"Hahaha! What say you to my proposal?"
Under the night sky, Iskandar's booming voice echoed, met with dead silence.
"…"
"Hm? Why so quiet?"
Puzzled by the silent battlefield, Iskandar stroked his chin.
"Was I too hasty? Fine, I'll repeat. Ahem…"
He pondered.
"I am Rider, Conqueror Iskandar. Any heroes wish to join my cause?"
The eccentric Servant cleared his throat, boldly restating his true name.
"…"
The three present shared odd looks, reactions varying but unified in disbelief.
"Rider! You interrupted our battle for this nonsense? As a knight, I won't tolerate it!"
Snapping back, Artoria blinked, scolding Rider sharply.
"I agree with Saber. Interrupting heroes' battles for such triviality is discourteous, Rider."
Fionn nodded coolly. "The Grail War is for the Holy Grail, which only one can claim—my lord's prize. I won't yield."
"…"
Scáthach's mood soured further.
Having her fight interrupted by a brash fool would irk any warrior, let alone the Queen of Warriors.
She raised her hand, flipping her crimson spears toward Iskandar on his chariot, her icy killing intent spilling forth.
"Since you disrupted our fight, are you ready to pay, Rider?"
Scáthach's voice was cold.
"Ugh…"
Sensing three hostile gazes, even Iskandar's face stiffened. He scratched his head…
"Well… terms are negotiable."
"No need!"
Artoria, provoked, rejected the absurd topic.
"Conqueror Iskandar, you're a renowned king, true. But I'm also a king, guardian of Britain. No king will make me yield."
She flipped her sword, answering coldly.
With their identities exposed in battle, revealing her name posed no issue.
"Hoh… Britain's King of Knights?"
Iskandar's eyes flashed with surprise at her response.
"King Arthur… I didn't expect the famed King of Knights to be such a young lady."
His offhand remark enraged Artoria.
She aimed her holy sword, voice icy, "Young lady? Care to test this 'young lady's' blade, Conqueror?!"
"Iskandar… it's really you."
Fionn, hearing the name, nodded inwardly, his gaze shifting to the small black figure on the chariot.
The magus Waver Velvet and Conqueror Iskandar—Kayneth had mentioned them.
But this famed Conqueror was far from what Fionn imagined.
"No need, Conqueror. I'm no king, but as leader of the Fianna Knights and a hero seeking past glory…"
"Summoned by my lord, I'll ensure his survival and victory. I won't serve another or betray him for personal desires!"
Fionn's words were sharp, waving his double-headed spear, firmly rejecting Iskandar.
"Hmph, Conqueror? A mortal king. I rule the Land of Shadows, the realm beyond. Even the lord of the underworld can't make me kneel. You, a mighty mortal warrior, will rest in my domain after death—just one among many."
Scáthach gave Iskandar no face.
Her first battle in ages, interrupted, left her furious.
She yearned to test Fionn's god-slaying prowess and Artoria's holy sword.
"Renowned god-slayer Fionn and the Queen of the Land of Shadows? Hah, no wonder Arthur was cornered."
Hearing their names, Iskandar was pleased, setting expectations for the trio.
All mythic heroes, two famed god-slayers besides Arthur. Fionn's legendary might and the Queen of the Land of Shadows were top-tier Heroic Spirits.
Not one was mediocre…
Confident as he was, Iskandar admitted he couldn't guarantee victory against any.
So many heroes in this world…
He mused.
Waver, dizzy from the aerial ride, snapped awake under the chilling killing intent of three top Servants.
Three Celtic myth titans, plus Iskandar, a world-shaking conqueror—this was no place for a small fry like him.
Each could kill him with a flick.
Swallowing hard, Waver cursed his past self.
Waver, what were you thinking, joining this absurd ritual? Can a nobody like me meddle in this mythic war?
But the battlefield's heroes, save Iskandar, ignored the small fry's thoughts.
"No worries, Master. With me here, you're safe."
Noticing Waver's distress, Iskandar patted his head with a broad hand, offering a warm smile.
Rider…
Feeling the warmth, Waver's anxiety eased, his dislike for the red-haired Rider fading. He scooted closer.
"Now…"
Comforting his Master, Iskandar's tone shifted, scanning the area. Raising his arm, he amplified his voice with mana.
"Heroes gathered tonight, champions of different eras, you've all revealed yourselves! If any cowards lurk in the dark, too timid to show, they'll face the scorn of Iskandar, the Conqueror!!"
His resonant voice echoed through Fuyuki's port, spreading far without fading.
"Oh? Trying to summon everyone?"
