A/N: And, after a long period of preparation and examination, I am back. My sincerest apologies for the long, long, LONG delay, everyone, but other matters, both fanfiction-related and in real life, took precedence during that time. But I never forgot about this story, I assure you, hence my return. And the revival of this story couldn't have been better timed, for an anime adaptation for "Fate/Apocrypha" started airing, in case any of you were unaware! HOORAY! Now I FINALLY have a reference that's easily accessible for me! I don't care how terrible it may be! :D

Now, before we could begin, I would like to announce a change to the Black Faction roster, which I made a long while back, actually. If those of you who read the original chapter can recall, I chose Heracles to fill in the position of Berserker of Black. However, a couple of reviewers were rather confused by my choice of Heroic Spirits. See, I selected Heracles for both power and certain plot purposes, operating under the belief that Kariya would be able to effectively control him (I read that he had astonishingly high Master aptitude for a magus of his degree and went from there). But after seeing the reviews, I conducted further research into Type-Moon's interpretation of Heracles himself (something I failed to do for the most part) and realized that he would no longer do, realistically, as Kariya's Servant.

Because of that, I replaced Heracles with another Heroic Spirit that was on my shortlist for the Berserker of Black slot before I settled on Heracles: Darius III. The previous chapter now reflects these changes, minor they are. Rest assured, this change doesn't affect the plot at all, so there should be no major complications from this. In fact, it opens another storyline that I would love to do, which you'll see in chapters to come.

In other important news, this chapter depicts the first true battle of the Impossible Holy Grail War. Finally, after so many delays (both in terms of plot pacing and my actual progress in updating this fic), we have something. Mind you, this is my first time writing an actual fight between Servants. I've watched episodes of "Fate/Zero", and read "Fate/stay night" fanfiction such as those by Teerexil and 00Altair, as my references. However, the writing could still be shabby, so forgive me for any discomfort you may experience by my lack of experience. Remember, I'm still learning the ropes here. Bear with me on this.

Okay, now that I'm done rambling...let's get on with this long-awaited chapter! ENJOY!

Black Faction Base, Miyama Town

"That accursed Emiya. What the hell does he hope to accomplish, splitting us up?!"

Feend watched bitterly as the black limousine drove off into the night, leaving him with Caules, Gudrun, and two Einzbern homunculi standing, in the dead of night, in front of the base of operations that had been assigned to them by Kiritsugu. It was a large, old, Japanese-style building that was highly degraded and abandoned, but despite that, it still emanated an aura of classical elegance. This seemed to fly over Feend, however, for he glared at the house next, his sour expression unwavering.

"And he expects us to set up shop in this...this...pigsty!" he exclaimed in disbelief. "How typical of him..."

"If you so desire, Master," Gudrun piped up, timidly but obediently, "Lancer and I could clean up the place for you."

"Lancer?" Feend let out a callous chuckle. "I do not doubt your abilities, Gudrun, but what could a mere Servant do to fix this mess?" He glanced at the two homunculi standing beside him and Caules. "Have these dolls assist you."

"Back at the warehouse district, Lancer wanted to help clean the wreckage caused by him and Rider."

The vor Sembren Master raised an eyebrow in intrigue. "And I suppose this has something to do with that?"

Gudrun fidgeted timidly, some sort of interestingly bashful expression etched in her face. "I was just wondering if there was something he could do..."

"Yes, there is," replied Feend. "And that is to battle and slay enemy Servants. That is undeniable, for that is the function of a Servant. Do not be stupid, Gudrun. Just do as you are told, and do not disappoint me. Is that understood?"

The maid hesitated for a moment, before realizing she couldn't sway her master's opinion. So, she bowed her head loyally and dutifully at him.

"Yes, Master. I shall do your bidding."

She and the two homunculi then approached the front gateway to the house, whereupon one of the homunculi procured a set of silver keys and unlocked it. The other homunculus then opened the pair of doors, revealing a front yard full of dying, overgrown grass, with a smooth stone walkway cutting across it towards the front-step and wooden door leading into the actual house.

As Gudrun and the two homunculi walked down the walkway, Feend and Caules examined the house from outside the front gate. Feend had his usual disapproving look, but Caules looked slightly impressed.

"I'm sure some cleaning will do the place good," remarked Caules hesitantly, in an attempt to brighten the mood.

However, Feend scoffed. "Even so, this place still cannot suffice as a proper base of operations!"

"How so?"

"Look at this! It's too open! The wideness of the house will let magical energy flow freely and unchecked! An ideal base must be more confined in its quarters, so a magic workshop can be set up. If not, the White Faction will be able to detect the energy leaking out from the building." Feend gritted his teeth. "Emiya's setting us up for a death sentence! Perhaps this was his plan all along..."

"This early in the War, just after we registered with the church?" Caules asked, looking unsure. "Maybe we should explore the whole of this place. We didn't even step past the gate-"

"Do not doubt me on this, child," interrupted Feend, the tone of his voice now brimming with confidence. It was the type of voice he used when he educated his students at the Clock Tower. "As your elder in the art of magecraft, I'm more knowledgeable in these kinds of matters." He regarded the teenage boy with an air of smug superiority. "You will have to trust me on this."

Caules looked over his shoulder, as if expecting someone to be there. However, once he confirmed there was no one else with him, he did not bother to suppress a reactive shiver. This did not go unnoticed by Feend.

"Thinking about your guardian, the other Yggdmillennia?" the Clock Tower instructor asked, a tint of disapproval evident in his voice. "The Matou?"

"Oh, believe me, this isn't the first time I've been separated from him. But..." He hesitated for a moment. "Given the circumstances of what's happening here..."

Feend grinned in pleasure. The more he learned about this boy from his posture, emotions, and reactions, the more he could see on how truly vulnerable he was. Perhaps he found his first ally in his plan to turn against Kiritsugu Emiya? But maybe he should tread a bit carefully when it came to granting him knowledge of his plan. After all, the boy was still reliant on his Yggdmillennia guardian and no one else...

"Master..."

Feend glared across his shoulder as Lancer materialized. "What is it, Lancer?" he asked gruffly. "Don't tell me you want to help Gudrun clean up this pigsty!"

In a split-second's notice, however, he recognized the wary, serious expression on his Servant's face.

"There's an enemy Servant nearby," Lancer replied. "About a few blocks away, and...they're approaching this position."

Elsewhere in Miyama Town

The sound of soft hoof-beats filled the air, punctuated by the intermittent snort, as Arturia trotted into the suburban park. She looked around for a minute, then glanced downward and stroked the mane of her steed. Being a Lancer Servant in this Holy Grail War, she was surprised to know that she had retained the mare Llamrei as an essential mount. She could still remember their shared endeavor in Wales back in her lifetime.

She hoped that Llamrei would be just as useful to her in this present endeavor...

"Do you still sense the enemy ahead?" a voice asked. Arturia looked beside her and saw Olesya still staring intently down the cobblestone walkway.

Arturia nodded affirmatively. "Yes," she replied. Then, she followed Olesya's gaze and narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "They have stopped moving now. It appears there is now just one Servant present. And...it's making its presence known...as if...it is trying to invite us over to see it..."

"How thoughtful. It's trying to decide the terms of the battlefield. Let's humor it and respond to its invitation."

"I was just thinking the same, Master."

Arturia nudged Llamrei, causing the mare to quicken its pace ever so slightly. As the two ventured further into the park, a small fog began to roll in, giving the environment a deathly aura. Olesya made sure to stick close to Llamrei, not wanting to risk separating herself from Arturia in case the fog thickened. Arturia tightened her grip on Rhongomyniad, continually adjusting her senses on the enemy Servant she could detect ahead. They started to head into a particularly wooded area of the park, with a great number of trees surrounding them.

Eventually, after several more minutes of walking, they saw him, standing between two banks of wispy fog, illuminated by the pale moonlight.

