Unknown Location.
Arthur and Le Fay had scoured the entire area where they thought Excalibur Ruler might be, but in the end, they couldn't find it. After searching through various ruins, they found nothing and eventually emerged from the ruins, standing on a grassy hill with nothing but grass for miles around.
Arthur looked around with a complex expression, while Le Fay tilted her head.
"Onii-sama, what do we do now? Should we accept Cao Cao-sama's offer to join the Hero Faction? Maybe they can help us find Excalibur Ruler."
At the question, Arthur furrowed his brows.
"While I have an inclination to fight that Siegfried, and also Cao Cao, I can sense the ill intentions within them. I'm not sure I'd want you to be in that kind of world."
Le Fay placed a hand over her chest.
"Onii-sama, I know you're worried about me, but I'd go anywhere you go. Even if it's to the Hero Faction."
"Wouldn't you rather go home, Le Fay? Staying with me will be dangerous. You followed me, and I wasn't sure about it back then, and even now, I worry about you."
Le Fay was touched by his words; it truly felt like she was being treated with kindness.
"I know you worry about me. I worry about you too. If something happened to you, I wouldn't know what to do. I just…" He paused as he sensed a shift in the environment. "Le Fay, come here."
Le Fay did exactly that as a young woman approached.
Dressed in purple gothic lolita clothing, with narrow eyes and thin lips, several ribbons adorned her short hair, which stopped just above her chin. A magical aura surrounded her form as her eyes landed on Arthur and Le Fay.
"Who are you?"
Arthur demanded, and the woman wagged a finger.
"You should introduce yourself first. Honestly, don't you have manners?" Arthur didn't seem amused, drawing his Holy King Sword, Caliburn. "Fine, I'll introduce myself then. My name is Walburga, a pleasure to meet you."
"Walburga…"
Le Fay murmured, and the woman in front of her gave a wink.
"That's right, darling. Perhaps you've heard of me?"
"Walburga… I've heard your name in mage circles. You're very skilled."
Arthur took note of this as Walburga displayed a cute yet serious expression.
"My, it seems my reputation precedes me~"
"So, Walburga, what exactly do you want?"
Walburga pointed her fingers at Arthur, then at his Holy King Sword, Caliburn.
"That's a fine blade. It's special too, one of a kind."
"Naturally, it's unique. But why are you interested in it? I won't hand it over if you're planning something…"
Walburga raised her hands to the sky.
"No, no! Don't attack! I'm here to offer you a position within a group that's forming, that's all."
Le Fay raised an eyebrow in concern.
"What kind of group? Like the Hero Faction?"
Walburga laughed. "Heh, Hero Faction. A bunch of people who want to prove humans are superior. Well, I also think humans are well-placed in the hierarchy. But I also believe humans' ill intentions can cause a lot of unnecessary trouble. So why don't you join our side?"
"You haven't given me any details about your side."
Walburga laughed and snapped her fingers, summoning documents into her hand.
She tossed a stack of documents to Arthur.
"Read them. After all, I'm just the messenger. We'll be back in a day or two. If you want to join, great."
"And if we don't?"
Arthur demanded, and Walburga smirked maliciously.
Le Fay didn't like the way Walburga was looking at them.
"You won't have to find out if you agree."
Arthur didn't like the way she said that.
It sounded quite threatening.
Walburga turned and waved without looking at them.
"Well, goodbye for now, everyone."
With a small wave, she vanished in a magic circle, surprising Le Fay.
Le Fay turned to her older brother, curiously eyeing the documents he held.
"Onii-sama, what was that all about?"
Arthur wasn't entirely sure either.
"Whatever it is, I'll read it and see what they're talking about."
"I wonder what group she's part of…"
"I don't know what this group is, which is troubling. It makes sense they'd be interested in the Holy King Sword; it's a unique blade that can fight demons and other dark creatures. Maybe they have a demon they can't take down and want my blade. Or maybe it's something more sinister. But to approach me so casually, this Walburga must be either arrogant or confident. From the way she spoke, I couldn't tell. But I felt like she enjoyed toying with people."
Le Fay could understand that.
She also wondered what would happen next.
Whatever it was, she had a bad feeling that Walburga was just part of something much bigger.
With Gilgamesh.
Currently, Gilgamesh and his group were standing in front of Karna, who was staring at them.
Karna observed them, seemingly analyzing each one as if peering into their souls. Gilgamesh was certain Karna was using his [Discernment of the Poor] ability.
This ability allows insight to see through an opponent's character and attributes. He won't be deceived by excuses or deceitful words. It expresses Karna's power to comprehend the true nature of his opponent, granted to him as someone who was blessed with the opportunity to inquire about the lives and values of the weak, having been born without a single relative.
After a while, Karna asked again.
