The Resolve of Both Sides / The Fated Elbow

"Uruk? Battle? Help?"

Beneath the starry sky, an androgynous Green-Haired Youth walked across the wilderness, gazing at the prosperous city.

Ever since Gilgamesh had begun to restrain himself, Uruk seemed to have returned to its former prosperity.

The opponent he wanted to challenge was in that city.

Both Sides' Resolve

[You heard that Gilgamesh had encountered a powerful opponent and became friends with him after fighting.]

[You understood that Gilgamesh's strength had increased rapidly, and recently Ishtar had been exceptionally obedient. Even when using the Bull of Heaven, she did not complain, as though she had become even more loyal to you.]

[With the Bull of Heaven's help and your nation's strength steadily rising, the longer you delayed, the more advantageous it would be for you, so...]

"Take the initiative?"

Ishtar had originally intended to persuade Fujimaru Kyoya to strike first. Once the battle became one-sided, they could not simply sit back and reap the benefits.

"The people's trust in me is nearly at its limit. Continuing to delay will only be detrimental. We might as well take the initiative now and catch Gilgamesh off guard. This time, I need to use the Bull of Heaven."

Fujimaru Kyoya had no intention of discussing it. His tone was more of a direct command.

"I understand. I will go to battle with you."

Though she was deeply unwilling, Ishtar still had to bow and scrape before Fujimaru Kyoya. She would wait until they had won, then take revenge for everything.

"You may leave. Someone will notify you when you are needed."

He casually dismissed Ishtar. Ordering a Goddess around like that did not make Fujimaru Kyoya feel anything at all.

Gods lived far longer than humans. Even if he and Gilgamesh joined hands to suppress the Gods, what would happen after they died?

Of course, Fujimaru Kyoya and Gilgamesh could try to seek Immortality, but then they would become Gods ruling over humanity.

Fujimaru Kyoya did not like the story of dragon slayers eventually becoming dragons.

"Gilgamesh, can you understand what must be done next?"

Fujimaru Kyoya did not possess Clairvoyance, but as he stood high above, it seemed as though his gaze met Gilgamesh's in the distance. Humanity's future rested upon the two of them.

"Gil, what are you looking at?"

Enkidu watched Gilgamesh stand blankly atop the mountain, seemingly lost in thought. Such an expression rarely appeared on the King of Heroes' face.

"I was thinking about what exactly 'death' is."

"Death?"

Enkidu did not understand what "death" was. He was a creation of the Gods; as long as they did not intend to discard him, he could live forever.

"I possess the power and wisdom of the Gods. If I also possessed their lifespan, then what would I be?"

"Probably a God."

"As expected?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

After receiving Enkidu's confirmation, Gilgamesh abandoned the path of becoming a God. Death was terrifying, but his pride still refused to bow before it.

"Enkidu, leave."

Gilgamesh actually intended to drive away a fighting force like Enkidu before the great battle.

"Why?"

"Because you did not come to me based on your own heart, did you?"

Though Gilgamesh had become much calmer, his Clairvoyance had yet to return. Still, that did not prevent him from guessing Enkidu's identity and purpose for coming here.

"My heart?"

"My friend, I know why you came here. I know the intentions of the one behind you. Yet I still regard you as a friend, because your heart is pure. You are different from the others."

Gilgamesh did not regard just anyone as a friend. It was not merely a matter of strength; one also needed a noble soul.

He had only seen such a soul in Enkidu and... Fujimaru Kyoya.

"You may march with me, but I hope this is a decision from your own heart, not an order from someone else."

Gilgamesh patted Enkidu on the shoulder, then walked down the mountain and returned to the city to gather his troops.

Everyone was waiting for this battle. Gilgamesh and Fujimaru Kyoya would determine who was the true master of this land, while the Gods waited for their chance to see both sides badly wounded.

"Anu will not let this chance go. This time is different from the last. He will definitely bring enough fighting power. My choice is of utmost importance."

Gilgamesh had already abandoned becoming a God. To make humanity break with the Gods, he could not do it alone. He still needed Fujimaru Kyoya's help.

"Mongrel, are you thinking the same thing as I am?"

War had ignited. It had come suddenly, yet everyone had been prepared for it.

There could not be two suns in the sky. Mesopotamia was not large to begin with, and now the two kings would finally divide it between them. Their struggle had finally begun.

One was the Sacred King of the Bright Moon, who had risen suddenly to power. He lived simply and cared for the people. Under his rule, there were no harsh taxes, and whenever trouble arose, he would always be the first to step forward.

The other was Gilgamesh, who had found his way back from his mistakes. He was arrogant, brutal, and extravagantly indulgent, yet he also possessed a charm uniquely his own that drew people to gather around him.

Had they lived in different eras, both would have been blessings to the people of their time. Their mistake was being born in the same age, both kings destined to fight one another to the death.

[Your sleep quality was terrible. Whenever you closed your eyes, you could feel the people's desire for war. They wanted to prove to everyone that their king was unrivaled in the world. The effect of "Benevolent Dark Emperor" increased.]

[You inspected the soldiers' training. Even when injured, they insisted on continuing. Their eyes said they were willing to give their lives for you. The effect of "Benevolent Dark Emperor" increased.]

[You stopped an ordinary person and asked him a question.]

"Looking forward to war? We are not looking forward to war at all."

The man Fujimaru Kyoya had chosen unexpectedly shook his head. He knew very well that war was terrifying. If he went to the battlefield, he might die, but...

"But war is already upon us. We will die if we do not fight. While I do not want to die, I believe that under the Saint King's leadership, more people can live happy lives."

