When the number of participants in the Holy Grail War was complete, Kirei Kotomine ordered Assassin to assassinate Tokiomi Tohsaka at the Tohsaka estate. However, Assassin was instantly annihilated by Gilgamesh, Tokiomi Tohsaka's servant.
In reality, this was merely a ploy orchestrated by Tokiomi Tohsaka and Kirei Kotomine. Kirei Kotomine's servant was Hassan, Hassan of the Hundred Faces, capable of splitting into many individuals. The one who was annihilated was merely one of them.
...
Saber, Artoria Pendragon, who was playing with Irisviel, sensed the presence of other servants and proceeded to a nearby port where they were located.
Lancer, Diarmuid, had been waiting there for a long time, holding two spears, one long and one short, both wrapped in bandages.
Upon meeting, they exchanged pleasantries and flattery for a while. Afterwards, Artoria manifested her armor with mana, holding a sword hidden by the Invisible Air.
They began with a probing exchange, their melee combat evenly matched. Diarmuid could not fully unleash his power due to uncertainty about the length of Artoria's sword, while Artoria, not knowing which of his spears was the Noble Phantasm, did not exert her full strength.
Watching from a distance, Kirennis, seeing Diarmuid dawdling, immediately ordered him to use his Noble Phantasm and eliminate Saber.
Diarmuid dropped his short spear and engaged with his long spear alone. He immediately removed the bandages, revealing the Rune inscriptions on the spear.
Artoria's expression turned serious upon seeing this. She charged forward, wielding her holy sword. However, the moment the holy sword collided with the long spear, the Invisible Air was dispelled, and the holy sword revealed its golden radiance.
In this exchange, Diarmuid gained an understanding of the length of Artoria's sword, making the subsequent combat more advantageous for him.
Artoria was startled and felt uncertain. She advanced again, probing Diarmuid's Noble Phantasm. As expected, the Invisible Air was once again broken.
The two paused once more with a tacit understanding, engaging in more polite exchanges. When they attacked together again, Artoria chose to trust her intuition, evading Diarmuid's strike with a sidestep. Just as she was about to slay him, a sharp pain shot through her waist.
Diarmuid's long spear had pierced through the mana-forged armor and wounded Artoria's body. Seeing this, Irisviel quickly used healing magic to tend to Artoria's injuries.
From the previous encounter, Artoria had understood the nature of her opponent's Noble Phantasm, the Gáe Dearg, which could dispel any form of magic unless it was a fully completed magecraft.
Diarmuid also discerned Artoria's identity. That sword was undoubtedly the holy sword wielded by the Knight King of Britain, Arthur. Thus, her identity was self-evident.
Since it was a spear that could dispel magic, Artoria directly removed her armor to engage Diarmuid in combat.
As Artoria swung her holy sword towards Diarmuid, he picked up the short spear from the ground, blocked the holy sword with his long spear, and inflicted a wound on Artoria's left hand with his short spear.
Artoria was wounded again. Irisviel immediately used healing magic, but the wound did not heal.
At this point, Artoria understood her opponent's identity: a magic-dispelling long spear, a death-bringing short spear, and this knightly aura – undoubtedly a knight of the Fianna.
As both were knights, they held mutual admiration for each other.
However, at this moment, King of Conquerors, Iskandar, could no longer bear to watch. If this continued, Saber was likely to be eliminated. Iskandar desired conquest, not a personality that waited for others to fight amongst themselves before reaping the rewards. He immediately summoned his chariot, pulled by two oxen, and arrived at the port with his Master, Waver Velvet, accompanied by thunder symbolizing Zeus.
With the appearance of the King of Conquerors, Iskandar, Li Xing, who had been watching from the shadows, could no longer remain seated. He immediately transformed into a beam of light and descended from the sky, striking the ground and creating a large crater.
"Saber, Lancer, Rider. Allow me to introduce myself first. My name is Li Xing, the eighth Servant in this Holy Grail War, Ruler."
That's right, Li Xing had changed his class before arriving. He was originally a Foreigner upon his birth, and when participating in the Holy Grail War, he naturally chose a class with more flair.
"Hahahaha! I am the King of Conquerors, Iskandar! Will you surrender to me? Conquer the world with me!" Iskandar also announced his name, immediately demanding submission.
Waver Velvet, peeking his head out from the chariot, looked shocked. "Idiot! There are only seven classes in the Holy Grail War. Don't you find it odd that an eighth class suddenly appears?"
Not only Waver, but everyone else watching was also shocked. Especially Gilgamesh, who was observing from the shadows. He sensed an ancient aura emanating from Li Xing.
Putting other matters aside, Diarmuid and Artoria unequivocally rejected Iskandar. Diarmuid's reason for participating in the Holy Grail War was singular: loyalty. He served only his current master, Kirennis. In other words, Diarmuid had already achieved his wish and had no particular need for the Holy Grail.
As for Artoria, it went without saying. As the King of Britain, a monarch could not possibly submit to others.
"Ruler over there, what are your intentions? Would you care to become my subject?" Iskandar turned to Li Xing and asked.
Li Xing shook his head. "That is impossible. A mere king does not possess the qualification to make me submit. However, as a man, I like you. You are a true man!"
After saying this, Li Xing even gave Iskandar a thumbs-up. This caused Iskandar to burst into boisterous laughter. Being called a mere king and receiving such ridicule was a first for him. However, he found the young man who had introduced himself first, Li Xing, quite likable, and it was a shame he couldn't conquer him.
Iskandar then shouted to the surroundings, "Servants summoned by the Holy Grail! Gather here now! Cowards who fear to show themselves will be despised by the King of Conquerors, Iskandar!"
Iskandar's words undoubtedly provoked Gilgamesh, who was hiding in the shadows. As an arrogant king, Gilgamesh could not tolerate such mockery. He immediately materialized on a lamppost.
"I never imagined that two rats, who dare to call themselves kings while ignoring my existence, would appear in a single night," Gilgamesh declared, looking down at them from the lamppost with utmost arrogance.
"As expected, the alternate dimension self doesn't recognize me. This Golden Flash must be the King of Uruk during his pursuit of immortality. Untrained by Siduri, he's acting like an chuunibyou," Li Xing sighed inwardly. This meant he would have to bring out his sister.
"Heroes who can be called kings, there is only I, the king, in heaven and on earth! The rest are merely base mongrels!"
Upon hearing Gilgamesh's incredibly arrogant words, Iskandar immediately asked Gilgamesh to announce his name. Since he was a king, he should not be timid. This was Iskandar's way of kingship.