The Hero King, Gilgamesh

"Running away? Fine..."

"Out of respect for their reverence, I'll tentatively forgive them."

The blond young man sitting sideways on the rooftop slowly stood up, watching Sella and Leysritt flee with disdain.

"So that's all they were? Just homunculi."

"Not bad."

"They're only dolls that look human, yet they can function just like natural living beings."

"Looks like they were made with some decent molds."

"But mages really never learn, do they? Giving their tools personalities and all."

"Humans will never return the devotion of your pure hearts."

The blond young man made his comments without restraint, then turned to look at Illya.

"But those two are nothing compared to you."

"A fusion of a homunculus and a human."

"What kind of wildly imaginative thing did the one who made you create?"

The blond young man—or, more fittingly, the Hero King, Gilgamesh.

He wasn't a normal participant in this Holy Grail War. Or perhaps it was fair to say that he was now part of the Holy Grail.

Since he wasn't a normal participant in this war, the rules of the Holy Grail War naturally couldn't restrict him.

Besides, those rules had always relied on people choosing to follow them.

Illya stared coolly at Gilgamesh on the rooftop and demanded, "What are you after?"

Before Gilgamesh appeared, the forest's barrier hadn't reacted at all.

The only way he could have managed that was by entering from high above.

Gilgamesh hadn't attacked yet, but Illya could sense the bloodlust and the stench of blood clinging to him.

Even though he looked perfectly normal, without a speck of dirt on him.

"Just taking what belongs to me before anyone else can."

"Only I have the right to decide what happens to the Holy Grail!"

"Though I have no interest in you, the Grail's vessel."

"I simply won't let those mongrels lay their hands on what's mine."

At that, Illya's expression turned visibly angry.

"Who are you, exactly?"

Gilgamesh gave a scornful laugh at Illya's question.

"Just as I thought. No matter how exquisitely made, a doll is still a doll."

"You don't know my name, and you don't even kneel? How audacious!"

"Do you have any last words before I put you to death?"

Their negotiations had clearly broken down completely. Illya was on high alert now, glaring at Gilgamesh on the rooftop as she shouted in a low, angry voice.

"Kill him!"

"Berserker!"

Berserker, who had been guarding Illya in spirit form, suddenly appeared. He roared at Gilgamesh, standing on the roof, and the paving stones beneath his feet shattered with a single stomp!

Gilgamesh watched Berserker with an excited look. A flash of golden light passed, and he appeared opposite Berserker, not far away.

Gilgamesh grinned, fixing Berserker with his fiery red eyes as he roared, "That's more like it."

"Come on, great hero!"

"If you're my opponent, my boredom will vanish in an instant!"

"Let the battle of myth..."

"Begin anew here!!!"

As Gilgamesh spoke, countless shimmering golden ripples appeared around him.

The light radiating from those golden ripples was so brilliant that even daylight seemed dim by comparison.

Within them appeared swords, spears, blades, halberds, axes, hooks, and all manner of weapons. There were many kinds, but not a single one was repeated. Any one of them could have been treasured as a priceless heirloom.

That's right. Every one of those weapons, polished to a mirror-bright sheen, was a genuine Noble Phantasm!

Now, every last one of them was aimed at Berserker, who stood between them and Illya!

With a roar like wind being torn apart, countless gleaming blades hurtled toward Berserker all at once!

But the Noble Phantasms flying at him couldn't hurt Berserker at all. They only left bursts of sparks across his body before bouncing away!

Illya stood to one side, her face brimming with confidence.

Berserker's true identity was Heracles, the greatest hero in Greek mythology.

He possessed the Noble Phantasm, God Hand.

It was a Noble Phantasm that embodied both the blessing and the curse of the gods bestowed upon Heracles: immortality.

It had no form like a weapon or piece of armor. Heracles's body itself could be considered a Noble Phantasm.

It turned his body into an incredibly tough suit of armor, rendering attacks below B-Rank ineffective, whether physical or magical.

It could also automatically resurrect him after death. Since it stored eleven such resurrections, Heracles wouldn't disappear unless he was killed twelve times.

