Night fell like a blade, cleaving the city into shadow and the last bruised glows of mana. The air tasted of ozone and spent divinity; every ruined façade still hummed with the ghost of Noble Phantasms. Under that bruised sky, the remaining Masters and Servants prepared for what would be the final push — the thin, terrible hour before everything folded into one last conflagration.
In a half-collapsed warehouse that had become their makeshift shelter, Ace sat cross-legged on a slab of broken concrete, her eyes cast down. She looked weary but alert, a quiet storm behind her gaze. Connor paced the floor, fists clenched and unclenched, his restlessness almost vibrating through the room.
"We don't have the luxury of waiting," Connor finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, but every word carried the blunt edge of necessity. "Lex is the problem. If we cut him out, we stand a chance. If we let him win this war, it's over."
Ace shifted, hesitant. "Karna won't be there. I don't have Heracles anymore. You know what that means." There was no fear in her tone, only the sober weight of realism. "Gilgamesh alone is more than any enemy we've faced before. Lex will also be on guard now that he knows about us, and…" She trailed off, biting down on the thought.
Connor stopped pacing, turned to her, and shook his head. "We can't count on Karna. He's got his fight." He exhaled slowly, remembering lines of data burned into him from Cadmus files. "But there's someone else. Batman. His profile said he's a hero. The kind that doesn't stand by if there's a chance to stop someone evil. If we make a move, we might be able to get his help."
Ace's brow furrowed, skepticism clashing with the faintest spark of hope. "You think we can trust him?"
"I don't know," Connor admitted, shoulders tense. "But I remember what I read. He's not Lex. That's enough."
From the far side of the room, Karna stirred. He had been silent all this time, meditating with closed eyes, but now he rose, his presence filling the space with quiet authority. His expression was unreadable, but his words were heavy with the weight of ancient duty.
"You should wait," Karna said firmly, stepping closer. "I will face my brother Arjuna tonight. When that is finished, I will come. Then we strike together." His tone brooked no compromise.
Connor's jaw tightened. He respected Karna, admired him even, but this was not a moment for deference. "We can't wait. If we do, Lex will lock everything down. This is our only window." His voice sharpened, urgent. "We go now."
Ace stood, meeting Karna's gaze. For a moment, the weight of her own hesitation pressed down on her shoulders. But then she shook her head, siding with Connor. "He's right. We can't hold back. If we hesitate, we'll lose more than this war. It's about we fought to take our lives back."
Karna's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of disappointment beneath his stoicism. He understood resolve, but he also knew recklessness. Still, he would not stop them; he had his own oath to fulfill.
"Very well," he said at last, his voice like tempered steel. "But know this: without me, your path will be perilous. Do not underestimate him and his servant. They are strong."
Ace and Connor both nodded. They already knew. And yet, they turned away, the decision made.
***
Across the city, Batman had turned a gutted skyscraper into a command post. Screens glowed in the darkness, satellites feeding him endless streams of data. He had been watching Lex for hours, charting every convoy, every shift of armed personnel Lex was bringing to Australia. His contingencies sprawled across the floor in the form of gadgets, explosives, and tactical notes.
Arthur stood with him, Excalibur sheathed at his side. The knight's brow was furrowed, his thoughts caught between valor and doubt. Batman's voice cut through the silence, clipped and practical.
"Saber," he said, not looking up from the satellite feed, "can you take on Gilgamesh by yourself?"
Arthur hesitated. The question wasn't trivial. it was life and death, for himself and anyone near him. He thought of Gilgamesh's arrogance, his unmatched treasury of weapons, his overwhelming presence.
Slowly, Arthur exhaled. "It might be possible," he admitted, his voice low. "If I get a clear shot With my Noble Phantasm, perhaps. But it will not be certain."
Batman nodded once. That was enough.
On another feed, he saw Convoys of armored vehicles, soldiers armed with cutting-edge weapons, drones swarming overhead. They were close to Valhalla City. Lex was preparing a total war, not a duel. Batman's jaw tightened. He tapped into a secure channel.
"Batman calling Justice League. I need backup," he said curtly. His satellites had already shown what was coming.
