"Huh?"
High above Ryuudou Temple, Irisviel stood beside Roland in a daze, staring at the temple that was coated with a layer of blurry colors under the moonlight.
Being suddenly dragged from Einzbern Castle to such a place, Irisviel was unable to react for a moment, and she just subconsciously pulled Roland's arm.
But when she saw the scene in Ryudo Temple, she understood everything.
"Lord Roland, is it finally time to use me?"
The function of the Lesser Holy Grail is to act as the key to the Greater Holy Grail. It stores the souls of heroes when necessary and converts them into magic power. Finally, it connects to the Greater Holy Grail to open the hole outside the world.
Therefore, her sacrifice was necessary, and Irisviel had already been prepared for this.
Anyway, her wish had been fulfilled. She was now truly a human being, with a husband and a daughter, and spent her days in such a happy family. Although the time was short, Irisviel already felt very satisfied.
"Yes, after that, you need to activate the Heavenly Cloth and transfer the servant's soul directly into the Greater Holy Grail."
As he spoke, in the shadow next to him, the black shadow ninja lifted out a cupboard and opened the door.
What appeared before Irisviel's eyes was a holy dress with a pure white base, dotted with golden patterns and bright red satin, and exuding an air of elegance and luxury.
This is the trump card of Einzbern, the ceremonial device that controls the core of the Greater Holy Grail.
But to Irisviel, it looked more like a curse in the shape of a dress.
"After the Greater Holy Grail is summoned, you only need to fully operate the Greater Holy Grail's core and ensure that the Third Law is activated normally."
"Instead of collecting the souls of other Servants, can you ensure that the one who makes the wish is you by having the Holy Grail summoned right beside you when the conditions are met?"
Irisviel blinked in confusion, but in response, Roland looked at her as if she were a fool.
"Why should I sacrifice my own things to help these people? It's a kind of neglect not to do it when there is a better way."
Obviously, these words were just as irrational as when they first met, but after the relationship changed, Irisviel was not as resolute as before. Instead, she blushed and lowered her head shyly.
Roland glanced at Irisviel and said, "Besides, even if you want to sacrifice yourself, you can't do it now. Do you really think that the soul of the Servant is still in your body?"
Irisviel was stunned, then subconsciously touched her abdomen and exclaimed.
"How is that possible? The berserker's soul was clearly..."
"That was indeed the case at the time, but soon after, his soul was transferred to the Greater Holy Grail. This is what you should do as the Lesser Holy Grail. No wonder you didn't notice it."
"However, the Greater Holy Grail is a complex and complete system, and it is impersonal. That is why it needs a key like the Lesser Holy Grail to confirm the start of its final function. If this happens, it only means one thing..."
Irisviel subconsciously covered her mouth to prevent herself from screaming, but Roland just looked quietly at Enzo Mountain below him. His gaze seemed to penetrate the barrier of the mountain and point directly to the large hole underground.
"The Holy Grail is not just a simple tool. It has its own desires," Roland added indifferently, adding to the second half of the sentence that Irisviel had not finished.
"Moreover, it can't wait to truly live in this world."
Suddenly, Roland raised his head and looked towards the sky.
"But before that, I have to help it and make these troublesome heroes serve as fuel obediently."
——
The barrier that Darnic had set up outside of Ryuuduo Temple was violently destroyed.
As if signaling the final battle, the golden flying boat, with emerald as its main color and shaped like fairy wings, rushed into the sky above Ryuudou Temple like a meteor with considerable momentum.
The effect of the barrier's automatic counterattack was blocked by the shield on the flying boat before it reached the Hero King. As long as Gilgamesh was willing, Vimana, as his throne, could easily flatten the top of Mount Enzo.
But considering Enkidu's safety, Gilgamesh did not launch a counterattack, but rushed in with a devastating attitude.
Gilgamesh, who was unharmed, quickly scanned the temple with a fearful and anxious attitude, and then his eyes froze.
Enkidu opened his arms as if he was embracing the world, but his face did not have his usual smile.
The magic in his body ran wild like lightning, causing violent winds to rage and sowing life on the earth. This was the most primitive presentation of this planet, but both Enkidu and Darnic knew that this was just a last gasp.
"Enkidu, command it with the second Command Seal to become one with me!"
As the Command Spell disappeared, Enkidu's long green hair was blown by the wind, and then he bit Darnic's neck like a beast!
"It's great to be able to summon you! Your soul must be agitated. You call yourself a tool, but you have such vivid emotions."
"Even though his life would be gone in the next moment, Darnic still laughed excitedly.
"Command with the third Command Seal! Enkidu, engrave my soul into this body!"
