"Addie, where'd you run off to now?" Klaudia called out as she entered her brother's office.

Adolf was searching around his desk. He raised his head and gave Klaudia a sheepish smile. "Sorry, Sis. One of the mice escaped out of the lab when I left the room while feeding it."

"You seriously left the cage open? For someone so smart, you can be a real idiot."

Her brother laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. "Point taken. So, mind helping me look for the mouse before the others show up?"

She gave a massive sigh. "Fine. Where do you think it went?"

"I'm not totally positive, so I'm searching the whole room."

While helping search, Klaudia spoke up. "I've been working on making some doriyaki for you and Mr. Kokujouji to try." Then she whispered "I hope Mr. Kokujouji enjoys it."

Adolf glanced at his sister. "You've really been into making Japanese foods lately." He had a feeling this sudden interest most likely had something to do with the Lieutenant, but he doesn't feel like having his eardrums blown out but her high-pitched protest so he won't say that. He actually does believe those two would be great together, but he doesn't have the courage to play matchmaker.

"Well, it's good to try new things."

It happened out of the blue one night. Daikaku and several researchers left to go to sleep, though some like Adolf and Klaudia chose to work overtime in the church building. Then planes dropped bombs on Dresden.

"Addie! We need to evacuate!" Klaudia shouted into the room where Adolf was frantically gathering papers.

"Let me get all our notes! If they burn up, we'll lose all our research!"

"Just forget them and ru -" That's when the ceiling above Adolf caved in and everything happened so fast. Klaudia shoved him out of the way and the rubble landed on her.

"S-sis..?" Adolf stammered to his sister's unmoving body. He-her eyes are only shut because she was knocked unconscious! But there's still a way to fix it! He pulled out Klaudia and rushed her to the remains of the room holding the intact Dresden Slate. The machinery to activate it was still in working order. "Grant me the power to undo this!" Though he became the Silver King, his sister's body was still getting colder. That's when reality hit him.

It's all my fault that she's dead.

Adolf was getting ready to head out when Caster came up from behind, wrapping her bushy tail around his waist.

"Caster?"

Her voice was quiet, almost like a whisper. "It wasn't your fault. You and Klaudia just did what you had to."

Mikoto and Lancer were in an alley behind the bar, ready to do some hand-to-hand sparring. Mikoto was the one who asked Lancer to be his partner in this in order to strengthen himself.

Both young men took a stance, fists raised. Lancer gave a fanged grin, but it didn't look as feral as one might expect. "Bring it!" Sparring is fine as long as Lancer doesn't have any killing intent involved. If he intentionally hits his Master with an attack with the intent of causing death to the Red King, it would damage the Servant's spirit core. As such, killing the Master directly instead of by accident before they use a stroke to make their Servant freeze would be a move to be made only if the Servant doesn't intend to continue in the War.

Punches quickly began being exchanged. The King could tell Lancer had severely lightened the strength behind his blows, but trying to block those fists still caused the redhead's bones in his forearm to vibrate each time. In contrast, Lancer was avoiding and blocking all of his Master's blows with complete ease, making it look as natural as breathing. But then again, the warrior had been fighting for a majority of his life, unlike Mikoto.

Mikoto tried to sweep his Servant's leg, but Lancer simply shifted back, avoiding it completely, and seemed to vanish.

"Wha -?!" Mikoto was abruptly cut off when Lancer reappeared behind him, putting his Master in a headlock.

"And I think that about ends it. You're startin' to look exhausted." The warrior grinned in satisfaction as he released the other male. "You're pretty good. I'd say ya kept up with me for around ten minutes. Impressive. Ya said you're self-taught in this field of combat?"

"Mostly. I briefly had martial arts trainin' for the basics, but I taught myself the rest since I had to defend myself in a lotta fights 'fore I became King. And you?"

"I learned most of my martial arts from Scáthach in the Land of Shadows, but before that it's what some of the more experienced Knights drilled into me."

"No other source?"

"Not really, After all, what I learned kept me alive in every battle I fought. No point fixin' what ain't broken."

"Well, you did end up dead that one time..."

Lancer frowned. "That wasn't a fight. It was basically my enemies takin' advantage of my geasa and some other shit 'fore blowin' my guts out with Gáe Bolg."

