Chapter 231: Pay Attention to the Underground
"We must deal enough damage in one strike!"
Irisviel shared her suspicion with the group.
Except for Hikigaya Hachiman, who had already anticipated this possibility, the others' faces showed visible concern.
"Getting stronger the more you hit it? That's totally against the rules!"
Hearing Irisviel's hypothesis about the monster, Waver clicked his tongue in disbelief.
"I know it's hard for everyone to accept, but it's the truth!"
As the vessel of the Grail, Irisviel had a faint, intangible connection with the seven summoned Heroic Spirits.
Relying on that connection, she knew with certainty that her intuition was correct.
If they didn't destroy the monster quickly, once it finished growing, it would become an almost invincible existence!
"But to destroy a creature that size in an instant…"
Kayneth frowned deeply.
Though he hated to admit it, neither he nor Diarmuid possessed the ability to unleash such overwhelming destructive power in a short burst.
"A nuke could work, but that'd basically wipe out all of Fuyuki City, wouldn't it?"
Hachiman muttered from the side.
But the moment he spoke, the others all turned and gave him looks as if he were some alien creature.
"Mr. Hikigaya, please don't make such inappropriate jokes…"
For the first time, Irisviel showed visible anger on her face.
Kayneth glared even harder, his eyes filled with loathing—as if to say: How could a proper magus even consider relying on technology?
"Well… maybe not nukes, but ordinary missiles might…"
Of all people, only Waver seemed to seriously ponder the feasibility of Hachiman's idea.
"The problem is we can't possibly get our hands on missiles! And even if we did, there's no time!"
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Kayneth looked at his foolish student with utter exasperation.
At this point, he was already thinking about expelling Waver as his apprentice.
"I can do it."
Just as everyone was at a loss, Artoria stepped forward.
"I possess a Noble Phantasm of anti-fortress rank. If I can land the strike, it should be able to annihilate the beast in one blow."
"Saber…"
Artoria's sudden declaration and the exposure of her power caught Irisviel completely off guard.
After all, Kiritsugu Emiya had instructed them beforehand to conserve their strength, so that once Caster was eliminated, they wouldn't be left disadvantaged for the battles to come.
"I'm sorry, Irisviel. But I cannot tolerate such a thing existing in this world…"
Artoria turned back, guilt flashing briefly across her face as she apologized.
Yet she did not regret her choice.
"You really leave me no choice, do you…"
Though she sighed helplessly, Irisviel smiled faintly in response.
In truth, if their roles had been reversed, she knew she would have made the same decision.
"Well, Karna too possesses an anti-army Noble Phantasm. If they're unleashed together, I think the chances of success will rise significantly…"
Artoria's honesty pierced Hachiman like a blade.
After some hesitation, he resolved to allow Karna to unseal part of his Noble Phantasm to support Artoria in destroying the beast within the mist.
"Interesting…"
High above, Gilgamesh listened to their words. Rising from his throne, he willed Vimana to descend slowly.
"Archer?"
Seeing Gilgamesh descend from the sky, the gathered Masters and Servants stirred with unrest.
"Hmph!"
Gilgamesh looked upon their reaction with dissatisfaction.
Far too dull!
Before the very first king of mankind, was this meager reaction all they could muster?
"Yo, golden fellow, you finally showed up…"
Iskandar returned on his chariot, and upon seeing Gilgamesh and Tokiomi behind him, his eyes lit up instantly. Raising his hand, he greeted them casually.
"Golden… fellow?"
Gilgamesh froze at the title, then, grinding his teeth, repeated the words as his Gate of Babylon opened behind him.
"You dare address me like that? Do you wish to die?"
"My choice of words seems accurate enough, doesn't it?"
Iskandar scratched his head in confusion, genuinely unsure what he'd said wrong.
After all, Gilgamesh's entire body was gleaming gold from head to toe.
"King, please calm yourself…"
Just as Gilgamesh was about to unleash several Noble Phantasms in his rage, Tokiomi hastily stepped forward to restrain him.
The four Servants below had already formed a temporary alliance.
If Gilgamesh launched an attack recklessly, it could provoke all four into turning against him.
Though Gilgamesh had absolute confidence in victory against any one Servant, facing four at once… that was another matter.
"Hmph! I'll overlook it this time. But if he dares call me that again…"
Because it was his own retainer speaking, and because a king must show magnanimity, Gilgamesh grudgingly suppressed his fury and closed the Gate of Babylon.
"Well then, King of Heros—did you come here to lend us a hand?"
Looking at the arrogant king before him, Iskandar sighed helplessly and asked his purpose.
If Gilgamesh truly intended to help, then subduing the monster would become much easier.
"Don't be ridiculous."
Gilgamesh gave him a contemptuous look, as though staring at an idiot.
"That ugly abomination? Just looking at it disgusts me. Do you think I'd let my treasures be sullied by such filth?"
"Then why are you here?"
Artoria disliked Gilgamesh's haughty tone. Upon hearing that he wasn't here to help, her brows knitted tightly as she demanded an answer.
"Merely to kindly remind you not to focus only on what's in front of you."
From his higher vantage, Gilgamesh could see further than the others.
"Underground!"
Hachiman instantly understood Gilgamesh's meaning.
If the tentacles had emerged from below earlier, then tunneling underground was only natural.
Something so simple, and he had overlooked it!
"Well then—good luck."
Seeing that Hachiman had caught on, Gilgamesh guided Vimana skyward once more.
Just as he prepared to enjoy the coming battle, however, two fighter jets suddenly appeared in the distant night sky.
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