A young man, with a face so dazzlingly beautiful to the eyes of any woman that the quality almost seemed divine. A strand of black hair hung down his face, flowing from the long, roughly-combed mass of hair on top of his head. He was wearing a dark-teal outfit of ancient Celtic origin. His hazel eyes stared ahead intensely at Arturia and Olesya, making his gaze all the more brilliant despite their somewhat droopy nature, and the stoic aura emanating from his hard-cut button of a mouth.

Arturia and Olesya's eyes immediately darted to the two spears he was wielding: a moderate-sized golden spear and a longer crimson one, both wrapped in a purple talisman cloth.

"Welcome," greeted the enemy Servant. "Given my very recent departure from the local church, I had not been expecting an attack by the White Faction so soon. But nevertheless, it fills my heart with joy to be part of a noble and valiant battle." He gave a quick but observant look at Llamrei. "That noble steed of yours... You are Rider of White, I presume?"

"I'm afraid to disappoint you, spearman," Arturia replied, "but you are mistaken." She raised Rhongomyniad for the dashing Servant to behold. "Possession of this lance has given me the right to declare myself a Lancer Servant. In other words, I'm your counterpart, if those spears are of any indication."

Lancer of Black grinned. "So, you are forthcoming about your Servant class. A surprising revelation, but I cannot say I have qualms about that. After all, I consider deception of an enemy's power and capabilities on a battlefield as a great deed of dishonor. I harbor an enormous dislike of the concept of an unfair advantage."

"I agree on both counts." Arturia then focused on a peculiar mole beneath Lancer's right eye, and sensed strange magic flowing from it. It did not take long for her to deduce what kind of magic that was. "I see you have a charm spell, Lancer of Black."

Lancer let out a short sigh, and he rested his larger spear against his right shoulder. "Apologies, spearwoman. I'm afraid it's a little curse I was born with. There's really nothing that can be done about it. But I am surprised. Your resistance to magic is on par with that of a Saber Servant..."

"Then I believe this makes us even." Arturia gave a tiny but noticeable grin. "You preach against unfair advantages and deceiving enemies about one's own power and capabilities, yet you yourself did not bother to share any advantageous Personal Skills of your own?"

Lancer returned the grin with one of his own. "Again, apologies. But it is not like we must share every last piece of personal information before commencing with the battle. That in its own right is an unfair advantage, not only for you, but-" He gave a short but deadly glare at Olesya, who remained steely under his gaze. "-for your comrades-in-arms." He then looked back at Arturia. "All things aside, I'm pleased that my first opponent in this Grail War is made of stern stuff."

Arturia's grin widened. "And I consider myself fortunate to encounter such a strong and proud hero for my first fight in this Grail War."

"Then let us-" Lancer moved his head slightly. "-begin."

First, silence. Then, without a moment's hesitation, Llamrei reared itself in preparation, and the two Lancers charged.

Being mounted on a steed, Arturia was much quicker, and she aimed Rhongomyniad towards Lancer's chest. However, Lancer of Black proved to be agile in his own right; he allowed himself to fall downward and slide against the ground to avoid the lance. As Arturia turned Llamrei around in an attempt to attack again, her opponent thrust both of his spears towards her torso, but she was able to swat the weapons away from reach using her lance.

Lancer then attempted to direct his spears towards Arturia's legs, but she directed Llamrei away from him every time he made a swing. She then charged towards and past her opponent repeatedly, their weapons meeting each time she passed.

When Arturia charged at him for the tenth time, Lancer unexpectedly leaped up into the air, and aimed his golden spear directly at her chest-plate as he fell towards her.

However, he was surprised when his opponent reacted quickly, bumping the pole of her lance against the pole of her spear and swatting his weapon away with ease. She then maneuvered Llamrei away from Lancer before he could hit the both of them.

Next, Lancer threw his golden spear at Arturia. The spearwoman saw it coming, but knew she wouldn't be fast enough to avoid it by redirecting Llamrei's course.

So, with no other options left, she swatted Rhongomyniad upward, catching the other spear in the process. Both Lancer Servants watched as the golden spear flipped a few times in the air before falling back down towards Arturia. Reacting quickly and instinctively, she caught the spear and threw it back at her opponent.

Lancer reacted quickly as well, catching it by the pole and twirling it around until he could point the bladed tip at Arturia again.

"Impressive," he remarked. "You certainly know your way around combat while on horseback, not to mention your skills with a lance."

"And you're holding up well despite my having the higher ground, literally," Arturia replied, smiling.

"Ah, but a cavalrywoman is mere child's play for me. I have great faith that I can handle my own against you, Lancer of White."

Arturia's smile widened. "Well then, let us put your great faith to a test, shall we?"

"Indeed we will..."

At that moment, Lancer stabbed his golden spear into the ground and abandoned it as he charged towards Arturia yet again. Halfway there, he stabbed his crimson spear into the ground as well and used it to launch himself into the air. He fell back towards the earth, aiming his feet at Arturia, his spear still in his hand.

Unfortunately for him, Arturia yet again maneuvered Llamrei away from the incoming Servant, and all Lancer hit was ground. The force of the impact was powerful enough to create a small crater and generate a shock-wave that short-circuited the nearest streetlamps, short-circuiting them and plunging the pathway into darkness. Now, the only source of light in the immediate battlefield was from the Moon.

Unable to properly see his opponent from the ground, Lancer ran back towards his golden spear to retrieve it, then hopped up into one of the trees. Arturia watched her opponent's faint, shrouded outline as he proceeded to jump from one tree to the next, hoping to evade her sight and strike her in a vulnerable position.

The rustling eventually stopped. For a couple of minutes, there was a deathly silence.

Arturia's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Wait..."

Then...

"LANCER, LOOK OUT!" Olesya screamed.

But Arturia smiled. It was just as she predicted.

She looked at her right, where she could hear someone running, and slashed at the air with Rhongomyniad, feeling her opponent's spear moving away from the side of her ribcage. She then turned Llamrei to the opposite direction and watched as Lancer landed on the ground. At first, he seemed unscathed. Then, a superficial cut made itself known on his right cheek.

At first, Lancer's hazel eyes narrowed, as he seemed to berate himself for failing to land a solid hit. Then, he grinned.

"I'm impressed," he said. "You knew I would try to strike you from the ground. I must ask, what made you come to that conclusion?"

"It's simple," replied Arturia. "You knew I would be anticipating an attack from above, my most vulnerable point, and I would be monitoring that direction. So you chose to wear me out and then attack from the side, a direction where you have tried and failed many times to secure a hit. You thought I would not concern myself with the sides anymore because of that fact."

Lancer chuckled, and he rested his smaller spear upon his left shoulder. "Impressive. You've got quick and masterful thinking on the battlefield, Lancer of White."

"But I must say, it was a risky strategy for you to take."

Now, both of Lancer's eyebrows were raised. "Oh? How so?"

"Being a mounted warrior, I have a greater vantage point in the immediate battlefield. But no matter where my steed is facing, I have another vulnerable point, one that is just as critical as the air."

Her opponent blinked in realization. "The rear."

Arturia smiled. "Yes. I am limited to mostly 180 degrees of line of sight. Of course, I could always look over my shoulder, but it would be uncomfortable fighting in that position, not to mention impractical and inefficient. My instinct would be to adjust the footing of my steed." She watched as Lancer's posture seemed to become more rigid. "From your fighting prowess, you must've been a warrior held in high regard. Surely you knew of such a vulnerability, yet you chose to attack from the side again, even though I could still see you coming."

"You clearly are not thinking of me as highly as I thought," the opponent Servant replied. "Yes, I was aware of the possibility that I could strike you from behind...but to do so would be to spit upon the honor of all noble and valiant warriors, who believed in a fair fight." He raised his crimson spear and aimed it at Arturia. "And I thought we had a degree of understanding between one another."

