"This is bad…" muttered a tall, muscular man with crimson hair and beard, who stood atop the arch of Fuyuki Bridge.
"Extremely bad," he said, furrowing his brows and crossing his arms.
"Wh-what is?" came a voice from his side, from the trembling boy who clung to the bridge's arch in an attempt to secure himself.
"Lancer has begun his ultimate attack. He intends to end the battle here," said the tall man in a grave tone.
The young man clinging to the arch tilted his head to look up at his Servant in confusion upon hearing his words. "Isn't that better for us?" he said, confused.
Upon hearing his master's disappointing question, Rider stamped his heel on the steel frame of the arch, causing it to give a loud bang and shake the bridge.
"Fool!" Rider bellowed, causing his master to give a very masculine shriek.
"What are you talking about?" the Servant said in reproach.
"I wanted to sit back and watch until we saw a few more Masters. But at this rate, Saber may fall," he said with mild disappointment.
"Then it will be too late," he said while looking off in the distance.
Hearing his Servant's words, Waver pushed himself up from the arch and looked up at his Servant.
"T-too late for what? The plan was to attack once they'd weakened each other!" he whined with annoyance.
Hearing his master's grievances, Rider removed his gaze from the battle at the warehouse district and turned to look down at his trembling master.
"I admit, I had hoped another Servant would answer Lancer's challenge," his voice was laced with a twinge of disappointment.
"Of course… it would be faster to fight them together than to find them one by one," he explained with a shrug before looking back at the battle between Lancer and Saber.
Waver's eyes widened at Rider's words. "Together?"
Uncrossing his arms, he placed them on his hips while flashing a confident smile. "Yes."
"Rarely does one have the chance to exchange blows with heroes from another time… I'd hate to miss out on a single one," he said with clear excitement.
Raising an arm out, he gestured toward the battlefield. "Observe Saber and Lancer! Both valiant warriors whom I would dearly love to duel," he said before clenching his hand and turning to look at his master.
"I cannot let either die," he said with conviction, while a wide smile found its way onto his face.
"But isn't that the point?!" Waver screeched back, flailing his hands.
"The Grail War's objective is to kill one another!"
Hearing his Master's words, Rider crouched down to Waver's level and flicked him on the forehead, causing the boy to be kicked backward.
Smiling to himself, Rider stood up and gazed into the distance. "To win, but not destroy. To subjugate, but not humiliate. That is true conquest!" he proclaimed before reaching for his sword and slowly drawing it out of its sheath.
Smiling broadly, he swung it in a wide arc, causing a blue slash to slice the sky.
Slowly, the blue cut widened, emitting a golden glow, splitting the clouds, and summoning blue thunder from its depths.
The wind started picking up, electricity crackled through the air, and the surrounding temperature began to rise.
Slowly, the sound of hooves clacking, wheels turning, and bulls roaring came from the heavens, as a chariot, dragged by two bulls, came flying out from the portal.
Thunder cracked as it flew in their direction.
Sheathing his blade, Rider stood proud as he watched his trusted chariot return to him.
"We watch no longer! We shall join the fray, boy!" he bellowed.
His Master, on the other hand, was clutching onto the bridge's arch with extreme fervor, as the summoning of the chariot had caused great winds that had almost blown him off the bridge.
"You idiot! What you're doing is insane!" Waver bit back while looking at his Servant with worry.
Turning his head, Rider looked down at his Master with a confident smile. "If you do not approve, will you stay here and observe?" he said in a challenging tone.
Waver seemed to wither under his Servant's expectant gaze, his eyes darting back and forth between the Servant and his chariot before giving a sigh of exhaustion.
"I'll go… take me with you, damn it!"
Smiling, Rider walked over to the prone Waver, grabbed him by his collar, and pulled him up.
Waver let out a startled yelp, flailing in protest as Rider hoisted him into the chariot.
Jumping onto it himself, Rider grabbed the reins of the bulls and gave them a tug, which was followed by the bulls giving a roar of anticipation.
