Only after the giant finished speaking did Webber hear the engine's roar drawing closer, rolling in with overwhelming force.
The black knight in a suit burst through the trees and approached Webber beneath the moonlight. Behind him, a girl in strange clothes held tightly around his waist, her magical energy incredibly abundant.
"C... Caster!" As a Master, Webber recognized the girl's true identity at a glance. He threw back his head and screamed.
To be honest, before this, he had completely forgotten about the Holy Grail War, immersed only in the joy of having summoned a Heroic Spirit.
But now, the arrival of another opposing pair made Webber realize once again that he was in the middle of a war.
A war where lives were on the line, where death could come at any moment.
"What are you panicking for?!" His scream was cut short. The red-haired giant stared at the motorcycle, which showed no signs of slowing, his eyes shining. "Is this the mount of this age? Truly magnificent!"
The Rider-class's innate skill, "Riding," told him that this steel beast was undoubtedly an excellent mount.
"Is this really the time to talk about that?! They're about to crash into us!"
Watching the motorcycle charge at them like a black comet, the giant ignored his Master's panic and burst into laughter.
"So, this is a contest of bearing right from the start? Then let's make some noise!"
The broad man in the red cape drew the sword at his waist, raised it over his head, and let out a resounding shout.
"Iskandar, King of Conquerors, shall claim dominion over the world with a single stroke of this sword!"
After shouting, Rider swung his sword fiercely through empty air. A thunderous boom shook the surrounding atmosphere.
"What is this?!" Miyu, seated behind Sakutsuki, poked her head out and stared at the scene before her in shock.
The giant's sword tore open the void, splitting it into a wide gash that curled inward. From within emerged a massive chariot. Two enormous bulls suffused with divine aura raised their heads and bellowed toward the sky, their stamping forehooves flashing with dazzling lightning. A wild thunderstorm descended from above, striking at the tiny humans on the ground.
"If you wish to have an audience with me, then pass this trial, Caster's Master!"
"Then as you wish, King of Conquerors!"
Answering the king's challenge loudly, the young man displayed unbelievable skill despite being in an unquestionable death trap. At extreme speed, he controlled the motorcycle through several sharp changes in direction, weaving through the net of lightning like flickering blue-green fluorescence. He came to a steady stop before Webber and Rider.
Moonlight traced the motorcycle's sleek contours. Amid the white smoke kicked up by the tires' high-speed friction, the young man in a long suit placed a hand over his chest and bowed with calm dignity.
"Master Sakutsuki and his Servant have come to pay a visit!"
Under normal circumstances, Heroic Spirit Summoning could not possibly summon Miyu, but the protagonist himself was an anomaly. Some things would become clear later on~
"Excellent!" The red giant took in Sakutsuki's performance and shouted his approval, offering him thunderous applause.
"To think that I would witness such splendid bearing the moment I manifested! Good! Very good! Caster's Master, state your purpose!"
After a slight bow, the young man straightened up. Facing the imposing king, he smiled without the slightest hint of servility.
"I came to request an alliance."
"An alliance?" Webber peeked out from behind his Servant, utterly incredulous. "The Holy Grail War has only just begun, hasn't it? You're already making alliances? And besides, you still haven't explained how you found me. How am I supposed to trust you?"
Faced with such intense questioning, Sakutsuki's face retained its unhurried smile. "Since Alexander the Great, the born conqueror, has returned to the world, how could I not come greet him with joy in my heart?"
"Ugh!" Only then did Webber realize the problem. He could not help shooting the giant beside him a resentful look.
"So we've been exposed after all..."
Iskandar was the Persian name for Alexander III.
And his epithet, Dhu al-Qarnayn, the Two-Horned King, was also widely known.
His eastern campaigns had made his martial prowess known throughout the Islamic world. As for why such a True Name had been exposed...
That declaration—"Iskandar, King of Conquerors, shall claim dominion over the world with a single stroke of this sword!"—had been loud enough that, on a battlefield, even the enemy's warhorses would likely have had their legs tremble in fear.
But in the Holy Grail War, announcing one's own name was no different from exposing one's weaknesses. Once a Heroic Spirit's True Name was identified, one could search history for a way to defeat them.
