Reborn with Steve Stand

"My... my house!!!"

Tohsaka Rin despaired as she watched her family mansion engulfed in flames.

"Huh?"

Fang Mo, who had been engaged in battle, noticed the situation and frowned. He shouted at Gilgamesh, "Hey, we're fighting here, why'd you have to wreck the house? Do you even realize her parents are gone, and this was all she had left?"

"Mongrel, all of you will die," Gilgamesh responded coldly, clearly not interested in any reasoning. His anger had reached a boiling point. "Let's see how long you can last!"

With that, he increased his assault. At his command, the sky above him shimmered gold as countless portals expanded outward like rippling water, reaching the horizon. In an instant, the number of Noble Phantasms he unleashed multiplied, all flying toward Fang Mo with terrifying speed.

"Oh, really?"

Despite the overwhelming attack, Fang Mo remained calm. With a wave of his hand, the purple-black portals behind him expanded as well. Soon, the sky above him darkened with swirling purple-black clouds, as if reflecting his formidable will.

MG42 machine guns, Tiger tank cannons, handheld rocket launchers, MP40 submachine guns, Karl mortars, flamethrowers, V2 rockets, Maus tank guns, H-class ship cannons, Gustav railguns, hand grenades, Stuka bombers, Krupp anti-aircraft guns, and even 533mm torpedoes...

It was the culmination of human ingenuity, a terrifying art form appreciated only by death itself.

No fortification could withstand such an onslaught. Not even the vast collection of Noble Phantasms within Gilgamesh's treasury could endure it.

As the thunderous roar of explosions filled the air, the dazzling display of Noble Phantasms began to shatter. While some might have withstood bullets and grenades, under the relentless bombardment of tank shells and giant artillery, the lesser-known Phantasms inevitably crumbled into pieces.

The sky lit up with radiant flames.

Amid the burning light were the gleaming, scattered fragments of broken weapons, falling slowly through the air, reflecting Gilgamesh's darkening expression.

"Not bad, King of Heroes."

Fang Mo, standing with his hands behind his back, smiled as he spoke. "For craftsmanship from your era, these Phantasms are quite sturdy. But... do you still have enough left?"

"You insolent fool!"

Gilgamesh's patience had run out.

Though his treasury supposedly contained the prototypes of all Noble Phantasms, meaning he didn't worry about running out, Fang Mo's mocking attitude infuriated him. How dare this mere modern Servant look down on the most ancient of kings? Deciding to teach Fang Mo a lesson, Gilgamesh changed his approach. ȑ

In the next moment, he began selecting Phantasms with more care, focusing on those imbued with legendary power rather than ordinary weapons.

Quickly, the tide of battle shifted. The golden glow behind Gilgamesh intensified as he unleashed more powerful Phantasms, legendary relics that tore through Fang Mo's barrage of artillery and pierced the defenses.

"Hmm?"

Fang Mo raised an eyebrow in surprise as he noticed the shift in the battle.

But before he could react further, several slender chains shot out of nowhere and wrapped around his arms.

"Archer!"

Tohsaka Rin gasped in alarm.

"Enkidu, the Chains of Heaven, huh?"

Fang Mo glanced at the chains binding his wrists and gave them a slight tug. He was surprised to find that they were surprisingly strong, as though some invisible force was resisting his strength.

This piqued Fang Mo's curiosity.

If he remembered correctly, the Chains of Heaven were Gilgamesh's anti-divinity weapon. Against ordinary targets, they were just sturdy chains, but when used on someone with divine traits, they grew stronger, with their power increasing proportionally to the target's level of divinity.

"So, I have divinity?"

Fang Mo mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

However, Gilgamesh had no intention of giving him time to reflect. With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Die, mongrel!"

Countless Phantasms, each a true legendary weapon, shot toward Fang Mo. Unlike the lesser Phantasms from earlier, these were powerful enough to cut through the barrage of artillery and zero in on him.

"…!"

Even Black Saber couldn't help but react to the intensity of the attack.

"A... Archer!"

Matou Sakura also cried out in alarm, quickly turning to Black Saber. "Help Archer! Use all your strength!"

"Understood."

Black Saber raised her sword, ready to strike. It wasn't just her Master's order; she also had a vested interest in keeping Fang Mo alive. After all, if he died, who would make her those delicious German meals? She began gathering a massive amount of dark energy, preparing to counterattack.

But even with her power, it was too late.

Just as Black Saber began to unleash her Noble Phantasm, Gilgamesh's attack landed.

The bombardment of Phantasms collided with the ground, and the resulting explosion ripped through the battlefield. The shockwave was so powerful that it sent Rin and the others flying.

"Archer!"

Black Saber shouted, but just then, she heard the sound of something breaking.

She instinctively waved her sword, clearing away the thick dust cloud, only to freeze in shock at the sight before her.

In the massive crater left by the Phantasm bombardment stood Fang Mo, completely unharmed. His black military uniform was pristine, and the gun he had been wielding earlier was gone, replaced by a massive purple sword. The blade was enormous, even larger than Berserker's ax-sword, and radiated a terrifying sharpness.

"What?"

Black Saber was taken aback.

Wasn't this Servant supposed to be a modern one? She had heard something about him being a German king, known for commanding armies. But now, here he was wielding a giant sword?

"Tsk, I knew I wasn't quite suited for using artillery."

Fang Mo sighed as he stretched. As he moved, the Chains of Heaven that had bound his arms began to snap, not through brute force, but as if they were disintegrating under some unseen force, unable to contain him.

