Chương 89: Why Bother 2
Third Person POV)
Darius Romani, or Lucas Wright as he was now known in this world, held on tightly as the flying throne known as Vimana sped through the night sky of New York City.
The gleaming gold of the craft's surface, combined with its utter silence and speed, allowed it to pass unnoticed despite its elevated speed and visibility. But it's also thanks to the amazing divine craftsmanship that keeps it protected against being recognized at least when the rider wants it to be.
Gilgamesh, the female version of the ancient king, sat imperiously at the helm, her posture regal and commanding. She did not bother looking at him, and her attention focused instead on finding what she deemed a suitable place for them.
Darius, for his part, was caught between awe and anxiety. This wasn't supposed to happen, not in this way, at least. He had read the comics and watched the anime, but never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he would summon a character like this, let alone end up responsible for her in a world where her power could literally rewrite reality.
But more pressing than his existential dread was the simple fact that he had no idea how to deal with her. Even in her more feminine incarnation, Gilgamesh was still the most prideful being in any universe she existed in. Trying to direct her would be like trying to harness a hurricane.
"Do you have any plans for where we might go?" he ventured cautiously, hoping she might at least humor the question.
She didn't bother looking at him, but the tone of her voice was sharp. "I thought you brought me here to command, yet you appear to lack even the barest sense of purpose, Master. Disappointing."
Darius flinched. *Master*. The word held a heavy weight, far more so than in the Fate/Stay Night stories. In those, 'Master' was just a title, a role in a magical game.
Here, it was something much more ominous. She expected him to lead, to direct, to be worthy of her service, yet he had no real plan beyond surviving. But now, with this immense power at his disposal, perhaps that could change.
Taking a deep breath, he responded, "This world is more dangerous than you might realize. And as strong as you are, there are forces here—cosmic beings, gods, and monsters—that even you might have to think twice about. We need somewhere secure, somewhere off the grid."
At this, Gilgamesh finally turned her gaze upon him, her crimson eyes evaluating him anew. "Very well, Master," she said, her voice now hinting of intrigue. "Let us see what the vaults of Babylon hold for such a task."
She raised her hand, and a golden portal opened from the air behind her. Weapons, treasures, and artifacts began to emerge from the Gateway of Babylon, each one radiating an aura of immense power. As she sorted through them, Darius watched in both amazement and fear. This was real. *She* was real. The things she could do… it boggled the mind.
Finally, she selected a small, intricately designed key. "This," she declared, "is the Key of Solomon. It opens the path to a place outside of time, a sanctuary hidden from the eyes of even the most powerful beings. It should serve as an adequate stronghold."
The key floated before Darius, who reached out to take it, his hand trembling slightly. The moment he touched it, he felt a surge of energy, a connection to something vast and ancient. It wasn't just a key; it was a piece of history, a fragment of legend given physical form.
"Where… where does it lead?" he asked, his voice betraying the awe he felt.
"To a palace," Gilgamesh replied, a sly smile playing on her lips. "One fit for a king, no, fit for the greatest of all kings. Come, let us see if you are worthy of it."
Before Darius could respond, the key twisted in his hand on its own accord, and the world around them shifted. The lights of New York City, the noise of the streets, and even the cool night air vanished. They were suddenly standing in a vast marble hall, its walls lined with columns of pure gold and its ceiling adorned with an endless mosaic of the night sky.
Darius nearly stumbled, overwhelmed by the sheer magnificence of the place. It was as if they had been transported into the heart of a myth. The air was different here, thick with a kind of divine presence that made every breath feel like an inhalation of power itself.
But what made the place even more ominous was the fact that on the throne was the body of a man with white hair and dark skin. Instead of feeling off, the perfectly preserved body brought Darius almost great sadness, but the fact that the man was smiling on the throne provided him with some relief.
"This... this is incredible," Darius whispered, trying to take it all in.
"Indeed," Gilgamesh said, her tone more approving now. "This is the Palace of Solomon, a fortress built by the first human king blessed by the gods. Time does not flow here as it does in the outside world. Here, you will have the luxury of planning your next moves without the world rushing ahead."
Darius nodded absently, still trying to process the shift in his reality. He was just a retail worker, someone who read comics and watched anime to pass the time.
But now, he was standing in a place that existed outside of reality, with a legendary being as his companion. It was all too much, but he couldn't afford to be overwhelmed. He needed to adapt to be the person that Gilgamesh believed him to be.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Gilgamesh looking at him, her expression unexpectedly gentle. "You hesitate, Master. Why? You are in possession of great power, yet you seem afraid to wield it."
Darius sighed, feeling the weight of his insecurities pressing down on him. "Because I'm just… I'm just an ordinary guy. I've never been a leader, never had to make decisions that could change the world. And now, I'm supposed to command you, the greatest hero of all time? It's overwhelming."
Gilgamesh regarded him silently for a moment before she spoke again, her voice softer but still firm. "The weak often seek strength in others, and the strong despise the weak for this. Yet, it is those who recognize their own limitations who can become truly great. You may not be a king, but you are not without potential. You have the ability to make choices, to carve a path that others may follow. Do not waste that potential, Darius."
Her words struck him like a hammer. He had never expected encouragement from her, let alone any kind of understanding. But in her own way, Gilgamesh was pushing him to rise to the occasion, to be the person he needed to be—not just for himself, but for her as well.
