CHAPTER 19:

CLASH WITH KINGU

A fortnight later…

"I have decided that you have proven yourselves enough for now, to be properly invested in my people and their plight," Gilgamesh declared. He had turned up at the Chaldean HQ this morning, Siduri in tow, and had made that announcement. "Therefore, I will be assigning you important assignments. Hinako Akuta…lately, there have been mysterious sleeping illnesses that end with the deaths of those afflicted. I would like you to investigate the city of Kutha."

"Why Kutha?" Hinako asked. The vampire hadn't apologised or reconciled with Harry, but the two at least had a veneer of civility to their conversations. They could work together, but purely on sufferance.

"Kutha was wiped out shortly after the Three Goddess Alliance was formed, and it has been considered cursed ever since. Harry Potter, Tiamat, Merlin and Medusa's younger incarnation investigated it briefly while retrieving the Tablet of Destiny, but did not stick around. Medusa's younger incarnation will accompany you. Be warned, Ishtar is particularly active in the area. Ritsuka Fujimaru, you will head to Eridu and speak to Quetzlcoatl about preparing to break from the Three Goddess Alliance openly. Merlin will accompany you. Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Tiamat…you shall accompany me to the south-east, to an observatory I have monitoring the ocean. I wish to confirm something myself."

"As well as to have a break, old friend?" Enkidu asked, with a wry smile.

Gilgamesh chuckled, though he said nothing to confirm or deny that. "That being said, I admonish you all to take care. Kingu still roams these lands, and there are the forces of Ereshkigal and the false Tiamat to contend with…"

On the journey to the observatory, Hermione regaled Harry, Tiamat and Gilgamesh with tales of the previous Singularities. How they faced off against corrupted Servants in modern Fuyuki, the dragons and maddened minions of an altered version of Jeanne d'Arc during an alternate version of the Hundred Years War, and warring versions of the Roman Empire during Nero's reign. There were the clashes in the foggy streets of Victorian London, culminating in their first confrontation with the ersatz Solomon, and being stuck between two different armies in 18th Century North America. And then, came the previous Singularity, set in the Middle East and Egypt during the Third Crusade, but where Goddess Rhongomyniad had taken Richard the Lionheart's place, dead set on her insane plan to preserve a select elite of humanity for eternity, like specimens in a display case.

Arturia and Mordred often contributed, having stayed in their physical forms as well. To further pass the time, the pair of them, with occasional contributions from the other Servants (specifically the older Medusa, who had fought Arturia in the Fifth Holy Grail War of Fuyuki, and Jeanne d'Arc, Jack the Ripper, and Atalanta, who had fought in the Great Holy Grail War of Trifas in Romania) discussed the Grail Wars they had been involved in. Harry had to admit, the whole thing was interesting, and Gilgamesh, though he claimed otherwise, seemed to be too.

Still, it rammed home to Harry that Hermione had been far from idle. She'd gone through adventures that made what happened with Voldemort look like a cakewalk. Not that he didn't know this already, but this helped put things into perspective.

But there was a question nagging Harry, and as they drew close to the observatory, he voiced it. "Gilgamesh, why are we actually going here to this observatory? You wouldn't be coming here just for a seaside holiday, and you said the observatory was set up here to monitor the water quality in…Hermione, which ocean would this be?"

"The Persian Gulf, Harry," Hermione said. "We're pretty much somewhere in what will become either the south-east of modern day Iraq, or Kuwait."

"I must confess, Gilgamesh, I too am curious," Arturia remarked. "Compared to your younger self, you lack a certain frivolity, which means this trip is in deadly earnest."

"And it took you until now to voice that curiosity, though I assumed it was less a lack of curiosity and more of an attempt to be polite. In truth, it is Tiamat who is the reason I am here…or rather, her other self. On multiple occasions, I have asked her to provide samples of her Chaos Tide to analyse. It is possible that I can track her other self's activity through the quality of the sea water, which is being recorded by magical means. One of the reasons I asked for you, Hermione Granger, is that you are particularly learned in both the wizarding magic of your era, as well as science." Gilgamesh handed over a tablet, only to grimace. "Damnation, I forgot you can't read cuneiform without assistance. In any case, this is a detailed analysis of the Chaos Tide, the primordial soup Tiamat can exude at will, the Sea of Life."

Tiamat took the tablet, and began reading it. Eventually, she said, "A strange song, to see one's own nature vivisected like this. In effect, anything that is submerged in it, save for those I protect, have their songs changed to follow my own. An Amino-Geas, it is called."

