A colossal Dǎ Shén Biān descended from the heavens, like a mountainous mass crashing down from the sky. The surrounding air was instantly obliterated by the sheer force, violent gales swirling like a descending tornado. Not just around Mount Enzou—the atmosphere within several kilometers stirred violently.
Faced with this gigantic divine weapon plummeting from the sky, Gilgamesh was utterly on guard.
There was no doubt—this Noble Phantasm possessed EX-ranked destructive power.
Most critically of all, this Dǎ Shén Biān was a super-effective Anti-Divine Noble Phantasm!
Even its classification was written clear as day—"Anti-Divine Noble Phantasm"—targeting godly attributes without subtlety.
For him, this weapon was far too lethal.
Even a mere graze could scatter his soul on the spot!
Facing such a tailor-made, one-hit-kill strike, even the arrogant King of Heroes dared not be careless. He rapidly poured mana into the sword in his hand.
"The hour of judgment has come. Know the primordial law—and behold your death!"
With the leyline-backed mana supply from the land itself, Taigong Wang activated the Dǎ Shén Biān first—after all, it wasn't a Noble Phantasm that consumed much magical energy. Meanwhile, Ea needed time to charge mana, so it lagged by a beat.
The massive whip was about to fall first.
Woom!
In that instant, a massive golden ripple appeared above Mount Enzou.
A giant double-edged zanbato shot forth, blocking the descending trajectory of the Dǎ Shén Biān.
The titanic sword, dozens of meters long, groaned under the strike, leaf-vein-like cracks spreading across its surface.
"Tch, so you had that up your sleeve too?"
Taigong Wang muttered to himself.
"Fine, let's add a bit more strength!"
The power of the Dǎ Shén Biān was simply too great—it could easily pierce through the earth, potentially damaging the Greater Grail buried underground and Tohsaka girl. He hadn't gone full force yet.
With a wave of his hand, he performed an Earth Release technique toward a certain underground spot, then quietly increased the force behind the descending whip.
A deafening crash—and the zanbato shattered.
The Dǎ Shén Biān surged toward Gilgamesh without resistance.
But by this time, Ea had finished charging. Its three-segmented blade began to rotate counter to one another, a crimson storm howling from the sword body, morphing into a pseudo-space fracture, roaring outward in all directions.
Taigong Wang's face turned solemn.
Truth be told—he didn't know if this strike alone could defeat Gilgamesh. Even with an Anti-Divinity advantage, if it didn't land, it meant nothing.
If even this failed, they might really have to fight until the end of all laws and roads. Though he had leyline mana replenishment, who's to say the King's Treasury didn't hold items to restore mana as well?
Hmph, worst case… he'd call reinforcements.
Call his fellow disciples from the Reverse Side of the World—they didn't need to manifest in true body form. As Heroic Spirit-class summonings alone would suffice. Ganging up wasn't beneath him; after all, he could even mimic Heroic Spirit summoning himself.
And then—
A figure burst past his side.
"Master?!"
Taigong Wang's expression changed dramatically.
It was unmistakably Roy, riding the Sibuxiang!
What was he thinking?!
"Get back here!"
His heart raced in panic.
Couldn't he see how terrifying that crimson storm ahead was?!
At the center of the battlefield:
Gilgamesh had fully charged his mana, raising his sword high, pointing it at the descending Dǎ Shén Biān.
"Enuma Elish—!"
And at that moment—
Roy, riding the Sibuxiang, shot up from below, weaving past the crimson storm, charging directly toward the field.
At first, Sibuxiang was reluctant.
But under relentless urging, it reluctantly obeyed.
With the Flag of the Unfolding Heaven and Earth guarding them, even if targeted momentarily by Gilgamesh, it wouldn't matter much—after all, it was forged from a Primordial Lotus of Creation.
But Gilgamesh was too focused on the Dǎ Shén Biān, completely ignoring the closing Roy.
As he neared the Vimana—
Roy's gaze locked onto Gilgamesh standing before his throne. At the same time, his hand reached into imaginary number space, retrieving a jet-black metallic sphere.
Yes.
This was Roy's final trump card.
A treasure he obtained by pure accident.
As Gilgamesh prepared to unleash his Noble Phantasm, the runes inscribed upon the sphere suddenly blazed to life. A short sword emerged from within.
A most ordinary-looking short sword. Not the slightest appearance of lethality.
But no one knew better than Roy how terrifying this blade truly was.
Clenching the rune-inscribed right hand, he punched the sphere.
VMMM——————!
In that instant—it was as though even light itself was left behind, causality reversed, cause and effect swapped.
Originally, Gilgamesh's attack should have been unleashed first. But now, with this strike, causality was forcibly overturned—this attack was rewritten as an absolute first strike!
"What—?!"
Gilgamesh was completely unprepared.
Eyes widening in disbelief, he was pierced through the throat by a short sword not even moving especially fast.
The raging crimson storm froze abruptly, then slowly dispersed into nothingness.
"Damn you… mongrel…"
With blood gushing from his throat, Gilgamesh managed to squeeze out his final curse, eyes full of spite.
Then—the Dǎ Shén Biān crushed him into dust.
Flesh obliterated. Bones gone.
Even the golden Vimana shattered under the colossal blow.
As the Dǎ Shén Biān was about to fall toward him, the overwhelming pressure almost upending the world, Roy momentarily forgot how to breathe, hastily raising his Flag of the Unfolding Heaven and Earth.
Fortunately, Taigong Wang reacted just in time, swiftly retracting the Dǎ Shén Biān before it struck the field of golden lotuses.
The crushing pressure vanished.
Roy let out a sigh of relief.
Only to see Taigong Wang flying over with a dark expression.
"Master, I know you're bold—but there's no need to risk your life proving it like this!"
"Ahaha… sorry, sorry."
Roy scratched his head, sheepishly.
"In that moment… who could say for sure if Gilgamesh might escape. I had to guarantee the victory somehow…"
Fragarach, taken from Bazett—a priceless Noble Phantasm preserved since the Age of Gods, holding the power to invert cause and effect. In simple terms, it reversed priority, making the user's strike absolutely first.
By becoming an absolute first strike, the enemy wouldn't even have a chance to activate their trump card. Their move would be forcibly canceled, leaving no room for error.
The sole condition for activation: it could only be used when the opponent was unleashing their trump card. In regular close combat, or when the enemy was only fighting seriously but not using a finisher, the Fragarach wouldn't awaken.
And another issue—to activate Fragarach, one needed the special bloodline factor of the Bazett clan.
But for Roy—a man with Mystic Eyes capable of tracing and replicating magecraft conditions, that wasn't a problem.
That was why he stole Bazett's Magic Crest—for this very moment, to successfully activate Fragarach.
Fortunately, the final trump card had delivered as hoped.
Otherwise, no one could tell how long Gilgamesh and Taigong Wang would've fought. Even a super-effective Noble Phantasm might not have been enough to truly bring down Gilgamesh.
But—the outcome was good.
Taigong Wang could only sigh and let the lecturing go, choosing to leave it at that.
***
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