A Gathering of Heroes

"Ah, now?"

Weber hunched over, looking left and right, feeling somewhat frightened at such close range.

"Lancer?"

Unlike Weber and Matou Zouken, whose emotions were completely different, Kenneth pondered for a moment before asking Fionn mac Cumhaill a question.

"Hey, hey, hey, are you guys really not going to say hello at all? You're just going to start fighting as soon as you meet. This lack of manners will easily make you disliked."

Seemingly oblivious to the increasingly tense atmosphere around him, Iskandar rubbed his head in distress and asked in confusion, "Shouldn't we announce something before the battle?"

'You mean exchanging trash talk?'

However, his complaints only earned him pitying looks from everyone present. Then, surprisingly, all the Master simultaneously uttered two words.

"...idiot."

Iskandar: "???"

Chapter Seventy: A Gathering of Heroes (5,500 words)

"..."

"Hey, hey, hey, you guys should at least show some respect for me, and have a little bit of style, okay? The atmosphere of the decisive battle was just fine, but you guys have ruined it with this silence."

Clearly feeling the gazes directed at him as if they were pitying someone with intellectual disabilities, Iskandar, standing at the very front, scratched his head in annoyance.

What's going on with this atmosphere where I'm the only one feeling isolated?

"Idiot, why are you wasting your breath talking to the enemy? Let's all attack together!"

Seeing Iskandar in an awkward situation because he greeted Gilgamesh but was not given a chance to respond, Kenneth didn't care about Iskandar's thoughts at all and gave Fionn mac Cumhaill the order to attack without hesitation.

This is no longer a time for idle chatter at a banquet; this is wartime. Now that we have gained a decisive advantage, we must act swiftly and decisively.

He was also well aware that the longer it dragged on, the more likely things would go wrong.

"Heh heh, this time I agree with Lord El-Melloi's opinion. Let's get started on the battle, King of Conquerors."

Matou Zouken nearby, shared the same thoughts as Kenneth. Even before Gilgamesh appeared, he had a vague premonition, and now that premonition intensified the moment Gilgamesh appeared.

He thought to himself, 'This is not a good situation...'

It seems something bad has happened...

Matou Zouken thought to himself, glancing around at Iskandar, who was still agonizing over his situation, Fionn mac Cumhaill, who was ready for battle, and Lancelot was practically bursting with anticipation. Then he looked at Gilgamesh, the Golden King, who stood high above them, looking down upon them.

He couldn't help but continue to think to himself.

'Three riders together, there shouldn't be any problems, right?'

No, there definitely won't be any, after all, their lineup is a task force specifically designed for Gilgamesh.

In terms of ranged firepower, Lancelot's Knight of Owner, can provide cover against Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasm thrown from the Babylon Treasury; in terms of terrain, Iskandar's Reality Marble can restrict the opponent's mobility and prevent him from escaping; and Fionn mac Cumhaill, who possesses the legend of the Godslayer, can become the final sword to pierce Gilgamesh's chest, directly sealing the victory in this battle.

Even without Scáthach's addition, this is already the most luxurious lineup. At least, this is the first time in many years that he has seen such a gathering of heroes. That's why he is so confident.

No matter how you look at it, this is an impeccable lineup. The three strongest King of Heroes, and this is the strongest lineup that can be put together at the moment.

How could there still be problems?

Although the King of Heroes is incredibly powerful, his Servant are also heroes, so he must be overthinking it.

Shaking his head, Matou Zouken immediately suppressed his worries, but just to be on the safe side, he still raised the Scroll of False Allegiance in his hand and gave Lancelot an order in a sinister voice.

"Berserker, fight with all your might, tear apart, King of Heroes."

"——Arrrrrrrrrrr!!!"

As the command was given, the crimson Command Seal vanished, its effect shifting to Lancelot, further enhancing his power. An even more piercing roar erupted from beneath his armor, and his scarlet gaze locked onto Gilgamesh, regarding him as his next prey.

Such a gaze clearly displeased Gilgamesh. He narrowed his crimson eyes, then looked down at the Black Knight below and gave him a disdainful snort.

"... A stray dog and a bedbug, what a perfect match."

Gilgamesh's cold gaze swept over Lancelot and Matou Zouken simultaneously. In just one glance, he saw through their true nature and then mocked them mercilessly.

