The next morning, Izumo was talking to Lancer in the bar. Lancer had asked the bartender if there were any available local jobs he could do so that he's not being a freeloader.

"I could offer ya a position here helpin' with the bar when customers come in," Izumo said. "Whaddaya think?"

It sounded ideal since it would mean he won't be too far from his Master. "I'm stayin' here anyway. May as well do it."

Tatara spoke up. "Lancer, I need to talk to you outside. Let's go out the back."

"Alright."

Outside, Tatara shut the door behind the two. After checking to make sure there was no one else around, he spoke up. "Do you have a monster you're fighting with?"

Crimson eyes flicked to Tatara. "...How'dja know?"

"I had a feeling. It would make something you and King have in common."

The Servant's eyes narrowed in thought. "It's called Riastrad. Ya remember me mentionin' I'm able to be summoned as a Berserker? Riastrad is the reason. It make me an even bigger monster and causes me to attack friends and foes. But it only comes out if I get really pissed, which was twice. Other times, I have a tight lid on it. So, Mikoto also has this issue?"

"For him, it's his power. King tries to shut his emotions up so it doesn't go out of control."

"Yeah, too much power can be a monster to deal with. I remember how scary my power as a son of the god, Lugh, was until I learned how to control it. It was really bad since I'm his mortal incarnation. I imagine the red aura's nearly as bad to handle."

"I keep trying to help him deal with his inner demons, but I don't know how much it's helping. But you know kinda what he's going through, so I was thinking maybe you could also talk to him."

"I'll give it a try. But he could get pissed at me for buttin' into his personal business."

"He shouldn't. He'll probably figure out I asked you to do it."

"This is probably none of my business, but I sensed somethin' goin' on between you and Mikoto over my mental link with him. Like ya both are together. Am I wrong? Don't worry. I don't sense anyone."

Tatara took a deep breath. "We probably won't be able to keep it a secret from you, so I'll tell you. You're right. Only Mr. Kusanagi and Anna know, so keep it hidden from everyone else."

"Some people in the Clan who frown on that sorta thing?"

"We don't know. But it's better to be safe than sorry. Lancer, are you interested in King?"

"No. Not in that way. I only view him as my Master, though I hope we become friends."

"Men aren't to your taste?"

"Well, I used to experiment with both sexes, but I chose women in the end. That's why I chose to be married to Emer."

"I don't know that much about your legend, but I know it was really tragic. Do you regret anything about it?"

Why did this have to happen?!

Why did they have to die?!

I can't believe I killed them!

I should've died instead...

Lancer hesitated before replying. "...I don't. Nothin' about my first life bothers me." He walked over to Tatara, resting his hand on the young man's light brown hair and a large grin plastered on his face. "I'm fine! Don't go worryin' 'bout me!" The warrior slowly walked back to the bar while cheerfully humming a melody.

"Lancer..." Tatara murmured, looking sadly at the Servant's back. He couldn't read minds like Anna, but even he could tell that carefree attitude was an attempt to conceal something else.

That of a man broken on the inside.

I...hate myself. So much.

Father, I beg you.

Make this pain go away.

It hurts a lot.

"Sir, why was there a copy of The Illiad in my tent?" a solder asked, holding up a worn-looking book.

Rider quickly snatched the book from the man's hands in a flash. "I've been looking all over for it! You didn't mess with it, did you?" The large man was flipping through the pages. "I was almost at the part where Achilles fights Hector."

A man grinned at the king. The way everyone was interacting with Rider, it's like they were chatting with a good friend rather than their ruler. "You really like the story, huh?"

"Of course! I'm the descendant of Achilles! It's only natural I learn all I can about my ancestor!"

No one tried to argue this. "You've read that how many dozen times now? Aren't you worried that it'll fall apart? It was a gift from Aristotle after all."

"Don't bother trying to convince him not to read it anymore," another warrior said. "It's like trying to convince the Danube to dry up. I don't think he'll stop reading it until he's dead."