He was merely an ordinary man, but his eyes were incomparably sincere. Fujimaru Kyoya remembered his face clearly.

"Saint King, no matter the outcome, please make sure you win. Lead more people toward better lives."

"I understand."

Fujimaru Kyoya rose and left. His face remained expressionless, as though he had taken nothing to heart, but those words lingered in his mind.

He had come into this world with no mission and no worries. As for the fate of Heaven's Wedge that the Gods had given him, he had always disdained it.

But disdain did not mean he would deliberately do the opposite.

No matter how heaven's will, fate, or opportunity arranged things, Fujimaru Kyoya would only do what he wanted to do.

If he wanted to lead, then he would lead. If he wanted to fight, then he would fight. If he wanted to fall in love with someone, then he would love them.

As long as the people could live and work in peace, as long as everything went as he wished, then I, the Benevolent Dark Emperor...

I, the Sacred King of the Bright Moon...

I, Shadow...

I, Lloyd...

I, Fujimaru Kyoya...

I... I... I... I...

No matter who the enemy was, I fucking dared to fight!

Fated Broken Elbow

"Do those two not know what we are plotting in secret? Even so, they still dare to fight this fiercely?"

Ishtar watched the distant battle in confusion. By the sea, Fujimaru Kyoya and Gilgamesh's clash stirred up towering waves. Though there were only two of them, they were even more terrifying than the armies on the main battlefield.

Not to mention Enkidu, who was holding back the Bull of Heaven nearby. The scale of that battle was no less impressive than the one between the two of them.

"Because this is how the situation is. It is the helplessness of intelligent people. They understand the situation, yet are swept along by it. Against people like them, one must use an open scheme."

Anu was naturally quite pleased with the current situation. The so-called greater situation was never dictated by individual will.

"Do not be fooled by how they joined hands against us last time. In the end, they merely forced us to surrender. Ishtar, do you know why?"

"Because of our lifespan?"

Though Ishtar was useless, after Fujimaru Kyoya had physically "enlightened" her a few times, she had indeed become a little sharper.

With the two Heaven's Wedges joining forces, Enuma Elish's power, and the Sacred King of the Bright Moon supported by countless people, even Anu was no match for them.

The Gods' defeat was only a matter of time, but Gilgamesh and Fujimaru Kyoya had not exterminated them all because they simply could not kill them all.

Gods could hide and flee. Once Gilgamesh and Fujimaru Kyoya died of old age, the Gods would return to this land.

"There truly are medicines of Immortality in this world, but would Gilgamesh share them with his Arch-Nemesis? Can this land permit two kings to rule it together? Impossible. Human greed and suspicion are destined to make them enemies. The Bull of Heaven and Enkidu are merely catalysts."

Power was a deadly poison.

Wisdom was clouded by it, strength was driven mad by it, life was cheapened by it... For this power, the two powerful men continued to fight even knowing there was a trap. This was the most terrifying "poison" in the world.

As the Chief God of Mesopotamia, Anu had possessed absolute authority before those two were born. But now...

"It does not matter. They will die soon, and power will return to my hands once more."

Anu muttered to himself. Ishtar could not help sighing beside him. From her perspective, someone who did not crave power so much, was Anu not just as deeply trapped in the "poison" known as power?

As long as they could endure and wait, Gilgamesh and Fujimaru Kyoya would fight over Immortality even without their provocation.

That would have been when their odds of victory were greatest. Now, increasing both sides' fighting strength to accelerate the war was merely Anu's impatience to reclaim his authority.

But none of it mattered. She herself had no interest in power. All she wanted was luxurious enjoyment and the adoration of others.

After this battle, everything would return. Everything belonging to the Gods would return.

[You could sense someone watching you, but this time, neither you nor Gilgamesh was putting on an act. Both of you were doing your utmost to kill the other.]

Fujimaru Kyoya could feel that Gilgamesh was clearly different from before. Though his attacks were still barrages from the Gate of Babylon, he himself was now more eager for close combat.

Their physical abilities had always been nearly equal. Fujimaru Kyoya's advantage in Divinity and skill was offset by the Gate of Babylon's firepower.

[You thought more than once about whether the choice you made was correct. If the other person was not trustworthy, then the wager you had placed with an entire lifetime would end in complete defeat.]

Yes, Fujimaru Kyoya had placed a bet on Gilgamesh.

He was betting on whether Gilgamesh could understand his intentions. He was betting on just how far Gilgamesh's pride went.

[You understood that everything was ready. It was time to reveal the answer.]

"Yes. Let the answer be revealed. Let me see just what kind of greatness you possess, Gilgamesh."

He could not continue hesitating. Fujimaru Kyoya made up his mind. For humanity to no longer be oppressed by the Gods, he would give everything. This was the moment to reveal the answer.

The clear sky began to darken. Dark clouds covered the sun, and a bright moon replaced it high in the sky. Fujimaru Kyoya flew into the heavens as the crown and armor formed from moonlight appeared on him once more.

"Sacred King of the Bright Moon? Then let me strike down this moon."

Under normal circumstances, Gilgamesh would probably have called anyone claiming kingship before him a "fake," but this time, he did not.

Because he could feel that the armor, cloak, and crown were not formed purely from Mana, but from the people's trust.

Before the power gathered from the hearts of countless people, even someone as arrogant as Gilgamesh was unwilling to insult it.

The Gate of Babylon withdrew its radiance, but everyone knew this was merely the calm before the storm.

Gilgamesh gathered all the Mana of the Gate of Babylon onto a single Noble Phantasm. It was the key to deciding the battle in one strike.

From within the golden sphere of light, he drew out a sword—Gilgamesh's strongest Noble Phantasm, Enuma Elish.