How About You Guys Pick a Different Savior

Morgan didn't look at Artoria, who was sitting beside her, her gaze fixed ahead.

"In the end, you misunderstood the reason from the very beginning. The reason your Britain perished wasn't due to anyone's inadequacy. It was a predetermined fact, and you merely forced a change to the outcome, allowing Britain under your rule to last a little longer."

Then, Morgan spoke in a casual tone, revealing the essence of Britain's demise, which silenced Artoria.

Of course, she knew Britain would eventually perish. Merlin had told her before she became king. That's why she hoped Britain could at least meet its end in a more peaceful manner.

"...I do know that fact, but what does that have to do with the King of Heroes over there?"

"The demise of Britain is merely a part of the decline of the Age of Gods from the surface," Morgan said, looking at the King of Heroes.

Gilgamesh, who had been in a rage moments before, gradually calmed down at these words, leaving only his usual displeasure.

"Originally, the Age of Gods would have ended around 1000 BC. Britain, being the closest place to the Sea of the World on this planet, delayed this process by 1500 years," Morgan said, then mockingly addressed Artoria, "If you want to change this fact and save Britain from its destruction, you would need to rely on the power of the Holy Grail to change the fact that the Age of Gods retreated from the surface."

"...I..." Artoria fell silent.

The demise of Britain stemmed from the decline of the Age of Gods, which clearly made a peaceful conclusion impossible.

"Then what does this 'Golden Flash' have to do with your so-called decline of the Age of Gods?" the King of Conquerors asked Morgan.

Morgan pursed her lips and smiled, "It's very simple. King Gilgamesh is one of the reasons for the decline of the Age of Gods. From the moment the King of Heroes decided to lead humanity in resisting the gods, the Age of Gods began to recede. The Magus King's act of returning divine miracles to the heavens merely accelerated this process. As a result, the once abundant and fertile land gradually became barren, unable to support its people. Artoria, it's no wonder your Britain perished."

Having said that, she looked at Gilgamesh again and asked with a hint of smugness, "Well, have I made any mistakes? From this perspective, shouldn't the responsibility for Britain's destruction, in essence, be attributed to your actions of rebelling against the gods, King of Heroes?"

Everyone turned their gaze to him.

Gilgamesh showed no intention of denying this responsibility, merely letting out a disdainful chuckle.

"Uninteresting. Even if it's the truth, it doesn't change its uninteresting nature."

Chapter 47: Golden Flash's Age of Gods 101

His attitude remained haughty, yet he didn't deny Morgan's statement.

"So, what Berserker said is the truth?" Iskandar couldn't help but feel a bit intrigued. He reigned around 300 BC, over seven hundred years after the Magus King returned the miracles.

The Age of Gods was still somewhat distant for Iskandar.

"Fool, you don't understand the Age of Gods at all, let alone the true nature of gods," Gilgamesh scoffed.

The King of Heroes was born from the union of a human king and a goddess. Two-thirds divine and one-third human, he naturally understood the existence of gods better than anyone present.

Gilgamesh slightly raised his chin, looking down at everyone arrogantly, "The Age of Gods has long since retreated, and this planet has stabilized under the physical laws known to humanity. For you lot, gods are merely systems used to support religion. It's understandable that you cannot comprehend the Age of Gods, understand gods, nor grasp the meaning of my actions."

Having touched upon the essence of the matter with Morgan's words, Gilgamesh suddenly became interested in discussing something related to 'gods' with the people before him.

"There are two types of gods: entities that originally existed and transformed into gods, and gods born as 'gods.' The gods in my homeland, Mesopotamia, were the consciousness and personalities of natural phenomena, the so-called Ancient Gods. I myself was created by an Ancient God and a human king, existing between the Ancient Gods and Modern Gods."

Gilgamesh grinned and drank the wine from his cup, "Does that sound strange? It should, because even I find it strange, but it's the truth. I was created according to the will of the gods."

A king who was "created," or rather, manufactured.

Not born naturally, but born for a specific purpose.

In this regard, Artoria Pendragon was similar. She was born from the conspiracy between her father, King Uther, and Merlin, a non-human king possessing the bloodline of a Red Dragon.

