When Gilgamesh agreed to Sakura's proposal, he wasn't sure what to expect, but he was intrigued. This young woman tried to nurture strength and courage despite the sheer horror she had to face. She was motivated by the loss of a close friend, just like the one that made Gilgamesh push his limits and become the best King he could ever be.
He never once regretted his decision, for many years have passed since the King of Heroes faced true challenge, and this was one of them. The Grail, his ancient treasure, corrupted by a false 'god' and arrogant mages, all of whom amassed incredible power, the kind that can doom the entire world. Gilgamesh enjoyed crushing the mongrels who believed themselves worthy of wielding it.
When Angela launched one of the blades at Hector, Gilgamesh managed to intervene just in time to protect the young mage. He created a golden shield before Hector, slowing down that weapon that rightfully belonged to him. While Caster would never admit it, it was difficult for him to resist the concentrated power of Angra Mainyu, even when he fought to his fullest. Angela drained more energy from the Grail into her body; she became a dark wraith that ravenously reached out for her prey. She enhanced the blade with darkness, gradually cutting through Gilgamesh's defenses and piercing Hector's skin. The mage's blood fell on the ground. A few more seconds, and she would reach his heart…Gilgamesh didn't understand why he cared for Hector's well-being, but there was one reasonable explanation. The King chuckled…It seems like he wasn't immune to getting attached to his master.
Caster teleported forth and snapped the blade into with a corrosive spell, pushing wounded Hector aside and taking his place in front of Angela. The wraith attacked him, but Gilgamesh unleashed his magical arrows at Angela's chest, causing the violet woman to let out an animalistic screech and retreat. When their eyes met, Gilgamesh saw unmitigated spite in her eyes.
"Stand aside." She said in an emotionless, distorted voice.
"And let you claim your unearned power?"
"Angra Mainyu agreed to grant me this power…And it will destroy all my enemies, even you! You must have seen what became of Lancer and Assassin. This is the fate that awaits you!"
"A-ha-ha-ha!" Gilgamesh cackled without a single sign of fear. "Let me lay this out for your inferior mongrel sensibilities. You are nothing but a withering, deranged hag who bows before an unborn mutant she calls a god! The two of you tainted what was once my treasured possession, and I will gladly teach you an appropriate lesson for that!"
"Don't you dare call Angra Mainyu a mere mutant!"
Angela rushed towards Gilgamesh, launching a few dark magical bolts that Caster easily countered. He then launched a counterattack of his own, establishing a magical connection with Angela's dark shield and tearing it apart from within. He could feel Angra Mainyu desperately trying to protect her, this child wanted to be born…A shame that his fate was decided since inception. He was a corrupted creature, the one that possessed strength it never deserved, the only outcome was complete annihilation. The being before him was no god, it was a miserable, disgusting creature that was about to meet its final demise.
Angela didn't hold back; she quickly unleashed magical spells that reminded Gilgamesh of a dark flow; they formed vines that entangled Caster and forced him to fall on his knees. Gilgamesh clenched his teeth, feeling the darkness burning his skin and gradually poisoning his blood…Judging by Angela's satisfied expression, she truly thought it would be enough. She remained a foolish creature to the very end.
Gilgamesh smiled, absorbing all the mana from the reserves. Whatever this creature will throw at him, no matter what dark power it will use to quench his vigor, none of it is enough.
"A mongrel who thinks they can match me…A sight always as pathetic as it is entertaining!"
Gilgamesh broke his chains and rose up, covered in a golden glow. Finally, the wraith's eyes showed some emotions…He enjoyed seeing Angela's terror, for she realized that she could not defeat the enemy before her, not on her own. Gilgamesh did not hold back, he was at his strongest, and this must have terrified her. Still, Angela did not retreat, as if she had a few tricks up her sleeve.
"Angra Mainyu…Please!" She begged. "I need your power, all of it…Everything that you can grant, I need right NOW!"
