"Splatter…"
The sound of blood cascading onto the ground like a waterfall.
When Lancer pushed himself back up, leaning on his spear, all traces of his former grace and composure had vanished.
A massive wound stretched across the front of his body, running diagonally from shoulder to waist. It was so deep that bone could be seen beneath the torn flesh, the result of a single flash from the golden Holy Sword.
"To think you avoided a fatal blow in that instant."
Saber's expression didn't change, but her tone carried genuine admiration.
"Mind's Eye (True)."
This was a skill Lancer had forged through relentless training over time.
Even in a situation that should have meant certain death, he could still find the one narrow path to survival.
In the end, Lancer had barely evaded the full force of that golden strike at point-blank range.
But he had already lost the strength to keep fighting. He had only managed to avoid returning to the Throne.
"…Saber."
"I know, Irisviel."
The blonde King of Knights raised the ornate scabbard in her hand, layering it once more with a sheath of wind.
"Sorry, Lancer. I have no intention of holding back. Let's bring this duel to a proper end."
Diarmuid kicked up the short spear he had thrown aside earlier, barely steadying himself as he assumed a stance. Then, he forced out a faint, bittersweet smile.
"Even if you hadn't said it, that was my intention as well, King of Knights of Britain."
Through their clash, at great cost, Lancer had discerned Saber's True Name.
The scabbard that could block any and all attacks, the ultimate defense in this world.
The sword that pierced through the magic-breaking spear with a single strike, even without releasing its True Name.
With those two facts combined, there was only one possible identity.
The undefeated king of the Knights of the Round Table, wielder of the Holy Sword, Arthur Pendragon.
Likewise, Saber had also identified Lancer.
"The First Spear Of The Knights Of Fianna, 'Beautiful Young Warrior' Diarmuid. It is my honor to cross blades with you."
Hearing such praise from a powerful opponent who had completely overpowered him, Lancer felt no shame. He accepted her sincere words without hesitation.
"Now then, with both our True Names revealed, we can finally have a proper duel as knights.
Or perhaps, Saber, are you dissatisfied with the current situation?"
Anyone could see that Lancer was already at his limit, like a candle flickering in the wind. This was no longer a duel, but an execution.
And yet, Saber answered without hesitation.
"I have no dissatisfaction. You are the opponent I have longed for."
To grant a worthy opponent a dignified defeat.
That was Artoria's code of chivalry.
"Prepare yourself, Lancer."
"I threw away things like resolve the moment I stepped onto the battlefield."
The two took their stances, both ready to bring this glorious duel between knights to an end in the very next instant, but then...
"Both of you, stop right there!!!!"
A roar like thunder and a man's bellow crashed down from the sky above the battlefield.
Saber and Lancer both turned at once and stared into the distant sky.
Amid the crisscrossing purple lightning in the night, a chariot came racing toward them from above.
It was an ancient war chariot drawn by two powerfully built, magnificently muscled bulls.
After circling through the night sky for a while, it descended wrapped in thunder and divine aura, landing squarely between Saber and Lancer.
As the blinding lightning faded, a red-haired giant appeared on the driver's seat, radiating imposing majesty.
"Both of you, lower your weapons. You stand in the presence of the King!"
His voice was louder than the thunder itself, and his presence surpassed even the divine aura given off by the bulls.
The giant who had barged onto the battlefield overwhelmed the two knights' momentum in an instant, then declared sternly,
"My name is Iskandar, King of Conquerors. In this Holy Grail War, I have manifested after obtaining the seat of Rider."
"What..."
Everyone was stunned.
On the battlefield of the Holy Grail War, concealing one's True Name was among the most important strategies. No Servant would normally announce it on his own.
Sure enough, the boy in the passenger seat, apparently Rider's Master, immediately started shouting in protest.
But among everyone present, the one most shocked of all was Waver, crouched beside Rider on the chariot.
"W-what the hell is wrong with your brain? You idiot~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!"
But the Master's furious protest was effortlessly shut down by a light flick to the forehead from his Servant.
As if nothing had happened, Rider turned to look at Saber and Lancer on either side of him.
"Stop, Saber. It would be far too wasteful to kill a man like Lancer here.
Before you act, hear me out."
"...What!?"
Saber was caught completely off guard, while Lancer's face twisted with anger at the insult.
Unbothered, Rider spread his arms wide.
"Heroes and great warriors from every age and every land.
I know not what wish you seek from the Holy Grail, but think carefully first. Is that wish truly more important than the grand dream of conquering the world itself?
Consider this. Why not submit to me and yield the Holy Grail to me?
If you do, I shall treat you as cherished friends and share with you the joy of conquering the world."
"..."
No one could find the words to respond.
With Rider's sudden intrusion, and Archer's arrival soon after, the battlefield at Warehouse Street began moving toward the utterly chaotic course it had always been destined for.
...
Meanwhile, others were also hurrying over, though somewhat late.
"Hey! Hurry up, Avalon-nee-san! We're going to miss it!"
At that moment, Shirou was being carried in Lady Avalon's arms as the two of them leaped from rooftop to rooftop across the high-rises of Shinto.
"Ugh, I'm already hurrying as much as I can! I'm a Magus who likes traveling, not one who specializes in running around."
Shirou stared toward Warehouse Street in the distance, lit by purple lightning, and quietly clenched his fists.
Morgan, is that really you over there? Have you come to Proper Human History too?
"Beep beep beep beep..."
Hearing the sudden electronic chirping, Lady Avalon looked down at the boy in her arms in confusion.
"What's making that sound...? Eek! Master, don't go feeling around all over the place not there♡"
Shirou reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small electronic device.
It was the compact communicator he used to secretly contact Hassan of the Hundred Faces, something Shirou had previously ordered from overseas through Byakuya Matou.
The communicator came as a pair, with Shirou holding one and big sis Assassin holding the other.
Besides allowing them to communicate without Tohsaka and Kirei Kotomine noticing, it also had a location-transmitting function, making it easy for them to track each other's coordinates.
"It's me."
Shirou spoke into the small communicator, its indicator light still blinking.
"..."
There was no response.
"Big sis Assassin?"
"..."
Still no response.
After a brief moment of thought, Shirou shifted his gaze toward the far side of the docks and gave Lady Avalon an order.
"Go there."
Lady Avalon froze.
"Huh? But... we're almost at Warehouse Street! We're about to see Saber!"
"...Go."
Shirou's voice was firm and unwavering.