As if in response to Rin's words, a cold, clear, yet tense chill wind blew through. Just then, a sudden thunderous roar pierced the silent night sky, approaching from a distance.
Rin and everyone present, both those revealed and those hidden, looked towards the southeast sky, following the direction of the thunder. The source of the sound was clear at a glance.
A flying object cut a dazzling straight line across the night sky, heading straight towards them, scattering countless purple lightning bolts to form a thunder road in the night sky. The sound was undoubtedly coming from it.
Irisviel stared, her small mouth agape in surprise, unconsciously murmuring:
"…A, a chariot!"
An ancient, two-wheeled chariot, used on battlefields, flew towards them from the distant sky in an unscientific but magical manner. Tied to the chariot's shafts were not warhorses, but burly, muscular bulls whose muscles rippled like waves. Their hooves trod on a path of lightning formed in the void, pulling the magnificent chariot, whose wheels rumbled, approaching with the force of ten thousand thunders.
Each time the bulls' hooves and the chariot pushed off the empty sky, purple lightning flashed its spiderweb-like tendrils, stirring the atmosphere upwards with deafening roars.
"It really came." Rin muttered to herself absentmindedly, looking at the thunder chariot that unexpectedly burst into the battlefield. It could be said that the Servant driving this chariot was the one Rin most admired and yearned for in the entire Fourth Holy Grail War!
The chariot, treading on lightning, circled menacingly above Lancer and Saber before landing on the ground, unceremoniously plunging between the two confronting Heroic Spirits, blocking their sword and spear tips.
As it landed, the dazzling lightning retracted, and a giant-like figure stood majestically on the chariot's platform.
"Both of you, put away your weapons. Do not be presumptuous in the presence of this King!"
This calm roar could rival the thunderous sound he made when he appeared flying across the sky. His piercing gaze had an imposing air that seemed to force back the confronting sword and spear.
A deeply sculpted face, sparkling eyes, and fiery red hair and beard that seemed to burn. A heavy cloak, dyed the same scarlet and adorned with luxurious patterns, brought to mind a theater curtain.
"I am the King of Conquerors, Alexander Iskandar! I participate in this Holy Grail War, descended as the Rider class!"
His loud, bold, and powerful voice seemed to reach all living beings between heaven and earth, directly and unreservedly revealing his true name, which others would go to great lengths to conceal.
It could be said that everyone present, except Rin, including Lancelot, was stunned. Almost everyone's first reaction to this rough man in their hearts was evaluations like "idiot," "fool," "moron," but Rin's heart was filled with genuine admiration for the Great Emperor at this moment.
This frankness and boldness in proclaiming his existence and name to the world was Alexander Iskandar's confidence in his life. He firmly believed that his life was perfect and without regret, and even if he openly announced his name, no one could find his weakness!
And indeed, Emperor Iskandar dominated battlefields throughout his life without a single defeat. His brilliant and illustrious life was without blemish, and he died without illness at just thirty years old, as if envied by heaven. Before his death, he requested to be buried with his hands extended outside the coffin, signifying that he left with empty hands, taking nothing but a heart full of dreams and memories.
"What are you thinking?! Who reveals their name in the Holy Grail War?!!!"
Clearly, only Rin could understand this at the moment. Meanwhile, for his Servant's shocking actions, Waver was already terrified to the point of mental breakdown, even forgetting his fear in the face of Rider's gigantic body. He clung tightly to Rider's cloak, shouting and questioning him in a Collapse manner.
Rider ignored his Master's protest, glanced at Lancer and Saber on either side, and declared loudly:
"You are fighting each other for the Holy Grail. Before your clash, I have one thing to ask: what expectations do each of you have for the Holy Grail?! Are your wishes grander and more substantial than heaven and earth?!"
"…"
The Servants and Masters present didn't quite understand this statement… "You—what exactly do you want to say?"
"Hmm? My meaning is very clear."
At this moment, Rider still maintained his majestic demeanor, but his tone had become calm and steady, no longer a roaring shout.
"I have descended upon the battlefield. Do you have any intention of yielding the Holy Grail to me? If you can yield the Holy Grail to me, you will be my friends, and I will share the joy of conquering the world with you!"
"…"
Even Rin, who held Rider in high regard, couldn't help but smile at this.
The Great Emperor was indeed the Great Emperor; he suddenly appeared, openly declared his true name, and demanded that others surrender the Holy Grail to him before even engaging in battle.
Such a thing was truly unprecedented for anyone to encounter.
Perhaps it was this frankness and directness, this willingness to say what he thought, that led to his life without regrets.
However, this proposal was a bit too absurd.
Saber didn't even know what to say, and Lancer, across from her, was also at a loss for words, both staring dumbfounded at Rider.
After a moment, Lancer shook his head with a wry smile, his gaze, sharp and powerful like a sword, clashing head-on with the King of Conquerors's eyes, sparking.
"The Holy Grail, if I were to claim it, would only be presented to the sole new monarch of this era, and absolutely not to you, Rider!"
"You didn't just interrupt a knightly duel of honor to utter such jesting words, did you, Rider!?"
Saber followed Lancer's words, her expression serious, devoid of even a smile.
For her, being so earnest, Rider's suggestion itself was quite off-putting.
"Your joke has gone too far. This is an intolerable insult to a knight."
Facing this situation, Rider looked troubled, instinctively rubbing his temple with his fist, while saying in a conciliatory tone:
"The terms are negotiable, you know."
"Enough nonsense! (x2)"
"Pfft!"
"!"
The unexpected laughter, suddenly joining Saber's and Lancer's voices, immediately drew the attention of all Servants.
Rin, within the barrier that isolated all external aura, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Rider's line was so anachronistic! As expected of someone who could conquer the world, his pace of keeping up with the times was indeed ahead of all other Holy Grail heroic spirits.
Unfortunately, the barrier wasn't soundproof, and Rin's laughter directly exposed her.
"Who is that rat! Hiding in the shadows and peeking instead of appearing openly, aren't you afraid of being ridiculed?!"
There were actually other Master and Servant teams secretly observing!
Saber quickly fell back to guard Irisviel, to prevent her, as the acting Master, from being exposed to an opponent's attack.
If the hidden ones were Archer or Caster, then even without appearing, Irisviel in the rear would be in great danger.
Saber angrily scanned the direction from which the laughter came, shouting.
Unfortunately, she saw nothing in that direction.
Even after deploying all sensory methods, she still couldn't detect any presence from where the sound originated, neither Master nor Servant.
"Ah ha ha ha ha! How could I disturb such a splendid battle between Saber and Lancer? Besides, you two have already agreed to a knightly duel, so even if I appeared, I would have no opponent.
It's better to watch you two fight well from the sidelines, but now that Rider has arrived, I won't be lonely even if I show myself!"
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