*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*
Continuous explosions carried blinding light that flickered in the night sky.
The immense wind pressure and destructive force caused by the released magical energy left the surrounding trees in tatters.
The beautiful knight with golden hair and blue eyes swung her powerful weapon, unleashing wind blades that shattered the surroundings into disarray. Even the familiar watching from the sky was perfectly sliced apart by the sharp wind blades.
Along the way, Artoria crushed everything in her path with her absolute power as a Servant, rendering the traps and barriers set by modern magus insignificant before her presence.
Magic Resistance A
After a straightforward assault, Artoria finally stopped in front of the gate of the Tohsaka residence.
"This is it."
Glancing at the intricate magical arrangements on the gate, she raised her holy sword without hesitation and struck.
Originally, she intended to catch them off guard with a surprise attack, but as she delved deeper, she realized how heavily fortified the Tohsaka residence had been transformed into a magical stronghold. The surrounding forest was filled with the eyes of the magus' familiars. The gate, the walls, and the woods were all laden with various magical setups, including numerous warning barriers tied to jewels and powerful explosive traps on the ground.
The endless array of traps and arrangements forced her to abandon her original strategy of a surprise attack and choose to turn the battle into a siege.
*Boom!*
The gate of the Tohsaka residence was shattered by the holy sword, and she strode inside, where a lofty figure awaited her, along with a pair of disdainful eyes.
"As the knight of this world, although you are a false king, your courage is commendable for daring to confront me here…"
"Is this foolishness or courage, or perhaps… have I underestimated you?!"
From atop a tall streetlight, Gilgamesh looked down at the intruding Artoria, his scarlet eyes filled with contempt.
Despite wielding the same sword as a certain knight he knows, existing with the same aura, what she had accomplished was merely this level, which he found insulting.
If it weren't for sensing that annoying aura of the knight he knows, how could he have responded to Tohsaka Tokiomi's summons in such a manner?
Yet, what he saw upon appearing was merely a counterfeit like her.
This mingling of falsehood and fragility made him feel nauseated just by looking at her.
That Knight's ability was something she didn't even possess half of!
In their exchange, even Artoria could perceive Gilgamesh's disdain.
His emotions seemed to contain a hint of disappointment and anger, leaving her somewhat perplexed. When did she come to know him?
He was clearly the King of Heroes from Mesopotamia, while she led Great Britain, separated by untold eras and continents; why did it feel as though he was familiar with her?
However, those weren't matters to ponder now. Facing an opponent like Gilgamesh, all she could do from beginning to end was...
Fight!
Kiritsugu Emiya had already informed her that the enemy was the legendary King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, which explained how he could easily suppress multiple servants despite being summoned as Archer.
Thus, she could not afford to be careless in this battle!
Artoria gripped the Excalibur tightly, calmly facing Gilgamesh.
Before the operation, Kiritsugu Emiya had relayed information about Gilgamesh; the other party was undoubtedly the top Servant in human history. However, even so, she had no reason to back down.
She would fight with all her might!
This was Kiritsugu Emiya's command, and it was also her own thought.
Sensing the increasingly intense battle intent emanating from Artoria, Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes and did not say much. He simply raised his hand slowly, and the Bab-ilu opened behind him.
Amidst the countless golden ripples, a series of weapons bearing terrifying might began to emerge, shifting their aim toward Artoria.
"Hmph, your battle intent is quite good, but if this is all you have, it's still not enough for me to go all out."
"If you still have any tricks up your sleeve, feel free to use them, false knight. This time, I won't be careless!"
Have they already begun fighting?
From a distance, Kiritsugu Emiya, who was observing the situation with binoculars, also took action. Noticing that Artoria had engaged with Gilgamesh, he raised his right hand without hesitation.
"Saber, I command you in the name of a Command seal to fight with all your strength!"
"And with the second Command seal, release your Noble Phantasm!"
The light on the back of his hand flickered, and then two crimson Command Seals slowly disappeared, taking effect.
The effect of the Command seals was very obvious. The moment Kiritsugu Emiya used the seals, Artoria's body shook slightly, feeling her entire being filled with power, raising her holy sword high as an overwhelming aura erupted from her.
"Hmph, starting the battle by using your ace Command seal; do you think that will bridge the gap between us? How foolish."
Gilgamesh scoffed, "But it's good, because only then can this otherwise dull battle gain a touch of amusement. Let your life be the entertainment for me, Saber!"