"Boy, you are about to meet heroes who are too good to be left for dead on the battlefield, and who could do good under my banner." Rider's voice sounded clear through the air, as his steeds gave their war cry.
Slowly, the chariot started to move, gathering static and thunder, as it moved.
"What is a king if he cannot sway the enemy to his side?" Rider said with audible eagerness.
Whipping the reins, they gave an audible crack as the bulls roared and picked up speed, causing the surroundings to blur.
Thunder cracked, and Rider leaned forward with a king's smile on his face.
"What is Iskandar if he does not conquer?!"
~~Fate/False Order~~
"Prepare yourself, Saber!" Lancer said as he positioned himself to strike.
"Next time, you are mine," he said while flashing a smile.
Saber stood a mere thirty feet away and straightened her sword. "Only if I fail to strike first, Lancer!"
The two's bodies tensed, ready to lunge for one another at the slightest movement, and retaliate with their own strike.
Lightning crackled, and a blue bolt of thunder boomed as it struck the area in between the two servants.
Both Saber and Lancer reeled back in surprise at the sudden storm, breaking their concentration.
Soon the sounds of hooves and laughter could be heard.
"Hahahaaa!" bellowed a voice that echoed through the sky.
Three heads snapped in the direction of the sound, and the two Servants and homunculus were met with a tall red-haired man who rode a chariot drawn by flying bulls.
"A chariot?" Irisviel gasped before taking a few steps backward, trying to make distance between herself and the thunder it emitted.
In a clap of thunder, the bull-drawn chariot found itself between the two servants, with Rider standing in his carriage, bearing a large smile on his face.
There was a momentary silence, as the three gazed at Rider in shock, who stood there, with his mantle draped over him.
After a few seconds, Rider stretched his arms outwards, inadvertently pushing his mantle off himself, revealing his bulky physique.
Raising his head and facing the sky, he spoke. "Both of you, sheathe your blades! For you are in the presence of the king!" he proclaimed confidently.
Slowly he glanced at both sides, seeing both Lancer and Saber's surprised looks.
"I am Iskandar, King of Conquerors!" At his words, all three of those formerly present had their jaws drop.
"In this Grail War, I am of the Rider class," he said confidently, with a wide grin.
Waver's head slowly turned, like an unoiled machine, and looked at his servant in horror.
"Wh-what were you thinking, you idiot! Why can't you just follow the plan for once?" Waver screeched while grabbing onto Rider's crimson mantle.
A swift forehead flick ensued, and Waver was left clutching at his forehead from the pain his Servant had inflicted on him.
"A king does not follow plans, boy. He makes them!" he chastised his master, with a shake of his head.
Rider looked away from his disappointing master and glanced at the two Servants once more.
"Fate has brought us together to do battle for the Grail. But first, I wish to make a proposition," Rider said while glancing between Saber and Lancer.
"What think you of yielding the Grail to me, and joining my army?" he yelled while throwing his fists to the side in a show of excitement.
"You would be treated as honored allies," he continued, before slamming his fists together and flashing a smile.
"And together, we shall share in the joy of world conquest!" he yelled with excitement.
Rider smiled, as his eyes darted from Lancer to Saber and back, waiting for an answer.
Unfortunately, the other two Servants didn't seem to share his enthusiasm, as Lancer shook his head in denial.
"I am afraid I must decline. I may only give the Grail to one man: my new avowed lord," Lancer explained calmly before his gaze sharpened.
"Not to you, Rider!" he said in a sharp tone.
Saber closed her eyes and lowered her head in disapproval.
"Did you interfere with our battle merely to proffer that ridiculous plan?" Her eyes cracked open, and her sharp gaze was fixed onto Rider. "If so, it is a grave insult!"
At the less-than-ideal reactions he was garnering, Rider raised a hand to his head and gave his hair a good scratch.
Widening his eyes, he seemed to have had a eureka moment, which made him lower his arm and make a money gesture.
"I'd be willing to discuss compensation." The words had barely left his mouth before the two servants yelled in unison.
