Finishing our conversation on the roof, Artoria and I came back down. Artoria looked like she had a lot on her mind. Well, it's the age for that. One's thirties are the most difficult time.
"All done? Then let's hurry to the church."
"The church? So we're going after all..."
[Don't you like the church~? Oh my oh my~ I wonder what will happen at the church!?]
"You be quiet, Ruby..."
The church... Well, Gilgamesh has probably already noticed my presence. Of all places, that Tohsaka. It would be strange if Gilgamesh wasn't keeping an eye on it. He must already know about me anyway. And a fight with him is unavoidable. So we just have to go.
Since Artoria can't even spiritualize, she puts on a raincoat and we head there together. Looks hot.
Upon arriving at the church, only Rin and Shirou go inside. Artoria and I wait outside.
"Have you given it some thought?"
"... Certainly, Archer, you are one of the great heroes I respect. When I heard your myth from Merlin as a child, I was moved by the words 'a king who changed fate.'"
"Heh~"
"But, strictly speaking, you are currently an enemy. The fact that we are temporarily together doesn't change that you are an enemy. I cannot fully believe your story. While I don't know about my family history, you saying I am lacking seems like a bluff to shake me."
"Is that really so? You're ignoring your intuition and judging only rationally."
*Flinch...*
"I'm just giving you a choice. Whether to accept it is up to you."
"..."
"Let's end the conversation here. A guest has arrived."
"!"
A silver-haired girl walking lightly before our eyes. Illyasviel... and, releasing his spiritualization to reveal himself, the great hero of myriad martial prowess.
Heracles.
Even nerfed, he's still at that level... The absolute limit of the human body... If it were his true body, I'm sure his strength alone surpasses mine. After all, he's a man who became a hero-god, a god of strength. Artoria also throws off her raincoat and draws her sword. It would be reckless for me to fight empty-handed, so I draw my sword, but...
"Hmm..."
"...."
"What's wrong?"
"No, it's nothing..."
What is it? This is definitely the first time I've met Illya... Why does it feel familiar? Somehow, is it because she reminds me of Conla? Illya also tilts her head, looking at Artoria, who she must have known ten years ago, staring piercingly at me. It's not that I look young; it feels like she's sensing something, just like me.
"■■?"
"No, it's fine, Berserker. It's nothing. Just... I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."
So she feels it too... Shortly after, the Masters come out. And they flinch upon seeing Berserker. An oppressive feeling that makes you feel like you'll crumple just from his presence. That is what we call a great hero of myth. An existence that instills fear in the enemy by its mere presence. A monster that marked the peak of an era, of mythology.
I get that treatment too, but...
Illya greets us and grins while looking at us. Well, just looking at parameters, Berserker is overwhelming. The biggest problem is... his Noble Phantasm. Twelve lives, and resistance to the cause of death increases each time. My only weapon is Caladbolg. This won't be easy... It's hard to kill with bare fists.
My wives... no, no. Let's not call them. I don't want to hurt them...
"Then, I'll kill you~? Take them out~ Berserker~"
"■■■■───!!!"
The surroundings tremble from Berserker's roar. Even Artoria feels strong pressure, and my body shakes too. Really... if I had met a man like that in life, one of us would have 100% died...
*BOOM!!!*
Berserker's first target is Artoria. Now, feel the wall of the world. The world is not just Britain and Rome, child of Uther.
*Grgrgrk...!!!*
"Ugh..."
*KWAaaaang!!!*
"Kuhahak!"
Saber, who blocked his greatsword head-on, is pushed back by the overwhelming difference in strength and sent flying, tumbling across the park's ground. In terms of strength, he's above me. Even if she had Rin as her Master, she'd be outmatched in strength. Being an Archer and having my Strength nerfed is quite a setback... By the way, Berserker, why aren't you targeting me?
*KwaGwaGwaGwaGwaGwa!!!*
"Now that's a storm!"
"That crazy muscle-monk, can he see the invisible sword!? How is that Berserker in any way!?"
"Nowadays Berserkers talk well too, but at that level, I wonder if he really is a Berserker."
"You go and fight too, Archer!"
"Isn't it fine to just leave it? Saber is our enemy, you know."
"T-that is..."
"Honestly... if it were me, I'd have a hard time, but I have a way to eliminate Berserker."
While it's still Caladbolg, my armament has numerous forms. The True Name Release and usage differ accordingly. I don't know how effective it will be against his resistance... but I can win. Twelve lives; actually, even if we leave him, Gilgamesh can handle it. Illya... if it's her, I'll save her.
"Saber's Noble Phantasm is dangerous. In terms of output from Noble Phantasms alone, it's above mine. If I seriously clash with it, I can win, but the location is the city, so it's risky."
It could split the neighboring city too, so it's hard for me to properly draw out my sword energy. Should I say Artoria is more troublesome? If she fires her Noble Phantasm from afar seeing an opening, it's problematic. I'd win head-on... but Shirou's capabilities as a Master are pathetic, regardless of his own abilities.
"Decide. What to do. I am your Servant, your judgment, Rin."
*BOOM!!!*
Artoria, who tried to decapitate Berserker by stepping on his sword, is kicked by Berserker—who still retains some skill despite being a Berserker—and sent flying, breaking a tree as she falls. With Shirou as her Master, each bit of damage like that must be fatal.
"... Help."
"Well, alright."
Then, it's time to join the battle... In my heart, did my pride get hurt because I was ignored too? Berserker.
*CLANG!!!!*
"■■■!!!"
"Please don't ignore me? Heracles."
""!?""
[Ooh~ This is this, isn't it a pinch? It's that Heracles, Rin-san~! You need the power of a magical girl!]
