In the Age of the Gods

Ohhh... Please, please have mercy...! O Mother Goddess, Mother of Demonic Beasts, the one who reigns supreme!

We do not defy you...! The remaining cities, people, wealth, everything is yours

Eeeeeek! D-don't eat me! Please, don't eat meeeeee...!

Kazallu is different than Uruk! We have no intention of following that foolish king!

W-we will sacrifice everyone up to our second-class citizens! You can have them all! Treat them like livestock I don't care!

So please, leave us... Leave us alone, ah! Eeeeeeyaaaaaaggghh...!!!

Lowly creatures. I am utterly disgusted with you. We have said before that not a single human shall survive.

Even monkeys are smarter than these humans. Do they really think they're worthy as food? At best, they are fit to fertilize the land.

That's still no reason to crush them to death with that serpent body of yours. After all, we're in our assembly hall.

Isn't it good manners to dispose of the prey you capture in your own lair?

What, you don't like snakes? I thought you would enjoy playing with them like that.

Weeell... I'm really more for beating my enemies to a pulp in a hand-to-hand brawl, yes! Buuut...

Gracias, pero noooooo! The weight class difference bothers meeeeee! Your way of killing is too sloppyyyyyy!

I thought I was handling them with care. Humans are just too fragile.

Eshnunna, Sippar, Kish, and Kazallu. I have swallowed up most of the northern cities.

It is only a matter of time before Nippur falls. It won't even take a month to break through that damned Northern Wall.

Well, well. Your ego sure is as big as your body. After working on it for half a year, you still need another month?

You used enough Demonic Beasts to fill the land, yet you only managed to neutralize the north?

Will you really be able to crush that front in another month? You don't need our help?

I do not. We have sworn not to interfere with each other. I do not require your help. In the first place...

I find massacring humans all at once to be quite wasteful.

Thus, I have ordered the Demonic Beasts to do whatever they desire to the humans they capture.

They may drag them to their den and slowly kill them. Or they may eat them alive.

Or perhaps the humans can be used as raw materials for my temple.

...Raw materials for your temple? No wonder it smells even worse than the last time I came here.

The stench is so strong, it makes me nauseous. A pity, since death is so very pure.

Isn't it the same with you? Wasn't death an everyday thing in your mythos?

Exaaactly! Keeping the beaten alive for later is unthiiinkable!

That being said, this is the result of the survival of the fittest. I won't condemn her principles.

...After all, I'd do the same thing. In the end, I meticulously snuff them out, one by one.

Isn't that what this is? That's why we were summoned.

The goddess who slays this era's king and obtains the Holy Grail will become the ruler of this world.

That's what we, the Three Goddess Alliance, swore, right?

Or, what? Have you changed your mind? Do you feel pity for slaughtering humans, as foolish as they are?

As you're the one and only legitimate surviving Sumerian goddess of this era, are you losing your taste for slaughter?

...Nonsense. This is exactly what I want.

Uruk has been my land from the very beginning. I just let the humans borrow it on a whim.

I feel neither mercy nor obligation. As a pillar for the Three Goddess Alliance, I will erase humans from the face of this land.

Heh... Abandoned even by a native goddess. The humans of this era truly are inferior wretches not worth saving.

Good. It sounds like your wills are unwavering. Mother will be relieved to know that the alliance's oath is eternal.

...Is that you? When did you return? How many times must I tell you to go to Mother when you've returned?

As you can see, I'm hurrying over to you now.

Mother, you should refrain from associating with these two goddesses on your own.

They are dependable allies, but fearsome competitors at the same time.

More importantly, they're the only beings on Earth that possess the Authority necessary to kill you, Mother.

It's entirely possible they joined forces with you because they want the Holy Grail and are planning to betray you.

They wouldn't do that. The alliance of goddesses is not so fickle.

An attack upon another goddess will turn into divine punishment that rebounds upon the attacker. She who raises her hand would be destroyed.

Therefore the only attack we have is to obtain the Holy Grail before the others.

That is the game we play.

