The following day, Ash sat on the edge of his bunk in Chaldea's dormitory, staring curiously at the back of his right hand. The faint light of the room illuminated the strange markings etched into his skin, glowing faintly in the dimness. Three distinct crimson sigils formed a trinity, resembling some kind of intricate tattoo. He hadn't noticed them before because of his fingerless glove, but now they had his full attention.

"Pika?" Pikachu tilted his head, peering at the markings with equal curiosity.

Ash scratched his head. "I don't get it, buddy. These just appeared out of nowhere. Do you think they're dangerous?"

Before Pikachu could squeak a reply, a soft knock came from the door, and Mash stepped in, her shield resting on her back as usual.

"Good morning, Ash-Senpai," Mash greeted with her usual polite smile.

Ash winced slightly, still not used to the formal honorific. "Uh, Mash, you don't have to call me that. Just 'Ash' is fine."

Mash tilted her head thoughtfully. "But 'Senpai' feels right. You're my senior Master, after all."

"I don't feel like anyone's senior," Ash muttered under his breath, holding up his hand for Mash to see. "Hey, do you know what these are? They look kinda important, but I have no idea what they do."

Mash's violet eyes widened slightly as she stepped closer to examine Ash's hand. "Oh! Those are Command Seals, Senpai! They're a vital part of being a Master. Every Master is granted three of them when they form a contract with a Servant."

Ash frowned. "Command Seals? Okay… but what do they actually do?"

Mash placed a finger on her chin, thinking of the best way to explain. "Command Seals allow you to issue an absolute order to your Servant. For example, if a battle gets dangerous and you need Musashi to retreat immediately, you can use a Command Seal to make it happen, and she'll have no choice but to obey. You can also use them to boost your Servant's abilities in a fight or summon them to your side instantly. But they're limited—once you use all three, they're gone unless replenished under special circumstances."

Ash blinked. "So… they're like a super move or something? But for Servants?"

Mash nodded. "That's a good way to think about it. But they're very important, and they shouldn't be used carelessly. You'll need to strategize when and how to use them."

Ash rubbed the back of his head, still trying to process the information. "This Master stuff gets more complicated by the minute. I don't even know how to activate them!"

Before Mash could explain further, an arrogant, mocking laugh filled the room. It was rich and deep, dripping with condescension. Both Ash and Mash turned toward the doorway, where a figure in gleaming golden armor strode in like he owned the place—which, judging by his air of superiority, he probably believed he did.

"Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic," the man said, his crimson eyes gleaming with disdain. "A so-called Master who doesn't even understand the basics of Command Seals? Truly, Chaldea must be desperate to have summoned such a mongrel."

The man's presence was overwhelming. His golden hair shone like sunlight, and his armor seemed to radiate an aura of divinity. A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he crossed his arms, staring at Ash as though he were a piece of dirt on the ground.

"Who's this guy?" Ash asked, frowning. He didn't appreciate the tone, especially not the word "mongrel."

Mash quickly stepped forward, bowing her head slightly out of respect. "This is Gilgamesh, Archer-class Servant. He is the King of Heroes, one of the most powerful and renowned Heroic Spirits in history."

Gilgamesh's smirk widened at Mash's introduction. "Hmph, at least someone here recognizes my grandeur. Indeed, I am the one and only King of Heroes, ruler of all treasures, and the pinnacle of human achievement. You may kneel if you wish, mongrel."

Ash's eye twitched. "Yeah, not happening. I don't care how 'legendary' you are. You don't get to waltz in here and call me a mongrel."

Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Ash's defiance. "Oh? The whelp has some bite, does he? How amusing. But tell me, boy, how do you intend to stand alongside us Heroic Spirits when you can't even comprehend the simplest tools of a Master?"

Ash stood up, Pikachu leaping to his shoulder with sparks crackling from his cheeks. "I don't know how all this works yet, but I've faced plenty of challenges before, and I've always figured it out. I'll do the same here."

Gilgamesh chuckled, shaking his head. "Bold words for someone so hopelessly out of their depth. But I'll humor you for now. Watching a fool's journey is always entertaining."

"Senpai, please don't take Archer's words to heart," Mash said quickly, placing a comforting hand on Ash's shoulder. "This is just how he is. He… speaks to everyone like this, even other Servants."

Ash crossed his arms, still glaring at Gilgamesh. "Well, I'm not gonna let some arrogant guy in shiny armor get under my skin. I'll show him I can handle this."

Gilgamesh's smirk returned. "We'll see, boy. Just don't embarrass yourself too much. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have no interest in wasting my time with trivialities."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Ash let out a frustrated sigh once he was gone. "Man, that guy is full of himself. Is everyone here this weird?"

Mash shook her head. "Not everyone, Ash-Senpai. Archer is… unique. But I believe in you. You'll prove yourself as a great Master in no time."

Ash smiled at her encouragement. "Thanks, Mash. I'll figure this out. I've got Pikachu and you guys to help me, so I know we can do this!"