"A rotten soul is like a bedbug. It seems you're working very hard to survive in this world."

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on Matou Sōken below, his words revealing no attempt to conceal his murderous intent and contempt.

"Hehe... I should have died long ago. It's just that there are still some things to finish, so it's not time for me to die yet."

Despite the King of Heroes's sarcasm, Matou Zouken remained unperturbed.

Because he knew very well that with his status and strength, he was completely unqualified to challenge the King of Heroes in front of him. Without the protection of so many Heroic Spirit, the other party could crush him as easily as crushing a bug.

As he spoke, Matou Zouken took a few steps back after giving the order, and while retreating, he earnestly addressed Kenneth and Weber.

"Lord El-Melloi, and this promising young Magus, I'll leave this battlefield to you. I'll face Gilgamesh's new Master alone, and I'll have Lancelot assist you here."

Although they seemed to have the upper hand in the current situation, Matou Zouken still felt they should play it safe for the time being.

Upon sensing the King of Heroes' murderous intent towards him, he immediately followed his survival instinct, decisively withdrawing from the battlefield with Gilgamesh and choosing the easier Kirei Kotomine, as his adversary.

He couldn't fathom the depths of the King of Heroes' power, and as a Magus, he was already at risk on such a battlefield, let alone Lancelot, who was a Berserker and obviously couldn't protect him. So he voluntarily withdrew from the battlefield.

Then, Matou Zouken turned his head to look at a dark forest not far away, and said in a hoarse, lifeless voice, "Now that you're here, aren't you going to come out?"

"..."

Then, there was a moment of silence, followed by the faint sound of footsteps in the darkness.

Da da da—!

Upon hearing Matou Zouken's words, Kirei Kotomine, who had been quietly observing the situation from the shadows, slowly emerged from the darkness.

"So, he's the new Master of the King of Heroes..."

Upon seeing the expressionless young man dressed in clergy robes appear in the darkness before him, Kenneth was about to say something, but Matou Zouken, determined to ensure his complete escape, had already taken action.

His eyes suddenly widened, and his aura changed drastically, completely different from his previous frail and old appearance. It was hard to imagine that such a decaying body could possess such terrifying explosive power. In one stride, he arrived in front of Kirei Kotomine, and then swung his cane fiercely towards his throat, intending to kill him with one blow.

However, Kirei Kotomine was not an academic Magus like Tokiomi Tohsaka. Executor the Church, he was a veteran of countless battles and reacted instantly. He flipped his hand and suddenly sprang several Black Keys from his sleeve, blocking Matou Zouken's attack with a blank expression.

"Heh heh, it seems you're quite different from that brat Tokiomi Tohsaka."

Seeing his surprise attack so easily blocked, Matou Zouken's eyes flashed with surprise. He then let out a terrifying laugh from his throat, and with a wave of his arm, launched a new attack using his Magecraft.

—Buzzing!

With the sound of wings vibrating in the air, several insect familiars hidden in his body attacked Kirei Kotomine like arrows without hesitation, their moves fierce and ruthless.

"You are... Kirei Kotomine, right?"

Looking at the man who had blocked his two attacks with the Black Keys, and especially when he noticed the Command Seal on the back of the man's hand, Matou Zouken revealed a strange smile.

You know me?

Kirei Kotomine asked a completely meaningless question.

"... Of course, after all, Matou is also Mage Families from Fuyuki City, so they naturally have some understanding of the local situation."

"Killing your own teacher, and apparently also your own father... You're even more inhuman than I am..."

Matou Zouken said in a hoarse voice.

"Inhuman... maybe, but this is my choice, a choice from my heart, because it allows me to feel alive and experience a feeling called joy. As for why I'm talking to you so much..."

Kirei Kotomine leaped onto a tall tree trunk, looking down at Matou Zouken, who was already summoning insect familiars, and said coldly,

"Because with dead people... there's no point in keeping secrets."

"They went to fight somewhere else?"

Witnessing firsthand the incredible mobility and destructive power that Matou Zouken displayed, completely different from his physical form, Weber couldn't help but show a surprised expression.

"Don't you have eyes?"

Kenneth, standing to the side, let out a disgruntled snort.

He could certainly see that Matou Zouken wanted to choose the least risky way to escape this dangerous battlefield.

