The Night the War Begins
Eiji couldn't sleep. Not because he was scared, just because his mind wouldn't settle. He kept going over a few days ago without really meaning to. He had gone out for a walk, nothing more than that, and somehow ended up getting noticed by Assassin.
He sat up and rubbed his face, letting out a slow breath as he tried to push the feeling aside. "…Yeah, great." he muttered under his breath. It wasn't like he messed up on purpose. It was just timing. A coincidence. Wrong place, wrong moment. Still, that was enough in this situation. Enough for someone to see him.
Eiji got up and walked over to the window, pulling the curtain aside just enough to look out. The city looked normal, like it always did at night. Lights, cars in the distance, people still moving around like nothing was different. But it didn't feel the same anymore. It wasn't that anything had changed physically, just that he couldn't look at it the same way now.
What bothered him more was what everyone else seemed to believe.
Assassin had been "killed" yesterday, taken out by Gilgamesh. That was what he and the other Masters saw anyway, through the use of our familiars. Most of them seemed to accept it without question.
Eiji didn't.
With a quiet sigh, he stepped outside and found Cu sitting on the roof of the house.
"Cu." Eiji called up, pausing for a second before speaking again. "You see or sense anyone coming our way?"
"Relax, Master." Cu replied lazily, not even turning his head right away. "Assassin's already gone, y'know."
Eiji frowned slightly at that and looked up at him. "You really think an Assassin-class Servant just walks straight into a fight with Archer? One of the Three Knight classes?"
He clicked his tongue "I don't buy it."
Cu finally glanced down at him, expression still casual but a bit more attentive now. "So what, you think it's fake?"
"I think it's too clean." Eiji said simply. "Assassin shows up once, disappears, and everyone just agrees he got wiped out immediately? Something doesn't add up."
Since Assassin had seen them before, it was safe to assume their position wasn't exactly unknown anymore. At least to whoever was running things on the other side. Kirei. Tokiomi. He didn't know how fast they moved, but he wasn't planning on waiting around to find out. And if it came down to it, he didn't really want a direct fight with goldy unless there was no other option.
Cu let out a small hum, finally sitting up a little straighter.
"…Yeah." he said after a short pause. "I was wondering when you'd say that."
Eiji didn't say anything after that. He just stayed there for a moment, looking out at the city like he was trying to read something out of it. Then it hit—sudden, heavy. A spike of prana that broke through the night without even trying to hide itself.
Eiji's eyes narrowed slightly. "A Servant. Residential docks."
Cu had already turned his attention that way too, his usual lazy posture shifting just a bit. "An invitation, huh. That's bold."
He glanced at Eiji. "Think it's a trap, Master?"
Eiji shrugged slightly, still watching the direction it came from.
"Maybe," he said after a second. Then he clicked his tongue. "Doesn't matter."
He pushed off the wall and started heading for the edge of the roof. "Let's just go."
Cu smirked faintly at that. "Wasn't even gonna wait for me to finish, huh."
And just like that, they moved.
...
The black Mercedes-Benz, a sleek predator in the night, carved through the desolate industrial district. Its tires hummed over cracked asphalt, the only sound breaking the silence until a distant, throbbing hum began to seep into the air. Irisviel clutched the steering wheel, her knuckles pale against the dark leather.
A tremor ran through the very fabric of reality, a sudden, oppressive weight pressing down. Prana, raw and untamed, pulsed from the docks ahead, a beacon in the gloom. Saber's eyes, a piercing emerald, fixed on the source, her jaw tightening.
"He's here." she pronounced, her voice a low current of steel.
Irisviel's gaze flickered to the passenger seat beside her, then back to the road. "That much prana… he's not trying to hide at all."
"No," Saber confirmed "He wants us to know. A challenge."
The car swerved, tires squealing softly, as Irisviel brought it to a halt near the edge of the abandoned warehouses. The air grew heavy, charged with unseen energy. Saber stepped out, her armor coalescing around her in a flash of silver and blue. Irisviel followed, her white dress stark against the decaying concrete.
The docks stretched out, a skeletal landscape of rusted cranes and stacked containers. The air smelled of salt, oil, and something metallic, like ozone before a storm. Above them, A man stood atop a stack of shipping containers, silhouetted against the bloated moon. He leaped, a silent shadow that defied gravity, landing twenty paces from them. The impact didn't even crack the pavement; he moved with the predatory grace of a panther.
"Welcome." the man said. His voice carried a melodic, honeyed resonance. "I have been waiting for you all night. I roamed this city with my prana flared, yet only one hero had the courage to answer the call."
Saber stepped forward, her boots clicking rhythmically. "You stood out in the open, inviting an ambush. Do you have no fear, Lancer, or are you simply a fool?"
The man smiled, though his eyes remained sharp, scanning Saber's invisible weapon. "A fool? Perhaps. But I am a knight. I sought a duel of honor, not a slaughter in the shadows."
He shifted his weight, and the burlap wrappings fell away. The cloth fluttered to the ground like dead skin, revealing two spears. One was a long, crimson lance that pulsed with a malevolent, bloody light; the other was a shorter, yellow spear, held in his left hand.
"Two spears." Irisviel whispered, her eyes wide. "He wields two at once?"
Lancer spun the weapons with dizzying speed, the air whistling as the blades carved the dark. He settled into a low crouch, the red spear pointed at Saber's throat.
"I have heard tales of the Holy Grail War." Lancer said, his gaze flickering to Irisviel before returning to Saber. "They say the Grail summons the greatest legends of history. Looking at you, I find myself inclined to believe those tales."
"You talk much of honor." Saber said. "Then let us see if your skills match your tongue."
Lancer chuckled. "A harsh critic. Tell me, Saber—I assume that is your class—why do you hide your blade? Is it so shameful a weapon that it must be veiled from your opponent's sight?"
"It is not shame," Saber replied. "It is a necessity. To show one's blade is to reveal one's identity. I do not intend to give you that advantage so easily."
"A pity." Lancer said. He kicked off the ground.
He moved faster than the human eye could process. A blur of green and steel. The red spear thrust forward, a streak of crimson light aimed directly at Saber's heart.
Saber parried.
