Chapter 93. Shouko, what a tragic death!
"Medea's done for… Wait no… Where did Gilgamesh even come from? Was Cursed Arm Hassan's Master it Junko?!"
Reality blurred—many people felt like their brains were being mashed into porridge.
They had just seen Medea the witch—casting Grand Spells like breathing, summoning Dragons, flicking her fingers to crush Cursed Arm Hassan—and now… a Grand Magus from the Age of the Gods, unmatched in might, was defeated by just one move from Gilgamesh?!
What the hell was that?!
"No way, absolutely no way!"
People across the world were fervently debating, cries of shock and disbelief echoing everywhere.
"She must've run out of mana! That's why she couldn't defend herself at that moment!"
"Idiot! Medea already found the Holy Grail's loophole—it's infinite mana, you know?!"
"It's that damn blond bastard who's too strong! Where are the GMs?! Nerf him!!"
"Didn't you hear what Medea said? Divine Construct! Raku Sou and the others analyzed this before—Mystery will retreat before a higher-tier Mystery, and Divine is the highest there is!"
"No Magecraft can affect that mountain-sized sword. And Medea only had her physical body to face something weighing billions of tons falling from the sky…"
"Tch~."
"Medea's end was just too miserable."
"That's why I said Gilgamesh is a cheat code. No matter what Servant he faces, he can just pull out the right Noble Phantasm to counter."
"Medea mama…"
Someone still tried to argue, but a calm voice interrupted from beside them.
"Excalibur nearly killed Gorgon. It's also a Divine Construct."
"…Alright."
That person fell silent, stammering.
Damn it, if you're going to bring that up…
Even Medea's hardcore fans couldn't argue back. All they could say was that the Caster was just too unlucky—to run into the strongest opponent in this Holy Grail War: Gilgamesh.
…
Mystery is forcibly nullified by a higher-tier Mystery—and when faced with the Divine Construct summoned by the King of Heroes, even Medea could only be defeated.
"So even Caster Medea has a weakness?"
Leaders from various countries all had their eyes light up.
But hold on—they didn't even have a normal Noble Phantasm, let alone a Divine Construct!
What the hell…
But then again, what if, among the ancient relics passed down from antiquity, there actually was a Divine Construct buried under dust?
Like the three spears stored in the Hofburg Museum in Vienna, the Augustine Church in Rome, and Glastonbury Abbey—the Spear of Longinus, said to be the spear that killed God. If even one of them is real, then it must be a Divine Construct!
...
"From today onward, seal off all museums housing ancient relics within the nation!"
Britain, Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth II gave the order with grave solemnity.
She should've done that the moment the Sword in the Stone shattered its display case and flew out of the museum.
Still, patching the pen after the sheep are gone… might not be too late.
At the same time—
Other world leaders began issuing similar orders.
...
["Grr…"]
[Cursed Arm Hassan, pinned to the ground, dissolved into black mist on the spot, then reformed again. His body had become fainter, and he glared furiously at the golden king.]
[Even if you're an ally of my Master, this is going too far!]
["Hmph." But Gilgamesh didn't even glance at him. He only stared at the place where the massive sword had fallen, a faint smirk on his lips.]
["Witch of Betrayal… Of course you wouldn't go down without a fight."]
The camera slowly pulled away, shifting to the ruins below.
[Beneath the towering blade, Medea coughed up blood. She hadn't fully left the stage yet—but she was already at death's door. Even a glancing blow from that weapon had done mortal damage to a Magus like her.]
[Cold rain slowly seeped through the cracks in the debris, soaking her cloak.]
[Her consciousness faded, her heart filled with regret and reluctance.]
[So this Holy Grail War actually had nine Servants…]
[If only she'd realized that sooner…]
[Shouko-sama, forgive me… I can't stay by your side any longer.]
...
"The fate of a Caster truly is tragic…"
In Tokyo, ojou-sama Sanka Rea sighed with a strange, mournful emotion.
She hoped Shouko would find a happy ending.
Otherwise, it would be far too cruel…
...
["Ugh…"]
[In the torrential downpour, the deaf girl with brown hair ran out of the house in a panic, not stopping for even a second. Sensing Caster's aura growing weaker, she kept running in that direction.]
[She ran for a long time, until finally…]
[She stopped, stunned as she gazed at the ruins before her, her body trembling, unable to hold back the sobs that burst forth, her eyes brimming with helpless tears.]
[Hideyoshi, Kojirou-san, Saber-san had all protected her…]
[And now, even the last one remaining—gentle, motherly Caster—was gone.]
[Raindrops drummed against Shouko's face, mixing with her tears, making it impossible to tell rain from sorrow. A bitterness beyond words surged within her, and though she opened her mouth to scream, no voice came out.]
[That's right… she couldn't speak—no matter how much pain was in her heart, she could never express it.]
["U…uh…"]
["Auh…"]
["Auh uh uh uh…!!"]
[The air around her was bone-chilling cold. The girl shivered from the cold, curled up, and finally, unable to suppress the pain inside, she let out a wail like thunder, a voice that had long been forcibly held in but could no longer be contained.]
[A soul-piercing cry, as if drowning in hell itself, filled with utter despair.]
