On the Road to Becoming a Demon God: Glory Awaits on the Other Shore! / On the Road to Becoming a Demon God: The Winter Saint? The Saint of Evil!

"Is that so? Still, it was a pity I couldn't defeat you."

The King of Conquerors shook his head and cast a disgusted glance at Kiritsugu Emiya in the distance.

"I was the one who lost. Lancer blocked that fatal blow for me, and my Master had already strengthened me before the battle. Such a victory would be dishonorable. I look forward to facing you again someday. I hope you find a good Master next time."

By then, half of King Arthur's body had already dissipated. She could only lie on the ground, gazing silently at the azure sky within the Bounded Field with a faint smile.

"No, I'd rather not run into someone like Rin Tohsaka again next time. I think you feel the same..."

As King Arthur turned into a wisp of light and vanished, only her unfinished words remained.

The King of Conquerors said with emotion, "Indeed. It would be best not to meet someone like the little miss again."

Then, the King of Conquerors sheathed his sword. Looking at his shattered chariot, he shook his head and summoned his beloved steed, Bucephalus. He mounted it, rode to the front of his remaining army, spread his arms, and shouted at Gilgamesh and Rin.

"Little miss, King of Heroes, I have a proposal for you. So long as the little miss resolves the Holy Grail's problem, then allows the King of Heroes and me to obtain bodies, and arms my Army of the King with the King of Heroes' Noble Phantasms, we can surely forge the strongest army in the world. The three of us can conquer all the way to the end of the stars. What do you say to my proposal of an alliance?"

Rin looked at the King of Conquerors before her and shook her head. Knowing Type-Moon's plot, she knew this proposal was nothing but a fantasy.

Gilgamesh threw back his head and laughed.

"Hahahahaha! From the bottom of my heart, I truly find you an amusing fellow. It has been a long time since the ravings of someone I considered a clown entertained me so thoroughly. Unfortunately, from ancient times until now, and from now onward, I shall have only one... or two friends."

Gilgamesh paused here and secretly glanced at Rin. Only after seeing that her expression remained unchanged did he continue.

"Besides, this world has no need for two kings."

"So, it is the lonely path of kingship. Then let me, the King of Conquerors, challenge the renowned King of Heroes and the little miss with the might of victory!"

"Then come. Show me all that you are, King of Conquerors."

The King of Conquerors drew the sword at his waist, raised it high in one hand, and cried out to the soldiers behind him.

"Our enemy is the King of Heroes, a hero unmatched by ten thousand men, worthy of our full strength! Warriors, show the first king our tyranny! Aaaaaaaaaah! All troops, charge!"

Riding his steed, the King of Conquerors charged at Gilgamesh alongside his army with a wild roar.

Gilgamesh calmly folded his arms and watched the charging army and the King of Conquerors.

"Come, King of Conquerors. You are about to witness what the bearing of a true king truly is."

Gilgamesh suddenly noticed Rin standing beside him, lost in thought and staring blankly ahead. Helplessly, he extended a finger, flicked her forehead, and snapped.

"Brat, get out of the way."

Rin had been wondering who this friend Gilgamesh had suddenly acquired could be. Only then did she come back to her senses. Seeing the charging army, she panicked slightly, covered the forehead he had flicked, and ran into the distance.

Watching Rin run far away, Gilgamesh helplessly shook his head and extended his right hand. As a golden ripple appeared, a massive golden key materialized in his hand.

Gilgamesh then stood the key upright and gently turned it, as though unlocking something. Countless red lines of magical energy spread out from the key, filling an enormous expanse of space. When the red lines stretched to their fullest, they rapidly contracted. With a flash of light, a sphere like the sun appeared before Gilgamesh. Then, a strange sword slowly descended from the sphere. Gilgamesh seized it in one hand. It was none other than Ea, the Sword of Separation!

Holding the Sword of Separation, Gilgamesh looked at the King of Conquerors, who was drawing ever closer atop his charging steed, and said proudly.

