Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

THUD!

The severed arm crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The entire scene fell into silence in an instant, as if time had pressed pause at this very moment.

Everyone stared blankly at the screen, thoroughly beginning to question their existence.

Who am I?

Where am I?

What am I watching?

Why did the King of Heroes suddenly get his elbow severed by Shirou?

The fury on Gilgamesh's face froze in an instant.

He looked dazedly at his empty elbow joint, then at the severed arm lying on the ground.

His gaze shifted back and forth several times!

He seemed completely unable to believe that his elbow had been cut off.

Severed by an arrogant mongrel!

Only then did the previously frozen barrage of comments explode all at once—

-[Holy shit! What am I seeing???]

-[Shirou's the GOAT (screaming)! He actually did it!]

-[At this moment, Shirou isn't alone! He's not alone! He's clearly carrying the hopes and blessings of all humanity!]

-[For the birth of the king, we offer this crown woven with blood and tears!]

...

"This is absolutely exhilarating!"

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Roya's petite body began trembling slightly, her small face flushing red instantly as her eyes rolled back slightly.

She was so excited she seemed to enter some indescribable state.

She excitedly pounced on her best friend beside her: "Illya, look! Shirou really defeated the King of Heroes! He's going to avenge Heracles now!"

Earlier, when Gilgamesh had tried to rip out Illya's heart, the Berserker Heracles had fiercely blocked him.

The two engaged in an earth-shattering battle.

Yet the mindless Berserker stood no chance against the King of Heroes.

Under the endless barrage of Noble Phantasms from [Gate of Babylon], he was like a moth flying into flames—a tragic figure with no chance of survival.

He couldn't even get close to the King of Heroes!

Like a wild beast, he was wantonly caged by the King of Heroes.

In the end, Heracles transcended his own mythology to finally break free from the chains of heaven.

Yet he still couldn't reach the King of Heroes, being forcefully obliterated.

Until his dying breath, this great hero continued protecting Illya!

Those previous scenes had been unbearably oppressive, making one feel as if endless darkness was closing in with no glimpse of light.

But now, all that accumulated oppression, despair, fear, and terror transformed into exhilarating catharsis as Shirou severed the King of Heroes' elbow.

The more oppressive and hopeless it was before, the more exhilarating it became now!

"I see it!"

Illya lay supine on the sofa, tears already soaking her ruby-like beautiful eyes.

It was him—it was really him, the hero who took up Heracles' mantle to continue protecting her!

She finally remembered everything.

It was his protection that saved her from having her heart ripped out by the King of Heroes to serve as the "core" of the Holy Grail.

Yet sadly, Berserker had left her forever.

That Greek hero seemed determined to make up for past regrets, protecting her with his life from the very beginning.

Now, Shirou's defeat of the King of Heroes would finally avenge him!

Berserker, when you regain your sanity, you'll surely be the strongest in the world—absolutely capable of defeating the King of Heroes!

Illya believed this without doubt.

The great hero who completed the Twelve Labors, received blessings from the gods, and was deified after death—his Mad Enhancement had clearly been weakening him all along!

Roya couldn't help clenching her fists: "Go, Shirou! Trample the King of Heroes underfoot completely!"

"Wait, weren't you the King of Heroes' biggest fan?"

Souma looked at her with a strange expression.

This bear of a child, like Gabriel, was originally a cute and kind little angel but completely degenerated into a fallen angel due to gaming addiction.

Obsessed with gacha spending, all their allowance and scholarship money were drained on in-game purchases.

Perhaps due to Gaia or Alaya's influence, they became the King of Non-Stop Bad Luck, with such abysmal luck it was terrifying.

Sometimes, they couldn't even pull the guaranteed reward!

Thus, the so-called wealthiest King of Heroes was treated as a god of fortune—every time they rolled the gacha, they would pray to him.

"Hmph, did I like him back then? I was just after his money—I'm honest!" Roya snorted lightly.

After seeing this video, it would be truly strange if anyone could still like the King of Heroes.

"Ah, this... The Wise King losing fans is really tragic..." Souma felt a headache coming on.

It was as if he could see the King of Heroes aiming Ea at him from somewhere!

As he watched the video, despite the throbbing pain in his head, he couldn't help but crack a delighted smile.

Ah, my dear friend, may you rest in peace!

The video continued.

Gilgamesh, who had been frozen in shock, finally snapped out of it.

Suppressing boundless fury, he solemnly declared, "I must admit—at this moment, you are stronger!"

"Oh? The mighty King of Heroes wants to run away now?"

Shirou stared at him with undisguised mockery but made no move to stop him.

