"Vmm!"
In that very instant, behind Gilgamesh, seated atop his throne, the space began to ripple like a disturbance on the surface of water, producing a golden wave of distortion.
The scene was identical to when he fought Kingu.
Gilgamesh opened a spatial rift behind him, and from within the golden ripple emerged a magic staff. With his finger still extended toward Rozen, the staff aimed directly at him.
The next moment, a tremendous amount of mana gathered at the tip of the staff, condensing into a magical blast—launched straight at Rozen.
"Senpai!"
Mash reacted instantly, crying out in shock at the sudden turn.
"...!"
Even Merlin and Anna were caught completely off guard by Gilgamesh's abrupt attack on Rozen, their expressions shifting dramatically.
"Your Majesty!"
Even the priestess named Siduri let out a startled shout.
The attack came so suddenly, and so quickly, that by the time anyone reacted, the magical bombardment had already reached Rozen.
"—!"
Rozen hadn't expected Gilgamesh to launch an attack either. His eyes sharpened and he was just about to move—but then he stopped.
Because someone would protect him.
"Clang!"
A white figure appeared in a burst of spiritual light, stepping in front of Rozen. Raising her tricolored blade high, she slashed down at the oncoming magical blast.
"Shrrkk!"
With a piercing sound, the magical projectile was cleaved in two by the tricolored sword.
The split blast passed by Rozen's sides like twin crescent arcs and landed behind him.
"Boom!" "Boom!"
Two explosions followed as the bisected blasts struck the floor of the royal hall, sending flames and shockwaves into the air.
Bathed in firelight and heatwaves, Rozen did not turn around. He simply kept his eyes fixed on Gilgamesh.
In front of him, Altera held her Divine Sword tightly, pointing it at Gilgamesh with a look of utter indifference.
"Y-You are...?"
Siduri looked at the sudden appearance of Altera in utter astonishment.
Gilgamesh's reaction, however, was completely different.
Still seated on the throne, he stared directly at Altera—at the mysterious markings adorning her body, and the overwhelming destructive aura she radiated. His eyes narrowed… and then he laughed.
And not just a chuckle—a full, uninhibited burst of laughter.
"Kuh-haha... Hahahahaha... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Gilgamesh laughed as if he had just witnessed something he had long been waiting for. Clutching his forehead, he roared with laughter that echoed throughout the Divine Tower.
"Look! Look, all of you! See what has descended upon this era! Hahahahahaha!"
He laughed and shouted at the same time.
"Indeed, my Clairvoyance showed me this, and it was all true! As much as I want to ask who would play such an outrageous joke, this monster has truly returned to the land—and not merely as a phantom, but as a Servant, as a Heroic Spirit! What could be more absurd than that? Even the return of the gods would be more believable!"
Gilgamesh laughed on and on, entirely absorbed in his own thoughts—completely unaware of the confusion his reaction had caused around him.
"Your Majesty...?"
Siduri was visibly flustered.
"Uh..."
Mash and Anna exchanged bewildered glances.
"That's… a bit too much laughter, isn't it?"
Even Merlin looked a little exasperated, though he didn't seem completely incapable of understanding Gilgamesh's reaction.
Only Rozen kept silently staring at the laughing Gilgamesh—without a word, without a question, eyes fixed upon him.
It was impossible to tell how much time had passed before Gilgamesh finally calmed down, as if exhausted from laughing.
"Can't remember the last time I laughed that hard—nearly pulled a muscle in my gut."
He wiped a tear from his eye as he spoke, emphasizing just how exaggerated his laughter had been.
Rozen remained quiet, simply watching.
Altera stood there as well, utterly indifferent, unaffected by the fact that the man before her was the oldest hero in human history.
She merely raised her Divine Sword again and pointed it at Gilgamesh.
"Do you wish to be destroyed, King of Heroes?"
Altera asked coldly.
That declaration stirred the court into chaos—including Siduri and the other attending officials.
Understandable—Altera's words could be seen as a direct threat to the King himself.
Under such circumstances, none of them could remain silent.
And yet, Gilgamesh still wore his smile. He didn't even stand from his throne.
"If it were the old me," he said cheerfully, "I would've happily accepted the challenge. In this world, there are few who can be called my true opponent or enemy. Even among all the heroes in human history, most are nothing more than mongrels. But you… you're different. As a rival, there's no one more fitting."
With those words, Gilgamesh acknowledged Altera.
That alone was extraordinary.
After all, to be recognized by this most ancient of human kings, one must stand among a very rare few. Aside from Enkidu, there were only a handful across all of human history who could be placed alongside him.
And now, Altera was one of them.
No—perhaps even more exalted than the rest.
"To think… that you would walk this earth once more."
Gilgamesh leaned his head against his hand on the throne, looking down at Altera from above as he spoke arrogantly.
"But if you truly want to destroy me, shouldn't you at least return to your original form?"
He narrowed his eyes as he looked at her.
"Or... have you lost the nerve to take that form again, Sefar?"
—Sefar.
The moment that name passed Gilgamesh's lips, Altera's expression changed for the first time.
Then—
"BOOM!"
A terrifying shockwave burst from Altera's body like a roaring tempest.
The entire Divine Tower shook violently, prompting everyone present to cry out in shock.
"Miss Altera!"
Mash shouted in alarm as the floor trembled beneath her feet.
"Altera!"
Rozen's expression also changed.
The normally calm and mechanical Altera had suddenly become emotional. Without waiting for Rozen's command, she unleashed her power.
And not just any power—this was a force that should not be used lightly.
"Destroy."
Altera raised her Divine Sword high, gathering the full might of annihilation into the blade.
"Hmph."
Gilgamesh's smile finally faded, though he remained seated on his throne without rising.
Facing him, Altera prepared to swing her sword down.
But—
"Stand down!"
Rozen's voice echoed across the hall, halting Altera in her tracks.
The destructive energy vanished from her blade in an instant.
The tremors stopped.
Everyone in the room looked at Altera with lingering fear.
Altera, however, remained frozen in her posture, sword raised.
No—she couldn't move.
As Rozen's Familiar under absolute contract, she was completely bound by his command.
"Ho...?"
Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow in slight surprise.