The collision of the invisible blade and the red spear produced a shockwave that shattered the windows of a nearby warehouse. Sparks erupted in the dark, white and gold clashing against the red. Saber didn't give an inch. She swung the unseen weight of her sword in a wide arc, forcing Lancer to leap backward.
He flipped in mid-air, landing on the side of a shipping container, sticking to the vertical surface for a heartbeat before launching himself again.
"Magnificent!" Lancer cried.
He came at her with a flurry of strikes. The red spear drove in high, while the yellow spear flickered like a snake's tongue toward her legs. Saber danced through the storm of steel.
"Irisviel, move back!" Saber shouted over the din of clashing metal.
She swung her invisible blade downward, a strike meant to cleave Lancer in two. He didn't dodge. He crossed his spears, catching the invisible edge. The impact forced him to his knees, the concrete beneath him spider-webbing from the pressure.
"You are strong." Lancer hissed through gritted teeth. "Stronger than I anticipated. But strength is not everything in this war."
He twisted his wrist, the red spear sliding along the invisible length of Saber's sword. As the tip of the spear touched the magical wind surrounding the blade, the air hissed. The "Invisible Air" began to unravel, the golden glow of the true sword beneath flickering like a dying candle.
Saber leaped back, her heart hammering against her ribs. "The red spear... it negates magical energy?"
"Close." Lancer said, standing and dusting off his knee. "It pierces through it. Any protection born of magecraft is useless against this crimson tip. Your 'Invisible Air' is a fine cloak, but it is made of threads I can cut."
"Shall we continue?" Lancer asked, his posture relaxing into a deadly invitation. "Or shall we wait for the rest of the guests to arrive?"
Saber raised her invisible sword, the tip pointed directly at Lancer's throat.
Lancer laughed.
He charged again, a green bolt of lightning against the industrial black, and the sound of steel on steel rang out once more, echoing across the cold waters of Fuyuki.
The steel shrieked, a high-pitched, agonizing wail as the weapons clashed under the harsh dockside lights. Saber pivoted, her movements a blur of kinetic efficiency, forcing the crimson spear upward. She was hyper-aware of the red lance now, the weapon that sought to unravel the very magic that sustained her form. She had committed her focus entirely to avoiding that cursed tip, her eyes tracking its every twitch and rotation.
Lancer then spun the yellow spear in his left hand, the blade shorter, jagged, and somehow more menacing for its unassuming appearance. Saber kept her stance low, her invisible sword held in a defensive guard, shielding her torso from the reach of the long, crimson lance. She watched his feet, watched his shoulders, waiting for the feint.
Lancer rushed her again. It was a mirror of his previous attacks, a flurry of crimson aimed high at her chest. Saber braced herself, expecting the familiar pressure of the Gae Dearg, ready to parry the magical negation. She stepped into the strike, her invisible blade meeting the shaft of the red spear with a jarring impact.
But as the blades locked, Lancer didn't push. Instead, he twisted his wrist, dropping low and sweeping the yellow spear upward in a vicious, upward arc.
The movement was too fast for her to compensate. The yellow blade bypassed her guard entirely, tearing through the silk of her blue tunic and biting deep into the soft flesh of her side. The sound of tearing fabric was eclipsed by the sickening *thwack* of the blade sinking into muscle.
"Saber!" Irisviel screamed, her voice cutting through the roar of the river.
"Stay back, Irisviel!" Saber growled through gritted teeth, but her voice lacked its usual strength. She tried to straighten, only for a fresh wave of pain to buckle her knees.
Irisviel ignored the warning. She dropped to her knees beside Saber, pressing both palms firmly over the torn blue fabric and the bleeding wound beneath. The healing magecraft flowed from her instantly—gentle waves of restorative energy meant to knit flesh, stop bleeding, and soothe torn muscle.
But nothing happened.
The light flickered against Saber's skin, then dimmed unnaturally, as if being drained away. Irisviel's eyes widened in shock. She poured more prana into the spell, her brow furrowing with concentration. The wound should have begun closing by now. At the very least, the bleeding should have slowed.
Instead, the gash remained raw and angry, blood continuing to seep steadily between Irisviel's fingers. Worse, the edges of the injury seemed to resist the healing entirely, as though an invisible poison was actively fighting back against her magecraft.
"It's… not working." Irisviel whispered, voice trembling. "The wound, it's rejecting the healing. There's some kind of curse clinging to it…"
Diarmuid lowered his yellow spear slightly, his expression calm but not mocking. "Gáe Buidhe." he said simply, almost respectfully. "The Yellow Rose of Mortality. Any wound it inflicts cannot be healed by any means—magical or mundane—until the spear itself is broken or I, its wielder, am defeated."
...
From their hidden spot on the rooftop across the river, Eiji watched everything unfold with a tight frown.
The yellow spear had sliced deep into Saber's side. Blood was already soaking her blue tunic, and she was pressing hard against the wound. Irisviel ran over immediately, hands glowing with healing light, but it wasn't working. The light kept fading like it was being eaten away.
Eiji's small hands clenched into fists on his knees.
"…This is so annoying." he muttered under his breath.
Beside him, Caster sat cross-legged, his staff resting lightly across his lap. He watched the scene with calm, red eyes, looking more like he was observing an interesting experiment than a life-or-death fight.
"Gáe Buidhe." Caster said quietly. "The Yellow Rose. Once it cuts you, normal healing becomes almost useless. That wound will keep bleeding until the spear is broken or Lancer is defeated."
Eiji let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his face with both hands like he always did when things got complicated.
"I know… I remember now. I really liked Saber as a character back then."he thought, a little pang in his chest. "She's supposed to be super strong and honorable… but this war keeps making everything messy and unfair. Why does it have to be like this right from the start?"
He was only twelve in this life, but he already felt tired of how brutal everything was turning out. Still, he couldn't just sit here doing nothing while Saber struggled.
Eiji focused on the battlefield and raised one hand slightly, careful not to make any big movements that might draw attention. His fingers curled as if grabbing an invisible curtain in the air.
Space rippled faintly—something only someone really sensitive to magecraft would notice.
He wasn't trying to do anything crazy. He just compressed the space around Saber's wound a little, making the "fabric" of reality tighter so the bleeding would slow down. At the same time, he bent the possible paths in front of Lancer, so if the red spear came again it would feel slightly off, like pushing through thick air.
