Leo was glad he had given his Master a jacket earlier. Otherwise, the boy might have become a living popsicle.

"Why do we have to be here?!" Waver yelled out to the heavens.

They were on top of the Fuyuki City Bridge, with the wind blowing and battering them around like a boxer pummeling a punching bag. It didn't help that Fuyuki was in the middle of winter, giving a cold bite to the air around them. All that was left would be some snow, and they would feel as if they were in the Himalayas.

Well, Waver would feel as if he was there. Leo wasn't afraid of the cold — he had beaten the Elsa-wannabe that was Khione, the snow goddess, in her own domain. Compared to the blizzards she sent his way, this might as well have been a spring day. No, his Master's health worried him the most - if Waver got sick or injured, Leo might as well have chopped off his own arm.

"Come on Master, you know the reasons. This is the best place to observe the city, and I can't exactly leave you alone." He explained, trying to think up a way to calm down Waver.

Since they knew Assassin was still alive, he kept his Master practically glued to the hip every day, in fear that the Servant might try to kill him when they were separated. They ate lunch and dinner together, walked side by side, and did research for whatever possible beings could have the power to kill a god or a divine spirit. He often joked that they were dates in private, and the shade of red Waver's cheeks turned into whenever he did say that was perfect.

"Do you honestly fear Assassin so much that I have to follow you everywhere? I mean, surely he hasn't found us yet." Waver calmed down a bit, though the chattering of his teeth told Rider he should probably try to warm him up.

"I do not fear Assassin. I fear what he's capable of -" Waver opened his mouth to protest. "And yes, I know that's almost the same thing, but there are differences. Besides, until we figure out any more details about him, you're sticking with me."

It was pretty freaking hard trying to find the identity of a god slayer. Not for a lack of trying, but there were so few Heroic Spirits that had the traits they were looking for — most of the figures who killed gods were gods themselves. While some candidates were mortal, they just didn't have the same skill with a sword they were looking for.

"Besides, you know Assassin's not the only person you should fear." That stilled Waver's panic even more, though Leo couldn't help but feel a bit of shame in using that tactic.

It wasn't just Assassin that made him even more paranoid. No, there were more threats hiding in the shadows - well, they weren't exactly hidden now that they knew about them. His theft of the passenger manifests had been a treasure trove, for it allowed them to know when the competition arrived. However, it also revealed that the Einzberns hadn't booked one flight for Irisviel and her Servant — no, they had booked two.

The other one was for a couple, one Emiya Kiritsugu and a Hisau Maiya. Leo didn't think much of it at first, but he still showed it to Waver. He hadn't expected the name to cause his Master to faint. Thankfully, the boy had recovered quickly, so Leo was able to understand why he was so afraid of that name.

And he definitely agreed with such fear.

Emiya was an infamous figure that gained the moniker of Mage Killer for his skill in killing Magi. They cursed his name, partly because of him using mundane methods in his profession, mostly because of the massacre that followed his every step. The man was a walking catastrophe, with bullets, blood, and death spreading across every city he set foot in. He had gone silent about nine years ago, and the Mage's Association assumed he had died in some far-off battlefield.

Regardless, Emiya Kiritsugu was very much alive, and had been hired by the Einzberns as a participant in the Holy Grail War. If the man lived up to his blood-soaked reputation, it meant Leo would have to be at DEFCON 1 every second of the day. Out of all the Masters, the Mage Killer would have the highest place in his 'Kill First, Don't Ask Questions' list.

"Yeah, but you know how he looks." Waver argued. "Didn't your spheres see him a few days ago?"

"Good point. But if we try to kill him, we risk bringing Einzbern down on us." He shrugged. "We don't know what they're capable of at the moment, so we may be screwed if taking the fight to them goes horribly wrong."

"Anyway, let's get you warmed up." He focused on his hand for a moment, and a soft mix of orange and yellow flames spread across his fingertips, until a ball of fire covered his hand. A part of him preened with pride at the way Waver practically snuggled towards him, before shaking his head. "How long are we going to stay here, by the way?"

"Probably until midnight." Waver shrugged. "That is, if no one bites that man's bait. If anybody does, we'll leave after that."

"Aw, what's the rush Master?" He asked, a cocky smile on his face. "I mean, we do have all night. Besides, most people would be honored to have me as their personal warmer."

That's a load of minotaur dung, Leo thought. He hadn't cuddled with any person - that is, if he didn't count the one time with the Athena Parthenos when he was having a nightmare. Hell, he died a virgin. Yet here he was, acting like a casanova.

Leo heard Waver mutter, "You are pretty warm."

"Why thank you Master."

The ensuing blush from the boy nearly made a grin split across Leo's face. A chuckle threatened to burst forth from his mouth, but he quelled it immediately. Instead, he focused on the map of Fuyuki displayed by the holographic scroll he was holding. Displayed on the map were the Archimedes Spheres, along with the bugs he had set up on Irisviel's car.

The car stopped moving, but that didn't matter. With the press of a letter, he tagged a squad of spheres to follow them. What did matter was the direction they were going to.

