A Villain's Journey Begins in the Type-Moon World

Without even swinging his sword, Wang Chong reached out and grabbed Darius III by the neck. A black hand made of black mist ignored the distance and pulled him close.

"Clang clang—!"

Wang Chong's black mist severed Darius III's weapon, and then Wang Chong, holding Darius III in his hand, slammed him down on Spartacus, who had just rushed in front of him.

"Well!"

Spartacus let out a muffled groan! The opponent's speed was so fast that Spartacus had no time to dodge or defend, and he was slammed heavily to the ground.

"I fear no oppression! Rise up!!"

Ignoring his internal injuries from a collapsed chest, Spartacus braced himself and pounced on Wang Chong like a wild beast, only to be met with a cold sword strike.

"Uh... I lost... What a terrifyingly strong opponent..." Spartacus looked at the greatsword piercing his chest with a hint of regret. No matter how resolute his will was, he ultimately couldn't bridge the insurmountable gap in strength.

[Body of steel, blood of fire.]

"We've already lost so quickly... Ritsuka, you guys hold them off for a bit, and watch out for that invisible enemy!"

Emiya, the Heroic Spirit, sighed as he surveyed the scene before him. It was impossible to defeat the opponent without a combined attack from Servants of at least demigod level. To be honest, they hadn't even managed to injure the enemy yet, and had already lost three Servants.

Moreover, judging from the appearance of that summoning circle, it seems to be using deceased Servants as sacrifices to absorb their power...

This is clearly a trap set for them. They wanted to carry out a decapitation operation once and for all, but the enemy was just waiting for them to walk right into their trap and die obediently in this magic array.

Now, there's only a one in ten thousand chance left; it all depends on whether Ritsuka can hold off the opponent.

"Go to hell!!"

Jing Ke unleashed his assassination technique, his figure rushing towards Wang Chong with incredible speed, but Wang Chong didn't even glance at him, instead walking directly towards Ritsuka.

Jing Ke unleashed his assassination technique, his figure rushing towards Wang Chong with incredible speed, but Wang Chong didn't even glance at him, instead walking directly towards Ritsuka.

"Puwa!"

Before Jing Ke could even stab Wang Chong, he was sent flying backwards, witnessing something the people of this world could never see—the Substitute World. It was this very thing that had just coldly and mercilessly crippled those who attempted to attack the magic circle.

[More than a thousand swords have been handcrafted.]

Robin Hood got up, intending to shoot again, but was once again kicked away by "The World".

"The only downside of World is that its output is a bit too slow, and it can't shatter the body of a Heroic Spirit with a single punch." Wang Chong glanced at the effects of World and then paid no attention to it.

"puff--!!"

The black mist formed sharp spikes, easily piercing the bodies of Jing Ke and Robin Hood. Wang Chong didn't care about the world's destructive power because its ability to stop time was enough. He could compensate for any lack of offensive power on his own.

[Neither known to death nor to life.]

"Hmm?" At this moment, Wang Chong noticed that the Servant Shadow Siegfried, whom he should have just eliminated, had reappeared in front of him, blocking his way. At the same time, Mash and Boudica also came to Ritsuka's side, looking at Wang Chong warily.

"Used another Command Spell, Ritsuka? But what good is a single Shadow Siegfried? Look around, half of the Servants you brought have already died because of you."

Wang Chong said calmly.

"...So, you gave me this bracelet on purpose so I would bring a bunch of Servants to complete your summoning circle?" Ritsuka asked, clenching her fists as she suppressed her grief.

"Isn't it obvious? Ritsuka, didn't you all come here with the same attitude of being able to kill me in one fell swoop? In the end, you can't blame anyone but yourself for this outcome."

As Wang Chong spoke, he slashed at Shadow Siegfried again. Even with Ritsuka's reaction speed at its peak, she couldn't control Shadow Siegfried to block the attack. Shadow Siegfried was cleaved in two and sent flying backward.

[He endured suffering to create many weapons.]

"To be honest, I do admire your courage in bringing so many Servants here. You truly understand the essence of courage. But it is precisely because of this that you have allowed me to complete my plan... Once I destroy these seven proper Servants and absorb enough power, I can completely complete the summoning."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Chong suddenly threw out the Broken King's Blade, which flew directly towards the Heroic Spirit Emiya, who was trapped deep in the wall.

“!! Mr. Emiya!” Ritsuka exclaimed.

However, all that remains is nothingness. — Ugh! !

Emiya coughed up blood; a dark green greatsword pierced his chest, his spirit core shattered. Sensing his magic fading, he seemed unable to continue chanting.

"Did you think I didn't notice your little tricks? Guardian sent by Alaya. Your path should end here."

Wang Chong coldly finished speaking in that direction, then with a wave of his hand, the Ruined King's Blade returned to his grasp.

"Now you're all alone, Queen Boudica. If you obediently choose death, perhaps I can spare Mash and Ritsuka. After all, I did know them."

Wang Chong spoke slowly.

"..." Boudica gripped the blade in her hand tightly. She glanced at Ritsuka and Mash behind her, about to say something, but Ritsuka interrupted her, saying, "This is no longer a matter of whether we know each other or not. From the moment I officially faced you and began to fight you, I already understood."

