Two King Arthur

Meanwhile, Artoria looked at Arkhan on top of the container, various indescribable emotions flickering in her pale golden eyes.

"Why don't you kill me?"

"I said from the beginning that you're not my target tonight." Arkhan replied casually.

She looked at him deeply, trying to understand his intention. A moment later, her magical armor turned back into the black suit, and she walked silently toward Irisviel.

"Saber, are you okay?" Irisviel approached, her crimson eyes showing clear concern.

"I'm fine, Irisviel." Artoria shook her head, paused, and continued. "Go back and tell Kiritsugu that without absolute certainty, don't casually engage Lancer in combat."

Irisviel nodded solemnly. Lancer's strength was undeniable, and facing such an opponent without good preparation might lead to defeat in the next encounter. It was uncertain whether he would show mercy again at that time.

"By the way, Saber, you really have no clue about Lancer's true identity?"

Irisviel still couldn't quite grasp why Lancer seemed so familiar with Saber, while Saber remained oblivious to Lancer.

"At first, I had no idea, but now I'm pretty sure I've figured out who he is..." Artoria nodded slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, he should be—"

Before she could finish, however, Arkhan's voice abruptly cut in.

"To all of you little rats who dare not appear."

He spoke calmly while looking up at the dim, heavy sky. His voice, though not loud, reached everyone's ears clearly.

"I'm the Chosen King of Britain, Arthur, stepping up as Lancer in this Holy Grail War. To all Heroic Spirits summoned by the Holy Grail, if you haven't forgotten the courage you once had as heroes, show yourselves before me. Of course, if you're just timid spirits lacking the courage to appear, brace yourselves for my scorn."

King Arthur?!

Everyone was taken aback, especially Irisviel and Kiritsugu.

They had already summoned King Arthur on their side, so why was there another one?!

"The Throne of Heroes exists independently outside the world and time axis, connecting countless parallel worlds. These worlds have their own unique development paths, so sometimes you get different Heroic Spirits with the same origin." Artoria explained with a calm tone.

"I see..." Irisviel nodded in understanding. "So, this King Arthur is essentially another version of you from a parallel world?"

"No." Artoria looked at Arkhan with a slightly complicated gaze. "He and I are not the same."

After Arkhan's declaration settled, there was a moment of silence. Suddenly, from the sky, a muffled thunderous sound echoed.

Accompanied by hearty laughter, a chariot pulled by two divine bulls descended like a meteor, its red-haired giant driver gazing appreciatively at Arkhan.

"Guhahaha, as expected from the King of Britain, your courage is truly admirable. Allow me to introduce myself—I am the King of Conquerors, Iskandar, entering as Rider in this Holy Grail War. Say, how about you two join me for the thrill of conquering the world together, Lancer, Saber?"

The King of Conquerors, Iskandar, also known as Alexander the Great, the foremost among the four greatest military commanders in Western history, once studied under the renowned Greek philosopher Aristotle.

He unified Greece, swept through the Middle East, effortlessly occupied Egypt without losing a single soldier, and absorbed Persia. He stood as an unparalleled emperor who conquered three of the four ancient civilizations.

Now, summoned by the Holy Grail, he descended upon the mortal realm once more, riding the Divine Chariot Gordius Wheel to fulfill the unaccomplished ambitions of his past life.

"Though the Holy Grail summoned us here to kill each other, if you two are willing to join me and hand over the Holy Grail, I promise to treat you as friends. We can share the joy of conquering the world together. What do you say?"

The spirited man laughed heartily, his words bordering on whimsical and even fanciful, yet no one detected a hint of jest.

Undoubtedly, this man was dead serious.

"Making such jests in front of the King of Britain, your audacity knows no bounds, Rider." Artoria's eyes flashed with a cold glare, her entire being emanating cold magical energy tinged with unmistakable hostility.

Facing the King of Conquerors who suddenly appeared, her heart brimmed with intense disgust. If not for Irisviel behind her, she would have thrust her sword at him long ago.

"Oh? Do you mean you're also the King of Britain, Arthur?"

Iskandar widened his eyes in surprise, then burst into laughter.

"Interesting! Truly fascinating! To have two Kings of Britain at the same time in this Holy Grail War, I never expected such a splendid scene to happen in this king's presence! Guhahaha!"

Another King Arthur?

Even though they suspected it, all Masters lurking in the shadows couldn't help but show a hint of astonishment. Summoning the same Heroic Spirit in the same Holy Grail War was an unheard-of phenomenon.

If they were both King Arthur, why did these two look so different?

Many couldn't help but wonder since, for most mages, the concept of parallel worlds remained quite distant.

"However..." Iskandar scratched his head, pointing at Arkhan not far away. "Forgive me for being frank, Saber, but in my eyes, Lancer looks more like King Arthur than you do."

'Agree...' Everyone, including Kiritsugu and Irisviel, secretly nodded in agreement. 

Male, handsome, powerful, confident—except for the different hair and eye color, Lancer was evidently a better fit for people's general perception of King Arthur.

As for Saber, her tyrannical and oppressive disposition alone made it impossible for people to associate her with the legendary noble King of Knights.