Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

The final battle unfolds.

This master and disciple have ultimately walked the path of a life-or-death struggle.

A faint trace of regret flickered across Qin Shi Huang's androgynously captivating face. "Master, you remain stubbornly deluded. I am the one true human who transcends all—even the gods are only fit to be trampled beneath my feet!"

Eternal and indestructible, the pinnacle of human existence—how could mere deities compare to him?

"Yet, in my eyes, you are nothing but a lofty deity who dares to dictate the fate of all living beings!"

Nameless pointed his sword at the other.

All attempts at persuasion had now turned to fury.

Only by utterly defeating his opponent, trampling the arrogance of his so-called "True Human" beneath his feet, could he truly awaken him.

"Deities are nothing. If it means establishing an eternal peace for Great Qin, what harm is there in me becoming a deity?"

Qin Shi Huang gazed at him with increasing pity. "In contrast, Nameless, you are forever trapped in battle, never able to enjoy peace or ordinary life. How pitiful!"

"You have become the greatest evil, the very source of calamity! I will never allow you to bring ruin to Great Qin!"

In Qin Shi Huang's eyes, his sacred and peaceful Great Qin was the most important thing.

It was an obsession forged from his childhood as a hostage in Zhao, from the teachings of his master—an obsession built over 2,603 years.

Even his master, Nameless, would not be permitted to destroy it!

"Come at me, my long-lost master of 2,600 years! Pour all your strength, all your wisdom, into the blade that seeks to strike me down!"

A sword materialized in Qin Shi Huang's hand.

One side of the blade was engraved with mountains and rivers, the other with the common people.

This was the very sword Qin Shi Huang had once sought Nameless's counsel on.

Nameless had once spoken of three swords: the Sword of the Son of Heaven, the Sword of the Feudal Lords, and the Sword of the Wanderer.

Among them, Nameless himself had chosen the Sword of the Wanderer—a blade for roaming the world as a hero of justice.

But Qin Shi Huang had chosen the Sword of the Son of Heaven.

A blade forged from the entire world, with mountains and rivers as its body and the masses as its edge.

A sword crafted to question the heavens on behalf of all living beings—

[The Sword of Heaven's Question!]

With a single slash, it could slay a god!

Qin Shi Huang raised his sword and pointed it at his opponent. "Master, I must thank you for teaching me. Now, let you experience the might of this blade firsthand!"

Behind him, a resplendent golden dragon emerged.

An overwhelming pressure descended in that instant,

as if condensing the collective power of all Great Qin's people.

Yes, this dragon was the [Dragon of Human Order.]

Qin Shi Huang had become the Alaya of this Lostbelt, the sole wielder of Great Qin's collective human consciousness.

He was Great Qin itself.

He was all of humanity.

He was Alaya.

In his eyes, only he was the "True Human"—all others were merely subjects to be controlled and ruled.

"I taught you so that you might enlighten the people and oppose the gods. Yet you became a god yourself. How laughable." Nameless sighed softly.

Words were useless now.

A blank card appeared in his hand. "I beseech you—all versions of myself across every world. Answer my call and bring an end to this doomed Lostbelt!"

In that moment, Nameless did not hesitate to unleash his ultimate trump card—the Phantasm Summon, at the cost of his own sacrifice.

The Phantasm Summon card blazed with light.

Countless phantoms manifested in an instant.

The versions of himself who walked through countless human histories all answered his call.

Yet—

A sudden anomaly erupted.

Qin Shi Huang directly mobilized the most terrifying power of Great Qin's Human Order, unleashing the true might of the Sword of Heaven's Question.

"I am the Son of Heaven of Great Qin! I am the ruler of this world! I am the eternal emperor!"

Qin Shi Huang's crimson eyes turned utterly icy as he declared, "We decree that you are guilty! The guilty shall be executed!"

Mountains, rivers, and the entire nation bore down upon Nameless in that instant.

There was no escape!

As long as he remained in this world, he was destined to be suppressed by the King of the Lostbelt!

Under this overwhelming pressure, even Nameless' Phantasm Summoning card was forcibly sealed, preventing him from summoning his alternate selves from across the timelines.

The mighty and invincible Emiya the Great was thus crushed on the spot by Qin Shi Huang!

The audience was stunned—

-[He activated Phantasm Summoning again—Nameless really is prepared to sacrifice himself, even against Qin Shi Huang!]

-[The Lion King gives you a thumbs-up! Qin Shi Huang, even you have this day!]

-[Angelica-version King of Heroes also approves—should we start chopping elbows now?]

-[No way to fight back! Qin Shi Huang is the Alaya of Great Qin—even Emiya the Great can't oppose Alaya itself!]

-[Well… that's true. Heroic Spirits are summoned by Alaya in the first place—how can they defy it?]

...

In Fuyuki Magecraft Academy.

Tamamo-no-Mae sighed pitifully, "Nameless is going to lose. He didn't even make it to me!"

