I am Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes.

Golden ripples appeared directly behind him.

He turned his attention to the girl and sneered, "You dare to show yourself? You're the one who's been devouring souls lately, aren't you?"

"...That was a last resort...I hoped to find someone I could touch without dying..." the girl said.

The serene Hassan, with her beautiful youthful appearance, was ultimately only temporary. Her body was immune to all the world's poisons, yet it was also a poison in itself.

While she was still alive, not only her fingernails, but even her skin and bodily fluids transformed into deadly poison, silently claiming the lives of kings, nobles, and generals in their chambers.

She had also entered into romantic or engagement relationships with her assassination targets on multiple occasions. In other words, she was constantly creating and then snatching away doomed virtual happiness.

Gradually, her mind began to falter and become out of sync.

At the last moment, she was reportedly beheaded by a military general who had become suspicious of her, refusing to even let her touch him. She supposedly confessed her identity as an assassin and pleaded with the general, "Please kill me."

Perhaps, it is said, he was killed by someone while the general was looking away.

"It's too late."

Jill chuckled, "Hidden, watch closely, this is an attack that you might only see once in your lifetime."

"Clang—clang—clang—" The sound of the bells rang out as if it were for someone's funeral.

Amidst the long, drawn-out chimes, Kusanagi looked with surprise at the poisonous girl who had hugged him from behind earlier.

Her face showed extreme shock and fear.

The black figure was completely covered in armor, with a white skull on its head, and blue flames in the skull's eyes.

In his hand, he held a jet-black greatsword. The greatsword did not appear sharp and had no reflection, but it exuded a terrifying aura of death.

"Tranquility? What does this poisonous body protect? A loneliness that even wildflowers cannot safeguard? Foolish—"

The black-clad figure uttered a stern, harsh voice, and the girl in the white dress trembled with fear.

"Hand over the head!"

The deep voice was as terrifying as the arrival of death.

"Azrail, the Angel of Death!"

The sword slashed out, and immediately the head of the girl in the white dress rolled to the ground. Her body instantly transformed into spirit particles and disappeared from the world.

From the appearance of the Mountain Elder to the death of the Assassin, it took less than twenty seconds.

The terror of that single sword strike beheading a follower was deeply etched into the boy's heart.

“He’s the original Hassan… Watch out!” Jill suddenly pulled Kusanagi behind her, then gripped the Demon Slayer sword and swung it fiercely to block the golden sun-wheel spear.

That sun-shaped spear belonged to only one person—

"You dared to ambush me—you bastard!" Jill's face contorted with rage, and the white phosphorescence emanating from the Demon Slayer sword suddenly transformed into a crescent-shaped beam of light, leaving long streaks of sparks on Karna's body!

“What a good dog, it will listen to its master as long as he says it…” Jill’s voice suddenly turned cold.

He suddenly launched a kick at Karna, who raised his spear to block it. Gilles seized the opportunity to grab Kusanagi and create a considerable distance between himself and Karna.

“Let’s hide first—I can’t guarantee that Ayaka Sajou didn’t bring any other Servants with her,” Gilles said.

“No need—I can protect myself,” Kusanagi said.

Gil paused, noticing a hint of determination in Kusanagi's eyes...

"Alright, then there's no need to hide..." Gil put the boy down casually. "Take a good look at my heroic fighting prowess."

The Demon Slayer vanished in a flash of white phosphorescence, replaced by two sharp, scimitar-like weapons that sprang forth from the golden ripples.

"Come on, hero of charity! If you wish to obey your Master's orders, then cross my defenses!" Gilles laughed as he charged toward Karna.

Without saying a word, Karna also charged towards Gil.

……

The Battle of the Closed City, a crucial battle in the Holy Grail War.

In this context, "holding the fortress" refers to the strategy of the Master hiding inside the workshop and never revealing themselves to the outside world. Given that Servants are such powerful beings, this behavior of avoiding encounters and choosing to hold the workshop seems logical at first glance.

No matter how many victories are achieved in battle, they are meaningless if the Master is injured or dies.

Preserving one's own life is indeed a matter of great importance.

However, Servants other than those in the Caster class are not suitable for defending a closed castle.