"They're going towards El-Melloi." Waver noted, seeing the multiple dots heading straight towards Fuyuki's docks. Two from the Tohsaka, one from the Matous, and then there was Saber. If Leo counted himself, there were a total of five servants heading there. The only one that was staying put was Caster, who was sticking to the downtown area.

"Yep." He felt the pulse of mana even from the bridge. "It seems his tactic is working a little bit too well."

He nudged Waver so he was looking at the screen. "You know I can make a plan, but any thoughts on what I should do if we have to fight?"

Waver groaned. "Coming up with a strategy for that would be useless - too many factors we don't know about, much less how to deal with them. The best tactic would be to strike fast and strike hard. Don't use any Noble Phantasms, and keep me close. That's the best I can come up with."

He shrugged. "Good enough. Shall we go join the party then?"

Waver shook his head. "Let's just keep our distance for now - see who my former teacher summoned for his Servant."

He could roll with that. However, he ordered nearly all the Spheres to the docks just so they could monitor the situation from afar, leaving a token squadron to monitor the possible Caster. It wouldn't do to avoid a situation without acquiring any knowledge from it. Otherwise, they would be walking in blind when they had to fight in the future.

He pulled out of his tool belt the notepads they were keeping, using them to track the abilities of the Servants. However, he changed his mind and put them back. It would be useless to drill over what few details they knew until they could learn more about their opponents. He might as well use this time to learn more about his Master.

"You know Master, why did you go to the Mage's Association?"

Waver looked at him questioningly. "Why do you ask?"

He looked at his map, still talking while doing so, "Is it a sin to know more about my teammate in this war?"

"No, I'm just surprised." Waver shook his head. "There's nothing wrong with asking. But it's not exactly some awesome origin story where great power means great responsibility, so don't get your hopes up.

"I went to the Mage's Association so I could honor my grandmother - that and to learn magecraft." Leo couldn't help but feel surprised, but didn't show it as Waver continued speaking. "She was the lover of a magus and discovered magecraft through him. My mother didn't practice the craft quite as often as her, but she was the one who taught me the basic principles."

"After her death, I thought about learning something else - but magecraft was the only thing I enjoyed studying." Waver fiddled with the command seals, almost as if lost in thought. "My parents didn't want me to become a magus. They wanted me to get a career in something else - business, law, or even the medical field."

Waver laughed a bit at that. "Can you imagine me becoming a doctor? Or stuck in a desk?"

Honestly, he wasn't surprised, and could at least empathize with the parents. If he had a kid, Leo wouldn't have liked them to become a hero or legionnaire. He had suffered too much when it came to the supernatural side of his life. To enjoy the everyday mundanity, to fall in love without having an impending quest to save the world over his head, would have been a dream he wanted to share with them.

That was, if he decided to have or adopt kids. He personally knew that putting him and children together was a recipe for disaster.

"No. And you clearly want to become a magus." He summed it up.

"Yes," A dreamy smile came over Waver. "Yes, I do. To figure out the mysteries science couldn't explain, the magic that has hidden itself from the rest of the world? I would take that over anything."

Part of Leo admired that concentration, that devotion. However, another part envied it as well. Because that meant Waver had found what he wanted to do in life, when Leo didn't know what he wanted to be before his death, much less think of what he was going to do after he defeated Gaea.

Instead, he smiled. "You know, I can respect that in a person."

"Huh?" Waver was surprised. "What do you mean?"

"The desire and conviction to pursue a dream." He couldn't hide the cynical tone in his words. "I never had the chance to pursue mine, much less make one."

Waver blushed, though it was later replaced with a frown. He was still for a few seconds, and did something Leo never expected of him.

Waver grasped his hand.

Leo might've flirted and teased Waver, but did nothing so… physical. He knew to keep his hands from himself, along with other body parts. That was, unless Waver wanted him to. Gods, even Calypso hadn't let him hold her hand before he left Ogygia. He felt like that lewd hand holding meme was happening to him, and his lack of experience was clearly backfiring.

"You know you can tell me more about yourself, Rider."

He put his facade back on, giving Waver a smile that he hoped was mysterious, and then booped him on the nose. Then he made sure to trace Waver's fingertips with his own before pulling back. "Now, it's too early to start discussing that part of me, Master. Wait until you reach emotional level 10, then you can get the biography of my dark and mysterious past."

"Then what level am I, Rider?"

"Hmm…" He put a hand to his chin, stroking an imaginary goatee. "Probably about level three?"

The disappointed look in Waver's face made him want to laugh, but he didn't like kicking people when they were down. "Don't worry. Level three means I consider you as a friend."

That made Waver smile.

Well, Leo was somewhat truthful at that. Even though he had just made that system on the fly, he knew that level meant Waver was a 'fake' friend - as in, he still put his mask on when interacting with him. Level six would be when he didn't put up the mask; sadly, none of his crew mates on the Argo II had quite gotten to that level.

