Or, you guys find another savior

Artoria, standing atop a shipping container, looked out at the battlefield in the warehouse district.

On one side was Morgan's Master, Xi Jianxi.

On the other was the Servant Lancer.

The battle wasn't one-sided. Before arriving, Artoria had even thought the lightning magic she'd just witnessed was the work of a Servant.

In reality, it was quite the opposite.

The warehouse district was covered in ice, impossible for the season.

Xi Jianxi, amidst the ice, had a few tears in his clothes but no obvious injuries. He looked a little disheveled.

However, compared to Lancer, who was half-kneeling, supporting himself with his longer red spear and holding his shorter yellow spear in a defensive stance, he was faring much better.

Residual electricity coursed through Lancer Diarmuid's body, leaving scorch marks from being directly hit by lightning.

The moment Xi Jian began casting the Grand Magic known as "Thunder Reign," Lancer's Master had immediately ordered him to unseal his Noble Phantasm.

Diarmuid knew that without the special ability of his red spear, "Gae Buidhe," even a Servant wouldn't have emerged unscathed from that lightning strike.

"It can break and defend against magic, but it can't completely interfere with magic that has already been cast... and you have two spears, one long and one short." Xi Jian brushed some dust off his shoulder. "And you recognize the Celtic warrior formation, 'Qualities of the Shallow Brook.' Lancer, I know your True Name now."

Lancer showed no reaction. Once a battle reached a certain point, Noble Phantasms would inevitably have to be unsealed due to the danger posed by the enemy.

A Magus with thorough preparation for the Holy Grail War could naturally deduce Diarmuid's True Name from the red and yellow Demon Spears.

What was more troublesome was that Saber and Berserker, who had been fighting earlier, had stopped and arrived nearby to spectate. Seeing them standing side-by-side, Lancer worried that the two sides had reached a consensus to cooperate, which would be very disadvantageous for him and his Master.

Just as Lancer was about to advise his Master to retreat, Berserker suddenly summoned a weapon and threw it at Xi Jianxi.

The weapon didn't pierce Xi Jian's body, but was firmly lodged diagonally in the hard, frozen ground.

"Borrowing this weapon, settle the fight quickly," Morgan said casually.

Lancer saw Xi Jian looking like he wanted to get angry but couldn't. He reached out, grabbed Morgan's weapon, and pulled it out.

"Hey, hey, who's the Master here—"

Chapter 14: The Disruptor Arrives

Observing the battle, besides Kiritsugu Emiya, Kirei, and Tokiomi Tohsaka's pairs, Rider Iskandar and his Master Waver Velvet were also sitting on the crossbeam above the Ami River Bridge, watching from afar.

From there, they had a clear view of not only the seaside park but also the battle in the warehouses.

"This is bad," Iskandar said with a grave expression.

"What's bad?" Waver asked, shivering in the cold wind as he lay on the crossbeam.

"That guy, likely Berserker's Master, is going to win," Iskandar said. "If this continues, Lancer will be eliminated."

Waver was about to say that wouldn't that be more advantageous for their side, but the next moment he was so surprised he forgot his fear of heights. "Impossible! How can a Master possibly defeat a Servant alone!"

"That's why I say it's bad!" Iskandar's deep voice was clearly audible even in the night wind. "Saber and Berserker, who were fighting at sea earlier, have also stopped and rushed over there. And they even received the weapon Berserker lent out."

"Huh?" Waver was starting to fall behind on the situation.

"Without a weapon, just relying on his bare hands and magic, he could suppress Lancer. With a weapon, it's like adding wings to a tiger!" Iskandar roared with laughter. "To think there's such a warrior in this era! I wish I could recruit him under my banner right now as my top general for conquering the world!"

It was indeed Iskandar's wish to encounter other Servants in the Holy Grail War and conquer them, taking them into his service.

But in this era, where mystery had long since declined for over a thousand years, to have warriors comparable to the Age of Gods, such a warrior should not be missed, whether as an enemy or a valuable general, if one intended to conquer this era.

"But didn't you plan to attack after they were both weakened!"

"I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spar with heroes from different eras, even facing six at once. But if I can recruit talented individuals before that, it's also a way of commanding troops."

Iskandar let out a fierce and dangerous low growl from his throat, like the rumble of a Mighty Lion, but the upturned corners of his mouth looked like a smile.

