Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

Light!

At this moment, Nameless became light itself!

Brilliant, dazzling, yet infinitely warm light!

Light filled with hope, leading to the future!

It was as if a miniature sun had risen on the spot, illuminating everything around it.

Countless images flashed wildly—

Scenes of the worlds Nameless had traversed, the battles he had fought, the lives he had saved, the choices he had made…

Then, a familiar, gentle voice narrated—

"With a finite life, facing existence defined by death and despair."

"Knowing the end will come, yet repeating partings and encounters without cease."

"...A journey of utmost brilliance and splendor!"

"Like the fleeting passage of a shooting star!"

"This is a story of love and hope!"

This was Nameless' past—and the very path the young Shirou was destined to walk.

Past and future intertwined completely.

Nameless used himself as fuel, passing everything—everything—to the young Shirou.

To his past self!

Shirou reached out, trying to touch him. "Na—me—less—!"

But it was like grasping at a soap bubble—his form dissolved into light, vanishing without a trace.

Amid the surging radiance, a faint glow of magical energy appeared on Shirou's left arm—the Magic Crests Nameless had passed down to him.

Magical energy was, in essence, another form of life force.

To transfer one's magic was to transfer one's life—everything that defined them.

Nameless had vanished completely—from this world, from this timeline!

Every witness to this scene felt their souls tremble in awe—

-[God, Nameless sacrificed himself to empower his past self!]

-[Nameless is the GOAT! Whether past or future, he guards humanity to the very end!]

-[At this moment, Nameless became light—completing the cycle of life!]

-[Ah, Nameless truly had it hard—even his weaker self had to be forged through his own sacrifice!]

-[Please, Shirou, accept the legacy of your future self. Defeat this arrogant King and cast him down from his throne, trampling him underfoot!]

...

Chaldea.

Mash, dressed in casual home clothes, looked slightly dazed. "Why does the narrator's voice sound like mine?"

Indeed, the gentle female voice from the earlier narration was unmistakably hers!

She felt as though she had forgotten so, so much.

Things she absolutely shouldn't have forgotten.

But no matter how hard she tried to recall, nothing came to mind.

"Don't worry, Mash. Alaya will surely reveal everything in time," Dr. Roman reassured the frowning girl with visible concern.

"Yes, Doctor."

Mash nodded obediently and continued watching the video.

Yet her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the boy she had encountered earlier.

When she met him, she found herself inexplicably crying, the word "Senpai" slipping from her lips without reason.

Since then, she would wake up in the mornings with tears streaming down her face for no apparent reason.

This kept happening intermittently.

It was as if she had dreamed a long dream, only to wake up remembering none of it.

How truly strange!

Da Vinci couldn't help but marvel, "As expected of Nameless! Such fearless determination, willing to face certain death without regret!"

"This is humanity brimming with hope and miracles!"

Suddenly, Dr. Roman felt tears welling up in his eyes.

An indescribable emotion surged in his heart.

Words failed him.

He could only feel—

How fortunate to be born human!

Dr. Roman couldn't comprehend this strange stirring.

Could it be... he wasn't human in a past life?

"Even with the inheritance, young Shirou will find it difficult to defeat the King of Heroes," Da Vinci sighed softly.

If even his future self failed, how could his younger self possibly succeed?

"No, he can do it!"

Mash pressed a hand to her chest, answering with unwavering conviction.

The other two glanced at her but said nothing more, silently turning back to the video.

On screen.

Gilgamesh stood atop a streetlamp, watching with amusement. "An interesting human. You would willingly sacrifice yourself to pass on your remaining mana and Magic Crest to another."

Was this fool truly so confident?

Confident that some ordinary boy could defeat him?

How utterly presumptuous!

"I initially thought you worthy to face me in battle, but it seems you're nothing but a fool! An imbecile! If even you cannot stand against me, how could this mere boy possibly succeed?"

Gilgamesh's earlier regard had completely transformed into mockery. "Hah, a hero of justice? Creating a world where no one gets hurt? How laughable!"

"Your pursuit of equality and protection is nothing but the wailing of the weak!"

Under his relentless taunts, the boy stood up.

His eyes shone with extraordinary clarity as he gazed up at the domineering King. "I once thought to run away, but I realized I couldn't bear to watch others die."

"You may call me hypocritical. You may call me foolish. You may even call me arrogant."

Shirou sighed softly.

The video showed flashes of his memories—

Conversations with Nameless, dialogues with Rin Tohsaka.

Person after person had urged him to give up.

Yet he simply couldn't.

"But I... I just want to protect those around me, to safeguard those I can. So even if it's a meaningless dream, even if what lies ahead is nothing but emptiness, I will—!!!"

The boy lifted his head to meet the King's gaze, his resolve crystallizing in this very moment.

Anyone who saw him could clearly perceive the indomitable courage he possessed.

