Chapter 21: Noble Phantasm Unleashed, The Glory of the Ancient Demon!

Enkidu, the Chains of Heaven!

One of the specialized treasures within Gilgamesh's arsenal. The stronger the target's divinity, the more absolute the chains' binding force becomes.

On the high vantage point, Zoran raised an eyebrow as he saw the chains snake toward Shendu. The Chains of Heaven were a borderline "glitch" of an artifact; in his memory, whenever they were deployed, they were nearly invincible, especially against high-divinity units, where they exerted total suppression. Once bound, the victim would be met with the endless bombardment of the Gate of Babylon.

Mid-air, Gilgamesh had already donned a smile of victory. Though Shendu looked like a monster, his power and appearance mirrored the legends of many demigods and offspring of the divine. Aside from having limbs, he shared almost nothing in common with humanity. To Gilgamesh, the more "divine" the beast was, the less chance it had of escaping Enkidu.

Zoran, watching from the sidelines, understood exactly what Gilgamesh was thinking.

But... whether Shendu possessed divinity was an interesting question indeed. As a pure demon, did he have a shred of the divine?

Shendu provided the answer almost immediately.

With a slight shrug of his hulking frame, the Chains of Heaven simply slid off him, falling uselessly to the ground.

"Impossible!" Gilgamesh's pupils shrank. In this state, the creature before him possessed absolutely zero divinity! To Shendu, the Chains of Heaven were no different from ordinary iron links.

"Mongrel... you lack even a trace of divinity? You continue to surprise this King," Gilgamesh hissed.

"Divinity?" Shendu let out a booming laugh, extending his claws to admire his nearly perfect form. "I am a demon, pure and simple. Divinity? What is that?"

His voice dripped with malice. From his marrow to the depths of his soul, every drop of his essence flowed with demonic conviction. To him, the concept of "divinity" was as alien as a bicycle is to a fish.

"It seems your toy has no effect on me," Shendu chuckled. His massive frame began to vibrate with a surging, terrifying pressure. "And now," he roared with arrogant laughter, "it's my turn!"

In the distance, Zoran watched like a spectator at a blockbuster movie, his excitement palpable. Is it time? The Noble Phantasm granted by this world based on Shendu's class and legend!

Kiritsugu Emiya could not comprehend Zoran's enthusiasm. He was merely focused on gathering intel on every participant. However, the prospect of a Caster unleashing a Noble Phantasm was undeniably intriguing.

In the center of the battlefield, Shendu's corded arms snapped open wide, then slammed together in front of him. His wicked voice echoed across the entire wharf.

"Noble Phantasm, Unleashed..."

"GLORY OF THE ANCIENT DEMON!"

The moment the words fell, a massive, crimson-eyed dragon head flashed before the eyes of everyone present. In an instant, space began to ripple violently. Like a scroll unfurling, everyone was pulled into his Reality Marble.

As if accompanied by a grand, ominous score, magnificent ancient architecture was pulled from the void by an invisible hand. A breathtaking palace assembled itself, a fragment of the splendor of the legendary Asian palace of old. Above them, the sky turned a deep, bloody red, the hue of the Netherworld.

As the walkway before the palace extended, the horizon stretched infinitely. Thousands of humans in blue servant garb were resurrected within the Reality Marble. They shouldered a massive, ornate dragon palanquin. Within the purple-and-gold curtains embroidered with dragon motifs, the aura of an ancient demon was laid bare.

Shendu sat regally upon the palanquin. Behind him, atop the towering, majestic palace, hundreds of dragons descended with a roar, clinging to the rooftops. Their terrifying eyes glowed with malevolence.

This was Shendu at the height of his ancient reign. The Master of Asia, the Demon at his peak!

The ruler of billions... the Demon Emperor!

"What is this?!" Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, exclaimed in awe. This monster was also a King of the past! "Hahahaha! Now this is an opponent worth meeting!" He slapped his Master, Waver Velvet, on the back. Waver was jolted out of his shock by the force of the blow.

Artoria Pendragon, the King of Knights, was visibly moved. No one had expected this Caster to be a sovereign in his own right.

Shendu's Noble Phantasm released a Reality Marble that ensnared all the opponents at once. Kayneth remained speechless; Kiritsugu was equally silent, his eyes darting between the scene and the appreciative smile on Zoran's face. Caster was far stronger than he had anticipated.

Zoran clapped his hands lightly, a smirk playing on his lips. He was thoroughly satisfied with his brother's performance.

But this was far from over.

Extending from both sides of the ancient palace, slaves bearing staffs chanted in low, rhythmic unison. Their vermilion ceremonial staffs struck the ground, creating a heavy, percussive sound like a war song.

Sitting high on his palanquin, Shendu's crimson gaze pierced through the curtains, sweeping over his enemies. This was his past, real and undeniable. He had once wielded power that could move mountains and seas. Though that power had long since turned to dust in the annals of history, its glory was no fabrication.

For thousands of years! Every second of those millennia, he had craved this moment. The demons sealed in the Netherworld were obsessed with the past. A thousand glories of yesterday are but a handful of sand today.

The blood-red sky above reflected the "falseness" of this realm, but even a dream held supreme authority here.

"Submit... or perish!"

It began as a whisper, but as it was echoed by the throngs of slaves, the voice became a thunderous decree. He extended his hand, a gesture of majestic ambition akin to an Emperor drawing his sword to cleave the clouds. The terrifying dragons behind him shrieked, their wings blotting out the sun as they surged forward.

The dragons' assault blanketed nearly everyone trapped in the Reality Marble. Except for Zoran's direction, the Servants were forced to draw their weapons and engage the winged beasts. Shendu, having unleashed his Noble Phantasm, was now taking on the entire field at once.

Far down the imperial walkway leading to the palace, Gilgamesh stood calmly. He appraised the Reality Marble with a look of genuine appreciation. Like Zoran, he clapped his hands, his voice dripping with confidence.

"It seems you are indeed worthy of my praise," he said.

The dragons breathed fire, diving toward him with pounding wings. Gilgamesh made no grand movement; he simply extended his hand, palm upward.

"And you are indeed worthy of the respect this King shall now show you." He smirked, utterly composed.

A golden ripple, like a wave on a pond, shimmered in his palm. In the blink of an eye, an intricately constructed golden key appeared in his hand.

"Stop him!" Zoran suddenly commanded in a low voice.

From the dragon palanquin, the wicked Emperor blurred forward like a lightning bolt, descending personally into the fray.