Golden ripples flickered across the sky, attempting to fire a Noble Phantasm.
Yet all the Gate of Babylon could manage now was to flash twice.
Seeing that the Gate of Babylon couldn't launch any Noble Phantasm at all, Aslan couldn't help but burst into laughter.
It wasn't just Aslan—Artoria also failed to suppress a smile as she watched Gilgamesh crawl sheepishly out from beneath a pile of containers, angrily trying to use his Noble Phantasm against Aslan, only to cause a great commotion with absolutely no effect.
As for Iskandar, he dropped all pretense and roared with laughter.
"Hahaha! King of Heroes, if this is the vengeance you speak of, then this king can do nothing but laugh!"
Indeed, Gilgamesh had provided him with genuine amusement—a truly entertaining clown show.
"Mongrel!"
Faced with mockery from the other Servants, the arrogant and egotistical Gilgamesh became truly enraged. Unable to restrain himself, he shouted furiously:
"This king shall make you understand what it means for royal dignity to be inviolable!"
"Enuma Elish!"
A strange sword composed of three cylindrical blades materialized in Gilgamesh's hand.
The three blades slowly rotated, slicing through the surrounding space. Holding Ea firmly, Gilgamesh aimed it at Aslan.
With a cold expression, Gilgamesh gripped Ea and pointed it toward Aslan.
"With the Command Spell, King of Heroes—return to me."
Hearing this, Gilgamesh cursed in rage.
"Tokiomi! How dare you!"
But before he could finish speaking, Gilgamesh was forcibly recalled under the compulsion of the Command Spell.
As he vanished, Gilgamesh cast one last glare toward Aslan—and saw only mocking amusement.
"Is this all? And you call yourself the King of Heroes?"
"Tohsaka Tokiomi!"
Enraged, Gilgamesh was forced to leave the scene.
"Tsk tsk. Poor Gilgamesh—what rotten luck to end up with a Master like that."
Aslan couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for Tokiomi. Gilgamesh was now utterly furious.
Aslan wondered curiously what would ultimately become of Tokiomi.
Perhaps Tokiomi still believed the focus of this Holy Grail War was the Holy Grail War itself?
Frankly, every Servant summoned this time possessed the power to end the entire Holy Grail War in a single night.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Meanwhile, not far away, Kiritsugu observed the scene through his sniper rifle, catching sight of Artoria standing protectively in front of Aslan.
Though outwardly calm as always, Kiritsugu's confidence in Artoria—or rather, in Saber—diminished slightly.
"Well, Maiya? Can you spot Lancer's Master from your position?"
"No, I can't locate him."
Maiya's emotionless voice came through the earpiece, bringing unwelcome news.
Hearing this, Kiritsugu's expression darkened slightly.
"Has it come to this?"
The Servants had been granted absolute autonomy. This time, the Heroic Spirits were entrusted by the Counter Force to deal with the Outer-Demon God and had been given Grand Spirit Origin status.
They could even receive direct support from the Counter Force, drastically reducing their need for mana from their Masters and granting them immense independence.
In such circumstances, the only thing capable of controlling a Servant was the Command Spell.
However, if Masters didn't interfere, Servants acting independently posed a serious threat.
Yet this was also his opportunity. Saving the world was the responsibility of the Heroic Spirits entrusted by the Counter Force. Kiritsugu wanted to achieve his dream of world peace—so he needed to obtain the Holy Grail.
If he could ambush several Servants while they fought the Outer-Demon God, or if Saber alone remained at the end...
Of course, all this assumed the Servants were actually capable of fighting.
Limited by his experience, Kiritsugu had no idea how powerful a target so highly valued by the Counter Force could be.
After all, there existed Noble Phantasms like the Shining Lance of the End—an ultimate Super-Spec weapon requiring thirteen restrictions just to manifest as a Noble Phantasm.
Against such power, Kiritsugu struggled to imagine any opponent capable of resistance.
So—should he act now?
Kiritsugu glanced at Waver, who stood beside Iskandar, crying while hitting him.
Then at Manaka, holding Aslan's hand, walking closely beside him with obvious affection.
These two Masters were merely ordinary magi.
Now, if he gave the order, he and Maiya would pull the trigger, and bullets would instantly pierce their skulls.
In doing so, Kiritsugu would gain a significant advantage in the Holy Grail War.
Just as Kiritsugu prepared to squeeze the trigger, Aslan and Scáthach simultaneously turned around, smiled, and nodded directly toward the sniper scope.
"I didn't expect it'd be this old man showing up."
To Aslan and Scáthach, Kiritsugu's presence—or more precisely, his attempt to hide nearby—was already known.
They simply didn't care. A bullet from a sniper rifle couldn't harm them in the slightest.
What caught their attention instead was the tall figure standing behind Kiritsugu—King Hassan, who held the massive sword Azrael, having appeared there unnoticed.
It was as if the moment Kiritsugu pulled the trigger, death itself would descend upon him.
There was no thought of the Holy Grail War in King Hassan's eyes. His sole purpose now was to eliminate any unfavorable factors threatening the Heroic Spirit Alliance in their battle against the Outer-Demon God.
And when necessary, deliver the Concept of Death to those who stood in the way.
Unlike the proud and overly optimistic magus Masters, King Hassan held an extremely pessimistic view of their final enemy.
After all, what kind of foe could possibly force seven Grand Servants into action?
Thus, he would allow no element of discord or risk within the alliance.
After exchanging a nod with Aslan and Scáthach, King Hassan's figure vanished once more.
As for Kiritsugu—he hadn't made a fatal mistake, so he was allowed to live.
"So, Master, anything else? If not, I'll be off."
Having toured the area and gone on a date with Manaka, Aslan had nearly met all the Servants who might have surrounded him.
He'd also gained one Saber.
His objectives were complete.
Now, he'd continue his date.
"Oh—I almost forgot. Saber, your contract with Kiritsugu."
Suddenly, Aslan remembered that Saber's contract still belonged to Kiritsugu. Artoria was already his knight—how could she be contracted to someone else?