His voice dripping with superiority, he declared, "It took you so long to notice me, such insolence. And yet, you allowed yourselves a moment of peace in the middle of a war… pathetic."
I was panting heavily, feeling blood seeping under my shirt, but still steady enough to look up. I gritted my teeth, my expression torn between pain and determination. "Gilgamesh… so you finally decided to show up."
I braced my hands on the bridge's floor, my body heavier than it should have been from the blow. Blood dripped slowly, staining the asphalt. I was breathing deeply, trying to force my body to obey, when I heard the low, mocking laugh echoing behind me.
Gilgamesh took a few steps forward, the sound of his boots reverberating across the concrete. His posture was relaxed, as if he were facing a ridiculous spectacle.
"So 'Itadori Yuji' has survived this long…" He lifted his chin, looking down at me as if observing an insect. "I confess I expected something more… grandiose. But look here." His lips curved into a cruel smile. "Time has not been kind to you. You have aged poorly."
Arturia stepped forward, positioning herself beside me like a shield, her eyes narrow and fixed on the enemy. "Your words are nothing but poison." She raised her invisible sword, ready to cut the silence with steel. "But no matter how much he has changed… Yuji remains stronger than you imagine."
I was still panting, and I smiled wearily but firmly. "I have indeed aged poorly…" I forced myself to stand, even as the pain burned. "So you mean I survived. Which is more than many have achieved before you, Gilgamesh."
Gilgamesh let out a sound somewhere between laughter and scorn, the golden portals opening behind him, revealing blades and treasures poised to pierce the night sky. "Survive?… Is this what you call glory?" His eyes glowed a fiery red. "Very well. I will end this farce here and now."
The tension on the bridge grew, as if even the river had held its breath.
Arturia advanced without hesitation, the night wind roaring with her charge. The invisible blade of Excalibur flashed in a deadly arc, slicing through the air with the promise of overwhelming force.
"Gilgamesh!" His voice echoed firmly, charged with fury and honor.
But the golden king made no urgent move. The portals behind him opened in unison, and from them emerged ancient blades, each with a history as grand as it was cruel.
Just as Excalibur was about to strike, Gilgamesh raised his hand with an arrogant grin. "The insolence of a false king."
A shower of golden blades slammed into Arturia, and he deflected her blow with humiliating ease. Seizing the opening, Gilgamesh summoned an ornate sword and, in a single motion, swung it at her side.
The impact was brutal. Steel tore through armor and flesh, and blood sprayed in a crimson spray under the moonlight.
"Argh!" Arturia staggered back, her hand instinctively pressing against the wound in her abdomen. Her body trembled, her breath ragged, and the weight of the blow nearly knocked her to her knees.
My eyes widened. "Arturia!"
She was bleeding profusely. The wound had been deep enough to threaten her life right then and there. But even with her eyes brimming with pain, Arturia remained standing, her sword firmly in her hand, still raised against Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh looked at the scene with a cold smile, amusement etched in every gesture. "Weak. A child trying to play king. The throne was never rightfully yours, and now… not even your life belongs to you anymore."
I felt my heart race, my blood boiling within me, as I watched my companion on the brink of death before that golden enemy.
I ran to Arturia, nearly tripping in her own blood, my gaze fixed on the wound that was sapping her strength. I reached out, trembling, trying to staunch the bleeding as I felt the warmth of her life seep through my fingers.
The weight of the situation crushed him. My breathing became heavy, and for the first time in a long time, I seriously considered releasing all the cursed energy burning within my soul. It was like a poison, burning, consuming every part of me. If I let it all out… it might be the end of my own life. But if it saved Arturia…
"This is not how you should die, Itadori Yuji."
The voice sounded like sudden thunder, cold and charged with certainty.
Suddenly, the moon reflected off a curved blade. A brutal presence loomed behind Gilgamesh. The golden king barely had time to turn his eyes to recognize the threat when a fierce cut pierced his defenses.
"Tch!" Gilgamesh spat a mouthful of blood, stumbling back a few steps, surprised to feel the pain.
Behind him, Toji Fushiguro appeared, his gaze murderous, his body moving with the naturalness of a predator. The blade imbued with cursed power still dripped from its impact on Gilgamesh's body.
My eyes widened.
"T-Toji…?"
Toji twirled the weapon between his fingers and pointed the blade at the golden king, as if hunting the most natural prey in the world. "This guy is just another arrogant collector. And collectors… always have a weak spot."
Gilgamesh wiped the blood from his mouth, and for the first time his expression twisted into pure rage. The portals around him multiplied by dozens, roaring like hungry mouths.
