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Skyscraper Sprint – The Approaching Murderer
The demonic capital, London, shrouded in fog.
A gloomy, unsettling atmosphere cloaked the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.
With no people in sight and traffic halted on the roads—
"Hm, a nighttime city ride, monopolizing the streets? Not bad at all!"
Riding the golden Gilgilmachine, clad in a sleek black rider suit, the Heroic King Gilgamesh voiced his delight.
"No need to mind mongrels—what a thrill! The roads are all mine! Traffic laws? Speed limits? Who cares! This dreary fog? I'll leave it in the dust! Hahahahaha!!"
"You're finally back in form, Gil!"
Artoria, perched sidesaddle on the back seat, called out.
"In form? Hardly! This place is so dull, I'm just seeking my own pleasure!"
"Constructive attitude! So, Gil, how's your Riding skill?"
"A+! Even a divine beast like Lamassu bends to my will!"
"Hah, getting cocky? Mine's EX—beyond evaluation! I can make anything warp, even the unwarpable!"
"Oh? Not bad, Saber-imposter! You're no Saber after all!"
"I am Saber! No matter what anyone says! Just don't crash, alright? You can die all you want, but don't get me dirty!"
"Don't underestimate me! My clairvoyance maps every route flawlessly—!"
Tearing through the fog, the Gilgilmachine mowed down obstructing Enemies with ease.
—After that, we were guided to the home of a man calling himself Henry Jekyll, a "scholar"… an unfamiliar title.
"I'll go kill some time. You lot handle the strategy."
Yawning, he changed into the rider suit and left the room.
That could've been a solo ride, but—
"Going alone, huh? I'll tag along."
Surprisingly, Artoria volunteered to join.
"What's your angle? I'm not a Saber, you know?"
"This London's fog is thick. Get lost, and you might not make it back. Having an Instinct user as a navigator isn't a bad idea, right?"
"You think I'm some dog without a homing instinct?"
"Come on, don't be like that. I just want to get a feel for the area. Be my taxi. Payment? The gold from slaying Sabers."
"Freeloading, huh? Bold. —Fine, do what you want."
"I will, thanks."
"Be careful, Gil, Artoria!"
"Man… I don't remember talking to Father…"
"Did you hit your head? You got slashed just shy of your spiritual core…"
"Who slashed me again…?"
~
"This area's fog seems thinner. That spot we blasted through earlier was awful. We need to stay sharp."
Artoria deftly operated a console atop the speeding bike.
"Shall we lap the capital? This Singularity took effort—let's trample it!"
"Do it! I'm focusing on mapping!"
"Didn't Mordred already do that?"
"Leave it to that idiot son? As a parent, I have to clean up his messes!"
—Discipline means facing your past mistakes head-on, doesn't it? Not turning away from your failures.
—I know it's irreverent, but I love bikes. The thrill of cutting through the wind, the vibrations, the fleeting scenery.
Racing through the world, feeling that "pleasure"—I adore it. …Maybe I'll try riding as the Heroic Princess next time. Does Fou have a rider suit?
"Truly a noble yet troublesome endeavor—"
Suddenly, the brakes slammed with ferocious force, sparks flying as the Gilgilmachine screeched to a halt.
"What's happening!?"
The vessel focused on stabilizing, ignoring the question.
As the speed hit zero, he lowered the kickstand with a clank.
"What's wrong, Gil!? Why'd you—"
He jerked his chin forward.
"Up ahead?"
There stood a figure in a tight, swimsuit-like outfit, face scarred, white hair flowing.
A slender yet lithe body, a childlike girl not yet fully matured, blocking the path.
"That's…"
"—Of course she'd manifest. A vengeful spirit killing women, dismembering them, yearning to return to the womb."
It was the innocent yet vengeful aggregate, summoned even in Chaldea…
"You know us? That makes me happy, so happy."
"Jack the Ripper…!!"