"In any case, please stop misplacing it with my things. I'm trying to travel light and I don't want any extra weight!"

"Fine, fine."

Tenkei opened his eyes. 'A dream from my Servant?' He looked at the time on his digital clock on his nightstand. It was still night. He got up and went to his room's minifridge and grabbed a can of beer. He opened and drank from it. On the couch, Rider was snoring away, not a care in the world. He seemed to roughly snot and scratched his belly before resuming his snoring. The King shook his head. This slob really carries the blood of Zeus? Then again, the Master wasn't exactly the best image of a King. He smirked. Maybe the two are alike.

"There you are!"

Assassin wasn't responding to Daikaku's telepathic order to return, so the King had to go down to the bar to fetch the idiot. The swordsman was currently passed out drunk on the counter with some drool coming out of his opened mouth. A glass directly in front of him had been knocked down onto its side, the liquid contents having already evacuated into a small puddle on the counter.

"Ryoumaaa...Why'dja leave me? Did I do somethin' wrong? I'm sorry if that's what it was..." Assassin grumbled as the old man lifted the drunkard up to carry him on his back. During the entire trip up to the rooftop house, he kept muttering incomprehensible stuff about Sakamoto. The Usagi they passed directed an awkward look at the Servant, the expressions evident even while wearing the rabbit masks.

The Gold King groaned at the man looking lika a hobo on his back. "What am I going to do with you..?" Why'd he get a Servant he needs to look out for. Would this one really be capable of helping him win? This killer's like a child!

In the house, Assassin suddenly threw up on the floor. Some of the mess stained the King's kimono and haori. Daikaku sighed.

"Of course..."

In the park were Mikoto and Lancer. No one else was present; the two were looking to relax. Birds were soaring the sky, but one in particular caught the knight's attention. Even with such a large distance between them, Lancer was able to tell something was different about that bird. And not just because it was slightly larger than the other ones. He could sense another person there.

"Mikoto," the Celt said stiffly without tearing his narrowed red gaze away from the bird, which he's now sure is a parrot. A familiar? "we should be careful."

"Ha?" The King was unaware of what his Servant noticed. "What for?"

"That bird. It's monitorin' us."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Nagare was facing a projection over one of the walls. It showed a scene of the outside from a bird's perspective. It was focused on two people. One had red hair while the other's hair is blue. The one with the blue hair seemed to be glaring right at the Green King.

Tenkei chose this time to walk in. "There you are!" Then he joined the other King in staring at the screen. "...Find something, Nagare?"

"I have found the Red King, Mikoto Suoh, with who I assume is his Servant. It appears as though the Servant has discovered Kotosaka." Nagare looked at the Grey King. "Mr. Iwa, I want you and Rider to fight these two tonight. Aim to kill, but don't be afraid to fall back if necessary."

Tenkei grinned. "Our first fight! A good sample of the Holy Grail War!" Then the realization hit him. "Wait. You won't be joining in?"

"No. Saber and I will be watching the battle through Kotosaka. Even if you have to retreat, we'll hopefully learn the Servant's True Name. I'll give them an invitation."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The parrot dove down to Lancer. The beast still regarded it through narrowed eyes and had even began growling lowly like a distrustful dog.

Mikoto came over. He was also glaring. "Talk before I roast ya. Who are you?"

"Greetings, Red King Mikoto Suoh. I am Green King Nagare Hisui." The bird seemed to be talking without opening its beak.

"You're the Green King?!"

"Mikoto, the speaker isn't here," Lancer said while continuing to glare at the green animal. "I thought this thing was a familiar. But it seems that it's bein' used as a medium."

The parrot cocked its head. "Very good observation, Servant. Indeed, Kotosaka here is being used as my mediator. I'm currently elsewhere."

Lancer crossed his arms. "To get this close to an enemy King and Servant...Whaddaya want?"

