'You know what? I hope that this poison ends up killing me, so you won't be able to obtain your true wish.'
My true wish was and always will be to save you.
'ENOUGH WITH THE LIES! YOU HAVE NEVER ONCE FOUGHT TO SAVE ME! I KNOW WHAT YOUR TRUE WISH IS! YOUR TRUE WISH WAS TO BETRAY ME AT THE LAST SECOND AND KILL ME SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE THE GRAIL ALL TO YOURSELF!'
I would never do such a horrible thing. Not to anyone. And especially not to the person who helped me remember the type of man I'm supposed to be.
'Just get out of here already, murderer.'
No matter what, I will save you.
Even if it means that this fight will be my last.
I noticed an electronic sign that read 'The on-boarding train will pass through this station shortly. And that this company's rail service has ended.' Both of those were a given because I was currently in a subway station in the middle of the night.
That is because I headed here as fast as I could once Misaya answered me on the doohickey. There were no people to speak of. I mean, it was the middle of the night after all. However, I knew he would be here soon enough.
"Ah." I gasped. Just as I thought that the person, I was expecting walked right into the subway station from the other entrance. We both approached each other until we were standing on the edge of the platform with the only thing between us being the subway tracks.
"It's been a while, Holy Sword Wielder." Archer spoke as he smirked at me.
"…" I didn't say anything in response.
"Hasn't it been four days since we last met at that opera house?" Archer asked.
"…" Once again, I didn't say anything in response.
"Ha." Archer chuckled as he maintained that condescending smirk on his face.
"You sure don't like to talk." Archer pointed out.
"That's not true. I just don't want to talk to you. Not after what you did to my Master at the church eight days ago. And then only four days after that you tried to claim her as your bride." I answered.
"And?" Archer asked.
"Just who the hell do you think you are?" I asked.
"Hahaha!" Archer laughed.
"W-What are y-" I spoke but I was interrupted before I could finish by Archer.
"You will learn of my true name soon enough, mongrel." Archer replied as he stared daggers at me with a serious look. I-Is he going to try and attack?! I thought but only a second later Archer did a 180 as he started smirking again. Just who the hell is this guy?
"Anyway, Ayaka Sajyou only has a day at most to live before she kicks the bucket." Archer admitted as he started walking. What?! I thought she would have at least two more days?! Damn it! She's running out of time! I thought as I followed him.
"My Master told me to simply let her die as you both will perish soon enough, but…" Archer spoke but paused for a second as he took something out of his pocket. It was a small vial containing a blue liquid! C-Could that be the cure?!
"You want this, don't you, Holy Sword Wielder?" Archer asked as he stared at me with one eye.
"Tch." I clicked my tongue in response.
"I will give you one last chance. Leave unless you want to meet your end here." Archer spoke as he pointed toward a sign that read 'The exit is to the left.'
"You first." I snapped back.
"Then…prepare to die, Holy Sword Wielder. This fight, if you want to even call it that, will end within five minutes." Archer declared as he extended his hand at me.
"So, if you want it, then come and get it!" Archer shouted with his signature smirk.
"Fine. Have it your way, Archer." I replied as I stared at him.
'Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock!' The clock in the background made noises as our battle was about to begin.
'VRRROOOOMMMM!' A subway car then went through the tracks and I couldn't see Archer anymore. But I knew once it passed, he would have ditched those casual clothes he was wearing and regained his clothing from the church and opera house.
I proceeded to gain my armor as I focused on the subway and waited for the moment it passes. I'm sure even now he has that condescending look on his face. But this is the only way. No. That's wrong. I can't deny it anymore. This is what I want. I want vengeance for what he did to Ayaka on that night. That's why I have to defeat him here and now before it's too late.
Finally, the subway car passed by us. Archer was wearing his golden armor and even had a weapon behind his back. Was that a sword? No. That didn't matter now. What mattered now was defeating him to save her and satisfy my selfish urges!
"RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I roared as I leaped at him with my sword in my hands!
'BAM!' Suddenly a golden portal materialized out of thin air and a sword came out of it! It flew at me with the speed of a meteor! This is what happened on that night eight days ago! But now…
…I'm prepared for it!
'BAM!' I deflected the sword with my own sword, and it hit the roof!
'Crumble! Crumble!' The roof trembled as parts of it crumbled onto the ground.
"You're pretty good…" Archer admitted.
"…So, let's test how many you can take?" Archer continued as multiple golden portals appeared behind him.
"When we fought last time, Ayaka took one of my swords in her chest so I'm not sure if you can handle twenty weapons." Archer spoke as he spread his arms out wide. He was trying to piss me off by saying that.
"You bastard." I replied. And it worked.