It wasn't perfect. He still wasn't great at this ability he'd copied, and using it from this far away made his head throb a bit. But it helped. The steady flow of blood from Saber's side slowed noticeably.
Down below, Irisviel kept pouring prana into her healing, her face tense with worry. Then her eyes widened.
"Saber… the bleeding… it's slowing down!" she said, voice full of surprise. Her hands were still pressed over the torn fabric, but the steady flow of blood had noticeably lessened. The edges of the gash looked slightly less raw, as if something was fighting back against the curse after all.
Saber herself tensed, emerald eyes narrowing in confusion. She glanced down at her side, then toward the empty space around them, clearly sensing the strange interference.
"…What is this?" she murmured, voice low but steady despite the pain. "The wound… it's not closing completely, but it feels better than before"
Irisviel blinked rapidly, still feeding more healing light even as it flickered against the remaining curse. "It's not my magecraft doing this alone. Something else is helping. But how…?"
Eiji pulled his hand back and hugged his knees closer to his chest, frowning deeply.
"That should buy her a little time… but it's not enough."he thought. "If Lancer keeps attacking with both spears, Saber's gonna get worn down fast. And I can't just jump in there. I'm only me… and Caster isn't exactly the frontline type. Plus if I show myself now, that creepy priest or the gold guy might find out where we are. Assassin already saw us once. I don't want to make it worse."
He clicked his tongue softly, a little habit when he was overthinking again.
Caster glanced sideways at him, a faint smile on his lips.
"You're meddling, Master." he said in that relaxed tone. "Careful. A child's prana isn't endless."
"I'm not meddling." Eiji grumbled quietly, though the corners of his mouth twitched in a small, reluctant playful smile. "I'm just… helping a tiny bit. It's frustrating watching her bleed like that when I know she's supposed to be amazing."
He rested his chin on his arms, still staring at the riverside fight.
Caster gave a soft chuckle. "As you say. Just don't push yourself too hard with that copied spatial trick. It still drains you more than you admit."
He glanced sideways at his Servant. "Cu… should we do something? Or just keep watching for now?"
Caster gave a small shrug, a faint smile on his lips. "No rush, Master. Jumping in now might paint a target on your back—especially after that Assassin business. Let's watch a bit longer. See how they handle it. I can set up a small rune if things get worse."
...
High above the river, on the wide expanse of the bridge, Rider stood tall with his arms crossed, a massive grin on his face as he watched the duel unfolding below near the riverside.
"Ha ha ha! Look at this, boy!" Rider laughed loudly, his voice booming over the rushing water. "Saber has taken a hit from that yellow spear! Lancer seems to be pressing his advantage with those two strange weapons. This is getting interesting already!"
Waver Velvet was gripping the bridge railing so tightly his knuckles had gone white. He stayed as far back from the edge as he could, legs trembling every time the wind gusted across the bridge. The height made his stomach churn.
"R-Rider! Please don't stand so close to the edge like that!" Waver complained, voice high-pitched with panic. "This bridge is way too high! If you move any more I'm seriously going to fall off! And can you stop laughing?!"
Rider didn't even look down at his Master. His single visible eye stayed fixed on the riverside fight, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Calm yourself, my Master. A true king does not fear a little height. Besides, look closer, the bleeding has slowed down somehow. The curse from that yellow spear should still be active, yet something is interfering. Someone else is watching this battle… twisting the very air around the wound."
"I don't care about that right now! I'm going to throw up if you keep dragging me to places like this… And what do you mean someone else is interfering? We're not supposed to get involved yet! This is only the start of the war, we don't even know who any of these Servants really are!"
Rider stroked his beard thoughtfully for a moment, then let out a deep, satisfied laugh.
"Hah! Exactly, boy. That's why it's the perfect time to introduce ourselves properly. A king should not watch from the shadows when a worthy battle is unfolding below."
Waver's eyes widened in horror. "W-Wait, what?! Rider, no! You can't just—"
Rider raised his hand high. A surge of prana erupted around him as he called out in a booming voice:
"Behold! My chariot that conquered the world—Gordius Wheel!"
Lightning cracked through the air as a massive divine bull-pulled war chariot materialized on the bridge with a thunderous roar. The two enormous bulls stamped their hooves, sparks flying from their golden hooves. The chariot itself glowed with divine energy, wheels crackling with electricity.
Before Waver could scream again, Rider scooped him up under one arm like a sack of potatoes and leaped into the chariot.
"Hold on tight, my Master!"
"Riiiiideeeeer—!!" Waver's terrified scream echoed across the river as the Gordius Wheel shot forward off the bridge, descending dramatically toward the riverside clearing in a trail of lightning and thunder. The chariot flew through the air, wheels spinning wildly, the bulls bellowing as they charged downward.
...
In the shadow of an abandoned warehouse overlooking the river, Kiritsugu Emiya lay prone on a rooftop, his custom sniper rifle steady in his hands. The high-powered scope cut through the darkness as he tracked the riverside duel.
He watched Saber press a hand to her bleeding side while Irisviel knelt beside her, trying desperately to heal the wound. The yellow spear's curse was clearly fighting back.
Kiritsugu shifted the scope slightly upward.
"Lancer's Master." he said quietly into the communicator. "Silver hair, tall, wearing formal magus robes. He's positioned high near the docks, watching the fight. Looks like Kayneth El-Melloi."
From her separate position among the dock cranes and shipping containers, Maiya Hisau kept her binoculars raised, scanning the rooftops.
"Copy." she replied calmly. A moment later her voice tightened. "Kiritsugu… I've got eyes on Assassin. He's on the rooftop across from Kayneth, crouched low."
Kiritsugu's finger paused near the trigger.
"So the scene we saw through our familiars was staged. Assassin's still alive."
Maiya kept her binoculars locked on the dark figure.
"He's not moving much—just observing. No sign he's noticed us."
Kiritsugu clicked his tongue softly, eyes never leaving the scope.
"This war's already full of tricks. Saber took a hit from that yellow spear. The wound should still be wide open, but the bleeding has slowed down. Something else is interfering with the curse."
