Ceasefire

"Thank you, Saber. I owe you one."

Arkhan spoke gratefully and nodded towards Artoria.

"It's tit for tat. You spared me once, and now I've saved this little girl for you. We're even."

Artoria nonchalantly replied, then glanced at his face with a hint of malice.

"Didn't expect you to sacrifice so much for a little girl. Now that your magical energy is almost depleted, aren't you afraid I might attack you?"

Arkhan raised an eyebrow at her words.

"This is a public place."

"Do you think I care?" Artoria's eyes exuded a cold and ruthless aura. Her magical energy fluctuations caused the dishes on the table to tremble audibly.

"If you think you can win, feel free to try." Arkhan calmly responded.

The atmosphere between them grew tense, with an invisible tension in the air, dangerous and lethal.

Seeing this scene, Irisviel felt torn. She didn't want to start a fight with Lancer, but if Saber was determined, she could not stop her.

However, at that moment, a deep, elderly voice echoed, interrupting the brewing conflict between Arkhan and Artoria.

"Ladies and gentlemen, participants of the Holy Grail War, greetings. I am Kotomine Risei, the overseer of this Holy Grail War, representing the Holy Church."

"An unexpected event has unfolded in this Holy Grail War. Caster's Noble Phantasm has been activated for unknown reasons, causing significant damage in the vicinity. This action may expose Mystery to the common people."

"As a result, I declare a temporary ceasefire. I urge all Masters and Servants to immediately head to Miyama and destroy Caster's Noble Phantasm. To those Masters who contribute to this task, I will grant an additional command spell as a reward."

'Caster? Wasn't Gilles eliminated long ago? His Noble Phantasm should be a grimoire named 'Prelati's Spellbook', right? But why does it end up in Zouken's hands?'

Arkhan thought and furrowed his brow slightly. Upon hearing Risei's announcement, he immediately understood how Zouken's abnormality had occurred.

Zouken's soul had already decayed beyond redemption. However, upon encountering Prelati's Spellbook, his soul deteriorated even further, and going insane seemed almost inevitable.

Could it be that Zouken was the one who killed Caster? It wasn't entirely impossible. Given his cunning and ruthlessness, it was hard to say if he had left any hidden moves.

"Hey, Lancer, did you get the overseer's message?" Kayneth's voice suddenly echoed in Arkhan's mind.

"Yeah, I got it. I'm heading to the location right away. Kayneth, remember to bring another magical energy reactor when you come over. My magical energy is running low."

In the hotel, Kayneth blinked in confusion.

He distinctly remembered that the magical energy reactor in Arkhan's hand still had half of its energy reserve. How could it be depleted just after going out for a day?

After ending the communication with Kayneth, Arkhan looked at Artoria and shrugged.

"Looks like your plan will have to be put on hold for now."

"Hmph!"

Artoria snorted, turned, and walked away.

===

Miyama, Residential Area.

Unknown power, centered around the Matou residence, stained the sky within a one-kilometer radius with an extremely murky dark gray. It resembled dirty water mixed with lead ash, while beneath the sky hung a dense black fog exuding an uncomfortable, chilly atmosphere.

Approaching it, one could even hear bone-chilling rustling sounds emanating from within.

This scene couldn't help but evoke thoughts of the mythical wastelands where demons once roamed freely.

Following the anomaly, the Holy Church immediately exerted its influence and enforced traffic control regulations in Fuyuki.

Personnel from the police were deployed, blocking all roads leading to the residential area. Simultaneously, urgent evacuations of residents in the affected and nearby areas also took place.

As the anomaly occurred just before the evening rush, the number of stranded individuals in the residential area wasn't significant. Additionally, due to the Holy Church's prompt response, casualties were not too severe.

Arkhan, observing the thick black fog before him, couldn't help but furrow his brow.

Frankly, this scene exceeded his expectations. The level of manifestation far surpassed the initial activation of Gilles's Prelati's Spellbook in the original work. It even gave him an unsettling feeling.

This indicated that there might be a danger within that could threaten his life.

Could this be the crisis that poses a threat to this world?

As he thought like that, Arkhan turned to glance at Artoria beside him.

As expected, her face was also filled with a heavy seriousness, and her pale golden eyes betrayed a hint of apprehension.

"Did Caster go crazy to cause such a disturbance?" Irisviel asked with a slight frown.

"Caster was already crazy. If he hadn't been eliminated, you would have deeply understood that..." Arkhan subtly glanced at Irisviel. "Caster has been eliminated, but his Noble Phantasm fell into the hands of a mage who was once very powerful. Hence, the current chaos."

"Caster has been eliminated?" Irisviel's eyes revealed a touch of surprise, causing even Artoria to pause briefly.

"Yeah, but there are still many mysteries within this incident. It's not as simple as it appears."

Arkhan shook his head slightly, his gaze deep as he stared into the black fog ahead.

"However, this time, I might find some clues."

*Rumble—*

Suddenly, crackling sounds of thunder echoed through the air and drew nearer.

Before long, the legendary chariot, pulled by two divine bulls, descended from the sky. A red-haired, sturdy man on the chariot waved enthusiastically at Arkhan and Artoria, and beside him was a frail-looking boy.

"Hey, Lancer, Saber, you fellows have finally arrived!"

"Rider, you don't seem to be in great shape, huh?" Arkhan raised an eyebrow. He could clearly see various messy scratches on the chariot, and some areas showed obvious damage.

"Guhahaha, battling powerful foes, it's normal to sustain some injuries." Iskandar replied nonchalantly, then sighed. "Berserker is truly a rare and courageous warrior. If I could bring him under my command, my chances of ruling the world would be even greater."

"If you're cool with tossing me your noggin, I might think about becoming your goon."

A different voice chimed in out of nowhere, and a figure of Cu Chulainn strolled out of the nearby shadows. His familiar wicked grin adorned his face, and his crazy crimson eyes sparkled with a wild gleam.

Waver couldn't help but shudder when saw Cu Chulainn and instinctively hid behind Iskandar.

He could never forget the scene of Berserker rampaging like a wild beast in Rider's Reality Marble last night, Berserker's blood-soaked figure truly resembled a world-destroying demon. He couldn't fathom what went through Rider's mind to want to recruit such a dangerous man.

Perhaps that was the charm of the King of Conquerors. No matter who, Rider had absolute confidence in subduing them.

Recalling the magnificent and unrivaled army of Rider, a complex expression flickered on Waver's face.

Perhaps only a king with such bold determination could control such a force.

Could this King of Conquerors, who once dominated three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa, really be controlled by a half-hearted mage like him?

As he thought like that, Waver couldn't help but glance at Iskandar's figure.