For some reason, the current situation had become utterly grim for Gilgamesh.
He was now facing a Reality Marble, a Grand Thaumaturgy. In terms of sheer scale, a Reality Marble was on the same level as the Heroic Spirit Summoning that brings forth the prototypes of Servants.
In his prime, Mr. Goldie would have scoffed at such a thing, dismissing it as a trifle.
But unfortunately...
Not only was he weakened, but his body was now reduced to just his upper half... making him and his Master quite the pair.
"Well now... seeing you like this, I almost don't have the heart to finish you off," [Illya] sighed helplessly.
"After all, it's never good to bully the disabled."
Her words were spoken with sincerity, devoid of any mockery. Yet, for Goldie, this earnestness was far more damaging.
After all, merely pointing out his current state was the greatest insult to this incredibly arrogant and prideful king.
"Mongrel!"
Noble Phantasms peeked out from golden ripples, each one brimming with his rage.
However, the treasures that shot out like arrows from a bow were intercepted mid-air. "You're so impatient. Acting like that, you've lost all of a king's grace, you know."
"My mercy—the only thing I can grant you—is a thunderous punishment!"
"I wasn't expecting anything like that in the first place. This time, it's all about settling the personal grudge between you and this child."
"Honestly, seeing you in such a sorry state... the part of me that belongs to this child is cheering with delight."
*But from my own perspective, finishing you off like this doesn't bring me any joy,* Jiang Qiao thought. *So...*
[Illya] raised her hand.
Invisibly, something seemed to vanish.
Of course, for Mr. Goldie, it was something much more tangible—the curse of Gáe Buidhe.
"There. I've removed the curse for you," [Illya] said calmly.
"You don't need my help with the rest, do you?"
The silver-haired girl's casual tone only deepened his sense of humiliation.
Being helped by an object of his own scorn and disgust was worse than death. If he had a choice, he would have refused the recovery.
However...
Meeting that gaze, he found it impossible to accept his own pathetic appearance.
Gilgamesh let out a cold snort and caught the potion that fell from a golden ripple, downing it in one gulp. Almost instantly, his severed lower body regenerated.
Ultimately, for Servants, their essence was merely a collection of spiritrons. It wasn't particularly difficult to restore a body, provided one had enough magical energy.
Unfortunately, he was too proud to accept support from that useless bum.
"Very good."
"It seems you've recovered."
"Though you don't have that sword, Ea, I will personally retrieve it from that stray dog."
"And now..."
"Quench my rage with your death."
In an instant, a thousand golden ripples materialized.
He didn't know how the Illya before him had destroyed his Noble Phantasms earlier, but that didn't stop Gilgamesh from making a judgment call.
If you can handle a few dozen Gates of Babylon, can your tricks still work against nearly a thousand?
"What a troublesome fellow."
Morgan, who was also within the confines of this space, couldn't help but curse, "You're an absolute fool for lifting that guy's curse!"
Facing so many Noble Phantasms at once made even a Grand Caster like Morgan feel her scalp tingle.
She instinctively prepared to wave her staff and cast a defensive spell to weather the storm.
However...
"Noble Phantasms, huh..."
While it was a sight that would make most Servants tremble in fear, it wasn't the case for [Illya].
*After all... if it's just the Gate of Babylon, I have ways to deal with it,* Jiang Qiao mused. *Be it human or divine, existing or potential... Noble Phantasms are ultimately just vessels and manifestations of the 'Reason of Man'.*
And his previous technique could have erased them from existence.
*I have many ways to handle this, but...* Jiang Qiao took a deep breath.
"—!!!"
Subconsciously hearing a childish cry for help, Morgan still decided to lend a hand.
But before she could even brandish her staff, in the very next moment...
An immense surge of magical energy materialized in front of [Illya], coalescing into a massive, physical body.
"ROOOOAR!!"
An enraged bellow echoed throughout the entire castle.
"What is that!?"
Morgan's eyes widened as she stared at the colossal, dark figure whose exposed muscles were as firm as steel and rock.
The next moment, as the figure raised something that looked like a beast's hide...
The barrage of Noble Phantasms crashed against it as if hitting a wall, one after another falling from the sky just like their leader had earlier.
"Heracles!"