Maiya replied evenly, "Madam is still trying to heal her, but it's not working properly. Orders?"
Kiritsugu stared through the scope a moment longer, watching the tense standoff between Saber and Lancer.
"…Hold position." he said. "No shots yet. Let them show more of their hands first."
...
The standoff by the river stretched on, the roar of the water filling the tense silence. Saber stood ready despite the lingering pain in her side, invisible sword held in a firm guard. Irisviel remained close, her hands still glowing faintly as she tried to maintain the strange stabilization on the wound.
Then came the sound of thunder.
A massive surge of prana erupted from the bridge above. Lightning cracked across the night sky as a gigantic war chariot pulled by two divine bulls materialized in a burst of golden light and electric sparks. The chariot descended dramatically toward the riverside clearing, wheels spinning wildly and bulls bellowing.
Waver's terrified scream echoed through the air. "Riiiiideeeeer—!!"
The Gordius Wheel touched down with a heavy crash, kicking up dust and sparks. Rider leaped off the chariot with a booming laugh, his red mantle flaring behind him. He stood tall, arms spread wide, a massive grin on his bearded face.
"HAHAHA! What a fine battle I've stumbled upon!" Rider's voice carried easily across the clearing, loud and full of genuine joy. "I am Rider! But you may call me by my true name—Iskandar, the King of Conquerors! Alexander the Great!"
Waver, still sitting shakily inside the chariot, suddenly shot up and pointed at Rider with both hands, face bright red.
"You idiot!!" he yelled, voice cracking with panic. "Why would you just shout your real name like that?! We're at the very start of the war! Now everyone knows who you are! Are you trying to get us killed?!"
Rider simply laughed even louder, completely unbothered, and patted the chariot's side.
"Relax, my Master! A true king does not hide his name! Glory should be claimed openly!"
Waver clutched his head, groaning loudly. "This is why I keep telling you to be more careful… You just revealed yourself to every Servant and Master watching right now!"
Before Rider could continue, a sharp, furious voice cut through the air from an elevated position near the docks.
"So you are the one who stole my relic!"
Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald stepped forward into clearer view, his face twisted with cold rage. His elegant mage robes fluttered slightly as he glared down at Waver.
"You insignificant, thieving brat! That catalyst belonged to me! And now you dare show up here with that oversized oaf as your Servant?! Let me teach you how mages truly kill each other in this war, boy. Slowly. Painfully. I will make an example of you that every other Master will remember. By the time I'm done, you'll wish you had never laid your filthy hands on what was mine!"
Waver shrank back in the chariot, face going deathly pale. His whole body trembled as he clutched the side of the chariot.
"W-Wait… I-I didn't mean to—Please don't—"
Rider raised a hand, cutting Kayneth off with a loud, dismissive laugh.
"Hah! Silence, mage!"
He looked up at Kayneth with a bold, unimpressed stare, his voice booming with authority.
"You do not deserve to be my Master. A true Master should be someone willing to ride into battle beside me, sharing in the glory and the danger! Not some arrogant coward who hides behind his Servant and throws tantrums over a stolen toy. This boy may be small and frightened… but at least he has the courage to stand here with me!"
Waver blinked up at Rider, still scared but visibly surprised by the defense.
planting his hands on his hips, he looked between Saber and Lancer.
"I came here seeking worthy opponents, and it seems I've found them! A proud knight wielding an invisible blade and a skilled spearman with two deadly weapons. This Holy Grail War is already proving entertaining!"
His gaze then swept across the riverside and the surrounding shadows, grin widening.
"But I know we're not alone here. There are others hiding in the shadows, watching like cowards. Come out! Join us openly!" He raised one arm dramatically toward the rooftops and distant buildings. "Whether you are Master or Servant, show yourselves! Let us discuss this war like true warriors. Perhaps we can even form an alliance—under my command, of course! Together, we could claim the Holy Grail with far greater glory than fighting alone!"
Waver sank back into the chariot, muttering miserably, "We're doomed… absolutely doomed…"
Rider remained standing proudly in the clearing, arms still spread wide, his grin unwavering as he waited for a response to his grand offer of alliance.
Saber stepped forward, her invisible sword held steady despite the lingering pain in her side. Her voice was calm, firm, and filled with unshakeable dignity.
"I refuse." she declared, emerald eyes locking onto Rider without hesitation. "I am a king. My path is one of honor and duty to my people. I will not bow to another, nor join any alliance that seeks to claim the Grail through conquest alone. My dignity as sovereign will not allow it."
Lancer lowered his twin spears slightly, his expression respectful but resolute as he shook his head.
"I must decline as well." he said evenly. "My loyalty belongs to my Master alone. This is a battle of honor between knights, not a gathering for recruitment."
Rider let out a hearty laugh, clearly amused rather than offended. "Hah! Spoken like true warriors! I expected no less from—"
A new voice cut through the night, cold and dripping with absolute contempt. It came from high above, echoing across the riverside.
From the top of a tall streetlight pole on the edge of the clearing, a golden figure stood motionless, arms crossed over his chest. Golden armor gleamed under the moonlight, blond hair swaying slightly in the breeze. His crimson eyes looked down on everyone below with pure disdain.
"Fools." Archer sneered, his voice carrying effortlessly. "All of you. Pretenders playing at kingship. There is only one true king in this world, and that is I.The rest of you are nothing but fakes and mongrels scrambling in the dirt."
The air grew heavier with his mere presence. Saber's stance tightened instantly. Lancer's grip on his spears firmed. Even Rider's grin sharpened with interest.
Waver sank lower in the chariot, whispering frantically, "Another one…?! This is bad…"
Archer's words hung in the air like a death sentence, his crimson eyes sweeping over the gathered Servants with utter contempt.
Before anyone could respond, a low, guttural roar tore through the night.
From the shadows near the riverbank, a black-armored figure erupted upward in a burst of dark mist and raging madness. The Servant moved with terrifying speed, black haze clinging to his bulky frame like living smoke. In his hands he wielded a jagged, twisted blade that looked more like a corrupted shadow than steel.
Berserker.
