Heavy atmosphere hung over the pews of the church.
Around an hour had passed since the summoning signal had been released. None of the Masters came to the Fuyuki Church; in place of them, five familiars gathered in the place. Apart from Kotomine Kirei who had withdrawn from the war on the surface and Caster's Master, Ryuunosuke, who was not able to see the signal, the other Masters had sent their representatives. Looks like all the Masters were not bothered about their etiquette towards the church.Tōsaka Tokiomi had also sent his familiar to the meeting. The rest of the familiars should be dispatched by Einsbern, Matō and the two foreign Masters. This had also proven the fact that Lord El-Melloi, whose whereabouts were unknown after the explosion of the Fuyuki Hyatt hotel, is still alive.
"I had actually prepared the usual pleasantries of greeting, especially, but it seems no one has come. So I'll go straight to the point."
"The War of the Holy Grail, which can achieve all of your wishes, is currently in great crisis. The Holy Grail is supposed to bestow power only to the Master and Servant who seek it, "Risei did not care about the response from the crowd, possibly due to the fact that he had gotten used to preaching as a Father. Though obviously, the congregation could only listen quietly. After a slight cough, the old Father continued speaking.
"We discovered that there has been a change in the holy grail war
Risei, his voice calm yet tinged with a slight hint of frustration, addressed the congregation of familiars. "There are new rules that you must all be aware of."
He paused for a moment, noticing the dense demonic aura in front of him, Father Kotomine Risei could not help but to laugh bitterly .Neko-Arc, with her comically exaggerated cat-like appearance,was the source of demonic aura she cleared her throat in a rather theatrical manner, She had an air of seriousness about her, but her peculiar appearance and demeanour made it hard to take her seriously.
"Listen up, everyone!" Neko-Arc declared, her voice a mix of humour and authority. "The rules of this Holy Grail War have taken a rather...interesting turn."
She continued with an air of absurdity, "Rule number one: The Servants now have physical bodies and need food, water, and all those daily human necessities. No more mana, folks!"
As Rider listened to Neko-Arc's explanation of the new rules, a broad grin spread across his face. The prospect of having a physical body, no longer needing mana, and being free to roam the world as a human filled him with an exuberant sense of joy. It was as if his adventurous spirit had been granted a new lease on life.
"Ah, what fantastic news!" Rider exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. "To think that I can conquer this vast world once more, not as a king, but as a human adventurer! This is a dream come true!"
The mighty Alexander the Great, had always sought to push the boundaries of the known world. Now, with these new rules, he could embark on an even grander adventure, free from the constraints of kingship and conquest.
On the other hand, Waver Velvet (who by the way was still in the Eizenberug castle by Rider's drinking compaction)found himself in a different predicament. His original wish had been to prove his worth as a mage, and through his time with Rider, he had grown in ways he never imagined. Now, with Rider's wish essentially fulfilled, Waver was left wondering what his purpose in the Holy Grail War truly was.
The realization that he had no specific wish to pursue weighed heavily on Waver's mind. He had come to understand that the Holy Grail War was not the path to proving his worth, and he was at a crossroads, unsure of his next steps.
Kiritsugu Emiya remained silent but couldn't help but worry about his sanity. This was not what he had signed up for.
" rule number two Killing other Masters and Servants is forbidden! Unless, of course, someone specifically allows it."Neko-Arc continued
Waver couldn't contain a sigh of relief. The thought of not being forced into a deadly battle with the others gave him a glimmer of hope for survival.
"The audacity! The absolute audacity of these rules!" Archibald fumed, his voice a thunderous growl through his familier (a small metal blob) "To think that I can't eliminate my competition as I see fit! It's an affront to my authority as a mage!"
His anger reached a fevered pitch as he railed against the second rule, his words dripping with disdain. "And this second rule, forbidding the killing of other Masters and Servants unless allowed? Utter nonsense! What's the point of this war if I can't remove those who stand in my way?"
In the midst of his furious tirade, Neko-Arc calmly listened to Archibald's outburst with an air of detached amusement, her oversized cat-like eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Meow, Archibald," Neko-Arc purred in her comically cheerful manner, "you seem to be quite upset about these rules."
Archibald turned his blazing gaze toward her, his anger undiminished. "Upset? Upset doesn't even begin to cover it! These rules are an insult to my magecraft, to my honor!"
Neko-Arc's expression turned sly, and she tilted her head playfully. "Well, you know, Archibald, there is a silver lining to all this."
Archibald's brows furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about, you feline abomination?"
Neko-Arc's grin widened, revealing her exaggerated feline teeth. "Once this war is over, you'll be free to do as you please. You can seek out young Waver and exact your revenge without any restrictions."
Archibald's eyes narrowed, a malicious glint in his gaze. "That's true, but for now, I'm bound by these insufferable rules."
Waver Velvet, who had been quietly hearing the exchange, felt a shiver run down his spine never mind he is going to get killed anyways even if he survives
Neko-Arc paused for dramatic effect before announcing rule number three, "And here's the kicker: All Masters and Servants must participate in the events. No hiding, no avoiding the action. If you do, you'll be expelled from the war!"
Tokiomi Tosaka was baffled by this absurd turn of events. This was not the Holy Grail War they had prepared for, and the idea of not being able to eliminate the competition left him seething. It was as if the universe had suddenly decided to throw a wild curveball into their carefully laid plans.
Neko-Arc, with an eerie grin that didn't quite match her comical appearance, concluded, "Now, there's a little matter of stopping Caster and his mad Master. They've gone rogue, folks."
She attempted an evil laugh that came out more like a cat's yawn, leaving the masters even more bewildered.
As the meeting concluded, the familiars left the church, their Masters still trying to process the absurdity of the new rules. The Holy Grail War had taken an unexpected and bewildering turn, and the Masters were left to grapple with the implications of these bizarre changes.
The battle for the Holy Grail had become more unpredictable and chaotic than ever before, and it was clear that no one could predict how this war would unfold. All they could do was adapt to the strange rules and hope that they could navigate this absurd version of the Holy Grail War without losing their sanity or their lives.