Chapter 9: The Man Outside of Fate
At twilight, under the dimming sky, the group arrived within a forest.
The scent of soil, flowers, and trees permeated the air, and a gentle breeze swept through the woods. The forest was shrouded in a thin mist; beneath the white, veil-like haze, sunlight streaming from the horizon looked like strands of fine golden sand, piercing through the layers of overlapping trunks and branches, dappling the grass with spots of light. The ground was rich with the fragrance of green grass, flowers, and moist earth, and countless varieties of blossoms were scattered across the forest like twinkling stars, causing the earth to shimmer with a colorful, vibrant energy.
"It seems we will be able to reach Uruk before sunset," Enkidu said as they walked.
"But, Mr. Enkidu... Uruk is in the opposite direction, isn't it?" Mash felt that something was wrong.
"There is a dock ahead. As long as we take a boat and follow the current, we will reach Uruk," Enkidu explained.
"Is that so? I really didn't know there was such a route." Just then, a somewhat frivolous voice came from another direction.
"Ah my~ sorry to startle you, but please do not panic. We just lost our way on this unfamiliar path, though I never expected to encounter humans under the very nose of the Goddess of Demonic Beasts."
A man dressed in white, holding a magic staff, walked out of the forest, smiling as he looked at the group. He had white hair and a handsome face, wore somewhat ornate white robes, and held a staff in his hand.
"That is truly unfortunate." Enkidu squinted and smiled. "We are heading to Uruk; would you like to accompany us?"
"If possible, that would be wonderful," Merlin replied with a smile. "Meeting here can be considered fate. If it's not too much trouble, could you tell me your names?"
"I am Gudako, this is Mash Kyrielight, and this is Orihara Shirou-senpai."
Upon hearing Gudako's words, Merlin arched a brow and looked at Shirou with some confusion. "You look quite similar; you wouldn't happen to be siblings, would you?"
In the future he had foreseen, this man did not exist. Noticing this, many doubts surfaced in Merlin's heart.
"I am Enkidu."
After Enkidu stated his name, Merlin frowned, and the attention he had just placed on Shirou was shifted away.
"Enkidu? That is a bit strange..." Merlin stared intently at 'Enkidu,' resting his chin on his hand, and spoke with a touch of contemplation. "Because the Gilgamesh currently commanding the battle at the front lines of Uruk is the one who has already returned from his quest for the Herb of Immortality."
Merlin's words caused Mash's expression to change.
"If that's the case... doesn't that mean...!?"
In legend, after Enkidu died, Utnapishtim told a despondent Gilgamesh that even if he could not attain immortality, he could use a plant with restorative powers to regain his youth. Upon learning of this, Gilgamesh jumped into the sea to search for it; he later had the plant stolen by a snake while bathing, and the snake immediately shed its skin and became rejuvenated. Despondent, Gilgamesh returned to Uruk. Longing for his deceased friend, he sought the gods' help to meet Enkidu's spirit, asking him about the "laws of the earth," finally understanding that humans cannot live forever. From then on, Gilgamesh became a wise king, guiding and governing his city until his death.
"Exactly! Why did Gilgamesh go to search for the Herb of Immortality? He went because of the death of his best friend, Enkidu!" Merlin looked at 'Enkidu,' his voice ringing clear. "If this is after he searched for the herb, then the Enkidu here is..." Gudako also looked at the man with Enkidu's image with vigilance.
"Tch...!" Enkidu clicked his tongue in irritation. "I had intended to take you to the destination and wipe you all out at once, but since I've been exposed, I'll just kill you all right here!"
The next moment, immense magical energy surged from Enkidu's body. The instant he raised his hand, a golden beam of light shot toward Gudako.
Whoosh—!
In that instant, a Noble Phantasm was fired rapidly, detonating the moment it was about to strike the light beam.
Boom—!
The magical energy turned into a violent wind, sweeping through the area and destroying the surrounding trees one after another.
"What is that...?" Enkidu felt some confusion regarding the suddenly appearing Noble Phantasm.
"Are you going to continue your performance?" Above Shirou, who spoke these words, blue ripples undulated, and a group of Noble Phantasms menacingly shook their sharp blades and edges, exposing their killing intent.
On the other side, seeing this scene, a look of surprise flashed across Merlin's eyes, and he began to ponder while resting his chin on his hand. Enkidu also showed a look of astonishment in the face of those Noble Phantasms, but it was quickly replaced by disdain.
"Heh... a large number of Noble Phantasms, is it... I never thought that among the incompetent personnel of Chaldea, there could emerge an existence like you."
"Is that meant to be a compliment?" Shirou smiled.
At the same time, dozens of Noble Phantasms shot out, dragging trails of blue magical light through the air as they charged at Enkidu. Enkidu retreated rapidly, continuously firing light beams to defend himself. After dodging the attacks of these Noble Phantasms with extreme narrowness, Enkidu did not hesitate to raise his arms in Shirou's direction. Instantly, several golden wedges shot out toward Shirou, appearing as if they would pierce his body in the next second.
"The 'Chains of Heaven' are not only yours," Shirou said with a cold laugh.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!!!
In that instant, the clashing sound of chains rang out. From the rippling blue waves, dozens of golden chains flew out, and the second after they shattered Enkidu's Chains of Heaven, they completely bound his body.
"This... how is this possible?!"
Enkidu, his limbs completely bound by Shirou's "Chains of Heaven," exclaimed in disbelief.
"There is nothing impossible about it. Since this Singularity can gather so many heroes from various eras, my existence, even if I possess the 'Chains of Heaven,' is not all that strange, is it?" Shirou said to the bound Enkidu in a leisurely tone.
"Although what he says makes some sense, why do I feel like something isn't quite right..." Merlin pulled at the corner of his mouth as he listened to Shirou's words.
He possessed "Clairvoyance" at the EX rank, an ability that could already reach the point of foreseeing the future. During the Sixth Singularity, he had predicted Shirou's appearance, but this time, he had been unable to foresee when Shirou would arrive. This was a very strange thing to Merlin.
This person... was as if he were gradually separating himself from the threads of Fate.
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