"In effect, those submerged in her Chaos Tide have their loyalties rewritten to be loyal to Tiamat alone," Gilgamesh said. "A Geas that takes root on the cellular level. However, Tiamat, you said you can shield people from that effect?"

"…With effort, I believe I may be able to. I have not had cause to do so, though. I have mostly used the Chaos Tide as a weapon, to end the songs of the Demonic Beasts we have encountered."

"Lovely, liquid instant Imperius," Harry snarked. He gently patted Tiamat's hand. "Don't worry, Tia, I know you won't use it on us."

"Laaa…" Tiamat sang softly. They soon halted, and disembarked, the various Servants appearing.

"So, how're we gonna do this?" Mordred asked.

"…Archer, you have the sharpest eyes," Harry suggested to Atalanta, the cat-eared huntress from Greek myth readying herself. "You and Assassin should keep a look out, especially as Assassin can conceal herself. British Sabers, Ruler, I'd suggest you be our vanguard, while the other Servants keep close to us."

"…British Sabers? You're seriously calling us that?" Mordred asked, a little incredulously.

"…Well, you're both British. Actually, isn't Lancer British too?"

"Scottish, long before you English tacked our two countries together," Scáthach remarked. "Gilgamesh, I have considerable training in the magic arts. I can help with your analyses as well."

Gilgamesh considered her words, before giving a curt nod. "Harry, Hermione, Tiamat…bring those empty jars from the cart. We will be replacing filled ones that have samples of the seawater."

As they brought the jars, Hermione said, "Remind me to take some photos with my communicator. Mash would love to see the ocean again."

"If I recall," Atalanta said, "she was present when you were with Drake during the Okeanos Singularity. Then again, that Singularity was virtually endless ocean with only some small islands."

"Has she never left Chaldea outside of the Rayshifts?" Harry asked.

"I managed to persuade Dr Roman to allow me to take her on a few discreet trips away from Antarctica," Hermione said. "We had to make sure her immune system was strengthened first, and then there was the possibility that someone could abduct her. She's a very sophisticated hybrid of Homunculus and genetically-engineered designer baby. If it weren't for the fact that Marisbury's experiments on her were highly immoral, she'd be a miracle of both science and magecraft."

"…And she only has a short lifespan," Harry remarked. "Poor girl."

"We're trying literally everything we can, Harry," Hermione said. "We have only limited resources, and we have to supplement it with salvaging materials from smaller Singularities. Even with some of the best Magi and physicians both amongst the staff and the Servants summoned, there is only so much we can do…"

As the jars were exchanged, Gilgamesh examined the jars, Scáthach doing so alongside him. "Concerning," the Scottish Lancer remarked, her crimson eyes peering at the results of the spell. "Gilgamesh, I believe sharing these results with Medea might be prudent, along with Da Vinci."

"I doubt they will do much more than confirm what we already suspect," Gilgamesh said. "The other Tiamat's activity is quickening. There's a contamination of Chaos Tide in the sea. Not so much as to be dangerous, but still…I believe they are accelerating their plans."

"If so, then one has to wonder what the cause is," Arturia mused. "Chaldea's presence may be the impetus for them to do this, but it could also be Tia's presence in this Singularity, or Merlin's spell siphoning her other self's power to her. And then, there may be the fact that they fear the real Enkidu's presence."

"That is indeed a real possibility," Gilgamesh said. "My friend has a particular ability to bind his foes in chains, and those bindings are all the more stronger towards divine targets. And considering that our opponents are deities…"

"I too am particularly strong against deities," Scáthach said. "And Demon Archer is too. They may also suspect Quetzlcoatl helping us."

Any further speculation on the matter was interrupted by Atalanta crying out. "KINGU APPROACHES!"

"The Huntress of Arcadia has sharp eyes," Gilgamesh said. "Well, let's go and greet our visitor…"

Kingu landed just as they emerged from the observatory. "Humans," he sneered. "You were foolish enough or overly confident enough to venture forth from your protective little burrows. Though in the case of the so-called king…it's hubris."

"…So we meet at last," Gilgamesh said, pushing past the others, readying his tablet. "For an imitation, you are quite convincing, Kingu. Save for that ugly sneer. You certainly lack Enkidu's serenity. Power, however, comes off you in waves. A gift from your so-called mother?"

"So-called nothing," Kingu retorted. "She is the true version of mother, not that human-loving slattern!"

