The falling meteor was completely shattered.
Endless fragments scattered into countless shards of stone raining down.
But Kouhai had already raised her shield, transforming it into the Wall of Camelot, sheltering everyone within.
The villagers who should have been wiped out to the last had not suffered the slightest injury.
"Amazing! In you, I finally see a glimpse of hope—the future where the First Emperor can be defeated!" Keika's eyes brimmed with admiration.
Keika had once been the assassin of the late Warring States, the one who attempted to slay Shikotei in proper human history.
Alas, in the end she failed.
The Great unification of the land was an irresistible destiny; all who resisted were crushed to dust.
Therefore, Keika bore no hatred toward Shikotei, nor toward Nameless, nor even toward the one who had given the order.
The assassination had been Keika's fate, her way of repaying grace.
At the time, Keika had already accepted certain death.
This time, summoned again, it was to bring an end to this distorted history, and return the future to mankind.
"You actually did it! With a mortal body, you shattered a star!" Mordred stared in dumbstruck awe as the figure came falling down.
When Heracles had thrown him upward, he was like a moth diving into fire.
Compared to the falling meteor, his body was so small as to be nearly invisible.
And yet now, he had actually shattered the meteor, stopping the tyrant's command from being fulfilled.
Mordred's grin blazed brilliantly.
It seemed things had just become far more interesting.
Countless viewers were likewise stunned—
Blackman&Robbing-[Holy crap, Nameless actually cleaved a meteor in half?!]
HistorianWithWifi-[Nameless got even stronger! Back then, it took the great hero Arash sacrificing himself to stop Lion King's Judgment, and now Nameless just one-slashed it!]
SirFucksAlot-[Sigh, for Nameless, the so-called Hero of Justice, once danger comes he'll never ask others to go first—it's always himself who charges ahead!]
…
In Persia—
Arash couldn't help but raise his cup in salute: "Truly, you are also a great hero!"
To exist solely to protect ordinary people, to face gods without fear of death—
This was the true act of a hero.
"Indeed, a hero."
The visiting King of Conquerors nodded.
Holding his own cup, he sighed faintly: "But alas, only a hero. He cannot be a king."
"Huh? Why not? Isn't a king precisely the one who sacrifices himself to protect his people, enjoying their respect and reverence?"
Arash was surprised.
To be cherished for guarding the people, to be admired for strength, to be followed by soldiers in awe of invincibility—
"Wrong. It is not the king who sacrifices for the people, but the people and nation who sacrifice for their king!"
The King of Conquerors replied without hesitation.
"Uh…"
For a moment, Arash didn't know how to respond.
After all, he was just a simple bowman, not a true king.
"The essence of a king is to crave the most, laugh the loudest, rage the fiercest—so that his retainers envy him, and in every subject's heart ignites the flame of 'I too wish to be king!'"
The Conqueror gazed at the figure on-screen, that man who had drawn his blade for the sake of all:
"But Nameless chooses to protect and to give of himself. That's why he can only ever be a hero—a hero walking the dark alone, guarding all of humanity."
"But no one else could ever go as far as him! He knows he might die, yet still would rather die nine times over than regret once!" Arash shook his head in rebuttal.
"Don't mistake me. I meant no slight. If anything, I mean to say—I am less than him!"
The Conqueror laughed heartily.
A laugh bold and forthright, utterly candid in admitting the truth.
Though a king, he resembled more an ordinary man chasing the dream of conquering the world, exulting in the thrill of conquest, inspiring countless others to follow in madness.
Nameless, however, was one who walked human history itself, guarding all mankind.
From that perspective, even he was among those being protected by Nameless.
How could anyone compare to that?
"As expected of the King of Conquerors—you're refreshingly honest!" Arash raised his cup in return.
This was a king who lived most true to himself.
Not like the King of Heroes, who bore everything, toiling endlessly as a wise king.
Nor like the King of Knights, who gave all for the people, a saint who offered herself up.
