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Night fell over the city.After dinner, Alex didn't go back to studying. Instead, he and Roxy brought their Servants and headed down to the harbor ahead of time.
Roxy couldn't understand why they had to come here in the middle of the night.But Merlin and Morgan seemed to sense something. Their gazes drifted toward the beach not far away.
There, under the moonlight, stood two strikingly beautiful women.
A blonde girl in a crisp suit waited at the edge of the shore.A silver-haired girl in a soft white cotton dress danced barefoot in the surf, her boots set aside, her pale legs gleaming in the moonlight. Her hat tilted slightly as she spun, the waves brushing against her feet like a lover's touch.
Her expression was pure joy.The blonde girl on the sand smiled as well, sharing in that quiet happiness.
The moon bathed the two of them in silver light — it was a scene so beautiful it hardly felt real.
"So she's been summoned too," Merlin murmured, watching the blonde girl.
In her world, King Arthur was a man, but that didn't change the familiar warmth she felt — the bond between master and apprentice crossed worlds.
Morgan, on the other hand, stared at the girl who looked almost exactly like her — her gaze flickering between cold indifference and faint resignation.
Alex smiled to himself.He opened the chat group and started a live broadcast.
The group had been chatting casually, but the moment he went live, the feed fell silent.
After a few seconds, Hestia sent the first message:
Hestia: "And here I thought you two went out for a walk. Turns out you're up to something!"
Alex: "Not really. Just here to watch a good show."
Erza: "Those two girls by the sea — are they a Master and Servant too?"
Alex: "Yep. That blonde beauty? The one and only King Arthur herself."
Miko Yotsuya: "@MisakaMikoto, you were right — Arthur's a girl!"
Misaka Mikoto: "I can't unsee this."
Saeko Busujima: "That Arthur looks so young… what, fourteen? Fifteen?"
Alex: "That's just her appearance. The moment she drew the holy sword, her body stopped aging."
Tsunade: "I just finished that 'Legend of King Arthur' you sent over. Never imagined the main character would be a little girl."
Erza: "Same here. And Merlin, too."
Alex: "Alright, enough talk. The show's about to start."
He closed the chat but kept the stream running.What was coming next would be too good not to share — a few battles, a few iconic moments. His group deserved front-row seats.
On the beach, Artoria and Irisviel chatted like sisters.
Then, without warning, a surge of mana burst out from the distant docks, where rows of shipping containers sat in the dark.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of weapons striking metal echoed through the night.Everyone turned to look.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Roxy frowned."He's issuing a challenge," Merlin said, lips curling into a smile. "A true knight's invitation.""Tch. I hate that kind of self-righteous nonsense," Morgan scoffed."You think anyone will accept?" Roxy asked, eyes lighting up."I don't know about others," Alex replied, eyes on Artoria, "but that Knight King definitely will."
The show was about to begin.
By the sea, Artoria immediately moved to Irisviel's side.
"An enemy Servant?" Irisviel asked, her tone sharp now."Yes. About a hundred meters out. Seems he's calling us out," Artoria said, eyes fixed on the port, her voice filled with restrained excitement.
A knight, for sure — bold enough to show himself openly.But was he a Lancer? An Archer?
"How proper of him. Does he mean for us to choose the battlefield ourselves?" Irisviel smiled faintly. "Shall we accept?""With pleasure."
Artoria's grin was bright and fierce.
The chat's livestream feature was impressive — no cameras needed, yet it captured their voices clearly, as if the system itself wanted a perfect show. Alex wasn't great with streaming, so he just let the system handle it.
The result? Perfect framing, flawless focus, automatic voice capture — it felt more like a movie than a live feed.
Soon, Artoria and Irisviel reached the port.There, standing beneath a floodlight, was a handsome man holding twin spears. A single beauty mark rested beneath his eye, making him seem both elegant and dangerous.
"Welcome," the man greeted them. "I've wandered this city all day, yet no one has had the courage to face me. You're the first — your aura's clear and sharp. You must be Saber, right?""That's right," Artoria replied, narrowing her eyes. "And you must be Lancer."
She scanned the area quickly, but the enemy Master remained hidden.
"So I can't even exchange names with the one I'm about to duel? What a dull restriction," Lancer said with a mocking smile, then spun both spears in a dazzling flourish.
Artoria didn't bother responding. Light flared around her, wind swirling to form a barrier — Invisible Air.When the light faded, her black suit had transformed into a shining blue battle dress and armor.
"Be careful, Saber," Irisviel warned softly. "I can heal you with magic, but that's all I can do.""I'll handle Lancer. But his Master's refusal to show up… that's concerning. Stay alert," Artoria replied."I will.""Then I leave my back to you, Irisviel.""Understood, Saber. Bring me victory."
Artoria smiled. Trust flowed between them, steady as the sea.
After all, she was King Arthur — the once and future king.With her Noble Phantasm in hand, she was unstoppable.
Saber and Lancer faced each other, the tension between them drawing every Servant's attention across the city.
The first true battle of the Holy Grail War was about to begin.
In Alex's livestream, the background music swelled, the atmosphere electric.
"So," Alex asked with a grin, "who do you think wins?" "Arthur," Merlin and Morgan said in unison — no hesitation. Alex chuckled. "I think Lancer's got the edge. Not a full win… but he'll draw blood."
"..."
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