Saber's B-rank in the Riding skill meant she would be great at driving a car, even though she hadn't driven one before. Since she did well in the driving simulation, she was allowed to drive JUNGLE's car with Tenkei, Yukari, and Sukuna riding in it as well. None of them expected her driving to be like this...

"Fuck! Don't try to defy the laws of physics!" Tenkei shouted. He was holding the door for dear life as the car almost rolled after hitting a rock. It landed on its wheels, but still! Are all Servants who can drive crazy with the vehicle or is it just her?! Nagare was at the base, Kotosaka was spying, and Rider was out shopping. It turns out he's better at getting a lot of the brands Tenkei wants than Yukari or Sukuna. The rest were in a large, empty field with JUNGLE's car to kill time, enduring Saber's crazy driving.

The car almost flipped onto its side again, but it landed on its wheels. Sukuna was laughing nervously and Yukari had a vice grip on the door, eyes wide and face pale. "Seems Servants are scary in more ways than one..."

Meanwhile, Saber was laughing like a maniac. "This is great!" Then she glanced at Tenkei. "Huh? Is somethin' wrong?"

"I think I saw my life flash before my eyes..."

The Red King and his Servant were walking through the streets of Shizume, as if casually observing HOMRA's territory.

"How're ya likin' work?" Mikoto asked, breaking the awkward silence that built between the two men with the first conversation starter that came to his mind.

"Mostly uneventful. I have gotten a ton of love letters, though."

"Yeah, the girls go crazy for ya."

"It's not just girls that have given me 'em. Guys too. Unfortunately, they're lookin' to date me instead of havin' a one-night stand."

"Now I know where your romantic priorities lie..." Mikoto mumbled.

"It's totally not like that!"

"Judgin' from your number of 'conquests', I'd say it is."

Neko was strolling through Ashinaka's campus on the way to her next class.

"Neko." a disembodied voice said. The cat nearly jumped out of her skin with a startled yelp.

"Caster?! Why are you with me in your spirit form?!"

"Try to keep it down. Adolf has the next two periods off, so he's off to meet with the Gold King and asked me to accompany you."

"Why did he go there?! Actually, why didn't you go with him?! You're supposed to be his loyal Servant!"

"You think I don't want to even now?! But he told me to stay back as a sign of non-aggression. I wonder if it was really alright to let Adolf go on his own," Caster murmured. "He said he knows what he's doing, however..."

"I wouldn't worry!" Neko told the Servant cheerfully, trying to be optimistic. "Since Addie's immortal, he'll most likely win the War."

"Actually, he's just as vulnerable as the other Masters when up against a Servant," Caster said. This made Neko stop with a look of shock on her face.

"Huh?!"

"He and I talked it over. His body's the only thing that's immortal, but his soul can be killed. Servants are able to participate in soul-eating as a way to get more mana. If a Servant manages to eat Adolf's soul entirely, it's all over for him." Servants can do this since they're Human Spirits, through blood drinking. As long as the entire soul isn't eaten, it can gradually repair itself. While technically human magi can do it too, the personalities contained in each soul get trapped in the body, which can lead to an identity crisis. Foreign personalities don't get trapped in a Saint Graph, so it's safe for a Servant who isn't possessing someone to do it.

"Why would they do that?!"

"For mana. Luckily, it seems the act is frowned upon nowadays. I would never be caught soul-eating, but who knows if any of the other four Servants would. But if any of those Servants try to kill Adolf, even the ones who swore to never eat souls might feel there's no other option. And unfortunately, the Gold King still has his Servant."

"It shouldn't matter!" Neko insisted. "Addie is amazing! Even if he gets attacked, he'll be able to find a way out."

Caster sighed. "I hope you're right. Well, even if he gets attacked at least he can use a stroke of his Command Seal to teleport me to him. Anyway, I've been wondering how you met Adolf."

"I was wandering all alone about the school while disguised as a cat. People I met ignored me or scared me off. All I wanted was to be with someone. Then I encountered Addie. Instead of chasing me away he allowed me to stay at his side, eventually making it official by having me be his Clansman."

"...That's all? I was hoping for a longer conversation. What should we talk about now?"

"Maybe the kinds of treats we like? I have a huge list!"

