The burning city of Fuyuki stretched endlessly before Maki, a hellscape of crimson and black. The golden-armored man loomed over her, his aura suffocating. The sheer weight of his presence bore down on her as he smirked, the golden portals behind him glimmering ominously.
"You don't belong here, mongrel," the man said, his voice regal and dripping with disdain. "But I'll grant you the honour of perishing by my hand. Rejoice."
Maki steadied her breathing, tightening her grip on her spear. "You talk too much."
The golden-armored man chuckled, clearly amused. With a flick of his wrist, the portals unleashed a barrage of weapons, each one radiating lethal energy. Maki's instincts flared as she dodged, her movements precise but frantic.
She twisted and spun, deflecting some projectiles with her spear, while others barely missed her. One blade nicked her shoulder, drawing a thin line of blood.
"Damn it," she muttered, gritting her teeth. The man's attacks were relentless, each strike perfectly aimed to corner her.
"You're nimble," the man mused. "But this is no mere game. Bow before the King of Heroes, and I may grant you a swift death."
Maki scoffed. "Yeah, no thanks. I've got better things to do than kneel to an overgrown egomaniac."
Scathach's Intervention
Back in the real world, Scathach stood before the fracture, her crimson eyes narrowing. Maki's body stood motionless, her spear glowing faintly as the rift's energy pulsed around her. The cloaked figure laughed from a safe distance.
"She's lost in the fracture now," the figure taunted. "Fuyuki's flames will consume her, as they have countless others."
Scathach ignored the figure, her gaze fixed on Maki. "You underestimate her will."
With a swift motion, Scathach struck the ground with her spear, channelling her magic. A surge of energy erupted around her, forming a protective barrier that stabilized the rift's chaotic energy.
"Maki," she murmured, her voice low but firm. "Do not lose yourself in the shadows. Remember who you are."
A Desperate Counter
In Fuyuki, Maki heard Scathach's voice faintly in the back of her mind. It was like a thread of light cutting through the darkness, grounding her amidst the chaos.
"Focus," Maki muttered to herself, her grip on her spear tightening. "I've dealt with worse. This guy's just another hurdle."
The King of Heroes noticed her renewed determination and raised an eyebrow. "Still standing? Perhaps I misjudged you. No matter."
The portals shifted, forming an intricate pattern in the sky. Dozens of weapons emerged, their golden edges glowing ominously.
"Behold the power of my treasury," the man declared. "Enuma Elish!"
The weapons rained down like meteors, their destructive force threatening to level everything in their path.
Maki surged forward, her spear glowing with a faint blue light. She dodged and deflected as many strikes as she could, each impact sending shockwaves through the ground. Her body screamed in protest, but she pressed on, eyes locked on the golden-armored man.
She closed the distance between them in a blur of motion, her spear aimed directly at his chest. The man's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he sidestepped her strike at the last moment, retaliating with a backhand that sent her flying.
Maki skidded across the ground, coughing as she struggled to get up. "Okay… that hurt," she muttered.
A Vision of Resolve
As Maki struggled to stand, the flames around her began to shift. For a moment, the burning city faded, replaced by a vision of Orario. She saw Scathach standing before her, her crimson eyes filled with quiet determination.
"Maki," the vision of Scathach said. "You are stronger than this. Remember your purpose."
Maki clenched her fists, the pain in her body momentarily forgotten. The flames of Fuyuki returned, but now they felt less oppressive. She rose to her feet, her spear glowing brighter than before.
"I'm not done yet," she said, her voice steady.
The King of Heroes tilted his head, intrigued. "Still defiant? Very well. Show me your resolve, mongrel."
Turning the Tide
This time, Maki didn't charge blindly. She analysed his movements, the patterns of his attacks, and the timing of his portals. Each strike she evaded brought her closer, her spear dancing in her hands as she deflected the rain of weapons.
When she finally reached him, she feinted a thrust, drawing his attention to her spear. Then, with a swift motion, she pivoted and aimed a powerful kick at his side.
The impact caught him off guard, and he staggered slightly. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Maki to press her advantage. She spun her spear, channelling all her strength into a single strike aimed at his chest.
The spear's tip grazed his armor, creating a small crack. The King of Heroes stepped back, his expression darkening.
"Interesting," he said, his voice colder now. "You are no ordinary mortal. But this is far from over."
Before he could retaliate, the world around Maki began to distort. The flames of Fuyuki flickered and dimmed, and the golden-armored man's form blurred.
Back to Reality
Maki gasped as she snapped back to the real world. The rift was gone, its energy dissipating into the air. Scathach stood before her, her spear still glowing faintly.
"You're back," Scathach said, her voice calm but tinged with relief.
Maki stumbled slightly, catching herself on her spear. "What… just happened?"
"You were caught in the fracture's influence," Scathach explained. "But you fought your way out. Impressive."
Maki frowned, her mind racing. "I saw… a guy in golden armor. He called himself the King of Heroes. Who the hell was he?"
Scathach's eyes narrowed. "Gilgamesh. A powerful Heroic Spirit from another world. If he has manifested, the singularities are more dangerous than I feared."
Maki sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Great. Another jerk with a god complex."
Scathach allowed herself a small smile. "Come. We've neutralized the fracture, but there is much to discuss."
As they began their journey back to Orario, Maki couldn't shake the memory of Gilgamesh's piercing crimson eyes. Whatever lay ahead, she knew one thing for certain: this was only the beginning.