An Holy Grail War was destined, by tradition established centuries ago, to feature precisely seven Servants—one Heroic Spirit for each class, no more and no less. Yet, this current War had utterly overthrown all conventional wisdom, unprecedentedly manifesting an eighth Servant, a second Berserker.

Thus, when the Pure White Knight strode toward them, everyone present, save for Lin Luo, felt an indescribable sense of bewilderment, with the true Knight King experiencing the most complex emotions of all.

The girl pressed her lips together, observing the figure who was like her own reflection in a mirror. No one knew what thoughts churned within her.

“Lily, where is the Black Knight?” Lin Luo glanced behind the Pure White Knight, noting the Black Knight’s complete disappearance. Though he had some inkling, he couldn't help but ask.

Lily’s reply was precisely what he had anticipated: “They were locked in a stalemate. Just moments ago, the opponent suddenly seemed to exhaust his power, his spiritual form dissipating, allowing him to flee.”

With that, the Pure White Knight positioned herself directly behind Lin Luo, eyes forward, an image of devoted servitude… No explanation was needed; that level of understanding had been forged during their time in the A Certain Magical Index plane.

The Black Knight’s retreat was unsurprising. While the power granted by the Berserker class in a Holy Grail War is immense, the drain on the Master’s mana is equally staggering.

The Black Knight had engaged the King of Heroes immediately upon arrival, then battled the Berserker, followed by an all-out fight with Lily… To consecutively clash with three top-tier Heroic Spirits—unless one was composed entirely of circuits, like Illya—was unsustainable for any Master. The fact that he managed three such battles, only to finally be suppressed by Lily’s regal authority, already attested to his formidable strength.

But who exactly was the Black Knight’s Master? Kariya Matou? Zouken Matou? Or someone Lin Luo was yet unaware of?

No immediate answer presented itself, so Lin Luo temporarily set the question aside and looked ahead… At this moment, Lin Luo and Lily formed one faction; the Berserker and Irisviel formed another; Rider and Waver grouped together; and the Saber of Black stood apart. These four distinct alignments stood in closest proximity, each heart harboring varying degrees of doubt and conflict.

“I suspect no one here wishes to see certain individuals exit the stage so quickly. So, perhaps this initial skirmish can conclude here? The pesky old tortoise won't be showing up anyway,” Lin Luo swept his gaze across the assembled figures and smiled lightly.

Hearing this, the Saber of Black showed a flash of shame, as that ‘tortoise’ referred to his Master.

“Return to me at once!” Whether provoked by Lin Luo’s jab or satisfied by realizing Lin Luo’s identity, the magician’s voice thundered from the void, thick with barely suppressed rage.

The Saber of Black gave a wry smile, directing looks of thanks once more toward Lin Luo and Rider.

He then nodded toward the Berserker, who, after recovering slightly, nodded back. No words were necessary; they confirmed their mutual understanding, signaling that their unfinished duel would take place at another time.

Having secured this understanding, the Saber of Black dematerialized without hesitation.

“Then, I too should depart,” Rider announced next, pulling his Master onto the magnificent chariot.

“For what purpose have you come here, Rider?” the Berserker looked up at the imposing figure on the chariot and asked in a low voice.

“Ah, I haven’t given that much thought,” Rider responded with an air of detachment, shrugging dismissively. “Reasons, plans—all those troublesome affairs are best left for future historians to uncover. We heroes need only act on impulse, charging across the battlefield with roaring passion.”

“Those are words only a king can utter,” the Berserker replied, her disappointment evident, though her stance remained firm. She championed incorruptible chivalry, a principle far removed from Rider’s unrestrained modus operandi.

“Oh? Is my path as a king an anomaly? Hmph, that’s only natural,” Rider scoffed, ignoring the challenging glare directed his way. “All paths to kingship are unique. As kings, you and I are inherently opposed, like water and fire. Do you intend to cleave this world into absolute black and white realms?”

“That is precisely what I desire. Today, I stand firm: Rider’s violent rule is something I can never accept, as irreconcilable as water and fire.”

