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Let's rewind time by another 45 minutes.
Panda was one of the "Five Tigers" of the StreamZone platform. He didn't need to chase trends; he was the trend. But Holy Grail War was simply too good to ignore.
Unlike Maverick, who played with the chaotic energy of a drunk raccoon, Panda was diligent. He had played through the Story Mode properly. He had watched the cutscenes. He had cried when Iskandar died.
Specifically, he had fallen in love with Iskandar's Noble Phantasm: Ionioi Hetairoi (Army of the King).
The feeling of commanding thousands of soldiers in a scorching desert? The camaraderie? The sheer, masculine power of "Bros before Foes"?
Panda was hooked.
"If you're not moved by that," Panda had declared on stream, wiping a tear from his eye, "you're not a man! Even if you're gay, you'd be moved! Because what gay man wouldn't want ten thousand muscular soldiers charging with him?!"
(His chat had a field day with that quote.)
So, for the Streamer League, Panda had a plan. He was going to summon Iskandar (Rider).
He flew his in-game avatar to Persia (modern-day Iran). He found a black market NPC and spent all his starting funds on a relic: A stone chipped from a pillar in Babylon.
"This is it, chat," Panda whispered, holding the stone. "Legend says Iskandar touched this pillar. It's a guaranteed summon."
He returned to Fuyuki, found a secluded warehouse, and drew the circle.
"Heed my words!" Panda chanted, channeling his inner conqueror. "My will creates your body! Come forth, King of Conquerors!"
The circle glowed. But instead of lightning and chariot wheels, the room filled with a heavy, oppressive darkness. The smell of ozone was replaced by the scent of ancient dust and decay.
A massive figure rose from the smoke.
It wasn't the red-bearded, boisterous King Iskandar. It was a giant, three meters tall, with skin as black as coal. Green fire burned in its chest and on its shoulders. It wore golden armor that looked fused to its flesh.
[SERVANT SUMMONED: BERSERKER - DARIUS III]
Panda stared up at the towering giant. The giant stared down.
"..."
"ROAR!"
"Um... hello!" Panda squeaked.
"ROAR!"
Panda turned to his chat. "Is... is this right? Where's my King? What is this?"
[Chat]:[History_Buff]: YOU MESSED UP!
[LUL]: That's not Iskandar! That's his rival!
[Lore_Master]: You used a stone from Babylon? Darius III was the King of Persia when Iskandar conquered it. You summoned the guy who lost to Iskandar!
[Farmer]: Look at him! He's huge! He's a tank! Farmers rejoice!
[Salty]: Why does he only roar? Can he speak?
[Berserker_Logic]: He's a Berserker. Mad Enhancement. He traded sanity for stats.
Panda sighed. "Great. I have a giant, angry statue."
But then, the giant moved. Darius III looked at Panda's confusion. A flicker of intelligence crossed his burning eyes. He smiled, revealing a mouthful of golden teeth.
He knelt down and used a massive finger to write on the concrete floor.
D - A - R - I - U - S
"Darius III?" Panda read. "That's your name?"
"ROAR!" (Yes.)
"Nice to meet you," Panda said, offering a hand. "I'm Panda. Let's... uh... win this?"
"ROAR!" (Agreed!)
Darius seemed pleased. He stood up and waved his hand. Green fire swirled in the air.
CRASH.
The wall of the warehouse exploded outward. Sunlight flooded in.
Standing in the street was an elephant.
It wasn't a normal elephant. It was a War Elephant. It was draped in white cloth and golden armor, with tusks capped in steel. On its back was a lavish, winged howdah (seat).
"ROAR!" Darius gestured to the elephant.
Panda's jaw dropped. "For me?"
The elephant extended its trunk, wrapped it gently around Panda's waist, and lifted him into the seat.
Panda sat on the throne, looking down at the panicked NPCs scattering in the street. He felt... powerful.
"This," Panda whispered, grinning like a maniac. "This is better than a chariot."
[Chat]:[Jealousy]: HE GOT AN ELEPHANT?!
[Rich_Guy]: This Chieftain is generous! He gives you a ride immediately!
[Traffic_Safety]: Can you drive an elephant on the road? Is that legal?
[History_Nerd]: Darius III is famous for his war elephants. And his "Athanaton Ten Thousand" army. His Noble Phantasm is basically a zombie army.
[Panda_W]: Panda luck strikes again! Failed the summon, got a broken Servant anyway!
"Let's go, Darius!" Panda commanded, pointing forward. "To the city center!"
Darius marched alongside the elephant, his massive axes resting on his shoulders. They looked like a conquering king and his bodyguard.
But their parade was short-lived.
"Wait," Panda frowned, looking at the horizon. "What's that noise?"
It sounded like a waterfall.
"ROAR?" Darius tilted his head.
Then, they saw it.
A wall of water, ten meters high, was rushing down the street toward them.
"FLOOD!" Panda screamed. "ELEPHANT! RUN!"
The war elephant trumpeted in panic. It tried to turn, but it was too slow.
SPLASH.
The flood hit them. Panda was washed out of his seat. Darius was submerged.
"HELP!" Panda flailed in the water. "I CAN'T SWIM!"
Just as he thought he was going to drown, something grabbed him.
It wasn't Darius. It was a claw. A massive, bird-like claw.
Panda was yanked out of the water and into the sky.
"AHHHHH!"
He looked up. He was dangling from the talons of a Hippogriff. And riding the beast was a pink-haired knight.
[SERVANT: RIDER - ASTOLFO]
"Hi there!" Astolfo chirped, smiling down at him. "You looked like you needed a lift! I'm Astolfo! I was just flying by!"
Panda blinked. "You... you saved me?"
"Yep!" Astolfo winked. "But my Master is kind of... uh... dead? So I'm free-lancing! Wanna team up?"
Panda looked down at the flooded city where his War Elephant was currently doing the doggy paddle.
"Sure," Panda sighed. "Why not. Put me down on that pirate ship over there. I'm gonna hurl."
[Chat]:[Trap_Card]: ASTOLFO?!
[Plot_Twist]: Panda summoned Darius, but got saved by Astolfo. What is this timeline?
[Team_Up]: Berserker + Rider alliance?
[Motion_Sickness]: Panda is turning green.
The Hippogriff dove toward the Golden Hind, where Nero and Drake were currently fighting.
"MEI YI!" Panda screamed as the G-force hit him. "PUT ME DOWN! I'M GONNA VOMIT!"
CRUNCH.
They landed on the deck.
And the chaos truly began.
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