He tore through the Holy Grail War, and you still call him a dragon?

Kotodama: "Shinra"—a technique capable of inducing hallucinations. It was the ability of one of the Zhou family descendants.

However, after integrating with a magical system, the release style of Kotodama had become far more flexible.

Just like how Emiya always muttered "Trace on" when activating his projection, other magi didn't use traditional dragon-chant incantations either. Each one adjusted their trigger according to their own traits—some with a snap, a whistle, a stomp, or even just clenching their teeth.

The point wasn't the exact phrase—but how well it resonated with the caster.

Tang, for example, preferred to snap dramatically or whistle.

The Zhou family's style, on the other hand, had a distinctly Shenzhou flair: mudras with fingers, footwork patterns, or vocal charms like "Jí jí rú lǜ lìng!"

And depending on the length and complexity of the chant, the effects could scale up accordingly.

Take the "Shinra" illusion spell—it could evolve from a simple hallucination inducer into full-body projections indistinguishable to both human eyes and camera systems.

Thanks to this, Tang and his squad boldly infiltrated the Wushuang facility undetected.

"How arrogant!" Chen's Fourth Brother screamed, enraged at the sight of Tang smirking in front of a dozen drawn guns. "Open fire!"

The entire basement lit up with muzzle flashes, roaring with deafening fury.

But Tang had expected this.

He gracefully retreated as another Zhou family caster stepped forward, finishing a long chant and releasing the final phrase:

"Jí jí rú lǜ lìng!"

An invisible force scattered the dust and particles in the air, forming a transparent barrier over Tang's group. The moment it met the storm of bullets, it didn't just block them—it repelled them.

Magecraft: Land of Purity.

The reflective barrier expanded, sending the bullets hurtling back with undiminished force.

Chen's Fourth Brother hit the ground in panic. Others weren't so lucky—their own rounds tore into them, laying many low.

Thankfully, some wore body armor and remained operational.

But the momentum had shifted. Zhou's forces charged like wolves among sheep, unleashing a vicious counterattack.

Chaos erupted. Lights overhead shattered under stray fire, throwing the scene into a dim twilight.

From behind the battle lines, Chen's Fourth Brother crawled desperately through the mess. He stared in horror at the Zhou warriors—casting spells with mudras, deflecting bullets with chants, or launching blazing fists from Xingyi boxing stances.

"What the hell are these people?! Doesn't anyone fight fair anymore?"

Dazed and disoriented, he finally reached a control panel and slammed the emergency alert button.

——

Elsewhere, in a storage district, Emiya and his team observed a large transport vehicle at the entrance. Burly hybrid guards were loading thickly armored crates onto it.

Technically, the area was too open for a real ambush—but the entire team was hidden inside Sakurazaka Mai's Kotodama: Meishou field, cloaking them from sight.

Emiya whispered, "Looks like they're transporting Dead Apostles. That truck and those containers... exactly like the ones I saw with Tang and Zhou Yuxuan. But why now? Did they detect our presence?"

"Unlikely," Zero replied calmly. Due to her height, Emiya leaned in to hear better.

"The transport logs follow a pattern. This shipment still fits that schedule. They're rushing out files and equipment. To them, the Apostles are just sustainable assets—as long as the supply chain holds."

"Still... we can't let them escape."

Before he could say more, a piercing alarm echoed throughout the compound.

The guards froze, then sprang into action—guns drawn, lights blazing, spotlights tearing through the dark.

Sakurazaka whispered, "With no terrain cover, we'll be discovered soon."

"Tang's probably begun his assault. No point hiding now," Emiya muttered, retrieving his bow. From his quiver, he drew a previously projected blade—Pseudo-Seven Star Longyuan—and readied it.

Behind him, Zhou family members carried massive black sword-cases filled with weapons Emiya had painstakingly projected over the past few days.

Unlike Red A, who could conjure swords instantly thanks to Unlimited Blade Works, Emiya still lacked that luxury. He couldn't store weapons in a Reality Marble, nor did he have a vast mana pool.

So, he built his arsenal the hard way—one blade at a time.

Tonight, he brought most of it.

He would burn down every last one of Chen's cursed experiments.

Elsewhere, guards were mobilizing fast—checking for intruders, calling for reinforcements. The shipment truck, already half-loaded, couldn't just be left behind. Several hybrids shoved the last crate inside and began sealing the rear doors.

Whizz!

A shrill noise sliced through the air.

A cold gleam zipped past the guards and embedded itself in the crate—

A sword?

They stared, dumbfounded. Why would the enemy launch a melee weapon into the truck? Shouldn't they be firing grenades?

A heartbeat later, pure light erupted.

White heat scorched the air. Incineration exploded outward, swallowing everything in a storm of annihilation.

(End of Chapter)

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