Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

Even Qin Shi Huang and the King of Heroes—all would be suppressed by her!

As she indulged in visions of the future.

On the screen.

Tiamat, having transformed into her draconic form with all her injuries healed, suddenly spread her wings.

She took flight once more!

This terrifying Beast of Humanity actually sought to return to the earth!

If she were allowed to set foot on the ground again, all the sacrifices and efforts made thus far would be rendered meaningless!

At that moment.

The elegant and dashing Flower Magus smiled and said, "You've struggled through countless hardships to reach this point, but it's still far from enough!"

"Eh? Is there still someone who can help us?" Mash asked nervously.

The goddesses unleashed their full power, yet the wounds they inflicted were completely regenerated by Tiamat.

The overwhelming despair brought by the Beast of Humanity had long left her at a loss.

"Of course there is! A mighty Heroic Spirit summoned—no, called forth by the Master. One who willingly relinquished his Grand title just to face Tiamat!"

Merlin continued with his usual air of mystery.

Alone, he stood no chance against Tiamat.

After all, he was merely a candidate for the Grand title.

Only a true Grand Servant could make a difference.

Just as he prepared to continue his grandiose speech—

Nameless suddenly looked up and declared, "Behold, gaze upon the heavens. O Mother of Genesis, your Reaper stands there!"

???

You stole my line?!

Merlin stared at him in shock.

At that moment, a sudden worry gripped him.

Could this man also possess Clairvoyance? Was he the third Grand candidate?

If he had Clairvoyance, had he already seen through everything Merlin had done before?

And if he knew everything...

Just what did he plan to do to him?

Merlin was suddenly consumed by deep unease.

His previously unshakable image as the cool and composed savior in the critical moment instantly crumbled.

While his expression twisted in discomfort—

Everyone followed Nameless' gaze upward.

Gasps of astonishment erupted—

-[Holy shit, it's the Grand Assassin, King Hassan!]

-[The old man actually came too! A Grand-class fighter!]

-[Back in the temple, he lopped off the Sun King's head with a single swing and just strolled out like it was nothing. Absolute legend!]

-[No way, did Nameless invite him too?]

-[Nameless, the King of Heroes, the Grand Assassin, the South American chief deity, the Beast Goddess, the Queen of the Underworld, the unreliable Ishtar, and the borderline comedic Jaguar Warrior... Was this dream team really necessary to take on a Beast of Humanity?]

...

Egypt.

Within the Great Temple.

Ramesses II suddenly felt a chill run down his neck. "Why is he here?"

Let's not forget—in Camelot: The Sacred Round Table Realm, this guy had beheaded him with a single strike!

Every time King Hassan made an appearance, people used that feat to hype up his strength.

Ramesses II could only think one thing:

"Have you no manners?"

As the mighty Sun King, being repeatedly used as a stepping stone to showcase another's power was beyond infuriating.

Unbearable!

One day, he would prove his true might beyond any doubt!

Beside him, Nitocris timidly muttered, "But... you were beheaded by King Hassan..."

"I am the incarnation of Ra, the Sun God!" Ramesses II snapped.

Ra, the Sun God, was the supreme deity worshipped by the people of Egypt.

And he—proclaimed as the incarnation of Ra—was no less than the Sun God himself!

Thus, he styled himself as the Sun King.

Nitocris mustered her courage and continued, "But you were beheaded by King Hassan..."

"I am the King of Kings, supreme above all gods!"

"But you were beheaded by King Hassan..."

"I shall become the invincible Divine King!"

"But you were beheaded by King Hassan..."

Ramesses II fell silent for a moment.

Unable to contain his anger, he glared at her, "Can we stop mentioning King Hassan?!"

"My king, why couldn't your invincible great temple stop a single assassin?" Nitocris still couldn't comprehend this question.

"Fine, let's talk about King Hassan then!"

Ramesses II frowned at the screen.

"You were—"

"Do you believe I'll perform a Tomb Collision on you right now?"

Ramesses II stared at her furiously.

How infuriating!

The supposedly invincible Sun King had his head severed by a single strike from that man.

And then allowed him to swagger out of the temple unscathed—a disgrace that would haunt him for life!

Unless one day he utterly defeated his adversary.

Otherwise, this stain would never be cleansed.

Defeat him?

Ramesses II touched his neck. Lately, he'd suddenly felt like staying indoors more.

Yes, perhaps he should remain in the great temple a while longer.

On the screen.

Before countless watching eyes.

A figure clad in heavy armor, wielding a massive greatsword, with blue flames dancing in its eye sockets, appeared above Tiamat.

A deep voice resonated slowly: "No death, no life. Only through death can life be gained. What you call eternity is not walking, but slumber!"

An aura of stillness more terrifying than the underworld itself surrounded him.

The Grand Assassin, who walked in darkness bringing endless slaughter, had descended without a sound.

Gazing at the colossal Beast of Humanity, he spoke calmly: "O calamitous beast born of mankind. The maternal love you crave is the very foundation that rejects you."

"Though you have long fallen, as the Mother of Genesis, I shall announce myself properly."

"I come racing from the valley of darkness, the abyss of death. I am the Old Man of the Mountain, Hassan-i Sabbah!"

Upon his appearance.

Even the mighty Beast of Humanity turned its gaze toward him.

