Humanity Has Never Longed to Be Saved

Looking at the Ea that had stopped spinning in his hand, and then at Scáthach below who had gripped her magic spear tightly again, Gilgamesh's expression turned ugly, and he angrily questioned her.

At this moment, Ea is too late to be released again. No... even if it were released, it would still be blocked by Rovey. And his Gate of Babylon is of little use in the land of Land of Shadows. In addition, without Ea, he cannot break this Reality Marble. He doesn't even have a chance to escape now.

Suddenly, the situation completely reversed.

"Scáthach, unleash all your Command Seal and deliver the final blow!!"

On the other side, Rovey had unleashed the Avalon Noble Phantasm once, raised his arm and used all his Command Seal to play the final note of this battle.

"I understand, Master..."

Scáthach casually tossed aside one of the magic spears she no longer needed and gripped the other magic spear on the ground with both hands.

"With so many Command Seal for enhancement, plus being in the Land of Shadows, I should be able to unleash my strongest attack."

"Hmph... Is that the legendary god-slaying strike?"

Seeing Scáthach below, raising her demonic spear in preparation for the final blow, Gilgamesh Ea, snorted coldly, and then summoned all his defensive Noble Phantasm to tightly envelop his body.

[The Golden Fleece A]

[Eight Trigrams Purple Robe A]

[Holy Shield - Geber A+]

[Shield of the Gods - Aegis A+]

Before the Noble Phantasm had even ceased, countless shields renowned throughout world history and mythology appeared layer upon layer in the sky, tightly protecting Gilgamesh in the very center, their surfaces bursting with dazzling light.

"You want to kill me? Then bring it on! I'm not going anywhere now. Let me see just how far your martial arts are going with this one shot! Celtic Godslayer!!!"

"Of course, with this spear that has been honed to its peak, I can kill even a god, just like you, King of Heroes!"

She slightly narrowed her crimson eyes, piercing through countless heavily guarded shields, and locked onto the distant king. Then, Scáthach tilted her body slightly to the side, the tip of her vermilion spear pointing directly at the King of Heroes, her killing intent fully revealed.

"If a spear strike reaches the pinnacle of skill, even slaying a god is as easy as flipping one's hand!!"

"—The Gáe Bolg Alternative (Gáe Bolg Alternative)!!"

In a split second, the demonic spear slipped from her hand, its dark red light disappearing like a shooting star in the blink of Scáthach eye.

In the distance, Gilgamesh, standing amidst countless shields, seemed to sense something. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked intently in a certain direction in the air.

He sensed something approaching him, but he couldn't perceive its presence at all.

The magic... has vanished.

No, it seems that the very existence of that shot has vanished from this world.

"What... is this?"

Gilgamesh's eyes widened.

Scáthach, standing below, slowly stood up and stretched towards Rovey behind her.

"It's over, Master."

"What exactly is it...?"

Not only King of Heroes, but also Rovey, who had witnessed the entire shooting process, was completely bewildered.

Even he didn't see clearly what had just happened.

In short, the magic spear disappeared the moment it left his hand.

Scáthach had returned to his side and declared victory to him.

In the sky, the shot that had just been fired had no dazzling effect, nor any earth-shattering momentum.

But it's all already happened.

The next second, countless golden shields fell from the sky, revealing Gilgamesh's figure. The aloof king spat out a mouthful of blood, and a terrifying hole appeared in his chest.

"Hoo... Hahahaha!! What is this? I couldn't even see it, let alone react. In just a moment, you crossed the distance and arrived beside me? Cough cough cough..."

Gripping out a mouthful of blood, Gilgamesh looked at his completely pierced Spirit Core and heart and let out a heartfelt sigh.

"So that's what they call the God-Slaying Shot, I see..."

"The Demon Spear that reverses cause and effect and hits every time is actually a degraded version of this ultimate skill. The real God-Slaying Spear is a peerless strike that can transcend time, space, cause and effect, and all defenses. I have personally experienced it, hahahahahahaha!!"

Gilgamesh's Spirit Core had been completely pierced, and even the Elixir of Immortality could no longer save him from death at this moment. However, this time he did not curse as before, but instead laughed loudly.

"Yes, you are the first being besides the gods to withstand my shot, King of Heroes... You are very strong, extremely strong. Without Master's help, I would never be your match."

Scáthach shook her head and said very frankly.

