"We're going to wait, as much as I hate to admit it you were right Archer. We'll strike them at night when I'm at my strongest." Gilgamesh's tense features relax at your decision before he gives you a hesitant nod.
"So, what do we do while we wait master?" Gilgamesh asks, you smile at that "Well you haven't met Len yet have you, I'm thinking of introducing the two of you!" you exclaim excitedly, two out of three of your favorite people in the world, isn't bad.
Finding Len was going to be a bit of a problem, since she was the one who usually found you, there had to be a way though you mused as you and your servant slowly walked back to Trifas, the town was glowing with the rays of the rising sun.
"I got it" slamming your fist against your palm "I'll just yell that I have more snacks for her, genius." Now to get those snacks, perhaps the same shop as last time, you remember where it is after all.
"Gilgamesh we're going to buy some cakes." Gilgamesh gives you a glance before responding "Oh, alright but could I have some as well? I've never had one after all, I wonder if I'll like it?" he doesn't bother questioning why, he must've already figured it out with his omniscience, that Noble Phantasm of his was really quite convenient.
It didn't take long to find the shop, you see the same girl from yesterday manning the store again, she notices you and gives you a greeting "Oh, hello again and is that your little brother?" it seems she mistook another person as your sibling, oh well it was quite understandable this time. Gilgamesh gives you a mischievous glance, he was up to something.
"Yeah, she's my super cool big sister, even if she looks grumpy all the time, she's really nice." Gilgamesh gives her a radiant smile, the shop keeper was blushing heavily for some reason "Oh, I bet she's a great big sister…" she trails off giving your servant doe eyes, was this perhaps due to one of Archer's skills, what was he up to anyways?
You blink, you blink again, nope ten cakes were right in front of you and the both of you didn't have to pay a dime, well Gilgamesh insisted on leaving her a gold bar when she wasn't looking in order to avoid being rude but by the time he was done with that girl, she was putty in his hands, it was kind of scary. Well regardless of how you obtained the cakes you had finally obtained your Len bait now it was time to show your genius.
"Leeeeennn, Len! Come here I have a lot of cakes for youuuu!" and as if you had used magic, Len was by your side before you knew it, stuffing her face with cakes again. You're sort of worried she's going to get fat if she keeps this up, but nature spirits can't get fat, can they? Well you've certainly never heard of a nature spirit growing too fat by eating too much, so you'll leave it alone, for now anyways.
"heeh, so this is Master's pet, I also had something similar, a pet lion." Len looks at him in affront, her cheeks still stuffed to the brim with cake, all she did was make herself look silly. "Ah my bad you're Master's trusted companion, certainly no mere pet." Len merely nods in satisfaction at Gilgamesh's answer, once more her focus entirely on her cake.
"Are these cakes truly so great master? It seems as if Len is utterly enraptured by them, perhaps they might even impress me." He looks at Len eating curiously, as if the cake was some strange anomaly he'd never seen before, perhaps he hadn't.
"No, at least I don't think so, Len's just a cake addict, although I've never tried the cakes from that shop." You casually admit, ever since you let Len try a cake, she's never been able to resist eating them.
"So, I must discover the truth for myself then, such an interesting challenge, I accept Fuahahaha." He lets loose a boisterous laugh, they were just cakes, no big deal honestly.
Gilgamesh summoned a golden fork using his Noble Phantasm and used it to slowly bring a piece of cake to his lips, as if what he was doing was a monumental endeavor, an intricate task that would blow up in his face the moment he made a mistake. His face was determined like steel and his red eyes were narrowed in concentration, finally he ate the piece of cake.
"Master! It's, it's… alright I suppose, honestly nothing too special." He gave a deep sigh of disappointment "And here I thought that this could be something akin to the forbidden food of the gods, an ambrosia that would ensnare the lives of those who partook it and give them a desire that would forevermore consume the rest of their lives."
"No, no don't make Len your basis for what cake is, cake isn't the thing that's strange it's Len who's the weird one about cake." You answer hastily not wanting your servant to be influenced by any of Len's bad habits. Gilgamesh laughs again although this time it's a lot less haughty and sounds more like average child.
"So, this is what it feels like to have friends huh? So, this is why even He in that state cared so much, perhaps if I had a friend when I was alive I wouldn't have wound up like Him." Gilgamesh was muttering to himself, and about strange things too, perhaps there was, something strange about those cakes, you have no interest in finding out firsthand.
"Something wrong Gilgamesh?" You can't help but worry about the little guy sometimes, though he usually seemed so strong and confident, right now he looked so vulnerable.
Gilgamesh merely gives you a bittersweet look before replying "No, it's nothing master, I was just thinking to myself about minor things." To your surprise it's not you who acts first but Len, in her human form, she pats Gilgamesh on the head trying to cheer him up. You're not sure that will work for a human, since that only works for her since she's a cat most of the time.
