A spirited, ancient roasting session unfolded in Uruk's divine tower, with a furious Gilgamesh, ignoring Siduri's protests, yanking Ishtar's braid and berating the useless goddess.
Learning the bull was lost, Gilgamesh felt his vision darken, his mood plummeting.
His excitement crashed like a rollercoaster hitting rock bottom.
If he could, he'd stuff this incompetent goddess into Uruk's wall-mounted cannon and fire her off to vent his rage.
Roy's intervention halted this pointless outburst.
Time was tight. Though the bull was gone, Roy's plan was to raid the enemy's stronghold tonight, stopping Tiamat's unsealing at top speed.
As for Gilgamesh's concern about the time needed for the Underworld's relocation, Roy took it on himself.
Unsure of a partially unsealed Tiamat's strength, blocking her was essential to victory.
Gugalanna would've been ideal, but without it, Roy would face Tiamat himself.
Under the shocked gazes in the tower, Roy proposed heading to the sea alone to stall Tiamat, buying time for Ereshkigal.
He declared, "If things get dire, I can hold the line alone." His words stunning the room.
His resolute gaze and firm tone showed he meant to single-handedly halt Tiamat's advance.
Gilgamesh roared, "Utter nonsense!"
"Absolutely not!!!"
"Are you insane? Facing the Mother of Genesis alone?!"
Ereshkigal and Ishtar vehemently opposed this absurd plan.
Sending one person against a Mother of Genesis of unknown power was tantamount to suicide.
Even arrogance had limits, and Gilgamesh wouldn't permit such recklessness.
But someone had to sacrifice, to take the risk, and Roy was the best suited.
He planned to trap Tiamat in his Reality Marble, holding her as long as possible to buy time.
Among those present, only he could delay Tiamat at sea; others couldn't.
After a standoff, Roy finalized the plan.
Tonight, they'd assault the Blood Fort Andromeda, crushing the Demon God Pillars' setup with lightning speed.
If Tiamat awakened, Roy would take two top-tier Servants to the sea to stall, buying as much time as possible. If the gap was too vast, they'd retreat without heroics to devise another solution.
The interceptors: Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca, two Aztec chief gods.
Though Ishtar offered to join the Tiamat blockade, as a Sumerian Mother of Genesis, Tiamat might heavily counter her pantheon's gods, potentially disrupting the battle, so Ishtar was kept back.
Their foes weren't just Tiamat, Humbaba and Karna were significant threats, requiring sufficient forces to handle.
With Roy, the Aztec gods, and Ereshkigal tied up in the Underworld, Gilgamesh needed to stay in Uruk to manage the final trump card.
If push came to shove, Ishtar might lead the remaining Servants against Humbaba.
Though reluctant to face her old foe, with everyone giving their all, Ishtar couldn't afford to falter as the Venus goddess. She steeled herself for a showdown with Humbaba.
The task of facing Karna naturally fell to Arjuna, with no objections.
Though Quetzalcoatl wanted to defeat Karna herself, repaying his sacrifice on the plains, Arjuna's insistence led her to step back with understanding and blessings.
She also needed to conserve strength for Tiamat with Roy.
Arjuna, tasked with Karna, was thrilled, his fighting spirit blazing like blue flames.
A decisive battle with his half-brother, defeating him honorably, was his greatest lifelong wish.
A dream he'd always yearned for.
His feelings toward Karna were complex. Each encounter strained his composure.
Born third among the Pandavas, son of Indra, god of thunder and heavens, Arjuna was impeccable in character, talent, and strength, a divinely gifted hero, never so undone.
A principled, meticulous, kind, and steady hero, Arjuna was beloved by all, adored by elders, respected by younger siblings, cherished by parents, people, and the world.
He loved his people, striving to return their affection, embodying the perfect, divinely granted hero.
But… what was his true nature?
Arjuna always knew another self lurked within, a self indifferent to the world, a pure Arjuna.
He hid it well, carefully concealing this side, unnoticed by anyone.
Except one person… Karna.
Meeting Karna first, Arjuna's heart stirred uncontrollably, as if facing a clear mirror reflecting another self.
Karna's cold gaze and piercing words filled him with dread, as if he had no secrets before him. Things buried deep, unspoken, unfaced, were effortlessly exposed by Karna.
It felt like his inner self mocking him, scorning him, saying, "You can't escape me; we're the same."
So he feared Karna, loathed him, dreaded him.
Not just Karna, but himself.
Arjuna knew his killing intent toward Karna wasn't just divine fate.
He rejected Karna, and that other self, viscerally, to the point of nightmares.
This festering emotion wove their destinies, forming their fated rivalry.
In the end, Arjuna defeated his brother Karna, killing him in their final battle, conquering his other self, but…
Did he truly win?
Was such a victory truly a triumph?
Winning so dishonorably, what was that?
To secure Arjuna's victory, his father Indra, disguised as an ascetic, tricked Karna out of his golden armor and stole a precious shot.
The gods cursed Karna to forget his skills and weapon's true name at critical moments. His mother pleaded for him to abandon the fight.
Yet Karna came, joining a doomed final battle.
Without his innate armor, Karna was frail, his chariot stuck in mud due to the curse, unable to recall his weapon's name or skills.
An agreement forbade attacking a defenseless foe, but the war was inherently unfair.
