228 Gathering of Kings

"...Are you provoking me, Rider?"

Angry flames burned in Artoria's pale golden eyes as her magical armor reappeared. She took a step forward, wielding her black holy sword with a chilling aura surged forward.

"Don't mind it, Rider. Saber is indeed King Arthur, just twisted into this form by her Master during the summoning." Arkhan said with a smile.

"Oh? So that's how it is..." Iskandar nodded in realization, thumping his chest. Soon after, he furrowed his brows and looked at Irisviel. "No wonder Lancer was furious earlier. Distorting these renowned heroes for one's own desires is such a vile and dirty act. It truly irks me..."

He respected the strong, even enemies. He would extend a hand without hesitation to a defeated foe, adhering to the principle of 'victory without annihilation, dominance without humiliation'.

The actions of Saber's Master, which distorted the will of a hero, were an undeniable insult and unforgivable in his eyes.

Iskandar stared at Irisviel emotionlessly, his intense gaze filled with strong killing intent with an overwhelming pressure descended like a tidal wave.

Irisviel involuntarily took a step back, fear evident on her lovely face. For a homunculus born just nine years ago, facing the King of Conquerors was undeniably a significant pressure she couldn't endure.

Still hiding in the shadows, Kiritsugu clenched his fist tightly, while his expression darkened visibly.

A dark figure soon stood in front of Irisviel. Though petite, she stood firm like an unyielding needle in the sea.

"This is my choice, Rider. If you continue targeting my Master like this, I'll consider it as a challenge." Artoria said while narrowing her eyes.

Iskandar blinked, then burst into laughter.

"Guhahaha! Alright, if that's what you want, Saber, I won't hold it against you."

The heavy pressure instantly receded like a tide. Irisviel immediately breathed a sigh of relief, but a sudden sense of exhaustion overcame her, causing her to slump.

A black-armored arm reached out, stabilizing her in time.

"...Thank you, Saber."

"No problem." Artoria responded indifferently.

"What about you, Lancer?" Iskandar turned to Arkhan. "Would you consider my proposal? We can discuss the terms."

'Just as expected, a hot-blooded fool, just like in the original...' Arkhan thought and smirked with a hint of helplessness. "I am the King of Britain; I cannot submit to another king. Besides, I'm only temporarily staying in this world. Once my purpose is fulfilled, I'll leave."

"Is that so? What a pity..." Iskandar sighed with a tinge of regret on his face.

"See?! I told you it wouldn't be that simple, you big dummy!"

A short figure of a young man, with a haircut to the neck, climbed out of the chariot and angrily tapped his frail arms at Iskandar. Pitifully, the power of the young man wouldn't even scratch an itch on Iskandar, standing over two meters tall with bulging muscles.

'Waver Velvet, it seems that Rider's group hasn't changed at all...' Arkhan's eyes revealed a thoughtful expression.

Kayneth, who had been on edge since the failed assassination attempt, spotted the familiar figure in the chariot. His eyes instantly boiled with endless rage.

Instinctively, he wanted to step forward and harshly reprimand the traitor who had stolen his catalyst. However, shortly after, he realized that, as a Lord of the Clock Tower and the ninth-generation head of the Archibald family, shouting like a ruffian would be unbecoming of him. As a noble, even in the face of a student's betrayal, one must maintain the appropriate elegance.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Kayneth replaced the serious expression on his face with a light smile and stepped forward with a calm pace, using magecraft to amplify his voice.

"Waver Velvet."

"Professor Kayneth!"

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Waver's body instantly stiffened, and a look of fear openly appeared on his face.

'Good, that's the reaction I want...'

Watching his student's reaction, Kayneth nodded satisfactorily in his mind, then continued his speech.

"Stealing my catalyst to join the Holy Grail War? Do you want to prove you're stronger than those mages and demonstrate your theories aren't wrong? Laughable. In that case, I'll set up a special extracurricular lesson for you. Let me teach you, without holding back, the mutual slaughter among mages and the terror and pain within. You should feel honored about it."

'His act is pretty believable... Isn't this also his first time participating in this so-called slaughter among mages?' Arkhan silently pierced through the facade of his Master's bravado.

Fear of Kayneth and the terror of death instantly filled Waver's heart. He clutched his head with both hands, trembling as if he had already foreseen his own doomed fate.

But suddenly, a pair of large hands patted his back. He instinctively raised his head, meeting a rugged face with red-colored hair.

"Rider..."

"Don't forget what I told you, Master. If you follow this king, you must have the courage to face the world. That's the true conquest! Guhahaha!"

Iskandar cracked a wild laugh, turned his head to the empty void, and shouted loudly.

"Heard that, unknown mage! To command the one who rides with this king, you must be a warrior capable of fighting on the battlefield with me! Cowards without the courage to even show themselves aren't qualified at all! Guhahaha..."

'Damn red-haired ape...' Kayneth gritted his teeth as he heard Rider's insulting statement, intending to have Lancer teach this Servant who didn't know his place a lesson.

However, before he could, an arrogant voice suddenly interrupted.

"A mere mongrel from who knows where dares to prattle in front of this king. Should I say you're audacious, or just ignorant?"

A golden glow abruptly materialized out of nowhere and gathered on top of a streetlamp.

A golden-haired man, clad in the same golden-colored armor, stood tall. His crimson eyes revealed an ancient and indifferent gaze as he overlooked the people below him.

However, when his gaze fell on Arkhan, he couldn't help but pause.

The height of the shipping container where Arkhan was, happened to match the height of the streetlamp he stood on, preventing him from looking down on Arkhan as he did with others.

The man furrowed his brow slightly, but quickly dismissed this minor issue, continuing to arrogantly survey the people below.

"You mongrels who ignore my presence and claim to be kings, are you ready to face my punishment?"