"It would be too much of a shame if they were to fall into a free-for-all now and someone were to die."

"Wouldn't it be better if they died? Whether it's the Master or the Servant, isn't the Holy Grail War all about mutual slaughter, wah wah—"

Waver tried to scold Iskandar hysterically but was interrupted by a flick to the forehead from the latter.

"Victory without destruction; dominion without humiliation. That is true 'conquest'!"

Iskandar drew the sword at his waist and swung it through the air, cleaving space.

Surging magic poured out, and a resplendent Noble Phantasm, a chariot, appeared with the flow of magic. Waver, who had ducked down, desperately held onto the bridge's rebar to avoid being blown away by the swirling wind.

"That's enough of the show. Let's go, kid!"

"Idiot, idiot, idiot! Your actions are completely inexplicable!"

"Hmm? If you're not happy, stay here and watch?"

"I'm going! You idiot! Take me with you!"

"Excellent, that's my Master!"

Iskandar grabbed Waver by the collar and leaped onto the Noble Phantasm chariot—the "Gordian Wheel"—heading towards the battlefield at the bay warehouses.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Xi Jian held Morgan's weapon in his hand, secretly marveling at its balance. As a weapon, it was top-notch.

He casually twirled the spear with one hand, his left hand forward, his right hand holding the spear behind him.

Lancer's cheek was slick with a bead of sweat.

With just a glance, he could tell this young man was skilled with a spear, perhaps even proficient in archery and horsemanship.

The thought of retreating was temporarily cut off. As another spear user, Diarmuid was eager to test the current era's spear techniques.

The strong wind whipped at their clothes, making a flapping sound.

"Magic or spearplay, Lancer, which way do you wish to die?"

"A Master forced to the front lines by their Servant is the one who dies without a burial place, nameless Magus."

Diarmuid returned Xi Jianxi's provocation, carefully observing the opponent's next killing move and cautiously closing the distance.

He could tell Xi Jianxi was adept at quickly unleashing large-scale magic, which must consume a significant amount of mana, otherwise, he wouldn't be wielding the weapon Berserker had thrown.

Therefore, he needed to close the distance as much as possible, to the point where even if magic were unleashed, both of them would be caught in the blast. This would force the opponent to prioritize close-quarters combat.

What a strange weapon, is it a spear, an axe, or a magic staff? Diarmuid wondered, observing the weapon.

Both tensed their bodies, ready to spring.

Just then, the cold and clear sense of pressure was shattered by a sudden, thunderous roar.

"What is that!"

Artoria, observing the battlefield, looked towards the sky in the southeast.

An object in the night sky emitted flashing purple lightning, hurtling from space directly towards Xi Jianxi and Lancer's location.

"A chariot?" Morgan narrowed her eyes slightly. It must be Rider.

The chariot was pulled by two bulls. As they galloped forward, treading on the void, purple lightning shot out like a spiderweb, shaking the atmosphere with booming thunder. Each thunderous roar released a vast amount of mana, enough to rival the pressure felt during Morgan and Artoria's clash.

A chariot capable of producing such an effect must be a Noble Phantasm.

And a Servant who could possess a chariot Noble Phantasm was most likely a Rider-class Servant.

"Vacuum Wave."

Diarmuid heard the words uttered by Xi Jianxi. He watched as the latter drew in the air with his finger, Rune characters flashing briefly. A towering tornado then surged forth, blocking the direct path of the approaching chariot.

"UOOOOOHHHH—!!"

Instead of stopping, Rider shook the reins and charged straight into the tornado.

The collision of the two powers instantly detonated. The blast wave generated from the point of impact forced the observing Masters and Servants to resist with all their might, toppling many of the shipping containers on either side.

After a brief stalemate between the two powers, the chariot tore through the tornado and stopped on the frozen road between Xi Jianxi and Diarmuid.

"Ho ho ho— To greet the King's arrival in such a manner, your courage is commendable. It makes me even more reluctant to let you go."

Iskandar, far from being angered, saw through Xi Jianxi's magic as a signal.

If he wished to intervene in this battle, he would have to pay a corresponding price.

"Truly magnificent wind-controlling magic. Even under my command, I have no talent like yours," Iskandar praised without reservation. "How about it? Won't you come under my command? I'll make you a court mage, second only to me!"