"I wish to issue a challenge. You'll be awaited at the Shizume cargo pier tonight."

Mikoto continued to glare. "You're tellin' us this instead of usin' the element of surprise. What's your game?"

"I only wish to observe a part of the game we're all currently playing. I'm not plotting anything else."

Lancer barked a laugh. "You'll only observe? Too chicken to go out and fight yourself?"

"Trying to rile me up? It won't work." The parrot suddenly took off flying. "Remember: tonight at the cargo pier. Both of you are expected to be there."

Kuroh slid open the door to Ichigen's bedroom. "Master Ichigen, I have a question about -" The King was nowhere to be found. Instead, the view of a completely naked Berserker was what the teen was met with. He went beet red and instantly turned around. "I'm so sorry!" Then he suddenly remembered where he is. "Wait! Why are you naked in Master Ichigen's room?!"

The Servant huffed. Why did it have to be this annoying Clansman? "Husband had to step out for a bit. I'm just waiting for him."

"You're calling him Husband?!"

"Because he's mine! I won't let your love for him overpower my own!"

Kuroh facepalmed. "What are you even talking about?! I have a lot of respect for Master Ichigen, but I don't love him in that way!"

The dragon looked surprised. "Wait, you don't?"

"Of course not! Now will you stop trying to murder me when he's not looking?!" He looked over his shoulder to shoot the girl a glare, but snapped his head back when he got a sudden nosebleed. "Gah! Materialize your kimono already!"

"Lancer and I will be fightin' the Green King and his Servant tonight."

Everyone from the Red Clan was gathered at the bar. They were listening to Mikoto and Lancer.

"Wait, the Green King?!" Misaki demanded. "He went missin' years ago!"

"He's around. He had his parrot invite us to the cargo pier to fight tonight."

Tatara spoke up. "King, are you two really going? This sounds like a trap."

"I know. We talked it over and we'll go."

"Are ya outta your mind?!" Yõ exclaimed. "You might get badly hurt!" It was clear to everyone that he purposely avoided saying "You could die!" He didn't want to think of that possibility and, honestly, neither did anyone else.

Lancer breathed out heavily. "The bar could be attacked if we don't go. This is to keep ya'll safe."

"He might be expectin' ya to leave the bar defenseless," Izumo pointed out.

"We already considered that," Mikoto replied. "You guys'll leave at nightfall. Kusanagi, can Anna stay with you?"

There was a collective shout of "What?!"

The King sighed. "I know ya guys think ya can protect here, but face the facts. It's a King and a Servant. You'll be obliterated in no time."

The Colorless King had returned. Berserker was currently needing him with questions in an attempt to get to know him better.

"How were you born? How have you lived your life? What's your favorite food? And what's the food you dislike? What's the type of person you like? What's your schedule like every day? Where do you wash first in a shower? What's your height, weight, eyesight, grip strength, speed, endurance, and lung capacity? Have you ever run a marathon? Oh! I forgot one very important thing! Are there any temples that you're acquainted with? If possible, I'd like to hear about them."

Kuroh went pale and a chill went down his spine. "Te-temples?!"

Ichigen remained looking undisturbed. "Why do you wish to know that?"

"It's a secret. Hehehehehehe..."

The teen groaned. "Given how powerful you're supposed to be, that still sounds ominous..."

"No matter how strong

It only takes one slip-up

To be defeated."

Kuroh had stars shining in his eyes as he gazed at Ichigen. "What a beautiful hai -" He suddenly felt heavy killing intent. He slowly looked at Berserker, who had her narrowed yellow eyes fixed on him.

"Berserker..." the King said in a warning tone. The killing intent suddenly went away and Berserker looked ashamed.

"I'm sorry, Master..." She seemed to shrink down.

"I thought we made up!" Kuroh shouted.

"It was habit, that's all."

"You need to kill that habit..."

It was nighttime when the Red Clan Master and Servant walked into the cargo pier. But both of them were on edge, two pairs of eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.