"Hmph, though I am proud, I am not foolish. Defeat is defeat, there is no point in making excuses, that would only tarnish my reputation. The true method of combat in the Holy Grail War is for Servants and Masters to work together. You and your Master are perfectly capable of fighting side by side. The problem lies with me..."

"I must admit, the two of you are still stronger!"

Gilgamesh sighed, but his mood was unusually pleasant. "Farewell, Queen of the Demon Realm, and you, you amusing lad. This battle was truly exhilarating... I am extremely satisfied with this Holy Grail War."

"Me too, King of Heroes. I am equally pleased to be able to fight against a hero like you."

Scáthach said softly.

"Yes, King of Heroes, you are truly a very strong, very strong king."

At this final moment, Rovey also revealed his true feelings.

"Do you even need to tell me? I have been the strongest from beginning to end! Hmph... If it weren't for you, this annoying brat, appearing and causing me to lose the future of this world, the outcome of this battle would be uncertain!"

Perhaps he was just being stubborn, or perhaps it was indeed the truth, but this was the King of Heroes' last complaint before leaving the stage.

His body gradually dissipated, a smile appearing on his face, but his gaze remained somewhat complicated when he saw Rovey.

"As expected... I still can't let go of your soul..."

The King of Heroes sighed and, before completely dissipating, tossed a heavy clay tablet to Rovey.

"Boy, in the next Holy Grail War, abandon that old woman beside you and use this to summon me! You and I together are the true strongest combination... Hahahaha!!"

After a final burst of laughter, Gilgamesh's figure vanished completely.

"You bastard! Who are you calling an old woman?! Get back here right now!!"

Scáthach below was cursing at the sky again, but Gilgamesh had already disappeared.

"... The King of Heroes, huh? He is truly a powerful king, and he is unforgettable."

After receiving the clay tablet, Rovey examined it briefly in his hand. Realizing he couldn't understand the writing, he simply put it away. Regardless, it was a top-tier Sacred Relic and treasure with thousands of years of history and mystery. Although he didn't know its specific function, keeping it was the best course of action, especially since it had been taken from the Babylon Treasury.

"This matter should be considered concluded here."

Rovey looked at Scáthach beside him and said, "Then let's move on to the next thing."

"Um."

Scáthach nodded with a smile. It wasn't an illusion; Rovey's calm eyes slowly took on a different hue. The excitement in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Now let's go and celebrate our victory together, just as I said before..."

"We are invincible ahead!!"

Chapter 92 Humans Never Yearn to Be Saved

With the departure of the strongest King of Heroes Heroic Spirit, Gilgamesh, in this Holy Grail War, the Holy Grail War has undoubtedly come to a complete end.

Currently, all Servants and Masters have lost their competitive edge, and the final Greater Grail is already considered by Rovey to be his for the taking.

However, compared to the fierce battles taking place in the Land of Shadows on their side...

At this very moment, in the pitch-black Holy Grail World, Kirei Kotomine and Emiya Kiritsugu, two very similar individuals who have made drastically different choices, are still embarking on their own grand adventure.

Tick-tock, tick-tock...

Dark, muddy raindrops fell incessantly from the gloomy sky, pattering down on the gray world, flowing down Kirei Kotomine's cheeks, and finally slowly sliding down his eyes.

At that moment, not far from him, a lonely and forlorn figure knelt before a raging fire, staring blankly at the tragic scene unfolding before him.

He looked at the lives lost because of his choices, he looked at the city destroyed because of his decisions, Emiya Kiritsugu's eyes were filled with despair, his dry throat trembled incessantly, and gradually he could no longer make any sound.

However, the white-haired figure dressed in a jet-black priest's robe that appeared before him was still urging him to make a choice quickly, forcing him to step into despair even faster.

"What's wrong? Kiritsugu, make a choice quickly! If you don't choose one ship to repair soon, all five hundred people on both ships will die. You don't have time to hesitate anymore~"

Irisviel smiled and then reminded him in a light tone. Her playful words contained a great deal of coercion and murderous intent. Rather than saying that she had never cared about the hundreds of lives about to die in front of her.

There are currently 500 people in total, 300 on one ship and 200 on the other. They are trapped at sea, and the ships are about to sink. Only Emiya Kiritsugu has the ability to repair one of them, so...

Which ship will he let survive?