"Shut up!" Lancer and Saber yelled, while fixing a disapproving gaze at the tall man.
Rider gave a disappointed look and glanced down at his hand, his face making it seem like he couldn't comprehend how the allure of money hadn't solved his problem.
"And further," Rider moved his head in Saber's direction after she spoke.
"...I am the rightful King of Britain," Saber said with pride while fixing Rider with a disgruntled look.
"I could never lower myself to a mere retainer, even in service to a mighty king," she said while tightening her grip on her invisible blade.
Rider seemed to perk up at the knowledge that he stood among a fellow king.
"King of Britain, you say! What a surprise!" he said with genuine joy.
"I'd hardly have expected the King of Britain to be a little girl," his tone was impressed, not at all condescending, but Saber's face strained at the comment.
"Then would you like to taste this little girl's blade?" she raised the invisible sword up, pointing it straight at Rider. "King of Conquerors?!"
Seeing this, Rider sighed in disappointment and raised a hand to his head.
"I suppose negotiations have failed. Such a waste. What a shame," he grumbled, with pity lacing his tone.
"Rider!" Waver seemed to have finally snapped as he yelled at his servant and grabbed at his mantle.
Rider only looked down at his master with some resignation as he used a finger to scratch the side of his head.
"What's wrong with you?" he snapped at Rider while looking up at him with annoyance.
"So you were the one, eh?" echoed a distorted voice through the warehouse district.
The voice sounded like it came from everywhere, causing everyone to stand on guard.
But Waver's reaction was different, as he seemed to stiffen up in fright at the voice and looked around frantically.
"I'd wondered what madness had compelled you to steal my relic. Though I never imagined that you yourself planned to enter the Holy Grail War…" said the distorted voice of Kayneth with ridicule lacing his tone.
"Waver Velvet," he said in a disdainful tone, causing the aforementioned individual to widen his eyes in horror and clutch his Servant's mantle with even greater strength.
"How would you like me to offer you a private lesson? On how mages properly kill each other, I'll teach you all about the fear and pain involved."
Waver started to visibly tremble at his former professor's words before he suddenly crouched down and clutched his head, seeking the safety the cover from Rider's chariot provided him.
"You should feel honored," Kayneth continued to taunt.
Waver was a shivering mess, as he knew how terrifying his professor was.
Kayneth was the youngest to ever earn the rank of Brand, which was the second-highest rank someone could earn in the Clock Tower.
Waver knew that even if he survived the war, odds were that he'd be hunted by the El-Mellois, as Kayneth had learned of his theft, and he'd certainly inform his family about what he had found out.
A firm hand on his back caused Waver to snap out of his downward spiraling thoughts, causing him to look up at his servant, who wore a gentle smile while looking down at him.
A slight smirk made its way onto his face before he looked away from Waver and looked up at the surroundings.
"Mage!" he bellowed, with his face showing a scowl.
"So you were to be my Master, rather than this boy. How absurd…" Rider shook his head before continuing.
"Only one brave enough to ride the battlefield at my side could ever be my master. And a coward who lacks sufficient courage to show himself is nowhere close to being worthy!" Rider's proclamation was followed by the sound of his powerful laughter.
After his proclamation, Rider turned his head and looked around. "And the others as well! Out there sc—"
Rider cut himself off, his eyes widening with shock, and swiftly pushed his master to the floor.
At the same time, Saber moved in front of Irisviel, while Lancer lunged up onto the metal containers.
In a flash, four green beams of light were shot from the sky, one shot through the spot where Waver's head would have been if Rider hadn't shoved him away.
Lancer swung his lance at the beam, causing it to dissipate into motes of mana, while Saber could only block her own beam with her blade.
While the last green beam of light struck a place with containers stacked atop one another.
A female voice seemed to whisper into everyone's ears. "So much for a surprise attack…"
All three Servants' heads snapped in the direction of where the voice and attacks had originated.