But a man who could feel sorrow, shed tears, yet never regret, leading his people to battle across the world!
The Conqueror clinked his cup with him: "Which is why—I truly look forward to seeing what fate awaits that First Emperor!"
All of them were kings among kings.
Each possessed utterly different natures and lives, each beloved and revered by the world.
And yet—
In this Lostbelt, that First Emperor scorned all humanity.
"So do I," Arash smiled in reply.
Most likely, the First Emperor would end up like that chuuni tyrant Golden Boy—cut down, heart torn open by Nameless.
To awaken his buried humanity, they were fated to pay the price in blood.
The video continued.
The scene abruptly shifted to the Palace.
Kan Shin's face was filled with shock:
"Impossible! Chaldea carried no anti-air armaments. How could they possibly resist the Great Wall's bombardment head-on?"
Chaldea's equipment had already been thoroughly investigated.
Their every trick analyzed and studied.
That they had survived this long was only because His Majesty had not given the command for their annihilation.
"No… that must be the radiance of a Heroic Spirit." Shikotei sighed softly: "Remember this, Kan Shin—these are the enemies that will now confront."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Kan Shin stared at the projection of that lone figure who had cleaved the meteor with a single stroke. He couldn't help but marvel:
"Looking at him is like seeing once more the master himself—Nameless, who severed the connection between gods and man… I wonder where he now resides."
"The master once spoke of a future nation—where all had food to eat, clothes to wear, and knew no war or calamity."
Shikotei's immense divine body floated above, gazing down over the vast land.
His voice rolled like thunder across the land:
"Now, I have realized that paradise once thought to exist only in myth—and more peaceful, more powerful than he ever described. Surely, the master would commend me?"
Back then, that man had told him of a future that would be strong beyond compare.
Where every soul ate well and dressed warmly.
Now, he had forged with his own hands a realm greater than those words, turning legend into reality.
No war. No famine. Even enemies—erased completely.
"Indeed! Lord Nameless would surely praise Your Majesty, awed by your glorious achievements!"
Kan Shin smiled.
"Therefore, grant me command to mobilize the puppet legions, to unseal more frozen heroes, and utterly annihilate Chaldea!"
As a the unrivaled strategist, he had a hundred ways to destroy them with ease.
All that remained was His Majesty's decree.
"No hurry. Let us amuse ourselves a while longer. I too wish to see this so-called future of mankind." Shikotei's answer was calm.
A future utterly unlike that of mine.
A future with no hope—yet brimming with hope.
Inside the real Epang Palace, Heroic Spirits glanced at one another in silence, sneaking glances toward the sovereign seated high upon the throne.
Not merely praise—His Majesty's deeds were enough to make even Nameless wish to bare his heart to him.
Yet none dared speak.
To say such a thing aloud would be a direct insult—tantamount to seeking death.
Under the oppressive silence—
The scene cut back to Chaldea.
The meteor had been shattered.
Nameless's body came tumbling down from the heights.
It was as if all his strength had been spent, leaving him unable even to right himself.
At this critical moment—
Mordred leapt without hesitation, catching him in a princess carry. "You absolute idiot—charging in headfirst like that! What if you had failed?"
"If I failed, then it would be up to you to step over my corpse and become justice." Nameless's pale face still wore a smile.
There was no regret in him at all.
To split the meteor with a single stroke had indeed carried risk.
But it had not been without chance of success.
For anyone else, it would have meant certain self-sacrifice.
That, he could not allow.
Better they tread over his corpse first.
The villagers swarmed forward, faces full of awe and gratitude as they looked at him.
The little one who had once been taught poetry by him came running, offering him a flower: "You taught me this before—so now I should say it back—thank you!"
"Good. You remembered." Nameless reached out to ruffle the child's hair.
The girl wiped her eyes, then said earnestly: "Can you make me stronger? I want to protect everyone too!"
"…Of course you can."
Nameless froze for a moment.
In the child's figure, he suddenly saw an echo—of another kid, long ago, who had fled from an enemy state, whom he had once saved, who had borne the very same desire to become strong.