"Come, King of Conquerors. I shall show you the end of your endless dream. I shall personally tell you the truth."

Aboard his steed, the King of Conquerors watched the strange phenomenon that had just occurred, and unease grew in his heart. He repeatedly urged his horse onward, trying to attack Gilgamesh as quickly as possible.

At that moment, the Sword of Separation in Gilgamesh's hand began to rotate slowly, faster and faster...

Thanks to the great Ashes for the Salted Fish Thrust and spicy strips!

Thanks for the votes from all the other readers!!!

Book recommendation!!!

Written by a cute girl author: "I Rely on Space to Walk the Path of the Strong"

A Type-Moon fanfic: "I, Host of a Secondhand System"

Section 22: Chapter 21: On My Path to Becoming a Demon God, Rin Tohsaka—Glory Lies on the Other Shore!

Amid the yellow sands that filled the sky, the King of Conquerors led the charge on horseback. Behind him followed an army of tens of thousands of Servants, launching an all-out assault toward Gilgamesh atop the sand dune.

As the strange phenomenon from before faded, the King of Conquerors clearly sensed something. He turned and warned the army behind him.

"It's coming!"

Standing proudly atop the sand dune, Gilgamesh raised the Sword of Separation in his hand and shouted.

"Come, awaken, Ea! A stage worthy of you has been prepared! Come, Enuma Elish!"

Less than a hundred meters away from Gilgamesh, Rin clearly felt the wind pressure behind her. Wild magical energy surged from the Sword of Separation in Gilgamesh's hand along with his words. Such violent magical energy made every Magus present break out in goosebumps.

As the wind and magical energy reached her, Rin dropped onto the sand and covered her head to keep from being blown away by the gale. She shouted gloomily at Gilgamesh.

"Ah! Gilgamesh, are you an idiot? Wait until I get farther away before using it!"

But that complaint was doomed never to reach Gilgamesh's ears. As the Sword of Separation activated, the earth began to tear apart and space began to shatter. A deafening roar instantly drowned out everything else. Within this space formed by the Bounded Field, only the sound of destruction remained.

As this world began to collapse, the army of tens of thousands of Servants continuously fell into the ruptured earth, turning into countless spirit particles. They gave off their final radiance before vanishing.

Even so, the King of Conquerors did not stop charging. Riding his beloved steed, he leaped over the chasms in the earth and charged toward his goal with a surging heart.

Then the scenery suddenly changed. The Bounded Field had already collapsed. Looking at Zenchou Villa before him, the King of Conquerors slowly reined in his horse and looked toward Gilgamesh, who held the Sword of Separation level before him. He also caught sight of Rin, who was lying on the ground with her head covered. Seeing her disheveled state, the King of Conquerors burst into laughter. Who would have thought that even the little miss who toyed with everyone in the palm of her hand could look so miserable?

Waver lowered the left hand he had been using to shield his eyes from the sandstorm. Looking at the laughing King of Conquerors, he asked worriedly.

"Rider..."

The King of Conquerors stopped laughing as well and looked at Waver, as though they understood each other without words.

"Waver, now fulfill your duty as my retainer. Live. Witness all of this, and live to recount to later generations the majesty of your king, the splendor of Iskandar as he rode across the battlefield!"

Waver could no longer hold back. Tears hung at the corners of his eyes.

"Come, Bucephalus. Let us depart."

The King of Conquerors tightly gripped the reins in one hand and raised his sword. With Bucephalus's neigh, the King of Conquerors began his final charge!

Glory lies on the other shore. It is precisely because it cannot be attained that one must challenge it. Sing of tyranny, display tyranny, all for the retainers watching from behind me!

Looking at the King of Conquerors' back, Waver pulled himself together. He fiercely wiped away his tears with his sleeve and stared resolutely at his king's departing figure.

"Ala ala ala ala ala ala ala, alalala!"

