Fate: The Rise of Shikama Douji

Gilgamesh was summoned to the next floor. A golden, radiant light enveloped him, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself facing a massive volcano. Lava flowed like raging rivers in every direction, and the oppressive heat of the environment was so intense that even breathing seemed impossible for an ordinary human. But Gilgamesh, as if unaffected by the scorching and suffocating surroundings, remained unfazed. He had faced similar conditions before on the 40th floor, during his battle with Cerberus, and had barely managed to overcome them at the time. But now, with calmness and a hint of boredom, he turned his head to look around, searching for the boss of this floor.

Suddenly, from within the lava, a colossal monster emerged. A lizard-like creature, over 50 meters tall, charged at Gilgamesh with unbelievable speed. But before the monster's massive claws could reach him, Gilgamesh swiftly and powerfully sliced the creature in half. The monster, which even the strongest mythical creatures outside this place would struggle against, was cleaved in two like soft butter and fell to the ground.

An immense magical energy emanated from Gilgamesh's body, spreading throughout the area. This was an ability Gilgamesh had cultivated—a sensory skill that allowed him to detect any powerful being in his surroundings. It didn't take long for him to locate the boss of this floor. The monstrous magical energy of the floor's boss shone like a bright sun in the darkness, easily detectable. As soon as Gilgamesh sensed his presence, the boss also became aware of Gilgamesh. A deafening roar echoed from afar, and the ground began to tremble as if a massive earthquake was occurring.

The final floor's boss, a red, mountain-sized dragon, emerged from the darkness. This creature was even more powerful than the main gods—a transcendent being capable of easily annihilating humanity. The dragon's slit, red eyes stared down at Gilgamesh as if looking at an insignificant ant. This contemptuous gaze ignited Gilgamesh's anger. He thought to himself, "A giant lizard dares to look at me like this?"

The dragon opened its mouth and unleashed a breath of fire toward Gilgamesh. The massive flames instantly obliterated the mountain behind Gilgamesh, and the temperature rose to unbearable levels even for him. But Gilgamesh nimbly dodged the fiery column and charged at the dragon. With a powerful leap, he hurled his spear at the dragon's tough scales, but the spear failed to penetrate its body. The dragon's defense was formidable. Gilgamesh targeted weaker points on the dragon's body, but the dragon retaliated with a powerful attack.

The battle between these two titans completely destroyed a several-kilometer radius. Any monster nearby was instantly reduced to ashes. Massive explosions, like nuclear bombs, filled the area. The dragon's colossal tail struck the tip of a volcano, splitting the mountain in two. Lava erupted from all sides, and the battle between the dragon and Gilgamesh grew hotter and more intense by the second. With a swift move, Gilgamesh pierced the dragon's wings, and the dragon fell to the ground with a deafening roar. Like a wounded and enraged beast, the dragon exhaled again, but this time, instead of fire, a purple, magical beam shot from its mouth. Areas hit by the beam were completely annihilated, forming massive mushroom clouds.

Gilgamesh stared intently at the dragon and launched another attack. This was the toughest battle of his life, and even the slightest mistake could cost him his life. A beam of light shot from his spear toward the dragon, but once again, the dragon's tough scales prevented it from penetrating. The dragon let out a contemptuous laugh, but suddenly, it was struck with a massive shock. Gilgamesh had disappeared! The dragon instinctively dodged, but a spear pierced its left eye. If it hadn't dodged, the spear would have struck its skull directly.

The battle between Gilgamesh and the dragon continued like two wild beasts. Both were giving their all, and at any moment, one of them could be reduced to dust. As they fought, Shikama Doji watched Gilgamesh from a distant room.

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Shikama Doji had witnessed Gilgamesh's transformation from a proud prince to an extraordinarily powerful being. This version of Gilgamesh was vastly different from the original, who relied solely on the Gate of Babylon. Now, Gilgamesh trusted only his physical and mental strength, becoming an absolute monster. After hours of grueling battle, Gilgamesh finally defeated the dragon. The dragon's massive corpse fell to the ground, creating a shockwave that swept through the area. Shikama Doji smirked, and the space in front of him shattered. He entered the battlefield to congratulate his beloved disciple.

Gilgamesh, still panting heavily, noticed a rift in space and saw Shikama Doji emerging from it. Shikama Doji, as always, looked at Gilgamesh with a gentle smile. The veins on Gilgamesh's forehead bulged, as if his skin was about to tear from anger.

"Congratulations, my dear disciple. You have successfully completed this trial. Now, it is time for your formal training to begin," Shikama Doji said in a calm and gentle tone. Gilgamesh sighed in frustration and walked toward Shikama Doji. As he grew stronger, he could better sense Shikama Doji's power. This being was an absolute, undefeatable monster. Sometimes, Gilgamesh wondered how such a creature could exist. The space in front of them shattered once more, and Shikama Doji and Gilgamesh stepped into it.