"Either I pay with my life this time... or I will utterly defeat you and change everything! I don't need your pleading! And I will fight to the very end!"

Upon hearing Ritsuka's words, Boudica first sighed, then revealed a relieved smile. She looked at Wang Chong with unwavering eyes and said, "Well said, Ritsuka... bring it on, kill me or torture me! I, Boudica, have never been afraid!"

"Very well... if that's how it is, then I will grant you a death with sufficient dignity. A death that will pierce the heavens!"

Wang Chong raised his dark green greatsword, and the surrounding black mist began to surge, constantly gathering on Wang Chong's sword. A terrifying aura emanated from it, directly locking onto the three people in front of him.

Mash and Boudica used their defensive Noble Phantasms again to protect Ritsuka, who raised her hand and chanted, "In the name of Fujimaru Ritsuka, by Command Spell!"

"Another Command Spell? Even if you repair Siegfried again, you can't stop this sword strike," Wang Chong said slowly.

"...Archer! Appear before the enemy in your full glory!"

However, the command that Ritsuka gave was not directed at Siegfried the Shadow.

"What—" Wang Chong was startled and was about to speak when a figure appeared in front of him.

"So as I pray—"

The Heroic Spirit Emiya reappeared before Wang Chong. With the help of the Command Seals and a mysterious power, Emiya's spirit core was repaired in an instant, and his body emitted a dazzling white light that engulfed Wang Chong.

"—Unlimited Blade Works."

"I will use the last of my life to hold him off. The rest is up to you, Ritsuka, Boudica, Mashu... Destroy that summoning circle and completely shatter his conspiracy."

Chapter 165: The Answer and the Riddle

"The rest is up to you, Ritsuka, Boudica, Mashu... Destroy that summoning circle and completely thwart his conspiracy."

These were the last words transmitted through telepathic communication. Ritsuka looked at Wang Chong and the Heroic Spirit Emiya, who had already disappeared ahead, and with trembling hands, she gave the order: "Mash, Boudica, I beg you, destroy the summoning circle in front of us."

"Yes!!"

Mash and Boudica did not hesitate. Although they had not heard what kind of plan Ritsuka and the Heroic Spirit Emiya had devised, they knew that this was probably an opportunity that Emiya had risked his life to give them.

"Drink!"

Boudica struck the magic circle with her sword, causing a long crack to appear in the red patterns. The red light from the circle immediately dimmed and alternated. Clearly, it was very effective.

Mashu also used her shield as a weapon, slamming it hard into the ground. Instantly, countless cracks appeared on the ground, constantly destroying the red patterns that could be seen.

As Ritsuka gazed at the fallen Servants around her, a pang of regret welled up within her—was it really worth paying such a heavy price?

But she quickly shook her head, silently reminding herself, "No, I can't think like that. I'm carrying their will to change all of this. The only thing I need to do now is to make sure their sacrifice isn't in vain!"

She took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on the Holy Grail, which floated at the core of the magic circle and continuously supplied magic. Then she made her decision.

Ritsuka turned around and ran towards Siegfried, the shadow that was about to disappear behind her.

She ran to Siegfried's side, took the still-burning Noble Phantasm—the Holy Sword Balmuk—from his hands, and then charged towards the core without hesitation.

"Disappear completely!!" Ritsuka shouted, pouring all the remaining magical power in her body into the greatsword and slashing at the Holy Grail with all her might.

"Senior! It's too dangerous!"

Mashu noticed Ritsuka's actions and rushed towards her in a panic. However, it was too late; the holy sword, gleaming with silver light, had already struck the Holy Grail, and in an instant, the Holy Grail erupted with a blinding red light.

"Boom!!" A deafening explosion resounded all around.

……

On the other side, on a desolate land, countless sharp swords were deeply embedded in the earth, as if silently telling a story.

Looking into the distance, at the edge of this red wasteland covered in sword blades, leaping flames roared on the horizon. In the gloomy sky, enormous gears slowly turned, like a running ironworks. These elements ultimately combined to form this strange world.

"The world? No, it should be called the landscape of the mind."

Looking at this scene, Wang Chong couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. The scenes in the animation could never compare to the awe-inspiring experience of witnessing such a landscape firsthand.

"Is this what you've been through, Shirou Emiya...?"

Wang Chong crossed his arms, looked at the red-clad archer holding Gan Jiang and Mo Xie, and slowly spoke.

"It's been a long time since anyone called me by that name... You are indeed extraordinary, Another Master of the Fourth Holy Grail War, Wang Chong." The Heroic Spirit Emiya spoke slowly.

"Aren't you going to attack? You've already used your last trump card... Or are you still trying to buy time for Ritsuka to destroy the magic circle?"

Wang Chong spread his hands and said with a smile.

"As expected... your attitude towards Ritsuka is very strange." The Heroic Spirit Emiya said slowly, "From the moment you revealed your strength, I understood one thing... if you really want to kill all of us, especially Ritsuka, all you need is that invisible monster to make a move."

"Because, if I'm not mistaken, the reason that invisible monster can attack in different directions at the same time with almost no time difference... is probably because it relies on a power related to [time stop]."