That man—
had now become the ruler of all under the sky—
Shikotei.
"Mm, I'll definitely… study hard!"
The little one answered with all seriousness.
Before, she hadn't understood anything.
Not even the meaning of "parents."
But now, faintly, she understood so much more.
Just then—
Mordred suddenly frowned and looked down at the Nameless in her arms.
"Eh? Why does it feel like my body's heating up? Did you do something?"
"Probably, you've connected to Alaya again." Nameless smiled.
"How could that be? This world has no leylines at all—there's absolutely no trace of Alaya's waves!" Mash said in astonishment.
In this world, Alaya had been completely suppressed by the First Emperor.
Or rather—
He himself had become Alaya.
Any Heroic Spirit summoned here was cut off from the collective unconscious of mankind—Alaya.
"Alaya is the collective will of humanity. And just now, when these villagers gave birth to prayer in their hearts, it created a channel linking Alaya to the Throne of Heroes." Nameless explained.
Before, Shikotei had suppressed the people's wisdom.
He had forced them to abandon countless cultural legacies.
He had molded them into a different kind of people.
To put it more bluntly—
If the world were a game, then he had made a Qin-only private server, cut off from Alaya's "official server."
But now—
When the villagers, condemned to death by the First Emperor and then saved by him again, found their prayers rekindled, they reconnected to the official server.
Alaya rediscovered this place, converted the "private server" back into a public one—allowing all Heroic Spirits to log in.
Da Vinci gasped: "Ah, it's here! I can feel a Heroic Spirit responding—they're trying to descend and aid us!"
"That's wonderful! Finally, another ally!" Mash said, her voice brimming with excitement.
The moment the connection to Alaya was restored, someone had rushed to descend.
Clearly, it had to be a hero of towering stature!
Buzz—
A magic circle flared before them, and out stepped a man in feathered robes, a fan in one hand and a scroll in the other.
His face was full of wonder as he exclaimed:
"Ah, the sweet air of bygone days—so nostalgic! It seems I've arrived in the past! Long time no see, Master~"
"Long time no see, Chin Kyu." Nameless greeted him with a smile.
"What, Chin Kyu???"
Da Vinci's face twisted with shock.
Even Mash's expression changed slightly—she unconsciously stepped back a pace.
"Why is it this guy?"
"Eh? Why do you all look so strange?"
Mordred blinked in puzzlement.
He was a Heroic Spirit, summoned immediately to help—wasn't that a good thing?
So why did Da Vinci and Mash look like they were afraid of him?
"Um…"
Mash didn't know how to explain.
She couldn't exactly say this guy likes to use Heroic Spirits as fireworks, could she?
"There's no need to be so tense. I'm merely a humble, ordinary strategist—though I do specialize in drawing out your greatest power."
Chin Kyu pushed his glasses up, smiling gently.
"You… do you desire strength?"
"Hm? You can make me stronger?"
Mordred looked at him, eyes wavering between doubt and hope.
"Of course! I can make you stronger than your very limits!" Chin Kyu said proudly.
"Really? How?!"
Mordred's eyes lit up, so excited she almost dropped Nameless from her arms.
Mash instinctively raised her shield, stepping in front.
"Don't go near him!"
…
Meanwhile, in the real Palace—
Chin Kyu wore a smug grin.
"See? Just as I thought—I was summoned as their helper!"
"What are you scheming this time?"
Komei muttered, utterly exasperated.
As the audience had said, Chin Kyu's combat ability was mediocre. But yes, he was an expert at unleashing the utmost potential of others.
The problem?
His specialty was turning Heroic Spirits into fireworks.
In Chin Kyu's hands, everyone became Arash, capable of unleashing power beyond their limits—at the cost of their life.
Even when the First Emperor had summoned Nameless, it was Chin Kyu's techniques that allowed him to exist for longer.
Ryofu Hōsen, sulking nearby, muttered:
"Tch! What's the point of summoning that strategist? Why not summon me?"
