In the world of A Certain Magical Index, Lily’s Authority of Kings was merely enough to pull Sieg down from the sky, giving the impression of a mediocre Noble Phantasm. But the reality was far from it.

The Authority of Kings is the power to command submission.

The White Saber, the ideal King, the perfect King, stood at the zenith of all subjects' fealty, compelling countless followers into prostration… Though this was fantasy, it was precisely because it was fantasy that she was supreme.

To reiterate: before a perfect King, no one could look down upon her, no one could stand above her, and no one could refuse to submit to her.

Different worlds, different laws. The Index plane was not Lily’s own world. Although Rin summoned her largely through the power of the World Seed, offsetting some of the world's restrictions, limitations still existed, preventing her from unleashing her full strength. This was especially true for her Noble Phantasms; one was unusable, and while the Authority of Kings could be activated, its power was halved at least. Otherwise, if her other Noble Phantasm had been available, she alone would have been more than enough to deal with Sieg.

However, the situation now was entirely different.

Returning to the "homeland" of the Nasuverse, her strength could be displayed at one hundred percent, and her power had even seen a marked increase as fantasy transitioned into reality.

Still, even as a high-ranking Heroic Spirit, even if the Black Knight could not withstand Lily’s Noble Phantasm, he should not have been suppressed so easily. The more crucial reason lay in the identities of the two sides: the King of Knights and Lancelot—one a King, the other a retainer.

How could a subject not kneel before the majesty of his sovereign?

"Aaaaaaahhhhhhh…"

Kneeling on both knees, the Black Knight roared in frustration and anger through the gaps in his black armor—a hateful sound, like that of a resentful ghost.

Yet, suppressed by Lily’s Authority of Kings, he could not stand up for the time being. Conversely, to maintain the power of the Authority of Kings, Lily could not release her attack. Although it appeared effortless, she was using her full strength to restrain the Black Knight, as he was no mere underling, but one of the foremost Heroic Spirits capable of sparring with the King of Heroes.

Although the Authority of Kings is a powerful anti-army Noble Phantasm, it is truly meant for "anti-army" use. In a high-level one-on-one duel, it could only result in a stalemate. If the opponent were the King of Conquest or the King of Heroes instead of Lancelot, it likely wouldn't have much effect.

Lily clearly understood this, yet engaging the unusually fierce Black Knight in close combat was highly disadvantageous for her. Deploying her other Noble Phantasm would draw too much attention; it was her trump card, one she couldn't use in the opening engagement. Thus, the current contest was one of sheer willpower: would she completely subdue the Black Knight, or would he break free for a ferocious counterattack? It was a test of who possessed superior spirit.

"This young girl is quite interesting; well done, well done," observed King Iskandar of Conquest, gazing at the purely white knight standing firm with her sword planted, a bold smile gracing his face.

"Rider, now is hardly the time for compliments, is it?" asked Waver Velvet, Iskandar's Master, with palpable exasperation.

"Little Master, you misunderstand. Strength deserves praise, and look…" He pointed at Lily, his eyes alight with appreciation, "This young lady understands how to subdue an enemy with a King's authority. That’s somewhat similar to my own methods. Conquest, conquest—that’s how it should be done. If I could recruit her as a subordinate, my hopes for world domination would draw closer."

"..." Waver was rendered speechless.

Setting aside the unconventional battle between Lily and the Black Knight, and ignoring the reactions of those observing nearby, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, the Lancer who championed the chivalric code, received an irresistible command from his Master.

"Lancer, what are you waiting for? Strike down Saber and her Master now!"

At this moment, whether it was the King of Conquest, the King of Knights, or the two Masters idly watching from the sidelines, their attention was fixed on the clash between Lily and the Black Knight. Furthermore, the King of Knights' young lady had already endured two intense battles, sustaining injuries and teetering on exhaustion.

If the Lancer, adept at solitary combat, were to launch a sudden attack now, there was indeed a strong chance of successfully slaying the King of Knights. One had to admit, the Lancer’s Master possessed keen judgment, but—

How could this be compared to the duel between Diarmuid Ua Duibhne and Saber, a fight predicated on honor? How could he commit such a despicable act as an ambush?

The Lancer’s resistance was fierce. He could not abide by anything that violated the spirit of knighthood, but... before he could voice his refusal, he felt the very air around him freeze.

It was a Command Seal.

The Lancer instantly understood; his Master had issued a compulsory order.

Command Seals—to a Servant, they were absolute decrees. No Heroic Spirit, no matter how great, could defy them. Thus, the Lancer no longer possessed the freedom to command his own will. Gripping the two magical lances of differing lengths, the move he had prepared to aid Saber against the Black Knight instantly shifted its trajectory, lunging toward the slightly distracted and completely unguarded Saber.

The magical lance ripped through the air, emitting a sound like a mournful cry.

Like the crying magical lance, its wielder was weeping silently. Saber's attention was not focused on herself. Perhaps because she believed they shared the same chivalric code, or for some other reason, she let down her guard. Regardless, the moment the attack launched, the Lancer knew Saber would be unable to dodge it.

