IBHJ Chapter 852

"What about the Holy Grail? If I win the Holy Grail War, you can wish for untold riches."

"No. I don't feel at ease with things obtained without working for them. I only feel at ease with things I've achieved with my own hands."

"..."

For the first time, the King of Heroes felt a headache coming on.

In the past, as a ruler of an ancient era, he felt anger towards the foolishness of his people. But faced with someone like his Master, he suddenly found those foolish people to be more endearing.

However...

"If it were you, if you had summoned me... nothing would have gone wrong..."

"What?" The Master looked up, his eyes meeting the King of Heroes' in confusion.

"Nothing. Go back to your project."

"Oh." The Master turned back to his work.

Seeing the Master return to his project so decisively, even the King of Heroes couldn't help but sigh. He had no choice but to go out and entertain himself with Saber.

As he was about to leave, the kid said without even looking up, "Archer, take out the trash on your way out."

"..."

The King of Heroes had regrets. He should have killed this guy at the very beginning. Now, after getting to know him, he had become arrogant and disrespectful, just like Enkidu!

Damn it!

This is a story of an unacknowledged friendship.

Just like a typical story, two people who couldn't stand each other developed a subtle bond through their daily interactions. Of course, neither of them would ever admit it.

And the typical ending of such a story is usually becoming best friends and accomplishing great things together. But that's just a fairy tale. Reality often disappoints.

The zombified King of Heroes, wearing a smirk, locked eyes with Shirou, clad in draconic silver armor. "So, you've finally come to end me? I've been waiting an eternity for this moment. Come, my—Master! Kill me!"

After eons, he was reunited with his Master. But something was wrong.

Shirou's face was filled with confusion. "Master? What are you talking about?"

Thus, the King of Heroes understood. His Master had returned as a king, but had also forgotten everything from the past. 

However, that was fine too.

He slowly drew a demonic sword from behind his back.

"Come, Chaldea!"

Brandishing his sword, the King of Heroes gazed at Shirou and his companions. "The strongest Heroic Spirit, Gilgamesh, stands before you! If you seek the Black Grail, come and get it!"

A murderous aura surged from him, and a black glow pulsed from his chest.

The Black Grail that had given birth to this Connection Point!

"Raaaargh!"

Heracles let out a deafening roar, and Sasaki Kojirou calmly unsheathed his nodachi.

Shirou paid them no mind. His gaze was locked onto Gilgamesh, the Gilgamesh who called himself his Servant!

On the back of Shirou's right hand glowed the Command Spell, the source of his past life's nightmare. He had tirelessly sought the truth behind this Command Spell, only to discover the contracted Servant was the very first enemy he encountered? The Gilgamesh who had dragged him into the Fourth Holy Grail War out of sheer amusement?

The person he had been desperately seeking was the first person he had met?

This was absurd. It couldn't be true.

Shirou knew it wasn't him. He felt no connection between this Gilgamesh and his contract. The Servant bound to that Command Spell was not this Gilgamesh!

So, who was it?

"You've become a king, so let this be a battle between kings. Here I come, Master!"

With that, Gilgamesh lunged at Shirou, his speed surpassing even Heracles and Sasaki Kojirou!

...

"Ugh, I got washed out..."

Abigail shook her head in the space between dimensions, her mind suddenly clearing. She glanced around at the swirling darkness, then down at the historical fragments suspended in bubbles below her, a troubled look on her face.

She had been hosting a TRPG game to collect souls, but the mudslide had unexpectedly swept her away from the connection point.

Or rather, she had let herself be swept away.

When the mudslide came, she could have dodged, but she deliberately didn't.

Was it weakness?

"I need to get back and host that game. If I can't gather the souls..."

The thought made her eyes droop and her mood sink.

"I'm so sorry... If only I weren't so weak-willed, I could take their souls directly, instead of this... I hope they've already lost their souls due to bad luck, so it won't be by my own hand..."

"But even then, I'm still responsible. Almighty God, please forgive my sins."

Serving an evil god and acting against her Puritan beliefs filled Abigail's heart with torment. But she had to continue, even if it meant betraying her God. This was why she joined the Council.

"Even if they weren't killed by the rules, I must take their souls myself. I can't delay this anymore... This time, I won't be a coward!"

Abigail resolved herself, but as she moved to rush towards the connection point, she found her body frozen in place.

"What's happening?"

Confused, she squatted down and gripped her thighs, trying to pull her legs out like stubborn radishes. But they wouldn't budge.

Suddenly, a bright light appeared behind her, casting her shadow long across the ground.

"Huh?"

Abigail was bewildered. There shouldn't be any light in this dimensional rift.

She turned her head to look, and with a gasp of terror, she collapsed onto the ground.

A colossal monk sat on a lotus platform, eyes closed in meditation. One hand formed a lotus flower gesture, while the other lay flat, as if cradling entire civilizations in his palm.

Buddha's Palm!?

Abigail found herself in the palm of this monk.

The monk had Bodhi-like green hair and a serene expression.

The Enlightened One!

"How how how how how... how could it be... No, didn't you already leave? Wah! I didn't do anything bad, I'm not a bad child!"

Abigail hugged her head and trembled, but no attack came.

Peeking out from under her arms, she cautiously looked at the meditating Enlightened One. "A-are you asleep? Wah! I better run quickly!"

Abigail encased herself in a bubble. The bubble bounced on the ground a couple of times, then flew away quickly like a Saiyan's spaceship.

"Don't wake up! Don't wake up! Almighty God, I didn't do anything bad, so please don't let him wake up!"

Abigail prayed fervently as she fled.

Moments after her escape, the Enlightened One slowly opened his eyes.

He lowered his gaze, peering through time, space, history, and all obstacles, tangible or intangible. His focus landed on Shirou, who stood facing Gilgamesh at the Shinjuku connection point.

His gaze shifted to the Command Spell on the back of Shirou's right hand. After a moment's pause, he closed his eyes again, his body dissolving into a golden light that gradually faded away.

...

Gilgamesh lunged towards Shirou, his body blurring into a black streak of lightning.

"Don't even think about it!" Artoria and Nero yelled, their Excalibur and Sword of Mars slashing at Gilgamesh from either side.

"Annoying!" Gilgamesh roared, swinging his demonic swords to meet their attacks.

The four blades clashed, a thunderous clang echoing through the air.

All four swords were repelled. In that split second of stillness, Gilgamesh reversed his grip, slamming the hilts of his swords into Artoria and Nero's stomachs.

The impact sent them flying backward.

"How is this possible!?" Gray looked at Gilgamesh with a shocked face.

This skill, could it really be...

Could it really be Gilgamesh?

But it didn't matter. If it was Gilgamesh, defeating Artoria and Nero would surely be followed by arrogant laughter and boasting. She would use that moment to strike.

Artoria and Nero shared her thoughts. Yet, to their surprise, after dispatching them, this Gilgamesh didn't gloat. Instead, he continued his relentless charge toward Shirou.

Mud surged behind Shirou, but before it could form into arms, Gilgamesh was already upon him.

So fast! Shirou's heart pounded. He hastily formed a mud spear, thrusting it out to block Gilgamesh's sword with a clang.

Huh? Gilgamesh looked at him with surprise. "Your eyes can actually keep up with me now? Seems you've been through a lot, Shirou."

Shirou scowled. "What do you know about me?" He swept the spear horizontally, using his immense magical energy to shove Gilgamesh back.

"Your personality has changed quite a bit too," Gilgamesh remarked with a smirk. He tightened his grip on the swords, then lunged at Shirou again, giving him no time to recover.