Provoked by the taunt, Gilgamesh instantly flew into a rage. "You damn mongrel! This king will make sure you die!"

A king must not be insulted!

As the proudest of kings, he had never suffered such humiliation before—it could only be washed away with blood and death.

Just as everyone was preparing to watch the battle between the two, the scene suddenly shifted.

There stood Artoria, wielding her holy sword, facing the monstrous entity formed from the endless black mud pouring out of the Holy Grail.

The holy sword radiated a dazzling golden brilliance, brimming with boundless sanctity and hope—a stark contrast to the black mud spewed by the Grail.

King Arthur raised Excalibur high and roared:

"Ex…calibur!"

Hummm!

The light from the sword transformed into a golden beam, soaring straight into the heavens.

The holy sword converted the magical energy in King Arthur's grasp into light, forming a beam capable of annihilating all in its path to strike down the enemy.

The pillar of light crashed down upon the Holy Grail.

Under this devastating assault, the all-consuming black mud and the Grail itself were utterly obliterated!

The aftermath resembled the detonation of a nuclear bomb, with a golden mushroom cloud rising into the sky.

A truly peaceful Fuyuki City!

However,

This overwhelmingly terrifying ultimate attack also affected the battle on the other side.

Under the force of the explosion, the already strained Reality Marble, Unlimited Blade Works, shattered completely at that moment.

The two combatants were thrust back into reality!

Leaving countless spectators stunned—

-[As we all know, the Holy Grail War is supposed to be conducted in secrecy… so why have you nuked the city twice? Is this really a peaceful Fuyuki?]

-[Speaking of which, does this count as friendly fire?]

-[Seems like it… Unlimited Blade Works is essentially the ultimate buff, multiplying Shirou's combat power!]

-[So what now? Are we just going to watch the King of Heroes escape?]

...

Gilgamesh sneered, "You have indeed exceeded my expectations. But alas, to defy this king is to choose death!"

With a wave of his hand, he absorbed the remnants of the black mud, reconstructing his body.

It was this very black mud that had granted him a physical form, allowing him to persist in this world.

Coupled with the Elixir of Youth, which altered his appearance and personality, he had been able to exist undetected for a decade!

Strangely, Shirou, who should have seized the opportunity to finish him off, simply stood by and watched the entire time.

Though covered in grievous wounds, Shirou's eyes burned with an intense light. "I will trample all your arrogance beneath my feet! Draw Ea, your Sword of Rupture!"

"Hah! To think a mere mongrel dares provoke me so!"

Gilgamesh couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Heroic Spirits are beings whose legendary deeds in life, after death, are summoned by the world as myths.

He is the oldest King of Heroes.

Wielding Ea, the Noble Phantasm used by the gods to cleave the world at creation, he possesses the power to rend the very fabric of reality.

Previously, he had dismissed his opponent as unworthy, choosing to sheath Ea and fight with one hand tied behind his back.

But now, this insolent mongrel had the audacity to demand he wield this very weapon!

"Very well, mongrel! As you wish!"

For the first time, Gilgamesh fully unleashed Ea.

Hummm!

The Sword of Rupture began to spin violently, its apocalyptic crimson energy coalescing into a blood-red beam that pierced the heavens.

Everyone present understood with absolute clarity—should that beam descend, it would annihilate the entire city!

...

Britain, Prime Minister's Office.

Gawain couldn't help but shake his head. "Nameless… you truly are even more arrogant than the King of Heroes!"

He had assumed that after severing Gilgamesh's arm, Shirou would press his advantage and secure victory.

But instead, this fool had given the King of Heroes the chance to unleash Ea!

What sheer audacity!

Just when he thought he had lost the bet, Shirou had turned around and handed the victory to his opponent.

Tsk, really gonna let someone pull off a comeback with a sliver of health, huh?

"I think I know what he's relying on..."

Mordred, however, smiled.

"Still got a trump card?"

Gawain was stunned.

That was Ea, the Sword of Rupture! Even the more formidable Nameless was taken down in one strike—how the hell was young Shirou supposed to block that?!

"Just keep watching and you'll see!"

Mordred didn't explain.

Under the gaze of everyone, in the video,

Shirou mercilessly mocked: "You, the oldest mongrel, really had your brain rotted by the Grail mud!"

Then, his gaze shifted to the King of Knights, who had just destroyed the Holy Grail and instantly appeared by his side.

"Sorry for dragging your Reality Marble into this," Artoria said, full of remorse.

After the seal on Excalibur was released, its power was strong enough to destroy a city—even she couldn't restrain its destructive force.

