As the Archer pair who had remained unseen throughout the Holy Grail War, Gilgamesh had not been completely inactive.
Due to his Master Tokiomi Tohsaka, and with the support of Kirei Kotomine from the Church, they were naturally the first to learn of the decree to subjugate Caster. News of the order reached them swiftly.
However, quite similar to Kiritsugu Emiya's thinking, Tokiomi Tohsaka did not intend to expose his Servant Gilgamesh directly to the other participants just yet. He preferred to keep his trump card hidden.
As the more excellent solution, he also chose the strategy of observing from the shadows. Keeping their presence a secret was seen as advantageous.
This was naturally the best approach—after all, having one's Servant exposed prematurely was absolutely not a good choice. It could invite unnecessary conflict.
However, Tokiomi Tohsaka understood Gilgamesh far too little. His Master's caution grated on the King of Heroes.
As the oldest of Kings, he did not like this situation of hiding in the dark and waiting for the opportune moment to strike. Such tactics were beneath him.
A King, he believed, should appear before others in the open, in full glory.
Even if there were the strongest of opponents, he should make them surrender before him openly and honorably. His pride demanded it.
And so—
Gilgamesh, following his own will, came alone to the location where Caster was. The flames painted the sky red as he arrived.
And upon arriving, he happened to witness the collision between the Gordias Wheel and the Golden Spar. It was a spectacle of immense power.
It was an incredibly shocking scene, and even Gilgamesh, being a King himself, felt immense pleasure from it. His golden eyes gleamed with appreciation.
"This is the kind of battle worthy of this King's appreciation," the oldest of Kings, Gilgamesh, commented on the earth-shattering scene. Power met power in a glorious display.
And then—
He personally appeared before Sakata Kintoki, speaking his thoughts as if announcing a royal decree. His voice resonated with authority.
"You and Rider enacted a battle fit for a King to admire," he stated, his gaze sweeping over the battered landscape.
"And the King shall grant you a fitting end," he declared, a chilling promise.
"All of this is perfectly reasonable, wouldn't you say?" he questioned, a hint of amusement in his tone.
Facing the suddenly appearing golden man, Kariya Matou did not know the other's true identity. Confusion clouded his mind.
But from the unconcealable arrogance emanating from the opponent, he could tell that this must also be a Servant of the Holy Grail War. An overwhelming presence pressed down on him.
The earlier bad premonition was vividly realized at this moment. A sense of dread washed over him.
Kariya Matou felt a fatal threat. Danger loomed large.
"Berserker, stay alert!" he issued the command, his voice urgent.
However—
Kariya Matou never expected that his command would have no effect at this moment. His words seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Sakata Kintoki simply looked up at the sky where Gilgamesh was, as if falling into a trance, and murmured to himself. His eyes were fixed on the golden figure.
"Golden!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with awe.
"It's completely golden!" he repeated, captivated.
"It's the purest golden!" he declared, his fascination evident.
Sakata Kintoki had an instinctive obsession with shiny things. Golden objects held a special allure for him.
And if, in addition to that, the shiny object was also quite magnificent and authentically golden at the same time. If it possessed both splendor and true value.
The influence on Sakata Kintoki was even more terrifying. His eyes were wide with wonder.
This was a negative effect brought about by the Berserker class simultaneously boosting his abilities. His madness was manifesting in a peculiar way.
"Golden?"
Gilgamesh repeated the word Sakata Kintoki had just spoken, and then realized that the other party was captivated by his own shining golden armor. A smirk played on his lips.
"Heh," the oldest of Kings let out a cold laugh.
"Do you find this King's armor very beautiful?" he asked, his voice laced with arrogance.
"Golden! You are absolutely right!" Sakata Kintoki made no attempt to hide his interest, even though the opponent was an enemy at the moment. His admiration was sincere.
"Very well then—"
A golden ripple appeared behind Gilgamesh. Space seemed to shimmer.
"As a reward for your vigorous performance just now, this King will only use weapons made of gold in this battle," he announced grandly.
"Like this, surely you can die with satisfaction, can't you?" he questioned mockingly.
With a hum.
Just as Gilgamesh had promised, what appeared from the golden ripple was nothing else, but a shining golden sword! Its blade gleamed brightly.
This was Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasm, Gate of Babylon! The air filled with the scent of ancient treasures.
The oldest of Kings placed all the treasures that could be created in his era into this space that did not exist in the world. It was a realm overflowing with wealth.
Only he alone possessed the key to open it. His power over it was absolute.
Now—
That endless reserve of weapons perfectly fulfilled Gilgamesh's promise at this moment. Countless golden blades awaited his command.
Since there was someone who understood and respected treasures, and at the same time had offered him such a perfect performance.
Then—
It was time to be magnanimous and let him die by the very things he liked the most. A twisted form of generosity.
This was the King's mercy, and also the King's gift.
Whoosh!
A golden sword blade appeared from the King's treasury and reached the sky above the fire. Its form was ancient and deadly.
It flew towards Sakata Kintoki at an extremely high speed.
With a slash.
