Fate/Magus Path

MP 196: The Trial

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!!

The piercing, crisp sound of something cutting through the air echoed through the divine tower of Uruk. The golden king cast a cold, indifferent gaze downward at Ritsuka and the others, who were struggling to fend off his attacks.

"Silence, you fools from Chaldea. Words are weak and meaningless. If you truly wish to stand beside me in battle, then prove it with your strength!!"

Without giving Ritsuka or Mash any chance to retort, Gilgamesh shot them a chilling look. With one hand, he opened the massive clay tablet book, while the other hand continued its relentless motion.

As he channeled more magical energy, more golden gates appeared behind him, their numbers increasing rapidly, soon covering half of the tower's space.

A more intense onslaught then swept towards them.

"Ana, go help Ritsuka and the others." Merlin whispered to Ana beside him, noticing that Mash and Ritsuka were helpless against Gilgamesh's relentless assault.

Though it was clear the king was testing them, he seemed to be taking it a bit too far.

Not only was he carrying Enkidu's body on his back, but this kind of situation wasn't suitable for him to intervene directly.

"Understood..."

For once, Ana didn't refuse Merlin's suggestion. She adjusted her hood slightly and immediately sprang into action.

Her small figure darted swiftly between the thrones, maneuvering agilely. She quickly flanked Gilgamesh from the right side of the throne.

At the same time, she gripped the end of the chain tightly with both hands, spinning it rapidly in the air, and swung the massive scythe towards Gilgamesh's position.

Swoosh!!

The sharp sound of the scythe cutting through the air caught Gilgamesh's attention.

"Oh? Another Servant joining the fray?"

He tilted his head slightly, spotting the enormous scythe hurtling towards him. Gilgamesh smirked, unfazed.

First, he raised his right hand, continuing to control the numerous golden gates, still targeting Mash's massive round shield, unleashing a barrage of weapons to keep her pinned down. With his other hand free, he dealt with the new challenger, the little girl who had just entered the battlefield.

Clang!!

The clash of metal produced a deafening noise. Facing this sudden, ferocious attack, Gilgamesh produced a golden battle-axe from somewhere and steadily blocked the scythe coming at him from mid-air.

"How is this possible?!!"

Ana's eyes widened in disbelief as her surprise attack was so effortlessly parried by Gilgamesh.

In response, Gilgamesh merely scoffed.

"Is that all you've got? It seems you all just sat back and let others handle the fake, didn't you?"

After this brief skirmish, Gilgamesh had already gauged the capabilities of Ritsuka, Mash, and Ana.

Their strength was adequate, but they were still too naive. They might handle ordinary demonic beasts with ease, but they weren't ready for the final enemy yet...

The foes they were about to face weren't the mass-produced types outside; they were challenging a god, a true deity...

If they lacked the necessary resolve and preparation, they'd just be throwing their lives away in the upcoming battles.