"No need, that sounds like a terrible hassle..."

In stark contrast to his deadly combat style, Xi Jianxi's attitude was quite laid-back.

It looks like I'll have to stay up late tonight, he thought to himself.

Chapter 15: King of Conquerors Iskandar

Being so readily refused, Iskandar, the founder who once ruled the Alexandrian Empire, experienced a rare moment of doubt regarding his own charismatic appeal.

Of course, this illusion was fleeting.

Rider muttered in embarrassment, rubbing his temple with his knuckle. Though the action looked quite amusing, it did nothing to diminish his imposing demeanor.

He was truly a person with an exceptionally unique presence.

Only someone like him could stand above all others and rule an entire nation.

"Perhaps I haven't made the benefits clear. After all, young people these days worry about making a living—" the King of Conquerors continued.

Xi Jianxi lightly tapped the frozen ground with Morgan's Demon Spear. "A Servant whose true name I don't even know suddenly appears and offers me a job. How am I supposed to know if this grandly packaged entrance isn't just a ploy to steal my magic circuits and engravings?"

"Hahahaha!" Iskandar let out a hearty laugh.

Xi Jianxi ignored his laughter and slowly moved around the obstruction of the chariot, looking at Lancer. He exuded an aura that, despite the interruption, wouldn't hinder his fight with Lancer.

"Hmph..."

Although Lancer was on high alert due to the new Servant entering the battlefield, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pleasure and let out a hum of amusement at the pure intent Xi Jianxi conveyed regarding their battle.

"Both of you, lay down your weapons! You are now in the presence of the King!"

Seeing that both of them intended to resume fighting, Rider spoke loudly and unhurriedly.

The clear intention to interfere caused both Lancer and Xi Jianxi to stop once more.

After all, if they were to fight again, there was a Servant with a displayed Noble Phantasm nearby, ready to charge forward with that chariot Noble Phantasm at any moment.

"I am Iskandar, the King of Conquerors! I have appeared in this Holy Grail War by obtaining the Rider seat!"

Everyone present was even more astonished this time. In the battlefield of the Holy Grail War, one's true name was a key to victory, and it was unheard of for a Servant to reveal their true name. However, the most surprised among everyone was Waver, who was crouched in the driver's seat next to Rider.

"W-what are you thinking?! You idiot~~~~~~~~~!"

Overwhelmed by extreme panic and confusion, Waver had forgotten his fear of Rider, screaming as he clutched the King's cape.

"King of Conquerors... Iskandar?" Xi Jianxi paused slightly. "Ah, Alexander the Great."

Once he understood the other party's identity, he resumed his pose of holding a spear in one hand behind his back, looking up at Iskandar on the tall ox-drawn carriage.

"So? The renowned King of Conquerors rushes onto someone else's battlefield just to announce his true name and post a job opening?" Xi Jianxi, sensing no clear hostility, softened his tone and teased.

Iskandar, however, seemed a little embarrassed. "No, you're not the only one I wish to recruit. It's just that someone from this era possesses strength that rivals a Servant. I am too eager for talent to help myself, so I asked you first."

"Haa?" Xi Jianxi immediately sighed.

"My offer isn't just for the Master here, Lancer, or for Saber and Berserker watching from over there! If you are interested, I welcome you to serve under my banner!" Iskandar displayed the eagerness for talented individuals characteristic of historical heroic monarchs.

"I can't say for sure about Lancer over there, but I don't think Saber would accept this invitation," Xi Jianxi said with an understanding chuckle. "As the saying goes, kings do not meet kings. I don't believe a king would submit to another king without any prior conditions."

"Ho ho... You already know Saber's true name? Then, would you be willing to reveal it to me—"

Iskandar was quite amiable and began to humbly ask Xi Jianxi for information.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Xi Jianxi offered no answer.

"They say most hermits in the world are arrogant, but even my teacher Aristotle wasn't this difficult to communicate with," Rider murmured with emotion, his downward gaze meeting Waver's as he looked up from his feet.

"Rider—!!!!" Waver's voice had become hoarse.

First, he charged forward without reason, then he revealed his true name without warning, and now he wanted to recruit not only other Servants but even other Masters.

"Is that so? So it was you—"