He didn't hesitate. With a wordless, animalistic snarl, he launched himself straight at the golden figure atop the streetlight pole, leaping high into the air in a single explosive bound. The black mist around him surged violently as he swung the corrupted sword in a brutal overhead arc aimed directly at Archer's head.
"—!!"
The attack was pure, unthinking fury.
Archer's eyes narrowed in mild annoyance rather than fear. He clicked his tongue.
"Tch. A mad dog dares to bare its fangs at me?"
A ripple of golden light flickered around him as he prepared to retaliate, but the sheer speed and raw power of Berserker's charge forced even the King of Heroes to shift slightly on his perch.
Down below, Saber instinctively raised her invisible sword, emerald eyes wide with surprise at the sudden new threat. Lancer spun both spears into a ready stance, wary of the black knight's unpredictable rage.
Waver screamed from the chariot. "What the hell is that thing?! Rider, we need to move—!"
Berserker's black-armored form hurtled through the air like a living shadow, jagged blade raised in a savage downward strike aimed straight at Archer atop the streetlight.
The golden Servant clicked his tongue in irritation, golden ripples already forming around him as weapons began to materialize.
Before the clash could fully erupt, a calm, lazy voice cut through the chaos from the opposite side of the river.
"Well now… this party's getting a little too rowdy for my taste."
A ripple of prana flared on a distant rooftop. Caster stepped out from the shadows, staff resting casually across his shoulders. His vibrant blue hair shifted slightly in the night breeze, and his sharp red eyes scanned the riverside gathering with relaxed amusement.
He didn't leap dramatically. He simply walked off the edge of the roof, a faint green rune glowing beneath his feet as he descended slowly through the air like it was nothing more than a staircase.
"Master." Caster called out without raising his voice, "you've been groaning the whole time. Figured I'd save you the headache of deciding when to jump in."
From the same rooftop, Eiji let out a long, tired sigh. He rubbed his face with both hands, already expecting this the moment things started spiraling.
"…Of course you'd do this." he muttered under his breath, voice quiet and resigned. "Fine. Guess we're in it now."
"Evening, everyone. Caster here. Don't mind me, I'm just here to keep my kid from stressing himself into a knot." His red eyes swept over Berserker, Archer, Rider, Saber, and Lancer with mild interest. "Though I gotta say… you lot really know how to turn a simple duel into a circus."
Saber's stance shifted warily, emerald eyes narrowing at the new arrival. Lancer spun one spear in his hand, cautious but not yet hostile. Rider's grin widened with delight.
"Another one appears!" Rider boomed. "And with a Master in tow, no less! Hah! The night grows better and better!"
Waver peeked over the edge of the chariot, whispering, "There's… a kid with him? What the hell…?"
Kayneth's face twisted in open disgust from his vantage point. "A child Master? This war has truly sunk to new lows."
Archer, still perched high on the pole, looked down at Caster with the same contempt he gave everyone else.
"Enough of this farce."
With a lazy flick of his wrist, Archer unleashed hell.
Gate of Babylon opened wide.
The riverside had become a warzone.
Archer's Gate of Babylon continued its merciless barrage, a storm of golden weapons raining down without pause. Explosions of dirt and sparks lit up the night as blades slammed into the ground, the river, and anything unlucky enough to be in their path.
Saber deflected the onslaught with precise swings of her invisible sword, shielding Irisviel behind her. Lancer whirled his red and yellow spears in a defensive blur. Rider laughed like a madman while smashing projectiles aside with his massive blade. Even Berserker roared through the rain of steel, black armor sparking as he kept charging upward toward Archer.
In the middle of the chaos, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald stood on his elevated vantage near the docks, eyes narrowing as he watched the small figure on the rooftop—a child, no older than twelve, sitting there with Caster standing protectively in front of him.
A cruel smile twisted Kayneth's lips.
"Pathetic." he muttered. "A mere child playing at being a Master… and now he's exposed himself. Lancer!"
His voice cut sharply through the noise, cold and commanding.
"Kill the boy. He's just a child, an easy target. Take him out now while the others are distracted. End this farce before it becomes more annoying than it already is."
Lancer hesitated for only a fraction of a second, his handsome face showing clear reluctance. But his loyalty to his Master won out. He spun on his heel, crimson lance gleaming as he broke away from the main group and charged straight toward Eiji's position with terrifying speed.
"Understood, Master."
Before Lancer could close the distance, Caster moved.
In a blur of blue hair and casual grace, Cu stepped forward, staff spinning once in his hand as a bright green rune flared to life beneath his feet. A wall of roaring flames erupted between Lancer and the rooftop, forcing the spearman to skid to a halt.
"Sorry, but the kid's off-limits." Caster said, his red eyes calm but sharp. A lazy grin tugged at his lips. "You'll have to go through me first, Lancer."
Lancer didn't waste words. He lunged forward, Gáe Dearg thrusting straight through the flames—the magical negation property of the red spear cutting the fire barrier apart like it was nothing.
Caster spun his staff, another rune flashing as he met the thrust head-on. The two Servants clashed in a burst of sparks and prana, staff against crimson lance, the impact sending shockwaves across the clearing even amid Archer's ongoing bombardment.
Eiji raised his small hand and curled his fingers like he was grabbing hold of something invisible right in front of him.
The air rippled.
It looked exactly like he was pinching and twisting a sheet of reality itself. Space compressed and bent around Lancer's spear mid-thrust. The weapon's trajectory suddenly warped, the tip veering off at a sharp, unnatural angle as if the very path it traveled had been squeezed and redirected. The crimson lance missed Cu's side by inches and stabbed uselessly into empty air instead.
Lancer's eyes widened in surprise. He skidded to a halt, staring at the distorted space where his attack had just been twisted.
"What is that?" he muttered, voice low with genuine shock.
Saber, still deflecting golden weapons nearby, glanced sharply toward the rooftop. Her emerald eyes narrowed at the strange warping in the air around Eiji's hand.
Lancer recovered fast, spinning both spears and lunging again, this time with a faster combo of red and yellow. But Eiji didn't stop. He "grabbed" the air once more, compressing the space directly in front of Cu. The incoming thrusts slowed and curved like they were pushing through thick syrup, giving Caster the perfect opening to sidestep and counter with a blazing rune that exploded into flames right in Lancer's face.
