Fate/Magus Path

"You mean Ishtar?!!"

A less-than-pleasant figure flashed in Gilgamesh's mind, his brows furrowing tightly, his expression twisting.

Though he loathed to have any dealings with that useless goddess, he had to admit, in their dire situation, Ishtar was a significant asset, especially with her divine beast, the Bull of Heaven.

Even Humbaba, the great earth beast once slain by him and his dearest friend, had been revived. The situation was urgent.

With Enkidu gone and his own strength diminished by Uruk's burdens, the only one in Uruk capable of facing such a beast was Quetzalcoatl, brought by Roy.

"…"

After long deliberation, Gilgamesh sighed, rubbing his forehead wearily. "I understand. I'll consider your suggestion."

"Go settle Ur's soldiers in the camp Leonidas arranged. Let them rest tonight. Time waits for no one, tomorrow, they'll report to Leonidas and Arjuna for battle. You have no objections, I presume?"

Sending exhausted soldiers straight from a grueling migration to the battlefield wasn't something Gilgamesh would do.

If possible, he'd give them and Chaldea two days to recover in Uruk before fighting.

But time was against them. The northern and southern Demonic Fronts were deteriorating, with beast numbers surging, threatening to collapse at any moment.

Thus, Gilgamesh had to cut the planned two-day rest to a single night, deploying more soldiers to the battlefield tomorrow.

"Don't worry. They're not wallowing in grief. My warriors are eager to fight, and…"

"They've resolved themselves with a determination far beyond death!"

Roy's eyes turned icy, his aura shifting from earlier anger to an eerie calm.

This stark change made Gilgamesh sense something amiss, but before he could ask, Roy sighed, as if deciding something, and looked at him.

"King of Heroes, I've heard from Li Shuwen and Quetzalcoatl about the situation. Uruk's soldiers on the Demonic Front have lost nearly half to the sudden beast assault, haven't they?"

Roy's tone was flat, devoid of emotion.

This extreme calm unnerved even Gilgamesh.

What was this strange feeling…?

"Yes. The beast raid killed a third of our soldiers, and nearly half are gravely wounded, unable to fight. Most are in the Ziggurat, barely clinging to life, praying to Ereshkigal for death to ease their pain, hoping not to burden Uruk further…"

Gilgamesh didn't hide Uruk's dire state from Roy.

That night, countless unseen beasts had struck the Demonic Front, catching Uruk's soldiers off guard.

Worse, multiple Demon God Pillars appeared, orchestrating a devastating assault.

Many soldiers, unaware of the situation, were incinerated by the searing beams from the pillars' massive eyes, and the front lines were torn open instantly.

Hordes of beasts poured in, clashing with Uruk's soldiers.

Servants like Arjuna, Spartacus, Leonidas, Merlin, Ana, and Mash, tied up fighting the pillars, couldn't aid the soldiers.

Without Merlin's illusions dulling their pain, the soldiers' fearless courage, and Spartacus' life-sacrificing radiant strike shattering two pillars, the situation would be even worse.

It was a testament to Uruk's warriors that they achieved this much.

"I see."

Receiving the expected answer, Roy sighed, looking earnestly at Gilgamesh on the throne. His tall figure, bathed in the Ziggurat's sunlight, cast a long shadow.

After deep thought, his expression shifted subtly, unreadable, before he looked up again. "Gilgamesh, you said many of Uruk's gravely wounded soldiers, unable to fight and on the brink of death, are in the Ziggurat, correct?"

"Yes… that's right."

Gilgamesh frowned, a bad premonition rising. Seeing Roy's serious tone, he answered honestly.

"They're under Siduri's care in the Ziggurat. Why?"

"I see…"

Roy nodded, posing his final question. "Do they crave power? To return to battle, to slay the beasts themselves, to keep protecting Uruk?"

"What are you getting at?!!"

Gilgamesh sensed Roy's strangeness.

To ask such an unsettling question…

"If their lives and sacrifices only amount to pawns in someone else's game, that's too unfair for these warriors. Human lives aren't so cheap. So, I'll deal with these beasts and pillars my own way."

Roy's eyes remained emotionless.

He opened his palm, a white orb of light pulsing within, its faint glow swirling.

The unique mana of the Third Magic, an indescribable, terrifying power, was laid bare before Gilgamesh.

This was the miracle magi sought their entire lives, attainable only by reaching the Root.

The Third Magic, the materialization of souls, a singular power.

It wasn't merely for combat.

Its infinite mana and extreme healing were but a fraction of its capabilities.

Its true value lay in soul materialization.

An absolute force acting on souls and life itself.

By applying this orb to a human or living soul, the Third Magic's unique mana could be bestowed.

It could transform frail flesh into true soul-beings, akin to high-tier phantasmal species, granting infinite mana and near-immortal bodies.

In simple terms, they'd become his kin.

Like a True Ancestor creating Dead Apostles.

Once, Roy viewed this power as a desecration of life, refusing to use it on anyone but himself, needing no kin.

But now was different…

The intruding Demon God Pillars and endless beasts were crushing the front. Facing this unfair battle, for humanity's survivors, he would unleash this life-defying power.

He'd turn the gravely wounded Uruk and Ur soldiers in the Ziggurat into his kin.

Grant them unmatched strength to counterattack the beasts.

A battle of immortals against those wretched creatures.

As a Magician of the Third Magic, he could mass-release this power for transformation.

He could also etch his will and restrictions into their souls, ensuring control over his new kin to prevent chaos.

"You plan to turn those soldiers into such creatures?!"

Sensing Roy's intent, Gilgamesh lost his composure, rising from the throne and shouting, "Don't forget! They're human!! Your actions are…"

"Desecrating life, right?"

"I know. But I've said I'll protect humanity's spark my way. This is the best method."

"I'll give them a choice: to die in resentment, returning to the underworld, or to offer their souls to me, becoming invincible Heroic Spirits, burning on to protect humanity."

"The dead rest, the living inherit, and those between life and death will sacrifice themselves! They'll become vital pieces in this war, and I'll use them to strike the mastermind's face."

Indeed, those granted his power would become immortal soul-beings.

Even after defeating the beasts, they couldn't revert to humans, gradually losing emotions over time, becoming emotionless soul entities.

But between waiting for death and burning themselves, Roy believed Uruk's soldiers would choose the latter.

They were humans who transcended life and death, with radiant spirits.

If they feared death, they wouldn't stand on the Demonic Front. Their true fear was powerlessness, unable to protect their home, returning to the underworld with resentment.

"…"

The answer was clear, and he said no more.

Though reluctant, reason told him Roy was right.

There was no better option.

Even if he objected, Roy would proceed, and it wasn't a forced fate but the soldiers' own choice.

After a long pause, Gilgamesh sighed, silently gesturing for Roy to leave.

His exhaustion seemed to deepen.

Roy said nothing more, nodding and exiting the Ziggurat.

As he left, he glanced toward the sacrificial tower.

Beasts… Demon God Pillars…

Very well. You'd better pray I prepare slowly.

Or you'll face the true wrath of a Magician of the Third Magic…

The tide is about to turn.

___

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