"You have been judged."
In the end, it was inevitable that this would happen.
Kirei witnessed Lancer's actions, what she had done since she entered the King of Mages room, forbidden by all. Not a single virtuous act had been done since her theft of the Chalice. Not even an act of atonement, let alone regret for her actions.
No. What she did instead of seeking forgiveness was indulge in her new hobby. To satisfy herself above all other things over and over again.
Three more times she entered where the items were at. She stole three more items when she entered.From all these items each held a powerful and arcane mystic property.
During her next two visits she had taken from the room a lance that could slice through any type of demonic power, and the dress that could ward its wearer from disasters and destruction. While there were some form of restrictions placed on them, Lancer didn't seem to find any problem with it.
If anything, each time she took such an item, her smile grew wider and wider. It was so different from how she had been before. Dull and empty, eyes that reflected not even light. For at last she found a joy that would make anybody jealous of her mood. And now…
Now she continued venturing into the room for another item. Her fourth one, all for the sake of giving her even greater happiness.
"..." This left Kirei feeling conflicted as he watched his Servant do this. Witnessing that for someone who had served under Solomon, a follower of God, had willingly stolen from him. What she did was wrong. What she did wasn't right. His own father would be shocked just by knowing what Kirei did.
'And yet…' Kirei couldn't help but feel…envious?
No. What he felt must have been something else. Perhaps pity? Because when Lancer went to steal the next item, one Kirei recognized as the very scripture she showed to his father and Tokiomi, he had appeared. The owner of this room and all else in his kingdom, Solomon.
"▃▃▃!" Speaking a name that Kirei couldn't even hear, the man caught Lancer red-handed.
In her hands are the scriptures, where she had been ready to exit the room when she saw Solomomn standing before the exit. He looked neither sad nor happy. He didn't even look disappointed. His expressions are flat without a hint of care. Even then, he was a king. A ruler.
And one of his own people had been stealing from under his nose.
'Or perhaps he knew all along.' Kirei thought as the scene changed where from this point on Solomon had finished his judgment on Lancer.
No longer was Lancer dressed in her pure white outfit or upheld herself as a worker. Now she wore an outfit that seemed to be made to restrain her. Dressed to look more vile than how she appeared before. From an innocent woman to a witch itself.
From this point on she wandered the land, exiled from her home. As Solomon commanded, this was to be her punishment for her crime and path to redemption. Done as she had failed a test by God himself, Solomon acting on the Lord's word. The Lord's anger.
Blasphemy had been committed by Lancer.
Stealing the treasures of Solomon's workshop, then tested God's patience and had simply ignored any thoughts of asking for forgiveness. Simply resorting to stealing for the sake of her own selfishness. Having unwittingly even absorbed the divine power the forbidden items had in them.
For that, only judgment awaited her. Punishment followed soon after.
Solomon's words being, "Your name will be wiped, and none shall remember you. And you will walk the world wearing these clothes until the day the power leaves you." Putting even Kirei's own stoic expression to shame, Solomon spoke clearly and evenly, not mincing his words. Just giving his judgment before he left, leaving Lancer alone.
Not a single person gave Lancer so much as another glance as everyone left the courtroom.
Their king had given the criminal her sentence. Family and coworkers, ashamed of Lancer, couldn't find themselves to speak to her. Everyone else simply shakes their head to a heathen. Their backs turned to her just like their king.
"...?" Except for one.
With a blink, Lancer spotted something behind Solomon, in his shadow.
For the briefest of moments both she and even Kirei could have sworn they saw a flicker of a figure rising from Solomon's shadow. One that temporarily looked at Lancer in pity, for what had become of her, its head then turning to Solomon.
With contempt in its eyes.
Then it was gone, as if it never existed.
Alone, Lancer could only walk away from her old home. Exiled until the powers in her left and returned with proof she had made amends for her past mistakes.
