It was hard to tell if it was a warning or a death sentence.
By the time the words were spoken, the blade of the magic spear was already just centimeters from Gilgamesh—an inescapable strike for any Servant.
Steel clashed, and sparks flew.
Shiomi's attack didn't land on Gilgamesh. Instead, it abruptly shifted course, forming a wide arc around him centered on Shiomi himself.
A new wave of Noble Phantasms had erupted around Gilgamesh like a saint's halo, encircling Shiomi in an instant.
There were six in total.
Not just spears and swords, but also axes, war hammers, and polearms—alongside some bizarre, unidentifiable weapons with unknown origins or purposes.
Every weapon gleamed like a mirror, their polished surfaces reflecting clear images, all infused with potent Mana. Each was a fully realized embodiment of mystery, none weaker than the others.
Every one of them was a Noble Phantasm—without exception.
"Is this... really modern spear technique?" Diarmuid couldn't help but murmur in awe.
As a Servant, he saw it clearly. The moment Shiomi sensed the ambush behind Archer, he detected the "gate" reactivating around him.
Even the briefest hesitation—less than half a second—would have left Shiomi overwhelmed and crushed by the surrounding Noble Phantasms.
But he defused the crisis with a single strike. The Noble Phantasms, unable to penetrate the circle of his magic spear, scattered in all directions. The golden Servant standing atop the streetlamp was even forced to leap away, dodging the out-of-control weapons flying back toward him.
Even though those Noble Phantasms belonged to him, once launched, they were like bullets from a gun—no longer under his control.
And the one who made that possible was Shiomi, through sheer mastery of the spear.
The king and challenger swapped places.
The golden Servant who called himself king landed on the fractured, frozen road. Shiomi, mid-flip in the air, landed nimbly atop the streetlamp where Archer had stood moments earlier.
With his back to Shiomi, Gilgamesh turned around coldly as even more "gates" opened beside him, summoning a new wave of Noble Phantasms.
"Don't get ahead of yourself!"
At his command, ten brand-new Noble Phantasms surged toward Shiomi.
A thunderous roar tore through the air. The explosive light lit up the night, rivaling the brilliance of Shiomi's earlier lightning Magecraft.
No one could have imagined that simply hurling blades and weapons could unleash such destruction. Noble Phantasms flew at Shiomi one after another, only to be deflected by his magic spear with precise strikes.
Morgan, who had been bracing for disaster when Gilgamesh first appeared, gradually relaxed, realizing her concern had been unnecessary.
Despite his rage, the King of Heroes clearly still looked down on Shiomi for being human—he hadn't fought him seriously.
He launched Noble Phantasms in a relentless barrage, seemingly determined to grind Shiomi down until not even a skull remained.
Yet Shiomi showed no sign of faltering. His stance remained firm, and his spear technique stayed sharp and composed.
Everyone stared, stunned that a human Master could endure a Servant's onslaught this long. They had nearly forgotten they were still standing on a battlefield, where a single mistake could mean death against overwhelming odds.
Shiomi leapt from the streetlamp, swatting away incoming Noble Phantasms midair as he landed on a nearby empty shipping container. The missed attacks struck the pavement and containers behind him, triggering a chain of explosions and clouds of smoke.
He was forcing his way through the rain of Noble Phantasms, aiming directly for Archer, who remained stationary.
He wasn't just defending—he was pushing forward.
His will to fight and razor-sharp reflexes far surpassed what any ordinary person could imagine.
Was this truly a Magus taking part in the Holy Grail War as a Master? Or was he some unknown hero born in an age long after heroes had faded from the world?
He had only just received the weapon, and yet in Shiomi's hands, it was already dancing like a whirlwind of blooming flowers.
In the blink of an eye, Shiomi once again closed the distance between himself and Archer—close enough that a single thrust of his spear could strike his opponent.
The Noble Phantasms behind Archer surged forward—but Shiomi's body vanished once more.
This time, everyone clearly saw it: a flash of light accompanied Tenkei Shiomi's disappearance.
"That's—!" Diarmuid cried out again.
Shiomi had used the same bizarre method when stopping him from intervening in the fight between Morgan and Artoria.
It now seemed certain—some kind of spatial displacement Magecraft.
But unlike the slower form suited for long-distance travel, this version was short-range and instantaneous.
In a heartbeat, Shiomi reappeared in midair behind Archer. Without a word, he spun his spear and brought the axe-bladed edge down in a fierce arc.
Clang!
Both hands gripped tightly around the spear's shaft, Shiomi pressed down with force—but the blade didn't budge an inch further.
Archer stood firm, twin golden sabers crossed before him, blocking the strike.
Even with his Magecraft and agility allowing him to evade Noble Phantasms and strike from blind spots, the difference in raw physical strength was clear. He couldn't overpower someone with Strength ranked B or higher.
"Hmph!"
Gilgamesh let out a cold snort. With ease, he deflected Shiomi's slash and stepped back, the twin sabers vanishing into golden light.
Surprisingly, Archer didn't seem to be seething anymore. A cold smirk played across his lips. Arms crossed, the golden Servant looked down at Shiomi from above.
"To think you actually made me use Enki… Not bad for a mere mongrel."
His voice brimming with amusement, Archer burst into maniacal laughter. Spreading his arms wide, the air around him twisted once more—this time, thirty-two "gates" appeared in full view.
Shiomi drew in a deep breath, silently calculating how to navigate this impossible situation.
"Human! Prove your worth to this king—or perish."
The killing intent in the air turned the winter night into a frozen stillness. Earlier, the others might have been able to stand back and observe. But now, with so many Noble Phantasms summoned, there was no more room for spectators.
If Archer suddenly felt like wiping out the other Servants on a whim, these thirty-two gates would be enough to start—and who knew how many more might follow?
Sixty-four? One hundred twenty-eight? Even more?
No one could begin to guess the true extent of this golden Servant's power.
Morgan stepped forward in silence, once again standing between Shiomi and the threat.
"This much probing is enough, isn't it? I'll use Magecraft to block Archer's attacks. You handle the retreat spell." Her voice was calm as she gave Shiomi his orders.
"Looks like it," Shiomi replied flatly, already preparing to retreat with Morgan.
Just then, Artoria suddenly landed in front of the two of them.
"I'll cover you. You retreat first."
Just ten minutes ago, she had been battling Morgan at sea. Now, clad once again in armor, wielding her invisible sword, she stepped in to shield them.
Morgan couldn't help but ask,
"What are you scheming?"
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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