"Where's the enemy?" the redheaded King asked.

"Could it be an Assassin usin' Presence Concealment?" the Servant murmured.

"A Personal Skill?"

"No, a Class Skill. Assassins are pretty weak in combat. Bet ya can win a straight fight 'gainst one even though it's a Servant. But that skill makes 'em frustratin'. It makes it impossible for even Servants to sense 'em nearby. That's why they excel at sneak attacks and strikin' from the shadows."

"Sounds like pain."

Lancer bared his fangs. "Sneaky bastards like that piss me off!" He suddenly looked up. "It's the parrot."

Perched on a storage container was Kotosaka. He cocked his head at them. "I'm glad you two showed up. I was beginning to worry you wouldn't - Saber, please try to calm down. You'll get your turn."

Mikoto raised an eyebrow. "Is that your Servant with ya, Hisui? I thought ya wanted a sample of this Grail War."

The parrot seemed to cackle. "Yes, but I don't recall saying I'll be fighting."

Strings of lightning rained down. Mikoto and Lancer took defensive stances, awaiting a sudden attack.

A chariot pulled by two bulls came charging to earth from the sky. There were two people in it. One was a large redhead, holding the reins and giving a war cry. The second was a human man who's probably wishing he were anywhere else not on the chariot.

Lancer snarled. "Servant Rider! What's goin' on?! Is the Green King allies with another Master?!"

The chariot hit the ground several meters in front of the two young men. "Good evening, Lancer! I am Iskandar, King of Conquerors!"

No one else spoke or moved. There was only a disbelieving silence. If it wasn't winter, there would only be the sound of crickets chirping.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Saber just stared at the monitor. "Did he seriously...just give out his True Name..?" Her Master and the two Clansmen were silent with disbelief. Kotosaka was probably internally sweatdropping.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Lancer: "What..."

Tenkei: "The..."

Mikoto: "Fuck?!"

The Grey King facepalmed. "Shouting your True Name...What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Rider laughed and clapped his Master on the back so hard the brown-haired man flailed to keep from falling forward. It's a wonder that blow didn't break his spine. "Now, now, don't get upset over something so small!"

"Small?! It's your True Name!"

The bearded man picked the smaller King by the back of his mantle like a kitten. "Stop your damn whining."

Tenkei was flailing his limbs everywhere. "Hey! Put me down!"

"So whiny..." Rider grumbled. He jumped out of his chariot, holding a still-complaining Tenkei. The chariot and bulls dispersed in a cloud of blue mana.

The blue Servant grinned. "Heh! Not gonna use your mount?" The clothes on Lancer glowed bright white with mana. Then the mana broke away, revealing Lancer's armor being worn on the Servant instead. This was done without Lancer himself budging. "Don't take me lightly!" Then he remembered the other. "Oh, right!" Lancer gestured to the enemy human. "Mikoto, know who the Master is?"

Mikoto's eyes were narrowed. "He looks like pictures I've seen of the Grey King, Seigo Ootori. But that can't be. Ootori's dead."

"Seigo Ootori is dead. He died in the Kagutsu Incident. My name is Tenkei Iwafune. Call me Mr. Iwa. It's nice to meet'cha." He pulled out a revolver from his priest robe. "I'll make killing you and your Servant as quick and painless as possible." He pointed the gun at the Red Master-Servant pair.

Lancer was grinning, revealing a pair of beast-like canines. "You think you can kill me?" Killing intent so thick that it was almost impossible to even breathe poured out of Lancer. Even Mikoto and Tenkei took a few steps back, sweat rolling down their faces. Anyone not a Servant or King would go running for their lives or would be rendered too afraid to even move in the face of such a powerful ominous aura. "Don't make me laugh!" A two-meter blood-red spear, the legendary cursed spear, Gáe Bolg, appeared out of thin air in his right hand. "You may be a King, but you're just a mere human!"

