"So... Saber's been kidnapped?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Our only alliance, and it suddenly collapses... With Caster as a buffer and now with a proper Master instead of Shirou, it's the worst combination. Archer, what do you think?"
"In her current state, she's grown stronger for some reason. Add Caster's support to that... Well. We could win, but depending on the location, civilian casualties are certain. I don't want that situation either, and I'm sure you two feel the same?"
At my words, the two nodded. It's a relief they're children who value human life.
"Frankly... if I used my Noble Phantasm, it would be a different story, but I'm not mentally prepared yet... And, if I did that, there's a troublesome opponent we'd have to deal with."
If Gilgamesh gets serious when we fight, civilian casualties are inevitable. He's the type who wants to purge humanity anyway. If it weren't for the city, I'd just fight, but the restrictions on me are too great. On top of that, the only means to counter area-of-effect attacks like Ea is Ulster's Caladbolg. Even that is honestly burdensome... Cutting it won't eliminate the damage either, and if it's an Anti-World Noble Phantasm, even spatial severing might be questionable. Ea is such an out-of-spec Noble Phantasm...
Gilgamesh is the problem. That Tokiomi guy, why did he summon Gilgamesh and cause this mess? He left a huge mess behind.
"Troublesome opponent?"
"It's better you don't know for now. Knowing won't do you any good. For now..."
I shook my head at Shirou's question. If this justice-freak knows, it'll be annoying. He'll pester me with questions.
"I don't really understand, but does that mean rescuing Saber will be too much for us alone?"
"Because of the church's location, the damage could be significant."
"If Bazett were still here, maybe, but she probably returned to her country yesterday morning. No contact info either... Really, should we not have fought the Lancer team so soon?"
"Setanta would have cooperated. As an enforcer, she would have helped too because of the act of attacking the church. Right now, there's only one faction we can cooperate with."
"... Berserker, you mean?"
At Rin's words, I nodded. I hadn't planned to go like the original, but that's the best option. Since she targets Shirou, if we negotiate well, there shouldn't be a problem. And Berserker will definitely be helpful when fighting Gilgamesh. I don't want to put my wives in danger. Even Scáthach, summoned as a Servant, has her limits, so if he gets serious...
Sigh, my head hurts because of that guy who only has his eyes on treasures if he has no Noble Phantasm. Annoying.
"Then it's decided? Let's go right away."
With Shirou's words, we head towards the Einzbern castle where the Berserker faction is. Wait, Artoria. I'll be there soon.
We head quickly to the Einzbern castle, but...
"Phew... Go around that way. Hurry."
"What is it?"
"It's that guy I mentioned. Quickly! We need to meet Illyasviel! I'll buy time, so you receive her from Berserker and retreat!"
Has he already started attacking...? I deliberately wasn't using Clairvoyance to avoid revealing our location if we made eye contact, but this is really annoying...!
*Groooan...!* *Bwa-bwa-bwa-bwa-bwa!!!!*
I pull the bowstring with all my might, reaching maximum speed, and fire a rapid volley. A rain of red magical energy arrows pours down, covering the sky, and Gilgamesh, who was fighting Berserker, looks up at the sky with a twisted smile. Simultaneously, countless golden ripples open. More than the number fired at Berserker appear.
*Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!!!*
"That's..."
He's toying with Berserker, does he really think this is his playground? There's a limit to insulting a great hero. I don't like those eyes that look down on everyone as beneath him.
*Bang...!*
"Archer...?"
"Go. I'll handle things here, Berserker. Please send her to my Master. We need your help."
"..."
Berserker, who was protecting Illya, looks at my unwavering eyes, then nods, and holding her, quickly charges back inside the castle. I swing my sword, deflecting all the Noble Phantasm barrage fired at Berserker.
"Ha! After Heracles, now it's you, Fergus mac Róich. The man who calls himself the master of Ériu."
"Look who it is. If it isn't the geezer king who died from overwork?"
"You wretch!"
*Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa!!!*
Hundreds of Noble Phantasms are fired, each at least B-rank or above. I change Caladbolg into a gauntlet and unleash its true name. Now, in my weakened body, I actively utilize my Noble Phantasm...!
"{Caladbolg}" (The Gouging, Crushing Iron Fist of Steel)!!!