In the moonlit sky, there was a woman flying in the sky, with her purple cloak spread wide, like wings. She was surrounded by four green magical circles that quickly fizzled out of existence.
The three Servants frowned while looking up at what most certainly was Caster.
"That was most rude of you, Caster," Rider said in a chastising tone while fixing his gaze on the servant who had just tried to assassinate his Master under his nose.
"Oh Rider, no need for you to sound so annoyed at a mere love tap," Caster cackled from her vantage point, before moving a hand to tap her chin.
"But I find it odd for you, who has killed your adversaries' leaders to cause disarray among an opposing army to gain a swift victory, to critique my own tactics, which mirror your very own," she said with amusement, before shaking her head.
"But such hypocrisy and self-righteousness is common among Zeus's bastards, no?" Caster said coyly, while giving a light shrug.
The comment made the brow on Rider's face twitch before he raised a hand to rub at the back of his neck.
"I'll assume you do not wish to serve under me and join me in glorious conquest, but I am still inviting you to join me under my banner, Caster," Rider offered halfheartedly, earning a snort from the witch.
"As amusing as it would be to watch another demigod prance around, I have better things to do," she said dismissively, before conjuring another two magic circles.
Within the blink of an eye, the Servants tensed their posture, ready for any incoming strike.
Suddenly, the magic circles tilted to the side and shot another volley of lasers.
But none of them were aimed at the Servants or their Masters.
The first shot was aimed at the same spot the fourth beam had struck earlier.
One of them shot into the distance and hit a nearby crane, which proceeded to creak and implode in on itself.
The three Servants looked on in confusion before they felt the distinct feeling of a Servant dying, causing them to renew their opinion of Caster's danger level.
"Interesting… An assassin who can be killed multiple times, yet not truly die," Caster mused aloud, before shaking her head. "What an enviable ability."
Caster's words caused all present to widen their eyes.
Assassin had been observed to have been killed at the beginning of the war, but if Caster's words held any semblance of truth, then it would seem that he was still somehow in the running.
And the fact that she was capable of detecting him, as well as dispatching Assassin with such ease, caused the people gathered to feel increasingly uneasy around their mysterious Caster.
"And don't think you managed to hide from me, boyo," Caster said while gazing at the pile of containers she had attacked twice.
The other Servants glanced in the direction, prompted by Caster's words.
Slowly, the air around the spot she had attacked started to shimmer, revealing a figure wearing a white suit with blue highlights, sitting on a chair while holding a handle of a shattered teacup.
His yellow hair and green eyes bore a striking resemblance to Saber, something everyone seemed to notice.
Saber's eyes widened when she saw the figure, her mouth slightly agape.
The man raised his empty hand in greeting, while looking down at the surprised Servants.
"Please, don't mind me, I'm just enjoying the view," he said aloud, in a casual tone, while flashing them all a smile.
Upon recognizing him, Waver and Saber's eyes bulged out in surprise.
Saber started to mouth like a fish out of water, seemingly trying to voice her thoughts, but coming up blank.
Irisviel gently grabbed Saber's shoulder and gave her friend a gentle shake.
"Saber," she said gently, causing Artoria to snap her jaw shut and refocus on what was currently happening.
Waver was no better, and he crouched down to hide behind the chariot's sides like before.
After all, this situation had gone from bad to outright terrible.
Alistair may not have any rank in the Clock Tower, as he isn't an actual member, but it's widely agreed that he's at least in the top one percent of Enforcers in terms of fighting ability.
Meaning that he was the very last thing Waver wanted to see here in Fuyuki, as he was certainly a Master as well.
"Where is your Servant, boyo?" Caster's question caused the surrounding people to gaze in his direction.
Alistair let go of the broken teacup's handle and moved his hand into his inner suit pocket, before fishing out two copies of a document.
"I'm sad to say, but I am only here as a spectator, so I didn't bring a Servant with me," he said while waving one of the documents.
Hearing Alistair's words, Waver raised his head over the edge of the chariot to look at the supposed spectator.
Caster snapped her finger, and the document in his hand flew up into Caster's hand.
