Within the ethereal expanse of the Digital Sea, a kaleidoscope of colors swirled and danced, painting the vast canvas of the False Moon-Cell. It was a breathtaking sight, one that would forever be etched into the minds of those who had the privilege to witness it. Here, in this realm of boundless possibilities, sixteen individuals from various walks of life had been gathered by fate, bound together by the common thread of desire.
Lysander Euryale, the Supervisor of the Holy Grail War, stood tall and regal, his piercing gaze surveying the group of Masters that had been assembled before him. A wry smile played upon his lips as he addressed them, his voice clear and commanding, though not without a hint of warmth.
"Welcome, esteemed Masters, to the False Moon-Cell Holy Grail War. Each of you Sixteen-Masters has been chosen to partake in a grand, illustrious battle, one that shall surely determine the fate of the very world itself! As you all know, am Lysander Euryale, the Supervisor who shall oversee this conflict to ensure fairness and order."
As the words left his lips, a radiant figure materialized beside him, clad in simple garments and radiating an unfettered power beyond that of this world. The man's intense expression hinted at the great power that lay dormant within him, a power that resonated with the very essence of the False Moon-Cell itself. His long flowing purple hair swayed with every measured step, his chest covered by a skin tight black undershirt, his legs by simple white shorts, and he walked barefoot. A red strip of cloth wound its way around his body like a scarf, tied and fastened tightly to his right bicep, much as more simple cloth wrappings were to his forearms.
"Allow me to introduce Ruler, a Holy Saint who has returned from beyond the confines of death to ensure that the events to come are conducted in good order. He shall be the impartial judge of this War, ensuring that the rules are upheld and the battles are settled with honor and integrity, at least insofar as the rules are concerned..." Lysander continued, gesturing towards the saintly figure with a respectful nod.
Ruler inclined his head in greeting, his voice calm and measured. "Greetings, Masters. It is an honor to serve as your Ruler. I pray that this War shall be a testament to the indomitable spirit of humanity and the unyielding pursuit of our deepest desires."
The Masters exchanged furtive glances, their expressions a mixture of awe, apprehension, and determination. They had each been chosen for their unique strengths and talents, and the gravity of the situation was not lost on them.
That is except one pair, who spoke to each other in hushed whispers. Though, they kept their secrets to themselves.
Lysander proceeded to explain the basics of the False Moon-Cell Holy Grail War, his voice echoing throughout the digital expanse. "Each of you has been granted a Servant, a Heroic Spirit from the annals of history, to aid you in your quest for the Holy Grail. Together, you shall face off against the other Master-Servant pairs in a series of battles, with the victor advancing ever closer to obtaining the ultimate prize - the fulfillment of their heart's desire."
As the Masters absorbed this information, a palpable tension hung in the air, the weight of the battles to come bearing down upon them. Each individual harbored their own dreams and ambitions, and now, they stood upon the precipice of realizing them.
"All of you here have joined willingly, of your own volition. You have recognized that you may lose your lives in this conflict, suffer grievous injuries physical or mental, perhaps even suffer damage to the very soul. Any who are having second thoughts, step forwards now, or else, meet your destiny proudly."
None did.
"Good. Very good. Let it also be known that, as all of you are consenting, that there should be no grudges held at the end of the day. Especially during the end of a round. You all know what you signed up for, and I will not permit petty vendettas to escalate to the point of threatening the integrity of the war. Nobody is saying you cannot be angry or vengeful of course, we are only human, simply to keep your humors in-check enough so that you do not threaten the execution of the Holy Grail War."
Lysander's gaze swept over the assembled Masters, noting their varied expressions as they grappled with the magnitude of the task before them. He cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him before continuing.
"In this iteration of the Holy Grail War, at least during the initial round of the war, you shall be divided into four teams, each consisting of four Masters. You shall work together with your teammates, combining your strengths to overcome your adversaries. The formation of these teams shall be left to your discretion. You may choose your allies from amongst yourselves or, should you prefer not to decide, or find yourselves unable to reach an agreement, Ruler shall intervene and determine the team placements."
