#gilgamesh bashing

[richardsphere]

Rant On Humanisation VS Redemption. (And why Gilgamesh Sucks)

So there are like, a thousand ways in which people can be media illiterate. But to me the worst will always be peoples inability to tell the difference between a humanisation arc and a redemption arc. I do not exagerate when i say it may verry well be the "original sin" of media illiteracy.

I get it, you're shown the villains life from their point of view, maybe even see them struggle a little and your evolutionary packbonding and social-empathy instincts make you empathise and sympathise with the bastard until you forget they were the bad guy. But there's a fucking difference between these two types of characterarcs and people should really be better at telling them apart.

a redemption arc is about showing that sometimes people can be better and truly change. Meanwhile humanisation arcs are there because a villain cant serve as a warning not to become them unless we can see ourselves in them in the first place. And the literal Ur-example would be Gilgamesh. A story everyone assures me is "the first heroic epic", but which is nothing of the sort. Its the first villain protagonist in our literary cannon. And that is not me interpreting it. That is the explicit text of this fractured stone-tablet. You know how I know its the explicit text? For two reasons: 1: The text literally begins "there once was a tyrant so heinous, rapist and cruel gods and mortals alike agreed to put a hit on him" (I think we can all agree that in a story, when gods and mortals agree unanimously, we can consider it an axiomatic truth of the story that shits dire) But you know, thats the start of the story right? Gilgamesh (alledgedly) "grows" over the course of the story into a better person right? Oh wait no he doesnt the story has to go out of its way in the end to bring in a wise-old-sage figure (Ziusudra) to explicitly exposit to Gilgamesh (and through him the audience) that he's still the same irredeemable, cruel and selfish abomination of a tyrant he's always been. Because even back then writers and poets knew they couldnt trust their audience to grasp the distinction between these two narrative arcs without explicitly telling the audience which one their story was.

The epic of Gilgamesh is clearly meant to be this message of hope for future generations, that whatever despotic tyrant plagues you is as mortal as Gilgamesh himself turned out. That "even this will come to pass". But because people cant stop "draco in leather pants"-ing every villain in the literary cannon the core message of the story just never lands with people, claiming it to be a redemption story when it is explicitly not about that at all. I dont care wether you think GilgameshXEnkidu is the ship of all time, how about you realise the basic premise of the story first.

#literary analasis #The epic of gilgamesh #gilgamesh #gilgamesh bashing #Media literacy #rant #media analysis #tempted to tag it with a certain bee-themed superheroine from MLB #crossing my fingers that the Gilgamesh fandom is as dead as he is

[mako-neexu]

カドぐだ | 相棒 (partner)

“So this is the rumored ‘Gil-fes’, huh?” Kaodc heaved a heavy sigh as he tugged at his black shirt before clutching at the strap of the backpack he had in hand. “Oi, Fujimaru, where’s the venue for this...tournament?”

According to the archives, someone hosts this... martial arts tournament for the Servants using a Holy Grail. And that someone was either Emperor Nero or King Gilgamesh himself... like last year, and the couple years before.

But who knows who was going to host next year’s event!? 

Wait. Why is he thinking about the possibilities of an event like this in the future!?

Gudako hummed as she finished in tying her unlaced boots, “Well, Gil said it’s going to be at Madison Square Garden like last year. But for the rooms we booked in the nearest hotels? We have yet to find out!”

Her arm looped around his own and before he could react to it, they were off on the streets with his ever-reckless kouhai hollering like a maniac.

Please. Someone help him.

--

They ended up farming again throughout the whole ordeal, collecting hotdogs and fries as currency to exchange with Ishtar’s-former-consort-now-turned....golden sheep, Dumuzid. 

And he thought Fujimaru was describing the god as someone humanoid! Jeez! Did he really interpret that wrong!?

Even with all the craziness he can’t quite get used to yet, it was actually fun.

 And it even felt... a little normal since it felt as if it was the current timeline’s New York, just with some more colorful additions- and okay, he nearly got his face bashed by Spartacus for just getting shoved in front of him before getting declared as an oppressor for “standing” in his way.

So, on second thought, he wasn’t going to get used to this.

--

“Making Doujins!?”

“Yup!”

“Just to retrieve the Holy Grail and stop this time loop we’re stuck in!?”

“Uh-huh! So you better get your butt back to the drawing board, Kadoc-kun.” The way Gudako teased him with the honorific, and he felt faint about the situation.

They spent most of the week chilling and spent the last few days procrastinating. And somehow they discover along the way that time is repeating itself, with the reset being the day of judging the most popular doujin contest.

From across him Hinak- Yu Mei-ren seethes while glaring at her tablet, the pen she had on hand nearly cracking in her grasp, “If I don’t get back to Xiang Yu-sama within the week, I’ll blow this island up.”

Help.

--

“Fujimaru.”

“Yes, Kadoc-kun?”

Kadoc looks at the gothic, medieval castle, before reclining his head up to the large, upside-down pyramid, and the Himeji castle sitting on that same pyramid itself.

Kadoc blinks, and turns to look at the Master beside him, smiling as if this was something that could normally be seen in everday life.

“You know what? Nevermind.”

They were promptly turned into a wageslaves by the Amazonesdotcom CEO after that.

--

“Was it fun?” 

Fujimaru asks him as she lightly kicks on the pool’s waters, watching it ebb and flow beneath them.

Kadoc sips on a cocktail Moriarty had given him, before pursing his lips shit, “What? The entire thing with Las Vegas? Jeanne d’Arc’s talking-shark? Wait, actually, that’s 42nd of the most weirdest things I’ve seen in my list.”

She rests her head on his shoulder, no doubt now sleepy as they spend the last few days of their vacation in the comfort of the hotel.

“...Something like that.” She says, after a few moments.

The question was...weird. Fun was a concept he was still becoming familiar with. After all, all he’s ever known was to become a mage to survive a world that could kill you at a moment’s notice.

Even with the near-death experiences, and things that could easily break a normal person’s mind (he had only gotten so far by being a mage who had a decent amount of spells with him that maintained his reason and sense of self. Fujimaru had none and yet she was still smiling despite the fuckery happening almost every moment of the day.), he supposes that...

“-I guess it was ugh, crazy...” Kadoc mutters under his breath, a dust of pink decorating his cheeks.

Some Servants didn’t trust him, others were the opposite, many varied in their opinions on him but at least, all of them no longer deemed him hostile. As evidence by how he’s somehow alive and breathing right now. 

Fujimaru stirs, and they meet each others’ gazes. Her own was reflecting the stars above, a ghost of a smile spread across her lips, “Good crazy?”

He avoids her gaze and downs the last of his drink.

Her response was a chuckle. “I’ll take it that you don’t like the times whenever we rode on Drake’s ship or anything that involved motion sickness.”

Kadoc flicked her forehead, and while she yelped, there was no helping himself in pinching her cheek, “No shit Sherlock.”

��I am right behind you, Mr. Zemlupus.” 

The heart attack he got simultaneously made him scream before pushing him and Fujimaru to the pool to drown.

When they surfaced, they both glared at the laughing detective relaxing on the pool chaise. 

And seeing Ritsuka smirk deviously with a plan to prank the Holmes? 

Kadoc was in.

#gudako #kadoc zemlupus #fgo #fate grand order #kadoguda #again bc skebfkajebfajl

[redheadspark]

Hawuu can i request Druig with 11. Going through a haunted trail & 20. “I don’t like it here…”

A/N: HAWUU! This is simply adorable for Druig! Thank you my friend ! *Are my HAWUU anon?!?! YAS!*

Take My Hand

Summary: Druig hatches the perfect plan to get some alone time with you, which involves a haunted trail and moon lighting.

Warnings: just some fluff for our Druig?

"Oh come on, this can't be that scary,"

"They said it's better than last years,"

Druig hummed as he was finishing his text to Makkari, shoving his phone back in his pocket and rocking back and forth on his heels as the group was standing in a circle, right outside the Haunted Trail right outside the Pumpkin Patch. It was a popular attraction that's even around for the past few years at the University during the Halloween Bash that was thrown by the Alumni Association. This was its third year, and since it was the tail end of a weeknight, Druig's friend group was the last group to go through before it would close for the night.

"Where is Makkari?" Sersi asked Druig as she was wrapping her jacket over her shoulders.

"She'll be here in a few minutes," Druig replied in a huff, shuffling a bit while blowing hot air onto his hands, "I think she's bringin’ her roommate too,"

"Oh, her roommate eh?" Kingo asked in a teasing tone to Druig, whom glared at him while Sprite and Gilgamesh were snickering, "The one you have a crush on?"

"Isn't she a nursing student?" Ajak asked casually, not catching onto the teasing that was happening, "She barely goes out as it is! Good for Makkari for getting her out of the house,"

"And into the arms of a brooding philosophy major," Phastos hummed with a smirk, his boyfriend Ben rolling his eyes. Druig felt a small twinge of blush happening on his pale cheeks from the mention of his crush. He did like you a lot, finding you fascinating when Makkari brought you out to a dorm party earlier in the year. As you walked in with thick rimed glasses, a messy bun with a chunky sweater and fitted jeans along with a Fleetwood Mac shirt, Druig was a bit smitten. He thought you had the best smile, a dimple evident on one cheek with a crooked smile along with a bad habit of caffeine made you beyond interesting for Druig to talk to. You both struck up a conversation about Kurt Vonnegut and Stevie Knicks, and Druig fell a bit harder after you went home with Makkari.

Makkari picked up on it within seconds, of course she did.

She tried her best to get Druig to man up and ask you out since she saw the signs on his face before he did himself. But Druig was tongue tied when it came to his feelings, rather staying in the background and not having his heart on his sleeve than be in the spotlight. He left that to his roommate Kingo, which was no problem since Druig was more of observer and would see things from afar.

But now to hear that his crush was going to come out to the Haunted trail with their friend group, Druig was both dreading it and was excited for it too.

"Ah, here they are. Over here, 'Kari!" Gilgamesh said with a wave of his hand, the others looking over to see you and Makkari walking over together arm and arm. You were sporting a University sweatshirt, your hair flowing in the wind under a massive beanie and your glasses were not seen. Druig grinned at both you and Makkari, seeing how you looked comfortable and yet cute in his mind. It didn't matter if you were in a dress or in sweats, Druig found you rather cute with your long waves and pointed nose and crooked smile.

Sorry, I had to finish my paper before we came, Makkari signed to the group.

"I'm glad you joined us," Sersi said to you as she rubbed your arm, "I know midterms are painful for nursing students,"

"Thank you, Sersi. Makkari thought I needed a break and come out of the apartment," You reasoned with a shrug, Ajak walking over to give you a side hug as you caught Druig watching from his spot near Phastos. You blushed a bit, seeing how he was grinning at you and Makkari glided over to give him a friendly hug.

"I'm glad you're here too!" Ajak said to you in a hum.

"Okay okay, enough with the pleasantries! Let's head in before they kick us out!" Kingo said in enthusiasm, the rest of the group following him over to the opening of the Haunt Trail. You stayed behind for a moment, getting a moment of jitter hitting your stomach with the dark opening of the trail that would lead to a haunted hayride.

Makkari knew you were a scary cat, as did Sersi and the last thing you would wanted to deal with was getting scared. It wasn't your fault that you hated scary movies or being spooked at haunted houses, but you also didn't want to be left out either. The friend group Makkari was in wee all nice to you, considering you one of them from the moment you were introduced at a dorm party. Especially Druig, whom caught your eye with his bright blue orbs and amused chuckle when you stared a debate about Steve Knicks and how she was a better singer than Patti Smith. This friend group was growing on you, and you were willing to pushed out of your comfort zone to get to know all of them. Including gettin scared shitless through a simple haunted trial.

The others were strolling in, not noticing you were hesitating to go in on your own. But one person did.

"Wanna go in together?" Druig asked you, making you look over at him. He looked hopeful, his kind smile that he would always give you was evident on his face. You smiled, nodding your head as you both walked side by side through the open arches towards that trail that was out in front of you. The others were a bit farther ahead, still in eye sight but far enough away to let you and Druig be alone. The atmosphere was already eery enough with some of the props that were on either side of the trail, badly placed mannequins that were made to look like zombies and a fog machine that was perched on the floor to go ankle high.

"How are your midterms going?" Druig asked you, thinking it would be nice to break the ice with you while you walked in sync with one another.

"Oh, they're going okay," You replied, trying to remain calm since you wanted to speed walk through the trail and come out in one piece. Maybe you were sleep deprived from studying too hard, or maybe you were mentally exhausted from having to deal with one more day of midterms before you were done. But you were on edge, and Druig could sense some of it.

"Makkari was talkin' about how these midterms were tougher for you than last year," Druig commented, maybe attempting to keep your mind occupied since you looked more like a spooked animal from hearing every twig snapping and woos fo wind through the hollow branches.

"Yea they're kicking my ass for sure," you replied back to him, seeing him grin, "It'll be nice to be done with them and take a break,"

"Mine are nothin' compared to yours," Druig explained, making you grin slightly, "Seriously, I don't think I can do what you do since you're gonna be a great nurse,"

"Well thank you Druig. I think ....I think I'm decent," You tried to reason with a shrug, but Druig shook his head and gently shoved his shoulder with yours.

"I beg to differ," Druig shot back at you and you two locked eyes, "I remember you being able to help Kingo with that nasty fondue incident back at the Christmas Party last year, remember?"

Your blush deepened as you giggled and Druig chuckled, "I never thought I would see the day of Kingo screaming like a girl with hot chocolate getting in his hair,"

"He shouldn't have gotten that close to the fondue fountain with his hair in the first place," You commented, Druig chuckling. It felt like a calm moment, the pair of your talking together and forgetting you were in a haunted trail. But you were reminded of it a few seconds later, one of the fraternity members that was working the haunted trail popping out from behind a fallen tree trunk and screaming out.

Druig was unfazed of course, but you jumped about 3 three feet in the air.

The boy cackled, running off before Druig could give him a proper glare and scolding for scaring you the way he did. You were shaking so bad that it looked like you were shivering in your spot, groaning in frustration from how easily you were gettin scared. Druig looked at your form, feeling a bit bad how tightly wound you were.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked, his voice very laced with sincerity and concern as you sighed in frustration and rubbed your face with your fingers, "He shouldn't have done that,"

"It's a haunted trail, he was supposed to," you replied, breathing deeply and just giving him a tired look, "I'm just tired from midterms and studying, and in all fairness I don't like it here,"

"Me neither," Druig hummed in agreement, feeling as though he had to give you some sort of comfort since it looked like a breeze could push you over. He reached over, taking your hand in his own and having you feel instant warmth fluttering through your bones and skin. His hand felt calloused and yet gentle, almost taking over your whole hand to begin it as you looked down at your connected palms and fingers. For a moment you were frozen, not knowing what to do or how to react to him taking your hand as if it was any other interaction you two would have.

For Druig it felt like it just jumped off a cliff and was taking a massive risk in taking your hand. He hated that you were scared, that you were on the verge of collapse from both your studies and exhaustion because of your studies. He loved seeing you happy and smiling, hearing your laugh and your giggles when he would tease Kingo behind his back for only you to hear. Yet now, seeing you on the verge of tears from a stupid haunted trail, he would do anything to take those fears away.

And if holding your hand would do that, then he would.

"I'll get us out of here, deal?" He asked, trying to sound suave himself but it sounded a bit sheepish. You felt your stomach giving you so many jitters and somersaults, the blush in your cheeks were clearly evident but thankfully the darkness of the night was masking it as you nodded your head softly. Druig smiled, you both walking again and staying now shoulder to shoulder and his arm lacing around yours to keep your hands joined between you. You almost felt like there was a hurdle that you both went through together to get to this moment, Druig holding you close and somewhat keeping you safe.

But deep down, it felt like more than that. You breathing in his cologne that he would wear from time to time that made your head spin, the cool and crisp material of his leather jacket against your soft sweater, and the small touch of his brown hair barely touching the top of your ear since you were close enough. It felt....safe and right...being this close to him, almost like you were meant to be on his arm.

Maybe you were, and this whole time dancing around the notion of being together as more than friends. That seemed like a pipe dream, or even a dream in general, that you would never have in your life since you met him. But now, holding his hand and feeling him keep you close, that dream was turning more into a reality.

If only you knew that Druig was thinking the same thing, the small spark of bravery of asking you on a date was getting bigger. Druig, from that moment on, never wished to let go of your hand ever again.

Far ahead of you two was the rest of the group, Kingo nudging Makkari's shoulder with his own to get her attention as he spoke and signed to her, "If they don't get together after tonight, I'm gonna throw in the towel! Are you sure you're plan will work?"

It's full proof, trust me! Makkari signed back with a smug look on her face, They're gonna be official within a few hours!

"I'll have to break out the mistletoe at the Christmas Party for them and not just for Sersi and Ikaris, thank God," Phastos said in a grin. Ikaris scoffed as the others were laughing from the comment.

Makkari only smiled, knowing her plan was going on the right path and her two oblivious best friends will finally get together.

The End.

Halloween Prompts

#druig x female reader #druig fluff #druig x reader #druig x you #druig x oc #fanfiction #writing #barry keoghan #my love #druig #eternals #marvel #eternals fan writing #eternals fanfiction #marvel cinematic universe #marvel cinematic fanfiction #marvel cinematic universe fanfiction #marvel fanfiction #mcu writing #mcu fanfiction #mcu phase 4

[orchestrated-haunting]

im writing a project proposal for a final over literacy, numeracy and visuality in the ancient world and im bashing my head into the wall because how do i implement gilgamesh, odysseus or achilles into it.

i vaguely have an idea for gilgamesh but the issue is that its too culturally related rather than literacy related, so like rip me.

#haunting screams into the void with no real reason

[softquietsteadylove]

I really like the Thenamesh Actor prompts so I have a request!

Gil always makes sure that Thena is comfortable in interviews . So what if on their new movie both of them and Eros are in a interview and throughout Eros, out of jealousy and frustration of their incredible chemistry (and because he can’t get closer to Thena) he says something humiliating disguised as jokes about Gil. Gil being polite just laughs about it but Thena can clearly see how uncomfortable his jokes/humiliations makes him and how awfully quiet he slowly gets and Thena (you know the goddes of war clearly) protects him!