Yes. The king of Uruk has the Holy Grail hidden somewhere. The goddess who obtains it will rule the post-human world.

The Grail was sent to this land It's the one contract that the Mage King established.

However, the method of obtaining the objective wasn't laid out. Therefore, everyone is free to search for the Holy Grail however they like.

For exampleMother's method is to seek the Grail within the ashes of Uruk after eradicating the humans.

And your method, which seems to be decimating Uruk with nature itself combined with your own physical prowess.

Or, finally, yours, which could be as simple as waving a hand and wiping out all life in an instant, before anyone knew what happened.

All of these are little more than your own pathways to acquiring the Holy Grail itself. Still... Be careful...

I sensed a strange fluctuation... That final ray of hope for humanity's future prophesied by Uruk's astrologer...

The last mage, who may yet protect humanity, has arrived in our era.

Aaaaaaaaahhhh!

Foooooouuuuu!

？！

We're falling! Where's the parachute!? I estimate that we're currently at an altitude of 200 meters!

Seven seconds until impact! M-M-M-Master, your orders! What should I do!?

？！

!

Yes, Mash Kyrielight will do her utmost! Master, give me your hand...!

Okay, caught you! Now just grab onto my waist and hold tight please!

Fou, foooouuu!

Noble Phantasm, deploy...! Galahad, grant me your power...!

...Senpai... I mean, Master. Are you hurt...?

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No, I'm the one who needs to thank you. It happened so suddenly that my mind went blank

Blank. ...Um, you're still clinging to me, Senpai.

Fou fou fouuuu. Fou, fouuu!

Ah... Fou, you took cover in my shield? Thank goodness you're safe, too.

Fou, fou.

Senpai, can you stand?

I'm glad. The landing wasn't perfect, but it seems the Rayshift was successful.

Fou. Mumf, fouuuu fou, fouuuu...

？！

Are both of you all right!? Safe and sound!? Whew! For a second there, I didn't know what would happen!

Yes. We had a 200-meter free fall when we Rayshifted, but Master's quick thinking saved us.

There have been many accidents up until now, but I never thought we'd end up in midair after a Rayshift.

Doctor, what happened?

...Apparently the Rayshift was intentionally tampered with.

We successfully set it to the biggest city of that era.

But immediately after the Rayshift was established, it seems all of you were forcibly shot to that location.

...Do you think it could be interference from the King of Mages?

Yes. I agree with Fujimaru. My guess is that some power in the city repelled you.

Not even Solomon is almighty. He can't be on guard against us when we can appear anytime, anywhere.

City? Wait, did you end up somewhere in the city? I do see multiple life signals, but...

？！

Okay, sorry for interrupting☆ Roman, I got an answer for you. What they experienced was a forced deportation caused by a barrier.

There seems to be a Bounded Field around the city of Uruk. Probably to ward off attacks.

...So we bounced off of the city's defense mechanism. It's true that we are trespassers, but...

...Yeah. The question is, why is an ominous field like that set up?

Like all of the Singularities up until now, there is impending danger in the city of Uruk.

Fujimaru, Mash. First reassess the situation.

We're calculating coordinates over here, but the precision is still low. Actually, there's too much information!

Blame it on the ancient world. The mana concentration is so thick that our information processing can't keep up.

Under these circumstances, visual footage from Fujimaru will give us clues to analyze.

Well, does anything stick out? What about that band of light in the sky?

Ah... That's right. We'll continue monitoring the situation. The band of light... Yes, it's still there.

...I see. So there's one in that era, too.

In that case, there must be a place where the Incineration of Humanity was carried out...

Do you notice anything else? What kind of place you're in?

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I see. Ruins, huh? I mean, I could kind of tell from the video feed, but... (Sigh)

You're pretty far away from Uruk. I was thinking you should gather food before heading there, but...

That won't be possible, unfortunately. There's nothing but ruins here. Both food and information gathering are out of the question.

I thought so. The only silver lining is that Da Vinci's scarf is working well.

According to the data we're getting, the concentration of mana in the air is higher than in Egypt.