Seeing this, Gilgamesh spread his arms wide, and the number of portals behind him suddenly doubled. Countless golden ripples surged in the void, and from them, treasures burst forth at an incredible speed, shooting towards the ground where Artoria stood. There was no mercy in their assault; at this speed and quantity, this barrage of Noble Phantasms would undoubtedly pierce through Artoria's body before her own could fully charge.
"Arrrrrr!!!!"
A roar of anger erupted.
"Berserker, I command you with three command seals to fight with all your strength! Next, join forces with Saber to tear apart Tokiomi's Servant!!"
This was the command issued by Matou Kariya, and at this moment, it was also the very thing Lancelot, as a Heroic Spirit, most desired to do.
In this timeline, due to Matou Zouken's sudden death, Lancelot had not been subjected to the second madness curse, so although he still existed as a Berserker, he retained some rationality... he just could not communicate normally.
And he wanted to atone...
Lancelot was a sinner and a disgrace to the Knights of the Round Table because he had harmed all of Britain and indirectly sent his king... the one he most respected... to his grave.
As was told in later tales, as a knight, he betrayed King Arthur over Guinevere, violating his own loyalty and oath. This led to the disintegration of Britain and the Knights of the Round Table, causing King Arthur's downfall.
This was his pain and his sin.
Yet, despite committing such a heinous crime, he ultimately did not receive the punishment a sinner deserved.
The king was dead, Britain had fallen, and his sins remained unjudged. He had never received the punishment he deserved and could only live on, burdened by guilt and pain.
No, that was not right.
Such a grievous sin demanded the king's most severe punishment.
Even though it could not compensate for the past wrongs, it was something he had to bear.
He was grateful to Matou Kariya for summoning him, allowing him to reunite with the king, to make amends for the regrets of the past in this way.
But before the king punishes him, please let him shine once more, to protect the king as a Knight of the Round Table! Even if his opponent is the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, he would not cower!
Because behind him stood the king!
"Arrrr... "
This was a roar that echoed through the heavens. Empowered by the command seals, Berserker charged into the battlefield at incredible speed, unafraid of the countless Noble Phantasms raining down, standing resolutely before Artoria to protect her with his life.
"Berserker, I'm counting on you."
Seeing Lancelot arrive just in time as planned, Artoria felt a sense of relief and expressed her gratitude, clearly not recognizing that this Berserker was her Knight of the Round Table, Lancelot.
"…"
Lancelot, busy engaging the enemy, did not respond to her.
"Hmph, even you, mad dog, have barged in here? But this still changes nothing; in that case, come at me!"
"Come, mad dog! Burn your life alongside Saber to amuse me, the king! Hahaha... "
"Aaaaaaa!!!!"
Facing the King of Heroes' mockery, the black knight roared as he tightly grasped the Noble Phantasms shooting towards him with both hands. The red and black patterns on his body consumed them, using them as weapons to continuously knock down the incoming treasures.
Knight of Owner A++
Bestows the properties of his Noble Phantasm upon the weapons he wields and uses them.
No matter the weapon, when it falls into Lancelot's hands, it transforms into a D-rank Noble Phantasm. If the original rank is higher, it retains its original rank while falling under Lancelot's control.
This was a manifestation of the story where Lancelot defeated Phelot with a branch in the dilemma of fighting without a sword.
Combined with his Eternal Arms Mastery, Lancelot could effectively counterattack even amidst this terrifying rain of Noble Phantasms.
Weapons glimmering with light pierced through the space mercilessly, but no matter how many were shot, they would be caught and consumed by Lancelot's dark hands.
With Lancelot bolstered by three command seals, the efficiency of his absorption and counterattack speed made even Gilgamesh frown.
At a glance, it seemed his treasures were being continuously plundered, but that was only a minuscule part of his treasures. He could easily overwhelm the Berserker with quantity and efficiency, as long as he exceeded the rate of absorption that prevented knights from falling to bare hands.
Looking at the field filled with those interwoven black and red Noble Phantasms, Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow.
"You really dare to act!"
Two swords symbolizing the end of strength materialized in his hands, and the number of portals behind him continued to double. The torrent of swords intensified, and the overwhelmed Berserker could only resist with difficulty.
Even if the command seals increased their effects, it would still be challenging to counter the treasure of the King of Heroes.
"Aaaaaaa!!!!"
Hearing the black knight's anguished roar, Gilgamesh cast a cold glance and then leaped forward. Enhanced by immense power, he soared like a falcon over Lancelot and aimed for Artoria, who was still in the process of releasing her Noble Phantasm.
Noticing his intent, Lancelot slowed his movements. In that moment of distraction, several extraordinary flying swords pierced through his body.