"Gil!" Thena chastised, although she was laughing a bit hard for it to sound like she meant it. "Stop it!"

The whole panel had been like this. They were doing one of the first interviews with all of them assembled as a cast, but Gil and Thena had been thus far dominating the interview. It wasn't odd - they were technically the leads of the film - but it was hard to get answers between their whispering things to each other and joking and laughing.

Eros couldn't get a word in edgewise.

"What?" Gil chuckled along with her, nudging her next to him. "It's true! I was a huge fan of yours before we met!"

"Speak for yourself," she smiled at him, leaning her head against her hand. "I've stated plenty of times that I've seen a good number of your films."

"Have you seen all of them?"

"I think it would be quite impossible to see all of them," she shook her head, pulling her attention back to the audience of press interviewing them. "But I was shown some of his early work and I suppose I was hooked from there."

"Likewise," Gil jumped in next, wiggling his thumb between them, although it brushed against her forearm, their chairs being so close that their armrests were actually touching. "I've always thought about what it might be like to work with her."

"Eros, this is actually your first time working with both of them, isn't it?"

"Yeah, yeah," he mumbled, sitting forward in his seat, finally with some opportunity to speak. "I've never worked with Gil before, and I've only ever worked on the same project as Thena once or twice. I've never had the immense privilege to work opposite her."

The audience was obliging in his flattery. Eros looked down the long table's white cloth, only to find he wasn't actually being listened to--at least not by a certain leading lady.

Gil was listening, looking down the line at Eros. But from his viewpoint, Eros could see very clearly, that Thena wasn't looking at him. She was looking at Gilgamesh.

Eros cleared his throat, "he really is great to work with, stunt-wise."

Gil waved off Eros' kindness with a bashful smile, toying with his microphone in his hands. Thena poked him, urging him to accept the well-deserved compliment. He caught her poking index finger with his pinky. "I'm not union or anything. But I've been doing my own stunts long enough that I guess I like to offer my advice when I can."

"Right, I heard about a rather nasty spill," Eros tilted his head down at the older actor. "You know, there's no shame in needing a double as time goes on."

He said it lightly--with enough of a laugh in his voice for it to appear friendly. The audience chuckled obligingly.

Thena was not laughing. "That was a very serious incident."

Gil caught onto the tone in her voice immediately and smiled, "i-it wasn't that bad, really-"

"And it was an equipment malfunction," she added with even more of a bite to it. The tone in the room shifted quickly, of course at Thena's protest and not at the original joke cracked at Gil's expense. But she glared at the head of the table. "Gil does his own stunts when it makes more sense to for the filming process. He's just that sweet and considerate of people."

"Of course!" the original asker of the question jumped in, hoping to save the atmosphere of the interview as a whole. "His fans were quite distressed to learn of his injury."

"Not your first, right?" Eros asked, his thin veil of asking out of kindness growing thinner and thinner.

"Well, yeah, it happens," Gil shrugged, either not catching onto Eros' attacks or choosing to let them roll off him. "Can't always avoid little accidents here and there. The fans who have followed my career know this is far from my first set injury, and far from the worst, too."

"I've heard about them," Thena added vaguely, always vigilant about not giving the press too much exposure to Sprite. "And he's always back to work as soon as possible--far too dedicated to his work."

Gil was immediately looking at Thena again, smiling and chatting with her as if they were the only ones in the room (and just happened to be holding microphones). "As if she didn't learn flawless Russian for her summer action blockbuster from a few years ago?"

"Gil," she gave him that little headshake again, like a wife scolding her husband for embarrassing her.

"I mean flawless," Gil insisted, though, grinning as the praise for her spewed from him like a fountain. "I'm no expert, but I've seen accent coaches and other actors react to it, and they all say it's perfect--just like her."

The audience gasped and 'ooh'ed and giggled like children.

Thena blushed, "far too sweet."

"I remember that film, it was," Eros paused, leaning over further to give Thena a look that she was sure his hordes of fangirls loved. He raised a brow at her, "magnificent."

"Thena, have you followed any of Eros' work?"

"I can't say I have," she answered a little too quickly and eagerly.

"Well, you have a younger sister, right? What about-"

"No," she snapped, and was joined by Gil in glaring at the interviewer who either hadn't been informed that she didn't answer questions about her sister or had ignored it.

Eros ran a hand through his very famous hair, leaning back in his chair.

"But," Thena smiled again, her eyes drifting beside her (what a surprise). "She is a fan of Gil's."

#Thenamesh Actors AU #Thena isn't here for it #also I haven't really listened to the boy talk much in real life #outside of that particularly...bonkers interview in Venice #so forgive me #also I say boy as if we aren't the same age but whatever #he is The Boy #because Thena needs a man named Gilgamesh #this is somewhat based on a comment I saw #that I haven't verified so I don't know if it's true #but someone might have asked her if her kids were a fan of harry's? #and she was like who? no but let me tell you about Ma Dong-Seok #Sprite is livestreaming this interview #and now makes it her mission to save all the videos #and supercut edits of Thena and Gil flirting #to annoy and embarrass her sister into confessing

[lovelyfanatical]

I Get a Sugar Rush Whenever I'm With You - Chapter 5.3

Happy Friday fellow Drukkari stans, or whatever day it is for you! I'm on a roll with the updates apparently. If you missed the last mini-chapter and need to catch up, you can find that here, or you can go back to the very beginning here. The remaining Eternals have officially joined the friend group, so group scenes are about to get even more chaotic! So, without further ado, here's the next installment of Drukkari in the Great British Bake Off!

It was only right that the rest of the competitors be invited to dinner. Sadly, Sprite’s mom thought it better for her to get an early night, and Phastos was too tired to stay up with them, even if the days were getting slightly shorter. But Gilgamesh was more than willing to join, having heard about their weekly soirées.

“Frankly, I was a little offended I wasn’t invited sooner,” he joked with them that evening.

It is a very exclusive group, Makkari responded with mock seriousness.

“Yes, so exclusive that we let everyone in,” Sersi added with a smile.

“Well, as many as we could fit in one room,” Ajak interjected. Despite the extra invitations, Druig really wasn’t sure how they would’ve fit any more attendees short of having them eat on the bed. Ajak didn’t seem like she would appreciate that. “But you could’ve just asked. That’s what I did!”

“Really? I thought it was like a secret club. Members only,” Gil said, which drew a few chuckles.

“To be fair, I thought the same thing at first,” Sersi conceded. “I only joined after Druig invited me.”

“Is that how it happened?” Dane asked, his demeanor polite but an ever so slight uneasiness in his face. Druig almost thought he imagined it until he saw Makkari looking between him and Dane curiously.

“Yeah, I told you about it, remember?” Sersi continued. “When I asked for his macaron recipe. He gave me the copy at dinner, which is how I got in.”

“Oh, right,” he replied. While Sersi seemed oblivious to it, Druig could still feel something slightly off in Dane’s usually cheerful personality. Before he could dwell on it, Makkari quickly signed, Speaking of recipes, how did you come up with that yuzu and matcha éclair recipe, Gilgamesh?

“I was wondering about that, too!” Ajak joined in. “I’ve never had those together.”

“They looked incredible, like straight of a pâtisserie,” Druig added.

Gilgamesh was more than happy to talk about his éclairs. As he interpreted for her, Druig could tell that Makkari wasn’t really listening to Gil’s story, her eyes drifting back to Dane and Sersi. Guess he’d have to ask her about this abrupt change in topic later, he thought, as Gil finished his story.

“That’s amazing, Gil! You really should open your own bakery when this is all over,” Ajak said, a subtle smile tugging at her lips. “People would come from all over!”

“That’s kind of you to say,” he replied, suddenly bashful.

“She’s completely right, though,” Sersi interjected. “Those éclairs would definitely go viral on Instagram.”

Sersi’s an expert at Instagram, I’d believe her if I were you! Makkari added.

“Well, if she’s the expert, I guess I have to listen,” Gil joked good naturedly. “Can’t do anything yet, though. I’ve got to win this competition first!”

This provoked some surprised sputters from the table.

“Woah, those are fighting words!” Druig admonished, trying and failing to hold back his grin.

“Hey, I am playing to win,” Gil continued. “I thought I’d have this week’s Star Baker in the bag until I saw your éclairs.”

“Mine were alright, but I don’t know if they were Star Baker level,” Druig tried to brush off. He narrowly avoided the piece of bread Makkari threw at him.

“Hey, no throwing food!” Ajak scolded, but Makkari wasn’t listening.

I beg to differ! Those éclairs were a triumph! she said, making each of her movements very sharp and deliberate. And thanks for bringing them up again, now I’ll be craving them.

“Sorry,” he mumbled sheepishly.

“Now I really wish I’d gotten to try them,” Sersi said with a sigh.

“Don’t forget you got second in the technical,” Ajak chimed in. “Gil’s right. I think this might be your week, Druig!”

Druig swore up and down that it was a fluke (custard tarts were another one of his specialties), but the rest of the group was not having it. So, he held his hands up in surrender as they continued to heap praise on him, along with a few good-natured jabs. In truth, he had been more worried about just staying in the competition, not necessarily winning. Up until now, getting Star Baker had been the last thing on his mind. But after the day he’d just had, he was wondering if it really could be in reach.

-

As they were leaving Ajak’s room for the night, Druig hung back and tapped Makkari’s shoulder. Can I walk you back to your room? he asked, and she gave a small nod. As they let the others get further away, he turned to her to ask, So, was Dane acting weird earlier?

Makkari’s eyebrows shot up at the memory, and she replied, Uh, if you consider being jealous the same as being weird, then yes!

Druig felt his eyebrows furrowing as he simply signed, Jealous?

At this, Makkari gave him a pointed look. When his expression remained confused, she halted in her tracks, grabbing his sleeve so he’d stop too. You really don’t know what I’m talking about?

No, he confirmed. Jealous of what?

Her palm went straight to her forehead, after which she vehemently signed, Of you, stupid!

Druig’s mind took another second to put the pieces together, his eyes going wide once he finally realized. He thinks… me and Sersi? was all he could get out.

At this, Makkari doubled over laughing. It went on for a good minute as Druig tried to wrap his head around this new information. When Makkari finally recovered somewhat, still wiping tears from her eyes from laughing so hard, he asked, Why would he even think that?

You really don’t know that either? she signed incredulously. She was fighting off another laugh attack, but she calmed herself long enough to say, Well, when a man learns the woman he likes was asked out by another man—

It was a group dinner! Druig interrupted.

Yes, but Sersi said you invited her, not the group, she continued. And while Dane may have been oblivious to Ikaris, he’s watched you, me, and the others get closer to Sersi over the past few weeks. It’s not that big of a leap for him to think he may have competition.

From me? Druig asked, still in disbelief.

Well, you are the other young, handsome single guy at dinner, she signed matter-of-factly. I’m sure he would’ve had the same reaction to any other single person in your position.

Druig nodded thoughtfully as he mulled over this explanation. Then, in an instant, the realization of what she’d said hit him. You think I’m handsome?

Makkari’s eyes widened, as if just realizing what she’d said herself. As she averted her gaze and thought about how to answer him, Druig thought he noticed her beginning to blush. He’d really caught her off guard.

Well, yes, she finally answered, her eyes finding his again. He was beginning to smirk when she surprised him again by punching him in the arm. Don’t let it go to your head. You won’t win Star Baker tomorrow if you’re too busy thinking how handsome you are.

Yes, milady, he replied, unable to stop himself from chuckling even if his arm did hurt. They’d already arrived at her door, so they said goodnight and she slipped inside. Druig was grinning all the way back to his own room.

-

Fun fact: The Eternals writers considered making the love triangle between Sersi, Ikaris, and Druig but decided not to. Anyway, let me know what you think!

Part 17

#lovelyfanatical shares #drukkari gbbo au #drukkari #druig x makkari #eternals #eternals fanfiction #druig and sersi sibling dynamic ftw #makkari has a zero tolerance for putting druig down policy

[ao3feed-ignoct]

“Oh, I’ve Anger Enough.”

read it on AO3 Here

by ArawnScribble

Written for the 2022 FFXV Reverse Bang- based on the artwork and prompt by AgeOfZero.

--------

  "It's finally over-?"

 Adrift on the highest level of the Astral Plane, the Chosen King seeks a different outcome for his awful fate. Incensed by such flagrant defiance of destiny, The Draconian decides to mete out punishment so severe, that it could now tear all seven levels of Immortal Realm apart. Not even an Astral is safe in the place they call home.

Trapped in this new nightmare Plane which is inhibited by sour gods and regretful divines alike, a man without memory who holds on to the name of Noctis is tasked to fight his way out, one damned level at a time.

--------

A post-canon fix-it Hades AU. [Knowledge of the Hades game is NOT required in order to read this fic.]

Words: 23687, Chapters: 5/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Final Fantasy XV

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Categories: M/M

Characters: Noctis Lucis Caelum, Bahamut (Final Fantasy XV), Nyx Ulric, Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, Ignis Scientia, Prompto Argentum, Gladiolus Amicitia, Regis Lucis Caelum, Shiva (Final Fantasy XV), Ifrit (Final Fantasy XV), Titan (Final Fantasy XV), Ramuh (Final Fantasy XV), Leviathan (Final Fantasy XV), Carbuncle (Final Fantasy XV), Gentiana (Final Fantasy XV), Somnus Lucis Caelum, Gilgamesh (Final Fantasy XV), Kings of Lucis, Aera Mirus Fleuret, Cor Leonis, Eos (Final Fantasy XV)

Relationships: Bahamut (Final Fantasy XV) & Noctis Lucis Caelum, Noctis Lucis Caelum & Nyx Ulric, Lunafreya Nox Fleuret & Noctis Lucis Caelum, Noctis Lucis Caelum & Regis Lucis Caelum, Astrals & Noctis Lucis Caelum, Noctis Lucis Caelum/Ignis Scientia, Gladiolus Amicitia & Prompto Argentum & Noctis Lucis Caelum & Ignis Scientia, Minor or Background Relationship(s)

Additional Tags: Temporary Character Death, Not Really Character Death, Canonical Character Death, Resurrection, Amnesia, Hurt, Blood and Injury, Canon-Typical Violence, Transformation, Post-Canon Fix-It, Astrals Bashing (Final Fantasy XV), Astrals Being Assholes (Final Fantasy XV), Background Relationships, Bahamut Bashing (Final Fantasy XV), Identity Issues, Heavy Angst, Godhood (derogatory)

read it on AO3 Here

#ao3feed #fanfic #ignoct #Ignis Scientia #Noctis Lucis Caelum #final fantasy #ffxv

[tellmeayarn]

Hazel and I are married because I can be like "I need help to write a fragment of an epic poem, something like Gilgamesh mourning Enkidu or Achilles being willing to face god and walk backwards into hell for Patroclus" and she's like "ok" and we bash out something perfectly acceptable in like 90 minutes.

#for the fic

[bunniespractice]

4.23.24 - Frustrations of Faith

I think part of the reason I took such a pause here, was from reading the history of the creation of the Bible. So many Bible stories line up with other cultures takes. And what I mean by that, is it just feels so false at times. Stories from Gilgamesh and bits of Hammurabi's code passed off as Commandments etc. I was hit with another wave of resentment for organized religions. Or maybe I mean Abrahamic. I am speaking more from feeling rather than organized fact at this moment.

As I've discussed before on this blog - every culture had some set of beliefs. I wish each culture had been left to their own beliefs. Modern Christians for example often talk about how they are hounded by the world (Usually Americans talking about American bullshit) - when they have done nothing but perpetuate hatred. People claim Christ but do not act Christ like - at all. Maybe the deeper I dive back into my own beliefs and sense of self and practice I can roll back into forgiveness for these absurdities. I see it on here all the time too. Blogs so quick to fall into wild trappings and falsities of Government ideology/politics. To see blogs talking about loving everyone and than immediately bashing trans or gay people. Or worse, science haters. Why has no one stopped to think "God made science possible"? I suppose there's a lot of nuance here. At the end of the day, someones beliefs are their own. It just saddens me.

#journal

[votestaynight2]

Huh. Weird. For some reason the next scene is missing too. The next one in the script I have is the H scene. Speaking of, there's an H scene today! Time for some more really badly written porn!

“Yeah. I can’t sleep in this situation.”

A plan against Gilgamesh. If we are to fight that cold-hearted enemy, I’ll have to come up with some plan.

Someone will die if we head to the Ryuudou Temple as we are now. Compared to that, thinking until the very last minute is nothing.

“Are you awake, Tohsaka?” I knock on her door.

“……! H-Hold on! Don’t come in!”

……Hm. I thought Tohsaka would be sleeping, but I guess she’s still awake.

More importantly, she’s in a panic.

After a few minutes of rustling sounds… She must have calmed down. After taking a breath I can hear even outside, Tohsaka opens the door.

“So, what?” Tohsaka glares at me as soon as she sees me.

“Well. I want to continue our conversation from earlier. I want to keep talking about how to fight Gilgamesh.”

“” ……Wait. Why are you glaring at me?

“Tohsaka. Are you in a bad mood?” I ask the obvious.

OF COURSE!

That’s the obvious response she’s going to give, but I have to ask. But…

“…No. That’s not true.”

She gives a strange response.

“Tohsaka. Are you sick or something?”

“No! …Geez, just sit down! I’m going to give you a plan to beat Gilgamesh since you can’t come up with any!”

Tohsaka pulls me inside, locks the door, and walks to the back of the room.

“……?” I move to the center of the room for now. I sit down on the cushion and face Tohsaka, who is sitting in a chair.

“” “”

And an awkward silence follows. Tohsaka is silent even though she’s the one with the plan.

“Tohsaka. About Gilgamesh…”

“…I know. You don’t want Saber fighting him, right? You’re especially kind to her.”

“Hey, that’s not the point here.

I’m saying that we should switch the roles since Saber won’t fare well against Gilgamesh. If Saber is defeated, you’ll be his next target.”

“……Humph. You say switch roles, so what are you thinking?

I’m going to pass. That goldie used his riches to collect all the magic-resistant equipment in the world.

I’ll do much worse than Saber. That should be the same for you as well, right?”