[Nishimiya Shouko had finally learned how to "speak."]
[Then, wiping away her tears, she stepped forward, slowly climbing the pile of rubble, trying to dig up Caster's body, sensing that there was still a faint trace of life.]
[If possible, maybe—just maybe—she could see Caster one last time.]
[Rustle.]
[A shadow appeared—Cursed Arm Hassan silently emerged behind her, following each of her steps.]
...
Audience: ?
What the fuck, Assassin, what the hell are you trying to do?!
Many people were panicking, shouting toward the Celestial Curtain, an intense unease gripping everyone's hearts.
...
[Nishimiya Shouko collapsed onto her knees. Amid the rubble, she desperately used her hands to claw through the debris, digging nonstop…]
[Her fair fingers were slashed open by sharp shards, blood trickling out in thin lines.]
[Yet she dug faster and faster.]
[Rustle…]
[Rustle rustle…]
[Her efforts were finally rewarded. As chunks of rubble were cleared away to the sides—]
[Her blood-soaked hands uncovered the edge of a purple robe.]
[Not far away, half of Caster's body appeared—beautiful like a painting.]
[Shouko trembled with emotion. She rushed toward it joyfully.]
[Just as she was about to reach her—]
[A hunched shadow suddenly emerged, a dagger slashing down through the air with brutal precision.]
["Splurt—!!"]
["Uwaa…!"]
[Nishimiya Shouko collapsed in agony, her forehead splitting open and bleeding from the impact, her lower leg severed in two, fresh blood gushing from the stump.]
[The sudden ambush stunned her for a moment—but then she ignored the pain and resolutely began crawling forward.]
[Just a little further…]
[Just a little more…]
[Slash!]
[Cursed Arm Hassan raised the dagger again—another stab, and blood splattered once more.]
[Shouko screamed in pain, her heart pierced, her right ear and arm completely severed.]
[Still, she crawled forward, inch by inch.]
[Utterly wretched, pitiful beyond words.]
[Finally, the two were reunited—when Medea, in her fading consciousness, felt Shouko grasp her hand.]
["Me…de…a..."]
[A peaceful expression appeared on Shouko's face. She exhaled her final breath, drifting into eternal slumber with a faint smile.]
[Like the Little Match Girl, entering a dream of everlasting happiness.]
[Medea's body was undergoing spirit disintegration, her consciousness fuzzy, but in that instant, she suddenly awakened. Upon seeing that scene, her rage exploded beyond control. She screamed, "ASSASSIN—"]
[An immense torrent of magical energy surged forth.]
[The Witch of Betrayal screamed—at that moment, she surpassed even her own legend.]
[BOOM!!]
[A thunderous explosion—she lifted a sword as massive as a mountain, weighing billions of tons, powered by her mana. A lightning spear engulfed in blinding white bolts shot down, smashing it aside, shattering an entire mountain.]
[The hunched shadow staggered backward from the shockwave, for the first time showing a look of astonishment.]
["Master!"]
[Medea trembled… and called out.]
...
Reality.
Nishimiya Yuzuru's face froze, her whole body shaking.
"Nee-chan..."
Her teeth chattered. She was so panicked she couldn't focus on class. Under the pitying eyes of her classmates, she bolted out of school, running straight home.
Even in a parallel world, Nishimiya Yuzuru couldn't remain calm.
She had to see with her own eyes that her sister was alive—only then could she escape this terror.
...
["ASSASSIN!!"]
[Amid the ruins, Medea's eyes were bloodshot. Her entire body radiated magical pressure—the likes of which she had never released before. At this moment, she poured all her power into trying to kill Cursed Arm Hassan, her soul blazing with dazzling golden light.]
[She hadn't lied to Aki Tomoya. She really couldn't summon the Colchis Dragon.]
[Even after exploiting a loophole in the Holy Grail, and in the shrine-like summoning array she had built by draining the leylines of Fuyuki City, she could only summon half the Dragon—a being not fully materialized in this world couldn't exert its full power.]
[But…]
[If she discarded her spiritual base (spirit core, saint graph) and became the Golden Fleece itself—then maybe, just maybe, she could summon the Colchis Dragon!]
[Her grandfather was the Sun God, her grandmother an ocean goddess, and her own status was noble enough to serve as a "sacrificial offering."]
[Dark clouds gathered across the infinite sky, and the golden light grew ever brighter.]
[Right then and there, Medea's figure vanished, transforming into a golden fleece radiating mystery energy. At the moment it touched the ground—]
[BOOM BOOM BOOM!!]
[Thunder roared. Golden light burst outward. An ancient Dragon roared as it stepped into the world—its head as vast as mountains, wings stretching to the heavens, its vertical pupils brimming with ferocity, glaring at the hunched shadow below.]
[Ancient and mighty—an unfathomable aura of pressure!]
[In an instant, the dragon's furious breath swept across the land, destroying everything for several kilometers!]
[Cursed Arm Hassan was taken aback. He unfurled his Demonic Arm, which extended endlessly, forming layers of shadow around his body, hoping this demon-god-level limb would shield him.]
["…Gugh!"]