Although, from Kirei's position, she didn't even appear to show remorse. If anything, that scowl she made wasn't one of anger at being punished. No. If anything, to Kirei's own disturbance, she merely looked upset at being stripped of what she had touched.
Her hands empty of the treasures she once held, missing the joy they brought in what had clearly been a dull and bland life.
Even when condemned for her crimes Lancer didn't appear to have any plans to make up for her actions. All she did was smile as she looked up at the sky, ever faultless in spite of what had become of herself.
Where from behind, as she continued to gaze at the sky peculiarly, her shadow morphed into something else altogether. Where from everywhere at once, Kirei heard a voice whisper into his ears.
"Wake up, Master." The area distorted as Kirei felt himself falling. "It's time to wake up."
She could feel the backlash against her. Her Saint Graph burned even after putting away the Scripture and Lance.
This world was different. At its core the texture of the planet was unlike her own. In the end, however, the one who observed all still existed. Even if Proper Human History diverged in comparison to her own worldline, some things seemed to stay the same.
With God angered in her usage of the forbidden items.
'I have maybe two or three more uses before my Saint Graph collapses.' One if she used her other Noble Phantasm. Something that truthfully shouldn't belong to her… but she managed to retain it thanks to her primary Noble Phantasm. Although it wouldn't be of any use once she went back to the point of no return.
Grabbing her Master, lifting him, once again Lancer pondered if she should take her chance and attack the other Servants. If she used her Noble Phantasms properly, she could defeat them all. Seal away their unique abilities, then aim for the Masters gathered here.
"...mm, no. Too late for that." They would all be on guard. Such a shame Archer had actually come at that last moment too. Lancer had genuinely hoped Assassin could have killed the others and then her killing him. It didn't matter how strong he and his other-self were if she used the Lance of Longinus against them, even with that alien power they used, for they were demonic by nature.
'But I suppose it was my fault for thinking he would kill them immediately.' He spent so much time talking and gloating it gave Archer enough time to arrive, throwing my scheme off-course. Had it just been another minute or two longer…
"No. I shouldn't complain." It was her fault for placing trust in that egotistic fool. Honestly, calling himself a God only to be beaten. Though then again, perhaps he was no different from any normal God like the one she knew.
For both were flawed beings from start to end.
"Tch." The chalice inside her seemed to warm up, as if it heard her thoughts of God. Out of all the treasures, especially since she became a Servant, the chalice seemed to have just a tiny bit of autonomy of its own. There was also the fact that it seemed to resonate a bit with the aptly named prize of this war.
Lancer licked her lips. Ah, yes. The prize. Of course she knew better.
Especially of what lies within it.
"Mmh." In her hands her Master grunted. It seems he was finally awakening.
"Wake up, Master." Lancer spoke softly. "It's time to wake up." His eyes peeled open, indicating he was finally regaining consciousness.
"Hello, Master." Lancer spoke kindly, lifting him in the ruins of the church and setting him down on a cracked bench. "How are you doing?" She continued to keep her guard up, knowing that the other Servants were still outside after she left them. Likely unaware since she had gone after Assassin's death. Though they'll probably figure it out soon, Rider being the first since the lance was gone now and back with her.
She held strong Noble Phantasms, but their restrictions are limited. Her lance the most since unlike Assassin, her lance will do little against those who weren't demonic in nature. Even so, she felt confident she could escape if it came down to it.
'And weaken them immensely if I must.' Hearing a noise behind her, Lancer made no gesture to look back. She already knew who was behind her, Tokiomi. Likely watching silently to see what she was doing. Most likely out of caution considering the dangers he had been put in.
It would be a good chance to kill him now, taking out Archer at the same time.
'But he should have knowledge on the Grail's location.' That would be very useful to know, so he can live. If he acts up though, she'll kill him regardless of what he knows.
Kirei groaned, coughing a bit when he opened his mouth before shutting it. Strong as he was, a former Executor, he had been roughed up quite a bit by Assassin. Still, he could tolerate it as Kirei ignored the feeling and focused himself to look up at Lancer's face.
