Dream of The Beginning

Among the original seven seats, only six seats were filled. The other five participants were accompanied by their Servant behind them. From their looks toward Ryan, it was apparent that they were intrigued by Ryan who just appeared in their midst.

According to the introduction they had had few moments before, from the left seat to the right;

Kazuki Kei. A chubby young man in his mid-twenties. He seemed quite carefree and easy-going. He was a self-proclaimed avid otaku who enjoyed both old and new animes.

However, being carefree could either mean one was ignorant of the state of things, or one had the confidence to deal with anything which backed up their carefree attitude. Whether Kazuki was the former or the latter, it was something he didn't really care at the moment. As long as Kazuki didn't become his enemy, it was fine and all.

Kazuki's Servant was Saber – Nero Claudius.

Mikaela Graham. A beautiful blonde woman. If not for the grumpy face she had all the time, her appearance would be...

–still a notch lower than Artoria, though.

Mikaela looked like she was in her early twenties, but, yup definitely not his cup of tea. Her Servant was Assassin – Osakabehime.

Arthur Blair. A middle-aged British man looking in his early forties. He styled himself looking like a proper gentleman, but Ryan still felt there was something sickening about him. Arthur's Servant was Caster – Medea Lily.

Kizuna. Although she might look like a young maiden, but her true age should be older than how she looked. After all, she was the Reincarnator that Kazuki told him about. Her Servant was Lancer – Karna.

Raiha. A masked woman with silky, long purple hair. She gave off a familiar, yet also an unfamiliar vibe to Ryan. For some reasons, Ryan felt an inexplicable sense of hostility coming from her...

Her Servant was Archer – Tomoe Gozen.

'I don't think I've offended her, do I?'

The only empty seat was supposed to be Peter Vandrick's, but since he was not in condition to attend this gathering, his seat was left empty. Minamoto no Raikou stood behind Peter's seat as she looked at Ryan from time to time, smiling lightly.

Ryan nodded slightly in return to Raikou's feeling of gratitude. Although he didn't intend to help her, but it was a fact that she was released from the mind control after Ryan sealed Peter's mind. The reason she still attended this gathering wasn't because of her Master, but because she wanted to return the favor to Ryan.

'This thing…' Ryan turned his attention toward the grey bracelet on his hand.

According to these people, the grey bracelet was a terminal of Pandora System. It allowed the user to check their status, to communicate with the user's allies, to buy common items from System Store, and to check the quest given by Pandora System.

'Status, huh… it seems the terminal can only detect my current stats, but not my skills? Isn't this too lousy?? But, on another note, the communication feature is quite helpful.'

As of now, his recorded merit was zero, while the point shown in the terminal was merely the provisional points for beginner; 3000 points. In the exchange option, that amount of point could only get him a desert eagle with three clips of bullet.

If one wanted to buy more advanced items such as; bloodline changer, mutant gene, skills or mystic treasures, one had to return to main plane and exchanged their merit and point for their desired item.

'Ah, how nostalgic. It feels like a long time since I use that spell.'

Mana Bullet – the magecraft he developed in accordance to his wind and fire attribute. In actuality, he didn't need to shoot them through gun or rifle projections, but he felt it was cooler that way…

As for the quest;

1. Defeat opposing Servant – reward 10,000 Points.

2. Defeat opposing Master – reward 3000 Points.

3. Survive the first stage – reward 5000 Points.

4. "Seize the King" – reward ???

'It seems like Pandora System encourages participants to go for the opposing Servants instead of their Master...

'But it's also understandable. Granted that a normal Master would be weaker than their Servant, the reward for defeating their Servant should be higher than the reward for eliminating the Master. This is the way of proper Holy Grail War.

'However, since when people would just stick by the old rules? They would be definitely going for the opposing Masters for efficiency...'

Ryan shook his head slightly as he was examining his terminal.

At same time,

Arthur spoke kindly as he looked toward everyone in the room, "Our last participant has finally arrived. Although it is unfortunate that Peter's unable to attend this meeting, let's not be discouraged. I am sure our new friend here can forgive him for the time being, right? For the sake of our team–"

Arthur smiled kindly as he looked toward Ryan. Although, even if he appeared to be asking politely to Ryan, his tone seemed to tell otherwise. As if it would be better for Ryan to forgive Peter and to undo the seal on him.

"…"

Ryan returned Arthur's gaze with an indifferent look.

