Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

-[Illya's Ultimate Fan—Heracles!]

-[He actually surpassed his own myth, reaching the thirteenth trial—what terrifying willpower!]

-[He almost defeated the King of Heroes!]

-[Breaking free from the Chains of Heaven—did he completely abandon his divinity and Noble Phantasm, giving it his all?]

-[No wonder in "The Oldest King," Nameless immediately started cursing at the King of Heroes upon meeting... who could tolerate this!]

-[Go, young Nameless!]

...

"So moving, this is what a true hero looks like!"

Tears glistened in Roya's eyes.

Anyone could see that if he gave up protecting Illya, he might have a slim chance to defeat the King of Heroes.

But, Heracles never did.

Not even once.

He would rather endure the bombardment of Noble Phantasms than stop shielding Illya.

From beginning to end, he fulfilled his ultimate mission of protection.

Even surpassing his own myth, breaking free from the Chains of Heaven!

Utterly tragic yet glorious, achieving the ultimate metamorphosis through self-immolation!

"Berserker... Shirou..."

Tears streamed down Illya's face.

At this moment, all her memories came flooding back.

She remembered that brutal yet warm past.

That young boy, though tender and inexperienced, fearlessly stood in front of her.

How could she have forgotten?

Had the world been reset, making everyone forget everything?

"All misfortunes in this world stem from a lack of strength!"

Countless memories surged through Souma's mind.

As an ordinary transmigrator from Dragon Country, he realized after arriving in the Type-Moon world and becoming a participant in the Holy Grail War,

He wanted to escape, even wandering in the Land of Freedom for a while, only to find it impossible.

Everything seemed fated.

So, he returned to Japan to continue as a high school student, hoping to end the Holy Grail War with his foreknowledge.

Alas, a Reality Marble is ultimately a supreme magecraft akin to True Magic, requiring the ultimate metamorphosis of the soul to manifest!

To activate it easily would take years of tempering.

But the butterfly effect had already been triggered—Gilgamesh wanted to extract Illya's heart right at the start of the Holy Grail War.

He wasn't given any time at all...

In the video.

Gilgamesh's expression grew increasingly disdainful.

The opponent's magical energy was pitifully low, and even the projected Noble Phantasms seemed shoddy.

It made Gilgamesh want to laugh.

This? This? This?

"I know no one has any expectations of me. I'm well aware of my own weakness, more than anyone else!"

The young Shirou raised his head to face him, fists clenched tightly. "But I must fight you! Even if I can't win, I must fight! This isn't about victory or defeat—it's about standing my ground here!"

"I am no hero, but I will never flee from battle!"

These words were spoken with resounding conviction.

Filled with an unshakable determination, as if he would never regret his choice even if it meant certain death.

"Hahaha, clown! Scram if you don't want to die! Your ridiculous performance is premature!"

Gilgamesh laughed uproariously.

The battle erupted abruptly.

The King of Heroes stood atop the roof, his expression incomparably haughty as he gazed down upon his opponent like a god.

His crimson eyes brimmed with mockery, as if observing an insignificant insect.

Yet Emiya stubbornly met his gaze without retreating an inch.

In his hands, [Kanshou] and [Bakuya] were projected once more.

Through action, he made it clear—only by stepping over his corpse could anyone reach Illya's heart!

Hum~

Golden ripples bloomed behind the King of Heroes, transforming in an instant into over a dozen radiant golden vortexes.

From each vortex emerged Noble Phantasms.

[Gate of Babylon!]

Gilgamesh possessed the key to the "Golden Capital," allowing him to freely retrieve any treasure stored within.

It housed every treasure known to mankind!

This was no mere metaphor—Gilgamesh had claimed the prototypes of all technologies developed during his era as his own.

Rather than his personal treasures, they were more accurately described as [The Original Texts of Human Wisdom]!

"How utterly dull, you filthy mongrel!"

Gilgamesh's demeanor grew increasingly arrogant as he sneered contemptuously, "Let me show you the chasm between the genuine and the fake!"

The Gate of Babylon fully opened, and swords erupted forth in a sudden barrage.

The most ancient King of Heroes fought with a method that left onlookers astounded.

The Gate of Babylon unleashed its full firepower, raining down weapons like endless artillery shells.

Under this onslaught, Shirou could only frantically evade.

Resistance was impossible!

This was the gap between an ordinary human and a Heroic Spirit!

"Hmph, a mere mongrel—who gave you the courage to challenge me?"

Gilgamesh's mockery intensified, "You didn't actually believe you could defeat me, did you?"

Amid this relentless bombardment, countless gruesome wounds had already appeared on Shirou's body, a horrifying sight.

His face was slashed, blood streaming freely down his cheeks.

"The hymn of humanity is the hymn of courage! The greatness of humanity is the greatness of courage!"

Emiya wiped the blood from his face and stared defiantly at his opponent, "I don't have to win—I just can't afford to lose!"

"Trace! On!"

He projected new weapons, continuing to resist the endless barrage from the Gate of Babylon!

Under the King of Heroes' merciless assault, he could only scramble to dodge, with no hope of victory in sight.

Countless viewers watched with bated hearts—

-[The timeline of Unlimited Blade Works clearly predates The Oldest King—no wonder Nameless was so hostile to the King of Heroes from the start!]

-[Alaya revealing this footage might be showing us how Nameless transformed and grew stronger!]

-[Sigh, if it were me, I wouldn't even dare to fight the King of Heroes...]

-[No matter what difficulties you face, don't be afraid. Face them with a smile. The best way to overcome fear is to confront it. Persistence is victory—Olé!]

-[How on earth can the King of Heroes be defeated?]

...

"You idiot!"

Rin Tohsaka watched the footage, tears welling in her eyes.

When he could have easily escaped, why did he insist on facing the King of Heroes?

"You want to save everyone, yet why don't you start by saving yourself first?"

What an utterly hopeless fool!

At this moment, she suddenly understood why Nameless had said those words to Jeanne d'Arc during the "Avenging Witch" incident.

Clearly, he had seen his younger self reflected in Jeanne!

On the screen.

Gilgamesh's expression grew increasingly relaxed: "Where's your Saber? Why hasn't she come?"

"She's handling more important matters!" Shirou gritted his teeth.

A mere human, standing against Servants!

He intended to use this grueling battle as a crucible to forge his inner resolve into its final form, achieving ultimate transformation!

"Hah, did you send her to destroy the Holy Grail?" Gilgamesh sneered. "Pity. I've already stationed guards—she'll never succeed!"

Hummm~

He summoned a massive illusory screen, deliberately displaying the Holy Grail's location.

A colossal black hole hovered in the sky, spewing endless black mud into the world.

Just the sight of that mud made countless viewers shudder with primal dread.

Beneath it, King Arthur in full knight's armor was locked in combat with other Servants.

"Humanity's boundless greed and desires have converged within the Grail, transforming into the ultimate curse—[All the World's Evils]."

Gilgamesh's smile turned increasingly cruel. "I shall unleash calamity upon the world, observing how many survive after culling the worthless trash. Doesn't that sound entertaining?"

***

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