"You shut up! You can win, right Archer!?"
"Well, it's possible... but it's a bit tough."
Killing him twelve times isn't easy...!
Still... I guess I have to get serious.
"Then, let's recreate a mythic battle, Berserker...!"
*Kuguguguk...!!!!*
I change Caladbolg's form into a greatsword. And colliding with Berserker's massive greatsword, the shockwave shatters the pavement blocks, creating a storm-like wind.
"Ugh...! This is, a mythic battle...?"
"It's absurd..."
Rin and Shirou are astonished by the huge shockwave, and I face him head-on. With each clash of the greatswords, an impact sound assaults the ears and a shockwave shakes the body. Rin, seeming a bit impatient, soon fires a gem at Illya, but...
*Clink-clang!*
"!? What are you doing!?"
"Rin... please don't insult me. This is just the beginning. The current me has descended not as a king but as a warrior... Please, don't insult this battle. And I'll give you a better gem."
I protect Illya by slicing Rin's gem. She probably would have blocked it with magecraft anyway... but it bothers me a little. Since I have a warrior's pride, I don't want to be interrupted. Then, Berserker also looks at me and doesn't launch a sneak attack.
"Targeting the one we must protect would be a cowardly act for both of us. You are also a hero with high pride. Even as a Berserker, you must not have lost that noble pride. I nearly insulted you. So... let's settle this between us. Because of what Rin just did, I want a one-on-one fight even more. Originally, Saber will collapse first from magical energy depletion if we keep fighting, so isn't this better for both of us?"
"...."
Artoria gets up from under the tree. She stares at me intently and then nods. Regardless of strength, the magical energy problem is severe. No matter how much of a magical energy core she has, the connection with her Master is more important. She'd collapse first fighting Berserker.
"Then, round two."
*CLANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*
The swords clash again, and this time I intend to take one of Heracles's lives. The greatsword form soon changes back to just a sword form.
*Whoosh! Shushushushushushu!!!!*
"Fa, fast!"
A relentless barrage of sword strikes like a storm. With speed surpassing Berserker's, I slash through his body. Even Artoria admires my barrage, and I behead him.
*Whoosh~!*
Berserker leans back as if predicting the slash. And then, he bends the trajectory of the slashing sword and, with all his might, slashes diagonally. The veins on his sword-gripping fist stand out, and distinct, solid muscles become visible on my arm as I bisect Berserker's body diagonally.
*KwaGwaGwaGwa!!!!*
"My single strike... how is it, Berserker."
A killing blow that cuts space. The single strike, clad in magical energy, an A-rank Noble Phantasm, pierces his God Hand and grants one death.
"If it were your original self, I think you could have parried it. It's nothing but regrettable that Mad Enhancement prevents you from properly utilizing Eye of the Mind."
*Gulp, Guddududuk...!!!*
Soon, he resurrects, his eyes flashing."
"Impossible, resurrection!?"
"Heracles, after completing the twelve labors, is called a great hero and became a god after death. This is the proof of that anecdote. {God Hand} (Twelve Labors). A Noble Phantasm unique to Heracles, which no one else has. It's a Conceptual Noble Phantasm; an absurd body that can even withstand a Noble Phantasm that could annihilate the world if it's below B-rank."
"You don't mean... there's a hero who returns from death..."
Even Artoria, who was watching, is astonished by the Noble Phantasm. Even Gilgamesh acknowledged it, you see. If a fully sane Heracles came out with that... well, I can't guarantee victory either. To that extent, Heracles is an absurd monster. If he had just lived longer, he would have reached Scáthach's realm, perhaps even surpassed her to become the strongest existence. Both have absurd talent, but one lived much longer... What a pity, Heracles. I can't even imagine how much higher skill you, a god-man, could have shown.
"Haha, well... shall I show you more? If you wish to continue until one of us dies... let's do it until you kill me. Like in Ulster..."
I change Caladbolg's form into chains. This time, I'll recreate the Nemean Lion for you.
"That's enough. Let's go back, Berserker."
Soon, Illya comes running lightly to Berserker. Berserker puts her on his shoulder.
"I wanted to clean up the tedious stuff early on, but this was fun. See you later, Rin. I've become interested in your Archer. I don't really care about Saber or the like..."
It's not that Artoria is weak, but more that she's a traitor. Because she's a Servant who couldn't protect her own mother. She had that attitude in the original too... If she and Shirou work well together, they could defeat Berserker, so that's an arrogant thought, but seeing that, she really is a child.
"Then, bye-bye~"
Berserker and Illya disappear, and I put away my weapon. This is something, a bit disappointing... My blood was boiling for the first time in a long time. I'm from Ulster too, so I don't like such a bland ending...
"So, how was it? The mythic battle, how do you feel after seeing a glimpse of it, Artoria? Have you become a little interested in learning from me?"
"..... Could you teach me?"
"Of course. If you unlock your dragon power, even with your lacking Master, you could exert power equal to, or perhaps even surpass, Berserker's in a head-on fight."
Is she willing to listen to me for now? By the way... I feel a gaze.
Gilgamesh... when do you plan to come for me?
*Grrr...*
"...."
"Uhm, I'm sorry..."
It's my first time seeing a Servant's stomach clock go off.
"If it's alright... would you like to have a meal? I'll make it for you."
"Archer, you... No, I'm hungry too, so let's eat."
"Then, let's go to my house for now."
And so, I made a meal for them. Shirou, you have quite good cooking skills. It's the first time I feel threatened. Amazing mom-power...
Well, at least Seibah is satisfied, so that's good.