Chapter 99: The King's Banquet, Tit for Tat!
As night fell, the Einzbern Castle, illuminated by the crescent moon, appeared even more desolate.
Rumble—!
Thunder rumbled in the sky, and the Chariot of the Sky sped across, directly smashing through the defensive barrier and storming into the courtyard with the force of wind and thunder!
Upon receiving Irisviel's urgent warning, a fully armored Artoria had already rushed to the scene.
What she saw, however, was Iskandar in casual clothes, carrying a giant wooden wine barrel on his shoulder, enthusiastically raising his hand with a hearty laugh.
"Yo, King of Knights! I've come to drink with you!"
Artoria's brows were tightly furrowed, and Irisviel, who followed closely behind, was also full of confusion.
She quickly composed herself, pointing her Invisible Air at Iskandar, her voice cold.
"Conqueror, what is your intention?"
Iskandar smugly shook the wine barrel, and the liquid inside immediately made a "gurgle gurgle" sound.
"Is my meaning not clear enough?" He grinned, "Don't just stand there, lead the way! Does this grand castle not even have a decent place for a banquet?"
Irisviel subtly shifted her feet, leaned closer to Artoria's ear, and whispered.
"What should we do, Saber? He… he really doesn't seem to be here to fight?"
Artoria shook her head with a solemn expression and explained in a deep voice.
"You are mistaken, Lady. This is also a war—a battle without the glint of blades!"
Irisviel nodded, half-understanding, and led the three towards the garden behind them, which had not yet withered from the war.
In the fragrant garden, Artoria and Iskandar sat facing each other on the ground.
Irisviel and Waver stood behind the two, momentarily speechless.
Although the two kings had not exchanged a word, an invisible aura was already clashing fiercely in the shadows.
The air was so heavy it almost solidified, and even the gentle breeze that brushed their cheeks felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
Waver was flustered, instinctively tugging at his collar, trying to calm his rapid breathing.
At this moment, Iskandar suddenly slammed his fist, shattering the wooden barrel lid, pulled out the matching wooden ladle, filled it, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Oh! The wine of this era truly tastes good!"
After drinking heartily, Iskandar contentedly wiped the wine stains from the corners of his mouth, and laughed loudly with a wide grin.
"I've heard that only the chosen ones can receive the favor of the Holy Grail."
"And this so-called Holy Grail War is that selection ritual."
He paused, his gaze burning as he stared at Artoria.
"But I believe, if it's merely for selection, why must we resort to arms?"
"As long as we Heroic Spirits gather, our respective capacities will be immediately apparent, and the answer will naturally be revealed!"
As he expounded his philosophy, Iskandar had already scooped a full ladle of wine for Artoria and offered it to her.
"So, Conqueror, you intend to compare our capacities as kings here?"
Artoria's face was as calm as still water; she reached out and took the ladle, resolving to drink this wine from her opponent.
"Indeed, even hearing it again, I still cannot agree with your idea, Conqueror."
Before her words finished, a fierce wind suddenly rose, swirling colorful petals into the air, and a figure in steel armor fell like a meteor into the courtyard!
"Lionheart King?!"
Artoria's movement paused, her face filled with surprise.
Iskandar, however, looked utterly familiar, raising his hand in a hearty greeting.
"Oh, Lionheart King, you're finally here! Come sit here!"
"You and that flashy one are both late, you must each drink a penalty cup!"
Arthur shrugged indifferently and strode towards the two.
"I'm not the last one; that 'honor' should be reserved for the Hero King."
Iskandar stroked his short, stiff stubble and grinned with a chuckle.
"Alright, then…"
"Don't be so insolent, mongrel!"
An extremely arrogant voice echoed like thunder from all directions; Gilgamesh appeared proudly amidst a shower of luxurious golden dust, arms crossed, looking down on everything.
"To dare to begin the banquet without my presence! Iskandar, how do you intend to atone?"
"And you, brute!"
Gilgamesh turned, his gaze like cold lightning shooting towards Arthur, a cruel curve forming on his lips.
"Merely having received a few insignificant praises, you dare to be presumptuous in front of me? Don't push your luck!"
Upon hearing this, both Irisviel and Waver trembled.
The chilling sensation brought by that capricious king during the intense battle of the first night once again swept through their entire bodies.
…
Arthur looked up, his sharp gaze directly meeting the eternally arrogant King of Heroes, a hint of cold defiance on his lips.
"It seems you're quite displeased with me? What a coincidence, the feeling is mutual. How about we settle this now?"
Upon hearing this, Gilgamesh's temple veins throbbed, his previously crossed arms slowly lowered, and his voice was bone-chillingly cold.
"A mongrel who repeatedly provokes the king's majesty, only death can atone for your sins!"
As soon as he finished speaking, torrents of golden and red magical energy surged from within their bodies, transforming into a visible storm that swept all around!
Dense electrical arcs wildly leaped in the air; a fierce battle was about to erupt!
Artoria's expression was stern; she dropped the ladle and suddenly stood up.
Irisviel's face turned pale, and she involuntarily retreated several steps.
Waver was even more terrified, falling to the ground with a thud, his legs trembling like a sieve.
Iskandar, however, seemed completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere, suddenly slapped the wine barrel beside him, his voice like a booming bell.
"This banquet is precisely a 'Holy Grail Dialogue' where victory is decided by our respective wills and kingships!"
He glared at the two confronting each other, his eyes shining brightly.
"We all claim to be kings! Do we lack even the courage for a verbal confrontation?!"
In an instant, the palpable killing intent suddenly dissipated.
Arthur and Gilgamesh exchanged glances, then both reined in their surging magical energy and sat down on the ground.
Seeing this, Artoria and the others' taut nerves finally relaxed.
A hint of approval flashed in Iskandar's eyes, then he looked with regret at the wine ladle that had fallen to the ground and was covered in dust.
"Hmph!"
"How can a king's feast be accompanied by such common, turbid items?!"
The arrogant Gilgamesh scoffed disdainfully, raising his hand to summon a golden ripple that spread out in front of him, parallel to the ground.
A resplendent, shimmering golden wine pot slowly descended from it.
Immediately, Gilgamesh then took out four pure gold wine goblets from the Gate of Babylon, casually tossing them to everyone, his voice imbued with undeniable arrogance.
"Taste carefully, and then remember this well—this is the divine brew truly enjoyed by kings!"
Although Gilgamesh's attitude of being the sole sovereign in heaven and on earth was extremely annoying, the intensely clear aroma of the wine had already thoroughly piqued Iskandar's appetite.
The jade-like liquid in the pot was beautifully colored, with a faint shimmer like crushed gold flowing within its crystal clarity, indeed giving a sense of a divine treasure.
Iskandar rubbed his hands, unceremoniously filled a goblet for himself, and tilted his head back to drink it all in one gulp.
Arthur and Artoria each took a small sip, their eyes unable to hide the shock and amazement that originated from their taste buds.
The reactions of the three were all observed by Gilgamesh, and the King of Heroes elegantly swirled his golden wine goblet, declaring in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Now, you should understand, shouldn't you? Whether it's swords or wine, my treasury always contains only the finest treasures."
"Therefore, the Holy Grail is also destined to be mine."
Arthur tilted his head back, draining the divine brew in his cup, and let out an undisguised sneer.
"Ultimately, you're just showing off here, relying on legendary Noble Phantasms."
"The concept of the Holy Grail originated from the crucifixion of Jesus; what does that have to do with you, an ancient king of Uruk from thousands of years ago?"
Gilgamesh clenched his wine goblet, his arrogant face instantly contorted, and he almost squeezed out two words through gritted teeth.
"Mon—grel—!!!"