"You seem to know me, master." Gilgamesh spoke, deflecting Shirou's dual blades, "But I do not understand the grudge you have against me."
"Don't piss with me, Gilgamesh." Shirou shouted, his anger still flickering in his eyes, "You know what happened during the previous Grail War, don't you?"
Shirou stood up and looked into Gilgamesh's eyes which appeared to be in utter confusion.
"Pardon?" He replied, "But I do not recall ever getting summoned to a Grail War before. Indeed you might have witnessed another version of me. But I assure you, I am not the one you have a grudge against."
"Say what?"
"Yes. I'm but a humble servant summoned to your aid as a caster." He continued with a solemn look in his eyes, which was rather odd.
Gilgamesh— King of Uruk, half human, half god, and seeker of eternal youth— was an archer class servant— or at least it had been that way for the past two Grail Wars.
But now he was summoned as a Caster, and in addition, he didn't retain his memories of the past two wars.
'Could he really be a different version?' Shirou thought, 'The Gilgamesh I knew was prideful and self-egoistic by nature. But this one… is different. He seems to have devotion towards me—his master. If so, there's no point wielding my blades against him. But I need to confirm my assumptions first.'
"You said Caster, right?" Shirou asked, dematerializing his blades, "Then tell me what is that you wish from the grail? You didn't come to just fulfill my desire on your whim, did you?"
Gilgamesh— caster this time, still looked solemnly towards Shirou— his master, smiled rather strangely, the began to speak.
"Truth to be told, I was out of amusement." He replied, "I desired to have a different perspective than I usually had. I was a king, yet I desired to see how it feels to serve another. When you incanted, I sensed an emotion— an urge to obtain something far beyond my comprehension. And that was why I wondered—how amusing would it be to heed upon this call and bear witness how that person would make his wish come true."
"What?"
"Indeed," Gilgamesh continued, "People are amusing. But they are persistent in obtaining anything they desire. I was simply motivated to see how they achieve that— specifically you, master. But…"
The solemn look on Gilgamesh's face changed as if he was concerned over something. He took a breath before continuing again.
"As it appears, my desire has been altered. I wished to bear witness— not intending to intervene actually, if possible. However, an urge has arisen within me. And that is to serve you in accomplishing your desire, master. I do not understand what it is, but I must aid you in every way possible."
Shirou was taken aback by his words. The Gilgamesh he knew wasn't the type of person who served anyone without any gain from them. But this Gilgamesh— he was different. Yes, he might have the desire to get amused by Shirou's way of achieving success, but he was eager to help him in his own volition.
'An Alter Ego?' Shirou whispered to himself, 'I've read it about. When a servant's ego somehow becomes different than originally used to be, their alter ego tends to control them. Is that what's going on with him too?'
But he kept quiet. Rather than disclosing the theory, he intended to keep it aside.
"Anyway," Shirou replied, "It seems I misjudged you based on your previous version. But don't worry. I don't have anything against you specifically. Let's win this war, caster."
"Your wish, my command, Master." He kneeled.
It was a little awkward for Shirou to get that much respect from someone whom he had defeated in the past. But it was his alter ego that kneeled— the caster class servant, Gilgamesh Alter— not archer.
********
On the other side...
"I hereby propose. Your fealty shall be mine, and my fate shall be yours. If you heed the grail's call and obey my will and reasons… then obey me. Do as, and I shall entrust my fate to you…"
Rin Tohsaka incanted— in her place where she had once summoned Archer. As she did, the magic circle radiated brightly, opening something unknown.
Resonating with her command seals, the circle sparkled dark rays around it, and soon someone— a servant to be precise— appeared.
A servant with dark dark-toned body, white long hair, cascading past his shoulder, two horns on his forehead, and clad in partial golden armor.
Two giant crystals floated behind his back— around where a tail-like structure seemed to waggle.
Rin had no idea who the servant was. But she was sure, it wasn't an ordinary one.
"Servant!" she spoke, breaking the silence that almost filled the room, "Speak your name and class."
"Are you my master?" instead of answering he asked a question.
"Indeed, I am." She replied, "I'm Rin Tohsaka, heir of the Tohsaka Family— descendent of mages and your master. Now introduce yourself."
"I was once a human, who absorbed most of the gods and become one in the process, losing my humanity. Hence, I stood as the 'Last God' form the Indian Mythology. I am Arjuna— your Berserker Class Servant, master."
"What? The Last God. You've gotta be kidding me." Rin was surprised so summon that entity as her servant.