While Manaka met with Kariya and Rikka was locked inside her bedroom, time slowly passed until it finally became night.
At the Shinto side of Fuyuki City, the docks were quiet. The shipping yard was filled with large containers and industrial warehouses, with only a few lights illuminating the area.
Three figures stood on the ground, facing each other in the open space between the containers.
Two of them were the same people Rikka had met earlier that afternoon. Saber stood at the front, her posture firm, while Irisviel stayed just behind her, watching carefully.
Opposite them stood a man holding a spear in each hand. One was long, while the other was shorter, both weapons faintly reflecting the dim light.
The man with the spears was Lancer of this Holy Grail War, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, a famous hero from the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology.
Saber, who stood in front of him, was no longer wearing her suit. It had already been replaced by her silver armor, formed from condensed Mana and woven around her body through her Mana Burst.
She held something invisible in both hands.
The atmosphere between them was tense as they stared at each other, silently gauging each other's strength.
Then suddenly, the sound of steel striking echoed across the concrete docks as Saber moved first.
The air in the shipping yard shook as Saber rushed forward. Her body moved like a silver blur, her boots cracking the concrete with each step.
Even though her sword was hidden by Invisible Air, the force of her swing still cut through the air, letting out a sharp sound as it passed.
Lancer didn't try to block it.
The moment Saber got close, he stepped to the side with smooth movement. The unseen blade cut through the space where he had been just a second ago, leaving a faint ripple in the air.
His eyes focused.
He still couldn't see her weapon.
Instead of backing away, Lancer moved in. One of his spears shot forward quickly, aiming for Saber's side.
Saber reacted right away. She turned her body and brought her invisible sword across to stop him. The spear missed, but the air twisted where her blade passed, forcing Lancer to pull back.
A burst of wind spread out between them as both attacks barely missed.
They didn't stop.
Lancer stepped back and began circling her, his two spears moving in controlled motions. He didn't rush in again, watching carefully and trying to figure out the reach of her invisible sword.
Saber kept moving forward.
Each of her swings cut through empty space, but the pressure from them was real. The air shifted every time she attacked, making it hard to tell where the next strike would come from.
Their weapons never met, but they kept passing close to each other again and again.
The fight continued without pause, both of them moving faster than the eye could easily follow.
Saber pressed forward again, her invisible blade cutting through the air in sharp, precise swings. Each step she took left cracks on the concrete, her movements direct and powerful.
Lancer met her advance with smooth footwork. His two spears moved like extensions of his body, one intercepting, the other ready to strike. He avoided her attacks by the smallest margins, slipping past the unseen blade while keeping just enough distance to stay safe.
Behind Saber, Irisviel stood still, watching the battle unfold.
Her eyes followed every movement, a quiet sense of amazement rising within her. This was what it meant for Servants to fight. Every motion carried weight, every exchange could decide the outcome in an instant.
Even so, she remained calm. Her focus stayed sharp as she prepared herself to support Saber at any moment if needed.
For now, she simply watched.
Back on the field, the pace didn't slow.
Lancer's gaze sharpened as he continued to observe Saber's movements. Each swing, each step, each change in distance. Little by little, he began to form a clear idea of the reach of her invisible weapon.
He couldn't see it, but he could read it.
Saber, on the other hand, found it harder to land a decisive hit. Lancer's twin spears and speed created a tight defense around him, forcing her attacks to fall just short or be avoided at the last second.
Their movements grew sharper, faster, more focused.
Then, almost at the same time, both of them stepped back.
They separated, putting distance between each other, the space around them finally settling after the constant motion.
The brief silence between them didn't last long, but neither of them moved right away.
Saber kept her stance, her invisible blade held ready as she watched Lancer carefully.
Her eyes followed every detail of his posture, the way he held his spears, the rhythm of his breathing, the spacing he kept between them. His movements were smooth and precise, with no wasted motion. The two spears gave him both reach and control, letting him defend and attack at the same time.
That was the problem.
Every time she closed the distance, one spear forced her to adjust while the other threatened a counter. His speed made it even harder to pin him down, slipping away before her strikes could land cleanly.
Her grip tightened slightly.
If she wanted to break through, she needed to disrupt that rhythm. A direct approach wouldn't be enough.
Across from her, Lancer stood relaxed, but his eyes stayed sharp.
He studied Saber in silence, watching the way she held her stance, the subtle movements of her shoulders and arms. Even without seeing her weapon, he could now estimate its length from the distance she kept and the range of her swings.