“An assassin who can manipulate time and is invisible… Targeting Ritsuka would be incredibly easy. That’s why I’m so certain of this. You don’t see Ritsuka as an enemy or rival.”

After hearing what the Heroic Spirit Emiya had said, Wang Chong maintained his smile and said, "Continue."

"...And then it's like this now, you're not worried at all about the summoning circle outside being destroyed. Is it because that big circle outside is just a fake? Or is your goal not 'human evil' at all?"

After speaking, the Heroic Spirit Emiya frowned deeply: "What exactly are you waiting for... From the moment you set up this seven-day battle royale, you've been slowly dragging out the time."

"Have you ever heard the saying, 'The answer to the riddle is right there in the riddle itself'? In fact, my purpose has already been clearly stated to you. It's just that the method I've used is different."

Wang Chong laughed and said, "Whether it's messing with singularities, destroying the world, or creating human evil... I only have one target, don't you understand? Emiya, you should hate Him even more than I do, right?"

"...!! You want to force Alaya to officially appear!?" Heroic Spirit Emiya blurted out.

"It seems you understand... It's just a pity that Alaya has always been able to hide under His influence, making it difficult to separate it out on its own."

Wang Chong clenched his fist, and a dark green greatsword appeared in his hand. He then said:

"That's why I need to keep wearing down His influence, dragging Him into this protracted war, and constantly giving Him hope of winning, so that He can keep increasing the stakes."

Hahaha... They're just like those gamblers. Give them a glimmer of hope of winning, and they'll be completely engrossed in this endless gambling until they lose everything!

This is Alaya, a being that embodies all of humanity's virtues as well as its shortsightedness and flaws. It can be an incomparably noble saint or the most despicable gambler.

And now… He's constantly escalating the pressure on you, trying to make you delay me long enough… so He can win this battle against the summoning circle. Hehehehehehe…”

Wang Chong burst into laughter, then raised his sword and said, "Don't even think about telling Ritsuka everything here. This place may be your mental landscape, but it's also..."

Before the words were finished, black mist began to emerge from the cracks in the once barren land. At that moment, the mental landscape of Unlimited Blade Works began to change drastically, a terrifying aura spread in all directions, and the voices of countless ghosts began to roar.

"I can also turn it into a landscape that belongs only to me—forever losing my love, surrounded by desolation!"

At this moment, the black mist unleashed its truly terrifying power. A force known as the Power of Destruction began to erode everything; the earth cracked, gears fell, and even leaping flames were annihilated by the endless, decaying black mist. (The remaining text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.)

"The time has come. Draw your sword, Emiya. I will give you the same respect as someone who dies on the battlefield," Wang Chong said calmly.

"...Heh, then let's go!!"

The Heroic Spirit Emiya knew that things had come to this point, and his only option was to fight Wang Chong with all his might. Even if the outcome was already predetermined, even if he could no longer offer Ritsuka any help.

“He has probably cut off the mental communication with the outside world... But I believe in Ritsuka. Even if they only fought side by side for three days, their tacit understanding must have made her notice something was wrong!”

Countless swords untouched by the black mist rose into the air under the control of the Heroic Spirit Emiya, transforming into a silver torrent that swept towards Wang Chong.

"Heh... I never thought I'd have such a sentimental moment." A self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips as his figure disappeared into the surging black mist along with the countless swords and blades.

……

Outside, Ritsuka felt only ringing in her ears and blurred vision, barely able to lift herself from the ground. The explosion from her striking the Holy Grail naturally hit her first.

I vaguely heard someone calling my name and helping me up.

"Senpai...can you hear me? Senpai?" Mashu helped Ritsuka up and looked at her with concern.

“I’m afraid Ritsuka will need a while to recover. This is so reckless… We clearly had enough time to destroy the summoning circle.” Boudica said, as she picked Ritsuka up on her back.

“She was probably worried that Emiya wouldn’t be able to buy enough time, so she wanted to make sure that summoning circle could be destroyed,” Mash said. “But she didn’t expect that Emiya would hold them off for long enough. Could it be that Emiya is able to defeat them?”

"I'm pessimistic about this. That guy is too strong. Even Emiya himself seems to be saying goodbye."

However, Boudica shook her head and said, "We need to ensure Ritsuka's safety first. The door seems to have opened because the summoning circle was destroyed. Let's get out of here first!"

Chapter 166: The Stone Soldier Eight Formations are Broken

Although Mash didn't want to abandon the Heroic Spirit Emiya, she understood that ensuring Ritsuka's safety was the most important thing right now. Therefore, without hesitation, Mash followed Boudica and led Ritsuka out of the palace.

"Although we failed to defeat the divine messenger, we at least managed to destroy the summoning circles of those magical beasts and the summoning circle in that palace that we don't know what it is. Now we need to find a way to reunite with the others; we can only rely on their strength."

As Boudica spoke, she whistled, and a white horse appeared out of thin air, leaping to Boudica's side.

"Unfortunately, my chariot was destroyed yesterday, and only this horse is still alive. Let the three of us squeeze in and get off this island first!"