Still it seems the effort was all that mattered since Gilgamesh's mood soared right back up from whatever weird funk he was in. "Thanks" was his only response.
The three of you sat there in companionable silence talking about inane things and passing the time peacefully until Gilgamesh speaks up "Master I think it's time we prepare for the war in full, I have quite a few ideas to improve your chances against Roa."
You sit up straight in attention when your servant mentions ways to help you against HIM, Gilgamesh noticing that you were ready starts off "The first issue I've realized is that Rulebreaker is fragile, it simply won't help you in a physical fight without breaking and will get in your way, it needs to be put somewhere safe until you subdue a servant, so I searched my gate and found the perfect item to protect it." He brings out a white dress with golden accents, it looked more like a work of art than something you could wear.
"This dress is perfectly suited for you master, since while it only has two special qualities they're just what you need." He explains without pause "The first is that this dress utilizes spacial magic to enlarge the dimensions of its pockets allowing you to safely store large items without worry, the second effect is just as good for you, its indestructible so no matter how much strength you use with it will never wear or tear." Gilgamesh oddly sounds like one of those people who try to sell stuff over the TV, you feel that he wasn't entirely forthright in his reasons, but you do admit it sounds extremely useful and well... with its intricate designs it's rich colors it was easily the most beautiful garment you've ever seen, it certainly wouldn't hurt to try it out.
"It looks good on you." Archer's voice seems oddly high for some reason, even Len started acting weird when she saw you in your new outfit, she merely gives Gilgamesh a thumbs up while a blush adorns her face. Why are these two acting so weird, were they playing a prank on you?
It wasn't just them it seems everyone who passed couldn't look away, it was coming to the point where people were walking into one another, perhaps there was an additional effect. So, you thoroughly inspect yourself, nothing seems to be out of place though.
"Gilgamesh be honest with me this Noble Phantasm does have an additional magic effect, it's to distract my enemies isn't it!" Gilgamesh merely gapes in awe of your brilliant deduction, it even takes him a full minute to respond "Y,yeah that's totally what it does!" you merely nod at his answer in self-satisfaction.
"Anyways master on a more serious note, it's about time we left, the day is almost at an end." Was it, you look toward the sky and are surprised to see he's right, you've never felt a day pass by so quickly before, so there was truth in the words time flies when you have fun wasn't there.
"Master pay attention there's something else I need to give you." Looking at him you wonder what this other thing will be "Here, this necklace is one that can help you avoid all kinds of projectile attacks, an invaluable item when fighting against a servant such as an Archer." You slowly take the gaudy neckpiece from his hands and thoroughly inspect it, for some strange reason it also had the same color scheme as the dress, were the two part of a set perhaps, no it was probably because Archer had multiple items that did the same thing so chose something that would match, how sweet.
Now with Rule Breaker safely tucked inside your new dress, Solomon's ring upon your finger and the amulet around your neck, with the sun about to set, you're ready to finally destroy Roa once and for all.
"Len, wish me luck, this might be the final time I need to hunt ever again, let's go Archer." Gilgamesh and Len shared a nod as if they were somehow communicating with each other, perhaps this was some language shared between children, you wouldn't know because you never met another child while you were one. Regardless of that small mystery you had more important things to focus on.
Roa roll, Nat 100 vs Arc roll 68+12(Overflow)+15(Gil's Help)+20(Night combat bonus)=115 100vs115
You were finally here, the Castle of Yggdamellenia the battle ground for your final fight against Roa, you toothily grinned in anticipation, blood boiling with adrenaline. Still you were lacking one thing to make this complete, a way to eliminate him for good.
"Gilgamesh, about those soul-destroying items, I could use one right about now." You look at your servant as he opens a golden portal right above your hands dropping a ring that resembled a snake eating itself.
"So, this little ring will be the tool that finishes the job huh? It feels somewhat underwhelming" Gilgamesh merely chuckles at your disappointment "Master that ring grants its wearer the ability to destroy the souls of all they kill, it's a powerful item no doubt, however the effect is always on and the ring cannot be removed unless you cut it off. Essentially a cursed item, still it's perfect for this situation since it doesn't require anything special to use it and taking it off won't be a problem for you" strangely instead of the normal enthusiasm he radiates when explaining one of his items, he looks quite grim staring at the castle with what seems to be sorrow.
"Master… it seems I might have steered you wrong." Gilgamesh flicks his eyes from the castle back to you guilt clear on his face, is he trying to stop you again, you start to frown when he explains further "The situation is far worse than what I feared would happen, the possibility of us winning as we are now is little more than half perhaps…" Gilgamesh trails off as he says this, but what could worry him so much, has Roa truly ramped up so much in one night?
You look towards your servant who seems to be in deep concentration repeatedly muttering yes and no as if struggling with himself. Before you could ask him about what was going on, it seems he came to a decision. He looks at you before nodding as if to assure himself he was making the right move.
