Einzbern Castle Courtyard
The golden king stood before Roy, his crimson eyes piercing, as if trying to unravel the youth's essence. Though they stood at the same height, Gilgamesh's towering presence exuded an overwhelming sense of supremacy, gazing down on all.
Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, humanity's first king, the protagonist of the oldest heroic epic.
Legend holds he was a demigod, two-thirds divine, one-third human, a near-perfect being crafted by the gods as a linchpin for humanity. Thus, he viewed the world not as a man but as a god.
This wasn't mere arrogance—it was his nature.
Tempestuous, capricious, unrestrained… these were divine traits, making him unbound, dismissive of all. Only after the guidance of a certain gentle figure did he temper his ferocity. Later, experiencing loss and seeking immortality alone, he chose to walk among humans, not gods.
He was less a human king, more a god with a mortal lifespan.
Divine wisdom, divine power, yet a human's fleeting life.
This was Roy's understanding of Gilgamesh.
"I ask you, who's the first target you'll pursue?" Seeing Roy accept his game, the mercurial king smirked, his voice dripping with mischief.
Revealing the plan could alert the target, potentially uniting the remaining Servants for self-preservation. And with Gilgamesh's volatile nature, an honest answer risked his wrath.
The air grew tense, all eyes on Roy. A less resolute Master might falter under the pressure.
"Archer, Gilgamesh, our first target is you. Fionn, Iskandar, and Berserker will form a strike team to assault the Tohsaka residence. I'll lead Scáthach to pin down Saber, King Arthur, preventing her from aiding you. Kayneth and Waver will infiltrate the Tohsaka manor, eliminate Tokiomi, sever your mana supply, reduce your threat, and secure victory."
"Oh? A detailed plan, mongrels," Gilgamesh sneered.
"Your strength is unmatched in this War. Facing you alone is suicide. A coordinated assault is the only path. I hope you understand," Roy said, unflinching, laying out the strategy he and Kayneth devised.
Kayneth's eyelid twitched, while Tokiomi paled, stunned by the ruthless plan.
Gilgamesh's smile grew enigmatic. "You're intriguing."
After the first question, he gave Roy high praise. With a wave, golden portals opened, ejecting an array of golden weapons—warhammer, axe, and a cleaver—landing before Roy.
"Not bad. Honest, no tricks. As a reward for truth, choose a Noble Phantasm," Gilgamesh said.
Roy's expression turned odd, inwardly scoffing, Do I look like a Berserker who'd curse a weapon and swing it wildly?
Clearly, these were random picks from Gilgamesh's treasury, not carefully selected. Roy's current reward didn't warrant personal attention.
"Thank you, but I'd prefer to settle the tab later," Roy declined, smiling. "You're not done playing, are you?"
"Hmph, greedier than I thought, mongrel," Gilgamesh said, his crimson eyes narrowing, seeing through Roy's intent.
The youth was right—he wasn't done yet.
"If you want greater treasures, hear my next question." Gilgamesh fixed on Roy, posing a loaded query. "Tell me everything you know about this Holy Grail War's essence and your purpose in joining it. I'll judge the outcome."
A dual question: probing Roy's knowledge of the War and his motives.
The setting was hostile. Everyone—save Berserker—was present. His answer would reach all, exposing secrets. Gilgamesh knew Roy, even allied, held back. Forcing the truth could strain his alliances.
Gilgamesh was curious about his choice.
"The Grail's essence? That's complex," Roy said, scratching his head, then answering after a moment's thought. "It's a massive mana construct formed through a special ritual, overseen by the Second Magic's wielder. His disciple, Nagato Tohsaka, Makiri Zolgen, and the first Winter Saint, Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern, combined the Third Magic to create this grand ritual—a miracle of this era."
"But raw mana alone isn't enough. It'd just be a giant mana block, not a wish-granting device. It requires summoning Servants, letting them fight, and sacrificing their souls. After five Servants fall, the Grail activates, granting partial wishes. With seven, even miracles like resurrection or reaching the Root become possible."
His calm answer stunned the crowd.
Tokiomi's face darkened, teeth clenched, baffled why Roy knew this and revealed it.
Why expose this? Isn't he aiming for the Root too?
Sacrificing seven Servants to reach the Root was their goal. Tokiomi's restraint, tolerating Gilgamesh, was to sacrifice him last. Roy's revelation risked the Servants' trust, lowering the odds of controlling them with Command Seals.
Tokiomi glared, trembling with rage, wanting to grab Roy and demand what he gained.
We're all chasing the Root! Why reveal this? Aren't you afraid of the Servants turning?
Roy scoffed inwardly. We? Who's 'we'?
His wish was never the Root.
"As for my wish and purpose, they're simple," Roy said, meeting Gilgamesh's gaze with a smile. "You've likely sensed my anomaly. I just want to return to a certain place. It's a slim chance, but I have to try."
"Return somewhere? A mongrel's wish, but reasonable," Gilgamesh nodded, not exposing Roy's otherworldly soul.
From their first meeting, he saw it—twisted, vast, pure, rare, bearing no trace of this world. Even his boundless Babylonian treasury held no such treasure.
This soul was unique, its miracles rivaling or surpassing the Grail.
Its vastness defied this world's Origin, free to choose and seize what it needed.
A divine soul? Not quite, but close.
A treasure from beyond this world… a fine prize for this War.