Nameless had once formed a contract with Alaya, becoming a hero of justice who walked through human history.

But now, Qin Shi Huang, ruler of Great Qin, wielded the power of its human order without restraint, ruthlessly suppressing him.

Under this suppression, Nameless couldn't even unleash his full strength.

Hopeless resistance!

She had thought he might defeat Qin Shi Huang and reach her atop the Fusang Divine Tree.

But now, it seemed he was just… like this.

Against the King of the Lostbelt, he had no chance of fighting back.

"Indeed, the foundation of Heroic Spirits lies in humanity's desperate cries for salvation," Merlin nodded.

She was no Heroic Spirit.

But as a candidate for Grand Caster, she understood this far better than most Servants.

Though Qin Shi Huang in the Lostbelt was far inferior to the Alaya of Proper Human History, he possessed true independent will, completely unbound by any constraints.

The people of Great Qin fervently worshipped him, deifying him long ago.

He had become a terrifying god surpassing even the Lion King, capable of wielding the collective power of his people.

"Qin Shi Huang is truly powerful!" Tamamo-no-Mae said with lingering fear.

Watching him unleash his might to suppress Nameless made her tailbone ache in phantom pain.

Back then, Qin Shi Huang had forced her to sever one of her tails as a New Year's gift for Nameless.

Gritting her teeth, Tamamo-no-Mae hissed, "Hmph, fight then! Best if you both perish together!"

Heh, so even you have this day?

Is this what you call harmonious master-disciple relations?

How touching it makes me want to laugh!

"Quite a pity indeed. I originally wanted to see how strong you'd be with all nine tails gathered," Merlin chimed in, never one to miss stirring the pot.

A Tamamo-no-Mae with all nine tails united, wielding solar power and manifesting as the Beast of Playful Love among the Evils of Humanity, would undoubtedly reach terrifying heights of power.

Far more dreadful than even the current Lostbelt King.

Unfortunately, Nameless would never make it to face her.

Just then—

Merlin stared at the screen in shock. "What? Alaya has descended, directly neutralizing Qin Shi Huang's Human Order suppression?"

"This…"

Tamamo-no-Mae was equally stunned, unable to believe her eyes.

Nameless, who had been thoroughly suppressed by Qin Shi Huang and unable to summon versions of himself across timelines, suddenly connected with countless worlds at this moment!

Only the true Alaya could accomplish such a feat.

The two exchanged glances, momentarily speechless.

You can play it this way too?

Translate this—what's called a pleasant surprise!

Translate this—what the hell is called the Ultimate Emiya Fanboy!

Under everyone's astonished gazes—

Figures walking through human history answered Nameless' call one after another.

In Britain, the nameless knight who guarded the perfect king, willingly remaining anonymous in the shadows.

In France, the crimson ghost who charged through battlefields to aid the pure saint in saving the nation.

In Uruk, the most ancient friend who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the King of Heroes against Mesopotamian deities.

...

The Phantasm Summon Card blazed with radiant light.

Countless figures chose to respond at this moment.

All versions of himself traversing infinite worlds converged upon Nameless simultaneously.

The blank summoning cards needed no other heroic spirits—for he himself was the mightiest servant!

At this instant, he embodied countless possibilities once more—a single man representing every potential iteration of Emiya.

Alone yet never fighting alone!

Qin Shi Huang regarded him impassively. "Oh? Summoning alternate timeline versions of yourself? What of it? Before Us, all your efforts remain futile!"

"Even with Alaya's so-called favor from the Proper Human History, you cannot oppose the one true being who transcends gods!"

He was the Lostbelt King who suppressed the world.

The entire realm had long been conquered by Qin Qin.

Wherever the sun and moon shone—Qin territory stretched.

Wherever rivers flowed—Qin subjects dwelled!

The emperor's vermilion eyes turned glacial. "Struggle desperately as you will, Nameless! Let Us witness the true strength of Proper Human History's hope!"

Since he enjoyed Alaya's blessing, it proved he represented Proper Human History's hope.

While Qin Shi Huang embodied Qin's present and future.

Just as humans compete amongst themselves, human histories too must clash.

Only one of these two human histories could endure!

"If you cannot even defeat Us, your so-called Proper Human History has no right to exist!"

Qin Shi Huang's Heaven-Questioning Sword radiated brilliance as he declared, "Are you prepared to embrace death?"

"In the name of this emperor, books shall burn!"

Hum~

A vast, ocean-like surge of magical energy erupted, pressing down violently upon Nameless.

Under this overwhelming pressure, Nameless's magic circuits were forcibly suppressed by Qin Shi Huang.

This was achieved by utterly reducing the populace to fools, stripping away the budding self-awareness of the people, thereby laying the foundation for the Great Qin's peace—lasting over two thousand years and beyond!

This was—

"Books Shall Burn!"