An invisible sword.
A troublesome advantage.
It forced him to rely entirely on instinct and observation, reading the flow of her attacks instead of reacting to what he could see. Even a small mistake would mean stepping straight into a strike he couldn't predict.
Still, he didn't look uneasy.
If anything, his focus only deepened.
The power behind her swings, the pressure carried through the air with each movement, the way she controlled the battlefield without showing her weapon...
Now he understood.
Why Saber can be considered as the strongest class.
While Saber and Lancer stood facing each other, both adjusting their approach, they weren't the only ones watching the fight. Not far from Irisviel, three other figures had already taken their positions, observing from different angles.
Hidden in the shadows of a distant crane, Kiritsugu Emiya sitting with his Walther WA2000 steady against his shoulder. His eye followed the fight through the scope for a moment before he slowly shifted his aim away, searching the surrounding area instead. A Servant could not act without a Master nearby.
It didn't take long for him to find his target.
On top of a warehouse overlooking the dock, a lone man stood still, watching the fight. The thermal scope clearly picked up his presence against the cold night air.
"Maiya. East side. Top of the warehouse," Kiritsugu said calmly.
From her position, Maiya Hisau couldn't get a clear view, which meant he would have to take the shot himself. Kiritsugu adjusted his breathing and steadied the rifle, his finger resting on the trigger as he prepared to eliminate Lancer's Master.
Then he stopped.
A faint disturbance in the air made him pause, his gaze shifting slightly.
"...Assassin."
Recognizing Assassin immediately, Kiritsugu lowered the rifle just a fraction. Firing now would expose his position without fail, and that was not a risk he could take this early in the war, so he chose to wait and continue observing instead.
At the same time, far from the docks, Assassin's vision was being shared directly with his Master. Inside the Fuyuki Church, Kirei Kotomine stood silently as he observed the battlefield through Assassin's senses, his expression calm as he took in every detail.
That same information was being relayed to the distant Tohsaka Mansion, where Tokiomi Tohsaka watched through Kirei, calmly observing the flow of the battle without saying a word.
Even though they were in completely different locations, both of them were watching the same place, silently observing the opening moves of the war.
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But without all seven of them realizing it, there was actually one more person watching everything happening at the docks.
"So cool!!"
I had been watching since the beginning. Even though Manaka told me to stay in her bedroom, there was no way I was going to miss the chance to see a fight between Saber and Lancer.
And I didn't regret that choice at all, because their fight was so cool that I couldn't even keep my mouth closed, my eyes glued to every movement.
Their fight felt completely different from the anime. Their speed, their movements, everything was far more intense here.
In the anime, they probably had to make it easier to see, slowing things down so the audience could actually understand what was happening.
"But here... it's really different."
The reason no one could detect me, even with three Servants and multiple Masters present, was because I was using a higher-tier illusion magecraft.
One that had Lady Ava's stamp of approval after I asked her for it.
But there was one problem with this magecraft.
"Why does it even need these flowers and weird ripples under my feet..." I muttered, glancing down at the ground.
Around me, beautiful flowers kept blooming and disappearing over and over again the moment the magecraft was active, their petals fading like they were never there in the first place.
At the same time, soft ripples spread beneath my feet, like something invisible was disturbing the surface of water again and again.
The moment I activated my Mystic Eyes, my vision changed.
Lines appeared everywhere.
Thin, sharp lines spread across everything I could see, stretching in every direction as if the world itself had been cut apart and stitched back together. Buildings, containers, the ground beneath my feet... all of it was covered in those lines.
I shifted my gaze back to them.
Saber and Lancer were no exception.
I could see the lines running across Saber's armor, across her body, even through the air around her. The invisible flow of Mana that hid her weapon was also there, layered with countless lines overlapping each other.
But the sword itself—
"I can't see it...?" I muttered, narrowing my eyes as I tried to focus harder.
I pushed my vision further, trying to pierce through the distortion of Invisible Air, trying to find even a single line that belonged to the blade.
Nothing.
And the moment I forced it—
A sharp pain stabbed into my head.
"Ow—ow, my head...!"
My vision shook violently as if the world itself had started spinning. The lines blurred and twisted, overlapping in a way that made it hard to even keep my eyes open.
I immediately shut down my Mystic Eyes, grabbing my head as the pain throbbed.
"I see... Excalibur, the Sword of Promised Victory..." I murmured to myself as I realized why I couldn't see any lines on it.
