Ten minutes later.
It had been some time since Rin Tohsaka had performed the summoning ritual—an act that should have been far beyond her years. Yet, against all odds, the command seals had appeared. The circle had blazed with unnatural light, and from the smoke and flame emerged a man clad in black, with a sword so massive it seemed forged to slay giants. Now, in the dimly lit drawing room of the Tohsaka estate, that man sat across from her father, Tokiomi.
Guts. The Black Swordsman.
Tokiomi stared at the Berserker, his hands folded in front of him, though tension was evident in the slight twitch of his fingers. His thoughts ran like wildfire.
Of course, Rin summoned a Servant. That much is to be expected—she is a Tohsaka, after all. But a Berserker? That's troubling. Even more so… this Berserker shows no signs of madness.
The man sitting before him was calm—composed, even. Too composed for someone under the Mad Enhancement curse.
Tokiomi's voice finally broke the silence.
"What is your true name?"
The man's eyes, as dark and heavy as his sword, stared back with no hesitation.
"Guts."
"…Guts," Tokiomi echoed, testing the name. "Never heard of you."
He turned to Rin, who stood to the side like a proud but anxious magician.
"Rin. Check his status sheet."
"Yes, Father!"
Rin held up her hand, a magical glyph sparking to life in front of her as she invoked a status check through the contract.
Servant: Berserker
True Name: Guts
Nicknames:
The Black Swordsman The Accursed Bane of the Gods Grand Berserker King of Combat
Parameters:
Strength: A+ Endurance: B+ Agility: A Mana: EX Luck: E- Noble Phantasm: EX
Class Skills:
Mad Enhancement: EX
Personal Skills:
Independent Action: EX Infinite Mana Generation: EX Valor: A Cursed by the Gods: EX Mana Reinforcement: B Will of the Cursed: EX Eternal Arms Mastery: EX Dragon Slayer: A+ God Slayer: EX
Noble Phantasms:
Berserker Armor – Rank: EX Bane of Creation: Rebellion – Rank: EX Dragon Slayer – Rank: A Crossbow – Rank: C+ Bone Arrow (Forged from Fallen Gods) – Rank: A+
Tokiomi's composure cracked. His breath caught as he scanned the list again. EX mana? God Slayer? Infinite mana generation? His fingers trembled, and he looked at the man in disbelief.
This... thing... was a calamity disguised as a Servant.
Even Gilgamesh— he dared not finish the thought. But it was too late.
A sudden noise shattered the tense quiet—a door thrown open with theatrical fury.
"Tokiomi, what are you doing? The other Servants are fighting at the docks, and you keep me locked away like some mongrel—"
A voice like melted gold echoed through the room, followed by a woman who seemed woven from divine arrogance. Her long golden hair shimmered in the light, and ruby eyes burned like twin suns. Her figure radiated power and command.
Gilgamesh. The King of Heroes.
Now wearing the form of a woman—no less regal for it.
Tokiomi snapped out of his trance. "Ah, my king…"
Guts turned his head toward the intruder. His eyes locked with hers, and the air grew heavy. There was a pause, not just of silence—but of history.
Then, Gilgamesh's expression softened, amused.
"HA! Mad hound! What are you doing here, my friend?" she laughed, arms open wide.
"Tch. You're the same as ever," Guts replied, his tone more grumble than greeting, but there was a faint pull at the corner of his lips.
Tokiomi blinked. "You… know each other?"
Gilgamesh walked across the room with unbothered grace and clapped a hand on Guts' shoulder.
"I've fought many beasts, many men, and many heroes—but this one… this one I like. A true warrior. Though your cursed madness reeks, it's the kind of madness I can respect."
Guts snorted. "Let's just get this over with."
Gilgamesh turned to the mage. "We'll watch the chaos from the rooftops. Don't get in the way, mongrel."
A golden ripple shimmered through the air as Gate of Babylon opened. With a flash of light, both legends vanished.
Tokiomi sat motionless, his mouth slightly ajar. The world he thought he understood was unraveling.
Behind him, Rin sighed, her fingers twitching as she bit a nail.
"I forgot to add a contract clause about Sakura… Curse you, Saten…"