The reply was immediate but grim. "We're tied up," came Diana's voice, worn but resolute. She relayed what had happened: an alien named Lobo had crashed onto Earth, throwing the League into chaos. Superman and Faora had fought him and bled for it. Diana herself had subdued the mercenary only when he was too wounded to stand. The League was stretched thin.
Still, Shazam and Green Lantern were available. They were on their way, but they would not arrive before the night deepened. Batman filed the timing away without comment. He would act with whatever pieces were left on the board.
To others, he was just a mere mortal. But as Joker once said, "There is nothing mere about this mortal."
***
Far from the turmoil of strategy, in a high-walled chamber guarded by private soldiers, Lex Luthor stood over a table strewn with blueprints. His expression was cold, methodical. He was already planning how to secure and transport the Grail once it manifested.
"We'll move it out within the hour of manifestation," Lex told his inner circle. "The Grail is no different than any other prize. With our agents, our firepower, we will control the battlefield and eliminate the competition. This war is already won."
His assistant Mercy Graves hesitated, "Lex, are you certain that those magis won't interfere once they sense what's going on?"
Lex smirked. "That's why we take out Ruler before that."
Gilgamesh sat nearby, wine glass in hand, lounging on a gilded seat as if the destruction of the city were nothing more than theater. His golden eyes burned with disdain as he watched Lex speak.
The King of Heroes had little patience for mortals barking orders. When he remembered the indignity of being forced to act by Lex's command seal, his grip on the glass almost shattered it.
"Do as you will, mongrel," Gilgamesh said at last, his tone bored, but laced with contempt. "Scurry about with your machines. They are meaningless in the face of true kingship."
Lex glanced at him, cool and composed. He had already apologized for the command seal, explaining it with the calm precision of a businessman: he could not risk losing the war because of divine arrogance.
Gilgamesh scoffed but said nothing more, sipping his wine with studied disinterest. He had seen how it ends withSha Naqba Imuru. But he wasn't going to tell Lex.
"It's almost time." He muttered softly.
***
John Constantine leaned against the wall of a ruined chapel, a bottle of Scotch in his hand. For once, he had thought his war was over. Arjuna was going to face his brother Karna, a fight that required no master. Andthere's a good chance gthey both will perish.
By all rights, Constantine should have been free — able to walk away, to forget, to drink until his memory blurred.
But his conscience would not let him. He cursed under his breath, cursing his damned morality, cursing the nagging pull in his chest that told him walking away would be wrong. With a groan, he straightened up, flicked the bottle aside, and muttered to himself.
"Bloody hell. Always the hard way."
He set off to find Ace and Connor. If nothing else, he'd throw in his lot with the kids. Better that than living with the guilt of knowing he left them to Lex.
***
High above the ruins, perched on the edge of a tower where the wind cut sharp and cold, Edward sat in calm silence. Beside him, Cassie leaned back, legs swinging idly over the abyss. From here, the whole city spread below them: smoke, broken lights, shifting shadows.
Edward's gaze sharpened suddenly, his senses stretching outward. He felt them — the mercenaries Lex had sent, a tide of steel and weapons marching through the dark. He glanced at Cassie and spoke in a voice that rumbled with quiet amusement.
"There's your next fight dear. Go and beat the shit out of them. Since you're not a Master anymore, this will be fine."
Cassie grinned, the fire in her eyes flaring. She kissed his cheek happily. "That's why I love you, Dad. You always find a way to make it fun." She pushed herself off the ledge, dropping into the night with eager anticipation.
Edward chuckled softly, watching her vanish into the fray below. Then, almost to himself, he whispered, "Time to end this."
The stage was set. The third night of the Holy Grail War had begun.
******
The night settled over the ruined city like a suffocating blanket, the tension so thick it weighed on the chest. At the city's broken center, under the fractured glow of shattered lamps and burning cars, the stage for the final act was set. Batman stood with quiet resolve, his cape swaying as the dust-laden wind cut through the empty streets.