Yet Rider not only ignored Webber's complaints, but laughed even more loudly.
"As a king of conquest, I disdain such sneaky, evasive foolishness. Freely embarking upon conquest is my kingly path!"
"Exactly so!" The golden-eyed young man echoed the king's declaration. Meeting Webber's evasive gaze directly, he spoke sincerely. "Although I believe Caster's assistance gives me wings, King of Conquerors, you should know that the Saber, Lancer, and Archer summoned in this Holy Grail War all possess Magic Resistance. If I encounter them, things will become very troublesome for me."
"Magic Resistance? That's the ability to resist magical energy, right?" Hearing this, Webber instinctively checked Rider's status and, as expected, found the skill "Magic Resistance D." Yet its excessively low rank made him frown.
Webber really was easy to read now... Sakutsuki, standing across from him, twitched the corner of his mouth. Iskandar had clearly realized his Master's immaturity as well, so he simply picked Webber up and shielded him behind his back before continuing.
"So, you want to ally with me in order to deal with the three classes that possess Magic Resistance?"
"Exactly. While the King of Conquerors naturally does not fear the three knight classes, we are already at a disadvantage. Naturally, we should find a great pillar to rely on."
"Then what can you offer me?" Iskandar stepped forward, mockery on his face. "If you're thinking of getting something for nothing, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
"Of course not." Sakutsuki gave what seemed to be a helpless bitter smile. "There is no point hiding it now, so I may as well be honest—my adorable Servant possesses a special magecraft that can track the aura of Servants."
"What?" Startled, Webber sprang out again. Pointing at Miyu, who stood quietly behind Sakutsuki, he said in disbelief, "She can use that kind of magecraft? Doesn't that mean you can easily find where other Masters are hiding? No wonder you found us so quickly!"
Information was crucial in the Holy Grail War. If one could obtain an opponent's information first, that was practically half the battle won!
"Yes, this gentleman is indeed intelligent. As expected of the Master capable of summoning the King of Conquerors." Sakutsuki casually praised him while unobtrusively taking Miyu's hand.
Sakutsuki's praise left Webber dizzy with delight, and he could not help showing a foolish grin. "I-it's not like I'm that good..."
In any case, if they had an ally supplying them with information, he and Rider could conserve their strength and use the Rider class's exceptional mobility to launch attacks on other groups at any time. To Webber, it was undeniably an enticing proposal.
After clearing his throat a few times, Webber put on an air of mature composure and turned to his Servant. "Rider, if what he says is true, then we really could—"
With a sharp smack, a merciless forehead flick rang through the night. Miyu's delicate body trembled in fright, while Webber clutched his swollen forehead and crouched down with tears in his eyes.
Other than the raised middle finger of his right hand, Rider looked as though nothing had happened. He turned toward Sakutsuki in front of him and asked.
"Come to think of it, I haven't asked your name yet."
"Sakutsuki. Just call me Sakutsuki."
"Sakutsuki, is it? Mm, mm, that is quite an interesting name." The red-haired giant nodded solemnly, then suddenly asked, "Sakutsuki, there is something I wish to ask."
"...Go ahead." This time, Sakutsuki truly smiled bitterly.
Iskandar scratched his hair and spoke as though greatly troubled. "I have fought across many lands, and I have met quite a few magi who wished to surrender. But you are the first I have encountered who came in person rather than communicating through a familiar."
"On the other hand, warriors who think themselves strong, pretend to surrender, and then seek to assassinate me have often appeared before my throne." By this point, the King of Conquerors was no longer concealing his killing intent.
"R-right!" Rider's reminder made Webber forget his pain. He instinctively raised his head and looked at the young man who called himself "weak," standing openly before them with his Servant.
Had the Holy Grail War's unusual nature made him forget the essence of magi?
Magi were stubborn people who holed up in Magic Workshops and would never leave unless absolutely necessary!
How could they possibly appear before a Servant without any precautions?
Facing Rider's group as they became wary, Sakutsuki sighed. "As a wise king who can distinguish right from wrong, you should be able to sense my sincerity in seeking an alliance."
"That is true. You do indeed wish to ally with me." Iskandar had already drawn the Sword of Cyprus, its blade aimed straight at Sakutsuki. "Frankly, your terms are tempting. I nearly agreed."
