The light and heat were another function of the Arrow Protection Amulet.
Enhancing evasion and disabling projectile weapons was just one aspect. Every time a projectile was nullified, the eclipse on the amulet would grow larger. When the sun was entirely swallowed, the amulet would vanish.
The other function was as a one-time bomb. Throwing the amulet at the enemy would generate a burst of intense light and heat, with the power proportional to the degree of the eclipse.
Thus, the most effective use of this amulet was to first nullify ranged tools, then, when the eclipse had accumulated to its limit, throw it to maximize the explosion effect, just as Gilgamesh was doing now.
It has to be said that the King of Heroes can be quite mischievous at times. Knowing full well that Karna is the son of the Sun God, and knowing his golden armor, he still chose to attack with a sun-attribute Noble Phantasm.
Of course, the attack couldn't have much effect. Otherwise, the Sun God Surya would seem quite unworthy of his title, and even the reputation of the Thunder God Indra would be tarnished—after all, Indra had gone to great lengths to deceive Karna into giving up his armor so that his son, Arjuna, could have a chance to kill Karna.
Amidst the intense light and heat, an even stronger radiance and flame burst forth, as if to prove who was the true son of the sun, who was the real Sun.
The golden armor plates on Karna's back unfurled one by one, releasing the purest flames of the sun, dispelling the impure light, and devouring the inadequate flames. Simply through Mana Burst, Karna rendered the power of the eclipse golden ornament ineffective. Not only that, but he even turned it to his advantage.
Suspended in mid-air, supported by flames, the Son of the Sun glanced faintly at Gilgamesh, who was at the same height. That single glance sent the King of Heroes, who had always been above all others, plummeting from the clouds.
That glance was a version of Karna's Noble Phantasm, Brahmastra, known as The True Hero Kills with a Glance.
A favor must be returned.
Gilgamesh had used numerous Noble Phantasms, and Karna was no longer holding back. He responded in kind with his own Noble Phantasm.
And what a response it was—an attack with the fastest speed, the hardest to defend against.
Some could evade such an attack, but only someone like Scathach, who had honed their martial skills to the absolute pinnacle. There were also Noble Phantasms that could block this strike, but they would need to react with the speed of light.
Unfortunately for Gilgamesh, he possessed neither of these qualities or at least, he hadn't had the time to activate them before Brahma's beam pierced through his chest.
Fortunately, Gilgamesh wore chainmail designed specifically for dealing with Karna, providing special resistance to attacks involving flame and the sun. It protected his spiritual core, preventing Brahma's beam from killing him in one strike.
Karna didn't give his opponent any chance to breathe, as follow-up attacks came one after another. But Gilgamesh had precautions in place. Before Karna could release his second strike, a metal storm from the Gate of Babylon surrounded him once again.
Simultaneously, Gilgamesh didn't forget to shield himself, summoning dozens of shields around him. Whether it was arrows or direct beams, nothing could instantly penetrate such a defense.
In this way, Gilgamesh bought enough time to pull out medicine and heal his injuries—after all, for the King of Heroes, who possessed the Gate of Babylon, as long as he wasn't dead, he could quickly recover with the help of numerous Noble Phantasms. He even calmly changed his armor and once again stood before the charging Karna.
"Impressive, very impressive. This time, the world has truly given this king too many surprises. First, the Queen of the Shadow Realm, then the King of Conquerors, and now you, Karna. Hahaha, this time, I can truly stretch my muscles."
At this moment, the serpent-like eyes of the King of Heroes no longer held any interest in his collection, nor any anger toward those who defied him. All that remained was a curiosity for the strong and the joy of encountering a worthy opponent.
"Let this king judge whether you are worthy of beholding this king's greatest treasure! Continue to display your power, Karna."
The distortions around Gilgamesh concentrated in one place, and at the center of the distortion appeared a large sword.
Merodach, the Original Sin. It is said to be the prototype of the Sword of Selection that is spoken of throughout the world, the embodiment of the concept of selection.
Without a doubt, Gilgamesh intended to use this sword to judge whether his opponent was worthy of seeing the highest treasure buried in the deepest part of his treasury, a treasure that could be considered half of his very being.
Karna raised his bow, revealing a solemn expression for the first time since the battle began. The vastest amount of magical energy ever seen began to gather between his hands.
"Then, I shall respond with all my strength, King of Heroes, Gilgamesh!"
From the moment Brahma's beam failed to deliver a fatal blow, Karna knew this battle could not end quickly. This was an opponent he would have to face with his full power, without holding anything back. Though it would place a heavy burden on Luvia, it was also for his Master's wish.
"Come!"
Gilgamesh, with an expectant gaze, raised his sword high.
"Here I come!"
Karna, majestic and imposing, stood firm and fully drew his bow.
The two warriors, both clad in golden armor, and both possessing the highest rank of Heroic Spirits, stared into each other's eyes.
Their smiles were the signal for the battle to begin, and both released their attacks at the same time.
Gilgamesh swung down the Merodach.
Indeed, the King of Heroes merely collected Noble Phantasms and declared them his own. Except for a few closely tied to his legend, he could not wield the full power of each one.
However, this sword was different. As the king praised in the oldest epic, the key figure who severed the connection between humanity and the gods, heralding the decline of mystery, one could say he was the true beginning of human history. His very existence was a symbol of selection, perfectly aligned with the concept of Merodach.
The mere act of swinging the sword caused the air—no, the entire environment—to develop a distinct sense of layering. This sword was not just a selection of Karna but a selection of the entire battlefield. Those unworthy had no right to continue.
At this moment, Karna released the bowstring and loudly activated the true name of his Noble Phantasm.
"Brahmastra Kundala!"
An avalanche of destructive light engulfed the battlefield, which had just been judged by the King of Heroes.
Though its precision couldn't match Brahmastra, its power far surpassed it. This was Karna's strongest attack in his normal state.
Finally, the sun-destroying arrow and the segmenting Original Sin collided at the center of the battlefield.
In an instant, the heavens shook, the earth quaked, and the only thing that remained unmoved were the two golden Heroic Spirits caught within.