The Masters exchanged cautious glances, sizing each other up as they pondered the implications of this new information. The prospect of forming alliances with strangers, who would become both comrades and competitors, was a daunting one.
The Holy Saint stepped forward, his solemn voice carrying an air of authority. "As Ruler, I shall enforce the rules that govern this Holy Grail War. Allow me to clarify what is and is not permitted during the course of this conflict."
He raised a hand, counting off the points on his fingers as he spoke. "First, the safety of non-combatants is paramount. You must not involve innocent bystanders in your battles, and any actions that may lead to collateral damage must be avoided. Fortunately, the nature of this war makes that particular rules violation far less likely, though it must still be stressed."
The Saint paused, allowing the gravity of his words to sink in before continuing.
"Second, betrayal within your team for the purposes of gaining advantage later in the war, once your current teams are dissolved, is strictly forbidden. Exemptions may be met out for Servants who are incapable of restraining themselves, or in the event that parties are under the effects of a mental attack of some sort, but by and large this is not conduct that is tolerable. Any Servants who do so, if caught, will be placed under the effects of a Command Seal as a warning. More extreme penalties will be dealt out if anyone should attempt to circumvent the punitive effects of my Command Seals. Masters may also have Command Seals confiscated in warning, or ejected from the war wholesale if those warnings are not heeded. While it is true that only one Master can ultimately claim the Holy Grail, you must work together in good faith until the final stages of the War."
The Saint cleared his throat, before moving on to the next ruling he had to explain.
"Third, and I must stress this for some of you whose ambitions may be too grand for your own good; The Dead may not lead The Living. This is a non-negotiable fact of the Grail War. Servants may not become Masters under any circumstance, and attempts to do so will be treated with the same severity as succeeding in doing so. You may not abscond from this war unless you relinquish ownership of your Servant, and Servants attempting to go rouge and leave the war to pursue their own ends will be dealt with severely. Servants have no place in this world outside of the confines of their role as familiars participating in the Grail War, with the sole exception of the victor. There may only be a victor once all other Servant's have been defeated, at which point, if they so desire, they may use the power of the Grail to achieve incarnation and rejoin the living. They may also continue in their capacity as a Familiar, serving beneath their chosen master, should their Master be willing to keep them, and possess the reserves of mana required to keep them materialized outside of the Grail War. Any wish which may skirt these lines will be addressed on a case-by-case basis."
Ruler went silent, finishing his explanation of perhaps the most important rule in the war, before moving on to the next, and final, rule.
"Fourth, under no circumstances are you to knowingly and intentionally harm or interfere with I, your designated Ruler, or the designated Supervisor of this war. Doing so will be considered an sign of intent to de-rail the war, as we serve to ensure the fairness and integrity of this conflict."
Lysander nodded in agreement, his eyes flicking from one Master to another, gauging their reactions. "Thank you Ruler. And, if I may add, I must emphasize that once a battle has been concluded, and a victor determined, any further violence against the defeated party is expressly frowned upon. This War is not an excuse for wanton bloodshed, but rather a test of your ability to strategize and marshal your resources in pursuit of a singular goal. To fight with all your convictions, that you might prove yourself worthy of the Grail's divine blessing. As Ruler pointed out, attempts to de-rail the war, in general, are out of the question. Everyone knows what they signed up for, everyone agrees to the rules given, and to compete until the loss of Servant or life, willingly or otherwise."
As the rules were laid out, the sixteen Masters steeled themselves for the trials ahead, keenly aware that the path to their heart's desire would be paved with both camaraderie and treachery. The stage was set for a Holy Grail War unlike any that had come before, and only time would reveal the victor who would emerge from the crucible of battle to claim the ultimate prize.