“” That’s… true, but…

…I can’t get those eyes out of my head.

Archer definitely told me this. That the golden Servant… That only Emiya Shirou can match Gilgamesh.

MISSING SCENE

The lights are turned off. The phosphorescent lamp is illuminating the room.

"――――――――" My heart is beating fast. My hesitation was blown away with the kiss, but I grow more tense by the minute. I get dizzy thinking about what I'm going to be doing. I try to reason with my raging instincts, but my resistance is fading by the second.

"――――! ――――" …That's right. I'm not nervous because this is my first time. ―――I'm going to have sex with Tohsaka. I finally realize that it's an outrageous thing.

"……" Tohsaka is waiting for me.

"Well, Tohsaka…" I walk towards her using my unresponsive legs, and try to touch her arm.

"…Hold on. Let's do it again before that. You do it to me this time." "――――" I feel an impact, as if a nail is hammered into me. …She must be as tense as me, if not more. Tohsaka is bashful, and my tension is all blown away by her awkwardness.

"―――Okay. Let's do it again." I hold Tohsaka's hand. Her fingers are tense, her neck even more so.

"……" Where did her previous confidence go? Tohsaka curls up and waits for me like a small child.

"……Hey. Are you nervous, Tohsaka?" "……! I-I'm not…! We already kissed once, so why do I have to be nervous…!?"

"I see. That's good. But I thought I'd ask, you know?" "――――! J-Just carry on…! ……I-I won't let you to go any further unless you kiss me―――"

"――――――!" Crap, that just turned on my switch. Tohsaka looks cute, trying not to let me see her trembling.

She closes her eyes and waits for my kiss. Her lips are shaking and her body looks so weak right now.

"I'm doing it, Tohsaka." I grab her arm and pull her towards me. I try to copy what she did and kiss her. ―――I feel her lips for only an instant. Tohsaka must have panicked as she suddenly pulls her head back.

"Oh――――" Tohsaka looks up at me in blank amazement. It's natural that she drew back. I just pressed my lips onto hers.

"…I-I'm sorry. I didn't know how strong I should've done it." "N-No―――that wasn't your fault." She hangs her head in embarrassment and takes a deep breath. "……I'm sorry. Um… you can continue, just as you were doing it." Tohsaka blushes and closes her eyes.

"――――――――" My body heats up. I don't even think about trying to be nice this time. I press my lips onto hers as if to bite her.

"Ah… Hm…" I feel a soft sensation. We touch for only a second. Our lips press against each other and melt into one.

"Ah… Ha… Hm―――Hm…" "――――, ――――" I feel our lips dissolving into each other. I taste Tohsaka. I can feel the warm softness of her wet lips, and the sensation of her breath escaping.

"Hmm… hm, …Ah, mm….." ―――Everything is torture. She's so close to me. The one I love is as close to me as possible. Touching her lips is driving me crazy, but this is still not enough.

I want to embrace her harder. I want to melt into her. My brain wants to reach ecstasy just from kissing her. I feel an uplift like ejaculation. But I can't orgasm from just a kiss, and it's driving me mad.

"Ha… hm, fu――――ah, huh…?" "――――, Ha." My penis is already erect. …I push my erect self onto Tohsaka.

"Ah, hm… What… is this… Shirou? Something's… hitting me――――" Tohsaka's breathing goes wild. As it does, a red flush begins to spread up her neck.

"Ha――――hm, hmm, hm……" …We don't try to do anything else but press our lips together. Our lips remain closed, and we do not even try to put our tongues out.

I'm scared we won't be able to turn back if we do so. That's why we're only kissing with our lips. It's an incomplete contact, neither deep nor soft.

"Ah… Hm, ah, it's getting harder…" "…Hm, ha――――Tohsaka…" "Hm… Ah……!" I reach out with my arms as if to reach out for air.

"Haa… ah―――huh? Wait, Shirou…!?" I keep Tohsaka still using my right hand. I use my left hand to grab her breast.

"Hm…! N-No…! Don't grab me there, ou……!" I cover up her mouth. I'm not going to listen to her complaints. I can feel her breathing, even as I squeeze her breast in my hand.

"Ow, it hurts…! Don't do it yet…! We have to stay at a kiss right now…! Hm, hm…!" "Why not…? Your breasts feel good―――" I frantically dig my fingers into her flesh.

"Ah――――hm…… My breasts feel good…?" "…Yeah… Touching them makes you seem even more like a woman? You're cute when you're embarrassed and panting."

"You idiot――――what are you saying… Hm, fuh…! Ha, haa… hm………… You idiot." She sighs. Tohsaka's breast fits in my hand. It barely escapes my hands when I squeeze them. I think its shape and softness are in perfect balance.

"…Tohsaka. Does it still hurt?"

"……Huh……? Ah, hm… it hurts, but―――I'm getting… used to it. So… I'll bear it for a bit longer…"

She pants. …Her body is heating up. I can see her breasts heaving, even under her shirt. She's still resisting me, but she's trying her best to catch her breath so that she can accept it.

"――――Hm." "……Huh, Shirou…?" I pull back, bringing our lips apart. I can't stand it any longer, and there's no need to restrain myself. We're both ready for this. I might lose all control if it continues like this for much longer.

"…Um. Can we get started, Tohsaka?" Even though we're ready, it's still embarrassing to say it. It must be the same for Tohsaka. "…………Yeah. I was thinking the same thing." She replies with a red face.

"…Then I'm taking off my clothes. Can you look away…?" "Oh――――I see." I quickly turn my back to her. …That's right. Having sex means getting naked. I forgot that simple, yet scary, fact until now.

"Ugh………" Sweat forms on my forehead. I get dizzy just imagining Tohsaka's naked body. I bet my heart will beat twice as fast if I actually see it.

"………Hm." No, it's good if that's the only thing that happens to me. …I hear her taking her clothes off. I'm worried if my sanity will still be there once I look behind me.

"…Hey. Why are you spaced out, Shirou?" "Huh?" "You're supposed to be getting naked too…! Y-You're a failure as a man if you're only letting the girl take off her clothes…!" "Oh. Y-You're right. Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking…!" I quickly strip down.

――――So. "…Fine. You can turn this way now, Shirou." I prepare myself and turn around. I honestly think I'll get a nosebleed if I don't prepare myself.

"………" I narrow my eyes and try not to look at Tohsaka. ――――Then.

"HEY, WHAT IS THAT!!!!?"

"Huh?" My embarrassment and hope are blown away by her scream.

"T-Tohsaka…?" "Whoa, hold on! Don't come over here….! What is that!? No way, no way, no way……!?" Tohsaka panics. …But Tohsaka still keeps her eyes on me―――no, on my erect penis.

"……Tohsaka. I don't know what you're surprised about, but that really hurts, you know." Um, it hurts my pride as a man.

"Uh――――um." That must have calmed her down. Her face still burning, Tohsaka stares at my member.

"……Tohsaka. Um, that's difficult for me too. I'll have trouble restraining myself if you keep staring at it like that." "Oh… I'm sorry. But, um, I was surprised." She reaches out as she says so.

"H-H-Hold on――――! W-What are you going to do…!?" "Oh, it looked so hard, so I thought about poking it…" Tohsaka twirls her finger, her face turning even more red.

"――――!" Y-You've got to be kidding…! I might explode if Tohsaka pokes it with her finger…!

"A――――Are you stupid!? Don't do such embarrassing things…! Don't go near dangerous things!" I don't know what I'm saying, but I try to keep Tohsaka away.

"…You're acting strange, Tohsaka. Does mine look weird?" I object.

"Eh… No, that's not it… Um, it's different from what I heard. Um, I thought it was going to be smaller…" She shows me the length she'd imagined with her fingers. The distance between them is only about half as long as my erect penis.

"――――――――" It seems Tohsaka is thinking of when it is limp.

"…Hey. Is this really coming inside of me…?" She blushes and asks me timidly. But… "I-I don't know! This is my first time, so there's no way I would know!" I yell, hoping to make her back down.

"――――――――" Tohsaka looks at me in surprise. "…I see. Yeah, so it's your first time too, huh?" Then, she lets out a sigh of relief.

"………" …Hold on. By "you too", she means――――

"…Tohsaka, is this your first time?" "――――――――" She replies with a glare. It looks like she's saying "is that bad?"

"Ugh――――――――" If this is her first time, um, she's a virgin, so it has to be painful for her. Not only that, but it could be hard for her to get any pleasure out of sex――――

"Tohsaka, you…" "…Humph. Forget about it. I'm the one who brought this up, so I'm prepared for it. …I'm used to pain. Don't worry about me and you just concentrate on your own orgasm." "…Um, you mean… ejaculate, right?"

"Yes. But don't let your guard down. We can't connect unless we both reach orgasm at the same time so that our protections come down. I'll take care of the contract and the connection of our Magic Circuits, so all you have to do is have sex with me."

"――――――――" That's right. This is a ritual to get her to share her magical energy. I can't just be driven by my desires. All the more so if Tohsaka is a virgin. We have to orgasm together, so I better make sure I pleasure Tohsaka as much as possible.

"We're only doing this to connect with each other, so don't do anything else, okay? …I don't think I need to tell you, but I'll get angry if you do weird things." "…? What do you mean by weird things?"

"Eh…? U-Um, like ejaculating inside of me or expecting me to do it with my mouth." She hangs her head in embarrassment. "――――――――" My desire surges up again at her gesture. Her skin stimulates my desires.

"I know. But can I ask you something before we start?" "W-What? I'll get angry if you tell me to do anything weird!" Tohsaka glares at me, doing her best to look angry. Seeing her cute embarrassment blows away my own embarrassment.

"Well, it's a simple question. Why aren't you taking off your top?" "Huh…?" Tohsaka sits there, dumbfounded. The question must have caught her off-guard, as she looks at me as if she's seen a ghost.

And I wait for a few seconds before she replies. "I-I don't have any particular reason! T-This is fine, right!? I-I-I only need to take my bottom off to do it, so I don't have to get naked." "Why? I'm naked."

"……! That's fine because you're a guy! Girls have their reasons, so it's best if I'm covered up a bit…!" Tohsaka pulls back as if running away. That shirt must be Tohsaka's last defense.

I understand how she feels. It might be fine to let her keep her shirt on if it helps her keep calm. But that's an excessive request. I don't think any man would be able to consent to that.

"That's a problem. I might dirty your shirt, and I won't be able to concentrate if I have to worry about that. And…" "Ugh. T-That's your problem. E-Even if you can't concentrate, I can concentrate, so――――" "And I want to see your body. I won't do it unless you get naked."

"Y――――" Tohsaka shuts her mouth upon hearing my selfish request.

"Tohsaka." "――――F-Fine, you blockhead! I'll do as you wish, so turn around and close your eyes!" "Oh, o-okay." I'm taken aback at her pressure and close my eyes. I don't hear the sound of her clothes. I just feel the air moving behind me.

"……All right. You can turn around now, Shirou." I nod silently at her tense voice. "――――――――" A guest room without any moonlight… Tohsaka's body is illuminated by the warm lamp, and it is so beautiful that it shatters my composure.

"…………" Tohsaka silently tries to avoid my gaze. Her skin looks soft. Her limbs look a bit girlish, as if they are not fully matured. Her breasts, covered by her hands, are of perfect size. I bet they would shake like gelatin if I poked them with my finger.

"――――――――" I think praising her is unnecessary, so I continue to stare at her. …Then. I notice one part of her that hasn't changed.

"……Um. Aren't you going to take your stockings off, Tohsaka?" "Do you have a problem with that? This is as far as I'm going to go. …I won't let you see everything on our first time." She sulks and looks away.

I don't think her legs will matter when she's taken off so much clothing, but I can't complain if she puts it like that. …And she's already too seductive. I'll just accept this compromise right now.

"……All right. We're starting, Tohsaka." I grab her arm without waiting for a reply. …I push her onto the bed. Her red-tinted body sinks into her long, black hair.

"Oh… Shirou. Um, if you can…" "―――I know. I'll go slow, so you can just lie there." "…Okay. Please go on." Her voice trails off uneasily. I slowly place my fingers on her breast.

"Ah… hm…" I touch her well-shaped breasts. Her plump breasts are hot, just like the rest of her body.

I wrap my hand around Tohsaka's female symbol. "…Wow." I let out a voice of surprise. My mind goes crazy at its soft firmness. The softness of her breasts stimulates my manhood.

"…No, that… hm, hurts a bit." "Huh――――?" I didn't squeeze them too hard, but it must have been painful for Tohsaka. But I'm not calm enough to stop. I want to feel her softness. I want to continue feeling her breasts.

"Then… I'm doing this." "Huh…? Ah, uh…!?" I streak my tongue across her breast while keeping it in my hands.

"Haa… hm, that… tickles, but, that's, fine, hm…!" I'm only pushing down on her breasts with my hands. But they stick to my fingers, as if sucking on them.

"……Ah… Hm…" "Hm… Do you like it, Tohsaka…?" "Eh… oh, n-no, that's… not it…" …Her breathing quickens. While licking the breast, my tongue naturally reaches the very tip.

"Ah… mm…" I lick her pink nipple as if tasting it. I poke it and roll it with my tongue.

"…Ahh, hm――――"

Tohsaka is breathing faster and faster. …Her breasts are getting hotter. Her nipples are getting harder.

"Ha…… Haa… Mm, ah…"

But it seems Tohsaka isn't ready yet. …She's breathing impatiently. Tohsaka isn't that sensitive yet. …It might be impolite to say this, but Tohsaka seems like the type that's hard to please.

"Ha―――hm, Shirou, your tongue is hot… and wet… Ah, ya――――"

But I can't stop myself. I'm licking her breasts and I'm already wanting to bite her nipples. My brain is stimulated every time my legs rub against Tohsaka's thighs. The soft sensation runs up my spine and into my brain.

"Ah, haa, ha――――hm……!" …Plus, Tohsaka is panting and opening up her body in front of me.

"――――――――" I want to taste her even more. I want to make Tohsaka mine by force and――――

"Ah, hm…… Hya…!? N-No, where are you going, Shirou…!?" I slide my tongue across her body. I move my face below her chest. I slide from between her breasts and down.

"………!!! No, ah, hm…!" Her compliant body suddenly shakes. "N-No…! Stay away from my belly button…!" Tohsaka tries to hide her belly button.

"Hm… You're weak here, Tohsaka?" "Oh――――hya, hyaa, uhhh……!!" I block her hand with my forehead and lick her pretty belly button.

"Ah, no――――no, don't… Ah, hm, ah, no――――"

There's no power in her hands. I can do whatever I want. My tongue goes past her pubes and reaches a small lump.

"Ah, hm……!!!!" Tohsaka's voice gets higher. I guess this is stimulating even for her.

"Hm, in that case――――" "Ah… no…! Ha, ah… ahh…!" I push away the skin of the bud with my tongue and expose her clit. Her clit is swollen red and I bet it will shake if I poke it.

"Ha, ah, ahhhh…! N-No, don't, touch me there…! I-I'll really hate you if you do…" Her tone of voice changed and she sounds like she's begging now.

"……?" I raise my head to question her. "Ah… haa… haa… ha.. Don't do it. If you touch me there, um… I'll get an orgasm before you will." Tohsaka confesses.

"Hm… it's fine, so put it in… I'm… ready."

"――――――――" Is she really ready? It doesn't look like she's wet enough. It's starting to heat up, but it's not wet at all, and I don't think I can fit myself in there――――

"……!" What should I do? I should carry on caressing her in a situation like this, right? I hear it'll hurt unless I loosen it up with smaller things like my tongue and fingers…

"…Tohsaka. I know what you were telling me before, but I think I have to lick it at least, or something." "Eh――――y-you mean lick mine…!?" She resists, embarrassment clearly audible in her voice. Her genitals are also excretory organs. It seems like it's a big deal for her to have someone put his mouth down there.

"N-No…! You don't want to do such a thing, right…!?" "I don't care. I won't mind doing it to you." "―――! Uh… um. B-But don't do it. I'm fine… and, um… It's a problem for me if you do it." "…? …Problem?"

"I-It just is, okay…!? I'll go crazy if you do anything more to me, and it's embarrassing too, so just don't look at me too much, okay…!?"

"――――Oh. I see, so…" She's just like me. It's really embarrassing to get naked and have your body looked at. …It was embarrassing for the guy, so it must be even more embarrassing for Tohsaka. We're going to be having sex, but it seems Tohsaka doesn't want me to look at her vagina.

"…All right. I'm putting it in, okay?" "…………" She replies by nodding. I open up her legs and put my waist between them. I grab my erect penis and push it onto her slit――――

"Hah, gu……!" Tohsaka jumps. I only pushed it in a bit, but Tohsaka reacts violently.

I hear a wet sound. The erect penis goes between Tohsaka's red slit into her pink walls.

"Ha――――ah, ah, mn―――……!!"

"――――――――!" Voice escapes my mouth at her hot, narrow hole. Tohsaka isn't that wet as expected. As it isn't wet, I'll be penetrating into her.

"Ha―――ah……! I-It's coming in…!" It feels like I'm ripping it in rather than inserting it. Her flesh is tearing as I push in further.

"……! I, ah… ku, hm…!" I stop myself. I think I'll dͯ something to Tohsaka if I continue. Tohsaka is gritting her teeth and bearing it, even though I still don't even have half of my tip inside of her.

"Ah――――haa… haa… ah…" Her body is tinted red from her own heat. Drops of sweat form on her skin and her fingers are scratching the bed as if to bear my insertion.

"――――――――" If all this is caused just by inserting my tip into her, then there's worse to come. But I've already started. I feel Tohsaka already, even though she may only be in pain.

"Ah… haa… ah… fua."

Listening to her pained voice, I barely retain my sanity. …I'll go slow. I'll slowly put it in her so that it won't be painful.

"Relax, Tohsaka." "Huh…? Ah, mn…! Hm…!" ―――I slowly push my hips. It's really tight inside of Tohsaka. I squeeze myself through her tight walls. No, I'm wrenching open her pussy using my wet weapon.

"Haa, nn, no…! It's too big, no, it won't fit――――…!" I don't feel like I'm being accepted. Tohsaka feels only pain, and her body refuses the intruder coming into it.