Clearly, the arrival of this fearsome assassin could not be ignored.

A Grand Servant.

The mightiest of spirits, born to confront the Beasts of Humanity.

Standing at the pinnacle of the Heroic Spirit pyramid, powerful enough to threaten the Beasts.

Were all seven Grand Servants gathered, they could slay a Beast of Humanity!

Nameless quickly expressed gratitude: "Grandpa Hassan, thank you for coming!"

"Child of destiny, I owe you a favor, thus I come to assist you."

Hassan replied indifferently.

Then his gaze briefly rested on the magical projection of Romani Archaman.

That single glance.

Made Romani, watching from Chaldea, feel an abrupt chill down his spine.

"He definitely recognized my identity!"

Romani was absolutely certain.

Grand Servants attract each other.

A Grand Saint Graph represents one's proximity to the Root.

Granting limitless potential for growth.

Should one choose to burn their Grand Saint Graph, none could withstand their attack.

How could an existence of this level fail to see through him?

"What's wrong?" Da Vinci asked with a faint smile.

"N-nothing..."

Romani shook his head repeatedly.

This couldn't be known by others.

The trouble he'd caused earlier had to be resolved by himself!

"If you say so."

Da Vinci's smile remained unchanged.

Otaku shut-in, others might not know, but did you really think you could fool me?

How adorably naive!

The video continued.

There stood King Hassan at the highest point, his icy gaze fixed upon the colossal Human Evil.

Suddenly, with a faint smile, he spoke: "O Chosen One of Providence, you are the most qualified student I have ever taught. Now, let me impart to you the final lesson!"

"On behalf of all, I thank you!" Nameless solemnly clasped his fists and bowed deeply.

As an unnamed heroic spirit who walked through human history, safeguarding the Human Order—

The stronger he became, the safer humanity would be.

This grand old man, the Grand Assassin, claimed not to care for human history.

Yet in truth, he had wholeheartedly assisted him all along!

A tsundere yet kind-hearted old man!

What a pity.

This move is truly difficult to master.

The opponent burned their Grand Spirit Origin to unleash the most terrifying strike—one capable of slaying a god with a single, effortless slash!

"Aaaaa…"

Tiamat raised her head, gazing at her foe while uttering an incomprehensible sound.

It seemed she had sensed the threat.

Facing this Primordial Mother Goddess, whom even the combined might of the gods could not defeat—

King Hassan slowly raised his massive greatsword, the eerie blue flames in his eye sockets blazing fiercely:

"Watch closely. This is what a true Grand assassination looks like. I shall demonstrate only once!"

Dong!

Dong!!

Dong!!!

The deep tolling of a bell resounded.

This bell's chime seemed to echo within the very souls of all who heard it, shaking every person to their core.

Even the spectators witnessing this scene were profoundly shaken, one after another.

A horrifying sensation, as if their souls were being torn apart and utterly erased.

This was the conceptual assassination of the Grand level!

Defying all defenses, disregarding distance, ignoring status!

King Hassan stared at his opponent:

"Listen well. The evening bell has revealed thy name!"

Dong dong dong~

The bell's toll reverberated throughout the underworld, causing countless hearts to beat in sync with its rhythm.

"By the will of Heaven…"

The blue flames in King Hassan's eyes blazed violently as an enormous, grotesque skull manifested behind him.

"Aaaaaa…!"

Tiamat roared once more.

An immense surge of crimson mana erupted as she spread her wings, truly taking flight.

In her draconic form, she sought to escape the underworld entirely.

"…I shall sever thy wings!"

King Hassan leaped down without hesitation.

At that moment, the world abruptly turned monochrome.

All other colors vanished, transforming into a stark boundary between life and death!

Ereshkigal stared wide-eyed in disbelief:

"Why does it feel like… he's even more proficient in the laws of [Death] than I am?"

The world was reduced to black and white, life and death—all under his absolute control.

Even she, the proud Queen of the Underworld, paled in comparison before him!

Under the gaze of countless onlookers—

King Hassan charged straight toward the colossal Beast of Humanity.

Huummm~

At that instant, Tiamat's eyes unleashed a terrifying beam of crimson mana, attempting to halt his advance.

The same fatal strike that had once effortlessly pierced the chest of the King of Heroes.

Yet—

Before this Grand Assassin, it was effortlessly cleaved apart with a single swing of his blade!

Indeed, King Hassan swung his greatsword, cleanly bisecting the crimson beam.

Then, without pause, he surged straight toward Tiamat and delivered a devastating slash.

Crack~

The blade struck her horned wings, and fissures spiderwebbed across the wing-like horns atop the Beast of Humanity's head.

Crack~

The fractures rapidly expanded, spreading across her entire body as if intent on annihilating her completely.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The colossal horned wings were utterly shattered by that single slash.

BOOOOM!

The draconic Beast of Humanity, now wingless, plummeted from the sky, crashing into the earth with a thunderous impact that sent dust billowing into the air!

Everyone watched in stunned silence.

The entire world fell still.

King Hassan landed atop a rocky outcrop, turning his gaze toward Nameless. His voice remained as calm as ever:

"The title of Grand holds no meaning for me. The proof of my strength lies solely in this blade. Have you… learned it now?"

***

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