Furthermore, thanks to Illya's tremendous magical energy, the lost resurrections could even be restored if given enough time.

However, a devastating attack could also take several of his lives at once.

Besides resurrection and nullifying attacks, God Hand had a third effect.

An attack that had struck him once wouldn't work a second time.

No matter how powerful the attack that defeated Heracles, once he was resurrected, that Noble Phantasm would be ineffective against him.

That was the source of Illya's confidence!

In this Holy Grail War, no Servant could match her Berserker!

But...

Only in this war.

Looking at his attacks being nullified, Gilgamesh showed not the slightest surprise. Instead, he smiled with interest.

"Great hero."

"Perhaps those mongrels would be helpless against you."

"But unfortunately..."

"You've run into me!"

The one thing the Hero King Gilgamesh never lacked was Noble Phantasms!

He'd only been test-firing a bunch of Noble Phantasms below B-Rank just now. He wouldn't hold back from here on!

In an instant, those shimmering golden ripples appeared around Gilgamesh again. There were more than thirty of them!

Even Illya's expression changed dramatically.

They were completely different Noble Phantasms from the ones he'd used before, not a single one repeated.

And every one of them radiated power above A-Rank!

"Berserker!" Illya cried.

Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasms surged toward Berserker from every direction!

Berserker swung his enormous axe, hacking at the incoming Noble Phantasms, but quite a few still pierced his body and injured him.

Berserker could have dodged them with his agility, but with Illya nearby, he didn't want her to get hurt.

Illya realized it too and sprang backward!

Gilgamesh only snorted at her retreat.

Good. He didn't want to fight a hero who had to hold back, either.

No matter how far Illya ran, Gilgamesh was sure he could catch her!

With no need to worry about anyone else for the moment, Berserker clutched his enormous axe and roared. His blood-red eyes seemed to convey his fury.

Gilgamesh's own emotions ignited, and he shouted, "Let's see if you can amuse me!"

In the next instant, more than a hundred golden ripples appeared around Gilgamesh. His glittering Noble Phantasms poured forth like rain, all flying toward Berserker at once!

Berserker leaped and rolled, racing along the surrounding walls!

He swung his enormous axe, deflecting the Noble Phantasms hurtling toward him one after another!

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom—"

A ceaseless barrage of explosions echoed through the castle!

Illya stood on a distant rooftop, watching the battlefield with a deep frown.

Kaoru Sakura stood with Sella and Leysritt, looking utterly bewildered.

"Who am I?"

"Where am I?"

"What's going on?"

Unless Kaoru Sakura was mistaken, Illya's maid had just scooped her up and flown straight to the rooftop with ease.

What was that shiny golden thing in the distance?

And why was there a giant fighting that shiny golden thing?

Was this a dream?

Or some kind of special-effects show?

Clearly, Kaoru Sakura still had no idea what was going on.

But even Kaoru Sakura, optimistic as she was, could tell that Illya was furious.

The force radiating from her was so frightening that Kaoru Sakura could barely get the words out.

"I-Illya..."

"What's happening?"

"Are you okay?"

Hearing Kaoru Sakura's words, Illya forced her brow to relax a little and spoke to her in a low voice.

"Kaoru, could you come over here?"

Kaoru Sakura nodded rapidly like a pecking chick and obediently walked over to Illya, looking a little nervous.

"Illya, what is it...?"

Illya slowly turned back and looked up slightly to meet Kaoru Sakura's eyes.

[Suggestion Magecraft]

In an instant, Kaoru Sakura felt incredibly sleepy. Her body swayed, and she fell straight toward Illya.

Illya caught Kaoru Sakura in her arms, though her slightly petite frame struggled under the weight.

Sella tried to take Kaoru Sakura from Illya, but Illya refused.

After all, this might be the last time she ever saw Kaoru Sakura.

But Illya would never drag Kaoru Sakura into danger. If things went badly, she would order Sella and Leysritt to take Kaoru Sakura and flee.

Just as Illya turned her gaze back to the battlefield, Sella suddenly shouted from beside her, "Who are you?"

"Don't come any closer!"