Facing the King of Conquerors' final charge, Gilgamesh finally wore a faint smile. Dozens of golden ripples appeared behind him, and gleaming Noble Phantasms shot out from them toward the King of Conquerors.

Facing the incoming Noble Phantasms, the King of Conquerors roared wildly and swung his own Noble Phantasm, knocking them aside one after another. During the charge, his beloved steed fell. The King of Conquerors swiftly rose to his feet, brandished his sword, and continued forward in great strides. It did not matter if his shoulder was pierced or his body impaled. Nothing seemed capable of stopping his charge now, because glory lay on the other shore!

Yet reality was always so cruel. Just as the King of Conquerors' sword was about to strike Gilgamesh, the Chains of Heaven—Gilgamesh's most treasured Noble Phantasm—bound the King of Conquerors, a son of Zeus, tightly before Gilgamesh.

"You really are something else, pulling out one strange thing after another... Urgh!"

Gilgamesh gave the King of Conquerors no chance to continue speaking. He thrust the Sword of Separation into the King of Conquerors' chest, and it easily passed through him.

"Have you awakened from your dream, King of Conquerors?"

The King of Conquerors weakly raised his head and stared directly at Gilgamesh.

"Heh. A man's dream never ends. King of Heroes, this has truly been a stirring journey!"

"Is that so, King of Conquerors? No matter how many times it takes, I shall accept your challenge. See you in ten years!"

Gilgamesh then shoved forward with force, driving the Sword of Separation all the way to its hilt into the King of Conquerors' chest.

In a daze, the King of Conquerors seemed to see that turbulent, boundless sea.

"Is that so? Ten years from now... I look forward to it..."

Gilgamesh released the hilt of the Sword of Separation and silently watched the King of Conquerors turn into spirit particles and disperse. As those particles scattered between heaven and earth, the Sword of Separation also turned into a ray of light and returned to Gilgamesh's treasury.

Rin folded her arms and silently watched the King of Conquerors disappear. A man's dream never ends? No, King of Conquerors, it is humanity's dream! This world will face countless disasters in the future, until humanity ends upon Steel Earth. But I will definitely change all of this. I, Rin Tohsaka, dream of becoming a Demon God!

At that moment, Assassin turned to Rin and asked.

"Master, only these enemy Masters remain. Shall I eliminate them?"

Rin looked at the tense crowd and shook her head.

"No need, Semiramis. The Holy Grail War is not over yet. There is one final step, and these people still have their uses."

As she spoke, Rin signaled Caster and Tokiomi to take out the Self-Enforcement Contracts they had prepared beforehand and hand them to everyone present.

As Tokiomi Tohsaka distributed the Self-Enforcement Contracts alongside Caster, he looked proudly at his daughter. Thinking that the Tohsaka family's long-cherished wish would soon be fulfilled, even his steps became much lighter.

Forced by reality, everyone reluctantly signed the Self-Enforcement Contracts and silently waited for Rin's arrangements.

Irisviel suddenly clutched her heart and collapsed to the ground in pain. Kiritsugu Emiya hurried forward to support her.

"Iri, is it the Lesser Grail?"

"Yes, Kiritsugu, it's fine. It should only be because I received four Servants at once in such a short time—Aaaaaaaaaah! Kiritsugu, run! Aaaaaaaaaah!"

Watching Irisviel shove Kiritsugu Emiya away, Rin looked at her strangely. Could the Lesser Grail have malfunctioned after suddenly receiving four Heroic Spirits at once? Why was she telling Kiritsugu to run? That shouldn't be possible. There was never any explanation of this in the original story...

A friend's book recommendation!

An Arknights fanfic.

Young boy Doctor x older female Operators.

Recommended chapter: "My Boss Is Super Fierce!"

Section 23: Chapter 22: On My Path to Becoming a Demon God, Rin Tohsaka—Winter Saintess? Evil Saintess!