Alistair only smiled to himself before turning to look at the barely exposed head of Waver.
"Kid!" Alistair yelled while looking at Waver, causing him to yelp before standing up straight and looking at Alistair.
"Take a copy," he said while halfheartedly throwing the document in the air.
As it fell, it started to fold itself midair, eventually folding itself into a paper airplane that slowly sailed through the air before hitting Waver square in his forehead.
A slight flush of embarrassment made its way onto Waver's face before he snatched the paper airplane before it could fall to the ground.
As he unfolded it, Rider snatched it out of Waver's hands.
"Rider! What ar— Gah!" His words were cut short by another finger flick finding its way to Waver's forehead.
"Hmmm… A pity," Rider said while looking over the self-geass scroll. "Would that mean that you are unable to join my army?" His tone was laced with pity, as he gazed over the scroll to look at Alistair.
Alistair could only give a shake of his head while shrugging his shoulders. "Unfortunately, I am a spectator, through and thro—"
"If you can not be an ally, then you are a hindrance," at the chilling sound of Caster's voice, Alistair's head snapped in her direction.
Just in time to see an even larger green magical circle from in front of her.
In the blink of an eye, an orb of water found its way above Alistair, just as a familiar green beam of light aimed at him.
As the green laser hit the orb of water, it started to refracture like light, causing the light to uncontrollably split out in different directions.
Smaller beams of green energy emitted from the orb, which cut through the surroundings like a plasma cutter, but none of them penetrated properly though the orb, allowing Alistair to stand there unscathed.
Quickly, Caster stopped her assault, seeing that it bore no fruit.
"Caster!" Saber's voice cut through the air, as she fixed her steely gaze at the flying witch.
"What are you doi–" Saber's words were cut short by another spell. "Trofa."
Caster's form seemed to fold in on itself, before vanishing, quickly reforming itself behind Alistair.
Caster reached a hand into her cloak, and drew out a jagged shaped dagger.
Seeing this, Saber yelled at the blonde man. "Behind you!"
Without hesitation, Alistair rolled forwards, barely dodging Caster's dagger. And quickly jumped back onto his feet, and swiftly turned around.
Raising his hand, large icicles shimmered into existence, before they were launched at Caster.
As the attack closed in on Caster, she spoke confidently. "Argos"
In the blink of the eye, a translucent shield appeared in front of Caster, causing Alistair's projectiles to shatter upon impact.
Not being deterred, Alistair leapt into the air, a good fifty feet, before pointing a finger at the containers he had stood on.
A thick bolt of purple lighting shot out of his finger, and instantly struck the containers, causing a small explosion to cover the area he had hit.
"Ahhh!" Came the gratifying shriek of Caster, as the lightning had spread through the metal containers she had used as her floor.
Alistair landed right back from where he had jumped from, and he easily spotted the collapsed form of Caster.
Snapping his fingers, a giant ice spike formed above Caster.
But as it was about to fall, her body dissipated into green butterflies.
Before Alistair had the time to react to the fact that he had fought against an illusion, a shimmering green barrier encompassed him.
"Atlas" Caster's voice came from a different spot in the sky, and many snapped their heads in her direction, only to see her pointing a finger at the now captured Alistair.
"Cela—" Before Caster could finish her spell, she watched as the barrier around Alistair suddenly shattered, allowing him to dash out of sight.
"Such a troublesome pest," Caster mused, before turning her head around, and met the gazes of three servants.
"But it would seem I have bigger fish to fry," she said aloud, before a dozen magic circles formed in mid air.
"Boy," Rider said in a low tone, causing Waver to look up at him.
"I think it's for the best if you stay low," he said in a stern tone, while fixing his gaze on Caster.
"Lancer, Saber, would the two of you be amenable for a momentary alliance?"
—
153 Hours, 48 Minutes And 55 Seconds Until Zero
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A/N
Welcome back, my reader Overlords, please add this to your library and give me some comments, stones and Reviews, as it would be much appreciated.
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