"I never try to underestimate an enemy." However, Arturia's smile widened. "But it does confirm to me your rigid, unwavering faith in a fair fight. And I do respect one who adheres to the ways of noble and valiant warriors. So I humbly apologize for doubting you."

Lancer grinned. "Apology accepted, Lancer of White." He twirled his golden spear around in his left hand. "You know, I think I'm going to enjoy this battle with you even more, knowing that I am matched against someone who is my equal in more ways than one."

"The feeling is mutual, Lancer of Black." She pointed Rhongomyniad at Lancer's direction. "Shall we continue?"

Lancer pointed his spears at his opponent. "I'd love to..."

The Tohsaka Residence

"Tohsaka, we found one. We found a Servant with the Black Faction."

Bram, Sola-Ui, Fiore, and Itsuki looked at each other with apprehension, but Tokiomi merely smiled in satisfaction. Right now, the five were in the living room of the Tohsaka manor, with Tokiomi's phonograph-like communication device sitting at the middle. The Tohsaka Master stood up and approached this device.

"Where, Lord El-Melloi?" he asked.

"In Miyama Town, right at the edge of the park," Kayneth's voice replied from the other end. "Animusphere and her Servant are engaging the enemy as we speak."

"They are? What about any witnesses nearby?"

"There are none. Also, someone has set up a Bounded Field. It is a shamefully conspicuous one, so it has to be the work of a Black Master."

Tokiomi smiled again. "That means this Black Master is well aware of the rules of the Holy Grail War, and is smart enough to conceal the battlefield."

"It's just as we predicted, Tohsaka," Bram said. "The Black Faction would not have gotten out of Miyama Town at this time following their registration at the church."

Tokiomi nodded in agreement and spoke into his device again. "Can you identify the Black Servant, El-Melloi?"

"It is a man wielding two spears," Kayneth replied. "A Lancer Servant."

"Just like Animusphere's..." Bram remarked.

"Well, I can tell that battle's not going to end anytime soon," Sola-Ui suddenly said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Tokiomi ignored his colleagues and asked, "Can you ascertain Lancer of Black's status?"

"With ease. The opponent Lancer's agility is especially high, but other than that, his parameters are ranked no more than B on the standard scale."

"I see. Lancer Servants have been known for their uniquely high agility, which usually surpasses all other parameters. Despite that, it seems the Black Faction could only settle for a good Lancer, not a great one."

"Indeed. I personally would be most disappointed if I got that Lancer."

"But we mustn't allow ourselves to be convinced only by what you've just seen, Lord El-Melloi. Continue surveying the battlefield. Do you see the Master of Lancer of Black anywhere?"

"No, not from where I am standing, Tohsaka."

"Alright, then. I want you to meet up with Assassin and her Master in ten minutes. Hopefully they will have more information on the battlefield by then. Until then, remain at your current position and watch the battle closely. Intervene if Lancer of Black is starting to gain the upper hand over our Lancer, but act defensively only. Remember, the purpose of this battle is just to understand the first of the Black Servants, and the power that they wield."

"Understood, Tohsaka. As you command."

Miyama Park

The clanging of spears, the beating of hooves, and the occasional neigh echoed in the air, mixing to form some sort of glorious noise evocative of a medieval-style battle. Every few seconds, a new gash appeared in the earth, formed by Lancer's misses. The battle slowly but progressively moved over to another lit section of the park, with a playground in the backdrop. As the Lancer Servants continued to clash, Olesya observed the duel closely beside a wooden bench, under the pale, shining light of a streetlamp.

After a few more minutes of fighting, both Arturia and Lancer withdrew and distanced themselves for a quick breather. As they did, they stared each other down.

"You're fast, Lancer of Black," the mounted spearwoman said. "Fast enough to rival my steed, perhaps. The agility of Lancer Servants is a well-known fact in the Holy Grail Wars, yet you have surpassed these expectations. It is a truly impressive feat, coming from you."

"I am humbled by your words of praise, Lancer of White," replied Lancer. "And I must return the favor, for you know how to repel each of my blades, which I have mastered over years in my lifetime. I must admit, we truly are matched, which brings me even more pleasure."

"As fun as this battle seems to be for you, Lancer," a voice suddenly echoed loudly, "it is time for this nonsense to end."

Arturia tensed up, and Olesya looked around, exclaiming, "The Master of Lancer of Black?!"

The voice continued to speak. "Do not delay the inevitable. The White Faction is a formidable opponent, Lancer of White is one of their best warriors, and we must demonstrate our strength to them. Eliminate Lancer of White at once. Use your Noble Phantasm."

Lancer's grin widened slightly, and a gleam of pride flashed across his hazel eyes.

"As you command. I will comply."

On the rooftop of an apartment complex next to the park, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald smiled. This newest move was what he had been hoping for...

The crimson spear dropped to the ground with a loud, metallic clatter. Lancer swung his golden spear towards him, catching the pole with his unoccupied hand and thrusting it in front of him like some sort of protective bar.

Arturia's eyes narrowed in observance. "So the shorter spear is his Noble Phantasm..." she mentally concluded.

The purple talisman cloth wrapping the golden spear suddenly unfurled on its own, dissipating into thin air and revealing its main body underneath. Then, Lancer aimed the spear's tip at Arturia's direction.

"You heard the command," he said triumphantly. "The time has come for me to kill you!"

He then leaped forward, leaving behind a small but hurricane-like blast of air in his wake. Arturia immediately backed Llamrei away as quickly as she could, leaving her opponent to stab the ground. Then, Lancer started stabbing at Arturia as she backed away...no, wait, he was trying to stab Llamrei...

She had Llamrei rear itself, before it tried to slam its front hoof down on Lancer's spear; however, Lancer withdrew the weapon quickly enough to avoid that.

Then, to Arturia's surprise, Lancer thrust his spear forward again...in her direction.

She moved her head to the side, just in time to avoid being stabbed in the neck. Then, she had Llamrei gallop a short distance away from Lancer. Arturia gritted her teeth as she watched her opponent walk calmly towards her, dragging his spear along the concrete walkway and causing a small but sickening screeching noise that echoed in the air.

"Whatever his Noble Phantasm is," she thought, "he has yet to call it out... My next tactics are running on a high degree of risk... I must strike Lancer down before he can activate his Noble Phantasm."

At that moment, Lancer charged at her, his spear now aimed precisely at its target.

"If I wait for an attack...one less powerful than the rest..."

Lancer was close now... She imagined the outcome of her counterattack, which would be...

"Then I can make the lethal blow!"

She charged Llamrei forward and aimed her spear directly at Lancer's chest. She hoped to have Llamrei pass him and allow her to skewer him with Rhongomyniad's blade in the process...

But then, Llamrei let out its loudest cry yet, and it staggered over to the side, away from Lancer as he dashed away. Arturia gasped upon seeing the problem: a gash running across the side of her noble steed, beginning at its front right leg. Fresh blood was slowly leaking out of the wound and dripping down its ribs.

"Llamrei..." she breathed out in concern. Then, she looked over at Olesya, who had a hand over her mouth in horror. "Olesya, can you heal my steed?!"

"Yes, I can...but..." Olesya's eyes were wide with disbelief and worry. "But...I've already applied the healing magic! I did it! Lancer, your steed should be fully healed by now! I don't understand what's going on!"

Arturia glared at Lancer, who was resting his spear against his shoulder, its tip gleaming with Llamrei's blood. At first, she was just as confused as Olesya was. Then, she looked down at Llamrei's unhealed wound again, then back at Lancer and his triumphant grin, and then she pieced it together.

"I see..." the King of Knights said. "So that's what's at play here..."

"Oh?" replied Lancer, pretending to be confused.