"It should have been me!" Kou cut in at once.
For as long as men lived, scholars competed for first place, warriors for supremacy. And as the mightiest of generals, how could Kou not prove himself?
At that moment—
Only Shikotei on his throne spoke calmly:
"So. All of you wish to be summoned?"
"Your Majesty, not me! Definitely not!" Komei waved his hands frantically.
What a joke!
In the Lostbelt, any Heroic Spirit summoned had only one mission: to oppose its Lostbelt King.
In other words—the First Emperor himself!
There was an eight-in-ten chance the video would soon show Nameless and others battling, even defeating the Emperor.
And here was the Emperor in person.
Who would dare admit they wanted that role?
The others quickly realized too, and forced awkward smiles.
The hall instantly fell into unbearable silence.
And then—
The "clip-clop" of hooves echoed from the video.
The second Heroic Spirit had arrived.
But this one… looked a little strange.
It was… a centaur?
No—worse!
Not only was his lower body that of a horse, even his head was that of a horse!
Chin Kyu, who'd been about to tempt Mordred further, froze and stared.
"What kind of monster are you supposed to be?"
"What nonsense! Of course I am Ryofu Hōsen!"
The horse-headed centaur puffed up with pride as he spoke.
Everyone was stunned.
In the Lostbelt, Kou had been transformed into a war machine with a horse's lower body and four arms. That made sense.
But why did Ryofu Hōsen look even more absurd—practically a demon beast in form?
Chin Kyu's jaw slackened.
"Er… then why do you look like that?"
"If Chin Kyu was summon as a heroic spirit, who else could it be but the Flying General, Ryofu Hōsen?"
The horse-centaur straightened proudly.
"After all, the saying 'Among men, Lü Bu; among horses, Red Hare' speaks to my heroic fusion of man and steed. Thus, naturally, I appear as one!"
"Ah—look! There's a carrot on the ground back there!" Nameless suddenly pointed behind him.
"Eh? Where, where?! A delicious carrot?!"
The centaur's eyes immediately sparkled.
Chin Kyu's face twisted in disgust.
"Heh… and you dare say you're not just Red Hare?"
"I am Ryofu Hōsen~"
The horse-Red Hare replied happily.
In the real world—
The actual Ryofu Hōsen clenched his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
"That damned beast!"
That was his mount!
Yet here it was parading around pretending to be him—broadcast live to the entire world by Alaya, no less!
It was disgrace on a global scale.
He could see it—every Heroic Spirit was giving him side-eyes, all clearly fighting the urge to laugh.
Once the video ended, he swore, he'd deal with that beast personally!
The video continued.
Nameless smiled gently.
"So then, Ryofu Hōsen among men, Red Hare among horses—would you fight alongside us?"
"Of course not! I am the great Flying General Ryofu Hōsen—why would I casually agree to such a thing?" The horse declared firmly.
Nameless's smile didn't waver.
"Then… what if I offered you the finest, most delicious carrot?"
"Carrots… won't do either!"
Red Hare hesitated for a moment, but still refused.
"I'm good at cooking, you know. I can make carrot salad, carrot fried rice, carrot tempura, even carrot purée. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"
Nameless showed a dazzling smile.
Under such devilish temptation, Red Hare's mouth spilled tears of emotion.
It solemnly took a step forward and declared:
"You… you feel worthy of me! You may ride upon my back!"
"…"
"…"
Chin Kyu, Mash, and the others all fell silent at once.
Good grief, where's your so-called dignity now?
By contrast, Mordred was utterly calm. She plopped Nameless onto Red Hare's back.
"Nice, finally I don't have to carry you anymore!"
The Chaldean vehicle had already been stolen by the First Emperor. Now everyone was relying on their two legs to move forward.
That Red Hare agreed was normal enough—
But why did the scene look so… strange?
There sat Nameless on Red Hare's back.
A rider upon a man-horse beast. The sight was absurdly comical.