"Well then, can you at least tell me some things? Not your past, but more about you." Waver looked towards the flame in his open hand. "For instance, why do you have control over fire?"

Well, that was easier to answer. And less problematic. "You know I have divinity, right? Well, to be specific, I was not just the son of some random god - I was a son of Hephaestus."

"But how can that be? You said you weren't going to be born for a few more years, and the Age of Gods faded long ago." said Waver.

It would probably be wiser to explain it, rather than leave his Master's questions unanswered. Besides, he was eventually going to find out through their contract. "Waver, you heard of the Second Magic, right? Well, I was born in a parallel world - one where the Age of Gods never died. I don't know the specific metaphysics behind it, but the Gods did something to stop them from fading away."

"I don't think there are any Heroic Spirits from my world. Considering the afterlife is actually legit over there, it's pretty unlikely. As far as I know, I'm the only one." He shook his head. "And even then, I believe it's because the circumstances surrounding my death were… unique, to say the least."

"Okay. That makes a lot of sense." Waver scratched the back of his head. "A bit of a leap, but I can see how such a world can exist."

Good. If Waver was able to accept that explanation, then it made it way easier to explain some of his background. If he had an arrogant master, or one that was close-minded, it would be a pain in the ass to get along.

"Anyway, I was a pretty special kid compared to most of my half brothers and sisters. I had every ability they had and then some." He looked at the flames in his hands, a mix of pride and bile tainting his throat. "I was born a flame user, one who could create and manipulate fire to my will."

"So that's what your class skill means." Waver realized. "It's called Blessing of the Forge God, and that just signifies your status as a son of Hephaestus, doesn't it?"

"Yep. Wielding fire, according to my half-siblings, was pretty rare. Apparently, the last one that existed was responsible for the Great Fire of London." Leo smirked, though he knew it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"But that doesn't mean fire was all that I had going for me. I could manipulate technology, and make what probably qualify as mystic codes. If somebody put a weapon in front of me, I could sense its properties." He shrugged. "The last one wasn't pretty useful when I was alive, so I rarely thought about using it."

"But I don't think you want to hear about my grocery list of powers, do you?" He asked, for he saw the way Waver's eyes gleamed at the offer of knowledge. Though his Master certainly wasn't too remarkable, that greed for knowledge is something he can respect, even admire.

Waver nodded. "Did you meet any gods?"

"Ooh boy, I met quite a bunch. A good chunk of them Olympians and some of the minor gods." Several names were the first to come up, most of them the ones that were more involved in his life compared to the others.

"Which ones? And how were they like?"

"Well, it depends on how you meet them, honestly. Sometimes they're what you expect them to be - extravagant beings that radiate so much power you want to bow before them." He explained to Waver, "But sometimes, they're so much like anybody else - if you share similar values and make sure not to tick them off, you'll get along great."

"As for those that I met, well, there's three that come to mind. Apollo, Hera, and my father, Hephaestus." Perhaps out of those, they were the ones he got along with the most. Or at least, the ones that helped him out.

Apollo had helped him gain the ingredients that gave him access to the Physician's Cure. Hera had raised him when his mother couldn't and prepared him for when he lost her. Hephaestus, of course, was his father/glorified sperm donor.

"Apollo, well, imagine a very hot surfer dude. Gold blond hair, tanned skin, and extremely chill," Waver looked at him questioningly.

Right. He was in the 1990s, and internet slang wasn't in fashion yet. "That means he was laid-back."

Apollo had been one of the gods Leo knew he would've liked to interact with if it weren't for the Giant War. Perhaps if the Physician's cure had worked and not been destroyed by Gaia, they could've been friends.

"The guy was in a bad place when I found him," Bit of an understatement. "I needed a favor, but at that time, he wanted to smite anybody that tried to bother him. When I came strolling along, he was pretty pissed to say the least."

"However, I was able to calm him down by making him an instrument. After that, he was pretty happy to help me out."

Looking back on it, that situation was probably a bigger deal than what Leo knew at that time. Apollo was the god of music, archery, the sun, and probably a lot more things. By making him an instrument, he might as well have given him a sacrifice that the god was happy to accept.

"It was only one meeting, but I would like to see him again."

Perhaps he was cutting out too much context, but Waver didn't need to know that he was collecting the ingredients needed to cheat death at the time. And even so, he didn't like talking about the physician's cure. There was just too much bitterness associated with those final days before his death.

"As for Hera, well, she's a bit of a mixed bag. Sometimes she's willing to help you out, other times she's well, you know how the myths depicted her as." He shrugged. "Honestly, out of the gods, I believe her to be the most human - and that's with both the good and the bad."

"How did you meet her?" Waver asked.

He chuckled. Perhaps he could tell this bit. "Well, she acted as my tia. That's the equivalent of a nanny from my culture, by the way." He explained as a confused look appeared on Waver's face.

"Anyway, I didn't actually know she was Hera at the time. I mostly believed that she was a psycho."

"Eh?" Waver was probably imagining the multitudes of tortures Hera had sent to the bastard children of Zeus and their mothers.

