"The... the Holy Grail War?" Waver Velvet (or rather, Lord El-Melloi II), looked at Tohsaka Sakura, who was earnestly questioning him, and his expression was quite troubled.
"Why are you asking me about this out of the blue?" he inquired hesitantly.
"Furthermore, everything should have been made clear in the report I gave Vivian, shouldn't it?" he added.
"Sakura Edelfelt, you can't even understand that, can you?" he questioned, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"No, Teacher Waver," Tohsaka Sakura shook her head, denying his assumption. "It's not that I don't understand," she clarified.
"It's just that there are many details that I would really like to ask you about, since you experienced it firsthand," she explained her request.
"Ask me?" Waver's face became even more awkward.
"But I didn't win that Holy Grail War... even knowing more details wouldn't mean anything, would it?" he reasoned, his tone heavy with past defeat.
"But Teacher Waver, you are so capable," Tohsaka Sakura was not stingy with her praise.
"Even though you were defeated, you must have learned a great deal, right?" she suggested hopefully.
"..."
Waver was startled at first, then a look of sadness crossed his face.
He clenched his fist, his expression filled with deep regret.
This teacher, who usually appeared incredibly stern in front of his students, now muttered to himself in a voice only he could hear.
"If I were really capable... Rider wouldn't have lost," he whispered, a confession hidden from the outside world.
[This was a confession known only to Waver Velvet.]
[He did not reveal this matter in the Clock Tower's report.]
[But regardless, this remained an eternal pain in his heart.]
After Mephistopheles's defeat, the explosions he had set up beforehand did not cease.
Centered around the residence of his Master, Ryunosuke Uryuu, several nearby blocks were transformed into a sea of fire in a very short time. Flames devoured buildings, casting an orange glow against the smoke-filled sky.
"How could this happen?!"
Looking at the crowds fleeing in the streets, Waver, who had just finished purchasing daily necessities with his Servant Iskandar, appeared somewhat at a loss. A sense of confusion washed over him as chaos erupted around them.
His situation was somewhat similar to Kariya Matou's.
Because he had no accurate source of information, he was unaware of the Church's early encirclement order against Caster, and naturally, he didn't know that the target of the subjugation was actually near his own residence.
However—
As a magus, Waver did feel that something was slightly off. A strange concentration of magical energy hung heavy in the air.
After all, ordinary people could absolutely not cause so many blocks to catch fire simultaneously. The scale of the destruction pointed to something far beyond mundane means.
Then—
It could only be a Servant, he concluded.
As for which Servant, that wasn't clear.
But according to the rules of the Holy Grail War, that would definitely mean an absolute enemy.
But more than that, Waver had something he was more concerned about at this moment.
That was the place where the old couple who took care of him lived, which was also within these few blocks. An icy dread began to creep into his heart.
He couldn't get through on his phone now. The line was dead, swallowed by the chaos.
Had something happened? He thought with growing alarm.
Thinking of this, a few drops of cold sweat beaded on Waver's forehead. His brow furrowed with worry.
He wasn't worried about losing his place to live—after all, if that happened, he could just find another.
He was worried that the old couple might have encountered some trouble. They were caught in the heart of the inferno.
After all... they had been so kind to him. Their faces flashed in his mind.
Iskandar, the Servant beside him, quickly sensed his Master's worry. The air around the King of Conquerors seemed to still slightly.
He spoke directly, asking,
"Kid, what's wrong?"
"You looked unwell just now... did something happen?" he inquired, his deep voice cutting through the distant noise.
"..."
Waver looked at Iskandar beside him.
Frankly speaking.
If he hadn't summoned him in the Holy Grail War, Waver felt he would absolutely never have had any connection with someone like this. Their worlds were vastly different.
After all, this guy's personality was just too unrestrained in every sense! His booming laughter and boisterous nature were overwhelming.
