The establishment of the Time Travelers Alliance began in the first year of Conan

Chapter 357 Before the King's arrival, one must not be rude!
Unlike Webber and Rider, who were rushing over.

For those still living on Warehouse Street.

Kenneth couldn't understand why the situation, which had been advantageous just moments before, had suddenly turned sour in an instant.

Could it be that Lancer is playing me?

But sensing Lancer's current state, Kenneth had to put aside his doubts once again.

Diarmuid's current condition is indeed not good.

If it weren't for the powerful, magical wind pressure that was severed in the middle by the [Red Rose of Exorcism] as it poured out, he would have been split in two by the barrier released by Saber in an instant.

Even so, Lancer still lost an arm.

Fortunately, reconnecting wasn't too difficult.

Even if they cannot become spirits, a Servant's body is ultimately unrelated to their physical body.

The instant Lancer was knocked away, the [Moon Spirit Essence Fluid] that Kenneth had left on him automatically picked up the weapon and arm that were about to fall to the ground.

At this moment, Lancer lies collapsed amidst the crushed ruins.

Under the cover of the night's shadows and the lingering dust and mist, his healing spells were actively using Sora's mana to attempt to complete the "limb reattachment" surgery.

"But... I still need to buy myself at least three minutes."

Saber's attack was just too powerful.

Even though he knew long ago that the so-called "Heroic Spirits" were exceptionally powerful familiars, Kenneth still found it hard to believe.

This is almost the effect of an "anti-city Noble Phantasm," caused by the swordsman's hasty attack.

He was even somewhat relieved that the wind pressure released by Saber was a condensed and concentrated beam.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the two separate fissures that stretched from the warehouse district in the east of the harbor all the way to the far west end—

What was originally a single, unified harbor has now been divided into three parts, much like a group of broken islands on the sea!

Seawater is flowing back into this newly formed low-lying area.

The tide, which had already ended, surged inward as if drawn by a strong gravitational force due to the sudden vacuum of the atmosphere, accompanied by a "whooshing" sound.

Even so, Kenneth still tried to use words or threats to prevent Saber from leaving.

He hasn't forgotten the significance of his participation in this battle.

Although Lancer's injuries look serious, he is capable of healing them in a short time.

If you can use this to delay the enemy's Servants, or even try to control their Master, you still have a chance to win.

Kenneth didn't believe that Saber's terrifying attacks could be unleashed so casually.

Ultimately, a Servant's output depends on the Master's supply of magical energy.

Swordsmen are the strongest class, which inherently places a heavy burden on their Masters. And I have already affected Saber.

only……

Thinking about the information feedback that the [Moon Spirit Essence Liquid] provided to the enemy Master, a shadow fell over Kenneth's heart.

Why did the transfer of Command Seals or the seizure of authority fail?
……

It must be said that after completely abandoning the "chivalry," the battle-hardened Lancer is undoubtedly able to come up with even more "victorious" strategies.

"My lord, considering the uncertainty of each Heroic Spirit, the best strategy at present is to directly attack the enemy's commander."

“In fact, if you can distribute the control of the Servants in the Holy Grail System as you did with Miss Sora, we will have an even greater advantage.”

Lancer's words make a lot of sense.

If Kenneth's talent was most prominently displayed in the "Four Wars," it was in his separation of command and logistical functions over the [Heroic Spirits].

If this system is widely adopted, it means that in future Holy Grail Wars, actual participants will hardly need to consider personally joining the battlefield—meaning they will have almost absolute safety guarantees.

More importantly, it's about the use of Noble Phantasms.

Can you imagine firing one shot per minute, or one shot every ten minutes or so, like Excalibur or King's Army?

Although the magical power from a single human body [small source] is scarce, it is still quite considerable, as it allows many magicians to supply their magic separately.

Not to mention that for the monarch of the Clock Tower, both magicians under his command and items that can provide magic power are not uncommon.

You can even use it in reverse.

For example, the most important function of Kenneth's ritual circle, which is buried deep underground, is a ritual circle that allows the summoner to "autonomously" transfer ownership of their familiar.

While it's not as "plug-and-play" as the [Symbol of All Magic] used by Medea in the future, it's sufficient for a Master who has almost no magic resistance skills.

The reason Lancer deliberately aimed the ball of mercury at Irisviel's arms instead of her heart or head is this.

Theoretically, the battle should have ended the moment Irisviel was hit by the [Moon Spirit Fluid].

The two "isolated computing machines" that entered her body would immediately unleash their true computing power, working in conjunction with the underground array to take over Saber's control.

But it can't be done.

Or rather, the progress is unbelievably slow.

Kenneth didn't even find any trace of Command Seals inside Saber's Master!