The two Servants clashed harder now, sparks and prana flying, while Eiji kept calmly twisting space from the rooftop—each time making the air visibly ripple and fold like invisible fabric being pinched and pulled.
The rest of the battlefield also kept moving. Archer's weapon storm still raining down, Berserker roaring as he charged upward, Rider laughing like it was the best show he'd ever seen—but more than a few eyes kept flicking toward the small boy on the rooftop and the strange way he kept "touching" the empty air.
...
Far away, inside the elegant Tohsaka estate on the other side of the city, Tokiomi Tohsaka stood in his private study, watching the entire battle through a large scrying mirror floating in the air. His gloved hands were clenched tightly, his usual calm expression cracking with visible worry.
Kirei Kotomine stood silently beside him, arms crossed inside his priest robes, observing the chaotic scene with that same unnerving calmness.
"This is getting out of hand." Tokiomi said sharply, voice tight. "Archer is exposing far too much of his power in front of everyone. If he keeps bombarding them like this, the other Masters will learn too many of his weaknesses."
He raised his right hand. The three bright red Command Spells on the back of it began to glow intensely.
"Archer!" Tokiomi commanded, his voice amplified through the scrying mirror so it reached the distant battlefield clearly. "By my Command Spell, I order you—return to me at once!"
The command struck like a whip.
...
On the battlefield, Archer froze mid-motion atop the streetlight pole. His crimson eyes flashed with pure irritation and contempt.
"Tch… How tiresome." he growled. "Very well, mongrel Master. I shall indulge your cowardice… for now."
Golden light swirled violently around him. The endless rain of Noble Phantasms vanished instantly as the Gate of Babylon closed. Archer's form dissolved into shimmering golden particles, forcibly retreating from the battlefield and returning to Tokiomi's side in a flash of prana.
The sudden silence after the bombardment felt heavy.
Down at the docks, everyone paused, weapons still raised, eyes turning toward the now-empty streetlight pole.
Saber lowered her invisible sword slightly, brow furrowed. "Archer… has withdrawn."
Lancer pulled back from his clash with Caster, glancing warily toward the duo.
The moment Archer vanished, the battlefield didn't calm, it only grew more unstable.
Berserker let out a guttural, inhuman roar. With no more golden weapons to chase, his hollow gaze locked onto Saber. Black mist exploded around his bulky frame as he charged straight at her, corrupted blade raised for a devastating overhead strike.
Saber barely managed to bring her invisible sword up in time. The clash rang out like thunder, forcing her back several steps. Fresh pain flared from the Gáe Buidhe wound in her side.
Lancer's face darkened with clear displeasure. He spun both spears and stepped forward.
"Berserker! Stand down!" he shouted. "Saber is my opponent! I will face her with honor!"
From the ground near the edge of the clearing, Eiji saw the perfect opening.
Space folded around him in a silent ripple. Eiji translocated in an instant, stepping out of reality and reappearing directly behind Kayneth on the elevated dock platform.
His katana was already drawn. The blade flashed as he lunged forward, aiming a clean strike at the magus's unprotected back.
Kayneth's eyes widened in shock at the sudden presence.
But he reacted instantly.
"By my Command Spell—!" he roared, slamming his hand down as one of the red marks burned brightly.
"—Lancer, come to me and protect your Master!"
The Command Spell activated with overwhelming force.
Lancer vanished from his position near Berserker and Saber, forcibly teleported right between Eiji and Kayneth. The crimson lance thrust forward at the exact moment Eiji's katana was about to connect with Kayneth's back.
CLANG!
Steel met divine spear with a violent spark. Lancer deflected the katana at the very last second, the impact sending Eiji skidding backward across the dock platform. Eiji nearly lost his balance but managed to steady himself, breathing harder now.
Kayneth spun around, face pale with rage and lingering fear.
"You filthy commoner!" he snarled. "How dare you try to assassinate me?!"
Lancer stood protectively in front of Kayneth, crimson lance pointed at Eiji. The boy kept his katana raised, breathing a little harder but refusing to back down. Below them, Berserker continued his mindless rampage, swinging his corrupted blade wildly at Saber, who was forced to defend while protecting Irisviel.
Rider, who had been watching everything, finally let out a loud, frustrated sigh.
"Enough of this pointless brawling!" he boomed, his voice carrying across the entire riverside. "This has become far too messy and tiresome for my liking."
With a sharp whistle, he leaped back onto his massive Gordius Wheel. The two divine bulls stamped their hooves, lightning crackling around the chariot as it roared to life.
Rider drove the war chariot straight forward in a thunderous charge, lightning trailing behind the spinning wheels. The massive vehicle slammed directly into Berserker with overwhelming force, sending the black knight flying backward across the clearing and crashing into the riverbank with a heavy splash.
The impact was so strong that the ground shook. Berserker roared in rage but was momentarily stunned by the sheer power of the divine bulls.
Rider brought the chariot to a dramatic stop in the center of the clearing, standing tall on it with his arms crossed. His red mantle fluttered in the wind as he looked around at all the gathered Servants and Masters.
"Listen well, all of you!" Rider declared in a loud, commanding voice. "This fighting has gone on long enough for one night. There is no honor or glory in this chaotic mess. I propose we end the battle here and continue another day. A proper Holy Grail War should be fought with dignity—not this ugly scramble!"
Rider's booming voice echoed across the riverside, his proposal hanging in the tense air.
For a moment, no one spoke. Then, one by one, the Servants began to accept.
Saber lowered her invisible sword completely, her expression calm but exhausted. "Very well. I accept this truce for tonight."
Lancer glanced up at Kayneth, who gave a reluctant nod despite his obvious irritation. The spearman lowered both of his weapons.
"I have no objection." Lancer said quietly. "We shall settle this another night."
Even Berserker, still half-submerged in the riverbank after being rammed by the chariot, stopped his mindless roaring. The black mist around him slowly receded as he retreated into the shadows without another word.
Rider grinned widely, satisfied. "Hah! A wise decision! Then it is settled. We shall meet again on a better stage!"
With a dramatic flourish, he cracked the reins. The Gordius Wheel roared to life in a burst of lightning and thunder, carrying both Rider and a very relieved Waver away into the night.