"La…Lancer?"
"Yes, Master. It's me." Lancer smiled at him. "I'm glad to see you're okay. Things have gotten worrisome. But worry not, everything has gotten better." For not actually doing his job as she expected, Assassin was given a painful death for playing with his food. As an idiot like him deserved.
"I…see…" Kirei's face became passive. It was something Lancer had gotten used to, understanding her Master was not someone who showed his emotions or expressions so easily. If anything, ever since they met, Lancer knew that her Master wasn't someone who could even feel joy. After all, he never once smiled since she met him.
And he wasn't smiling when he called out her name, "Lancer…"
"Yes?" As he looked at her, Lancer could tell something was up. His eyes showed it, where he seemed to show some sign of recognition towards her. Like he knew something about her even though she had said nothing much of her past all this time.
So it was a small surprise when he said, "You lied."
Her mind went blank for a bit, instinctively saying, "I'm sorry?"
Kirei repeated himself. "You…lied." His eyes narrowed, almost accusingly. At the same time, there was also confusion in them. "I never asked. None of us did. But…you were never gifted those Noble Phantasms. Were you?"
Lancer stayed silent for a bit. "Ah. I see." Now it made sense. Recalling some words Risei once told her some time back. During their small talk when she attempted to glean some information without trying to be suspicious. Easy since Rise trusted her, especially when he told her about one interesting concept between Master and Servant.
"You saw my memories." She didn't bother asking since she knew he did. Those were the eyes of someone who witnessed the truth. "Mm. I understand." She slammed Kirei onto the ground, knocking him out. Not letting Kirei have another word.
"!" She heard Tokiomi stutter, undoubtedly surprised by what she had just done.
Honestly, it wasn't as if she killed her Master. She just needed him to be out of the picture for just a bit before they could resume what would be an interesting talk. With Tokiomi unable to do anything.
Helped that even as the weakest Servant in this war, a Servant is still a Servant. Stronger than humans in every way that mattered.
"Lancer?" Tokiomi finally found his voice. "What have you-" Meaning she didn't have to answer those who thought themselves in charge because of their title as Master. Without even giving Tokiomi time to finish his sentence, Lancer picked up Kirei and left. She had much to talk about with him.
And if Tokiomi thought he could stop her, well-
"Tokiomi!" In the end, humans will be humans.
Turning on each other.
Breathing, everyone looked at what they had done. At the accomplishment made. The magical signature that Assassin and his Number monster emitted was gone, just like them.
Nothing remained of their existence, as the fate of all Servants who lost.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Waver felt at ease. "Well, we did it."
"We did, didn't we." Nearby, Irisviel walked right next to him, looking almost as happy as him. Satisfied at a job well done. "We managed to defeat Assassin." Her hand was held close to her stomach, with Irisviel looking a bit pale. Likely that she was tired, something Waver could sympathize with. "Another Servant down."
"...Yeah." Waver nodded. "Another Servant down." Caster, now Assassin. Two of the seven had been defeated, leaving only five. It was tough, but Waver found himself looking at Irisviel. Some concern resided in him, though he was a bit too tired to show it as he asked, "So…we still, you know…working together?"
Because it'd be awkward to fight after everything that happened. That, and he was pretty tired too.
"Of course." Luckily, it seems Irisviel had every intention of keeping her promise. "Until the others are defeated, we will continue being allies. As spoken through the Einzbern name."
"C-cool. Cool." Most of the dust had fallen back on the ground. Now it was easier to see and breathe. With Waver getting a good look at the huge mess left behind by the fighting here. Man, he sure felt bad for whoever had to clean this up.
But he was more happy he was alive. I mean, things had really gotten ugly. Heck, they all nearly died. If it hadn't been for Archer and Lancer, they would have been toast. Speaking of Archer, she seemed to be speaking to the dragon that gave quite the sun-burn to Assassin and smashing the Number to pieces.
