Sumer

[Bloodedge]

"Avalon?" Gilgamesh repeated as he heard the skill's name. If he remembered correctly, Avalon was the name given to Artoria's sheath. How interesting it was that the sheath came equipped with such an ability as well. Of course, one would expect as much to a certain extent. Excalibur was among the most powerful swords in existence, so a minimum amount of power was surely required to even contain it. Speaking of Excalibur's power, Gilgamesh found himself inspecting the first spear used to meet Artoria's sword. He wouldn't dare use a treasure of less-than-Legendary quality against this particular opponent, but he thought it best to check for sturdiness regardless. All seemed fine enough, but the same would not be said of Gilgamesh himself if he didn't do something about the follow-through of Artoria's counterstroke.

And so, he moved. It was a simple enough feat to hop away in a manner which seemed almost like he was gliding across the field. Even as he did this, he could physically feel the pressure of Excalibur from being in anything close to striking range. He still wore a grin that didn't even shrink a tiny bit while he slid back. Over his head, nine gates appeared to move along with him. From each of these portals, magical staves emerged. One by one in a continuous chain, they fired bursts of Mana toward Artoria while Gilgamesh observed her movements. One thing he found himself doing was deciding what weapons to use, and in keeping up a steady offense, he was able to think of a proper answer.

[Apollymi]

There was nothing in Artoria's face after she spoke the name of her sheathe. It had its own abilities, including granting her something akin to limited immortality. The barrier which it creates, is for the purpose of defending the one part of her that the sheathe doesn't allow to regenerate before she dies, her head. Still if this was a simple test of skill, then she was more than sure that someone of Gilgamesh's caliber would be able to figure that much out on his own. "Hai." she said in response to the idea that she'd spoken the name of her sheathe and not that of her sword. Still Gilgamesh was at least light on his feet. Light enough in fact, to dodge the major damage she had coming his way. A brief cresting of this lass' lips occurred. She fought with her Knights often, and usually handed them their defeats with only genuine bursts of opposition (today's training for example). This experience of true give and take was something rather refreshing. Especially when she considered that neither of them had a distinct advantage over the other.

Nine portals appeared above his head though and they all reigned down magical energy. Such a thing was funny to her, but not for any good reason. Excalibur in hand she swung the weapon, seeing a clear method of handling this by instinct alone. Her Mana charged blade knocked each burst of Mana back towards the gate that cast it. Aiming to overpower and disrupt them but also allowing her to keep moving towards her target. Even she had to admit, swinging against the power of these burst rattled her very bones and that was exciting. "Oh? Is this how you get away with calling yourself a Caster?" she queried rhetorically. Access to magical staves and the ability to use them was one way to be a Caster she supposed. It wasn't innate magical skill, but with all the things that Gilgamesh had access to, she could see it being a usable workaround. Though given this she wondered why he made such a decision at all, perhaps she'd have time to ask sometime. But at present when the last of the blasts was diverted she jumped off the ground, launching herself forward to cover a more massive distance and using her sword like a lance pressing it forward with strength and magical pressure behind it as if she intended to push a hole straight through the left shoulder of the man known as Gilgamesh.

[Bloodedge]

Three things boasted the name Avalon, as Gilgamesh understood. How quaint. It was hardly worth dwelling over, though. No, Gilgamesh was far too immersed in observing as Artoria showed her prowess as an entertainer, at least in the way he considered it. The blonde woman did have a way about her, one which seemed like a dance in its own right while she felled enemies and offenses mounted against her. The Instinct skill of a Saber was nothing to shake a proverbial stick at, and hers was leagues above the rest. "Fuhahahaha! Amusing! If only the mongrels could bear witness!" he exclaimed, seemingly excited by what the woman managed, or rather the way she managed it.

His staves received return fire by the deflection of Artoria, but a return through the Gate of Babylon left their projectiles flying past Gilgamesh into the open sky. The gate opened again on the ground in front of him, spewing a dense tower of flames that rose to unknown heights. Gilgamesh's intention with this maneuver was to deter Artoria's approach, though he would also use the blockage of visibility to step aside. After all, he couldn't believe Artoria Pendragon didn't have a way to push through the fire and drive her blade into him regardless of his efforts.

While they danced about the battlefield in this way, Artoria posed a query. The smirk upon Gilgamesh's face remained one of amusement as he laughed through a retort. "Hahaha! I did think it would be amusing to try out being a mage. How is it? Do I look the part?" Gilgamesh knew he didn't have the ability to cast spells of his own volition, but this Caster form was appealing to him. Beyond that, it had a deeper purpose. "You're curious?" he asked, opening the gate overhead to produce dozens of staves which unleashed lightning bolts toward the battlefield in a 20 foot radius around Artoria.

