Luxor stood high above the Holy Grail War, his ethereal presence emanating a brilliance that bathed the entire battlefield in celestial light. His eyes gleamed with mischief, and a subtle smile tugged at his lips.
After all, he was a being of creation, and now—now, he was about to make the war far more interesting.
"I wonder," Luxor mused aloud, his voice echoing through the air like a chorus of divine voices, "what would happen if I treated this like... a game?"
With a single gesture, the air around him shifted, and the space-time fabric seemed to warp. Luxor grinned, watching as the world bent to his will.
---
The Players' View
For the Masters and Servants of the Holy Grail War, the world suddenly felt different. It was as if the very laws of reality were being rewritten, and they were mere players in a game that they didn't quite understand. Even the familiar feel of battle was altered, like a game interface was taking over the battlefield.
A System Notification appeared in the air above Shirou, Archer, Saber, and the other Masters:
"New Quest: Survive the War and claim the Holy Grail."
"Current Mission: Defeat your opponents in battle and gather their mana."
"Warning: Failure to comply may result in… consequences."
---
Luxor watched with amusement as the first set of notifications appeared, filling the air with a faint, glowing text.
"Survive, huh?" Luxor chuckled, imagining the chaos this would cause. "How boring. Let's spice things up a little."
With a wave of his hand, the map of the battlefield flickered and reappeared, much like a game's level. The Holy Grail War was no longer just a brawl for power. No, it was now an interactive experience.
---
New Zones Added:
Dungeon of the Fallen: Where the dead lie, and souls may be taken for power.
Arena of Fate: A grand, celestial arena where the strongest are summoned to fight.
Resource Dungeon: Hidden treasures await those daring enough to seek them.
---
"New zones, new quests... Now, let's see how they'll handle this," Luxor muttered to himself, leaning back as if watching a grand performance unfold. Every Servant, every Master was now part of this grand spectacle, and Luxor, the game master, was the one pulling the strings.
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The Masters React
Shirou, standing beside Saber, blinked in confusion as the system notification appeared before him. "What is this? A quest? A game?"
"Master," Saber began, her tone heavy with concern, "this feels... unnatural. Something is controlling the flow of the War."
Shirou frowned. "I don't get it. This doesn't make sense. We're supposed to be fighting for the Grail. Why would anyone...?"
His words trailed off as the map of the battlefield materialized in front of him. It showed different zones, almost like locations from an RPG. There were dungeons, arenas, and resource nodes that felt too… game-like. He glanced at Saber. "What's going on?"
Saber drew her sword, sensing the strange presence that lingered in the air. "This is no ordinary war. Someone is pulling the strings from the shadows."
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Luxor's Delight
Luxor watched as the players began to move, each reacting to the changes in different ways. Some seemed to understand the gravity of the situation; others were completely bewildered.
"Ah, this is going to be so much fun," Luxor grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "What happens next? Let's find out."
---
Game Mechanics Activate
As Luxor's voice rang out, another notification appeared, this time for the players to witness:
"Skill Enhancement Available":
Saber: Unlock new skills based on noble phantasms.
Archer: Gain access to specialized range weapons.
Shirou: Unlock "Unlimited Blade Works" level-up option.
Rider: Boost to strength for 24 hours.
Luxor looked on, proud of his handiwork. He had given the heroes new powers, quests, and challenges, not because they needed it—but because it would make for a better spectacle. After all, the more they fought for survival, the more grandiose the battles would become.
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Archer's Reaction
Archer narrowed his eyes, his normally cold and calculating demeanor faltering as he examined the notifications in the sky. "What is this? A system? Is this some sort of illusion?"
"Don't waste your time, Archer," Rin said, her voice tight with suspicion. "This... this has to be some kind of interference. Someone's manipulating the War."
Archer's lips curled into a small smile, his eyes flicking toward the notification for his enhanced skills. "Interesting. I suppose I can make this work to my advantage."
---
Luxor's Power Intensifies
Luxor waved his hand again, his smile widening. "Let's add some fun, shall we?"
With a casual thought, environments began to change. The battlefield was no longer just a cityscape. Clouds of storm, fiery fields, and mountains of ice began to materialize in the distance. Luxor was altering reality itself with the ease of a game master spawning levels and environments.
---
Weather Control Activated: A fierce storm brewed over the battlefield, dark clouds swirling above.
Level-up Bonus: All players received a temporary buff—increased strength and defense for the next 12 hours.
---
"How will they handle this? The storm, the new zones, the quests... Let's see who rises to the occasion."
Luxor couldn't help but laugh as the battlefield descended into chaos. This wasn't just a Holy Grail War anymore. It was his war, and it was going to be spectacular. He could already see it: grand battles, unexpected alliances, and most of all, all eyes on him.
---
As the participants of the Holy Grail War tried to make sense of the new reality, Luxor stood in the distance, unseen but ever-present, the one who controlled the very game they were all bound to play.
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End of Chapter 3.