Tiamat's own eyes narrowed. "Your songs are crude, rude, ugly and discordant, clay doll. Enkidu's song is harmonious. Sing such names to me again, and I will ensure the next song you sing is one of agony. What puppet do you have to masquerade as my other half?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, you human-loving whore?" Kingu sneered, only to suddenly vomit blood. Tiamat had used Nammu-Duranki on him, before she hunched over with a scream, and leapt at the androgynous entity. Vicious blasts of energy smashed into Kingu from her body, sending the doppelganger of Enkidu crashing into a nearby beach.

Harry and the others hurried over, and watched as the deity and the doll clashed. "…Damn," Harry said, running a hand through his hair. "Tia's been itching to do this for a long time, ever since we encountered him last, I mean, shortly before you guys arrived in this era. Kept on calling her variations of slut, slattern, whore, you name it, he's said it to her. It really presses her buttons, considering she's really only been with Abzu and yours truly. Guys, you might have to get ready to help her out."

"Why? She looks like she has this," Mordred said.

"She doesn't," Gilgamesh said bluntly. "Tiamat still only has a fraction of the power her full self has. In terms of sheer strength, she's actually Kingu's equal by the looks of things. But her fighting ability has little finesse, especially as Kingu has angered her, and Kingu is drawing on immense reserves of magical power. He's toying with her."

"And because she isn't a Servant, I can't exactly use a Command Seal to get her out of there," Harry said.

Soon enough, chains burst from the ground, and wrapped themselves around Tiamat. Gilgamesh leapt down onto the beach, followed swiftly by Harry, Hermione, and the various Servants. Activating his tablet, Gilgamesh summoned staves and rods from the usual ripples in space that shot the chains away with jets of light. As Tiamat tensed, ready to leap at Kingu again, Gilgamesh placed a hand on her shoulder. "I will deal with him. I will punish him on your behalf for his wicked tongue."

Tiamat clenched and unclenched her hands, the claws ready to tear Kingu apart. Gradually, however, she relaxed enough. She spoke, her usual musical voice a guttural growl, "No. Break him to the point where he cannot move, but he can scream songs of pain. I will take over from there."

Harry went up to Tiamat, and gently led her away from the soon-to-be battlefield, the draconic deity allowing this reluctantly. "Gilgamesh," Arturia said. "Do you require support?"

"Not for now," Gilgamesh said. "Protect your allies. If I need you, I will call on you. However, I believe Kingu wants to try to assassinate me."

"Try? I will SUCCEED!" With that, Kingu lunged forward.

What followed was…well, you could only call it a clash of the titans. True, that was a rather clichéd term to use, but it applied all the same. Kingu's attacks were countered with Gilgamesh's own, clouds of sand formed by the clashes. Harry noted, even as he kept close to Tiamat (who was glaring at Kingu as if she wanted nothing more than to leap into the fray once more and tear him apart), that Kingu's attacks were becoming more and more feral, while Gilgamesh remained calm and assured.

As they clashed, Gilgamesh summoning a massive axe against which Kingu had swung a blade made of energy, spawned from his hand, the green-haired living weapon sneered. "I am the most powerful thing in all creation, in all the world, the perfect weapon," he snarled. "A defective demigod like you is surplus to requirements!"

Gilgamesh broke away from Kingu's attacks, but the impostor didn't pursue, instead, slamming his hand into the ground, causing a massive column of magical energy to erupt from the sand. Gilgamesh, rather calmly, activated his tablet, and a massive golden ripple appeared in the sky, through which scores of staves and rods appeared. Kingu glared at Gilgamesh as chains with wicked, spear-like heads sprouted from the ground. "Even if I must destroy the world in the process, I WILL KILL YOU!"

As the chains lunged, Gilgamesh activated the staves, jets of light destroying them, before deflecting the others with an axe. But more wrapped around his body, restraining him. "NOW TELL ME, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" Kingu screamed, grinning a feral grin, as another viciously spear-like chain arced into the air, ready to impale Gilgamesh.

But then, Kingu blinked, his feral expression becoming one of startled surprise. Then, suddenly, he convulsed and spasmed, blood gouting from his mouth. Tiamat had her hand outstretched, having used Nammu-Duranki once more, before following it up with a blast of energy that sent the impostor flying. Kingu righted himself in mid-air, clutching at his head, before flying into the sky with an agonised scream of madness. Atalanta sniped at him with arrows, Scáthach hurling her spears in tandem, but Kingu was soon out of range.

Gilgamesh dismissed his weapons, before walking over to Tiamat. "Your interference was unnecessary, but it was welcome all the same."