"Thank you," Darius said quietly, feeling a spark of resolve beginning to form within him. "I'll try not to disappoint you."
Gilgamesh smirked, crossing her arms. "See that you don't. Now, what is your next move, Master?"
Darius took a deep breath and considered his options. He was in a world filled with threats, both seen and unseen, and he needed to ensure their safety.
The palace was a good start, but it was isolated and hidden away. They needed resources, allies, and more information about what was happening in this version of the Marvel Universe.
"We need to gather intelligence first," Darius said, his voice growing more confident. "We're in the middle of a superhero registration crisis. That means tensions are high, and there's probably a lot of movement behind the scenes. If we can find out who's pulling the strings, we can either stay out of their way or, if necessary, intervene. And for that, we'll need to be connected to the information network: SHIELD, Stark Industries, maybe even the X-Men."
Gilgamesh nodded approvingly. "A sound plan. And how do you propose we acquire such information?"
Darius hesitated for a moment before an idea came to him. "We use the Gate of Babylon. You have access to countless treasures and artifacts from across time and space. Somewhere in that vault, there's bound to be something that can give us what we need, an artifact that can tap into communications, maybe a device that can mimic the abilities of SHIELD's satellites. With the right tools, we can set up a monitoring system that will give us the upper hand."
Gilgamesh's smile grew wider. "Now you are thinking like a king. Very well, Master, let us see what treasures the vault holds."
Once again, she raised her hand, and the golden portal opened. This time, the artifacts that emerged were more diverse: strange devices, ancient scrolls, and items of unknown purposes. As they floated before him, Darius couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. Each of these objects represented a piece of history, a fragment of some long-forgotten legend, and now they were his to command.
He reached out and selected a small, crystalline device that pulsed with a faint blue light. "What's this?" he asked, holding it up to Gilgamesh.
"That is the Eye of Agamotto, not to be confused with the one wielded by the Sorcerer Supreme," Gilgamesh explained. "This artifact allows the user to perceive hidden truths and see through illusions. In your hands, it can be used to monitor the flow of information across the world, sifting through the lies and uncovering the truths that others wish to keep hidden."
Darius nodded, feeling more confident by the second. "Perfect. We can use this to keep tabs on the major players, track their movements, and plan our next steps accordingly."
With the Eye of Agamotto in hand, Darius felt a newfound sense of purpose. The fear that had gripped him since his arrival in this world was still there, but it was now tempered by determination. He wasn't powerless anymore.
He had the tools, the knowledge, and, most importantly, he had an ally who believed in him, even if she was a golden-haired megalomaniac.
" I believe before we can make a move, we're going to need more assistance in this endeavor. Do you have any recommendations, Gilgamesh?" The golden queen simply sat on the throne with her eyes, seemingly staring into the distance, but I knew she was using her noble phantasm—well, one of her phantasms, at least.
After a couple of minutes of her head jerking in random directions, Darius placed his hand on her shoulder, and as she stopped, she looked at him with those same red eyes that honestly still terrified him.
"Well, if we are going to start anywhere, first, you need to create more dolls. You have knowledge beyond this world; master, use it, take advantage of every single opportunity, and bleed this universe dry. Besides, those in power already make a mockery of any idea of stability. Should we not as well?" I love Gilgamesh's enthusiasm, but that smirk is starting to scare me.
Darius nodded in agreement, and as he summoned his equipment, he began brainstorming ideas for people he could create, as each one took three hours to create. While Darius was thinking of which doll to ask, Gilgamesh was looking through her gate of Babylon, checking to see if anything had been added or taken from it.
After a couple of minutes of deliberation, Darius asked the Golden Queen, " Gil, I remember you had an assistant. I believe her name was Siduri. Would you like me to summon her?"
The question caused the golden queen to pause and pause but she then looked back in the direction of her master with an unreadable expression. She appeared in front of him and again looked right in his eyes.
Darius nearly fell over, surprised by her sudden lack of personal space, but he was immediately caught in an embrace. Yet as he looked at his first creation, his expression softened as he saw, for just a moment, sadness in her eyes.
With a slight tremble in her voice, Gilgamesh replied, "There is no need for that master. You don't need to waste your talents on summoning people that we don't require."
"You don't believe that you can't lie to your creator, Gilgamesh. It would be easy; besides, think of it as payment for good service. We are going to be together for a very long time, and I would rather none of my creations are unhappy, even if I myself may be unworthy of your presence." The last part causes her to frown slightly, but as she picks up Darius, she turns away and returns to studying her vault, although with a slight red indent on her cheek.
Darius, however, did not notice. He simply turned around, smiled, and got back to work.
It was time to abuse some time dilation.
Essences Used: Figurines, Involate Self, Blank (All protections from Involate Self apply to figurines as well)
(Well, it's been a while since I've worked on this one, but another part of the snippet has arrived. If anyone's confused about the timeline, currently, the main character and Gilgamesh are in the midst of the passing of the Superhero Registration Act, the precursor to the comics Civil War. But for now, feel free to recommend anyone he could create a figurine for, but try not to go too wild. Also, if I see one person asking to summon Gojo, I will summon Sukuna just to kill him. I've already had enough of lobotomies. Also, for my more cultured viewers, he can summon anyone using any version, so rule 34 may be in effect.)
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