*Thud*
A sound echoed as large amounts of golden particles burst from within Lancelot.
"Aaaaaaaa!!!!"
In the moment of pain, Lancelot made a decision, charging towards Artoria despite his injuries, but clearly, Gilgamesh was faster.
In an instant, the Golden King's dual blades descended upon Artoria's head.
"Withdraw, Saber!"
This strike was merciless.
"By the name of the command seal, I order you to immediately restore your magical energy and release your Noble Phantasm, Saber!"
"I understand, Kiritugu!" Artoria shouted, her magical energy surging once more.
"What?!"
This sudden surge of momentum made Gilgamesh's pupils constrict.
What responded to him was the golden radiance rising from the ground, the howling wind that suddenly stirred, unleashing powerful energy.
As the breath of the planet gathered, it whipped up a tempest, shaking the sand, the surrounding trees, hair strands, and clothing, making it impossible to keep one's eyes open, while starlight began to fill the entire area.
The torrent of magical energy rushing from the holy sword coalesced into dazzling golden starlight, and the soft murmurs from the sword and the wind resembled an elf singing in the air as she raised the Excalibur, dyed in brilliant starlight, high.
"This feeling, and this sword, there's no doubt about it, you are… him!! Fuhahahahahaha!!!"
Gilgamesh's pupils constricted, and a smile crept onto his lips as he swung his double-edged sword without hesitation, aiming the terrifying strike of the sword that ends worlds at Saber.
"Sheathed in the breath of the planet, a torrent of shining life!"
"Excalibur!"
This time, Artoria showed no hesitation as she suddenly slashed the holy sword, glowing with golden light, towards Gilgamesh before her.
The flickering magical energy surged.
The radiant brilliance roared.
Her victory was sworn.
At that moment, the golden torrent formed by the intertwining of magical energy and starlight illuminated the entire night sky like the sun, and the power erupted like a tsunami, engulfing everything in front of her, leaving only the scattered starlight falling from the sky.
She shouted loudly, "It's over, Gilgamesh!"
The flowing golden light surged, and layers of magical barriers dispersed like stardust before the torrent of starlight.
The Tohsaka mansion, which had weathered two hundred years of storms, met its end in the resplendent light; every magical barrier, brick, and tile melted away completely, leaving only a trench of stars silently recording everything amid the ruins.
Watching the swirling dust, Gilgamesh's figure had completely vanished, and Artoria gripped the Excalibur in her hand, feeling a slight sense of relief.
"It's finally over."
To her, victory was assured; after unleashing her strongest Noble Phantasm, Excalibur, empowered by several Command Seals, even the top-tier Servant Gilgamesh could not possibly survive. He had now turned to dust along with the entire Tohsaka mansion.
"With the combined efforts of two top-tier Servants, and so many Command Seals, Gilgamesh, you have no reason to complain."
"Arrrrr…"
As Lancelot witnessed the brilliant river of starlight, he stood in a daze.
Before him, that figure, that king, she was still as dazzling and radiant as ever...
He couldn't help but reach out for the scattered starlight, but his hand grasped only emptiness.
Looking at that king, he nodded, seemingly having made an important decision, stepping towards her, ready to fulfill his atonement.
*Whoosh* *Whoosh* *Whoosh*
Suddenly, several piercing sounds of air being cut came forth.
At that moment, a few golden lances, gleaming with light, pierced through the dust, rapidly penetrating Lancelot's body. The powerful impact shattered his helmet and pinned him, along with the dust beneath his feet, firmly to the ruins.
"Aaaaa!!!"
A heart-rending scream, accompanied by a roar, and in Artoria's incredulous gaze, shadows of light suddenly flashed through the dust.
Rho Aias A
Achilles Cosmos A+
Pelt of the Divine Beast A
In Artoria's disbelieving gaze, the golden king stepped out from the rising dust, discarding the shattered shield beneath his feet, then suddenly raised his hand to tear off the iron lion skin that existed only in mythology.
"Hmph, as an amateur, you've done reasonably well. But if this is the extent of the power of your Holy Sword's release, it still falls far short in comparison! However, as an amateur show, it can be considered adequate."
"Now, let this king show you what true power is... "
*Ding!*
As his words fell, the legendary Sword of the End, Enki, was gripped in Gilgamesh's hand, and the golden, mystical mythological equipment shone magnificently in the night sky.
With his arm raised high, the golden light gates spread out, and countless Noble Phantasms rained down, stirring up endless dust.
"Let the battle of myth be reenacted here, Holy Sword wielder!!"
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