"Hah――――!" No, it isn't just that. Her pussy contracts to push out the foreign substance.

"Ah, na, ah, ku……!"

"Ha――――ahh……!" I push it open using force, taking the greatest care not to push in too fast.

…Damn. It must be difficult for Tohsaka, but it's hard for me as well. It mentally tires me to go easy on her, and her vagina is constantly stimulating me. Her walls are contracting around me. I feel her warmth through my penis. The sensation of her fills up my brain.

"Guh――――" I grunt at the sensation coming from my penis. I want to go wild, but I restrain myself. …It's hard for me. I might ram it in her all at once if I let my guard down.

"Ah… It's… coming in――――"

―――I push it in slowly. I manage to fit my head into Tohsaka.

I stop and check how Tohsaka's doing.

"Ah――――haa, ah, ha……"

…She's breathing slower now. I managed to get my tip in, so I think it'll be easier from now on. ――――But.

"Hm…… I-Is it not all in yet…?"

Tohsaka holds back her tears as she looks up at me uneasily.

"――――" …I'm just getting started here. I only got my tip in. This is just the start if I am to move my penis in and out.

"―――No, we're just getting started. I need to put it in more."

"…Oh, I see… So it's only the tip, huh?" She murmurs. …Tohsaka is at her limit. Her pussy isn't wet. Her walls are trying to keep me out. It's not just her body.

…No matter how firm she may be… No, it may be because she acts firm all the time, but Tohsaka looks so vulnerable when she's naked. She seems afraid of someone else coming into her body.

"…What do you want to do? Should we rest for a while…?" "…No, I'm well rested now. …I'm sorry for worrying you." "――――Are you sure, Tohsaka?"

"…Yeah… I'm fine――――so go ahead, Shirou." "―――――――" I'm filled with the urge to embrace her. But I can't do anything unnecessary to her, as she's got her hands full with bearing the insertion.

"…Relax, okay? Tell me to stop if it hurts." "…Yeah, I know." I raise her hips just a bit. Tohsaka squeezes my tip hard. I spread open her walls to fight against it.

"Ha, nuu, mn…!!"

Tohsaka blushes at the different feeling of my rim going through her walls.

…I think it's a reaction she hasn't shown before. She was only bearing the pain up to now. She must have fully realized she's having sex now. I see pain and embarrassment on her face.

"Ah… ha, ah, hm――――Shirou, it's getting better, so… you can… be a bit more forceful―――" Tohsaka tries her best to relax. She's trying her best to take me in.

"Toh… saka――――" …I might be able to now… I might be able to go deeper into Tohsaka.

"Kya…!? Fua, hm, naa――――!!!!"

I push my hips in a bit harder. My penis plunges into her. Tohsaka shakes from the force. I feel something elastic on my tip.

"Ah, haa, ou… Hm, haa, ou, ah… Haa, no… no…!"

"――――!" Her walls squeeze hard on my penis. Tohsaka's vagina tries to push me out as if screaming.

"Ah, guh." ―――I went too fast. I hear her groan and quickly pull myself back.

"Oh… Why are you stopping…?" "――――Why?" "Hm… I'm fine… it hurts, but… it was only a bit. Please continue… Shirou…"

She appeals to me while trying to hide her pain. "――――――――" She must have felt it pressing on the sign of her virginity. Tohsaka knows what it means, but she's still bearing it.

"Mm, fua――――!!!!" I push it in once more. I move my penis awkwardly. Tohsaka's body jumps when I move it just a bit.

"Ha, hm… Something's hitting me――――" …She doesn't need to tell me. I feel a wall that's blocking me that's different from the one squeezing me.

"…Emiya-kun…?" Tohsaka looks up at me uneasily. I nod back to her. "――――I'm putting it in. I'm taking your virginity, Tohsaka." Unwilling to put it off any longer, I push myself all the way into her in one motion.

"Ah, na, ahhhhh……!" I push into her. She tightens around me more than ever.

"Fu――――" There's so much pressure that I feel like it's being cut off. The sharp pain converts into pleasure and multiplies my joy at becoming one with Tohsaka.

"Ah, ou, ouch, no, I, I, ah, haa, ah―――! Haa―――ha, na… it, fu, ahhhhhhh……!!!!!!"

Her pussy squeezes me. But that doesn't last long as the pressure goes away slowly.

"Ah―――Ah… haa, ah…… hm……" It's easy after that. Tohsaka's body loses power after I take her virginity. The last half of my penis goes into her as if the previous difficulty was a lie.

"――――Ah――――……Ha." …Tohsaka catches her breath. I won't be going deeper into her, so all that is left is to slowly soften her up.

"……Ha, ah――――is it all in…?" I don't need to answer. My penis is deep within her. My erect penis fills up all of her vagina so that there's no extra space. Even my tip is touching the entrance to her womb.

"Oh… moving it is…" …Is it an after-effect of losing her virginity or is it resistance to the thing inside of her? Unable even to lift up her arm, Tohsaka can only stare at the place where we are connected. There's the surprise of accepting something she thought would never go into her, and the uneasiness of not knowing what to do now. She already looks so cute that…

"―――Tohsaka, can I-" "Ah… hm… I see… I'm filled with Shirou." "――――!" I can't ask her if I can move or not.

"Oh… it's… getting bigger――――" She looks bewildered. I ignore it and… "――――I'm moving, Tohsaka. I can't hold it any longer." "Eh… ah, hm…!?"

"――――Fu――――" I pull my hips back. I pull my boiling meat out of the hole that has been contracting to push me out.

"Ah, ahn…! No, nha, ha―――fua, mm…!" My stimulated cock is still full of desire. There's no need to hurry. I'll move slowly so that Tohsaka's body can get used to me.

"Haa… Ahhh… hm, ku…!" Our flesh slides together. I slowly move my waist back and forth to match Tohsaka's breathing.

"Ah, hm… No, don't move… Nha, ha… I still… have trouble breathing… Ah…"

Tohsaka's saying something under her ragged breath. But my body doesn't follow my order.

"Haa―――…! No, Shirou, it still hurts…!" I still hear pain in her voice. Even though I took her virginity, the pain won't go away after I move it once or twice.

"Ah… Hm, haa, ah, mm…! It hurts… hm… it hurts, but…" But still, I see some change. I slowly keep moving in and out of her.

"……! Haa, ah… ha, haa, ah…!"

Her tense body gets hotter. She still feels pain. But at the same time――― "Good… I'm really having sex." Tohsaka's eyes well up with tears as if to show her relief.

"Ah, hm, ahh…! It's good, Shirou, keep moving――――"

She's accepting me. She's enduring her pain and taking her time to accept a foreign intruder.

"―――Harder――――I'm a girl, too, na, fua, ah―――!!"

Tohsaka pants with her shoulders and tries to keep up with me. Her tightness starts to send something other than pain up into my spine.

Our movements create a wet sound. "Ah――――ha." Her tight pussy starts to get slippery. The scorching hole starts to turn into a heaving sea.

"Ah… Haa… ah, ha――――hm… Ah, it feels good……!" ―――She must be getting used to it. My pre-cum blends with Tohsaka's love juice. Our movements create bubbles between us.

"――――――――" The female organ and the male organ rub against each other. "――――――――Haa." Pleasure runs up my spine into my brain. ―――There's no way I can bear this. I want to embrace Tohsaka. This gentle sex isn't enough for me.

"Eh, hm…? …Shirou…? Wait… isn't it a bit strong…? …Mm… Can you move… slower――――?"

I don't hear her. And besides… "…You should be able to take this. It's getting smoother than when we first started." "Ha… but this is good enough for me――――" "It's not good enough. I want to embrace you even more." My reason has already been thrown to the wind.

"No, ah……!? Ha, Shirou, it hurts…!" I push it into her. I throw my previous gentleness out the door. I move my hips violently so that our waists hit each other…!

"……!! Ya, ha, no, stop, naaa…!" Her body arches back. I can't contain my lust and it even turns Tohsaka's voice into urges.

"Ha, nha, haa, ah―――! Ou, it's rubbing me…! Ah, ha, ah, hm――――!?" She twists her hips to get away. But there's nowhere for her to go as I'm holding them, so all she can do is stay there and accept me.

"Stop, I'm telling you… to stop…! Fuaa, hm, ku…! I'm really gonna get mad…!" "Haa――――you can resist me if you want… You're not doing it because it feels good, right?" "…But… I-I can't put power into my limbs, ah, hm, ahh…!"

I'm shaking her body, and her long hair scatters across the bed. Her well-shaped breasts shake like jelly and the pure sight of it drives me crazy.

"No, no, It'll tear apart… again…! Ahh, ou, it really hurts… nn, fua, haa, no, ha…!"

I keep moving in and out. The movement is smooth. Her love juice and the blood from losing her virginity are dampening her pussy. The movement creates wet sounds…! The friction encourages my sensitive penis.

"Haa――――ah, ahh……!" "――――, ――――, ――――……!" I feel nauseous. I grit my teeth and bear the pleasure that makes me want to scream. It should be the same for Tohsaka. Her soft-looking skin is covered with sweat.

"Ah―――Ah, ah――――it hurts… but it feels good――――you're mixing me up too much, so I'm going crazy――――!"

"Ah… haa, kuh…!" ――――It feels like we're entangled with each other. No, it's not just a feeling. We are connected. I'm penetrating Tohsaka, and Tohsaka is accepting me. This is the pure action to try to take each other in.

The movements make a wet sound…! This act is intended to make us one. I keep up my simple movement of moving back and forth.

"Ah――――no, it's coming deeper――――!"

The simple movement unifies our minds.

"Ha――――it's coming in deep――――"

This raw pleasure burns away my sanity. This simple, simple, simple action feels so good――――!

"Ha, ah, hah……!!!!" I move faster. I push in so hard that I might go into her womb.

"Ahh, nha, ha, ah――――! Ow, ow, ow, it hurts, Shirou…!!" I'm not holding anything back now. I want her so much that I want to break her body, her tears, and her voice―――

"Ah, faah, no, ah……! This, this is scary, no, nonononono…!" Pain isn't the only reason she's screaming. Tohsaka fears the pleasure coming from the violent thrusts. As proof…

"…! Tohsaka, you're so tight…!" She reacts to my desire.

"I-It's not my fault…! I-It's all your fault, Shirou, hn, haa, ah, ahhhh…!" ―――The sensations from my penis fill my mind with blinding light.

Tohsaka is getting tighter. Her walls are contracting around me. Her soft meat tightens around my tip, my shaft, and my whole penis. The sensation is so overwhelming that it makes me want to explode my brains out as well.

"Agh――――Tohsaka…!" "Ow, ow, it hurts, but it feels good――――! Ah, ahn, uha, haa, ah…! I-I'm melting, I'm going crazy…!"

Her thighs are slick with dripping juice. Her tense body is now a ripe fruit. I push in my penis. Her walls close around me, simultaneously accepting and resisting. I pull out and push it back in over and over.

"Ahh, nha, ah, haa…! I-I'm gonna break, you're filling me up…!"

I stimulate her and blow away her reason. I push her mind up to a higher level. There's no limit. I just need to get our minds to white out and――――

"Ah――――Ah, nha, ahhhhhhhhh……!" Tohsaka lets out a loud moan. With her eyes closed in pleasure, she tightens around me to make me ejaculate.

―――My vision flickers. I can't think. I can only see the person in front of me, Tohsaka Rin. ―――Our minds are at their limits. They stimulate one another and the pleasure increases with it.

"Ha, ah――――……!" Our minds are melted together. There's nothing to hold back now.

"No――――I can't hold it anymore…! Shirou, I…!" Just like Tohsaka, who is trying to bear her orgasm, I'm about to explode as well. "――――Toh… saka…!" And I push it in. I push it into her so hard that my penis would strike her womb…!

"Shirou…! Shirou, nha, ahh, ha――――ah, you idiot――――ah…!!!!"

"Guh――――……!?" Tohsaka's body loses strength and falls onto the bed. ―――Lightning runs through me at that moment. Tohsaka's walls convulse violently as she orgasms.

"Ah…!" Her walls squeeze my shaft. My penis is wrapped around by numerous walls. She squeezes cum out of me as if to get me back for all I've done to her.

"――――! Ah――――" I can't hold myself back anymore and release it. I ejaculate onto her defenseless body. …What a bad mistake. I managed to pull my hips back at the last second so that I wouldn't ejaculate inside of her, but――――

"…T-Tohsaka." I try to apologize, but I stop myself.

"……Ah…… Hm…… It's so hot…"

I guess it's meaningless to tell Tohsaka anything right now. She is spaced out from the orgasm, and she is trying to catch her breath.

"――――――――Haa." I'm tired as well. I should be resting so that I can regain my energy. I should be, but――――

"……Hm… It's so sticky… Ha, Shirou's is spilling away…"

"……!" Tohsaka's figure is too tempting. My cum is spilled on her heated body. My semen drips down her soft skin every time she breathes.

"Ah――――ugh." …This is bad. My lust might return if I keep watching something like this.

"…Is there anything to wipe with――――?" I shake my head and look through the room. I want to keep watching her, but this is no time to be doing that. We're done now, so Tohsaka will scold me unless I switch my mind――――

"…I can't believe it. Don't you remember anything about being gentle, you beast!?"

―――Hey. Tohsaka still scolds me. And it's not in her usual arrogant way. She's yelling at me in a way that makes me realize I've done a bad thing.

"―――――――Um, Tohsaka." "…You stupid Shirou. I told you it hurts. …I'm never going to have sex with you again." "Uh um."

What can I say back to that? I think I'll only piss her off more if I apologize, but I think it does no good to say nothing.

"――――――Tohsaka, um…" I can't look away from her tears and I try to find something to talk about.

"……Oh yeah. Did the contract go well? Um, it turned out like that in the end, but…" "Of course! I'd be doing the same thing to you if we couldn't connect our circuits after that!"

"Oh." She yells at me. I don't know if I've succeeded, but Tohsaka is yelling at me as usual.

"―――I see. Then our Magic Circuits are connected, right?" "…It's a one-way path from me to Shirou, but yeah. It will take a bit before the effect takes place, but you should be able to receive my magical energy supply as a reserve tank."

Tohsaka glares at me as she explains. Tohsaka created our connection even when I was going wild over her.

"Then…" "Yes. I can provide you with enough magical energy to activate your Reality Marble. The rest is up to you now."

"――――――――" I close my right hand in front of Tohsaka. I don't really feel it yet. But I believe our contract is there, since Tohsaka said so.

"――――Thanks, Tohsaka. And I'm sorry. I couldn't hold myself back and made you cry."

"……! Humph! I won't forgive you even if you apologize. You made me cry twice, so I'm going to get you back someday!" Tohsaka glares at me.

…I don't know if she's angry or just sulking. Tohsaka's voice is surprisingly kind.

"――――――――" So I'm forced out of Tohsaka's room. She told me that girls have their business, so I should be considerate and go back to my room.

"…Don't be stupid. Guys have a lot of business as well." I do, but I didn't say so in front of Tohsaka. I bet she would have gotten me back right on the spot if I said so.

"……Besides…" No matter what Tohsaka may need to do, it's true that we don't have much time. The date has changed already. I bet we should be heading out to the Ryudou Temple within an hour.

"Hm――――yeah, this is…" I close my eyes and feel the magical energy pouring into me.

Tohsaka isn't consciously supplying me with magical energy yet, but it's already enough to fill me up. If Emiya Shirou's magical energy capacity is 20 or 30, she always has 500 magical energy. …I'm sure it would take years to fill up her whole capacity, but I bet her maximum capacity could reach a thousand.

"…I'm amazed. She really is amazing." It makes me realize her greatness again. Well, she's exhausted right now and most magi only keep about 80 percent of their magical energy, so Tohsaka has about 400 magical energy right now.

But that is still a huge amount. I use about two magical energy to use one strengthening magic, and about five magical energy to use one projection magic. Using that example, I can use my projection magic dozens of times now when I could only do it six times before.

"……Well, a cheap vehicle will overheat even if there is enough gasoline." But this has greatly increased my power. I might even be able to beat that king of heroes with this. All that's left is――――

"―――There's one more hour. I should rest my body until then." I'll rest and restore the energy I used by having sex. …Everything is set. I'll fully prepare myself since Tohsaka has opened up her body to me.

16th Day- EDEN

I turn off the lights in my house. It's four in the morning. With dawn still a few hours away, we leave the Emiya household.

Everything is arranged already. There's nothing to talk about now. We just need to go to battle and fulfill our roles.

…There's no guarantee that we'll come back alive. No, that has been the case all along, but there's less of a guarantee this time. That's why I'm carefully turning off all the lights.

"…Huh?" There's someone standing in the yard. The golden-haired girl is just standing there, looking up at the night sky.

"Hey. What are you doing, Saber?" "I was watching the sky and this house." Her reply is gentle. She is looking at the house with an expression different from the first time I met her.

"A lot has happened. I want to engrave the events in my mind so that I will remember them forever." "――――――――" It is… …The voice of one prepared not to return.

"I see. ……Yeah, please remember it if you can." I make a clumsy wish from the porch.

"Yes. Then I have a favor to ask of you as well. I will protect you two. So please come back to this house together." "―――Yeah. We'll come back here no matter what."

That's all I can manage to say. We're going to go destroy the Holy Grail. At the same time, Servant Saber will be returning to her original place.

Even if I want her to stay here, and even if Saber is attached to this house… As long as she is a Servant, she cannot go against the law.

"Hey, what are you doing!? We don't have time, so hurry up…!" A voice urges us from the entrance. Tohsaka must be waiting at the gate, ready to go.

"――――Shirou." "Yeah, let's go settle this once and for all." I turn off the last light and leave the house with Saber.

――――A quiet night. The illusion of the girl staring up at the stars is still lingering in the yard.

The plan goes like this. Saber will head into the Ryudou Temple from the front while Tohsaka and I sneak in from the back.

Saber will enter before us so that she can get Gilgamesh's attention. We will use that opening to sneak in, quickly destroy the Holy Grail, and go help Saber.

…I'll keep Gilgamesh at bay by projecting his Noble Phantasms, allowing Saber to finish him off――― That is the only plan we have.