[But then his eyes widened in horror—as the dragon's searing, venomous breath began to melt—no, corrode—his proud Noble Phantasm.]
[Everything within kilometers was engulfed. Escape was impossible.]
[Suddenly—]
["Enkidu!"]
[A haughty voice rang out.]
[With a screech of metal, golden light pierced the clouds. The torrential rain halted immediately, and the light of dawn broke through.]
[Countless golden chains rained down endlessly from the sky like knives, piercing through the golden storm and swiftly wrapping around the Colchis Dragon, trying to bind it.]
[Gate of Babylon unleashed hundreds of golden ripples, and a barrage of Noble Phantasms rained down like madness.]
[BOOM BOOM BOOM!]
[Each blast resounded like a missile barrage, bombarding the dragon's thick scales, waves of heat surging across tens of kilometers.]
[A sea of explosions bloomed on the battlefield, hiding even the shattered mountains.]
[But—]
["GRAAAAHH!"]
[The Dragon from the Age of the Gods roared, swinging its claws and tearing Chains of Heaven apart.]
[It completely ignored the Noble Phantasm bombardment—for dragons were never afraid of Noble Phantasms to begin with!]
[Overwhelming power!]
[So powerful it defied imagination!]
["Animals!!"]
[Gilgamesh roared in fury, completely enraged. Behind him, countless golden ripples opened, their numbers increasing terrifyingly—not just a thousand gates!]
[Endless Noble Phantasms infused with ancient energy emerged, their divine light surging to the heavens!]
[All of them were anti-dragon Noble Phantasms, enhanced by legends of Dragon Slaying—each one a perfect countermeasure!]
[As the oldest and mightiest king, Gilgamesh's greatest strength was his treasury that held the prototypes of all Noble Phantasms—a true omnipotent force!]
[Sensing the threat, the Colchis Dragon let out a furious roar, launching upward like a massive black shadow, its momentum unstoppable!]
[In the next instant, golden ripples fired—an infinite number of Dragon-Slaying weapons flooded the land.]
[Counters above all—enough to slay even gods!]
[Even though Colchis Dragon was one of the most famous dragons in mythology and had nearly reached divine level, in the end, it was still brought down by thousands of Noble Phantasms imbued with the concept of Dragon Slayer.]
["Boom boom boom…!"]
[Everything was wiped clean. The massive dragon shadow fell from the heavens, roaring with fury and unwillingness, then turned into particles of light and slowly vanished.]
[Right after that, a hunched shadow emerged from the darkness, bowing his head, offering respect and gratitude to the strong.]
[Though Cursed Arm Hassan had reduced intelligence due to improper summoning, he still had enough brains to know his place.]
[Gilgamesh looked at the thankful Cursed Arm Hassan with disgust: "Tell your Master—if she can't offer this king a performance worthy of him, the fire that devours the earth will incinerate her."]
[Then he arrogantly turned away, transforming into golden particles and disappearing.]
[Dragon slaying? For one who had once refuse the gods and pave the way for humanity, it was far too trivial.]
[Cursed Arm Hassan wiped the sweat off his forehead nervously.]
[What a troublesome king…]
...
Seeing Medea abandon her spiritual base to summon the Colchis Dragon, only for it to be easily suppressed by Gilgamesh, the people of Earth were speechless.
"As expected… Goldy is a broken character…"
Someone smiled bitterly, almost speaking the hearts of everyone.
In Western mythology, dragons could sometimes be more terrifying than gods.
Even though this was Colchis Dragon, its threat level was second only to Gorgon, Goddess of Monster.
But when facing Gilgamesh, it was like an egg smashing into a rock—shattering instantly.
At this rate, who could possibly defeat the Golden King?
If Medea's strength lay in her ability to operate systems, then had the Holy Grail War not ended so early, given time to forge a few Holy Grails, she might have been able to summon multiple legendary Dragons at once.
But the Golden King's power lay in—his treasury was endless. No matter how strong you were, he could always pull out a Noble Phantasm that specifically countered you.
In this Holy Grail War, Gilgamesh was undoubtedly the strongest Servant.
...
At various national bases, scientists stared at their reports with complicated expressions, reconfirming their earlier analyses.
Humans were relatively fragile, so many firearms today had even lower performance than those from a hundred years ago. In the past, weapons research focused on precision, while power was constantly being limited.
But since the Celestial Curtain appeared, the research direction immediately made a 180-degree turn.
Various superweapons targeting individuals were entered into development plans.
In one go, more than four hundred labs were mobilized!
As long as these weapons were successfully developed, facing mid-tier Servants would no longer leave them helpless.
But when it came to Medea and Gilgamesh—they were exceptions!
Gilgamesh needed no explanation.
Who knew what else was in his treasury?
He could casually fire off an NP and boom, the world ends.
And Medea—her direct firepower already rivaled the combined output of a large nation, not to mention her various unpredictable mystical methods. A bit of Magecraft Virus, a touch of cursing—those were the true threats to modern society.
Such a virus might be a joke to a Servant, but for humanity, it was a death sentence!
Servants…
Truly incomprehensible beings.
...
...
Note: I want to burn the author's house down...…. my Shouko...