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*Tohsaka Residence*
"We must retrieve Ea!"
Tohsaka Tokiomi declared, his voice filled with urgency as he addressed Gilgamesh and Kirei Kotomine.
His Servant's most powerful Noble Phantasm had been stolen?
Tokiomi hadn't even considered such a possibility.
He believed that from the moment Gilgamesh was summoned, victory was a foregone conclusion.
Yet, reality had proven him wrong.
The typically composed and elegant Tokiomi was now visibly agitated.
"Those two were undoubtedly a Master and Servant pair. I witnessed him recall that mad dog with my own eyes," Gilgamesh stated calmly, his hands resting beneath his chin.
Despite the loss of Ea, Gilgamesh remained surprisingly unfazed.
While Ea was undoubtedly the most powerful Noble Phantasm within his treasury, it was just one among many.
It held far less significance to him than Enkidu, the Chains of Heaven.
However, as a king who upheld his own laws, Gilgamesh would undoubtedly deliver judgment upon those who dared to steal his treasures.
Despite the humiliation he suffered in the previous battle, Gilgamesh couldn't help but admire the audacity of those who dared to challenge him.
However, this admiration didn't diminish his resolve to punish them.
"They were a true Master and Servant pair? Then Kariya was merely a decoy? But who is Merlin's Master?"
Tokiomi's mind raced, considering various possibilities.
He realized that the Matou family might already be decimated.
"So, Berserker and Caster are allies and reside within the Matou household," Kirei Kotomine added.
"That appears to be the case. It seems our next target should be the Matou," Gilgamesh concluded, leaning back against the sofa and instinctively touching his arm.
The wound where his arm had been severed had been healed, but a phantom pain lingered.
It served as a constant reminder, urging him to seek revenge.
"Next time, I won't be as merciful" Gilgamesh vowed, his crimson eyes gleaming with a cold determination as he gazed out into the darkness.
...
BOOM!
A deafening explosion jolted Mika awake.
Pulling back the curtains, he saw the fiery glow illuminating the night sky. He knew instantly that the Hyatt Hotel had been demolished by Kiritsugu Emiya.
"Such madness, Kiritsugu Emiya," Mika muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
The destructive power of a Magus Killer, unbound by conventional rules, was truly astounding.
While magi themselves existed outside the realm of ordinary rules, they still adhered to their own code of conduct.
Kiritsugu Emiya, however, was unconstrained by any such limitations.
His actions were often unpredictable and audacious.
Kayneth, a prodigy of the Clock Tower, had poured considerable effort and ingenuity into constructing his workshop.
It was his greatest advantage.
Kiritsugu understood that confronting Kayneth within his workshop would be a futile endeavor.
Therefore, he chose to eliminate the workshop entirely.
The workshop, situated on the 32nd floor of the Hyatt Hotel, would cease to function if the floor itself was destroyed.
Compared to the arduous task of infiltrating the workshop, demolishing the entire building was a far more efficient solution.
"Truly audacious, Kiritsugu Emiya," Mika mused before drawing the curtains closed and returning to sleep.
The events unfolding had no bearing on him.
After obtaining Ea, a sense of complacency had settled over him.
...
"What would Sakura like? Big sister will buy it for you!" Airmid asked with a gentle smile, holding Sakura's hand.
Mika, Mellie, Airmid, and Sakura were strolling through the shopping mall, browsing various clothing stores and snack shops.
Seeing Sakura's mental state gradually improving after the harrowing ordeal she had endured, Airmid decided to take her out for a day of fun.
Before leaving, she had consulted Mika to ensure it was safe.
Mika readily agreed.
He believed that Fuyuki City was relatively safe during the day.
Apart from Kiritsugu Emiya, who was known to use a sniper rifle in broad daylight, the other Masters were unlikely to launch an attack during the day.
As for Kiritsugu Emiya?
Knowing the danger he posed, Mika had requested Gabriel to create a Nen tool capable of tracking individuals' locations.
Since their encounter the previous night, Kiritsugu's movements had been under Mika's constant surveillance.
Perhaps due to the fundamentally different nature of Nen compared to magecraft, the Einzberns remained oblivious to their tracking.
