The Tohsaka residence stood on the hill in Fuyuki City's Miyama Town; Tokiomi's workshop was in the mansion's basement, and there was a device there resembling a pendulum clock.
This device differed slightly from ordinary physical-science instruments: the weight hanging below was a magical power gem passed down in the Tohsaka family, and ink dripped from above along the suspension line to wet the gem.
Tokiomi had given the gem paired with this pendulum gem to his spy; as long as that gem was embedded in the front of a pen's shaft and used to write, the pendulum gem would resonate with it and begin to swing, and the dripping ink would trace the reporter's handwriting on the paper roll placed beneath, without deviation.
Now the magic-stone pendulum was beginning to resonate with its counterpart located on the other side of the globe in London, moving back and forth in a strangely irregular yet smooth motion to reproduce the reporter's handwriting.
Noticing the motion of the magic stone, Tokiomi picked up the sheet whose ink had not fully dried and read the records on it one by one.
"Latest report from the [Clock Tower]: the 'genius' Sir El-Melloi has acquired a new relic before leaving London, so he'll certainly participate. That makes six confirmed Masters including myself...", Tohsaka Tokiomi muttered to himself; his tone was somewhat heavy, faintly laced with bitterness.
The participants from the [Clock Tower] showed no intention of hiding their identities or moving incognito, several Lords were blatantly preparing relics for the Grail War.
Because of their actions, the average sale prices at British and European antique auctions had risen considerably lately.
Tohsaka Tokiomi, four Lords from the [Clock Tower], plus the student who stole Sir El-Melloi's relic, someone willing to cut ties with the Mage's Association to prove himself, such resolve would very likely be accepted by the Grail.
As for the final Master, it should be the magus who killed Matou Zouken and seized the Command Seals.
Tokiomi had to devote extra attention to that man. The disappearance of Sakura was very likely related to him.
However, Zouken had been half-buried by age, and the Matou family had decayed until it was like a dying candle in the wind.
In Tokiomi's view, the person who killed Zouken might not be particularly powerful.
At least, compared with those Lords, he probably wasn't more terrifying.
"Good. If a Servant accepts the Grail's summons, Risei will certainly know what Class it is."
Father Kotomine Risei, as the overseer of the Holy Grail War, had been dispatched to Fuyuki's church in the capacity of a full-time priest. In his possession was a magical device called the [Aura Disc] that could display the attributes of Heroic Spirits summoned by the Grail.
Although a Master's identity could only be confirmed by their own report, as soon as a Servant descended, no matter where the summoning took place, the overseer could use the [Aura Disc] to grasp the number of Servants and their Classes.
According to the information Risei transmitted, so far only Caster and Berserker had been summoned.
"My relic finally arrived this morning," Tokiomi said to himself.
"Even if an opponent is a Lord whose magecraft talent far surpasses mine, the Holy Grail War is ultimately a contest of Servant performance."
"And as long as it's that Servant, no one can stand against him!"
Thinking that, Tokiomi exhaled slowly.
Even without Kirei as a covert ally, even if the enemies were four Lords, as long as that Servant existed, I, Tohsaka Tokiomi, am still invincible in the Holy Grail War!
"Begin, then, the summoning ritual."
Before the Holy Grail War began, Tokiomi had already sent his family to his wife's parents' home in the neighboring town. The reason, of course, was that Fuyuki would become a battlefield and he could not risk leaving them here exposed to danger.
Alone, Tokiomi walked into the underground workshop.
The preparatory work for the ritual had long been completed.
"Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Let each be turned over five times, simply breaking asunder the fulfilled time." [T/N: Sagara Hyouma's]
Tohsaka chanted aloud as he drew the magic circle. The material used to draw the circle was not the blood of a living sacrifice but gems melted into liquid.
For this day he had long stored many gems brimming with magical power, and today he used them all at once in the ritual.
———
In a clearing deep in a grove at the edge of Miyama Town in Fuyuki, Waver Velvet, having stolen the relic from his tutor, carefully confirmed no one was nearby, then began preparing his summoning.
"By silver and iron as elements, by stone and the great duke of contract as foundation, beginning with our lineage's master Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. With iron walls block the descending wind; seal the four doors. From crown to kingdom's trident, cycle without end."
At Einzbern Castle, Lorelei Barthomeloi, the "Pinnacle of Modern Magi", calmly watched the magic circle she had just drawn on the chapel floor.
"—I declare: Thy body shall dwell beneath my banner; my fate entrusts itself to thy sword."
"If thou wilt answer the Grail's call, follow this will, and conform to this law; then be it so."
"Here I vow."
Before the mercury magic circle, the "genius" Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald raised his hand; the arrogant smile at his lips did not change.
"I am he who accomplishes all good deeds of the ordinary world;
I am he who spreads all evils of the ordinary world."
———
Emiya had set no magic circle. He simply walked the streets, gazing at the countless stars, and slowly muttered.
"From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three greet words of power, come forth from the ring of restraints, protector of the Holy Balance!"
The magician's voice thus reached their ears.
From beyond, the legendary phantoms arrived here with whirlwinds and flashes.
Though clothed in human form, they transcended the mortal realm; they bore extraordinary power elevated to myth.
They came from the Counter Force's Throne, the place that gathers all superhuman spirits. In that instant the Heroic Spirits dreamed of by humanity descended upon the earth together.
