Chapter 114: First Battle

Chapter 114: First Battle

~Third POV~

[Nighttime, sky]

*FWP*

*FWP*

Flying across the night sky towards the Transylvania Motorway Saber of Red with her new appearance raised an eyebrow riding a raven made of darkness and asked, "Okay now I know this isn't Magecraft Master what the heck even is this?"

Fou riding on his shoulder hung on tight with Mash bashfully responding catching Mordred attention, "Well… I guess this is one of my 9 Authorities. My Authority of Pride allows me to control or generate the [Power of Darkness]."

Mordred simply raised an eyebrow realizing her Master wasn't a pushover asking bluntly her next question, "An Authority huh? Isn't that only those who have Divine Spirits or something? Does that make you a demi-god or whatever?"

Mash helplessly shrugged his shoulders flying across the night responding with a sheepish expression, "Not sure. I mean Gilgamesh did mention I was in the previous Holy Grail War but I'm not exactly sure why?"

Bringing up the topic of the previous Holy Grail War Mordred asked in a genuinely curious tone crossing her arms, "Yeah you mentioned that. So, fess up Master, you said you fought in the Holy Grail War but you look a bit young unless…"

Mash raised his hand foiling any idea Mordred had explaining himself the roster catching her attention immediately by two names, "Nope! I'm still 16 years old 17 in a few months. But anyway, I met the roster head-on for the fight. Gilgamesh as Archer. Some Lancer no one cares about. Iskandar as Rider. Assassin can split into multiple ones. Medea my Caster Servant. Berserker as Lancelot – "

Immediately interrupting him Mordred shouted in pure shock, "Hold up! Lancelot was a Berserker?!"

Seeing this he nodded as he explained how he helped kill Saber from the previous Holy Grail War with a sheepish smile, "Yeah. The guy came as a Berserker but was pretty baller honestly. The true definition of a badass. Hell, I helped the Servant after making a deal with his Master to save a little girl from a Magus Family. Helped Berserker enough to kill Saber since he hated her. Like a lot."

Mordred soon thought connecting the possible thoughts eyes widened in pure disbelief, "No fucking way…"

Mash answered her shocked response nodding his head and continuing to explain in a neutral tone, "Yeah way. The Saber that Lancelot hated was none other than King Arthur by decapitation both mutually destroying each other in the process."

Mordred paused considering the news trying to make a vocal response before ultimately laughing out loud at the irony, "HAHAHA!!! Take that you old man! Seems like I wasn't the one to rebel against you but the one who started it all in the end!! Hahaha…"

She laughed out loud at the news, but Mash was a bit concerned about how hollow it was giving the news trying to hide her insecurities and emotions. Before Mash could open his mouth both their eyes widened as Mordred dressed in her armor expressed a feral grin plastered on her face, "Good. Finally, I can have the excuse to duke it out with the other Servants! Come Master let me fight!"

Mash sighed but obliged wondering who was fighting already in peak curiosity. The raven of darkness soon began to descend to where the high magical energy was located just ahead of them…

/////

[Later, Transylvanian Motorway]

A dove could be seen on the motorway to Trifas as the Transylvanian Motoway was the only national highway that could reach Trifas. Barely any vehicles headed there, and the highway was all but abandoned by the government.

Under that circumstance, only the asphalt could tell if one was driving along the right path with a dove above a road sign only for a Servant to materialize speaking out loud, "I know. It seems she's arrived."

A lone figure stood atop the sign, waiting for their target to eventually pass through. He was ordered to kill an order which he would ruthlessly carry out without complaint being the Lancer of Red.

Soon a person noticed ill intent directed towards her was a human girl named Laeticia, a willing host for the Ruler Class Servant Jeanne d'Arc to manifest for this Holy Grail War being an overseer stopping her ride, "Please stop the car by the side of the road!"

The driver was confused but complied as Jeanne d'Arc manifested her armor rushing forward as she thought in a serious tone, 'A [Bounded Field] for clearing people away…'

*VOOOOM*

Rushing forward she finally stopped noticing the Lancer of Red with him speaking in a neutral tone, "From your appearance, I presume you're Servant Ruler."

Jeanne d'Arc soon asked in a neutral tone remaining on guard staring up at Lancer of Red questioning his motives, "… And you're Lancer of Red, right? Lancer of Red, why are you here?"

Lancer of Red summons his spear neutrally responding to Ruler's words eyeing her down from the road sign, "Asking something you already know can hardly be wise. You should consider my very presence here a clear declaration of war."

Ruler, is a Servant Class that does not possess a Master. The Class serves as the absolute supervisor of the Holy Grail War, possessing special privileges against other Servants.

Essentially, the Ruler is summoned as an additional 8th Servant by the Holy Grail. However, the Ruler Class would never be summoned in the first place in a normal Holy Grail War. There are two cases where a Ruler Class Servant would be summoned.

The first case is when a Holy Grail War is conducted under exceedingly special and unusual circumstances with unforeseeable consequences. In that situation, the central pillar of the Holy Grail would judge that a Ruler, a Servant outside the control of human hands is required in the Holy Grail War.