As for the other Servants, aside from Lancer who's…gone, they all seemed relatively fine. Saber looked at himself in some confusion, which Waver found understandable as for a brief moment Saber's strength seemed to have returned. Rider seemed to be on the look-out while Berserker was…
"Hm?" Waver blinked. For a moment he thought he was seeing something wrong only to see that he actually wasn't.
On the ground, with Kariya right next to her with the man looking both exhausted and relieved, he seemed to be just as confused as Waver. Irisviel, noticing Waver's expression, tilted her head. "Is something wrong?" She turned to see what Waver was staring at. "Why are you-huh?"
On the ground, unmoving since Lancer used what Waver could assume was her Noble Phantasm, Berserker's appearance had changed drastically. Or what should have been a Berserker.
Masters had the power to see a Servant's stats. Berserker had many high stats that made Waver shiver at the thought of facing her head on. Now…
'Her stats…they changed.' It wasn't just her stats either. As Waver could see it, Berserker's entire appearance had been warped into something else. Her armor looked like more traditional armor with her sword no longer giving off that horrifying chill when looking at it. She looked more like a regular knight than what she did before. But that wasn't all there was to her.
"...Saber?" Kariya whispered, the most confused out of everyone. His eyes narrowed as he looked around, trying to find Lancer. "What the hell?" What the hell did Lancer do to his Servant? Everything about her had changed drastically. Her own skills were glitching out, with her own Class changed to Saber somehow. He wanted answers to see if this was permanent or not.
Not that this was his only concern. He has another problem right now.
That problem being that it's happening now of all times. While Kariya tried not to show it, he could tell that compared to the others, he wasn't in the best of conditions. Sure the others looked a bit drained from the fight with Assassin, having experienced the same damage reflection he did when their servants faced Dark Storm, but he was the worse off.
'If they wanted to, they could all kill me now.' This alliance had been temporary after all. Only allied to take out Assassin and that was it.
Thankfully, whether it was out of honor or just unwilling to fight, that kid, Waver, said aloud, "Soooooo." Eyes twitching, with a bit of a dull tone, Waver said, "Since we all did our job, I guess that means…We…go to the overseer?" It sounded more like a question than a goal.
But it was something to latch onto regardless. Irisviel stated, "It would probably be best to see him, actually." Giving a glance at the mass destruction around them seemed to be her way of saying they needed some new suggestions. "With everything that's happened, perhaps we can at least see whatever changes may occur."
"And give us a reward." Rider added with Saber looking at her in shock. "What? We practically saved his life. We must be owed something for that. We even killed Assassin." That certainly deserves something.
"In that case," Not wanting to let that chance go, Kariya joined in. "We should probably check in with them, right?" He looked down at Ber…Sa…he'll just keep calling her Berserker, and wondered how to grab her.
"Here." Saber then came, causing Kariya to flinch. "Allow me." Not that Saber had any ill intent as he simply grabbed the former Berserker and lifted her on his shoulders. "Someone who fought hard doesn't deserve to be left behind."
"R-Right. Thanks." Getting up, even if it was a struggle, Kariya started walking alongside Saber. Everybody else tensely walked together, making no moves to indicate they were going to attack one another. Another fight wouldn't do, especially with how tired everyone was.
Archer was exempt from this, but she didn't wish to cause anybody any harm, which included her Master. 'Assuming he's alright.'
After Blue-Eyes' brief disappearance from her mind, her other-half returned shortly after and actually asked Archer to give Tokiomi a possible chance in working together. And while Archer felt uncertain, she was at least willing to hear Tokiomi out if her prideful other-half was willing to do so.
"Alright, come back in." So her first act would be to have Blue-Eyes return so that Tokiomi would no longer feel the drain on his mana. Blue-Eyes accepted and soon vanished away, leaving only Archer. With that done, as one the group of Masters and Servants headed towards the ruined church to locate the overseer and see if anything would change after these latest events.