"Oh, there was a bunch of stuff. One time, she put me to sleep in a fireplace." He laughed at Waver's look of horror. "Son of Hephaestus, remember? I wasn't actually harmed. Then there was the time she taught me how to use a knife when I was what, four?"

If anything, Waver's look of horror got worse. "Looking back on it, I was pretty lucky at that time - I didn't get any cuts. Mostly she had me use the knife to prep ingredients for a meal, but later on, she taught me how to fight with them. Though I was pretty confused and horrified when she was teaching me, it helped me out in the future."

That was a bit more revealing than he would admit, but it was the truth. Hera had been the best and worst goddess in his life - a blessing, a curse, sometimes both. Still, in the end, she helped him prepare for a world without his mom. That was something he was at least grateful for.

Waver shuddered. "Can we stop talking about the grandmother from hell?" That had Leo laughing. "What about your father?"

He looked to the horizon, and he could feel the venom dripping in his tongue. "Honestly? He sucks. He's like that one dad who promised he would return from buying milk, then comes back after sixteen years."

The anger exploded into his tone, like a missile meeting its target. The flame in his hand roared, its heat replacing the winter night with a summer heatwave. "The one time we talked together, that bastard didn't even apologize for leaving me and my mom for all those years. He watched, but did nothing - and yet he dared to stick his nose in my dreams, claim me as his child and -"

And give me this power.

The element Leo wielded, one that he now used with pride, had taken everything from him. It was a mere fact, almost like the sky was blue on a sunny morning. He was still reminded about it, even in this second life.

"- even bother returning at all."

The venom still made his mouth taste like steel. Hephaestus had done nothing for him. There was one time he helped, but it didn't make up for eight years living in the streets and being sent from foster home to orphanage to foster home through all of the US social services system like a goddamn pinball.

"Tell me you at least took your revenge during that meeting." Waver demanded.

The rage wavers for a second before he slips on his mask, though he uses his fury to make a satisfied smile. "I did tear him a few new ones. That means to insult someone so brutally they, well, get a new way to shit." He explained the insult to Waver. "Anyways, though he is one of the nicer gods, I don't exactly have a good personal experience with him."

"No kidding."

"Yep. It'll be a cold, rainy day in hell before I even think about asking him for any favors." He needs something to calm him down, for his hands to do something.

He dug into his tool belt and pulled out several bottles from vending machines and grocery stores he 'visited' during their stay in Japan, along with two glasses and a tea kettle. "Anyway, all of this talking got me parched. Want something to drink?"

Waver declined, and he shrugged before dimming the flame in his hand. Leo pulled out a bottle of Chanmery, twisting the cap counterclockwise while keeping a tight grip against it. He heard a pop sound, and removed the cap before pouring the red drink into his glass. Perhaps it was his experience with fonzies in Europe, but Leo had acquired a taste for international cuisine. Japan was just another place to taste.

He slowly sipped at the liquid, watching as the dots on his map crawled or flew towards the spot Lancer was going to. "You know, I probably should've gotten some wine or champagne if I knew tonight is probably going to be our first battle."

"But you don't look older than sixteen." Waver stated. "I think nobody would allow you to buy it."

He looked at Wave incredulously. "Master. I'm a guy who died at this age, battling horrors that would make you wet your pants twice over. I know I deserve a drink. And besides, when has the legal drinking age stopped a teenager from smuggling booze?"

Waver blushed for a second before schooling his expression. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about that. Just keep it in mind for next time."

One of the red dots on his map turned blue, before shifting into green, and he quickly pressed the symbol that shifted the sphere into camera mode. The result was that the sphere's vision was now the centerpiece of the scroll, while the map of Fuyuki City shrunk into a tiny corner.

He couldn't help but whistle while Waver's jaw dropped. "Damn, he's hot."

El-Melloi's Servant was that. His spiky hair was jet black, while his eyes were sea green. His face reminded Leo about a time he had seen a Bald Eagle; not because it looked like a bird, but it radiated the feeling that it was an apex predator. He was pretty pleasing in the eyes, either way.

His entire body was covered in armor, though it was extremely different. What seemed like a mix of both shoulder guards and a breastplate covered his chest and shoulders, while the rest of it was black with pale dark green detailing. His gauntlets and boots were also the same gold. He had a long spear that looked almost like it was a trident, but it was covered in a purple cloth that made it hard to see its properties.

Why did the armor look so familiar… Leo raked his head, trying to remember what little Chiron had taught him. If he felt it was familiar, that meant that this guy was Greek in his origin. Most Greek heroes weren't famous for their armor, but Hephaestus was famous for making it. Very few heroes received such gifts from his father… Leo tried to search his memory while trying to look unfazed.

He pointed towards the other figures. "Anyway, the Einzbern's Servant and her Master are there."

Regina still looked quite beautiful, with her black suit and tie, though there was a subtle tension in her arms that betrayed her readiness for combat. The map crackled for a bit before giving the audio in crystal clear quality.