Once the location is exposed, the enemy forces will eventually swarm in.

Without a powerful workshop of temple-level strength, it would be quite difficult to hold out until the very end.

Moreover, if the Servants are only allowed to operate outside the workshop to defeat the enemy camp, and they lack the support of magic manipulated by a magus and the enhancement of Command Seals to win in Servant battles, it is not impossible, but it is simply quite disadvantageous.

Even if you win by using your Noble Phantasm.

Then, fighting alone against other factions while having their Noble Phantasm information and Heroic Spirit nature exposed is extremely dangerous.

Learn from the facts above.

Holding the city is a suitable strategy for the Caster faction.

But with an exception—

If the summoned Servant is "extremely powerful".

If a great hero possesses the fighting power to remain unmoved even when facing multiple opposing forces, without needing the assistance of a magician. If he still possesses overwhelming power to crush enemies even after his Noble Phantasm information is exposed.

To protect himself, the magician secluded himself in the workshop, entrusting all battles to the heroic spirits.

Such a strategy thus carries a slight element of pragmatism.

……

Recalling what he had read in his notebook, Kusanagi stared intently at the figure who had drawn his twin swords and was now dominating Karna.

"So strong..." the boy murmured unconsciously.

The clash of swords and spears produced a constant metallic clang, both men were fully engaged, and a fierce battle unfolded in mid-air.

Gilles, now wielding dual swords in close combat, has already overwhelmed Karna. Unable to use his signature moves, Karna can only be relentlessly attacked.

"Clang!" Karna then swung his spear forcefully, immediately putting distance between himself and Gil.

"Lancer—I grant you permission to use your killing move!" Ayaka Sajou suddenly shouted.

Chapter 342 Clash of EX-Rank Noble Phantasms!

Gilles heard this but made no comment; he simply looked at Karna quietly.

“…Yes, if that’s what you expect—Master.” This made Gil frown.

Did Ayaka Sajou seize Karna's Command Seals and command authority?

Well then—this is a difficult situation.

With the two golden swords in his hands vanished, Gilles looked at Karna.

“I advise you not to act recklessly—you should know that you’ve been able to hold out against me until now only because of your armor.” Gilles sneered. “I have a Noble Phantasm that can rival yours, so you’d better think twice before you act.”

“However, if this is Master’s order—then it doesn’t matter.” Karna raised his spear, the sun-shaped spear radiating golden light. “Because it is Master’s order, I will carry it out.”

That's Karna—no matter how unreasonable his Master's orders may be, he will do them.

"Yay ya yeah..." Gil's original golden light armor disappeared.

Instead, it was replaced by full-body golden armor.

“If this is your resolve—” A golden ripple beside Jill flicked out a sword hilt.

Jill grasped the hilt and pulled it out, revealing the true form of the "sword".

The three cylindrical sections of the sword interlock, and the black and red blades appear to be raging with a storm.

“I haven’t used my treasure for a long time, but I’ll make an exception for you today—” Jill slowly raised her longsword.

"Awaken, EA, the stage worthy of you is ready!"

And so the black and red blade began to spin!

"If that's the case, then using this Noble Phantasm isn't so bad after all—"

Karna's armor began to crack.

The great hero, who had remained calm and endured everything, finally let out a resounding voice.

"I offer up my armor here, Indra, grant me the spear that slays gods!"

His golden armor, which had turned completely black, suddenly shattered.

The armor that was part of Karna peeled off, causing blood to flow from Karna's body.

But the fragments of the shattered armor, like pieces of steel, were attracted to Karna's hands.

Gradually, it coalesced into a gun.

"Realize the mercy of the King of Gods—"

Karna began to sing.

"Indra, watch closely—"

"Extinction hinges on this single stab—"

"Burn completely—"

Karna then raised the gun in his hand.

He raised the gun in his hand, which was formed from pure lightning and exuded a terrifying aura of destruction.

Jill's lips curled into a smile.

Ah, really...

"It's been so long since I've had a worthy opponent! Karna, the hero who bestowed this favor!"

Gil's crimson eyes blazed with a fervent fighting spirit.

"When we talk about the beginning, heaven and earth separated—"

Gilles also poured more magic into the Noble Phantasm.