Tenkei felt a hand on his back and looked to the side. It was Rider. This intimidation tactic wasn't fazing him. He continued to stand firm like a stone wall. "I'll handle the Servant. You deal with the Master." He pulled out his sword and jumped at Lancer, meeting the wolf's strike.

"Ya idiot!"

The two weapons clashed with red and white-blue bolts of magical energy and apparently had enough power to cause some damage. The ground beneath both Servants shattered as if a wrecking ball hit it and the shockwave that was created alone absolutely destroyed some containers behind the two in an instant and tore into others. If Rider's attacks were likened to divine lightning, then opposing it would be scarlet wind.

A ferocious volley of thrusts came from the one wielding the demonic spear, each strike running like a flash of light. Lancer was really reminding Mikoto of a wild beast. But Rider was able to react fast enough to block them all with his sword. The attacks were so intense and swift that anyone who came too close the this clash would end up instantly cut to pieces.

Bolts of lightning came down from the heavens to strike to knight, but his Magic Resistance took out some, the bolts dispersing into nothingness as soon as they hit a translucent blue dome around the Servant. Others were weakened so much they were easily ignorable.

So this is a battle between Servants?! This was like watching a serious fight between Kings!

Servants are classified as familiars, but aren't like normal ones. Familiars are normally a mascot running errands for their masters, are obedient to them, and are not stronger than them. Servants are different. They are the the highest rank familiar, the ultimate warriors that have killed dragons and gods, ones not even the sorcerers, which there are only five of, can hope to control, nevermind the Kings. This is because they're beings far beyond magic. The fact the Holy Grail is making this impossible feat possible proves the almighty power it holds.

Unfortunately, even the Holy Grail has its limits. It doesn't have the Authority to summon a full Heroic Spirit, so an inferior copy of the Heroic Spirit is what it's able to summon instead. Even so, they are still existences that are able to prove more powerful than even a King, one of the strongest living beings.

They are on the same level as holy spirits. In that way, they can be likened to angels or demons. The class container, created by the Grail, that they're in is what allows them to take form, as well as giving them a temporary name. They can only be summoned into one of these seven classes if the Heroic Spirit displays the necessary characteristics.

Knight of the sword, Saber.

Knight of the spear, Lancer.

Knight of the bow, Archer.

Mounter warrior, Rider.

Mad warrior, Berserker.

Magus, Caster.

Silent killer, Assassin.

These legendary heroes, under the command of seven chosen Masters will fight to the death in a series of battles to determine who's worthy of the omnipotent wish-granting challice. This is the Holy Grail War.

Rider thought the speed of his opponent's attacks wouldn't be that great. He was wrong.

"..!"

The redheaded Servant grunted as these vicious attacks the beast was delivering forced him back a couple steps. He was becoming overpowered. He had underestimated the other Servant by dematerializing Gordius Wheel. The speed of the thrusts kept increasing without end, leaving absolutely no time for breathing between strikes, let alone time to counterattack. 10 blows delivered by the feral blue wolf a second. No, more than that. The movements were almost to the point where they were invisible to even his eyes. The fact the king was still able to block them with his sword is itself amazing.

Mikoto just stood there staring at this battle. He was captivated at these two inhuman beings moving at speeds no one he knows of could match. Raging winds from the weapons filled the entire cargo pier. The cocking of a gun got the young man's attention, bringing him back to the fact there was another enemy present.

"It's time to get busy as well, Suoh. I don't want my Servant hogging all the glory."

Two giant masses of energy in the form of a couple of swords, each called a Sword of Damocles, materialized in the air above the two Kings. The red one belongs to Mikoto while the grey one belongs to Tenkei. Tenkei's was in perfect form while Mikoto's showed only a few pieces having broken away. Exceeding his limit, called a Weismann level, would cause his Sword to fall, killing him and causing destruction equal to an Anti-City Noble Phantasm. Even though his showed some damage, he should last a year as long as he doesn't push himself, given he continues to fight as a King.

