This was a novel combat method: granting an opponent a new trait and then targeting it.
This magic stemmed from the Christian practice of denigrating pagan deities during its expansion, refined into a spell to strike against such gods.
Morpheus hadn't perfected this spell. He relied on the recognition from Greek gods and his acquired divinity in this world to elevate his status, forcibly unleashing this attack.
He knew, however, that someone would eventually perfect this magic, perhaps naming it something grand.
"Fairy Transformation Spell!"
If a being of 7=4 rank cast it, they might strip true pagan gods of divinity, turning them into demons.
Morpheus was far from that level.
But it was enough!
The concept of Satan included a dragon. Though Gilgamesh's power negated most of the designation, preventing the demonic Satan trait, the dragon trait stuck.
In the Nasuverse, this dragon trait was slightly altered.
The dragon trait on Gilgamesh was imbued by the Nasuverse, or its Root.
It was a dragon of the Nasuverse.
Morpheus's anti-dragon trait came from Age of Gods Greece, granted by Typhon, the Father of Monsters.
Typhon, having invaded Earth to slay the gods, gained the dragon concept, birthing the concept of dragons in the world.
Like the Greek gods who became nature gods, Typhon became a pure-blood dragon.
This purity matched the Albion dragon held by the Clock Tower in Britain, the highest tier of pure dragons.
After slaying Typhon, Morpheus gained the ultimate anti-dragon trait, effective against all dragonkind!
Not from killing a half-breed or bone dragon, but an unmatched trait!
Natural suppression, total domination!
This suppression could even paralyze its target!
Gilgamesh's movements stiffened, overwhelmed by uncontrollable fear spreading through his body. Even his Holy Grail-crafted, mud-forged body trembled.
This fear recalled a distant memory from when he was alive, when his friend died. Beyond grief, he felt the terror of mortality.
He realized then that even demigods could die, bound by lifespans. From that moment, he sought immortality.
Had he come to terms with mortality before his death?
Perhaps.
But now, Gilgamesh recalled the fear of first facing death, not the later acceptance.
This fear was greater, urging him to collapse and let this man kill him!
"What… what is this?! Mongrel, what did you do to me?!" Gilgamesh stammered, struggling to maintain his kingly dignity.
Even his question trembled with fear.
Even Shirou Emiya, with little combat experience, could see Gilgamesh was like a lamb before a wolf.
Utterly defenseless!
Without surprise, Morpheus's short sword struck Ea, and with precise force, dislodged it from Gilgamesh's grip while he was still paralyzed.
As Ea fell, Morpheus kicked Gilgamesh in the chest, sending him flying!
Boom!
He crashed heavily to the ground, a dull thud echoing. If not for the bounded field, the impact would've cratered the earth.
Pain seared Gilgamesh's back from hitting something hard at high speed. He struggled to stand, glaring at the culprit.
Morpheus didn't pursue. He casually picked up Ea, Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasm.
The weapon that had accompanied him for years now rested obediently in another's hand, as if it belonged to Morpheus!
Seeing this, Gilgamesh's eyes burned with rage, but fear grew even stronger.
"What… what did he do?!" Gilgamesh wondered, recalling Morpheus's earlier words.
"Dragon?! Dragon trait? Since when am I a dragon?!" He inspected himself, shocked to find the dragon trait!
Oddly, it granted no benefits... no dragon blood strength, no enhanced mana, just the "dragon" attribute!
So that unease was from this strange trait imposed by Morpheus's bizarre technique?
What kind of magecraft... or magic... was this? How could such a spell exist?!
It was altering his very essence as recorded in the Root!
Was this man truly a Servant? Why had he never heard of him? In the world after his death, how could such a terrifying figure emerge?
Having lived in this world for over a decade, studying historical texts, how could he not know of such a person?!
Questions swirled in Gilgamesh's mind. Morpheus was incomprehensible, a being that shouldn't exist, yet stood before him!
But Gilgamesh refused to yield. Even in death, he wouldn't submit. If he had to die, he'd die standing!
If possible, he'd take Morpheus with him!
Clenching his fists, he prepared to fight, but his greatest Noble Phantasm was in Morpheus's hands!
Worse, Morpheus was fondling Ea, making "tsk tsk" sounds!
It felt like his beloved was being groped by another!
Humiliation flooded Gilgamesh's heart!
Morpheus wasn't trying to enrage him; he was studying Ea's structure.
Its unique stone tablet construction was, indeed, stone... common in ancient times and now.
But its distinction lay in being a tablet, recording Earth's cooling lava and thundering skies.
Like a book, it qualified as a grimoire, centered on the "primordial planet" story.
Sadly, this was a phantasmal Noble Phantasm, not the original. To make a true grimoire, the original stone was needed.
Gilgamesh using it merely as a Noble Phantasm was wasteful. With magical knowledge, one could use its prototype... diggable in reality... to recreate the primordial Earth's environment!
Fully developed, it could envelop the planet!
But Gilgamesh lacked the knowledge or wit.
Morpheus could only analyze Ea briefly, memorizing its tablet patterns before tossing it back.
Ea landed before Gilgamesh, like a defiled wife cast back to her husband.
Gilgamesh's face shifted but darkened without rage. He picked up Ea.
Untarnished, it was still his Ea. Though disgusted by the mongrel touching it, he had to reclaim it... it was his strongest weapon.
And necessary for his next move!
"Mongrel, I admit you're formidable and cunning. Your anti-dragon trait is the most potent I've seen, but you underestimate me!"
Speaking to regain his regal bearing, Gilgamesh gathered mana again.
Everything became mana... Greater Source mana, unusable by most, but accessible to him as a Age of Gods Heroic Spirit!
Despite his disdain, fear, and hatred of gods, he used his divine power, absorbing Greater Source mana!
Countless Noble Phantasms appeared behind him, resonating with Ea, their mana converging onto it!
Whirling winds and stardust-like specks swirled below, beautiful as a galaxy.
This was Ea's strongest state, imbued with stellar principles!
Sacrificing defense and life to kill his foe, Gilgamesh unleashed his true power.
The raging mana massively enhanced his body... strength, resistance, everything!
Amid this, the immense mana caused an unforeseen change!
His body transformed... muscles grew stronger, new organs formed!
A pulsing drumbeat echoed, a vigorous life force resounding. With the new organ, Gilgamesh felt vast mana, rivaling his living self!
In that moment, he understood what had appeared in his body!
"Hahaha, mongrel, your scheme failed! You thought your dragon trait would only harm me? Laughable! My body has dragonized, sprouting a dragon's heart... the source of its mana. My mana is now greater!"
External and internal mana, matching his living self, converged. Ea's light surpassed even his ancient peak!
Gilgamesh regretted going all out, but knowing he could crush Morpheus, he swung Ea with glee!
A crimson mana torrent became a world-sweeping storm, carrying its master's will to crush the mortal who defied the ancient king!
Artoria watched, shocked. This power dwarfed their duel ten years ago by more than tenfold!
If unblocked, it wouldn't just destroy here but Fuyuki City and beyond!
She gripped her weapon, ready to unleash her Noble Phantasm to mitigate the attack.
As a King of Knights, she wouldn't let the cursed Grail harm innocents.
Then, she heard a familiar name.
"Excalibur!!"
Her Noble Phantasm, but not her voice!
In that moment, blinding white light engulfed everything!
***
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