Adolf stomped into the Camber of the Slate as soon as the doors slid open, to the edge of the circle of platforms around the Slate, each representing the Kings. The Gold King was standing on the glass over the Slate. "I saw what happened yesterday and the day before. I thought you had ordered your Servant just to observe and he killed the Blue King on his own. But yesterday showed you're trying to kill the Masters as well. So you'll have your Servant do the dirty work in your place?" Then Adolf grit his teeth. "But you went too far this time! Ichigen Miwa has been your friend since 1999! You didn't need to have your Servant kill him and his Clansman!"

Daikaku displayed no remorse on his features. "Such is the nature of war, Weismann. Friendships need to be tossed aside for the sake of victory. Perhaps you're too naïve to see that."

"If that's your answer, then why aren't you having your Servant kill me? I'm sure you're aware that his soul-eating will allow it."

Daikaku went silent for a few moments, as if truly conflicted. "...I'll let you live for today. But know that I'll do what it takes to win."

"Speaking of that, are you looking to get Heaven's Feel in order to keep protecting this country?" Heaven's Feel. One of the five True Magics, this one able to materialize the soul - the most vital part of a person as it contains all that they are - and make it able to act without the need for the other two components of a living being, Body, the soul's container, and Mind, which anchors the soul to the body. When either the Body or Mind dies, the soul disperses and returns to the Root. The Root is where all souls come from and then return to when the body is no longer able to hold it. This is what allows for reincarnation, with the exception of anyone in either Counter Force. Holy Grail Servants are imperfect samples of this miracle. Like products of the Third Magic, they're immortal. However, it's only because their true selves are kept in the Throne. Even though they aren't in true bodies but rather spiritual containers, once these containers are killed, the Grail absorbs the soul. And they aren't completely autonomous, requiring a mage in order to remain materialized. To reach the Root and get this sorcery was also the original purpose of the Holy Grail War. "You'll use the Third Magic on yourself in order to become a perfect existence."

"The future of this country is the most important thing to me! No one will get in my way. The War is a trial. For those who fail it, the Slate will choose replacements for them."

"This Grail War has really changed you, Lieutenant."

"At least I am not running, Weismann." He was referring to the fact the Silver King had retreated to the sky on a blimp for decades in order to escape the world he felt was headed for destruction and abandoning his dream to grant happiness to everyone in the world, only having come down last year when his blimp crashed. Also, Adolf has refused to fight at all in this War. Unlike Ichigen, Adolf doesn't have an Origin as an excuse. "Anything else?"

"...I don't think anything I say will convince you not to do this."

"Then leave this place immediately!"

The Silver King turned and slowly walked out of the room, shoulders slumped. He gave one last glance back. "You may try to discard our friendship, but I never will." Adolf murmured right as the doors slid shut.

The car was stopped so Tenkei could run out and throw up. "What a pussy..." Saber grumbled. "If Kay were here, he wouldn't let that old man hear the end of it."

Sukuna cocked his head. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"He's another Knight of the Round Table. Kay knew how to be a serious asshole, despite his other qualities. It seemed to be his hobby to pass the time by playing pranks on all the other Knights, including me! He left father out though. Of course, I laughed my ass off when he somehow convinced Bedivere to dress as a girl, though getting him drunk probably played a part. If only we had cameras back then. That guy also suspected I might try to overthrow the king." Saber materialized Clarent in her hand and grinned at the red-and-white steel shining in the sunlight. "He sure was right 'bout that one."

Yukari leaned over the driver's seat. "That sword you use was originally one of King Arthur's, right? So why do you have it?"

The Servant glanced at him. "So you aren't aware? My Clarent [Radiant and Brilliant Royal Sword] was stolen from my father's armory by me during my rebellion and I took the throne while he was away to clean up the Lancelot mess. It equals, if not exceeds, Caliburn, showing that I should've been the next to rule Camelot. Why did Father still refuse to look at me?! It's not fair!" She seemed to pout. A homunculus created after Morgan raped Arthur, made to be a clone of the king, her body aged faster than she herself did. So her body may be 23, but mentally she's still a little kid.

"You're really hung up on that, huh?"

Tenkei staggered back to the car, looking like he had just been dragged through hell. "I'm good now. Let's go."

Sukuna sweatdropped. "You might not make it back to base..."

Mikoto and Lancer were alone in Homra, both having a drink. That's when Lancer looked to his Master. "Since we can both hold our liquor well, let's play a game."

"A drinking game? So which one?"

