บท 417: C417
"Fujimaru-niisan..."
The night felt so long, but when Miyu saw Shirou's profile, she felt relieved despite her intense fear of their enemy.
She noticed that while Shirou typically exuded seriousness and authority, creating a sense of distance, moments like these brought an overwhelming feeling of comfort and safety.
He was someone who instilled a sense of safety in others. With him around, it felt like even if the sky were to collapse, there would be no danger.
Meanwhile, on the other side, following Shirou's appearance, Angelica's calm face displayed slight ripples, and she furrowed her brow as she uttered, "Emiya... Shirou?"
"You've mistaken," He patted Miyu's shoulder and calmly stepped forward.
He looked right at Angelica and said, "I'm Fujimaru Shirou."
An alternate-world version... Angelica raised an eyebrow.
Shirou's gaze shifted between Angelica and Beatrice, remarking, "Causing a commotion in my territory, I must say, you have quite the nerve."
Angelica replied, "We're not natives of this world, and we're not here to cause trouble. Our only purpose is to bring Lady Miyu back with us."
She paused for a moment, then she carried on, "Lady Miyu is originally from our world. We've come to take her back. There's no reason for you to stand in our way, let alone act hostile. Just give us Lady Miyu and..."
He cut her off, saying, "No point in discussing that anymore. She's my little sister, and I'm not handing her over to you."
Little sister... Miyu glanced at him and can't help but feel touched.
"So, you're saying there's no room for negotiation, Fujimaru Shirou?" Angelica asked.
His response was a light chuckle, "Negotiation requires equal standing. Do you—have that qualification?"
At that moment, Beatrice, clutching her abdomen, rose with a pained expression. She looked at Angelica and remarked, "See? I told you, Angelica, you're too soft!"
"It seems you're their leader, the Faker of this world!" Beatrice proclaimed, her eyes flashing with lightning as the manifested hammer pulsed with restless thunder.
"Boom boom boom—"
Wrapped in thunder, resembling a lightning ball, she dashed towards him. The thunder hammer in her hand was raised high, poised to strike him.
Azure lightning lit up the night sky, casting a glow on Shirou's calm face.
Beatrice noticed that he completely ignored her. His gaze remained calm, focused on Angelica, showing no regard for her or the thunder hammer.
"Take this, Faker!"
She got even more frustrated and put more power into her swing.
The thunder god's hammer, imbued with thunder's might, crashed down hard. But a shining sword appeared in front of it, "clang," blocking the blow.
Artoria stood there, her blue eyes flashing with anger, staring down Beatrice.
"You again?" Beatrice clenched her teeth, exerting more force through her massive Arm.
"Crack crack crack—"
Artoria saw that her strength was no match for the enemy's arm. Her Excalibur's hilt was slowly getting pushed down.
Raising an eyebrow, she twisted her wrist and angled the sword, making its blade follow the path of the hammer, countering Beatrice's force. Closing in on her, she used her waist to add power, putting all her strength into an elbow strike that landed on Beatrice's stomach.
Beatrice was sent flying and landed on the ground, holding her belly and sweating from the pain.
"It hurts... It really hurts..."
Artoria's repeated elbow hits targeted the same spot, and despite the protection from the Class Card, the pain was so intense that Beatrice almost dropped the hammer.
She half-knelt on the ground, looking at Artoria with cold sweat on her face.
Artoria calmly swung Excalibur in her hand. The faint light lit up her face, giving her a holy and sacred aura. It was like the two fast kicks to Beatrice's abdomen and the elbow hits hadn't even happened.
This was just how it went. This was a fight, and the aim was winning. Actually, back in the Fourth Holy Grail War, when she fought against Lancer, she had intended to use a leg strike, but Rider had interrupted.
She found Beatrice pretty interesting now. Even though she had divine power and thunder that was stronger than her, she couldn't quite use them well. Basically, her lack of fighting experience made her open to her sneak attack.
Arcueid stepped up to protect Illya and the others behind her.
Beatrice stood up with cold sweat on her face, her eyes locked on Artoria who was guarding Shirou. Her frame quivered with the surge of thunderous energy, and she bellowed in anger, "Don't underestimate the might of a god!"
This time, she pushed her strength even more. She had to be able to take down this annoying woman, right?
However, when confronted with her intense attack, Artoria parried the thunderous hammer with her sword. Swiftly, she hooked her foot around Beatrice's lower body, sending her crashing to the ground. In the next moment, she delivered a strong kick to Beatrice's abdomen, sending her flying into a large tree that snapped upon impact. Beatrice then crashed onto the ground, unmoving.
Artoria's expression turned serious as she remarked, "Repeating the same old moves won't get you anywhere. If you make a move against my King again, next time won't just be a simple kick!"
She stuck Excalibur into the ground, her hands resting on the hilt. It was like she became an immovable barrier, impossible to cross.
"Your Highness... that's incredible." Gray's face lit up with admiration.
Beatrice got back on her feet, watching Artoria with a hint of fear in her eyes. Then, she turned to Angelica, who seemed oddly calm, and shouted, "Angelica, what's going on? Have you turned your back on us? We're running out of time, why aren't you doing something?"