Smirking, Gilgamesh's interest deepened.
Iskandar, hearing Roy's detailed explanation, looked surprised. "Tactician, you know so much about the War's secrets. Sacrifices, a wish-granting machine—it's real. Good news for me."
Another parallel world observation? Waver thought, calmer, having been swayed by Roy before.
Kayneth's face twisted. Second Magic, Third Magic… such obscure terms, all in this backwater ritual?
The War's depths unnerved him. This small town hides such giants?
"As extra intel, this Grail seems off. I'll observe it. Even if I win, I won't use it immediately. I'll inspect and purify it to ensure it's safe," Roy added, offering firsthand insight not in the Great Families' records.
He answered fully, holding little back.
"Interesting… I sensed something amiss too," Gilgamesh said, pleased with Roy's honesty and soul. He raised his hand, the mismatched weapons vanishing, replaced by a radiant seven-colored gem floating before Roy.
"You answered well. Take this—it's fitting, a mark of my mercy."
Even Roy, usually composed, twitched at the sight of the Philosopher's Stone.
He'd hoped for a decent divine staff or Noble Phantasm, but Gilgamesh's extravagance stunned him.
The Philosopher's Stone, the alchemists' dream, once held by Makiri Zolgen's friend, Von Hohenheim. A magical treasure, its legacy matched the genius who wrote the Book of the Law, systematizing natural magic into a theory of four elemental spirits: earth's Gnome, water's Undine, air's Sylph, fire's Salamander—a system still used.
Though no clear record confirmed Von Hohenheim's success, the Golden Sail mentioned the Stone's tale.
For Roy's magecraft, it was perfect. With it, his next creation's potential could reach terrifying heights, perhaps summoning something extraordinary.
Under the crowd's stunned gazes, Roy seized the Stone, absorbing it into his body.
Now, for what's next…
Seeing the matter resolved, Gilgamesh glanced at Tokiomi, whose face flickered with suppressed fury, and smirked.
Though tired of him, killing Tokiomi now was too easy, too dull. He'd keep the clown for amusement.
"But… kid, how about one more choice?" Gilgamesh asked, his tone serious.
"Please, go ahead," Roy replied.
"Abandon that useless Servant and swear fealty to me. After the War, I'll grant you the Grail and more treasures."
"Archer!!" Tokiomi, unable to stay silent, roared.
Golden blades shot forth, pinning the ground before him, forcing him to collapse in fear.
Gilgamesh's message was clear: interrupt again, and the clown's role ends.
"Serve you? A tough choice. With your mercy and generosity, my path would be smooth, my magecraft soaring, the Grail within reach. But I promised Scáthach I'd help her fulfill her wish. My life is tied to her spear, so I must decline," Roy said.
"So, I came too late," Gilgamesh glanced at Scáthach, now beside Roy, and laughed without pressing.
His smile faded, replaced by domineering greed. "Still, all treasures are mine—including you, a gem I've yet to claim."
Roy shivered. Why do I feel targeted by something sinister? He doesn't have that hobby, does he?
Recalling wild tales from Gilgamesh's epic, he felt a chill.
"Steal my Master, arrogant King of Heroes? My silence doesn't mean agreement. If you want my treasure, ask my crimson spear first," Scáthach stepped forward, her wine-red eyes clashing with Gilgamesh's draconic gaze, retorting fiercely.
"Hmph, Queen of the Land of Shadows, I know your desire. Don't be smug—I'll grant you the death you seek," Gilgamesh sneered. No one could stop him, not even her.
"Kill me? With that human-bound body, once defeated by death? You think you can breach the Land of Shadow's seven gates to end me? Don't make me laugh, Gilgamesh. You, who suffered death's sting, now boast of conquering it?" Scáthach scoffed.
"As my Master said, our fates are bound. My life ends by his hand, so I'll win the Grail for him. Anyone blocking our pact—my spear will slay without hesitation."
Her words, unmasking her favor for Roy, stunned the crowd.
Iskandar marveled. The Tactician earns my favor, the King of Heroes's, and the Queen of the Land of Shadows's. If not for my own Master, I'd steal him myself.
Kayneth shook his head at the brewing conflict over Roy. Fionn found it amusing, thinking he'd have recruited such a talent to his Fianna in life.
Tokiomi, scorned by his Servant and watching Gilgamesh vie with Scáthach over a mage, was speechless.
It was supposed to be me… how did it come to this?
"Excellent! That's the spirit! Without it, killing you would bore me!" Gilgamesh laughed, exhilarated. "The pinnacle of martial prowess—I'll test it!"
"Splendid, mongrels. Tonight was thrilling." His figure faded, leaving golden motes and an echoing voice. "Next time, I'll slay you and claim my spoils."
With Gilgamesh gone, only the remaining Servants, Masters, and a discarded Tokiomi remained.
Roy approached Tokiomi, patting his shoulder casually. "Master Tohsaka, need a ride back?"
Kayneth's eyes gleamed.
With the guests departing, the banquet couldn't continue.
Declining Artoria's offer to stay, Roy smiled, reminding her to open the letter only after pondering his three questions. The answers could wait until they met again.
Laughing heartily, he left with Scáthach, his gains bountiful.
The Servants exchanged knowing glances.
They knew, after this banquet, the War's skirmishes were over.
Someone was ready to end the Holy Grail War.
***
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