What Holy Grail War? Let's Play Cards!

"Of course, she should be adopted into the Edelfelt family. The Tohsaka family has a blood relation with them," Tohsaka Tokiomi said as he looked at Sakura and continued, "Their family's magecraft trait is 'sisters.' Every generation has two inheritors. With Sakura's talent, she is certainly qualified to inherit magecraft."

Jiang You had indeed heard of the Edelfelt family—the so-called "Lady Crane" with golden drills. However, he distinctly remembered that the drill-haired one had a twin sister. How could Tohsaka Tokiomi be so certain that Sakura would successfully become an inheritor?

"Have you never considered not making Sakura a mage?"

"Impossible!" Tohsaka Tokiomi rejected Jiang You's suggestion outright. "This is for Sakura's own good. The Tohsaka family's Magic Crest is usually passed to a single inheritor. Both of my daughters are children blessed by mana. Only by doing this can their talent be fully utilized!"

"Then why don't you ask for Sakura's opinion?" Jiang You patted Sakura on the back, silently encouraging her to speak her mind without fear.

Sakura finally mustered the courage to express her true wish. "Father... I want to go home. I don't want to be a mage anymore. I just want to be with all of you!"

"No!" Tohsaka Tokiomi roared. To him, this was no different from a daughter who could attend a top university choosing to go to a third-rate local college just to stay close to home. It was utterly unacceptable and non-negotiable. "With the potential to become a mage, how could you settle for being an inferior ordinary person?!"

And so, a full-force strike from a Heroic Spirit landed squarely on his face.

Tohsaka Tokiomi was sent flying backward, crashing face-first into the ground in an exceedingly undignified manner.

The defensive magecraft on his body shattered completely. His head felt as if it had been smashed to pieces, yet some inexplicable force restored his fractured skull to its original state. It was as though direct attacks were nullified—except for the very real pain. For a moment, Tokiomi thought he had actually died.

[Caster has challenged you to a duel. Do you accept?]

[Duel/Battle]

"That's why I said I was going to beat you up," Jiang You said, rubbing his fist. "Let's duel!"

"So that strange knowledge that just appeared in my mind is your Noble Phantasm?" Tokiomi looked at Jiang You in shock. His attack had been classified as a duel challenge, sparing Tokiomi's life. The sheer scale of this mental interference and rule modification suggested that this Servant was far from ordinary.

Bound by the rules, Tokiomi realized he had to make a choice. Just as he was about to accept the duel, a golden, mana-wreathed spear shot toward his arm.

Although the attack had the power of a Rank C Noble Phantasm, it didn't harm him. Instead, under the duel rules, it merely prevented his movement.

[Gilgamesh has challenged you to a duel. Do you accept?]

[Duel/Battle]

"You traitorous mongrel! You dare to command this king… and my dearest friend?!" Gilgamesh glared at Tokiomi with fury. Under Jiang You's Noble Phantasm, he had also received knowledge of the duel mechanics. A Duelist's deck contained their experiences, allies, and enemies. Enkidu was among them. He would never allow Tokiomi to use his deck.

Standing atop the roof, Gilgamesh looked down upon everyone. The Gate of Babylon opened behind him, revealing a golden radiance as countless legendary Noble Phantasms began to emerge, poised to strike at any moment.

"Tohsaka Tokiomi, I will give you one chance. Choose battle, or I will show you the wrath of a king!"

Realizing he could no longer oppose his own Servant, Tokiomi had no choice but to accept battle, losing the protection of the duel rules. However, Gilgamesh kept his word and did not continue his attack.

"As for you," Gilgamesh turned his gaze to Jiang You with a cold sneer. "You are but a mere jester who has amused this king."

"You wish to duel me?"

"Fighting the final boss right from the start?" Jiang You grinned. In this Holy Grail War, Gilgamesh was undoubtedly the endgame boss—his strength undeniable. This only made Jiang You even more excited. "But a duelist never backs down from battle. Let's duel, King of Heroes!"

And so, a duel challenge notification appeared before Gilgamesh.

Without hesitation, he selected Battle.

"However—this king refuses!"

A storm of Noble Phantasms rained down upon Jiang You. Gilgamesh's crimson eyes gleamed with pride and disdain. "You dare presume yourself worthy to stand alongside my dearest friend in battle? You are but a mere jester, fit only to amuse me when I see fit! Now, entertain me with your blood!"

A deep voice thundered from above.

"This entire land, without exception, belongs to Rome!—My spear reaches all!"

Massive, sky-piercing trees erupted from the Tohsaka estate, shattering rooftops and intercepting Gilgamesh's attacks entirely.

"King of Heroes, is this all the magnanimity you possess?" As the trees receded, a tall, bronze-skinned man stepped forward, standing between Jiang You and Gilgamesh. "As the most ancient hero, should your heart not be as boundless as Rome itself?"

"You… are the founding king of Rome?"

For the first time, Gilgamesh's proud face showed a flicker of surprise.

Lancer Romulus had officially arrived.

"Wait… what's with your Saint Graph?"

Uncharacteristically, Gilgamesh did not grow enraged. Instead, he descended in front of Romulus, his expression turning serious. "With a Spirit Origin of this scale, why would you participate in such petty games?"

"Do not be surprised. Rome is, and always has been, like this," Romulus replied enigmatically, stepping aside so that Gilgamesh and Jiang You could face each other directly. "King of Heroes, since you have manifested, why not take this opportunity to show the world the legacy you take pride in? Meet once more with the friend of your past. The survival of Heroic Spirits depends on the stories passed down through generations—etched into history like Rome itself. To reveal your past is not disgraceful; it is simply the way of heroes."

Gilgamesh glanced between Romulus and Jiang You but still did not fully grasp Romulus' intent.

However, for a Grand Servant like Romulus to be present, the mana requirements were astronomical. Clearly, this Holy Grail War had deeper secrets.

If Romulus was protecting Jiang You so explicitly, Gilgamesh decided to use Sha Naqba Imuru—his omniscient and omnipotent star—to observe Jiang You's status.

Yet, all he saw was an obscure mist, completely unreadable. Not even Jiang You's True Name could be discerned. All he could determine was that Jiang You's Saint Graph was that of a mere third-rate Servant.

"Very well. Let this mongrel witness a glimpse of this king's past!" Gilgamesh smirked, now intrigued. "Jester, I accept your duel!"

As Jiang You clicked Duel, he raised a middle finger toward Gilgamesh and taunted, "You keep calling everyone mongrels, but aren't you the biggest mutt here? You're one-third human, two-thirds god! That's some serious insecurity, huh? So pathetic!"

"Good… Good… GOOD! MONGREL! YOU HAVE ANGERED ME!" Gilgamesh's forehead veins bulged in fury. Never before had a mere third-rate Servant dared mock him like this. "I will utterly destroy you! You will kneel before this king and beg for mercy! And first of all—everything begins with my turn!"

The Duel Field activated.

Jiang You LP: 4000Gilgamesh LP: 4000