"That gold spear of yours is cursed, able to inflict devastating wounds that could never be healed." Then, she closed her eyes. "And it's a passive Noble Phantasm, one that doesn't require having its name called out. Its true power is activated only when the talisman cloth is unwrapped. I should've known..."

"My, my, quite an insight. Yes, you are correct. Now that you know what my blade can do, ask yourself this: can you keep on fighting, now that your noble steed is injured?"

Arturia looked down at Llamrei and inched it forward as a test. The horse moved, but its front right leg limped in the process. Narrowing her eyes at first, she then petted Llamrei's mane...and, to Olesya and Lancer's surprise, dismounted.

"What's going on with Lancer?!" Olesya exclaimed to herself. "She can't possibly fight like that, can she?!"

As soon as Arturia got off Llamrei, the injured noble steed disappeared in a fog of blue sparks. The King of Knights faced her opponent, the tip of Rhongomyniad resting on the ground and its hilt secured by her hands.

"You may have disabled my steed," Arturia said determinedly, "but that is all it is: a steed. Should you take the steed out first, there is still the rider to attend to." She raised Rhongomyniad and aimed it at her opponent. "And I have every intent on defeating you before you strike me with your Noble Phantasm. Steed...or no steed!"

"A bold move. You're relying on your own two feet to survive now. Excellent. I'm glad that we're finally fighting on equal ground. It was a courageous, not to mention honorable decision to make. Although I must add it was also a very foolish mistake."

Arturia chuckled. "Well then, you clearly do not remember what I said to you before we first exchanged blows. With this lance, I am Lancer of White, not Rider of White, and I will demonstrate it to you as I fight you!"

Both Lancers charged at each other yet again, on foot this time. Their weapons met with brute force, triggering a massive shock-wave that forced both Servants back, nearly knocked Olesya to the ground, and even stripped the nearest trees of their bark and leaves.

Arturia was quick to recover, and she could see that Lancer seemed to be slipping on the ground. She immediately activated Rhongomyniad's power: a spiral of golden light enveloped its blade, generating powerful blasts of air that tore apart the concrete walkway blocks in its radius. Then, with the thought of finishing this duel once and for all exclusively on her mind, Arturia leaped towards Lancer's position.

But from the sidelines, Olesya gasped upon seeing it: Lancer's triumphant smile.

"Oh, no!" she thought.

A strip of ground beneath Lancer started tearing itself away, revealing the crimson spear underneath.

"A Noble Phantasm needn't be a single weapon!"

Lancer yanked the longer spear out from the ground with his foot and grabbed it by the pole. By then, Arturia realized her mistake too, but at this point, she was so close to her opponent, and still incoming, that a good hit by him was guaranteed. So, she did the only thing that would guarantee her survival, but would still be risky.

"AGH!"

"Urk!"

Arturia fell to the side, having thrust her own body to that direction with as much force as she could. A sudden, horrible spike of pain erupted in her chest, and she tried to clutch at it, only to find that the injury was completely underneath her...undamaged armor...?

"How can this be?" she thought, as she could see blood leaking out from under her breastplate. "The armor itself must have deflected the strike if it doesn't even have a scratch. So why am I still injured? What's at work here?"

"Lancer!" Olesya cried. Moments later, Arturia felt a soothing sensation come over her wound, and then, the pain was gone.

"My thanks, Olesya," the King of Knights replied. "It appears your healing magic has worked efficiently on me."

She then glared at Lancer, who was smirking. The tips of both his spears were now dripping with blood. She also noticed that Lancer's wrist had a superficial cut on it, inflicted by Rhongomyniad.

"So the gold spear is capable of inflicting cursed, permanent wounds, and the red spear was able to bypass my armor and hit the flesh underneath..." Arturia narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Bypass my armor..."

"You have a quicker mind than I thought, and quicker reflexes," Lancer remarked. "After disabling your steed with Gáe Buidhe, I was hoping I could surprise you with my Gáe Dearg. Yet you managed to move yourself at an angle undesirable for my lethal blow, just in a couple of split-seconds, even though you knew I would still hit you somewhere, no matter what. You truly are something, both on foot and on horseback."

"So, you have another passive Noble Phantasm," she replied, "one that is able to negate magic."

"So your armor was created using magic, huh? Well, if you were counting on it to protect you, you should surrender now, Lancer of White. You're as good as naked before my spears."

"I could say the same for your true identity...Diarmuid of the Love Spot."

There was a deathly silence in the air. Then, Lancer grinned in satisfaction. "So you figured it out? The name I once took in life?"

"Of course. It's something I should've seen sooner. A cursed gold spear, a red spear that destroys magic, and beneath the right eye a mole that enchants women. All telltale signs of the first of the knights of Fianna. Never did I think I had the honor of facing you in combat."

Kayneth made an almost giddy smile as he overheard Arturia's revelation. It was the first battle of the Impossible Holy Grail War (if one did not count that sorry excuse of an ambush by Assassin of Black) and the White Faction now had the true identity of its first Black Servant! Surely all of the divine forces in existence had blessed his Faction with such good luck!

He should report this latest development to Tohsaka at once-

"Master, if I may-"

"What do you want, Rider?!" Kayneth snarled, irritated by his Servant's sudden interruption.

"I understand we are meant to learn as much as we can about our opponent, but now that we have everything we need and more, we must act immediately for the well-being of our comrade-in-arms!"

"Lancer can handle herself. There is no need to expend mana on a battle just yet, Rider."

"But Master, without her steed, she is at a terrible disadvantage. And need I mention the opponent's weapons, which render her Master's healing and her own armor useless?"

"And need I mention our primary purpose is to watch the duel from afar?"

"Master, I simply can't just-"

"You dare disobey the express orders of your Master, and of your Faction?!" Kayneth interrupted harshly. He then raised his clenched fist threateningly, exposing the white Command Seals to the air where his Servant was standing. "Must I use a Command Seal to ensure your obedience?! Must this be required?! MUST IT?!"

There was a cold silence. Then, Rider replied, "Fine, then. Because I can't let my Master use a Command Seal on something so trivial, I will instead present to you a compromise. I will yield to you, but I will also express my disapproval of this strategy, for a great reason."

"Yes, yes, compromise accepted. Now, do as you're told and wait for my command, whatever it may be!"

To his immense relief, Kayneth didn't hear Rider respond. He then looked back at the battlefield, where Arturia and Lancer of Black (now Diarmuid of the Love Spot) were still conversing.

Then, the Archibald Master heard a soft ringing in his pocket. He reached into it and pulled out his stopwatch, which was indicating to him that ten minutes had passed.

"So, ten minutes have passed? Very well, then. I shall meet up with Assassin and that doll. But, first thing's first..."

Suddenly, he heard a loud explosion. Kayneth looked back at the battlefield in shock.

"I told you."

"LANCER?!" Olesya cried through the billowing cloud of smoke. "Lancer, where are you?!"

Then, she saw a faint outline walking through the smoke. At first, she thought it was Arturia, but seconds later, it grew larger and larger as it approached her. That was when she knew what was now happening.

She reached into her pocket, pulled out a whip, and slapped it onto the ground, triggering the other end to unfold into a large, menacing barb. Then, flames enveloped the whip, and Olesya snapped it towards the advancing Golem. The rope wrapped itself around the Golem's body and was secured when the barb sunk itself into the rock creation's chest. Then, Olesya pulled the whip, causing the rope to squeeze tighter around the Golem until it fell apart.

As the pieces of the Golem fell to the ground, Olesya realized, to her surprise, that someone had been standing behind it the entire time. She gritted her teeth at her opponent.

"Feend vor Sembren," she snarled. "I should've guessed."

"Animusphere," Feend replied. "I can't say I'm surprised to see the likes of you in this Grail War."

"I see your Golem-making skills are sub-par as usual. Can't say I'm surprised to see that."