Under Mika's watchful eye, Kiritsugu was nowhere near their current location.
"I want this."
"Alright, alright, alright!"
Standing to the side, Mika and Merlin watched Airmid and Sakura with amusement.
"It's rare to see Airmid like this," Merlin commented.
"I've hardly ever seen her so carefree," Mellie agreed. Unlike Mika, who had known Airmid since childhood, Mellie had only recently joined their group and didn't know her as well.
"But are we sure this is wise?" Merlin asked, his tone turning serious. "Considering yesterday's events, we might be targeted. Is it truly safe to be out in the open like this?"
"No problem!" Mika replied confidently. "We're not like those 'fragile' Masters. We can react swiftly to any surprise attack. Don't forget, we can summon our Servants at any moment using our Command Spells."
As he spoke, Mika raised his arm, revealing the three Command Spells on the back of his hand.
This was an unusual phenomenon.
After all, Mika had used two Command Spells during the previous night's battle. Yet, he still possessed three.
The reason for this was Gabriel's breakthrough in deciphering the Holy Grail system.
While her research on the "Greater Grail" fragment within the Holy Grail hadn't yielded any significant magical advancements, she had managed to completely unravel the workings of the Holy Grail's auxiliary systems.
In particular, the Command Spell system provided by the Matou family. With his connection to the Holy Grail through his body, Mika could now replenish his Command Spells daily.
If it weren't for the limitation of only possessing three Command Spells at a time, Mika's entire arm would likely be covered in them.
"Despite our advantages, we mustn't let our guard down," Mika said, his gaze shifting towards the horizon. "Tonight... I have a feeling something is going to happen."
"Tonight?" Mellie asked, surprised.
"Yes," Mika replied, his voice filled with certainty.
---
*Night - Matou Residence.*
Mika, Mellie, and Merlin sat around a table in the main hall, playing cards and filling the room with laughter.
Despite anticipating a surprise attack that night, the well-prepared trio couldn't help but feel a tinge of boredom as they waited for their opponents to arrive.
So, they decided to pass the time with a friendly game of cards.
Suddenly, everyone froze mid-action.
"A Bounded Field to ward off intruders."
"It seems our enemies have finally arrived!"
Tossing their cards onto the table, Mika and the others adopted a more serious demeanor.
The only ones who would attack them at this hour were Tokiomi Tohsaka and Gilgamesh.
Perhaps accompanied by Kirei Kotomine and Hassan-i-Sabbah.
Mika reached out, and a magnificent sword materialized in his hand.
It was one of the Noble Phantasms he had snatched during Gilgamesh's barrage of attacks.
Durandal, the sword of the paladin Roland.
Swinging the blade, Mika felt its exceptional sharpness and couldn't help but chuckle.
"We're ready. Now we just need to figure out where Gilgamesh and his companions will attack from."
...
"Is everything prepared? Understood."
After receiving confirmation from Kirei Kotomine, Tokiomi Tohsaka respectfully addressed Gilgamesh, who sat upon a throne nearby.
"Your Majesty, Kirei has completed the preparations. The residents near the Matou residence have been evacuated using the 'Dispersal of the Commoners' spell. We are now free to attack."
"Is that so? Everything is ready?"
Gilgamesh shifted his gaze from the clouds in the sky and rested his head on his hand. "Then let the annihilation begin!"
High above the Matou residence, nearly a kilometer in the air, Gilgamesh sat within the Golden Vimana and commanded, "Vimana, fire!"
Following his order, countless golden projectiles rained down from the Vimana's underbelly, hurtling towards the Matou residence.
...
"Something's wrong!"
Mika clutched his head, his expression grim.
His danger sense was blaring in his mind, growing increasingly urgent and intense.
"Where is this sense of danger coming from?"
"The sky?"
Suddenly, it dawned on him.
Gilgamesh possessed the Vimana within his treasury.
And that flying vessel from Hindu mythology was equipped with ancient nuclear warheads.
"Damn it, is he serious?!"
Realizing the truth, Mika couldn't help but curse.