“Enough, enough, don't be so aggressive,” Rider chuckled lightly, gesturing toward the girl’s injured left arm. “As Iskandar, I would never stoop to exploiting a wound. Berserker, settle your affairs with Lancer first. Afterward, I shall duel the victor between Lancer or you. If you emerge victorious then, we shall certainly have cause to prove our respective paths to kingship. Moreover…”

Here, the hearty man adopted a rare, almost sardonic expression, glancing at the Pure White Knight beside Lin Luo. “Your more pressing concern right now isn't trouble with me, but rather someone else, eh, hahaha!”

She fell instantly silent. Yes, there was one matter more pressing than settling the score with Rider, yet one she dreaded facing. That was why she had ignored it earlier, choosing instead to confront Rider, whose immense power paradoxically offered her a strange ease.

“Then, Knight King, we take our leave for now. The next time we meet, I shall unleash all my fervor for a true battle… The eighth Servant, Berserker,” Rider concluded, seeing the girl was beyond words. He cast one last heavy look at Lin Luo and Lily, then tightened the reins of the two divine oxen.

The bulls roared, crackling with lightning that shot from their hooves as they galloped toward the sky.

“I await that day, Rider,” Lily met the challenge with eyes that held no fear.

“Hahahaha… Until we meet again!” Accompanied by the roar of thunder and booming laughter, Rider’s chariot soared into the southern sky. With them gone, only the two Berserkers and their Masters remained, standing in profound silence.

The destructive tempest having subsided, quiet descended. The sound of waves striking the cliffs, the distant clamor from the streets, began to secretly punctuate the night sky… With the cessation of fighting, the local barrier had been lifted.

The Berserker gazed at the girl who was her perfect double, her expression fraught with complexity.

“Who… who exactly are you?” Finally, the heavily suppressed Berserker could bear it no longer, demanding in a low tone.

“Artoria Pendragon.” Lily, in battle, was demonstrably different from Lily out of combat. If normally she was a cheerful, innocent girl, in battle she became a composed, cold warrior. At this moment, she maintained that same calm demeanor.

“The anger on your face is unmistakable. End this prank now. While I appreciate the aid you offered, I will never forgive anyone who uses my name without warrant.” The girl gripped her invisible sword; she simply could not accept the existence of a second self—how could such a thing be possible?

Lily, at this moment, also raised her hand, but unlike her counterpart, she merely held her sword level before her chest. “Excalibur. He who draws this sword is King.” She seemed to be offering proof of herself.

The other Berserker froze, utterly unable to comprehend. “…But Excalibur was clearly broken.”

“That was your sword, not mine,” Lily stated proudly.

Confusion flooded her mind, the bizarre circumstances leaving her with almost no capacity to think.

“Artoria, have you ever heard of parallel worlds?” At this point, Lin Luo deliberately coughed, drawing everyone’s attention before addressing the Berserker.

“Parallel worlds?” The Berserker frowned slightly. This was not unfamiliar territory; the Second Magic of the world’s Five Great Magics operated upon parallel worlds.

“Yes, but not in the way you usually understand it…” Seeing the expression on the girl’s face, Lin Luo realized she was misunderstanding. He carefully chose his words. “Originally, along the parallel line of time, a person can only make one choice at any given moment, so the world proceeds as an unbending straight line. But what if, at that specific moment, that person makes two radically different choices simultaneously?”

“You mean…” Her expression shifted; she was beginning to grasp Lin Luo’s meaning.

“Exactly as you suspect. Because two entirely divergent events occurred at a single point in time, two completely different futures evolved, leading to the extension of two distinct worlds.” As he spoke, Lin Luo pointed toward Lily. “She is you, and yet she is not you.”

In truth, Lin Luo couldn't offer a perfectly accurate explanation for Lily's existence; he himself was still struggling to comprehend it. But treating the world of fantasy and the world of reality as two separate domains was, at least for now, a workable premise.

“This…” Although the explanation seemed plausible and accounted for the intact Excalibur, the Berserker still found it almost impossible to believe, yet she possessed no means to refute it, remaining lost in thought.