"Welcome, Servant and Master. I am glad that you arrived at my summons - I spent nearly the entire day searching the city for a worthy foe. Sadly, it seems the other Masters and Servants were cowards, for they decided to hide in the shadows or barricade themselves in their dens."

The man had a greek accent, but that barely offered any information. Greece had enough warriors, mages, kings, generals, and tricksters to the point that they probably had their own sect in the Throne. Leo might as well steal an entire library if that would be all he had to narrow it down.

The Einzbern Servant tensed as the other Servant looked at her in the eye. "That pure energy surrounding you… surely you must be Saber?"

Leo quickly made a mental note to himself, to add later on to their board.

Saber's expression wore a regal frostiness as she responded. "Indeed. And you are Lancer."

The man's face was wistful, yet conflicted. "It is a shame that I cannot name myself to you. I would gladly do it, if my Master hadn't insisted on it."

The man twirled his spear, changing his position so he was ready for combat.

So, he's a knightly type. Bet I can use that to cheat a few times.

He knew from personal experience in the streets that there was no such thing as honorable combat, only when it suited both parties. It was only in honor duels that battle could be deemed glorious, and they were artifacts from an ancient age. In the modern battlefield, there was nothing but killers and the killed. Those who tried to scream about honor in a fight to the death were naive.

Saber's surroundings seemed to shimmer, glowing as Leo saw mana start to swirl around her. His eyes strayed to the map of Fuyuki City, seeing the multiple dots gathering around the area. Then he saw her being covered in blinding light before it quickly faded away, revealing her true form.

Her armor was beautiful, with gleaming steel plates of armor covering an old-fashioned blue dress. She wore a breastplate that covered her front, along with gauntlets. Leo could almost see the logic - the armor would be useful for protecting her legs from blade swings, while the dress would disguise any footwork. The gauntlets would protect her hands when she was parrying or blocking attacks, while her breastplate would do the same from any attacks coming from the front.

What got his attention even more was her sword. It was covered in wind, almost blending in with the fabric of reality. Yet by judging how wide and long the air was swirling, he could tell its basic design. It was a broadsword, one designed to be wielded with both hands judging by Saber's grip. It must have been quite famous - otherwise, why would someone try to hide its identity through magecraft?

He nudged Waver. "Shall we get closer?"

"No. We should wait until we see just what exactly they're capable of." His Master ordered.

"Understood."

They stared off against each other for a few seconds, and despite watching from a distance, he could feel the tension in the battlefield, almost like the pulled bands of a slingshot.

"You know, I almost feel… guilty, to say the least." Lancer sighed. "Though I have fought against women in my past life, I bitterly regretted such conflict."

"Do not underestimate me Lancer. I myself have been a constant visitor of the battlefield, and I will not let you patronize me as such." The woman's eyes narrowed. "Or else you will see the strength of my blade."

"Ha!" Lancer laughed. "You would be lucky to even scratch me."

Pride before the fall, he chuckled to himself. He'd seen so many creatures fall because they prided themselves on their skills and strength. Annabeth had tricked Arachne into weaving her own prison. Hazel had defeated Sciron through her own illusions. Even his own defeat of Gaea was a mix of clever planning and foul play. If the Servants had similar levels of pride, they would be much easier to defeat than he thought.

"So, let us begin."

Saber was the first one to break the silence, charging towards Lancer. The spearman dashed towards her like lightning, their collision releasing a boom of sonic energy. Their blades clashed but that didn't last for long. Lancer backed away before dashing to her again, so fast that it looked like he was teleporting. He blinked once, and the man was quickly swinging his spear for Saber's head.

Thankfully, it seemed Saber had a skill - probably instinct - that allowed her to foresee Lancer's actions. As she parried and blocked every strike, it was clear that she lacked the advantage in speed. One swings, two swings of Lancer's spear, and she was launched across the shipping district.

Lancer dashed once again, and she barely blocked the next strike. However, its strength was enough to smash her into the ground. Lancer fell to impale her with his spear, but the swordswoman rolled out of the way, standing up to pivot on her heel and parry Lancer's swing.

"He's fast. Extremely so." Leo noted. "We may need to take a closer look to see if he has any weaknesses."

"Yes, but let's avoid that for now. We don't want to risk you getting hurt at the moment. What else can you tell me about him?" Waver asked.

"Well, his spear is greek in design. But that purple cloth is enough to hide its properties from the skills dad's blessing gave me." He shrugged.

Another sphere's red dot turned into green, and Leo quickly tapped it, only to be greeted with the sight of Emiya Kiritsugu and Hisau Maiya hiding in some shipping containers a few yards away. He quickly ordered the spheres to track the two mercenaries.

"So, they're here." Waver shuddered. "Do you think they plan to assassinate El-Melloi?"

"Probably. I ordered my Spheres to track them and see what they do - anything else I should do?" He asked.

"Is it possible to capture Emiya?"

He was surprised at that. "Probably. What brings the idea though?"

"Well, it's a bit miraculous how he's defeated so many magi without injury." Waver explained. "I want to know how he did so. Perhaps I can use it against my teacher."