As long as the concept of victory, or the will of the planet, still existed, Excalibur had a reason to exist. To "kill" it, I would have to erase that very concept itself.
"Well, whatever... it's not like I'm trying to kill Excalibur," I muttered, letting out a small breath as the thought settled in my mind.
As usual, that kind of information just appeared out of nowhere.
At this point, I was already used to it, so I didn't bother thinking about where it came from.
Focusing again, I reactivated my Mystic Eyes and turned my gaze toward Lancer.
Compared to Saber, he was much easier to read.
Lines covered his entire body, clear and defined, along with both of his spears. Even the yellow spear he kept hidden still carried those lines, faint but visible beneath the way he concealed it.
Then I shifted my gaze toward Irisviel.
Her lines were... different.
They shimmered slightly, vibrating with a faint golden light instead of appearing as the usual jagged cracks. The pattern was still there, but it felt more stable, more protected.
"Probably because of Avalon..." I muttered under my breath. "But even then, her lines don't look that hard to cut. I guess Avalon is heavily weakened if Saber isn't using it."
From here, I could also see Lancer's Master, using some kind of concealment magecraft while watching the fight.
Compared to Lady Ava, though, his illusion was really bad. The mana around him was obvious, creating faint distortions in the air that gave away his position.
Unfortunately, I couldn't see Kiritsugu or Maiya from where I was. My spot was near the edge of the dock, close to the sea, and my view was limited.
"Now that I think about it... isn't this where Berserker is supposed to show up?" I muttered.
Maybe I should move somewhere else.
But this place was perfect for watching everything, especially when Gilgamesh showed up later. I decided to stay a bit longer, at least until he appeared, then I would leave.
Too bad I didn't have a phone. This was still 1994, and phones weren't as advanced as where I came from in 2025.
Slash
While I was watching, I heard the sound of flesh being cut, which meant Saber had finally been hit by Lancer.
Not long after that, Lancer's Master started speaking, his voice echoing faintly across the docks. A moment later, Lancer's injured wrist began to recover from Saber's earlier attack.
They started talking to each other while Saber re-formed her armor. I couldn't really hear what they were saying from this distance.
Just as Lancer was about to attack again, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck the ground between them with a loud crash, forcing everyone, including me, to look up.
"ALALA-LA-LA-LAIE!!"
"Chariot... so this is the part where Rider appears," I said in awe as Rider and his Master descended right between Saber and Lancer.
"Stop your fighting in front of this King!" he shouted, loud enough for me to hear even from here.
They started talking to each other, and I was pretty sure this was the part where they commented on how Rider just revealed his true name so openly and how straightforward he was.
Not going to lie, I liked Rider too. He really felt like a true warrior and king, someone I could respect from the entire anime.
Saber, for me, felt a bit childish. Even though she was a king, she still had that complex about being called a little girl.
As for Lancer, he wasn't bad, but his whole situation with his Master and the fiancée ntr drama made things kind of annoying.
But Rider... he was just cool, and his personality was great too. Still, I liked Gilgamesh more. He was just way more handsome.
They talked about the Holy Grail and how they intended to claim it for their Masters, not knowing that it was already corrupted.
Then suddenly, Rider raised both his arms to the sides and shouted loudly,
"Are there others watching us? For those who hide in the shadows, do not think you can escape the King of Conquerors' eyes! If you are a true hero, do not cower in the dark! Come forth and witness this duel, or face my chariot yourself!"
That voice echoed so strongly that my body jolted in response, and for a moment I almost stepped forward, like I was about to reveal myself without even thinking.
So this was the Charisma of a king. His voice carried such weight that I almost followed his command and showed myself.
But I held myself back.
Even after he said that, no one appeared, and the silence continued for a few seconds, making the atmosphere feel heavier.
Then I felt it, mana starting to gather in one spot.
At the top of one of the lamp posts in front of me, golden particles began to gather, shining brightly in the night. The light grew stronger, swirling together before forming a figure, and from within it, someone appeared.
"Yes, finally... Gilgamesh!" My inner fangirl almost burst out as I stared at him.
This was what I had been waiting for since three years ago. I never thought I would actually get to see the King of Heroes in real life instead of through a screen.
Golden armor covered his shoulders and lower body, shining under the moonlight. His long blonde hair flowed down smoothly, almost glowing with a faint golden hue. His midsection was exposed, wrapped only in a thin black cloth that still showed the red markings beneath it.
But then my eyes moved... and I paused.
"...Wait."
My gaze lingered for a second longer than it should have.
The shape of the body didn't match what I remembered.
