At this very moment, under the gaze of the masses, the video began to play.
However, the first thing to appear on the screen was not the party from Chaldea that the audience had imagined, nor was it the First Emperor.
Instead, it was a beautiful woman unknown to all the viewers.
『 Koyanskaya… 』
Watching the young woman on screen, every viewer couldn't help but wear a puzzled expression.
Immediately, a continuous stream of messages flooded the group chat.
.....
〜Viewer's Chat Room〜
[ Tamamo-no-Mae (Caster): This aura is… ]
〜IN BETWEEN〜
Tamamo-no-Mae, watching the girl on screen, caught a familiar scent.
She couldn't help but arch an eyebrow.
"That creature is…"
She sensed a familiar odor emanating from the other party.
However, that fox? on the screen was definitely not some tail-clone of hers!
Tamamo-no-Mae could still discern that much.
And in reality, that was the case. Koyanskaya was not a tail of Tamamo-no-Mae, but rather a consciousness of the natural world born from the Tunguska Event, a rabbit raised by the cat-form original.
To fill the vacancy of the Fourth Beast, she was chosen as a candidate to transform into a Beast of Humanity, and she created her own Spirit Origin, which was modeled after the image of Tamamo-no-Mae.
Therefore, there was no direct physical relationship between Koyanskaya and Tamamo-no-Mae; their connection was primarily on a spiritual level, with Koyanskaya imitating the image and behavior of Tamamo-no-Mae…
This was precisely what gave Tamamo-no-Mae that sense of familiarity!
—
[ Kishinami Hakuno: This is… Tamamo? No, it's just the outer form. But I can tell that she seems vastly different from the Tamamo in my memory. ]
[ Tosaka Rin: She looks like a wicked woman! ]
[ Orion (Archer): Oh, oh, oh—another great beauty! And she has animal ears and a bodysuit? This is fantastic! ]
[ Artemis (Archer): Darling~ ]
[ Orion (Archer): Wait, Artemis, let me explain! ]
[ .....]
At this moment, viewers across all worlds reacted in various ways.
But they could all sense that this Koyanskaya on screen was likely no good.
Sure enough, in the next second.
—
『 Koyanskaya's cold voice echoed. "Well, although it is a bit late now, you are correct, Miss Hinako Akuta. As one who cooperates with the Alien God, please allow me to finish my work in earnest. Let the Fantasy Tree handle the task of annihilating Chaldea."
As soon as these words fell!
HUM—!!
A powerful magical energy surged onto the scene.
"Come, the time for awakening has arrived. Mayall, please display your universe within this small Lostbelt."
The moment the words left her lips—
An unparalleled momentum instantly erupted from the scene.
RUMBLE—!
A deafening roar echoed across the field.
In the next second, to the incredulous gaze of everyone, the ceiling of the treasure pavilion gradually shattered; sand, stone, and debris began to fall, and dust filled the air.
Then, everyone could see with absolute clarity.
The golden body of the Fusang Tree outside had split open.
And from within it, a terrifying aura radiated.
Something was stirring inside.
It was as if something thick and substantial was preparing to emerge…
Then, accompanied by an incomparably vast surge of magical energy, a sapling immediately appeared from the Fusang Tree, growing with an unreasonable momentum.
In the blink of an eye, it had grown into a Fantasy Tree filled with a terrifying aura.
"THAT… IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE FANTASY TREE!!!"
Amidst everyone's disbelieving gazes, the Great Qin Lostbelt appeared with the Fantasy Tree.
Snow-white throughout, the cracked trunk spiraled like a staircase, piercing straight into the clouds!
It gave off an immense sense of oppression.
This was the Fantasy Tree of the Great Qin Lostbelt!
"Hehehe! Within the internal dimension of the Fusang Tree, this Fantasy Tree has already absorbed a massive amount of magical energy. Its current state is foolproof; even without exposing itself, it had long since taken root in the ley lines of this Kyushu land, absorbing endless magical energy!" Koyanskaya's smug voice followed. 』
『 .....』
At this moment, Heroic Spirits, Magus, and Magicians in all the worldlines watched this scene with utter shock.
This was the Fantasy Tree that caused the birth of the Lostbelt…
.....
