Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

Land of Shadows.

Upon a throne forged from blood and bones.

The Queen of the Shadow Land, feared by countless, stared intently at the screen: "A nameless heroic spirit? Truly fascinating."

This individual seemed even more formidable than she had imagined.

Her interest only grew stronger.

A pity, though—there was no way for him to appear before her. They simply wouldn't cross paths.

"Perhaps I should make a trip to Fuyuki City?"

The Queen of the Shadow Land, Scáthach, murmured softly.

For her, slaying gods was not particularly difficult.

After all, her creed was—

[If a spear reaches the pinnacle of mastery, even gods can be slain!]

What intrigued Scáthach more was that the other party seemed to have mastered the Crown-Assassination technique.

He could truly—

Kill her!

Having attained divinity, Scáthach had lived from ancient times until now.

Cursed by the countless gods she had slain, she was rendered utterly incapable of death, destined to endure until the world's end.

Her sole wish was for someone to finally grant her true death!

If the Holy Grail could fulfill that desire, she would gladly seize it.

Now, however, there seemed to be a far more suitable candidate!

Under her amused gaze—

On the screen—

Ereshkigal, watching the nameless warrior consecutively slay three demonic beasts, wore a frail yet radiant smile: "You truly are incredible!"

Seeing him grow stronger brought her more joy than her own progress ever could.

Then—

The Old Man of the Mountain, who had vanished after unleashing his Grand-Assassination strike, suddenly reappeared: "Impressive. You have indeed grasped the essence of assassination. Do you still require my assistance?"

"Indeed. I humbly request your aid!" Nameless solemnly replied.

Executing that unfathomable strike had drained him completely, even with Ereshkigal's divine buff.

His mana had been depleted in an instant, leaving him far from capable of annihilating all the demonic beasts.

"Very well. From this day forth, my name and my blade shall be bound to yours!"

The Old Man's typically frigid voice carried a faint trace of amusement. "Though I have forsaken the title of Grand Assassin, my techniques remain undiminished."

"O favored child of destiny, wield this sword of death as you will! May it endure eternally, should fate permit."

"My deepest gratitude!" the nameless warrior thanked him once more.

Such a supreme combatant was an invaluable asset—the more, the merrier.

As expected, the Old Man was just a tsundere grandpa at heart.

Seeing his mana exhausted, he no longer bothered hiding his intent to aid in humanity's defense.

Above them—

Merlin had already taken flight, attempting to intercept Tiamat as she ascended.

Hummm~

His illusions proved utterly ineffective against the Beast of Humanity, and the backlash sent him plummeting downward.

Merlin stared up at Tiamat's gaping, monstrous maw and yelped, "I'm no god like Marduk—if she swallows me, I'm done for! Fou, quick, force-transfer me out of here!"

"Fou... fou! (In your dreams!)"

Fou flatly refused.

A child of incubus like you, dreaming I'd waste my hard-earned mana to save you?

"Ahhh, you heartless little monster! I'll make you pay for this!"

Screaming, Merlin scrambled to evade.

He narrowly avoided being devoured whole.

Just then—

An unexpected presence made its entrance.

There he stood on high ground, letting out a familiar laugh: "Hahaha, you're utterly useless without me! Allow this king to lend you a hand!"

Hum~

Countless golden ripples suddenly manifested behind him.

[Gate of Babylon] fully deployed, unleashing a dense barrage of Noble Phantasms that began indiscriminate bombardment.

Even Tiamat, who had been climbing upward, was forcibly blasted back down.

The newcomer was none other than the supposedly deceased King of Heroes, Gilgamesh!

The audience, previously immersed in sorrow, stared dumbfounded at the scene—

-[Dammit, I cried my eyes out earlier, and now he's back in a flash!]

-[Wait, he didn't actually come back to life—he clearly manifested as a Servant!]

-[Damn it, give me back my tears!]

-[Did he come running from the Throne of Heroes on his own, eager to join this battle?]

"Tch, saying you wouldn't interfere, yet here you are, painstakingly descending from the Throne of Heroes?" Jeanne d'Arc glanced sideways at the King of Heroes.

To descend from the Throne without being summoned required paying a considerable price.

Yet, he had come without hesitation.

Just as Nameless had said—what a dead tsundere.

Mordred stared at him in disbelief. "Just how many times have you died?"

Previously, he had worked himself to death from official duties and descended into the underworld.

Later, he was killed by Tiamat's sneak attack.

