Fate: Question And Answer System of Traversing Heroic Spirits

"Knight of the Lake fall back," Matou Kariya called out, signaling his Servant to retreat. Given the situation, there was no realistic way to defeat Gilgamesh here and now. They would have to bide their time and look for another opportunity later.

The Knight of the Lake gave Artoria a lingering look before turning and withdrawing from the scene. His gaze had been intense, almost as if he recognized her, leaving Artoria with a sense of unease. Who was that knight? she wondered, feeling as though there was some kind of familiarity she couldn't place.

"Hmph, you worthless mongrel," Gilgamesh spat in Chihiro's direction, his tone full of disdain. "Remember this—you've only delayed the inevitable. Next time, you will die." With those parting words, the self-proclaimed King of Heroes vanished in a shimmer of gold, taking his leave from the battlefield.

With Gilgamesh's exit, the cloaked figures from the Hassan clan silently melted back into the shadows, their presence fading away just as quietly as they had appeared. It was as if they had never been there at all.

"Looks like it's time for us to go, too," Chihiro said, nodding to Red Hare. He leapt onto the warhorse's back, allowing it to carry him away from the docks. He found the sensation of riding a horse a bit odd, but given the situation, there wasn't time to dwell on it.

"Irisviel, let's leave as well," Artoria said to Irisviel. With everyone else departing in rapid succession, the two of them quickly withdrew from the scene. As for Emiya Kiritsugu, he had already made his escape; he was too pragmatic to linger once the tide of battle shifted.

Thus, the first skirmish of the Holy Grail War ended without any decisive outcome, leaving an air of anticlimax in its wake.

---

"A lot of unexpected developments tonight," Chihiro mused aloud, once Red Hare had taken him a safe distance away from the docks. Zhang Jiao, appearing from the shadows, quickly cast an illusion over Red Hare, restoring his original appearance.

"Indeed," Zhang Jiao replied, his tone thoughtful. "The appearance of new elements like the Heroic Spirit Chess and El-Melloi II makes this Holy Grail War all the more unpredictable."

---

Meanwhile, Gilgamesh had returned to the Tohsaka estate. His expression was dark with irritation as he treated his severed arm. While the King of Heroes did not possess healing magic, his treasury contained countless potions capable of mending even serious injuries. After reattaching the limb brought back by the Hassan clone, he applied one such potion, watching as his arm rapidly regenerated.

"Tch," he scoffed, disgust evident on his face. Without hesitation, Gilgamesh unsheathed a blade and struck down the Hassan who had carried back his severed limb. "You filthy rat, you dare touch my arm? Know your place," he sneered, wiping his arm down with a silk cloth as though ridding himself of some contamination.

Tohsaka Tokiomi approached cautiously. "My King, what should our next step be?"

"Save your scheming for someone else, Tokiomi," Gilgamesh snapped. With a wave of his hand, he summoned two treasure chests from his treasury—one gold, one bronze. Until now, he had dismissed the rewards from the system, viewing them as beneath him. However, tonight's events had sparked his curiosity; perhaps there were some worthwhile prizes hidden in these chests.

"Ding! Congratulations to group member Hero King for obtaining 'Mystic Code – Armless Shinji-kun'!"

"Ding! Congratulations to group member Hero King for obtaining 'Heroic Spirit Summoning Card – Chaldea Version'!"

---

Gilgamesh eyed the summoning card with interest. "So, this is what those mongrels used to summon extra Servants?" He cast the "Armless Shinji-kun" Mystic Code aside, uninterested in its effects.

Tohsaka Tokiomi glanced at the discarded item and recognized it almost immediately. "Isn't that… Matou Shinji?" he murmured, scrutinizing the image on the card. It seemed to be some kind of caricature—a figurine, almost. He picked it up, noting that its only special ability was to "drink a vile red concoction in one gulp." He frowned. What's the point of this?

Just then, Gilgamesh's voice broke his thoughts. "Here, take this," he said, tossing the Heroic Spirit Summoning Card to Rin Tohsaka, who was standing nearby.

"Huh?" Rin blinked in surprise, clutching the card as if it might disappear if she let go. "Why are you giving this to me?"

"Hmph," Gilgamesh scoffed, turning away. "Do not presume to understand my motives, child. Just know that this King sees more in you than meets the eye."

The truth was, he had no use for the card. As a Heroic Spirit, he could not summon other Servants using it; only Masters could do so. And Tohsaka Tokiomi? Gilgamesh held no particular fondness for the man. Rin, on the other hand, showed potential—potential that might make things interesting.

Rin, for her part, didn't hesitate for long. The chance to summon another Servant was too good to pass up, especially given how much she had struggled since Gilgamesh had appeared in the manor. "Summon!" she called out, activating the card. A magic circle appeared in the center of the room, glowing with a brilliant white light.

Please, just let it be a Servant who can help me deal with that arrogant Gilgamesh! Rin silently pleaded.

As though hearing her unspoken wish, a confident female voice echoed through the room. "Oh? You want someone to put that fool Gilgamesh in his place?" The voice sounded familiar to Rin, almost like her own, yet different.

A burst of light filled the summoning circle, and as it faded, a striking figure emerged—a woman with twin tails, very much resembling Rin herself, but dressed in a revealing outfit that was more suited for a beach than a battlefield. Hovering beneath her was a strange bow-like structure.

"The great goddess Ishtar has answered your call," the woman declared, her voice filled with haughty pride. "Bow before the goddess of beauty, who reigns over Venus, as well as the goddess who rules over war, harvest, and destruction…"

Rin's eyes widened as she took in the sight. Ishtar…? She had just summoned a goddess, one who happened to share her own features.