Bresal, the Red Rose of Demonic Power Reversal, an anti-unit Noble Phantasm.

This spear nullifies magical defenses; any defense constructed of magical energy is rendered ineffective against Bresal. Furthermore, any magical reinforcement or ability enhancement cast upon a weapon is entirely stripped away under this spear’s attack. It is a spear that kills Noble Phantasms, capable of defense through physical means as well—a truly integrated magical spear of offense and defense.

The defenseless Saber, struck by this attack, was undoubtedly doomed.

But the Lancer felt no excitement for the imminent victory; instead, he was consumed by boundless humiliation, wishing he could immediately end his own life.

"Artoria!"

Just as the Lancer thrust his killing blow, an incredibly clear voice resonated across heaven and earth. This sound caused the young lady, who had been watching the battle between the black and white knights, to instinctively turn her head. Then, she saw a streak of crimson hurtling toward her like lightning.

"Irisviel!"

Without hesitation, the young lady immediately unleashed her entire reserve of prana, throwing Irisviel back, while simultaneously swinging her invisible sword. In that sliver of time, she managed to block the Lancer’s fatal strike.

"Lancer, you—" The young lady was about to reprimand the Lancer for his shameless sneak attack, but the words caught in her throat. The Lancer's face was etched with grief and rage, telling the true state of Heroic Spirit Diarmuid better than any eloquent speech.

"I see, Lancer," the young lady sighed, rendered speechless.

His body bound by the Command Seals, the Lancer’s physical form no longer belonged to him. He was merely a cold, unfeeling machine of a Servant. All the skill and ability honed by Heroic Spirit Diarmuid were being wielded without regard for his personal convictions, used only to execute the Master's supreme command.

The King of Knights, herself a Heroic Spirit, deeply empathized with the Lancer's sense of regret.

"Saber, I am sorry."

The Lancer groaned in agony, launching his most ferocious attack against the young lady. In stark contrast to the Lancer's shamefaced expression, the hidden killing intent within his two spears wafted upward like rising heat.

Although his previous attack had been blocked by the King of Knights, a command was a command. Once the compulsory order was issued, he had no choice but to either kill Saber, be killed by Saber, or have the Master cancel the order; nothing could stop him otherwise. Therefore, no matter how unwilling he was internally, the Lancer could not cease his assault.

However, fortunately, during that moment of "ambush," his voice had been muffled by the Command Seal, making it impossible to communicate. Though he didn't know who warned Saber, he was grateful that it allowed her to anticipate and block his attack in time; otherwise, he would have had no choice but to seek atonement in death.

"Ugh..." While defending against the Lancer's assault, Saber couldn't help but frown. Her right hand already suffered the curse of his spear earlier, and she had just fought the Black Knight to the point of near collapse. Blocking that Noble Phantasm attack had required every ounce of her strength; she couldn't hold out long against this relentless onslaught.

Would it truly end here?

Just as the young lady pondered this, a deafening roar suddenly echoed around them—a sound powerful enough to shake the very earth.

It was a thunderclap that suddenly visited the battlefield, accompanied by a blinding flash capable of inverting day and night and causing dizziness, and a roar louder than thunder itself.

The lightning did not descend from the sky; it tore across the ground horizontally. No, what looked like lightning was a chariot wreathed in electrical energy, speeding across the terrain.

The Lancer swiftly rolled aside, narrowly evading the chariot, while Saber, startled by such a display of force, rapidly dodged to the side.

"Aaaaaahhhh!"

Accompanied by the Conquest King's shout, the magnificent chariot, pulled by two divine bulls and crackling with purple lightning, smashed down like a behemoth onto the spot where the two had just been fighting, then sped past. The violent impact made the earth tremble violently, producing a heaven-shaking sound.

With just that one pass, the area where the two had been fighting collapsed entirely. Witnessing the overwhelming destructive power of the King of Conquest's Noble Phantasm, Saber was left speechless.

The might of the Chariot of the Sun God was clearly less about dueling individuals and more about engaging armies. Even in that pass, the King of Conquest had clearly exercised considerable restraint. Otherwise, had he intended to wipe everyone out, both Lancer and Saber would have become casualties under the hooves and wheels.

The King of Conquest on his chariot appeared unperturbed. He looked up at the sky, tilting his chubby neck, and shouted, "Lancer's Master. I don't know where you are hiding to observe, but you have insulted the code of combat between knights with your despicable methods and are unworthy to face a magus."

Having said this, the King of Conquest directed a terrifyingly ferocious smile toward his unseen opponent, issuing a clear threat.

"Withdraw Lancer. If you wish to suffer further humiliation here, I will assist Saber. The two of us will crush your Servant. How about that?"

The anger of the invisible magus enveloped the entire battlefield, yet he offered no delay. "Retreat, Lancer. Tonight’s battle ends here."

Hearing the order, the Lancer let out a long sigh of relief and lowered his spear. "Thank you very much, King of Conquest."

