In the world of Type-Moon, the Atlas Institute, also known as the "Giant's Pit," lies somewhere deep beneath the Atlas Mountains. It preserves a form of ancient alchemy drastically different from the modern system.
Its foundation is "Divided Thought"—a technique where an individual creates multiple personalities. These personas can rapidly interact, share intel, and multiply mental capacity, allowing for parallel high-speed computation.
How fast?
Split into 3 personas: 3×3×3 = 27 — that's 27x mental acceleration.
Split into 4 personas: 4×4×4×4 = 256 — that's 256x acceleration!
Exponential thinking. Turning the brain into a living supercomputer.
Thanks to this edge in cognitive speed, Atlas alchemists forged weapons that modern mages could only dream of. Among them, the most terrifying are the Seven Instruments of World Destruction.
Hence the famous saying:
"Never unseal Atlas. Lest the world be destroyed seven times."
At this moment, Lao Tang raised his hand with impeccable timing, "Hey, can I ask… What kind of beef does the world have with these ancient alchemists? Why are they always trying to blow it up?"
Having seen his fair share of movies, Lao Tang was utterly tired of villains who got a little mad and immediately wanted to destroy the world. Dude, settle your personal grudges like a normal person. Why drag all of us innocent civilians down with you?
Emiya paused, then gave a deadpan reply:
"They create weapons of world destruction… to prevent the world from being destroyed."
"...Huh??" Lao Tang looked absolutely stunned. That had to be the dumbest logic he'd heard in his life.
"Well," Emiya explained, "their thinking is: to respond to any future world-ending crisis, one must create weapons of equal magnitude."
For example, if an asteroid might crash into Earth someday, an alchemist would build a gravity weapon capable of pulling it off course.
But what if there's no asteroid?
Then just reverse the function—and you now have a weapon that brings asteroids down on Earth.
In short, weapons that can save the world… can also destroy it. Depends who's holding the trigger.
"…Man, after hearing that, I'm genuinely starting to worry for humanity," Lao Tang muttered, his face bleak.
"They're all lunatics," he said. "Forget saving the world. These psychos are way more likely to end it themselves before any asteroid does."
Emiya thought silently to himself: Bro, it's not just Atlas. Pretty much every mage on this planet is a lunatic.
According to Fate/Extra's future timeline, Atlas would eventually fall into ruin due to population collapse. By 2030, only a single homunculus would remain. Apparently, the craziness ran itself into extinction.
Their conversation drifted naturally, like any normal guys hanging out, quickly jumping from philosophical rambles to mock-political debates. Before long, they were interrupted by a lively voice outside.
Nuwa-hime had arrived.
A serpent shadow zipped into the room, followed by a bright and cheerful voice:
"Ugh! I've been arguing with those ancient fogies all day. Finally wrapped things up. They really think a whole committee can beat me alone? Hmph! What a bunch of clowns and chickens—pecking at a tiger!"
She looked delighted—though she didn't usually brag, every time she saw Shirou she couldn't help showing off a little. Like a bubbly schoolgirl eager to impress her crush.
She wore light makeup today, her straight black hair and neat bangs framing her smoke-like brows. Her red lips bloomed softly on her glowing porcelain skin, adding a hint of seductive charm.
Her flowing dress swirled as she sat next to Shirou. "Shirou~ I've been so busy these days, we haven't had a chance to talk about that thought disk concept…"
Truth was, ever since their last candlelit date, she'd been dying to spend more time with him. Reflecting on it, she felt like something had been… missing near the end of that night.
She'd made up her mind. Another drink was in order. After all this busywork, she deserved a break… and apparently, she'd acquired a new personal hobby.
"Er, actually… I don't understand that system very well either—" Shirou scratched his cheek awkwardly. He only remembered it was a core framework in Shenzhou's magecraft system—something akin to cloud computing that allowed distributed spellcasting by borrowing processing power.
But let's be honest… all theory, no hands-on. Cloud computing wasn't even a real thing in this era yet.
"No worries! You're our tech director! Just give me your insights."
While she spoke, Nuwa-hime's snake tail subtly wrapped around his waist. A casual gesture, probably—but Shirou's eye twitched. Her coils were getting stronger every time. She definitely had other intentions…
"Oh wow, I suddenly remembered I have something urgent to do!"
Lao Tang caught the signal instantly. He whistled, shot up from his seat, and waved a thumb of encouragement on the way out.
"Shirou bro! I'm gonna be gone a few days, ha ha! Gotta go hit up my hunter contacts—score some North American gear for the next op!"
And I'm out.
"Wait, Lao Tang!" Shirou shouted, reaching forward. How could you abandon me like this?!
All that remained was a distant back, arms raised with thumbs up, vanishing with suspicious speed. From a bystander's point of view, it looked like a ridiculous cartoon character excitedly sprinting off.
Nuwa-hime burst into laughter, folding over with mirth. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she wheezed, finally turning to Shirou and whispering playfully:
"Shirou~ explain the thought disk to me, okay? I've got the drinks all ready. Come with me back to the palace—we'll drink and talk all night!"
"Uh… can I say no—" Shirou remembered how that drink and talk session ended last time. There were… side quests involved.
"Nope! Be good!"
Her tail gave a tug, and her eyes sparkled with predatory gleam. At that moment, she looked like a majestic, unstoppable force of nature.
Damn… If I'd known men could also be—
———
Late at night. Along the banks of the Three Gorges Reservoir.
Lao Tang stood quietly, gazing over the rippling dark water. In his golden eyes flickered a moment of nostalgia—then it was gone.
He was no longer the goofy Lao Tang.
He was now Norton, the Bronze and Flame King—an elder pureblood of the dragon lineage, son of the Black King, and one of the Four Great Monarchs. He ruled over the element of Fire.
"Bring up the 'Seven Deadly Sins.'"
Norton spoke softly to the surface of the water.
Immediately, deep gurgles surged beneath the waves. A moment later, a massive black shape burst through with a hiss of scalding steam. The moonlight shimmered faintly on its dark scales and towering form.
The immense dragon rose, carrying an ancient box to shore. Before Norton's golden gaze, it trembled with awe and reverence—on the verge of roaring its joy to the heavens.
"Not yet. Bow your head first."
The dragon obeyed at once, lowering its massive head. And then—to its astonishment—its mighty king gently, affectionately stroked its brow.
An unthinkable gesture.
The emotions it had bottled up over thousands of years—devotion, longing, gratitude—flooded forth like a river in spring…
Then, it heard the King murmur:
"'Divided Thought'... now where should I start the cut?"
"…Hrrnn?"
(End of Chapter)
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