What Holy Grail War? Let's Play Cards!

"Duel!"

The word burst out reflexively, and the duel space instantly unfolded.

The pitch-black knight, who had been in a berserk stance, suddenly straightened up. He looked at the deck in his hands, then at Matou Kariya, who had been pushed to the edge of the duel space. Then, he fell silent.

After glancing back and forth a few times, it was as if he had made a decision. He let out a resounding "Ahrrrr—!"

"Wait a minute, I can tell you've regained your senses, so what's with the 'Ahrrrr—' nonsense?" Jiang You looked at the Berserker known as Lancelot with exasperation. His subtle actions had already exposed that the duel space was suppressing his Mad Enhancement debuff. Considering his Noble Phantasm For Someone's Glory, deception was indeed within his capabilities.

"Aaaaaaaaa!!"

"Stop howling, Lancelot!" Jiang You bluntly called out his true name. "I know you couldn't control yourself because of the Mad Enhancement before, but since we're already in a duel, just play the damn cards! You're only pretending to keep attacking because you actually want to continue the duel, right?"

"So, you recognize me? No... rather, it must be that my Noble Phantasm has no effect on you." Lancelot sighed, realizing there was no point in keeping up the act. He removed the helmet covering his head.

"Knight of the Round Table, Lancelot, at your service. Manifesting as a Berserker was never my intention. I apologize for my disgraceful display earlier, as well as for the ambush." The refined knight bowed slightly to Jiang You. "Your Noble Phantasm is astonishing—being able to recreate a Servant's past companions and experiences. I assume you already know what I wish to request?"

"You want to see your king one last time, right?" Jiang You had already figured out Lancelot's intentions. "Honestly, I don't understand you Saber fanboys, especially you. You admired your king, yet you used Queen Guinevere as a substitute—was it because she carried Saber's scent? You punished yourself endlessly for failing to win Saber's love, ultimately descending into madness and rebelling against her. Dude, what kind of masochistic yandere nonsense is that?"

"Please, have mercy!" Lancelot's cold sweat dripped profusely as Jiang You spoke. Even though Jiang You had only referred to Saber rather than saying her name outright, Lancelot knew exactly who he meant. Panicked, he interrupted Jiang You before he could go any further. His forbidden love for Artoria had never been shared with anyone. The world only knew of his betrayal due to Queen Guinevere—how could anyone possibly understand his true feelings?

"Huh?" Illyasviel, having just overheard a juicy revelation, widened her eyes. Seeing that Lancelot didn't deny it, she immediately understood that Jiang You was telling the truth. "So Lancelot's real love was Artoria?"

At this moment, Lancelot desperately wished the effects of his Mad Enhancement hadn't been suppressed. If not for his unfulfilled wish, he would have chosen to perish right then and there.

"I hope to see my king one last time with your Noble Phantasm. Please, grant me this request!" Servants were (to Lancelot's knowledge) spirits of the deceased, and the chances of meeting past companions were nearly nonexistent. This might be his only opportunity.

"Well, you're already here, aren't you? Let's get started. However, I'll need your help afterward!"

Jiang You was referring to obtaining Lancelot's card, but Lancelot mistakenly assumed he was asking for his assistance in claiming the Holy Grail.

Regardless, Lancelot had no reason to refuse. Moreover, his Master had already achieved his own goals and had no objections. "I will surely repay this debt, by my honor as a Knight of the Round Table!"

Jiang You nodded in satisfaction as the system notification popped up:[Friendly Duel Reward: "Knight of the Round Table - Lancelot (Berserker)" x3]

"Once again, my thanks. Now, it's my turn." Lancelot began his play. "Gareth, forgive me, but here I must send you to the graveyard once more... I activate the effect of Knight of the Round Table - Lancelot (Saber), sending one Knight of the Round Table card from my hand and one Holy Sword card from my deck to the graveyard to Special Summon in Attack Position!"

As Lancelot stepped into the battle zone, his once pitch-black armor gleamed a pristine white. His sorrowful long hair transformed into a neat short cut. The oppressive aura around him shifted, turning into something much gentler.

"This Saint Graph feels much more comfortable." Lancelot exhaled. "Next, I activate the graveyard effect of Holy Sword - Excalibur—when this card is in the graveyard, I can equip it to a Knight of the Round Table on my field."

A blade etched with Elvish runes, shimmering like the moonlit surface of a lake, and impervious to destruction, materialized in Lancelot's hands. A complete Knight of the Round Table stood on the battlefield, radiating an overwhelming heroic presence.

"And now... wait, what is this?" Lancelot's actions suddenly halted, his eyes widening in shock.

"What's wrong?"

"That can't be right… Galahad should be a boy. Why is this card showing Galahad as—?" Lancelot hesitantly raised the card and called out its name.

"I Normal Summon Mash Kyrielight! Come forth, my son—wait, my daughter?"

"Senpai? Where have we been transported to? Dr. Roman? Oh no, I can't reach him… Excuse me, have any of you seen an orange-haired girl? About this tall?"

A pink-haired girl clad in armor appeared in the battle zone, looking around and asking questions. Lancelot immediately noticed that her armor bore a resemblance to Galahad's—except it was far too revealing. Her bare shoulders and exposed thighs were completely unguarded.

More importantly, the shield she wielded, along with her disturbingly familiar aura, confirmed her identity for Lancelot.

Without hesitation, Lancelot removed his cape and draped it over Mash.

"Eh?" Mash turned to Lancelot, an inexplicable feeling welling up from within her Saint Graph. The words slipped from her mouth before she could stop them.

"Daddy?"

Lancelot clutched his chest and collapsed backward, his arms crossed over his torso, wearing an expression of absolute serenity—like a man who had finally passed on after enduring too much.

"Wait—Eggplant!?" Jiang You was dumbfounded. He had already figured out that Lancelot was summoning someone, but seeing Mash herself still left him in utter disbelief. "Hold on, Fate/Grand Order is getting a crossover now? Konami, did you kidnap Nasu? Or did TYPE-MOON possess you?"

The sheer number of collaborations was becoming ridiculous.

At this rate, there was no way he'd be able to grind through all of this.