Chapter 97

"Someone told me that when you're in a bad mood, as long as you stand by the sea and whistle, you can blow away all your troubles. They also said that if I whistle, he would appear by my side. It's just a comfort, I understand... Now, the only thing left between us is this whistle."

*Clap, clap, clap, clap* "Not bad, not bad. I was just feeling bored, and now I've run into some entertainment. You two had better put in some effort; entertaining me is far better than wandering around aimlessly."

The blond man took his hands out of his pockets and clapped mockingly. Clearly, Claude hadn't heard Yuna's words at all. He had already taken off his sunglasses and was staring intently at this uninvited guest.

"Hey, you bastard, what's that look for? Scared stiff by my presence? If you want to fight, draw your weapon. Don't just stand there wasting time."

"You..."

"I'm not talking to you, woman. You're good, very good. I'm a bit interested in you. Feel honored! Hahahaha!"

Yuna, who had momentarily lost herself in her thoughts, had no interest in listening to the uninvited guest's nonsense. The overwhelming magic power emanating from the blond man made it impossible for her to even finish the usual pre-battle conversation. Like a hero's weapon, a staff suddenly appeared in the girl's hand, and a pale blue ripple appeared at the top of the staff, quickly spreading out. This was a spell to drive away all living things. To avoid involving innocent people in the battle, the kind-hearted girl wasted precious magic and time, entrusting her safety to Claude, who had already drawn his weapon from the motorcycle's compartment.

"Hero?"

In fact, just from the command seal's aura, which was very similar to his own, Claude already knew the other party's identity. But he wasn't a fanatical battle maniac; if a meaningless fight could be avoided, it would be best. Although, it seemed the other party hadn't given them a choice.

"That's right. As long as there are other heroes to entertain me, I can tolerate the so-called servant identity. Understand? Know the glory I've bestowed upon you! Listen well! I am the oldest hero in human history, the King of Heroes, the King of the World, my true name is Gilgamesh, and my class is Archer. Surrender! Bastards!"

A blinding light flashed, and the man who called himself the King of Heroes was clad in a magnificent and dazzling golden armor. Arrogant and arrogant, he had deliberately come here for Yuna and Claude!

"Archer!?"

The golden armor covering his entire body was heavy and majestic, looking more like a warrior ready for battle. Yuna hadn't expected such a hero to be an Archer. Especially since this hero didn't care about the distance a bowman should maintain. Did he have absolute confidence in winning in close combat, or was it a trap to mislead them? No, since he had revealed his true name, which should be kept secret, why would he bother with such details?

Claude didn't have as many thoughts as his Master. In his view, once the opponent was identified, one should seize the initiative. Rather than waste time letting the opponent gain the upper hand, striking first was the right choice. After all, this was a battle that couldn't be avoided.

The black-clad knight silently charged at the opponent, raising the giant blade Fenrir, named after a famous mythical beast from Norse mythology, determined to cut the blond man in two!

"Come on, overconfident bastard! Let me enjoy the struggles of the weak! King's Treasure!"

Gate of Babylon, the King's Treasure. A vast treasure trove containing almost all the prototypes of the world's treasures. It belonged to Gilgamesh, the oldest hero in recorded human history, who was two-thirds divine and one-third human, the ruler of Uruk.

As he summoned it, the air behind the King of Heroes suddenly stirred. Seven faint ripples spread in the dim air, like sudden whirlpools on a calm surface. Seven weapons, each clearly extraordinary, emerged from the center of the whirlpools. Swords, spears, sabers, halberds... each one was a treasure that could drive any warrior mad, yet they were the private property of one person.

Claude's steps hesitated slightly at the sudden change. The value of the weapons didn't concern him; what made him hesitate was how the other party would use all seven weapons simultaneously and what form of attack they would take. Attacking without knowing the enemy's strength was a great taboo for a warrior, and he, who had once been a soldier, knew this well. He had rushed forward to overwhelm the opponent with his momentum, but the uninvited guest's bizarre behavior left him at a loss.

While slowing down to think, he forgot that indecision was equally fatal. Claude slowed down, and the other party had no reason to wait for him. Just as he was deciding whether to switch to a probing maneuver, the seven weapons in the air, gleaming with a killing aura, shot straight at him at high speed!

He couldn't hesitate any longer! The King of Heroes' introduction helped Claude make his decision. A deafening explosion erupted from where he had just been, terrifying! It wasn't just the astonishing destructive power; even the artificial crater that appeared in an instant was indeed frightening. What surprised Claude even more was that the other party treated countless treasures, which were symbols of life, as cheap disposable ammunition!

Yes, they were definitely treasures! Ordinary human weapons, no matter how excellent, could never produce such immense destructive power. Each treasure, imbued with magic, was a hero's prized weapon, a symbol of their strength and identity. The numerous treasures that heroes relied on to defeat enemies and protect their lives were worthless to this self-proclaimed King of Heroes. What kind of power did this arrogance and condescension hide?

"Tch, the bastard's life is tough."

The King of Heroes' tone was incredibly arrogant, but neither Claude nor Yuna let their guard down. Arrogant confidence alone couldn't make one a hero, let alone a great king. A conceited fool had no place in the presence of a hero, only to be laughed at as a clown.

'He is the completed form of the transcender who has obtained everything in the world, unmatched by anyone.' Even with the exaggerated mythological elements in the first epic of human history, it couldn't deny Gilgamesh's success as a king. Arrogance was his innate trait, but to overlook the wisdom required by Gilgamesh to command thousands of troops would make one a tragic foil in the Gilgamesh epic.

He didn't think Claude and Yuna could pose even the slightest threat to him, but he still maintained sufficient caution in his actions. Using highly deceptive special weapons for a wide-range attack while the opponent was charging at high speed was entirely in line with basic tactical requirements.

"Oh? I almost forgot about you."

Glancing at Yuna, who held a staff, the King of Heroes discovered the source of the faint white light on Claude. It was probably some kind of auxiliary magic like acceleration. The king who looked down on all beings wasn't afraid of this small trick, but he chose a more efficient method.

"Heavenly Chain!"