“Well, that is all I have to say for now. If you have further questions… hmm, we will meet again soon enough, perhaps then. Farewell.”

Saying this, Lin Luo turned to leave with Lily. Halfway through, however, he seemed to recall something and spun back, addressing the still-stunned Berserker. “Artoria, how long do you intend to cling to that mistaken wish?”

“Eh?” The Berserker’s eyes snapped wide open, shocked.

“I just said that when different choices are made at the same moment, the future doesn't just select the 'better' one; it’s possible for both to exist simultaneously. So your wish…” Ah, forget it. Noticing the Berserker’s shock giving way to resistance, Lin Luo sighed and stopped speaking. “Let’s go, Lily.”

Once everyone else had departed, Irisviel finally relaxed from her tension, letting out a long breath as she surveyed the surroundings—utter devastation marked the area. This was inevitable, given the gathering of six Servants, several of whom spared no cost in deploying their Noble Phantasms across the battlefield.

Had the past Holy Grail Wars ever seen such ferocity in the opening round? Absolutely not. For this initial battle was not only fierce but deeply bizarre.

She remained silent, staring in the direction Lin Luo and Lily had gone. The sharp focus that had marked her face during the desperate struggle had vanished, replaced by a vacant, soul-lost bewilderment.

Irisviel did not know the Berserker’s wish for entering the War, but she knew Lin Luo’s words must have dealt her an immense blow to elicit such a reaction.

Irisviel didn't know what to say. She had stepped onto the battlefield of Fuyuki brimming with absolute certainty of victory, only to see the valiant Knight King suffer a colossal setback in the very first engagement.

“Airi, don't worry, I am fine.” As a Knight King who had known nothing but dominance on the field, the Berserker knew perfectly well what she needed to do. Returning to herself, she was once again the stern, cool warrior.

Though the sight of the girl in armor was beautiful and untouchable, like a perfect painting, Irisviel found no comfort in it—not only because of the girl’s forced fortitude, but because she knew the Berserker was severely wounded.

“Your left wrist…” During the initial clash with the Saber of Black, the Berserker had been struck by his Noble Phantasm, a Cursed Lance capable of inflicting incurable damage. An attack from it directly reduced the maximum HP limit; even healing sorcery or regenerative abilities could only restore the body to its injured state.

This diminished state would persist until the opponent’s Noble Phantasm was destroyed or the Saber of Black eliminated. In essence, the Berserker needed to confront the Saber of Black before she could regain full combat power.

“Yes. My arm aches, I let my composure slip. As Rider suggested, failing to duel Lancer to dispel the curse on the wound will hinder my ability to fight the other Servants.” The Knight King spoke in a level tone, offering Irisviel no discernible trace of alarm.

The girl’s rigidity, ironically, comforted Irisviel. She looked down and whispered, “Thank you, Berserker. Because of you, I am alive.”

The girl offered a gentle smile in return. “I face forward in battle to protect you, Irisviel, who stands behind me.”

Irisviel felt it once more: Berserker’s strength, bravery, and tenderness. Though she was a full generation younger, still underage, her frame was small, her wrists slender—yet she was a true Knight, a hero.

“The battle has only just begun, Irisviel. Tonight was merely the first night of the war.”

“Yes.”

“All are equally matched, formidable foes. None of the heroes summoned from different eras are mediocre opponents.”

In that moment, the girl cast aside all doubt and apprehension. Her voice carried no hint of anxiety or fear. Gazing out toward the southern night sky before the storm broke, she stated calmly, “This is the Holy Grail War.”

But could her heart truly find peace?

… This night was destined to be turbulent for all participants in this Holy Grail War. Though the initial clash had ended, the shock reverberating in every mind could not subside. If any one person felt the most utterly adrift, it was likely Tokiomi Tohsaka.

With the Church’s backing and the King of Heroes as his Servant, he had considered this Holy Grail War a near certainty for victory. Even the unexpected appearance of the Black Knight—a figure almost perfectly suited to counter the King of Heroes—was not a major impediment. Apart from the still-enigmatic Berserker, he had documentation on all others. Considering the Berserker’s class, this was hardly surprising.

