"Who allowed you to interrupt when this king was speaking, you mongrel?"
"Who allowed you to interrupt when this king was speaking, you mongrel?"
Bzzzt—
The golden ripples beside Gilgamesh shifted direction, turning toward Ibaraki Douji.
"Ah? Is there a problem?"
Facing that immense, oppressive magical energy, Ibaraki Douji merely sneered without the slightest hint of fear. She gripped the Nameless Bone Blade, enormous compared to her petite body, as flames rose around her.
"You called me a mongrel—I don't really mind. I'm an oni, and you're human. Or something else, whatever. In your eyes, I'm a mongrel. In mine, you're one too."
A feral grin spread across Ibaraki Douji's childish face. The surrounding flames seemed to explode as she assumed a fighting stance.
Gilgamesh's expression changed as well.
It twisted into utter fury.
"Mad dog—if you wish to die—this king shall grant your wish!!!"
Whoosh—
Before his words had even faded, Gilgamesh had already attacked.
He was the one and only king above and below heaven, the supreme king, the King of Heroes—his dignity would not permit anything to trample upon it, not even by the slightest measure!
"Ha—!"
BOOM!!!
The Flames of the Thicket roared. The bone blade in Ibaraki Douji's hand carved a massive arc through the air, and the instant the Noble Phantasms streaking toward her collided with it, violent magical energy erupted. Yet Ibaraki Douji showed no fear at all; instead, her eyes widened excitedly.
"Either way, aren't both you and I after that crappy cup?"
"It's a perfect chance to revive Shuten-Douji and restore Mount Ooe—how could I possibly hand it over to you!!!"
—BOOM!!!
Several more weapons slammed down around Ibaraki, and a string of explosions rang out. Yet Ibaraki displayed astonishing speed, evading Gilgamesh's bombardment before suddenly leaping upward!
"Die—!"
Clang—
The