Because he saw modern clothes that he found interesting, he would put his arm around Waver's shoulder and shout in that rough voice:
"Hey, kid, buy me a set of clothes like that too!" he'd demand cheerfully.
"Oh yeah! It absolutely must have the words 'Grand Strategy' printed on it, that's the only way it's worthy of the name King of Conquerors!" he'd insist, a mischievous glint in his eye.
And when Waver doubted whether such a personality truly matched the legendary Alexander.
He would burst into hearty laughter again, and then with a completely unconcerned tone, provide perfect proof—that was to tell Waver the story of his expeditions in complete detail. His words painted vivid pictures of ancient campaigns.
The vividness and detail of his tales forced this amateur Master to believe that these were his personal experiences.
That's right.
Iskandar was indeed the legendary King of Conquerors, a great and generous hero. His presence was undeniable.
Either thinking there was nothing to hide, or perhaps because he could only seek help from Iskandar at this moment.
After thinking for a moment, Waver directly told him about his worries. His voice was tinged with anxiety.
"I see."
After listening to Waver's words, Iskandar also recalled the kind old couple. Their warm smiles came to mind.
During the time he was using the alias Alex, he had indeed received a lot of their meticulous care.
He slapped his forehead.
"Kid, you're worried about this," he said, understanding dawning in his eyes.
"Yeah," Waver's gaze was fixed on the sea of fire before them. The flames danced and roared.
"But it looks like... we can't go back," he said, a sense of helplessness in his voice.
"Hahahaha~"
Iskandar burst into laughter. The sound was like thunder amidst the crackling fire.
"How can there be no way?" he boomed.
"Kid, let's go!" he declared, a spark of determination in his eyes.
"Huh?!"
Before Waver could react, he was directly grabbed by the hand by Iskandar and pulled along, running together into the sea of fire. The heat washed over them.
Amidst the fleeing crowds, they were so conspicuous. A strange sight of two figures pushing against the tide of fear.
If it weren't for the life-threatening danger behind them, perhaps many people would have stopped to observe them and wonder what the two were doing.
Going against the flow, the Rider pair reached the depths of the blocks. The air grew thick with smoke.
The buildings here were already all burning, and just breathing felt scorching hot. The heat was intense and suffocating.
Those who could run had probably all fled from here already. Silence descended upon the burning ruins, broken only by the roar of the flames.
Realizing that continuing like this definitely wouldn't work, Waver quickly pulled on Iskandar's hand. His voice was urgent.
"Rider! What exactly do you want to do?!" he demanded, his eyes wide with alarm.
"..."
Iskandar looked around, confirming that there was no one else left. He then patted Waver's shoulder and stated his reasons in a very serious tone.
"Kid, I haven't seen any sign of those two old folks along the way," he said grimly.
"I'm afraid... they really didn't manage to escape," he concluded with a heavy heart.
"What?!"
Hearing Iskandar's words, Waver finally realized that this big man before him didn't just have an unrestrained side; he also possessed a keen observation of things. His initial impression had been incomplete.
But now was not the time to dwell on such matters, Waver quickly asked:
"Rider, what should we do then?" His voice trembled slightly.
"Of course, we go back and save them." Iskandar's resolve was firm.
Iskandar looked towards the depths of the street—which was already a sea of fire. The flames danced like hungry spirits.
"If I remember correctly, the direction of the house should be this way, right?" he asked, pointing into the inferno.
"Ye... yes," Waver stammered, confirming the direction.
"Good!"
Iskandar raised the sword he carried towards the sky. Its metal gleamed in the firelight.
Instantly, bolts of powerful lightning flashed in the vast sky above his head. The crackling energy filled the air.
That was the sound of lightning, far more terrifying than the current flames, undeniable electricity. A raw, divine power was manifesting.
"Gordias Wheel!"
As Iskandar let out a roar, a pillar of lightning descended vertically onto the ground in front of the two of them. The earth trembled under the impact.
