The Gateway to the Demon Realm Overflowing with Death

But--

At this moment, he finally understood what Emiya Kiritsugu truly desired and realized the biggest difference between him and himself.

There's a fundamental difference between myself and Emiya Kiritsugu in their pursuit of goals. While I may seem to pursue happiness, I actually value inner fulfillment and meaning more, even willing to sacrifice everything, including going astray, to achieve it. In contrast, Emiya Kiritsugu is willing to sacrifice everything for a supreme ideal, even if it means immense pain and sacrifice. Even if that path is fundamentally flawed from the start, it's precisely because of this that Emiya Kiritsugu remains oblivious.

He sought only his own redemption and happiness, while Emiya Kiritsugu viewed the happiness of others as his own. Both were willing to distort their own nature and go to extremes to achieve this goal, measuring the weight and right and wrong of happiness according to their own values. This difference in their definitions and pursuits of happiness, while sharing some similarities, also reveals a fundamental difference between them.

"Thank you for clearing up my doubts."

Hearing this, Kirei Kotomine seemed to have already figured out the answer in his heart...

Although he still couldn't agree with Emiya Kiritsugu's absurd actions and dreams, he could now confirm that the other was indeed pursuing beauty and redemption, always following his own will to do what he believed was right, which was the biggest difference between him and Emiya Kiritsugu.

'Go do what you believe is right, Kirei ...'

His father's words still echoed in his ears, and for a moment Kirei Kotomine's eyes became much clearer. Finally, he looked solemnly at Irisviel, who was about to die, and continued to ask, "Is this worth it for you?"

"Yes, it's worth it."

Irisviel gently placed her hand on her heart, and the satisfied yet poignant smile on her face made Kirei Kotomine fall silent.

"Because I also want to fulfill Kiritsugu's wish."

"Even though fulfilling this wish involves your death?"

"There's nothing we can do about it... It's a necessary sacrifice, and it's also my mission..."

When Kirei Kotomine asked her a question, Irisviel lowered her eyes.

She could feel her life slipping away rapidly, and that she would soon be leaving this world forever.

That time is very close, it might just be the next second...

However, at this final moment Kirei Kotomine still asked her the last crucial question of his trip.

"Did he... ever think about running away? Or did he regret it?"

'Do you regret it, and want to run away?'

Irisviel paused for a moment, then a scene from long ago flashed through her mind.

One night, Emiya Kiritsugu, a man who was strong throughout his life and always upheld his ideals, finally revealed the weakness in his heart in front of his wife.

He knelt before her, hugging her tightly, and pleaded in a pained voice, "Iri, let's run away together! Forget about the Holy Grail War! Illya and I will figure something out for Maiya! Just come with me..."

Having endured countless life-and-death separations and years of mental oppression and torment, Emiya Kiritsugu, on the verge of collapse, revealed a hidden side of himself to his most trusted wife: weakness, cowardice, and regret. He wanted to back down, to run away with his hard-won happiness. He wanted to forget the past, try to start a new life, and protect the happiness that belonged to him.

However, Irisviel rejected him and personally pushed this man onto a path of no return.

"... I see."

Although he didn't receive any definitive answer, Kirei Kotomine, upon witnessing this scene, already understood everything.

"Do you know? You pushed him to the brink of despair, Einzbern... While running away is shameful, sometimes it's a better choice than continuing down the wrong path."

Finally, he no longer maintained his usual expressionless face, but let out a soft sigh.

Having obtained all the answers he wanted to know, and after hearing firsthand about the life of that man, Kirei Kotomine Emiya Kiritsugu, some of the shackles that had been troubling his heart were quietly unlocked.

He realized that Emiya Kiritsugu was actually a confused person, just like himself. However, he was not as cold-blooded as he appeared on the outside and in the files. On the contrary, the repeated killing of his closest relatives who sacrificed themselves and the repeated severing of those memories and happiness that were hard to let go of gradually made this man incredibly vulnerable.