Her 'god' was quick to answer, sharing his energy and imbuing Angela with darkness. Her strength grew, but Gilgamesh wondered if she would be able to hold it. Despite all the magic she possessed, Angela was a mere human on the brink of death; this power must have torn her from within. Caster could see as much as her skin grew even paler, and large violet cracks permeated her body. She was an old doll that was about to be utterly broken.
"I WILL NOT FAIL!" Angela screeched. "I spent decades trying to get here…This is my life's project, my greatest desire! I will kill you all; I will make you pay for what you have done. You simply don't realize the mistake you have made! Angra Mainyu is omnipotent, he is the god you will never be…And he will destroy you! He…"
Before Angela could attack again, she shook in front of Gilgamesh's eyes. At first, Caster assumed that she was simply overwhelmed by her power, but soon, he saw Sakura unleashing a piercing spell, creating artificial mana spikes that pierced Angela from behind.
"You aren't harming my servant, bitch!"
Those words made Gilgamesh laugh once again. A young woman trying to defend a man whose power surpassed most living beings. Waver and Rin were there, too, joining their forces to create giant golden chains that surrounded the Grail. Gilgamesh felt Angra Mainyu trembling, the cursed one wailed in pain as the two talented mages gradually broke through its shell. He might have been strong, but he was not invulnerable, nor was he a 'god' of any kind. He was a fraud, a pathetic amalgamation that was now at their mercy.
"No, no…NO!" Angela screamed and charged towards Gilgamesh, but before she could reach him, the mage let out an agonized cry and fell to her knees. As she turned around, the woman saw Hector. He approached her with tears in his eyes and cast two simultaneous spells, one of draining, one of injecting his own mana. This leads to a curious and somewhat disturbing effect, for Gilgamesh could see Angela withering in front of him. The woman shook and aged; wrinkles and more cracks emerged on her skin, her limbs became thinner and weaker, and her hair completely lost what little color it had.
"The power Angra Mainyu gives you is destructive, but you can survive it if it avoid your heart…" Hector spoke quietly, making Gilgames realize the ploy. Angela was weakened and thus Hector used the opportunity to redirect some of Angra Mainyu's energy directly into her heart and other vital organs, purging life from her at an incredible speed.
"He…Hector…"
"I didn't want it to end this way; I truly didn't." The young man spoke with pain in his voice and streaming tears. "You saved me on that day…You might have done it for yourself reasons, but I will never forget this. Thank you for everything, Angela, but…I can no longer avoid it. Your time has come." Hector watched the withered woman turn into ash in front of his eyes, utterly consumed by Angra Mainyu's destructive power. In her last moments, Hector reached out to the woman and fell to his knees. "Why…Why didn't you listen to reason?" Hector would never forget this trauma, but he would move on from it, Gilgamesh knew that from experience.
However, he had another problem, as Angra Mainyu was resisting.
"I… Can't…Restrain it…" Rin spoke through her pain, the chains she and Waver created were enough to restrain Angra Mainyu for a time and inflict some scorching cracks onto its shell, but the cursed one wasn't willing to give up his freedom.
Before Gilgamesh could react, the dark Grail unleashed a shockwave so powerful that the world around Gilgamesh became chaotic and murky. He tried to create a protective aura, but its contact with Angra Mainyu's dark energy created an even bigger explosion that pushed Gilgamesh back. He hit the nearby wall of the castle, feeling the rubble overtake him. The strike was so sudden and powerful that even the King of Heroes felt dizzy, but he soon realized that he was in the middle of the nearest hall, gradually restoring his power. He needed to get back into the battle and help others, but something caught his eye…
Or rather, someone.
A lone man on the other side of the window outside the castle slowly walked up the large hill, stumbling and limping but remaining decisive, even if he was clearly in pain and drenched in blood. Gilgamesh could see him clearly enough to recognize him…Shirou Emiya. What did he want? From his direction, it almost seemed like he was about to strike directly at Angra Mainyu…
But there was another, much closer presence of magical nature. A crawling, withering servant whose body was bleeding due to multiple cutting wounds.
