Gilgamesh and Enkidu's Encounter

Gilgamesh's anger was plain to see.

Because he had used his Clairvoyance, which could gaze into the future, and at that very moment, "saw" Enkidu.

But in truth, Gilgamesh had used that ability to search the future for clues to Rovi's current whereabouts.

After all, Rovi had been missing for seven days.

Seven days ago, he had vanished into the Monster Forest while suppressing a monster uprising in the west. No matter how many people were sent to search for him afterward, there had been no word.

Although that man had openly defied him, he was still his subject. In Gilgamesh's eyes, no one but himself had the right to deal with him.

So now, he had to find him.

If he was alive, bring him back.

If he was dead, then the mongrels who had dared lay hands on the King's subject would receive the King's judgment.

Yet Gilgamesh had not found Rovi.

Instead, at the place where he had disappeared, he found the divine "messenger" sent down by the gods.

Gilgamesh did not know that this messenger had spent the past seven days under Rovi's instruction.

Nor did he know that Rovi had become a Key of Heaven on equal footing with them—or something even more extraordinary. Because he was so far away, Gilgamesh's Clairvoyance could not find him.

Had Enkidu not gradually mastered the power of the Lock of Heaven over these past few days, Gilgamesh likely would not have been able to pinpoint even her.

Clairvoyance was never an omniscient ability. It was only natural that it could not peer upon those of the same rank.

Even though Rovi had not stopped using the Treasury of Babylon Gilgamesh had given him during this time, he had merely used it as transportation and had never truly touched the Noble Phantasms within.

Gilgamesh had no way of noticing.

Yet, already inclined to reject the gods, he could not connect these facts. His first thought was that the gods had already acted against Rovi, the "great irreverent one" who had once interrupted the Sacrifice of All Gods.

They had taken his life and erased every trace of him from this world.

Neither the present nor the future could find him.

If that was so.

Then the King's wrath was bound to rise.

West of Uruk.

At the outskirts of the Monster Forest, the azure sky hung like a curtain over the empty plains. At the edge of the lush forest stood towering walls, with guards still keeping watch.

After Rovi ventured deep into the forest, the monsters had shown no signs of unrest whatsoever.

But the duty of soldiers guarding the land was to prevent danger before it emerged.

Thus, over these seven days, aside from sending people into the forest to search for Rovi, the remaining defenses continued as usual—if anything, they had become even stricter.

It was at that moment that a soldier standing atop the wall seemed to notice something and abruptly raised his head.

He saw... a Star Vessel.

It was composed of green wings and a golden main seat.

Powered by stars from the Age of Gods that possessed immense magical energy, it soared through the skies.

It was an unmistakable symbol.

In Uruk, no one failed to recognize the King's favorite vehicle: this very Star Vessel.

And its appearance meant...

"King!?" the guard cried out. Before he could fully process it, the Star Vessel became a blazing streak of light that burst through the air, plunged into the depths of the forest, and vanished.

For the moment, never mind the commotion the Star Vessel caused among the border guards.

At that moment, Gilgamesh sat upon his resplendent golden throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. Both his attire and expression differed from usual.

His once-hanging golden hair was swept entirely upward, his exposed forehead reflecting the sharp authority of a king.

He had donned golden armor, heavy and dazzling, bright as a god.

This was Gilgamesh's Battle Armor.

It was also the garb he wore when, as King, he judged the vermin who dared offend royal authority.

His fingers struck the armrest, and the King's vehicle sped into the forest's depths in an instant. At last, it stopped, suspended high in the air.

He had arrived.

This was the place he had "seen."

Then—

"Having beheld the radiant and great me, did you think you could still hide like cockroaches dwelling in shadowy, filthy places?" The tall king looked down coldly at the trees beneath the Star Vessel. "Come out, mongrel sent by that bunch of rotten, worthless trash!"

Rustle, rustle... In the forest, a "person" heard the voice and looked up, emerald eyes filled with slight confusion.

She had gone to fetch water because she said she was thirsty. Why had Rovi not returned yet...?

What was that?

The green eyes beneath the dense, swaying veil of long green hair widened slightly.

The "person" in the forest saw the glittering gold-and-green object hovering above. Having never seen such a thing before, she was visibly stunned.

Enkidu thought.

"Hah? You finally dare show yourself, mongrel crawling out of a mud ditch." Gilgamesh saw her as well.

She wore a loose, pure white priest's robe, with long green hair cascading down her back. Her figure was slender, and her face beautiful—that of a "young girl."

Seeing "her" appearance clearly, sensing the power of the gods emanating from her body, and realizing that the clothes she wore had originally belonged to Rovi—

At that moment, the killing intent in Gilgamesh's heart flared even more fiercely.

His crimson snake-like eyes were filled with utter coldness, cold as boulders at the deepest reaches of the underworld, frozen for ten thousand years.

His serpent tongue flickered with the King's fury.

Faced with such undisguised malice, Enkidu's delicate brows furrowed slightly as well.

After seven days, she was no longer as ignorant as she had been at the beginning.

In self-awareness and wisdom, she was no less than any human.

Though she did not know who the other party was or what he wanted.

Enkidu understood one thing very clearly.

That was—

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

If he attacked her, then as Rovi had taught her, she would retaliate with even greater force!

Though the other party seemed to possess power from the same source as Rovi.

The feeling he gave Enkidu was clearly nowhere near as familiar as Rovi.

Because of that, she would not think too much about it.

"Not only do you refuse to surrender, you even intend to resist my judgment."

Gilgamesh slowly rose from his throne. "Then are you prepared to bear the guilt of provoking the great me...?"

Golden light shimmered, ripples spreading through the air.

The Treasury of Babylon unfolded, and a gleaming, razor-sharp Divine Sword instantly fell into Gilgamesh's hand.

Gilgamesh tightly gripped this Noble Phantasm, a treasure even among his collection.

As her pure white robe billowed, Enkidu stood silently amid the forest. Countless shadows flowed across her body, swallowing mountains and seas... and kicking up clouds of dust.

Though neither had made a move, the immense magical power surging from them instantly became terrifying torrents that collided with each other.

The vast forest floor trembled, and ripples appeared across the gently flowing stream.

Rovi, fetching water by the stream, stared blankly at the rings of ripples spreading across its surface.

He rose to his feet and looked behind him, immediately spotting something several miles away.

"Gilgamesh is here?"

He instantly became alert.

Gilgamesh was here.

And he had already encountered Enkidu.

They—they were fighting!

With a clatter, as though he had expected this all along, Rovi dropped the earthen bowl in his hand and rushed toward them.