Scáthach smirked at Iskandar's actions.
"Rider, you mean…"
Artoria paused, realizing from his words that others might be hiding nearby.
"Hahaha, obvious, isn't it, Saber?"
"Your clash with Lancer was spectacular—such skill and mana would draw any onlooker. So, I and this… Lancer?"
Iskandar glanced at Scáthach, puzzled by two Lancers, though she didn't respond.
"Any true hero, feeling such power, couldn't stay calm! They'd come to watch. If they're worthy, they'll show themselves!!"
Nodding to Artoria, he shouted louder, his voice filling the port.
At the Tohsaka manor, a suited man's heart sank, his face paling.
"This is bad…"
Tokiomi Tohsaka panicked, his expression grim.
"Indeed."
Kirei Kotomine nodded beside him.
They hadn't expected a hero like Iskandar, boldly revealing his name and gathering all Servants.
If their Servant was just a dishonorable Assassin, it'd be fine. But it wasn't.
Tokiomi knew his ancestor's temperament and the allure of this call, sensing trouble.
As predicted, his bad feeling came true…
"Hmph!"
A low, cold snort, then golden light emerged. A figure in golden armor appeared atop a lamppost.
Crack!!
As if venting displeasure, the golden hero stomped, shattering the lamppost's bulb.
A golden hero with a grudge against lampposts appeared!!
"Three mongrels daring to call themselves kings in one night…"
He glared down at the four (Waver didn't count), speaking with utter disdain, dismissing these historic and mythic heroes.
This was the golden Archer who crushed Assassin at the Tohsaka manor?
Seeing him, the informed group focused on this terrifying foe, marveling inwardly.
Truly formidable!!
A rival matching, perhaps surpassing, the four present…
In one glance, they gauged his strength.
"Say what you will…"
Unfazed by the golden hero's scorn, Iskandar stroked his beard thoughtfully, saying, "I am Iskandar, the Conqueror. The others are famed mythic heroes who've named themselves. As a king, will you share yours?"
"Hm?"
A simple probe, but to the golden hero, Iskandar's words were offensive, his brows knitting.
As if insulted, he smashed the lamppost to bits.
Crack crack crack!!
Explosions followed his furious voice.
"Blessed to behold my radiance yet ignorant of my name—this arrogance and blindness deserve death!!"
His enraged cry fell, his hand waving. Golden ripples spread, light portals opening, countless golden Noble Phantasms emerging, aimed at Iskandar.
"These are all Noble Phantasms?!"
The illogical sight shocked the heroes.
Unlike the stunned Artoria and clueless Iskandar, Scáthach and Fionn's eyes lit up, recognizing something.
Fionn bit his finger, pondering a possible answer.
"Starting a fight now? What an unreasonable guy…"
Facing countless Noble Phantasms, Iskandar gripped his chariot's reins, eyes sharpening, ready to clash.
"Ah… Rider, are those really Noble Phantasms?"
Unlike Iskandar, still distracted, Waver, huddled in the Gordius Wheel, was petrified.
In his short life, he never dreamed of seeing so many mythic treasures—locked onto him!!
Unlike Iskandar, as an honors student, Waver recognized some Noble Phantasms' names and effects, heightening his panic. He clung to Rider, trembling.
Fionn frowned, tightening his grip on his spear.
He didn't care for Rider's safety, but Waver was his lord's student.
Though Kayneth cursed his traitorous disciples, Fionn sensed no killing intent—just reprimand.
This softened his view of his lord.
Talented, proud, with minor flaws but no great faults, Kayneth was exemplary among magi.
Meeting him, Fionn saw echoes of himself…
He knew if Kayneth were here, he'd never let his student die. Rider could fall, but Waver's life he'd protect!!
If the golden hero was that one, Fionn's Lancer form wasn't ideal, but his past deeds gave him an edge. With the ocean's support, he might win.
Fionn readied for battle.
Scáthach, seeing this, smiled, targeting Artoria, her focus since daytime.
In a melee, she'd choose a worthy foe—Saber was perfect.
"Yes, my Master."
Iskandar confirmed Waver's question.
Those were Noble Phantasms, high-grade ones.
"Then… what do we do?!"
Facing overwhelming mana and Noble Phantasms, Waver clung to Iskandar's arm, lost.
"Hey, they're just Noble Phantasms. Don't embarrass me, Master."
Iskandar shook his head at Waver's panic.
"Now, no one else should appea—"
Before he finished—
"Arrrrr—rrrrr!!!"
A piercing, maddened roar echoed.
A black Heroic Spirit dove from the sky, a berserk aura erupting!!
***
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