The vor Sembren Master's lips tightened. But then, he smiled malevolently as four more Golems appeared, surrounding him and Olesya, their sights focused exclusively on the latter.

"Maybe you'll give me a different opinion once you and your Servant are through with them," he said.

Olesya smirked. "Oh, we'll see about that..."

Feend pointed towards the Animusphere Master, and with that cue, the Golems charged...

"Haaaaaugh!"

Arturia swung Rhongomyniad at Diarmuid, who parried it with Gáe Dearg. Then, she in turn parried the incoming blow of the new opponent's sword. She then forced the weapon away from her, only to be knocked aside by the Servant's horse. She stood up, dodged an incoming strike by Diarmuid's Gáe Buidhe, and jumped away from the two Servants.

As soon as she landed on the ground, she saw, at the corner of her eye, a gigantic Golem raising a clenched fist, intent on crushing her. But she dodged the attack and severed its hand with Rhongomyniad's blade. Then, she watched her opponents warily as they slowly advanced on her.

The sudden ambush occurred while she and Diarmuid were talking about the latter's real identity. For a moment, it seemed to her that Diarmuid hadn't been expecting the attack either. But given how he worked in near-perfect sync with the new Servant and the vicious squad of Golems, it was pretty clear to Arturia that the newcomers were also affiliated with the Black Faction.

The second Servant suddenly motioned his horse forward, and it charged at Arturia. However, she jumped out of the way and stabbed at the horse, but missed her mark by a few centimeters. She then traded a couple of blows with Diarmuid's spears and destroyed all but one of the Golems before jumping on top of a small cobblestone wall.

The King of Knights eyed the Servant's horse. "Rider of Black, I'm presuming?"

The Servant smiled. "You were expecting a Berserker instead?"

"Well, as I was discussing with Lancer of Black earlier, I too fight on horseback, yet I have the designation of Lancer of White due to my weapon."

"Ah. Well, fortunately for you, my noble steed is not a means of deception in regards to my class." The Servant gently stroked the horse's mane, eliciting a hum of contentment from it. "You have presumed correctly. I am indeed Rider of Black." His posture relaxed somewhat, and he placed a hand on his hap. "And you do not have to worry about explaining what happened during your duel with my friend. I watched everything from afar. Your means of deducing Lancer of Black's identity were pretty clever, I must admit. Yet very risky."

"I try," Arturia replied wryly.

"Getting yourself injured to accomplish a goal is not something that should be taken lightly." To Arturia's surprise, St. George's eyebrows furrowed with worry. "You must learn to take care of yourself, first and foremost."

Arturia's eyebrow arched upward. "Showing concern for me, your sworn enemy?"

"To me, there are no enemies, just people who need saving."

"You say that, yet you try to strike a lethal blow on me every time. How contradictory."

St. George smiled. "I was holding back a little. In my life, I have tried to give my opponents enough time to consider the sins they committed and repent. But there are occasions where that additional time is little to none..." His smile faded away, and he closed his eyes. "But you intended to kill my friend Lancer, and a scenario like that is one I cannot abide to. With that in mind, I'd say you have little time to repent, Lancer of White."

Diarmuid suddenly leaped towards Arturia, Gáe Dearg poised to strike. The King of Knights knocked the red spear away with a strike by Rhongomyniad, and leaped off the wall to avoid Gáe Buidhe. In the process, she literally jumped into the arms of the last Golem, but she managed to break free, literally, before destroying the artificial being. St. George opened his eyes and had his horse charge towards his opponent. As soon as he approached Arturia, he swung his sword at her, but she parried it with her lance.

Next, Diarmuid reached Arturia again and stabbed at her with Gáe Buidhe again, but she blocked it with the blade of Rhongomyniad. She then used the other end of the lance to block Rider's next strike. The King of Knights then struggled to parry blows using both sides of Rhongomyniad, as both Diarmuid and St. George stabbed and slashed at her repeatedly from left to right.

"They're very strong when they work in tandem," she thought. "I can barely move my position without endangering myself. I cannot call Llamrei back, given its cursed injury. At this point, it will take an extraordinary intervention to increase my chances of survival..."

"You know, Lancer of White," St. George said calmly, right after Arturia blocked his sword yet again, "you really are standing your ground and just waiting for us to yield. It may be risky to your well-being, but I also find it a very admirable trait, one lacking in many people of this era. It is an honor to find myself in a duel with you."

Arturia forced Diarmuid after after parrying blows from both of his spears. She then glanced at St. George, and couldn't help but smile. After all, he had been nothing but soft-spoken and considerate during their short exchange of blows.

"And I as well, considering you seem to have a noble spirit."

The Servant bowed his head humbly. "Such is the gift of God." Then, he swung at Arturia with his sword yet again.

"This doesn't look good..."

Kayneth stood behind a tree trunk, observing the dual battles between Masters, Servants, and Golems. He hadn't yet found Assassin and her homunculus Master, not that he wanted to try. At this point, his teammates were in danger, and he knew that if he didn't act any longer, he would be losing some valuable chess pieces.

He closed his eyes in defeat. "Do it, Rider," he instructed. "Show the Black Faction your power. But remember, use it for defense only."

"Excellent! Now this is what I've been waiting for!" Rider immediately materialized into physical form, nearly startling Kayneth because he was so close to his Master's position. "Ah, now this will be fun!"

"Yes, yes, of course," Kayneth replied hurriedly. "Just...please, for the love of all that is holy, DO NOT MUCK THIS UP!"

Rider merely grinned confidently in response, and he pulled out his sword.

"Oh, don't worry about that, Master. I plan not to."

Arturia continued to block blows from Diarmuid's spears and St. George's sword, plus avoiding being trampled by the horse. At the corner of her eye, she noticed Olesya holding out on her own against the Golems her opponent kept throwing at her. She wished she could overcome her opponents and rush to the aid of her Master, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

Then, at that exact moment, Arturia came upon a startling realization and cursed in her mind. In the rush of the battling and her intent on not getting defeated, she had forgotten all about-

"AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!"

A blur of smoke, metal, fur, dirt, and electricity emerged from the fog and thundered towards Diarmuid and St. George, forcing them to flee so they could avoid being struck. As soon as the blur passed them, it slowed to a stop, revealing Rider aboard a grand, gigantic chariot pulled by two Divine Bulls and bearing two large, curved sickles. Both Black Servants gawked at the chariot in a mix of wonder and terror as Arturia's teammate, Rider of White, held out his arms majestically.

"Hear me now, Servants of the Black Faction, for I am a king!" Rider of White hollered in a voice so booming that even Olesya and her opponent stopped their battle to awkwardly listen. "I am Iskandar, King of Conquerors! In this impossible battle for the Holy Grail, I am of the Rider class of Servants!"

Out of the corner of her other eye, Arturia could see Iskandar's Master, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, collapsing to his knees in disbelief. She couldn't blame the man; after all, she now wanted nothing more than to make Rider of White eat the blade of her spear.

Suddenly, Olesya's voice echoed in Arturia's mind. "Are you...hearing what I'm hearing, Lancer...?"

Arturia nodded. "Yes. It appears our Rider has indulged in his foolish and maddeningly ridiculous antics again."

"I wish I could say I was surprised but...I honestly am not anymore..."

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, RIDER, IDENTIFYING YOURSELF LIKE THAT?!" Kayneth called out furiously, but Iskandar ignored it in an almost cold and dismissive manner.

Instead, the Rider Servant lowered his arms and continued, "Fate has brought us all together in this place to do battle for the possession of the Holy Grail. But first, I wish to make an offer." He suddenly thrust his arms out in the same position again. "What think you of joining my glorious and invincible army that is the White Faction?! You would be treated as honored allies, friends, and brothers-in-arms! Together, we shall in the glory of battle, and the joy of world conquest!"