[Apollymi]

Given his words, Artoria could believe that Gilgamesh was also enjoying himself. Good. His brooding mood was being dealt with one failed tactic at a time. Though she'd successfully knocked back the bolts of Mana aimed at her, it seemed they would not hit the staves which cast them, nor Gilgamesh himself. That might have been a bit disappointing if this match up had been anything less than musing from the start. If the others bore witness to such things what would they think? Some would, without a doubt, want to fight her more, to hone their skills and reach her level. Some would likely never want to fight her again... but likely all would come to the same conclusion as Tristan this afternoon. That Artoria despite her upright nature, was a combative monster.

Strangely, she would only continue to prove that as time went on. Her rush forward should have been halted by a wall of flames, but she didn't stop. In the moment she looked at the flames she knew what she needed to do. She couldn't know if Gilgamesh intended to move left or right and needed to disburse the flames and keep moving. "EXCALIBUR!" A grand pillar of Holy Light formed along her blade and broke through flames. The pressure of the blade, would cleave the battlefield for quite some distance and it encompassed enough space to try and compensate for the movements of Gilgamesh. His words didn't go unheard though. "Well, I suppose you did fine. You do look the part at least and to the careless eye you act it as well..." Artoria said. She knew mages and she knew of their activities. Though he was using staves and magical devices to produce his magic, it only made him seem like a more... human mage. "Of course I am curious..." she said as a gate over head produced a great deal of lightning in a radius around her person. She drew her sword close holding it before her face, her movements temporarily coming to a halt. What was the purpose of this circle? What did he intend to show her? She could do nothing but prepare and that was also exciting.

[Bloodedge]

The next word Artoria spoke was, in truth, one of the most dangerous words this world had ever produced. In the home world of those who were transported to this realm, there was a legend of a holy sword by the name Excalibur. The sword of King Arthur of Camelot, to whom Artoria was an homage. That blade was known far and wide in the tale of one king, who ranked among history's most legendary, in large part due to the weapon itself.

... That tale did not do this sword justice at all.

Hearing the word shouted in one voice, in one tone, was enough to instill fear in those it was spoken against, and hope in those it moved to protect. Without even being able to see its movement from the other side of the flame pillar, Gilgamesh bore wide eyes. 'Ngh!' The pillar was cleared without issue, and the land cleaved to the edge of Uruk. Smoke rose due to the vaporization of any rubble that would have otherwise existed, and the silhouette of Gilgamesh standing at the edge of the split ground became clear as it dissipated. When he was visible, he had crossed his arms as if nothing coming his way had been a problem... And yet, it seemed he had also donned a suit of golden armor to overcome even the partial impact of Excalibur's burst attack.

"Fufu, haha... Hahahahaha! Subarashi!" A hardy guffaw escaped him, overcoming his voice enough that his head leaned back as the armor he summoned disappeared from his body. During the time he spent laughing, the lightning staves also returned to his treasury. He was content to take a brief pause in the offense to address Artoria's curiosity. "Very well, I will sate your curiosity for a magnificent show! Why am I putting on the pretense of being a mage, you ask? I'll tell just you. This, it's sarcasm. You can rephrase it as mockery if you want, I mind it not. Of course, it's aimed at that mongrel who declares himself the Grand Caster. My eyes can see through him."

With that said, Gilgamesh returned to his efforts. A massive opening of the Gate of Babylon occurred overhead, filling the sky as his hand raised to it. What seemed to be a magnificent display of hundreds of lance tips emerged from these portals, each connected to chains that possessed the ethereal glow of heaven itself. He did not move them just yet, instead awaiting Artoria's response - whether verbal, physical, or both.

[Apollymi]

Artoria hadn't spoken the name of her sword for an attack in quite some time. Still, when she did it in this way it was the most normal and natural thing she could do. To protect, to serve, to gain victory... Excalibur was a sword which did all things. When she'd designed her character she'd done it with this in mind. She'd gone out of her way, to preserve as much of the lore of this blade as possible, taking on just the right set of quests and doing all the right things to get a sword, forged by fairies with the abilities of legend. She'd known what it would do to the battlefield long before it happened and as such her eyes shifted finding Gilgamesh rather conspicuously fully armored. That in and of itself should be taken as a compliment, the same way she viewed her Knights making her use actual abilities. 'Sou ka,' she thought still teeming with amusement.