So much so that he eventually did the same thing as himself, seeking his own salvation and choosing to escape.

However, Irisviel, as his wife, rejected him.

This forced the man to sever ties with the past once again, embarking once more on that doomed path of failure, continuing to indulge in his dream of bringing humanity back to Eden.

"I even feel a little sorry for him..." Kirei Kotomine smiled after getting the answer, but this smile was completely different from the joyful and crazy smile he had when he killed Tokiomi- sensei. This smile was a bitter smile, mixed with a bit of pity.

"Unlike me, I was confused because I could never find the right path for myself, but he was confused because he had to take the wrong path, which gradually made him become paranoid and crazy."

Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly. At this moment, Kirei Kotomine, standing on the sidelines, saw things more clearly than anyone else. He slowly took out the Bible from his pocket and then offered Irisviel, the dying lady, his final end-of-life care.

"Do you think it was Emiya Kiritsugu who made the choice? Actually, that's not the case. He never made a choice. Do you understand, Einzbern? Although your self-sacrifice was great, you are not human, nor are you a good wife. You cut off that man's last escape route with your own hands, forcing him to take his own life."

"The salvation of all mankind? What a grand wish... but it is ultimately just a delusion. And how can a mere dream compare to one's own happiness? Humans are not Holy Spirit, nor are they perfect beings. It is only natural for them to have some selfishness in their hearts."

After finishing his final prayer and receiving the answer he wanted, Kirei Kotomine turned and left.

"What are you going to do?"

"To do what I believe is right, to seek my own salvation, and to offer a blessing to some lost sheep like me who are trapped in pain and obsession."

Kirei Kotomine didn't turn around, but calmly answered the question, "However, depending on the situation, it means... your husband will be killed by me, and then you will be truly free."

After saying that, Kirei Kotomine waved his hand, and once again he tightly gripped the two familiar Black Keys that gleamed with a cold light.

"Wait a minute!"

On the altar, Irisviel saw Kirei Kotomine preparing to kill Emiya Kiritsugu and shouted anxiously, but to no avail.

At this moment, she was about to be completely reduced to the Lesser Grail, unable to move at all, and could only watch helplessly as Kirei Kotomine did what he believed to be the right thing to do until his figure completely disappeared.

—Da da da.

The sound of Kirei Kotomine's footsteps, which he made no attempt to conceal, echoed through the open area.

Finally, he followed the traces of magic all the way to the area where Emiya Kiritsugu was located, a special area prepared for him.

Irisviel's room was too small for him to fight, so he deliberately left his mark to wait for the enemy to come looking for him.

Because it hadn't been renovated, the entire area was incredibly spacious and empty, so much so that you could feel the boundaries at a glance, much like Emiya Kiritsugu's empty heart at that moment.

"Didn't you prepare any cover or other weapons? Choosing to fight in such an open area, does that mean you know you have no way out?" Kirei Kotomine gripped the Black Keys tightly, looking around at the situation with suspicion.

Similarly, seeing Emiya Kiritsugu appear unharmed, he continued, "Since you're still alive, then your assistant must have been killed by Gilgamesh, right? And she died for you..."

"... Maiya, how dare you mention her in front of me? Isn't that all your fault?"

Emiya Kiritsugu changed the magazine in his hand without any expression, a hint of extreme anger appearing in his eyes.

"Our mistake... Yes, Gilgamesh killed her, and he's currently my partner. But she died because of you, didn't she? Gilgamesh said that Gungnir would only hit its designated targets. Since he killed your assistant, that means the person who personally launched the missile that night, killing me, that entire forest, and even all the innocent bystanders, was your assistant. That means..."

Ignoring Emiya Kiritsugu's unsightly expression, Kirei Kotomine continued calmly recounting the cruel truth.

"That lady actually shielded you from death, you coward who wouldn't even press the launch button yourself. That night, the one who should have died with me was actually you, Emiya Kiritsugu. It's just that we were both lucky enough to survive."