Artoria was somewhat aware of this, so her expression became very serious upon hearing Gilgamesh's words.

Even if they were unrelated beings, if Britain's demise was related to the decline of the Age of Gods, then why did the King of Heroes, who initiated the process of the Age of Gods' decline, do so?

"To guide humanity? He wouldn't be that kind," Xi Jianxi asked.

"Good intuition. The gods indeed did not create me to help humanity, but because they feared humanity, they needed an intermediary with the perspectives of both gods and humans," Gilgamesh's arrogant tone held a hint of approval. "The Ancient Gods feared humanity's ability to modify nature for survival. Because no matter how much natural energy those gods possessed, they were, in essence, merely 'things fixed in a certain place.'"

His words showed no reverence for the gods, even though two-thirds of him came from them.

Gilgamesh grinned, as if recounting something amusing, "However, humanity is the opposite. While their survival abilities vary, and their individual standards are as minuscule as grains of sand, if they gather in large numbers, their average capabilities become quite high."

The topic began to delve into more profound matters, but it was also related to Gilgamesh's answer.

"Although those gods were powerful natural phenomena, their 'originality' and 'cognition' were similar to ordinary people. Even with omniscient knowledge, they could only reach 'one' conclusion and shape 'one' personality. In this aspect alone, humanity had already surpassed the gods, with too great a gap in cognition and transformative power."

Gilgamesh's smile grew thicker, his disdain for the gods evident, yet there was no sign of dissatisfaction with himself.

"Human desires are endless, they do not stop, and they are never stingy in displaying themselves. The gods realized that the world would eventually change due to human desires, and one day, even the laws of the stars in the heavens might be altered. At that time, there would be no room for the Ancient Gods, who intervened as natural phenomena.

"Fearing this reality, the gods desired a ruler who was human but belonged to the divine camp. That was the true purpose of the foolish act of uniting a human king with a goddess to give birth to me. Although it was merely a desperate act of survival in their twilight years, it was utterly pathetic for the gods."

Gilgamesh, with his arrogant demeanor, rejected the gods' will.

"The gods merely wanted to use me as a 'wedge' driven from the heavens into the earth to prevent the gap between humanity and gods from widening further. After clearly seeing this feeble act of the gods, I concluded that future eras would not need gods; humanity, led by me, should govern this planet."

Thus, humanity parted ways with the gods and embarked on a future of forging their own world.

However, Gilgamesh's actions merely raised the curtain. The gods still attempted to maintain their relationship with humanity until the Age of the Magus King, fifteen hundred years later, when they returned the blessings bestowed by the gods to the heavens—

"That's why I say it's uninteresting, Fairy of Paradise," Gilgamesh finished his wine without refilling it. "You indeed know many truths, but you do not understand the meaning behind them."

Xi Jianxi couldn't help but lean closer to Morgan's ear, "It seems the blame-shifting failed... Even if the Age of Gods receded because of him, the King of Heroes clearly has no intention of taking responsibility for Britain's destruction."

"If he were to take responsibility for that, he wouldn't be the King of Heroes," Morgan replied, also naturally whispering to Xi Jianxi.

Iskandar let out a sigh of emotion, "Even though you were created by the gods, you refuse to follow their will and intend to act as a king according to your own desires, whether it's ruling the land or bidding farewell to the gods."

"That's right. That is my kingly path, something the mortals who crave heavenly miracles will never understand."

After recounting his deeds, Gilgamesh's words revealed a narcissistic streak, perfectly fitting his supreme arrogance.

"So, the question is, Saber, now that you know why I brought about the end of the Age of Gods, will you still come to collect your debt from me, as your sister said?" Gilgamesh taunted with a gleeful expression.

Artoria frowned deeply, then firmly denied it:

"Even if the Age of Gods did end because of you, and it ultimately affected Britain, the ruin of my country is my responsibility. It has nothing to do with you! King of Heroes!"

Chapter 48: Abandoned Halfway

A lonely sigh echoed after Artoria finished speaking.

The sound came from Morgan.

Unlike Iskandar's disapproval, or Gilgamesh's explicit teasing.