"Then why—"
"But!" The roar startled even Webber. The rough-featured King of Conquerors glared furiously and shouted, "From beginning to end, you never said that you would give up the Holy Grail! Since you chose to stand in the path of my conquest, we are enemies!"
"Come forth, Gordius Wheel!"
Dark clouds swept across the sky. The impatient giant bulls snorted and charged forth from the void, purple lightning bursting along their path like the wrath of Zeus descending from the heavens.
Grabbing his timid Master by the collar, Rider leaped up and landed steadily atop the chariot, roaring as he charged at Sakutsuki.
"Feel the power of the King of Conquerors, then obediently offer up your head and your mount! I had my eye on that handsome chariot from the very beginning!"
"You didn't refuse the alliance just because you wanted to take Sakutsuki's motorcycle, did you?!" Webber curled up atop the thunderous chariot, his face nearly green.
"How could that be? Hahaha...!" Amid laughter that only made his excuse more suspicious, Gordius Wheel descended from the sky and raced after the golden-eyed young man.
"Boom—!"
"Boom—!"
If it had crashed into an unguarded human body, the sound of flesh and bone being crushed would surely have been drowned out by the rolling thunder.
Therefore, such a tremendous sound could not have come from an egg striking a stone, but from a violent clash of equal force!
But what could withstand such a powerful chariot charge?
The answer was Miyu's attack, as a Servant herself!
"Fire!"
Drawing upon all her magical energy for maximum output, a beam of light surged from the Sapphire Wand. Supported by Miyu's exceptionally outstanding Magic Circuits, the powerful blast held Gordius Wheel at bay for a moment before finally dissipating, halting Iskandar's charge.
Holding the reins, Iskandar exclaimed, "So this is Caster's power? I never expected the little girl to look so cool and aloof while actually being this wild."
"It's not good to describe a girl as wild, especially such a cute girl as Miyu." With the alliance request rejected, Sakutsuki no longer needed to pretend to be deferential. He climbed onto the Kawasaki Ninja H2R and smiled as he refuted him.
"Oh, you're leaving now, mage named Sakutsuki?" From atop the chariot, Iskandar raised his thick, short red eyebrows and provoked him. "Will you now scurry back into your Magic Workshop like a mouse and wait in terror for my army to descend upon you?"
"Fire!" In the face of Rider's mockery, Miyu fired shotgun-like spheres of magical energy without hesitation. They flew at Iskandar from every direction, forcing him to snap the reins and evade attacks that might not harm a Servant but could inflict immense damage on a Master.
Taking advantage of that opening, Sakutsuki did not start the motorcycle and leave. Instead, as though answering Iskandar's words, he raised his left hand high.
"Starting a battle at this time would only benefit the other Masters, but since the King of Conquerors has spoken, it would be improper for me not to return the favor—exchange, space!"
"Damn it, he's using magecraft!" Enduring the urge to vomit, Webber kept his eyes fixed on Sakutsuki's movements. A moment later, his expression changed. "How is that possible? Why have I never seen such a method of casting at the Clock Tower?"
"Stop spacing out, brat!" The sturdy Sword of Cyprus swung out, knocking away a sphere of magical energy that had nearly struck Webber. Rider's expression was grim as he drove the chariot through the relentlessly pursuing spheres. "Anything can happen on a battlefield. Rather than wasting time being shocked, take a look and tell me what we should do!"
Rider's reminder brought Webber back to himself, but their perilous situation gave rise to a new wave of shock. Countless glowing orbs containing lethal magical energy followed behind Gordius Wheel like ghosts. Even when some were destroyed by bursting lightning, new ones quickly took their place and continued the tireless pursuit.
That alone would have been bad enough, but what was even stranger was that the magical energy spheres which had clearly left the chariot's range suddenly reappeared near it after passing through diamond-shaped gates. Some even broke through the divine lightning's blockade and flew straight at Webber!
"So he really is behind this!" Frantically dodging the spheres, Webber could not help looking toward the young man on the ground with his left hand raised. "Attacking a Master directly? That's truly despicable!"