"Shut up! You have no right to mention her!!"

Emiya Kiritsugu angrily raised the gun in his hand.

"Are you still running away now that things have come to this? It seems you're really on the verge of complete madness..."

Facing the dark muzzle of the gun, Kirei Kotomine felt somewhat disappointed, but he still increased the force in his hand and looked at the man in front of him with a hint of pity.

"Not long ago, I too fell into depravity because of the devil's whispers, but thanks to the death you gave me, I was able to understand many things on my deathbed. And because of your wife's words just now, I finally know what the answer I've been searching for is. But you, who sacrificed others, seem to still not have found the right answer, Emiya Kiritsugu."

"What exactly are you trying to say? Are you trying to distract me with these meaningless lies?"

After struggling for a moment, Emiya Kiritsugu gripped the gun tightly in his hand again.

"Lies? Ha, you're still running away. Even when the truth is right in front of you, you deliberately avoid it. What a pathetic man..."

Kirei Kotomine shook his head, then looked at his trembling hands. "Emiya Kiritsugu, can you even fight like this? Your hand holding the gun is shaking... What are you even doing here? Would a man like you hesitate at this final step?"

"The reason for this situation is very simple. In fact, you have not been prepared at all. You are just being pushed by the people behind you to keep running on a wrong path from which there is no turning back, until you reach a dead end..." Then he spoke again and directly exposed the truth of everything.

"Shut up! What do you know, you bastard who killed your own master? What right do you have to criticize me?!" Emiya Kiritsugu roared angrily. "Do you even know what I've been carrying all this time?!"

"You're right. Like you, I'm a sinner... Killing the teacher was a sin I committed with my own hands, so I won't deny it or deceive myself."

"If I die here, then my death will comfort the soul of my teacher. If I am fortunate enough to survive, I will use the Holy Grail to wish that my teacher's soul will reach the Root. If I cannot do so, I will take care of my teacher's wife and daughter until the day Rin grows up, and tell her the truth in person, so that she can end my life and my sins with her own hands."

Faced with Emiya Kiritsugu's questioning, Kirei Kotomine's eyes revealed a trace of sadness, but this time he was not confused, and calmly expressed his inner choice.

"But now, I have something even more important to do." Kirei Kotomine then looked up at Emiya Kiritsugu, who was standing in front of him with an incredulous expression, and then immediately assumed a starting stance, revealing the piercing sharpness of the Black Keys.

"Emiya Kiritsugu, I will redeem (kill) you, personally liberate your obsessive soul, and give you true relief and rest... This is the right choice I have made from the bottom of my heart at this moment."

"You... you, what on earth is going on with you?!"

In an instant, Emiya Kiritsugu felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively took a few steps back.

Looking into Kirei Kotomine's calm yet compassionate gaze, he couldn't help but tremble inside.

What's wrong with this awful man?!

Why do I start to feel hesitant and even have the urge to give up and run away before the battle has even begun?

No, no way!!

'The salvation of all humanity is within reach; the world will soon be saved, and his long-cherished wish will finally be fulfilled. How could I possibly back down because of this guy's deception and one-sided story?!'

'Just like the simple truth that justice will always prevail over evil, I am the Hero of Justice! This guy is just a cunning scoundrel who's good at disguising himself and betraying the teacher! So I won't lose, I absolutely won't lose!!'

His final words were the last straw that broke the camel's back. At this moment, Emiya Kiritsugu had long lost his initial rationality and had completely lost his mind, entering a state of madness in his own world.

—Bang bang bang!!

He raised his gun and frantically pulled the trigger, firing bullets relentlessly at the persistent nightmare before him, trying to prove himself right.

"Poor thing, lost lamb..."

Seeing Emiya Kiritsugu like this, perhaps seeing his own past confusion, Kirei Kotomine's eyes revealed a trace of pity.

"Now... I'll save you!!"