To ask him to release the bastard who wanted to harass Artoria and him? Is he seeking death? It's good that he already let that bastard keep his sorry life. Although he may be living as a brain-dead, but he is still alive right?

"Hmm. Do you have other opinion on it, Ryan?" A slight frown appeared on Arthur before it was quickly replaced by a kind smile.

"...if you want to plead for him, you better be ready to share his due desert. Now I ask you; would you risk your life for him, old man?" Ryan clasped his hand together as he smiled. At same time, a terrifying aura burst forth from Ryan, directly encasing Arthur Blair without even touching the other participants or Servants.

'This guy! He's more terrible than I thought…! It's not a dumb luck for Peter to fall on his hand.'

Arthur saw that not only the others were fine, but they didn't even realize Ryan had released such terrible aura on him. Arthur's back was wet with sweat as he tried to withstand the pressure on him with all his might.

Just then, Karna narrowed his eyes. He looked toward Ryan, "You are strong. I look forward to fight you, young man."

The pressure on Arthur instantly vanished, Ryan turned toward Kizuna and Karna as he smiled, "Likewise. It'd be my pleasure to fight the great hero of Mahabharata like yourself, Karna."

The two people stared at each other. Their eyes exuded burning battle spirit. Both of them possessed a pure desire to fight without the distinction of good or evil; only the clash of skill and force.

"Now, now, the enemy faction will be overjoyed if you two fight it out right now. How about you two have your battle after we defeated the opposite faction first?" Kazuki interjected with a laugh.

Hearing that, Ryan and Karna held their battle intent. Karna nodded, "That is fine too."

Ryan glanced toward Kazuki, feeling a little surprised, "What's taking you all so long to defeat the enemy faction? I thought you already know about the 'plot', Kazuki?"

Hearing Ryan's question, a dry smile surfaced on his face. Kazuki looked at his other teammates before he turned toward Ryan, "Well, do you think this line up is strong?"

Saber, Nero Claudius.

Archer, Tomoe Gozen.

Lancer, Karna.

Caster, Medea Lily.

Assassin, Osakabehime.

Berserker, Minamoto no Raikou.

'Even without Rider Servant, they seem quite alright to me?' Ryan thought quietly as he replied, "It's a good line up. Saber, Lancer and Berserker as the spearhead; Archer giving the fire support; Assassin for reconnaissance and defense; Caster for healing and assistance...

"Isn't that how you were thinking for the battle?"

A stunned look appeared on some of the participants when Ryan finished analyzed their Servants and their supposed position.

"That– hahaha haha ha... Yeah, it was supposed to be like that..." Kazuki looked both surprised and awkward at same time.

'They... don't tell me that they were just playing around this entire time?' Ryan felt a little exasperated as he looked at Kazuki's strange expression.

"..we can't really start the Holy Grail War without the last participant and Servant. All of our battles before this were merely skirmishes and a way to gauge opponents' ability. You should summon the last Servant before Pandora System deems this Holy Grail War has truly started." Mikaela suddenly spoke. Her expression became serious as her previous grumpy look had disappeared.

Pandora System prepared a free summoning feature to facilitate participants who couldn't afford summoning Servant by their System points.

Although the Servants summoned through free summoning were generally weak compared to those summoned by System points, it was still better than nothing.

For Ryan who had just been initiated into Pandora System, he still couldn't afford to use the lavish feature of direct summoning from System points. He could only use the free summoning feature. Though, if he had a particular relic, it was also possible to summon his Servant directly without relying on Pandora System.

"Our Servants are indeed strong, but the opponent side also has something to restrain us; Bazett and Cú Chulainn. There is also Matou Sakura of Heaven's Feel who can corrupt our Servants if we're not careful." Kazuki added with slightly helpless look on his face.

'Rider Servant...'

Ryan slightly knitted his brows as he had a thoughtful look on his face.

Honestly, Ryan was not interested to have to fight in another Holy Grail War at this moment. After all, he had just finished a Holy Grail War few months earlier.

At this moment, Ryan felt like he could sympathize with Manaka Sajyou to an extent.

Manaka was already connected to the [Root] since birth. As such, when she participated in the Holy Grail War, she found the goal of reaching the [Root] like what other magi wished for to be...bland. It already lost its meaning for her.

That's why she decided to use the Tokyo Holy Grail War for its true purpose; manifesting the Beast.