Silence fell upon the battlefield. Even the Golems were motionless, watching Rider of White in his explosive speech.

"He's...not being serious, is he...?" Olesya asked.

"Trust me, Olesya," replied Arturia, "as immaturely loud and boisterous as he may be, there is nothing but the truth present in Rider of White's words."

"Are you really doing this NOW, Rider?!" Kayneth exclaimed, using his magically-amplified voice. "This is no time for your silly and absurd speeches! I am not going to repeat myself. Defend Lancer of White and her Master from the Black Faction. NOW."

Iskandar sighed in boredom. "If you insist, Master..." he replied.

Then, without another word, Iskandar cracked his whip, prompting his chariot to barrel towards the Golems surrounding Olesya. Her opponent didn't have enough time commanding his creations to defend themselves, and they were all ruthlessly trampled and ground into pieces by the Divine Bulls' hooves and the chariot's wheels. The Golems' creator took this time to flee the battlefield.

Next, Iskandar redirected his vehicle towards Diarmuid and St. George. They both jumped out of the way, and as the chariot slowed down to turn around, St. George faced his counterpart in the White Faction.

"My apologies that your speech was so rudely interrupted," he said calmly. "But, if it makes you feel any better, Iskandar, King of Conquerors, I respectfully decline your offer."

Upon hearing this polite and respectful response from his opponent, Iskandar grinned slightly and replied, "Well, I'd be willing to discuss compensation."

"My apologies again, but that is still not enticing to me. I am a protector of the people, and all that is good in the world. Do not be so inclined to think I can be swayed by material objects such as money. And I shall have you know that I can't abide fighting alongside one who proudly brands himself the 'King of Conquerors'. It would sully my reputation as a knight, and as a servant of God."

"Huh, a servant of God, you say? So that makes you a saint. Makes sense." His grin widened. "Well, if you insist, Rider of Black. But I'll have you know that conquerors always win, for that is the meaning of conquest!"

With a loud and determined yell, Iskandar directed his chariot towards St. George. St. George grinned in response and charged his horse toward the chariot, his sword ready.

Meanwhile, Arturia ran back to Olesya's position. "Master, are you okay?!" she said.

"Yes, I'm fine," Olesya replied as she deactivated her magical whip of fire. "Lancer, we must retreat now."

"Retreat?"

"Yes. We did exactly what we were expected to do. We know Lancer of Black's true identity, and we have a good idea about Rider of Black's strength and fighting capabilities. Now we must get back safely to Tohsaka and provide him the information we just learned."

Arturia was going to reply, but then, she sensed an incoming attack. She leaped forward and tackled Olesya out of the way, just in time for both to avoid Gáe Dearg's strike.

"My apologies for the interruption, Lancer of White," Diarmuid said as he withdrew Gáe Dearg's blade from the ground, "but I'm afraid I cannot let you or your Master escape. My Master desires your deaths at my hands, and it is my duty as a knight to fulfill my lord's desire."

"How loyal of you," Olesya replied dryly. "But I thought a knight wasn't allowed to kill a lady."

"It brings me discomfort to know this, but if that is what my lord desires..." He raised Gáe Buidhe and aimed it at both females. "Then it shall be done. My deepest apologies."

Suddenly, two angry, monstrous bellows sounded in the air. Diarmuid jumped away seconds before Iskandar's chariot trampled and rolled over the ground he had been standing on.

"I THINK NOT, LANCER OF BLACK!" hollered the King of Conquerors. "YARGH!"

He maneuvered his chariot away to avoid a swipe by St. George's sword, then redirected it back towards the Black Servant. As for Arturia, she charged towards Diarmuid and swiped Rhongomyniad at him, but he blocked it with Gáe Dearg.

As for Olesya, she fled from the immediate area and took cover under the shade of another tree.

"This is not good, not good at all," she thought. "Lancer and Rider of Black are both not letting up. Unlike us, they have no intent on letting their opponents leave this place alive. We have to find a way to distract them long enough for us to withdraw..."

Then, the silver-haired woman noticed something moving at the corner of her eye. She glanced at the treeline, where the movement was coming from...and smiled.

"Of course..."

"Dear God...how long is this battle going to last...?"

"As long as it has to."

Caules Forvedge Yggdmillennia yelped out in shock and fell over in his hiding place among the thick bushes. But then, he sighed in relief upon identifying the speaker.

"Oh my God, vor Sembren!" he exclaimed in outrage. "Don't surprise me like that!"

Feend looked away from Caules, towards the battlefield. "Be on your guard at all times, boy," he replied. "Feet, yards, or miles away, you're not safe, no matter what. If you don't keep that advice in mind, you'll be easy pickings for the White Faction. Not to mention the Magus Killer, Emiya."

"Uh-huh..." Caules stood up from the ground and dusted the grime off his pants. "What should we do now?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Your plan was for my Rider to ambush and kill Lancer of White while she was preoccupied with her battle with your Servant." The boy then gestured towards the duel between both St. George and Iskandar. "But that didn't work! And now, we can't simply just tag-team her because of Rider of White and his goddamn shiny chariot!"

"We have to keep on fighting, boy," Feend replied simply. "This is our chance to prove the Black Faction's strength and resilience to the White Faction, and we're not going to let some deluded fool like Rider of White become a setback for us. Besides..." He glared hatefully at Diarmuid. "They now know about Lancer's true identity! Already, at this stage of the War!"

"I really don't think this is a good idea, vor Sembren sir!" Caules began looking around hesitantly. "We're fighting in a public area..."

"You said your Bounded Field would be enough to ward off any rabble."

"Yes, I did, but you're talking to a third-rate magus, after all... It may be enough to fool innocent people away but it's also enough to attract other White Masters..."

Feend gritted his teeth, looked away from the boy, and thought angrily, "Damn you, you bastard Emiya... You set me, a first-rate Clock Tower instructor, up with untalented Yggdmillennia scum! Ohhhhh, I'm sure you're having a laugh at this at my expense..."

Further into the forest, Sieg observed the vulnerable Black Masters.

"Lend a helping hand, Assassin," he ordered calmly.

Feend suddenly tensed up. He didn't know why, but there was something uneasy in the air. It was making his skin crawl, and the hairs on his neck stick up...

Before he knew it, something...or someone landed in front of him. Feend's eyes widened in terror, and he allowed himself to fall over, just in time to avoid being slashed by a glinting dagger. Then, he looked up at his assailant: a dark-skinned, purple-haired woman wearing a skintight black-and-gray outfit, a drawn hood, and a skull mask. Her very presence evoked the aura of both an eerie cat and a lurking shadow.

"Assassin of White?!" he thought in surprise.

Assassin slowly raised her dirk, prepared to deliver the killing blow...

"Damn it, it's an ambush!"

But Feend wasn't going to allow himself to die this way. He pulled out the very pointer he used for his classes and turned it to its other end; electricity started to flow and crackle out of it. With a yell, he jabbed it into Assassin's shin while she was still aiming her weapon, thus electrifying her. Once she was properly incapacitated, Feend scrambled over to Caules.

"They're trying to ambush us, boy!" he snarled. "Quick, be on your guard!"

However, Caules was transfixed with terror. His eyes were locked into the empty eye-sockets of Assassin's mask.

"W-W-We're g-gonna f-f-fight her?!" he stuttered out.

Feend growled angrily, knowing that two magi fighting against an Assassin Servant was next to impossible. Then again, it was also next to impossible for him to survive her first attack... There was something suspicious about that...

Either way, Assassin threw her dirk to her other hand and hissed at the two magi. She then went into a crouching position, prepared to strike...

"No, don't do this!" Caules screamed fearfully. "RIDER!"

Assassin didn't seem daunted by the call; instead, she was still crouched. Moments later, St. George arrived at the scene on horseback, forcing Assassin to leap into the treetops.