She wasn't the only one.

The laughter of Gilgamesh could be heard for quite some time after the dust settled. His arms crossed over his chest as if he was unbothered but this was the bravado of a King. Artoria herself often looked like she didn't care what was happening around her, one way or another. People relied on her strength, she couldn't falter before them. His laughter signaled the withdrawal of the staves he'd been favoring as well, strange. He then went on to explain why he was playing at a Caster. And for the first time an earnest look of surprise spread across Artoria's face. Of all the reasons she could have expected, tried to predict from the King Gilgamesh, the idea that he was poking fun at Merlin of all people was beyond her comprehension. That small smile which had been on her face, broke into a grin, showing teeth and... glee?! "Hehe...hahaha....HAHAHAHA!!!" laughter, joyful and melodious exploded from Artoria. She couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed so earnestly and found it so enjoyable. A moment such as this could only come in a lone moment, shared by two monarchs in a space outside of their responsibilities. She managed to catch herself, covering her mouth... hiding her teeth but still that light and joy shone in those green blue eyes of hers. It took a moment or two, but finally she was able to control herself, with small tears in the corner of her eyes that were allowed to sparkle adding a new facet of depth to her face. "Sou ka, that's as good a reason as any I suppose. You're quite funny, Gilgamesh..."

There was a battle raging here, and though it had started in the same manner as her other training matches. This one had become fun, more fun even than Artoria had known she was missing out on. And yet, there was more to come, as she finally turned her eyes back it seemed that Gilgamesh had prepared for his next onslaught. Though nothing had been launched yet, the number of them was astronomical. She hadn't seen the Chains of Heaven in action in quite sometime. But she was righteous enough to test her mettle against them. She stared at them and steeled herself. Calm retook her person... and there was a slight shift in her feet and the position of her sword which she held directly at the fore of her person. Instinct told her to strike quickly, that the road to victory was decisive, so she decided. She launched herself forward once more, intending to take the man with no problem.

[Bloodedge]

Artoria was clearly in a good humor after hearing the male admit to his reasons. His words were true; everything this form stood for was to spite the Grand Caster of this era, Merlin... and in fact, the Grand Caster of multiple generations since claiming the title. He truly found Merlin's existence as a figure of importance to be repulsive to a certain extent, though that was a matter he didn't mull over too much. At present, Gilgamesh was absorbed in the hysteric laughter of Artoria, which seemed startlingly similar to his own show of amusement in prior moments, albeit for different reasons entirely. He could do nothing but meet her laughter with a grin, sparing more of his own laughter.

"H'oh. That entertains you, does it? Perhaps I will regale you again with another. Eventually." The time had come to begin anew. Gilgamesh could see the excitement on Artoria's face, and he had his own to offer in return. Few could face the Chain of Heaven while knowing what it was, and still manage to show such will to push forward. This was even the case in mock battles such as what they currently participated in. Not Artoria, though. "Yes, that's it! Feel free to come at me, Artoria Pendragon. Who knows, you may even have a chance of winning." Since she was so ready, he decided to waste no additional time. His elevated hand descended, and with it came the descent of the chains. Artoria may have been charging at him, but he did not intend to move. No, instead he would send forth the chains at varying speeds. Some would cascade overhead of Artoria, some would spike themselves into the ground ahead of her to cut off a potential path to Gilgamesh, and others would be more precisely sent down in the path she took.

[Apollymi]

It seemed that Gilgamesh found her amusement at his logic just as amusing as she found the situation. He even offered to tell her another tale, some other time. "I'm sure it will be one worth hearing," she said of this future tale. Whatever the case, soon after this was spoken he claimed that she could and should come at him. And claimed she might even be able to take a victory from this particular event. Artoria herself, never went into a battle without intending to claim victory. And with this in mind, her decisions made, her movements had already begun, long before she could have mustered up an answer for him.

