ACT-2 "Military Intervention"

To be honest, the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki is basically a scam.

The whole "battle royale for the chance to grant your wish" format is just an outright lie to lure in participants.

A lie? That's terrible... Tricking someone by telling them their wishes will be granted... That's criminal!

It absolutely is. If these Holy Grail Wars were a widespread thing in a different world, I bet there'd be a lot of lawsuits being filed over them.

That being said, in this world...

That is, in my world, that didn't happen. That's because Holy Grail Wars only took place here.

It was an insidious trap. One that, with the defeat of each participating Servant, means an unprecedented disaster draws closer.

When the required number of summoned Servant have been sacrificed, "All the Evils of the World" Aŋra Mainiiu will activate.

？！

You don't need to know everything. Just consider it something like a bomb that could destroy the world.

It has more than enough power to wipe out the entirety of human history up to that point.

Singularity F, the first foundation you all have restored...

I see that as the likely state of Fuyuki after the conclusion of the Fifth Holy Grail War.

The first point to fall as the world crumbled. All because a ritual that should have never been carried out was indeed completed.

But why would someone set a trap like that? Who would do that?

This ritual started off with a very different purpose, and became what it is through a ridiculous man-made disaster.

That disaster is a "past event" even in this timeline.

At any rate, the problem is that the paradox Sheba detected in this era is like a Holy Grail.

I see, if the Holy Grail is already here...

Yes. If the Holy Grail has already manifested, this city should be in flames right now. But at a glance, that's not really the case.

So the Holy Grail detected by Chaldea is likely something different from Fuyuki's Greater Grail, corrupted by Aŋra Mainiiu.

If I recall, this Fourth Holy Grail War is still in its early stages now. Tonight is when everything moves into motion. We can use that.

Ah, I see. So that's why you've been so conscious of the time today.

That's right. Right now, it's critical that we stay ahead of events. This harbor district will be the key.

？！

Hmm, it seems we have to end our chitchat before I get to explain that. The events have caught up to us.

You there. May I ask who you are?

It seems you are also participants in the Holy Grail War... Seeing how you have Servants with you.

Irisviel, something is strange. I no longer detect the presence of Lancer, who invited us here.

She appears to be, but that's not her. I mean, she's contracted with another Master already!

Let's not go there for now, Senpai. This time, we're being serious here...

？！

That is one of the seven Heroic Spirits summoned into the Fourth Holy Grail War. Class Saber, Altria Pendragon.

That being the case, sorry, but we will be your opponent now instead of Lancer.

Irisviel von Einzbern.

What... You! How do you know my True Name!?

This is no ordinary opponent. Be careful, Saber!

Okay, Fujimaru, time for Round 2. But this opponent is quite powerful. She's on an entirely different level from Assassin.

I realize I'm shoving you into a rather difficult fight, but unfortunately, I need to put one more restriction on you.

...I'm sorry, but don't defeat Saber here. Only push far enough to make her retreat.

？！

I already told you we're pressed for time. I'll explain everything later. Now, go on and do your best!

Fou, fooou!?

The enemy Saber has withdrawn from battle!

？！

Leave her be. The next one is who we should go after.

The next...one?

I've been keeping the Servant who was supposed to fight Saber in my Qi Men Dun Jia formation. But it's about time...

Who are you? Was that strange stone maze your doing!? What happened to Saber!?

Fou!?

？！

Calm yourself, First Spear of the Knights of Fianna. We're not Archibald's enemies.

What!? You know my True Name...

Humph. We seem to be faced with a formidable opponent. How did you know that I was Lancer's Master?

? Where is that voice coming from?

He's shielding himself with magecraft. This Servant's Master is hiding somewhere close by.

Lord Kayneth, we have hastened to join your side and stand in support of you.

For certain reasons, I cannot divulge my name, so let me give the name of Lady Reines as my guarantor for the time being.

Reines... My niece? I demand to know what is going on here!

Though I would not hesitate to provide an explanation at the present time, I would beg your forbearance until tomorrow.

However, allow me to say just one thing in advance: I can tell you the current location of Caster.

Caster? How do you know that?