*Pu-bwa-bwa-bwa-bwa-bwa-bwa-bwa-bwang!!!!!*
I reinforce my body with runes, unleash a super-consecutive strike with all my might, parrying all the Noble Phantasms, and launch a pressurized wind strike imbued with magical energy at him.
*Kuu-guu-guu!!!*
"As expected, a human who reached the pinnacle of martial arts. Born a pure human, tempering that body to its limits, a Celtic warrior who tried to avoid using weapons as much as possible. Truly exceeding expectations?"
"And you're just relying on your Noble Phantasms. What can you do without them?"
*Clang!!!!*
I parry the incoming Vajra with my iron fist, causing an explosion.
"Ha! Such a low-level taunt, you mongrel!"
"There's a mongrel even worse than Merlin who reacts to that taunt right in front of me."
"You...!!!!"
*Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa!!!!*
"That head that thought of the 'First Night Right' is on David's level, you pervert king~!"
"I'll tear you to pieces!!!"
Not the King of Heroes, but AUO, huh. I even feel a sense of absurdity. Really, he's completely wrapped up in his arrogance. This might be... possible. It'll strain my body, but... I release all my runes!
*Kwa-aaaaaaaaang!!!!*
Using all the Primordial Runes passed down from Scáthach simultaneously, a massive magical energy cannon on the level of an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm is fired. Gilgamesh swings a scythe taken from his treasury, cutting apart and erasing the magecraft itself made of magical energy.
"Ha! A bit disappointing. I thought you, if not Enkidu, would at least amuse me!"
"Surprise~ Motherfucker~"
"Wha──"
*Bang!!!!!!*
"■■■■■!!!"
Berserker brings down his massive stone sword from behind the careless Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh quickly jumps up, deploys Noble Phantasms, and kills Berserker once.
"Ha! You think two of you will make a difference? Don't be ridiculous! Great heroes who ascended to the seat of gods after death! I shall show you my kingly authority!"
Gilgamesh takes the Key Sword from his treasury, and simultaneously, Berserker revives and I charge at him as a bombardment of thousands of Noble Phantasms rains down. Each one, all A-rank...! I unleash my true name again, trying to parry as many as possible, but because my body is weaker than in life, it's pierced in various places. Berserker also tries to resist as much as possible, but having lost almost all his skill from when he was alive, he meets death again, helpless.
Gilgamesh, through the Key Sword, releases his Noble Phantasm.
"Now, behold. Awaken, Ea! A stage worthy of you is set! Now, look up! Enuma──"
And that was the signal for victory.
*Chwak...!!!*
"Gurk!?"
A spear like a red meteor flies at speeds surpassing sound, piercing Gilgamesh's abdomen and stitching through the very concept of space.
"You, wretch...!"
"{Gáe Bolg Alternative}" (The Piercing Death Flight Spear)!!!
*Kwa-aaaaaaaa!!!!!*
Transformed into Scáthach, having lent her body to her, Rin's full-power strike pierces Gilgamesh's heart. The mistress of the demonic realm has pierced the golden ancient king.
"Witch of the demonic realm..."
"Your fatal flaw is one, King of Heroes. You... grew complacent, just like my past self."
With his heart pierced by Scáthach (Rin), the moment the spear is retrieved, Gilgamesh is slaughtered by it. Because he wasn't serious, he didn't, couldn't, prepare with his countless, boast-worthy number of Noble Phantasms.
The Noble Phantasm bombardment ends, and Ea, fallen to the ground, is also retrieved and disappears.
"Haa... haa... We did it, for now."
"... Reckless, Fergus. Perhaps if it were your original self, but as a weakened Servant, it's too much for you."
"Mutual destruction was possible though..."
*Smack!*
"Oof...!"
She hits my back, glaring at me with eyes that say not to even think about such things. Yet, Scáthach heals my body with Primordial Runes.
"Don't say such things to me. To me, you take precedence over this world."
"That's quite a burden... but I like it."
"Good... Ah, and about Saber."
"Huh?"
"... No, never mind. It'll be more interesting to leave it be."
"???"
"It's nothing. Do well, Fergus. I believe you will."
Scáthach grins and comforts me. Soon, the transformation is undone and Scáthach disappears.
"Ugh... ugh, my body feels like it's screaming..."
"Your muscles are really knotted up."
It's the recoil from Scáthach using her full power, that's all...
"Still, we've taken a step forward, at least."
I look at Illya being carried by Shirou from behind... and feel a somewhat faint, nostalgic mood.
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