"It's nothing."

But Shirou, his face covered in blood, grinned brilliantly: "This time, please entrust everything to me!"

"Alright!"

Artoria paused for a moment, then nodded without hesitation, handing Excalibur directly to him.

This scene made countless viewers seethe with jealousy.

The mighty King Arthur, at this moment, trusted him absolutely, like a lovestruck girl!

If she could even give him her holy sword, what couldn't she give?

Meanwhile,

Gilgamesh was utterly enraged by their disregard. He sneered, "You mongrels who dare provoke me—allow me to grant you destruction!"

[Enuma Elish!]

Hum!

A crimson beam of light blasted toward the two.

With boundless might, it tore through everything, reducing all to nothingness.

Under the crushing pressure of the world-rending beam, fresh wounds split open across Shirou's body.

Yet, holding Excalibur, he didn't retreat—instead, he charged straight into the crimson light!

"Hah, mongrel, you're digging your own grave!"

Gilgamesh snorted coldly, as if already seeing the other torn to shreds.

At the same time, everyone else couldn't bear to watch.

Earlier, Nameless had been utterly annihilated by taking Ea's power head-on!

Standing in the distance, Rin couldn't hold back her tears as she screamed, "You idiot, dodge already!"

Why insist on taking it head-on?

Are you that eager to die?

Think dying will make you a Heroic Spirit?

Under the anxious, panicked, and horrified gazes of all, Shirou collided head-on with the crimson beam.

Contrary to all expectations, his body wasn't destroyed at all.

Hum!

Threads of golden light seeped from his body, weaving into fine strands that enveloped him and his surroundings.

Under this radiance, all of Shirou's wounds healed in an instant.

As if he'd never been injured—completely unharmed!

"That's... Avalon?!" Gawain muttered, stunned.

Yes, this was [Avalon: The Everdistant Utopia], the sheath of Excalibur.

Its wielder would never age, and any injury would heal instantly!

It possessed absolute protection akin to magic, capable of resisting all magecraft and physical attacks!

The sheath itself was equivalent to "True Magic"!

If Ea was the "strongest sword" with the power to "sever the world,"

Then Avalon was the "strongest shield" with "absolute protection."

Now, the strongest spear met the strongest shield.

Hum~

Under the protection of Avalon, Shirou clashed head-on with the crimson beam of light.

A true face-to-face encounter with Ea!

Under this invincible defense rivaling magic, even the sword said to cleave the world, Ea, failed to penetrate.

No!

Not only did it fail to penetrate, but it even reflected part of the damage!

A portion of Ea's destructive power surged back toward him.

Forcing Gilgamesh to flee in disarray from his position.

The entire ground was violently shattered, leaving a crater dozens of meters deep.

He couldn't quite believe it: "Damn it, you still have this trick up your sleeve!?"

He wanted to escape, but it was already too late.

Shirou, wielding the holy sword, descended upon him from afar: "King of Heroes, let me have a heart-to-heart talk with you!"

"Get away from me, mongrel!"

Gilgamesh summoned countless golden ripples once more.

From the Gate of Babylon, countless Noble Phantasms surged forth, raining down upon the youth.

"Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless!"

At this moment, Shirou threw the words right back.

Sheltered by Avalon's invincible barrier, he completely ignored all enemy attacks as he charged forward with great strides.

Gripping his holy sword, he roared: "You tyrant who views humans as beasts and seeks to arbitrarily punish mankind—now face the judgment of countless humans pursuing victory and hope!"

"Ex...calibur!"

BOOM!

A golden pillar of light erupted once more, so brilliant it was blinding to behold.

With a single swing of his sword, heaven and earth transformed!

Like sunlight piercing through the night, dawn quietly swept across the horizon.

Infinite radiance shattered all darkness, letting golden sunlight bathe the land once more!

When the light faded...

The King of Heroes could be seen with a fatal hole the size of a bowl completely piercing through his heart.

Pointing at the youth, he spat: "You damn mongrel... this king shall return!"

BOOM!

His body exploded, evaporating into motes of golden light amidst the dazzling radiance.

The arrogant, domineering, and invincible King of Heroes had been utterly defeated—his ashes scattered to the winds!

"The time has come. Behold your shattered form, oh tyrannical king of the heavens!"

Shirou quietly watched his disintegration and whispered, "I, Shirou... have done it."

The tyrant whose mind had been thoroughly corrupted by the black mud into a cruel monster—had finally been completely destroyed by him!

HUM~

His hair suddenly turned snow-white, becoming silver-haired in the blink of an eye.

Identical to Nameless of the future!

***

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