Just then, the weapons of both Servants clashed harder than before and the fighters jumped back by their Masters in a shower of sparks.

Chilling fog filled the area. Lancer was looking around wildly. Everything around him was growing hazy. "The hell's this?! A bounded field?!"

Mikoto grit his teeth. He had learned about this ability of the Grey King. "This has to be Iwafune's Fog Sanctum!"

Lancer's nose twitched. He must have a heightened sense of smell like a dog. "All scents within have vanished. Know how to counter it?"

"I don't."

Lancer moved closer to his Master. "Both enemies are invisible." The kight didn't like this shit one bit. He suddenly blocked a strike from Rider, who had just burst out of the fog to strike the other Servant head on. The wolf smirked. "I thought ya were Rider and not Assassin. Are sneak attacks your thing?"

While Rider wasn't on board with this cowardly method of fighting, he ignored it since his Master rode out to battle at his Servant's side. So the taunt didn't bother him. "This is how my Master wishes to fight. But I'll take you on fairly."

"You can fight him, Lancer," Mikoto said. "I'll deal with Iwafune."

The blue Servant looked at first like he was about to protest about leaving his Master alone to fight a hidden enemy, but he swallowed it down. "...Very well." Lancer and Rider moved their fight several meters away.

Mikoto got himself ready to fight in such a disadvantageous position. "Alright. Come get me!"

A bullet was fired at the Red King from his right. He moved his head in time, but the projectile still caused a couple strands of red hair to fly off. His amber gaze quickly flicked to where the attack came from, but all he could see was fog. His gaze moved forward again. The redhead braced himself for the next attack.

"I'm just a coward."

Mikoto continued to stare straight ahead. The fact the enemy King was using such a cheap trick proved the label. "If you're a coward, then why are ya riskin' your life? Ya could just sit it out."

"I was chosen as a Master, wasn't I? I should at least act the part."

Mikoto quickly moved his head to the side to avoid an incoming bullet that came from in front of him. He immediately launched fire in the direction the attack came from, but it only ended up tearing apart a couple containers.

"Where were you even aiming?" However, the Grey King couldn't get closer unless he wanted a one-sided beatdown courtesy of the Red King.

Blood-red eyes swiftly glanced at the Red King then went back to front as Lancer had to parry yet another sword swing from Rider. Instincts were screaming at Lancer to go to his Master's side, but he couldn't do that while trying to hold back Rider's attacks. The urge got even stronger when heard another gunshot. At least Mikoto was a King fighting just one King. He should be able to hold out.

Rider seemed to sense Lancer's concerns. "Worried about your Master?"

Lancer snarled in response. "Course I am!" He slashed sideways and Rider jumped back.

A bullet charged with grey aura shot out of the fog and flew right at Lancer's head from behind. Tenkei decided to take out the Servant since he was currently focused on Rider. Plus, he was getting nowhere with the Red King. Even in this fog, that gangster kept managing to evade all his attacks!

The beast's head turned to where the killing intent he sensed was coming from. Even though it was in the fog as well, there was a sudden surge of it coming from behind. The image of Tenkei holding his pistol with smoke coming out of the barrel materialized. As soon as the bullet was about to touch his skin, harsh winds came from Lancer's body and succeeded in knocking the bullet away.

Tenkei stared in shock. "What?!"

The war hound grinned and turned his entire body right at the King. "Sorry to say this, but I possess the skill Protection From Arrows. Projectile attacks are useless on me."

Lightning rained down. "You shouldn't forget about me!"

"Course I haven't!" Gáe Bolg was swung with both hands, meeting Rider's sword which had been aimed for his neck. Bolts of crimson lighting sprung from the spear. The clash was strong enough to disperse the fog and to knock Tenkei and Mikoto onto the ground.

Rider glanced at Tenkei. "My bad."

Tenkei tsked. More of his fog was being produced. But if those two monsters are able to disperse it just like that, then it's pretty much useless. And it's clear that Rider's being overwhelmed. He'll need to come up with a new plan.

