"Kill them!"
"Don't let them escape!!"
"Slaughter them all!"
"..."
Deafening battle cries echoed near the gates of Xianyang. Squads of Qin soldiers, torches in hand, roared as they surrounded and hunted down a group of over fifty men.
The Qin soldiers were frenzied and bloodthirsty, eager to slaughter every last one of them to claim military merits and climb the ranks.
"Protect the master!"
Despite facing an overwhelming army, the fifty-odd death-defying warriors showed no fear, embodying the unyielding spirit of the Chu people. One by one, they were cut down by the Qin soldiers' blades, their blood staining the air.
At the forefront of the group was a man dressed strangely, mounted on a fine steed, wielding a spear as if the Qin soldiers were nothing. His spear danced like a dragon, each swing unleashing waves of force that bisected dozens of Qin soldiers in an instant. A murderous aura surged into the sky.
At first glance, he appeared handsome, like a refined young man. Yet every Qin soldier who met his gaze trembled in terror, their hearts seized by fear. Seeing him slaughter men as effortlessly as chickens, his god-like presence made them hesitate to block his path, retreating step by step. In an instant, the Qin formation collapsed into chaos—stomping, wailing, and screams filling the air as Xianyang erupted in turmoil.
Roy had no intention of letting Xiang Liang die here. Shielding him, he rushed toward the city gates. With a mighty shout, he swung his spear—shattering the gates under the horrified gazes of the Qin soldiers—before escaping with Xiang Liang and the remaining warriors.
Only after putting dozens of miles between them and Xianyang, with no pursuers in sight, did they finally slow down.
Roy glanced at the broken spear in his hand, shook his head, and tossed it aside. A surge of heroic pride filled his chest—this was the life a man should aspire to, fighting on the battlefield, ready to be wrapped in horsehide upon death.
This was an entirely different thrill from battling Heretic Gods as a Campione. Charging headlong into an army, spear like a dragon, carving through the enemy seven times over—his domineering roars alone struck terror into their hearts, shattering their resolve. It was exhilarating beyond words.
The only regret was that Roy felt too strong—like a max-level, god-geared character returning to a beginner village to slaughter goblins. No matter how many goblins there were, none could scratch him. In fact, Roy had to hold back slightly, lest he accidentally unleash his Authorities in excitement and blow the entire Qin capital of Xianyang to smithereens—that would ruin the fun.
Roy knew that this world had its own Counter Force. As human civilization flourished, Alaya finally gained the strength to rival Gaia. While he might enjoy playing the game of single-handedly destroying nations, it wouldn't be wise to draw the attention of the Counter Force. After all, he was here to lift the curse of humanity, not to perpetuate it.
Xiang Liang, having narrowly escaped with his life, was still shaken. After a long moment, he took a deep breath and clasped his hands respectfully toward Roy. "...Thank you, sir, for saving my life!"
He observed Roy, drenched in blood—yet not a single drop was his own. Despite the fierce battle, Roy wasn't even breathing heavily, nor was there a trace of sweat on him. Recalling how Roy had slaughtered the Qin soldiers as effortlessly as cutting grass, Xiang Liang felt both awe and immense relief. Fortunately, he had followed the mystic's advice and treated Roy with great courtesy—not only had he saved his own life, but with such a person aiding Chu, his grand ambitions might truly be realized.
"Sir, this place is still dangerous. We have allies waiting ahead—let us make haste!"
Though Roy's strength seemed almost inhuman, Xiang Liang was still mortal and had no desire to be surrounded by Qin soldiers again.
After emerging from the underground palace, whether due to a leak or sheer misfortune, they had encountered thousands of Qin troops waiting for them at the entrance, forcing them to fight their way out.
Glancing around, Xiang Liang noted that most of the elite warriors he had trained were dead or wounded. Suppressing his grief, he urged Roy, "Lord Xiang speaks wisely. On this open plain, there's nowhere to hide, and the Qin soldiers have powerful bows and crossbows. If they catch up, it would be disastrous."
Though Roy cared little about pursuing Qin soldiers, he knew Xiang Liang was just an ordinary man who couldn't withstand their ferocity.
After resting briefly, the group pressed on, reuniting with the Chu reinforcements waiting a hundred li away before continuing their journey day and night.
...