"Are you alright, Master?" the Rider Servant asked as his steed snorted. "Are you hurt in any way?"

"Yeah, I'm...I'm alright..." Caules replied, gazing up warily at the treetops.

Meanwhile, Feend continued to stare at the place Assassin had been standing on. There was definitely something odd about how slow the Silent Killer had been. After all, it was a perfect chance for the White Faction to take two Masters out of the game already... Unless...

Feend glared at Diarmuid, who was now fighting Arturia and Iskandar alone.

"Damn it!" he shouted.

"What, what?!" replied Caules, startled by the sudden outburst.

The instructor pointed at St. George. "Rider, get back in the field and assist Lancer now!"

St. George blinked in surprise. "I mean no disrespect, fellow teammate, but...you are not my Master-"

"There is no time, Rider! Get back there before-"

There was a pair of mighty bellows, and Feend, Caules, and St. George looked back at the battlefield. Iskandar's chariot had just suddenly launched into the air, with Arturia and Olesya already onboard. Diarmuid tried to swipe at the vehicle with his spears, but missed both times. Now, the quartet could only watch as the chariot disappeared into the night sky.

"They...They retreated?!" Caules exclaimed in confusion.

"I wonder why..." St. George remarked.

With the threat of enemy Servants now gone, Diarmuid immediately rushed over to Feend, who was trembling in fury.

"My lord, how are you?!" the Lancer Servant said. "Are you well?"

"Well, I'm alive, aren't I, Lancer?" snarled the vor Sembren Master. He then glared at St. George, who just dismounted his horse as it de-materialized. "Why did you come to our aid?!"

"My Master called me over," replied St. George, who was puzzled by Feend's anger at being assisted. "I am truly shocked by your attitude about this. After all, you two were in danger of being killed by Assassin of White."

"No, we weren't!"

"Man, I don't know about you guys at the Clock Tower," Caules replied, "but I'd say a person who wears a freaky-looking skull mask, wields a dirk, and has Presence Concealment is a whole load of bad news to Masters!"

"That was a ploy designed to help Lancer and Rider of White escape!"

"A...A ploy...?"

"Yes, boy, a ploy. Lancer and Rider of White had no chance of escaping this battlefield on their own, not with our Servants keeping up with them every step of the way. That's why they brought Assassin of White as a last resort. They were counting on our Servants rushing to our aid once Assassin attacked us."

"But why didn't they just kill us? This was a perfect opportunity for them to do so!"

Feend gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. "That accursed Tokiomi Tohsaka... This is either his way of showing us how fair and honorable the White Faction is going to be in this fight, or him looking down on us and thinking we're not worth the trouble."

"Or both," St. George added.

"WHO THE HELL ASKED FOR YOUR INPUT?!"

Elsewhere in the park, the black limousine drove through the fog at a slow speed. Inside, Irisviel, Kairi, Mordred, and Waver looked through the windows, watching the wispy, cloudy air envelop their vehicle.

"Wh-What is with this fog?" Waver asked. "It feels...unnatural."

However, Irisviel's eyes were narrowed. "We just passed a Bounded Field," she replied.

"Well, I certainly didn't give the order to set up a Bounded Field in this area," Kairi said.

"So it's...an attack..." concluded Waver. He started trembling in fear and apprehension at the prospect of fighting enemy Masters, and couldn't help but wonder why they had to drop off Teams Archer and Berserker before then.

On the other hand, Mordred's mouth burst into a tooth-bared, bestial grin. "Well then," she snarled in excitement, "if the White Faction wants to attack us here and now, then I say bring it on!" Her sword materialized in a flash of light, and she aimed it despite the limited space inside the limo. "I'm going to show those bastards what a true fighter is!"

"Hold on a moment, Saber!" Irisviel exclaimed, holding up her hand. "The...The Bounded Field's dissipating!"

"It is?!" Waver replied.

"But why?" asked Kairi, his eyebrow raised. "If there's no magical barrier to mask the fighting, then we risk exposing the Holy Grail War to the outside world."

"I don't know..." replied Irisviel.

"Master..."

A shadowy aura spiraled beside Waver and revealed one of his Assassins (a thin, gangling man with skeletal-like limbs) upon dissipating. The young student yelped out in surprise at his Servant's sudden appearance.

"A-As-Assassin?!" he stuttered. "Wh-What is it?!"

"I detect two Servants near our approximate position," the Assassin replied in a low, rumbling voice.

"YES!" Mordred cried. "About damn time!"

Suddenly, the Assassin chuckled jeeringly. "And it does not bring me any disappointment to tell you, Saber, that neither Servant is an enemy. They are our allies." He began to dissipate while Mordred growled angrily at him and de-materialized her sword. "Although I trust they will no longer be when you see them in their condition..."

"What?" Waver replied. "What do you mean by that? ...Assassin? ...Assassin!"

At that moment, the limo stopped, and the window to the front seat opened, revealing its homunculus driver.

"Madam Einzbern," the homunculus said, "I see Feend vor Sembren, Caules Forvedge Yggdmillennia, and their Servants nearby. They all look hassled up."

"WHAT?!"

Irisviel immediately sat up and got out of the elongated vehicle, followed closely by the others. As soon as they got out, they could see Miyama Park, surrounded by a thick blanket of fog that was slowly dispersing away. Near the treeline, a few yards away, they saw Feend, Caules, Diarmuid, and St. George. Indeed, they all looked worn out.

"Oh, my goodness!" Irisviel cried as she dashed towards them. "Come on! We have to help them!"

Her group ran towards Feend's, but once they reached their position, Feend, the first to spot them, narrowed his eyes accusingly at them.

"About time you showed your faces," he snarled. He then focused his sights on Kairi. "Especially you, so-called leader."

"What happened?" asked Irisviel.

"What do you think happened?! We were attacked by the White Faction, and while you were busy dropping off our valuable teammates, Yggdmillennia and I were forced to handle them on our own!"

"Ummm..." Caules interjected. "I wouldn't exactly word it like that-"

He was then silenced by Feend's outstretched palm. Meanwhile, Irisviel's eyes were narrowed at the vor Sembren Master.

"Listen, Feend vor Sembren," she replied defensively, "this attack was as unexpected to me as it is to you! Trust me, I will contact my husband and talk to him about this-"

"Like hell you will!" Feend took a couple of steps towards the white-haired woman and pointed a finger at her. "You were in on this! You knew this was going to happen, and yet, you didn't bother to fill me and Yggdmillennia in! You probably know what else your husband has planned!"

Irisviel stepped backward in alarm. "I swear, vor Sembren, this isn't what Kiritsugu had planned-"

"Yes, you do! You're his devoted little doll, clinging on to every word he says like it's the damn gospel-!"

He suddenly froze and went silent the moment a pair of side-by-side barrels rested themselves against the back of his head, their metal shining and cold. Irisviel stared over Feend's shoulder and saw Kairi standing behind him, aiming a shortened, double-barreled shotgun at the Black Master. His lazy, relaxed disposition had suddenly disappeared, replaced with one of killing intent that was almost frightening.

"Oh, I'm sorry for interrupting," Kairi said. "Go on, keep insulting the lady." He clicked the safety of his shotgun off. "Go on."

Suddenly, Kairi felt something sharp and cold resting against his throat. At the corner of his eye, he could see a spear wrapped in a talisman cloth.

"If you insist on threatening my Master in this manner," Diarmuid warned, "then you'll have to answer to me first." His eyes narrowed when Kairi stubbornly refused to budge, his deadly expression unchanging. "Now release my Master. At once!"

"Damn you, Lancer," spat Feend. "Just kill this fool already." He gritted his teeth in rage. "I command you!"

"STOP!" a new voice commanded.

Everyone's heads turned towards Caules, who then nervously looked beside him. Standing there was St. George, who had his hands raised.