"Master, since this was partly my fault and we cannot afford to lose this battle, I'll gift you my greatest weapon, Ea." Gilgamesh pulls out a golden key from his vault before twisting it, you see something impossible, strange and yet so, so right, you saw the truth for a moment then as if a mirage all that's before you is an odd drill shaped object.
Gilgamesh reverently caresses the handle, before slowly, reluctantly handing it over to you. When you take it in your hand you can feel it, a power that could possibly rival your own, a divine mystery that reeked so much of power you nearly dropped it in surprise.
"Please master, use it wisely, Ea is not meant to be used lightly, I would use it myself if I could, but I can't, I don't, have any other choice; With the whole world at stake I cannot afford let my own feelings interfere with making the right decision." Archer seems quite hesitant before seeming to steel himself "Master to actualize Ea all you need is a connection to my energy and to pump our energy into Ea to awaken it, the final step is to call out Enuma Elish to unleash Ea's power." Gilgamesh seems strangely subdued as he tells you this, almost like a child that has just lost their parents.
You hold the weapon in your hand awkwardly, as you have never used one before, you don't really know how to use one. "Uhm Archer I don't know how to tell you this, but I don't know how to use a weapon." You meekly admit, it was embarrassing after all.
Gilgamesh's somber mood seems to lighten at your response "Master it's not a sword, it's not even supposed to be used as a physical weapon, no it's true strength lies at range where it can unleash devastation on your opponents, if your enemies get near you it's quite useless actually." He patiently corrects your misunderstanding
"Against Roa's Archer however it is the ultimate tool, because while you might not like to hear this but without Ea he would destroy you at a range. The reason why our chances are so low in the first place is because of that Archer." So basically, this Archer of Black is extremely strong at range and really fast, so if he locks you in ranged combat you can just use Gilgamesh's Noble phantasm to beat him at his own game. You were confident in your marble Phantasm being able defeat Archer but you didn't have the heart to tell Gilgamesh to take his drill back when he was obviously trying really hard to just give it to you that and using this drill sounds quite fun actually, you swing Ea lightly around your eyes sparkling.
"Master please take this seriously, Ea is not a toy. Please put it away in your dress, you will know when it's needed." You got that you were going to put it away anyway, you're not stupid after all! Gilgamesh merely sighs when he sees your affronted face. "To encounter Roa all you need to do is run in that direction" Gilgamesh points towards the left side of the castle, you can do that.
"You already have all you need to ensure your victory, just don't overdo it okay? I'll strike at the best time when everyone is focused on you." When he finishes his speech, he takes out an odd hat out of his Gate putting it on and disappearing from sight, although you could still smell him despite his current invisibility until even that fades away.
From what you understood Gilgamesh was essentially telling you all you had to do was charge in and wreck everything in your way, sounds like your kind of plan.
Deciding not to waste a moment longer than you had to, you walk, run and then slam through the castle walls, ripping apart everything in front of you with your claws whether it was those weird albino dead apostles that littered the castles halls or those strange golems that came out of the walls, such a weak resistance you snorted; you were already halfway there.
You had cut through it all with ease until you encountered a bespectacled youth that merely looked at you blankly like a zombie before pointing at you, suddenly a Behemoth of a man with red feathers atop his head, crashes into you with a roar. His halberd nearly decapitating you while slicing through half your neck.
The deep gash regenerates in less than a second as you simply bat him away, sending him crashing through multiple stone walls.
You could pursue that giant to finish him off or maybe deal with that boy, but then again Roa was so close you could almost taste it, was it worth wasting your time with these distractions? What if Roa got away in that time or reinforced his defenses, it was a hard choice but you knew what you had to do, you...
What does Arcueid ultimately decide to do?
[] Rush after that servant to finish him off, he'll get in your way otherwise, but it will cost you precious time.
[] Target the boy he's a master right, while his servant is distracted now is the time to strike!
-[] Kill him quickly and efficiently, perhaps weakening berserker and not wasting too much time.
(high chance of weakening Berserker without taking too long)
-[] Use rule breaker, maybe that might work on whatever is affecting the boy, having that servant on your side seems nice.
(needs a roll of 50+ to succed, no modifiers will apply) Riskiest option with the highest payout and the worst consequences
[] you ignore them both in favor of finding Roa. You were nearly there after all; your smile was all teeth.
A/N: Okay so I lied about the 10k chapter, I had written an epic battle with archer and everything but then I realized that there was a branching path much earlier in the chapter… I derped hard lol. Anyways You also got Crit on your roll against Roa so that allowed us to get Ea from Gil to deal with the huge problems.
Oh right The vote for Berserker of Red, I really didn't expect to finish this quickly(thought I would be finished sometime tomorrow) so it'll still be up... Yeah I messed up. >.<
As for how long I guess until the next chapter.
Also feedback and constructive criticism is always welcome and appreciated since I feel I sometimes miss the mark on characterization or what would happen in some situations.