"You can't say that, brat." The one refuting him was none other than Webber's Servant, Rider. "One should do anything necessary for victory. If you want to blame someone, blame your own weakness—or say that we were not cautious enough and allowed the enemy to seize our weakness first."
"Rider! You bastard!" Webber flew into a rage at his own Servant's mockery. But the magical sphere split before his eyes was like a basin of icy water thrown over him. Under the pressure of death, after racking his brains, he finally gave his first command as a Master. "Unleash the lightning at full power and suppress this entire area, Rider!"
"Are you sure? If you do that, the burden on you will be immense." Iskandar glanced sideways at Webber, doubt in his tone.
Webber Velvet, a student of the Clock Tower, was frequently scorned by other families and professors because his family's mage lineage had only lasted three generations. Dissatisfied with his professor Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald's conduct, he had stolen his professor's Heroic Spirit relic to participate in this Holy Grail War. Incidentally, the quality of his Magic Circuits was below average.
If Rider fully unleashed his Noble Phantasm, Webber's meager magical energy would likely be drained dry very quickly. At that point, it would be difficult to withstand Caster's attacks.
"Don't talk like you know better! Do you think dragging this out will do us any good? My magical energy is almost gone, idiot!" Under normal circumstances, Webber would surely have exploded in rage at those words. But the current situation did not allow him to argue. He could only glare fiercely at Rider and command him again. "Aim at Caster and release your Noble Phantasm, now!"
"Then I'll do as you say, brat!" Rider did not hesitate. He completely unleashed the chariot's power. "Advance, toward the distant horizon ten thousand miles away! Gordius Wheel!"
Lightning blazed and thunder roared. Amid the irritable lowing of the two divine bulls, pillar-thick bolts of lightning swept in every direction as though they would shatter the surrounding space itself. At last, they carried the chariot straight toward the flower-like purple girl.
"Oh my, the spatial exchange has been broken." Before Gordius Wheel could arrive, the golden-eyed young man lowered his left hand. With an inscrutable smile, he snapped his fingers again and reappeared at the other end with Miyu and his beloved motorcycle.
"Boom!" Rider's attack naturally missed. The full force of its aftermath struck the ground, throwing earth several meters into the air before lightning blasted it apart. Through the black smoke, Rider's sharp gaze fixed upon Sakutsuki and Miyu, his eyes filled with gravity.
"Cough, cough, cough..." The flying dust made Webber cough violently, but his gaze toward Sakutsuki remained defiant. "You have Caster launch the attacks, then use your magecraft to guide their trajectory, creating an effect similar to target tracking. I never expected you to devise a tactic specifically against me so quickly."
"It is merely a tactical advantage. If anything was unexpected, I also did not expect you to realize the problem so quickly and use your Servant's power to disrupt my magical guidance." Sakutsuki held Miyu's hand and smiled at the youthful-faced Webber. "The probing ends here."
Hearing that, Webber instinctively clenched his right hand. The three markings on the back of it glowed faintly. "Come on, we'll accompany you to the—"
"Beautiful nights are always so short. Let us happily say goodbye!" Before Webber could finish his threat, Sakutsuki and Miyu had already climbed onto the motorcycle, started the engine, twisted the handle, and driven away in one smooth motion. "Until next time, Iskandar, King of Conquerors—and Queen!"
"Huh?" Webber had already prepared to use a Command Spell, only for Sakutsuki to simply leave. "You're just leaving like that, coward! And what do you mean, Queen?!"
A broad hand slapped his shoulder, making Webber stagger. Rider laughed heartily, looking nothing like someone whose magical energy had been exhausted. "Isn't this good, brat? If we kept fighting, we really would have had to fight to the death, you know?"
Without waiting for Webber to retort, the red-haired giant continued in his cheerful voice. "Your decision this time was excellent. I'm beginning to see you in a new light, brat—Master!"
"T-that goes without saying!" Webber snorted and turned his head away in embarrassment. "A-anyway, hurry up and go back to rest, idiot!"
A moment later, Gordius Wheel set off once more, racing toward the horizon and disappearing into the devastated forest.
Not long after Rider's group departed, a shadow appeared in the mixed woodland. After searching futilely for a while, it swept its cloak around itself and vanished as well.
Before you continue