Kayneth shot one last venomous glare toward Eiji before turning sharply. "Lancer. We're leaving." The two of them disappeared into the darkness, Lancer casting one final glance back at Saber before following his Master.
The riverside clearing grew quiet after the others had left. Rider's chariot had thundered away, Kayneth and Lancer had disappeared into the night, and Berserker's mad presence had faded back into the shadows.
Only four figures remained.
Saber stood tall, one hand still pressed lightly against the cursed wound on her side. Irisviel stayed close beside her, eyes wary as she watched the blue-haired Caster and the small boy standing a short distance away.
Eiji and Caster didn't leave right away.
He looked at Saber and Irisviel quietly for a moment, his small hands tucked into his pockets. His mind was racing.
'Saber… Artoria Pendragon. If the corrupted Grail shows up at the end and if Angra Mainyu really wakes up—she's probably the only one here with enough raw firepower to destroy it in one blow. Besides goldy, no one else can match her Excalibur. If I want any chance of stopping that black mud… I need her on my side.'
He took a small step forward.
Saber's emerald eyes sharpened instantly, her invisible sword still held ready. Irisviel tensed, clearly wary of the unknown pair.
Eiji spoke first, his voice calm but serious.
"I know you're both wary of us. That's fair. But… I want to propose something."
He looked directly at Saber.
"I want to form an alliance with you. Not just for tonight but for the rest of the war."
Saber's expression remained guarded. "An alliance? How can we trust you?"
Eiji didn't hesitate.
"I made the bleeding on your wound stop, didn't I?" he said simply, pointing lightly at her side. "If I wanted you dead or weakened, I could have just done nothing and let that yellow spear's curse do its job. But I helped instead. That should count for something, right?"
Irisviel's eyes widened slightly in realization. Saber glanced down at her own wound, then back at the boy, her expression softening just a fraction.
Eiji continued, choosing his words carefully.
"I don't want the Grail for the usual wish. I just… don't want everything to go to hell at the end. If we work together, we might actually have a chance to stop the worst parts before they happen."
Then, from the shadows behind Saber, a calm, low voice spoke.
"Let's talk somewhere else."
Kiritsugu Emiya stepped out into the open, hands in the pockets of his dark coat, his expression cold and calculating as always. He had been watching from a distance the entire time.
Saber turned to him, surprised. "Kiritsugu?"
Kiritsugu gave a small nod toward Eiji.
"Not here. Too exposed. If you're serious about this alliance, take us somewhere private."
Eiji scratched his cheek. "I can only bring myself with my ability… so just follow me. It's not far."
He turned and started walking. Caster fell into step beside him with his usual lazy stride. After a moment of hesitation, Saber, Irisviel, and Kiritsugu followed.
...
The next scene cuts to Eiji's home, a modest but surprisingly well-secured safehouse on the quieter outskirts of the city.
The group had just arrived through the front door. The moment they stepped inside, Caster let out a long, satisfied sigh.
"Ahhh, finally. My feet were starting to get tired."
Without any shame whatsoever, Cu walked straight over to the old couch in the living room and flopped down onto it, stretching out like he owned the place. He even threw one arm behind his head and closed his eyes, looking completely relaxed.
Saber, Irisviel, and Kiritsugu all froze in the entrance, staring at the blue-haired Servant in dumbfounded silence.
Kiritsugu's eyebrow twitched, the closest he ever came to showing open surprise.
Saber's mouth opened slightly, then closed again. The King of Knights looked genuinely lost for words at the Servant's shameless behavior right after such a serious night.
Eiji rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little embarrassed.
"Uh… yeah. Cu does that. He's really laid-back. Don't mind him."
Caster cracked one red eye open from the couch and gave a lazy wave with two fingers.
"Make yourselves comfortable. The couch is taken, but there are chairs. Want some tea? I can make some if you want."
The three guests stood there awkwardly, still processing the sudden shift from tense riverside standoff to this strangely casual living room.
Eiji sighed softly and gestured toward the table and chairs in the center of the room.
"…So. Let's talk about that alliance."
Eiji sat down on the opposite side of the table, small hands resting on his knees. He took a breath, choosing his words carefully.
"My name's Amamiya Eiji. I'm an orphan. I don't really know much about my origins… I woke up one day with almost no memories. A mage named Touko took me in. She found me wandering around, taught me some basics about magecraft, and helped me survive. She's the one who gave me a place to stay and helped me figure out how to use my spatial ability. Without her, I probably wouldn't have made it this far."
Kiritsugu's gaze didn't waver. "Touko… Aozaki Touko?"
Eiji nodded. "Yeah. That's her. She's been keeping an eye on me, but she's not involved in the war. She just… helped me get on my feet."
Kiritsugu leaned back slightly, processing the information before pressing on.
"And now you're a Master with a Caster-class Servant. A child. Why enter the Holy Grail War at all if you don't want the Grail for a wish?"
Eiji looked down at the table. His fingers tightened on the edge. For a long moment he stayed silent, clearly hesitating. "Should I really tell them this?" he thought. "If I say too much they might think I'm crazy… or lying. But if I don't say anything, the alliance falls apart anyway…"
He finally lifted his head, voice quieter than before.
"Because this war is going to get a lot worse than you think. There are things coming… things that none of the other Servants can handle properly."
He paused again, then forced the words out.
"I… I learned about it from some old, hidden records Touko had access to. She showed me stuff about the previous Grail Wars, things most people aren't supposed to know. That's how I found out."
Eiji looked straight at Saber.
"During the Third Holy Grail War, the Einzbern family summoned something they shouldn't have. They called forth Avenger—Angra Mainyu, the embodiment of all the world's evil. He was defeated… but when he died, his corrupted essence poured into the Grail. That's when the Grail became tainted. The black mud you might see later… that's him slowly leaking out."
He kept going, voice steady but serious.
"Every Grail since then has been feeding on that corruption. The 'wish-granting' machine everyone's fighting for… it's broken. If it ever fully activates in this war, the mud will spill out everywhere. It won't just grant wishes. It'll twist them. It'll destroy Fuyuki. Maybe even more. You're the only one here besides Archer who has the kind of power that can end it cleanly. Excalibur is probably the only Noble Phantasm strong enough to wipe out the corruption in one strike before it spreads."
