"What's wrong?" Yuto asked, noticing Gilgamesh's unusual demeanor.
"No, it's nothing," Gilgamesh replied, retracting his Clairvoyance.
A subtle, enigmatic smile played on his lips as he summoned three golden goblets from the void.
"Bo-Yuto, would you care to savor this exquisite wine?" he offered, handing a goblet to Yuto.
Siduri and Iskandar exchanged surprised glances.
Their familiarity with Gilgamesh made his unexpected gesture all the more astonishing.
Yuto hesitated, then accepted the offered goblet.
Though he adhered to a strict no-drinking-at-work policy, the wine before him was truly a rare treasure, unlike anything else in the world.
If he didn't take at least one sip, Yuto knew he would regret it!
After Yuto accepted the cup, Gilgamesh smiled.
He personally poured the exquisite wine for the three of them.
Then, he raised his glass.
"Let us toast to the brilliance of this night!" he declared.
Yuto and Iskandar also raised their glasses, clinking them together.
The golden cups, filled with rich, aged wine, shimmered under the lamplight.
Yuto lowered his arm and took a sip.
The moment the wine touched his lips, he experienced a flavor unlike any he had tasted before.
His taste buds and entire mouth seemed to erupt in celebration.
A pure, primal joy surged from the depths of his being. As the wine slid down his throat, the sensation was like being drenched in cool water on a sweltering summer day after walking down a highway.
"Magnificent wine!" Yuto exclaimed.
Gilgamesh beamed with delight.
Having his prized possessions praised by others was gratifying to him.
"Ha—exhilarating!" Iskandar laughed boisterously.
"King of Conqueror's, your actions defile this fine wine." Gilgamesh regarded Iskandar with disdain.
Iskandar, however, remained unconcerned. "Hahahaha! What kind of Conqueror King would hide his own joy?"
"Hmph!"
Though Gilgamesh snorted in contempt, there was no real anger in his eyes.
Instead, a hint of amusement flickered within them. After toiling with state affairs and Demon Beast attacks, he allowed himself a moment of indulgence tonight.
"Gilgamesh, do you remember what I said last time?"
"Oh?"
"Ah, I forgot you're not him anymore. You probably don't remember."
"Hmph! No matter how i may change, i remain my self. Speak your mind. i will never forget it."
"The idea of combining your Gate of Babylon with my Army of the King—I still want to try it."
"Hahahaha! King of Conqueror, you still cling to that foolish notion?" Gilgamesh burst into unrestrained laughter, wild and reckless.
Iskandar showed no offense. He poured himself another cup of wine before turning his gaze back to Gilgamesh.
"Gilgamesh, you'll keep your word, won't you?"
"Naturally. What i said is absolute. I never break my word."
Iskandar flashed a radiant smile. His gaze sharpened, and the King of Hero expression turned serious as well.
"You said you welcomed me to challenge you again."
At this, Gilgamesh's lips curled into a smirk. His eyes fixed on Iskandar with a newfound solemnity.
"Indeed! I did say that! No matter how many times you challenge me, I will accept! King of Conqueror! Are you issuing me a declaration of war against uruk?!"
"AHAHAHAHA! Precisely!"
....
Late at night, Uruk resembled a massive circular chessboard if viewed from afar.
The densely packed buildings looked like chess pieces scattered across the board, their positions marked by flickering points of light.
In this primitive era before electric lights, these flames were the brightest illumination besides starlight.
The celestial tapestry of stars glittered across the night sky.
Far outside Uruk's walls, on a distant rocky hill, Yuto and his companions stood gazing at Uruk in the distance.
The primal form of humanity's earliest city-state evoked a sense of awe-inspiring grandeur.
When something previously only encountered in history books materializes before your eyes, it's natural for ordinary people to feel shock and intense emotion.
"What do you think? This is the city-state I rule! Uruk!" Gilgamesh strode forward, standing at the edge of the hill.
He spread his arms wide and laughed, his expression brimming with pride and self-satisfaction.
Siduri stood beside the group, smiling and bowing her head.
"While it's impressive, my kingdom's capital is by no means inferior to this." Iskandar gazed at Uruk with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
Iskandar recalled his own past, letting out an imperceptible sigh before rallying his spirits.
"The greatness of Uruk is beyond the comprehension of a barbarian like you." Though Gilgamesh's temperament had softened, when it came to Uruk, he refused to acknowledge the existence of any city that could surpass it!
He scoffed at Iskandar's words.
"Ahahaha! Just don't let that barbarian's challenge defeat you next!" Iskandar roared with laughter.
"Hmph! Never! i will once again prove that I am the sole ruler who shines most brilliantly and possesses the greatest power in this world!" Gilgamesh retorted with a sneer.