〜In the Worldline of Fourth Holy Grail War〜
Emiya Kiritsugu watched the scene on the screen, unable to help but arch an eyebrow.
"So that's how it is. This is that Fantasy Tree… It truly doesn't feel simple."
Beside him, Artoria couldn't help but nod.
"I can sense that the tree is indeed not simple; the magical energy contained within it is simply incomparable to that of an ordinary Heroic Spirit…! Under these circumstances, if we were to fight that First Emperor, I fear it would indeed be quite difficult."
Irisviel, standing nearby, didn't seem too worried.
"Just keep watching. I don't believe such difficulties could stump the Chaldea."
—
〜In the Worldline of The Synchronized Intellect Nation, SIN Lostbelt〜
The First Emperor watched everything on the screen with utter astonishment.
He truly had not expected that his world would actually possess such an enormous tree.
And it was hidden so deeply that even he hadn't noticed it!
The Fantasy Tree!
Thinking back to the introduction of Lostbelts on this screen earlier, he understood completely. It seemed his world was indeed a pruned history.
But so what?
Koyanskaya, was it? Playing these kinds of tricks?
It would be best if I don't catch you, or I'll pluck your fox tail right off!
"That vixen went to such great lengths to take revenge on me. When I see her next, I must prepare a generous gift for this Koyan-Chihuahua!"
However, that said, since he already understood that such things would happen in the future, he naturally would not let them come to pass!
—
At this moment, the chat was buzzing with constant discussion.
〜Viewer's Chat Room〜
[ Tosaka Rin: This is the existence known as the Fantasy Tree? It's truly massive; it looks like quite the formidable object. ]
[ Ishtar (Archer): Feels… inferior to my Bull of Heaven. ]
[ Gilgamesh (Archer): Laughable. As expected of a foolish goddess, that doesn't even belong to you… ]
[ Taigong Wang (Rider): I didn't expect it to be the Fantasy Tree… That surprises me a bit. But what is up with that person? She feels like Daji, yet not like Daji… ]
[ Merlin: That creature is a Beast!? ]
[ .....]
〜In the Inner Sea of the planet, in the furthest tower〜
Merlin watched Koyanskaya on the screen with extreme confusion.
"That creature…"
He sensed a very strange aura from her.
A Beast of Humanity…? No, is she something like a juvenile form?
It seems there are indeed many interesting things happening in the future.
Thinking this, a sense of anticipation welled up within him.
—
『 Returning to the screen, the First Emperor was staring at this scene in shock.
"The Fusang Tree… the divine tree supporting the prosperity of my Great Qin, had actually been eroded from within… The proof that the Fantasy Tree could not exist… which means."
"That's right. This world is a Pruned Theoretical Phenomenon, and the history Chaldea is in is the genuine Proper Human History."
Koyanskaya said this with great excitement, curious about the expression the Emperor would reveal upon learning the truth.
That look of being broken… that was what she most wanted to see.
At that time, she would certainly mock him thoroughly…
Just thinking about the scene of the Emperor being broken, her mood became quite pleasant.
"It is a pity that the country you unified—the dream of eternal peace—is nothing more than a moon reflected in a mirror. The two thousand two hundred years of history continuing to this day are all mere illusion. How about it? Is the Emperor's heart feeling very uncomfortable now? Hehehehe!"
Under the weight of those words, the First Emperor's face remained as calm as ever.
"Hohohahahahahahaha!! Delusional ravings. Why should I be dejected?"
A resolute voice followed.
"As the rational conclusion of the correct path, the Eternal Great Qin is right here. Very well, the victor shall return to compile the events. No matter what other branches may exist, I shall crush them all!"
As the words fell—
RUMBLE—!
The Epang Palace, suspended in mid-air, began to sway and descend.
Such a massive disturbance immediately drew everyone's attention.
Countless people fixed their gaze upon the Epang Palace.
"That thing is sinking lower and lower!"
"What is the First Emperor trying to do? Does he want to smash it down and crush us? But it's so far away from us."
The party was a bit confused about the Emperor's intentions.
Just when everyone was puzzled, the First Emperor's resounding voice rang out.