"Though nine deaths I should suffer, regret would I none; I'll seek my way, be it high or low!"

"Hahaha, fool! Even your so-called ideal of being a 'hero of justice' is nothing but a borrowed counterfeit!"

Gilgamesh's laughter grew increasingly mocking. "After all, you're just a fake who can save no one!"

Hum!

Countless golden ripples blossomed behind him as numerous weapons emerged from within.

[Gate of Babylon] once again unleashed its full might.

The King of Heroes sheathed Ea, sneering contemptuously, "Rejoice, for a king must maintain his dignity. To seriously deal with a mongrel like you would count as my defeat!"

A foolish counterfeit wasn't even worthy of making him draw Ea!

Gate of Babylon erupted with its complete power.

Endless Noble Phantasms rained down like a Gatling gun's barrage upon his opponent.

Just then.

A figure abruptly intervened between the two, brandishing a holy sword to block all the incoming Noble Phantasms.

King Arthur had arrived!

Having finally dealt with her own enemies, she came to assist the young man against the overwhelmingly powerful King of Heroes!

Witnessing this scene.

Mordred shook her head slightly: "As expected, he still has to rely on Father."

Even after receiving the legacy of her future self, it would take an enormous amount of time to fully integrate it.

How could anyone master everything instantly?

Not even a genius like her could accomplish that!

Which meant...

She'd lost her bet with Gawain again???

Now she'd have to learn how to make mashed potatoes from that potato spirit and join him in tormenting all the Knights of the Round Table?

"Hahaha, Mordred, it seems you've lost again!" Gawain flashed his sun-like brilliant smile.

I, Gawain, never fail!

The bet between the two was that King Arthur would defeat the King of Heroes.

Now, the King has arrived, which means he has won the bet!

At that moment.

King Arthur, who had been silent beside them, fixed her saintly blue eyes on the screen and said, "Be patient and keep watching. You'll soon understand why he is who he is."

"Uh…"

Gawain was momentarily speechless.

Could there still be a twist?

Surely, it couldn't be that a mere boy who had just received his inheritance and had never even used a Magic Crest would defeat the King of Heroes?

No!

That's impossible!

Even the nameless one from the future failed—how could a mere boy like him possibly succeed?

I swear upon my title as the Sun Knight of radiance, fairness, justice, and kindness—it's absolutely impossible!

On the screen.

The knight-armored girl, Artoria, stepped in front of the boy: "Shirou, I'll take him on next. You should rest for now."

Having finally dealt with the remaining enemies, she rushed here at once, wanting to help him.

At this moment, Artoria had already resolved to defeat the tyrannical despot, even if it cost her life!

"No, Artoria, you go and destroy the Holy Grail. If we don't deal with it soon, the black mud spilling from it will engulf all of Fuyuki City, causing countless casualties!"

Shirou refused without hesitation.

Even in such a dire crisis, he still only thought of saving others!

His words shocked Artoria: "You're just an ordinary human! Humans cannot fight against Servants!"

"Trust me—this time, I won't lose!"

Shirou placed a hand on her shoulder, his youthful face breaking into a radiant smile. "After this battle, I'll keep teaching you how to cook when we get back."

"Alright, I believe in you! May fortune favor your blade!"

Artoria clenched her teeth but ultimately chose to trust the boy, turning to head toward the black mud.

She intended to use her remaining mana to fully unleash her holy sword and destroy the Holy Grail.

The boy suddenly sighed softly. "Artoria, I'm really not a proper knight—I couldn't save you, the King of Knights."

"No, you are the true knight… my Master."

Artoria smiled gently. "As for the rest… let's talk after this battle is over!"

Her smile was so tender it could melt hearts.

In that moment, she no longer seemed like a formidable king—just an ordinary girl waiting for her beloved.

After she turned and left.

"Hahahaha! Hahahaha! Fool! How could you possibly stand against me without the aid of King Arthur?"

Gilgamesh burst into uncontrollable laughter. "You're nothing but a counterfeit, a hypocrite! Don't tell me you're planning to sacrifice yourself just to buy her time?"

His laughter was wild, unrestrained, and filled with glee.

It was as if he were watching the most ridiculous clown show.

At this moment, he had completely lost all hope for the boy before him.

An arrogant mongrel!

"That's right—I am a counterfeit."

Shirou suddenly smiled.

On his left arm, which bore the inheritance of Nameless, a surge of magical energy abruptly erupted.

Streaks of blue mana, like arcs of electricity, danced wildly across the ground.

"Did you know? My Reality Marble isn't about forging swords—it's about shaping my own heart into form!"

Surrounded by endless blue mana arcs, the boy looked up at his opponent. "The time has come. This is the day the arrogant tyrant shall be devoured!"

"King of Heroes Gilgamesh—no, you brain-addled scum soaked in black mud, witness your own destruction!"

***

Hey readers!

Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.

🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