Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

Hum~

The Heaven-Questioning Sword erupted into a radiant pillar of light.

One side depicting landscapes and lakes, the other side symbolizing the nation and its people—now fused together, transforming into a colossal divine dragon that soared into the heavens.

As the divine dragon soared into the heavens,

The clouds parted abruptly, revealing the brilliant azure sky.

All who witnessed it stood transfixed, gazing at the dazzling, majestic dragon, overwhelmed by an indescribable sense of pride.

Descendants of the Dragon!

Indeed, the people of China proudly proclaimed themselves as such, wearing this title as their greatest honor.

This was no mere Western lizard, but a true divine dragon that guarded humanity.

At this moment,

Countless minds involuntarily recalled the declaration made by Qin Shi Huang after annihilating the six warring states and unifying the land—

"I swear in the name of the First Emperor!"

"In my lifetime, I shall secure eternal peace for Great Qin, defending our lands and expanding our borders. In death, I shall transform into the soul of a dragon, protecting our Yan-Huang descendants for eternity!"

"Let this oath be witnessed by sun and moon, heaven and earth, heard by immortals, gods, spirits, and demons alike!"

These were no empty words.

They were fulfilled in truth!

After death, he became the Ancestral Dragon of China, eternally safeguarding this vast nation.

Perhaps it was this divine protection that allowed China, despite its cycles of division and reunification over two millennia, to remain unbroken.

The Ancestral Dragon's unification over 2,200 years ago instilled in all subsequent rulers of China an unshakable desire to reunify the land.

Otherwise, China might have fractured like Europe into dozens of smaller states.

Far away in distant Fusang,

Artoria gazed westward, already sensing the tremendous surge of power: "Qin Shi Huang, is this your hidden card?"

His earlier insistence that Nameless belonged to China had revealed the emperor's confidence.

His plan was simple—by virtue of Nameless's Chinese heritage, Qin Shi Huang would bestow upon him a title in the name of the First Emperor!

Success would plant an anchor in Nameless, allowing his true location to be found.

In this regard, it was even more convenient and effective than her own Avalon.

Because [Avalon] had been shattered beyond recognition in some unimaginable battle, rendering even its original master incapable of locating it.

She could only vaguely sense that Avalon seemed deeply connected to Roya.

Strangely enough, Avalon, renowned as the strongest protective Noble Phantasm, appeared to have transformed into—

A prison!

Sealing Roya away completely.

What was that child's true identity?

Why would Nameless willingly let Avalon shatter just to imprison her?

Artoria couldn't fathom it.

What kind of horrific battle could have damaged [Avalon]—a defense even Ea couldn't penetrate?

It must have been a cataclysmic war threatening humanity's extinction and the world's rebirth!

"Could Qin Shi Huang truly find Nameless?" Mordred exclaimed beside her, stunned by the spectacle.

Even as a heroic spirit, she was awestruck.

Especially by the dragon-shaped silhouette behind Qin Shi Huang, seemingly embodying the entire might of China.

Powerful enough to effortlessly crush Western dragons.

No.

This was no mere magical creature—it represented the collective will of countless Chinese citizens.

Her mind flashed back to when Nameless drew his sword to challenge the gods, and how ancestral deities of China answered his call one after another to aid him.

At this moment, Mordred finally understood, however faintly, why China's civilization had endured unbroken,

while their Britain had risen and fallen through the ages.

This was the power of the Dragon's descendants!

...

Meanwhile,

The Dark Saintess of France also lifted her gaze to the heavens, golden eyes burning with frustration: "Another fool trying to locate Nameless through titles—you're all dreaming!"

"But, you came along too..."

The pink-haired knight Astolfo meekly replied.

If you didn't believe at all that King Arthur had used the knighting of the Round Table to locate Nameless's whereabouts, why would you have followed King Arthur to Fuyuki City?

The holy knights all stared dumbfounded at the pink-haired knight.

That's so like you!

Truly a pink-haired devil in disguise.

Hello? If you can speak, say more!

Every time you open your mouth, you aim straight for the weakest spot.

Aren't you afraid Her Majesty will castrate you and gift you to the brothers?

"Heh, I'm merely inspecting Fuyuki Magecraft City to see if we can establish a similar magecraft academy in France," Jeanne d'Arc replied with a slight frown.

Fuyuki Magecraft Academy is a magical experimental institute personally ordered to be built by the Dragon Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Once the experiments are completed, it will be promoted across China's two billion population, creating an absolute golden age where everyone can become dragons.

"But, saying that just makes it sound like you've already admitted defeat—"

Astolfo was about to continue when a group of holy knights rushed forward, desperately covering his mouth to stop him.

The holy knights all wanted to murder this guy.

Truly living up to his infuriating [Innocent Monster] ability—completely incapable of controlling that damn mouth!

"Heh, 'The Avenging Witch' was the very first exposé video released by Alaya. Clearly, I was here first—how could I possibly lose?"

Jeanne d'Arc haughtily retorted.

As the untouchable Emperor of France, she could have anything she desired—how could she lose?

However.

The moment those words left her lips, the situation underwent a shocking transformation.

In the 'First Emperor of the Ages' video, Nameless had deliberately erected a grave atop the altar while challenging the gods of the firmament.

It was equivalent to putting everything on the line—digging his own grave in advance and facing the gods with a heart set on death.

To fully recreate the scene of that time, Qin Shi Huang had even prepared an identical grave for his coronation ceremony.

And now,

The grave, which had been quietly sitting to the side—

Was cracking open!

...

In the living room.

As the liquid crystal TV screen displayed the image of a dragon soaring through the heavens,

Roya's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh my god, as expected of the Ancestral Dragon! He actually summoned a dragon!"

It was utterly unbelievable.

So powerful it left one breathless in awe.

"Indeed, as expected of the Ancestral Dragon," Souma murmured, his expression complicated as he watched.

This dragon represented the will of China's people—the very manifestation of their human order.

It was also the greatest difference between China and other nations.

The ancestral gods relied on the human order to forge a unique mystical foundation for China.

Step by step, they transformed the source of mystery from gods and immortals into humanity itself!

Humanity as the foundation!

In the eyes of Chinese people, if gods could reshape the world, then so could humans.

Man could conquer nature!

Countless human thoughts converged, creating a wellspring of mystery unique to China—and ensuring that the heroic spirits born from it far surpassed those of any other nation!

"And that's exactly the problem!"

Souma felt a throbbing headache coming on.

As long as he didn't renounce his identity as a descendant of China, he was inherently part of its human order.

And Qin Shi Huang—the supreme ruler of China—could use his [Imperial Privilege] to bestow a title upon him.

Once the title was granted, the emperor would sense his presence!

No underhanded tricks needed—just the overwhelming force of imperial authority to find him!

"Imperial Teacher… For someone as proud and domineering as Qin Shi Huang to grant such a title… That's no small thing."

Roya sighed in amazement.

That man had always proclaimed himself superior to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, even taking the title "Huangdi" (Emperor) from their ranks.

He had also changed the royal self-address from "Guaren" (this lonely one) to the imperial "Zhen" (We).

From this alone, one could see just how arrogant he was.

Not even the ancient Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors could earn his reverence.

But now…

Qin Shi Huang had publicly and unyieldingly bestowed upon Nameless the title of [Imperial Teacher].

A teacher to the emperor—equivalent in standing, if not surpassing it!

"Still, when you consider Nameless's achievements, this title is the only one that truly suits him. King Arthur really was stingy compared to Qin Shi Huang."

***

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