Broken Cottage
The wooden walls of the ruined cottage shuddered under the strain of energy it had never known. Inside, Connor stood stiffly before a glowing circle, blood still crusted on his wounds. He looked uncertain, almost broken.
His fists trembled as he looked down at the light. His voice cracked as he spoke.
"What do I even wish for? And are these things in my mind real?" His lips twisted, bitter. "What do I have left to lose?"
He clenched his jaw, forcing his words into something strong, something more than the doubt that weighed on him.
"By what I lacked and what I will be,
By sun and steel and standing free—
come to my side."
The circle glowed fiercely, golden warmth spreading through the cold, ruined room. Connor squinted as the light nearly blinded him.
"I hope," he muttered, voice raw, "whoever it is doesn't see me as unworthy."
Avalon
Far from the mortal world, Avalon shimmered with its eternal glow. In a chamber of marble and starlight, Cassie Elric stood practically bouncing with excitement.
The circle before her pulsed eagerly, feeding off her unrestrained energy. Sparks danced across her palms as she turned to Edward, her adoptive father, her eyes wide.
"Dad, it says I can only summon Rider. I wanted Saber!" she complained, her tone petulant but playful.
Edward's lips curved into a faint smile. His calm voice steadied her. "Be thankful that you got Rider. It's still a good class."
Cassie huffed, crossing her arms before quickly leaning down toward the circle again. "Fine. But Saber's cooler."
With exaggerated determination, she recited the chant.
"By the shout of the bold and the vow of the bright,
By the spear and the stand, by morning's light
Let glory find us."
Fire sparked across the rune lines. The air shifted, thick with the smell of blood and sunlight, the clash of morning and battle.
Across continents, the seven circles burned. Threads of black-gold light stretched between them, unseen by mortal eyes but binding each ritual to the others. For a heartbeat, the world itself held its breath.
Wind roared without warning. The stars dimmed further, shuddering as if recoiling.
And then—silence.
A single moment stretched, weightless and terrible. Then the circles collapsed inward. Reality snapped.
Light surged—blue in Gotham, golden in Metropolis, purple in London, violet in Tokyo, white in Gotham Forest, red in Istanbul, green in Avalon.
Soil lifted. Smoke twisted. The world tasted of steel, ash, and old legends.
And one by one, the Heroic Spirits came into being.
*****
Saber – Batcave
The cavern roared with blue fire, the circle Bruce had carved alight with precision. The shard at its center pulsed like a beating heart, splitting the darkness of the Batcave with light so sharp it drew shadows against the rocks.
The light twisted upward, forming shape — a figure in silver and blue armor, marked not by courtly splendor but by the weight of rule. He stood with the bearing of a king tempered by storms. His beautiful sword, sheathed at his hip, radiated the weight of both law and steel.
The man's eyes opened — eyes that had seen both victory and ruin. His voice was plain, yet unshakably firm:
"I am Arthur, King of Britain. You who summoned me, speak your name."
Bruce did not bow. His jaw was set, his cowl shadowing his eyes as he laid a hand over the relic that had made this possible.
"Batman," he said, steady as ever. "I am your Master for this Grail War. Together, we ensure the Grail doesn't fall into the wrong hands."
Arthur studied him. He saw the discipline, the scars beneath the mask, the darkness caged inside the man who stood before him. A faint smile crossed his lips — small, almost imperceptible, but real.
"You will not even give your true name," Arthur said softly. "And yet… your heart is resolute, even in shadow. Very well, the pact is sealed. Point me to the battle."
Caster – Metropolis, LexCorp Tower
The penthouse floor glowed emerald, the circle carved into marble humming with contained power. Above it, Lex's chosen relic hovered within a clamp of magnetic fields, resonating with the arcane in perfect synchronization.
The lights exploded golden. Windows shuddered as energy surged upward, devouring the relic in a storm of brilliance.
Out of that brilliance stepped a towering figure, his armor gilded with ornaments older than empires. He did not need to announce himself — his aura filled the room with authority that bent the air.
Finally, he spoke, each word a proclamation:
"I am caster Gilgamesh, King of Heroes. You are the mongrel who summoned me?"
Lex Luthor adjusted his cufflinks with deliberate calm, letting a thin smile trace across his face.
"Lex Luthor," he answered smoothly. "I called you to help change this broken world. You can look down on me if you want — but we must work together if our wish is to be realized."
Gilgamesh's laugh was low and cold, soaked in contemptuous amusement.
"You would change this world?" His gaze pinned Lex, sharp as a blade testing the strength of a pawn. "Very well. I shall bear witness to your endeavor… and judge if you are worthy."
Lex's smile sharpened. For him, that was enough.
Archer – London, Abandoned Church
The church reeked of dust, mildew, and stale whiskey. Chalk scrawled over rotting floorboards formed the circle, its crooked edges humming despite Constantine's half-hearted craft.
Smoke filled the room, ribbons of golden light unraveling like dawn through broken stained glass. When it cleared, a man stood — dark-skinned, Asian, garbed in simplicity. On his back rested a bow that seemed alive, humming with divine resonance.
His presence was calm, yet resolute, carrying the quiet of a man who had seen gods and carried vows heavier than mountains.
"I am Arjuna," he said, his tone level, unshaken. "Are you my Master?"
