"Stop, Lancer. That's enough…"
Mayuri, as the embodiment of the Kerk system of the Cabala Tree, possessed the power to restrain other Spirits and maintain balance within Requiem.
In this war, as a Ruler, her mission was to stop any Heroic Spirits that brought destruction to the world or humanity. But things weren't that simple. Mayuri didn't possess Command Spells like a normal Ruler. On the contrary, much like Amakusa Shirou, she was an illegal Ruler in this war.
"Hmph. They obstructed Nushi-sama. Muku won't forgive them."
"But our little love has already forgiven them. It's not our place to send them back to the Throne of Heroes…"
"But they disobeyed Muku! Our children must obey!"
"If you send them back, someone else will take their place. That will only delay our darling even more…"
"But still!"
"Are you saying you'll disobey our darling?"
"…"
Mukuro didn't answer Mayuri's words. But from the change in Mayuri's tone, it was clear she wouldn't accept a refusal.
"Hmph!"
Puffing out her cheeks in irritation, Mukuro opened a spatial Gate and left in anger.
It was unbelievable. The all-powerful Lancer had obeyed an order. That alone shocked everyone present.
"Do not be afraid, my children. I will not harm you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Ruler in this Holy Grail World War…"
Seeing their confusion, Mayuri smiled gently at the group.
"As a Ruler, I am here to act with justice—our justice. So make sure not to sadden Mama. I love you all very much, and it would pain me to hurt you…"
She pressed both hands to her chest as she spoke sadly. That simple gesture sent chills down Gilgamesh's and Enkidu's spines. If that was the case, then in this war, the Monster had the arbiter on its side.
"Do your best, my children. Mama loves you…"
Dispersing into particles of light, Mayuri vanished with a smile.
"Gil… she too…"
"Haa… I think I understand what's going on now…"
There was more than one Eve. This was a problem that went straight back to Genesis—either an error in history or perhaps a discovery. After all, legends were never exactly the same as what truly happened.
No matter how powerful Adam was, his recorded descendants were only Cain, the original ancestor and father of all the undead, and Abel, who was killed by him.
So how did humanity survive?
Did the Gods create more original humans?
After Adam's failure, none dared to try.
But what if there was more than one Eve?
That would explain how humanity multiplied. Even though Cain was cursed by God and Abel was murdered, humanity continued to prosper.
Adam had other wives—other "Eves"—who bore more children, ones never recorded in Genesis.
"Eve was born from Adam's rib, so in theory, Eve possesses Adam's power. The real question is… how many 'Eves' are there?"
"The Original Sin that usurped God's power and stripped away His authority… the Cabala Tree of Life. There are ten Sephirot, but this tree is special. Perhaps there are even eleven Sephirot…"
Without destiny, he couldn't determine the true identities of these two Eves. But arrogant as he was, Gilgamesh wasn't a fool. He noticed one detail—the Noble Phantasms of Mukuro and the Yamai Sisters bore the names of an Archangel, a Guardian of Cabala.
"The previous Archer was strange as well. At first, I thought she was a subordinate of the Monster, but now I believe she was also an Eve—or close to one…"
Now he understood how Adam had avoided the eternal seal of the Gods. By dividing the power of the Cabala Tree among his wives, the seal became meaningless.
By weakening the seal into multiple parts, Adam could eventually break it with his own strength and return to the world.
"Archer?"
"Ha, those women of the winds."
Enkidu hadn't yet been summoned when the Yamai Sisters fought Achilles, but Gilgamesh had been there. He had been observing from the very beginning. His Omniscient Noble Phantasm had been damaged and rendered nearly useless, but that didn't mean he lacked other Treasures to observe the battle.
The peculiarity of those sisters had caught his attention. Now, with the existence of multiple "Eves," Gilgamesh connected the dots.
Those girls were almost "Eves"—candidates to become Adam's wives. They were False Eves.
"I don't know how many true 'Eves' exist, but due to the eternal seal, the number shouldn't exceed five."
"Are you sure, Gil?"
"I don't know, my friend. The seal on the Monster is strong. But that Monster is the one who stole God's authority, and that Lancer is the sixth Sephirah of Cabala—God Eloah, the guardian Michael, the one who represents beauty, excellence, and glory…"
At that realization, Gilgamesh couldn't help but laugh. No wonder her Noble Phantasm was overwhelmingly powerful. That was an angel turned into a weapon. That was also why no such Noble Phantasms existed within the King's Treasures.
Poor Gods. Since creation, they had always been destined to be defeated by humans…
"Hahaha, how pathetic. The Gods were all massacred, their guardians reduced to weapons. Even Michael himself fell."
Michael, famed as the strongest Archangel in the heavens, second only to the Creator, had also lost to Adam.
"Don't laugh, Gil. This isn't good. We're facing an Adam wielding the power of Kabbalah…"
Enkidu didn't know what to say about his friend's awful personality. Still, he understood just how dangerous this war was. When he had been summoned, the first things he sensed were violent tracking magecraft and Vimana under attack. As Gilgamesh's friend, he had also used Vimana to support him all the way to Japan.
"Haha, it's just too funny. I can't help it."
At that moment, Ritsuka, Mash, and Sakura approached them. With Mukuro gone, there was nothing to fear—at the very least, they didn't have to worry about a flying ship falling on their heads.
"Enkidu-san, it's good to see you…"
"Lord Enkidu."
"Travelers."
Ritsuka and Mash had met Enkidu before in other Singularities, so they recognized him immediately. Likewise, because of his shared Noble Phantasms with Gilgamesh, Enkidu also recognized the pair.
"Archer, what should we do?"
Sakura asked cautiously. She felt a bit regretful now. The Monster was far more than the King could handle, and it had been her idea to save Chaldea in the first place…
"There's nothing else to do. We need to regroup."
Crossing his arms, the sight of his Master being frightened pleased Gilgamesh greatly…
"Hahaha. Don't be afraid. As King, I will always protect my subjects."
Even so, his words did nothing to calm Sakura.
[Kabbalah… I see. This is another problem that concerns the Gods…]
After Enkidu explained the situation and revealed the Monster's nature, Romani let out a weary sigh.
Almost all Singularities were the work of the Gods—either by their own hands or as the result of their mistakes. This time, it was Adam himself, the origin of humanity. As always, a disaster for humans.
"Adam…"
Ritsuka thought the same. It was a headache. Honestly, he didn't know what to do. Da Vinci had sacrificed herself, and yet they were still chased across continents by the Monster.
"Any ideas, Doctor?"
[I don't think so. This time it's complicated. According to legend, Adam, as the father of humanity, cannot be defeated by any of his children. He is the nemesis of all human Servants.]
If the child was strong, the father was even stronger. Though it's often said that a child will surpass their parent, Adam was the beginning itself—talent, strength, speed, endurance, courage…
Everything the heroes boasted of was inherited from Adam.
[Perhaps only the Gods can help us this time…]
"The Gods? Hmph. Don't think those bastards can handle the Monster."
Gilgamesh mocked Romani without hesitation. He held a prejudice against the Gods, but that didn't mean his judgment was flawed.
He knew how dangerous and powerful the Gods were. In theory, no human could withstand divine wrath. But Romani had forgotten something important.
"The Monster was created in the image of God! It's also the nemesis of those bastards!"
Any divine power was rejected by Adam. With the ability to steal and usurp authority, the Gods fled from Adam like the plague. That was why other Gods from different Pantheons never created original humans.
They feared what had happened in the Garden of Eden would be repeated against their own Pantheon…
Enkidu was the embodiment of the Gods' fear.
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