Karna's steps were steady and precise as if each stride had been carefully measured. The time between each step was equally consistent, reflecting his disciplined and rigorous nature. However, this did not mean his movement was slow. Quite the opposite—his stability was merely in his demeanor, not his speed. Karna was incredibly fast, so much so that even Gilgamesh, who was flying through the air, did not surpass him in speed.
Of course, it's also possible that Gilgamesh simply chose not to surpass him—his thoughts were beyond anyone's comprehension.
After walking for about three minutes, Karna ensured that the distance between him and his Master was at a perfect midpoint. This way, the battle's aftershocks would not affect them, yet he would still be close enough to keep a handle on his Master's condition. After all, a Servant exists for the sake of their Master, and nothing is more important than protecting their Master's safety. Karna understood this very well.
Gilgamesh, having seen through Karna's intentions, stopped floating as soon as Karna halted. He stood in the air, gazing down at Karna from above.
"To dare split your attention in my presence—how insolent! You're digging your own grave!"
"Though you say that, you've been watching your Master all the same," Karna replied. His voice was calm, neither angered by Gilgamesh's words nor shaken by his divided focus. He remained utterly composed.
"There are things only I, the King, can do. Not something that lesser beings are permitted," Gilgamesh retorted arrogantly.
Although Gilgamesh's reasoning was absurd, Karna remained unaffected, simply nodding slightly.
"I see. You are indeed a proud king."
"A king must stand alone, above all. In the heavens and on earth, the true king is none other than I. To witness my majesty is the greatest honor in this world. To raise a weapon against me is the greatest disrespect."
"Then I have already committed a great disrespect."
"That's right, and so I must punish the disrespectful."
Heaven and earth. A distance of nearly a hundred meters.
The two heroes locked eyes.
One gazed down from the heavens, while the other looked up from the earth.
Having confirmed each other's presence, they exchanged no more words.
Unlike the two not-yet-mature girls, they would not waste time on things that could not be changed. What would truly decide the outcome was not words, but strength.
The victor would rule all, while the defeated would fade into obscurity.
That's all there was to it.
Karna raised his divine bow which had accompanied him through countless battles. The flames of the sun wrapped around it, distorting the air around him.
In response, Gilgamesh opened his Gate of Babylon, revealing dozens, even hundreds of noble phantasm, their shining brilliance filling the entire sky.
Then, after a brief pause, both Archers unleashed their attacks simultaneously.
Karna's arrow reached Gilgamesh first. The treasures fired from the Gate of Babylon were not known for their speed or range, and thus couldn't compare to Karna's supersonic arrows. Some of the treasures hadn't even fully left the gate before the arrow was already in front of Gilgamesh, poised to pierce his skull—if he made no effort to defend himself.
However, Gilgamesh had already experienced Karna's divine arrows. There was no way he would be unprepared, especially given the shorter distance this time. If he wasn't careful, he could truly lose his life.
A small round shield appeared in front of him at just the right moment, blocking the arrow perfectly. In the next instant, both the arrow and the shield vanished, leaving no trace behind—not even a shockwave.
"Did you think that now that I've left the ship, your arrows could harm me?"
Gilgamesh said, his expression unchanging, even though he had nearly been shot in the head.
"Now that you've attacked me so many times, it's my turn to counterattack."
As he spoke, a rain of treasures descended from the sky. The sheer volume of weapons created a barrage that would easily surpass the firepower of modern warfare. The figure standing at the center of this storm seemed thin and insignificant.
Yet, despite his frail and vulnerable appearance, Karna remained unharmed.
With a single hand, he swung his bow at incredible speed, precisely deflecting every incoming treasure and rendering all of Gilgamesh's attacks ineffective. While Karna's class as an Archer might limit his weapons, it could not restrict his experience. His Uncrowned Martial Arts, which had surpassed human limits, could be applied to both bow and spear with equal mastery.
As the last treasure was knocked aside, Karna nonchalantly grabbed the nearest fallen weapon and, without hesitation, placed it on his bow, firing it back at Gilgamesh like an arrow.
Naturally, such an attack would not harm Gilgamesh. The treasure dissipated into particles of light halfway through its flight, alongside the other treasures scattered across the ground.
The Gate of Babylon possessed treasures that could automatically fire and retrieve themselves. This was why Gilgamesh could stand still and effortlessly destroy most enemies, all without worrying about losing his precious treasures.
However, the automatic retrieval of the treasures was one thing. Karna's actions carried a different significance.
"Hmph, another thief who dares touch my treasures. I understand the allure of my wealth to commoners, but these are my possessions. No one may touch them without my permission. Those who defy me must pay with their lives—prepare yourself to be torn to pieces!"
With Gilgamesh's declaration, the Gate of Babylon expanded further. Not only did it cover the sky, but it also surrounded Karna from all four directions. The distorted space made it seem like he was trapped within a towering tornado.
Then, the illusion became reality. Countless treasures shot out like machine-gun fire, forming a storm of light and impact between the heavens and the earth.
Dozens, hundreds, thousands of treasures rained down upon the man standing at the eye of the storm.
Some were blades,
Others were wisdom,
Some brought pain,
Others offered salvation,
Some were dragon-slaying swords,
Others were cursed with demonic blades,
Some were hero-killer spears,
Others were bolts of lightning barely holding their shape.
These were the treasures mankind possessed—or rather, had created.
And now, the originals of these treasures were being thrown away without hesitation.
From every direction—above, below, left, and right—this was a hellish curtain that could shred a person to pieces.
As Gilgamesh had declared, he would tear apart the thief who dared touch his treasures.
This was the true power of Gilgamesh, one of the strongest beings in human history at full strength.
And this power could only be described as terrifying beyond belief!