While the Holy Grail War was indeed a "war," resorting to nuclear weapons was beyond the pale.
"Merlin!"
"Gilgamesh is launching nuclear warheads from the Vimana!"
Mika's frantic cry jolted everyone to their feet.
Nuclear weapons!
Anyone living in modern society knew of their devastating power.
They were the most destructive weapons ever created by humanity.
"Is that so?"
Without hesitation, Merlin raised his staff and activated his Noble Phantasm.
"Garden of Avalon!"
Just as the ancient nuclear warheads descended from the sky, Merlin's Noble Phantasm manifested.
A vibrant garden filled with blooming flowers appeared before them.
And at its center stood a magnificent tower.
This was Merlin's Noble Phantasm, his Reality Marble.
As the Garden of Avalon enveloped the area, the descending nuclear warheads transformed into harmless flowers upon entering its domain.
This Noble Phantasm could nullify any attack.
It was Merlin's ultimate defense.
"Well done, Merlin!"
"But we need to relocate!"
Despite Merlin's successful intervention, Mika remained vigilant.
The previous battles had taught him to never underestimate Gilgamesh's power.
In Mika's eyes, Gilgamesh was a vastly superior version of Shirou Emiya.
The only difference was that Shirou Emiya lacked Gilgamesh's arrogance and pride.
Gilgamesh's overconfidence often led to his downfall.
However, when he was serious, he was undoubtedly the most formidable Servant.
He could potentially counter any Servant if he chose to.
"We can't stay here. We'll become sitting ducks. We need to move!" Mika declared, addressing the group.
...
"Nullified, you say?"
Gilgamesh chuckled softly as he observed the fireworks display below.
He had launched numerous ancient nuclear warheads, targeting the entire area surrounding the Matou residence.
The surrounding structures had been reduced to ash.
Yet, the Matou residence at the epicenter of his attack remained unscathed.
"A Reality Marble, I see."
Recognizing Merlin's handiwork, Gilgamesh launched another volley of Noble Phantasms.
This time, in addition to weapons, he also included grimoires.
...
BOOM!
As the Reality Marble shattered, Mika quickly led the group to safety.
"I knew it!"
Just as Gilgamesh had done when faced with Mika's seemingly indestructible shield, he had countered Merlin's Reality Marble, which was ultimately still a form of magecraft, by deploying Noble Phantasms with anti-magic properties.
Recalling the Noble Phantasms Gilgamesh had just launched, Mika realized that the King of Heroes had become far more cautious.
To ensure success, he had deployed multiple Noble Phantasms with different anti-magic effects, anticipating any potential countermeasures Merlin might employ.
"Mika, the airship is still pursuing us," Mellie reported, relaying information from her clairvoyance.
"Good. That way, he won't destroy the Matou residence and leave us homeless," Mika replied.
"Is that really our biggest concern right now?" Mellie retorted.
The Vimana above unleashed another barrage of ancient nuclear warheads. However, thanks to their swift evasion and defensive measures, Mika and his companions managed to avoid serious injury.
"Damn it!"
Rising from the ground, Mika declared, "We can't keep running. We need to take the fight to him!"
As he spoke, three gauntlets materialized beside him and rapidly expanded in size.
"Merlin, Lancelot, and I will launch an aerial assault."
"Agreed. It's been a long time since I've been so humiliated. It's time for revenge," Merlin said through gritted teeth, his face covered in soot.
"Enhancements first!"
"Understood!"
With a wave of his hand, Merlin bestowed enhancements upon everyone present.
"Airmid, Mellie, be careful down here. If necessary, use your Command Spells to recall Merlin."
Mika looked at the equally enhanced Airmid and Mellie and issued a final warning.
He knew they would be targeted by Kirei Kotomine and Hassan-i-Sabbah while on the ground.
That's why he had Merlin enhance everyone beforehand.
With Merlin's protection, they could withstand even Hassan's relentless assaults.
After all, Hassan-i-Sabbah's strength diminished with each additional duplicate.
"Don't worry! We're not weak!"
"I believe in you!"
With that, Mika soared into the sky, propelled by the gauntlets.
The upcoming battle would be fought in the air....
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