Chapter Eighty-Eight Gate of Skye

[My heart has never changed. If I had to say, it would be that I've become stronger!]

Mount Enzō, Ryūdō Temple.

No, these two landmark buildings and natural landscapes in Fuyuki City, which have been renowned for centuries, have now been completely erased from the map.

Under the saturated firepower of the Noble Phantasm's portal and the golden waves, Ryūdō Temple, the main battlefield, Mount Enzo, where it is located, and the surrounding dense forest were all reduced to scorched earth, and the past prosperity was gone forever.

Both magnificent temples with long histories and mountain forests that have existed for many years were completely destroyed in this mythical battle.

After all, the actual battle situation is different from that shown in the anime. The so-called Fuyuki City Ryūdō Temple's floor tiles, which are Avalon to Anti-Purge Defense, are nothing more than a joke that netizens often make because the special effects and expressiveness in the anime are not good.

The reality is just as it appears before us. In the face of a power that absolutely dominates this world, no matter what kind of building you are, you cannot stop the divine might of the King of Heroes. Not to mention the floor tiles of Ryūdō Temple, even the entire Fuyuki City, or even the entire Kyokodō region, if he wanted to, he could turn the world upside down in the shortest amount of time.

With a mere gesture, they could tear apart the earth and mountains, causing the sky and clouds to change color. This is the immense power possessed by mythical heroes, a power far surpassing the imagination of this era.

"—Hahahaha!! Useless, useless. Is this all your toys are capable of? Kid! You think you can use a few pseudo-gods, devoid of any divinity and stitched together with elemental power and ancient texts, to deal with me? Don't be so naive!!"

"No matter how many henchmen you have, they're still henchmen. In the face of absolute power, numbers and coordinated strategies will only make you look more ridiculous when you fail!"

In mid-air, Gilgamesh was in the midst of the fierce battle, regained some control by using his overwhelming firepower. His attitude became arrogant again. He stretched out his palm, completely ignoring his terrible experience of being injured by the Sword of Paracelsus used by four angels, and laughed wildly.

"Let me, the king, rid you of these hypocritical angels!!"

The moment the words fell, the countless portals of light in the sky that had been focused on shooting at Rovey and Scáthach suddenly changed direction, targeting the four Elemental Angel in front of them, and then launched a fierce attack.

—Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

With a series of ear-piercing whistling sounds, the golden storm descended once again on this devastated land, followed by a violent collision and explosion.

The dazzling white light from the explosion began to spread, and the storm it unleashed began to rage, until it brought about the end of all enemies that stood in its way!

"... Phew, it worked."

Seeing that Gilgamesh had finally reversed the direction of the Babylon Treasury's attack, giving himself a chance to catch his breath, Rovey had been struggling to maintain the elemental barrier, breathed a sigh of relief, and then a mouthful of blood gushed out of his mouth.

"Are you alright, Master?"

Scáthach was startled by the scene before her and quickly stepped forward to help him up.

She had sensed something was off about Rovey's condition earlier, but because the volley of Broken Phantasm in the sky hadn't stopped, Rovey wouldn't allow himself to use his trump cards. Therefore, their plan still needed Rovey's Magecraft to sustain it. Furthermore, before the battle began, Rovey had repeatedly explained Scáthach's next steps, instructing her to simply complete what he had said and not to panic no matter what happened, as it was also part of the plan.

"Cough cough, I'm fine... It's just that the King of Heroes' attack was stronger than expected, so I had a minor physical problem, but it's nothing serious..."

Upon hearing Scáthach's call, Rovey had just dispelled the Magecraft, suddenly coughed a few times, spitting out several mouthfuls of blood onto the ground. He then used the immense magical power contained in his wand to cast a healing Magecraft on himself and forcibly suppressed the injuries he had sustained. After his mind cleared again, he prepared to continue the battle.

"Don't get distracted, Scathach. Continue with the plan I've laid out. The King of Heroes is gradually losing his mind; we just need to keep provoking him. So, this attack depends on you."