Fujimaru, how are you, physically? Do you have a headache or ringing in your ears?

See, what did I tell you? My work is perfect. You owe me some Japanese sweets from your stash, Romani!

An abnormality in your tympanum? No, the fact that you can hear crying means

？！

Please wait, Doctor! I thought I heard a faint rumbling from the ground

I'm picking up odd magical energy heading our way! Are you getting it on the monitor!?

Confirmed! It's a hostile! It took a long time to confirm because it's a pattern we haven't seen before!

The staff apologizes, too! Uh, but that can wait till later! The enemy's coming!

2600 B.C., ancient Sumeria Your first battle in the in the Age of Gods.

But you have nothing to fear. After all, you haven't lost yet.

Show this era the power of the Master and Servant who overcame six Singularities!

？！

The battle is over. We've only sustained minor injuries. However

？！

Yes. I'm not sure how to describe it, but... It looked to be from a completely different ecosystem...

Unlike werebeasts, dragons, and other creatures that eventually disappeared from the world at the end of the Age of Gods...

But those Demonic Beasts... I don't think they were of this world at all.

...

...Not of this world, huh... Perhaps they differed from the garden variety Demonic Beasts that existed in the Age of Gods.

We were prepared. We had data on of all the Phantasmals and Demonic Beasts from the Sumerian era.

But none of it matches what you've just encountered... What is going on...?

...And that's not the worst of it: those Demonic Beasts were clearly trying to kill us.

It wasn't mere hostility. Their intention was to kill.

All of the Demonic Beasts we've encountered thus far have attacked us out of bestial instinct, to feed themselves...

The Demonic Beasts just now, though, they attacked solely to kill us. I could feel the hatred in their eyes...

Hatred... Demonic Beasts that harbor hatred toward humans... Are you saying they're trying to annihilate us, not eat us?

...If so, you're in danger. Fujimaru, leave that city immediately.

...

Yeah, that possibility is high. That's why you should leave immediately.

？！

I agree with the Doctor, Master. Animals act in packs.

OUTTA MY WAAAAAAY!!!

I don't think that's the last of the Demonic BeastsOh?

Hey you! You're IN THE WAY! I can't use my decrees with you there!

Um, Senpai. Did you hear something? It sounded like a voice...

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Huh? ...Um... Wait, wait, wait!

How am I supposed to brake in time if the air brakes don't work! Oh no, I'm going to hit them!

If Father finds out, he'll take my license away for sure! But let me say this first: I'm NOT in the wrong!

Master, are you all right!? Something beige, coming in at a 45-degree angle...

...has just fallen from the sky.

Fou... Fou, fou!

？！

Ouch... What a disaster... I didn't think I would be sniped from the ground...

Luckily the damage wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I guess I have my usual benevolent (read: violent) deeds to thank for that.

...Huh? What's this?

？！

Wait, what are youuuuuu!

What's going on over there!? Fujimaru's vitals are all red!

Well, a woman fell from the sky... Oh, the mysterious woman separated herself from Senpai.

This era has way too many crash landings! Still, it's good we've met a native. Now we can get info

Whoa! Whoa whoa whoaaaaaa! These numbers... Is this for real!? Is this some kind of mistake!?

...What's that? Some kind of Mystic that lets you see from afar? Also, it has a reeeally annoying voice!

But that doesn't matter for now. Let's talk about this wretched fool's punishment for touching my body without my permission.

Your face and outfit are unfamiliar. What city are you from? I didn't think there were still humans around.

Are you a sacrifice fleeing from Nippur? Or a survivor from Babylon?

Whichever it is, give yourself up. After I shoot your limbs off, I'll scatter you over Mt. Ebih.

(Master, this woman is ready for battle! I can sense her genuine animosity towards you!)

I see. I'll take your silence as confirmation of my assumption. Good, I don't have to show you any mercy.

If you were from Uruk, I'd have shown some mercy. Curse your bad luck.

What are you talking about? How dare a mere human speak to me like that!

Talk it out? ...With me? Why would I do that? You're not even from the Sacred Temple.