"Toji Fushiguro, that is your name, you worm…" he growled. "The audacity of a cursed insect to hurt me… unforgivable."
Still kneeling beside Arturia, I felt the tension explode in the air.
I breathed deeply, trying to steady my mind despite the pain and crushing tension surrounding it. Arturia's warm blood stained her hand, and I knew that if I didn't act quickly, I would lose more than an ally; I would lose someone who had become an essential part of this war.
I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the cursed energy pulsing through my soul, like iron chains trying to tear me apart from the inside. But instead of releasing it in destruction, I forced that energy to reverse, to reconstitute itself, shaping it as I had learned in previous battles.
"Come on… it works…" I muttered under my breath, as the reversed cursed energy began to flow through my palm, penetrating Arturia's body. The deep wound began to emit a faint glow, and the bleeding slowed.
Arturia, even unconscious, winced slightly, her face, previously rigid with pain, softening as the healing heat coursed through her veins.
Meanwhile, a few meters away, Gilgamesh stared at Toji, his expression wavering between contempt and irritation. He wiped the blood dripping from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, and his superior laugh echoed across the bridge.
"Hmph… how interesting." His gaze flashed red, the golden portals behind him expanding even further. "To wound me like this… it could only be the work of a worm."
He pointed the ornate blade at Toji, his voice dripping with venom. "A cursed insect that crawls in the shadows… and dares to touch the body of a king. Tell me, who are you to believe you can stand before Gilgamesh?"
Toji twirled his blade casually, a cold smile slicing across his face like that of a predator who's already marked his prey. "You don't need to know my name. You just need to understand one thing…" He pointed the blade directly at the golden king's chest. "Today, you're just another prey."
I, still focused on keeping the reverse energy active, looked up. The clash between Toji and Gilgamesh was about to set the entire bridge ablaze.
Arturia slowly opened her eyes, her breathing still heavy but brisk. When her vision finally adjusted, she saw me leaning over her, panting, my hands still pressing against the wound that was now closing thanks to the reverse cursed energy.
Without thinking, she lifted her arm and pulled him into a tight hug, as strong as her strength allowed. "You… shouldn't risk yourself like that…" she murmured, her voice weak but firm.
I felt her grip and smiled in relief. "No matter how many times… I would do it again."
As I held it, my eyes fell on the sword lying nearby, Excalibur. I instinctively reached for it, the weight of the sacred blade vibrating in my hand. For a moment, I wondered if I was truly worthy to wield it. But then, something happened.
My chest began to glow, a golden light mixed with the deep red of the cursed energy. I arched my back slightly, surprised by the sensation. It wasn't pain, but an intense force coming from within my own soul.
Arturia stared at me, surprised but unafraid. "This light…"
I gripped Excalibur's hilt, and at the same moment, I felt Arturia's soul touch mine. There were no barriers, no distance, just a pure connection, as if our two hearts were beating in unison.
I understood. My technique, bound to souls, didn't just destroy or consume. It could also unite.
And now, my soul was merging with Arturia's, sharing strength, pain, and determination.
I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling her energy merge with mine. "Arturia…" she said, her voice filled with something new, deeper. "Let's fight together… for real."
Excalibur's blade gleamed in response, not only as a sacred sword, but now also bearing the mark of the soul.
Gilgamesh, witnessing the scene, narrowed his eyes, anger and interest merging in his expression. "Hmph… uniting souls to wield a relic that doesn't belong to you…" he laughed scornfully. "How bold. Let's see how long this farce lasts in front of me."
The golden glow of Excalibur grew until it was almost blinding. Arturia and I, connected by our souls, raised the sword together, as if we were one. My cursed energy and the sacred purity of the blade merged into an unstoppable force.
"Ex… calibur!" their voices echoed in unison.
A beam of light streaked across the battlefield, tearing through the air and destroying everything in its path. The power was not only destructive, it was absolute, carrying the weight of their will.
Gilgamesh, who had remained haughty and arrogant until then, widened his eyes as he felt the crushing pressure of that union. Even the "King of Heroes" understood that remaining there would be his downfall.
"Tsk…" he growled, stepping back with a quick leap. "To unite sacred and cursed power… You two… are an affront to the natural order."
Opening one of his portals to the King's Treasury, Gilgamesh disappeared amid the golden blades that protected him, his voice echoing before fading away: "Enjoy this fleeting victory… because when I return, nothing will be left of you."
Silence fell.
I was still holding Excalibur next to Arturia, breathing heavily but steadily. The sword, now calm, reflected not only her sacred aura, but also his pulsating energy.
Arturia leaned lightly on my shoulder and murmured, "He fled… because he felt the weight of our soul."
