Dark clouds began to gather in the night sky over Fuyuki City.
Rumble—!!!!
In the next moment, the sky seemed to be torn apart by a pair of invisible hands. Purple lightning snaked wildly across the cloud-covered firmament, illuminating the pitch-black Fuyuki Port as if it were broad daylight.
Accompanied by the blinding purple lightning, a two-wheeled chariot pulled by two muscular divine bulls forced its way into the knights' dueling ground with an incredibly overbearing posture.
Lightning spat from the bulls' nostrils as the heavy chariot's wheels ground through the air, producing a tooth-grinding boom. Every hoofbeat left radial scorch marks on the surrounding ground and buildings.
"Aaaaaah—!! Rider! You're being too reckless! It's too high! I'm going to fall, aaaaaah!!"
On the chariot, a youth as frail as a chick was clinging desperately to the giant's cloak, letting out a shrill scream with tears and snot streaming down his face.
But the giant driving the chariot let out a deafening, heroic laugh.
"Hahahaha! Since it's a war, one must naturally make a grand and upright entrance from the front!"
Boom—!
The Gordius Wheel, carrying ten thousand tons of lightning, crashed heavily onto the open space between Saber and Lancer.
A violent air current mixed with electric arcs expanded outward. The shockwave instantly blew away the surrounding stacked shipping containers, sending dust rising and debris flying.
Atop a shipping container, a rainbow-colored halo flashed in front of Hansen. A fleeting octagonal barrier faintly appeared, shielding the beautiful woman beside him from the oncoming dust and strong winds.
"Ah..."
Irisviel was startled by the sudden commotion and instinctively shrank behind Hansen.
With her movement, her figure—as plump and soft as a ripe peach—pressed tightly against Hansen's arm.
The incredible elasticity felt through the thick winter clothing was enough to make any man's blood boil.
"Are you alright, Madam?" Hansen shielded Irisviel behind him, his gaze fixed on Iskandar, who had become the center of attention.
"I-I'm fine... It's just that this Servant's way of appearing is truly startling." Irisviel looked up, a hint of worry flashing in her ruby-like eyes as she leaned closer to the man who provided a strong sense of security.
"With me here, no one can hurt you."
Hansen smiled and casually peeled a grape, holding it to the lady's rosy lips. "Here, have a grape to calm your nerves."
"Eh..."
Irisviel instinctively opened her small mouth, her tender pink tongue lightly curling away the grape. The accidental moist touch against his fingertip carried a hint of pure, seductive temptation.
Below, the battle between Saber and Lancer had been forced to a halt.
Both simultaneously took up defensive stances, warily watching the massive cloud of smoke rising in the center.
As the dust cleared, a burly giant over two meters tall revealed himself.
His red hair was like fire, and his beard was like halberds; his muscles looked as if they were carved from granite.
Wearing a heavy red cloak, his entire being exuded a suffocating aura of masculine hormones and kingly dominance.
Rider class, King of Conquerors, Iskandar.
"Ahyayaya! You're all here! You're all here!"
Iskandar's voice was like a resonant bell; a single shout was enough to make everyone's eardrums ring.
He spread his arms and scanned the gathered Heroic Spirits with piercing eyes, a wild and arrogant smile on his face that was impossible to hate. "Both sides, put away your weapons!"
"My true name is the King of Conquerors, Iskandar! I have joined this Holy Grail War to obtain the Holy Grail!"
Dead silence filled the area.
Kayneth, who had just struggled to escape the ruins thanks to the defense of his Mystic Code, looked miserable with blood streaming down his face. The corner of his bloodstained eye twitched wildly, and his mind, which had been blank, was now filled with doubts about his life choices.
Who the hell starts off by announcing their own name like this idiot?
This is the Holy Grail War! Don't you understand information warfare?!
I, Lord Kayneth, have never been inferior to anyone in my life. Why am I being punished with such foolish enemies?!
But the King of Conquerors clearly didn't care. He let out a hearty laugh. "Ahahaha! Are you all speechless before this King? Then let's dispense with this petty fighting!"
Saber gripped her Invisible Sword tighter, her brow furrowed. "Rider... are you here to interfere?"
"No, no, no! I am here to recruit!"
Iskandar waved his hand, completely ignoring the previous tension, and issued a jaw-dropping invitation to Saber and Lancer.
"I see that you both possess great martial prowess. How about it? Are you interested in joining my banner?"
"In this era, conquer the world once more with this King!"
Dead Silence 2.0.
Lancer's expression was unreadable, while Saber's Ahoge gave a twitch.
To treat the Holy Grail War like a job fair—this man's nerves were truly something else!
Lancer, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, twirled his long spear into a magnificent red floral pattern, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground. "I already have a master and a reason I must fight. Therefore, I must respectfully decline your proposal."
Saber also gave a cool wave of her hand, the storm surrounding her invisible blade sweeping away the nearby gravel and dust. "I say the same."
"Ah, have you both refused? Since you both have your own convictions, then there's no helping it."
The King of Conquerors' piercing bull-like eyes scanned the area, finally settling on the top of the shipping container.
"Then what about you, young man? Though you wear no armor, I can smell the scent of a strong man on you from hundreds of meters away!"
Iskandar grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth. "How about it? Are you interested in joining my banner?"
"Yield the Holy Grail to me, and I shall treat you as a friend, sharing the joy of conquering the world with you!"
Following his words, everyone's gaze turned toward Hansen, who was currently slacking off and flirting with his master. He handed a freshly opened bag of potato chips to Irisviel and stood up, brushing the crumbs off his hands.
"Hmm? Has the recruitment target shifted to me?"
"Indeed!" Iskandar looked at him with appreciation, his eyes burning. "How about it? Respond to this King's expectations, young man!"
"Oh, I'm truly honored then."
Hansen looked down at the red-haired giant from his high vantage point and wagged a finger. "However..."
"Working for someone else is out of the question. It's impossible for me to work for anyone in this lifetime. But as for you..."
A playful smile curled at the corner of his mouth. "I see your muscles are quite sturdy."
"My household just happens to be missing a professional driver. Room and board included, weekends off. Would you like to consider it?"
Ding—!
Before the King of Conquerors could even speak, Saber's Ahoge stood up again like a radar.
—Dammit, is this guy... questioning my driving skills?!
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