The blade pierced through the strong man's shoulder. Blood spurted outwards.
Blood splattered onto Kariya Matou's face. The warm wetness made him realize that this shining golden man had appeared to kill him and Sakata Kintoki. Fear seized him.
"Wake up! Berserker! If this continues, we'll die here!" he shouted desperately, his voice hoarse.
However, Kariya Matou's words did not have much effect.
Without the help of Zouken Matou's Crest Worms, his admittedly "ordinary" level of magecraft was simply unable to make Sakata Kintoki, who was now in a state of deep fascination, recover. His magical reserves were insufficient.
"It's clear that you truly like this King's weapons."
Gilgamesh said this, a knowing look in his eyes.
"Then—"
"Let's bestow a few more upon you." he declared, the golden ripples expanding behind him.
With a hum.
Gilgamesh once again expanded the golden ripples—only this time their number was much greater than before. More gates opened in the air.
The blades had their own characteristics; their appearances were completely different. Each one was unique.
But they all had one absolute commonality—they were entirely made of gold, without any other substances mixed in. Pure, unadulterated gold.
This was the King's promise.
If he said he would only fight with blades forged from gold, then he would only attack the opponent with them! His word was absolute.
Swish, swish, swish.
The blades flew out as before, piercing into Sakata Kintoki's body without fail. Each strike found its mark.
Realizing that things would definitely not work out like this, Kariya Matou began to force himself to think about how to solve this problem. Desperation fueled his thoughts.
Perhaps it was the adrenaline in the face of crisis that was working.
Kariya Matou quickly thought of a method—that was to use the Command Spells on his hand. His left hand trembled slightly.
This was a magical product that could forcibly command one's Servant to perform a certain action. A powerful tool.
He hadn't wanted to use them in a situation like this. He had hoped to save them.
But now, it seemed he had no choice but to do so. There was no other option.
Clenching his fist, Kariya Matou used the Command Spells on the back of his hand to issue a command to Sakata Kintoki. The mark on his hand glowed red.
"Berserker! Counterattack now!" he ordered forcefully.
As Kariya Matou said these words, a part of the originally three Command Spells disappeared. One line vanished from the back of his hand.
As a result of its activation, Sakata Kintoki, holding his halberd, launched a fierce attack on Gilgamesh. His body moved despite the pain.
Lightning flashed on the halberd. Its power flared.
Outwardly, it appeared no less powerful than the surge displayed during the collision with the Gordias Wheel. Its energy was visibly potent.
However—
It only looked no less powerful.
In reality, after the head-on confrontation with Iskandar just now, Sakata Kintoki had already accumulated a significant amount of damage. His body was battered.
Coupled with the piercing damage caused by the previous golden blades. Each wound sapped his strength.
At this moment, he had actually lost a considerable amount of combat ability. His reserves were depleted.
That seemingly courageous attack was actually the last surge of a spent force. It was a desperate move.
Gilgamesh also quickly saw through this. His discerning eyes missed nothing.
"Have you reached your limit already?" he questioned, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"But this King has only used but a fraction of his blades," he remarked, gesturing to the Gate of Babylon behind him.
Saying this, more golden ripples appeared behind the oldest of Kings. The air filled with a multitude of golden circles.
Golden blades from his era surged out, forming an attack like a rain of arrows. A torrent of weapons.
Blade after blade was teleported from the Gate of Babylon, flying towards Sakata Kintoki's body. They descended like a golden storm.
One strike.
Two strikes.
Three strikes.
More and more blades were embedded in Sakata Kintoki's body, and blood flowed from the wounds, streaming down his body onto the ground, re-coloring the fire-blackened parts with a large patch of red. His golden form was stained crimson.
Clang.
The massive halberd fell to the ground. Its weight too much for him to bear.
Sakata Kintoki, with blades sticking out of him, fell to his knees. His strength gave out.
"Is this the end?"
Gilgamesh looked at Sakata Kintoki before him, his tone devoid of much mockery.
He always showed a certain degree of respect towards people with strength.
Furthermore—
He did feel somewhat that his victory was not entirely fair. The circumstances favored him.
Gilgamesh turned his gaze towards Kariya Matou not far away.
"Very well," he said.
"Next, it's your turn," he announced, his voice cold and final.
Gilgamesh descended from the sky, walking step by step towards Kariya Matou. His golden armor glinted in the firelight.
His eyes were filled with indifference; he seemed completely unconcerned with the Master before him.
"Accept the death this King bestows upon you," he commanded, his presence overwhelming.
"..."
Sakata Kintoki's collapse plunged Kariya Matou into deep despair. His heart sank.
He even forgot how to resist. His mind went blank with fear.
This made Gilgamesh somewhat displeased.
"Even though the Servant was such a capable person, the Master is acting so foolishly," he commented with disdain.
A golden circle appeared behind the oldest of Kings.
The blade inside was aimed at Kariya Matou before him. A lethal weapon was ready.
However—
Gilgamesh did not expect that as he was about to execute Kariya Matou, a fist the size of a sandbag would heavily strike his face. A sudden, unexpected blow.