As she ran, Chains of Heaven all seemed to behave in different ways. Even so, it would seem she'd manage, by trusting her instincts and seeing her movements one at a time until she'd reach her goal. If Gilgamesh wasn't going to move after lowering his hand, she'd have to come to him, that much was obvious. A Chain would spike itself in front of the ground before her, she'd jump onto it, nimble feet following it up for several meters until she was faced with another. The ones over head would be bounced off by the barrier created from Avalon as she ran. Her steps were like music up certain chains and around others, her feet began not making constant footfall instead hopping about changing her angle constantly. She moved like a flurry across this battlefield covered in chains. She used Excalibur as a blade deflecting the ones sent more precisely down her path until she was just in reach of her target. Then and only then did she draw back the blade. From no more than a few meters away. "EX..." there was a pause as her body rounded a chain and she spun this Mana infused attack into existence. "CALIBUR!" The blinding flash created by the intensity of her Mana was one thing. The attack itself would threaten to disintegrate that which it made contact with. Beyond all of this, the attack was infused with strength and wind, aiming to blow outward any further chains while also knocking horizontally across the core of Gilgamesh. This was the only victory she saw, the decisive blow she wished for... but what would be the outcome?

[Bloodedge]

What would Artoria do, he wondered. She rather artfully danced around his chains in a far superior way to how she'd previously managed against his magical attacks. It was so stunning a sight to behold, even Gilgamesh in all his arrogance took a moment to appreciate it. "H'oh," he muttered, seeming about as awestruck as he could ever manage to be. As she evaded and countered numerous spear tips, she appeared to be building up to something grand. Gilgamesh wondered what more she had in store. Would Artoria keep him waiting for very long?

No. No, not at all.

She didn't need to finish the word. A single syllable, and he knew what was coming. This did not at all compare to the previous use of Excalibur's holy power. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Gilgamesh knew a simple donning of his armor would do nothing but endanger the armor, despite its typical invincibility. He could switch Classes, accessing the power of his Level 100 form. No, that wasn't enough. Perhaps his treasury had the answer? Either way, he had to be quick. The gate opened over his left shoulder, and he reached out to it. An earlier train of thought let him remember one thing easily capable of handling Excalibur's might, no matter the strength of the specific attack. Did he have it in his arsenal?

The answer was yes. Out from the portal came a golden version of Excalibur's scabbard, from a time before it was influenced by its wielder. In a way, one could say Gilgamesh currently held the original version. In a way, he did. "Avalon!" he called out as he pulled the scabbard fully from the gate, swinging it against Excalibur's wave. The barrier created as a result protected Gilgamesh and the area immediately surrounding him, but the burst only curved around it to mar the land while pushing Gilgamesh back as well. "Fuhahaha! I wondered if I had it as well! Of course, all treasures are mine!" How satisfying. What a shame though, if not for Avalon, he would have taken quite a beating from that. There was one other thing he could have used to ensure victory during his retaliation, but no, he couldn't use that; this wasn't that sort of battle. For the time being, he was content to return his version of Avalon to the gate, along with his chains. "Well then, there was that."

[Apollymi]

The front row seat Gilgamesh received to Artoria's arrogance was one which he seemed to enjoy. Though a deadly attack was coming his way, it wasn't until it was nearly upon him that he did anything about it. Surely, Artoria had nothing to worry about. The King of Uruk wouldn't have put forth such a challenge without being able to defend himself, right? As she fell towards the ground once more she heard the call of a familiar name and saw it emerge from within one of the man's gates. "Sou ka..." she said, as she landed bracing for anything else. That was fine she supposed. If anyone else was to own something so personal to her, she supposed Gilgamesh possessing it was less of a problem than it could be. His laughter once again rang out and though the area immediately surrounding him and his person were fine, the rest of this place was marred by their activities.

"It seems to be the case, though that one is a bit different from mine," she said having gotten enough of a glimpse to be able to tell that though it was the same, it wasn't quite the way Artoria imagined. With this done and Gilgamesh's weapons retreating she brought the still shining weapon she'd been using to her side and sheathed it, as her armor disappeared as well. She was left dressed in her noble gown of blue and white with a still present smile on her face, the bow in her hair blowing in the breeze. Her hands were clasped together gently before her person, she seemed oddly ladylike in the moment. "It was... how interesting today has been," she managed with a large smile on her face. This kind of battle was exactly what she'd been thinking of earlier and just what she needed before continuing on in her duties. True, it came after quite a bit of shocking news, but a fight like this still put hope in the Queen of Knights. Hope for the next generation, for the future, for stamping out the problems of this world. Was this an answer, a definitive help? No, but it was enough. "Arigatougouzaimasu..." was the final word spoken by Artoria in this moment as she now fully resigned to her current situation was more than ready to do what was needed with her knights to ensure their readiness for the potential threats. A gentle wave would occur over the lass' shoulder as she turned to walk away, mostly to avoid any potential backlash from this situation. There was much to be done here, but she was sure she could see the road to victory rather clearly now.