And now, here he was again!

Seriously, didn't you say [Gate of Babylon] didn't contain Heracles' Twelve Labors? How are you still coming back over and over?

Under everyone's gaze, Gilgamesh remained silent, quietly watching the footage.

He recalled something rather unpleasant.

That bastard of a best friend had deceived him yet again!

In the footage.

Under the bombardment of the Heroic Spirit-form Gilgamesh, Tiamat plummeted heavily once more.

Across her colossal body, an inexplicable light suddenly unfolded.

A barrier of black and white formed, rapidly expanding in all directions.

Upon seeing this, Merlin exclaimed, "Impossible! She shouldn't be able to do this!"

"Wait, is this...?" Romani Archaman also gasped in shock.

Da Vinci hesitated. "Could it be a Reality Marble?"

"No, this is the birth of a new world!"

Merlin grew increasingly frantic, sweat beading on his forehead. "This is Tiamat's terrifying ability—it seems to be called Nega-Genesis!"

Hum~

The black-and-white barrier spread wildly from Tiamat's position, engulfing everything in its path.

Most horrifying of all.

It was as though the world itself was being rewritten.

Everything touched by the barrier instantly turned monochrome, fading into ash—even the monstrous Lahmu.

Unstoppable. Irreversible.

At this moment, Tiamat fully manifested the authority of the Primordial Mother Goddess—

[Nega-Genesis!]

This power surpassed even a Reality Marble, reaching the level of True Magic.

It could overturn existing theories of evolution, defy the prophecies of creation.

Remaking the entire world into a new one under her dominion!

A true Field Spell!

"We cannot allow it to spread, or the entire underworld will be consumed and controlled by Him!"

Dr. Roman's expression was extremely grave. "The Nega-Genesis has an almost immune effect against all Noble Phantasms born from human history!"

Noble Phantasms are the strongest attacks of Heroic Spirits.

But now, they are nearly immune to Noble Phantasm attacks.

It can be said that it counters all Heroic Spirits!

This bounded field will spread endlessly.

Consuming the entire underworld!

Consuming the entire world!

Hearing these words.

Ereshkigal, the mistress of the underworld, began to resist with her strongest Noble Phantasm.

She shouted loudly: "The heavens have the abyss! The earth has the prison! My heel is the wrath of the underworld!"

Hum~

Brilliant red light suddenly surged around the black-and-white bounded field.

The entire ground rose violently, forming layers of barriers that firmly blocked the bounded field.

However.

The bounded field continued to spread wildly, attempting to consume it directly.

Ereshkigal plunged her Noble Phantasm into the ground, unleashing its true power: "Appear! The Blazing Temple!"

[Kur Kigal Irkalla!]

The earth rose violently, finally stopping the light of the Anti-Genesis.

Ereshkigal said weakly, "I'm sorry, this won't hold. It will still be eroded!"

"Nega-Genesis denies all past life and seeks to birth new life. It has an almost immune effect against all Heroic Spirits."

Nameless stepped forward calmly. "That's why only I can deliver the final blow to Her!"

He was the only living being among all present.

Indeed, apart from him, there was not a single true human.

Even Mash was a demi-Servant, and Merlin was the child of an incubus.

The King of Heroes, needless to say, was a true Heroic Spirit who had come directly from the Throne of Heroes.

The others were either gods or Evils of Humanity.

Only I can charge at Tiamat!

This explanation instantly made all viewers realize the horror of the situation—

-[Damn, this seemingly unremarkable barrier actually counters all Heroic Spirits?!]

-[As expected of the Primordial Mother Goddess—she can even reverse it into an Nega-Genesis!]

-[So, unless this barrier is shattered, even the King of Heroes' Ea won't work?]

-[I get it now—Nameless is going to sacrifice himself again!]

-[Shit, it really is only Nameless who can make a move!]

...

The audience collectively wore complicated expressions.

They had thought that assembling this terrifyingly powerful dream team would be enough to defeat the Beast of Humanity.

Yet, no one had expected Tiamat to deploy a barrier that nullified all Noble Phantasms of Heroic Spirits.

Once again, only Nameless could step forward—risking near-certain death to get close to Tiamat!

In the video—

Mash immediately raised her shield, blocking his path. "Senpai, it's too dangerous! You can't go!"

"Trust me, Mash. This time, I need you to protect me. I really haven't been a very good senpai, have I?" Nameless sighed, reaching out to pat her head gently.

"Mhm!"

