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

By the time Emiya and the other two finally escaped with every ounce of strength, the chain explosions from Gensō Hōkai (Phantasm Collapse) had already reduced the underground structure to rubble.

Terrifying echoes continued rumbling from below as load-bearing walls and pillars collapsed one after another. The entire foundation crumbled like fragile building blocks—toppled with ease by the invisible hand of destruction.

Plumes of dust pierced the shattered roof and shot skyward, raining down black debris like ash.

It landed right on the dirt-smeared heads of the trio.

Emiya brushed soot off his hair with a sigh. "Was that really necessary?"

This whole mess... had somehow pulled the Nordic noble families into the spotlight.

"Shouldn't we be asking you that?" Jōde Mai muttered as she shook dust off her tight combat suit. "That creepy guy was that dangerous? Enough for you to blow up the whole place?"

She meant the guy dressed like Odin.

"He was dangerous. Rough to fight. But not that dangerous—just a fake with some of the real power."

Emiya was sure that knockoff Odin couldn't have survived. Still, an uneasy feeling lingered.

If there's one fake, what's stopping the Nordic faction from having a second ready to go?

"Dangerous, huh? Looked more like he got blown to smithereens," Jōde said lazily. "Face it, no one's got more firepower than our Emiya! Right, Sanmu?"

She tried to elbow Zero but couldn't reach, so she settled for patting her head.

"…." Zero sidestepped the grimy hand, staying silent. Then, in a neutral tone, she said:

"Wazhu has sent a message. Others are already regrouping at the medical station. Zhou Minhao reported a large trove of documents and equipment tied to dead servant and bloodline serum research."

"So, time for us to head over and lend a hand? Sure, sure."

Jōde Mai gave her head a tired shake. The mission hadn't been exhausting, but the last-minute escape had been nerve-racking.

Plink.

Raindrops suddenly tapped her cheek—cold and spreading.

"Rain?"

Emiya looked up. Thick clouds cloaked the night sky, blotting out the moon. Only occasional streaks of lightning slithered within the darkness, thunder grumbling after them. The heavens seemed to scowl in fury.

Something felt wrong.

Nono, gripping a heavy-caliber pistol looted from another gunman, fired from the side at the black Pagani. Cracks webbed across its bulletproof glass.

Even reinforced glass had limits. Close-range impacts from high-power rounds could penetrate it eventually.

They were approaching the estate. Barricades and traffic control signs littered the highways—clearly set up by the noble families. Rain fell in thin sheets, and hazy figures loomed around the roads.

Nono knew this was the assault force targeting the Chen family. Which meant—if she could just get there… the Chen patriarch wouldn't escape!

Just as she rejoiced at her imminent victory, the black Pagani suddenly veered right onto a side road.

Nono squinted. Despite the rain curtain, the road was clearly empty—no barricades, no noble forces. The Pagani sped away, its form growing vague and unreal.

It looked… like a road created from nothing.

What was this? How was it possible? Was it inviting certain people in?

Biting her lip, uncertain but resolute, Nono followed.

The moment she entered, space itself seemed to shift. The side road carried them past the blockade and smoothly transitioned into a new realm—delivering them inside the estate grounds.

At the end of the road, a one-eyed god awaited.

Chen's father climbed out of the battered Pagani. Once a man as stern as a warrior-statue, he now bowed like a vassal paying homage—submissive before the ancient god standing armed before the car.

Chen had always shown no fear of the Zhou clan, trusting in one thing: the being before him, mounted on an eight-legged horse, holding the Spear of Destiny—Odin.

Odin's appearance here was no coincidence. Chen and Odin both belonged to a secret group: the Seikū Igakkai (Sacred Palace Medical Society). The Chen family's "Freya Zero" project was one of the society's key investments.

The Medical Society offered incredible draconic alchemy; Chen provided test subjects and scientific resources. The fruits of their research would be shared, and the society in turn offered Chen protection. That alliance fueled the Chen family's rise.

But Odin now showed no signs of support. Instead, he growled:

"You're late."

Faced with reproach, Chen nearly pressed his head to the ground. "A thousand apologies, we were intercepted en route, so many enemies… But if you act now, this can still be salvaged—"

"Too late."

Odin's next words struck like thunder. "The 'guardian' underground is dead. 'Zero' was likely stolen—or destroyed. Either way, it's lost."

Impossible. Chen's jaw dropped, but no sound escaped. The 'guardian' was a puppet modeled after Odin—meant to be the final line of defense beyond the undead and death servants. Not even a legendary hybrid should have broken through…

"Too late," Odin repeated with a sigh. "Even now, you fail to understand. You've summoned an enemy we did not anticipate."

Why had the Zhou clan, dormant for centuries, suddenly launched a full assault? Why were such strange forces involved?

Odin believed another shadowy entity—like himself—was orchestrating all this. Someone who might even possess… the script.

He wasn't here to shield the Chen family. He was here to clean up the mess.

Thrust!

Chen stared in disbelief at the spear skewering him. This time, it wasn't a body double—it was really him. Odin had struck without warning.

The shaft rose, lifting Chen's weakening body into the air. Odin's words echoed through the rain, deliberate and cold:

"The Chen family has lost its value."

They had lost the favor of the Sacred Palace Medical Society.

When that happens, a member is treated like trash—to be devoured by the rest.

With a dismissive flick, Odin hurled the corpse aside like garbage. Rain washed away the blood on his spear.

Next, he would face the hidden hand behind the curtain. And learn what sort of game his enemy was playing.

Odin raised his spear skyward. Rain poured harder. Lightning danced ever more fiercely across the clouds—waiting to descend.

(End of Chapter)

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