With that, he and Iskandar strode off into the distance.
Yuto watched the two kings, his heart brimming with anticipation for their upcoming battle.
Earlier, in the restaurant, Gilgamesh had accepted Iskandar challenge.
When it came to choosing the battlefield, Gilgamesh consulted with Yuto and then invited everyone to his own world.
At the time, Gilgamesh had spoken of Uruk with immense pride, right in front of Yuto.
'He just wanted everyone to visit his world to show off Uruk, his kingdom,' Yuto suspected.
Everyone accepted the chance to witness a clash between two kings.
Except for Hestia.
Having lived for hundreds of millions of years, the goddess had grown weary of countless wars and petty conflicts.
'I've seen enough of this.'
After Hestia declared she wouldn't come, Sakura decided to stay and keep her company.
Thus, Yuto entrusted the restaurant duties to the goddess.
When Yuto said, "Goddess-sama, please take care of the restaurant," she froze in surprise.
She protested, "I, a mighty goddess—"
"You still owe me money," Yuto retorted, cutting her off.
Before she could finish, his simple remark brought an awkward expression to her face.
Afterward, she saw Yuto off with a strained smile, not uttering a single complaint.
"Don't worry, leave it to me. I can handle the restaurant just fine," she assured him before he left.
...
From the moment the Iskandar challenged Gilgamesh, Lord El-Melloi II had been trembling with excitement.
He had always dreamed of witnessing Iskandar's triumph over Gilgamesh with his own eyes.
Now, that dream was about to come true!
As a loyal subject of Iskandar, Lord El-Melloi II had never even considered the possibility of his liege losing.
In his heart, Iskandar would always be the strongest.
He stood on the sidelines, watching the two kings face off, his entire body trembling.
This earned him a strange look from Saitama, who was standing nearby.
Rimuru and Ainz, usually fervent fans of Iskandar, remained silent.
They still possessed some sense of reason, knowing it was best to simply observe.
Iskandar gazed at Gilgamesh in the distance with a wide grin on his face as his fighting spirit soaring.
He had always regretted not facing Gilgamesh at full strength during their previous encounter.
Today, he would remedy that regret!
Now, he was his perfect self!
Overflowing with magical power, the King of Conqueror's glory would be reborn in this moment!
"Though this isn't the Holy Grail War, and we don't need to fight to the death, I'll still give it my all!" Iskandar roared.
Today, his confrontation with Gilgamesh was no longer a life-or-death struggle between mortal enemies.
Yet he would show no mercy!
"Hahahaha! Bring it on, King of Conqueror! Whether it's once, twice, or a thousand times, you will always remain beneath my feet. Victory is impossible for you!" Gilgamesh seemed amused by Iskandar's words.
"This is the arrogance and pride of the King of Hero. My path as King is solitary and haughty. Throughout Heaven and Earth, only I shine with unmatched brilliance!"
"If you dare challenge your opponent, you must be prepared for any outcome! Come, Iskandar, let us clash once more!"
"Distant Domination of Ravaging! Appear and join me in ravaging all before us! Gordius Wheel!"
As Iskandar roared, a bolt of lightning tore through the night sky, striking down to earth.
The ferocious, unparalleled lightning summoned a war chariot—a fearsome vehicle crackling with electricity.
"Moo!"
A Divine Bull, its hooves stomping the ground in showers of thunderous sparks, pulled the chariot forward.
Even from a distance, the chariot's power was palpable.
Iskandar gripped the reins and snapped them.
Crack!
The Divine Bull erupted into a frenzy!
The chariot's four hooves pounded the ground, erupting in a storm of crackling lightning as it charged toward Gilgamesh.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Countless bolts of lightning ravaged the earth in the chariot's wake.
The thunderous explosions echoed like the pounding of war drums. Bathed in lightning, Iskandar seemed to command the very power of the storm.
"Hmph!" Gilgamesh scoffed, his lips curling into a sneer.
With a tap of his feet, he retreated backward.
Hum! Hum! Hum!
A dozen golden ripples shimmered into existence in the void.
Unmatched power coalesced at the tips of golden staves, unleashing a devastating barrage toward Iskandar.
"Giddy up!" Iskandar's face remained impassive as his iron-forged arms snapped the reins.
The Divine Bull roared, its four hooves leaping into the air as it soared skyward, defying gravity.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The magical cannons detonated against the ground, sending a hail of shattered stone hurtling toward the spectators.
With a gesture, Ainz halted the debris mid-air.
This display drew a glance of curiosity from Lord El-Melloi II, who stood nearby.
Shing!
Iskandar drew the Sword of Kupriotes from its scabbard and a frigid sword aura crack with lightning, shimmered in the air.