Assuming of course Risei could even say such things. Saber off-handedly mentioned that the overseer was still knocked out when grabbing him. Understandable considering Assassin had used him as a puppet and then had one of his one arms be removed. Painfully at that.
'If anything, how will the Church react to this?' There was also the matter of the Clock Tower. The Einzberns, while a bit isolated, still had connections to the Clock Tower and understanding of their methods. Irisviel could very well see them reacting just like the Church, Assassin having caused more than enough problems for everyone.
As everyone entered the Church, all that could be seen was the massive mess left behind by Number 96 before it transformed. The massive hole that led to the Church's underground is still there, with broken wood everywhere around the edges. It wasn't a pretty sight.
"This place definitely needs a renovation." Waver muttered, trying not to sound rude. Not like it was the building's fault that it got so messed up.
"Maybe the owner has money to spare. Or this 'insurance' as the Grail tells me." Saber suggested.
"Insur-what?" That was strange. Back in her home, if something was broken, Spectra didn't really bother fixing it up. At least that's what Rider assumes.
"Well, not like we have anything to…do…with it…." Kariya trailed off. His words cut short when he saw someone inside the building. Someone very familiar.
His unbitten veins started to bubble while his one good eye twitched in anger. As his mouth formed a snarl, a name escaped Kariya's throat as he spoke coldly, "Tokiomi!"
"Huh?" Turning, Waver then spotted a person and like Kariya, realized who they were.
Standing, looking no better than any of them, is one of the Holy Grail Wars' participants, Tokiomi Tohsaka. Who faced the group that had entered and looked rightfully worried. Not because he was scared.
But because he had little reason to believe a group of Masters and their Servants coming is a good sign for him.
At the same time, Rider suddenly twisted her head when she thought she saw someone else. Nobody was there when she looked. Her imagination?
Either way, it didn't change the fact that Kariya was rather upset. His feet slowly moved him towards the man in anger. "To think, after all this, you're still alive." He spoke harshly. Showing no signs of concern over Tokiomi's appearance. "Although it seems somebody gave you a good beating." If anything, he seemed more upset Tokiomi wasn't more injured.
"Now hold it there." Saber, still holding onto Kariya's Servant, said his piece. "What's with the sudden change in attitude? Do you know this man?"
"Um, Saber. I don't think we shoul-"
"Of course I know this bastard." Cutting Waver off, Kariya spoke angrily. His hands turned to fists as he said, "This good-for-nothing is a piece of garbage that doesn't deserve to be here."
It didn't take a genius to know that Kariya had quite a grudge against Tokiomi. With Tokiomi seemingly taking offense to such underserved words. With recognition in his eyes upon realizing just who was speaking such ill-will towards him.
"Kariya." Tokiomi grunted. "I see, so the Matou's really did send you." Tokiomi had his suspicions, having overlooked who had joined the current grail war, but had been unable to find out for certain who the Matous had sent as a master. Given how their family line had dwindled over the centuries, Tokiomi had been uncertain if the Matous would even bother participating in this war. But would you look at that …
Tokiomi eyed Kariya for a bit and sighed at the latters condition. "...I'm surprised your family let one who ran from their duty to participate in this ritual."
"Shut your mouth!" Everyone was now looking at Kariya, seeing just how worked up he was. The way his eyes bulged where to the others surprise, Kariya's own skin seemed to twitch. Like there was something beneath his own body and bulging out as he raged. "I don't want to hear another word from someone like you!"
Tokiomi narrowed his eyes. Observing Kariya and then the others. While it could change, Tokiomi seemed mildly relieved that nobody seemed to show any hostile action towards him aside from Kariya himself.
Still, just to be safe. "I assume the rest of you came for Risei. The overseer."
"We did." Not wanting to hear Kariya scream anymore, Saber answered quickly. "I recall bringing him here along with you and another." Taking a brief look around, Saber frowned. "Strange. I don't see them."
