Getting More Lively

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? You're acting bizarre—get a grip, will you?"

Speechless as he watched the little girl Rin Tohsaka inexplicably slap something onto him, Li Ke reached out, plucked the concentrated mass of magical energy she had stuck to his body, shoved it back into her mouth, watched her choke on it, and tossed her aside.

"Go play somewhere else. You're thinking too highly of yourself if you think you can drive a wedge between me and the one I summoned to help me."

Though he didn't know what she had tried to plant on him, Li Ke felt certain it wasn't anything good, so returning it to sender was the only logical choice.

After all, Rin Tohsaka was acting completely abnormal; it was highly likely she was possessed by some sort of weasel spirit.

But right now, his priority was settling the score with Gilgamesh.

The man's actions just now had made him incredibly annoyed!

"Hey, interrupting someone else's duel and resorting to such underhanded tactics... Enkidu, this shouldn't count as me interfering in your fight anymore, right?"

Li Ke addressed Enkidu, who looked somewhat embarrassed, as Gilgamesh's actions were indeed far from honorable. Calling him a despicable villain would almost be a compliment, but Enkidu was more concerned about Li Ke's physical state.

"Master, are you actually alright?"

After all, Li Ke's behavior just moments ago hadn't been normal at all. Judging by the aura he was radiating and his recent remarks, it seemed far more realistic that he would transform into a world-ending Demon King.

He certainly didn't want his Master to die or get injured!

"Ah, I'm fine. But I won't be leaving Gilgamesh to you... his behavior just now was truly disgusting."

Enkidu looked at Li Ke, then at the stunned Gilgamesh, realizing that his dear friend had indeed messed things up again. Furthermore, while Li Ke's aura was still mixed with the scent of a Beast, it seemed relatively stable.

After a moment of thought, he nodded.

"Then I'll have to trouble you to teach Gil a lesson, Master! He really has gone too far!"

Li Ke nodded at these words, then spun the spear in his hand and pointed it at Gilgamesh.

"So, you so-called King of Heroes, draw your weapons. Since you have the gall to use such despicable methods, let's have a real battle!"

Gilgamesh was off his game, but so was Li Ke. Although he had awakened the power of the Nephalem—the hybrid of Angel and Demon from the Dark World—the magical consumption was immense.

He had nearly exhausted his mana repelling Gugalanna. While he had replenished some from the remains of the Beast, he would need to dismiss some of his summons if he wanted to fight at full strength.

After all, his body was fundamentally that of a child; his current form was merely temporary.

Li Ke pondered for a moment and dismissed the entities within him that he assumed were the Beasts, freeing up the mana they had been occupying for his own use. He kept only the one he had just utilized: the Beast known as the Principle of Comparison.

He didn't keep it for any ulterior motive, but rather because he had used the entity's authority and thus owed a debt of gratitude; Li Ke intended to thank it properly after the fight.

At the very least, he should treat it to a good meal, right?

"Hmph... honestly... so this is how it ends? I've played the villain for nothing..."

Gilgamesh sensed the aura of the Beasts within Li Ke dissipate and his lip twitched. He never expected Li Ke to voluntarily dismiss the Beasts within his own body, nor that he could maintain his sanity under the suppression of so many Beasts and All the World's Evils.

"However, to question me for the sake of some mongrels... boy, you have a lot of nerve. Even for a treasure worthy of being kept in my treasury, you are far too rebellious!"

Gilgamesh raised his hands, and two golden swords appeared in his grasp.

He hadn't been idle while Ishtar was sealing his treasury, and he had left a portion of his weapons scattered during his fight with his dear friend.

After all, he had launched so many Noble Phantasms that he couldn't possibly retrieve them all in an instant.

In fact, there were still quite a few unclaimed Noble Phantasms scattered across this battlefield.

Take these two swords in his hands, for example!

"Though it is not Ea, I am still at my best in close-quarters combat!"

Close-quarters combat is to my advantage!