"So, let's start with five! If you can somehow persevere against these odds, then I may congratulate you by increasing the number of weapons…" Archer spoke and paused for a second as he smirked until-
"But! That's IF you can deflect all of these, Holy Sword Wielder!" Archer declared as the five golden portals all shot different kinds of weapons. A sword. An axe. An arrow. A lance. And a cleaver.
'BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!' All five weapons were shot at me at once! There was no time to dodge them! The room was too cramped for that! So my only choice…is to deflect them!
"…" I breathed in and out and focused on each weapon at once. And then…
'BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!' I deflected all five weapons at once! They all proceeded to hit other spots in the room! One almost hit Archer but he-
'BAM!' Archer already pulled out an ax from his golden portals and launched it right back at me!
"RRRRRRAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" I let out a roar as I collided my sword against the weapon, a lance, that was launched at me in mid-air! And then…
'SLICE!' I sliced the weapon into two pieces as it fell to the ground. Now I was almost face to face with Archer! Less than a meter away! This was my chance! I have to take it! But why does Archer still look completely reassured that he won't be h-
"Farewell, Holy Sword Wielder." Archer spoke with a grin as not even a second later I was-
'BAAAAMMMMM!' I was hit! But not by the weapon! Not there was no time for me to be hit by one! Then that means I was hit by-
"T-The subway?!" I shouted as the subway itself was pushing me away!
"AAAAHHHH!" The conductor screamed as he saw me on the front of the subway car. I-It's moving so fast! Before I know it, Archer will escape! What am I supposed to do?!
'Then please save me soon, my hero.'
No! I cannot fail! Not when Ayaka's life hangs by a single thread! I have no choice but to-
"RRRRRRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" I let out a roar as I used my bare hands to stop the subway car with them!
'SCREEEEECCCCCHHHHHHH!" The subway car screeched as I held it back with my bare hands! A normal person wouldn't be able to do this! But I'm a servant. No. I'm Ayaka's Servant! That's why I will go beyond the limits of the average man and stop this moving vehicle myself!
'HHHHHHHHHHHH-.' The subway car stopped.
"Haah…haah…haah." I breathed in and out as that took more out of me than I expected. This is bad! I have to move the location of this battle somewhere else! But where? But then…
"AH!" I gasped as I noticed Archer standing at the way back of the subway car. Even now, he's smirking. Which means-NO! He wouldn't?!
'BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!' He would. Five more weapons were shot directly at me! But there are civilians here! There's no time left!
'SMASH!' I broke through the glass on the front of the subway car and got into it. I then proceeded to sprint across the subway car! And then…
'BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!' I deflected all five of the weapons! And at the same time, I managed to make sure that they hit the windows so that they wouldn't damage any of the people here!
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" All of the people here screamed out of fear. But they were okay! That's what matters! I have to move this battle away from these people!
"Archer! I request that we move the location of our fight up there!" I asked.
"Oh ho! Are you really trying to call the shots now, Holy Sword Wield-" Archer asked but I cut him off.
"There are innocent people here! ARCHER!" I roared back at him at the top of my lungs.
"Tch." Archer clicked his tongue.
"Fine. I'll be generous just this once." Archer replied as the golden portals materialized near him, but they were targeted not at the people but at the roof!
'BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!' The weapons all shot at the roof at once and made a huge hole in it. Large enough that I could see the neon-lit buildings in the distance.
"There. But don't expect any more generosity from me." Archer spoke as he leaped off the ground and went straight out of the hole.
"You're safe now." I spoke to the civilians with a smile.
"…" Though they were all speechless. Yeah. They were still definitely scared out of their minds. Not like I can blame them. It's time to follow h-
"T-Thank you." Someone spoke as I looked toward the source of who said that, and it was a small, young boy.
"Your welcome. Have a nice night." I waved at him and then in an instant I leaped at the hole and landed only a few meters away from Archer.
"Took you long enough. Are you satisfied now, mongrel?" Archer asked.
"Not yet! Look! This isn't far enough from the people!" I replied.
"Oh ho. Calling the shots again, I see. But like I said earlier, don't expect any more generosity from me, Holy Sword Wielder." Archer spoke as he grinned.
"Well, it was worth a shot." I replied.
"Bab-ilu: Key of the King's Law to Enshrine." Archer said as a bright light shined from his neck. The bright light was coming from a tattoo of a snake. Suddenly, multiple golden portals appeared out of thin air along with all sorts of different weapons.
"Hey, are those two cosplayers?" Someone asked.
"Wow! Those are some expensive props!" Someone replied.
"Wow! These guys are so dreamy that I could d-" Another person spoke but I cut them off-
"YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DIE UNLESS YOU LEAVE! EVERYONE LEAVE! NOW!" I commanded at the top of my lungs.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Everyone in the vicinity ran away screaming.
"S-Sorry about that." I muttered as I scratched my head in embarrassment.