"A delusional murderer appearingrobot to face a king's whimsy? Splendid entertainment!"
—She doesn't look friendly in the slightest.
"Everyone, everyone failed. They couldn't send us back. All of them, failures."
"—Fresh off a job, huh?"
Blood dripped thickly from the knife in her right hand.
"Are you our mommy? Will you send us back?"
"No thanks. One idiot son's enough."
"Exactly. This one's a failed parent. No capacity to take you in."
"I'll knock you out, Gil!"
"Hmm, is that so…?"
—I began selecting treasures.
I could feel it. She's enthralled, already claimed by something.
—This won't end in talk—!
"I want to go back… Sorry—!!"
Jack lunged with blinding speed, knife flashing, but—
"Hah!!"
Artoria parried with her holy sword. Gil executed a max turn, twisting the clutch, and the bike spun.
"Hahahahaha! Not bad! Things are getting fun! After touring, a life-or-death chase with a murderer? Let's do it!!"
The Gilgilmachine roared, full throttle, tearing into a breakneck sprint—!!
"We're gonna fall—!!"
"Hahaha! Like France all over again! Perfect! I'll show this skyscraper my speed! You handle defense, Artoria! I'm driving!"
"You're fighting her!?"
"Just entertainment! I won't hold back, but if she dies, less burden for the Master! —Here she comes!"
Jack chased the speeding bike with terrifying dashes.
"Mommy, don't go, Mommy—!"
"She's calling you! Acknowledge her, Artoria!"
"Go to heaven! —Tch!"
A barrage of knives flew, targeting vitals and the bike. Artoria knocked them all down.
"Don't die on me! I'm the one who'll get blamed!"
"Who do you take me for? The Saber among Sabers, felled by an Assassin—!"
Jack maintained speed, leaping from houses to gain momentum, diving at us.
"Mommy—!"
"If you're not a Saber, you're not my target. Tricky!"
Jack and Artoria clashed, sparks flying in a flurry of strikes.
—This is bad in the city…! The Gate of Babylon's too destructive, and I can't support Artoria properly…!
Civilians are holed up at home. If our fight damages houses, they'll think 'inside's not safe,' sparking panic…!
"Haha, perfect! Pleasure's best when you seize it yourself!"
"Is this the time!? Your Noble Phantasm's too unwieldy! We'll be worn down!"
"No big deal. No need to kill mongrels needlessly. No more reason to spare them than to strike."
"Mommy, stop? Don't go…"
—Not exactly heartwarming cries.
We need to escape or take her down—
In an instant, Jack's knife slashed forward, severing streetlights, signs, and guideposts.
"Hm, setting obstacles? Clever, but weak!"
Gil flicked a switch with his left hand, maxing the engine's output, boosting to clear the falling debris.
Roars and crashes echoed as structures collapsed.
"I'll chase you, forever and ever."
Jack dashed parallel to buildings, hurling knives relentlessly, all parried by Artoria's sword.
"Got a plan to break this stalemate!?"
"Oh, defying gravity with that sprint? Not bad! A London-born murderer knows the terrain well! Kids are great like that—free ideas and action thrill me!"
"Is this the time!?"
—That movement…
—Got it!
"Hm, I've got a great idea! Artoria, your specialty's Mana Burst, right!?"
"So what!?"
"A brilliant plan and top-tier entertainment! Let's shake her off!"
Full throttle, he surged ahead, momentarily outpacing the vengeful spirit—!
"The main road's this way, right? Wide enough, no issue!"
Accelerating, drifting, turning, the bike leapt onto a wide boulevard, speeding onward.
"What's your plan, Gil!?"
"Don't look away! Is she coming!?"
"—Yes! She turned the corner, straight for us!"
"Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy—!!"
The innocent curse of a vengeful spirit closed in from behind.
—This is the spot! Treasure selection's done!
"Artoria! Fire Mana Burst on my signal!"
"What are you planning!?"
"No hesitation!! Trust me!!"