"Unnecessary?" Hermione demanded. "Kingu nearly killed you! It was only Tiamat using her ability that stopped him!"

Tiamat shook her head. "No," she said quietly. "When Kingu hesitated, it was not because I used Nammu-Duranki on him. In hindsight…that chain was diverted at the last second, just before I used Nammu-Duranki on him." She looked to Gilgamesh. "He did not want to silence your song."

In the silence that followed, it was Hermione who broke it. "…This is probably a stupid question, but if that is Enkidu's actual body, even if it's Kingu's soul within it…would it retain any memories from Enkidu? I know normally it wouldn't, given how souls and the memories with them would go to Akasha, but…"

"It's possible, I am sure," Gilgamesh mused, watching the sky where Kingu flew off to. "Enkidu's body was not frail flesh, but clay shaped by the gods themselves, and it could have retained vestiges of memories. It seems the so-called perfect weapon has more than a few flaws. Come, we must make haste. While I doubt we'll be seeing Kingu again for some time, it does not mean the false Tiamat may not send other forces our way." He turned to Tiamat. "Do not let his petty insults get to you, Tiamat. You chose your consort well."

"…I wasn't powerful enough," Tiamat sang morosely. "Even with Merlin siphoning my other half's power, my song could not overwhelm his own."

Hermione frowned, considering something. "Gilgamesh…you noted that Kingu may have a power source that boosts his abilities, right? Something the false Tiamat may have given him?"

"I did."

"…What if it's the Grail? The one the false Solomon used to create this Singularity in the first place?"

All eyes were on Hermione, and both Gilgamesh and Scáthach considered this, their crimson eyes meeting, before a nod was shared between them. "While we cannot know for sure, it's certainly a frightening possibility," Scáthach said. "Holy Grails are potent magical engines, and Enkidu did mention that Kingu was stronger than he was. But he couldn't possibly access all the energy within the Grail, or it may potentially overwhelm his physical body. Indeed, if he had the power of a Grail…he could have annihilated us all with even more ease than he showed, and even a sadistic desire to play with us couldn't explain that."

"Still, the hypothesis is sound," Gilgamesh mused. "Kingu is highly mobile and highly dangerous. He would make a fine guard-dog for the Grail the false King of Magi used to protect it. Still…they probably intend to conquer Uruk and take my own Grail from my treasury to ensure their designs are fulfilled. If they are accelerating their plans, then we must make haste to counter them. We need to head back to Uruk forthwith…"

CHAPTER 19 ANNOTATIONS:

So, there you have it. The trip to the observatory, along with the fight against Kingu. Not sure when the next chapter will be out, but hopefully soon.

Now, why did Tiamat not overcome Kingu? Well, she's still nerfed. She's now closer to a 5 Star Servant in terms of sheer power, but despite that and her abilities, she's still a novice fighter, and Kingu pressed her buttons. Calling her variations on whore or slattern or slut will really piss her off, given that she was a faithful lover to Abzu, and intends to do the same with Harry. In addition, as we will learn in the next chapter, the Kingu she gave birth to from Babylonian myth is nothing like the Kingu that is basically evil Enkidu, so it adds insult to injury, and she was basically fighting in a feral rage. Finally, she really isn't that skilled a hand-to-hand fighter, partly because she's been so used to bruteforcing her way through everything. That, plus Kingu's chains being able to restrain deities, well…

Plus, Hermione hypothesising about where the Grail actually is…well, it's not unreasonable to consider that, right?

Also, regarding the game at the moment…fuck the Kogetsukan event.

Review-answering time! WearyCurmudgeon: Your arguments about using the Grails to help Mash are valid, but it does beg the question of why Da Vinci and Roman didn't do so, as I'm sure they would have been invested enough in Mash's well-being to try. This is addressed, albeit obliquely, in Fragments of Chaldea: not Mash's plight being curable, but Da Vinci researching how to use the Grails to fight Goetia. Roman is opposed to using the Grails, just in case they give Goetia a hold over Chaldea, or something like that.

As for Tiamat helping…well, wait and see. Remember, it was a Beast who saved Mash's life at the end of the game. ;)

Skull Flame: Götterdämmerung is basically the German translation of Ragnarok, but that's its literal translation.

Mandoraekon: Well, the kids will definitely have his eye colour.

Impstar: Yeah, I know, I just used it as a rough, easy-to-understand bit of power scaling. It's not hard and fast, obviously.

No numbered annotations this time.