I smiled wearily but determinedly. "So, when he returns… we will be even stronger."
Toji sheathed his blade, walking toward us both with the calm of a satisfied predator. His steps were heavy, but his expression remained cold, as if the confrontation with Gilgamesh had been just another task.
Still supporting Arturia, I looked up at him, surprised and suspicious at the same time. "Why did you help?" My voice was thick with weariness, but firm.
Toji let out a short, almost mocking laugh. "Have you forgotten, kid?" He poked my temple with the butt of his gun. "You owe me a good amount. I wouldn't let you die before paying."
The memory washed over me like a bucket of cold water. The glow of determination I'd been carrying a moment ago gave way to a look of dismay. I looked away, snorting. "So that's all, huh…"
But Toji didn't turn around. Instead, he remained facing us, assessing my condition and Arturia's. His eyes, though somber, held something different for a moment, almost imperceptible. "Tsk… don't be mistaken. I don't like heroes or warriors with fancy speeches. But you two…" he paused, as if choosing his words with difficulty, "…have something that reminds me of an old scar."
Arturia, still leaning against me, looked up at Toji. Even injured, she managed a restrained smile. "No matter the reason… your help saved our lives."
Toji turned his face away, muttering, "Don't thank me. I just don't want that golden-blond guy to cut the fun short."
I took a deep breath, trying to hide my frustration. "Okay… but thanks anyway."
For a moment, a heavy silence hung over the three of us, broken only by the distant sound of the river beneath the bridge.
Some time later…
Toji opened the door with the same ease as someone entering a bar after a dirty job. I was supporting Arturia, who was still breathing heavily despite already feeling better thanks to his reverse energy. The entire group quickly gathered. Shirou, Tachie, Rin, and Sakura ran into the room upon seeing their condition.
"Yuji! Arturia!" Rin was the first to approach, her tone a mix of fright and irritation. "What the hell happened to you guys?"
I tried to answer, but I was exhausted. Before I could say anything, Toji, leaning casually against the wall, replied with the calm of someone who owed nothing to anyone: "The golden king decided to play hunter. I figured you wouldn't want two extra corpses in the war, so I lent a hand."
Rin narrowed her eyes, staring at him as if trying to read between the lines. "Gilgamesh…" she muttered, crossing her arms. "So he finally moved."
Shirou clenched his fists in worry. "You're lucky you made it out alive."
Tachie, who was beside him, walked over to Arturia and me, helping them sit down. "You guys need to rest. You can't throw yourselves into this kind of confrontation again without preparation."
Meanwhile, Sakura, visibly tense, placed a damp towel on Arturia's forehead and looked at Toji. She looked suspicious, but also curious. "And you… why did you help them?"
Toji sighed, running his hand over the back of his neck as if he found the conversation boring. "I already told your friend." He jerked his chin at me. "He owes me. And besides…" his eyes flashed for a second with something darker. "…I don't like that blond, god-like guy."
Rin arched an eyebrow, her tone thick with irony. "So basically you fought for money and pride. Nothing noble, nothing surprising."
Toji laughed lightly, a dry laugh. "Nobility is a luxury for people who don't need to get dirty to live."
The room was silent for a few moments, only the sound of Arturia's heavy breathing filling the room. I raised my head and stared at Toji, my voice low but firm: "Even so… thank you."
Toji didn't answer immediately. He just shrugged and threw himself onto the sofa, as if the house were his.
I breathed deeply, my body still heavy from the effort of maintaining the reverse energy in Arturia. I looked up at the others, my expression heavy with seriousness, unlike the light tone I sometimes tried to maintain.
"Gilgamesh… he wasn't acting on his own," I said slowly. "This whole time, he was Kenjaku's trump card."
Silence fell over the room. Rin was the first to react, frowning. "That makes sense…" she murmured. "A monster like Gilgamesh wouldn't move without reason. He was biding his time; someone needed to be controlling him, or at least directing his steps."
Shirou clenched his fists. "If Kenjaku kept him out until now, it's because he wanted to use him as a finishing move. The fact that he showed up means we're getting close to the end… and he's already running out of options."
Tachie looked at me, a little surprised. "Did you notice that mid-fight?"
I nodded breathlessly. "He was measuring every move… as if he were testing us, not just fighting. That's not his style. Gilgamesh only fights when he thinks it's worthy of his time. If he came at us right now, it's because Kenjaku did something he liked…"
Sakura, still holding Arturia's hand, lowered her eyes and whispered, "So… Kenjaku is about to go all out."
Toji, who had been watching silently with a wry smile, let out a low laugh. "Heh. If that's true, then this war is going to be really fun."
