Scheme ahead

Sakura's body felt a lot better than before. Like a huge burden had been removed away from her body by some unknown force. It was kinda pleasant until she smelled something. Something that made her uncomfortable...

"Ugghh...what's going on he-huh?!"

Her sleepy eyes widened in shock as she looked at the red flames and smoke everywhere. Her body jolted in action as her eyes were searching for an escape route.

While looking around, her eyes fell upon a person whom she knew well enough. The person who spoke about "hope", "freedom" and various other good sounding words. She was not recalling anything much now, but she was sure that her uncle was not a bad person.

"Uncle! Uncle! Wake up! Wake up!"

She moved his body with enough force in her hands. And thankfully, her uncle heard her words.

"Sa-Sakura...!"

"Uncle, please wake up. We must run away!"

Her uncle, Kariya, rubbed his eyes and stared around the training room of Sakura. It was all burning away in ashes and smoke. For few minutes, he thought that he was dreaming, but it didn't seem so.

"Shit! Sakura, come here!"

He lifted her and ran straight to the exit, from where he came from. The door was also burning, but not enough to stop him from his track. Ignoring the fact that there was also one more person there. He ran straight to the outside without caring about his own pain.

He had promised her that one day she would be free and it was his time to fulfill that promise. He would protect her, no matter what!

"The exit!"

He saw the exit of Matou manor and with one last pinch of effort, he broke those doors as well. He had finally came out along with Sakura!

(Scene Change)

"And then Berserker vanished. His magic supplies had weakened him to the point that he could hardly do any damage to me."

Lancer reported to his master about the battle against the Berserker servant. Though they had won, there was the sign of disappointment on his face, but he didn't have the time to complain.

Ainz, who was the master of Lancer, heard his every word. To make sure that the Berserker servant was finally dead or not. He had his issues down there in the basement too, so his first priority was there. Not the battle up there.

But after hearing the reports of Lancer, he finally let go of his paranoia and wondered what would have happened if he, Ainz, had joined the battle there. And the conclusion was the great loss of generous amount of XP and artifacts of Matou's. Something that might put a sour taste in his non-existent tongue.

"It seems that we have successfully killed our second servant too. Then, why are you sad Lancer?"

Ainz asked with concern in his tone.

Even if the servant named Diarmuid never belonged to Nazarick, Ainz was still happy to talk with someone who had never worshipped him like the NPCs. His show of respect and loyalty were also few of traits that Ainz admired as well. Hence, Duarmuid deserved his attention as well.

"Master, I am happy to be your servant. You have granted me such a strong container, but..."

"But? But what?"

Ainz asked to him with rather confused tone as well as a hint of deja vu. Like he had seen this thing before.

"But my battle against Caster and Berserker ended so fast that it made me a little sad. No offense master. You are good on your spot, but this..."

Surprised at Lancer's words, Ainz understood the hidden meaning behind those words. It was completely understandable.

In the new world, there were not many strong creatures who survived against him and Nazarick. Aside from Gid Dragon and his little alliance of Dragons, it was a walk in the park. Too easy and too boring.

Ainz could understand this feeling. Having no equal to talk, it would bring a boring lifestyle, which Ainz, himself, was never eager of.

"I understood. You want to fight someone of your equal, right?"

"As you say master. I want to fight fair and square against an opponent of equal power. I know that this sort of wish sounds foolish. Especially, when I have taken the oath to protect you from any harm. If you order me, then I will reject my own wishes to-"

"It's fine. I can feel your way of thinking. It is always boring to fight a battle where your chances of winning are obvious enough. Though I don't want to spread information about your power and abilities to an unknown enemy, I will also try my best to find someone of your caliber of strength. Until then, just relax and be patient."

(Scene Change)

Artoria Pendragon stared at her master, who was currently on his phone with a women. Though she had some ideas on this "who".

After being summoned in this 4th Holy Grail War, Artoria had mentally promised to her master that she would win this match for him and fulfill their wishes.

She sighed.

It had now become a hollow promise to her. She was unsure on why she got such a coward master.

Yes, she had gotten a brilliant master, who could think ahead of his enemy and may be even figure out their weaknesses as well. Weaknesses that he would later exploited and used them for his goals. It was not hard to hide from her.

As his servant, she had seen his dream.

A utopia of great people and peace, where there was no pain, whether physical or metaphysical. A world that everyone dreamed of. Even Artoria liked it.

Their goals were not that different too. Yet there was some problems she faced when dealing with him.

"So, the servant Rider wanted to make an alliance with us and fight at the last. Right?"

Artoria nodded.

"Hmm... this is interesting. We can use him for weakening the Archer, and then attack both of them at their weakest position. It sounds like a good idea. There are still some small issues, but I can manage."

Artoria's hands shivered in anger. Her master's words reminded her of the treacherous knights who fought against her. The knights whom she considered her allies in warfare.

Sweet talks and dirty plans.

This was how she looked at them on the time of battlefield. She hated this type of thing!

But she didn't say much. As she couldn't win against him with words.

For others, it was a war. But for her, it was her chance. Her only chance to save her kingdom and maintain peace and order in her realm, that she had lost.

Until then, she would bear it.

(Scene Change)

To call Gilgamesh an arrogant king of Uruk was not wrong at all. But to think of him as a foolish king, was truly the last mistake one could make in their dreams.

Currently, he was enjoying his wine with a calm facade, but his mind was on another thing.

The thing, was a beautiful and noble woman whom he he found kinda attractive in a way, that surprised him as well. After all, not everyday he could come across a woman like her with childish dreams. But the second thing about her was the Holy sword.

Excalibur.

Despite having all the treasures of the world, the finitely huge supplies of his Gate of Babylon, Gilgamesh was missing few treasures in his treasury. But he would worry about that later.

Then there were this squad of Assassins who were protecting the location where he and that Tokiomi lived. And no matter what, he would never consider him as his master at all. He was a jester with some stupid dreams that other magi were dreaming from centuries ago.

The servant Rider was kinda special too. That servant had no weapons of his treasury, so there was no need to think too much about him. But still, Ishkander was aiming for his Holy Grail, and the King of Heroes would take his time punishing him.

And finally the master of Lancer. An entity outside of his radar and a very interesting person to have around. Even his Sha Naqba Imuru didn't work over him. That meant two things about this master.

Either this master had some special artifact to counter his scrying powers, or he belonged to the world beyond the domain of Gaia. Though he didn't believe on the latter, as the lack of activity from counterforce was something new.

At first, Gilgamesh was interested into that Kirei guy's fall in his temptation, but now...?

The Lancer's master had piqued his interest. Finally, there was someone who could surprise him and give a thrill that he had only found with his best friend Enkidu. He could only imagine.

"This Grail War has some interesting characters to have around. I wonder what is awaiting for me."