"――――――――" It is a path that you can barely call a road. Tohsaka must have researched it beforehand, as she goes up without hesitation.

At night, the mountain is dark and ominous. It is natural for the sacred mountain to reject people. The dark mountain is threatening, but it is an embodiment of the pure gods at the same time. But――――

"…This isn't normal. It smells so bloody that I feel sick." Tohsaka stares up at the summit, where the Ryudou Temple is. "Smelling bloody" is just a phrase Tohsaka used. There is no smell of blood coming from the mountain. It just feels strange. The air is damp, and it sticks to the skin like a membrane.

The place is suffused with a life force so strong that I can't tell if the breathing I hear is mine or the mountain's. I feel like I'm climbing up a big, living organ rather than a mountain.

"…I know it's late to ask, but how do you feel, Shirou?" ―――Then. Tohsaka suddenly asks me such a question.

"Huh…? I feel fine, but really not… To be honest, it's beyond my control."

I honestly tell her. I can easily project dozens of weapons with this amount of magical energy. But it's like having a jet engine inside of a worn-out plane, so the fuel might leak out and explode if I let my guard down.

"Wow, that's a luxurious worry. But it did succeed, huh? I was worried since it was the first time…" "――――――――" My face burns up the instant I recall it.

"Hold on. Please don't talk about it right now." "I-I know! I feel the same way. …I'm talking about something else. I'm talking about the balance of the magical energy I'm giving to you and Saber. I'm sharing my magical energy between two people, so Saber is getting less energy now."

"Oh―――I see. Then does that mean Saber can't fight with all her power?"

"Hey, don't take me so lightly. I won't do such a clumsy thing. The magical energy I'm giving you is small, so it's fine. But we can't push it. Saber can only use her holy sword once."

"――――She can only use her holy sword once?" …Then we can't use the holy sword against Gilgamesh. Saber's Noble Phantasm has to be saved to destroy the Holy Grail.

"Then Saber has to keep Gilgamesh busy without using her Noble Phantasm!?"

"Yeah, so we'll have to go help her as quickly as possible. I told her that she can use the holy sword if she can't stop Gilgamesh by herself. …But that would be it for Saber. Only her holy sword can destroy the Holy Grail. So――――"

"――――――――" My breathing stops. In short… She will have to use her holy sword at the cost of her existence――――

"―――Tohsaka, that's…" "…It can't be helped. It's what Saber said. She will destroy the Holy Grail even if I stop her." Tohsaka murmurs as she looks away.

"――――――――" …Damn, how stupid of me. It must be hard for Tohsaka as well. Tohsaka doesn't want Saber to disappear either. Then――――

"Let's hurry. We won't give Saber to Gilgamesh." "Of course not. She's mine. I won't let him kill her."

We run. We know what we have to do. We have to stop the Holy Grail as fast as we can and go settle the match with Gilgamesh――――

Interlude 16-1

The mountain is rumbling. The sky is filled with dark clouds, and the trees are rustling as if shivering with fear. "――――――――" She watches it all at the entrance to the mountain gate. She understood that the Ryudou Temple was poisoned the instant she approached it. The golden Servant isn't the only one waiting for her at the top of the stairs. Something strange is waiting for her.

"―――――――" She takes a big breath. She cannot afford to make a mistake. If the mountain is a place of death, then she will draw all the risk to herself. She wants the other two to make it out alive.

She cannot hold anything back. She can only use her holy sword twice. She understands that she will disappear the instant she activates the holy sword for the second time.

"―――I do not care. He is an enemy I cannot match unless I risk my life." The king of heroes, Gilgamesh. She cannot think of anything else but to use the holy sword against that man with a thousand Noble Phantasms. '―――Go after thirty minutes, Saber.' She recalls Rin's words. It is only one more minute until the appointed time. She breathes out and sets her condition.

――――Wind blows down from the mountaintop. The instant the trees shiver against the evil wind, she starts up the stone steps.

She runs up in a flash. Her attack must have been detected the instant she stepped onto the stairs. The last Servant should appear at the temple. She will get to him as quickly as possible so she can defeat him before Shirou and Rin arrive.

…She cannot disobey her Master's order. She started off after waiting thirty minutes, just as Rin ordered. Even if she arrives at the temple before Rin expects her to, she is not going against Rin's order. It is just that she will protect her master's life, and go against Rin's expectation as a result.

"――――――――" If the thing leaking out from the mountain is pollution, Saber is a raging wind that blows the pollution away. It should not take her a minute to get to the top. She will be five minutes faster than what Rin is expecting. She can end her fight against Gilgamesh in that time.

"Haa―――――!" She runs, enduring the mountain's chill. The silver armor shoots up to the temple like a bullet.

And when she finally reaches the mountain gate… "Wh――――at?" Her feet, which should not stop, come to an unexpected halt. Sweat runs down her forehead. She looks up at the mountain gate in astonishment.

"―――I have been waiting for you. I am glad you made it in time, Saber." An elegant voice echoes through the night. Moonlight glints off the longsword. On the stairs leading up to the mountain gate… Stands an enemy who should not exist.

"Assassin――――" There is no elegance in Saber's voice. An enemy that should not be there, an obstacle that should not exist. She cannot be calm in the face of these surprises.

"What is wrong, Saber? Is it that much of a surprise that I am here? You should know that I am the guard here." His pleased voice is calm and composed. The swordsman is acting casually, even with the evil wind swirling about.

"…Impossible. Why are you here, Assassin…!? Caster summoned you. You cannot exist since Caster is gone…!" "That should be the case for normal Servants. But I am a bit special. It is not a person, but this land that is binding me. Masters are the hosts which keep you in this world. It is this mountain in my case."

"Wha――――the land is the host…?" "Right. Servants, ones without form, cannot maintain other Servants even if they are magi. A host from this age is needed to keep a Servant in this world. That fox summoned me and chose this land to be my host. Therefore, I am a Servant that can only appear here. I will not disappear as long as the mountain exists, even if Caster, my summoner, dies."

"―――But that is only borrowed time. The fox gave me about twenty days' worth of magical energy. You should be able to tell when my limit is." Saying so, the swordsman raises his right hand. Inside his elegant kimono… His white arm is transparent like glass.

"Assassin――――――you…" "I will not last until dawn, as you can see. The appointed time of twenty days is already over. It is just luck that kept me alive this long."

"――――――――" She looks up at the swordsman in astonishment. Neither enmity nor murderous intent is emitted from his sword. He just wishes for a fight. He is demanding a meaningless battle.

"―――Then you have stayed just to fight against me, Assassin?" "Do not let me say it, Saber. It will just turn into meaningless words if I say it."

He laughs. She can understand how he feels. But she does not have the time right now. The other two will make it in time for the battle unless she hurries. No, in the worst case――――they will reach the temple to face Gilgamesh even before she does.

"Move aside, Assassin. The one that ordered you to protect this gate has died. There is no longer a reason to follow that command." Saber asks while she takes a step forward. But―――― "―――I refuse. I had no reason to fight from the start." Assassin points his sword at Saber, saying that he will start the fight if she comes any closer.

"No, I do not have a reason to fight. From the very beginning, I have had nothing. I do not have pride as a heroic spirit, and I do not have a wish I want granted. No―――first of all, it was a mistake that I got summoned. Because I am not Sasaki Kojirou."

"――――!?" Saber's confusion reaches its limit. Sasaki Kojirou. It should be the true identity of this Servant. But Assassin himself said that he is a fake.

"You should not be so surprised. Sasaki Kojirou was never more than a fictional swordsman without a true identity. It is said that he existed, but records on him are too vague. His 'past' was falsely forged as a convenient foe to a famed swordsman."

"I am sure a man named Sasaki Kojirou existed. I am also sure that there was a swordsman who used Monohoshizao. ――――But they are not the same person. A swordsman with the name Sasaki Kojirou is a fictional character created to be his enemy's foil."

"You are――――a fictional heroic spirit?" "Yes, I am Sasaki Kojirou. It merely means that I am the best suited for this role. I do not have a name. I do not know how to read or write, and I was not fortunate enough to be given one."

"I am a phantom that was summoned just because I could execute Sasaki Kojirou's secret technique. As I am a false Servant, I cannot last long. Caster treated me as a disposable Servant because of that reason."

"See, there is no meaning in this, right? Even if I am to perform a great deed here, all the reward will go to 'Sasaki Kojirou'. I will get nothing. As I am nothing, everything is meaningless. I am not even clear about myself. I am only a disposable swordsman that acts out the role of Sasaki Kojirou." His longsword wavers. The fictional swordsman created by a fictional story blocks her way as if to fulfill his role.

"―――But. If there is a meaning in me, it is now. If there is a wish for 'me' who died nameless…" He must have… …He must have dreamed of a match with a superior swordsman who he could not have been allowed to witness as a nameless swordsman.

"――――Assassin." …She readies her sword. She cannot convince her enemy. The only way she can answer the swordsman who is prepared for his death is to fight him.

"Then let us start. My life will end no matter what. There can be no better end than to die at your hand――――!" His longsword moves. Saber's sword repels the strike like moonlight.

"Kuh――――!" His longsword wavers. She cannot match Gilgamesh if she uses up her powers here. But she cannot afford to hold back. No―――she does not know if she can win, even if she uses all her powers.

His longsword gets more fierce with each blow. A fictional swordsman. A swordsman who can match a heroic spirit without a Noble Phantasm. She must settle her match with him right here and now――――

End of Interlude

―――The mountaintop is near. We'll reach the back of the temple once we climb up this mountain. I think there's a big lake there.

"I see it. We're almost there…!" Tohsaka pushes her way through the branches and runs up the hill. I keep watch on our surroundings as I follow behind Tohsaka. And so… "It" greets us the instant we make our way from the hill onto level ground.

"[line11]What… is this?" A lump of meat is wriggling around. The thing in the middle of the lake spews out black blood and shakes as if asking for help. How big is that thing? Already as big as an island, the pile of flesh is slowly expanding. The clear water is now dirty and sticky like coal tar. "No way――――is that the Holy Grail?" I avert my gaze, unable to stare directly at it. The air on this mountain is that thing's breath. The infinitely flowing magical energy is making that lump of meat explode, and the black blood is polluting the lake. The blood isn't just colorless energy. The black thing is a visible curse.

"Kuh――――!" Just looking at the black mud gives me chills. The curse seeps into my brain through my eyes, ordering me to… And that is all.

"――――What the… How can we―――" Stop such a thing? The distance is about thirty meters. The lake is shallow, and it'd be easy to walk in it. But―――it's suicidal to go into that mud.

Just looking at the curse is almost enough to knock one unconscious. I'll weaken and sink into the mud if I walk a meter into it.

"―――That thing is about to explode. I don't know if it was shaped like that from the start, but I bet the original vessel was too small. It can't contain the thing in it and it's about to break the vessel."

"'Break the vessel'… You mean…" "If Shinji's the Holy Grail, it would mean he would be destroyed. Can you see it? There's something that's shaped like a human in it, right? I think you'll be able to see it."

"Huh…?" I look where Tohsaka is looking. Within the expanding pile of flesh… I certainly see something shaped like a human.

….He must be stuck to the flesh. His clothes have been torn off, leaving him naked. Visible against his skin, the blood vessels writhe like centipedes, connecting him to the meat. …It looks bizarre, as if grapevines took a human form.

"―――Shinji. I can't see his face, but I'm sure of that physique―――" "I see. So, is he alive?" "――――――――"

…I can't tell. He's not dead. But I'm not optimistic enough to say that he's alive in that condition. "…He's breathing. His body is…" I can't even say that he has human limbs in a way.

"I thought so. The Holy Grail this time is in human form. So it means it's operated using a person, right? I guess Shinji turned out that way because he's incompatible, but the Holy Grail won't function unless the host is alive."

"―――But that thing is about to explode. It's going to destroy Shinji, right?"

"That's because it can't be helped. …The Holy Grail will not exist anymore if that happens. That strange thing will flow out from a gate the Holy Grail opens."

"But we can still make it in time. The Holy Grail has been activated, but it's not in its true form, nor is it broken. That goldie just wants to open the gate. His objective is to activate the Holy Grail and to destroy the vessel. If he does that――――"

"That mysterious mud will flow out infinitely――――"

――――There's no time to think. We have to pull Shinji out of that thing and stop the Holy Grail…!

"Tohsaka. Can you do something about that mud? It looks like we can walk on it if we freeze it."

"That's impossible. I can do it if it's just water, but that thing is a curse made up of magical energy. Even a magus specialized in freezing would have a hard time freezing a magical energy that took physical form."

"――――I see. Then…" I guess I'll just have to pray and run through it. I'll cross the lake before I get cursed and bring back Shinji.

"Hey, are you going to go like that!? It's impossible! It'll swallow you!"

"You never know unless you try. We don't have time. Saber should be fighting right now. We can't hesitate here――――!?" I quickly turn, moving to protect Tohsaka.

"This is surprising. I did not think I would see your face for the third time, you lowlife."

A laugh. He appears here as if he knows of our plan.

"Gilgamesh――――!? No way! Then who is Saber fighting…!?"

It seems Saber is fighting someone from what Tohsaka is saying. But I can't tell who she's fighting, nor how she's faring.

No―――this isn't the time to be thinking about such things. The one before us is the worst possible enemy. He's the strongest Servant, the one the three of us had planned to beat together. But only Tohsaka and I face him now.

"Oh, Saber is not here? …How dull. In that case, I guess I will settle for killing just the two of you." Coldness emanates from the sea of mud, and the man before me gives off a murderous intent. He already has the Noble Phantasms ready behind him. I'll be skewered the instant I carelessly take a step forward.

"Hm―――no, that will be too boring. I normally do not allow such a thing, but I shall make an exception for the two of you, just this once. You two are special guests. I shall give you two a brief grace period."

"……Grace period?" I clench my fist as I glare at the enemy. ―――My Magic Circuit is open. I manage to form 14 blueprints in my head. I'll reproduce his swords once he clicks his fingers. I should be able to let Tohsaka escape―――

"What, do I have to tell you? I am telling you two to stand there until the cocoon hatches. It would be too lonesome if I were the only one to witness it. Seeing this through will give meaning to your lives." "――――――――!" I can't listen to him. Our goal is to stop the Holy Grail. If we can still make it, we have to get Shinji back――――! "I see. I'm sorry, but――――" "I won't do as you say. I'm going to go there and stop your Holy Grail right away." Then. Tohsaka glares at Gilgamesh from behind me. "――――Oh?" He grins. He smiles like that when he decides to kill the one in front of him. "H-Hold on, Tohsaka. That's――――!" "Can you stop him here, Shirou? …I know it's unreasonable, but please hold on until Saber makes it here. I'm going to go pull Shinji out." "What――――pull Shinji out?" "I know. He's still Sakura's brother, and I can't just let him die in front of me. …And you believe in saving anyone that can be saved, right?" Tohsaka runs to the black lake. Is she going to go into that mud―――!? "Kuh――――haha, hahahahahahaha!!!! How ridiculous! Are you trying to make me die of laughter!?" He laughs, as if to look down at Tohsaka's determination. "What's so funny…!?" "Oh, is it not comical for you, lowlife? Go through that curse? Do you think that a mere human can go through what even a Servant cannot bear!?" "―――Heh, don't take me too lightly. I'm not so weak as to be tainted by this curse. And I'm not a half-spirit like you guys. I'm fully human, so I won't let that curse drown me…!" It's an obvious bluff, but I'm sure that Tohsaka will make it across. As she says, Tohsaka Rin isn't so weak as to lose to that curse. "I see. Then do as you wish. ―――But I will not allow such a thing." "――――Trace-" A sword shoots forward. The sword flies through the air to pierce Tohsaka's defenseless back――――

"――――Off…!" And it is slashed down by Kanshou. "Hah, ha――――!" I breathe hard. I made it―――even though I was prepared, this is the fastest projection I have ever done. It's probably thanks to Tohsaka's magical energy. With this, I might be able to―――― "――――You." Murderous rage fills his red eyes. …The projection made him serious. The Noble Phantasms behind his back increase in number. "――――Shirou." I hear Tohsaka's worried voice. I don't turn around, but stare at my enemy with Kanshou in hand. "Tohsaka. I'm leaving Shinji up to you." That's all I say. "―――All right. I'll bring him back right away!" I hear a splashing sound. Tohsaka goes into that mud without any hesitation. "――――――――Phew." Then I'll protect her. I won't allow a single Noble Phantasm to get past me. "I'm your opponent. Beat me if you want to attack Tohsaka." I take a step forward. That must have gotten on his nerves. The golden Servant takes his eyes off Tohsaka and looks at me. "―――Ha, that girl will die anyway. It was out of compassion that I tried to kill her―――" The Noble Phantasms point at me. He lets out a sharp murderous intent. "But it seems I need to teach you a lesson before that. ―――You miserable fraud. I shall teach you the difference between the fake and the real――――!" He releases his treasures unsparingly.

The longsword slashes through the darkness. Saber has yet to be able to close in on her enemy that freely swings his longsword.

"Kuh……!" Unable to dodge, she retreats. The distance between the two does not shrink. There is one meter between Saber and Assassin. But Saber is unable to climb the few steps.

"――――――――!" She bites her lip. She cannot waste any time. She surpasses him in power. She can overpower him if she uses her magical energy and her sword as a shield. Just one blow. She can overpower him if she can withstand just one blow.

It can be her arm or leg. If she does not allow the wound to slow her, there will be no second attack. She can surely slash Assassin after she receives his blow.

But… If the attack is to come for her neck, she cannot overpower him. All of this Servant's attacks are of that kind. All are meant to take her life. Retreat is the only defense against them. She cannot move forward because of the enemy's technique, and the geographical disadvantage does not allow her to move to either side.

She cannot move forward because of those reasons. She must reach the temple alive. The two are fighting Gilgamesh even at this moment.

They might die if she is late. No, in the worst case――――they are already… "Kuh――――ahhhhhh……!" She runs. She rushes upward, yelling as if to deny the ominous thought.

The two weapons collide. "Hm." For some reason, Assassin swings his sword not at the charging Saber, but at the swinging sword.

"…Impressive. As expected from Saber's sword. I thought it would be able to take a few blows, but it was bent after just one…!" Sparks fly off. The swords try to push each other away.

