Indeed, as long as Gate of Babylon remained on the field, Gilgamesh could summon four more Equipment cards next turn. Four target destructions and 2000 points of direct damage per turn—saying he could finish the duel next turn was no exaggeration.
However, the cards in hand just so happened to break through this situation.
"It's fine! Heracles is the strongest!"
Jason raised the card in his hand.
"Using my own effect: when there's an [Argonaut] Servant on the field, I can Special Summon myself!"
[Jason] – ATK 1200
[Atalanta] – ATK 2000 → 2500
"Trying to boost your attack to break through me?"
Gilgamesh looked disdainfully at Atalanta with her mere 2500 ATK."Even barehanded, this king's attack power is 3000. I am an absolutely top-tier Servant! There's practically no Servant that can surpass me!"
Right at that moment, the Hundred-Faces' broadcast cut in awkwardly:
[It's actually Scáthach, the legendary Queen of the Land of Shadows, mentor to Cú Chulainn! With a base ATK of 3250, without any external boosts, she holds the highest attack among all Servant cards introduced so far! She also has powerful effects like being untargetable and immune to battle destruction. Will our Matou Shinji be able to continue his undefeated legend...?]
Whispers broke out across the audience, and laughter even burst out from some people, the face-slap moment coming way too fast.
"..."
Gilgamesh's anger visibly rose. He could only hope the ones laughing wouldn't be blown sky-high by a Noble Phantasm in their sleep—because this version of Gilgamesh was notorious for being a petty, vengeful jerk.
"I mean... losing in just the attack stat isn't that big a deal, right? And it's only by 250 points…"
Jason tried to soothe Gilgamesh, feeling that if Gilgamesh really blew up in rage, he might blow the entire place to bits. If that happened, Rin Tohsaka surely wouldn't forgive them.
"Enough nonsense! Hurry up and continue your move!"
Mentioning Scáthach again at this moment felt like pure mockery to Gilgamesh. Her appearance signaled that Matou Shinji's duel was already nearing its end—he had to accelerate things on his side too.
Jason sighed. Dealing with someone this unreasonable was exhausting, but he had no choice but to go along with him.
"I release myself and Special Summon [Heracles] from my hand!"
A towering black giant descended from the heavens. The ground cracked under the impact of his landing. If this wasn't a duel space, everyone present would have fallen through the collapsing ground.
[Heracles] – ATK 3000
"Heracles?"
Even Gilgamesh knew the name of the mighty demigod."To think you could match this king…"
"Battle Phase!"
Jason had played all his cards and could only go all out to deal with Gilgamesh's field.
"[Heracles], attack [Gilgamesh]!"
The axe-sword clashed against the Noble Phantasm that Gilgamesh casually drew out. In pure strength, Gilgamesh was no match—his weapon was knocked away. At the moment of impact, Gilgamesh shot a spear from Gate of Babylon that pierced through Heracles' skull.
"These troublesome rules… if only I could use Enkidu's Chains…"
Since Heracles possessed Divinity, he was extremely vulnerable to Enkidu. In a real fight, Gilgamesh could easily bind and kill him. As a Berserker, Heracles only had instinctively engraved martial skill without strategic intelligence.
But it was fine. Gilgamesh glanced at the Kirei Kotomine card in his hand. Combined with Gate of Babylon's 2000 ATK boost, he could easily turn the situation around. Though it irked him to use Gate of Babylon on his so-called "friend," he could endure it for the sake of victory.
"[Heracles]'s effect activates! After destroying an enemy Servant in battle, I can destroy one card on the field—I choose [Gate of Babylon]!"
Without any Equipment cards on the field, Gate of Babylon lost its untargetable trait. Heracles, with a dying throw of his axe-sword, shattered the golden ripples. Gate of Babylon was destroyed!
"You damn mongrel!"
Gilgamesh could only watch helplessly as the last card on his field was sent to the graveyard.
"Next, [Atalanta] attacks Gilgamesh directly!"
A green arrow shot from Atalanta's bow and struck Gilgamesh square in the chest.
"Guh!"
For the first time in the duel, Gilgamesh took damage.
Gilgamesh LP 4000 → LP 2000
"Good, very good. To dare wound this king's noble body!"
Gilgamesh knew Jason had no cards left to act with, so he immediately seized the next turn.
"My turn!"
"Wait!"
Jason interrupted Gilgamesh."[Heracles]'s effect! At the start of the turn, he revives from the graveyard!"
Gilgamesh: "!"
[Heracles] – ATK 3000
"The Twelve Labors, huh? Truly troublesome for a demigod!"
Gilgamesh looked at the card he just drew and laughed heartily.
"How unfortunate—for you! Even my dearest friend is here to help me!"
"I Normal Summon [Kirei Kotomine]!"
[Kirei Kotomine] – ATK 1600
"Kirei, if only you had held back a little, you could've lived longer. Throwing away your life for momentary pleasure—your death was utterly meaningless!"
Gilgamesh casually mocked Kirei.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Kirei, for once, had dressed properly today, planning to visit a famous Sichuan restaurant in the neighboring city. He hadn't expected to get roped into a duel right after stepping out.
"Gilgamesh, why do you even have a card of me?"
Kirei didn't remember their relationship being that close.
"Hmph."
Gilgamesh thought Kirei was just being stubborn and couldn't be bothered to argue.
"I set a card face-down, then equip Original Text of Dasserthin to [Kirei Kotomine]!"
[Kirei Kotomine] – ATK 1600 → 2100
"Battle Phase!"
Gilgamesh had also emptied his hand."[Kirei Kotomine], attack [Atalanta]!"
"Pardon me!"
Under Gilgamesh's command, Kirei rushed Atalanta, and at point-blank range, delivered a devastating strike—like a tiger leaping up a mountain—straight into Atalanta's heart.