[184] The Everdistant Utopia
In Sakatsuki's view, Gilgamesh, summoned as an Archer, has three distinct states.
The first is his playful state, characterized by mindlessly throwing out Noble Phantasms. This is how the arrogant King of Heroes deals with mongrels. The second is his serious state, where he selectively chooses Noble Phantasms to counter his enemies' weaknesses or expose their vulnerabilities. This "sword-switching" mode was famously used in the Fifth Holy Grail War, where he defeated Saber with a combination of three special weapons.
The third state is when he truly becomes an invincible top-tier Servant, the 'Unbeatable Gilgamesh.' In this state, the King of Heroes wields his Ea and fights with full power. While his opponent is busy dealing with the weapons from the Gate of Babylon, he charges Ea and ultimately unleashes his Noble Phantasm, "Enuma Elish."
At this moment, Gilgamesh, holding Ea, has clearly entered the third state—a form that could be called the 'final boss' in any Holy Grail War. Even the renowned King of Knights is completely outmatched, about to face the terrifying strike of an EX-ranked Noble Phantasm.
To be honest, Saber is suffering an undeserved misfortune. The reason Gilgamesh didn't put away Ea after defeating Iskandar was to prepare for an all-out battle with Sakatsuki, even readying himself to fight against three opponents at once.
To think that Saber could stand against such a King of Heroes with just her Excalibur is nothing short of a pipe dream.
Even so, Saber's saintly emerald eyes remained unwavering. As Archer gathered the storm of creation, her holy sword also summoned pure starlight.
But...
"Too slow!"
Gilgamesh gripped Ea as if to thrust it forward, his golden hair standing on end like an angry lion.
"It seems you won't admit defeat unless I deliver a decisive blow, Saber!"
The heavens roared, and the earth shook.
When the howling winds subsided, what lay before Saber was a radiant light of magical energy that illuminated the universe.
"Behold—this is 'Enuma Elish'!"
As the crimson storm symbolizing destruction surged forward, the starlight gathered on Excalibur was completely overshadowed. In the end, Saber didn't even have the chance to release her Noble Phantasm before she was swallowed by the light.
***
Awakening in a heavy darkness.
Kiritsugu Emiya only remembered firing a bullet through the woman's forehead before falling into a diamond-shaped light.
"I curse you..."
The disheveled female ghost fell into hell, her voice still echoing around Kiritsugu.
"Kiritsugu Emiya... I curse you... pain... regret until death... I will never, ever forgive you..."
"Fine."
Before the hateful mud could reach him, Kiritsugu turned away, abandoning the hollow, calamitous Grail without a second thought.
"No pardon is needed. I will bear it all—but before you, there are many sins waiting for me to atone for. Until then, please wait your turn in line."
As light and shadow shifted, he returned to the initial room. However, the doll lying on the ground had lost its form, transforming into a golden cup filled with black mud, tightly bound by countless magical seals.
Beside the Holy Grail, his silver-haired wife with crimson eyes smiled gently, while Maiya Hisau stood quietly by her side, a fleeting emotion passing through her eyes as she looked at Kiritsugu.
A long-lost sense of happiness enveloped Kiritsugu. Under the slightly surprised gazes of the two women, he spread his arms and strode forward, embracing his most cherished family with all his might.
"I'm back, Irisviel, Maiya."
"Welcome back, Kiritsugu."
Amid the joy of reunion, Irisviel also noticed the Holy Grail quietly disappearing within the magical seals, taken by someone who had already left.
However, once the Lesser Grail fully materialized, it meant another Servant had offered up their soul—
"Please don't lose, Saber."
Irisviel silently prayed in her heart.
"Because—I've already returned that thing to you."
***
Light ignited in the darkness.
Before the rift created by Enuma Elish, a blue-golden scabbard unfolded.
"W-What...!?"
What unfolded before Gilgamesh's eyes was the one and only scabbard of the holy sword.
Made of unknown materials, the scabbard deflected all of Ea's light.
No, this was no longer on the level of defense.
It was severance.
A wall of the fairy realm that kept out the filth of the outside world, isolating it from this world, a realm that could never be reached.
Protected by the scabbard of the holy sword, Saber, for that brief moment, was isolated from all the laws of this world.
The strongest protection in this world.
A realm unreachable even by the five great magics, an ultimate sanctuary that no one could violate.
Thus, the scabbard's name was "Avalon."
The unreachable utopia that King Arthur dreamed of after death, the place the king arrived at in legend—
That was the relic used to summon King Arthur, the manifestation of the knight's vow to protect the princess. And last night, the princess had returned it to her knight.
There was no escape now.
Gilgamesh saw the barrier of Avalon, and behind it, the holy sword overflowing with starlight. To seize the chance of victory, Saber had even removed her armor, channeling that mana into her sword.
Meanwhile, he was holding the irreversible sword of the gods, his body immobilized from the excessive mana output.
"To think... you'd resort to such tricks, Saber!"
As the King of Heroes exclaimed, the petite King of Knights, clad in blue, finally uttered the name of the Noble Phantasm that would bring about the end.
"Ex—calibur!!"
The surging golden light guided the golden king to his final end.
...
...
...
When the light of the holy sword faded, two figures still stood in place.
No—only the blue-clad King of Knights remained standing tall. The other figure remained upright solely due to the king's final burst of pride.
"My legs are useless, my spiritual core is on the verge of shattering, the mana in my body is nearly depleted, and my vision is fading..."
The King of Heroes, his armor shattered, stood with his back to the King of Knights, his voice still dripping with arrogance.
"So, have you come to mock my defeat, mongrel?"
"No, I am merely a warrior preparing to enter the stage."
The white-haired youth said as he descended the steps, his golden eyes meeting Gilgamesh's.
"Of course, I also have the intention of helping a certain loser, so he doesn't retreat with regrets."
"I don't need your pity. This defeat, I accept it wholeheartedly—"
"King of Heroes, you still have enough mana, don't you?"
Sakatsuki interrupted Archer, speaking calmly.
"Enough to unleash Enuma Elish one more time, aimed at me."
"...Oh?"
Archer narrowed his eyes, and after a moment, a wild grin spread across his face.
"As expected of a chef, your timing is impeccable—then take it head-on, Sakatsuki!"
The cataclysmic crimson storm surged into the sky once more, raging for a long time before finally dissipating.
The moon hung high in the sky, its silver light spilling onto the ground.
On the ravaged grounds of Ryudou Temple, only two figures remained.
***
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