"I see. Let's hold our own Holy Grail debate."
Iskandar chuckled, "Haha, this could be iing."
Waver: "But… what exactly are we debating?"
"Let's pare our ideals," Iskandar suggested with a grin. "We'll see who among us is most deserving of the Holy Grail based on their vision as a king. What do you think?"
The First Emperor spoke calmly, "Though the Holy Grail holds no i for me, I'm curious to withe aspirations of you so-called kings of the West."
Artoria nodded. "I have no objes."
Gilgamesh snorted dismissively. "A debate? How tedious."
---
"It seems the theme of this debate will be each king's vision," Iskandar remarked, sounding slightly disappointed. "It's a pity I didn't bring any wine—could have turhis into a real ba, like in the video."
"Mongrel, what foolishness are you spouting?" Gilgamesh gnced around disdainfully. "In a lifeless pce like this, even the best wine would taste bnd."
"You're n," Iskandar admitted, looking around at the by space. "This pce is too pin. There's nothing here at all."
"In that case, let me grant you entry to my pace," the First Emperor said with a faint smile.
With a wave of his hand, the entire ndscape transformed.
The empty white void gave way to a vast, majestic square, and before them rose a colossal imperial pace, its grandeur almost beyond description.
---
The scale ay of the pace could only be described with one phrase: Unmatched in all history.
Just the main hall aloed on a foundation as high as a three-story building, its architecture exquisite beyond words, stretg as far as the eye could see.
The pace grounds featured pavilions at every turn, and no matter how far one looked, the splendor seemed endless. It was clear that even a full day would not be enough to explore every er.
This pace was vast enough to rival aire city.
---
"Afang Pace," Zhang Jiao whispered.
The Afang Pace—the legendary grand pace of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor. Though burned down in history, what stood before them was the pa its prime, its magnifice restored.
Aside from Zhang Jiao, everyone else was equally stunned by the sheer grandeur of the pace.
---
"This must be a Reality Marble," Kayh said, regaining his posure. He realized what was happening.
A Reality Marble, owerful type of magecraft, capable of maing one's personal realm—a ndscape of the mind made reality. It was one of the rarest forms of magecraft, close to what magi sidered true magid highly restricted by the Mage's Association.
Kayh had never expected to witness such a feat firsthand.
---
"Hahaha! Is this your pace, First Emperor?" Iskandar ughed, his voice filled with admiration. "What a grand pce! I'm tempted to quer it."
The First Emperor merely gave a calm smile. "If you believe you , you're wele to try."
It was clear he didn't see Iskandar's words as a serious challenge.
---
Suddenly, a steady rhythm of footsteps echoed from the paterior.
The sound grew louder, as though a legion of soldiers roag.
Moments ter, a group of stone figures, armor and armed with ons, emerged from the pace, marg in perfeation.
"Those… they look like the Terracotta Warriors!" Chihiro excimed, reizing the stone soldiers immediately.
These weren't ordinary statues, they moved with the fluidity of living soldiers, like a legiht back from the past.
The Terracotta Warriors lined up along both sides of the path, f a solemn, silent guard of honor.
Gilgamesh scoffed, though a hint of irritation fshed in his eyes. "Hmph, mere puppets."
"Everyone, please proceed to the pace," the First Emperor said, before disappearing into the grand hall.
With no other option, the group followed the path lined by the Terracotta Warriors, making their way toward the main hall of Afang Pace.
"e in; no need for formalities," the First Emperor's voice echoed from within the hall.
Entering, they found him seated upon an eborate throne, a dragon couch befitting an emperor.
The hall itself was adorned with painted rafters, carved beams, and shimmering drapery, creating a space that radiated imperial authority.
"Everyone, please take your seats."
With a wave of his hand, a row of elegant desks and low seats appeared on both sides of the hall.
Gilgamesh's face darkened as he took in the seating arra. "You expect me to sit beh you, mere Emperor?"
He felt it was beh his dignity to sit as a subordio anyone.
"You i king," the First Emperor replied coolly. "In my pace, you will take your pce accly. Here, you're nothing but a guest."
"What?!"
In a fsh, Gilgamesh found himself moved to the st seat on the right, uo stand up no matter how hard he tried.
Struggling against the unseen force, Gilgamesh seethed, his pride wounded.
"What have you doo me?!"
It was rare filgamesh to enter anything or anyone who could restrict his as, and he was utterly insed.
The First Emperaze was cold and unwavering. "In my pace, a guest has nht to defy my authority."