"—You owe me a treat after this!"
With her consent, he lifted the bike into a wheelie—!
"My majesty! My radiance! Behold, unfulfilled spirit!"
—Now! Manifest, archetype of the "Tower"!
"Arise!! 'The Golden Tower Standing Tall, Druaga'!!"
Earthquake, roar, vibration.
"Ah—"
A golden tower rose abruptly, soaring skyward, its brilliance like a staircase fallen from heaven, flipping day and night with its glow—!
"What's that—!?"
"Don't bite your tongue! Brace!!"
In wheelie stance, he slammed the bike against the tower's wall!
"Now—!!!"
"—Ex… Caliburn—!!!"
With Mana Burst, the bike roared up the tower's wall, climbing vertically.
London's buildings shrank below, the ground receded, and the stars drew closer—
"—No good! She's still chasing!"
Obsession? Instinct? Resentment? Grief?
"Mommy, Mommy, MommyMommyMommyMommyMommyMommyMommy—!!!"
Jack scaled the tower at horrifying speed, closing to strike us down…!
—Good, I needed her to follow!
"—Gilgilmachine, take a break. Rest easy!"
Easing acceleration, he deliberately let Jack close the gap—
"—Jump, Artoria!!"
"Wha—"
No time for replies, he scooped Artoria up, leaping off the tower and bike.
"Eh—"
Jack, about to reach the Gilgilmachine, froze in shock.
—800 to 1,000 meters above ground!
—Nothing here to worry about breaking—!!
"Blast away!! 'Gate of Babylon'—!!"
Midair, a barrage of treasures unleashed, avalanching into the Gilgilmachine,
"Ah—"
…a massive explosion. The engine ignited, chaining into a blast, scattering crimson fireworks across London's sky with a roaring gust.
"A reward for an entertaining chase! Take it!! Hahahahahahahaha! Clinging to my sprint with mortal flesh? Impressive! If you survive, we'll meet again!"
"We're falling!! Gil! Falling—!!"
"I know. Come, Vimana!"
Summoning Vimana, they landed gently.
"I recovered the Gilgilmachine's frame. That blast won't destroy it… but it's out for a day. No matter. Time for upgrades."
"That was no light stroll…"
"No choice. Can't burn the city to ash, right? So, I made my own stage! Hahahahaha! Fine entertainment! My ennui's lifted! Time for a triumph, Artoria!"
"…Let's eat somewhere. I'm starving."
"—British food's got a bad rap, but it'll do for once."
"Never a dull moment with you, Gil."
"Of course! Let's tell the Master about my sprint!"
—The city's damage was minimal. Good.
"But we didn't find a terminal point. I was looking for a spot for your World Holy Grail."
"That's already done. That powerless scholar's room is it."
"…Seriously?"
"Didn't I mention? Haha, forgive me! Laugh, laugh! Hahahahaha!"
"…I'm exhausted… I want delicious sweets."
"Got it, got it. Let's head back!"
—We got a lot of worried scolding after.
The Golden Tower Standing Tall, Druaga
Rank: EX | Type: Anti-Adventurer Noble Phantasm | Range: Unlimited | Max Targets: Varies by Party Size
Stored in Gilgamesh's treasury, the archetype of the "Tower." A golden spire piercing the heavens, rooted firmly in the earth, a 60-floor dungeon tower.
Within lies vast treasure, but also monsters, forcing constant life-or-death choices in a merciless yet glorious tower. Only those rivaling the Heroic King's might can survive this primal dungeon.
Enemy types: Ghosts, Dragons, Ropers, Will-o'-Wisps, Succubi, Knights. Relentless fodder enemies stalk every floor.
At its core lies the true "Demon Druaga," designating those reaching the 59th floor as sacrifices, devouring their souls. It takes many guises, all of which must be defeated to reach the true form.
This time, used merely as a foothold, no one entered, so these features went unused.
"I could solo it with ease," claims the vessel.
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