"There's one in the modern era called 'Never have I ever'. Let's do that one!"

The redhead suspected that this was most likely going to be used as a way to snipe at each other. Not really what the game's about. Still, he replied, "fine. Since you were the one who suggested this game, I'll go first." Mikoto's smirk was predatory, like a lion. It made even Lancer a little nervous. There was not only the dreams of his past to use and what the demigod himself said, but there's plenty of things regarding his legend available on the Internet. Maybe there is such a thing as being too famous and having too big of a mouth. So what ammo would be used? "I never strangled a dog to death."

"Hey, it was self-defense!"

"Still counts."

Culann's Hound grumbled something under his breath, vaguely sounding like "That's why I get called a dog", then took a drink. At least there was some embarrassing stuff regarding the Red King that's been slipped to Lancer. "I've never had my best friend prank me by havin' me open a can of soda he just shook."

"Totsuka said it was actually an accident!" He took a drink with a growl. "I never threw a tantrum to a king."

Lancer blushed. "I think we've already established that I cringe whenever I look back on it." He took a drink. "I never had a little girl walk in on me havin' sex with someone."

While Mikoto and Tatara were getting it on in Mikoto's bed, Anna came running in to find the redhead because she'd just been bullied and there was no one else in the bar she could talk to. It turns out the two forgot to lock the bedroom door and Anna got mentally scarred, most likely for life. Both men were at a loss for what to say to her without making it worse. Mikoto rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment before taking a drink.

"I've never raped someone."

"I was a stupid 16-year-old back then, okay!" He took a drink then spoke again. "I was never caught peekin' at my teacher while she was gettin' undressed."

"Whatever," Mikoto said before taking a drink. Poor Honami, though. "At least I've never gotten my teacher so mad that she beat the shit out of me."

That was because he raped her sister. Part of the beating was a balls stomp so hard it continued hurting for a couple days. He wasn't that adept at using healing runes at that time, so all he could do was stave off infection and prevent the damage from being permanent. He should count himself extremely lucky that she didn't castrate him with Gáe Bolg. Could that punishment be the reason he couldn't get anyone else pregnant? Lancer was blushing hard as he begrudgingly took a drink. "How 'bout this?! I've never been accused of bein' a lolicon!"

"Shit...Guess ya dreamed 'bout that misunderstandin' I had with those people who threatened to call the cops after Anna told them she was on a date with me..." He was blushing as he took a drink. "I never pissed off a goddess."

Lancer groaned. "Ugh, I know she's the goddess of war and death and what's goin' on would attract her, but come on! I didn't know it was Morrigan since she was transformed! She wanted to have sex with me, I wasn't feelin' it for some reason, so she got pissed." He huffed in annoyance one last time before taking a drink. "I never drank a strawberry daiquiri."

"How do ya know that?!" Mikoto demanded.

"Izumo told me what cocktails ya drank in shame." Now Lancer had a shit-eating grin. "Don't test me 'cause he gave me a decent-sized list."

"Damn you, Kusanagi..." Mikoto snarled. The Clansman should count himself lucky to be absent right now. The King growled again and took a drink. For this one, he needed to know how badly Lancer could be triggered. "What's your opinion on Medb?"

"Bitch was seriously obsessed with beddin' with me simply because I'm the only man in Ireland she can't charm, so I find her annoyin'."

"Anythin' else?"

"That's all."

Mikoto smirked. "Then I've never been killed by a woman overcome with petty jealousy and resentment."

"Hey, she devised the murder plot! Since it was Lugaid who directly killed me and not Medb, it doesn't count!" He finished with a huff.

"Close enough, so drink up."

"Whatever..." Lancer gave one last huff before drinking. "I've never been filmed while in the shower."

"I threw Anna out the second I sensed her. She didn't get much. 'Sides, the thing was broken later that day."

Lancer snickered. "By a certain someone who didn't seem to know his own strength. Seriously, ya only looked to change the batteries!"

Mikoto blushed and took a drink. He was clearly starting to get tipsy. It was unknown how long he had been trying to conceal it. "I never wet the bed 'till I was eight."

At that moment, Lancer looked like he swallowed a lemon and all the color drained from his face. Then he snapped his gaze to Mikoto. "Ya know 'bout that?!" Mikoto's only reply was a chuckle and Lancer begrudgingly took a drink. The liquid tasted even more bitter that time. "I've never had a crazy stalker bitch go after me in high school." Ah, yes. Izumo and Tatara had a field day with that one, until the letters with death threats from that yandere came...