Lysander raised his hand to signal for the Masters' attention, sensing their growing anticipation. "Now that we have established the framework of the War, it is time to explain the layout of the initial round. The False-Moon Cell will generate a randomized digital environment, based on a time period and location that one of the participating Servants called home when they were alive. This environment will serve as the battleground for the first phase of the War. And similar such battlegrounds will be generated for all future rounds of the war."
He paused for a moment, allowing the Masters to absorb this information before continuing.
"When you first enter this digital landscape, you will be airdropped at randomized coordinates. It will be your responsibility to navigate the terrain and manually rendezvous with your teammates. Keep in mind that while the environment may be based on a historical time and place, the False-Moon Cell may introduce unexpected elements to keep you on your toes."
A murmur of excitement rippled through the assembled Masters, as they contemplated the challenges that awaited them in the unknown digital world. After all, forming a cohesive team and adapting to their surroundings would be key to their survival and success in the False-Moon Cell Holy Grail War.
Lysander watched them closely, his expression serious but not unkind.
"I must also remind you that time is of the essence. The environment generated by the False-Moon Cell is not static – it will change periodically throughout the War, forcing you to adapt to new conditions and strategies. Use your time wisely, for it may be the deciding factor between victory and defeat."
Ruler interjected, his voice resonating with an air of finality. "Remember, Masters, that the bonds you forge and the choices you make will shape not only your destiny but also the course of this War. Choose your allies carefully, trust in your Servants, and stay true to your convictions. May the Holy Grail guide you in your quest for victory."
As the Masters processed the weight of the task before them, the atmosphere within the Digital Sea of the False-Moon Cell grew thick with anticipation. Each one of them knew that they were on the cusp of an epic adventure, where the stakes were high and the consequences of failure unimaginable.
Lysander, sensing the need for further clarification, addressed the topic of NPCs within the Grail War.
"It is crucial to understand the nature of NPCs – or Non-Playable Characters – with regards to the False-Moon Cell Holy Grail War. These artificial digital lifeforms, the reproduction of souls long passed by the False-Moon Cell, are not subject to the rules that forbid involving outsiders in the War, as they are generated by the False-Moon Cell itself, and so are registered as inherently part of this war."
He gestured around the Digital Sea, emphasizing the unique nature of the environment.
"NPCs can be considered both an environmental hazard and a support system. They may offer assistance or create obstacles for any team or individual Master and Servant pairs, depending on how you interact with them and their inherent dispositions. Treat them with caution, as they can be unpredictable and may hold the key to your success or failure."
Having covered the topic of NPCs, Lysander moved on to a stern warning. "Lastly, I must stress the importance of not meddling with the Digital Code of the False-Moon Cell's synthesized world. Even for innocent, benevolent reasons that would otherwise be within the purview of what you are allowed to do in this war. Tampering with the Code will create dangerous errors and glitches in the system, which could have catastrophic consequences for all involved."
His expression grew more severe as he continued. "Furthermore, any attempts to manipulate the Code will trigger sentry systems, designed to eradicate the source of the corruption and quarantine or sterilize the surrounding area. This is to protect the integrity of the False-Moon Cell and ensure that the Grail War proceeds without any undue interference."
The Masters listened intently, fully grasping the gravity of Lysander's words. It was clear that the False-Moon Cell was a delicate and complex system, one that could easily spiral out of control if tampered with. The potential risks far outweighed any benefits that could be gained from meddling with the Digital Code.
With his final warning delivered, Lysander surveyed the sixteen Masters before him. They now held the knowledge and understanding needed to participate in this unique and challenging Grail War. As they prepared to embark on their journey into the digital world, the Masters knew that they would face numerous obstacles, unpredictable encounters, and potentially devastating consequences for their actions.
Armed with this knowledge, they were ready to face the trials of the False-Moon Cell Holy Grail War, their eyes set on the ultimate prize – the Holy Grail itself!