"You are really soft, you know that?" Archer pointed out.
"A knight must always protect his people!" I shouted.
"So you're a knight? Then this battle is between a knight and a king. Do you know what happens when a knight doesn't do his job?" Archer asked.
"T-They get fired?" I asked with a smile.
"No! They are beheaded by the king himself! And that's how I'm going to end this battle!" Archer replied. Wait! There are more golden portals!
"So, you've noticed? You have already proved that you can handle five of my weapons at once. So, let's try ten now…" Archer spoke as all ten weapons were aimed directly at me.
"…Let's continue, Holy Sword Wielder!" Archer roared as the ten weapons were released from their respective golden portals all at once!
'BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!' All ten weapons soar throughout the air and were headed at me! If I messed up, it would be just like last time! That's why I can't afford to screw up here and now!
"RRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I roared as all ten weapons were about to hit me in less than a second and then…
'BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!' I deflected all ten of them in a blink of an eye! There's so much more room now! And no people in sight! That means…
…I can finally start going all out!
"W-What?!" Archer gasped as he noticed me right in front of me. In a single second, I closed the distance between me and him! I can do this! I just have to slash his head off and victory will be mine!
"TAKE THIS, ARCHER!" I roared at the top of my lungs as my sword was about to slash Archer! And then…
"DON'T YOU DARE THINK THAT'S GOING TO WORK! HOLY SOWRD WIELDER!" Archer roared at the top of his lungs at the last possible second! Only then…only then did I realize that there was a weapon behind me! Archer anticipated my attack! That's why he hid a portal on the ground near him so if I tried to propel myself to him, he would use that chance to kill me first!
However-
Deflecting this attack from this range is child's play for me!
'BAM!' I turned my body around to deflect the incoming weapon and sent it right back at Archer!
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Archer shrieked as the weapon cut his face! I-I did it! I defeated him! Now all I have to is-huh? Impossible?! That blow should have cut his head in two! How is he still alive?! I thought this internally as I noticed that only Archer's right was cut.
'Drip. Drip. Drip.' The blood from his now-blinded eye dripped onto the ground.
"You…you will regret that…mongrel." Archer muttered as before I knew it multiple golden portals appeared all around me! T-This was more ten! Could it be fifteen?! No! There's more than that! There has to be at least twenty now!
'BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!' All twenty weapons were all rapidly approaching me from all sides! Except, for one! Then that leaves me with no choice! But to go up!
"RRRRRRRAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" I let out a roar as I leaped off the ground.
'BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!' The weapons all collided with each other and canceled each other out! As a result, they were completely destroyed!
"ARE YOU ACTUALLY ATTEMPTING TO FLEE, MONGREL?!" Archer shouted.
"No! Of course not! But that's just unfair!" I replied as I leaped onto a building.
"DO I LOOK LIKE I CARE, MONGREL?!" Archer snapped back as he followed me. In an instant, twenty more golden portals appeared, and they all launched their weapons at me at once!
'BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!' The weapons all soared throughout the sky as my only choice was to flee!
'BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!' The weapons all hit against the building I was running on. But suddenly-
"AH!" I gasped as Archer was now right in front of me.
"COME ON! FIGHT ME LIKE THE PATHETIC MAN YOU ARE, MONGREL!" Archer shouted as he slammed his fist right into my armor!
"GRAAHHH!" I spat out blood as my armor was broken against the hit of his punch! And then…
'BAAAAAAAMMMMMMM!' I collided against the ground!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as my body crash-landed on the ground. If I was a normal person there would be nothing left of me but blood. But even then, I felt some of my bones crack against the earth! Even my blood was leaking out of my body as a result!
"W-What?!" I gasped as I tried to move my body. But my body wouldn't listen to my commands. No! Not now! If I don't move, he's going to kill me! And that would mean Ayaka would be-
"You asked me what my name was. Now I will tell you it before you die. My true name is…" Archer spoke as he paused for dramatic effect until-
"…King Gilgamesh." Archer revealed his true name. No! It can't be!
"Y-You're the King of Heroes, the Babylonian King of Uruk?" I asked.
"That's right. Now let's end this." Archer replied as he snapped his fingers and a golden aircraft appeared out of nowhere. I recognize this! From four days ago-
"This is Vimana. In one minute…you will meet your end. Holy Sword Wielder." Archer declared as he hopped on Vimana. It soared throughout the sky in a flash! I couldn't even see it with my eyes! But then…
"PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THIS!" Archer roared at me as he was now on top of a skyscraper! He then grabbed the swords on his back-wait! Those aren't swords! Those are-
Archer connected the two weapons that appeared to be swords. But that was a misconception! In actuality, they were two parts of a different weapon! When connected to each other they made a…
'BAM!' The weapons connected to make a bow! Archer was a part of the archer class after all! Ergo, his Noble Phantasm was actually a bow! A golden line materialized out of thin air that made a string for the bow!