"Given how attractive ya are to the ladies, ya probably did have at least one crazy stalker bitch in Ireland, but you were never in school." He took a drink. "I've never worried my wife so much that she gave me an hours-long lecture."

"Just get married to a tsundere and then we'll talk," Lancer murmured as he took a drink. "I've never walked in on someone usin' the toilet."

"That was Fujishima's own fault for not lockin' the door!"

"Ya still could've at least knocked first!"

"It's not every day that Kamamoto stinks up the other bathroom so much that no one wants to use it!" Mikoto finished with a muttered curse then took a drink. "I never went semi-apeshit on some kids."

Ah, yes. Before his name change, Lancer butted in a game of hurling involving 150 boys training to be Red Branch Knights, ignoring the custom of asking protection. In summary, Lancer was being too much of an ass so all the boys tried to take him on at once. Some Riastrad took over and the young demigod beat up all 150 with ease, Conchobar managing to break it up. Then Lancer demanded all the boys request his protection.

"They were askin' for it! ...But I guess I'm to blame too." Lancer looked away in shame as he took a drink. "I never fell asleep during my graduation ceremony."

"Maybe I wouldn't have if they made it more interestin'," Mikoto grumbled as he took a drink. "I never had to be wrestled into cold water as a kid."

Lancer actually mentioned it a bit before, telling Mikoto that right when he was accepted as a Red Branch Knight he killed three guys who boasted quite a bit about how strong they were. But he was still having his battle high when he returned, the resulting heat from him being the incarnation of the sun god, and water had to be thrown on him to get him to cool down. It was an understatement. The Ulstermen actually feared for their own lives. So after distracting him with naked women that made him look away in shame, he was dunked into not one, but three barrels of water. The first exploded and the water in the second boiled away. Clearly Mikoto's now aware of the truth.

"Ya really like raggin' on my childhood, don'tcha?"

"At least I wasn't as much of a problem child as you."

"Betcha still were somewhat." He huffed and took a drink. "I never lost my virginity at 15."

"No. You lost yours soon after ya became a Red Branch Knight. You were whorin' around ever since." Sighing, Mikoto took a drink. "Even gettin' married didn't change that..." He almost let the thing with Fand slip before reminding himself that Lancer doesn't remember that.

"It was a different time!"

It was the King's turn again, but what he said was accompanied by a hiccup. "I never got kicked in the face by a horse." That was how Liath Macha greeted Lancer when he first approached to tame him.

"Horses can be assholes." That's all the Servant had to say before taking a drink. But he stopped himself from saying another piece of his Master's baggage. "Ya doin' alright?" Lancer could tell by Mikoto's slurred speech and how much alcohol he could smell on the man's breath that he's drunk. But how far gone is he?

"I'm doin' fine. Hey, has anyone toldja how handsome ya are?"

"Multiple times. Ya know that already."

Before anything else could be said, Mikoto's hand shot behind Lancer's head, pulling the demigod in and colliding their lips. The redhead's tongue was requesting permission to enter the Servant's mouth. Right when the warrior relaxed and was going to comply, Tatara walked in.

"Wha..?!"

If he could, Lancer would most likely scream telepathically to Tatara 'He got drunk is all!' The Celt tried to pull away, but the Red King had a strong hold on the other man. So the warrior pulled back a little harder and broke free from Mikoto.

"Aw, why'dja do that?" the human slurred. Lancer sighed and was about to explain the situation to the brown-haired male but he spoke up first.

"Let me guess, he got drunk?"

"How'd ya know?"

"I can already pick up the stench of alcohol."

"Y'know, Tatara's here. Let's have a threesome," Mikoto said with a grin.

The thought of that began getting Lancer hard. "Okay, buddy, I should really get ya to bed. This probably wasn't the best idea."

While helping his Master upstairs, Lancer heard Tatara say one last thing. "Mr. Kusanagi might have a heart attack if he sees how many bottles of tequila you two drank. Better brace for a long lecture."

In Mikoto's room, the spirit put the human into bed. Lancer quickly glanced at the door, making sure it was still closed, before leaning down and pressing a gentle kiss to Mikoto's lips then whispering, "I'm really glad you're my Master."

