Matching the girls' pace, I tread through the scorched city.
This is Fuyuki, a Japanese city, they say. The cause of its endless burning is unknown, possibly an external factor, but even that's unclear.
"This is Fuyuki, huh? Feels like a fast-food dystopia," Rikka quips.
"Senpai, your carefree nature is clear, but we shouldn't let our guard down…" Mash cautions.
"No worries! If I were dead, I'd already be gone. My being here alive is the answer!"
"I'm a superhero! The world's beloved ultra-Master! Probably!"
"Such baseless confidence… better than pessimism, though. What do you think, Hero King?" Romani chimes in.
"In peace, one can boast freely. A person's true nature shines in peril," I reply.
"You think I'll choke, Gil?" Rikka teases.
"We'll see. Look, that's your acquaintance."
I point to a woman desperately firing curses at skeletal soldiers, clinging to life. Her soul hasn't perished yet.
"Director?!" Rikka exclaims.
One glance reveals the truth: saving her will only deepen her despair.
Is this the vessel's power? A single look, and I understand what something is.
"Hey, Director! You okay?!" Rikka shouts.
"You're here?! You're alive?!" the Director responds.
"Talk later! Let's save her! Mash, secure the Director!"
"Yes, senpai!"
Saving her is futile, my instincts conclude. She has no body to return to—likely a lingering spirit, a ghost.
She's already dead.
"Gil! Yo, Gil!" Rikka's voice snaps me back.
"What's the racket?"
"Time to show off that golden power! Let's see the Hero King's cool side!"
"…"
It'd be easy to dismiss this as pointless, to give up.
But repeating that yields nothing.
Seeking only profit needs no will. Efficiency needs no emotion.
Every time you discard the "useless," you lose something valuable. My past life taught me that.
She's still struggling, unaware of her fate. Unlike the old me, she hasn't decided her worth.
Abandoning her would be… unjust.
Her end should come by her own will, until her life's ember fades.
"Hmph. Flattery gets you nothing."
The worthless me from before is gone. This vessel is a hero's—so…
"Stand back, Master."
I'll aid the weak and crush the strong, like a story's hero!
"Channel your mana. I'll wield it as your sword."
Resolve solidified, battle data floods my mind.
Servant: Gilgamesh. Class: Archer. Noble Phantasm: Gate of Babylon, the treasury holding humanity's wisdom.
I gasp. What an absurd ability—access to anything humanity creates, even from the far future?
More data: Enkidu, the supreme chain that binds even gods.
The name stirs this vessel's body faintly. This is precious, not to be wasted, filled with profound sentiment.
And—Ea, the Sword of Rupture.
Its True Name release cleaves the world itself…
I'm floored. This isn't just a king of heroes—he's the king of all heroes. Holding the origin of all weapons, he can exploit any hero's weakness. Add world-rending power, and this vessel's might is unfathomable.
A lesser soul couldn't control this. I steel myself.
Arrogance is forbidden. A mortal wielding this power could easily destroy the world.
So that's it. The voice chose this hero for me to face every decision, every judgment. Drifting as before leads to ruin.
I must master this vessel with unyielding will, or this world has no future.
I brace myself.
For this second life, to achieve something.
To etch a proud "mark" on my soul.
Lend me your strength, Hero King.
With your immense power—
I'll sing this battle with all I've got!
Kicking the ground, I leap into the skeletal horde.
"Warm-up time. I'll grind you to dust!"
Before they react, my fist shatters a skull.
I block another's slash with my gauntlet, severing its arm with a hand-chop.
Servants are insanely strong—far beyond human.
The fearless skeletons don't flinch at their fallen. They clatter forward, slashing.
"Hmph!"
I grab a skeleton, hurling it into the group, halting their advance momentarily.
My physical prowess is fine. Now, the Noble Phantasm.
I raise my hand, and a ripple forms in the air. A dazzling sword appears. I seize it, swinging carelessly.
"Ha!"
A beam of searing energy shoots from the blade, mowing down the skeletons in its path.
"Amazing… Is this a Servant's power with a Master?" Mash gasps.
"That's the Hero King's might…" Romani mutters.
"…"
"That king's incredible! Monstrous strength, wielding any weapon! A phenomenal Heroic Spirit!" Romani exclaims.
"We won, Roman," Rikka says.
"Huh?"
"This battle… it's our victory!"
"Fujimaru?!"
The skeletons are neutralized.
But something nags at me. A deep unease.
"Is something… off with my fighting style?"
I haven't come close to unleashing this hero's true potential.
Can a nameless soul like mine ever draw out this boundless hero's power…?