A more defined chest, a softer yet still well-toned waist, smooth curves that were clearly not something a man would have...
"...Huh?"
My brain stopped for a moment as I kept staring, trying to process what I was seeing.
"...That's not a 'he'..."
"To think that in one night, two pests would dare claim the title of King in my presence. Such insolence is a sin that only death can wash away." I heard the voice of a woman from Gilgamesh with the same commanding tone and ego as in the anime, and for a moment I froze, my heart skipping a beat. This really was her.
"But... what the hell? Why is Gilgamesh female!?" I whispered to myself, eyes glued to her from my hiding spot. "Everything's the same so far... so why is she...?" I couldn't make sense of it.
My handsome Gilgamesh, the one I'd imagined for years with those piercing red eyes glaring at me, had become a stunning woman. She was just as intimidating and regal, maybe even more, and her presence didn't lose anything compared to Lady Ava. Her red eyes still burned with that same brilliance, her long blonde hair flowed in the moonlight, and her figure... it was flawless, impossible, almost unreal.
[IMAGE]
"Am I in another timeline or something?" I muttered, my mind racing. I'd read stories like this in manhwa, where people reincarnate or find themselves in alternate timelines. Could this be one of those cases?
They were talking now, questioning her identity, and I knew she was going to erupt soon, probably unleashing her Noble Phantasm before Berserker even arrived. I swallowed hard.
"Now is the time to go back home," I told myself, moving carefully so as not to make a sound. "It's unfortunate Gilgamesh is female, but at least I got to see her... my dream is complete."
But I had forgotten something important—her senses. Gilgamesh could detect everything. Her power, her awareness... I wasn't safe here.
"Hoh? It seems the rats in this harbor have grown bold enough to stare at their King. You, skulking in the filth of those containers—show yourself! I did not give a commoner like you permission to lay eyes upon my brilliance!" Her voice roared toward me, full of fury, and I practically jumped out of my skin, frozen in place, my pulse hammering in my ears.
"Eeekkk!?"
This was really bad. If I ran, Gilgamesh would definitely hunt me down and try to kill me without even hearing my reason. In the anime, she hated being ignored or ordered around as King, so I had to act carefully.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Now was the time to make everything go smoothly. I slowly turned, keeping my eyes on her as she glared down from the lamp post, while I stayed in the shadows. I didn't know if she could see me clearly, but I walked forward after turning off my magecraft with a calm, steady posture, forcing myself not to show fear.
I avoided direct eye contact but kept my head high, glancing around enough to see the other Servants and Masters. Their surprise was obvious—well, who wouldn't be? An eight-year-old wandering the docks at night in the middle of a Holy Grail War was not something anyone expected. I was sure even Kiritsugu noticed me, though his eyes were too sharp to betray any reaction.
"I called for a spectator, and the shadows birthed a… sprout? A mere fledgling dares to linger in a graveyard of heroes? Speak, child—have the adults of this era grown so pathetic that they send infants to scout for them?" Her voice cut through the night, full of arrogant authority, but I didn't flinch. That was just her character.
When I felt the distance between her lamp post and myself was safe, I stopped and performed a slow, deliberate bow. I lifted my skirt slightly, bent my knees, and lowered my head—not a desperate bow of a peasant, but the controlled, respectful gesture of someone acknowledging a higher power. My small body trembled ever so slightly under the weight of her gaze, but I held it together.
"My apologies, King of Heroes. I did not mean to observe from the shadows like a thief. I simply found myself unable to look away from the only true brilliance in this harbor," I said, my voice steady despite my pounding heart.
I couldn't read her expression, but seeing that she didn't strike me down immediately, I dared to hope she was satisfied with my respect.
"A child who knows her place… and possesses a silver tongue to boot. You speak as if you've known me for a lifetime, girl. Tell me—where did a stray like you learn to address the King of the World with such… elegance?"
"A King is not recognized by her crown, but by the light she brings to the world. I did not need a teacher to recognize the Sun, Your Majesty. My body simply knew how to greet its rightful owner."
A small, proud smile tugged at my lips. Hehe, don't underestimate my ability to smooth-talk someone. Ten years of experience in my workplace had taught me how to speak in a way that could sway even the most stubborn of people, and apparently, it worked here too. My pulse was still racing, but I felt… victorious in a way, even if it was just surviving a glance from a King.
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A/N: oh boy another 4k words count, if you see like weird words or words that make no sense tell me in the comments as I probably miss it when I'm editing this.