The Second case is when there is a possibility that the world itself is being distorted because of the Holy Grail War. In the modern setup of the Holy Grail War, Masters fight each other using Servants to obtain the Holy Grail.

In most cases, Masters are chosen from the Magi, who value secrecy. One of them would rarely invite disaster upon the world. But there are a rare few who would use the Holy Grail War to bring about the world's destruction.

The Servant Ruler is summoned when the Holy Grail determines that such destruction is theoretically possible and imminent and is given the duty of safeguarding the framework of the Holy Grail War.

The Ruler Class Servant summoned in the largest scale Holy Grail War in history with two groups of 7 Servants fighting each other is Jeanne D'Arc as she thought of the current situation unfolding in front of her, 'From the moment I entered this country I felt I was being observed by various eyes, but to think they would take direct action so soon…'

Voicing out loud she brings out her flagpole asking Lancer of Red to question him, "Lancer of Red. What meaning is there in killing me here and now?"

Lancer of Red responded in a neutral tone having his spear drawn preparing himself and staring down at Ruler, "I neither know nor care. My Master ordered me to kill you here. Therefore, I am merely obeying per our contract."

*SHIII*

*BRRR*

He summoned a massive spear, the weapon longer than he was emitting brilliant light and fire as he spoke to Ruler in a neutral tone, "Here I come, Ruler. Sorry but considering your special privileges, I can't afford to hold back. I'll finish this with a single attack."

Lancer of Red wasn't planning to exchange blows, but to release his Noble Phantasm preparing to strike her down only for another voice to chime in, "Do it, Saber!"

*BOOOM*

*SHINNG*

Lancer of Red's attack was stopped by Saber of Black attack sword already drawn surprised to see him appear with Lancer speaking in a neutral tone, "That majestic and stern air… so you're Saber of Black, huh?"

The newly arrived Saber facing him nodded wordlessly, next to the warrior stood Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia arrived thanks to his information network voiced to Ruler, "That was a close one, Ruler."

Ruler asked the man who happened to save her life in a neutral tone, "You two are Saber of Black and his Master, correct?"

Gordes nodded and voiced out loud trying to use Ruler to take out the Lancer of Red in this situation being overly confident shouting animosity towards Lancer, "Indeed. My name is Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia. I'm the Master of Saber of Black in this Holy Grail War. Lancer of Red! We saw how you tried to kill Ruler just now! Plotting to kill the Heroic Spirit in charge of administering the Holy Grail War is the greatest violation of the rules. A penalty is nowhere near a sufficient punishment. Obediently accept your sentence from my Saber… and Ruler!"

However, what Gordes wanted to happen was denied as remaining neutral much to his shock, "Saber of Black and Lancer of Red. If you two choose to fight here, I have no obligations. Do not worry, I will not interfere."

This makes Gordes confused as Ruler explains to him events out of her control in a neutral tone, "Lancer of Red's attempt to kill me and Saber of Black and Lancer of Red fighting each other are entirely separate matters. As Servant Ruler, I must protect the rules of this fight."

Lancer of Red soon points out the disrespect of Gordes' methods as he speaks in a neutral tone not caring, "Hmph. So, you were planning to overwhelm me by making me fight them both at once? Is victory the only thing you seek? It's quite shameful, but that is also one way of fighting. Not that I care either way."

Gordes was immediately enraged by this lack of respect immediately ordering his Saber to attack, "Saber! Kill him! Crush Lancer of Red!"

Taking his fighting stance Lancer of Red viewed Saber of Black and his eyes commenting on it reminding him of another hero in his past readying himself, "… I see. Then it seems we'll be fighting each other to the death, Saber of Black. I once knew a man with eyes like yours. If you look at me with those eyes, then you fighting me isn't a coincidence, but an inevitability – "

However, another voice entered the conversation from above not handling the gay tension in the air bursting the mood in an annoyed tone, "Oh my god! JUST FUCK ALREADY!"

What was a battle of epic proportions was soon busted as all eyes looked up to see a dark construct of a raven with Saber of Red's attempt to strangle her Master angrily said, "Master what the literal hell?!!"

Not being affected in the least using his [Unseen Hands] Mash bluntly pointed out between the two Servants' identity being thrown eyes narrowing, "Oh come on! The Lancer of Red AKA Karna, [The Hero of Generosity] and Saber of Black AKA Siegfried, the [Dragon-Blooded Knight] were building up the tension! Too much that I had to point it out unless it became cringe!"

Landing down Gordes soon paled seeing another faction of the Red Team arriving down catching all attention on them.

Nobody said a word as they landed. Karna's eyeing Mash with a raised eyebrow. He detected the Authorities within his body 9 of them dwelling inside his heart raising his caution of the man's actions.

Siegfried also frowns but not for his name being called but being the Hero that always listens to commands thinks in an unsecured tone looking at Karna, 'Should… should I follow that… that request…?'

Truly an interesting way to start the Great Holy Grail War...

/////

A/N: Hey guys Author here to ask if should I let my MC have the Dragon Core Factor the same one that Artoria has increased his MP or not. If so how much exactly would be a good number to add?