Xiang Liang knew his identity was likely exposed. The chaos he had stirred in Xianyang was tantamount to rebellion, and he needed to leave Guanzhong quickly for Wuzhong to rally his forces and prepare for the Qin's retaliation.
However, with Chen Sheng and Wu Guang's uprising already igniting rebellions across the land—and many former nobles of the six conquered states raising armies under the banner of restoration—the Qin dynasty was teetering on the brink. In this era of warlords vying for supremacy, one more rebel like him wouldn't make a difference.
The group traveled without delay from Guanzhong toward Jiangdong, but even the most hardened soldiers couldn't endure such a relentless march. They decided to rest for the night, camping by a river.
Inside the command tent, Xiang Liang summoned a man in his sixties—the same elder who had met him outside Xianyang. It was a wonder how someone of his age had dared to cross half the empire to reach the capital.
"Master Fan, what counsel do you have for me?" Xiang Liang asked, bowing respectfully.
The elder, originally from Ju County, had been living in idle retirement until Xiang Liang encountered the mysterious mystic. Stirred by the changing times, the old man sought out Xiang Liang and offered his service.
Though already sixty, he possessed remarkable stratagems and a penchant for unconventional tactics, prompting Xiang Liang to take him on as an advisor.
"I understand Lord Xiang's intentions. I have been observing that Roy fellow these past few days—he truly is an extraordinary man. Whether in dress or behavior, he stands apart from ordinary people. Yet I find his temperament gentle. Had you not mentioned it, I would never have imagined such martial prowess on the battlefield. Even your personal guards regard him with admiration in their eyes."
"...He appears quite young, barely seventeen or eighteen, and seems genuinely unaware of many things. Considering what you witnessed in the Xianyang catacombs, I too suspect this outsider may be connected to the First Emperor. You've done well treating him with great courtesy, but if you wish to secure his loyalty, I believe more is needed!"
The old man stroked his graying beard as he spoke eloquently...
"Then what should I do?"
Xiang Liang humbly sought his advice.
"That man is extraordinary, his thoughts and ways entirely different from ours. Yet he remains human, and nothing runs deeper in human emotion than familial bonds. If you are sincere, Lord Xiang, bestow upon him the Xiang family name. You had an elder brother who passed young, unknown to the world—simply claim Roy as your brother's son."
"...But to employ this method, you must truly treat him as your own flesh and blood, lest his heart grow cold or others grow suspicious. All hearts are made of flesh—over time, he will surely be moved by your kindness and devote himself wholeheartedly to the Xiang cause!"
Xiang Liang recalled the diviner's prophecy—that with the outsider's aid, his grand ambition would be fulfilled. Now with the old man's strategy, it seemed heaven itself favored the Xiang clan.
"Your words are etched in my heart, Master!"
Xiang Liang bowed deeply to the elder.
...
Outside the tent, Roy stood by the riverbank, having overheard every word between Xiang Liang and the old man.
Patrolling soldiers passed by intermittently, their eyes shining with admiration whenever they saw Roy. No doubt they remembered how he had slaughtered hundreds of Qin troops in Xianyang and led their daring escape through enemy lines.
Roy smiled at the soldiers while pondering the conversation.
'That old man's surname is Fan—must be Fan Zeng. In actual history, Xiang Liang shouldn't have met him yet, but this isn't proper history—it's the Moonlit World's version, so differences are understandable.'
'When I asked Xiang Liang earlier, he claimed to have no nephews—meaning this world might lack Xiang Yu entirely. Perhaps history has gone awry at 0.9, which is why I appeared here as his replacement?'
Roy harbored no resentment about this. Even in his previous ordinary life, he'd possessed double pupils and jokingly called himself the "Hegemon-King of Western Chu." Playing the role of the real deal now was nothing to him—if anything, embodying such a figure came naturally.
'But if this is true, then historical records severely understated things. "Hundreds slain per battle"? Please—I could easily cut down ten thousand per engagement.'
He chuckled to himself, then remembered the bamboo scrolls Xiang Liang retrieved from the catacombs. Roy began to wonder—was the Qin dynasty in this world building Gundams? Some of the machinery he'd glimpsed underground had looked suspiciously advanced.
Not that it would surprise him. This was never proper history to begin with, but the Type-Moon world's version of events.
Roy was also quite curious about the underground palace in Kuaiji and wanted to know what exactly was hidden there.
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