As it dissipated, a chariot appeared, pulled by two divine bulls. Their forms were etched in lightning.
This was the Gordias Wheel, the legendary sacrificial chariot used for offerings to Zeus, now displaying its true form before Waver.
Iskandar grabbed Waver in one swift motion and threw him onto it. Waver landed awkwardly on the chariot floor.
"Kid, hold on tight!" he instructed firmly.
"Huh?!"
Without waiting for Waver's response, Iskandar once again raised his sword, pointing towards the boundless sea of fire. His voice was filled with authority.
"In the name of the King of Conquerors, I command you to run!" he bellowed to the divine beasts.
The divine bulls roared towards the sky, and then began to travel through the raging fire. Their hooves struck sparks from the burning ground.
Their speed was astonishing, already comparable to modern automobiles. The world blurred around them.
"This... this is too fast!"
Waver clutched the edge of the chariot, a look of panic on his face. The wind whipped past him, carrying the heat of the fire.
"Rider, can you slow down a bit?!" he pleaded, his voice strained.
Hearing his Master's words, Iskandar burst into laughter. His mirth was unbridled.
"I could, yes!" he admitted cheerfully.
"But if I did that, we wouldn't be able to reach the side of that couple as quickly, would we?" he pointed out the simple truth.
"My Master, do you want to see that happen?" he challenged gently.
"..."
Waver swallowed hard, then moved a little closer to Iskandar's side. The heat was intense, but a different kind of heat was building within him.
"Then what about the opposite?" he asked, his voice gaining a new firmness.
"Rider, can you go faster?!" he urged, a desperate plea.
"Kid, that's the very thing I was waiting for you to say!" the King of Conquerors, Iskandar, revealed a confident smile. His eyes gleamed.
"Hold on tight!" he instructed again, a thrill of anticipation in his voice.
Terrifying lightning began to surge outwards from the bodies of the divine bulls. The air crackled with energy.
That was the manifestation of their power, a state of further acceleration. The chariot surged forward.
In this state, it would likely take only a few dozen seconds to reach a distant location. The burning landscape rushed past them.
But just at this moment—
A shout echoed from the darkness.
"Golden Eater!" a powerful voice called out.
Then came a dull thud, as if something had been smashed into the ground. The earth vibrated.
The next moment, several bolts of lightning, like charging bulls, broke through the flames and shot out. They ripped through the inferno.
They flew directly towards the Gordias Wheel where Iskandar and Waver were. A sudden, unexpected attack.
This was an unanticipated assault.
But thankfully, Iskandar's reaction was fast enough.
He immediately gripped the reins of the divine bulls, pulling them forcefully to the side.
Stones kicked up from the ground where the bulls' hooves screeched to a halt, and then the entire chariot turned to the side at an angle that defied imagination. The sudden maneuver threw Waver off balance.
The lightning just grazed the edge of the chariot, incidentally cutting off a few strands of Waver's hair. A chillingly close call.
This was an incredibly dangerous moment.
But Iskandar did not panic. His composure remained unshaken.
He quickly adjusted the direction of the Gordias Wheel, and with a still shaken Waver, he looked towards the direction the lightning had come from.
He saw a robust blond man holding a massive halberd, walking out of the fire, appearing before the two of them. His form was imposing against the backdrop of flames.
That was Sakata Kintoki.
He hadn't attacked Iskandar without reason; he was following the command of his Master, Kariya Matou.
Kariya Matou's mental state was simply too tense. His mind was clouded with desperation.
Not only had he not found where Caster was located.
He had also directly ignored the difference in classes, mistaking Iskandar and Waver for the culprits, and ordered Sakata Kintoki to attack them.
"Golden—!"
"The Boss's enemies must all be eliminated!" Sakata Kintoki roared, his voice filled with fierce loyalty.
Even if he wasn't capable, Waver also realized that the man before them was quite dangerous. A formidable presence radiated from him.