'Then he must be….' Tokiomi recalled that he was underground before. The fact he was here lent credit that Saber really did bring him and his allies here, even though the Servant could have taken out the competition. A noble hero perhaps.
"Ah, yes. I know who you're talking about." Best to keep up the conversation to allow Tokiomi a chance to both extend his life and recover his mana, feeling particularly drained. "As for what became of them, well-"
Kariya stomped his foot down, grabbing everyone's attention.
Bloody murder may as well be spelled all over his face. His own face twitching rapidly in what could only be described as disgusting. Though if there was anything more concerning than his expression, it would be the fact that his Command Seals had glown red.
That's-!" Saber couldn't even get another word out before Kariya said his own.
"Saber." Kariya spoke in a low whisper. Revealing his Servant's new identity. "Kill Tokiomi."
Irisviel felt Rider grab her and pull back.
At the same time, Saber, who was briefly baffled by Kariya saying his Class name, also pulled back when he felt Berserker suddenly get up in that instant.
She didn't seem all that awake, her eyes dull and unfocused.
But a command is a command.
Even if she looked different, 'Berserker' is still a Servant. With Kariya's words and his killing intent spoken through them, 'Berserker' looked at Tokiomi dead on, sending him chills.
She was immediately in front of him with her sword drawn and coming down.
"I think not." Only for Archer to appear where the sword clashed against spectral wings that acted as a shield. White sparks coming out of the two forces meeting before the clash caused both to be sent back.
Tokiomi unwittingly catches Archer as she strode back while 'Berserker' is sent right near towards Kariya. Her eyes suddenly blinked, like she had fully awakened.
The church outright groaned with the walls looking ready to break.
"Woah there! What the heck!" Waver thought everybody was cool now. No more need to fight and try to kill each already. One life-and-death battle had been enough for Waver today.
"Master." Holding his sword out, Saber seemed ready to go. "Should we intervene?"
"Huh?" Staring at him, Waver then checked back at Archer and 'Berserker'. Noting how with the way Kariya is acting, trying to call him off would be a fool's errand. And with Archer joining…He already saw what the two did before at the park.
Waver wanted no part of that.
"I say we leave." With Rider clearly thinking the same. She and Irisviel were together with Rider saying, "Whatever is going on, it has nothing to do with us." Rider wasn't even sure why that sick little man was even picking a fight. She was no expert on health, but Rider could easily see that attacking in that condition wouldn't do anybody any good.
More importantly, Rider also felt no reason to join in. With her not being the only one who thought this.
Irisviel tells Waver, "I don't think any of us are in the best condition to intervene." Between the two of them, Irisviel looked more pale. However, the homunculus knew it wasn't just because of the pain she endured from Number C96.
Inside her, she could feel a different set of mana in her grow.
Looking at Irisviel, then back at the two men where the air around them grew thick, Waver swallowed. "Y-Yeah. Yeah. Best not to…to interrupt. C-Come on Saber." The young magus told his Servant. "Let's get going."
Saber appeared reluctant, but obeyed nonetheless. Everyone slowly turns away while leaving the four to continue whatever business they may have had with each other. Something that Tokiomi found to be rather irksome.
"You realize that in your current condition you may not last." Tokiomi's words weren't just to buy time but a practical statement. While he didn't show it, not even Tokiomi could hide his bewilderment at Kariya's willingness to fight when it was clear he wasn't in any shape for an extended battle.
"Shut up!" Kariya howled. "A man willing to sell out his own family doesn't get a say in this?"
"Family?" Now that was something Archer didn't know. Still, it would have to wait as she stood protectively over her Master. While she may have issues with him, she couldn't find it in her to abandon him now.
"Sell out." As for Tokiomi, who tilted his head only for some understanding to come. "Wait, do you mean-"
"Berserker!" Not wanting to waste anymore time, calling out a Servant that is no longer even a Berserker, Kariya shouted, "Kill Tokiomi as I said!" The Command Seals were still in effect, giving 'Berserker' a boost in power.