Mash nodded repeatedly.

Being able to protect him was her greatest honor.

Time and again, she had hidden behind him, watching as he fought the strongest and most terrifying enemies—utterly powerless to help.

She couldn't stand her own weakness.

She wanted to prove she could fight alongside him!

Merlin smiled. "Then count me in. We'll use our Noble Phantasms to pave the way for you!"

"Hurry up, hurry up! I can't hold out much longer!"

Ereshkigal's exhausted voice urged them.

No matter how strong she was, she couldn't withstand the might of the Primordial Mother Goddess forever.

Under her urging—

Mashu immediately began her incantation: "True Name, revealed! I shall stand upon the seat of calamity!"

"That which heals all wounds, all grudges—our homeland!"

She raised her shield high, unleashing its full power. "Manifest—!"

"[Lord Camelot—Now is a Castle of Distant Ideals]!"

Huum—

As her shield radiated light, the familiar walls of Camelot materialized in an instant.

Sheltering everyone within.

And Mash herself stood outside the gates—alone, defending the fortress.

The shield's defense was absolute, but it couldn't protect its wielder.

Because she was the gate.

As long as her will held strong, she could withstand any attack!

In other words—

As long as she lived, her senpai wouldn't be harmed!

At the same time—

A massive magic circle bloomed beneath Merlin's feet as he activated his Noble Phantasm: "The Inner Sea of the Planet, the Watchtower of the Stars!"

"From the corners of paradise, I declare unto thee—thy tale is blessed! Only the sinless may pass!"

"[Garden of Avalon—Eternal Utopia]!"

Countless flowers bloomed, scattering like snowflakes over the towering walls.

The two Noble Phantasms unfolded simultaneously, clearing a path straight to Tiamat for Nameless.

As he leapt toward her—

An endless tide of Lahmu surged forth like a swarm of insects, desperate to stop him.

"Get out of my way!"

Nameless projected a golden Noble Phantasm into his hand and swung it down with all his might.

"[Excalibur—Sword of Promised Victory]!"

BOOM!

A dazzling light suddenly erupted, exploding amidst the tsunami-like horde of Lahmu.

In the darkness of the underworld, it was as if a sun had abruptly risen, illuminating the entire world.

Under the endless radiance, the Lahmu melted away like snowflakes under the scorching sun, vanishing in madness.

However.

From the endless sea of ordinary Lahmu, from the blazing power of Excalibur, emerged divine-level Lahmu monsters.

Even after most had been slain, five still stood in his way.

Against divine-level Lahmu, his magical energy was far from enough to kill them all.

Yet Nameless remained utterly calm as he projected once more—

[Enkidu!]

No, this was no mere projection—it was nearly the real thing.

Because.

After Kingu's complete demise, the soul of Enkidu, which he had taken, had slowly begun to revive.

Unconsciously, it began to resonate with him, forming projections of the Noble Phantasm that nearly matched the true Enkidu.

Clang—

Countless chains burst forth, completely binding all five divine-level Lahmu.

Standing atop the heights, Gilgamesh couldn't help but exclaim in shock: "You can project Enkidu?! No—Enkidu is with you! You are Nameless???"

Originally, he had thought that since Enkidu had returned to him in the form of Kingu after death, Nameless, who had also perished, might reappear in another form.

But Gilgamesh never expected that he had truly returned.

And had been by his side all along.

This damn best friend of his had pretended not to know him—clearly just laughing at him.

"Bastard, come back to me!"

For the first time, Gilgamesh felt a pang of panic.

Even though he knew that among all those present, only Nameless could attack Tiamat and pierce through her formidable [Nega-Genesis] barrier.

But, he had already lost his best friend twice. He couldn't bear to watch it happen a third time.

"Goodbye, Gil."

Nameless turned his head and flashed him a bright smile. "Fou, it's your turn!"

The small white beast perched on his shoulder suddenly raised its head and roared:

"Fou... Fou! (Got it!)"

Hum—

The magical energy stored within the Fourth Beast was unleashed in full at this moment.

As it expended its vast reserves, Nameless's figure flickered, instantly bypassing the dense swarm of Lahmu blocking his path.

He appeared within the black-and-white barrier.

With a leap, he soared toward Tiamat's head.

Yet.

What awaited him was not the terrifying visage of a monstrous dragon, but an incredibly beautiful woman.

She gently opened her arms toward him:

"Aaaaaa (Don't leave me)!"

***

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