"Assassin was using his Presence Concealment and saw you guys enter through the Yomito entrance with the car. So he's coming to attack," Nagare said once everyone had returned to base.

"You sure?" Tenkei asked, setting his beer down in a rare moment of seriousness.

"Yes, Kotosaka overheard some of the Usagi discussing it in regards to upping Tower defenses in case of a counterattack. A while ago, I had ordered the evacuation of every citizen living within 8 km of the Yomito entrance and stationed every U-rank player there."

"I wonder how long they'll last..." Tenkei murmured.

On the surface, the players were already firing semi-automatic rifles at the approaching Servant, shouting orders at each other the whole time. It was daytime, yet he wasn't trying to conceal his killing intent. His katana was out and he ran at the humans on the ground, easily dodging the bullets.

Blood went flying as the blade effortlessly sliced through each human one by one. Nothing anyone did could stop this whirlwind of death mowing down anyone it came across. Even those on top of the buildings weren't safe, shown when he tore out some of the ribs of one person then faced some of them. The ribs he tore out were hurled at a few hard enough for the bone to drill completely through the vital area on each that they were targeting. One on the ground turned to flee the scene, desperate to stay alive, but the blade of a katana promptly entered him through the back of his skull and out his forehead, expelling blood and brain matter.

One JUNGLE player that was stationed atop a building pointed a large gun similar to a mix of a sniper rifle and a cannon at the Servant's back, peering through its scope.

"This bullet should be enough to take out even a monster like you!" Green electricity crackled around it and a bullet of green aura was shot. Assassin smirked, not even going to bother dodging, then spun around, the blade of his katana slamming into the projectile and knocking it back, all with no effort. All that was heard from the JUNGLE player was a scream before the bullet hit him, the person vanishing in a massive cloud of dust and green electricity.

The swordsman laughed. "You fake magi can't even scratch me!" One reason he calls them fake magi is because a normal mage carries the scent of blood on them, and his sensitive nose has failed to pick up any from Kings or Clansmen. Another is he learned from the Grail that both have what are called pseudo magic circuits instead of traditional ones. They're similar in function, but some believe the minor differences are worthy of ridicule.

Douhan Hirasaka, a U-rank member of JUNGLE, suddenly phased up from the ground behind Assassin, in full garb. She was only doing this because a huge reward was promised if they succeed in killing this man. It was all about making money for her, after all.

"It's nothing personal. I need to make a living is all." Dohan lifted one of her double-edged weapons and brought it down on the Servant. "What?!" The blade wouldn't break through his clothes, nevermind his skin.

"I only let ya try to harm me to humor ya," Assassin spoke without looking back at the woman.

Should she retreat? That may be for -

"Lost in thought of what to do next?"

It was the man's voice again, this time coming from behind her. When did he..? The sword he held in his right hand had blood covering most of the blade. Before Douhan could say anything, her body broke into several large, bloody chunks. The sword had sliced up the woman as if her armor wasn't there.

He finished by carving up any remaining JUNGLE players continuing to get in his way. It was, to put it bluntly, a completely one-sided slaughter. The street was littered with a mess of blood, bones, organs, and random body parts. Some of the people were just barely alive. But they won't be for much longer. It was made perfectly clear that even all those Clansmen weren't nearly enough to stop a Servant, not even one of the two considered the weakest on a physical level. Assassin grinned. Killing as a Servant awarded him much more enjoyment than when he was human.

"Assassin's about to come in. You humans should make yourselves scarce," Saber said. They were all currently watching the live feed from the security cameras placed near the gate.

"We'll be able to handle ourselves just fine. We're both Kings after all. And it's just one enemy," Tenkei retorted.

"I'm not sayin' you two are weak in terms of fightin' power. In fact, you're most likely stronger than Assassin, depending on the Heroic Spirit. The problem is the fact you both have human bodies. You can't tank the amount of damage Servants can. Also, with how powerful a Servant's magic circuits are, he could strengthen his strikes enough to surpass your own. Besides, the fact he's gonna be engagin' this kinda battle means he's got a nasty trick up his sleeve."

Nagare smiled at his Servant. "I anticipated that. The U-ranks were meant to slow Assassin, not stop him. I needed time to prepare a few tricks of my own."

