IBHJ 1169

Gilgamesh just snorted and turned away, arms still crossed.

Arthur watched them both with an amused smile.

"Arthur!"

At the sudden call, he turned and his face lit up at the sight of Ayaka Sajyou and Kiara emerging from a newly formed rift.

But then his expression froze, as if he'd seen a ghost. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, his gaze a mix of doubt and confusion as he scanned the area, brows furrowed with unease.

"What's wrong?" Gilgamesh asked.

"...No, nothing." Arthur shook his head. For a moment, he thought he'd seen Manaka Sajyou.

But that was impossible, wasn't it? Manaka was dead.

Had thoughts of her begun haunting him to this degree?

Arthur shook his head and returned his attention to Shirou on the platform. He knew that words alone wouldn't be enough for him to lead this army, he would need support later.

As expected, when Shirou made his appeal as a human, several Chaldean Heroic Spirits and those who remembered his help nodded in agreement.

However, Okita Souji spoke up: "I'm sorry, Eternal King, but Counter Guardians only answer to Alaya's commands."

Then came the objections from proud kings who bowed to no one, ambitious schemers driven by their desires, and divine Heroic Spirits who wielded godly authority.

"This King cannot ignore Pan-Human History's fate," Ozymandias declared. "But who will take responsibility? Who will acknowledge, permit, and shoulder the burden of destroying an entire history? Who... will lead us all?"

"Yes, who will give the orders and lead everyone?" The Heroic Spirits debated among themselves.

To stand against the Eternal Empire, they needed an army—but who could command this assembly of Heroic Spirits?

Ozymandias? Gilgamesh? Iskandar? The Lionheart? Charlemagne... or perhaps the Eternal King?

A king might rule over humans but not gods, and while gods could control humans, there were countless god-slaying heroes present.

Who would acknowledge and who would bear the weight of an entire history's destruction?

No one could. No one held such authority.

Yet amid these voices of dissent, Shirou spoke with conviction: "I will!"

"You?" Ozymandias regarded him with surprise.

"I will acknowledge and bear the weight of an entire history!" Shirou's gaze swept across the assembly. "Who stands with me, and who stands against me?"

In response to his challenge, the gathered heroes broke into discussion. The warriors and mages stepped back willingly, while most kings remained, voicing their objections to Shirou's claim of leadership.

"Kings really are troublesome, aren't they?" Astolfo sighed, turning to Avicebron beside him. "What do you think, Caster?"

"You're forgetting your own king."

"Charlie isn't that kind of stuffy person. See? He stepped back on his own." Astolfo smiled, nudging Charlemagne beside him.

"These kinds of disputes lack any romance," Charlemagne said with a smile.

"The way of kingship is complete." Iskandar sighed wistfully. "What a shame I never met Eternal King during the Fourth Holy Grail War. It would have made for an even more spectacular battle."

Counter Guardian EMIYA shook his head at Shirou. "I'm sorry, but Counter Guardians only answer to Alaya—"

"—Enough!" Gaia's voice rang out as she manifested in a glowing screen, her red eyes sweeping across the gathered Heroic Spirits with clear displeasure.

"You- you're—!?" The assembled Heroic Spirits froze in shock. "Gaia!?"

"Impossible!"

"How can this be..."

"Unbelievable..."

They stared at Gaia, completely dumbfounded.

"Keep squabbling like this and you can forget about reclaiming Pan-Human History!" She pointed at Shirou. "By my authority as Gaia, I name Fujimaru Shirou as your leader! So you all better follow him from now on—got it?"

The divine Heroic Spirits exchanged helpless looks before reluctantly stepping back. Even the maddened Berserker Heracles, faced with Gaia's displeasure, had to withdraw with his tail between his legs.

The Counter Guardians remained impassive. "We answer only to Alaya."

"How dare you talk back to me! Once this is over, I'll snatch you from Alaya and throw you in my private cell. Then we'll see how I deal with you!" Gaia snapped. She was already irritated at being used as a tool by Shirou, and now these Counter Guardians were trying to annoy her, did they think she was that forgiving?

Even if the planet itself was broad-minded, this simulated personality, this consciousness that formed Gaia, had quite the vengeful streak!

"Wait—you can free us from being Counter Guardians?" Their expressions changed instantly as they asked with cautious hope.

"Of course I can. Why wouldn't I be able to? Let me tell you—"

"—We follow the great Planet's will. Your command is our purpose." With that, the Counter Guardians departed.

Gaia: "???"

She stood there, bewildered by their sudden change of heart. But it made perfect sense—their souls had long since rotted from yearning to escape their fate as Counter Guardians. Now that freedom seemed possible, they wouldn't want to risk annoying her by refusing her order.

Having dealt with the Counter Guardians, Gaia noticed that the monarch Heroic Spirits led by Ozymandias hadn't budged, and her eyes narrowed. "You refuse to heed me?"

"Hmph. How can a planet, made to be conquered by humans, presume to command human kings?" Ozymandias's single retort made Gaia bristle.

If this had been directed at the planet itself, it would have remained unmoved. But this Gaia had personality and emotions—how could she not be furious? Compared to these arrogant human kings, her Shirou was far sweeter and more precious.

Just as Gaia was about to scold Ozymandias, Shirou raised his hand to stop her, shaking his head gently.

Gaia frowned but managed to contain her anger.

Everyone saw this casual interaction with stunned disbelief. The divine Heroic Spirits even drew sharp breaths.

"The planet actually listen to him to this extent?"

"Good heavens..."

"Could this be some Noble Phantasm that controls the planet? No, such a thing couldn't possibly exist, right?"

The Heroic Spirits found themselves questioning everything they knew.

"Words alone cannot prove my power," Shirou said as he faced those who still refused to follow him. "Nor can mere ability alone win your approval."

"Oh?" Ozymandias's eyes glinted with interest. "So you mean to convince us with strength?"

Shirou nodded and projected the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad.

"That is Eternal King's Holy Lance!" Lionheart trembled with excitement at the sight of the weapon in Shirou's hands.

As Shirou raised the Holy Lance to speak, Gilgamesh stepped forward. "Wait, Eternal King."

Shirou turned to him. "What is it, King Gilgamesh?"

"This King acknowledges Eternal King as our leader. If you wish to challenge him, you must first defeat me," Gilgamesh spoke calmly to the assembled kings, a sword in each hand.

Shirou was taken aback.

Ozymandias and the other monarchs stared in disbelief, "King Gilgamesh, you—"

"This matter need not trouble King Gilgamesh." Scathach stepped forward with a smile.

From within the crowd, Cu Chulainn frowned at the sight of her. "What's that old hag planning now?"

"My King." she stepped forward. "As your Knight and the former Queen of the Land of Shadows, let me demonstrate your power. There's no need for you to do this yourself—I alone am enough to prove your worth."

Scathach's gaze swept over Ozymandias and the other royal Heroic Spirits with a smile. "Shall you go first, Sun King? Or perhaps you, King of Conquerors? Or maybe... you'd all like to challenge me at once? I'm fine with any option, because in my eyes, you're all weaklings compared to my King!"

With that single declaration, she dominated the entire gathering!