A hint of melancholy appeared on the witch's ice-like face.

No one knew why she sighed.

"Even knowing the truth, understanding the outcome, you still cling to the dream of saving Britain?" Morgan's eyes showed a trace of reluctance and helplessness. "No matter how much I want to differentiate myself from you, in the end... in some ways, you and I are truly alike."

Artoria was stunned and sat back down. "...Perhaps."

She and Morgan were irreconcilable beings, each negating the other... but Artoria knew—though she had never mentioned it to anyone—that Morgan loved Britain more than anyone, even more than Artoria herself.

"However—" Morgan continued, this time addressing everyone, "whether it's to gain a physical body and conquer the world, or to punish a thief who stole one's treasure, or... to save a ruined homeland. Your premises or goals all revolve around the omnipotent wish-granting machine, the 'Holy Grail,' for them to proceed."

Iskandar stared at Morgan with sharp eyes. "What are you trying to say now? Don't tell me you're going to persuade everyone to give up the Holy Grail at this critical juncture?"

"There's no need for that." Morgan played with the exquisite wine glass in her hand. "If you want the Holy Grail, then by all means, fight for it. After all, isn't that why you're all participating in the Holy Grail War? Of course... that's assuming the Holy Grail of Fuyuki can truly grant your wishes."

Irisviel, who had remained silent and not intending to join the heroes' debate, could no longer just listen passively.

"What are you talking about? Berserker, the Holy Grail War is a system jointly constructed by the Einzbern, Tohsaka, and Matou families. The ultimate goal is for the Holy Grail to descend and obtain the omnipotent wish-granting machine." Irisviel couldn't understand the meaning of Morgan's words. "Even if it's not a treasure like the Great Grail of Uruk, its status as an omnipotent wish-granting machine is undeniable!"

Nine years ago, Kiritsugu Emiya accepted the Einzbern's recruitment and met Irisviel there.

Irisviel firmly believed that her husband's wish could be realized through the Holy Grail, and she understood Kiritsugu's wish from the bottom of her heart. Therefore, even knowing that she, as the Lesser Holy Grail, could never escape this Holy Grail War, she willingly chose to offer everything for the one she deeply loved.

"Hey, Berserker, what are you talking about?" Waver also found it incomprehensible.

He wondered if this Servant's mind had actually been damaged by the berserkification. Even if she could converse fluently, was she just spouting nonsense from the beginning? Otherwise, why would she say such strange things?

"Haven't you realized yet? The Fuyuki Holy Grail War system was designed from the start to summon heroes from different eras as Servants to participate. But this time is different. The Servant in the Caster class cannot be called a Heroic Spirit at all." Morgan looked at everyone with a half-smile. "That type of Servant would be more accurately called an evil spirit or a malevolent spirit."

The point she raised startled everyone.

Indeed, apart from Caster, all other Servants had left behind heroic reputations in history and legends, but Gilles de Rais was different.

That Servant was indeed a hero of the Hundred Years' War. But afterward, his actions were recorded in human history, and he was passed down as various terrifying legends, eventually becoming a corrupted evil spirit.

"Please explain more clearly..." Irisviel, already frail, broke out in a cold sweat on her forehead.

Since Lancer's elimination, as the Lesser Holy Grail, her body had absorbed the soul of the first Servant, and the functions of her body had gradually faded. Being able to sit here and converse was already her limit.

Yet, Berserker uttered words that struck Irisviel like lightning.

"From the conclusion, the answer is simple: the Holy Grail has gone mad." Morgan dropped a bombshell in the quiet courtyard with an extremely calm voice.

Gilgamesh showed a subtle expression; something "mad" was more valuable to him than ordinary treasures.

Iskandar and Artoria were even more shocked.

"What do you mean, it's gone mad?" Iskandar didn't want to entrust his wish to a flawed wish-granting machine. "It doesn't look like she's trying to scare us."

"Impossible... How could something like this happen..." Artoria couldn't accept the reality yet.

The problem with the Holy Grail was, so far, only Morgan's word. Even though she used Caster as an example, it could still be attributed to coincidence, or perhaps it was because Caster's Master was a serial killer that such a Servant was summoned.