Across from him, Lex Luthor adjusted his immaculate suit, every motion deliberate, every glance calculating. Behind him lounged Gilgamesh, golden armor gleaming like it was forged to mock the darkness itself.
Arthur stood firm at Batman's side, his blade steady, though a tremor of hesitation lingered in his grip.
Not far off, within the shadow of the forest, Constantine walked with a cigarette dangling between his lips, the faint orange glow painting his features. Beside him strode Arjuna, cold and determined, eyes set on the horizon. Ahead, they spotted Connor and Ace, weary yet unyielding, faces marked by the weight of survival.
Connor lifted his chin. "Didn't expect you to show up here.."
The mage sighed, exhaling smoke into the night before flicking the cigarette away. "Yeah, well, blame my bloody conscience. Could've sat this one out, but the thought of leaving you two to fry didn't sit well. Don't thank me though — I already hate myself for it."
Ace arched a brow, guarded as always. "And why should we trust you? You've been playing your own game since the start."
Constantine gave a bitter grin. "Because, love, I know where this is going. Lex'll be squaring off with Batman, and if he's got Gilgamesh on a leash, things'll get ugly fast. I say we give the Bats a hand. Four Servants left, stakes are higher than they've ever been."
Connor glanced at Ace, the determination hardening his gaze. After a moment, she nodded. "Fine. But one wrong move and—"
"I'll be the first to stab myself, don't worry lass," Constantine muttered.
Behind them, Karna and Arjuna locked eyes, the unspoken promise of brotherhood and rivalry hanging between them. No words were exchanged; none were needed. Both understood this was where their paths split.
With a mutual nod, they turned away from the others, ready to settle their score elsewhere — in a place where they could unleash their full power without restraint.
And then… the night air shifted.
A shadow fell across the group, blotting out the moonlight. The air stilled. The faint hum of magic prickled along their skin. When they looked up, disbelief painted every face.
Edward, dressed in his red coat, descended from the heavens as if the world itself was his stage. He held an umbrella, spinning it lightly as though mocking the seriousness of the battlefield. His boots barely touched the ground, and already his grin was wide, sharp, and utterly deranged.
Constantine froze mid-step, the half-burned cigarette dropping from his lips. His eyes went wide, and for once his tongue couldn't find the words—until it did, with venom and disbelief.
"What in the Mary Poppins bullshit is this?!" he shouted, pointing an accusatory finger upward.
Connor snorted despite himself, unable to help the chuckle that escaped him.
Ace, on the other hand, folded her arms, her tone flat but laced with confusion. "That's the Ruler of this War. And apparently, from what Gilgamesh said… a bloodsucker or something."
Edward's eyes widened in mock offense. He clutched his chest dramatically, the umbrella twirling behind him as if it were part of some grand performance.
"Hey now," he declared, voice rising, theatrical and booming. "I'm a fuck-mothering vampire! I killed a lot of people to earn that title!"
Connor's face paled, all humor gone in an instant. "Why… why is a vampire the judge of this war?"
Constantine groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose as though the world itself had betrayed him. "Because that's how these bloody things work. Holy Grail Wars always summon a Ruler — someone who was a great leader in their life, someone without a wish to chase. Their job's to keep the rest of you lot in line."
He squinted at Edward, suspicion sharp in his tone. "So tell me, Mr. Red… what's your true name?"
Edward dropped the act of indifference for a moment. He gave an elegant bow, almost gentlemanly, his sharp grin never faltering.
"My name is Alucard," he said smoothly. "But you… you guys can call me Daddy."
Connor blinked, completely lost. Ace tilted her head, unimpressed. "Who?"
But Constantine froze, color draining from his face. His hand darted instinctively into his coat, pulling free a small silver cross. He thrust it forward with trembling fingers.
"Bloody fuckin' hell," he shouted. "Why's bloody fuckin' Dracula part of a Grail War?!"
Edward's grin stretched wider, hunger and mischief burning in his eyes. Oh, this was perfect. This was everything he wanted. To see Constantine unravel, to watch the others flounder in confusion, to milk this moment for all its worth.