"...What?"

Black Saber was even more shocked by this development.

"Haha! I'm back, baby!"

Before Black Saber could process what was happening, she heard a smug voice. She turned toward Fang Mo's weapon, only to realize the giant purple sword was the one speaking.

"Boss, not gonna lie, you've been pretty unfair this time."

The sword—Manyullyn—chattered away. "You've been having a blast in this world, and you didn't call any of us out to join you... What, do you think we wouldn't get along?"

"I prefer cold weapons over firearms, man! Ice and wood are the true essence of manly combat!"

Fang Mo waved his massive blade, effortlessly slicing an incoming Phantasm in half. "Besides, didn't I just call you out?"

"Yeah, after you had all the fun!"

Manyullyn protested, though he quickly added, "But hey, since you're the boss, I'll let it slide. I'll forgive you for the Fifth Holy Grail War, but next time when you go to Fate/Apocrypha, you'd better call me! I wanna see you fight Astolfo!"

"Get lost! I'm straight!" Fang Mo snapped. "No 'fencing' matches here."

"But boss, Astolfo is adorable!"

Manyullyn pouted. "How can you, the ultimate anime king, back down at a time like this? Don't you understand the appeal of contrast cuteness?"

"Contrast... cuteness?"

Fang Mo asked, confused.

"Humans are dirty creatures. Women are made of water, men of mud, but little boys—well, they're non-Newtonian fluids. You hit them hard, and they just get... stiffer."

"..."

With a blackened expression, Fang Mo shoved Manyullyn back into his inventory.

Afterward, he pulled out a second sword, this one a massive, blue blade that thankfully didn't speak.

"Ah, much quieter."

Fang Mo sighed in relief.

"Archer, you..." Black Saber finally spoke up, her curiosity piqued. "What was that weapon you just used?"

"Oh, that?"

Fang Mo hesitated for a moment before continuing, "You've figured it out, huh? I'm not actually that 'King,' am I?"

"You're not?"

Black Saber blinked, catching on. "Then, who are you really?"

"Well, it's true that the 'King' was just a cover," Fang Mo confessed. "I didn't want anyone to know my true identity. Can you keep that a secret for me?"

"What's your real identity, then...?"

Black Saber began to ask, but Fang Mo interrupted with an offer. "How about I treat you to a feast?"

"...What kind of feast?"

Almost immediately, Black Saber's curiosity shifted to hunger.

"Beijing roast duck, Cantonese noodles, wontons, liver stir-fry, spring rolls, pizza, rice bowls, Parmesan roasted chicken, surf and turf platters, pumpkin cheesecake, fish and chips, hamburgers, corn stew, hot dogs, cherry pie, peanut butter sandwiches..."

Fang Mo read off an extensive list of dishes from his inventory.

"..."

Black Saber didn't respond immediately, but her mouth started watering.

"So, what do you think? Want to eat?"

Fang Mo grinned. "I'll even throw in a round of beer. Oh, and by the way, all my food and drinks are Noble Phantasm-level quality."

"Deal."

Black Saber, unable to resist the temptation, quickly agreed.

She didn't care about revealing real names. After all, she hadn't revealed hers either.

"Good. Now, could you help keep Rin and the others busy?"

Fang Mo smiled, hoisting the Sea Sword onto his shoulder. "This flashy King over here needs to learn what true despair is."

"Understood."

Black Saber didn't hesitate, turning her attention away to confront Rin and the others.

With her gone, Fang Mo summoned a gust of wind to blow away the smoke and dust, revealing Gilgamesh's form in the distance.

"Hmm?"

Gilgamesh had been standing proudly, but when the dust cleared and he saw Fang Mo completely unharmed, his eyes widened in disbelief. "This can't be. How are you still alive?"

"You're funny."

Fang Mo cracked his knuckles. "I was just warming up. Did you really think you'd already won? What are you, the King of Heroes or the King of Delusions?"

"You..."

Gilgamesh took a deep breath. "I've never encountered someone as infuriating as you. Whatever trick you pulled, it ends here."

He raised his hand again, activating his Gates of Babylon.

Once again, a barrage of Phantasms surged toward Fang Mo.

"This again? You really are predictable." Fang Mo sighed. "Alright, I guess I'll just stretch out a bit... Pay close attention, King of Heroes."

In the blink of an eye, Fang Mo disappeared.

"What...?"

Gilgamesh barely had time to react. His eyes widened in shock.

Then, a series of thunderous crashes filled the air. Shockwaves rippled through the battlefield as Phantasm after Phantasm was obliterated. Every legendary weapon he had unleashed—powerful enough to slay beasts and create myths—was shattered into dust in an instant.

"...!"

Finally, Gilgamesh realized the gravity of the situation.

Desperate, he reached into the Gate of Babylon and pulled out a strange, black-and-red weapon. It wasn't a sword in the traditional sense but rather a device with three spiraling segments.

The weapon began to spin, generating a terrifying energy that distorted the very fabric of space. The sheer force of it tore apart the surroundings, leaving the Tohsaka mansion in ruins, with only a crater left where it once stood.

"This little game ends now!" Gilgamesh roared, his confidence returning. "No matter what you are, you'll disappear before the might of the King's greatest weapon!"

"Oh, really?"

Fang Mo grinned and, without warning, summoned a massive bow out of nowhere. "Then let me ask you something."

"Have you ever seen... The Heaven's Fall?"