Then, he must be a Servant, Waver concluded.
"Rider, how do you feel?" he asked, his voice tight with tension.
"..."
Iskandar's brows furrowed.
"Hard to say," he admitted.
"He seems to have been a person from this land beneath our feet during his lifetime, so he shouldn't be easy to deal with," he assessed, a flicker of respect in his eyes.
"But it's not impossible to try—"
"Master, hold on tight!" he instructed, a sense of exhilaration entering his voice.
"Via Expugnatio!" he declared the name of his Noble Phantasm.
If Iskandar's driving style just now was to reach the destination as quickly as possible, then his current driving style was to completely destroy his opponent. The air vibrated with power.
This was the conquering charge of the Gordias Wheel.
In this state, the divine bulls would channel all their lightning power into the impact, and with the might of Zeus, cause devastating destruction. The ground beneath them shook.
These powerful creatures, which had appeared at Iskandar's call, began to run. Their hooves pounded against the burning earth.
The flames that had previously covered most of the ground gave way as the lightning surged forth, carving a path. The fire seemed to recoil from the raw power.
It was an awe-inspiring scene, as if everything would be destroyed by the Gordias Wheel.
However, Sakata Kintoki did not show fear towards this. His golden eyes blazed with excitement.
"Golden!" he roared, his voice filled with anticipation.
"This is truly golden!" he exclaimed, clearly enjoying the challenge.
He raised his massive halberd, preparing to meet the charge head-on! The weapon crackled with golden energy.
"Golden Spark!" he shouted the name of his attack.
Shouting these words, Sakata Kintoki, with his halberd sparking with lightning, charged towards the Gordias Wheel! Two forces of immense power hurtled towards each other.
Waver had never seen such a scene; he cried out in panic. His voice was filled with terror.
"Th... they're going to crash!" he screamed.
"Hahaha, kid, don't be afraid! At worst, you'll just die once!" Iskandar's laughter was booming and carefree amidst the impending collision.
"Rider, don't say that so lightly!" Waver retorted, his voice laced with fright.
An epic clash was about to occur, causing irreversible destruction in this unmanned sea of fire. The air was thick with anticipation and danger.
This was a collision full of power! The ground shuddered.
However—
No one expected it.
In this sea of fire, there was someone aiming at something. A single figure observed the scene from a distance.
That was Kiritsugu Emiya. His gaze was cold and focused.
Fifteen seconds ago, he had learned of the death of his assistant, Maiya Hisau, and shed a single tear. A moment of raw grief in the midst of his relentless mission.
Fifteen seconds later, he rejoined the battlefield, his expression still resolute. The brief flicker of emotion was gone, replaced by grim determination.
Now, the young man beside Rider, looking panicked, became the man's target. His aim was precise.
Standing on the rooftop of a tall building completely surrounded by flames, Kiritsugu Emiya raised his sniper rifle and took aim at him. The scope centered on Waver.
"Time alter, double accel," he murmured the incantation.
The man used his magecraft to double the flow of time around him. The world seemed to slow down relative to him.
In this way, his shooting error would be further reduced. His aim became even more precise.
Click, without any hesitation, Kiritsugu Emiya pulled the trigger. The sound was sharp and decisive.
Bang—!
The bullet shot out from the muzzle of the sniper rifle, flying towards the moving Gordias Wheel. It cut through the smoke-filled air.
That was no ordinary bullet, but an Origin Bullet. A lethal weapon designed to destroy magi.
With just one shot, it could directly destroy a magus.
Barring any accidents, the Waver before him would become the first magus hunted by Kiritsugu Emiya. His finger was steady on the trigger.
However, things did not go as smoothly as expected.
The bullet flew out, but before it arrived, it was cut in half from the tip by a golden sword blade. A flash of gold deflected the lethal projectile.
That was—
Kiritsugu Emiya's Servant, Saber! Her form was illuminated by the surrounding flames as she defended her Master's enemy.