====
At that moment, Gawain's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Since Nameless is good at carrot purée… maybe he's also good at mashed potatoes?"
"You potato freak, what the hell are you thinking!?"
Mordred instantly went on guard.
This guy had already tricked her into eating so many servings of mashed potatoes. And now he still wanted more!?
Not only that, he claimed Father liked them too—
Liked them? Ha!
That was only because Father's appetite was so huge that without potatoes, there was nothing else to eat!
"I just thought maybe I could talk with Nameless a bit." Gawain smiled.
As the radiant, noble Sun Knight, what bad intentions could he possibly have?
He only wanted to exchange cooking knowledge—for the sake of better caring for the Round Table Knights.
"Hmph, I bet you're up to no good!"
Mordred snorted coldly.
She stared at the screen and suddenly clenched her teeth.
In the Lostbelt, she hadn't recognized Nameless at all.
Even though she'd carried him in her arms like a princess, she'd acted like it meant nothing.
Not even Father had ever carried him like that!
And Nameless hadn't cared in the least.
Now he sat casually astride Red Hare's back—
Damn it! Was it because my chest armor was too flat that he found me uncomfortable to hold!?
No, no—it must be the steel plate armor.
Too hard, liable to smash his nose in by accident. That had to be it!
Yes, definitely that!
But when Mordred glanced at her Father's enormous, glowing chest nearby, she couldn't help feeling a sting of sourness.
So it's true. I really was just picked up out of a trash bin!
…
On the screen.
Inside the Palace.
The First Emperor asked, "Captain of the Guard, what of that fox spirit?"
"Your Majesty, she has been suppressed in the dungeon," the guard captain reported.
The projection shifted.
There, the troublemaking fox spirit had indeed been confined within a cell, enduring harsh punishment.
"Damn you all! You're finished!"
Koyanskaya roared furiously.
She had rampaged across countless worlds, yet she'd fallen here.
But it didn't matter.
This was only one of her alts. Her true self would definitely grind these fools beneath her heel!
"Oh? It seems this fox is still scheming."
The First Emperor was utterly unfazed by her anger.
A mere fox—suppression was trivial.
He was no longer the weak version of himself of the past.
He had ascended into machinehood, possessing the invincible mechanical holy body of the First Emperor!
At this time, Kan Shin reported:
"Your Majesty, two more Servants have descended. Chaldea's numbers are swelling—we must strike swiftly!"
"The Alaya spoken of by those Chaldeans seems to have stretched its tendrils into my land. In time, it will summon even more Servants."
The First Emperor's voice echoed through the vast hall.
"Troops are raised for a thousand days, used for a single moment. You shall command the new weapons I have completed!"
"Yes, Your Majesty! Once this battle is won, I will sweep away every hidden threat!" Kan Shin bowed.
The weapon crafted by His Majesty was made entirely of steel.
Ten wheels below, its front shaped like a ferocious tiger. On its top a long cannon barrel, bearing terrifying destructive power.
Kan Shin believed firmly in "the more, the better."
Thus he named it—
[The 'Overwhelming Numbers' Tank!]
And so—
One after another, the mighty machines assembled, blocking Chaldea's path.
"Kan Shin, why choose to help tyranny? Surrender now!" Mordred tried to persuade him to switch sides.
But it was useless.
Sitting upon his countless Tiger Tanks, Kan Shin replied coldly:
"I know, I'm weak… weaker than any of you. I can't win. But this isn't about winning or losing. I must stand in your way—because I am a general! Behind me lies The Emperor's land itself!"
Not long ago, he had witnessed Nameless slash apart a meteor with a single sword—a sight that had left him utterly shaken.
Yet that was no reason to retreat.
For behind him stood the city of everlasting peace.
It had to be protected.
"You…"
Nameless felt his expression twist oddly.
Why did it suddenly feel like he was the villainous final boss, while Kan Shin was the just warrior defending his homeland?
"The peace must not be destroyed!"
