Journey to Find Heroic Spirits

Emiya gripped the Twin Swords, his favorite pair, behind his back as he charged at Golden Flash.

"Come on, King of Heroes."

"Oh, is it you who dares to challenge the King's majesty? Mongrel."

Golden Flash looked down at Emiya charging at him with disdain. The King's Treasure behind him flickered repeatedly, firing Noble Phantasms at Emiya.

Emiya deflected each incoming Noble Phantasm, quickly closing the distance to Golden Flash. Close-quarters combat was Golden Flash's weak point; only by getting close could he have a chance to defeat him.

"You wish to stand before this King and behold his magnificent form?" Golden Flash realized Emiya's intention and shouted, "You are not worthy!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Golden Flash expanded the King's Treasure to its maximum extent, unleashing an endless barrage of Noble Phantasms that completely engulfed Emiya.

Emiya's advance was blocked. His hands moved rapidly, creating afterimages as he defended himself with his twin swords, creating an impenetrable barrier.

The deflected Noble Phantasms flew through the air, falling to the ground and creating a dense rain of weapons.

Seeing that he could not advance for the moment, Emiya retreated a few steps. He infused his Gan Jiang Mo Ye with magic, aimed at Golden Flash, and threw it with all his might.

At the same time, another pair of Gan Jiang Mo Ye appeared in his hands. He charged forward, wielding the twin swords.

Pulled by the twin swords in his hands, the previously thrown pair of swords swirled back, forming a pincer attack on Golden Flash.

After taking a few steps forward, Emiya threw the twin swords in his hands once more. Two pairs of Twin Swords, four swords, shot towards Golden Flash simultaneously.

At the same time, another pair of Gan Jiang Mo Ye appeared in Emiya's hands.

He fully empowered this pair of twin swords, maximizing their destructive power. Seizing the opening while Golden Flash was dealing with the previous two pairs of Twin Swords, he fiercely slashed at him.

Crane Wing Triple Strike

One of Emiya's ultimate skills, the strongest application of Gan Jiang Mo Ye.

Compared to Kuro's Crane Wing Triple Strike, Emiya's execution of this move felt more powerful. After all, he was the one who created it, Yuxian thought to himself.

Golden Flash was somewhat overconfident. Under the onslaught of the Crane Wing Triple Strike, he was caught off guard and wounded by Emiya.

A gap appeared in his golden armor. He reached out to touch the wound, his hand coming away covered in blood. Golden Flash's face contorted.

"Damn vermin, how dare you wound this King's body! Die!"

Golden Flash became enraged, unleashing a storm of Noble Phantasms from the King's Treasure.

Emiya temporarily retreated, avoiding the brunt of the attack, and said calmly, "King of Heroes, your combat experience is far inferior to that of battle-hardened warriors. Arrogance is your greatest weakness."

With that, Emiya's expression turned solemn as he began to chant.

I am the bone of my sword Steel is my body, and fire is my blood I have created over a thousand blades Unknown to death, nor known to life Have withstood pain to create many weapons Yet, those hands will never hold anything So as I pray

Unlimited Blade Works

As Emiya chanted, a massive Bounded Field unfolded.

Inside the Bounded Field was a world resembling a blacksmith's forge, filled with weapons, flames, and giant gears.

This Bounded Field contained the elements that formed all swords. Emiya could instantly replicate and store any weapon he had seen and recognized, as well as any weapon used within it.

Golden Flash, who had been pulled into the Bounded Field, saw the situation inside and said contemptuously, "Faker."

"Then let this Faker defeat you."

Emiya raised his hand and waved it. Similar to Golden Flash's King's Treasure, multiple Noble Phantasms were unleashed behind him simultaneously.

"A fake is only a fake, it can never become the real thing."

They exchanged volleys of Noble Phantasms within the Bounded Field, neither gaining an advantage.

Golden Flash, possessing the world's infinite treasury, and Emiya, capable of instantly replicating Noble Phantasms, unleashed their weapons freely here.

Treasures that had made their mark on history were scattered everywhere, like garbage, covering the ground.

Emiya's Noble Phantasms were, after all, copies. Their rank was slightly inferior, and relying solely on them, he could not defeat Golden Flash.

Moreover, Golden Flash had not yet revealed his strongest weapon, Enuma Elish.

Emiya dodged and blocked Golden Flash's Noble Phantasms while sprinting towards him.

Once close enough, he leaped up and lunged at Golden Flash.

In mid-air, Emiya became a stationary target, subjected to Golden Flash's concentrated barrage.

However, Emiya had anticipated this. He could not only replicate weapons but also armor, though it consumed more mana.

Seven Rings of the Sky

The purple petals were beautiful and radiant, forming seven layers of faint defensive light barriers.

This was a Noble Phantasm that mimicked the one Ajax used in the Trojan War to block Hector's spear.

It was a Noble Phantasm with absolute defense against thrown weapons, and Emiya's only specialty in defensive Noble Phantasms.

At this moment, it had a perfect counter against the weapons Gilgamesh was projecting from the King's Treasure.

This was also Emiya's trump card against Gilgamesh, and using it now meant he intended to end the battle.

Gilgamesh finally sensed that the situation was not good and hastily took out Enuma Elish.

Crack!

Emiya would not let him have his way. He knew the power of Enuma Elish and would absolutely not give Gilgamesh a chance to use it.

He descended from the air and severed Gilgamesh's right hand with Gan Jiang Mo Ye in his hand, causing Enuma Elish to fall to the ground along with it.

Gilgamesh, defeated!

Emiya dispelled his Bounded Field, and the two reappeared inside Ryuudou Temple.

"You think you can defeat this King just like that!" Gilgamesh roared in fury, his expression contorting dramatically.