This thought flashed through Gilgamesh's mind! The very next moment, the two figures collided!

Gilgamesh's figure shimmered with golden radiance as his sword grazed Li Ke's spear, aiming for his arm in an attempt to force him to drop his weapon.

Because no matter the weapon or the armor, when it comes to cold steel—excluding bows and crossbows—the win rate against a spear is almost always one to nine.

Other weapons are the one; the spear is the nine.

Length is the key to victory!

However, in the face of these highly skilled Heroic Spirits, things were not so simple; exquisite martial arts were on full display at this very moment!

Li Ke stepped back and swept his spear, instantly parrying the long blade Gilgamesh had slashed with, but another blade was already thrusting toward him.

Without hesitation, Li Ke reversed his spear, using the butt of the shaft as a spearhead to thrust toward Gilgamesh's chest!

Gilgamesh was indeed a step faster, but the length of Li Ke's spear ensured that he would pierce Gilgamesh's body before Gilgamesh could reach his own!

"Tch!"

Gilgamesh precisely used his long blade to block the butt of Li Ke's spear, but the golden figure was sent flying back by the force, leaving two furrows in the ground.

He immediately threw the long sword in his hand; two golden blurs surged from different angles toward Li Ke's throat and ankle.

Li Ke hurriedly stopped his charge, flicked his spear upward to deflect the blade flying at his throat, and simultaneously kicked the hilt of the sword flying toward his feet, sending it spinning back toward Gilgamesh's ankle.

Then, with a sudden pivot, he traced a massive Rune in the air with his spear, releasing countless light projectiles while swinging in a wide arc. Using the strength of his waist, he whipped the spear against the hilt of the sword he had just deflected, sending it flying like a bolt toward Gilgamesh's throat!

The two swords flew toward Gilgamesh's body almost simultaneously. Gilgamesh's red eyes widened as he spun in mid-air to avoid having his ankle slashed. As the hilt rotated before his eyes, he grabbed the sword aimed at his ankle, then backhanded the one aimed at his throat, landing gracefully on the ground.

Throughout the entire process, all the light projectiles manifested from the Runes grazed past his body, only managing to shear off a few strands of his golden hair!

But the moment he landed unsteadily, Li Ke did not hesitate. He lunged forward in a single stride, his spear thrusting fiercely toward the throat of the King of Heroes!

At the eleventh hour, the King of Heroes barely managed to dodge the strike aimed at his throat, yet the skin on his neck was still sliced open by the tip of Li Ke's spear!

In an instant, blood gushed out, forcing the King of Heroes to retreat once more, landing well outside the reach of Li Ke's spear.

Li Ke did not cease his assault, pressing forward again. He thrust his spear once more, leaving the King of Heroes little time to defend; he could only manage to block the spear with the twin swords in his hands.

However, the disparity in their strength made it impossible for him to steady himself against Li Ke's spear. The twin swords were instantly knocked aside by the spearhead, which drove directly into the King of Heroes' chest, only to be stopped by his ribs!

Not only that, but the King of Heroes' twin swords clamped down tightly on the spearhead, preventing Li Ke from advancing his attack any further.

Then, the very next moment, just as Li Ke intended to retract his spear, the body of the King of Heroes dissolved into countless golden motes of light, rapidly teleporting to the top of a high-rise building.

"Huff... huff... You really are no simpleton. Although your spear technique is still quite raw, this brute force and speed are no joke..."

Clutching the wound on his chest, the King of Heroes looked at Li Ke in a disheveled state.

His weapons were already at a disadvantage, and Li Ke's speed and strength had clearly ascended to a higher level.

It was obvious that when this guy fought Scathach, he hadn't used his full strength at all.

He had realized it just now: Li Ke's spear technique was mediocre, the kind that would get hung up and beaten by Scathach, relying purely on superior magical energy and reaction speed to hold his own against her.