However, soon, no one had time to ponder this issue any further.

A strange chill swept through, and even through the Xi Jianxi family's barrier, which filtered magical information, this chill became exceptionally clear.

Waver's magic circuits, which had been completely dormant, began to prickle as if spasming.

"This ominous magical fluctuation..." Xi Jianxi turned his head.

Like him, the King of Conquerors and the Knight King also looked in that direction.

Clearly, the banquet tonight seemed to have reached its end without resolution.

Someone had already ignited the flames of battle tonight in the Miyuen River area.

There were four Servants present. Although Lancer's defeat had not yet spread, the Saber faction was aware of it.

Assassin couldn't generate such a massive amount of magic, so the remaining ones—

"It must be Caster," Morgan said faintly. "This magical fluctuation is a multi-stage incantation registered as ritualistic sorcery, mobilizing tens of people's worth of magic."

In an instant, Morgan determined the scale of the magic being produced.

"Hmph—it seems some mongrels don't intend to spend tonight peacefully." Gilgamesh's body flashed with golden light, gradually spiritualizing and disappearing from the Xi Jianxi family's courtyard, leaving only his voice echoing. "You all fight your best, defeat the likes of Caster, and let me properly appraise your worth, Hahaha—"

As his laughter faded, Iskandar got up from the blanket, casually grabbing a sandwich and swallowing it whole.

"Since they dare to disrupt the banquet, let's take care of Caster tonight, along with the unfinished business from this evening!"

Chapter 49: Feast of Blasphemy

Xi Jianxi's sedan sped through the streets, heading toward the banks of the Miyuen River.

The two from Saber's faction fastened their seatbelts and set off with Xi Jianxi and Morgan.

They hadn't chosen to ride with the King of Conquerors again, clearly because Irisviel's body couldn't endure any more jolting, opting for a more stable mode of transport.

But they hadn't expected Xi Jianxi to drive so recklessly.

It wasn't surprising, though. A large-scale magic involving dozens of people was being unleashed at the Miyuen River. Whether they intended to hunt down Caster or prevent the Holy Grail War's influence from spreading to ordinary people, they needed to get there as soon as possible.

The streets of Shiyama Town were old and intricately laid out, but Xi Jianxi had lived there for over two years and knew the street layout like the back of his hand.

After all, home was the workshop, the base of operations. He had to have a firm grasp of the terrain and road conditions around that base.

What should have taken about half an hour took only a few minutes, and the four of them arrived on the levee of the Miyuen River.

Although the Miyuen River was shrouded in thick fog tonight, this fog didn't affect the Servants' vision at all. As for Magus like Xi Jianxi or Irisviel, they could also enhance their vision through magic, breaking through the fog's obstruction to clearly see the situation of the magic source in the center of the river.

Caster stood alone in the middle of the Miyuen River's channel. He was standing on a group of distorted black shadows gathered beneath the water's surface, which was the reason he could stand on the water.

"It looks like this magic has been prepared for over two hours. Otherwise, with Caster's abilities, even with a Noble Phantasm that can serve as a Mana Reactor and also write special incantations, he wouldn't have been able to complete it in just a few minutes," Morgan commented on the current situation with her usual calmness.

And Caster was indeed as Morgan said. He didn't even chant; he just stood there, waiting for the Grimoire Noble Phantasm in his hand to complete this massive incantation.

However, the strange thing was that Caster noticed the few people on the riverbank but showed no intention of acknowledging them. After merely confirming their presence, he continued to focus on waiting for the magic to activate.

"Villain! What are you planning to do tonight!" Artoria questioned angrily.

"I regret to say, Saint, but I don't have time to entertain you right now," Caster said, his expression unusually serious, revealing no hint of joy or sorrow. "I am currently holding this unprecedented Feast of Blasphemy for my Master. If you could grace us with your presence, that would be most welcome, hehehehe~~"

Caster burst into laughter, and the dark water surface at his feet suddenly began to churn. The countless demonic creatures gathered below slowly reached out their hands, ultimately engulfing the caster in the black robe.

"This is bad."