The King of Conquest smiled, highly satisfied. "The magnificence on the battlefield belongs to those who deserve praise."

"Who was it that stopped me just now?" At that moment, the Lancer’s Master’s voice suddenly echoed through the air. Likely frustrated that his fatal strike had been thwarted, he seemed intent on exposing and taking vengeance on that person.

Moreover, this cloaked magus was clearly not shouting aimlessly; as he spoke, several bright magical projectiles sliced through the night sky toward a specific direction.

"Hmph. If you want others to show themselves, you shouldn't be a cowardly turtle hiding your head," the King of Conquest scoffed toward the sky. But after saying that, he too turned his gaze with curiosity toward the direction the magic bullets were aimed.

In fact, it wasn't just him; Saber and the Lancer were also intensely curious, eager to see the figure of that person, since, in a sense, both of them had been saved by this mysterious individual.

"Wait, don't go," in one of the corners illuminated by the magical darts, Rin tightly gripped Lin Luo, who was rising to his feet, and said with deep concern.

"I have to go; they specifically called me out," Lin Luo replied, spreading his hands in helplessness.

The one who had just saved Saber was him. Having knowledge of the original plot, he had some understanding of Lancer's Master. The moment he saw the strange expression flicker across the Lancer’s face, he warned Saber without a second thought.

He knew a few concealment spells that other magi used to hide their location, but the situation arose too suddenly, and he didn't have time to cast one. Thus, his location was exposed the moment he spoke. Although he knew this would place him in a more perilous situation, he simply could not stand idly by and watch Saber be killed.

"Even if he called you out, you don't have to show up! Just like that big oaf said, he's hiding like a coward; why should we reveal ourselves just because he told us to?" Rin retorted, clearly displeased.

"Rin," Lin Luo offered a wry smile, then sobered his expression. "If Lily, as a second Saber, appeared on the battlefield of the Holy Grail War, what do you think the consequence would be?"

"Uh..." Rin was momentarily stunned, then quickly responded, "Everyone else would certainly focus their attention on her, as she’s the eighth participant."

Lin Luo nodded, his voice deepening. "You are correct. Drawing attention is the least of it; if things go wrong, we could become the common enemy of all seven pairs."

Rin understood this point. The Holy Grail War served different ideals; even if Lily saved the King of Knights, the other party might be grateful, but they would never consider her an ally. In fact, given her unique identity, they might see her as the enemy they most needed to eliminate. However, "How could that be? At least my father..."

"I haven't told you about your father's situation, but his side is even more dangerous. I'll tell you why later."

"But..." Rin seemed ready to protest further, but Lin Luo quickly covered her mouth. "Rin, Lily has already revealed herself. Hiding in the shadows is no longer possible because the other seven Masters certainly won't stop until they investigate everything thoroughly. Therefore, Lily’s Master must step forward now, or all of us risk being investigated."

"Even so, it should be me..." Rin slapped his hand away, stubbornly asserting herself, but Lin Luo swiftly interrupted.

"Of course, it cannot be you. Whether the strongest or the most important, shouldn't I be the one to step up at this moment?" Lin Luo smiled at her, then turned around. "Hide yourself well. There's a very dangerous individual outside; that person shows no mercy to enemies, whether they are women or children."

With that, Lin Luo paid her no more mind and calmly walked out from the corner.

"I have emerged. Now, Lancer’s Master, do you have the courage to reveal yourself for a look?"

Standing in the light, Lin Luo shouted loudly toward the surrounding void.

"Ah, it’s you," upon seeing Lin Luo's figure, Saber and Irisviel exclaimed in unison, their faces filled with astonishment.

"It is good to see you again. I am Saber’s Master; you may call me the Eighth Participant," Lin Luo stated with a smile, though the words felt somewhat comical delivered in the presence of the genuine Saber.

"He's really a Master?" Irisviel looked at the young lady beside her, clearly filled with disbelief.

"My initial feeling was correct," Saber said gravely. Her emotions were complex. On one hand, this person and her Servant had saved her twice; as the King of Knights, she could not forget such a debt. On the other hand, since he was also a Master—be he the Seventh or the Eighth—he was undoubtedly an enemy. Thus, she felt conflicted.

Unlike the King of Knights, the King of Conquest and the Lancer were only shocked when they saw Lin Luo. They had never expected him to be such a young boy, nor possessed of such courage to reveal himself on this dangerous battlefield.

"Unlike you, a very brave little fellow," the King of Conquest patted the young man's shoulder and teased.

"..." Waver felt instantly exasperated.

"Thank you, young magus," the Lancer said sincerely, bowing after a moment of surprise.

"No, it is your chivalric spirit that I admire," Lin Luo laughed, genuinely, not just placating him. Diarmuid's character was evident to all; finding someone so steadfast in the knightly code was rare, earning praise even from an opponent.

Pat, pat, pat.

At that moment, the sound of feet striking the ground came from the side. Everyone turned to see the approaching figure: the young woman clad in pure white armor, who was from the Fourth Holy Grail War...

The Eighth Servant.

The Second Saber V.