Rin glared at him disdainfully. "Fun? This is a war for the Holy Grail, not a pastime for mercenaries."
Toji didn't flinch from her gaze. "War is war. If you can't face death as part of the game, then you should have stayed home."
The air grew heavy, but even weakly, I tried to break the tension. "It doesn't matter how we look at it. The important thing is…" I closed my hand over my chest, where I could still feel the echo of my connection with Arturia, "…not to let Kenjaku use the Grail for his plans."
Arturia, still weakened, opened her eyes and murmured firmly, "Then we must be ready. Because the next time we meet him… it will be the last."
Night fell heavily over Fuyuki, the air filled with an almost suffocating silence after the battle. Inside the house, everyone had already retired, trying to find rest amidst the whirlwind of uncertainty. But Arturia and I couldn't sleep.
We were outside, sitting near the garden. The full moon illuminated the yard, and the distant sound of the river broke the stillness.
I remained silent, staring at my hands. I could still feel the heat of the reverse energy I had used to save Arturia, and the weight of Excalibur on her soul. I took a deep breath. "I never thought it would come to this," I murmured. "Fighting Gilgamesh… and feeling that, at any moment, I could lose everything."
Arturia, sitting beside me with the lion cub still in her arms, maintained her composure, but her eyes reflected the same concern. "This wasn't the first time we've faced Gilgamesh," she said quietly. "But… this time it was different. He was more ruthless, more precise. If it weren't for you…" she paused, closing her eyes for a moment, "…I wouldn't be here anymore."
I smiled mirthlessly. "Funny you should say that. I was only able to fight because you were with me. When our souls connected… I felt a strength that wasn't just mine. It was as if… as if you'd given me courage."
Arturia turned her face to me, a faint blush crossing her cheeks. "Courage… that's what you always show, even when you carry such a heavy burden."
I looked away at the starry sky. "I don't know if it's courage or just fear of losing people again. But… for a moment, when Excalibur glowed in my hands, I thought… maybe I can protect everyone."
Silence returned for a few seconds. Then Arturia moved a little closer, setting the plush aside. "Yuji," she called, firmly but softly. "You've already done more than anyone could ever hope for. And yet… you keep blaming yourself, still thinking it's not enough."
I lowered my head. "Perhaps because I know this war won't spare anyone. Kenjaku, Gilgamesh, Uraume… they're all waiting for the right moment. And I… I don't know if I'll be ready."
Arturia placed her hand over his, squeezing it firmly. "Then I will be by your side," she declared. "Not just as a servant, but as someone who believes in you."
My heart pounded. I looked at her, seeing the determination in her green eyes shining under the moon. For an instant, the weight of war seemed lighter.
"Thank you, Arturia..." I said, my voice breaking. "I needed to hear that."
She simply nodded, keeping her hand on mine. And there, under the silent Fuyuki night, we shared a rare moment of peace, a silent promise that, no matter what, we would face the end together.
The silver moon illuminated the quiet courtyard. The light wind stirred the trees as I stood facing Arturia, my eyes serious, my expression firm but filled with internal conflict.
I took a deep breath before saying, "Arturia... I realized that, as I am now, I won't be able to defeat Gilgamesh. No matter how much I fight, he still sees me as a mere insect." My voice trembled, not with fear, but with determination. "So… I'll need to isolate myself, like a cocoon. Seal everything off, merge with my own energy until… I can be reborn stronger."
Arturia's eyes widened slightly. She knew my tone well; it wasn't a passing thought. I had made up my mind. But the thought gnawed at her insides. "Isolate yourself…" she repeated slowly, as if weighing each syllable. "Do you know what that means, Yuji? It means leaving everyone alone at the moment they need you most. It means that I… that we…" her voice trailed off for a moment, "…won't be by your side."
My hands trembled on my knee. "I know," I said in a near whisper. "But that's exactly why I have to do this. If I continue like this, Gilgamesh will kill you all. I won't let that happen. Not to you… not to Sakura, Shirou, Choso, Rin, no one."
The silence fell like a weight. Arturia clenched her fists. Everything inside her screamed to disagree, to hold him and not let him slip away. But as she looked into my brown eyes, she recognized that flame, the same flame that had so often inspired her. A flame that wasn't of pride, but of sacrifice.
"You always carry everything alone…" she murmured, with a hint of sadness. "Always believing you should be everyone's shield."
I gave a weak smile. "It's not that I want to… it's that I don't see any other way out."
Arturia closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. When she opened them again, her decision was made.