Settle... You mean a trial? Th-the answer is no. I'm not falling for that!

No matter how minor the collision, the one in the vehicle is at a disadvantage! I know that!

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Please hold on...!

The collision was an unforeseen accident, and it seems neither side was responsible!

So can we please have a word with you? Um, well... Miss... who are you?

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...Are you guys seriously saying you don't know who I am?

Yes. Well... sorry. It hasn't even been an hour since we arrived in this era...

We are members of a group called Chaldea. We were sent here to this Singularity to correct the course of humanity.

I'm sure you don't know what we're talking about, but we're not suspicious...

Actually, Senpai's hands looked plenty suspicious, so something ought to be said about that, but...

Fou, fou.

So, you're guests from afar? That's hard to believe... But, I suppose stuff like that happens.

You might say I'm here in a similar manner. Fine. I will believe your words.

In other words, you have no idea who I am. You don't know about this world, or what's happening here.

...I see. Then your disrespect, insolence, and impoliteness can't be helped. You're barbarians from a distant world, after all.

Look, touching me without permission is completely unforgivable in this world.

Any Sumerian would immediately apologize, but wouldn't be forgiven even after offering their whole family's life savings.

Keep that in mind from now on. Assuming you want to survive in this world, that is.

And thanks for being my cushion. You were at least as helpful as a pile of hay.

That's not a very nice way to say thanks...

At least she seems to have calmed down, so why don't we re-introduce ourselves?

I'm Romani Archaman. I'm the acting commander of Chaldea.

This boy is Fujimaru, a Master who's formed contracts with Heroic Spirits and commands them as Servants.

And, this girl is one of those Servants, Mash Kyrielight.

...We're done introducing ourselves.

So, who are you? Based on my readings, you're probably a

You're not worthy to hear my name. Just forget about me.

Especially you over there. Fujimaru, was it?

Forget everything that happened earlier. If you do, I'll at least spare your life.

？！

Like! I! Was! Saying! If any of this gets out, like how I mishandled the Boat of Heaven, or how I screamed, or about my current body size...

...I'll chase you to the ends of the earth!

(This is not good, Senpai. She doesn't seem to want to kill you anymore, but I can still sense her hostility.)

(In my personal opinion, gaining any information from her will be quite a difficult task...)

Oh, you understand. Wonderful. It's a good thing to be humble.

I won't treat you with disdain with that attitude, so revere me... Like, three times a day.

I heard that! Who are you calling a softy!?

？！

...Humph. Fine. There's no point being mad at barbarians.

You wanted to know about this era, you said. Go figure those things out with your own eyes and ears.

I won't tell you anything. Actually, you tell me.

Right... For example, did you see anything precious lying around here?

What?

Fou?

？！

Like I said, something precious. Was anything on the ground?

Like, something that makes you think, "Wooow!" at first glance.

It's something you'd know the moment you saw it, so I won't bother to explain. So how about it? Anything ring a bell?

No, um... Even if you put it like that. Judging from the context, did you drop something?

Idiot, of course not! I didn't drop anything at all!

I'm just asking for a friend! I don't care about that thing!

Yeah... I can tell that across a screen, too... Stay patient in dealing with her, Fujimaru...

I won't! If I told you what I dropped, you'd find out about my clumsiness!

Foooou...

？！

Anyway, you just need to tell me if "something" was "around here" or not!

...So? Was it?

Oh, and was it broken? Did it break? Did I do it again?

？！

Why don't you say anything!? Staying silent is sooo cruel!

Nosssssssss!

Nosss? North? You're telling me it's to the north? Is that it!?

That's not it. That voice wasn't Senpai's! This is

Sorry, I looked away for a second since she seemed like a hassle! Numerous heat signatures approaching from the north!

They look like reinforcements for the previous Demonic Beasts! You two, get ready!

All right...! Master, your orders!

？！

...Hmph. You're pretty quick to change gears. However, you still lack the observational skills of a good mage.

Stand back because it's dangerous? Who do you think you're speaking to, you country hick!?