However, this is for the best. Although the other party has his own ulterior motives, if he can really get rid of Kirei Kotomine, it will indeed be a good thing for them.

In any case, Kenneth didn't expect the other side to play any role in the battle to defeat Gilgamesh; it would be enough to leave Berserker to fight.

In an instant, the battlefield was once again divided.

Having definitively confirmed their rivalry, Fionn mac Cumhaill then approached Iskandar, who was feeling somewhat annoyed at being ignored.

"Well, King of Conquerors, it's important to shout slogans before a battle, but everyone here is a seasoned hero, so there's no need for that kind of morale-boosting. Now that the enemy has appeared, let's release the Reality Marble as planned and have some fun, shall we?" Fionn mac Cumhaill said with a smile after releasing his thumb, then twirled his gun in mid-air.

"... Alas, I understand. In that case, let's skip the preamble and get straight to the battle! However, I have a few final words to say."

"It's lightweight."

Nodding, Iskandar then walked alone to Gilgamesh and spoke his last words before the battle began.

"Although we don't know the specifics of what happened, we can finally have a proper discussion in the midst of battle about the King's Way that we discussed at the Banquet of Kings, King of Heroes."

"I'm sure it's not just me; you must be looking forward to it just as much!"

"Looking forward to it... Pfft... Hahahahahahahahaha!!!"

Upon hearing Iskandar's words, the King of Heroes, who had been standing on the lamppost, coldly looking down at them with arrogance, couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"... Hahahaha, this is really hilarious! You bunch of fake kings actually want to discuss the way of kingship with me? This is truly the funniest joke."

"Hahahaha, even though you say that, since we haven't compared them, how can anyone judge which path is better?"

Iskandar responded with a hearty laugh.

"Hmph, you mongrel, it seems you're quite confident in your own kingly path. But who do you think I am?"

Gilgamesh's eyes revealed a hint of murderous intent.

"I am Gilgamesh, the oldest King of Heroes, the king of Uruk!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gilgamesh slowly opened his arms, and countless golden ripples spread out from the void behind him.

"Rider!!!"

Seeing the countless Noble Phantasm emerging from the numerous golden portals, Weber immediately hid behind Iskandar.

Kenneth also looked wary and took a few steps back, giving his place to Fionn mac Cumhaill. After all, only the Heroic Spirit could deal with Gilgamesh was an exceptional being.

"Hmph, if there were enough time, I wouldn't mind playing along with you, but for now, you'd better leave here obediently! I have no patience left to play with you any longer!!"

"Okay, so you mean the way to rule is through martial arts, right?"

Iskandar scratched his head and responded in the same manner.

"That's exactly what I was thinking too. Since that's the case, let's have a contest! King of Heroes, let's see whose path to kingship is the strongest!"

"My little Master, use Command Seal! I have expended a great deal of magic power, and now I must be fully prepared for battle! King of Heroes, my path is to gather all those who share my will and pursue the world together, to the very end of the sea!"

At this moment, Iskandar did not demand a fair one-on-one duel with Gilgamesh. Instead, he planned to defeat him as originally intended, with all three riders attacking together.

There is no mercy on the battlefield. While morality may exist, it must not compromise final victory or endanger one's comrades. He is the King of Conquerors, a tyrannical ruler who conquers all, not the King of Knights who pursues fairness. On the battlefield, only the victor has the right to speak, the right to define everything!

"It is an honor to fight alongside you."

Fionn mac Cumhaill and Lancelot wholeheartedly agreed with his idea and walked to his side, standing shoulder to shoulder with him as the three faced Gilgamesh, the most terrifying opponent in the Holy Grail War.

"So, are you ready? My little Master, I once said I would show you what the true path of conquest is. Now, are you willing to join me on this expedition?"

Iskandar turned around and gave a hearty smile.

"Rider..."

"I see!"

Weber nodded solemnly, then raised his right hand and shouted, "With three Command Seal, I command you, Rider, to fight with everything in your power! Unleash your Noble Phantasm! Show me your dominance!!"

"Good--!!"

Iskandar roared, unleashing the surging emotions of facing battle, and fiercely raised the Sword of Cyprus in his hand, causing a thunderous roar—

"—Aionion Hetairoi (Ionian Hetairoi)!!"

In an instant, sand and stones flew everywhere, and yellow sand swept in.