Enkidu, who was originally a clay doll used as a weapon but gained intelligence after meeting the holy prostitute, was very suitable for the reproduction of this legend.
As if he didn't notice Gilgamesh's arrival at all, Enkidu held Darnic tightly in his arms until the other's flesh, blood, and soul seeped into his body, and then he seemed to regain his rationality.
"Mongrel...how dare you!"
Gilgamesh jumped down and tried to touch Enkidu with a serious attitude that he had never shown since he was summoned.
It can still be done, it can still be saved... Even if the souls are entangled, as long as Enkidu's life has not disappeared and this attitude has not been broken, all the treasures of the original text can always be used to find a way to suppress or even remove it. In the final analysis, this is just a magician's trick.
Enkidu also noticed Gilgamesh's actions, and an inexplicable light flashed in his eyes, as if he also wanted to reach out his hand.
But in the end, another cold voice interrupted Gilgamesh's actions.
"Use the Command Spell to command—"
Gilgamesh knew clearly who the owner of this voice was, his new Master, Kotomine Kirei.
The man who had evil hidden in his heart and was instigated by him to stab Tōsaka Tokiomi in the back.
Because of this, he knew exactly what Kotomine Kirei was going to do next.
Just like the cycle of fate, Gilgamesh, who had no empathy with Tōsaka Tokiomi, actually felt a sense of empathy when the true terror came.
He tried to stop Kotomine Kirei with a trembling voice that he himself had not even noticed.
"Kirei! —You can't…you can't do this, you can't do this!"
"Stop what you are doing, Hero King."
But Kotomine Kirei's voice continued to be heard, conveying the complete order. Although the voice was cold and solemn, anyone could hear the joy contained in it.
——It was like trying hard to hold back laughter, but still unable to do so.
"I command you with the second Command Seal... Archer, stay where you are and watch this scene quietly!"
As if still feeling unsafe, a second repeated command came, causing Gilgamesh to completely stop in mid-air, right in front of Enkidu.
Just like sitting in the front row of a theater, you can fully appreciate the actors' laughter, sorrow, and...struggles.
"Gil, don't blame yourself. You know... even without the Command Seal, it's already too late for you."
Using the last strength of his life, Enkidu did not lament his fate, but instead comforted his friend. He seemed to want to say something else, but in the end, Enkidu just gave Gilgamesh a regretful smile.
The next moment, his body turned into a clay doll and shattered.
The life created by God returns to the nothingness of earth.
It was the second time, and I still could not do anything. Compared to my best friend who was a clay doll struggling in hardship, I could only sit and watch this ironic tragedy repeat itself.
Different from the anger of being repeatedly slapped in the face by Roland and finally fleeing in embarrassment, this moment was the real ultimate insult to Gilgamesh.
The overwhelming murderous intent and tremendous pressure emanated from Gilgamesh, causing the atmosphere to deteriorate instantly.
It was as if all the air currents stopped and solidified in an instant. No matter how much anger and murderous intent were contained in Gilgamesh's bright red eyes, in the end, he could only stand there like a child being punished, and could only vent his emotions with a cruel voice that seemed to be dripping with blood.
"Kotomine Kirei——! Even if I kill you ten thousand times it won't be enough!"
Gilgamesh's face became as hideous as that of a demon. Endless humiliation and pain gnawed at his heart like worms.
But what responded to him was Kotomine Kirei's merciless ridicule.
"It is my honor, Hero King. 'Just pursue pleasure', that's what you told me. You were bitten by the beast you released, betrayed by someone you didn't expect, and helpless against the death of your best friend. You are so vulgar, are you still trying to guide me?"
Kotomine Kirei's words were like nails, and every one of them hit Gilgamesh's heart hard.
What finally put an end to Gilgamesh was that sarcastic rhetorical question.
"How is it, Hero King, how do you feel now, how do you feel about your teeth?"
The shorter the order, the more powerful it is. No matter how unwilling Gilgamesh is, he can only wait until the effect of the restraint wears off.
After everything was over, golden waves appeared around Gilgamesh, but faster than his actions were the words of Kotomine Kirei.
"Use the third Command Spell to order you to commit suicide, Archer."
At this moment, a loud thunder accompanied by the sound of hooves broke the silence. Purple thunder suddenly appeared at the end of the sky, tearing a long crack.
Along with it, there was also a thunderous shout.
"Lancer! I'm here to seek revenge on you. Prepare to face my never-ending conquest... Archer? What are you doing here..."
Before Rider could finish his words, everything that happened in front of him made this carefree king become dumbfounded.
Gilgamesh, who was standing in mid-air, seemed not to have heard his voice at all. He took out a sharp dagger from the king's treasure and pierced his own heart without hesitation!