Assassin was standing atop the gate at the street intersection. He could faintly sense six mana signatures far below...Two Clansmen, two Kings, and two Servants. It doesn't matter if the gate's closed, he can phase down. He felt confident about this. He was made a Gold Clansman. Daikaku believed it to be necessary in preparation for this sort of battle since becoming a Gold Clansman brings out a hidden talent completely from a human. For a Servant, it would boost their own stats. It raised Assassin's parameters by a couple ranks. He felt like he could even take on a Knight Class in straight combat. But Assassin was the one to insist on testing it out now. Against two Servants, no less.

Once he dropped down to the bottom layer, the swordsman was greeted by six enemies standing before him. Saber and Rider has already switched to their armor.

"I would advise you to leave now, Assassin," Nagare said calmly. He was still seated in his wheelchair. "As you can see, your at an overwhelming disadvantage in numbers."

"Do ya think the numbers matter?"

Saber's chuckled echoed in her helmet. "This fucker only wants to die, eh?" For all her boasting, Assassin's figured out that the knight seems to have a habit of recklessly rushing at her enemies, not much planning behind her actions. When Lancer threw his spear at her, it was meant to draw her into a false sense of security by making her think he now had nothing to use against her. That's why the throw was weak. It was to fool her into believing he was actually trying to injure her while keeping his weapon from getting too far. Rider didn't look to be as hotheaded, though.

Nagare narrowed his eyes as he checked Assassin's stats for a second time, wondering if he saw them wrong the first.

Strength: A

Agility: A

Luck: C

Endurance: B

Mana: C

Noble Phantasm: C

That couldn't be right. Assassins were supposed to be weak Servants. Yet this one is boasting parameters on par with a Knight Class. Could he be a powerful Heroic Spirit? Or is something else at play?

A scythe blade of green aura materialized from the top of the black staff Sukuna held. But even though the boy thought he mentally prepared himself, his legs were shaking. Yukari, on the other hand, wore a firm expression, ready to gladly cut this Servant down. But Rider put a hand in front of them before they could do anything.

"Assassin! Give up on the Holy Grail and be welcomed into my invincible army!" Saber tsked at this.

Before the swordsman could reply, a voice broke into his head. 'You'd better not say "yes"!'

'Shit, guess ya linked to me, huh?' Then he spoke out loud. "Unless your army involves me gettin' all the money and alcohol I could ever want, I ain't interested. 'Sides I'd need a new Master and I don't know if yours is up for supportin' two Servants."

'While I'm glad you refused, your choice of words leaves much to be desired.'

'Tsk, gimme a break! I can say whatever I damn well please!'

'Do I need to pull rank?'

Assassin growled, but didn't reply.

"Are we ready to start?" Nagare asked, standing up from his wheelchair and activating his power. Tenkei pulled out his pistol and fog started to slowly build up in the room. The Green King smirked. "Everyone stand back for now." A trap activated with Assassin at the center. Green electricity lit up the pillars they went between and the black-haired spirit found himself unable to move, all his muscles seizing up as the energy coursed through them. Nagare gestured to the other two Servants. "Because of these two, I have enough knowledge about a Servant's physiology to make a trap that'll still grant me the desired effects." He glanced at his own Servant. "It's your turn, Saber." With Saber's B-rank Magic Resistance, she could leap into the electricity and, with the magecraft's level, be completely unaffected by it. Rider's own Magic Resistance was D-rank, not high enough to go into this and not be temporarily paralyzed. Since Nagare saw Assassin lacks the Magic Resistance skill, it should be completely effective on him.

Right when Saber was about to lop off Assassin's head, a katana blade came up an blocked her sword. Saber could see the trap had lost some of its effectiveness, but not enough to completely free the Servant. He was forcing his body to move, and who knew how much mana that was taking. Assassin jumped out of the trap's range and Saber clicked her tongue in annoyance. "A shit trap, Master!"

He shut it off. "It was a prototype, after all. Now it's our turn."

Green lightning enveloped Nagare, making be what some would call a lightning beast. He delivered several rapid strikes on the enemy, but each was blocked. Assassin struck back, but a barrier of fog took the blow instead, leaving Nagare completely unharmed. Sukuna and Yukari suddenly appeared on each side of the Servant, swinging their weapons at him. Assassin tsked and jumped up at the last second, making the two humans crash into each other. He abruptly had to knock up a bullet Tenkei fired, avoid the Green King's slashed, and defend against Saber and Rider's strikes. They were perplexed on how he was able to withstand all this, even though the power of all parties involved were being toned down. Saber and Rider knew they had to be extremely careful with fighting here, to avoid taking down the pillars. Assassin knew this as well. But using a fraction of their power wouldn't even come close to taking down a Servant. The four humans were well aware of this fact. This'll be a difficult battle.