He inhaled deeply, his chest rising like a curtain before the performance, then spoke in a thick, exaggerated German accent that sent shivers down spines.
"Why am I here, you ask? Maybe because you think I like war?"
His gaze locked on Constantine, who visibly flinched.
"I wouldn't deny that," the mage muttered, inching back. "Your obsession with sticking a pole up people's arses is pretty pro-war sentiment."
Edward paused, letting the silence build like a tightening noose. Then, slowly, a twisted laugh escaped him. It built higher, louder, until it echoed across the ruined city, carrying into the distance.
Ace unconsciously stepped behind Connor, who himself trembled, his fists clenched tight.
Edward snapped his grin back into place. "Some of you believe that I like war. I wish to dash these rumors. I do not like war."
Connor blinked, hope flickering in his voice. "Umm… you don't? Maybe you can help—"
"Wrong!" Edward barked, cutting him off with manic glee. "I… LOVE war!"
Constantine cursed under his breath, retreating a step. Ace pinched the bridge of her nose as if regretting every choice that had led her here. Connor nearly fell back from the sudden declaration, wide-eyed and pale.
But Edward wasn't finished. He raised his arms as though conducting a symphony, his voice booming across the city, reaching every corner where the coming battle brewed.
"Through my life, I have discovered so many forms of war! You wake up in the morning, get into your shitty car, and see some rich CEO who works half as hard as you drive past in his Porsche. That, my friends… is class war!"
His tone dropped low, conspiratorial. "Then you make it to work. Surprise! Annual drug test. And wouldn't you know it? You had a puff or two the other night before dinner with your wife's dreadful parents. Drug war!"
Connor looked dumbfounded as he looked at Edward. Ace covered her face, thinking this guy is probably a nutjob. Constantine shook his head, "He ain't wrong."
He swung the umbrella like a blade, voice rising again. "But then you find out that The only ones called in for testing? Your black and Hispanic coworkers! Race war!"
The umbrella snapped open with a flourish, spinning in his hand. "And when you take to Facebook to rant about it, suddenly everyone's arguing about who's right and who's wrong! Flame war!"
Edward's grin widened as he leaned forward, eyes glowing. "And finally, you get home. You sit on the couch. You turn on the telly. And what do you see? 'What's in the box? Who gets the box? How much is the box worth?' Storage Wars!"
Constantine quipped. "I hate that bloody show too mate."
Edward barked a laugh, sharp and unhinged. "What I am telling you, sugar cheeks, is that I am a purveyor of war. But I want a simple war! No class wars! No drug wars! No race wars! No flame wars! And certainly—no Cold Wars!"
His umbrella clattered against the concrete as he spread his arms wide, bellowing to the heavens.
"What I want is a war that only we can bring! A true war! A German war! The sequel you've all been waiting for! I… WANT… WORLD! WAR! THREE!!!"
The city fell into stunned silence.
Connor collapsed onto the ground, shaking his head. "What the hell is happening…"
Constantine pinched his nose, muttering something foul as he backed away, questioning every life decision that had led him here. "You aren't even German mate..." He sighed pinching his nose.
Ace, unimpressed, gave Edward the kind of glare reserved for the world's biggest idiot. "I knew it. That guy is a lunatic."
And elsewhere — the speech caused some more interesting reactions.
At the city's center, Lex Luthor nearly lost his footing, his normally controlled expression breaking into one of genuine horror. "What a bloody lunatic! He makes Joker look like Santa Claus! Wait… did he say World War 3? I thought there was only one World War…"
Batman said nothing. His jaw tightened as he listened, and though he did not speak, the ridiculous performance triggered a flicker of memory — a certain green-haired clown and his endless monologues. His nemesis in chaos, in a way.
Arthur chuckled, shaking his head. "He sure is a colorful character."
Even Lex's mercenary army, hardened killers armed to the teeth, halted in their march. For a moment, all they could think was the same thing: What a lunatic.
And above it all, moving unseen toward the city, Cassie sighed when the speech carried to her ears.
"Dad sure is having fun," she muttered, a wry smile tugging at her lips.
The final night of Holy Grail War started of rather, Bizarre....