Sha Nagba Imuru allowed Mr. Goldie to instantly recognize the figure that had suddenly appeared. He stared at him in utter shock.
All the Servants summoned for the Holy Grail War should have already been revealed!
"This Servant..."
Morgan shared the same question.
In response, [Illya] stepped out from behind Heracles, a slight curve on her lips.
"This is the effect of this Reality Marble, [Castle of Snow]."
Just as Iskandar's Noble Phantasm could summon the followers who served him in life—tens of thousands of Macedonian soldiers, all Servants, some even stronger than Iskandar himself—this Reality Marble was a similar existence.
However, the Castle of Snow could only summon a single Servant.
And that was the legendary Greek demigod hero who shared a deep connection with Illya—Heracles!
The unfulfilled regrets of the great hero and the little girl he protected, converging into this version of Illya, a part of everything she represented.
This unfulfilled wish manifested as a world from the heart—this was Illya's exclusive Reality Marble, [Castle of Snow].
"Ooh, interesting..."
Mr. Goldie was starting to get excited.
After all, as the King of Heroes, very few kings or heroes were worthy of his attention.
Heracles was decidedly different.
Among the many heroes of ancient Greek mythology, there were other heroes, and then there was Heracles.
A battle against Heracles was no less enticing than a fight with Enkidu.
However...
Watching the excited Mr. Goldie, [Illya]'s expression was a bit strange.
"Looks like it's up to you now~~"
The silver-haired girl smiled, a look worthy of a little devil.
*Strictly speaking, this Heracles isn't counted as one of the Servants in the Holy Grail War. So, calling him 'Berserker' is more out of habit,* Jiang Qiao noted.
As Heracles charged toward Gilgamesh like an arrow, [Illya] blinked.
*Since this Reality Marble was created from this child's admiration for the great hero, it means...*
*Unlike the emotionless Servants Iskandar summons...*
*That stat sheet...*
Heracles
Strength: A++
Endurance: A++ (Originally C)
Agility: A++ (Originally D)
Mana: A
Luck: A
Noble Phantasm: EX
Noble Phantasms:
Wind and Clouds Usurper, Nine Lives, God Hand... all manifested within this special Reality Marble.
Because of the Reality Marble, he also carried the residual anger toward Gilgamesh from his Berserker self. Mr. Goldie, completely unaware of the massive power gap between himself and this version of Heracles, collided with the enraged hero, setting the stage for a gruesome tragedy.
The Gate of Babylon was utterly useless against the Pelt of the Nemean Lion. Gilgamesh's face was nearly beaten swollen!
"Damn you! I am a king!"
Beaten black and blue, Gilgamesh's composure finally broke.
Among all his treasures, only the Chains of Heaven, Enkidu, could affect Heracles. But when he unleashed them, Heracles, with his terrifying strength and willpower, overcame the chains' suppression of divine beings. And because he was rational, his power wasn't halved. Instead, he grabbed Gilgamesh by the ankle, and then...
"CRASH—!"
"..."
As a bystander, Morgan witnessed a scene of such terrifying violence that it sent a chill down her spine. She subconsciously took a few steps back.
"Such a weak king."
This brutal beatdown left Mr. Goldie completely unable to resist, even as a Servant. He was in no position to protest Berserker's contempt.
[Illya] approached with her hands behind her back, taking light steps. She glanced at Gilgamesh's state and couldn't help but sigh.
"Mmm, this is really..."
"Sorry about that. He seems to have gotten a little carried away."
"This should be about enough..."
"And so—"
"For the finale..."
As if she had an idea, [Illya] leaned in to listen to Heracles's whispers and nodded after he muttered something.
Under Morgan's watchful eyes...
Heracles pinched Mr. Goldie's head. Compared to his massive hand, the King of Heroes' head looked as insignificant as a small ball of clay.
And perhaps because of the earlier thrashing, Mr. Goldie was now as limp as a wet noodle.
[Illya] glanced at this, slightly dissatisfied. She wanted him to be taut, like a drawn arrow ready to be fired.
Then, Morgan watched as the once-invincible King of Heroes was nocked onto the string of Heracles's giant stone bow, which was now aimed in a certain direction.
Magical energy began to gather...
Noble Phantasm, Rank CC—The Golden Archer Who Charges Ever Forward