But his swordsmanship was quite excellent; he had seen through all his movements in just a few exchanges. He could be called a true Genius! This brat's forte must be the sword!

So, was he holding back when he fought Scathach? Or did he just want to have a contest of skill with his master?

The King of Heroes didn't know, but the only thing he did know was that he was dying.

Within the lacerated wound, blood was constantly turning into something resembling thorns, spreading across his injury. Although the blood within his body was desperately suppressing this power, his physical form was nearing collapse.

This was not due to any other reason, but the disintegration of the Greater Grail.

The existence of these Heroic Spirits relied fundamentally on the Greater Grail; now that it was being destroyed, the basis for their existence had vanished.

Therefore, even without fighting, these summoned Heroic Spirits could not exist for much longer.

"Those Heroic Spirits summoned for their own wishes are probably feeling resentful right now that they have to leave the stage before even joining the fray. Just thinking about it makes me feel happy... I truly want to see them wail after their wishes fall through..."

Thinking of this, the King of Heroes felt a surge of pleasure. However, he did not intend to leave the stage like this; even if he had to depart, he would do so on his own terms!

"I must admit, as far as the present is concerned, This Seat's power is inferior to yours!"

Looking at the youth fighting him with a false body, the King of Heroes revealed a smile.

Since the youth before him wanted his life, he should grant him equal respect!

"Although I cannot use EA, before I depart, with the help of the magical energy provided by that useless goddess, I can still let you witness the majesty of the King of Heroes!"

After he finished speaking, he ran with all his might between the skyscrapers, trying to avoid being interrupted by Li Ke while casting his Noble Phantasm.

Li Ke followed rapidly. He sensed that the King of Heroes was gathering magical energy, and vaguely, the residual energy of Gugalanna in the sky, which he hadn't finished absorbing, began to gather under some inexplicable force!

"Gil! What are you trying to do! If you intend to unleash a flood, I will be angry!"

Enkidu asked irritably. He recognized those two swords; the twin blades in the King of Heroes' hands were known as the Sword of Termination.

They were the prototype of the Noahic Flood, the symbol of the Flood of Utnapishtim, a Noble Phantasm representing the end of civilization.

Although he could not destroy the world as a Servant, if fully deployed, there would be no problem in triggering a tsunami to submerge this country!

"My dearest friend! Do not underestimate your Master!"

The King of Heroes did not hesitate. He slammed the two golden swords together at the hilts, and a golden radiance instantly emerged from the tips, transforming the two longswords into a golden bow in an instant!

At this moment, Li Ke finally caught up, thrusting his spear toward the heart of the King of Heroes!

Yet the King of Heroes did not hesitate. The moment Li Ke caught up, he twisted his body, revealing a crazed smile!

"Let the scorching flames burn from the firmament! The raging tides of Utnapishtim descend!"

Before he could finish his words, he was pierced through the heart by Li Ke's spear, but he still wore that crazed smile. The bowstring in his hands snapped, and a golden arrow pierced toward Li Ke's head!

Li Ke's pupils dilated instantly, but fortunately, he had prepared for a counterattack while in pursuit. At the last possible second, he tilted his head, letting the golden arrow graze his cheek as it flew past!

Blood sprayed out, and the King of Heroes' power was completely exhausted. He looked at his furious friend on the ground and revealed a happy smile.

"Enkidu... if you want to lecture me, do it next time..."

As he spoke, his body turned into golden motes of light, and at that moment, the golden arrow that had fallen to the ground also emitted a beam of light that shot into the sky!

High above, Li Ke saw it clearly: a golden arrow descended from the sky onto the atmosphere, mixing with the residual magical energy of Gugalanna that he hadn't had time to absorb.

After the golden arrow struck the atmosphere, countless red, circuit-like patterns unfolded across the sky.

And the next moment—

Space shattered, and the ocean seemed to appear in the sky! A boundless flood surged toward the entirety of Fuyuki City!

The Holy Grail War ends tomorrow!