Meanwhile, not only Ryan was connected to the [Root] like Manaka, but he also wielded a True Magic. To him, winning or losing in this Holy Grail War had similarly lost its meaning.

'This is a meaningless battle. Just what's my purpose here?'

A sense of boredom grew within his heart.

Ryan then glanced at Artoria behind him. For a second there, Artoria sensed that Ryan seemed to have a weird idea about her.

"Kazuki, do you see the golden king during your stay in Fuyuki?"

"Gilgamesh? Nope. Not even a shadow of him."

"Then the priest?"

"I heard that he died few years ago. I dunno the details, though. Anyway, this worldline is different from the one we know." Kazuki shrugged slightly. He was also baffled by the differences.

Then, Kazuki looked at Ryan with interest, "What about you? Did you also join the Holy Grail War in this world? Nee~ tell me, was that how you met Artoria Lancer?"

"...yeah. That's right." Ryan appeared slightly surprised. His lips curved upward a little, and his gaze seemed to be reminiscing of the past.

His experience in the previous Holy Grail War couldn't be said to be an accomplishment. However, it was also not a failure.

Archer's ambition. Kanade's grim fate. His bitter resentment when his Frost Dragon King Arcane Art was severed. And the Sixth Magic which had been thrusted toward him at the end.

Things happened without him had much choices in the matter.

'Or, it could also because I lacked enough awareness of my surroundings. If only I was able to see into Kanade's anguish, or actively seeking the information on Archer back then...'

Ryan took a deep breath.

There was also the possibility that he couldn't unravel Kanade's distorted fate from the beginning. Or that he was unable to prevent Archer's ambition at the end.

Man proposes, but God disposes.

Yet, it also boiled down to one's own initiative. Regardless of the result, if he did try his best previously, he felt like he could accept whatever the result might be.

Yes, the conclusion of his previous Holy Grail War could be said as great.

He got the Sixth Magic. He built a bond with Artoria and Yu, and his Demon King Arcane Art had been upgraded.

However, those were the result of circumstances leading to such end. Those were not the things that he really wanted.

He didn't deny that he enjoyed the authority of Sixth Magic. And he was also at ease being accompanied by Artoria and Yu Miaoyi.

However, this time, he would like to do what he wanted. What he couldn't do last time, once again, he would like to give it a try now.

After all, although he couldn't return the payback to that trolling old man in near foreseeable future, he could still mess up this Holy Grail War.

Ain't no I'm going to do as you wish me to do. But, before that...

'Artoria.' Ryan asked through sound transmission. An idea was already brewing in his mind.

'What is it?' Artoria replied. She felt that Ryan looked slightly strange at this moment.

'Can you help covering for me?'

'Covering for what??' A puzzled look appeared within her eyes.

'Become a Master in this Holy Grail War.' Ryan smiled lightly.

Artoria: "..."

Do you think this is just like covering an attendance list?

Artoria felt a little speechless at his random thought. To even ask her to become a Master in his place... Just how bored he was?

'What are you going to do?'

He smiled faintly at Artoria's skeptical question as he replied, 'Me? I'll aim to be the great demon king.'

To other participants' surprise, Ryan suddenly stood up. He spoke curtly as he looked toward everyone in the room, "Sorry, I've a sudden matter to attend to, I will be going first."

Mikaela frowned. She seemed like she wanted to ask him to stay longer seeing their meeting had yet to be finished. However, she slightly closed her lips before she reminded him, "Anyway, just don't forget to summon your Servant. The decisive battle will be coming soon. We can't afford to lose much time in the first stage."

"Got it. I will inform you all about my Servant later. Just make sure you include them in the battle formation." Ryan departed silently after leaving those words.

Behind her mask, Raiha narrowed her eyes as her gaze tried to follow Ryan's shadow. She seemed to notice that his shadow squirmed slightly; its movement was quite erratic, different from how a normal shadow would appear to be.

"He is quite a shady guy, isn't he?" Kizuna smiled lightly from her side. She seemed quite interested at Ryan. As a fellow Reincarnator herself, she felt like she could relate to Ryan to an extent.

'Each of us have our own regretful past. There is no shortage of weird people among the Reincarnators. I should probably tell the others later that we'd have another comrade soon...' Kizuna thought as she giggled a little.

Raiha was at loss of words seeing the Reincarnator maiden beside her. After all, according to hearsay, it was said that in her previous life, Kizuna was... a guy.