Tempted by another voice, Arjuna drew his bow, loosing a life-stealing arrow at Karna, mired in mud.
Karna died in the mire…
It wasn't a battle, but murder, by the gods, himself, and the world.
Why did the gods harm Karna?
They believed they'd lose to him in a fair fight.
It was scorn and insult!!
Why did he kill him?
He feared his heart, dreaded exposing his nature, couldn't accept himself, and succumbed to buried desires.
Yes, he feared being inferior to Karna, so he struck.
After that… murder, Arjuna sank into self-doubt, avoiding people, unable to draw his bow.
He was ashamed.
Winning that way, killing Karna, was unparalleled humiliation, a trampling of dignity.
He regretted it, deeply. Karna's death became his greatest lifelong nightmare.
Far from relieved, his pain grew.
So, seeing Karna again in Mesopotamia, Arjuna was ecstatic.
Finally, a chance to face him honorably, to dispel his nightmare.
This war, Karna was his to face.
No one could take that from him.
Nothing would stop him!!
…
…
On the plains outside the Blood Fort Andromeda.
Swish! Swish! Swish!!!
Blue arrows wreathed in flames streaked through the air, incinerating roaming beasts effortlessly.
At the highest point, Arjuna, newly arrived, gripped his bow, fine-tuning his state for Karna.
Unlike Ishtar and Quetzalcoatl, summoned via Command Spells, he'd flown from Uruk at top speed.
All for his duel with Karna.
Though he'd rehearsed this moment countless times, facing his nightmare, his heart raced.
He needed to adjust, his mindset, condition, weapon, to peak form.
Drawing arrows, he culled beasts to hone himself.
Swish! Swish! Swish!!!
More mana arrows flew, thinning the beasts unnoticed.
Arjuna's lips curled into a cryptic smile, a chuckle escaping.
"Ha… haha…"
"Is that Archer okay? He seems… off."
Stretching on the plain, Ishtar pointed at Arjuna, laughing and shooting beasts, her expression odd.
"He seems crazier than me. Can he handle that Lancer like this? Didn't I see divinity in him?"
Ishtar couldn't grasp why Arjuna was sent alone against the crimson Lancer. His class was countered, and his divinity was vulnerable to the thunder spear's anti-divinity trait. Could he win?
"Arjuna… his decisive battle has come. It's his life's most crucial fight and trial. Of course he's excited."
Roy shook his head. "His opponent is Karna. No one could stay calm facing such a foe, especially a fated rival. Despite disadvantages, he'll fight to win."
"Look at those two, full of energy too."
Roy gestured at Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca, bickering nearby, his expression wry. Their vigor was excessive.
Merlin's group was an hour away.
Though Merlin was useless, his aid was vital for the final battle.
They'd wait, and Roy planned to talk with the Servants.
To fight at full strength, Arjuna contracted with Roy, gaining Third Magic's infinite mana.
This was fair, as Karna, linked to the Demon God Pillars and Holy Grail, had infinite mana too, per Roy.
Ishtar had others' support, and Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca were the supporters, needing no pep talk.
Before the battle, Roy could only counsel this divinely gifted hero.
Approaching Arjuna, he asked, "How are you, Arjuna? Nervous?"
"No, not at all. Right now… my blood's boiling!!"
Arjuna didn't turn, loosing destructive arrows, adapting to Roy's pure mana.
"Really? But I sense your heart's as turbulent as a stormy sea."
"...Is it?"
Arjuna didn't reply, eyes fixed ahead, resolute, but his trembling hand confirmed Roy's words.
His heart wasn't calm.
Facing Karna in a battle for humanity's future, he couldn't stay composed.
Instead of admitting it, he turned to Roy. "And you? Your foe is the Mother of Genesis. Karna's tough; I can't guarantee quick aid. Your risk is the greatest."
"Will you win?"
"Me…"
Roy glanced at Arjuna, nodding confidently. "We'll win."
"Trust me, we'll claim victory in this war."
"I trust your choice. Good luck in the battle, traveler from another time."
Arjuna said no more, resuming his bow practice.
Seeing Arjuna's resolve and lack of interest in further talk, Roy shook his head, lowering his Command Spell-laden arm.
He could use a Command Spell to boost Arjuna's edge in the fight.
But that would disrespect him, so Roy didn't suggest it, respecting Arjuna's choice.
…
…
An hour later.
With a loud shout, Merlin arrived, carrying Ritsuka, Mash, and Ana, sprinting from Kur.
"Yo, Roy, I'm here!"
He waved at Roy while running, Mash and Ana struggling to keep up.
Seeing Merlin, Roy turned, mildly surprised, marveling, "No surprise from Merlin, who ran from Dalian to the Underworld. Carrying Ritsuka, he still outpaces Mash and Ana."
"Finally here… Too slow, Merlin!!"
"Roy-senpai!!"
Ritsuka, on Merlin's shoulder, beamed at Roy's wave.
"Phew… made it."
Panting, Merlin set Ritsuka down, with Mash and Ana halting behind.
"Senpai!"
At their arrival, Roy smiled faintly.
With everyone here, the plan could begin.
He gazed at the distant Blood Fort Andromeda, resolve flashing in his eyes.
One chance, this battle, they had to win!!
___
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