"Please, lower your weapons!" he cried in a pleading voice. "There is no need for violence and turmoil!" He turned his head slowly, looking from Diarmuid to Kairi to Feend to Irisviel. "I believe there is a high possibility of you all discussing this topic in a civil manner."

Kairi and Diarmuid glared at each other hatefully, while Feend did the same towards Irisviel. Finally, Kairi and Lancer slowly lowered their weapons simultaneously. Once that was done, Feend stared at Irisviel bitterly for a few more seconds before walking away, towards the remains of his fallen Golems, with a smug scoff. Diarmuid sighed heavily at his Master's implacable attitude, gave St. George a warm glance of thanks for defusing the situation, and disappeared in a shower of particles.

"Oh, thank God for you, Rider..." Caules breathed out in relief. "Thank God for you..."

St. George ignored his Master, however. "By the heavens, this Black Faction is falling apart faster than any disorganized army I've ever encountered," he remarked. Then, he scanned the rest of his temporary allies before setting his eyes on Irisviel. "And it appears a large majority of our problems are rooted to your husband, Lady Irisviel."

This prompted Irisviel to blush and look down in embarrassment. "I sincerely apologize for my husband," she replied softly.

St. George spoke more firmly, to the surprise of Caules. "No, do not apologize for him, Lady Irisviel. He himself must admit whatever shortcomings he has. I know not of what drives him to make these decisions, but from my experience, they match the actions of someone who suffered a life-changing betrayal." He closed his eyes solemnly and began to de-materialize. "As his wife, Lady Irisviel, I beseech you to aid your husband with his inner ailment. If not...this alliance will suffer for it."

Irisviel's eyes widened, just as St. George fully disappeared. Caules stood still for a moment, shocked by how his Servant unflinchingly provided an insight into the Black Faction's problems. Then, he looked away nervously, unsure of what else to do at the moment.

As for Mordred, she was leaning against a tree coolly, having watched the entire exchange with an air of childish amusement.

"Well," she said, "that went well."

"Tell me about it," Kairi replied, rubbing the spot of his neck where Diarmuid's spear had been aiming.

The Saber Servant growled in response. "I wasn't talking to you, you buffoon."

Irisviel sighed and shook her head. "This just keeps getting worse and worse..." she remarked.

"Well, not all of it is bad," Kairi piped up.

"I beg your pardon?"

"We can definitely salvage the situation." He snapped his fingers at Caules's direction, catching the boy's attention. "Boy, whatever your name is-"

"Caules," the Yggdmillennia Master said.

"Yeah, Paules, do tell us..." He cast an intimidating glance at Caules. "Which of the White Servants attacked you and vor Sembren?"

"Lancer, Rider, and Assassin of White, without a doubt."

"Lancer, Rider, and Assassin, eh? Well, all Assassin Servants are supposed to be Hassan-i-Sabbah, so that rules Assassin of White's true identity out. What about Rider of White? Did you learn anything about him?"

Immediately, Caules started to chuckle. "You...You could say that..."

Kairi was taken aback by Caules's reaction. "Why? What happened?"

"Rider pretty much shouted his true identity to the heavens. It's Iskandar, King of Conquerors."

...

"He just...shouted it out?" Irisviel asked incredulously.

"Yeah, and he didn't seem to have any qualms about it."

Kairi smirked. "Heh. I guess that confirms my suspicions..."

"What suspicions?" asked Caules.

"Never mind that. What about Lancer of White? Were you able to find out his or her true identity?"

"No. But I can tell you she was a spearwoman of extraordinary skill and agility. The way she fights would remind you of a Saber Servant. She may be on the opposite team, but I might say, she was truly impressive."

"Really?" Irisviel asked, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.

"Yeah. Oh, and she spent the first half of the fight on horseback."

"On horseback? But I thought she was a Lancer Servant!"

"Yeah, but unlike our Lancer, Lancer of White was actually equipped with a lance, which is more efficient when the user is riding a horse. And that horse, well...there was something about it that made it seem...royal. It was just the very quality of it. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that Lancer of White was a queen in her past life."

"You said Lancer spent the first half of the fight on horseback," Kairi said. "What about the second half? What happened then?"

"Well, our Lancer's Gáe Buidhe inflicted a cursed wound on Lancer of White's horse. Because of that, she had to abandon it and fight on foot. She fought well in that capacity too, but-"

"Permanently disabling that horse may have also locked Lancer of White out of her ability to use her Noble Phantasm," completed Irisviel. "That was a good move."

"A good move indeed," Kairi said. "For once, I'm going to have to commend Feend vor Sembren on his part." He then looked back at Caules. "Is there anything else about Lancer of White that we should know about?"

"Well..." The Yggdmillennia Master looked at Mordred nervously. "Now that you guys are here, I just realized something very, um...interesting..."

"Why? What is it?" asked Irisviel.

"Lancer of White...she...she looked a little like our Saber..."

Mordred, who had been listening in on the conversation with only some interest, suddenly froze at the revelation. She stood upright, her hands trembling, and the Knight of Treachery glared at Caules with an unknown emotion in her eyes.

"What?" she asked.

"I said she looked a little like you, Saber. It was very odd-"

"YES!"

Caules yelled out and jumped back a little when Mordred materialized her sword again, along with most of her armor. Irisviel's eyes bulged out in shock, but Kairi merely stood his ground nonchalantly.

"I did not think I would face him in this Grail War," Mordred snarled gleefully, "but it seems fate is my side today! I shall settle this once and for all!"

"Settle what once and for all, Saber?!" Irisviel exclaimed. "Who are you talking about?!"

The Saber Servant glared at her. "That description... There is only one Heroic Spirit that fits it, and that is my FATHER!"

"Y-You're f-father?" Caules replied incredulously. He was immediately intimidated into silence when Mordred aimed her sword at him.

"Yes, my father..." A flame lit up in the Knight of Treachery's eyes as she remembered Caules's description. "Who you so ungraciously called a WOMAN!"

"NO, SABER!" Irisviel screamed, thrusting herself between Saber and Caules. "Don't turn on your ally just because he mistook your father's gender! Please, just calm down, and we can talk about this-"

"I require no more talking!" Mordred interrupted savagely, just as her helmet started to activate. "The time has come for me to confront my father and show him my worth as a king! I've been waiting for this!" She was grinning madly as her helmet finally snapped itself around her head. "Ohhhhh, I've been waiting for this for a long time!"

Chapter 5:
The First True Clash

Kairi: Don't hold back, knight. Give it your all.

Lancer of White: To think that I would face you here, on this battlefield...

Kiritsugu: Now then, let's see what you can do, Kairi Sisigou.

Saber of Black: DO YOU SEE ME FOR WHO I AM NOW?! DO YOU?!

Caster of Black: At last, she has come back to life!

Next Time:
Duel of Knights

A/N: My God, this took A WHILE to set up, it's not even funny. Again, my sincerest apologies for the delay, everyone.

Also, I do hope you enjoyed my presentation of a battle between Servants. Once again, the writing may be shabby (it happens when work on this chapter spans many months), and I may or may not have missed out on some important facts that could've made the battle more plausible, but in the end, I do feel proud of this final result. And don't worry, peeps, there'll obviously be another Servant-on-Servant battle in the next chapter, to make up for the long wait I put you guys through.

Oh, and before I get to thanking the reviewers, I will announce that the next chapter will hopefully be out next month. Keyword, HOPEFULLY.

I'd like to thank the following for reviewing (but I can't answer your reviews at this moment, sorry):

-YuukiAsuka-Chan

-Gabriel790

-lamda

-00Altair

-DannyPhantom619

-angelvan105

-Guest reviewer

-CelunaLia17

-Come to Darkside

Well, hope you enjoyed this really late chapter! TheCartoonFanatic01 is out. PEACE!