"Without Enuma Elish, you have already lost," Emiya said calmly. "I told you, arrogance is your greatest weakness, King of Heroes."

Chains of Heaven

Gilgamesh bound Emiya with chains, but Emiya easily broke free. "I am just an ordinary Heroic Spirit with no divinity. The Chains of Heaven are no different from ordinary iron chains to me."

"Stop struggling, King of Heroes. It only makes you look petty."

"Aaaargh!!!"

Gilgamesh roared loudly. He could not accept such a defeat, to be beaten by an unknown nobody, and even less by the Heroic Spirit he had mocked as a fake.

"It's over, King of Heroes Gilgamesh. I look forward to our next encounter."

Section 17: Chapter Seventeen - Today, Illya Will Smash Gilgamesh's Head In

Emiya projected a bow and arrow, drew the string, and prepared to deliver the final blow to Gilgamesh.

Just then, a figure rapidly streaked in from outside the area, interrupting Emiya's action. He did not release the bow and arrow in his hand.

It was Illya.

Illya approached Gilgamesh from behind with lightning speed, catching everyone off guard.

She swung the Jewel Staff with both hands in mid-air, raised it high, and then smashed it down fiercely on Gilgamesh's head.

Duang!

Gilgamesh was hit by the sudden, swift blow. The immense impact sent him crashing to the ground in an exaggerated pose.

His body, already close to dissipating from Emiya's injuries, could no longer sustain itself and began to fade away.

King of Heroes Gilgamesh, eliminated.

Yuxian and the others were stunned by Illya's sudden attack, frozen in place for a moment.

They had not expected Illya to appear at this moment and deliver such a finishing blow to Gilgamesh. The unexpected turn of events left no one anticipating that the mighty King of Heroes would exit in such a manner.

Illya, oblivious to the strange atmosphere, held up her index and middle fingers of her left hand to Yuxian in a 'V' sign, a triumphant smile on her face.

She was inwardly proud of herself for another accomplishment and eagerly awaited Yuxian's praise.

Ruby: Illya!!!

Ruby's protesting roar sounded out, extremely displeased that Illya had used it like a wooden stick.

Startled by the roar, Illya snapped out of her self-congratulatory mood. She immediately dropped her triumphant pose and quickly ran to Yuxian.

"Master, it's bad! Inside... inside..."

Illya didn't know how to describe the situation inside the Great Chasm. She urgently grabbed Yuxian's hand and pulled him towards it.

The incessant complaints from Ruby were automatically filtered out.

Although Illya didn't clearly explain what was happening in the Great Chasm, Yuxian understood in his heart that the Greater Grail must have been summoned.

They quickly arrived inside the Great Chasm, and the scene before them, even with Yuxian's preparation, made him frown deeply.

A black hole had appeared in the sky, constantly pouring out black sludge, like a factory's sewage outlet, with an endless stream of black mud.

The black mud piled up on the ground, forming a sizable hill beneath it.

The shape of the hill was utterly disgusting, constantly writhing, easily bringing to mind certain creatures that one could not bear to look at.

A foul stench shot into Yuxian's nostrils from afar – an indescribable smell that involuntarily brought a thought to his mind: this was the most foul-smelling thing in the world.

All the World's Evil, Angra Mainyu.

What lay before Yuxian was the ugliest thing in this world. No wonder Illya couldn't describe it; even Yuxian didn't know how to describe it.

"What should we do? Senpai," Mash asked, covering her nose, though it was merely a psychological comfort. Covering her nose was utterly useless against this massive mass.

Yuxian looked up at the black hole in the sky. He knew that destroying it would end everything.

But he was waiting, waiting for Kiritsugu Emiya and the others to arrive. The one who tied the bell must untie it; only by showing them this scene of despair could their delusions about the Holy Grail be completely shattered.

It wasn't long before Kiritsugu Emiya, Maiya Hisau, and Artoria all arrived at the location.

They were the final victors of this Holy Grail War.

Seeing the scene before them, all three were dumbfounded, unsure of what had happened.

Yuxian, seeing that everyone had arrived, turned to look at them, pointed to the writhing mound of earth before him, and said mockingly, "You have won this Holy Grail War, and now you can make a wish to this disgusting thing before you."

Kiritsugu and Artoria exchanged glances. Was this disgusting thing truly the Holy Grail?

But seeing Yuxian's confident demeanor, even if they were unwilling to believe it, they had to accept this fact.

Yuxian had no reason to deceive them.

Why was it like this?

Neither of them could accept such an outcome. All their sacrifices had resulted in this? What had they fought so hard for? Where was the meaning?

The mound of earth before them clearly wasn't benevolent. Even without knowing its true nature, they would never wish upon it unless they were truly insane.

"All the World's Evil. This is the true form of the Fuyuki City Holy Grail. It will twist any wish made into an evil outcome to fulfill it."

Emiya walked up to Kiritsugu, looking at the man he admired with gentle eyes. He didn't want Kiritsugu to walk down that path of no return again.

Kiritsugu lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, allowing his emotions to calm from the shock before him.

He exhaled a large cloud of smoke and calmly asked Emiya, looking at him, "Who are you? I found no information on anyone named Emiya."

His reason told him that this was a complete stranger, someone entirely absent from his memories, and he couldn't gather any information about him.

But his intuition told him that the person before him was connected to him. Now, he finally voiced the doubt in his heart.

Emiya said with a hint of nostalgia, "My former name was Shirou Emiya, Kiritsugu Emiya's adopted son, and a survivor of the Fourth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City."

Upon hearing this, Kiritsugu slowly closed his eyes. After a long moment, he slowly opened them again, looking at Emiya calmly. "So in the end, I only saved one person."