Yes, that would be a pretty good strategy, now that he thought about it. What better way to learn how to kill Magi than the one who made it into a blood-soaked art?

They quickly switched back to the battle, and it proved how in a few seconds a duel can quickly change. Lancer was still on the offensive, though Saber seemed to be handling his onslaught better than the beginning of the battle. Most of the time she focused on dodges and parries, making sure the man wasn't able to juggle him with his immense strength.

"Are you alright, swordswoman? You're using your defense too much!" Lancer taunted, but Saber kept her cold mask. "Is this really the best your class could offer?"

Lancer charged once again, but Saber was ready for him. She feinted a downwards block that her opponent took to unleash an overhead strike, only for her to sidestep the swing and slash diagonally. The hidden blade ripped through the armor like paper and drew blood. If Lancer hadn't been wearing such armor, the blade probably would've bisected the man.

The man stumbled for a second before his hands moved to his stomach. His gauntlet-covered hands stained themselves with his blood, bringing the liquid to his face. For a second he seemed surprised, before laughing brightly.

"Amazing, Saber! That sword must be made out of some tough stuff if it could cut through my noble phantasm. It must be a divine construct, at least." Lancer smirked as his wounds repaired themselves thanks to healing magic. "All the better. I like challenges."

"I am glad to receive such praise, Lancer, but do not diminish your own skills. Your speed is certainly faster than what any of my knights can offer. You do your class justice." Saber returned the praise.

The fight continued, and Leo couldn't help but admire both its beauty and brutality. Each swing they made cracked concrete, the clash of steel made a nearby streetlight flicker and the battlefield crackle with energy. Watching a duel between Servants was like seeing two forces of nature duke it out. Not at the same level as the Olympians, but enough that if Leo wasn't the same being as them, he would've high tailed it out of the country.

Lancer's fighting style was a mix of swipes and thrusts, using his speed to make sure his opponent had no room for counterattacks. In comparison, Saber was clearly doing her best to counter everything he threw at her, and Leo could feel her using some sort of skill to reinforce her body so that it could at least keep up with Lancer. Whatever it was, the skill was expending a lot of magical energy — she would need to do something to even the odds.

Saber kept dodging the strikes, focusing her opponent's offensive into one spot. Then she parried a single thrust, the strength behind it putting the offensive to a halt for just a few seconds. However, that was all she needed. She swung her sword, and Lancer's hasty block stopped the fatal blow from damaging him. Instead, it sent the man into the air, flying across the night sky like a shooting star.

The swordswoman leaped, and the invisible sheath hiding her sword seemed to collapse into a vacuum, revealing its golden glow. The wind condensed to the point that it was almost like a rocket rather than a single breeze, and it propelled Saber across the sky towards her opponent. She sliced horizontally, and Leo was sure that it was going to be the finishing blow —

Only for a shield to replace the spear, blocking the blade with all its might. Regardless, the slash sent Lancer even higher towards the sky, but he didn't seem concerned, instead unfolding his body so that it was skydiving as his rise was replaced with a fall. However, the wind covering Saber's sword was now uncovered, and Leo couldn't help but marvel at it.

That sword… wasn't just a weapon. It was a divine construct, made by the world through the crystallization of man's hopes and dreams. The symbols inscribed in it were fairy letters, a language only wielded by the beings they were named after. it meant that this sword was not created by man. To even call it beautiful would be insulting.

For a second, he was reminded of his death - burning Gaea alive until he glowed with white, satisfied that the Primordial Mother was slain, once and for all. Though his body had collapsed, he had died in a blaze of glory.

There could only be one kind of sword with such a glow.

"Master, that sword - by Hades' underwear, that sword -"

"What is it Rider?" Waver asked.

"That sword is not just a sword. It's the sword. The most famous sword in all of history." He looked at Waver in the eye. "That sword is Excalibur."

Waver turned paler than a paper sheet. "Shit. So that means -"

"She isn't just a random heroic spirit. She is King Arthur - or rather, Queen Artoria." Despite the amazement that paralyzed his mind, some part of him was still clear headed. "We must go there. If we take her out, we get rid of the strongest opponent in the war."

"Are you insane?! Excalibur must be at least an Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm! If we get involved, we risk getting blown up too!" Waver argued.

"Fine." He moaned as he cradled his head.

Why the Tartarus do I have to fight King Arthur?! He was sure that there were many heroes known throughout history for their big badass swords. But King Arthur was the most famous out of all. According to the legends (which with her existence were now fact) she had built Camelot and the greatest coalition of knights known as the Round Table. It was only because of a series of tragedies that she died before being sent to Avalon — not the sheath, but the land. And if the Servant had Avalon… they were fucked.

"He's going to do a superhero landing." Leo tried to distract himself.

"What's that?"

"You'll see."

True to his prediction, Lancer did a three-point landing, his spear impaling the ground before him. He rose up, a big smirk spread across his face.

"Woo, superhero landing." He faked a whoop. "You know, that's really hard on the knees."