Seeing her giggling cutely like that, Raiha felt more than a little weird in her heart.

"I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid. Due to his position as 'King' of our faction, it would spell us trouble if he got killed for some stupid reason." Raiha stated indifferently.

"Is that so? But no biggies~ he should be quite strong. Even I am not sure whether I can match up to him." Kizuna spoke nonchalantly.

Although she said it like that, it would be a different story if she were to get serious. At that time, victory or defeat would be up on the air.

. . .

At the hotel room.

Ryan tapped on the terminal. He had decided to use the free summoning feature.

As for the reason: it's free anyway.

"–––From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power,

Come forth from the ring of restraints, Protector of the Holy Balance!"

A white light flashed briefly before the figure of a young woman appeared within Ryan's and Artoria's view.

"I am Ushiwakamaru and I have been called upon. Honoring the full devotion as a Samurai, I will do my utmost best! Ehh...what are you doing, Master?"

At that time, Ryan already finished transferring his new Command Spells toward Artoria. He retained one Command Spell, while Artoria got two of his Command Spells.

This sharing of Command Spell was like the case with Kayneth El-Melloi and his fiancee. They each shared the Command Spells and became Lancer's Master in the previous Fuyuki Fourth Holy Grail War.

"Yup. Ushiwakamaru, she's gonna be your Master from now on. I will also let my doppelganger to tell them about Rider later.

"Now that it's settled... Adios! And, don't hesitate if you need to cut me down later, Artoria!"

Ryan shouted lightly as he disappeared into shadow of the night. His doppelganger had just confirmed that 'it' was already materialized, albeit still incomplete. 'My stepping stone, here I come!'

Artoria and Ushiwakamaru: "..."

Both of them looked at each other. Each held a similar confusion inside their eyes at his parting words.

"Um... So, let me repeat it again. Servant Rider, Ushiwakamaru, has arrived to your summon. Honoring the full devotion as a Samurai, I will do my best!"

Artoria sighed. Just what kind of mischief he was up to again now…?

Then, she turned toward Ushiwakamaru, speaking with a stern look on her face, "For now, how about we deal with your scanty outfit first? I am worried that you may awaken a raging beast if you keep dressing like that, Rider."

"Ehh, but this makes it easier for me to move?" Ushiwakamaru had a puzzled look on her when she saw Artoria's solemn look.

"I know someone who often dress herself scantily like you. In the end, she ended up being attacked by that raging beast until she couldn't walk properly the next day. Poor her. Even I also…"

"That beast is so fierce? Master, let me deal with it. I will make sure that demonic beast won't attack people again!" A spirited Ushiwakamaru spoke with confidence. However, unfortunately, she didn't know about it yet…

Artoria only smiled strangely at her remarks, "Don't bother. That beast is immortal, sort of. Though, he won't attack people for no reason."

'He?' Ushiwakamaru felt something was slightly amiss here.

As if she didn't see the confusion on Ushiwakamaru, Artoria continued, "However, if you really want to try dealing against him, you can chase him. He's just left, so he shouldn't be far yet."

"…"

Ushiwakamaru tilted her head a little. She seemed to not understand why would Artoria deemed her other Master as a beast. However, she could feel that Artoria held no ill-will toward him. *sigh*

Although it's quite regrettable for her to change her outfit, but if it is her Master's order, then she should do it, right?

In the end, Ushiwakamaru agreed to Artoria's advice and changed her previous outfit. Although, even if it was changed…, her new outfit was almost no different from her previous one beside that they only covered her arm and feet in armor. Basically, she just added new armor on her arm and feet, without bothering to change her scanty outfit at all.

At same time, along with the summoning of Ushiwakamaru, another Servant was materialized at the secluded place on the riverside park.

She was called forth by the Holy Grail as the presiding judge of this Great Holy Grail War.

Ruler Servant – Jeanne d'Arc.

"This ominous feeling–!"

It was faint. However, she definitely felt that something heinous was rearing itself within the cover of Holy Grail War.

As she thought about that uneasy feeling she had just sensed, without any signs or warning, a premonition suddenly emerged within her vision.

It was the sight of someone clad in dark robe reaching their hand toward the sky. Underneath that person, a group of Servants were unable to stand their ground anymore. Their condition was in tatter, and they were battered by numerous wounds on their body.

"Is it because of that person…" A worried look appeared on Ruler after she received that premonition.