"Are you my Master?" Karna asked emotionlessly.
Gilgamesh smiled.
"Yes, I am Gilgamesh," said the King of Heroes.
Karna seemed momentarily surprised.
"Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, the oldest hero in the world who collected all the treasures of the world, a Sumerian demigod. Are you him?" Karna asked.
Gilgamesh wasn't surprised, as Karna is connected to the Throne of Heroes and can access information about heroes.
"Yes and no. I'm not him, but I am his descendant," Gilgamesh replied.
"Then where are we, Master? I don't sense the Grail, and I see more Servants behind you," Karna said, noting Enkidu, Arturia, and Mordred.
Gilgamesh smiled.
"It's going to be a long explanation," Gilgamesh said before beginning to tell everything.
Some Time Later.
Currently, Gilgamesh, his group, and Karna were heading to the basement of the house.
Gilgamesh's house had several secret underground floors where he kept some of his magical experiments.
Gilgamesh had spent the last hour explaining the entire history of the supernatural world to Karna, who was surprised.
Of all the things Karna expected, this certainly wasn't one of them. Another world? A world where the Age of Gods still exists?
That was utterly unbelievable.
The only things Karna asked Gilgamesh were about what happened to his version in this world.
Gilgamesh replied that after his death, Karna became one with his father, Surya, unlike Arjuna, who became a god alongside his father, Indra.
Thus, Karna no longer exists in this world.
Currently, everyone was in the dungeon, which was a vast green plain with mountains in the background.
Everyone was there, staring at Gilgamesh with doubt.
"Karna, I'd like to challenge you to a battle," Gilgamesh said, to everyone's surprise.
Gilgamesh's entire group looked at this in astonishment, while Enkidu laughed nervously. His friend only thinks about battles.
The only thing Karna did was raise an eyebrow.
"Why is that, Master?" Karna asked.
"We could sit and talk for hours and hours and then understand a bit about each other. But before being a hero, I'm a warrior, and I don't think there's a better way for us to understand each other than by crossing blades," Gilgamesh said, smiling.
Gilgamesh admitted he might have picked up some of Sairaorg's habits from the times they met and fought amicably.
And this was also a good way for Gilgamesh to test some of his new abilities.
Karna looked at him for a moment before speaking.
"Then I accept, not as a Heroic Spirit, but as a warrior," Karna said with a faint smile.
Gilgamesh's entire group sighed, realizing both were battle maniacs, except for Mordred, who was eager for the fight.
Both went to opposite ends of the battlefield and faced each other.
"How should we fight, Master?" Karna asked.
Karna noticed that, unlike all his previous summonings, he was at his peak in this one.
Karna was a high-level Heroic Spirit, capable of rivaling the original Gilgamesh, but all his abilities had a high magical cost, and even high-level mages couldn't sustain him.
Fortunately for Karna, his current Master could provide the magical energy Karna needed, allowing him to tap into his full power.
For example, with another Master, Karna couldn't sustain his Mana Burst for more than ten seconds, but thanks to the vast magical energy provided by Gilgamesh, he could maintain it as long as he wanted.
Currently, Karna was already using two of his Noble Phantasms.
One was Kavacha and Kundala: O Sun, Become Armor.
It's a powerful defensive Noble Phantasm that emits the radiance of the sun itself. Due to being formed from light, it's nearly impossible even for gods to destroy. It's as sturdy as it appears, an invincible armor that protects against all physical or conceptual damage. While active, all damage inflicted on Karna is reduced to one-tenth of its original value. He can fight others without worry, as their attacks are nullified by ninety percent, reducing even powerful blows to minor scratches that can be healed mid-battle. While it can protect against any external physical attack, internal attacks are an exception. It's a continuously active Noble Phantasm, greatly increasing its magical energy maintenance cost.
The other was Vasavi Shakti, the spear gifted to him by the god Indra.
Karna wanted to know if he should go all out, as he didn't want to hurt his Master.
"No need to worry, come at me with everything," Gilgamesh said, smiling.
Karna gripped his spear before pointing it at Gilgamesh as his body was enveloped in divine flames.
"Very well. I no longer see you as my Master, but as a warrior, a hero," Karna said, looking at Gilgamesh. "I am Karna, son of the Sun God. If you do not fear my spear, attack me."
Gilgamesh smiled at this, and a golden portal appeared beside him, from which a weapon emerged.
Its color was golden, its length two meters. A few emerald green gemstone ornaments adorned various parts. The spear was crafted so beautifully that even the gods would approve and feel honored to wield such a masterpiece.
It was a spear that pierced the world from the beginning to the end of time.
A spear that, when thrown, would never miss its target.
It was the spear wielded by the chief Norse god, Odin's spear, Gungnir.