YOU are the one who should stand back. I'm really getting pissed off

I'll take all my frustration out on them, and I'll do it with a bang!

Well, that's that. I may have only pseudo-manifested, but I'm not going to lose to Tiamat's Demonic Beasts!

You're not going to get anything from me by stating the obvious. But I will repay you later if I can.

I know, right? No matter what form I may be in, I'm always the best!

？！

Sorry to interrupt your conversation! Second and third waves are coming!

Doctor, please give us data on the area! Just how many Demonic Beasts are there?

Way too many! I'm seeing 60 right now, with more coming! This town has become their den!

There's nowhere to run! You're completely surrounded!

You're not going to get out of this unless you can fly... Fujimaru, negotiate with that woman over there!

She must be able to fly! Ask her to take you two out of

Don't make decisions on your own! Weren't you listening to me?

This boat only holds one. To take those two, they would basically have to cling onto me.

But didn't I tell you? In this world, touching me is a sin punishable by death.

I only fought because I wanted to. I didn't fight for you.

Master... Fujimaru, was it?

If you're struggling against these Demonic Beasts, then repairing the course of Humanity is but a dream for you.

You should quietly return to this Chaldea place. And if you can't do that...

Well, why don't you just die? I have no intention of helping the weak.

Miss Unknown has taken off! She has left the battlefield at an incredible speed!

Fou, fou!

I guess we're not going to get her help! It was worth a shot, though!

？！

We'll talk later. Now just think about getting out of there! Focus your attacks on a single point!

Fujimaru, head east with Mash! There are fewer Demonic Beasts in that area!

Roger that. We'll head for the castle ruins visible to the east! We're going to punch through this, Master!

Fushaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Ugh! The enemy reinforcements are endless! Without any Anti-Army Noble Phantasms, the enemies

You want numbers? That's good. Looks like I'll be able to help.

You, Demi-Servant. And you, Master of Chaldea.

Could you step back a bit? Yes, that's good. Now, all I have to do...

...is wipe the lot of them out all at once. Since there are only 100 or so of them, I won't have to wipe out the entire town.

If you're the Master of Chaldea, I'm sure you have your own Anti-Army Noble Phantasms, but you can use them next time.

This city may be in ruins, but humans once lived here. It'd be best to preserve it as long as possible, right?

Sorry for stealing the show. But it's best to keep the collateral damage to a minimum.

I know this place is a ruin now, but people may want to come back one day, you know?

You're

It's an honor to meet you, Master of Chaldea. My name is Enkidu.

I have waited in this Age of Gods for humans like you to arrive. I was given the task of connecting mankind with this world.

Enkidu? Did you just say Enkidu!? Then you're the best help we could ever hope for!

There's no individual stronger from that era, comparable even to that king! Fujimaru, you can trust this person!

Work together and get out of this predicament!

But, this is not... a person. Nor a Servant either...

More like a machine than anything, and yet like a human with a soul...

Oh, that's right. As a Demi-Servant, you're able to figure out my true nature.

You must have sensed and categorized me as a foreign element created by the gods.

...I apologize for frightening you. I should have waited longer before meeting you.

But now is the time for battle. I cannot let you fall prey to those Demonic Beasts.

Please forgive me for being so callous. Would you allow me to fight by your side?

Oh, of course! I apologize for being insensitive myself!

Master, your orders! Enkidu and I will defeat the enemy!

That poison dragon, Bašmu, was the last one. In any event, we have exterminated all the Demonic Beasts in this town.

But we are not safe yet. The scent of the blood of the fallen will draw more here.

This land has become a den for Demonic Beasts. Their number is likely to increase, not decrease.

？！

I believe I have introduced myself. That invisible mage should know more details about me.

Yes. I apologize. Your display of power left me speechless!

I'm assuming you are the real Enkidu, correct? Not a Servant, but an actual living being?

Which means you're a native here. Yet you possess such power... No wonder you are called the Weapon of the Gods.

They were not lying when they said you're the world's strongest Noble Phantasm with a living will. It's even said you were on par with King Gilgamesh!