That was Sakata Kintoki's strike, delivered with all his might.
No one knew how he managed to throw such a punch with dozens of blades embedded in his body. It defied belief.
But now, the blood-covered Sakata Kintoki indeed stood before Kariya Matou, shielding him like a shield. His body was a barrier.
"Don't... don't... hurt... Boss." he grunted, his voice weak but resolute.
"Boss... is friend..." he added, his loyalty absolute.
"Berserker, you..."
Kariya Matou looked at Sakata Kintoki standing before him, and suddenly felt an endless regret. Tears welled in his eyes.
He realized that if he had started preparing earlier, perhaps the outcome wouldn't be like this now. If only he had been more diligent.
His hatred for Tokiomi Tohsaka had blinded Kariya Matou, trapping him in a kind of inescapable cycle of revenge. His focus had been misplaced.
Only at this moment did he truly understand.
He had made far too little preparation—at the very least, he should have sought the help of that old man Zouken Matou. He should have swallowed his pride.
But everything was too late.
Sakata Kintoki's resistance was merely like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot. It was a futile effort.
He... had let him down. A heavy burden of guilt settled upon him.
Gilgamesh, who had taken a solid punch from Sakata Kintoki, was instantly enraged. His golden eyes blazed.
"Mongrel (Zasshu)!" he roared, using his derogatory term.
"How dare you be so insolent to this King!!!" he bellowed, his fury unleashed.
Countless sword lights flew out. A golden barrage erupted.
The two members of the Berserker pair died together on this night of great fire. Their lives extinguished in the inferno.
Several minutes later.
Following the magical energy supply connection, Tokiomi Tohsaka arrived at Gilgamesh's side. He found his Servant standing amidst the ruins.
Looking at Kariya Matou, who was now beyond recognition, the usually gentle Tokiomi Tohsaka felt veins bulge on his forehead. Anger surged within him.
"Archer, what is this?!!!!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with shock and anger.
Already extremely dissatisfied with Tokiomi Tohsaka's handling of things, and having just been punched by Sakata Kintoki.
Upon hearing words that sounded almost like questioning him, Gilgamesh immediately roared back. His patience had run out.
"What?!" he demanded.
"Are you questioning what this King has done?" he challenged, his voice booming.
"Tokiomi Tohsaka, don't be so presumptuous! Without this King, you are nothing!" he declared, asserting his absolute superiority.
"..."
Gilgamesh's single sentence instantly calmed Tokiomi Tohsaka down. The raw power and arrogance of his Servant were undeniable.
He realized that although Archer had disobeyed his orders, he had indeed achieved the intended result of such an action.
After all—
Although Tokiomi Tohsaka felt that he and Kariya Matou did not have an irreconcilable conflict.
But in the end, he was still one of the participants in the Holy Grail War. Their confrontation was unavoidable no matter what.
Gilgamesh had merely completed this matter for him in advance.
However—
His behavior was truly unlike that of a Servant; it was more like a King who was boundlessly arrogant. His power was matched by his pride.
This point made Tokiomi Tohsaka feel very troublesome—he realized that he might need to make some preparations. His Servant was a wild card.
But before that, he still apologized.
"I apologize, I overstepped," he said, bowing slightly.
"..."
Facing Tokiomi Tohsaka's apology, Gilgamesh did not offer any reply. He remained silent, his expression unreadable.
In the eyes of the oldest of Kings, this level of admitting fault was a matter of course. It was expected of a subordinate.
He was merely welcoming his servant in the present world, and naturally, he should be this humble. His servant was finally showing appropriate deference.
Moreover, compared to Tokiomi Tohsaka before him, Gilgamesh was actually more interested in the man named Kirei Kotomine. A different kind of curiosity stirred within him.
That guy outwardly seemed to be completely obedient to his teacher, Tokiomi Tohsaka.
But privately, he was also making all sorts of little moves. A subtle manipulation was at play.
For example, just now, Kirei Kotomine had clearly witnessed him going out against orders, yet he hadn't stopped him at all.
Gilgamesh could sense that his intentions were not that simple. There was more to Kirei than met the eye.
Perhaps—
He might be able to do something interesting with Kirei Kotomine. The thought brought a spark of amusement to his eyes.
And just at this moment.
Tokiomi Tohsaka, who was feeling quite conflicted internally, felt his clothes pocket move. His phone vibrated.
His phone was ringing.
And it was a call from Kirei Kotomine. The timing was peculiar.
"Kirei, what is it?" he asked, picking up the phone.
"Oh, Teacher, I wanted to report something to you," Kirei's calm voice came through the receiver.
"Report something?" Tokiomi questioned, intrigued.
"Yes."
Kirei Kotomine, in another part of Fuyuki, nodded.
He looked towards the ancient castle hidden deep within the forest before him, and calmly replied. The structure was imposing against the dark trees.
"Assassin seems to have discovered the hiding place of Saber's Master."
"What should we do next?" he asked, his voice seemingly seeking guidance, but a hidden intent lay beneath the surface.