"You…" Archer spoke in a quiet, hoarse voice as he looked up at Gilgamesh.
"How intriguing. Seems like Emiya accomplished what many would consider impossible and defeated a servant on his own." Gilgamesh chuckled. "It should have been the two of us according to the laws of this war, but everyone who cares about them is already gone."
"He didn't…He didn't defeat me, not completely." Archer mustered his remaining strength and spoke. "He could have killed me, but…He hesitated, as always. This goddamn fool…I wasted too much energy, and Angela won't supply me anyway…"
"It seems that even after all your attempts, the soul of this world still claims you," Gilgamesh said in a somber tone.
"I suppose…" Archer chuckled with a slight hint of sadness. "I would ask of two things, King of Heroes…End my suffering, grant me a quick death…But first, tell me something."
"And that is?"
"What happened to Shirou? I wounded him. He shouldn't have been able to…Escape…"
"He never joined our battle, but isn't that him over there?" Gilgamesh pointed at the wounded man on the hill.
"W-what?"
"Still advancing towards his goal…What a fascinating man he is."
"Even after all I did…His wounds are mortal; he still goes for the Grail." Archer said with spite. "This idiot…"
"I saw it in him the first time we met. He would gladly sacrifice himself to allow his ideal to persist. You should know that better than anyone else."
"I do…" Archer paused as if to reflect on Gilgamesh's words. "After endless summoning and killing, I barely remember that idealism that burned in my heart all those years ago."
"Perhaps you have grown weaker with time, more broken and tired. Shirou is what you have once been, but there is only a shadow left."
"Perhaps…But I've accomplished my mission. He will not survive this night."
"In that case, both of you might get exactly what you want from killing each other…How barbaric." Gilgamesh said with sarcasm.
"Knock it off and finish me already."
"Not one for the theatrics, then? Very well, Shirou Emiya…For what it's worth, I considered it an honor fighting against you."
"Likewise, Gilgamesh. Go on…End this war."
Emiya's end was swift.
…
He couldn't die. He wouldn't die.
This was the silent mantra Shirou repeated in his head as he continued to walk forth. The wound Archer inflicted has been very deep, reaching all the way to Shirou's heart. He was on the brink of death; he shouldn't have been alive…But he continued to walk. Shirou stumbled across the ruined castle, feeling Angra Mainyu's dark energy swirling around him and crushing the walls of the old castle. The entire world turned to chaos; all Shirou could do was sacrifice more of his mana and desperately cling to life.
He took one step after another, leaving a trail of blood as he ascended a nearby hill that provided a good vantage point for Angra Mainyu. Shirou still clung to his sword, ready to strike at the heart of all evil. His friends have done well in weakening Angra Mainyu, opening it for a strike, but Angela and her cruel master still fought and prolonged this hell.
He will stop it.
He will save them all.
He will be a hero.
"Principles and sentimentality, they are at your very core…"
Archer's spiteful words echoed in Shirou's head as he could feel his own reflection laughing at him. Those hurtful words transformed into unbearable agony, like a poison spreading through Shirou's entire body. The hero tried to hold it back by clenching his fist, but the pain was overwhelming him. He screamed and fell on his knees, feeling the last remnants of his strength leave his body along with the blood. A few more minutes, and he would be drowning in his blood, a powerless husk fading in the Grail'sGrail's shadow.
Shirou felt tears rolling down his cheeks and mixing with his blood; he wanted all of it to end. The pain that pierced every part of his body, the shame of realization that he was unable to prevent the catastrophe, unable to protect countless citizens of Fuyuki that were mauled by Angra Mainyu's servants…In the end, he was suffering, surrounded by ashes and constant reminders of his failures. Just like Kiritsugu twenty years ago.
He had to move forward.
Shirou crawled, desperately trying to stand up. He was nearly at the top of the hill; the gruesome and overwhelming shadow of Angra Mainyu was ahead with its twisted eyes staring at Shirou as if he was about to succumb to the Devil's judgment. Then, he saw a silhouette of s young white haired girl standing on the edge of the hill, jumping around and dancing as if amidst a playground.