Pfft~

Under this suppression, Nameless spat out a mouthful of blood, his magic circuits on the verge of spiraling out of control.

Direct confrontation was utterly impossible!

"In the name of this emperor, scholars shall be buried!"

Qin Shi Huang once again summoned a tempest of power, mercilessly assailing his opponent.

Under such might.

Nameless's once-upright posture suddenly buckled as if bearing the weight of a mountain.

Staggering, he nearly collapsed to his knees.

Boom!

The earth beneath him split open, revealing a massive pit.

Within its shadowy depths.

Countless tormented spirits seemed to wail in agony, a direct passage to hell, filled with unimaginable horror.

"Scholars Shall Be Buried!"

The pit symbolized live burial, the most efficient method of slaughter during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

Once, Bai Qi of Qin buried alive four hundred thousand Zhao soldiers, cementing his title as the God of Slaughter.

And ensuring Zhao's irreversible decline.

After unifying the realm.

Qin Shi Huang fully enacted the burning of books and burying of scholars, severing the transmission of wisdom to eradicate the root of chaos!

This became a terrifying ability.

The enormous pit swallowed Nameless whole, trapping him within.

Once consumed by the pit, escape was impossible.

Total entombment awaited!

"Master, you are truly too weak!"

Qin Shi Huang gazed down with pity at Nameless, engulfed by the pit. "So this is the extent of Pan-Human History's hope? Hmph!"

Too weak.

Every resistance was pitifully feeble.

Pan-Human History held no future!

Countless spectators were stunned—

-[How can anyone possibly oppose this?]

-[No wonder Qin Shi Huang seeks to invade other Lostbelts! His strength is despair-inducing!]

-[But survival of the fittest dictates that to preserve human history, he must be defeated!]

-[Nameless, stand up! You cannot lose—behind you lies the hope of all humanity!]

...

No one had anticipated Qin Shi Huang's overwhelming power.

Unrivaled!

More terrifying than the gods!

Transcending all deities!

Even someone as formidable as Nameless was effortlessly suppressed, with no hope of victory in sight.

Then.

The pit that had entombed him suddenly collapsed.

A sword blazing with golden flames erupted from within, streaking toward the King of the Lostbelt.

"What?"

Qin Shi Huang was momentarily taken aback.

He never imagined that even his terrifying might as the King of the Lostbelt had failed to defeat his foe.

But it mattered not.

Pointing at the golden sword, Qin Shi Huang sneered, "A mere attack dares to harm this emperor?"

Sir, you are too naive.

To think you could oppose me?

Vast magical energy coalesced before him, forming layers of golden defensive barriers.

This was Qin Shi Huang's emulation of his opponent's favored [Rho Aias], transformed into his own—

"Dragon's Defense."

Each barrier possessed formidable resistance.

With nine layers in place, no attack could breach them.

However.

Under Qin Shi Huang's incredulous gaze.

Crack! Crack!

Layer after layer of defensive barriers shattered abruptly, utterly incapable of withstanding the golden sword's razor-sharp edge!

When it pierced through the final defensive layer, Qin Shi Huang's face darkened with fury: "By Our name, cease this!"

Boom!

The golden sword collided violently against his chest, yet could advance no further.

This was his most invincible defense—

[Qin Shi Huang!]

The manifestation of his national prestige in implementing a centralized authoritarian system.

As the First Emperor of Qin, he wielded a terrifying, almost cursed, binding force—a true Anti-World Noble Phantasm.

Within the territory of the Great Qin, harming him was impossible!

Not only that, but he could weaken all enemies and grant himself invincible defenses!

Rumble—

[The Confucian Pit] collapsed completely.

Nameless leaped up from underground, his face covered in blood, his eyes burning like flames. "Your attack is over. Now it's my turn!"

"Hahaha, this emperor is truly invincible under heaven!"

Qin Shi Huang laughed heartily. "Master, why struggle and resist? Wouldn't it be better to simply enjoy eternal peace, like those others?"

Nameless stared coldly at him.

"Enjoy peace"? It was nothing more than being treated like livestock—how could he ever accept that?

"Master, you should understand—following Alaya means endless battles! Only this emperor can grant you eternal peace. Only this emperor truly cares for you!"

Qin Shi Huang's crimson eyes bore into him. "Forgive me, sir. I do not wish to harm you, but I truly care for you. So… please, die for me."

"Once you are dead, I will craft a body of equal stature for you. Then, we can enjoy eternal peace together!"

Flames seemed to dance in his eyes.

He would allow no refusal.

He wanted to forcibly keep Nameless, to make him his possession.

The audience was stunned—

-[Holy shit, Qin Shi Huang has gone full yandere!]

-[This body has no gender, so he really can be with Nameless!]

-[He wants to kill Nameless and then keep him forever? That's terrifying!]

-[Is this the First Emperor's twisted confession?]

-[This is horrifying. I wonder what the real Qin Shi Huang would think if he saw this public execution scene…]