Looking at the sinking ship in front of me, and listening to the cries for help that kept coming from all around me.

Emiya Kiritsugu's heart began to tremble violently. He wanted to speak, but his parched throat could no longer produce a sound. Gradually, he even forgot how to breathe because of the heavy atmosphere.

But amidst the constant cries for help and sobs, in those final moments of silence, he gritted his teeth and shouted out his answer almost frantically.

"Three hundred people! I must save that ship carrying three hundred people!!"

"Heh, as expected of Kiritsugu, you've made the right choice again. So... congratulations on saving the majority."

"No, I... I killed those two hundred innocent people with my own hands!!"

Hearing the devilish whispers coming from Irisviel beside him, Emiya Kiritsugu collapsed to his knees, utterly distraught.

He watched as the two hundred figures sank completely, gazing at the pairs of eyes filled with hatred they cast at him before they died. Emiya Kiritsugu's hands trembled uncontrollably; he could only watch them die, utterly powerless to do anything.

"Actually... you shouldn't have made that choice."

Kirei Kotomine strode over to Emiya Kiritsugu and said, "Because when you choose 300 people out of 500, it seems like you've saved more. However, the remaining 300 people will then be divided into 100 and 200 for you to choose from. And the result is that you will still choose the 200-person side, because that is indeed the more correct answer."

Kirei Kotomine quietly observed the tragic scene before him, softly praying for the souls of the two hundred people who had died because of Emiya Kiritsugu's choice. Even knowing that it was all an illusion, he still dutifully brought them some salvation.

Lives are constantly being lost before his eyes. He's seemingly redeeming many, yet he's also abandoning many others. And what will it mean when he has to make another choice among those he's just saved? It's practically saying...

"Perhaps redemption itself is a form of murder, isn't it?"

Kirei Kotomine patted him on the shoulder, looked around at the devastation, and couldn't help but feel a little shocked.

He looked down at Emiya Kiritsugu, who was kneeling on the ground beside him, suffering deep pain because of his choice, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Sacrificing the few to save the many, that's really your style, Emiya Kiritsugu."

"Kirei Kotomine..."

Hearing the voice beside him and seeing Kirei Kotomine's familiar figure, Emiya Kiritsugu no longer had any intention of fighting him. After so many choices, his heart was completely dead at this moment. He no longer had the courage to fight. All that appeared in his mind were the humans who had died because of him.

"Because..."

Faced with Kirei Kotomine's question, a completely devastated Emiya Kiritsugu covered his head with his hands and said in a trembling voice, "I have no other choice. Is this all I can do? Because only in this way can it be considered... salvation?"

"You're saying there's no other way, and only this can be considered salvation?" Kirei Kotomine shook his head slightly and said to Emiya Kiritsugu, "This isn't salvation; it's more like a sacrifice."

"Sacrifice..."

"Yes, it looks like you saved three hundred people, but in my eyes you sacrificed two hundred."

"But... if we don't choose this path, then we can only..."

Before the two could finish speaking, their surroundings changed again. This time, they found themselves in a double room. Upon returning to this room, Emiya Kiritsugu looked distressed and pained, for this was the place where all his nightmares began, and the place where he had to make choices time and time again.

The reason he was in so much pain was that no matter how many times he made a choice, he would only end up with the same tragic outcome.

Kirei Kotomine the other hand, didn't think there was anything wrong with this place, because he had already personally experienced his own story.

At this moment, things were indeed as Kirei Kotomine had thought. A new scene appeared before the two of them. This time, there were two ships, but on them were the three hundred people that Emiya Kiritsugu had just rescued. One ship carried two hundred people, and the other carried one hundred.

"No, no... don't come any closer!!"

Seeing this nightmarish scene, Emiya Kiritsugu knew that it was his turn to make a choice again. He kept backing away, screaming wildly. He wanted to escape from here, but when he heard the cries for help from three hundred people behind him, he had to stop and watch with great pain until he made a choice.

However, this time it was Kirei Kotomine took the initiative to step forward. He looked at Irisviel, who was waiting for Emiya Kiritsugu to make his choice, and spoke without hesitation.

"I will make the choice for him."

"..."

Emiya Kiritsugu was stunned. He looked at Kirei Kotomine, who had stepped forward, in astonishment, while Irisviel, standing before him, was equally curious about his request.

"Oh? That's great, but I wonder if the priest has any special solutions?"