"I would naturally never consider such a cowardly and foolish wish. What follows is a battle concerning the future of Human Order; how can I tolerate the interference of non-human existences!"
As these words fell, an even more powerful magical energy surged onto the screen.
On the other side, Koyanskaya felt a trace of danger at this moment.
The sense of crisis in her heart made her want to leave this Lostbelt.
And there was really no value in staying here.
"Ah, ah… I've had enough of this place."
With those words, azure-blue light points flickered on her body, and her form began to become illusory and transparent.
Immediately afterward, she vanished before everyone's eyes.
And at this moment, to the shocked gaze of all the viewers,
The incomparably massive Epang Palace crashed directly onto the ground.
BOOM—!!
In an instant, the dust clouding the sky rose.
Accompanying the descent of the massive Epang Palace to the ground,
An unparalleled, violent shockwave surged in all directions! 』
『 .....』
『 Viewers of Countless Worldline 』
Everyone watched this scene in utter shock!
The Epang Palace was the Emperor's mechanical holy body.
Why would this Emperor do such a thing, actually destroying his own trump card!?
At this moment, Heroic Spirits and Mages of all worlds were incomparably confused.
Did they not know what kind of trick this Emperor was playing?
.....
〜In the Worldline of Fate/Apocrypha〜
Mordred watched this scene.
She couldn't help but utter a snarky remark.
"Although I'm on Chaldea's side, what is up with that Emperor? He dropped such a massive Noble Phantasm and actually missed!?"
At this moment, Mordred was completely unable to keep her composure.
She had expected that Emperor to put on a spectacular performance, but it started with something so indescribable.
At this moment, she had absolutely no idea that the First Emperor had intentionally destroyed his own mechanical holy body.
—
And at this moment, all the viewers were also incredibly confused.
〜Viewer's Chat Room〜
[ Fujimaru Ritsuka: Although I don't understand why the Emperor missed, I feel like things aren't that simple. ]
[ Reines El-Melloi Archisorte: If such a massive power had landed, surely no one could have survived. But fortunately, both the Master and the Heroic Spirits are safe and sound. ]
[ Waver Velvet: I'm becoming more and more expectant of the subsequent developments. ]
[ .....]
The audience discussed it heatedly, and the First Emperor on the screen gave his own answer.
『 "Proper Human History… Chaldea…"
"What I shall compete with you for next is the correct way for humanity to survive, the direction in which human history ought to progress. If one only seeks to win by mass, it will not solve any problems at all."
At this moment, the First Emperor's voice was no longer like electromagnetic waves, but the voice of a human.
Hearing such a voice, Sherlock Holmes was also somewhat puzzled.
"Not intending to protect the Great Qin and the land of Kyushu, but to debate the right of dominion over the future with us?"
"Why make such a concession at this late hour?"
"Fool! I am the Emperor of the Human World; I worry about the future of the Human Order more than anyone else. Indeed, I cannot ignore that the history of my Great Qin was once pruned, however… that being said!"
"While advancing the compilation of events, I likewise cannot ignore the ignorance and fragility of Proper Human History, whose proof of existence was so easily denied."
The First Emperor's voice echoed continuously, and at the same time, the sound of footsteps followed.
"History should be woven by the will of humans, not decided by mere coincidence. Those who can attain the throne of compiled events in the future must be more powerful, more excellent talents!"
As these words fell, a figure immediately appeared in everyone's field of vision.
"Someone… has come out of the Epang Palace!! Sensing a magical energy reaction! That is… a human, right?"
"Exactly. This figure is the pinnacle of what is called human existence. The only True Human who has overcome death, transcended yin and yang, and attained the immutable truth!"
Accompanying these words, the First Emperor finally revealed his true form.
That long, jet-black hair draped over his shoulders like a waterfall, and two long, slender white locks of hair on his forehead drifted in mid-air.
His entire body exuded terrifying magical energy, and he possessed a Spirit Origin comparable to a Grand.
That said, he was, of course, not a true Grand.
Clad in the wings of the Black Bird, an incomparably majestic aura rushed toward them.
This was the true appearance of the First Emperor!
The ultimate Emperor who had become a True Human! 』
『 .....』