He did suspect that Saber's current Master was a fake. But Saber's decision to go to the rescue instead of chasing Lancer dispelled that thought.

More importantly, the [Moon Spirit Essence Fluid] did indeed indicate that the other party was related to the [Command Seal System].

"Perhaps, they used some method to hide the Command Seals."

……

This might be a manifestation of Lancer and Kenneth's "unlucky E" fate. Any other master-servant pair besides Irisviel would have been completely different.

Even Gilgamesh's group would likely perish in such a trap.

But unfortunately, Kenneth was facing Irisviel, who was the Lesser Grail.

Let me tell you a joke.

Try using the [Moon Spirit Essence Liquid] to analyze the [Minor Grail], which is the part of the [Third Law].

This is exactly what [Moon Spirit Essence Liquid] is doing now.

It's important to know that the Einzbern family relies to some extent on "lottery" to create a usable finished product.

—That pile of discarded dolls is a testament to that.

In fact, considering its success rate, it can be described as a "miracle".

Even the closest to completion, the [Winter Saintess], was born from such an accident, which is called a "miracle".

Even if one could try to replicate it by relying on sheer luck.

For a puppet system that can operate indefinitely on the condition of "no possibility," such possibility has been almost completely lost.

For the puppet system, which is an "artificial intelligence," such a vague possibility is not taken into consideration at all.

This is also why, if Illya still fails after the Fifth Holy Grail War, the head of the Einzbern family and the castle's control center, [Yubstakuhaid], will completely abandon the Greater Grail and shut down his power supply.

In addition, Kiritsugu placed the conceptual armor, called "The Distant Ideal World," into her body in order to protect Irisviel.

In short, everything has now led to a very awkward outcome.

After losing its ability to interfere with Irisviel's magic, the mercury remaining in her body only had a physical interference effect.

If Lancer could still move at this moment, or if Saber didn't intend to leave with Irisviel immediately.

Kenneth would never make a "threat".

Saber is simply too powerful. Rather than taking a huge risk to acquire this combat power, it would be the right decision to let her leave the stage immediately.

After all, judging from the tactics Lancer and he agreed upon, having too much combat power is not suitable for a sneak attack, and it is more likely to cause the remaining enemies to form an alliance.

"But Saber insisted on leaving with her Master immediately... that way she would immediately discover the Master's death, and I wouldn't have time to evacuate."

After all, even if the Master dies, depending on the magical power contained in the Servant and their class, they can still survive for at least a few minutes to a few days.

If Saber discovers her Master's death and launches another attack, sweeping the container pile in front of her, she will be doomed.

Thus, one dared not act rashly because he was worried about his own Master's situation, while the other had to delay because he could not grasp the situation of the enemy Servant.

At that moment, the scene fell into an eerie silence.

until--

The lightning bolt that ripped through the sky shattered it with a deafening roar of thunder.

Saber, who was trying to find Lancer and his Master's location, and Kenneth, who was also trying to conceal his whereabouts even more, were both shocked.

The two of them looked up at the southeastern sky at the same time.

"A chariot?!" Saber exclaimed in surprise.

Kenneth, however, sensed the situation was getting worse. "Is it the Rider? This is troublesome."

Yes, the source of that loud noise and lightning is undoubtedly—

A divine chariot that rides on lightning.

Two divine oxen, which looked like mythical beasts, pulled two magnificent chariots straight down from the sky.

Those thunderous roars were the sound of purple lightning flashing from the bull's hooves as they trampled the air.

The chariot's wheels spun in the clouds, and lightning bolts shot outwards, each burst of magical energy comparable to Lancer's full-force attack.

Now, everyone on the ground understands—

This is undoubtedly Rider's Noble Phantasm.

The lightning bolt, seemingly quick, found its landing spot.

The chariot circled once in the sky before slowly slowing down and coming to a steady stop on the ground—right in the middle of where Saber and Lancer had just been fighting fiercely.

Both Saber and Kenneth were taken aback, and just as they began to have doubts and be wary of this sudden visitor.

Rider then spoke.

……

Standing atop the divine chariot, his deep red battle robes were imposing, and his towering figure resembled a mountain.

What's even more striking are those fiery red eyes, as bright and piercing as the lightning that had just flashed.

And this astonishing spirit naturally brought about an extraordinary announcement.

Alexander the Great's voice was undoubtedly loud enough to overwhelm the somber atmosphere and bold enough to shake the tense air.

And so, under Webber Velvet's almost blank gaze, Rider loudly proclaimed:
"Both parties put away their swords!"

"I am Iskandar, the 'Conqueror King'! In this Holy Grail War, I manifest in the world as a Rider!"

"No disrespect is permitted before the King!"

Apparently—

Besides Iskandar, Kenneth, Webber, and Saber were all stunned.

(End of this chapter)