The true identities of all Servants except one were known. Furthermore, the highly dangerous Berserker and Lancer had both been defeated by powerful opponents. The Berserker’s injury, in particular, would severely impact later battles. By all accounts, Tokiomi Tohsaka held an absolute advantage. Or so it should have been, but…

The emergence of the eighth Servant and her Master on the battlefield had completely shattered Tokiomi Tohsaka’s meticulous planning, instilling a cold dread even in his usually calm heart.

“Why him? Who is he? What is his objective? An eighth person? Such a thing…” Tokiomi thought, organizing his thoughts, yet remaining profoundly unsettled. For the first time in his life, anxiety clawed at his spirit.

…

“That is everything I know.”

Late at night, in a modest inn, Lin Luo watched the few girls before him under the soft lamplight. After returning from the battlefield, he had spent nearly an hour detailing nearly everything he knew about the Fourth Holy Grail War to them.

“Kirei Kotomine. Indeed, I have long harbored serious suspicions about that beast. I must go kill him!” Rin clenched her fist, gritting her teeth as she spoke. Learning that her father had been killed by Kirei Kotomine, she yearned to strike immediately, but Lin Luo stopped her.

“Kirei Kotomine deserves death, but not yet,” Lin Luo advised. Kirei was currently allied with Tokiomi Tohsaka, making an attack difficult. Lin Luo couldn't be sure if Kirei had already earned Gilgamesh’s favor, and given the King of Heroes’ overwhelming strength, Lin Luo preferred not to engage without certainty.

Moreover, keeping Kirei alive offered a slight check on Kiritsugu Emiya… A man with an innate Domain, a cold-blooded assassin—that one could not be underestimated.

“If we can’t kill him now, we should at least warn my father,” Rin worried for her father.

“We have no proof. Would he believe us?” Lin Luo still objected. Tokiomi Tohsaka’s trust level in Kirei Kotomine was rated A-rank; otherwise, he wouldn't have been so easily deceived to his death. As for Lin Luo, despite saving his daughter, Tokiomi knew nothing of his origins. Between an enigmatic stranger with unknown motives and a disciple who studied his magic for three years and remained fiercely loyal, whom would Tokiomi believe? The answer was obvious.

Even with Rin pleading his case, it would be futile. She was only seven years old, and even genius children are easily misled. Unless Rin revealed her identity as someone from ten years in the future, but… that was preposterous. Tokiomi Tohsaka would likely assume Rin had been brainwashed by Lin Luo.

Admittedly, the Tohsaka family’s Magic Crest would be compelling evidence, but it still wouldn't fully convince Tokiomi, especially since, on the surface, Lin Luo was the eighth Servant and thus Tokiomi’s enemy.

Furthermore, even if Tokiomi believed Lin Luo’s words, what would be the next step? Should Lin Luo ally with Tokiomi to defeat all other opponents so he could claim the Grail?

No. While Lin Luo would endeavor to save Tokiomi’s life out of respect for Rin, he would absolutely prevent him from obtaining the Grail. He wanted no one to win it; he even considered destroying the Greater Grail himself.

“Then what do we do now? Just stand by and watch?” Rin found herself unable to refute Lin Luo’s detailed analysis.

“Of course not.” Originally, if he had remained hidden, Lin Luo could have used his foreknowledge of the plot to maneuver. But now that he was exposed, that approach was void. His interference would certainly throw the plot into chaos, rendering any prior plans useless. Therefore, he would treat everyone as an enemy…

“Let’s make this Holy Grail War far more insane. We’ll turn this whole thing upside down!”

“Mikoto, Mugino, Misaki, now is the time for you to shine. Let’s prove whether esper powers are stronger or if Magecraft prevails!”

Lin Luo then addressed the girls gathered before him.

P: Apologies, a minor error occurred previously. The Berserker was injured on her left hand, not her right. I intended to correct it, but VIP editing seems complicated, so I left the earlier parts as they were, using the left hand as the standard going forward. If this causes inconvenience, please accept my apologies. This passage is not counted. A