While 'Berserker' is quiet, looking as if she wanted to stop for a moment, a Command is still a Command. As her body willed itself, 'Berserker' held her sword and prepared to fight.
Across from her, Archer's brows raised as the blue-eyed maiden found herself being fazed by the lack of curses and stench of blood that used to surround Berserker.
Any questions would of course have to wait.
Already she was prepared to unleash her other-half. Warily eyeing Berserker as she felt different, more…focused. The eyes of the dragonslayer no longer blurred by outright rage and hate. It was almost as if she had been purified.
Not that it mattered. With 'Berserker' sword raised and Archer about to call upon Blue-Eyes, a new fight was about to begin. Everybody else was already about to exit when suddenly, a voice cried out.
"By these Command Seals!" A voice nobody recognized other than the authority that came with it with both Archer and 'Berserker' freezing, to their collective Masters' shock. "Stop!"
The two did stop. They couldn't find themselves the ability to consider attacking. All they could do, along with everyone else inside the church, was to simply feel the presence of someone else.
With a turn, all heads aimed to the source of where the voice came from.
"What in the world?" With Waver's voice being the very sentence everyone is thinking. Not just the Masters and Servants either. Even those watching from afar, be it the presence of a centuries old magus, to the Servant that had left, realized something had changed. Not just in this location, but to the Holy Grail War as a whole.
"Good." The sound of metal graced the floor. "It seems I have gotten your attention." Blonde hair was pushed aside while the light from the sun glinted across the pure white armor on the newcomer. A serious expression on their face with their eyes focused on everyone.
Opening their mouths, the newcomer then said, "It seems this war has caused more than enough problems as is. Exposure to the public. Indiscriminate attacks and collateral damage. Endangerment of magecraft secrecy." They listed all the problems that had occurred throughout this war. With none able to deny any of it.
With these constant repeated offenses throughout the Holy Grail War, limited as it is, the fact is that the public was all but aware something was wrong in their city. That there was something that couldn't be explained in any real plausible way with only self-denial limiting their options of the true events happening. A truth which was slowly coming to light.
Even with the Church and its members working overtime, sightings of Number 96, Blue-Eyes, and even Kayneth's Servant, Egyptian God Slime, had been spotted all over. Buildings have collapsed in the span of days. Those whose memories weren't erased spouted what they had seen. So many rules were broken, with the Overseer, Risei, out of commission.
That left the Grail itself only one choice.
The only option left to deal with the constant contumacious behavior among the Masters and Servants.
With the blunt end of the newly arrived Servant's hammer slamming onto the ground, Servant Ruler made one thing clear. "It's time we all talk."
I imagine with all the chaos happening, Ruler, a Servant that, as quoted, "by preserving the illusion behind the Age of Gods so that people do not know about the truth behind it.", would come after all the reckless things the Servants have been doing by disregarding secrecy.
Number 96 literally attacked in public.
Rider destroyed an entire construction site.
Kayneth more or less let Egyptian God Slime be seen due to his anger.
Blue-Eyes and Berserker attacked in a freakin 'public park.
And with Risei out of commission, it seems the Grail decided to activate one of its defense mechanisms. Thus cue Ruler coming out. As for who she is, here's a hint. She's a Saint in one of the Yu-Gi-Oh lore stories with a cool hammer.
Also, due to Lancer's scriptures, Berserker has been heavily altered due to her prime power being negated. She WILL return to a Berserker eventually, just not right now. And to be clear about Lancer's past, yes, what she saw was Goetia. But like all the other duel monsters, she does not come from PHH. All I'll say is her world diverged in her era and for the worse.
On another note, a thanks to rawilliams100 for reminding me about Number C96's Stat sheets. Last chapter should have the new stat updates, and I'll eventually show Ruler and our former Berserker's stats later on.