She moved closer slowly, until their foreheads were almost touching. "If that's your choice… then I'll respect it. But know this, Yuji." Her hand touched my face, firm and warm. "No matter how much you try to cocoon yourself… I will always find you again. Always."
Before I could respond, she pulled me close and kissed me.
Time seemed to stand still. The initial shock quickly gave way to a wave of warmth that coursed through me. It was unlike any other sensation; there was no hesitation, no masks. Just the raw truth of two warriors who, amidst war and chaos, found refuge in each other.
I closed my eyes, returning the kiss with restrained intensity, as if in that moment I wanted to record every detail: her touch, her soft taste, the way the world seemed to finally fall silent.
When they parted, Arturia kept her hand on my face, watching it closely. "If you're really going to isolate yourself… then take this with you," she said, her voice soft but firm. "My promise… and my heart."
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight and comfort of those words. I didn't respond immediately, just rested my forehead against hers, letting the silence speak for itself.
At that moment, under the Fuyuki moon, they weren't just a human and a servant. They were two souls intertwined, preparing to face the inevitable darkness.
The next morning...
The atmosphere among everyone was silent, almost melancholy. After my decision, Shirou watched from afar the place where my isolation had begun, as if he were sinking into an invisible cocoon, surrounded by a dense, unstable aura of cursed energy. Arturia remained nearby, on guard, as if she were the wall protecting this process.
Shirou sighed deeply. Beside him, Tachie crossed her arms, her expression still firm, but her eyes betrayed concern. "He really decided to carry this alone," she said quietly.
Shirou nodded. "It's his way. The same look I saw in him when he thrust the responsibility onto me and Kuzuki. It won't change…" He closed his hand, curling his fingers into a fist, "…but we can't just wait."
Tachie turned to him curiously. "What are you thinking?"
"Kirei," Shirou replied without hesitation. "He's still at large, and we know he can't be disconnected from this war. If Kenjaku has Gilgamesh as his trump card, then Kirei must have his own role… something even worse."
Tachie's eyes narrowed, understanding immediately. "You want to go after him now."
Shirou stared at the horizon, where the temple loomed like a shadow. "Yes. While Yuji grows stronger, we can't stand still. If we defeat Kirei, we'll sever part of Kenjaku's network."
Tachie smiled slightly, but there was sadness in her eyes. "That sounds exactly like something you would do, Shirou. Taking the burden on yourself, even knowing the risks."
He turned to her, giving her a serious look. "And you're still going with me?"
Tachie sighed softly, meeting his gaze. "Of course. Didn't I tell you I'll fight to the end?" She relaxed her shoulders and added, "Besides, someone needs to stop you from doing crazy things alone."
Shirou laughed, though it was short and tired. "Then it's decided. While Yuji retreats into this cocoon… we'll both go after Kirei."
The two exchanged a firm look, wordless, only the certainty that this step would take them even deeper into the dark heart of war.
And so, in silence, Shirou and Tachie left the house, heading through the streets of Fuyuki toward the inevitable confrontation with Kotomine Kirei.
Shirou and Tachie were ready to leave when a dry, sarcastically sarcastic voice echoed through the hallway: "Look… the two lovebirds have finally decided to get together."
They turned and saw Toji leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze lazy, but with that crooked smile that never failed to provoke.
"Toji…" Shirou murmured, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
The mercenary shrugged. "Passing time. Watching that cocoon boy back there." He jerked his thumb toward where I was secluded. "But then I heard you two whispering about going after the priest. And guess what?" The smile widened, almost predatory. "That scumbag owes me too. He hasn't paid me even half of what he promised."
Tachie arched an eyebrow, narrowing her eyes. "So you're not here for loyalty, but for money?"
Toji let out a short laugh. "Loyalty doesn't fill the stomach, young lady. But in the end, it's the same. You guys want his head… me too. So why not join forces?"
Shirou looked suspicious, but knew Toji wasn't a man to sit on the fence. If he said he'd go after Kirei, he meant it. "Are you saying you'll join us?"
"'Join'' is a strong word." Toji raised his cursed sword and rested it on his shoulder. "Let's just say I'll clear the way. You two can handle the rest."
Tachie sighed, crossing her arms. "You're really annoying, you know that?"
"I get that a lot." Toji replied, his tone still mocking.
Shirou, however, took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay. Then we'll go together. If Kirei is really behind this, we have to finish him off before he makes another move."
Toji nodded, satisfied. "Good. I just hope you can keep up with me."
And so, an unlikely trio was formed: Shirou, Tachie, and Toji walked side by side through the quiet streets of Fuyuki, each with their own motives, but united by the same goal.
The target was Kotomine Kirei.
End of Chapter 24