Kan Shin roared, without a hint of stutter for once:
"By His Majesty's supreme power, we shall show the strength of Qin! The earth itself is soaked with our resolve!"
One after another, the 'Overwhelming Numbers' tanks adjusted their barrels, all locking onto Chaldea's position.
Everyone's faces shifted.
This Losbelt had erased the very concept of war, letting its people live in eternal peace.
For those in war-torn lands, this place is a blessing.
Kan Shin shouted his command:
"Second Battalion—bring out your cannons! Blow Chaldea away!"
The intelligent tanks roared to life, unleashing their fire.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Countless shells rained down on Chaldea.
Mash instantly raised her shield, guarding the others.
Nameless likewise unfurled seven shimmering petals, intercepting the saturation bombardment.
The clash had begun.
The earth itself shattered under the fury of battle.
"Hahaha! At last! Do you think such strange contraptions can compare to me—Red Hare, the mighty Ryofu Hōsen!?"
With a laugh, Red Hare activated his EX-rank skill, [Long-Distance Dash (Horse)], flashing like a phantom through the enemy's armored ranks.
And while he streaked through the battlefield, Nameless upon his back unleashed relentless strikes.
Red Hare's speed was simply too overwhelming; the shells couldn't even graze him.
CLANG!
Nameless's blade flared brilliantly, severing the barrel of a Tiger Tank in a single stroke!
Nothing could stop them.
For in Nameless's eyes, all things possessed death.
Even tanks were no exception.
Which meant—
They too had health bars!
As long as a health bar appears—even a god can be slain!
But the audience couldn't help but feel something was… off—
YoMamaBeenSlobbin-[WTF!! Cavalry versus tanks—and cavalry actually won!?]
HairyBalls-[Hold up, why is an ancient empire fielding Tiger Tanks, while the guy from the future, Nameless, is fighting on horseback?]
…
The battle gradually drew to its close.
Of all martial arts, speed alone is unbreakable!
Nameless and Red Hare together were the ultimate high-attack, high-speed combo.
The troublesome "Overwhelming Numbers" tanks couldn't even touch them.
Nameless swung his projected Curry Stick, turning into a battlefield butcher, effortlessly blowing up Tiger Tanks one after another.
Watching this, Kan Shin let out a heavy sigh.
"Your Majesty… why not just fully unseal the Hero Repository!?"
These mass-produced, rushed-out tanks could never stop them.
The only silver lining was that he was only commanding via puppet-control. So he didn't have to worry about personally facing these monsters in direct combat.
Once Nameless had cleared the field, before them lay the majestic sight of Xianyang City.
Everyone lifted their gaze—and there it was: the massive Palace, floating above the city like a fortress in the sky.
Mash bit her lip.
"How… are we supposed to fight that?"
The enemy possessed a true mechanical body.
No weak points.
No HP limits.
The energy within it even surpassed that of a Holy Grail, allowing it to fight indefinitely.
And that wasn't all—
Above them loomed the Orbital Great Wall Cannon.
If the Emperor was pushed too far, he could just rain orbital bombardments from above.
No one could withstand that kind of continuous firepower.
At that moment—
Keika stepped forward, speaking solemnly:
"Master, I wish to act alone… to assassinate the Emperor!"
"Uh, you sure about that?"
Nameless pointed at the massive floating Palace overhead.
The Assassination of the Emperor—the textbook case of an assassin from the history books.
But that was against a human emperor in Proper Human History.
Now?
What were you planning to assassinate with—your forehead!?
That thing was a towering mechanical colossus!
"Master," Keika said gravely, "long ago, when I was entrusted by Crown Prince Dan to assassinate the emperor, I was blocked by Nameless and failed miserably. I can still see Prince Dan slumping in his chair, tears streaming down his face… that scene is etched in my soul forever."
She let out a long, heavy sigh.
"At that time, I thought—if only I had been stronger, I would have succeeded! I would have given justice! Now I've been granted a second chance. Perhaps this is the only chance I'll ever have! To restore the assassin's honor—this is our inescapable duty!"