After a moment of hesitation, Angelica nodded, "I understand."
Her already vacant eyes seemed even more distant, like her consciousness had faded away. It was as if her spirit connected with some higher plane, and a strong magical energy surrounded her.
Shirou raised an eyebrow.
Gilgamesh's Class Card was split into two parts. One remained active in Fuyuki City as Gil-kun, while the other half resided within Chloe's body. As a result, it was clear that Angelica couldn't possess Gilgamesh's class card and must have wielded a different one.
Shirou wasn't certain about the specific class card she had obtained, but he dismissed the idea of allowing her to amass more power before started fighting her. Unlike Gilgamesh, who flaunted his regal status, he focused on efficiency. Allowing Angelica to gather power without taking action wasn't in his playbook.
He was on the verge of stepping in when the sky suddenly burst with a radiant display of stars, and a volley of Noble Phantasms surged forth, targeting Angelica.
"Boom boom boom boom—!!!"
Noble Phantasms fell like cannonballs, shattering the earth below.
The surroundings were swallowed by a cloud of smoke.
Shirou's gaze lifted, and amidst the haze, the towering figure of the golden Uruk No. 1 emerged.
Gil along with the Chains of Heaven, gracefully leapt from the golden gundam and landed before him. A smile played on his lips, "My apologies. Would you mind leaving this lady to me?"
Shirou paused, then slowly nodded, saying, "Do as you wish."
Regardless of the version of Gilgamesh, they shared a fundamental similarity: a strong sense of self. The class cards were artificial creations from the Ainsworth family, a mimicry of the records of Heroic Spirits. For Gil, the very idea of allowing these imitations that duplicated his record was beyond unacceptable.
But more pressing was the fact that Angelica had previously used his class card, subduing Gilgamesh's consciousness and obtaining the authority to wield his Sword and Chains of Heaven. This blatant appropriation was a deep affront to Gilgamesh, an affront he could not let stand.
Naturally, it was only fitting for Gil-kun to step forward personally against Angelica.
However...
"Are you sure about this? Ainsworth's Displacement Magecraft tends to be quite effective against people like you who rely on ranged weaponry," Shirou pointed out.
"No need for concern. I have Ea. Moreover, if I'm incapable of neutralizing a mere magus, then it wouldn't befit my stature," Gil replied, a chuckle escaping his lips. His grin then took on a slightly ominous edge as he added, "Furthermore, beyond the casual use of my treasures, I have unfinished business with this woman!"
At that moment—
With a swift "whoosh," a crimson beam of magical energy streaked toward Gil. He calmly pulled out a bunch of shields and held them up in front of him.
The powerful magical beam easily tore through twenty shields before fading into nothing.
"Well, well, traversing time and space dimensions once more. Your hellos are just as heartfelt as ever, Inanna... or should I say Ishtar. But really, regardless of the name, they're all equally stupid," Gil taunted.
"Still as disrespectful as ever, King Gilgamesh."
Emerging from the rubble, Angelica's appearance had undergone a huge transformation. Her previous white attire and black long skirt had vanished, swapped out for a highly revealing golden outfit with hints of Middle Eastern influence.
What was most terrifying was the overflowing magical energy and divine aura.
Angelica gazed at Gil and remarked, "Getting dragged into this world by that repulsive thing was nauseating enough. Coming across someone even more sickening here was quite the surprise. Well, I suppose I have no other option. Allow me to bestow destruction upon you and your people once more."
"You've got no shame!" Gil scoffed. "Who was that nasty goddess that both me and Enkidu thrashed so hard that she went to complain to the heavens?"
Angelica let out a cold snort and retorted, "The one standing before you isn't just Ishtar, it's also Inanna! Mind your words, insolent one, for I am The Heavenly Mistress!"
"A mere bastard has the audacity to proclaim the mantle of Heavenly Mistress?" Gil's cheery smile had vanished, replaced by a much icier expression. By his side, the Chains of Heaven emitted an agitated hum.
"To treat someone as flawless as me with such disrespect... Very well, being dragged down by that abhorrent thing was already loathsome enough. But now, I shall obliterate you! And you can all atone together in the depths of hell!" Angelica, or rather Ishtar, flung a seed.
A colossal thunderbolt rent through the sky.
With a mighty crash, the thunderbolt collided with the seed. Amidst the mist, a massive golden bull erupted into the sky and descended onto the sea's surface, creating massive waves.
Boom! Splash!
"W-What... is that?" Illya's eyes widened in shock. "A m-monster?"
"Summoning the Bull of Heaven... always up to your nasty antics," Gil shot a glance at Angelica and taunted, "Because the vessel is a doll, it not only amplifies the god's power but also fully exposes its cruel personality."
"Cruel? What are you talking about? To defy the Mistress of the Heavens means nothing less than death!" she retorted sharply.
"Is that so?" Gil chuckled, looking at her as if she were a fool. He went on, "What a shame, really. As a god, you've managed to provoke someone you shouldn't have."
"What?" Her confusion was evident.
Gil gestured toward Shirou.
And as Shirou looked at the Bull of Heaven, a shade of gloom crossed his features.
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