"HAHAHA!" Archer laughed hysterically until-
"FACE THE HEAVENS!" Archer roared at the top of his lungs as a golden circle appeared within another golden circle within another one! Angel wings appeared as well along with a red eye inside of the center of the circle!
"THE FLAMES OF DESTRUCTION ARE FILLED!" Archer roared again as multiple golden arrows emerged from outer space and rapidly approached me at speeds that were faster than light! They were known as the 'Stars of Destruction!'
"THIS IS THE MOMENT OF RECKONING!" Archer roared once more as an arrow flew straight in my direction!
"AH!" I gasped as the arrow hit the ground only a few centimeters away from my head! That was too close!
'FLASH!' A bright light flashed around me as I was temporarily blinded for a second! The arrow was then launched right back into the night sky! B-But I didn't hit it! What is it doing?!
The golden arrow joined the other arrows that were launched from outer space! Together they formed seven different arrows! I think that's a bit overkill if you ask me! Wait, what?!
The golden arrow then formed into one single giant golden arrow!
'BAM!' The golden arrow collided against the sky! Massive red lines were appearing everywhere!
'CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!' The sky was literally cracking like glass!
If I don't do something soon, I'm going to die. Not only will I die, but Ayaka will too. But if I do use 'that,' even if I win and save her, is that what Ayaka wants-
'Remember what she told you on that night.'
Huh? Whose voice is th-
'…I just want you to know that no matter what happens I believe in you. And even if I do…die…I will be ok with it. I'm going to die one day, so it just might be a bit sooner than other people…'
Those words…
'…There's been moments where I was really happy. There have been moments where I've been really sad. There have been moments when I was at a loss for what to do. But I'm happy with the life I've lived…I just wanted you to know that.'
…even if she truly meant them…
'I think your wish to save Camelot is beautiful.'
'I-I have a selfish question.'
'Please! Please save Onee-chan!'
…I REFUSE TO LET HER DIE!
"RRRRRRRRAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I roared at the top of my lungs and stood up from off the ground. My body was aching! I'm sure part of me screaming was because of the agony all over my body! But I had to move! I have to stop Archer from destroying not just me, not just Tokyo, but Ayaka's hopes and dreams!
'FLASH!' A golden light appeared from my holy sword as I charged up all of the mana in the atmosphere and unleashed it into my sword! The golden light only became brighter! And brighter! And brighter as the wind swirled around my body!
"Holy Sword Wielder?!" Archer shouted as even he was shocked at what was occurring! Yes! This is MY Noble Phantasm! Its name is-
"EX…" I roared at the top of my lungs but paused for a second as I aimed my sword directly at Archer!
"BASTARD!" Archer roared at the top of his lungs as well as he was about to fie the golden arrow that would destroy not just me but everything below him! But I wasn't going to let him!
"ENKI! SWORD OF THE EN-" But before Archer could finish, I was going to kill him first!
"…CALIBUR!" I roared once more at the top of my lungs as I unleashed my holy sword's golden ray of light against him!
'BBBAAAAAAMMMMMM!' A beam struggle between our weapons occurred until-
'BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" A huge explosion caused by our respective noble phantasms clashing with each other ruptured my ears!
"GRAAAHHHHH!" A shockwave propelled me against the ground once more! Even the water from the nearby lake went straight into the air-
'SMASH!' And smashed right back into the earth!
"Haah…haah…haah." I breathed in and out as I rested against the ground. But then…
"AH!" I gasped as I saw a figure in the distance falling to the earth. C-Could he actually still be alive?!
'Step. Step. Step.' I heard steps as someone, no he was definitely approaching me.
"Raaaah!" I tried to roar but my vocal cords wouldn't work. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't move a muscle. I was helpless. I tried. I tried my very best to save you. I'm so so sorry Aya-ah.
I noticed Archer standing right before me…
…Except, his body…
…was charred completely black. His hair was gone. Even his armor was gone. His entire body was quite literally burnt completely. It's a miracle that he's still alive.
"Not…bad." Archer somehow spoke even though his mouth and throat were burnt to a crisp. Suddenly, a golden portal appeared on the ground. What is he-ah. That's the blue vial. That's the only thing that can cure Ayaka now!
"Victory is…yours." Archer finished as proceeded to crumble to ashes in an instant.
'Whoosh.' The wind blew his ashes away. Without a doubt, Archer is dead.
"I-I…won." I muttered to myself as my eyes blinked repeatedly and my consciousness was fading. But…but I have to move…I still haven't saved…Ayaka. But the next thing I knew, was darkness as I blacked out.
Chapter 22: The Sword of Promised Victory