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

Clatter, clatter—the pounding of footsteps echoed through the corridor.

Emiya ran at the rear of the group.

The Zhou clan heirs, having trained in magecraft, could burn magical energy to enhance their legs and run like wind. Their speed far exceeded ordinary mixed-bloods.

But Sakegami Mai and Zero had no such ability. Huffing and puffing, they began to fall behind.

Left with no choice, Emiya grabbed both of them and dragged them forward, using reinforcement magic to boost their speed.

"My arm's about to dislocate!" Mai shouted as they neared the end of the corridor. "Why don't you just carry me?"

"I'd have to stop to pick you up—and it would slow me down too much!" Emiya grunted. "Zero should be fine though!"

So you're calling me heavy, huh?! Mai mentally snapped.

Clatter clatter—

"There's hoofbeats behind us! He's gaining!" Zero warned.

Emiya glanced back. The figure they suspected to be Odin was galloping forward atop an eight-legged steed. Every thunderous stomp sent shockwaves through the floor.

Yeah. Eight legs really was faster than two.

Odin raised his spear. The sharp gleam of its tip flickered in the air like a predator locking onto prey.

Emiya could now see clearly—the godlike figure radiated killing intent. His pressure was palpable.

He looked like someone pursuing a thief who had stolen something from him.

...Huh?

Emiya had no idea what Norton might have done here, but he did know one thing—

He absolutely could not let Odin throw Gungnir, the Spear of Destiny!

It was the same as Gilgamesh and Enuma Elish—you just couldn't allow it to activate.

Odin's name alone was too legendary to take any chances.

"You two go ahead!"

Magic circuits flared along Emiya's limbs, glowing like etched circuit boards. He had pushed reinforcement magic to the limit.

With a mighty heave, he hurled Mai and Zero ahead.

Then he turned, dual blades drawn—Qixing Longyuan and Tai'a.

Because Odin's mount was so fast, the clash came instantly. The twin blades slashed straight for the chest and throat.

But Odin's reaction was even faster. With two crisp clangs, he redirected both attacks.

His spear, which looked like a twisted wooden branch, rang like steel upon impact.

Odin's skill and strength were formidable. With one twist of his spear, he spun it with impossible speed and jabbed straight at Emiya's face!

Whoosh! The air shrieked from the force, shaking Emiya's eardrums.

Barely dodging, Emiya channeled pure magical energy into both swords.

Hummm—!

Qixing Longyuan and Tai'a sang with joy, their blades glowing brightly. In seconds, they transformed.

Spikes, claws, and feathers bloomed along their surfaces. The blades expanded—two meters, three, four—almost brushing the corridor ceiling.

Under full reinforcement, the legendary swords revealed their monstrous true forms. Storm and thunder swelled around them.

Odin raised Gungnir. Furious winds howled and gathered around him, drawn from the entire corridor.

In the next instant, the god's spear shot forward, spinning violently and wrapped in gale-force pressure.

Emiya struck back. His massive blade cleaved through the air with a thunderclap.

BOOM—!

Light dimmed. The moment spear and sword collided, elemental chaos exploded. A tempest of screaming wind and destructive force roared through the corridor.

The blast carved gashes into the metal walls. The floor split like cracked glass under the strain.

Emiya flew backward, landing hard, but adjusted midair and recovered his footing with reinforced legs.

Odin, atop his eight-legged horse, only took a few steps back.

Yet even that gave Emiya pause.

Odin... was pushed back?

The Allfather, a god among gods—retreating from me?

In close combat, this Odin's strength didn't match even a top-tier Servant.

And Emiya knew he wasn't yet at that level, even reinforced.

Looking closer, Odin hadn't said a word. His movements were robotic. He wore a suspicious mask that covered most of his face...

A fake?

Emiya frowned and focused on the spear. It did carry an undeniable divine concept—true "guaranteed strike."

So at least that part was real.

Meaning this Odin was just a shell—a construct borrowing a fragment of Odin's divine power?

Not a full summoning like a Servant.

More like a technique from the Clock Tower's Spirit Descent department—a ritual to invoke a fragment of a god or heroic spirit.

Clock Tower had a reputation for being outdated, but their theory still held weight. A Northern European mage family could, with enough heritage, pull a fragment of Odin.

And Emiya knew one such person:

Ophelia Phamrsolone.

Known as the "Modern Valkyrie," Ophelia also covered one eye like Odin and served as the cryptid supervisor for the Norse Lostbelt in FGO.

Everything matched… except her personality.

Ophelia was from a traditional mage family but had a kind, sincere nature. She wasn't someone who would engage in dark conspiracies.

Maybe he needed to broaden the scope.

Better have the Wamiko investigate every Nordic family tied to the Clock Tower.

(End of Chapter)

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