Before Emiya, starlight gathered into an exquisitely beautiful human figure.
She wore armor as white as snow, inlaid with golden patterns that seemed to flow with holy light. Golden hair fell like a waterfall, the tips slightly curled.
Her face was finely sculpted; her nose high, the corners of her lips gently upturned, giving an air of nobility and dignity. In her hand she gripped the holy sword Excalibur, whose blade emitted a faint blue aura, as if fused with her very being.
"Saber, Artoria Avalon."
"Answer me: are you the Master who summoned me..?"
The female swordsman calling herself Artoria Avalon paused, momentarily puzzled.
She felt a power both strange and familiar, as if it resonated with her soul.
That person's gaze was as deep as the night sky yet carried an elusive warmth, as though knowing all of her while hiding endless secrets.
'My Master, is it a human, or...'
———
[The Next Day, Afternoon]
"Rider's identity is Iskandar, Alexander the Great," On Fuyuki's streets Emiya and the food-munching Artoria walked one after the other.
As for why it was fried potato balls, Emiya had impulsively made that snack to feed the cute blonde swordswoman; fortunately, Artoria quite liked them.
Iskandar, the famous Macedonian king of Eurasia, called the "King of Conquerors," historically Alexander the Great, conquered half of Europe and vast regions of Asia and Africa.
"Alexander the Great... is a very famous king. He should have a global fame bonus," Artoria said as she swallowed a bite.
[Popularity bonus] refers to the buff a Servant gains in a region or cultural context where their legend and deeds are widely known.
When a Servant fights in a region related to their legend, their abilities are strengthened by the local people's recognition and belief.
For example, Artoria fighting in Britain receives an additional power boost due to her legendary renown there.
Even when not in their homeland, Servants like Artoria or Iskandar can still receive a degree of fame bonus because their legends are widely transmitted worldwide.
Though this bonus is not as great as in their homeland, it's enough to let them demonstrate heroic power beyond reason in battle.
"That said, as Rider Iskandar, he truly can't be compared to you as a Grand Saber candidate," Emiya said calmly.
Artoria glanced slightly; golden hair lifted in the breeze, and a complex look flickered across her green eyes.
She stared at Emiya, a strange feeling rising within her.
Whether he spoke as a Grand Saber candidate or as a Beast, such words carried a subtle peculiarity.
"Archer is Gilgamesh, the most ancient king of Babylon," Emiya continued.
The prototype who possesses all the treasures of the world, the top-tier Servant who proclaims himself King of Kings, proud in temperament, and whose power is undeniably tremendous.
"Lancer is Achilles, the great Greek hero; Caster is Solomon, the third king of ancient Israel; Assassin is First Hassan, the original old man of the mountain."
"And Berserker is Gorgon, the female monster (goddess) of Greek myth."
The Servants in this Grail War were unusually powerful. Each, in a normal Holy Grail War, would possess the potential to overwhelm and win by a crushing margin.
The reasons for this phenomenon: first, most of the Masters participating this time were outstanding figures in the mage world, and they treated the Grail War with far more seriousness than usual, employing ever-stronger relic catalysts.
Second, the Heroic Spirit summoning ritual this time seemed to have received covert support from the Counter Force.
As the entity that maintains world balance, the Counter Force normally does not directly interfere with human conflicts, but this time it apparently provided extra magical power to the summoning somehow, increasing the overall potency of the summoned Servants.
Listening to Emiya, Artoria nodded slightly, her gaze briefly lingering on Emiya's molten-gold eyes.
She didn't ask how he knew such information.
Artoria withdrew her gaze and looked ahead.
No matter what, the Holy Grail War would ultimately reveal itself beneath sword and blade.
However prepared Artoria might be, the combat between Servants had to wait until night.
One rule of the Holy Grail War is to avoid ordinary people's gaze as much as possible. The city by day is noisy and crowded; if Servants fought then, it could spark massive chaos and expose the existence of the mage world.
At night, once the city's clamor quiets and the streets are emptier, it's more suitable for Servant duels. The darkness of night also gives magi and Servants better concealment, reducing unnecessary trouble.
———
"I am the Conqueror King Iskandar; in this Holy Grail War I have taken the Rider seat and come to the world!"
Lancer Achilles and Berserker Gorgon fought fiercely at Fuyuki's harbor, and in the midst of their battle, a thunder-driven ox-cart descended from the sky.
"Will you submit to me and yield the Grail? If so, I will treat you as close friends and share with you the joy of conquering the world."
On the Grail War's battlefield, a Servant's true name is the key to victory; yet this Servant announced his true name upon manifestation.
Tall, heavily muscled, immensely strong. Short fiery-red hair, a matching red beard connecting to his sideburns.
Thick, stubby brows; red irises; wearing a heavy cloak, leather bracers on his arms, and a brown cuirass and war skirt beneath.
The boldness to announce his name first was admirable, but appearing at such a time was not wise for Iskandar.
From the shadows, a tall figure slowly emerged. His body was even more burly than Iskandar's; he wore a pitch-black cloak, and beneath it heavy armor could be seen, emitting an icy aura.
Most striking was the skull mask on his face: the pale mask was carved with ancient runes, and in the eye sockets two blue ghostly flames burned quietly. Those flames had no warmth yet instilled a bone-chilling cold.
Those blue-flame eyes fixed on the "Conqueror King."
"The Evening Bell has revealed thy name."