Tomorrow at noon, I will prove the truth of my words.

I will show you anew what value lies in listening to our story.

Humph...

Then, we will pay a visit to your penthouse suite in Fuyuki New Tower at 10 p.m. tomorrow night. So for tonight, will you allow us to go?

Ohh? So you even know my address, do you? ...Very well. I don't dislike a smart man like yourself.

All the more if you're a mage with a sense of gratitude. But that faint trace of a working-class accent in your English... What a shame.

But, very well. I shall accept your proposal.

Having observed how you handled Saber earlier, we will depart here in peace.

I will neither flee nor hide myself. I look forward to hearing just what it is you're planning.

That's... Lancer's Master?

Are you certain about this, Master?

Patience, Lancer. Yes, they are clearly a suspicious bunch. But when you know so little about what you face, it's best to wait and observe.

Best to be cautious when starting a fight, got it?

...Understood.

Then we'll be taking our leave. Come, let's get going, Fujimaru.

Now then, we can finally take a moment to talk properly. How far did I get in my explanation earlier?

？！

Ah yes, that's right. Defeated Servants are absorbed into the Greater Grail of Fuyuki as sacrifices to bring it to completion.

But what happens then is not the granting of a wish, but the release of Aŋra Mainiiu... From the start, this war was never meant to have a winner.

What a cruel tale...

After investing so much of yourself and even murdering fellow mages, your reward is the opposite of what you would wish... That's truly cruel...

It certainly is. I imagine if I'd been the winner of the Fifth Holy Grail War, I would have turned evil from despair.

Forgive me. And to think I'm the one who's always saying sentimentality is pointless.

In my experience, the Greater Grail activates in a limited capacity after the defeat of the fifth Servant.

However, that also means that if we can convince at least three Servants to withdraw from the battlefield intact...

Then the ritual will end up eternally in limbo, the Holy Grail will remain incomplete, and we can simply secure its vessel. Right?

Fooou.

Understood. So this time, we won't be fighting to defeat the other Servants, but to protect them, in a sense.

Though it'd be best if we could resolve all this amicably.

Right. But we can't assume everyone will agree peacefully.

Since we want the War to end in a stalemate, we need to first seek out and defeat the Servants with whom such an agreement is impossible.

？！

I'm aware of my own savagery. Let me say right now that I started off as a cowardly, subservient boy.

But the war strategist I housed in my body gets so worked up I couldn't help but change.

Truly. Strategists in Ancient China can get even more violent and ruthless than military generals.

What kind of foolishness is that?

It's one thing if theater actors or poets use that language, but why would you talk like that? Are you making fun of them?

Show some respect!

Fou, fofofooou...

？！

Now, back to our conversation.

Of the participants in this Holy Grail War, there are two Servants we couldn't even try to spare... Caster and Archer.

Without a shred of doubt, I can say those two would be incapable of reaching an understanding with us.

So it'd be best to get them out of the way before they start engaging other Servants.

That brings us to Assassin. Their Master is colluding with the one in possession of Archer.

Since we plan to fight Archer, we'll inevitably have to fight Assassin too. Though they've already marked us as opponents anyway.

Oh, the one we fought right after we Rayshifted here...

Next, we have Berserker... Since his madness prevents us from reasoning with him directly, everything depends on his Master.

The key will be whether we can convince the Master while he's still able to keep full control over Berserker without having to use Command Spells.

That said, there's always the possibility Berserker could go on a rampage himself, independent of his Master's will.

One vital thing I learned after the Fourth War ended is that the one who'd summoned Berserker was in an extremely unstable condition, both physically and mentally.

But I never did get to meet him myself...

Well then, shall we put dealing with Berserker on hold for now?

Though I can't help but feel it is risky, yes.

Therefore, by process of elimination, we can conclude that our best chances for success lie with Saber, Lancer, and Rider.

Ahh, so that's why you prevented that clash on the docks between Saber and Lancer.

Then that only leaves Rider's faction. Do you think they'd be likely to cooperate?

...

Fou?

？！

...Yes. It all depends on how well I can get them to accept what I'll say to them.