Zenchou Villa.

Irisviel clutched her heart and wailed painfully on the ground. Faced with this sudden change, Rin was utterly baffled and could not understand why this was happening.

Damn it, why did this happen? It shouldn't have much impact. As long as I use the Garden of Avalon later to destroy the Holy Grail's main body beneath Ryuudou Temple, it will be fine. And that damned Golden Flash, always going on about ten years, ten years. I'll destroy the entire Holy Grail and see where he gets a reunion ten years from now!

As Rin considered her plan, Kiritsugu Emiya, who was about to step forward and support Irisviel again, suddenly gave a cold grunt. Sweat covered his face as he clutched the wound where his right arm had been severed.

Just moments ago, when Kiritsugu Emiya reached out to help Irisviel, she suddenly raised her head. Her eyes were blood-red and filled with malice. Before Kiritsugu Emiya could react, she swung her arm and instantly severed his arm.

Everyone stared in disbelief at this sudden turn of events. Before they had time to think further, red magic crests covered Irisviel's exposed skin. Then, in a surge of magical energy, she instantly changed into robes resembling those worn by a priestess and stood up.

Then she spoke with a triple-layered voice, as though two Irisviels and one malicious male voice had been merged together. It was indescribably strange.

"Hehehehehehe. Good evening, everyone. I am Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern. It is a pleasure to meet you all!"

Rin was shocked. Could it be that falling apart at the crucial moment was truly a Tohsaka family tradition?

"That is impossible. The Winter Saintess should have sacrificed herself when she created the Holy Grail. Who exactly are you? You cannot possibly be the Winter Saintess. Then there is only one truth—Angra Mainyu, it is you!"

"Alala, you saw through me, Rin Tohsaka. As expected of the one planning to destroy me. But the one standing before you now is the real Winter Saintess. As the last traces of Justeaze's consciousness faded away, I became able to control this remaining Soul Fragment of hers. Speaking of which, I should thank all of you for delivering such a suitable body before me. This is practically Justeaze's original body!"

Kiritsugu Emiya raised the handgun loaded with Origin Bullets in his remaining left hand and pointed it at the Evil Saintess as he demanded.

"Where is Iri? Where is Iri's consciousness?"

The Evil Saintess glanced at Kiritsugu Emiya, raised a finger to her lips, and said with a giggle.

"Of course, she collapsed just now under the pain of four Servants entering her body. Otherwise, how could I have obtained it so easily? Rin Tohsaka, you are the one I should thank most!"

Gilgamesh yawned boredly and glanced at the Evil Saintess with disdain.

"Enough, disgusting mongrel. Your little performance is utterly dull. Now, get off my stage!"

After he spoke, hundreds of golden ripples hung in the sky. Noble Phantasms extended from them, locked onto the Evil Saintess, and began firing.

When the barrage ended, the golden ripples in the sky gradually disappeared, leaving only the Evil Saintess on the ground, pierced like a hedgehog!

Rin rubbed her eyes, looked at the Evil Saintess pierced like a hedgehog, and nodded in satisfaction. Just as I thought, how could my perfect plan possibly fall apart? She was merely a clown. No, wait. The Winter Saintess back then should have completed the Third Magic. Doesn't that mean this Evil Saintess is equivalent to the Third Magician?

Having realized this, Rin quickly looked at the Evil Saintess. Sure enough, the Evil Saintess had already begun pulling the Noble Phantasms from her body one by one and casually tossing them onto the ground.

"Mongrel! How dare you touch my treasures with your filthy hands! Die!"

Facing Gilgamesh's renewed attack, the Evil Saintess gave a wicked smile. Then she rapidly flew into the sky, heading toward Ryuudou Temple.

As several Noble Phantasms missed their target, Gilgamesh watched the Evil Saintess ignore him and rise into the sky. Enraged, he summoned Vimana, stepped aboard it, and flew up in pursuit.