Saber's Secret of Pedigree collapsed into her armor and the rose Clarent over her head, blade pointing to the ceiling. "Crimson lightning!" A thick bolt from her Mana Burst shot up from her sword, crashing into the ceiling and creating a massive hole to B10. "Rider!"

The king seemed to know her intentions. While clashing with Assassin, he got the enemy to retreat into the hole. The other two Servants followed with a single leap.

Tenkei scratched the back of his head as he gazed up at the hole. "Are you kidding me?!"

Sukuna slowly walked over, resting his scythe against his shoulder. "Should we follow?"

Yukari sighed and sheathed Ayamachi. "I've got a feeling we shouldn't."

Tenkei held out a hand, his fog cloaking Nagare and putting out the outpouring aura. As Nagare can't control the power without his straightjacket, it's up to the Grey King to put the brakes on his power until a new straightjacket gets put on him. "I guess we'll stay out of it unless they need backup. But since it's two against one, I don't think it'll be needed."

Assassin was currently blocking Saber's furious sword swings then the two jumped back. "Kitty's got a helluva set of claws. My type of girl."

"Sorry, but she has a thing for Lancer," Rider said.

"I DO NOT!"

"Yeah, yeah. Deny all you want," the large king sighed.

"She's smitten with that animalistic Servant?"

"Apparently."

"WILL YOU SHUT UP?!"

Rider and Assassin continued to ignore her, opting instead to unleash attacks on each other. It's way too cramped to unleash Settlement Sword. Luckily, it was probably too unfavorable for the other two to use their Noble Phantasms. As proof, Rider wasn't on any mounts.

"You fuckin' bastards..." Saber snarled, seething with anger. She raised Clarent and used Mana Burst. "STOP IGNORING ME!"

The other two Servants broke apart to avoid the lightning. "Watch the friendly fire!" Rider exclaimed.

"Shut the hell up!" Her helmet reformed and she lunged at Assassin. "Don't you dare ignore me!" She was swinging furiously, making Assassin back up before jumping back.

"Ya don't look Japanese, so you're probably from either Age of the Gods or Age or Fairies." Servants from Age of the Gods have more Mystery and are thus more powerful. The same applies to Age of Fairies Servants - Servants from what's commonly known as the Middle Ages. "Your short fuse can't be the reason for the power ya display."

"Talk while ya still can!" Saber resumed her onslaught. Eventually, Clarent broke through Assassin's defense and sliced through flesh. The sword and the newly severed hand dematerialized. Assassin howled in pain. He already couldn't wait for the lost appendage to regenerate. Saber's annoyed voice broke through the screaming. "Man up, ya crybaby. It's only a hand."

A voice came into Assassin's head. 'I order you with a Command Seal to retreat.'

'Why are ya makin' me do this?!'

'Even with a Seal, you would still be no match against Saber and Rider.'

Saber was just about to finish the swordsman off when he suddenly vanished in an explosion of blue mana. "Command Seal, huh?"

"Son of a bitch! I could've kept fighting!"

"If you did, you would've been killed."

Assassin was currently in the Chamber of the Slate, screaming at his Master who took it all without batting an eye. His mana pool isn't that large, so he normally wouldn't be able to fight Servants two days in a row, especially not ones including those of Rider and Saber's caliber. But being near the Dresden Slate is accelerating the recharging of his mana. Since it was only his right hand he lost, it should be restored by tomorrow.

Yukari: Why in the world are you chasing a cat?

Misaki: I'll teach ya not to take Yatagarasu lightly!

Izumo: You and Irish Heracles are like two peas in a pod sometimes...

Cú Chulainn: Then bring it, swordsman!

Mikoto: I'll burn this entire place down.

Daikaku: You people had the Holy Grail from the very beginning without being aware of it.

Anna: I'm scared.

Mordred: Lancer's my prey.

?: Come on, dog. I never said we were done with the testing.

Next chapter: Kidnapped