"Assassin blocked my sword…?" Assassin's sword is fragile. It is a good sword that can even cut steel, but it is made by a human. It cannot even be compared to her sword that is not made by men. His longsword would be pulverized if he used his power to strike back at the oncoming attack. That is why Assassin has parried the attacks and pushed back Saber by attacking her body instead of her sword until now.

But Assassin blocked this attack. Assassin's sword cannot block Saber's attack no matter how strong he is. The longsword that blocked Saber's attack is bent. There's no way it's as sharp as it was before.

'I can beat him? Can I beat him without a scratch…?' Saber asks herself while she pushes back Assassin's longsword. That question becomes an opening. There is a reason why Assassin blocked her sword. She is standing in that position before she realizes it.

"……!" Their positions are different. They are now standing on the same level. Before she realizes it, Saber has been forced to fight sideways.

…It is just like before. They are standing on the same plane. This is the position he needs to execute his secret technique. Assassin is able to execute his demonic attack here. ――――Tsubame Gaeshi. Three arcing blades close in on the enemy from all sides, allowing no chance for defense or evasion.

"――――――――" A chill runs up her back.

"Assassin, you…!" Saber stops pushing. She can push him back. She can push Assassin back with her strength, then follow up with a finishing blow or run up to the mountain gate.

But―――it will be the same either way. "That" attack will come the instant she pushes him away. It will end once he executes his technique. It does not matter if she runs up to him or if she turns her back and runs up the mountain. So she cannot push him. She can only loosen up and match Assassin's push.

"―――Are you sure you want to relax like that? I can push you back now." Assassin stares at Saber in satisfaction. There is no inhumane emotion there. The swordsman is just fascinated by her eyes, trying to find some way out of this hopeless situation.

"……! So this is why you damaged your own weapon…!?" "Of course. I wanted to put an end to the match. I thought this would bring out the Saber I saw previously. Do not think about what comes after this battle while we are still fighting." "――――――――" She gasps. Assassin's words are not to insult her, but――――

"……!?" The compound is burning. Sounds of swords clashing and breaking. It is the sound of battle between Gilgamesh and Emiya Shirou.

"Hm. It seems the banquet is at its peak. This is no time for you to be staying here." "Assassin――――!" She puts power into her arms. She puts magical energy into her sword to push her enemy back. …But she cannot do it. She will die once she does so. She will fall into Assassin's trap once she gets away from him.

"Ku――――" She grits her teeth in frustration. She puts magical energy into her sword without a plan. Then… "Why the hesitation? There is only one thing for us to do." The swordsman's voice is clear.

"……Assassin?" "From the very beginning, we were only summoned to fulfill our roles. As I protect this gate, you have something to protect as well. Then there is nothing to think about. ―――And Saber. You are not the only one who is in a hurry."

"――――――――" There is no lie in those words. Those are the first and last true words for the swordsman that fulfilled his role as a fictional character. That he would like for both of them to go all-out on each other. The swordsman in front of her is telling her his only wish, his only compensation for being summoned in this world.

"――――I apologize for my impoliteness. We certainly do not have time." She releases the magical energy in her sword.

"Nu……!?" The merciless force pushes Assassin back. He slides back about two meters. Saber does not move, even though she is within Assassin's best range. She does not run up to the mountain gate nor does she charge at Assassin.

She releases the seal. Showing her sword, Saber confronts Assassin. There is no hesitation in her eyes. She will use all her powers if need be. Her eyes state that she will use all her strength to defeat the enemy in front of her.

"――――――――" There is nothing to talk about now. The fictional swordsman readies his sword.

"――――――――Let us." He greets his greatest enemy with his strongest technique.

―――She struggles through the sea of tainted meat. The lake isn't even a meter deep. Chunks of flesh carpet the bottom, so she only sinks up to her knees. "―――Geez, this is too disgusting…!" She grumbles as she breathes hard. Every step brings a chill as if she's treading on piles of insects. If she stops moving, the taint on her skin begins to solidify and consume her. "……! Geez, damn it…!" She shakes it off with all her might and keeps going. It is almost impossible to keep wading through the rottenness while still keeping her sanity. After this, she shouldn't even be scared of butchering cattle at the slaughterhouse. Slaughtering a cow would be simple now. So she's getting used to this work now. She is so tense that she'll stop moving once she stops treating this as work. But at least there is no mental damage this way. "……Ha, haa, ah――――" But she cannot endure it with just willpower. Her temperature rises with each step. The meat on her legs attacks her nerves instantly. Even if she flings it off, the poison has already entered her system. Curse. The malice is almost tangible, and it feels like a disease. One will get sick when touched by it. It taints the nerve, takes away energy, boils the brain, and kills within one step. A normal person would stop moving after two steps and would fall into the sea of decay. She does not know what would happen after that. She doesn't even want to consider whether she would be suffocated or absorbed into the poisoned flesh. Her mind is too overcome with heat even to think about it. "Guh――――man――――" She braces her staggering feet and keeps moving forward. …Rin did not enter the pool of mud without a plan. She swallowed two jewels and is using all of the magical energy she saved up to defend herself. If this curse is a crystallization of pure magical energy, she should be able to repel it with strong magical energy of her own――― "Ku――――this is… bad――――" …Her vision wavers. Her guess was right, but her scale was off. The swallowed jewels are as good as a paper shield against the curse. This is not something a human can fight against. No human can ward off this curse. …In here… One's belief in oneself is the only support of their life. "Ah――――gu――――geez… Jumping into a sea of fire is colder than this." With her jewels' protection, jumping into a sea of fire would be no problem. As soon as she complains… "――――――――!" She gets angry at herself and sets her mind straight. It's not true. She cannot be complaining. She concentrates on the sounds behind her. …She cannot see the two anymore. She doesn't know if Shirou moved the battleground away or if he's just cornered. Either way, it seems the fight has gone to the compound. "――――Just a bit more. I'll finish this quickly, so…" She runs. It's only as fast as walking, but she frantically moves her feet. She pushes her way through the tainted meat. Her breathing ragged, she reaches out. "Hah, got it――――!" She climbs up. She can feel the mountain of meat.

"……Oh. It seems it's better here." She lays on the pulsing ground. This feels even nastier, but the heat violating her nerves goes away.

"……? Wait… could this be…?" She puts her finger on the red ground. …It is the same as the black mud, but it has form. It is something that should not exist in this world―――something that came out of the Holy Grail and took form using magical energy.

"…Servants… This is exactly like the Servants…" She murmurs in blank amazement. …She tries to think what this could mean, but then stops herself. This isn't the time. There is only one thing she must do right now.

"―――All right, I'm rested. I'm going to find Shinji and get out of here." She gets up and runs along the top of the mountain of meat. It is an island about fifty meters wide. She could not tell before, but this lumpy meat is intertwined.

"――――Found him." Within it all… Matou Shinji is there, hidden amongst the flesh.

"Gah……!" I repel the oncoming swords. There are over ten Noble Phantasms, and every one of them has been released to destroy me.

"Ku……!!!!" I throw away the destroyed sword and prepare for the next attack. "Ha, haa, ha――――" I catch my breath in an instant. I can't project with ragged breath, and I'll just be skewered if I don't have a weapon.

"Haa, guh――――!" This battle is not a battle against him. This is a battle against my body. I will die once the speed and precision of my projection go down.

"Hah――――there is no time to rest!" "……!" In reponse to his voice, a straight sword points at me. The loaded Noble Phantasm is released at fatal speed――――

"――――Trace…!"

"――――Guh, gu――――!" Unable to deflect the full impact, I fall to the ground. I quickly roll to the side and get up, steadying myself.

"What is wrong? Your quality is going down. You cannot even call it a replica if it will break in one blow."

…He laughs. He's obviously enjoying this. There's no way for me to defend myself if he releases all of the Noble Phantasms behind him. But he releases them one by one, as if to test how much I can take.

"Haa――――Haa, ha――――" …But that's what's keeping me alive right now. It's too hard to project a weapon after seeing it, even with Tohsaka's backup.

I can only imitate the shape. I can't construct the ability inside of it, so it gets destroyed with one blow.

"Ku――why did he say that―――?" He said I'm the only one who can beat him. But this is all I can do. I can't rush at him after I block his attack.

Two. I'll at least need two weapons. But I'm having trouble projecting one weapon, so it's impossible for me to project two at once…!

"What? So you're just talk, faker?" He must have liked seeing me roll around, as he looks delighted.

"Ha――――a." …I catch my breath. It's fine as long as he's enjoying this. There's still a chance for me to win――――

"――――Trace, on." I look within myself. A limited circuit. I mentally lay out as many blueprints as I can. …I can see seventeen Noble Phantasms behind him. I read the structure from its appearance, draw out the concept of creation, select the composition material――――

"Guh―――……!" I vomit blood. It's because I'm putting multiple blueprints inside a circuit that usually handles one or two. My nerves are bruised since I started projection, and my body is being destroyed from within. My throat tries to pump out the blood that is filling my stomach.

"――――Possession experience, sympathy complete." I swallow it and continue with the process. Kanshou and Bakuya cannot block his Noble Phantasms. Archer should be able to with his technique, but I don't have that much skill.

There's only one way for me to block the Noble Phantasms. I need to offset them with the same exact ones――――!

"Fu――――haa, ha――――" I still have enough magical energy. There's enough supply from Tohsaka.

…But the circuit to channel it is about to break. The end is near.

When he gets serious, I have to project the same number of Noble Phantasms as him to stay alive. But my body will die if I project that many.

"――――Roll out. Bullet, clear." I save the overflowing images. …The overflowing swords are ones that will pierce me from within. Emiya Shirou will be pierced from within if the circuit cannot be controlled.

"Oh. You made a lot this time. 10, 15, 17… I see. You reproduced all the Noble Phantasms you can see." "Wh――――at?"

"Do not take me lightly. What sort of hero would I be if I could not see through a magus? I can easily tell how many spells you are working on." "――――――――"

His words are unexpected. The king of heroes that possesses thousands of Noble Phantasms can figure out my magic just by looking at me?

"Then let me grade them. Well―――I will not allow any one of them to stay in this world, no matter how good they may be." Gilgamesh raises his hand.

"Ku――――!" My reaction is delayed. His words caught my attention, creating a hopeless delay――――!

The seventeen Noble Phantasms are released. "King's Treasures". A fraction of them charge in, as if to tell me playtime is over…! "―――Freeze out, sword bullet full open…!"

"Ha――――guh――――!" My body wavers. The swords shooting forward and the swords created from within me crash and shake the surroundings.

"Ah――――ga――――……!!!!" I can't block all of them. Even if I project seventeen Noble Phantasms, I can only give form to them one at a time. Even if I can form them in succession, I am no match for him as he can release all of them at once――――!

"Haha, you are holding well with your fragile works, but you should not be able to last more than a few more blows. Come on, you need to hurry or you will die." I hear him laughing behind the swords. Twelve more enemy Noble Phantasms――――!

"But you sure are foolish. You know you cannot beat me, so you try to regain the Holy Grail. That decision is correct. You are not even a match for me."

"――――!" My fingertips are burning. The magical energy I emit and the heat from the crashing Noble Phantasms burn my fingertips mercilessly. Seven more Noble Phantasms――――!

"But then, why not just kill Shinji? It is a sure way to stop the Holy Grail. I am sure you two had a way to kill him without going across that mud. ――――Heh. Such hypocrisy to try to save him. As expected from a lowlife――――!"

"Ah――――ha, ah――――" …It's burning out. My circuit is completely burning off. I don't have enough. I can't match this man with [wrap text=̢this"]this small circuit――――!

"Damn, why……!?" Why can't I block them? He said I can beat him. So why am I not even a match?

――――Does that mean… I'm making a mistake?

"――――Ah, ah――――!" Three more Noble Phantasms. Will my body last until I block them? No, I should be thinking about the difference between my projection and Archer's――――

"――――――Huh?" All senses freeze at that instant. I don't even pay heed to the three approaching blades. The golden Servant is taking out a sword. A strange sword. My mind burns up the instant I see it.

"You said you will save the girl, right?" He laughs while the sword roars. I eliminate the three remaining blueprints in my circuit and concentrate on reading his sword.

But. "――――I… can't read it…?" I was able to read every sword. But I can't even read that sword's structure.

"Then show me. Show me what you can save with your imitations!" ――――A storm of chaos. The wind emitted from his sword even blows away his own Noble Phantasms as it comes at me.

"――――――――" My mind is still blank. I can't come up with any countermeasures, so I just release the remaining magical energy within me――――

"――――――――Let us."

And the swordsman readies his sword. The only stance for the man who does not have a stance. A fatal technique that cuts his enemy by simultaneously executing blows from different angles. She has experienced the move before. …The previous one only had an arc to surround his enemy and a vertical slash. That is why she was able to avoid it and live up to this day.

But the real technique has three slashes. A circular slash and a vertical slash. …And probably a horizontal slash that cuts anyone that escapes sideways. There is nowhere to run if the three attacks are executed all at once. Once in range, the other two attacks will cut you even if one is blocked. One cannot escape sideways, and the longsword will reach out even if one retreats.

―――Demonic technique, Tsubame Gaeshi. A godly technique that even surpasses the Servants. The ultimate attack, perfected by an anonymous swordsman using all his life.

The longsword trembles. His body moves in with one step. The distance to attack Saber. Prison-like arcs are executed from a range that does not allow any defense! "――――――――" Saber does not use her holy sword. She cannot use her Noble Phantasm at this range. No matter how fast Saber may be, Assassin's Tsubame Gaeshi is many times faster. Her neck will be cut the instant she puts magical energy into her sword. Therefore, her only weapon is pure technique.

――――The blade begins its arcs. She feels despair from its precision and speed. Such an attack――――how much training was needed to get this far?

"――――――――" Fear is the only thing on her mind. It cannot be blocked. This technique is a technique of carnage that challenges God with mere human skill. Only God would be able to block it.

"Haa――――――――" She gulps. There is a flash as small as a grain of sand. She does not think about what it is, nor if it is correct. She risks everything she has on her instinct. "Ahh――――――――!" She charges at her "victory" with all her might.

What did the fictional swordsman think of that? "――――――――Kuh." Silver armor passes through the gap beside his arm. The opening between the swordsman's left arm and his waist. Saber must have figured out that the small opening is the blind spot of the technique.

Even though the attack still chips off her armor, Saber curls up and flies through the opening. An exquisite skill that is only possible with her precognition――――her great instinct. She was able to predict the true Tsubame Gaeshi since she experienced it once.

―――But that is not the surprising part. It is her determination that kept her alive. She trusted her insight and put all her power into the slight opening. She shook off the fear that she would be slashed if she was even a moment late and charged into the small opening. Therefore… Her determination is the "strength" that defeated the demonic technique.

"Ah, gu……――――!" But the match isn't over yet. Even though Tsubame Gaeshi was avoided, her enemy is right beside her, and she charged in with speed quicker than the attack. It is not easy to recover her stance from such a charge――――!

"Ha――――――――!" The longsword strikes. The attack is the quickest, even if it may not be as quick as the demonic technique. But. Her attack is a bit quicker than his.

"Gu――――nu." He closes his mouth. He shuts his lips tight and tenses up so that he will not fall down. Blood from his lungs fills his mouth, but he swallows it so that it will not spill out. ―――The golden-haired girl is below him. The way of the swordsman does not allow him to dirty her with his blood.

"――――――――" Saber does not say anything. Her golden hair flutters down to the ground. …It is a wonder that her head is still attached. …It is a miracle that her limbs are still attached. …She felt that her body would be slashed the instant she went into that opening.

That was the only difference. The longsword… The swordsman's technique would have stayed invincible if his longsword had not been bent.

―――The air is shaking. Another battle is still going on behind the mountain gate. "……" Unsure of what to say, Saber looks up at the dying swordsman. To that…

"――――――――Go." The swordsman tells her without looking at her. How much meaning was contained in that word? Saber pulls out her sword and runs up the stairs. She does not turn back to the swordsman. She runs to fulfill her role.

"Hah―――I thought she was a beautiful bird, but she turned out to be a lion." He murmurs as if that was to be expected. She avoided something that even a sparrow could not avoid, so she cannot be something that is admired.

"―――Hm. I was confident in my skills to see through women. I guess I need more training in that as well." The swordsman complains with a shrug. His elegant clothing has lost its colors already. His stomach is pierced and his bloodstained feet are vague. He looks down at them and sits.

The branches shake. The wind coming down from the top of the mountain rustles the forest. And when the flowers scatter, the wind stops, and the moon darkens… …The swordsman has disappeared without trace, as if his existence was just an illusion.

At that instant… I develop the strongest weapon I have projected. But it doesn't even serve as a shield. The sword of separation. The mysterious sword cuts through the wind, destroys six Noble Phantasms, and cuts my body apart.

It's disappearing. The circuit is disconnected, and Tohsaka's magical energy disperses without a place to go. "Da mn."

I curse my worthlessness. I knew that I'm unskilled. I curse myself for never thinking twice. Why is this all the magical energy I have? Just a bit more… If I could reach into that darkness just a bit more, I could have fought like him――――

――――I fall to the ground. I fly through the air and crash to the ground with great force.

I don't feel pain from the landing. I don't have such a sense anymore. Even my mind is going blank. …Before I die. The only thing filling my head is the surprise that my limbs are still attached.

"So that is all you can manage? I guess a fraud is just a fraud. You cannot save anyone."

…My heartbeat gets weaker. My lungs do not move, rendering me unable to breathe.

"It would have been more fun if I let Archer live. He was a faker as well, but his ideal was not vulgar."

I can't see anything, but it seems it's not because my eyes are broken. My organs are just too messed up to function as they should. Maybe it's fortunate. I don't have any sense of pain, so I should be able to die easily―――

"―――Oh. I remember, now that I think about it. He said your ideal is a borrowed one. How conceited of you to think that you can manage anything when you have nothing you created yourself."

―――I can't do that. Even if I might go crazy from the pain, I need to regain my consciousness. The deep part of me says so as it points to that place.

"A superhero? A world where no one gets hurt? Ridiculous. No world can preserve happiness without harming anyone. Humans cannot live without sacrifices. 'Peace' is a myth created by those who cower in fear of the dark. ―――You lowlife. Your ideal is just an excuse to cover up your ugliness."