Constantine squinted, cigarette dangling from his lips. His laugh was tired, dry.
"John Constantine," he said. "Hope you've got patience, mate. You're gonna need it."
Arjuna studied him with eyes kind, but heavy with something deeper — sadness, perhaps.
"Patience and skill are not the same," Arjuna replied. "But we will learn one way or another."
John exhaled smoke and smirked faintly. "Yeah. Sounds like you'll be the steady one between us then."
Assassin – Tokyo
The circle burned violet smoke, the incense curling upward in ghostly trails. The Soultaker lay at Katana's side, the blade's whispers joining the wind as if spirits were gathering for judgment.
The smoke condensed, shaping into a woman both regal and terrifying. Horns curled from her head, her kimono glowed a deep crimson, and the air grew thick with the scent of wine and blood. She smiled as if savoring prey.
"Oh… a serious little swordswoman," she purred. "Assassin, Shuten-Dōji. You look delicious."
Katana's hand moved calmly to her blade. Her eyes did not flinch.
"Control yourself. We fight together, nothing more."
Shuten's laughter was musical, unnerving, like bells ringing at a funeral.
"Cold, cold… I like you. We will have such fun."
The shrine lanterns flickered, casting long shadows that seemed to dance with Shuten's words.
Lancer – Istanbul
The broken cottage glowed gold, sunlight erupting from the circle. From that brilliance stepped a warrior clad in armor like dawn itself, his spear blazing with divine fire. His presence was solemn, commanding, and holy.
"I am Karna, son of Surya." he declared, his words steady, each a prayer. "Lancer. Are you the one who summoned me?"
Connor blinked against the light, his hoodie half pulled up as if to shield him from the brilliance. His voice shook, but he steadied himself.
"Connor," he said. "I summoned you — if you'll have me as your master."
Karna bent, bowing with reverence that seemed to honor not just the boy, but the weight of his choice.
"Then together we stand in the right. I will fight for you."
Connor asked hesitantly. " I am just a clone, my creators didn't even see me as human. Are you still willing to follow me?"
Karna smiled kindly. " You are standing right in front of me, and you look every bit human as others. Why should I look down on you for circumstances beyond your control. You'll be under my protection from any who seek to harm you."
Connor's throat tightened. For the first time in years, he felt something close to belonging.
Berserker – Gotham Forest
The earth split, trees groaning as something colossal forced its way into being. The circle exploded in heat, and from it stepped a monster made man — scarred, hulking, his body a fortress of rage and strength. His voice thundered across the woods.
"I am Heracles! Berserker, friend. I answer summon"
Ace stared up at him, unafraid. Her fist clenched, her voice quiet but certain.
"You're big," she said. "Don't break my toys."
Heracles threw back his head and laughed — a sound like a landslide crashing.
"I will guard you! Smash what needs to be smashed!"
It was a promise, blunt and true, and Ace allowed herself a small smile. "Are you willing to be my friend?" She asked hopefully
Heracles grinned and put her on his shoulder. " Yes. I Friend."
Ace giggled for the first time like a girl her age should. " Hehe, you're my first friend. Although you talk weird. But I'm happy to finally have a friend."
Rider – Avalon
The summoning circle lit with blinding brilliance, sparks racing along the carved lines. Cassie stood at its center, her hands outstretched, her eyes shining with excitement.
The flames folded into a young man, radiant, reckless, grinning like a storm ready to be unleashed. His armor glowed faintly, and his stance screamed speed.
"I am Achilles," he announced, bold, fierce. "Rider class servant. Who's the one reckless enough to bind me?"
Cassie's grin matched his.
"Cassie. I want a good battle, fight some strong people, and win. You in?"
Achilles laughed, quick and eager. "Straightforward, hungry for battle — a woman after my own heart. I look forward to the battles we shall fight together."
Edward stood there in the corner, already linking to the Grail, bending the system itself. He wanted to be overseer of this war. He shook his head and thought wryly, 'Of course she summoned someone equally brash and reckless as her Servant.'
Achilles noticed him immediately, tilting his head. "Who is this strangely handsome fella who feels like a Servant? Is that your lover?"
Cassie gagged, nearly choking. "Eww! No! That's my dad! Can't you see the resemblance?"
Edward's smile was calm, but his tone cut cold.
"Nice to meet you, Achilles. Take care of my daughter. If any harm comes to her…" His voice dropped, steel-hard. "…I'll castrate you."
Achilles gulped , straightening. "…Yes, sir."
Then, as if nothing happened, his tone turned light. "Since my reckless daughter insists on joining, I'll have to watch over her myself. Can't have her sinking Australia into the sea."
Cassie groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Daaaaad! Don't ruin my good impression in front of my Servant!"
Edward chuckled, already turning away. "It's a dad's job to embarrass his little girl."
Cassie groaned under her breath, while Achilles tried and failed to suppress a nervous laugh.
Across the continents, the seven circles collapsed, their energies intertwining. Black-gold threads shimmered between them for a heartbeat, weaving an invisible web only the Grail could hear. Wind swept across the stars. For a long moment, the world held its breath.
And then, one by one, the Heroic Spirits stood ready.
The Holy Grail War of this century was about to begin.
*****
Not feeling too well. Might take a couple days off. Let's see.