"I…Illy…"
"Come on, big brother." She skipped around and looked at Shirou with a kind smile on her face. "Just a little more." Her soothing voice gave Shirou a reason to move on, and as he watched the girl dissipate, the broken hero stood up again. His eyes were full of rage and determination. This was the end. Shirou could feel this in his heart…But he would not let this moment be for nothing.
Shirou walked in the footsteps of greatness, of fateful salvation.
He stared into the eyes of this grotesque, demonic creature, seeing all the pain and suffering that it spread because of Kirei's sadism, Kiritsugu's mistakes, Angela's arrogance, Shirou's foolishness…
This cycle continued for far too long.
Shirou closed his eyes, supplying all of his remaining mana into the blade, transferring his very spirit into one single strike. He looked at the crack in the Grail's shell, feeling Artoria's soft hands guiding him, sharing her energy to help Shirou make this last push. He could feel her standing beside him, smiling and giving her blessing. They should have ended this curse together…But this final blow was coming from both heroes. At long last, Shirou was at the end of his path…He prayed that he would see Saber soon.
"EX….CALIBUR!"
If he was to drown, then Angra Mainyu would go down with him.
…
"EX…CALIBUR!"
When Sakura heard Shirou's battle cry, she found strength within herself to look up. Angra Mainyu was incredibly powerful and destructive, even with Angela gone, but Shirou's sudden appearance tipped the scales. Sakura worried for him, but she and the others had their own battle to fight, leaving little room for fear and uncertainty.
Now, she could see Shirou piercing the Grail's shell, creating the largest crack yet. It was impossible to believe, Sakura felt as if she was overtaken by a fever dream.
"Look, it's Shirou!"
Sakura pointed at the hero, impaling Angra Mainyu like the restless, dedicated warrior he was. The cursed one wailed in pain, but Shirou's grip was too strong to simply shake him off like a gnat. Sakura felt her heartbeat increase as she heard Shirou's pained screams, as well as saw streams of blood dripping from his body. He was heavily wounded…And yet, what was he trying to achieve? Sakura knew deep down that Shirou would not be stopped by fear of death or any rationale at all if he believed he had a chance to save his friends' lives.
One matter was certain, Shirou was giving them a chance.
"AAARGH!" He shouted as the Grail's essence scorched his body, and the fissure he made with his strike unveiled the true essence of Angra Mainyu that rested within.
Sakura could see the dark matter spill out of the Grail like tainted blood mixed with black pus, a being that could barely cling to any form at all, instead representing the corruption that festered under this city for generations, the bearer of all world's curses and vices.
"Come on, we can't let it break free!" Rin commanded and cast a powerful spell of fire that entrenched the grotesque creature in a wall of flame, gradually eroding its skin. "Help me!"
Weaver joined in, adding a spell of wind that made the flames move faster and, therefore, increased their strength. Hector was the next to aid, finally finding strength to stand up and move past Angela's waning ashes. He infused the wall with paralyzing magic of his own, inflicting even more pain and restraint on the cursed one. Finally, Sakura rose up, unleashing her magic that could weaken and tear the beast from within. The four of them stood united, valiantly holding Angra Mainyu back, no matter how difficult the task was. Sakura felt ashamed to an extent. After all, the Avenger was but a child trapped in his shell, forced to become the bearer of curses against his will. But he was the last barrier standing between them and their freedom, safety of people in Fuyuki and across the entire world…And most importantly, the end to the cycle their ancestors began many years ago. She saw the demonic creature take form, its dozens of eyes drenched in black blood and gazing at his opponents, displaying a horrifying mixture of spite, rage, and desperation.
"And so, it seems everything has been set up…"
Sakura looked behind her, noticing Gilgamesh marching towards Angra Mainyu with pride and sheer confidence in his eyes.
