The clash between Gilgamesh's Marduk and my own Excalibur Twilight Alternative ultimately ended in a stalemate. In a sense, it was an inevitable conclusion.
While not quite reaching the heights of the true Excalibur, Marduk—the prototype of Gram—possessed a destructive power that rivaled it. My Twilight Alternative, though slightly inferior to the holy sword of the King of Knights, held a similar magnitude of mystery. In that instant of contact, their powers were near perfectly matched.
As proof, the radiating beams of light canceled each other out upon impact, scattering into the atmosphere as harmless particles of prana.
As the light faded, I lunged toward the owner of those wide, crimson eyes. Seeing my rapid approach and discerning my intent, Gilgamesh's voice rang out in a thunderous roar.
"...How dare you! Do you truly believe that merely negating Our strike entitles you to challenge We who stand equal to the heavens?"
"Hah! If you claim to be the heavens, then I shall drag those heavens down to the earth!"
"Insolence! Impudence! How dare you!"
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Visage twisted in a mask of displeasure, Gilgamesh unleashed a barrage of Noble Phantasms. Yet, as I had done until now, I parried them with practiced precision, carving a path forward.
Watching me close the distance, Gilgamesh trembled with burgeoning fury. Utilizing that opening, I finally succeeded in reaching his immediate vicinity.
"This is the end, Gilgamesh! Here and now, I shall claim the head of humanity's greatest King of Heroes!"
"You bastard!"
Reaching the base of the structure where Gilgamesh stood, I vaulted toward the rooftop. In the blink of an eye, I crested the ledge.
Just as my blade arced toward the King's throat, golden ripples manifested in every direction, encircling me. At the same time, the King, who had been glaring at me with murderous intent, finally spoke.
"...We acknowledge you. You are a hero. As such, We shall grant you a glimpse of Our 'dearest friend'!"
RATTLE! CLATTER!
From the countless golden gates opened in every direction, a myriad of chains surged forth. I attempted to drop back to the ground and parry them to escape their reach, but...
To my shock, the chains possessed a will of their own. They veered through the air, correcting their trajectory to pursue me with renewed vigor.
CLANK! TIGHTEN!
"...Urgh!"
The simultaneous onslaught of chains proved too much to evade. Within seconds, my entire body was bound, my movements completely sealed by the iron constriction.
A low groan escaped my lips as the pressure of the bindings grew, threatening to crush my bones. Observing my struggle, Gilgamesh let out a derisive sneer. Seeing the dire situation, Illyasviel cried out from below.
"Berserker, return to me!"
PING!
At Illyasviel's command, her Command Spell flared with a brilliant crimson light. However, despite the absolute decree of spatial transportation, my body remained rooted to the spot, encased in the chains.
Illyasviel watched in disbelief, her voice trembling.
".....Why? I ordered him to return.... why is it not working?"
"It is futile, doll," Gilgamesh shouted. His red eyes gazed upon the chains that snaked out from the golden ripples.
"These are the Chains of Heaven! None who are bound by them—be they man or god—can hope to escape. Do you truly think We would permit such a trifle as spatial transference via Command Spell?"
With a mocking curl of his lip, Gilgamesh descended from the rooftop to look upon me as I stood bound to the earth.
"That you forced Us to reveal Our dearest friend is a feat worthy of praise. However, your insolence in attempting to harm Our royal person is a cardinal sin that cannot be forgiven!"
As Gilgamesh raised a hand, a single golden ripple appeared above his head, and a sword emerged from the void.
It was Marduk—the prototype of Gram and Caliburn—the same blade he had wielded moments ago.
"Aton with your life, Indomitable Knight!"
THUCK!
"GAH!"
At the King's downswing of his hand, the sword shot forth at supersonic speeds and buried itself in my chest. I managed a desperate twist of my body to avoid my spiritual core, but blood sprayed from my lips as the blade punctured my lung.
"Cough...!"
"Hoh? You managed to evade a strike aimed at your core even while bound?" Gilgamesh remarked, his voice tinged with genuine amusement as he watched me spit blood.
"Then We shall personally deliver your end. See if you can dodge this!"
SCHWING.
Gilgamesh withdrew another sword from the Gate and gripped it in his hand. He intended to deliver the execution stroke himself.
Seeing this, I did something unexpected: I chuckled. Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes, confused by my reaction.
"Why do you laugh? Have you lost your wits in the face of death?"
"-Cough... No. I laugh because you are remarkably foolish, Gilgamesh."
"-What?"
Gilgamesh questioned me as he stepped into striking range. I chuckled again. The moment I had confirmed his identity, my memories of the original history had returned to me in full.
I knew of his treasury. I knew of Ea. And I knew of his 'dearest friend,' the Chains of Heaven, Enkidu. Recalling the specific nature of Enkidu's power, I smiled through the pain.
"There is one detail you have overlooked, Gilgamesh."
"....And what might that be?"
"I possess...."
No Divinity.
With those words, I detonated my magical energy, surging prana throughout my entire frame. The chains, which had felt like unbreakable walls, snapped like brittle thread.
Gilgamesh's eyes widened in shock as he tried to recoil, but I was already free from my shackles.
He scrambled to open his treasury to launch a defensive strike, but I had already reached his front.
Arrogance is your downfall. With a single fluid motion, I carved through his chest. A long, jagged laceration tore across Gilgamesh's torso from his right shoulder down to his waist.
"-ARGH! YOU.... HOW DARE YOU!"
"-Cough... Tch. Too shallow."
Even in his shock, he was still Gilgamesh. In that split second, he had manifested a defensive Noble Phantasm. The brief moment I took to shatter that defense allowed him to retreat just enough.
My blade failed to reach his heart. Gilgamesh desperately unleashed healing treasures upon his bleeding chest, his voice a frantic scream of rage.
"-INSOLENCE! IMPUDENCE! CURSE YOU! HOW DARE A FILTHY WRETCH SCAR OUR ROYAL PERSON! TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO SLAY US...! AGH!"
The King of Heroes spewed venomous hatred, but was forced to stop as the agony of the wound flared anew.
I let a smirk play on the corner of my mouth. Who told him to be so careless as to leave his golden armor in the treasury? That was his own mistake.
Of course, I was hardly in fighting condition myself. I leaned heavily on my sword, using it as a cane to keep myself upright. Dammit, it hurts like hell.
"-Elius! Where are you...? Elius!"
It seemed reinforcements had arrived. From behind me, Artoria's voice rang out. As I turned my head, I saw her face.
As she rushed toward me, her eyes locked onto Gilgamesh standing before us, and she froze in sheer shock.
"-Archer?! Why are you here...!?"
"Artoria... cough..."
Artoria was visibly shaken, recognizing the worst enemy she had faced in the Fourth Holy Grail War.
However, seeing me coughing up blood while calling her name, she immediately assessed the situation. Stepping in front of me to shield me, she leveled her sword at the Golden King.
"I do not know how you are present in this era, but you are an undeniable enemy. I shall strike you down!"
"-Heh... very well. Then this time, I shall truly make you Our possession!"
The Holy Grail War was beginning to spiral into an entirely unforeseen direction.
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