"――――――――" I raise my arm which should not be moving. My fallen body and my dying mind. I raise my hand to grab something, like I did on that day.

…I don't know what's funny, but someone's laughing. It seems like everyone in this world is laughing.

A fake wish. A borrowed ideal. Someone scorning me, saying that my dream won't come true.

…Yes, that's exactly right. My wishes are all borrowed. I just admired the wish of wanting to help someone because it's beautiful. So there's nothing that came from within me. My body has always been driven by a curse-like obsession with helping others.

That's why it's a fake. Such an imitation cannot save anything. First of all, I'm not sure what needs to be saved.

But. But I still felt that it's beautiful.

It was not born from within me. I just saw someone save others and copied that behavior. I was empty back then. Everyone died, and I could not save anyone. I could not bear the fear in front of me unless I gave up, saying that humans are weak.

――――That's why…

That's why I admired the ideal. Because it was something I did not have, and its sanctity brought tears to my eyes. Is that wrong? Is it a fake if it's not mine? Even if my wish is fake, is it wrong for it to come true?

――――No. I don't think it's wrong.

"Ah――――――――Ah."

I don't care, even if it's fake. I'll make it come true, even if it's an impossible ideal. It's an impossible wish from the start. An unreachable utopia.

―――Then, even if Emiya Shirou is a fake… What's there has to be true.

"―――That's right. I already knew that."

I know that I can't save everything. I know that there's no help without sacrifices. I know that reality is like that because I became an adult. I know it's only an ideal, but I still continue to seek it.

It's not the end after someone gets hurt. Even if the best possible outcome has someone get hurt to save many others, I still want to pursue a resolution where nobody is hurt. That there is no justice in this world, and that people die meaninglessly in reality… I don't think such words are right…!

And he reaches this place at the end.

What I believe in. What I believed in. He said that they are all a fake.

But the one who said so followed through on his hypocrisy. …Then I can keep going. I don't care, even if it's a fake. First of all, I'm too simple-minded to worry about such a thing.

I make up my mind on this hill of swords. …That if I can save the world in front of me, I will fight for it. I didn't even need to think about it. My world is small. This small "world" is all I have ever been able to create.

――――That's right. I am the bone of my sword.

…Yes, so I can endure most things. Emiya Shirou can keep his dream until the very end. …Even if… What I seek is nowhere.

"―――So that's it!" "――――!?"

I raise my body. I can move my limbs again as soon as my consciousness returns. My body still moves. It's a wonder that I'm still alive, let alone moving, after his attack, but I don't care.

If I'm alive, there must be a reason why. It's just that I don't know why.

"Did you project a shield…? I was reluctant to use that sword, but it should have been fatal. ―――You are rather tenacious, boy."

"You were reluctant…? Heh, what's there to hold back when you have so many weapons?"

I keep my distance while I catch my breath. I know how to do it now. I should be able to do it with the backup from Tohsaka. The problem is the casting. Even though I have it memorized, I don't know how fast I can get it working until I try――――

"――――Heh. That was a sword that only a ruler is allowed to use. I showed it to you for the fun of it, but it is not something to be used against a lowlife. Saber is the only one allowed to fight against it. I will not be able to face Saber if I sully it on one such as you."

Numerous Noble Phantasms appear. But they are all third-rate. The difference is obvious after seeing that previous sword.

But they are not something I can take lightly. They are more than enough to kill me. ―――The difference in our powers is the same. Even though I managed to survive the previous attack, I cannot match that Servant with my projection.

"Oh, are you done with your copying? So you finally understand that it is useless, huh? ―――Then disappear. I will not even leave a piece of your copying brain behind――――!"

The Noble Phantasms are released. But… "Shirou…!" A blue rushing wind repels them.

"Saber…!" Gilgamesh jumps back instantly. Even Gilgamesh is cautious against Saber. He wants to avoid hand-to-hand combat with her, as his technique is inferior.

"―――Good. Are you all right, Shirou? Sorry that I am late. I will take over now. Please stay away―――"

"No. I can manage Gilgamesh by myself. You're the one to go, Saber."

"Wh―――――" "――――at?"

"W-What are you saying, Shirou…!? You will fight him in that state of yours? No, a magus cannot match a Servant in the first place. You should know that…!"

"Yeah. But Gilgamesh and I are an exception. Trust me. I'll probably be able to beat him." …Saber gasps. Saber is surprised because she believes my words.

"Please hurry to the back, Saber. Tohsaka is stopping the Holy Grail by herself. You're the only one who can destroy it." "――――――――" She closes her eyes once. A few seconds… No, it's not even for a second.

"Good luck. I will go save Rin." She says what I want to hear the most and steps away from Gilgamesh.

Her silver armor turns away. "Saber." I stop her just once.

"―――I could not save you." And I say it. I say it in place of the one who cared for her.

"I don't think that Holy Grail is the one you seek. …Go take a good look at it so that you won't make a mistake next time." "――――Shirou?"

"…Sorry. I can't put this into words real well. I guess I wasn't fit to be your Master. So――――" I couldn't even figure out your true desire.

"That is not true. You are my Master, Shirou." "―――Saber." "I shall go fulfill my role as a Servant. We shall talk afterwards."

She runs without turning back. She is gallant and looks like the wind.

Saber has left. She believed in my promise that I would win and went to save Tohsaka.

――――Let's start.

I have no hesitation now. All that's left is for me to defeat the enemy in front of me.

"Fu――――haha, hahahaha!!!!!"

"Are you mad? You are letting go of your only chance of victory so that you can save that girl? ―――Idiot. It is a lie to sacrifice yourself. You are a true hypocrite for not being able to realize that. Yes, I shall praise you for that."

The Noble Phantasms are set. ―――There are about thirty of them. If I want to block them, I'll have to create it.

"…Imitations, faker, huh? Yeah, that doesn't sound too bad. I certainly am a faker." I raise my arm. I close one eye and look inside of me.

"Hm―――?" "…I had the wrong idea. My magic isn't creating swords. First of all, I can't do such a skillful thing."

That's right. Tohsaka said it too. I can only use one kind of magic. Strengthening and projection are just a byproduct of it.

"…That's right. There's only one thing I can do, and that is to put shape to my mind." I grab my right hand with my left and glare at Gilgamesh.

"――――I am the bone of my sword." I cast the spell. Casting is only a suggestion to change myself. These words are to connect Emiya Shirou.

"I see. I am done with hearing your nonsense." The numerous Noble Phantasms are released. ――――I'll make it. This is why one of my eyes is open. I pull out a shield from the hill to block the oncoming Noble Phantasms――――!

"Guh――――!" The swarm of swords batter against the shield. The shield is me myself. My body breaks up as each petal of the shield is pierced and damaged.

"―――Steel is my body, and fire is my blood." There's only one place I need to reach. The flowing power fills me to capacity in an instant.

"Wh――――at?" What caused his shock? Is it his Noble Phantasms that cannot penetrate through a single shield, or is it the magical energy in front of him?

"―――I have created over a thousand blades. Unaware of loss. Nor aware of gain."

It breaks. The overflowing magical energy cannot be controlled. Magical energy ten times the capacity of the circuit breaks its foundations trying to escape―――― "―――I cannot break through―――?" Blood trickles from my mouth. The shield is full of holes now. Even though the Noble Phantasms did not reach me, my body is full of holes. But still―――― "―――Withstood pain to create weapons. Waiting for one's arrival." The magical energy rages around. But I don't care. This body is a circuit specialized to use this "one magic" from the start. Then there should be more. There should be something beyond this if I can't make it with this circuit.

…No, it is already there. It's just that I can't see it. There was no limitation to the circuit from the start. If it was darkness, not a wall, that stopped the magical energy… Then the limit is somewhere beyond the darkness――――

"――I have no regrets. This is the only path."

Magical energy ten times the capacity of the circuit breaks its foundations trying to escape――――and I use a hundred circuits to take in a thousand times the capacity.

"―――My whole life was 'unlimited blade works'"

I cast the true name. At that instant. Everything breaks and everything reforms.

――――Fire runs. The fire becomes a wall and creates a border, changing the world. A desolate land remains. A hill with numerous swords.

"――――――――" What does he think of the scenery? The golden Servant stands there with a gruesome expression.

"…That's right. I don't create swords. I create a world that contains infinite swords. This is the only magic allowed for me."

A desolate land. A graveyard of swords, devoid of life. Every sword exists in this world, as swords are reproduced just at a glance.

This is Emiya Shirou's world. A Reality Marble. It is the greatest forbidden magic that embodies the caster's internal world. This is heroic spirit Emiya's Noble Phantasm and the only weapon I possess.

Everything is here, and nothing is here. That is why this is called Unlimited Blade Works. This is the only definite answer obtained by the one who lived as a sword all his life.

"―――Reality Marble. So this is your ability…!" I take a step forward. Stuck in the ground next to me are the swords that are floating behind Gilgamesh.

"There's no need to be surprised. These are all imitations. As you say, these are all trifling swords." I reach out my arms. The swords come out as if to accept me as their user.

"But there is no rule that an imitation cannot defeat the original. If you say you are the original, I shall surpass every one of your weapons and destroy your existence." I move forward. In front of me is the Servant with a thousand treasures.

"Here I come, king of heroes――――do you have enough weapons in stock?"

"Hah――――you forget your place, lowlife――――!" The enemy opens the "gate" and readies numerous Noble Phantasms. I run across the deserted land. The two groups of swords start the final match.

“What is that?”

The first thing Saber sees after getting to the lake is a giant mountain of meat.

She is not a normal knight. She fought many monsters back when she was called a hero. She has even fought “dragons”, considered the strongest of the fantasy races.

But even Saber falters against the mountain of meat. It is not because of its ugliness. It is because she can tell that the lump of meat and the curse flowing out of it are the same as her.

“A Servantcan a Servant turn out to be that different if the summoning is done in the wrong way?”

Or is that the power of the Holy Grail? She stares at it and shakes her head.

“Rin…! Where are you, Rin…!?”

She runs to the lake and yells to the other side.

She is hesitant to enter the black mud. It is not because it would be unpleasant. Her instincts tell her that as a half-spirit, she cannot touch it.

“!?”

She hears a voice. It is weak, but she hears her Master. She looks at the mountain of meat and

“Rin……!?”

She steps forward without hesitation.

‘Hold on…! No, don’t come in, Saber…!’

“……!” Saber stops. She stops her feet and glares at the mountain of meat while holding up her sword.

“But Rin…!”

‘Just don’t…! You’ll turn into this if you touch the mud. Please stay there and get ready to use your Noble Phantasm. This thing will explode soon. Use your Noble Phantasm on this before that…!’

Saber cannot nod to her master’s words. …She can tell that the lump of meat is about to hatch. The squirms are turning into throbs and the mud is spreading ever further.

The lake has turned black, and the mud is spilling onto the ground.

…That thing is growing.

The world’s restraining power will be activated if that thing is left alone. It is natural for her to destroy it with her holy sword. But to do that

“Please get out, Rin…! I can do it once you get out!”

‘…Yeah. All right, I’ll leave it to you. But go ahead and use it if I don’t make it out on time.

…The contract between us will go away, but you should be fine if Shirou is alive.’

“Do not say such a thing…! I do not care. I can handle this curse”

Saber runs to the black mud so she can get to that lump of meat.

But her body does not move. Her body stops when she tries to go near the lake.

“Rin, did you use the Command Spell?”

‘…Of course. I can’t let the only one who can destroy the Holy Grail die.

I told you it’s all good. I’ll easily get out from here. You can rest assured and stand by with your Noble Phantasm.’

She sounds calm and composed, like always.

“Rin.”

But it does not need to be said that it is just a bluff. The island of meat on the other side… There is nowhere for her Master to run.

“Yeah, right. Well, talk is cheap.”

She murmurs while being surrounded by arms made out of the meat. The situation is hopeless. Matou Shinji was saved. …She ripped off the blood vessels and nerves connected to the meat to let Shinji out. One can say he’s “alive”, ignoring all the after-effects he may have. No, he looks like he is just unconscious, so one could say that he is healthier than the girl carrying him.

“…The problem is after that. I guess it would be desperate if it gets its heart taken away. Will it let me go if I give Shinji back?”

She slowly moves while she stares at the tentacles blocking her way.

But there is no exit. The tentacles are blocking the way out to the lake. Even if she escapes the tentacles trying to swallow her, she will not be able to get past that wall.

“……Crap, my powers…”

She almost falls along with Shinji, but she desperately keeps herself up. She went through the cursed sea and even performed neurosurgery to separate Matou Shinji from the mountain of meat. She went as far as using her reserve magical energy that she hadn’t used for ages, but

“…Guh… That idiot. He took too much of my magical energy without any reserve. …I’m all empty now thanks to him…”

She bears the dizziness as she complains. But she’s not serious.

And it wouldn’t matter even if she did have more power. The tentacles around her are not moving because their target is standing still. They should react right away once they find out that the thing in their body is poison.

Tohsaka Rin and Matou Shinji are alive because they do not have magical energy to be consumed.

“……! …But I guess this is it… It’s getting hard for me to stay standing”

Her vision becomes hazy. Even though she has a foothold, she is still on the mud. Her nerves are getting further infiltrated with each passing second. She will become the new core of the Holy Grail if she falls down onto the meat.

But before that…

“…I’m sorry, Saber. You probably won’t obey me, so I’ll force you to do it.”

She has one more Command Spell. That’s enough for her to order Saber to use her holy sword.

“……And I have to apologize to you too.

I couldn’t… save… Shinji”

‘Just run. I do not want to hear such whining.’

“What?”

She stops her collapsing body. That voice. The voice coming into her head is definitely that of the Servant she has made a contract with.

“Wai”

There’s no time to waste. She knows his personality all too well. He told her to run, so he must have done something that she won’t escape unless she does as she’s told!

“……!!!!!!”

She runs. The arrows coming down from the sky are literally a heavy rain. They destroy the tentacles, the ground, and everything in her path!

“Ah, ku!”

There is no time to turn back. She runs full-speed while carrying Shinji.

“!”

She jumps into the lake. The arrows have swept the black mud away to make her an escape route. It is only for a short while, but there is only dirty water between her and the opposite shore.

“Hah, hah!”

She runs across the lake while carrying Matou Shinji. She runs with all her might, mud splashing around her.

“Please, Saber…!”

Her magical energy replies to the yelling voice.

There is no need to check.

The golden sword mows down everything in its path with its overwhelming power.

The mountain of meat is cut in half and breaks down.

The black mud evaporates, and the light turns the lake into a flat field.

“”

It is a waterfall of light that eliminates everything. Bathed in the light, the swordsman accepts that her battle has ended.

“This is the end. My battle is over.”

Who did she say that to? The wielder of the holy sword is on her knees and watches the light with a flood of emotions.

The Holy Grail is breaking down.

The thing she sought, the thing that should have saved her. She destroyed it with her own hands and finally realized her mistake.

One boy and one hero.

The man that got twisted at the end of his ideal was still a boy.

His regrets are so heavy that they cannot all be carried. His crimes are so deep that they cannot be atoned for. But there was something he did not give up on. The knight in red finally arrived at an answer at the very end.

Thenshe has to move forward as well.

The end where she took her hands off of the sword. She will run past that hill under her own will.

“The contract is complete. You are victorious, Rin.”

The holy sword fades away. She still has some magical energy left. She can stay in this world if she pushes herself. If she canshe would like to see what awaits them in the end.

“But that is not my role. Shirou has Rin.”

Her body continues to disappear and the knight vanishes from this world as if engulfed by the light.

Like a brave gust of wind. The king that sought the Holy Grail sets off for the hill of destiny without leaving a trail of memories behind.

“Hah!”

I oppose the longsword with a longsword. The swords break each other and the shards are sent flying.

“Damn, do not”

A curved sword appears behind him.

“…Overestimate yourself, kid!”

But I pull out the curved sword by my feet faster than him. And I swing it straight at him!

“!”

Gilgamesh retreats. I close the distance at once, pull out a sword, and slash at him.

“Guh, why…!

Why am I losing to a mongrel’s sword…!?”

I crash my swords against the appearing Noble Phantasms.

“HaaHaa, haa, haa, ha!”

I’m not thinking. My body and mind will fail if I stop. I will keep moving forward now. That’s why I will keep moving forward. The instant I see his Noble Phantasm, I reel in the exact same one and swing it with all my might!

“Impossibleam I being cornered by such a sham…!?”

“Fuh, hah!”

The sounds of swords crashing echo through the area. He cannot handle my attacks and has to destroy my weapon with his.

That will be the cause of his defeat.

He is the greatest heroic spirit, as he has over a thousand Noble Phantasms at his leisure.

But he is only an “owner”. He does not have one weapon, so he is not a “wielder” who can use his weapon to its maximum potential.

Even in this world, I am no match against any other Servants. I cannot match the ultimate one even with infinite swords. Gilgamesh must have the ability, but I do not.

Thereforethis is the only Servant I can match.

As we have the same ability, as we are both “owners”, I am always one step ahead of him since my swords are there, ready to be used…!

“DamnDamn, damndamndamndamn…!!! I did not think I would have to use my sword against a mongrel like you…!”

Gilgamesh raises his hand. The sword appearing behind him is the demonic sword, the only sword that does not exist in this world!

“I won’t let you!”

“Gah!?”

I swing my twin swords. The Kanshou and Bakuya I reel in slice off Gilgamesh’s arm that tries to reach for his sword! strike down Gilgamesh’s sword as he tries to reach for it!

“Wha”

The weapons stop. His arm and sword fall sword falls to the ground, leaving him defenseless.

“Haa!”

My body acts before I can think. Confident in my victory, my limbs move to slash the king of heroes

“!”

He jumps back. Barely avoiding the twin swords, Gilgamesh retreats still further.

“Kuhyou are stronger than me here…!”

Gilgamesh admits his defeat and tries to retreat.

“I won’t let you escape.”

I won’t let him escape. I’ll lose if he regains his composure. I have to settle the match right here!

“Dammit!”

“Damn!”

He must have realized he will not be able to escape, as he pulls out a Noble Phantasm from behind him. But I’m faster.