The man picked up the spear, twirling it around like a baton dancer before smirking towards Saber. "That was entertaining, wielder of Excalibur. Sadly, it'll take more than a simple sword swing to take me down."

"Lancer. I grant you permission to use your Noble Phantasm. It is clear that Saber is a deadly foe, one that must warrant all our efforts." A cold, snobby voice rang out, sounding a bit higher pitched because of the electronic recording.

"With pleasure, Master." The man tapped his spear against the concrete, and the purple cloth covering the weapon disappeared.

The second it vanished, Leo's mind was flooded with information. A spear that had seen the most famous war in myth, famous for slaying nearly all the heroes that it ever met. Gifted by the wielder's teacher, with the ability to form a bounded field that would negate any and all blessings, so long as both fighters agreed on the terms. Any injury it dealt could never be healed, unless it was through a god's power. Though its design seemed dull, it was a noble phantasm that was worthy of its name.

The pieces all fell into place. Famous armor designed by his father. Incredible speed that was almost godlike. A spear famous for slaying heroes, and given to him by a teacher. The greek accent. And that shield…

Did this entire world hate him, or was this Holy Grail War rigged? He wanted to curse, to rage against the heavens. But to do so would not only give away their position and he would lose his cool. He kept quiet, before trying to make attempt at humor.

"You know, that spear of his is pretty long. Do you think he's compensating for something?" The joke slipped out of his mouth like vomit.

Waver wisely ignored him.

Lancer, it seemed, wasn't waiting for a reaction from Saber. He charged towards her, his speed showing itself even more. With each step, he was practically a beam of light. Each swing of his spear was faster than a lightning strike. Despite Artoria's instincts and sword skills, it was clear that her opponent had the upper hand. It was only a matter of time before she wavered for a single second, her instinct skill failing her at the wrong moment, and then it would be over.

And that moment came. Saber kept parrying and dodging, her arms practically a blur as she tried to keep up with Lancer. Then, her instinct slipped up for a single second, mistaking a feint for a thrust. She tried to fix her mistake, twisting her body to dodge Lancer's spear, but the hero's speed was insurmountable. That single mistake would cost her dearly, as the man aimed for her arms.

It was only sheer luck that Saber didn't get her arm lopped off. Instead, the spear sliced her elbow, and Saber hit the floor before rolling across it, trying to get some distance from her opponent. Blood started dripping from her wound, staining the concrete with crimson.

At that, Leo decided what to do.

"Master. I'm sorry, but we should get in there." He stood up, put his holographic scroll into his tool belt alongside the rest of the bottles, and lifted Waver bridal style.

"Wait, wait! Why?!" Waver protested. "Lancer's already about to take her out! Why should we get involved?"

"That spear makes injuries that cannot be healed by any means necessary. Such a weapon cannot be allowed its use for too long, or it could cripple us." Leo explained. "Better to take him out rather than leave it up to risk."

He kept carrying Waver and jumped into the bridge's sidewalk before running towards the car they had parked. What had once been a thirty-minute run just took half a minute, and he saw their car on the horizon. He snapped his fingers, and the car's front doors unlocked. He practically tossed Waver into the shotgun before snapping his fingers again, and the car's engine roared in response.

"Okay, I can see why we would want to do that," Waver said as Leo drove through the streets and broke several traffic laws. "But what if they turn and decide to attack us?!"

"I've got enough spheres going towards that area. I'll just use them to fry Lancer or Saber, and fight off the one that remains." He put in a CD the car's original owner had left behind, and he couldn't help but smile as the music played through the room. For his crappy luck parameter, he definitely got lucky in little ways. It was quite rare to have someone in Japan listening to music from the west, much less Queen.

As they got closer towards the docks, he started cranking up the volume until the car practically vibrated. Thankfully, he was getting there just in time. He slowed down the car until it was driving at a safe eighty kilometers per hour, enough not to attract attention, but enough to drive quickly. He saw the figures of Lancer, Irisviel, and Artoria in the distance, and slammed the brakes. "Stay in the car and keep yourself hidden, Master."

The looks on their faces as he drove right into the middle of their battle were worth their weight in gold. He gave his flirtiest grin, activated the Facade of Happiness, and stepped out of the car. "Sorry for butting in. I just couldn't let two beautiful people kill each other."

"Mr. Kamado?" Irisviel whispered.

"Ah, Mrs. Einzbern, charmed to meet you here." He winked towards the woman before kneeling down and kissing her hand.

He stood up and turned towards Artoria. "And you, Reggy, well, you're still quite the beauty. Though I gotta say, you rock both the suit and the armor."

"What are you doing here, interloper?" Lancer asked.

Leo turned around. "Honestly, I was just out for a midnight drive when I saw you two duking it out. I noticed Reggy in trouble and just had to stop by to help." He gave the man a scan before licking his lips in fake lust. "If I knew I was going to meet such a handsome man, well, I guess that's a bonus."

He stepped closer to the man, pretending to not notice the spears in his hands. "You know, its common courtesy to give names when meeting new people. I am Kamado Kagu. May you tell me yours?"