'Rider. It's time to fall back.'

'Ugh, I'm loathe to admit it, but you're right. I decided to go easy and I was pushed into a corner.'

The Grey King whipped his right arm out at Lancer, his fog blinding the knight for a second. Mikoto had charged at Tenkei, but a rain of lightning stopped his advance. A storage container was sent flying through the air at the Celt. He dematerialized his spear and grabbed it with both hands, making it suddenly halt as the spearman held it a little off the ground. There were a pair of moos. Rider had summoned his chariot and he and his Master got on. The vehicle was now taking them away through the sky in retreat.

"Are ya runnin'?!" Mikoto shouted.

Tenkei glanced back over his shoulder at the Red King and smirked. "We may have bitten off more than we can chew. But don't let it get to your head. This was only the first encounter. We'll be more prepared next time. I know it's not midnight yet, but have a Merry Christmas!" For some reason, that sounded sinister.

"Fuckin' cowards!" With that roar, Lancer hurled the container - weighing five tons when empty - at Rider and the Grey King with one arm like he was throwing a javelin. It missed the chariot just barely and soared through the air several dozen kilometers before landing somewhere with a bang. Lancer tsked and turned to his Master. "Are ya hurt, Mikoto?"

The King huffed, glaring in the direction Tenkei and Rider took off. "I'm fine."

"I was actually holdin' back. Since that was my first battle with him, I didn't wanna give out too much about how I fight. I imagine he was also holdin' back."

Mikoto turned his head to his Servant. "That was both of you pullin' your punches?"

"Hey, ya also held back! Hey, Mikoto? There's somethin' you should know. There's actually a limit to Protection From Arrows. At its rankin', it only worked 'cause I saw the Grey King when the bullet was shot at me. If I hadn't seen him in that split second, I would've had to block it with my spear."

Mikoto glanced at the massive amount of red he was seeing on the bare part of Lancer's right arm. That's when he noticed a large wound down into a quarter of the arm. Blood was already dripping from the tips of his fingers.

"Seems Rider injured ya."

The King pointed at the cut. Lancer looked down at it with an almost bored expression. "Oh. That's all? I didn't even feel this scratch."

"We should hurry to get it treated." The bone itself was even showing.

"Don't bother. Servants have accelerated healin'. Since there's nothin' wrong with my mana, I'd give it around twenty minutes to close."

"So no first-aid?"

"Bandage it to prevent my blood from gettin' all over wherever I walk. I can only dematerialize blood on my body."

"I didn't know ya guys can heal fast."

"How fast we can heal depends on the severity of the injury and the amount of mana we have."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"You seriously retreated?!" Saber demanded as soon as the Master and Servant showed up at base. "If I was out there, I would've killed those two no problem!"

"Why weren't you?" Rider retorted.

"I had to stay back to defend my Master in case this place came under attack. Besides, my Master promised that if I remained here, the next Servant we fight would be all mine and you'll stay here!"

Tenkei sweatdropped. "...You've managed to put a leash on her," he said to Nagare.

"Everything aside, I can't believe you yelled your True Name," Sukuna said after walking up to the massive king. "Aren't those a Servant's biggest secret or something?"

Saber narrowed her eyes at Rider. "Yeah, why did you do something so stupid?"

"No king should be troubled by giving their name to those they wish to challenge. I'm sure your father was the same."

"My father has nothing to do with this!"

Tamamo: I never meant to trick anyone!

Cú Chulainn: You're a great guy, so I really am grateful to have a Master like you.

Iskandar: Your True Name is Cú Chulainn.

Mordred: Fa-Father...

Nagare: Oh? You have bad things to say about a Knight of the Round Table?

Mikoto: He killed his best friend.

Andy: And that's why he doesn't have any friends.

Reisi: It helps to have a leash just in case.

Kuroh: You're crying.

Next chapter: Christmas