？！

Yes. Enkidu is found in the world's oldest heroic tale, the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh was a king that didn't listen to the gods; he was an individual with incredible power that lived in the moment.

In order to admonish King Gilgamesh, the gods sculpted a doll from mud.

The doll had a soul like humans, and could change its shape at will. At times it became a Noble Phantasm capable of piercing enemies.

The world's strongest god-made human, into which the gods poured all their energy. That's what Enkidu is.

That's absolutely right! Mesopotamian civilization used mud to make any number of things.

And you can call Enkidu its greatest masterpiece!

Soft enough to change forms, yet sharp as the keenest blade! The manifestation of nature itself, able to bind and kill Divine Beasts.

If King Gilgamesh, a mix of human and divine blood, is the Wedge of the Heavens created by the gods,

Enkidu is the Chain of the Heavens created to return Gilgamesh to the gods.

Da Vinci is sulking saying, "I can do something like that too." But I'd say she's just putting up a front.

In any event, nothing's more encouraging than to have Enkidu on humanity's side!

Not even the tyrannical King Gilgamesh could destroy this good-hearted hero!

...Umm. It is quite embarrassing to be complimented this much.

I am nothing more than a weapon created by the gods. How a weapon is used is up to its handler.

If I appear to have a good heart, then it is because the human who used me was good and lawful.

You're a... weapon? Yet you seem to have a heart...

Yes, I do have a heart. I don't have feelings though, or I didn't at first.

The only thing I possessed was knowledge of being a weapon: what I needed to destroy, and when I needed to act.

But there was one woman who treated me like any other human. I modeled myself in her form.

...She is responsible for me gaining a heart of my own. I keep this form in reverence for her gift to me.

A prostitute, and yet a saint: Shamhat.

Well, being a prostitute meant something different back then than it does now. But there is no need to get into that.

Enkidu. You called Fujimaru the Master of Chaldea.

Does that mean you understand our situation?

Yes. A Holy Grail that disrupts time, and the alteration of history by the one who wields it.

All this resulted in the Singularities, a plot to destroy the Foundation of Humanity by the Mage King.

The Temple Matron of Uruk made the situation clear.

I came here because of her prophecy. I was told to protect the promised group of outsiders.

So this era still hasn't been destroyed, correct? And you're fighting against the King of Mages?

Of course. I am not sure what the other eras were like, but people from the Age of Gods will not submit to world-ending disaster.

Whimsical gods have brought the world near to destruction many times in our era. People here are more resilient than you might think.

I see... I understand. But somehow they can't do anything about little things like lovers' spats and marital fights.

Yes, that is indeed troubling. They band together against the big problems, but struggle with the small ones.

But that is how it always is with humanity. Though, as you can see with how this town ended up...

Anyway, enough with introductions. The Demonic Beasts will come back if we spend too much time here.

I will guide you somewhere safer. We can discuss trivial matters on the way.

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You have your right hand out. Is there something wrong?

It's a handshake, Enkidu. Senpai wants to shake hands with you.

Oh, so this is... My apologies. I am still not used to this.

Now, formally, it is nice to meet you, Fujimaru. Is this how you shake hands?

...

Good. Now that we've all got to know each other better, let's move. Are you going to take them to Uruk?

It's the largest city in that world. The Leylines there should be stable.

Da Vinci keeps pestering me to set up the circle.

Circle... A summoning circle, correct? Understood. Let us hurry.

Oh, yes. We will take the longer route to get there, so please bear that in mind.

We should try to avoid the Demonic Beasts. There is nothing more important than ensuring everyone's safety.

Yes. We will leave it up to you, Enkidu. Thank you for helping us out.

No, I am glad to do it. I'm pleased the Master from Chaldea has turned out to be someone like you.

I thought... Well, it was said that a representative of humanity would come...

So I was on alert, thinking someone like Gilgamesh would come. But I'm glad that fear proved unfounded.

Welcome to the old forgotten land of the gods, Mesopotamia. I welcome you as a representative of the new age, Fujimaru.