"My name is Lancer. You should get out of here." The man warned him.

"So soon? And here I was hoping to at least get your number." He looked at the spears, saw the runes, but pretended not to notice them. "Or at least help out a beautiful lady."

He turned towards Artoria. "Are you alright Reggy? Your elbow…" He went to examine it, and had to stop himself from pulling back when he saw the blood dripping into his fingertips.

Though Leo wasn't an expert at medical care, he'd patched up his own wounds more than enough times to know what a serious cut looked like. And right now, that spear had sliced up her ligament, which meant she could lose control of half her arm.

"It's okay, Mr. Kamado." Artoria's face was surprisingly calm for someone who was in danger of losing a lot of blood. "I'll be fine."

"No, you're not," Leo said, keeping up the mask of cluelessness and looking towards Lancer. "Is it possible I can get her to safety? At least a hospital so they can patch her up?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Why not?" He got into Lancer's personal space, playing with the Servant's honor that he wouldn't kill a civilian. "Is she in trouble?"

"No but -"

"Then why not leave her alone? Or is she your ex, and you're her yandere ex-boyfriend?" He asked, letting his motormouth confuse Lancer.

"No, it's not like that!" Lancer protested.

"Then explain yourself. She's the one bleeding at the moment. I have half a mind to call the cops on you." He pulled out a cell phone from his pocket.

"Lancer. Either kill the brat, or remove him from the battle so I can erase his memory." El-Melloi's voice broke Lancer's state of confusion.

Well, it seemed Lancer's Master was savvier than Leo thought. Not enough to catch what was actually going on, but enough to do something at least. Lancer could've killed him right then and there, but he knew the man was too honorable to kill a civilian in cold blood.

"I'm sorry. Either leave, or suffer the same fate as Sa - I mean, Reggy." The spearman gave Artoria a look that said 'sorry'.

"No."

That took Lancer by surprise. It took Leo by surprise too - he was used to joking and running away from a fight rather than facing it head on.

"Move aside. I will not harm a young boy." Lancer ordered, before his expression became more solemn. "I've killed young soldiers, but you are a civilian. Stay out of this."

"No." He declined once again.

Lancer prepared his spears, and Irisviel gave Leo a look of fear and worry. "Mr. Kamado, do as he says. Your life is not worth risking."

"Sadly Ms. Einzbern, I'm not exactly one to act as a bystander." He tried to give her a cocky smirk before turning towards Lancer. "Go ahead and try."

Lancer's face turned morose with regret, before nodding and charging towards him. Leo prepared himself for the ensuing stab, and sidestepped at the last second. Lancer was fast, a trait he was famous for, but his own instinct skill told him when to dodge.

He moved around the man and pulled out his knives. Normally aiming for the heel would end this battle way faster, but he didn't exactly have the tools for that without completely exposing himself to Lancer's offense. No, a stab in the back would be enough to warn him.

The spearman tried to stop his attack, but he was too late. Leo stabbed him three times in the back before pulling back so his opponent couldn't successfully counterattack. He pointed his knives, changing his posture so he was ready for anything Lancer could launch at him.

Lancer's eyes widened, before a smile appeared on his face. "I take back that statement, demigod. You're clearly more than just a child."

"Just as you are more than a man, Achilles."

"Hmm. So, it seems you discovered my true name. Can you at least return the favor?" Achilles asked as his Master began to heal his wounds with magecraft.

Leo cocked his head. "No, I don't think I will. But I'll give you a hint, for now. You can call me Rider."

He focused on the ether his body was made of, and the contract between him and his Master. Orange light began to flicker around him as he mentally weaved the clothing given to him by his Servant class. The light grew brighter as he drew on the mana before it swallowed him in shower of sparks.

Armor made out of obsidian black and rust red scales wrapped around him like a second skin from head to toe. An emblem of two hammers, both crossed above a raging fire, was right above his solar plexus. Somehow, the symbol blended into the armor so he wasn't uncomfortable. Pauldrons and greaves covered his head and shoulders, each one the same gold as Achilles' armor. Leo might never have worn this in life, but he could easily craft it through the use of his own magical energy. It was definitely a lot more practical for combat compared to his everyday clothes.

All of it was impossibly light — either that, or Leo was strong enough that it didn't daunt his strength or flexibility. His tool belt was still wrapped around his waist, though it was now smaller and less clumsy. A pair of obsidian black goggles covered his eyes, their lenses tinted ruby red. He looked straight at the Servants, and he couldn't help but smile at the expressions of shock in Artoria and Irisviel's faces.

Lancer was the first to react, changing his posture so he was ready for combat. Leo did the same, though his heart was throbbing like crazy, and every part of his body was telling him to run and cower. His mind screamed that he was over his head, and that Achilles would impale him on his spear the second he had a chance. To even think about fighting him would be nuts.

But then again, Leo was always a little crazy.

"Now," He gave a smirk before pointing his knives at the man. "Let's have some fun, shall we?"