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu cheered.

The next couple of days in Chaldea were, to Ash's dismay, anything but peaceful. It seemed Gilgamesh had decided to make the "mongrel Master" his personal target for amusement. Every time Ash thought he had a moment to breathe, some new prank orchestrated by the self-proclaimed King of Heroes would rear its head.

Ash had just finished a sparring session with Musashi, feeling confident about how much he'd improved. He made his way back to his room, Pikachu perched happily on his shoulder, and pushed the door open.

WHOOOSH!

A mountain of glitter and gold confetti rained down on him from above, coating both him and Pikachu in a sparkling mess. Ash stumbled backward, coughing as the glitter clung to his hair, face, and clothes. Pikachu sneezed, sending tiny sparks flying as he tried to shake the glitter off.

"What the—?!" Ash spluttered, brushing futilely at the sparkly mess. "Who even—?"

From the corner of the hallway, a familiar arrogant laugh rang out. Gilgamesh leaned against the wall, arms crossed, smirking in satisfaction.

"Ah, how fitting," he said, his crimson eyes glinting with mischief. "The boy now looks as gaudy as he acts. Consider it an improvement, mongrel."

Ash gritted his teeth, glaring at the Archer. "Seriously? You did this? What's your problem?"

Gilgamesh shrugged, his smirk never wavering. "You exist. That is enough." With that, he turned and walked away, his laughter echoing down the hall.

Pikachu growled. "Pika… CHUUU!" He sent a small jolt toward Gilgamesh, but the Servant simply sidestepped it without breaking stride.

Ash groaned, trying to shake the glitter out of his hair. "This guy is the worst."

The following morning, Ash woke up to an unexpected sight: his entire room was filled with golden trinkets, statues, coins, and other lavish items. They were piled on his bed, his desk, and even spilling onto the floor. It looked like someone had emptied a treasure vault into his tiny space.

"What the…?" Ash muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Where did all this come from?"

He found a note on his pillow, written in elegant handwriting:

"A gift from the King of Heroes. Use it to remind yourself of your inferiority. -Gilgamesh"

Ash crumpled the note in his hand. "This isn't a gift! It's a nightmare! I can't even move in here!"

Pikachu pawed at one of the golden coins, looking equally confused. "Pika?"

Musashi popped her head into the room moments later, whistling at the sight. "Wow, Master, did you win the lottery or something?"

"More like got pranked by a golden jerk," Ash grumbled, kicking aside a small statue. "How am I supposed to get rid of all this?"

Musashi laughed, clearly amused. "Don't worry, I'll help you out. But man, that Archer really has it out for you, huh?"

By now, Ash was on high alert, wary of whatever Gilgamesh might throw at him next. He stuck close to Mash and Musashi as they headed to the training grounds, hoping the day would be uneventful.

Unfortunately, as soon as they entered the grounds, a series of golden portals—Gilgamesh's infamous Gate of Babylon—appeared in the air above them. Instead of firing weapons, however, they rained down harmless objects: oversized stuffed animals, rubber balls, pillows, and other random items.

Musashi dodged a falling teddy bear, laughing as she swung her sword to deflect a pillow. "Is this supposed to be an attack? It's kind of cute, honestly."

Ash, however, was less amused as he ducked under a barrage of rubber balls. "He's still messing with me? Does this guy ever get bored?"

Gilgamesh, standing at a distance with his arms crossed, watched the chaos unfold with a smirk. "Fools are best entertained by simple tricks. Consider it training, mongrel, if you can even call yourself a Master after this."

Ash clenched his fists, glaring at the Archer. "One of these days, I'm gonna show you what I'm capable of. You'll see!"

"Bold words for someone who can barely dodge a stuffed animal," Gilgamesh retorted, clearly enjoying himself.

Mash stepped forward, her expression calm but firm. "Archer, please stop this. You're only making things harder for Master Ash. He's doing his best."

Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow at her. "Hmph. If the mongrel cannot endure such minor inconveniences, he is unworthy of his position. I am merely testing his resolve."

Ash stood tall, brushing off his frustration. "You think this is enough to make me give up? Forget it. I've dealt with worse than this, and I'm not about to quit just because some golden tyrant doesn't like me."

Gilgamesh studied him for a moment, his smirk softening into something almost resembling respect. Almost. "Hmph. We shall see, boy. Perhaps there is some small spark of worth in you after all. But until you prove it, do not expect my mercy."

With that, he disappeared in a flash of golden light, leaving Ash to sigh in exasperation.

Musashi clapped Ash on the back, grinning. "Don't let him get to you, Master. He's just bored. Besides, I think you're handling it pretty well. You've got guts."

Ash smiled weakly. "Thanks, Musashi. But if I have to deal with this guy much longer, I might lose it."

Mash gave him an encouraging nod. "You're doing great, Senpai. Just keep focusing on improving as a Master. I'm sure Archer will come around eventually."

"Eventually," Ash muttered, shaking his head. "I just hope I survive until then."