"Everyone played their part to perfection, and for that, you may have the King's blessing and gratitude! You have shown me the corruption of this world, especially this city…And you have brought the rot that corrupted my greatest treasure to the surface. And now it is time to purge it from existence."
"Gilgamesh?" Sakura said with caution, not sure what to expect of him. "What are you doing?"
"Ending this farce, of course. It's time for me to return to the world, and I will take this parasite with me!" Gilgamesh declared and glanced at the broken hero, still piercing the creature's skin; his contribution was vital for breaking Angra Mainyu's shell. "It is a glorious opportunity, and for that, I have to thank Shirou Emiya the most. He achieved his goal and broke the veil, wrecking a mortal wound upon the fiend that ate the Grail away! Gilgamesh raised his hand, beginning to draw the energy of each mage on the battlefield and combining them into a single spell of mass destruction. The flame wall that Rin and others created deteriorated as Caster absorbed all of its mana. For a moment, it freed Angra Mainyu, making Sakura shiver in fear at the prospect of this monster continuing its rampage, but she quickly realized that Gilgamesh's power rose above what even Angra Mainyu could muster, much less any mortal. He was invoking the blood of gods within him, the extent of his power that could and would annihilate every barrier. The golden gates opened behind Gilgamesh, signaling the end of this battle.
"Let those valiant mortals be the witnesses to how I, the King of Heroes, hereby reclaim this treasure! ENUMA ELISH!"
Sakura could not comprehend the extent of what happened around her. How could she? She was a mere mortal bearing witness to greatness that will forever be etched in the history of the world. All she knew was that the King's light exterminated the Avenger's shadow.
This was enough for her.
When the light dimmed, Sakura found herself among an empty pale space, yet she could feel it brimming with life and the scent of triumph. It was only her inside this bubble...Her and Caster. The golden man stood before her, looking at Sakura with pride and satisfaction.
"G-Gilgamesh? Where are we?"
"In a place outside of time, a small reality marble I created so I could say my goodbyes."
"Goodbyes?" Sakura said, finally allowing the realization to set in. This was where they parted, for the Grail war had come to its end.
"Yes. Shirou liberated the Avenger, and I stroke him down. Now, the Grail is but an empty, withered vessel that shall dissipate in a few seconds. Rejoice, your coalition has succeeded."
"But, what about you?"
"Hah, I should have known you wouldn't change that easily! Even at your moment of triumph, still thinking about others...About your 'servant,' nonetheless."
"I told you before, you aren't my servant!" Sakura said with mild anger. "You are a friend..."
"Truly?" Gilgamesh couldn't hold back his surprise. "Well...I can only thank you for such words. I have warmed up to you, too."
"So... That's it, right?" Sakura said quietly, trying to restrain her pain. "You have to return to the world, don't you?"
"Indeed, but there is still unfinished business. The Grail is dying, but I am not about to let it go just yet. I will revitalize it by offering myself as its core instead of Angra Mainyu. This will keep it alive for one more wish..."
"What do you mean?"
"Emiya...He left an impression on me, as well. His strike was pivotal in turning the tide, second only to my intervention." Gilgamesh chuckled. "I believe he can be the rightful victor of this war...For he gave his body and soul for this goal."
"Does this mean that he..."
"He will not stay with you, either." Gilgamesh said in a somber tone. "His wounds and the Grail's corruption eroded his body and soul; he has forever become a part of its being. But in his case, death is not the end."
Gilgamesh noticed tears falling from Sakura's eyes, and as soon as he did, Caster kneeled and put his hand on her shoulder; it was surprisingly warm.
"I was never one for consolation, but there is still something I can say. You have proven yourself in my eyes. You've impressed the King of Heroes, and it is far harder to accomplish than impressing your friends. If I am proud of you, so are they...Of course, it will still hurt. But after looking at you and making my judgment, I am certain you will rise above the pain. Whatever your friend Illyasviel wanted you to achieve, you've gone far, far beyond."
Gilgamesh turned around, walking into the light, proud to fulfill his purpose.
"Thank you, Gilgamesh...And goodbye."