The room went dead silent.
Saber's face went pale. Her hand unconsciously tightened around the hilt of her invisible sword until her knuckles turned white. The proud King of Knights looked genuinely devastated.
Kiritsugu stared at Eiji without blinking. Then, in a flat, cold voice that cut through the silence like a blade, he asked:
"You expect me to believe that?"
His eyes were hard, almost mocking, but there was a flicker of something deeper behind them—anger, disbelief, and the first crack of fear that his carefully planned war might be built on a lie.
Eiji didn't look away. "I know it sounds insane. But I'm not making it up. Touko showed me records from the Third War that most people never get to see. That's how I know. I'm telling you because if we don't do something about the corruption, none of us are getting out of this war alive… or sane."
Kiritsugu's jaw clenched. He didn't reply immediately, letting the heavy silence hang in the air a little longer.
"…Explain more. Everything you know. Now. And if this is some kind of trick, boy… I'll make sure you regret it."
Eiji nodded slowly, heart pounding but trying to stay calm.
"Okay. I'll tell you everything."
The fragile alliance had just become a lot more complicated.
...
The front door of Eiji's safehouse clicked shut behind them.
Kiritsugu, Saber, and Irisviel walked in silence down the quiet street, the night air cool and heavy after everything that had been said inside. Caster and Eiji had stayed behind, giving them space to talk privately as they left.
Irisviel was the first to speak. She kept her voice low, glancing back once at the house before turning to her husband.
"Kiritsugu… do you think Eiji is telling the truth?"
Kiritsugu didn't answer right away. His hands stayed in the pockets of his dark coat, footsteps steady on the pavement. His face was as unreadable as ever, but the tension in his jaw was obvious.
After a long moment he finally spoke, voice flat and measured.
"I don't know."
Saber walked on Kiritsugu's other side, her expression still pale and troubled. She kept one hand lightly pressed against her bandaged side, the curse from Gáe Buidhe still throbbing beneath the spatial compression Eiji had applied.
"His words… they were too specific." she said quietly. "The Third Holy Grail War. Angra Mainyu. The corruption inside the Grail. No ordinary child would know those details. And yet… believing him means accepting that everything we are fighting for is already poisoned."
Irisviel bit her lip, worry clear in her eyes.
"But he helped you, Saber. He slowed the bleeding when my healing couldn't. He didn't have to do that. And the way he talked about the black mud… it didn't feel like a lie. It felt like he was scared of it."
Kiritsugu's gaze stayed fixed straight ahead.
"Even if he's telling the truth, it changes nothing about our objective right now." he said coldly. "We still need the Grail. But if what he says is real… then we can't let it activate fully. Using the boy and his Caster as temporary allies makes sense. They have useful abilities, and the child seems genuinely convinced. We'll watch them closely. If he's lying or hiding something, we'll deal with it later."
He glanced sideways at Saber.
"Can you fight with them? Knowing what he just told us?"
Saber was quiet for a few steps. Then she gave a single, firm nod, her voice steady despite the devastation still lingering in her eyes.
"If there is even a chance that the Grail is corrupted… then I must see this through. I will not allow an evil like that to spread."
Irisviel reached out and gently touched Saber's arm, offering silent support.
The three of them continued walking into the night, the weight of Eiji's words hanging over them like a shadow. The alliance had been formed… but trust was still a long way off.
...
The front door clicked shut as Kiritsugu, Saber, and Irisviel stepped out into the night.
Eiji stood by the window for a moment, watching their silhouettes disappear down the quiet street. The living room felt strangely empty now that the heavy conversation was over.
Caster was still sprawled lazily on the couch, one arm behind his head, red eyes half-lidded. He let out a long, dramatic sigh.
"Well… that could've gone better."
Eiji turned away from the window and dropped onto the chair across from him, rubbing his face with both hands.
"Yeah, no kidding." he muttered. "I felt a sniper pointed at me the whole time we were talking. Through the window. Probably his other companion—the one who was with him at the docks earlier. The woman with the binoculars."
Caster cracked one eye open a little wider, a lazy grin tugging at his lips.
"Sharp as always, kid. I noticed her too. She was good, kept her position nice and quiet. Didn't move once. You've got decent instincts."
Eiji leaned back in the chair, letting his head rest against the wall. He looked exhausted.
"I knew they wouldn't fully trust me after I dropped all that stuff about the Grail and Angra Mainyu… but I had to say it. If I held back, the alliance would've been useless anyway." He clicked his tongue softly. "Still… seeing Saber's face when I told her the Grail was corrupted… that sucked."
Caster was quiet for a second.
Then—
SMACK!
A firm but not-too-hard smack landed on the back of Eiji's head.
"Ow—!" Eiji yelped, rubbing the spot and glaring at his Servant. "What was that for?!"
"That," he said, "was for not telling your own Servant about the corrupted Grail and Angra Mainyu beforehand, you little idiot. Here I was thinking we were just here to survive the war, and suddenly you're dropping 'the Grail is actually a cursed evil bomb' on everyone. I almost choked on my own spit when you started talking about the Third War."
Eiji rubbed his head, pouting. "I was going to tell you! Eventually! It's not like I had a good time to bring it up before tonight…"
Caster gave him another light flick on the forehead for good measure.
"'Eventually' doesn't cut it when we're making alliances, Master. Next time you decide to reveal that the Holy Grail is basically a doomsday device, give your poor Servant a heads-up first."
Eiji grumbled under his breath, still rubbing the back of his head.
"…Fine. Sorry. I'll tell you important stuff earlier next time."
Caster leaned back again with a satisfied grin, clearly enjoying himself.
"Good boy. Now get some rest. You did good tonight—even if your delivery was terrible and you almost gave the King of Knights an existential crisis."
Eiji sighed deeply and sank further into the chair.
"Yeah… tonight was way too long. I'm starting to really hate this war."
The workshop fell quiet again, only the faint sound of the distant city drifting in through the window.
Caster's voice drifted over lazily one last time.
"By the way… that sniper was definitely ready to shoot you if things went south. You've got guts, kid."
Eiji just groaned and close his eyes.