"I am Gilgamesh, descendant of the King of Heroes. If you do not fear my power, attack," Gilgamesh said, smiling.
Both stared at each other for a moment before attacking.
Simultaneously, they planted their feet on the ground, causing it to crack, and charged at each other.
They clashed on the battlefield, causing the ground around them to shatter, with flames and lightning flying in all directions.
The pressure from their blows sent them backward, though Karna was extremely surprised by his Master's power.
Quickly, both charged at each other again.
Naturally, Karna's strikes would be impossible to dodge due to his immense experience and mastery. Karna moved with supernatural skill and precision; it would be impossible to fully withstand the relentless attacks of a lancer who had entered the domain of the gods.
But everything changes if the opponent has also entered the domain of the gods and moves with the same skill and mastery.
Their spears roared, unleashing flames and lightning, splitting the air as they moved at blinding speeds. The ground around them was destroyed by the pressure of their powers, and each thrust was like a cannon shot, unleashing booming blasts.
Their transcendental skills and mastery with their spears made the very world tremble.
With a thrust, Karna sent Gilgamesh backward, making the King of Heroes skid.
In an instant, Karna covered the distance between them and swung his spear upward.
"O Agni," Karna said, summoning his Mana Burst.
Divine flames erupted from his weapon as he invoked his power as the son of the Sun God.
Gilgamesh wasn't intimidated and swung Gungnir against Karna. Odin's spear was enveloped in lightning and thunder, enhancing its power. Gilgamesh further amplified it by coating the spear in a metallic black sheen as he activated his [Busoshoku Haki] to boost his attack and defense.
When the spears clashed, the ground split, and the world seemed to vibrate with their power.
In a swift display of experience and technique, Karna sent Gilgamesh flying into the air.
Gilgamesh decided to use one of his new abilities, [Unlimited Weapons Works].
Gilgamesh didn't just have this ability; he also had all the knowledge about weapon tracing. He had purchased all of EMIYA and Shirou Emiya's knowledge on tracing and all the weapons they had ever traced, instantly gaining a complete arsenal.
Raising one hand, a flash of blue flame appeared in his palm. The blue flame shimmered and danced like a ballerina showing her beauty to the audience. Then the blue flame changed. It emitted crackling sounds before turning red and changing again, darkening until the red became crimson.
The crimson flame expanded upward, with lines and webs forming around it as it began to take shape. It was meant to be a sword but changed. The edge was twisted, bent, and spiraled instead of straight. It looked more like a drill attached to a sword's hilt than a sword.
But even if it changed, the power it held remained the same.
He raised the twisted blade and nocked it on his bow, one he had crafted himself. In his lifetime, EMIYA had made a bow, a special black bow capable of firing Noble Phantasms.
His bow was better. During his lifetime, EMIYA made the bow with limited materials, as he lived in a world where the Age of Gods had ended, and Magecraft was dying—a rare artifact on the verge of extinction.
But not here.
The red bow was made from the scales and bone structure of the most powerful type of dragon, surpassed only by the Dragon God and the True Dragon. Crafting this bow should have been impossible, as the dragon was already dead and sealed. Even if you found the host of its power, you still couldn't produce a near-original, as Juggernaut Drive didn't transform you into the dragon's reincarnation; it only granted you the same massive amount of power.
But Gilgamesh was different. He was the host. He had seen and met the dragon directly, even spoken to it and touched its scales. He had even asked the dragon to reveal its fangs and sharp claws.
Thus, he was able to forge this bow, a bow superior to the one EMIYA created. It wasn't heavier; it was lighter, more durable, easier to use, and stronger. It was more than sufficient to fire a Noble Phantasm that no human could wield.
A red lightning bolt crackled around the sword, its immense power barely contained, like a caged dragon roaring in rage, demanding to be unleashed on its enemy.
The moment he drew the sword, a massive amount of blue prana began pouring from his body, forming a blue mist that enveloped the sword, which was covered in red lightning.
*My core is twisted in madness.*
"Caladbolg."
The sword/arrow shot at blinding speed, so fast it distorted the space around it to hit its enemy.
A blue light streaked in a straight line, fast, faster than a shooting star adorning the sky. No, even faster, as for a moment, space itself seemed to tear in a spiraling motion as the blue light surged toward Karna.
The son of Surya raised his flames to their limit, charging fearlessly against Caladbolg's power.
The explosion was massive, destroying everything in its path, leaving a trail of destruction.
When the explosion dissipated, Karna stood in the middle with some scratches and wounds that quickly healed and returned to normal.
Gilgamesh could only stare in shock.
He had fired Caladbolg right at Karna, and it only caused scratches.
That weapon had destroyed three hills—three damn hills—when fired, and it only caused scratches.
Karna's armor was truly the biggest problem.
An armor that reduced all damage to one-tenth.
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