I’ll surely

“Huh?”

“What?”

Our voices overlap. The change happens in an instant.

The light coming from the lake eliminates the hill of swords. A great magical energy has smashed away the already-disappearing Reality Marble.

That’s fine.

The match is settled. I can beat this Servant by slashing him with my twin swords. But after the Reality Marble is blown away…

A black void.

A void big enough to swallow a human being.

It appears before meright on Gilgamesh.

“What?”

Gilgamesh looks down at his body in astonishment. …His body is being swallowed. The golden Servant is swallowed by the void appearing on his body.

“Wa”

Did he want to say “wait”? The void mercilessly swallows the Servant. …There was no way for him to escape. The void was open on his body. There is no way one can escape something that is on their body.

“What was that…?”

I stand there, dumbfounded. The void in front of me is shrinking.

…I don’t know what this is. But it seems Tohsaka and Saber were able to destroy the Holy Grail. My only guess is that the after-effect created the black void to eliminate Gilgamesh.

“……Phew. Anyway, now…”

Everything is over.

My twin swords disappear. The magical energy in me fades away.

“Ohcrap.”

And at the same time, fatigue assails me.

“…Damn. This is bad, I can’t walk.”

I want to go see how Tohsaka’s doing, but my body will not move. …Well, I’m sure she’ll be all right since Saber went to go save her.

“Right. I guess…”

I can rest a bit. And after I take a deep breath…

“What!?”

A chain wraps around my arm.

“……!” I gasp. The chain drags my body towards the void.

“Ah, kuh…!” I put power into my body, but I can’t resist. My feet slide across the ground towards the void…!

“Kufool. Does it not know Servants cannot become the core……!?”

“You…!”

He’s appearing from the void. Buthis body has melted here and there.

So that void must melt everything it swallows……!

“Guh, damn…!”

I try to get the chain off of me, but it doesn’t even budge. This chain even restrained Berserker. It’s not something I can pry off…!

“Ah, guh”

I’m being pulled towards it…! I’ll be swallowed like him if I go near that void…!

“Damn, are you trying to take me with you…!”

“Hah, I have no intention of dying…!!

Stay right there until I pull myself out, you lowlife!”

“You…”

He’s arrogant even in this situation…!

“Ohdamn”

But what can I do? I can’t get this chain off of me. I’ll be swallowed into that void along with him. Even if I hold my ground, he’ll pull himself out.

It means I’m going to die either way

#votestaynight

[sakuraswordly]

Dark shade: God. What we call that... is God. And it is our duty to bring God back to our world and finish what he started long ago.

Sonic: I have no right to tell you how to live life to the fullest. I am not human like you. You have your own. So actually, this is nothing more...I want you... to live a life you're proud to be.

Danny: You promise me to live by your true name and your true self when your secret eventually becomes known to everyone.

Punch: God, my a**s! You're just giving yourself an out and manipulating other people! I've had enough of it! I won't let you or everyone change me or use me again! Exterminate the world?! Rewrite the universe?! Who the hell wants to do that @#$%&*?! I'm starting to hate humanity! I hate everything about this world!! I hate everything around me!! I'll get wiped this universe if I can! I'm humanity's biggest enemy! Got it?! I'm the worst girl who ever lived! I may be the enemy of the whole universe. I had no place to call home where I belong. But I'm your friend, Chester. You did destroy my life, yes and I can't be a good girl. And I don't want to be a god. But when I saw someone cry say no one needs them. I want to tell them it's not true!!

Even Punch had a good life and always happy like Sonic, but she was pressured by human society to be cold and selfish. She's only her likely mother could understand her. Original Punch is very much like Sonic. She was also sensitive, believe in herself, hate oppression and did not like to touch. But because where she lives makes her arrogant. Because she was very sensitive what make her hate the world. She felt how people around her hurt and it was unfair. She wants responsible for the world by herself and make her walking path alone. She doesn't want friends or people to be close to her because she doesn't want to hurt them. She knew she was powerful and non-human. She knew she was a freak. 

Actually, Punch is usually a polite person. Punch is a neat and lovely person. Be loved by the people around her like Sonic. Punch is humble and bashful sometimes like Sonic.

But when come to Gilgamesh every time, Punch will be like this Kid Gilgamesh from Fate Grand Order. I mean both his voice and mind are just like Punch lol 😂 .

Note: Don't make her angry. She can kill you.(Sometimes she will use swear words as a warning or cold stare like Gilgamesh) 

Punch: This reality is cruel but I still love this reality. Even if I sacrifice everything, I will protect the hope to the very end. Even if this is a mistake, even though I lost myself, even I lost my way into nothingness, I never had a regret from the beginning I was born.

Gilgamesh: I hate you for never knowing any trouble. That's why I want to win. I wanted you to praise me, just once…! Why can't you let me have a little thing like that…! I almost died every day. I always looked at myself in the mirror, wanting to die. But I was scared of dying, and I didn't want to disappear by myself…! I always believed that someone would come to save me. Someone I love and treasure the most! But Peter...you never came...I quit being human…? Of course! I haven't been treated like one for a long time. I was changed so I could become King of Babylon. I know I'm crazy. But it hurts, and the more I begged them to stop, the more delighted they became and the more they tampered with my body. The myth said I am sexual. Desire sex right? You know what? I was raped. So I'm not like you. It's not like I can do everything like you. All I can do is take my pain out on others. But is that my fault? The ones who made me like this. I didn't become it because I wanted to…! I was forced to become one because everything around me cornered me!!

Note: You need to understand both Punch and Sonic first, and you will know why one day Gilgamesh will say things like that in the future.

Enkidu: I like you, ”Punch”. I've always watched you, and I wanted you to smile. …Yeah. I wanted to believe that you had it better the more I suffered.

Syaoran: Punch's Punch. Her heart doesn't change, no matter how much the shadow or the darkness swallows her.… I'm the one who made her like that. This would never have happened if I hadn't gotten scared back then.

Peter: But I will protect you! I will protect you from everything! It might be my imagination. But my ideal is always to protect those I love. And I will not lose someone I dear the most again!

#sakuraswordly #tsubasa of phantasia concept #punch whalen #Tsofph spoilers #Wow....Punch really had people around her to help her. #the shining stars who give hope. #Punch's a very scary person #Because Punch gave up her human life for Sonic to exist in this world. And Gilgamesh gave up his childhood personality for Sonic as well.

[gothicayomi]

Fate/Next Encounter anime when

#still baffled how to this day I don’t recall ever seeing kirei and saber directly interact with one another #I can’t find ANYTHING on those two #I just want them to interact in canon is that too much to fucking ask for #so needless to say when I discovered the idea of next encounter I lost my shit because honest to god I need kirei and saber together #and as a team?????? could you imagine #it’s hard to say whether they’d end up hating each other but I do think saber would be very wary of him in the beginning #but since archer wouldn’t be there... who’s to say how kirei would turn out #still owning up to his twisted desire no doubt but #I think they would kick ass in battle together. no fucking joke. like they’d be gunning everyone down basically #meanwhile Kiritsugu is five seconds away from bashing his head into the wall. he would ABSOLUTELY hate Gilgamesh more than he hates Arturia #while arturia is blindly naive in his eyes at least she’s not an overwhelming prick with no sense of selflessness #also the other teams are so much more interesting than the originals?????? god. #anyway I saw fan art of saber wearing the nun dress and I drew that but I love her wearing mens clothes more #so imagine the lower half of her uniform is pants ^_^ #fate/zero #saber #kiritsugu emiya #kirei kotomine #might do more next encounter teams depending on Who Cares #anyway I don’t care abt any fate universes outside of the zero and stay night timelines so #fate/next encounter

[epic-summaries]

Me in a Gilgamesh mood: *looks up pictures.* Why is the Fate Gilgamesh blonde? And pale? Why is Enkidu so pretty? And pale?

#me confused about fate #gilgamesh #not bashing the fanartist because they are great #the fanart is usually pretty and some of it is funny #i just have problems with the design the devs gave him

[dedicatedfollower467]

wuzzyletoastermac replied to your post: wuzzyletoastermac: if u ever worry that ur writing...

@dedicatedfollower467​ ….okay you actually made me want to write the essay now lol XD I’ll get back to you after a good night’s sleep and some concrete research into the nature of story in culture and mythic archetypes!

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

#wuzzyletoastermac #epic of gilgamesh #tropes #I'M SO EXCITED #HIT ME UP WITH THAT BASH BROS META!!!!

[akampana]

1.You are burning up Gil/Art

@yolanda0211 @fate-inspiration I hope you don't mind I combined your asks since you sent the same request in at around the same time. :)

Anyway, here's Gilart!

____

There are plenty of things to love about Arturia Pendragon. Enough that even Ninsun, his strict, cutthroat mother, had no qualms about Gilgamesh courting a foreigner from much younger money rooted overseas. Arturia was headstrong, unintimidated by the men in power that dominated her field. She was intelligent, quick-witted, had a temper that flared easily and zero tolerance for bull, which Ninsun could respect, since she had Gilgamesh for a son.

Of course, his mother did have doubts about the young woman’s age and whether her tiny body would be suitable at all for bearing an heir to the Uruk Conglomerate, but that never bothered Gilgamesh. After the man had spent the better part of three years trying to win over the young Pendragon in his own...unique way, he learned Arturia had a certain quality that he both loved and loathed. A quality that kept her climbing the corporate ladder despite her father's hindrances, that eventually landed her the job she had, and that currently made him feel like he was repeatedly bashing his head against an iron wall.

Stubbornness.

“I am warning you that this is not the optimal move to make, Arturia,” Gilgamesh repeated for what felt like the seventeenth time. Maybe the eighteenth. He’d lost the count somewhere between the truckloads of anger and disappointment she was tossing onto his plate.

He admired that she still found the strength to believe that wolves of wall street wouldn’t bite her fingers at every opportunity, but there were limits to their “goodwill”. There were more than a couple mongrels that wouldn’t hesitate to swindle all they could out of the short businesswoman’s wallet. Arturia wasn’t naive, but she was young, and she wasn’t all too familiar with the tricks of the trade. But he’d grown up surrounded by sly snakes, and he’d be damned if all those fools thought he’d let her fall prey to their schemes.

If only Arturia were a little less obdurate. A little more pliable. Maybe then, the creases between his brows wouldn’t be so deep and this hour-long debate could have settled in a few minutes.

To be fair, she wasn’t as argumentative today as she usually was, but perhaps she was realizing his point. Good.

“If this venture goes sour, the fault will lie with you and solely you,” Gilgamesh continued, sliding his own business proposal across the table. “Your prick of a father will find some way to twist the narrative to your disadvantage, you are aware of that, are you not?”

Gilgamesh suspected Uther had been trying to rid the Pendragon name of his “extra” heirs since they were born. Arturia refused to heed him, but when Gilgamesh had literally watched her struggle through every single business proposal she made to the C-listers in this damn international tea company, it was difficult to believe otherwise.

If that mad old mongrel hadn’t skewed his will in favor of Arthur while damning Morgana and Arturia to nothing, Gil may have considered scheduling an “accident”. But alas, he had, and so Uther still contaminated the earth with his every breath while Arturia fought to prove her worth in her own company. Uther’s daughter was a little too merciful to the man that paid for her adoptive parents to raise her, Gil believed.

Arturia glanced at the papers he placed in front of her and placed her hand at the corner. It was already signed, Gilgamesh’s large, elaborate signature inked on a line just below where hers would be. No doubt he had a notary ready to accept this as soon as she penned down her name. He was quite provident that way.

To Gil’s surprise, her immediate reaction wasn’t to shove it back across the table. Instead, she folded her arms, glared at him, then pinched the bridge of her nose. Her face flushed red. He knew he was being generous with the contract, but had he discounted his prices that much?

“That is a risk I am more than willing to take,” she rasped, clearing her throat. The usual bite was decidedly absent from her tone. “Gil, I have been negotiating this deal for weeks—”

“Lift that blindfold from your eyes, woman,” the Mesopotamian huffed, answering her closed off posture by crossing his arms. “Your father’s favor has never been with you. If he allows this project to go through at all, he will set you up to fail.”

His queen rolled her eyes and exhaled heavily, her shoulders drooping. Odd. That had been a direct gibe in her direction. She should be fuming. Not that he was purposely getting on her nerves, but he often found his word to be gasoline to her fire. Why should today be an exception?

“I implore you to take my contract instead,” Gilgamesh said. “It may be the conservative choice in this situation, but with the current state of the industry…Arturia?”

Arturia folded over her desk, no longer able to keep herself upright. Gilgamesh finally noticed she was panting, her weak breaths just barely moving her shoulders. Immediately, he reached over her desk, brushing her bangs out of her rapidly reddening face. Her gaze was hazy as he collected her cheeks into his palms, the woman swaying like her head weighed thirty pounds more than it usually did.

“Remind me how long you have spent on developing this proposal?” he ordered, finally seeing the signs of overwork he most often associated with himself. A high temperature, dark lines below her eyes cleverly hidden behind concealer, a stiff back, and an elevated heart rate he hoped wasn’t linked to her blood pressure. Gilgamesh glared at the four coffee cups in the corner of the room, realizing she probably didn’t have any guests in her office today.

“Not...long enough...to convince you of its worth, apparently,” she shot back, her voice less vicious, but her words as snarky as ever.

Gilgamesh scoffed, letting go of her for just a moment so he could cross to the other side of her desk. He slung her arms over his shoulders, picking her up with ease despite her protests.

All her kicking and thrashing hardly fazed the kingly executive, for in her state she was about as strong as a tiny puppy in a tantrum, and he was the caretaker waiting for the spell to pass. She may have permanently rumpled his shirt collar in the elevator, but at least that meant he could coax her into getting him a new one the next time they go out.

“If you do not put me down this instant, Gil—”

The man sighed, nonchalantly pulling his keys out of his pocket while he continued to hold her to his body with a single arm. He really ought to feed her more if she was going to bear their children in the future.

“If I permit you to return to work, I will make you quite the hypocrite,” he explained, gently placing her into the passenger’s seat. “You’re burning up, Arturia. How can you have the gall to neglect your health in front of me, when just the other month you manipulated Siduri into moving all my meetings back a week to give me ‘proper rest’? You can be quite unreasonable when you want to be, I see.”

The woman’s eye twitched. If she wasn’t so obviously running a fever, she might have already shuffled out of the Porsche and stomped into her office. Alas, all she could do was huff and cross her arms as Gilgamesh slinked into place by the steering wheel.

“For the record, I asked Siduri. I am not the one who subscribes to an unhealthy work ethic, have you thought of checking the mirror recently?” she retorted, flicking the reflective glass with her index finger.

This time, Gilgamesh snorted, unable to keep the smile from his lips. She really couldn’t stand to be beaten, even if he was clearly in the right in this situation.

Stubborn woman.

He looked over before carefully backing up the car, finding a slight curve to her lip as she curled up to the window. He was getting her some warm chicken soup tonight and several blankets. And he was making sure Arturia would stay in bed. For the next week. That text he just sent to Gawain should do it.

----

thank you for the ask! :)

Remember to take breaks, especially when work is a bit hectic. <-a gentle reminder to myself as well HAHAHAA.

#akampana asks #sickness prompts #gilart #casgil #caster gilgamesh #gilgamesh #caster #arturia pendragon #artoria pendragon #arturia #artoria #fate series #fate #fgo #fate grand order #fate fanfic #my writing #saber #fanficiton #fate fanfiction #fanfic

[has-gilgamesh-doneanythingwrong]

Gilgamesh falling in love with a handsome guy

Hello anon, thank you for the request.

I'll share a few short headcanons on how he may act/feel when he's interested and in love with a handsome guy!

I do wonder though if Gilgamesh has a greater thing for looks or character though. I can imagine in this case that he'd be more into a handsome guy whose beauty is less obvious to the eye than a very well-groomed handsome guy...? I think I'm making that judgment based on how he tends to go for very natural kinds of beauties that seem quite rustic/plain but are brimming with character.

Gilgamesh in Love with a Handsome Guy

(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) From the very moment that Gilgamesh laid his eyes on that mystical, unique visage...he was awestruck. As one with a very particular type, Gilgamesh was extremely excited by the sight of him, eager to make his acquaintance.

(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) What impresses Gilgamesh is not just his looks, but the amount of decorum he carries himself with. Like a rough diamond brimming with oodles of untapped potential, Gilgamesh greatly desires to see what he'll be like once polished. Filled with pride at finding yet another rare gem, his vermillion eyes light up with glee.

(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) It's not long before Gilgamesh loses himself to a plethora of fantasies and desires all relating to this individual, almost as if he's obsessed with them. A great hunger awakens within the King, as he desires to make said guy his lover, a partner...and a spouse (he's jumped too many steps at once in terms of relationship development). In Gilgamesh's mind, he is set on making said person 'his', which can be quite difficult for the handsome guy if the feelings aren't reciprocal.

(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) He'll start flirting straight away with him, trying to win over him with endless poems declaring him to be 'one of the most beautiful of gems that I possess' and other indulgent lines that lie on the border between romantic and terrifying.

(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) Once Gilgamesh develops an initial sense of attraction, he is nigh unstoppable! With all the force of a lion, he utterly invades this handsome guy's space with all sorts of cringy and weird pick-up lines, hoping to make him fall for his wealth, status and ridiculously high charm stat.

(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) Because Gilgamesh has absolutely no regard for boundaries and personal space when he pursues someone, his approach is well...very heavy-handed at first. Speaking in an incredibly archaic tone whilst trying to show off his best assets, Gilgamesh hopes to win the handsome guy's admiration (but also comes off as pretty obnoxious).

(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) However, when the handsome fellow showcases a bit of reprehension towards Gilgamesh for overstepping his boundaries, the king of heroes becomes excited. He loves a person who isn't afraid to stand up against him.

(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) He'll shower the guy with extremely valuable gifts; all whilst flitting between complimenting and insulting him.

(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) However, as the two start to go on outings together and get to know each other gradually (although gil tries to rush things), as his walls gradually begin to cave in; Gilgamesh slowly becomes more bashful around him.

#asks #anon #fate series #gilgamesh #gilgablog #gilgawriting